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FROM  THE 

BRIGHT    LEGACY. 

One  hnlf  the  iDontrte  frtmi  this  Legacy^  which  was 
received  in  iSSd  under  the  will  of 

JONATHAN   BROWN   BRIGHT 

of  WaithaiBf  Massachusetts,  is  to  be  expended  tor 
hooks  fur  the  College  Library.  The  oHier  half  of  the 
income  is  devoted  to  scholarships  m  HArimrd  VnU 
versity  for  the  heneSt  of  descendants  of 

HENRY    BRIGHT,  JR., 

who  died  atWatettown,  Afassachusetts,  in  i6S6,  Id 
the  absence  of  such  descend  a  nt^^  other  persona  are 
eLif3:ible  to  the  scholars  hips.  The  will  requires  tliat 
UixB  mnnouincemei^t  shnll  be  made  in  every  book,  added 
to  the  Libr^iry  under  its  provisions. 


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i 


HISTORY 


OF 


DELAWARE. 


1609—1888. 


BY 

J.   THOMAS  ^CHARF,    A.  M.,  LL.  D., 

Author  of  "Hilary  of  Maryland^^'  ''History  of  the  City  of  Philaddphia,  Pa.,'^  etc,^  etc. 


.A.SSXST:E3X)    bit    a.    ST.A.IFIF'    of    A.BXiE    .A.SSISa?-A.35rTS. 


IN  TWO  VOLUMES,  ILLUSTRATED. 


VOL.  II. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
L.   J.   RICHARDS    &    CO. 

1888. 


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r 


\AS  Vlb^i^'  (0 


SEP    in   i^?4 


PR^u;  OF 

JA«.    B.    HODOKR8   PRINTING  COMPANY, 

PHILADELPHIA. 


L.  J.  RICHARDS  &  CO. 


All  Mights  Reserved. 


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CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  II. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

PAOF. 

New  Castle  Ck)UNTY 611 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Wilmington 629 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
Wilmington,  Public  Improvements,  Etc.   .   .   .    663 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Wilmington,  Market-Houses 672 

CHAPTER    XXX. 
Welminoton,  Fire  Department 674 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Wilmington,  Schools 683 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
Wilmington,  Religious     699 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
Wilmikgton,  Banking 732 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
Wilminoton,  Commerce 749 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
WiLMiNOTOM,  Manufacturing 769 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
Wilmington,  Inns  and  Hotels 810 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
Wilmington,  Military     816 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
Wilmington,  Secret  Societies 817 


CHAPTER   XXXIX. 

PAGB 

Wilmington,  Beneficial  Societies,  Etc  ....    826 

CHAPTER  XL. 
Wilmington,  Literary  and  Musical  Societies.  834 

CHAPTER  XLL 
Wilmington,  Cemeteries 841 

CHAPTER  XLII. 
New  Castle  Hundred 848b 

CHAPTER  XLin. 
City  of  New  Castle 854 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 
Christiana  Hundred 880 

CHAPTER  XLV. 
Brandywine  Hundred 898 

CHAPTER  XLVL 
Mill  Creek  Hundred 914 

CHAPTER  XLVII. 
White  Clay  Creek  Hundred 932 

CHAPTER  XLVIII. 
Pencader  Hundred 948 

CHAPTER  XLIX. 
Red  Lion  Hundred 958 

CHAPTER  L. 
St.  George's  Hundred 981 

CHAPTER    LT. 
Appoquinimink  Hundred 1015 

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VI 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  LII. 
Blackbird  Hundred 


CHAPTER  LIII. 


Kent  County  . 


PAOB 

1023 


1028 


CHAPTER  LIV. 
Public  Buildings  and  Civil  Li8t 1031 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 

PAQR 

Lewes  and  Rehoboth  Hundred 1215 

CHAPTER  LXVII. 
Georgetown  Hundred 1237 

CHAPTER  LXVIII. 
Cedar  Creek  Hundred 1247 


CHAPTER  LV.                                   i                                CHAPTER  LXIX. 
Dover 1042  '  Broadkiln  Hundred 


1265 


CHAFfER  LVI. 
East  Dover  Hundred 1077 

CHAPTER  LVII. 
West  Dover  Hundred 1087 

CHAPTER  LVIII. 
Duck  Creek  Hundred 1091 

CHAPTER  LIX. 
Little  Creek  Hundred 1115 

CHAPTER  LX. 
Kenton  Hundred 1123 

CHAPTER  LXL 
North  Murderkill  Hundred 1130 

CHAPTER  LXIL 
South  Murderkill  Hundred 1147 

CHAPTER  LXin. 
MispiLLiON  Hundred 1171 

CHAPTER  LXrV. 


I 


CHAPTER  LXX. 
Indian  River  Hundred 1267 

CHAPTER  LXXI. 
Northwest  Fork  Hundred 1276 

CHAPTER  LXXII. 
Broad  Creek  Hundred 1285 

CHAPTER  LXXIII. 
Nanticoke  Hundred 1292 

CHAPTER  LXXIV. 
Seaford  Hundred 1301 

CHAPTER   LXXV. 
Little  Creek  Hundred 1315 

CHAPTER  LXXVI. 
Dagsborough  Hundred 1334 

CHAPTER  LXXVII. 
Baltimore  Hundred 1339 


CHAPTER  LXXVIIL 


MiLPORD  Hundred 1182    Gumborough  Hundred. 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

Sussex  County liOO 


1344 


Index 1347 


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LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


VOL.  IF. 


'  AcUoM.  John  H 746 

Aaburj,  Bishop  Francia. 716 

i  Bank  of  DeUwan 732 

*  BeiMoo,  N.  R 770 

f  Bright,  Wm. 808 

'  Bnah,  O.  W.  ftSoni 766 

1  Bush,  Chaa 776 

^Ckxier,  J.  B 960 

'Gui«r,  J.  B.,reddeDoe 948  ' 

f  ChurchmAD,  George  W 908 

<  CUrk,   Wm.  D 978 

Clayton  House 813 

*  Clajton,  Joshua 994 

^Ooehrao,  B.  A 1000 

<  Crawford,  J.  T 1002 

i  Commlns,  John lllO 

'  CummlM,  Geo.  W IU2 

*  Bean,  Win 988 

Delaware  Avenue  Baptist  Church... 724 

Delaware  State  Capitol. *..  1034 

<  Diamond  State  Iron  Co 778 

i  Dil worth,  Tlioa.  F * 982 

*  Donnao,  J.  B 1262 

*  Da  Pont  de  Nemours,  E.  I 763 

^  DuPont,  Alfred  V .*. 764 

*  Du  Pont,  Alexis  1 766 

''  Du  Pont,  La  Motte 767 

^Eliasoa,    Andrew 984 

'  Fenimon;,  J.  W 1120 

^Ferguson,  Baseett 1026 

Ferris,  Benjamin 634 

<  Frame,  Paynter 1270 

^  Friends'  Meeting-Heuse,  Old 711 

•Giles,  Isaac 1316 

Gilpin.  Hon.  E.W 743 

Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 720 

»  Hastings,  Wsshington 782 

»  Herbert,  Wm 878 

^Higgins,  Anthony  M 960 

*  HUlee,  KU - 687 

'  Hilles,  Samuel 688 

'HilleeAJoncs 784 

<  HoffiBcker,  John  H 1108 

'  Hollingsworth,  ElUah 768 

*  Jackson,  John  G 928 

'  Jacobs,  Mn.  M.  C 1276 

*  Jakea,  Jno.  T 1186 

Jenkins,  Jonathan 1070 

'  Jones,  Washington 738 

f  Kelley,  Alex 769 

Kent  County  Conrt-Honse  1035 

f  Knowles,  James  G „ 865 

*  Latimer,  Henry 736 

*  Lc«,  Wm.  A  Sons  Company „ 786 

'I  Lea,  Wm 788 

Lindsay,  D 797 

'  Lobdell  Car-Wheel  Co 776 

'  Lake,  Wm 796 

»  McGomh,  H.  8 764 

lUrket-House,  Old 674 

r  Martin,  E.  L 1312 

Masonic  Templs 840 

Memorial  Fountain 830 


I   . 


PAQB 

Mesrick,  Miles 1294 

Mitchell,  John 930 

Moore,  Charles 662 

Moore,  Bloomfield  H 792 

New  Csstle  Court-houie,  Old 616 

New  Castle  Court-Honse,  New (518 

Norny,  B.  B 1012 

Old  Shipping  Manifest 767 

Old  Swedes*  Church 706 

Pattln,  WelUngton 1282 

Pimng,  John 926 

Pony  Express. 668 

Poole,  J.  Morton 781 

Postles,  Stephen 790 

Presbyterian  Church,  Old 712 

Pusey  and  Jones  Company,  The 772 

Quigley,  Philip 807 

Beed,  JehuM 1160 

Beed,  JehuM.,  Res 1161 

Bichardson  House 880 

Bidgely,  H 1071 

Reybold,  Philip 904 

Robinson,  John  N 749 

Robinson,  RubertR 748 

Saunders,  John 794 

Second  Baptist  Church 723 

Security  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Building 747 

Seeds,  Joseph  C 806 

Seidel  and  Hastings  Co 7a3 

Shakespear,  Wm.  M 1084 

Shallcrosi,  Sereck  F... 995 

Sharpe,  Jewe 848 

Shaw,  James  G 864 

Shipley  Mansion 632 

Shipley,  Joseph tt32 

Simpson,  Clement  C 1174 

Smith,  Albert  W 741 

Smith  ft  Painter 799 

Smith,  Samuel 690 

St.  John's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 7C9 

Sussex  County  Court-House 1208 

Sussex  Manufacturing  Company 1242 

Tatman,  Chas lolO 

Tatnall,  Joseph 734 

Tharp,  Beniah 1172 

Treat,  G.  H.,  Manufacturing  Company 1942 

Vandegrift,  J.  M 988 

Vandegrift,  L.  G 989 

Vincent,  Francis 698 

Watson,  C.  S 1192 

Warner,  Chas.,  Oo 758 

Webb,  Capt.  Thomss „    911 

West,  Thomas 636 

West,  Thomas,  Building 636 

West  Presbyterian  Church 716 

Willey,  S.  J 696 

Willis,  J.  S 1198 

Wilmington  Boarding-School 689 

Wilmington  High  School 696 

Wilmington  Savings  Fund 740 

Wilson,  Wm I0I8 

Wiltbank,  Jno.  H 1256 

Wollaston,  Samuel 846 

iii 

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HISTORY    OF    DELAWARE. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 


NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


New  Castle  County  is  the  most  northern  county  of 
Delaware,  and  contains  an  areaof  ahout  five  hundred 
square  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Penn- 
syWania,  on  the  east  by  Delaware  River  and  Bay,  on 
the  south  by  Kent  County,  on  the  west  by  Maryland. 
It  is  drained  by  the  Brandywine  and  Christiana 
Kifera,  and  by  the  Red  Clay,  Red  Lion,  Duck  and 
Appoquinimink  Creeks.  It  is  the  most  populous  coun- 
ty in  Delaware,  and  in  manufactures  and  many  pro- 
dacts  exceeds  the  other  counties.  It  is  intersected  by 
the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore,  Wil- 
mington and  Northern,  Baltimore  and  Ohio,  and  Del- 
aware Railroads.  It  contains  the  city  of  Wilmington, 
and  Brandywine,  Christiana,  Mill  Creek,  White  Clay 
Creek,  New  Castle,  Pencader,  Red  Lion,  St.  George's, 
Appoquinimink  and  Blackbird  Hundreds.  Wilming- 
ton is  the  county-seat 

The  early  history  of  the  territory  embraced  in 
what  is  now  New  Castle  County  has  been  given  else- 
where in  the  general  history  of  the  State.  The 
county  first  assumed  its  boundaries  in  1673.  In  that 
year  the  New  Castle  Court  defined  the  boundaries  of 
the  county  as  being  *'  north  of  the  Steen  Kill,''  or 
Stony  Creekj  now  at  Quarry ville  (it  being  the  south 
line  of  a  tract  of  land  called  "The  Boght"),  and 
extended  southward  to  Bombay  Hook  and  Duck 
Creek;  and  it  also  embraced  land  on  the  eastern 
shore  of  the  Delaware,  now  in  New  Jersey. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  county  the  settlements 
were  infested  with  wolves.  To  remove  the  pests,  in 
1676,  the  court  passed  an  order  offering  forty  gilders 
for  each  wolf-head  brought  into  court.  This  order 
did  not  have  the  desired  efiect,  and  on  January  5, 
1677-78,  it  was  ordered  that  the  inhabitants  erect 
fifty  **  woolf-pittB  "  along  the  streams  before  May  1st, 
under  a  forfeiture  of  seventy- five  gilders. 

The  collections  of  customs  and  quit-rents,  being  in- 
sufficient to  defiray  the  current  expenses  of  the 
county,  in  1676  Governor  Andros  ordered  the  court 
to  raise  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  by  a  levy  upon  the 
inhabitants.  On  the  8th  of  June,  1677,  the  justices 
re^KHided  to  this  order  as  follows : 


"  Wkereatj  yonr  Honor  bath  been  pleaMd|to  sdmitt  of  a  Lery  by  the 
Pole,  wee  find  that  the  lame  can  not  be  paid  w^  oat  a  general  meeting 
or  High  Ooort  of  all  the  Juaticee  once  a  year.*' 

The  court,  at  this  meeting,  appointed  John  Moll  as 
treasurer,  and  on  the  18th  of  September,  1677,  passed 
the  following  order,  directed  to  Samuel  Land,  consta- 
ble of  New  Castle : 

*'Ton  are  hereby,  In  hie  Mag*>«"  name,  required  to  take  a  true  and  ex- 
act lift  of  all  the  Tydable  [Taxable]  persona  from  16  to  60  yeari  of 
adge,  wtk  in  yor  boanda,  w«k  ia  all  ye  aouth  aide  ef  Oristeena  Greeke,  and 
ao  downwards  to  the  south  syde  of  St.  Oeorge*s  Creek,  Including  all  the 
inhabitants  between  the  two  Creeks,  and  the  same  to  bring  att  ye  next 
Court  to  be  held  In  New  Castle,  on  ^e  flrat  Tuesday  of  ye  month  of 
Oct.  next,  for  the  doing  of  w«>>  thia  shall  bee  yo^  warrant 

** Given  under  my  hand  In  New  Castle  the  I8th  Sept,  1677. 
(Signed)  "John  Moll." 

A  similar  order  was  issued  to  Charles  Ramsey,  con- 
stable in  Christiana,  "  w"^  is  all  ye  north  syde  of  Cris- 
teena  Creeke  up  as  far  as  ye  Bogt  Creeke,  above  Oole 
fransen's  house." 

This  is  the  first  record  in  which  the  early  limits  of 
the  county  are  defined.  The  rate  was  to  each  person 
twelve  gilders  and  ten  styvers,  payable  either  in 
wheat  at  Give  gilders,  rye  four  gilders,  barley  four 
gilders,  schepple  Indian  corn  three  gilders,  schepple 
tobacco  eight  styvers  per  hundredweight,  pork  at 
eight  styvers  and  bacon  at  sixteen  styvers. 

The  list  of  taxables,  which  is  given  on  pages  153- 
154,  of  the  first  volume  of  New  Castle  County  Court 
Records,  contains  three  hundred  and  seven  names,  of 
which  sixty-four  are  given  as  residents  on  the 
''Easteame  Shoare/* 

The  phrase  "Eastearne  Shoare"  refers  to  the  now 
New  Jersey  shore,  which  was  then  supposed  to  be  a 
part  of  Delaware.  The  division  into  assessment  dis- 
tricts then  made  are  the  embryos  of  what  later  be- 
come hundreds.^ 

The  returns  of  the  constables  were  as  follows : 

**I)eceAiber  8,   1683,    New  Castle,    109  Uxablee;   North    Christina 


1  William  Penn,  in  a  letter  to  the  justices  of  the  peace  in  Sussex 
County,  dated  Cheeter,  the  25th  of  Tenth  Month,  1682,  in  writing  of 
land,  says:  *'That  you  endearor  to  seat  the  land  that  shall  hereafter  be 
taken  up  in  the  way  of  townshipa.  As  three  thonsind  acres  amongst 
Tenn  familys ;  if  single  persons  one  thousand  acres.  Amongst  Tenn  of 
them  laid  out  In  the  nature  of  a  long  square  five  or  Tenn  of  a  side,  and 
a  way  of  two  hundred  foot  broad  left  between  them  for  an  Highway  in 
the  Township,  and  I  would  have  you  careful  for  the  future  good  and 
grate  benefit  of  yonr  country." 

The  first  mention  of  the  term  "Hundred**  we  have  found  in  the 
public  reoords,  other  than  the  one  of  Duck  Creek  Hundred,  in  1687,  ie 
to  be  found  in  a  deed  dated  J.nuary  15,  I'rOS,  from  William  Grant,  of 
Appoqnenlmin  Hundred,  to  John  Domareer,  of  St  George's  Hundp 

Jigitized  by      611 


ndrMlI^ 


612 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Gnek,  66  taxablea ;  North  Side  Duck  Greek,  47  Uubles ;    from  St. 
George's  Creek  to  north  side  of  Appoquenomen,  50  taxablea. 

•♦  Febnuiry  17, 1684-86. 

"New  OMUe,  107  taxables. 

**  Te  north  of  Dack  Creek,  44  t&xables. 

**  South  dde  of  Appoquenomeu,  54  taxftbles. 

**  North  side  of  Christina  Creek,  87  taxables. 

*•  March,  1686.     . 

*'  New  Castle,  73  taxables. 

"  North  side  Christinft  Creek,  58  taxables. 

"North  side  Duck  Creeic,  41  taxables. 

"North  side  Appoquenomen,  51  taxables. 

**  Norch  Side  Brandy  wine,  26  taxables. 

''Of  St  George's,  4  taxables.'* 

In  1683  the  names  of  the  dietricts  were :  "  The 
Onstahulary  of  New  Castle,"  which  embraced  the 
present  territory  of  New  Castle  Hundred ;  "  The  Con- 
stabulary north  of  Christina  Creeke;"  "The 
Constabulary  on  the  north  side  of  Duck  Creek 
Creeke."  "A  list  of  the  inhabitants  of  ye  Constab- 
ulary from  St.  George's  Creek  to  the  north  side  of 
Appoquenemin." 

In  1687  the  district  now  embraced  in  **  Brandy  wine 
Hundred"  appears  distinct  and  separate,  as  follows: 
A  list  of  the  Taxables  on  the  north  side  of  Brandy- 
wine  Creek."  The  district  embraced  on  the  north 
side  of  Christiana  Creek  contained  what  is  now  Chris- 
tiana, Mill  Creek,  White  Clay  Creek  and  part  of 
Pencader  Hundred. 

In  the  same  year  Bed  Lion  was  embraced  in  the 
district  called  "  a  list  of  the  Taxables  on  the  north 
side  of  St.  George's  Creeke."  St.  George*s  Hundred 
was  embraced  in  "  a  list  of  Taxables  on  the  north 
side  of  Apoquenimy." 

The  term  "  hundred"  first  appears  in  the  following 
connection :  "A  list  of  the  taxables  of  north  side  of 
Duck  Creek  Hundred."  The  territory  is  what  is  now 
(1888)  Appoquinimink  and  Blackbird  Hundreds.  In 
1687  the  hundreds  of  Bed  Lion,  Pencader,  Mill 
Creek  and  White  Clay  Creek  were  not  mentioned. 

The  first  act  regularly  defining  the  territory  of  New 
Castle  County  was  made  in  1775,  and  declares  that 
the  hundreds  shall  remain  as  defined  by  the  ancient 
boundaries. 

The  last  grants  of  land  made  before  the  occupation 
of  the  territory  by  William  Penn,  in  October,  1682, 
were  made  at  the  September  court,  and  were  as 
follows : 

To  John  Hermsen,  500  acres ;  Andrew  Tilly,  200 
acres ;  John  Matthewson,  200  acres ;  Bichard  Smith, 
400  acres ;  Jonas  Askin,  200  acres ;  John  Williamson 
and  Bennit  Starr,  300  acres  ;  John  Nommerson,  100 
acres ;  Joseph  Barnes,  200  acres ;  John  Savoy,  200 
acres;  John  Grubb,  200  acres;  David  Hendrix,  200 
acres;  Thomas  Bell,  200  acres ;  William  Skart,  200 
acres ;  'John  Darby,  400  acres ;  Bobberd  Parke,  400 
acres ;  John  Smith,  200  acres ;  Joseph  Cookson,  200 
acres ;  Joseph  Moore,  100  acres ;  John  Smyth,  Whyte 
Claye  Creek,  200  acres ;  Anthony  Wallis,  150  acres ; 
Conrad  Constantine,  150  acres  ;  Hendrick  Garrettson, 
150  acres ;  Gyles  Barrett,  100  acres ;  Edmund  Linsey, 
200  acres;  James  Taylor,  400  acres;  Peter  Claesson, 
200  acres ;  Henry  Watkinson,  200  acres ;  John  Stal- 
cop,  Samuel  Peters  and  Andrew  Stalcop,  200  acres. 


From  this  time  warrants  and  patents  were  granted 
under  authority  of  William  Penn,  who  ordered  that 
all  occupants  of  land  not  having  their  lands  surveyed 
or  patented  should  report  the  same  to  the  court,  and 
complete  their  title. 

The  Swedes  and  Dutch,  under  the  English,  were 
allowed  to  remain  upon  their  lands,  and  were  quietly 
in  possession  when  Penn  assumed  authority,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1682.  Courts  were  organized  in  November  fol- 
lowing, and  Penn  took  measures  to  bring  the  foreign 
population  under  English  citizenship. 

At  a  court  held  at  New  Castle  on  the  21st  and 
22d  of  February,  1683,  at  which  Penn  was  present, 
the  following  form  of  naturalization  was  adopted, 
and  the  names  of  those  appended  are  the  Swedes 
and  Dutch  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
new  government : 

**  The  Proprietor  was  pleesed  to  state  ye  following  forme  for  those  u 
wanted  Naturalization,  according  to  Act  of  Assembly,  passed  at  Chester 
(als  Upland). 

**I,  A.  B.,  doe  solemly  promise  to  keep  faith  and  allegiance  to  ye  King 
of  England  &  his  heirs  and  successors,  fidelity  and  Lawful  obedience  to 
William  Penn,  Proprietary  and  Governor  of  the  Prorlnce  of  PensilTS' 
nia  and  its  Territories,  and  to  his  heirs  and  successors,  according  to  ye 
Lawe  of  Naturalization,  passed  in  Assembly  in  ye  month  of  December 
Laest  att  Chester  (als  Upland),  in  ye  province  aforesaid. 

**  Followeth  the  names  of  those  who  desired  to  bee  naturalized  io 
Court: 


•*  Peter  Alrichs. 
Arnold  De  Lagrange. 
Hendrick  Von  der  Burgh. 
John  Nommers. 
John  Barrentsen. 
Ambroose  Becker. 
Broor  Sinnexson. 
Hendrick  Garretson. 
Adam  Petersen. 
Jacob  Yandenreer. 
Garret  Jansen  Van  Beck. 
John  Hermonson. 
Mary  Blocq. 
Gerritt  Otte. 
Isaac  Saroy. 
Mathiu  de  Voe. 
Darid  Bilderseck. 
Hans  Petenion. 
Hendrick  Evertsen. 
die  Thomassen. 
Arent  Jansen  V.  Burgh. 
Peter  Jiuxjuet. 
Justa  Andriessen  de  haen. 
Peter  de  Coonilnch. 
Abraham  Enloos. 
Roelof  Andries. 
Jacob  Aertsen. 
Gick  Oelkins. 
Olle  Tearson. 
Jurian  Boatsman. 
Conrad  Constantine. 
Olle  Ollsen  Tassen. 
Lasse  Oeeen  Tassen. 
Peter  Claessen. 
Peter  De  Witt. 
Peter  Eschelsen  Cock. 
Andries  Stalcop. 
Paul  Gerritson. 
Hans  Hansen  Miller. 
Justa  ^ulson. 
Henry  Doll. 
Jaoobus  Andries. 
Hans  Codorus. 
Cornelius  Vanderveer. 
Joseph  Barrons. 
Jean  Paul  Jaquet. 
Jacob  Clementsen. 
Samuel  Peterson. 
Jan  Hendrickson. 
Hannen  Laurien. 
Niels  Nielsen  Ripot. 
Michael  Oelsen. 


Huyl)ert  Laurenson. 
ETert  Hendrickson. 
Jean  Garretson  Yerhoof. 
Gerrardus  Wessels. 
Hendrick  Walraven. 
Dirck  Williemsen. 
Jacob  Claasen. 
Dr.  Tymen  Stidden. 
Peter  Maisland. 
Jan  Bisk. 
Christopher  Myer. 
Comeles  Jansen  Vries. 
Jan  Jacquet  Jurian. 
Hendrick  Andriessen. 
John  Williamsen  Neering. 
Reyner  Vander  Collen. 
Moses  De  Gam. 
Olle  Poulsen. 
Paul  Laersen. 
Lucas  Stiddem. 
Mathias  Vander  heyden. 
Joslyn  Sempill. 
Mathias  De  Ringh. 
Willam  Croesie. 
Peter  Jogau. 
Simeon  Erkelson  Cock. 
Jan  Erkelson  Cock. 
Eldert  Egbertson  foreben. 
Anthony  Bryant. 
Hans.Marckussen. 
Gysbert  Walraven. 
Ephrani  Hermon. 
(^-asparus  Hermon. 
Hendrick  Dulgar. 
Jan  Peterson  troet. 
Hendrik  fronsen. 
Hendrick  Lemmens. 
Engelbert  Lott. 
Clays  Danielson  Prays. 
Jan  Valch. 
Sybrout  Valch. 
Isaacq  Tayne. 
Luloff  Stidden. 
Carell  Petersen. 
Jan  Moenseo. 
Erasmus  Stidden. 
Adam  Stidden. 
Samuel  Samuella. 
Oorell  Stalcop. 
Jan  Stalcop,  Jr. 
Sybrout  Jansen. 
Claeaj^ndrieasen.^ 


Digitized  by 


NEW  OASTIiB  COUNTY. 


613 


Mrdc  Hingbertaen. 

Ptotar  AbriDck. 

(Me  Clem«iiaon. 

bMlUasdeBiogh. 

JftD  Boyer. 

Jan  AndrieaBan  Steloop 


Bannon  Janaen. 
Laaaa  Andrlaa  OuUmn. 
MathoM  Laeraon  Toaaen 
Criatian  Andrieaaen. 
Peter  Bayard. 
Peter  Volkertaen.** 


The  descendants  of  many  of  these  persons  are 
still  residents  of  Delaware. 

The  hundreds  firom  time  to  time  assumed  inde- 
pendent relations,  and  by  1710  were  all  formed  under 
their  present  boundaries  with  the  exception  of  Wil- 
minjrton  and  Blackbird  Hundreds,  which  were  both 
Itid  out  within  the  last  fifty  years.  The  following 
t&xes  were  levied  at  various  times,  which  may  prove 
of  interest: 

£      $.   d. 

1775.  Chrtadana  Hundred  Powder  tax 580  18  0 

17W.  County  tax,  New  Caatle  Hundred 26,368  15  0 

Chriatiana  Hundred 38,336  5  0 

Brandywine  Hundred 15,382  10  0 

Sinking  Fund...  28,012  10  0 

Mill  Creek  Hundred 17,797  10  0 

Sinking  Fund...  32,251  10  0 

Pencader  Hundred 16,630  00  0 

Bed  Lion  Hundred 14,373  16  0 

Sinking  Fund...  25,872  16  0 

St  George  Hundred 86,048  15  0 

Appoquinimink  Hundred 27,210  00  0 

Sinking  Fund 48,978  00  0 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  Levy  Court  rec- 
ords of  1815,  and  contains  a  summary  of  taxes  in  that 
yew: 

'  AmomMl  of  vahuOiom  of  real  a»d  p«r»onal  propmiif  in  tk*  eouiU§  for  tht 
year  1815 : 

"  Brmndywlne  Hundred 1218,801 

Cbnitiana  "        819,876 

Pencader  "        189,096 

KewCMtle         "        302,756 

BcdLyon  " 128,763 

mUCraek         "        228,286 

White  Clay  C*k'*        143,992 

Ap|M)qnenlmlDk "        361,501 

StGeorge'a       '»        898,686" 

The  assessed  valuation  of  New  Castle  County  for 
the  year  1887  is  as  follows : 

Brandywine  Hundred $2,530,166 

Wilmington  Northern  DiaCrict 12,798,822 

Wilmington  Southern  Diatrict 11.029,173 

Chriatiana  Hundred 3,089,681 

Mill  Crwk  Hundred 2,339,469 

White  Clay  Creek  Hundrwl I,62u,l9l 

Pencader „ 1,472,680 

NewCbrtle 3,329,186 

8t.tieorge»i 3,495,623 

Appoqninimlnk 1,393,686 

Blackbird _ 980,537 

B*l  Lion 1,408,714 

Elections  had  been  held  before  1811  without  any 
special  legislative  action,  but  on  the  13th  of  January 
of  that  year  an  act  passed  the  General  Assembly  for 
the  purpose  of  regulating  general  elections  in  the 
State.  The  county  of  New  Castle  was  divided  into 
nine  districts,  each  embracing  the  territory  of  a 
hundred,  with  the  following  polling-places : 

1^  Brandywine  Hundred— Blue  Ball  Inn,  Concord  Boad,  kept  by 
Cwfe  MUler. 

Sd,  Chriatiana  Hundred— houae  of  Uary  Hendemn. 

H  MQI  CfMk  Hundred— Mermaid  Tarem,  William  BaU. 

4th,  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred — houae  of  John  Herdmen,  Newark. 

&th,  Pancader  Hundred— houae  of  Darkl  Armatrong,  Olaagow. 

ith,  New  CasUe  Hundred— John  Hare*a  Tavern  (now  Hare*a  Cor- 
nen). 

7Ui,  Bed  Uon  Hundrwl— Diana  Biddle*a  TaTem,  St  George'a. 

^  St.  Oeorge'a  Hundred— at  the  Trap  Houae  of  Thomaa  Comellly. 

^  Appoquinimink  Hundred— Jamea  Hilla'  Tavern,  Blackbird. 


The  county  of  New  Castle  is  at  present  divided 
into  forty-three  election  districts,  twenty-seven  of 
which  are  in  Wilmington  and  sixteen  embrace  the 
hundreds  of  the  county. 

The  population  of  New  Castle  by  the  census  of 
1880  is  &s  follows: 


Aiqpoqulnimink 2351 

Blackbird 1778 

Brandywine 3549 

Chriatiana 0140 

Mill  Creek 3474 

NewCaaUe 1568 

New  OaaUe  City 3700 

Pencader 2360 


Bed  Lion 2480 

(Including  Delaware  City  and 
St.  George'a.) 

St.  George*a 8793 

Middletown 1280 

Newark 1148 

White  Oay  Creek 1627 

Wilmington 42,478 


Forts,  Block  and  Court-Houses  and  Prlbons 
IN  New  Castle  County.— The  early  courts  of  New 
Castle  County  were  held  in  the  forts  that  were  erected 
by  the  Swedes  and  Dutch.  The  first  of  these  was 
Fort  Casimir,  which  was  erected  on  a  point  at  New 
Castle,  extending  out  into  the  Delaware  River,  which 
has  slowly  gained  upon  the  shore  and  washed  the  site 
away. 

Jean  Paul  Jacquet  was  appointed  Vice-Director  of 
the  territory  on  the  Delaware,  and  assumed  command 
of  the  fort  early  in  December,  1655.  He  appointed  a 
Council  for  the  colo  ny  and  laid  out  the  town  of 
New  Castle.  On  the  25th  of  December,  at  his  request 
Elmerhuysen  Cleyn,  Dirck  Smith,  Guysbert  Bracy, 
Hans  Hopman  and  Andraes  Hudde,  members  of  the 
Council,  examined  the  fort  and  reported  that  they 
found  it  "  to  be  decayed  in  its  walls  and  batteries  and 
that  if  the  same  fort,  if  a  good  work  is  to  be  made  of 
it,  must  be  run  up  from  the  ground,  whereas  the  out- 
work has  already  for  the  greater  part  fallen  under 
foot,  and  what  is  still  standing  must  necessarily  fall, 
because  it  is  burst  and  distended  (by  water).'' 

It  does  not  appear  whether  any  repairs  upon  the  fort 
were  made  under  Vice-Director  Jacquet,  as  he  was 
removed  in  March,  1657,  and  was  succeeded  in  May 
following,  by  Vice-Director  Jacob  Alrichs. 

In  reply  to  a  letter  of  the  Governor  on  June  14th  and 
20th,  in  the  same  year,  he  say  s :  ''  Thereto  comes  that 
in  such  a  newly  b^^n  work  daily  great  burdens  and 
expenses  will  occur  quite  unexpec  tedly,  also  that  the 
fort  and  other  [buildings]  are  much  decayed,  so  that 
there  is  no  warehouse  or  other  place  to  store  the  pro- 
visions, etc.,  and  protect  them  against  rain  and  other 
damages ;  the  quarters  too,  are  too  small,  besides  very 
leaky  and  very  much  out  of  re  pairs :  the  ramparts  and 
curtains  in  no  way  suitable,  the  platforms  for  the  can- 
nons unfit  for  use,  the  parapets  so  decayed  that  one  can 
pass  over  them  as  easily  as  through  the  inner  gate  itself, 
so  that  also  an  outer  gate  had  to  be  made  to  be  some- 
what in  position  of  defence  mostly  [against]  the 
Swedes,  who  still  [nourish]  great  hopes  to  be  rein- 
stated." 

Alrichs  writes  to  the  Governor,  March  18, 1658,  that 
"  the  house  in  the  Fort  in  which  I  live,  has  been 
raised  one  third  for  a  chamber  and  a  garret.  ...  I 
have  also  been  obliged  to  make  a  new  guard-house,  as 
the  old  one  could  not  be  used  and  was  entirely  de- 
cayed." 


Digitized  by 


Google 


614 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


After  Mr.  Alrichs'  death  in  December,  1669,  Alex, 
ander  de  Hinijossa  was  in  command. 

The  court-room  is  mentioned  as  held  in  the  fort  the 
first  time  on  June  30, 1660.  Commissary  Beekman 
writing  from  Fort  Altena  in  reference  to  the  inven- 
tory of  the  late  Mr  Alrichs'  property  and  of  Mr.  de- 
Hinijossa's,  said :  "  That  the  city  would  take  it  very 
ill  that  their  court- room  was  so  despoiled  of  chairs, 
books,  pictures  and  other  things."  This  room  was  in  the 
upper  story  of  a  building  within  the  walls  of  the  fort, 
as  is  shown  by  a  letter  from  William  Beekman,  dated 
9th  of  Seventh  Month  1661,  where  he  says, "  I  appeared 
yesterday  before  the  court  in  the  fort  of  New  Amstel 
where  I  found  not  more  than  two  persons.  .  .  .  John 
Hendrick  and  Pieter  Pietersen  Herder,  which  two 
Commissaries  made  me  come  up  stairs  in  the  court 
room." 

On  the  6th  of  October,  1670,  Capt.  John  Carr,  com- 
mander, made  proposals  to  the  Council  at  New  Castle 
setting  forth  "  that  a  suitable  place  might  be  selected 
here  at  New  Castle  to  erect  some  fortifications  for 
times  of  need,  and  that  another  place  might  be 
chosen  above  Christiana  Kill,  which  would  serve  as 
retreat  in  times  of  need,  and  should  also  be  forti- 
fied." 

The  Council  took  the  subject  under  consideration 
and  it  was  resolved  : 

"  1.  That  it  WM  thought  the  market-place  where  the  bell  hangs  was  the 
rooet  coDTenleDt  place  in  New  Castle  to  erect  block-houses  for  defensive 
purposes,  and  It  was  resolved  to  give  the  order  accordingly,  provided  his 
Honor,  Captain  Carr,  shall  cede  forever  the  ground  necenary  thereto 
without  retaining  any  claim  on  it.  As  to  the  expenses  and  labor  re- 
qnbred  for  the  aforesaid  fortifications  and  block-houses,  the  citizens  of 
New  Oastle  are  first  to  advance  money,  each  according  to  his  means 
and  position,  to  pay  the  laborers,  provided  that  inhabitants  of  this  dis- 
trict, able  to  do  all  such  work,  shall  be  held  to  assist  in  the  work  as 
occasion  may  require. 

*'  2.  Concerning  the  fortifications  above,  the  matter  is  left  to  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  people  there,  to  choose  the  most  convenient  place  or 
places  for  the  defence.  All,  however,  with  the  undemtanding  that,  if 
no  war  breaks  out  with  the  natives,  which  Cod  may  prevent,  the  said 
houses  shall  be  used  for  the  public  services,  as  council  house,  prison 
and  for  other  public  purposes,  while  they  may  be  used  as  such  by  the 
whole  Kiver  for  a  generall  and  public  account  and  expenses. 

**This  resolution  shall  not  be  carried  into  eflbct  without  order  of  his 
Honor,  the  General,  but  preparations  may  be  made  in  secret  without 
arousing  suspicion  among  the  natives. 

(Signed)  •'  John  Carr, 

**  Will  Tom, 
••  U.  Black. 
**Pktkr  Rambo, 

"  PRTER  KOCK.'* 

A  few  days  after  this  action  Captain  Carr  wrote 
to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  New  York,  rel- 
ative "  to  some  matters  touching  ye  towne  of  New 
Castle  and  Plantacons  on  Delaware  River."  Con- 
cerning the  block-house,  he  says : 

"That  ye  Towne  of  New  Castle  being  y«  strength  of  y«  River  and 
only  capable  to  defend  itselfe  against  ye  sudden  violence  &  Incursion  of 
ye  Indian^  It*s  humbly  left  to  consideracon  whether  y*  inhnbitants 
should  not  have  some  more  than  ordinary  encouragement  As  first. 
That  a  Block-House  may  be  erected  in  some  convenient  Flare  of  y« 
towns,  where  a  constant  watch  may  be  kept,  now  y«  fTorte  is  fallen 
into  mine  A  decay,  for  the  common  Defense  ;  the  which  will  coste 
noe  great  matt'  A  may  be  risen  at  y«  charge  and  expense  of  y«  Inhab- 
itants of  y«  Towne  &  Plantations  upon  y*  River,  who  will  not  be  back- 
wards (if  any  Order  shall  be  i»ued  forth  for  it)  in  contributing  towards 
ye  same. 

"  That  ye  Houses  in  ys  fTorte  being  soo  greatly  decayed  as  they  cannot 
stand  long,  their  Tiles,  Brick,  Iron,  or  other  Materials  may  be  taken 
downs  in  time  and  preserved  for  ye  building  a  new  House  in  their 
Boome  when  opportunity  permits." 


William  Tom,  the  clerk  of  the  court  at  New  Castle, 
in  a  letter  to  Qov.  Lovelace,  dated  March  9,  1671, 
says  : 

**  Sixthly,  or  intencon  hers  is  to  build  a  blockhouse,  40  foots  square 
wt^  4  att  every  end  for  fflancks  in  the  middle  of  the  Towns,  the  fort  not 
being  fitt  to  be  repaired,  and  if  repaired  of  noe  defence,  lying  at  the 
extreme  end  of  the  towne,  and  noe  garrison ;  therefore  wee  beg  that 
wee  may  have  libty  to  pull  it  downe  and  make  use  of  the  tile,  bricks 
and  other  materials  for  the  use  of  o^  new  intended  fortificacon,  w«i>,  if 
we  have  noe  occaidon  for,  as  we  fear  wee  shall,  will  bse  convenient  for 
a  court  house,  notwithstanding. " 

These  matters  were  considered  by  the  Council  in 
New  York  June  14,  1671,  which  decided,  first: 

*'A8  to  y*  first  Branch,  ye  Inhabitants  of  y*  Towne  of  New  Castle  may 
assure  themselves  of  all  due  Encouragement.  And  what  is  proposed  as 
to  y*  Erecting  of  a  Block-House  for  their  Common  Defence  its  very  well 
approved  of.  The  officers  there  being  hereby  Authorixed  to  prosecute 
that  Designe  by  enjoyuing  ye  Inhabitants  and  others  concerned  to  goe 
on  and  finish  the  same." 

Section  thirteen  recites: 

•'  It  is  left  to  ye  care  of  y  Captain  Carr  and  y*  rest  of  y«  Oflic««  in  New 
Castle  to  see  that  the  Materials  in  ye  Forte  be  preserved  in  y*  best 
manner  they  shall  think  fitt,  who  have  likewise  Liberty  to  dispose  of 
Nuch  of  them  toward  ye  Erecting  of  y«  new  ITorte  or  Block-House  as 
there  shall  be  occasion.** 

It  was  also  provided  in  this  answer  from  the 
Council  that  the  license  fees  for  distilling  strong 
liquor  "shall  goe  toward  ye  reparacon  of  ye  New 
Block  House  or  fforte  or  some  other  publicque  work." 

The  work  was  begun,  but  proceeded  slowly,  and  in 
the  summer  of  the  next  year  (1672)  Captain  Edmund 
Cantwell,  who  was  then  high  sheriff  of  New  Castle, 
wrote  to  Governor  Lovelace,  asking : 

**That  his  Honor  would  please  to  give  his  instnictions  about  the 
finishing  y*  Block-House  in  Delaware  w«>>  standeth  still  in  that  posture 
his  Honor  left  it  It  is  high  time  that  some  speedy  order  bee  taken 
therein  in  regard,  not  only  of  the  troubles  now  likely  to  ensue  fh>m  the  / 
Warrs  in  Europe,  but  that  what  is  already  expended  thereupon  will  be 
as  good  as  thrown  away  by  reason  as  it  is  now  it  only  stands  and  rotts. 
It  Is  humbly  conceived  that  the  most  efTectiiall  means  to  be  used  for  ye 
accomplishment  will  be  by  a  Cien*  Tax  to  bee  imposed  both  upon  ye 
Towne  and  Kiver." 

Before  the  fort  or  block-house  was  completed  the 
Dutch  again  become  the  dominant  power,  and  at  a 
meeting  held  at  Fort  William  Hendrick,  12th  of 
September,  1673,  by  the  commanders  of  the  forts  and 
territory,  Jacob  Benckes,  Cornells  Evers,  Jr.,  and 
Captain  Anthony  Colve,  the  deputies  from  South 
River,  appeared  and  presented  their  credentials,  and 
the  following  concerning  the  forts  or  block-houses 
was  granted : 

"  2.  Somebody  shall  be  appointed  Commander  at  the  South  River  with 
authority  to  enlist  10  or  12  men  at  our  expense,  and  to  summon  the 
sixth  man  from  the  whole  population  of  the  river,  and  order  them  to 
make  a  fort  on  a  suitable  place,  if  the  (^nmniander  deems  it  necessary, 
and  as  reward  and  in  consideration  of  the  great  expenses  which  the 
inhabitants  of  the  South  River  will  have  to  incur  in  erecting  the  fort, 
they  are  herewith  granted  fk«edom  ftvm  all  ground  taxes,  and  from 
excise  on  beer,  wine  and  distilled  waters  which  may  be  cousuuied  at  the 
South  River  until  the  month  of  May,  1676.** 

It  is  not  shown  that  a  fort  was  built  by  the  Dutch, 
or  that  they  even  completed  the  one  at  New  Castle. 
They  were  driven  out  by  the  English  in  November 
of  the  following  year. 

On  the  15th  of  August,  1675,  a  letter  was  written  by 
the  magistrates  to  Governor  Andross,  in  which  occurs 
the  following : 

*•  As  for  that  part  of  your  honor*s  letter  concerning  Oapt.  Carr's  Val- 
ley, itt  was  never  improved  in  the  least ;  itt  is  o^  humble  desire  the  fort 
lying  on  the  other  side  may  be  removed,  ^c^    .    making  of  a   Court 

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HooM  And  that  eome  otb«r  conTenienc«fl  may  be  made  by  itt  Tor  a  prison, 
both  being  Tery  necesmry  for  this  Towne'aud  river,  and  whore  it  stands 
rather  datrimeotal  than  otherwise  to  the  place,  that  itt  may  be  done  at 
the  puMiqne  charge  of  the  whole  river  and  bay,  itt  beiDg  a  geuerall 
cooceroe  that  tlmre  may  be  some  tax  layed  for  the  expense  of  the  High 
Court  and  Loir  Court,  it  formerly  being  one  sch  of  Wheat  for  the  High 
Cottrt  and  one  sch  of  Bye  for  the  Low  Court.'* 

The  Council  at  New  York,  September  16,  1676 : 

"Ordered  That  ye  Block  House  at  New  Castle  bee  removed  &  built  at 
j«  hack  side  of  yo  Towne,  about  ye  middle  of  it,  at  or  neare  ye  old  Block 
HooBR,  wherein  there  may  be  a  Court  House  and  a  prison/' 

There  is  a  tradition  that  at  onetime  a  fort  or  block- 
house stood  at  the  west  end  of  the  town,  near  a  lane 
still  known  as  "  Fort  Lane/'  and  it  is  quite  probable 
this  block-house,  that  was  ordered  to  be  removed, 
stood  at  or  near  that  locality.  That  it  was  built  about 
1670  or  soon  after  on  the  market-place  is  shown  by 
the  following  memorandum  made  by  the  Hon.  George 
Read: 

"  Ai  to  the  Market  Square.  In  a  survey  made  in  1688  by  Ephraim 
Herman,  for  Cbipt.  Markham,  of  1078  [acres]  land  called  Markham's 
Hope,  adjoining  to  the  little  marsh  below  the  town  of  New  Castle,  there 
is  a  Plan  or  representation  of  the  said  town  and  therein  is  laid  down  the 
Sqaan  in  the  centre  of  the  town  called  '  The  Market  Phtine,"  in  which 
iqaan  the  Fort  ifl  represeuted  as  standing  in  the  place  where  Immauuel 
ChBTch  DOW  isw" 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1676,  the  magistrates 
wrote  to  Grovernor  Andross  on  municipal  affairs  and 
said:  "There  being  no  prison  for  ye  securing  of  deb- 
tors, fugitives  and  malefactors,  who  often  make  their 
escape  for  want  of  the  same.  Wee  therefore  desire 
his  Honor's  order  for  the  erecting  of  a  prison,  w*=^  wee 
Imadgine  would  be  Convenient  to  stand  in  ye  Fort." 
This  request  was  granted  November  23,  1676,  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  Allowed  that  a  prison  bee  built  in  ye  Fort  and  the  Sheriff  to  bee  re- 
■poi^ble  for  the  Prisoners." 

The  following  is  of  record  of  court,  February  7, 1677 : 

"According  to  his  hono^  the  Governor  order,  itt  was  this  day  Resolved 
uA  omcludcd  by  the  Conunander  and  Court,  that  a  prison  w*i>  a  dun- 
g«mi  under  itt  bee  built  in  the  forte  w*i>  all  expedition,  also  a  weigh< 
boase  to  bee  built,  with  the  Lyke  Expedition,  in  ?onie  convenient  place 
Mare  the  wat«r8yde,  manner  of  building  the  same  is  Left  to  the  Contry- 
vaoce  k  ordering  of  Oapt  John  Colier  &  Mr.  Moll." 

In  February,  1677,  the  repairs  and  improvements 
to  be  made  were  placed  in  charge  of  Captain  Collier 
and  John  Moll,  and  the  court,  on  October  3d  of  the 
same  year,  ordered  a  court-room  to  be  fitted  up,  as  ap- 
pears in  the  following : 

"It  was  this  day  resolved  and  Mr.  John  Moll  desired  by  ye  court  wee 
would  Rdmbonree  so  mutch  as  for  ye  mutcheing  upp  of  ye  Court  Roome, 
in  ye  forte,  fltt  for  ye  Court  to  sitt  in  ye  winter  tyiue,  and  yt  the  same 
reimhonrsement  bee  paid  him  out  of  yo  Levy  to  be  paid. 

"  The  Court  doe  allow  to  ye  measons  to  finish  ye  chimney  in  ye  forte  as 
it  might  bee  2fi0  gilders." 

The  court-room,  prison,  stocks  and  dungeon  were 
inclosed  in  the  walls  of  the  fort  or  block-house. 

C!ommander  Billop  was  in  the  fort  on  the  26th  of 
September,  1677,  when  a  disturbance  occurred  between 
him  and  Francis  Jackson,  which  caused  a  rupture 
between  Billop  and  the  court. 

Many  complaints  were  also  made  against  Captain 
Billop  during  the  winter  of  1677-78,  which  were 
brought  before  the  Court  March  8,  1678,  as  follows : 

"  That  for  the  whole  winter  and  now  he  makes  use  of  ye  Towne  forte 
vhers  the  watch  on  occasion  is  kept,  for  a  stable  to  put  his  horses.  That 
he  keeps  the  Court  Roome  above  in  the  Fort  filled  with  hay  and  fother 
that  he  keeps  hogbs  within  yo  forte  walls  and  by  that  means  keeps  ye 


gates  continually  lockt  up.  That  he  hath  and  doth  still  debar  this  Court 
ftx>m  sitting  in  their  tuual  place  in  the  forte.  That  he  makes  use  of  ye 
soldiers  (who  is  in  pay  and  is  kept  for  to  looke  to  ye  forte  and  to  keep 
itt  clean)  about  his  owne  Pryvit  affyres,  Ac.  That  he  has  denyed  and 
forbidden  the  Sheriffe  to  put  any  prizoners  in  ye  usaall  prison  In  the 
forte." 

0th  er  complaints  were  made  against  him  in  relation 
to  other  matters.  In  reply  to  these  complaints  Cap- 
tain Billop  said: 

"  That  hee  had  only  to  doe  w«h  the  forte  and  militia  and  that  the  Court 
should  not  sitt  in  the  forte  and  that  itt  not  concerned  the  Court,  and  as 
to  Customs,  Ac,  Ac." 

After  a  long  dispute  Captain  Billop  promised  to  re- 
move the  horses  out  of  the  fort  and  to  cause  the  some 
to  be  made  clean,  and  he  said  ''the  Court  mis^ht  sitt 
there  again,  Lykewise  that  the  Sheriffe  might  againe 
make  use  of  ye  country  prison  as  formerly."  These 
charges  were  forwarded  to  New  York  and  Billop  or- 
dered before  the  Council. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Peter  Alrichs,  August  24, 
1678,  and  the  following  is  an  inventory  of  stock  be- 
longing to  the  fort: 

"Forts  ammunition  and  guns  received  from  Capt. 
Billop,  belonging  to  ye  Forte,  viz :  8  yron  Guns,  7 
Leaden  aprons,  18  Match  Locks,  6  fyre  Locks,  in  all 
24  Musquetts,  12  Collers  of  bandeleers,  66  yron  Shott. 
466  Musquetts  bullets,  one  and  one  third  barrills  of 
powder,  3  quires  of  Cartridge  paper,  12  skaynes  of 
Match,  2  Leadells,  3  sponges,  3  Rammers,  1  loadge 
Barrell,  1  Lant  stike.  In  New  Castle. — Signed  John 
Moll,  Peter  Alrich,  September  6,  1678." 

From  this  time  the  civil  magistrates  assumed  the 
entire  control  of  affairs,  and  although  Peter  Alrich 
was  appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  fort,  he  did  not 
have  the  same  authority  as  the  former  commanders. 
The  fort  was  kept  up  a  few  years  later,  and  the  walls 
were  still  standing  October  27-28,  1682,  when  William 
Penn  arrived  off  New  Castle,  to  receive  the  territory 
from  the  justices.  But  little  mention  is  made  of  it 
from  that  time,  and  the  walhs  were  removed  a  few 
years  later.  How  long  the  court-house  that  was  in 
the  upper  room  was  used  for  the  court  is  not  known, 
as  the  court  records  from  1680  to  1766  are  very  mea- 
gre. It  is  the  opinion  of  those  best  informed  that  the 
east  wing,  now  in  part  used  for  the  mayor's  office,  was 
the  old  court-house  of  that  day.  As  has  been  stated 
the  provincial  courts,  which  were  then  presided  over 
by  William  Penn,  were  often  held  in  the  court-house 
at  New  Castle.  The  meetings  of  the  Council  and 
General  Assembly,  before  the  dismemberment  of  the 
three  lower  counties  from  the  mother  colony,  were 
often  held  at  the  same  place.  It  is  probable  that  the 
main  part  of  the  old  court-house,  sometimes  called 
the  State- House,  wasbuiltabout  1704,  as  the  courts  and 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  province  held  their  session 
at  New  Castle,  the  latter,  with  few  exceptions,  from 
May  24,  1704,  to  1779,  when  it  was  removed  to  Dover. 
The  date  of  erection  of  the  old  building  or  either  of 
the  wings,  are  beyond  the  memory  or  tradition  of  the 
oldest  inhabitants.  That  the  court-house,  with  the 
wings,  was  completed  and  in  use  before  the  Revolution 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


is  evident  from  the  following,  which  bears  date  No- 
vember 26,  1771. 

"The  court  taking  into  consideration  the  danger 
resulting  to  the  court-house  and  the  other  public 
building  thereto  adjoining  by  fire,  by  reason  of  the 
two  wings  of  the  court-house  being  used  for  school- 
houses.  Do  order  that  the  said  two  wings  of  the 
court-house  shall  not  be  occupied  as  school-houses  or 
used  for  any  other  purpose  whatsoever." 

The  jail  in  1771  was  in  the  rear  of  the  court-house, 
and  joined  it  on  the  northeast  side.  It  was  used  for 
jail  purposes  until  1793,  when  a  new  jail  was  built. 
In  1786  it  was  repaired  and  new  floors  put  in.  A 
new  jail  was  erected  nearly  on  the  same  site  of  the 
present  jailer's  residence,  extending  from  Market 
Square  northwestward,  which  was  not  very  strong, 
as  the  Levy  Court,  November  24,  1795,  reported  that 
prisoners  had  escaped  from  under  the  hearths,  and 
recommended  iron  bars  to  be  put  under  them.  The 
doors  also  were  barred,  as  they  had  been  sawed  into, 
and  near  the  hasp  had  been  burned  off,  and  a  prisoner 


//'■'■ 

r 

\ 

^ 

si 

V- r  ^n  1 

f 

3 

PiP 

m 

ti^ 

^^^WH 

■n 

^St^fS^M, 

OLD  NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY  COURT-HOUSE, 
At  New  GasUe. 

had  escaped.  At  the  same  term  of  court  the  old  jail 
was  ordered  prepared  for  a  work-house,  and  was  used 
as  such  with  repairs  until  1811-12,  when  $3000  was 
appropriated  to  rebuild  the  work-house.  The  Levy 
Court,  September  28,  1824,  appropriated  $500  to  build 
in  the  jail-yard  adjoining  the  west  end  of  the  jailer's 
house,  a  building  for  the  confinement  of  debtors,  and 
the  next  year  appropriated  $300  for  furnishing  the 
debtors'  apartments.  These  rooms  were  between  the 
east  wing  of  the  court-house  and  what  is  now  the 
present  jailer's  residence. 

At  the  same  term  $400  was  appropriated  for  erecting 
a  wall  around  the  back  yard  of  the  jail,  and  in  March, 
1825,  $868.82  were  approprifted  for  completing  it. 
The  work-house,  debtors'  apartments  and  "new  jail," 


were  used  until  the  present  (1888)  jail  was  erected. 
A  new  whipping-post  was  erected  in  October,  1798, 
by  John  Aull,  at  a  cost  of  $12.  Henry  Darby,  an 
inn-keeper  in  New  Castle,  was  appointed  to  make 
repairs  on  the  court-house  in  1790,  and  on  December 
28,  1794,  a  petition  was  made  to  the  court  by  a  judge 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  the  judge  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  and  several  jurymen,  **  alleging  this  Dec- 
ember term,  that  the  lower  court-room  of  the  court- 
house, in  its  present  condition,  is  very  inconvenient 
for  transacting  of  public  business  and  requiring  re- 
pairs." Dr.  George  Monro,  Alexander  Reynolds  and 
Arnold  Naudain  were  appointed  to  make  a  report, 
which  was  done,  and  repairs  were  declared  necessary. 
Particular  mention  was  made  of  the  stairs  formerly 
erected  in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  store-house, 
which  were  on  the  outside,  in  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  main  building,  and  in  the  angle  that  is  now 
used  as  a  post-office,  and  led  to  the  second  story  over 
the  court-room.  The  judge's  stand  in  the  lower  court- 
room, as  it  were  in  the  olden  time  was  on  the  north- 
west side  of  the  room. 

In  May,  1798,  the  clerk  of  the  peace  petitioned 
the  court  for  more  commodious  quarters  to  keep 
safely  the  records  and  papers  of  the  offices.  Meas- 
ures were  taken  to  fit  up  the  west  wing  for  that  pur- 
pose, for  the  accommodation  of  the  clerk  of  the  peace 
and  the  clerk  of  the  Superior  Court,  and  the  offices 
were  kept  there  until  their  removal  to  Wilmington. 

The  jail  built  in  1793  was  used  until  1858.  The 
Levy  Court,  in  March,  1855,  resolved  to  build  a 
new  jail,  and  William  D.  Clark,  Eli  Todd,  Thomas 
Scott,  John  T.  Smith  and  Thomas  Hendrickson 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  visit  other  places 
and  examine  jails  with  a  view  of  erecting  one  at 
New  Castle.  Plans  were  drawn  and  accepted,  and  the 
present  jail  was  built. 

The  old  whipping-post  stood  on  the  Market  Square, 
in  the  rear  of  the  old  market  shed.  It  was  moved 
later  on  the  green  between  the  arsenal  and  the  jail 
wall,  where  it  stood  until  1853,  when  it  was  moved  to 
its  present  location. 

For  more  than  a  hundred  years  earnest  efforts 
had  been  made  to  remove  the  county-seat  of  New 
Castle  County  to  some  other  place.  In  the  year 
1765  the  justices  at  New  Castle  became  alarmed  at 
the  frequent  passing  on  the  river  of  Spanish  pirates, 
and  wrote  to  Judge  Richard  Peters,  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  subject,  suggesting  that  the  books  and  rec- 
ords be  taken  to  Christiana  Bridge  for  safe  keeping. 
This  was  carried  into  effect. 

In  1803  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  to  remove 
the  county-seat  from  New  Castle.  The  subject  was 
brought  before  the  General  Assembly  in  that  year,  but 
received  little  attention.  The  originators  of  the 
plan,  however,  were  in  earnest,  and  on  the  Uth  of 
January,  1810,  John  Way,  Senator  from  New  Castle, 
laid  upon  the  members'  desks  petitions  signed  by  hve 
hundred  citizens  of  New  Castle  County,  setting  forth 
reasons  why  the  county-seat  should  be  removed. 


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The  reasons  they  gave  were  as  follows : 

*  lb  0$  homomvite^  the  LegiOabMrt  of  Oke  State  of  Deloneare,  m  Oottond 


"The  PKrrriOK  of  tbe  undersigned,  Citizeni  of  New-Oastle  County, 
"  kapteiMbf  Bkftoolh^ 

"That  th«  people  of  this  connty,  through  the  continued  increase  of 
popiilatioii,  have  long  laboured  under  the  greatest  inconrenienoea,  in 
cottSNiuence  of  the  ineligible  situation  of  the  present  seat  of  Justice  of 
this  county,  the  reason  of  which  we  beg  leave  to  submit  to,  and  to 
request  your  honorable  body  to  grant  such  redress,  as  you,  in  your 
wiadom,  may  think  proper, 

**  A  handful  of  Swedes,  in  the  year  lt{27,  in  making  New  Gbstle  and 
its  licinity  their  place  of  settlement,  Hkewtse  made  that  town  their 
Mat  of  Jnstice,  not  through  choice  only,  but  necessity. — They  were  then 
tbe  first  settlers  on  the  Delaware— the  forests  at  their  backs  were  then 
filled  with  lawless  and  savage  inhabitants ;  it  was  therefore  absolutely 
oKcsMry,  that  their  seat  of  Justice,  as  well  as  their  chief  place  of  real* 
doice,  should  be  so  situated  as  to  afford  them,  in  case  of  an  attack,  a 
sftfe  and  speedy  retreat  to  their  vessels  for  protection.  Perhaps  it  ex> 
cMded  their  most  sanguine  expectations  to  suppose  that  the  rugged  face 
of  nature  around  them  would  one  day  undergo  the  polish  of  a  refined 
ijBtein  of  agriculture  ;— that  prosperous  towns  and  villages  would  arise 
to  tbrir  view,  and  the  bus  of  their  industrious  inhabitants  resound 
through  the  interior ;  and  if  the  said  settlers,  by  reason  of  their  pecu- 
Ifar  Btnation,  did  place  the  seat  of  Justice  where  it  now  is,  they  left 
it  to  the  represent!  vo  wisdom  of  a  Freo  Poopki  to  make  such  regula- 
tk«s  relative  to  it,  as  might  appear  proper  for  their  convenience  and 
Mfety. 

"The  leading  features  of  our  government— the  liberty  of  the  impor- 
tant right  of  Bttflfrage,  and  the  constitution  of  our  Judicial  establleh- 
aents,  imperiously  require  the  seat  of  Justice,  with  the  valuable  rec- 
odiattached  to  it,  to  be  placed  in  the  most  central  and  secure  situation 
the  nature  of  the  country  will  admit  of. 

"The  present  seat  of  Justice  is  situated  at  the  extreme  edge  of  the 
eouty,  remote  from  the  centre  of  population,  and  of  difficult  access  to 
the  greatest  portion  of  our  citizens — to  the  southern  part  of  the  country, 
by  reason  of  its  inhabitants  having  to  travel  the  distance  of  thir^  miles 
nend  an  extensive  cove  of  the  river ;  and  to  the  westward  and  north- 
ers part  of  the  country,  the  remoteness  of  the  situation  is  equally  in- 
reaveciSent  and  highly  objectionable — ^the  present  seat  of  Justice  being 
on  the  most  extended  promontory  the  first  settlers  could  find. 

**  In^the  present  piratical  state  of  the  world,  and  in  particular  during 
the  peculiar  situation  of  our  general  govamment,  with  respect  to  the 
■oTcreigttS  of  the  ocean,  and  our  incapability  of  defence,  there  is  reason 
wrkrasly  to  ^yprehend,  from  its  exposed  position,  that  the  town  of  New 
CMh  may,  at  no  distant  period,  with  the  court  house  and  the  records 
ot  the  county  (the  property  of  the  public),  be  involved  in  a  common 
destruction. 

"  Tour  petitioners  beg  leave  to  observe  to  your  honorable  body,  that 
the  rscords  of  Kew-Csstle,  by  reason  of  their  being  deposited  in  so  hn- 
proper  a  place,  have  already  been  mutilated,  to  the  g^reat  loss  of  the 
dtiMn»~«nd  that  there  is  good  reason  at  present  to  fear  a  similar  dep- 
redation may  be  repeated. 

"  There  are  few  counties  in  the  neighbouring  states  that  have  not  sub- 
mitted to  a  removal  of  their  ssat  of  Justice,  even  where  sufThige  is  ex- 
wcleed  in  districts ;  and  a  recent  example  has  occurred  in  our  sister  coun- 
ty of  Sussex,  whose  seat  of  Justice  has,  within  a  few  years,  been  removed 
to  a  nnore  central  position,  from  the  margin  of  the  Delaware. 

"  Tour  petitioner^  therefore,  request  your  hononU>le  body,  to  enact 
rarh  kws,  ss  you  may  think  advisable,  for  the  removal  of  the  seat  of 
jostice  of  Kew-GasCle  county,  &om  its  present  to  a  more  central  and 
ncure  situation  for  the  citizens  of  the  said  county— and,  as  in  duty 
bound,  will  ever  pray." 

This  petition  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  three, 
and  soon  after  Andrew  Reynolds,  of  the  committee, 
reported  a  bill,  which  was  read.  Adam  Williamson, 
Xehemiah  Til  ton,  Joseph  Burns,  John  Crow,  John 
Way,  William  Cooch,  George  Clarke,  Francis 
Haughey  and  John  Clarke  were  appointed  to  exam- 
ine for  a  location,  not  exceeding  hve  acres,  within 
two  miles  of  Christiana  Bridge. 

The  Committee  on  Unfinished  Business  for  the  see- 
don  of  1811  reported  a  bill,  but  it  was  not  acted  upon 
during  that  session.  At  the  session  of  1838  numer- 
ous petitions  were  again  sent  in,  presented  by  Mr. 
Bayard.  These  petitions  requested  that  the  county- 
seat  be  removed  to  Wilmington.  A  bill  was  pre- 
sented on  the  15th  of  January  of  that  year,  but  was 
postponed  until  the  19th,  when  it  was  amended.    It 

m 


was  read  a  third  time  on  the  28th,  but  failed  to  be- 
come a  law.  At  the  session  of  1835  it  was  again 
brought  forward,  and  again  in  1837,  when  remon- 
strances were  presented  from  the  citizens  of  St. 
Ckorge's  Hundred,  and  also  from  citizens  of  New 
Castle.  The  latter  was  signed  by  P.  B.  Dulaney,  W. 
R.  Janvier,  Richard  H.  Barr,  William  Guthrie,  Ed- 
ward Williams,  John  Bradford,  Jeremiah  Bowman, 
Samuel  M.  Cowper,  Evan  H.  Thomas,  Andrew  C. 
Gray,  James  Booth,  William  H.  Rogers,  James  Cow- 
per, Jr.,  William  T.  Read  and  George  B.  Rodney. 

Remonstrances  were  received  January  25th,  signed 
by  many  citizens  from  White  Clay  Creek  and  Pen- 
cader  Hundreds.  The  bill  was  lost,  and  no  further 
effort  was  made  until  1847.^ 

The  result  of  the  election  in  1889  for  the  removal 
of  the  court-house  put  the  matter  at  rest  for  a  few 
years,  but  in  the  fall  of  1846  the  question  again  came 
up  and  was  agitated  with  considerable  zeal.  Public 
meetings  were  held  in  the  county,  and  on  the  30th  of 
January,  1847,  a  bill  was  introduced  in  the  House, 
and  passed  eighteen  to  seven  for  submitting  the  ques- 
tion to  the  people.  In  the  Senate  it  was  delayed, 
and  on  the  4th  of  February,  at  a  public  meeting  in 
Wilmington,  a  committee  of  five  were  appointed  to 
go  before  the  Senate  in  the  interest  of  the  measure. 
Speeches  were  made  by  James  A.  Bayard,  William  G. 
Whitely  and  others.  This  agitation  originated  a  new 
movement,  looking  to  a  division  of  the  county.  On 
February  6th  a  meeting  of  tax-payers  of  White  Clay 
Creek,  New  Castle,  Red  Lion,  Pencader,  St.  George's 
and  Appoquinimink  Hundreds  for  this  purpose 
was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Sutton,  in  the  vil- 
lage of  St.  George's,  which  was  presided  over  by 
Philip  Reybold.  Resolutions  were  passed  in  favor  of 
the  measure,  and  a  bill  to  remove  the  county  seat  was 
taken  up  on  the  following  day  in  the  Senate,  and  in- 
definitely postponed. 

The  subject  was  postponed  until  1866,  when  tbe 
grand  jury  alluded  to  the  matter  as  follows: 

"  WhoroMf  the  members  of  the  Petit  Jury  of  the  Superior  Ck>urt  and 
Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  for  New  Castle  County  at  the 
November  Term,  A.n.  1866,  having  been  required  to  attend  upon  the 
Court  at  New  Castle,  have  found  the  present  Court-House  to  be  so  badly 
constructed  and  ventilated  as  to  subject  them  constantly  to  a  foul,  disa- 


1  As  a  last  appeal  a  mass*meeting  was  held  at  New  Castle  April  27, 
1839,  at  which  a  resolution  was  passed  that,  in  case  the  vote  of  the 
county  should  be  against  removal,  the  trustees  of  New  Castle  Common 
should  contract  to  put  the  existing  buildings  in  good  order  and  repair, 
and  with  fire-proof  offices  at  a  cost  ef  three  thousand  dollars. 

Upon  the  renewal  of  the  agitation  in  1837,  the  New  Cattle  Rosette,  a 
weekly  new^wper,  was  established  by  fi.  Camp  for  the  purpose  of  fur. 
theringthe  interests  of  New  Castle  and  retaining  the  county-eeat. 

In  the  fall  of  1838  William  Hemphill  Jones  was  elected  to  support  the 
movement  and  William  H.  Rogers  to  oppose  it.  A  bill  was  introduced 
and  passed,  which  provided  that  the  question  should  be  submitted  to  the 
voters  of  the  county  Tuesday,  May  21,  1839,  a  minority  necessary  to 
carry  being  based  upon  the  number  of  votes  cast  at  the  last  election, 
which  was  eighteen  hundrod. 

The  election  was  held,  and  fifteen  hundred  and  fourteen  votes  were 
polled  as  follows : 


Brandywine 325 

Wilmington 786 

Christiana 222 

Mill  Creek 163 

White  aay  Creek 1 

New  Castle 5 


Pencader 3 

Red  Lion 0 

St.  George's 2 

Appoquinimink. 7 


1514 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


fnv«able  and  unwboletoroe  atmocpliere,  without  any  acoommodatioiui 
for  the  Jury  while  they  are  not  engaged  in  trial,  and  bo  imall  as  to  be 
frequently  crowded  and  almost  intolerable  tp  the  Judge.  MenibeTV  of  the 
Bar,  Jurors,  parties  and  witneasea,  and  all  others  who  are  compelled  to 
attend  upon  the  courts. 

**  And  Whereas,  the  present  Court-TIouss  and  County  Offices  are  situ- 
ated at  a  place  not  the  centre  of  buHineau  in  the  (iTounty,  but  inconve- 
nient of  access  to  a  large  portion  of  the  County,  thereby  impeding  the 
administration  of  Justice,  and  causing  much  trouble  and  expense  te  the 
Jurors,  Suitors,  witnesses  and  public  generally,  in  attending  upon  the 
Courts  and  transacting  business  at  the  public  officM. 

"Therefore,  by  the  Jurors  aforesaid  being  assembled  at  the  close  of 
the  November  term, 

**  Be  it  Retyped,  That  the  present  Conrt-IIouse  is  a  common  and  pub- 
lic nuisance  and  that  the  necessary  action  should  be  taken  at  once  for 
the  building  of  a  now  Conrt-House  and  County  offices  suitable  for  the 
wants  of  the  community. 

**  lietolvtdj  That  we  recommend  the  building  of  a  new  Court-House 
and  County  Offices  at  the  City  of  Wilmington,  the  centre  of  business, 
population  and  travel  of  tlio  County. 

**  Re»olv0d,  That  the  preamble  and  Resolutions,  signed  by  the  Jurors 
aforesaid,  be  presented  to  the  General  Assembly  at  its  coming  session, 
and  that  a  copy  of  it  be  presented  to  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court  now 
in  session." 

This  document  wan  signed  by  twenty -eight  persons. 

No  attention  was  paid  to  this  report,  and  it  was  not 
until  1875  that  a  presentment  was  made.  From  that 
time  until  1879  the  grand  jury,  in  one  form  or  anoth- 
er, brought  the  matter  to  the  attention  of  the  court.^ 


NEW  COURT-HOUSE  OF  NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY,  AT  WILMINGTON, 


On  the  18th  of  February,  1879,  Senator  J.  Wilkins 
CJooch,  of  Pencader,  introduced  a  bill  in  the  Senate 
authorizing  the  Levy  Court  to  issue  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  $100,000  for  the  construction  of  a  new 
court-house  on  any  site  within  the  limits  of  New 
Castle.  This  was  vigorously  fought,  and  Senator 
Sharpley  introduced  an  amended  bill,  providing  for  the 
erection  of  a  suitable  building  in  Wilmington.    This 


bill  was  amended,  reducing  the  amount  appropriated 
to  $70,000,  and  in  this  form  was  passed  by  the  Senate 
March  11,  1879,  without  a  dissent.  It  passed  the 
House  on  March  20th,  by  a  vote  of  eighteen  to  three. 
On  the  20th  of  March  a  special  meeting  of  the  City 
Council  of  Wilmington  was  held  for  the  purpose  of 
considering  the  question  of  donating  the  ground  for 
the  new  building  to  the  Levy  Court,  which  the  Coun- 
cil was  empowered  to  convey  by  the  passage  of  the 
act  removing  the  buildings  from  New  Castle  to  Wil- 
mington. The  City  Council  appointed  a  committee 
of  seven  members  to  confer  with  the  Levy  Court  in 
reference  to  the  selection  of  the  land  required,  and 
also  to  suggest  the  reservoir  lot  occupying  the  square 
between  Market  and  King  Streets,  and  Tenth  and 
Eleventh  Streets. 

The  conference  was  held  between  the  committee  of 
the  City  Council  and  the  Levy  Court  on  the  8th  of 
April,  1879,  and  on  April  15th  the  Levy  Court,  having 
reviewed  the  different  proposed  sites  for  the  erection 
of  a  new  court-house,  deemed  the  square  known  as 
the  Market  Basin  lot  in  Wilmington,  to  be  the  most 
convenient  and  the  best  location.  The 
attorney  of  the  Levy  Court  was  instruct- 
ed to  examine  the  title,  which  wan  found 
perfect,  and  in  due  time  the  lot  was  con- 
veyed to  the  trustees  specially  designated 
in  the  act,  viz.,  Thomas  F.  Bayard,  Daniel 
M.  Bates,*  J.  Wilkins  Cooch,  Nathaniel 
Williams,  George  Z.  Tybout  and  their 
heirs  and  assigns. 

The  Levy  Court,  on  June  19,  1879,  de- 
cided to  borrow  $70,000  at  four  and  one- 
half  per  cent.,  payable  in  twenty  years 
from  July  1,  1879.  Plans  and  specifica- 
tions were  drawn  by  Theophilus  P.  Chand- 
ler, an  architect  of  Philadelphia,  for  a 
building  eighty-three  feet  by  one  hundred 
and  thirty-seven  feet,  containing  on  se- 
cond floor  a  court-room  sixty-five  feet 
square,  twenty-five  feet  in  clear,  parlors^ 
jury-rooms,  library  and  consulting  rooms. 
On  the  first  floor  ofiices  were  provided  for 
ftheriff*,  prothonotary,  clerk  of  the  peace, 
register  of  wills,  register  in  Chancery, 
clerk  of  Orphans'  Court,  recorder  of  deeds, 
Levy  Court,  and  county  treasurer. 

The  building  committee,— Albert  H. 
Silver,  Wm.  R.  Bright,  Wm.  Polk,  Wm.  L. 
Wier  and  Alexander  Wilson, — on  Aug.  22, 1879,  made 
a  contract  with  Archibald  Given,  of  Wilmington,  for 
the  erection  of  the  court-house  for  the  sum  of  $66,- 
203.  The  foundation  was  begun  and  completed  in 
the  fall  of  1879.  The  superstructure  was  erected  in 
1880,  and  the  entire  court-house  was  completed,  ac- 
cording to  contract,  by  December  25,  1880.  It  is 
built  of  Brandy  wine  granite,  Ohio  buff*  and  Chester 


1  The  Lery  Conrt,  at  the  November  meeting  In  1876,  appropriated 
forty  thousand  dollars  for  repairs  of  building,  but,  fearing  the  result  on 
the  fall  election,  refrained  ttom  expending  it. 


s  Before  the  deed  was  executed  the  Hon.  Daniel  M.  Bates  died,  and 
upon  application  to  the  chancellor,  the  Hon.  George  Gray  was  appointed 
to  fill  the  Tacancy. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


619 


County  serpentiDe.  The  building  was  fitted  aod  ftir- 
nished,  grounds  graded  and  paved  by  the  Levy  Court, 
and  on  the  17th  of  January,  1881,  the  building  com> 
mittee  notified  the  oflScers  at  New  Castle  to  remove  all 
books  and  papers  belonging  to  their  respective  offices 
to  the  rooms  allotted  to  them  in  the  new  court-house, 
on  Thursday,  January  20,  1881,  which  was  done. 
The  building  committee,  at  the  February  term  of  the 
Levy  Court,  presented  a  statement  of  the  cost  of  the 
boilding  and  grounds,  which  amounted  to  $112,- 
605.33. 

Almshouses. — The  first  mention  of  the  poor  in 
New  Castle  County  is  in  1740,  when  an  act  was  pass- 
ed "  to  prevent  poor  and  impotent  persons  from  being 
brought  into  the  government."  From  that  time  un- 
til 1775  no  provision  was  made  for  the  care  of  pau- 
pers. In  the  latter  year  an  act  was  passed  providing 
for  their  support  and  for  the  appointment  of  over- 
seers. 

On  the  28th  of  March,  1785,  the  first  steps  were 
tsken  to  establish  a  poor  or  almshouse  in  the  county. 
On  that  day  Robert  Hamilton,  Edward  Hewes, 
Robert  Pierce  and  John  Lynam,  overseers  of  the 
poor  of  Christiana  Hundred,  purchased  the  property 
of  John  Stapler,  on  Broome  Street,  between  Front  and 
Fourth  Streets,  Wilmington.  Upon  this  site  they 
erected  a  large  three-story  stone  building,  forty  feet 
square,  and  made  such  other  improvements  at  a  cost 
of  £1771  6«.  9rf,  to  provide  for  the  poor  of  Christiana 
Hundred.  The  example  set  by  Christiana  Hundred 
awakened  the  people  of  the  State  to  the  fact  that 
provision  should  be  made  for  the  care  of  the  poor  of 
the  entire  State,  and  accordingly,  on  the  29th  of 
January,  1791,  an  act  passed  the  General  Assembly, 
authorizing  the  erection  of  a  poor-house  in  each 
county,  unless  proper  houses  already  built  could 
be  purchased.  Trustees  were  appointed  for  each 
county,  who  were  authorized  to  purchase  land  not 
exceeding  one  hundred  acres  and  to  erect  buildings 
thereon. 

Section  9  provided  that  if  the  trustees  of  New 
Castie  County  could  not  agree  with  the  overseer 
of  the  poor  of  Christiana  Hundred  for  the  purchase 
of  the  poor-house  already  built,  and  should  build  in 
another  part  of  the  county,  Christiana  Hundred 
should  be  exempt  from  the  provisions  of  the  act. 

Section  28  provided  that  the  poor  of  each  county 
should  wear  a  badge  of  red  cloth  on  the  left  arm, 
which  should  have  in  Roman  characters  the  letters, 
P.  N.,  P.  K.  and  P.  S.,  for  the  different  counties.* 

The  trustees  appointed  in  the  act  for  New  Cas- 
tle County  were  John  Lea,  John  James,  Isaac  Grant- 
ham, Thomas  Montgomery  Peter  Hyatt,  William 
Alfree  and  Matthew  Aiken. 

They  met  at  the  house  of  Henry  Darby  in  New 
Castle,  February  23, 1791,  and  organized,  with  John 
James  as  chairman.  The  number  of  paupers  in  the 
county  was  reported  as  one  hundred  and  sixteen,  dis- 
tributed among  the  various  hundreds   as  follows: 

>This  section  wm  repealed  lo  1804. 


New  Castle,  14 ;  Christiana,  30 ;  Brandy  wine,  6  ; 
Mill  Creek,  5 ;  White  Clay  Creek,  5 ;  Pencader,  5 ; 
Red  Lion,  6;  St.  George's,  12;  and  Appoquinimink, 
35.  The  trustees  ordered  a  levy  of  £2809  6«.  to  be 
made  for  the  erection  or  purchase  of  proper  buildings 
and  for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor  of  the  county. 
The  question  of  the  location  of  a  site  was  discussed, 
and  at  the  next  meeting,  March  3, 1791,  several  propo- 
sitions were  offered.  A  committee  was  appointed  to 
arrange  for  a  site  by  this  meeting.  John  James  was 
chosen  treasurer  and  Robert  Hamilton  overseer.  On 
the  19th  of  April,  1791,  the  trustees  purchased  the 
almshouse  property  of  Christiana  Hundred,  the  con- 
sideration being  £1300.  The  deed  was  not  made 
until  March  9,  1792. 

This  purchase  was  added  to,  August  31,  1829,  by 
nine  acres  purchased  from  James  Baker,  Abisha 
Clark  and  Thomas  Strode ;  November  16, 1835,  three 
and  one-quarter  acres  of  William  Sellers  and  a  small 
triangular  piece,  March  13,  1882,  of  Mrs.  Helen 
Price.  To  meet  the  needs  of  the  county,  the  build- 
ing was  enlarged  July  27, 1781,  by  raising  the  middle 
part  of  the  main  building  one  story,  and  a  cupola 
and  bell  was  placed  on  the  addition. 

This  building  stood  until  March,  1804,  when, 
through  the  carelessness  of  a  half  idiotic  boy,  playing 
in  the  garret,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

A  meeting  of  the  trustees  was  held  on  the  20th  of 
the  same  month  at  New  Castle,  when  it  was  decided 
to  send  the  county  poor  to  their  respective  hundreds 
and  board  them  out  until  a  new  building  was  erected. 

The  burning  of  the  building  served  as  a  pretext  for 
an  agitation  for  the  removal  of  the  building  to  another 
part  of  the  county.  Much  bitter  feeling  was  display- 
ed, and  two  petitions  were  presented  to  the  L^isla- 
ture  in  relation  to  the  matter — one  from  four  hundred 
citizens  of  Christiana  and  Brandywine  Hundreds, 
asking  that  they  be  allowed  to  care  for  their 
poor  as  under  the  original  act;  the  other,  that  the 
Legislature  authorize  the  Levy  Court  to  assess 
money  to  enable  the  trustees  "to  rebuild  or  to 
procure  a  tract  in  some  other  section  and  build." 
The  Legislature  declined  to  interfere,  as  sufficient 
power  was  reposed  in  the  Levy  Court  to  r^ulate  the 
matter.  The  matter  was  finally  settled,  however,  by 
awarding  a  contract  for  $15,180  to  Joseph  Newlin,  to 
erect  a  building  on  the  old  site,  and  on  the  12th  of 
July,  1806,  the  building  committee  reported  "that 
they  had  received  the  building  from  the  contractor 
the  preceding  June."  An  insane  department  was 
added  prior  to  1843,  and  in  1845  a  brick  wall  was  built 
around  the  grounds.  In  1848  a  building  southwest  cor- 
ner Fourth  and  Broome  Street*  was  erected  for  the  use 
of  the  sick  emigrants,  who  were  about  that  time  landing 
in  considerable  numbers  at  New  Castle.  This  build- 
ing in  later  years  was  used  as  a  small-pox  hospital. 

On  July  21,  1850,  fire  again  visited  the  almshouse 
and  destroyed  nearly  all  the  buildings.  The  old  walls 
were  taken  down  and  the  buildings  rebuilt  upon  a 
larger  scale,  on  plans  prepared  by  John  McArthur,  of 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Philadelphia.  They  were  turned  over  in  February, 
1852,  to  the  trustees. 

The  increase  of  the  population  of  the  county  made 
the  necessity  of  increased  accommodations  felt,  and 
provisions  were  made  toward  the  erection  of  larger 
quarters.  On  the  22d  of  February,  1882,  the  trustees 
of  the  poor  purchased  of  Graham  Blandy  a  farm  of 
about  one  hundred  acres  for  $20,000,  situated  near 
HareV  Comer  Station  in  New  Castle  Hundred.  A 
building  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of 
N.  Williams,  M.  Lackey,  J.  W.  Cooch,  H.  D.  Hick- 
man and  James  Bradford,  which  was  directed  to  pro- 
cure plans  for  the  erection  of  a  new  almshouse. 

S.  T.  Button,  an  architect  of  Philadelphia,  pre- 
pared the  plans,  which  were  accepted,  and  in  May, 
1882,  the  contract  was  awarded  to  John  B.  Johnson 
and  Joseph  Hyde,  of  Wilmington,  for  the  erection  of 
the  new  buildings,  for  $163,500,  the  work  to  be 
completed  by  May,  1884. 

On  March  30,  1883,  the  Legislature  passed  an 
act  authorizing  the  Levy  Court  to  borrow  such 
sums  as  might  be  necessary  to  erect  new  build- 
ings for  the  insane  and  poor  of  New  Castle  County, 
not  exceeding  two  hundred  and  ninety  thousand 
dollars,  for  which  they  were  authorized  to  issue  cer- 
tificates of  indebtedness,  payable  not  less  than  ten 
thousand  dollars  each  year. 

On  the  Ist  of  May,  1884,  the  buildings  were  com- 
pleted, but  it  was  not  until  May,  1885,  that  the 
building  committee  reported  the  building  ready  for 
eecupancy,  and  on  the  20th  of  May  in  that  year  the 
insane  (seventy  -five  in  number)  were  transferred  to 
the  new  building,  and  the  following  day  the  inmates 
of  the  almshouse  were  removed. 

The  new  buildings  front  on  the  road  leading  from 
Wilmington  to  Hare's  Corner.  The  style  is  Italian. 
The  main  building  has  a  frontage  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty-six  feet,  and  a  depth  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety-two  feet,  with  a  centre  wing  fifty  feet  wide. 
The  windows  and  doors  have  stone  sills  with  black 
bands  above.  Steep  roofs  of  slate,  with  galvanized 
iron  crowns  and  tin  gutttering,  cover  the  building. 
From  the  towers  a  fine  view  of  Wilmington,  New 
Castle,  Delaware  City,  Newport,  Stanton  and  Green 
Hill  is  obtained.  The  basement  is  devoted  to  cook- 
ing, dining  and  store-rooms,  laundry,  dormitory  for 
colored  people  etc.  On  the  first  floor,  which  has 
forty -five  rooms,  are  the  oflSces,  reception  rooms, 
dormitories,  chapel,  etc.  Thirty  rooms  on  the  second 
floor  divided  into  dormitories,  separate  the  chambers 
and  the  hospital  department.  Elevators  run  through 
the  building.  The  insane  department  is  quite  sim- 
ilar to  the  main  building  in  arrangement.  Both  are 
well  ventilated  and  have  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments. 

After  public  notice  a  committee  of  the  trustees 
sold  at  public  sale  in  March,  1882,  that  part  of  the 
old  grounds  lying  east  of  Harrison  Street,  between 
Front  and  Third,  except  two  lots  previously  sold,  and 
two  not  taken,  for  which  they  received  $3807.28.  Sec- 


tion 4  of  an  act  passed  March  30,  1883,  directed 
the  trustees  of  the  poor  to  transfer,  in  fee  simple,  all 
the  real  estate  in  Wilmington,  belonging  to  the  cor- 
poration, to  Henry  G.  Banning,  Eklward  T.  Bellak, 
Joseph  L.  Carpenter,  Jr.,  Wm.  C.  Lodge  and  Victor 
Du  Pont,  who  were  authorized  to  lay  out  the  land 
into  lots  and  streets  and  sell  it.  The  greater  portion 
has  been  sold  and  rows  of  fine  buildings  have  been 
erected  on  the  ground.  Every  vestige  of  the  old 
buildings  is  entirely  obliterated. 

The  following  items  are  taken  from  the  superinten- 
dent's report,  dated  April  27,  1887. 

Namber  of  inmatwH  Id  both  buildings  at  commencement  of 

year 27i 

Number  admitted  during  the  year 627 

Births 12 

Total 813 

The  admissions  from  the  various  hundreds  were  as 
follows : 

Wilmington  Hundred 417 

Brandywlne  Hundred. 8 

Christiana  Hundred 19 

Mill  Creek  Hundred 11 

White  Clay  Creek  Hundred 12 

New  Castle  Hundred 27 

Bed  Lion  Hundred 6 

Pencader  Hundred 2 

St.  George's  Hundred 16 

Appoquinimink  Hundred 6 

Blackbird  Hundred 3 

Total  number  admitted 5'/7 

Number  discharged  during  the  year 400 

Number  eloped  during  the  year 57 

Number  of  deaths  during  the  year 65 

Number  of  inmates  at  the  present  time 3Ul 

Total 813 

The  members  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  poor 
and  ofiicers  of  the  board  for  1887  were  as  follows : 

Brandywine J.  M.  Pierce. 

Wi.»Uo^,..  W.  P«Hc. {^.Ifii^rr 

W..».lagU.».E.DWHct {t\T^"o.  O,^,. 

Christiana Joseph  P.  Chandler. 

NewCasUe G.  L.  Jemison. 

Mill  Creek T.  L.  J.  Baldwin. 

White  Clay  Creek Dr.  Frank  Springer. 

Red  Lion James  Garman. 

St  George's Nathaniel  Wllllanu. 

Pencader J.  W.  Cooch. 

Appoquinimink G.  M.  D.  Hart. 

Blackbird 8am*l  A.  Armstrong. 

Officers  of  the  Board, 

President Thos.  L.J.  Baldwin. 

Secretary J.  W.  Cooch. 

Treasurer Edmund  Haman. 

Attorney W.  T.  Lynam. 

Physicians |  ?•  Y'  ^^J^l^^' 

'^  (Dr.  Joseph  Pyle. 

Resident  Physician Dr.  B.  R.  Tybout. 

Superintendent John  Guthrie. 

Matron  of  Almshouse Mrs.  ElUe  Guthrie. 

Matron  of  Insane  Department Mrs.  Rebecca  Emerson. 

Superintendents  of  the  Almshouse. 

Robert  Hamilton March  3, 1791 

Thomas  aark January  7, 1792 

George  Clark Januarys,  1811 

Frederick  Craig Januarys,  1818 

Henry  Heald .\pril  1, 1822 

Frederick  Craig March  13,  1826 

Henry  Heald* April  30, 1828 

1  Mrs.  Heald  was  matron  fh>m  April,  1828,  to  October,  184d. 
Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


621 


Frederick  CnUg Janaary  27, 1880 

UrUh  Stroup J&Duaiy  27, 1841 

Robert  Gr»vw April  26, 1848 

PhiUp  H.  Jonea April  30,  1861 

JuiMS  Rickaxdfl April  28, 1852 

Charl«a  ThomM April  26, 1864 

BobttrtGravM April,  1861 

Inac  L.  Crouch April,  1869 

Malachi  Barlow April  26, 1872 

John  Guthrie April  26,  1883 

CIVIL  LIST  OF  NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 
Prothonotaries, 

William  Tong 1702 

Darid  rrench November  26,  1728 

Thomas  Noxon November,  1742 

John  Mackey 1746 

William  Till December  9, 1748 

Theodore  Morris October,  1766 

Ganoing  Bedford 1777 

Alexander  Glaasford Aagust,  1796 

Archibald  Alexander 1801 

Hngh  W.  Richie January  4, 1805 

Thomas  Stockton January  4,  1810 

Henry  Steele October  7, 18li 

Joseph  Roberts October  9, 1817 

Joseph  Roberta October  10, 1822 

Joseph  BobertM. October  6,  1827 

Cornelius  D.  Blaney January  18, 1831 

James  D.  Man«fleld January  18, 1837 

Sunnel  Biddle January,  1847 

William  O.  Whitely January  19, 1862 

John  A.  Alderdice^ January,  1867 

Wniiam  Q.  Whitely January,  1862 

Richard  6.  Oooper January,  186p 

Charles  Beasten July,  1876 

George  A.  Maxwell July,  1880 

George  A.  MaxweU July.  1885 

Recorder  of  Deeds,  —  The  first  record  found 
bears  date  April  8,  1727,  and  is  a  commission,  for 
Robert  Oordon  as  recorder  of  deeds  and  keeper  of 
rolls  for  the  lower  counties. 

WUUam  Bead October  2, 1735 

JohnMacky 1746 

Richard  McWilUanis December  9, 1748 

Bidianl  MeWnUams June  23, 1777 

George  Booth. March  18,  1799 

Evan  Thomas January  26, 1800 

Daniel  Blaney April  25, 1804 

Rran  Thomas. February  20, 1805 

Daniel  BUney February  2,  1811 

Abraham  Tandyke March  12,1814 

Henry  Steele October  6,  1821 

Abraham  Vandyke April  29, 1822 

MathewKean October  4, 1822 

Junes  S.  White... November  26, 1834 

John  Wiley December  8, 1836 

Mathew  Kean May  26, 1836 

Cornelius  D.  Blaney 1841 

Waiiam  D.  Ocheltree November  10, 1847 

WiUiam  D.  Ocheltree November  11, 1861 

Samuels.  Thompson November  12, 1866 

Charles  M.Allmond November  12, 1869 

Abraham  P.  Shannon*. November,  1863 

James  Nicholson . November  13, 1868 

Thomss  M.  Ogle. November  14,  1873 

Thomss  Holcomb November  14, 1878 

ThocMS  Holcomb November  14, 1886 

Remitters  of  Wills.— On  the  26th  of  August,  1678, 
QoTeraor  Edmund  Andros  conferred  authority  upon 
the  court  of  New  Castle  to  appoint  persons  to  admin- 
ister upon  estates,  "  having  due  regard  to  Widdows." 

The  court  before  this  time  had,  upon  petition,  ap- 
pointed persons  to  administer  upon  estates.  This 
was  continued  until  September  16,  1684,  when  John 
Cann  was  appointed  register  by  order  of  the  Provis- 
ional Council. 

On  the  8th  of  June,  1695,  commissions  were  given 
to  John  Donaldson  and  James  Claypoole  to  attend  to 


probates  of  wills  and  to  grant  letters  of  administra- 
tion. 

Deputies. — ^For  many  years  the  offices  of  prothono- 
tary,  .recorder  of  deeds,  register  of  wills  and  clerks  of 
the  different  courts  were  held  by  the  same  person, 
and  the  duties  in  several  of  these  were  conducted  by 
deputy,  of  whom  were  the  following  : 

Bobert  French  and  James  Ooutts 1707 

John  French 1710 

Kowland  FiUgerald 1711 

Sylvester  Garland 1716 

Thomas  Duncan 1718 

William  Read 1719 

Joseph  Fox 1722 

John  Denny 1724 

Robert  Bobinson 1728 

Registers  of  Wills. — ^The  first  name  that  appears  of 
record  as  register  of  wills  after  John  Cann  is  John 
French,  who  served  from  1717  to  1721.  The  names 
of  a  few  persons  are  found,  who  were  registers  prior 
to  1800,  from  which  time  they  are  found  recorded : 

Robert  Gordon November  27, 1728 

William  Read October  4, 1736 

WiUiam  Shaw October  28,  1738 

Theodore  Maurice  1 May;i9, 1766 

Gnnning  Bedford February  26, 1788 

Evan  Thomas April  9, 1799 

Nehemlah  Tilton April  12,  1804 

Evan  Thomas April  12,  1809 

Evan  Thomas April  14,  1814 

Evan  Thomas April  15, 1819 

Evan  Thomas December  13,  1822 

Evan  Thomas December  13, 1827 

EvanH.  Thomas December  13,1832 

Jacob  Caulk December  13, 1837 

Joshua  B.  Driver December  13,  1842 

AmosH.  Wickersham December  14, 1847 

AmosH.  Wickereham November  16, 1862 

Peter  B.  Vandeveer February  17, 1854 

Peter  B.  Vandeveer October  10,  1869 

Bobert  C.  Fralm October  26, 1864 

Benjamin  Gibbs October  26, 1869 

Sewell  C.  Biggs October  27, 1874 

SeweUC.  Biggs October  27, 1879 

Ignatius  C.  Grubb 1884 

John  K.  Bradford June  4,  1887 

Registers  of  Court  of  Chancery  and  Clerk  of  the 
Orphans^  Court. 

Hugh  W.  Richie January  4, 1806 

Alexander  Reynolds January  4, 1810 

Alexander  Reynolds January  11, 1816 

Joseph  Roberts February  20, 1817 

David  Paynter February  21,  1822 

Joseph  L.  Harper February  3, 1826 

Thomas  Stockton January  18,  1832 

John  Qordon June  1, 1836 

Matthew  Kean 

Cornelius  D.  Blaney February  11, 1840 

Charles  H.  Black June  2, 1840 

OomeUus  D.  Blaney February  10, 1846 

Hugh  H.  Thompson November  29, 1847 

Peter  B.  Vandeveer 1849 

Peter  B.  Vandeveer February  17,  1864 

William  Hnfflngton August  10, 1854 

Edward  W.  Clay December  1,  1864 

John  D.  Bird March  31, 1866 

James  Duncan April  4, 1861 

Samuel  Guthrie May  19, 1863 

Bei\Jamln  B.  Ustick May  20,  1868 

Charles  M.  Vandever May  21, 1873 

James  M.  Houseman May  28,  1877 

James  M.  Houseman May  29, 1882 

Charles  H.  McWhorter May  30,  1887 

Sheriffs. — Under  the  Dutch  the  sheriff  was  termed 
the  schout,  or  scout,  and  on  the  12th  of  June,  1657, 
Gregorius  Van  Dyck  (who  acted  on  the  Delaware 

1  He  was  also  clerk  of  the  peace  and  recorder  in  Kent  County  at  the 
same  time. 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


622 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


River  as  deputy  schout,  under  the  schout  living  at 
New  Amsterdam)  was  appointed  schout,  or  sheriff. 
He  was  succeeded  hy  Gerret  Von  Swearwingen, 
whose  commission  was  dated  May  18,  1660.  •  He 
served  until  after  the  surrender  of  the  territory  to  the 
English,  in  1664. 

Captain  Edmund  Cantwell  was  appointed  April 
21, 1668,  as  high  sheriff  on  the  Delaware  River,  em- 
bracing the  jurisdictions  of  the  courts  of  Upland,  New 
Castle  and  Whoorekill,  and  served  until  May  1,  1683 
(with  the  exception  of  1673-74,  when  the  Dutch  were 
in  possession,  when  Peter  Alrich  was  chosen  schout), 
when  Abraham  Mann,  of  Bread  and  Cheese  Island, 
was  appointed.  Thomas  Wollaston  was  appointed 
deputy  sheriff  under  Cantwell,  and  served  until  1679, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  Land,  who  con- 
tinued to  act  in  that  capacity  until  June  17, 1684, 
when  he  succeeded  Abraham  Mann  as  sheriff. 

Edward  Gibbs  appears  in  1686  as  certifying  to  the 
election  returns  of  that  year,  and  is  continued  until 
after  1690.  The  following  dates  are  obtained  from 
commissions  and  sheriff's  deeds : 

Joseph  Wood 1700 

John  French 1703-08 

Elchard  Clark 1712-U 

Anthony  Houston ^ 1716-17 

EowUnd  Fitzgerald 1718-24 

William  Battoll 1725-26 

John  Gooding October 4, 1726-27 

WiUiam  Bead October  4,  1728-30 

Henry  Newton 1731-32 

John  Gooding 1733-34 

Henry  Newton 1736-38 

John  Gooding 1739-43 

Gideon  Griffith 1744-48 

John  Van  Dyke October  6,  1749-52 

George  Monro October  3,  1766 

William  Golding 1766 

John  McKinley October  4, 1757-60 

Thomas  Dunn October  3, 1760-63 

Thomas  Dnff October  3, 1766-66 

John  Thompson October  4, 1766-69 

Thomas  Duff 1770-72 

John  Thompson 1773-76 

John  Clark 1775 

Samuel  Smith 1779 

Joseph  SUdham , October  4, 1783 

Thomas  McKean 1786 

John  Stockton 1'88 

David  Jenifer  Adams October  8, 1791 

William  SUdham October  11, 1794 

Maxwell  Bines -October  10, 1797 

Joseph  Israel October  13,1800 

BichardC.  Dale October  8, 1803 

BichardC.  Dale November  30, 1805 

Francis  Haughey October  U,  1806 

Francis  Hanghey ^...November,  1808 

Thomas  Perkins October6,  1809 

William  Moore November  18, 1811 

WUllam  Moore October  14, 1812 

William  Moore October  24,1814 

Francis  Haughey October  6, 1816 

John  Moody October  9, 1818 

David  0.  Wilson October  4, 1821 

David  C.  Wilson January  13, 1824 

P.  B.  Dulany ^ October  9, 1834 

William  Herdman October  6, 1827 

Marcus  B.  Capelle October  11, 1830 

Marcus  E.  Capelle November  16, 1831 

James  Gardner November  6, 1833 

Peter  Vandever November  14, 1833 

Nathaniel  Wolfe November  11,  1836 

Elihu  Jefferson November  16, 1838 

W.  G.  Moore November  14, 1840 

Abraham  Boys November  10, 1842 

Jacob  Caulk November  16, 1844 

George  Piatt November  17, 1846 

James  Grubb November  16, 1848 


Samuel  Chandler November  14, 1860 

William  B.  Lynam November  16, 1862 

John  A.  Wlllard October  17, 1864 

Thomas  M.  Ogle November  7,  1866 

Abraham  Cannon ^November  6, 1868 

Levi  B.  Moon November  10, 1860 

Lewis  W.  Stidham November  10, 1862 

Georges.  Hageny November  14,1864 

William  Herbert November  9, 1866 

Jacob  Bichardson November  7, 1868 

James  Armstrong November  11,  18'0 

BobertL.  Armstrong November  11, 1872 

William  H.  Lambson November  11, 1874 

Isaac  Grubb ..November  11,  1876 

JohnPyle November  11, 1878 

Philip  B.  Clark November  13, 1880 

James  Martin November  16,  1882 

Thomas  Ford November  10, 1884 

Giles  Lambson November  8,  1886 

Coroners, 

Bobert  Bobinson April  9,  1686 

Jeeeph  Story Octobers,  1724 

Henry  Vining October  6, 1769 

Joseph  Stidham October  6, 1774 

John  Stockton October  4,  1783 

William  Stidham October  6, 1790 

Alex.  Harvey October  10, 1797 

Thomas  Anderson October  8, 1803 

Bei\jamin  Ogle October  11,  1806 

Alex.  Porter October  6, 1809 

John  Bates ...  .October  14,  1812 

Thomas  Clark October  6, 1816 

James  Thompson October  9, 1818 

Peter  L.  Ogle Octobers,  1821 

William  Woonseck October  9, 1824 

Henry  Vining Octobers,  1827 

William  Thompson October  11, 1830 

William  Thompson November  14,  1832 

Eli  Crozier November  14. 1834 

James  Adams November  11, 1836 

Archibald  Gordon November  16, 1838 

Eli  Crozier November  14, 1840 

John  Moore November  10,  1842 

Outten  D.  Jester November,  1846 

Isaac  Janvier November  16, 1848 

John  StUlwell November  14, 1860 

Lindley  Pearce November,  18M 

James  Bickards November  6,  1866 

John  Boys November  6,  1858 

Joseph  Kilgore November  10,  1860 

OwenZebley November  10,  1862 

John  Curry November  14, 1864 

Bei^amin  Bellew November  14, 1866 

Lawrence  PendegrasB November  7,  1868 

Daniel  B.  Woodward November  11,  1870 

Charies  A.  Winslow November  11, 1872 

Richard  Groves November  11, 1874 

David  C.  Bose November  11,  1876 

Jacob  BuU November  13, 1878 

Bayworth  Weldin November  13,1880 

Frank  E.  Smith November  16, 1882 

Bayard  Wlddoes November  11,  1884 

George  T.  Bamhill November  8,  1886 

Clerks  of  the  Peace, — William  Tom  was  clerk  of  the 
courts  on  South  River  (Delaware),  embracing  Up- 
land, New  Castle  and  the  WhoreTcill,  prior  to  1676. 
Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  courts  by  Grov. 
Andros,  in  1676,  Ephraim  Herman  was  chosen,  his 
commission  bearing  date  September  23,  1676.  He 
continued  until  January  1,  1684,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  White,  who  served  until  March 
15,  1689.  James  Claypoole  was  then  appointed,  and 
continued  until  August  6,  1694.  The  prothonotary 
held  several  offices,  and  his  deputies  transacted  the 
business  in  several  of  them. 

Prior  to  1730  the  names  of  the  following  persons 
appear  as  deputies:  Joseph  Fox,  John  Denny  and 
Robert  Robertson. 

The  names  of  a  few  of  the  clerks  are  gleaned 
from  the  records,  as  follows : 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


NEW  CASTLE  CX)UNTY. 


623 


DttrldrnBch November  16,  1728 

WilHun  Till Deoeoiber  9. 1788 

John  Legate  (deputy) ^..1742 

John  Mackey. 

Bkhwd  HcWimaoM December  9.  1748 

Tbwjdore  MMtrice May  19,  1766 

J.  A,  Keith. 1800 

Hugh  W.KItchie ^ Januaiy  1,  1806 

Ilex.  Reynolda January  4, 1810 

Alex,  Beynoldi January  20,  1815 

JoMpb  Roberta February  20,  1817 

DhTidPayDter February  21,  1822 

Tbomaa  StocktoD February  22,  1827 

Thomas  Stockton January  18,  1831 

John  Gordon January  2,  1836 

Charles  H.  Black January  2, 184« 

Charl-eU.  Black June  2,  1846 

John  D.  Dilwortb June  3, 1850 

£dw«rd  WilllaoM June  4.  1856 

John  Xerritt ^ June  4^  1860 

John  Merritt June  6,  1865 

John  P.  Sf^nger June  6,  1870 

Jehn  P.  Springer ^nne  7, 1876 

Edwin  R.  Cochran June  7, 1880 

Bdwin  R.  Cochran June  6,  1885 

Dtdimus  PotesUUem.— On  the  10th  of  April,  1756, 
the  following  persons  were  appointed  to  administer 
the  oath  of  oflSce  to  persons  in  the  counties  of  New 
Castle,  Kent  and  Sussex,  and  to  civil  and  military 
officers. 

For  New  Castle — Jacob  Von  Bebber,  William  Arm- 
strong, Richard  Mc Williams  and  David  Bush.  For 
Kent — Benjamin  Chew,  John  Vining,  John  Brinck- 
loe,  Andrew  Caldwell,  John  Gooding  and  Theodore 
Mtarice.  For  Sussex — Jacob  Eollock,  John  Clowes, 
Thomas  Till,  Benjamin  Burton  and  Sheppard  Eol- 
lock. 

NEW  CASTLE    OOUNTY. 

B.  McWmiams. October  24, 1774 

Ceonje  Bead „ October  24, 1774 

GnoninR  BedfonI March  8,  1777 

Bichard  McWIIIianii*. March  8,  1777 

Janiei  Booth March  8, 1777 

George  Bead October  9, 1797 

J«B«*  Booth October  9, 1797 

Keuey  Johna October  9, 1797 

Archibald  Alexandt-r February  2,  1802 

Joseph  Tatlow February  2,  1802 

John  Bird February  2,  1802 

Kenaey  John*. » February  16,  IS^iS 

Jamee  Booth February  15,1806 

Iran  Thomas February  16, 1805 

Joseph  Tatlow February  15,18()5 

Jamee  Booth March  26, 18o6 

Eran  Thomas. March  26,  1806 

Keoeey  Johns March  26,  1806 

8amoel  Barr March  26,  1806 

Jamei  B.  Black February  2,  1811 

Daaiel  Blaney February  2, 1811 

John  Crow February  2,  1811 

James  B.  Black August  13, 1814 

Erao  Thomas Angunt  13,  1814 

James  Booth,  Jr August  13,1814 

Kenssy  Johns,  Jr August  13,  1814 

Jutlica  of  the  Peace. — The  justices  of  the  peace 
were  magistrates  of  the  court  until  after  Delaware 
became  a  State. 

Bat  little  has  been  ascertained  of  the  Swedish  and 
Datch  courts.  Trials  of  small  cases  were  conducted 
by  the  Vice-Director  and  his  Council,  and  although 
the  English  came  into  possession  in  1664,  there  is  no 
mention  of  magistrates  until  April  21,  1668,  when 
Governor  Richard  Nicolls  appointed  Hans  Blocq, 
Israel  Helme,  Peter  Bambo,  Peter  Cock  and  Peter 
Alrichs  to  be  magistrates  on  the  Delaware,  then 
embracing  Upland,  New  Castle  and  Whorekill.    On 


April  9, 1672,  Captain  Walter  Wharton  was  appointed 
a  justice.  Upon  the  recapture  of  the  territory  from 
the  Dutch  by  the  English  in  1674,  the  following 
persons  were  appointed  magistrates  on  the  Delaware 
for  New  Castle :  Hans  Blocq,  John  Moll,  F.  Out- 
hout,  Joseph  Chew,  Dirck  Alberts.  For  the  river 
(Upland) :  Peter  Cock,  Peter  Rambo,  Israel  Helm, 
Lars  Andriessen  and  Walla  Sweinsen. 

Upon  a  reorganization  of  the  court  under  Governor 
Andros  at  New  Castle,  October  10,  1676,  there  were 
chosen  John  Moll,  Henry  Ward,  William  Tom,  Garrett 
Otto,  Ffopp  Outhout  and  Jean  Paul  Jacquett. 

The  following  are  dates  of  commission  or  appear- 
ance at  court : 

Peter  Alrichs September  23,  1677 

William  Wharton September  23,  lrt77 

Johannes  de  Uses October  26,  1678 

William  Semple October  26,  1678 

Abraham  Mann October  26, 1678 

JohnOann NoTember2, 1682 

James  Walliam January  1,  1683 

Gasparns  Herman August  7,  1683 

WiUiamWebh December  4,  1683 

John  Williams ..December  4, 1683 

Henry  Williams. December  4, 1683 

Valentine  HoUingsworth June  17,  1684 

Peter  Alrichs October  22,  1684 

Robert  Owen October  22, 1684 

Sdmund  Cantwell October  22,  1684 

Abraham  Mann October  22,  1684 

John  Oann April,  1686 

Peter  Alrichs ...April,  1686 

Richard  Owen April,  1685 

Johannes  de  Haes. „April,  1686 

James  Walliams April,  1686 

Hendrick  WiliUuiw April,  1686 

ValenUne  HolllngBWurth April,  1685 

Edward  Qreen April,  1686 

William  Guest April,  1686 

Hendrick  Leman April,  1686 

William  Stockdale July  29,  1686 

Cornelius  Empson July  29,  1686 

Edward  Blake February,  1688 

John  Fforat. February,  1688 

Charles  Runisey February,  1688 

John  Richardson Februaiy,  1688 

Peter  Alrichs May  16, 1690 

John  Cann May  16,1690 

Willhun  Stockdale May  16, 1690 

Edward  BUike May  16,  1690 

Cornelius  Empson .^. May  16,  1690 

Johannes  De  Ha«B. May  16, 1690 

Peter  Bainton May  16, 1690 

Charles  Rumsey Mi^y  16, 1690 

Robert  Ashtou May  16,  1690 

JohnHayley May  16,  1690 

Henry  Williams, May  16, 1600 

John  Richardson June  8, 1696 

John  Donoldson.. June  8, 1696 

John  Houton June  8, 1696 

John  Williams June  8,  1695 

Adam  Peterson June  8,  1695 

Charles  Springer November  10,  1714 

Wcssels  Alrichs November  10,  1714 

Sylvester  GarUnd November  10,  1714 

Robert  Gordon August  6, 1726 

Joseph  England August  5,  1726 

Charles  Springer August  5, 1726 

John  Richardson August  5, 1726 

Jamee  James August  5,  1726 

WilUam  Battell Augusts,  1726 

David  Evans August  5, 1726 

Andrew  Peterson August  5,  1726 

Ebeneser  Empson Augusts,  1726 

Hans  Hanson August  5,  1726 

James  Dyre August  5, 1726 

Samuel  Kirk Augusts,  1726 

Richard  Grafton August  6,  1726 

Simon  Hadley Augusts.  1726 

David  Hanson April  2u,  1727 

William  Read April  20,  1727 

Thomas  January April  20,  1727 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


624 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Jamas  James,  Jr April  20, 1727 

Richard  Cantwell April  20,  1727 

Joseph  Robinson : April  20, 1727 

James  Armitage April  20,  1727 

Samuel  Grubb. October  7,  1727 

David  French December  12,  1727 

William  Bead. October  4, 1735 

Thomas  Noxon 1736 

Adam  Buckley 1736 

John  Richardson October  28, 1738 

Andrew  Peterson October  28,  1738 

Hans  Hansen October  28, 1738 

Simon  Hadley October28,  1738 

James  Armitage October  28,  1738 

Richard  Cantwell October  28, 1738 

Thomas  James October  28,  1738 

John  Finney October  28, 1738 

John  Curtis October  28,  1738 

Thomas  Noxon October  28, 1738 

Adam  Buckley October  28,  1738 

William  Shaw April  26,  1739 

John  Richardson May  11, 1747 

William  Till May  II,  1747 

SimonHadley May  11. 1747 

James  Armitage May  11,  1747 

Thomas  James May  11, 1747 

John  Finney May  11,  1747 

Abraham  Gooding May  11, 1747 

David  Bush May  11,  1747 

Joseph  Way May  11,  1747 

Jacob  Van  Bebber May  11,  1747 

Jacob  Gooding May  11, 1747 

William  Patterson May  11,  1747 

David  WItherspoon May  11, 1747 

Thomas  Robinson May  11,  1747 

BenJ.Swett May  11,1747 

Henry  Dyer May  11,1747 

Jacob  Van  Bebber June  5, 1766 

John  Finney June  6, 1766 

Thonus  James June  6, 1766 

Jacob  Gooding June  6, 1756 

William  Paltenon June  5,  1766 

David  Withenpoon June  6,  1756 

Thomas  Robinson June  6, 1766 

William  Armstrong June  6,  1766 

Evan  Kice June  6,  1756 

David  Bush June  5,  1756 

James  McMeehan June  6, 1766 

John  Jones June  6, 1766 

William  Williams June  6, 1766 

Adam  Peterson June  6,  1766 

Richard  McWilllams June  6,  1766 

Kvan  Rice October  23, 1761 

Thomas  James October  23, 1761 

William  Patterson October  23, 1761 

William  Armstrong October  23,  1761 

John  Jones October  23,  1761 

William  Williams October  23, 1761 

Richard  McWIUiams October  23,  1761 

John  Stapler October  23, 1761 

David  Finney October  23,  1761 

Thomas  Cooch October  23, 1761 

James  Latimer October  23, 1761 

Thomas  McKim October  23,  1761 

Jacob  Peterson October  23,  1761 

John  Evans October  23, 1761 

Thonms  Tobin October  23,  1761 

Kvan  Rice  and  Richard  McWIUiams  appointed 

to  try  negroes February  26, 1763 

Reappointed May  26,  1764 

Evan  Rice November  1, 1764 

James  W.  Patterson November  1, 1764 

William  Armstrong November  1, 1764 

John  Jones November  1,  1764 

William  Williams Noveniberl,  1764 

Richard  McWilliams November  1,  1764 

John  Stapler November  1,1764 

David  Finney November  1,  1704 

Thomas  Cooch November  1, 1764 

James  Latimer November  1,1764 

Thomas  McKim November  1, 1764 

Jacob  Patterson Novemberl,  1764 

John  Evans November  1, 1764 

Thomas  Tobin November  1,1764 

Theodore  Maurice November  1, 1764 

Thomas  McKean July  10, 1765 

Evan  Rice October  28,  1760 

Thomas  Jamse October  28,  1769 

William  Patterson October  28,  1769 

WUlliam  Armstrong October  28, 1768 


John  Jones October  28,  1769 

WilUam  Williams October  28, 1769 

John  Stapler October  28,  1769 

David  Finney October  28,  1769 

ThomluOtoch October  28. 1769 

James  Latimer October  28, 1769 

Thomas  McKim October  28,  1769 

Jacob  Peterson October  ?8, 1769 

John  Evans October  28,  1769 

Thomas  Tobin Otober28,  1769 

Theodore  Maurice October  28, 1769 

Thomas  McKean October  28, 1769 

Benjamin  Noxon October  28, 1769 

John  Malcolm October  28,  1769 

Thomas  James April  10, 1773 

William  Patterson Aprill0,l773 

WUIiam  Armstrong April  10,  1773 

John  Jones April  10.1773 

William  Williams April  10, 1773 

John  Stapler April  10, 1773 

David  Finney April  10,  1773 

Thomas  Co«:h April  10,  1773 

James  Latimer April  10, 1773 

Thomas  McKim April  10,  1773 

Jacob  Peterson April  10, 1773 

John  Evans April  10, 1773 

Theodore  Maurice April  10.1773 

Thomas  McKean April  10,  1773 

Benjamin  Noxon , April  10,  1773 

John  Malcolm April  10. 1773 

George  Craighead April  10,  1773 

Richard  Cantwell April  10,  1773 

Samuel  Patterson October  24, 1774 

David  Finney March  3,  1777 

Thomas  James March  3,  1777 

Richard  Cantwell March  3,  1777 

George  Craighead March  3,  1777 

Samuel  Patterson March  3,  1777 

George  Evans March  3, 1777 

John  Lea March  3,  1777 

Valentine  Dusbane    March3,1777 

Robert  Bryan March  3, 1777 

John  MerisB March  3, 1777 

Evan  Rice March  3, 1777 

William  Alfree March  3,  1777 

George  Latimer June8, 177S 

James  Black June  8, 1778 

Isaac  Lewis June  8, 1778 

Petar  Hyatt June  8,  1778 

Joshua  Clayton June  8, 1778 

William  Clark „....June  8, 1778 

Henry  Forster June  8, 1778 

John  Crawford June  8,  1778 

John  James June  30, 1783 

Thomas  DulT June  30, 1783 

Andrew  Gibson ^ June  30,  1783 

William  Robeson June  30,  1783 

George  Craighead April  26,  1784 

John  Lea April  26, 1784 

Robert  Bryan April  26, 1784 

William  Alfree April  26,  17H4 

James  Booth April  26.  1784 

Jacob  Broom April  12, 1786 

David  Howell April  12,  1786 

John  Hyatt April  4,  1787 

John  Read April  4,  1787 

Isaac  Grantham April  4, 1787 

Thomas  Evans April  4, 1787 

Thomas  Wilson July  1,  1788 

Joseph  Tatlow July  1,  1788 

Philip  Reading July  1, 1778 

Gunning  Bedford January  24,  1789 

William  McMechen January  24, 1789 

John  James November  9,  17!K) 

Thomas  Ihiff November  9,  1790 

Joeeph  Bums December  1, 1794 

John  Reynolds Docember21,  1797 

WilUam  Williams March  25,  1799 

Gideon  Emory October  11,  1800 

John  Hyatt October  11,  18rK) 

3Iathew  Aiken October  11, 1800 

Daniel  Blaney February  9,  1801 

Alexander  MacBeth February  9,  1801 

Robert  Hamilton June  4,  18ol 

Evan  Thomas December  4,  1801 

Joseph  Bums December  4, 1801 

William  Carpenter January  16,1802 

iVeti;  Qutle  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

James  CampbeU November  18, 1803 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


626 


Robm  PhlliiM December  26, 1804 

Robert  Maxwell Januarys,  1806 

OlWer  R.  Howell January  3,  1805 

CoL  John  Clark > September  6, 1806 

Gileb  Kirk October  23,  1806 

John  Hall,  Jr „ November  14, 1806 

WUUam  WiUiama March  26, 1806 

Idward  Boche February  4,  1807 

George  Rupert....^ August  8,  1807 

WiUiam  Fnuer ^ December  16, 1807 

Samuel  Barr „^ February  10,  1808 

James  Qrubb June  6,  1808 

Jamee  Milee. Angutt  8, 1808 

Joseph  Bom December  6, 1808 

Bran  Thomaa ^ ^December  31,  1808 

Eliaha  BouMen December  31, 1808 

WiUiam  Carpenter « .January  25, 1809 

George  Pearoe...„ June  14,  1809 

John  Olaagow ^ « May  7, 1811 

John  Merritt «. January  8, 1812 

(Hirer  R.  Howell January  16, 1812 

JohnToztwrt. January  16, 1812 

William  Johnson January  8, 1812 

Bdo*  Walter ^ March  10, 1813 

Arnold  S.  Naudain „ May  7,  1813 

Surael  Moore » .September  25, 1813 

Thomas  ReynoKli November  12, 1813 

fedward  Boche.., February  5, 1814 

AmosBaodere » June  17,  1814 

6««ge  Buasell Augnst  8, 1814 

WUUam  Fraasr « January  19, 1815 

Samuel  Barr May  13, 1815 

John  Lswber May  11, 1816 

James  Gmbb. June  7,  1816 

I  Oorbett ^ ».Angnst  19,  1816 

»  Ffcris ^ May  7, 1816 

I  Bouldin « May  27,  1816 

George  Pierce June  24, 1816 

Jeremiah  Lewden ~ December  4,  1816 

Alexander  McFarlan ..w... June  6, 1817 

Thomas  McDowoU » June  26, 1818 

John  llltot. November  16, 1818 

Btan  Thomas June  7, 1819 

Thomas  Beynolds January  14,1820 

John  Green January  14,  1820 

Peter  Williams ^ ^February  3, 1820 

auBuel  Moore ~ September  20,  1820 

John  Janin « - January  10, 1821 

■dvanl  Boche February  6, 1821 

Frederick  Leonard April  10, 1821 

John  Tweed June  18,  1821 

James  Andereon Augnst  10, 1821 

WilUam  Vandegrilt March  27,  1822 

Dickinson  Webster November  29, 1822 

Joshua  Jeflerson January  8,  1823 

Jacob  FMis February  7, 1823 

John  Moody October  23, 1823 

Frederick  Craig October  23, 1823 

Stephen  WUIis ..December  23, 1823 

Zadock  Townsend..... July  31, 1824 

Thomas  McDowell June  27, 1826 

John  MoCracken May  6, 1826 

John  EUiot ^ November  6, 1826 

George  Pearoe November  23, 1826 

Joshua  Clsjton « February  22, 1826 

James  Sorden »... .'..March  20, 1826 

Ivan  Thomas June  14, 1826 

WiUiam  Silver August  26, 1896 

Waiiam  Nicholson September  6, 1826 

Thomas  Boblnson September  5, 1827 

Amos  Sanders 

John  Janvier Januaiy  10, 1828 

Frederick  Leonard. April  lo,  1828 

WUIiam  Streets -Octobsr  14, 1828 

Andrew  Bradley November  10, 1828 

William  Yandegrifl April  6, 1829 

BeqJ.  Caulk November  30,  1829 

John  Comwell January  6,  1830 

WUIiam  Carpenter „ January  8, 1880 

Jacob  Faris « ~ February  17, 1830 

Abraham  Bgbert « December  28, 1830 

WUltom  McOauUey ., February  14, 1831 

John  Wood April  24,  1831 

Thomas  McDoweH July  6, 1832 

Bobert  Tweed - July  6,  1832 

James  Henry. « July  6,  1832 

James  Bobiosoo....^ November  21, 1832 

WiUiam  A.  Aldred ^ « November  21, 1832 

John  ElUot March  23. 1838 

40 


James  Delaplaine April  6,  1833 

Thomas  Janvier,  Jr July  2, 1833 

Thomas  McDoweU .July  6, 1833 

Bobert  Turner July  6,  1833 

James  Henry July  6, 1833 

John  Wiley July  12,  1833 

James  Robinson September  21, 1833 

WUIiam  Weldon February  20, 1834 

Howard  Ogle June  11, 1834 

Samuel  Carpenter July  16, 1834 

William  Thompson ..July  16, 1834 

David  Justis July  16, 1834 

John  Janvier January  14, 1836 

Alex.  Macbeth April  11, 1835 

Dr.  John  L.  Morris April  13,  1836 

Joseph  M.  Roberts July  16,  1836 

Dr.  A.  P.  Reading October  26, 1836 

George  RusseU November  14,  1836 

Frederick  Leonard....^ September  10,  1836 

WiUiam  Nicholson March  27, 1837 

Andrew  Bradley April  3,  1837 

Abraham  Egbert December  28, 1837 

WiUiam  McCaulley February  14.  1839 

John  Wood April  24,  1839 

James  Boblnson „ December  16, 1839 

Thomas  McDoweU July  4,  1839 

Curtis  Tweed April  8,  1840 

WUIiam  P.  Veach „ July  16, 1840 

Samuel  Jamee January  18, 1841 

Thomas  Finneman March  5, 1841 

Samuel  Carpenter April  6,  1841 

James  Huston July  1,  1841 

Samuel  James January  18, 1841 

Thomas  Finneman March  6, 1841 

James  Huston July  1, 1841 

PhlUp  H.  Jonss July  1, 1841 

Samuel  Carpenter August  11, 1841 

Levi  B.  Moore October  26, 1841 

John  Janvier January  18, 1842 

Stephen  Boddy July  18, 1842 

John  M.  Smith November  1,  1842 

StUlman  Ames February  21, 1843 

Peregrine  Hendrickson June  9, 1843 

Frederick  Leonard September  11, 1843 

Sheward  Johnson February  7, 1844 

Enoch  Gray February  14, 1844 

Charles  Tatman April  24,1844 

Andrew  Bradley November  6, 1814 

Bobert  W.  Black October  27, 1846 

John  8.  Boblnson Novembers,  1846 

WUIiam  Streets November  22, 1846 

FmnkllnW.  Clements Decembers,  1846 

Faster  Boone December  22,  1846 

Thomas  McDoweU July  7, 1846 

James  Boblnson January  15, 1847 

Jacob  B.  Naudain January  16, 1847 

Israel  Townsend Jadnary  16, 1847 

John  Bradford March  16,  1847 

Henry  L.  Peckord Augnst  19,  1847 

John  Wbann December  24, 1847 

Max  B.  Ocheltree. 

Thomas  ayde July,  1848 

James  B.  Towns ....September  6,  1848 

John  Foote January  2, 1849 

James  Huston January  26, 1849 

Thomas  Clements January  27, 1849 

W.  8.  AUmond February,  1840 

Fredns  Pennington « February  1  ,  1849 

Samuel  JefTerson Febniary  15,  1849 

Peter  Counties July  21,  1849 

Thomas  M.  Ogle September  25, 1849 

WUUam  Wiggins September  26, 1849 

Josiah  BIdgeway July  17,  1851 

Howard  Ogle October  10, 1851 

JohnC.  West October  20,  1861 

Patrick  McManns April  8,  1862 

WUUam  G.  Johnson May  8,  1862 

David  McAllister November  16,  1852 

George  Buzine February  25, 1863 

JohnB.  Law July  20, 1853 

Henry  Davis November  19, 1853 

William  Silver,  Jr December  17,  1853 

Bryon  W.  Bliss December  28,  1863 

James  G.  Johnston February  1,  1854 

JohnBradfoid March  17, 1854 

Thomas  McDowell February  7,  1865 

Andrew  K.  Nelson « March  10, 1855 

Robert  Bayne March  22,  1856 

WiUiam  P.  Vwurh January  23, 1856 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


626 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


WiUUm  Nicholaon February  9,  1856 

Stephen  Buddy May  9,  186« 

Abraham  Poalaon May  14,  1866 

Abraham  Staats November  6,  1856 

John  Wood,  Delaware  City May  23,  1857 

John  Wood,  Christiana  Hundred June  18,  1857 

Robert  M.  Black January  20,  1858 

Henry  P.  Baker April  29, 1858 

Jeese  Lake December?,  1858 

Joseph  E.  V  heeler December  7, 1858 

Abram  T.  Pennington December  7, 1H58 

David  McAllister November  25,  1869 

Richard  Ferguson December  17, 1859 

Andrew  J.  Crow January  24, 1860 

Jesse  L.  Floyd April  4,  I860 

William  O.  Daniel July  13. 1860 

Thomaa  Deakyne November  15,1860 

Bryon  W.  Bliss December  4,  I860 

Thomas  Young December  19,  1860 

John  Bradford March  29, 1861 

John  Wright -. April  4, 1861 

Matthew  Macklin April  4,  1862 

Thomas  D.  Gibson December  3(»,  1862 

John  C.  Crosby January  8,  1863 

James  H.Ray January  16,  1863 

Abraham  Staats November  6,  1863 

Hugh  McLaughlin January  12,  1864 

John  Wood June  21,  1864 

Robert  M.  Bbck February  1, 1865 

Joriah  Ridgway May  11, 1866 

Peter  B.  Vandeveer December  1?,  1865 

Lawrence  R.  Davis January  4, 1866 

Samuel  B.  Sutton March  20, 1866 

George  O'Neil April  27,  1866 

Jamee  P.  Hall Dfcember  18, 1866 

Edward  Reynolds January  31,  1867 

Stephen  H.  Costen. 

Thomas  Deakyne November  18, 1867 

Thomas  Young November  30, 1867 

Joseph  H.  Walker January  9,  1868 

Lawrence  R.  Davis November  16, 1868 

George  Moore April  12, 1869 

John  H.  Puhl June  15,  1869 

James  M.  Watson August  2,  1869 

Thomas  D.  Gibeon January  8, 1870 

James  H.  Ray January  21,1870 

DeWitt  C.  Walker February  2,1870 

William  McKeowan March  3.  1870 

Edmund  B.  Frwer November  21, 1870 

John  A.  Hazzard December  17,  1870 

Joseph  L.  Kilgore February  15, 1871 

Abram  F.  Pvnningtou May  23,  1871 

Charles  Dougherty July  24,  1871 

Walter  Mitchell August  7,  1871 

William  L.  Wier January  23,  1872 

Sylvester  W.  Clement February  19, 1872 

Josiah  Ridgway June  1. 1872 

Peter  B.  Vandever December  19, 1872 

Daniel  Mulherin January  21,  1878 

Georges.  Hageny Februai^  26,  1873 

George  W.  Smith February  26, 1873 

John  C.  Wilson March  6, 1873 

Samuel  B.  Sutton March  .31, 1873 

George  O'Neill April  28,  1873 

Mark  M.  Kirby July  10,  1873 

Thomas  Deakyne November  19,  1874 

James  Springer December  »,  1874 

William  H.  Brady February  18,  1875 

John  H.  Puhl May  24, 1876 

Jamee  M.Watson August  2, 1876 

James  B.  Naudain February  9,  1877 

William  McKeowan March  3,  1877 

John  C.  Cole iJoveraber  21,  1877 

Joseph  Kilgore February  15, 1878 

David  G.  Furey February  16, 1878 

George  W.  Townsend July  29,  1878 

Levi  \.  Bertolette October  17, 1878 

William  L.  Wier January  29, 1879 

Sylvester  W.  Clements February  18, 1879 

B.  F.  Herdman June  10, 1879 

Frank  P.  Ricliarisou Augusts,  1879 

J.  W.  Vandegrift February  26, 1880 

James  C.  Wilson March  6,  1880 

Albert  N.  Sutton March  17, 1880 

George  O'Neill April  28, 1880 

William  8.  Vandyke April  5, 1881 

John  G.  Jackson April  22,  1881 

Thomas  Deakyne November  19,  1K81 

James  Springer December  14,  1881 


James  Nicholson March  7, 1882 

Henry  A.  Wlleon March  7,  1882 

James  L.  ValUindigham April  11,  1882 

C.  C.  Register May  25, 1882 

Joeeph  C.  White January  23,  1884 

William  McKeowan March  3, 1884 

Julian  B.  Janvier February  11,  1886 

Jamee  T.  Smith February  18,  1886 

Levi  A.  Bertolette October  11,  1886 

Thomas  Bratt  n June  21, 1886 

William  L.  Wier June  21,  1886 

John  Vesey November  11, 1886 

Frank  E.  Smith February  28, 1887 

A.  N.  Sutton March  23, 1887 

James  Monaghan April  28,  1887 

Frederick  Hagmeyer May  11,  1887 

NotarieB  Ptibiic. 

Tboe.  McKean  (for  New  Castle  and  lower  counties).  July  10, 1766 

David  Thompeon July  23.  1774 

Isaac  Stevenson September  14,  1799 

Edward  Roche April  18, 1800 

David  Morrison April  6, 180« 

Evan  Thomas May  1,  1806 

Samuel  Barr „ August  8,  1808 

Joseph  Bums ^September  20, 1810 

Isaac  Hendrickson November  17, 1813 

Cornelius  D.  Blaney August  19,  1816 

Samuel  Barr August  26, 181f 

David  Paynter June  16,  1816 

John  P.  Fairlamb November  7,  1816 

Thomas  McDowell March  10,  1819 

Frederick  Leonard April  10, 1821 

James  Sorden December  5,  1822 

Samuel  Harker February  8,  1827 

LeaPusey July  2,  1831 

Jamee  A.  Sparks. January  3, 183S 

T.  Booth  Roberts March  6, 1836 

WlUUm  McCaully May  21,  183« 

Thomas  Deakyne March  28,  1837 

William  Mendenball March  28,  1837 

Andrew  Bradley April  3, 1837 

Jamee  Fraaer June  24,  1837 

Lea  Pueey July  4, 1837 

William  McCaully July  4,  1837 

Thomas  McDowell July  4,  1837 

Alexander  Macbeth July  4, 1837 

Cornelius  D.  Blaney July  4,  1837 

John  Janvier February  2, 1838 

Franklin  W.  Clements February  22,  1838 

Samuel  Carpenter February  22, 1838 

William  Streets September  So,  1838 

Joseph  M.  Patten December  20,  1838 

James  Fraser January  3,  1839 

John  D.  Bird February  22,  1889 

Jonas  Pusey February  22, 1839 

Hyhind  B.  Penlngton,  Jr March  8,  1840 

Abraham  Egbert May  23,  1840 

Andrew  P.  Reading July  3,  1840 

James  Huston a July  1, 1841 

PhiUp  H.  Jones August  4,  1841 

Samuel  Carpenter August  11,  1841 

James  Rlckards. August  11,  1841 

Stephen  Boddy July  18,  1842 

Peregrine  Hendrickson June  8, 1843 

Sheward  Johnson February  7, 1844 

Enoch  Gray February  14,  1814 

Richard  Clement March  26, 1844 

Abraham  Ponlson March  29. 1844 

Andrew  Bradley „ April  6, 1844 

Thomas  McDowell ^.July  4, 1844 

Cornelius  D.  Blaney July  4,  1844 

William  McCauUey July  lo,  1844 

O.  K.  Bassett July  18,  1844 

Jonas  P.  Fairlamb January  9, 1846 

Abraham  Egbert. .January  2o,  1845 

Franklin  W.  ClemenU February  22, 1846 

Abraham  Staats March  7,  1846 

Joeeph  M.  Patten December  22,  1846 

Joshua  E.  Diven December  26, 1846 

Jonas  Pusey March  17,  1846 

Thomas  Fennimore September  15, 1846 

Israel  Townsend January  15, 1847 

George  B.  Riddle February  20,  1847 

William  Rnnyon February  20, 1847 

John  Bradford March  16, 1847 

Thomas  Lamplugh March  17,  1847 

Henry  L.  Packard August  19,  1847 

S.  8.  McCauley November  6, 1847 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


627 


John  Hedge „ November  6,  1847 

Andrews  Naadain November 25,  1847 

Katthew  Mackllo January  16,1848 

Albert  W.  Smith April  6, 1848 

John  Whann June  6,  1848 

Max  a  Ocheltree June  24,  1848 

Jamei  Huston July  8, 1848 

William  H.  Jones „ July  26, 1848 

Jacob  P.  Byrnes ^ July  28, 1848 

Thomas  Oyde July  28,1848 

Jsmet  R.  Towns September  6,1848 

John  D.  Dilwortb January  18,  1849 

John  G.  Jackson February  %  1849 

Williams.  Allmond February  3, 1849 

Fiedoi  Pennington February  10, 1849 

William  S.  Hagany February  16,  1849 

Samuel  Jalfenon ^ ^February  17,  1849 

A.  F.  Wickersham April  13,  1849 

Peter  Oountias July  21, 1849 

Henry  Davis September  4, 1849 

Thoinas  M.  Ogle ■. December  10, 1849 

William  B.  Wiggins. February  23,  1860 

William  J.  J.  Purcell May  11, 1860 

Peter  B.  Yandever May  26, 1850 

baac  P.  Walker December  24, 1860 

WflllamW.  Ferris January  29,1861 

John  fl.  Frick July  17, 1861 

John  D.  Bird March  10, 1861 

Charles  Kimmey November  18,  1863 

JohnN.  Zelefro April  18,  1854 

William  McCaullcy „ March  12,1856 

John  T.  Robinson March  12, 1866 

Albert  W.  Smith April  6,  1866 

George  W.  Tpwnsend Aprils,  1866 

Joseph  C.  Spear November  26^  1865 

Kobert  Bayne December  3,  1866 

Mark  M.  Cleaver January  12, 1866 

John  0.  Jackson - February  6, 1856 

William  8.  Hagany February  16,  1856 

John  D.  Bird April  23,1866 

Ivan  Price May  9,  1856 

Wfltiam  H.  Thompson May  9, 1866 

Thomas  McDowell August  29,  1856 

Abraham  Poulson August  30, 1866 

Idfflund  D.  aeaver October  17, 1866 

AbnUiam  Staats Novembers,  1866 

WUliamB.  Wiggins February  24,  1856 

J.J.  Purcell May  16, 1857 

Peter  B.  Yandever June  29, 1857 

A.  0.  Bobinaon November  4,  1867 

MoaesMcHenry February  27,  1858 

John  McLear May  12, 1868 

Joseph  W.  Day August  4,  1858 

Henry  Davis February  16,1869 

Jamee  H.  Ray „ February  18,  1859 

GeofgeR.  Riddle March  9,  1869 

Daniel  Farra,  Jr March  9, 1859 

Jamea  Montgomery „ March  9,  1869 

Jea»L.  Floyd April  9, 1800 

John  Z.  Crouch April  13, 1860 

Thomas  Toang March  27,  1862 

Albert  W.  Smith April  8, 1862 

JohoF.  Robinson April  9, 1862 

GwHge  W.  Townsend May  10, 1862 

Matthew  Macklln November  19, 1862 

George  P.  MiUer November  28,  1862 

Jacob  B.  Yandever ..- November  26, 1862 

JohaC.  Crosby Januarys,  18«3 

John  R.  Hall January  16, 1863 

O«orge  B.  Dickson January  17, 1863 

Mack  M.  Cleaver January  23, 1863 

^niamB.  Records, January  23,  1863 

WHIIamP.  Yeach January  23,  1863 

John  R.  FUnn January  23, 1863 

Praodi  Mclntire January  23, 1863 

Joaeph  C.  Spear , June  5, 1863 

Ahfaham  Staata November  6, 1863 

J.  0.  Jackson ^ March  12,  1864 

Thomas  Lockwood March  14,  1864 

flMiuelOnthrie March  24,  1864 

William  J.  J.  Purcell May  16,  1864 

Jowph  L.  Gibson May  27,  1864 

Joa?ph  C.  Spear. July  2,  1864 

William  W.  Ferris August  18, 1864 

Saanel  W.  McCaulley October  18, 1864 

Aqafll»0.  Robinson November  4,  1864 

Peter  R.  Smith November  10,  1864 

WAardH.Bwbanks January  9,  1865 

fa«P.  Walker January  13,  1865 


Peter  B.  Yandeveer March  18, 1866 

George  R.  Riddle November  1, 1866 

Ignatius  C.  Grubb November  2,1866 

Jamee  H.  Bay March  2, 1866 

Peter  B.  Yandeveer March  2, 1866 

Issachar  H.  Kldridge March  7, 1866 

Richard  H.  Kwbanks March  7, 1866 

Daniel  Green March  12, 1866 

George  W.  Bright March  16,  1866 

Daniel  Farra March  16,  1886 

Samuel  R.  Sutton March  20, 1866 

Eugene  L.  Ellison June  20, 1866 

George  W.  Llndaey August  27, 1866 

Henry  Davis August  28,  1866 

James  B.  Olarkson January  16, 1867 

William  W.  Torbert ^ April  23, 1867 

James  B.  Gibson January  16,  1867 

Edward  Reynolds January  31, 1867 

William  W.  Torbert April  23,  1867 

Joseph  G.  Brown „ June  12, 1867 

Philip  Marvel ^ ~. August  8, 1867 

B.  P.  Rumford January  9, 1868 

George  0  Neil Jannary  9,  1868 

William  McDaniel April  29, 1868 

George  P.  Miller August  5,  1868 

William  F.  Lane September  30,  1868 

Thomas  Young - March  29,1869 

Albert  W.  Smith April  9, 1869 

Robert  M.  Black J^pril  22, 1869 

JoeUh  RIdgeway April  22, 1869 

John  A.  Reynolds April  23, 1869 

John  H.  Puhl June  15,  1869 

Jamee  M.  Watson August  2, 1869 

Francis  Mclntire February  7, 1870 

William  McKeowan February  22, 1870 

John  Aiken April  30, 1870 

Joseph  M.  Barr « July  20, 1870 

Edmund  B.  Frazer November21, 1870 

Abraham  H.  Pennington ..January  18,  1871 

Joeepb  L.  Kilgore February  15,  1871 

Jamee  M.  Houseman „ March  28,  1871 

Walter  Mitchell « Auguat  7, 1871 

George  W.  WUlIams • October  3, 1871 

James  McCabe November  1, 1871 

Peter  T.  K.  Smith Novemberll,  1871 

Peter  B.  Yandeveer „ „ March  25, 1872 

Ignatius  C.  Grubb November  2, 1872 

George  W.  Smith - February  26, 1873 

John  C.  Wilson March  6,  1873 

Daniel  Green March  18, 1873 

Richard  H.  Ewbanks March  13,  1873 

George  W.  Bright March  18,  1878 

Daniel  Farra March  19, 1873 

Samuel  B.  Sutton ..March  31, 1873 

Edmund  D.  Cleaver • April  18,1873 

Mark  M.  Kirby July  10,  1873 

D.  Taylor  Bradford „ Decembers,  1873 

HeAry  Baird December  11, 1873 

James  B.  Qarkson January  17, 1874 

William  W.  Torbert April  11,  1874 

Joseph  Roberts April  25,  1874 

Joseph  G.  Brown June  15, 1874 

James  A.  Plunkett a July  28,  1874 

John  8.  Crouch January  1,  1876 

Jamee  Springer January  5, 1876 

H.  P.  Rumford January  9, 1876 

George  O'NeUl January  14, 1876 

Henry  R.  Dupont January  20, 1876 

WiUiam  H.  Brady February  18, 1875 

Thomas  R.  Lally April  1, 1875 

George  8.  Hagany April  10, 1875 

William  F.  Lane September  30, 1876 

Thomas  E.  Young October?,  1875 

JohnH.  Danby January  24,  1876 

Hanson  Harmon April  10,  1876 

John  A.  Reynolds April  24,  1876 

John  H.  Pnhl June  16,  1876 

James  M.  Watson / August  2, 1876 

William  McKeowan February  20,  1877 

William  L.  Wier Apnl  12,  1877 

John  C.  Cole November  21,  1877 

Joseph  Kilgore February  16,  1878 

James  M.  Houseman March  28,  1878 

George  W.  Tuwnsend July  29, 1878 

George  W.  WillUms Octobers,  1878 

Levi  A.  Bertolette « October  17, 1878 

Peter  T.  E.  Smith November  11,  1878 

J.  Ernest  Smith March  5, 1879 

Peter  B.  Yandever March  20,  1879 


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628 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


James  C.  Wilson March  6,1880 

Daniel  Green March  13, 1880 

Albert  N.  Sntton ^ ..March  17,  1880 

George  W.  Bright March  18, 1880 

JoMph  W.  Vandegrift March  23,1880 

Daniel  Farra .*. May  4, 1880 

Edmund  D.  Cleaver Awgurt  17, 1880 

Henry  J.  Crippen Norember  26, 1880 

Darid  T.  Bradfoni Dwiember,  1880 

Henry  Baird « December  II,  1880 

John  G.  Jackson April  22,  1881 

Joseph  Boberta April  29, 1881 

H.  R.  Pennington August  18, 1881 

Edward  J.  Taylor November  24, 1881 

William  H.  Lee November  28, 1881 

John  8.  Crouch January  2,  1882 

Jamee  H.  Springer January  6,  1882 

Henry  P.  Rnroford January  14, 1882 

William  H.  Brady March  1, 1882 

Henry  A.  Wilson March?,  1882 

James  H.  Ray s April  1,  1882 

Thomas  R.  Lally April  1, 1882 

Thomas  E.  Young September  80,  1882 

William  Lane October  7,  1882 

John  H.  Danby January  22, 1883 

William  N.  Wilson May  7,  1883 

T.  F.  Armstrong June  23,1883 

William  A.  Comegys August  30, 1883 

William  McKeowan ^.February  26, 1884 

Joseph  G.  Brown March  31,  1884 

Leonldas  Darlington July  16, 1884 

John  C.  Cole ^ November  21, 1884 

8.  M.  Donnell December27, 1884 

Lloyd  Chamberlain January  7, 1886 

Sewell  Green ^ February  13,  1886 

W.  J.  Ellison .„ April  17, 1886 

J.  Austin  Ellison September  23,  1886 

Edward  W.  Smith « October  1, 1886 

George  W.  Williams Octobers,  1886 

Levi  A.  Bartolette October  17, 1886 

Frank  Chandler October  17, 1886 

Henry  P.  Ruroford November  11, 1886 

Peter  T.  E.  Smith November  11,  1886 

James  T.  Smith Januarys,  1886 

Thomas  Bratton June  21, 1886 

Thomas  Glffln August  27,  1886 

J.  Jackson  Pierce October  16, 1886 

Daniel  Green March  14, 1887 

George  W.  Bright March  21, 1887 

Jamse  B.  Clarkeon March  23,1887 

Frank  E.  Smith ^ March  23, 1887 

Frederick  Hagmeyer May  11,  1887 

D&niel  Farra May  19, 1887 

Caleb  M.  Sbeward August  13,  1887 

Edmund  D.  Cleaver August  18, 18«7 

Frank  D.  Carpenter 1888 

James  Monaghan ^ 1888 

Henry  J.  Crippen 1888 

Thomas  F.  Hmnlon 1888 


Ijevy  Court  and  Commissioners, — ^Tbe  act  establish- 
ing Levy  Courts  was  passed  in  1736,  under  George  IL 
Section  3  provided  "That  the  Justices  of  the 
Peace  of  the  respective  Counties  within  the  Govern- 
ment, or  any  three  of  them,  at  their  respective  county 
shall  meet  yearly  and  every  year  for  the  laying  of 
levies,  together  with  eight  grand  jurymen,  .  .  .  and 
the  assessors  or  the  majority  of  them  shall  meet 
at  the  Court-House  or  Houses  within  the  said  coun- 
ties, .  .  .  and  then  and  there  proceed  to  calcu- 
late and  settle  the  public  debts  and  charges  of  the 
respective  counties,  and  shall  settle  and  adjust  the 
sums  of  money  which  ought  of  necessity  to  be  re- 
ceived yearly  to  defray  the  charges  of  building  and 
repairing  Court-Houses,  prisons,  workhouses,  for  de- 
stroying wolves,  crows  and  blackbirds,  with  such 
other  uses  as  may  redound  to  the  public  service,  and 
with  power  to  make  good  deficiencies  and  to  collect 
and  enforce  collections.*' 


In  1757  a  supplement  to  this  act  was  passed  author- 
izing the  Levy  Court  to  appoint  county  treasurezs. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1793,  the  act  was  amended, 
which  provided  tbat  the  Levy  Court  and  Court  of 
Appeals  should  be  composed  of  commissioners  to  be 
elected  by  the  people — eleven  for  New  Castle  County : 
two  from  each  hundred  of  Christiana  and  Appoquin- 
imink,  and  one  each  from  the  other  hundreds. 
Nine  from  Kent  County:  two  from  Duck  Creek 
and  Mispillion  Hundreds,  three  from  Murderkill, 
and  one  each  from  the  hundreds  of  Little  Creek  and 
St.  Jones.  Ten  for  Sussex  County :  one  for  each  of 
the  hundreds. 

An  amendment,  February  9,  1796,  provides  that 
the  Court  of  Appeals  shall  receive  the  returns  of  valu- 
ation of  assessors  and  remedy  complaints,  and  stipu- 
lates that  every  freemen  over  twenty-one  years  of  age 
should  be  rated,  in  addition  to  his  amount,  a  personal 
tax  for  capital,  not  exceeding  two  hundred  pounds 
nor  less  than  fifty  pounds. 

An  amendment  passed  on  January  19, 1797,  provides, 
in  addition  to  these  powers,  authority  to  raise  money  to 
maintain  the  poor  of  each  county  in  their  poor-houses, 
for  laying  out,  repairing,  amending,  supporting  and 
erecting  bridges,  causeways.  State  and  other  public 
roads  and  common  highways. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Levy  Court  composed  of 
commissioners,  as  at  present,  was  held  November  26, 
1793,  at  which  the  following  persons  were  present : 

James  McCuUoogh New  Castle  Hundred 

Isaac  Starr Christiana 

Peter  Bryuberg Christiana 

Andrew  Gibson Brandywine 

Alexander  Reynolds Mill  Creek 

Joel  Lewis White  Gay  Cieek 

Jacob  Ferriss Pencader 

George  Monro Red  Lion 

Alexander  Stewart St.  George's 

Arnold  Naudain Appoquinimink 

Chartee  Pope Appoquinimink 

The  following  record  is  given  as  gleaned  from  the 
Levy  Court  records,  and  is  somewhat  imperfect,  es- 
cially  in  the  early  records : 

1794.-^amse  Thomas.  Archibald  McMurphy. 

1795.— Joseph  England,  Levi  Adams. 

1706.— Patrick  O'Flynn.  Joseph  Pieroe. 

1797.-John  CUrk,  WiUhun  Poole,  William  Cooch,  George  Qark, 
James  Haughey. 

1799.— Moses  McKnight,  William  WlUiams. 

1800.— James  Riddle,  John  Garrett,  Jr.,  Adam  Williamson,  Isaac 
Gibbs. 

1801.— Thomas  Mendenhall,  Moses  McKnlght,  Joel  Lewis,  John  Van- 
hickle,  William  Cooch.  John  V.  Hyatt,  William  Williams. 

18U2.— Robert  Philips,  Arnold  S.  Naudain,  John  Y.  Johnson,  Robert 
Johnson. 

1803.— James  Riddle,  Thomas  McClintock,  John  Brynberg,  Ckleb  Way, 
Jacob  Faris. 

1804.— Joel  Lewis,  George  Clark,  Jacob  Faris,  Francis  Haughey, 
Thomas  Montgomery. 

1805.— John  R.  Philips,  Dr.  David  Stewart 

1806.— .Tames  Riddle,  John  Brynberg,  John  Warner,  Samuel  Matler. 

1807.— John  Harlan,  Thomas  Philips,  Morgan  Jones,  Anthony  Hlg- 
gins,  John  McClintock. 

1808.— James  Reynolds,  Jamee  Crawford,  John  Bryuberg,  George 
Gillespie. 

1809.— John  Mcaintock,  James  Stuart,  John  Harhiii,  Anthony  Hig- 
gins,  Jacob  Vandegrift^  James  Crawford. 

1811.— William  Phillips,  James  Crawford,  John  Lockerman. 

1812.-^ohn  Dixon,  Charles  Tatum. 

1813.— William  W.  Haslet,  George  Gillespie,  Morgan  Jones,  Jacob 
Vandegrift. 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


629 


1814.— A.  M.  Force,  Dr.  Wm.  Johnson,  Arnold  S.  Naudain,  John 

TWMd. 

1815.— JamM  Riddle,  John  Brynberg,  John  Torbert,  Peter  Hansen, 
William  amith,  Jacob  Vandegrlft,  William  Johnson,  John  Tweed, 
George  Oilleepie,  Arnold  S.  Naudain,  Morgan  Jones,  James  Glasgow. 

1816.— James  Thompson,  Joseph  Roth  well,  Alexander  Reynolds,  Jonas 
Riddle. 

1817.— William  Weldon,  Thomas  Reynolds,  John  Warner,  Hugh  W. 
Ritchie,  CSomelius  D.  Blaney. 

1818.- Victor  Da  Pent,  Thomas  Mendenhall,  Anthony  Hlggins, 
WUUam  Weldon,  Jr.,  Jacob  Farls,  John  Merritt,  Joseph  W.  Oochran. 

1819.— William  Seal,  John  Tweed,  Thomas  Baldwin. 

1822.- William  H.  Crawford,  William  Ferries,  BeiUamm  Watson, 
BeiUamin  BouUen,  David  Penny,  BeiUamin  Morley. 

1823.— Amos  Saunders,  John  Riddle. 

1824.— John  O.  Philips,  James  Chambers,  Charles  I.  Du  Pont,  Alex- 
aader  Crawford,  Henry  Steel,  John  Torbert. 

1825.— Philip  Reybold,  John  Herdman,  John  Janvier,  Jr.,  Justa 
Jottis. 

18S8.— John  Moody,  Cornelius  D.  Blaney,  Joseph  W.  Day,  Robert 
Pwter,  Bei\|amln  Morley,  James  Chambers,  John  C-  Philips,  Robert 
Porter. 

1827.— Jacob  Faris,  Elihu  Jefferson,  Jesse  Boulden,  Andrew  P.  Read- 
ing, Philip  R*-ybold.  George  Springer,  Peter  B.  Dulany,  Joseph  W.  Day, 
John  Herdman,  William  Weldon  (2d). 

1828.-John  a  Corbit,  Jesse  Boulden,  SUhu  Jefferson,  Andrew  P. 
Reeling. 

1829.— Thomas  Vandeveer,  John  Gordon,  James  Delaplaln,  Peter  B. 
Dokqy,  John  C.  CorUt. 

183a— Eli  Biddle,  John  C  CUrk,  Nathaniel  S,  Darid,  George  Piatt. 

mi.^James  GUBn,  John  Mathews,  William  H.  Roberts,  George  Piatt, 
Ssthaniel  David,  John  C.  Clark,  Eli  Biddle,  William  BL  Roberts. 

1831— William  H.  Booth,  John  ElUot.  James  GIffln. 

1833.— Robert  Ocbeltree,  James  Delaplaln.  Jesse  Boulden. 

1834.— John  Gorden,  £If  Biddle,  James  Oiflin,  William  H.  Roberts. 

1835.-JnsU  Jnstis,  Elihu  Jefferson.  Thomas  Marim,  David  W. 
Tbooiss,  Christopher  Vandegrift,  Robert  Ocheltree,  Nathaniel  Wolfe, 
ham  J.  Brindl^,  Jacob  Hooten,  David  Justis,  Joseph  Hoasinger.  John 
D.  TonMr,  WUllam  Thompson,  William  Hemphill  Jones. 

1839.- WilliRm  R.  Sellers,  James  Thompson,  John  Whann,  Je«e 
BtrnUen,  Robert  Ocbeltree,  John  P.  Cochran,  David  W.  Thomas,  James 
IsMly. 

1841.— Enoch  Gray,  John  Rice,  Robert  P.  Robinson,  David  W.  Gem- 
nm,  Jaeob  Faria,  Stephen  W.  Stapler. 

1812.— Benjamin  Dnncan. 

1843.— Samuel  P.  Dixon,  Ho^tard  Ogle,  Charles  C.  Bigger,  John  P. 
Cochran,  Jamm  Y.  Moore,  Aniey  Lore. 

1845.- Amos  Chandler,  John  Rice,  Robert  P.  Robinson,  David  W. 
Gemmill,  John  McCracken. 

1847.— Bothwell  Wilson,  L*»vi  B.  Moore,  Ashbury  D.  Penlngton, 
George  W.  Kaisner,  Thomas  Scott,  George  Deakyne. 

1849.- Amor  Chandler,  Thomas  C.  Bradley,  David  W.  GemmlU, 
8»«oel  (knby,  John  W.  Turner. 

1851.— John  Foote,  Robert  Hawthorn,  Charles  C.  Bigger,  Richard  W. 
Cochran,  Thomas  Middleton,  Nathaniel  Williams. 

185S.— Isuc  S.  Elliot,  Jr.,  WUliam  Graves,  Joseph  G.  Hendrickson, 
John  Smith,  George  Boulden. 

1855.-Ben|amio  Garrett,  Andrew  Kerr,  William  D.  Clark,  James 
Pttgne.  Thomas  Scott,  Jacob  Staats. 

186«.-WIllUm  D.  Clark. 

1857.- James  A.  B.  Smith,  EU  Todd,  Joseph  O.  Hendrickson,  John 
Smith.  George  Boulden. 

1858.— James  Amor. 

Ii459.-Spencer  Chandler,  William  McClelland,  William  D.  Clark, 
Svick  F.  ShalkrosB,  Levi  W.  Lattomus,  Jacob  Staats. 

ISRl.^John  W.  Hawklms  Gilpin  P.  Stidham,  William  W.  Stewart, 
Uwia  K.  Penlngton,  Lewis  Zebly. 

18S3.— Lamont  S.  Dixon,  William  L.  Deakyne,  Abraham  Ingram, 
telck  F.  ShallcrosB.  William  D.  Oark. 

1866.— Bronough  M.  Derringer,  John  W.  Hawkins,  A.  Hollingsworth, 
8ylv«ster  D.  Townsend,  Lewis  Zebley. 

18C7.-John  P.  Bellville,  Samuel  M.  Enos,  Jonathan  S.  Hand,  Abra- 
ham Ingram,  William  Mcaelland,  Robert  Walker. 

1889.- Andrew  H.  Fisher,  Robert  D.  Hicks,  Milton  Lackey,  David  M. 
PHr«,JuM0A.B.  Smith. 

1871.- WiUUm  R.  Bright,  Alexander  Deakyne,  David  Groves,  Levi 
Bath.Serick  F.  Shallcross,  William  N.  Wilson. 

1873.— Christian  Febiger,  Ferdinand  Janvier,  Amos  Sharpless,  George 
Jsckioo,  Samuel  H.  Derrick. 

1875.-WIUlam  R.  Bright,  George  Medill,  William  Polk,  Samuel 
«ob«tB,  WiUiun  L.  Weir. 

1877.-Jara«s  Carawell,  Adolphus  Husbands,  William  P.  Lodge,  Albert 
H.  SUver,  Alexander  Wllwn. 

1879.-Wflllam  A.  Morrison,  James  T.  Taylor,  William  R.  Bright, 
wllhun  L.  Weir.  William  Polk,  Henry  H.  Wells. 

I881.-Samnel  SUver,  H«>nry  C.  MahaffV,  Amos  Sharpless,  L.  F.  Elli- 
son, CbristlaD  Febiger. 

U«.-Bdmnnd  Haman,  George  C.  Roth  well,  James  H.  Mackey,  John 

.  Chesin,  James  T.  Ts^lor,  Serick  F.  Shalkrtw. 


1885.— Henry  D.  Hickman,  Thomas  W.  McCracken,  Robert  R.  Morri- 
son, Thomas  Toy,  Isaac  N.  Grubb. 

1887.— Serick  F.  Shallcroas,  George  C.  Rothwell,  William  L.  Wetr, 
Joseph  Roberts,  Samuel  J.  McCall,  Howard  H.  Jordan. 

Treasurers. — ^The  treasurers  of  the  county  have 
been  elected  by  the  Levy  Court  at  the  February  term 
in  each  year  until  the  recent  change,  which  fixed  the 
meeting  in  March. 


Richard    McWilliams,  November 

28,1777. 

John  Hyatt 1785 

James    McCalmont,     November, 

1797. 

Caleb  P.  Bennett 1807 

George  Houston..February  8, 1833 

Ziba  Ferris 1841 

Washington  Russell 1843 

Andrew  P.  Reading 1846 

Bei^amin  Whitman 1847 

Edward  Williams 1849 


Dr.  James  N.  Sutton 1861 

Thomas  I.  Moore 1863 

Henry  Rowan 1866 

James  Delaplaine 1867 

Thomas  Scott 1869 

Mark  M.  Cleaver 1861 

J.  B.  Clarkson 1869 

Gassaway  Watkins 1871 

Mark  M.  Cleaver 1873 

Gassaway  Watkins 1874 

William  Herbert 1876 

Edmund  Haman 1887 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE  CITY  OF  WILMINGTON.' 

Wilmington,  the  metropolitan  city  of  Delaware,  is 
situated  in  New  Castle  County,  on  the  Delaware  River 
and  on  the  Brandywine  and  Christiana  Creeks,  which 
unite  half  a  mile  from  the  river.  It  is  twenty-eight 
miles  southwest  of  Philadelphia  and  seventy  miles 
east- northeast  of  Baltimore.  It  is  on  the  extension  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  the  main  line  of  the 
Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Division  ot 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad ;  is  the  northern  terminus 
of  the  peninsular  system  of  which  the  Delaware 
Railroad  forms  the  backbone,  and  is  the  connecting 
point  of  the  Wilmington  and  Northern  Railroad  and 
the  Delaware  Western  Railroad.  By  the  river  it 
has  daily  steamer  communication  with  Philadelphia. 
It  is  on  latitude  39°  4r  north  and  longitude  75°  28' 
west  of  Greenwich.  It  is  built  on  three  slopes  of  a 
hill,  the  summit  of  which  is  two  hundred  and  forty  feet 
above  the  tide-level  and  commands  an  extensive  view  ot 
the  Delaware  and  the  city  itself.  The  city  is  well  built, 
mostly  of  brick,  stone  and  iron,  and  its  streets  are 
wide  and  straight.  Those  parallel  to  the  Christiana 
are  Water,  Front,  Second,  Third  and  thence  in  num- 
erical order  up  to  Twenty-tighth  Street,  beyond  the 
Brandywine.  These  are  intersected  at  right  angles  by 
Market  Street,  the  principal  business  thoroughfare, 
which  extends  the  wholc^  length  of  the  city  and  is 
over  two  miles  long,  including  the  bridges  over 
Brandywine  and  Christiana  Creeks.  The  streets  par- 
allel with  Market  are  designated  by  proper  names, 
such  as  King,  Shipley,  French,  etc.  The  streets, 
stores  and  residences  are  lighted  with  gas  and  elec- 

1  The  history  of  Wilmington  Is  to  so  large  an  extent  the  history  of  the 
State  that  many  of  the  prominent  events  In  the  foundation  and  growth 
of  the  town  are  narrated  In  the  first  volume  of  the  "  History  of  Dela- 
ware," to  which  the  reader  is  referred.  It  includes  incidents  connected 
with  the  early  settlement  out  of  which  Wilmington  grew,  the  events 
which  occurred  during  the  Revolution,  the  War  of  1812  and  the  Civil 
War  and  the  general  political  annals  up  to  the  present  time,  that  belong 
to  the  State  as  much  as  to  Wilmington. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


tricity  and  supplied  with  water  from  the  Brandy  wine, 
and  efficient  Fire  and  Police  Departments  are  main- 
tained. 

The  origin  of  the  city  is  to  be  found  in  the  building 
of  Fort  Christina  by  the  Swedish  pioneers  in  1638. 
Its  site  was  within  the  present  limits  of  Wilmington, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  creek,  near  "The  Rocks  "  and 
in  the  vicinity  of  Old  Swedes'  Church.  Around  this 
fort,  according  to  Grovemor  Rising,  fifteen  or  twenty 
houses  were  clustered  when  the  Dutch  captured  the 
position  in  1655.  By  them  the  name  was  changed  to 
Fort  Altena  and  a  little  town  laid  out  west  of  the 
fort  under  the  direction  of  (Governor  Beekman,  which 
was  called  Christinaham,  and  in  1661  lots  were  granted 
to  settlers,  among  whom  were  John  (  Anderson  )  Stall- 
cop,  Jacob  Vanderveer,  Paules  Jansen,  Peter  Meyer, 
Thomas  Bruyn,  Jan  Jansen  and  Tymen  Stidham. 
The  lots  were  adjoining  the  fort  and  were  thirty  feet 
in  breadth  ;  double  lots,  sixty  feet.  The  fort,  which 
was  nearly  destroyed  in  the  Dutch  assault  in  1655, 
was  in  1658  repaired  and  eight  thousand  brick  were 
brought  from  Fort  Orange  (Albany,  N.  Y.)  for  that 
purpose,  and  a  few  men  placed  in  charge.  Christina- 
ham  at  that  time  was  next  in  importance  to  New  Cas- 
tle, at  which  place  Vice-Director  Beekman  resided 
most  of  the  time  from  1658  to  1663,  although  New 
Castle  belonged  to  the  city  of  Amsterdam  and  Chris- 
tinaham to  the  Dutch  West  India  Company.  In  1664 
Fort  Altena  was  captured  by  the  English  and  permit- 
ted to  go  to  ruin.  The  town  of  Christinaham  ceased 
to  exist  from  that  time  and  is  not  later  mentioned. 

In  1669  Robert  Jones  was  granted  the  right  to  es- 
tablish a  ferry  near  the  site  of  the  old  fort,  to  which 
a  road  led  from  the  Falls  of  Brandywine,  where 
was  a  fording-place  (now  at  the  foot  of  Adams 
Street).  At  Crane  Hook,  on  the  Delaware  River, 
south  of  Christiana  Creek,  a  church  was  built  by 
the  Swedes  about  1665,  the  most  of  the  Swedish 
settlers  then  residing  at  Swanwyck,  north  of  New 
Castle,  Crane  Hook  and  Vertrecht  Hook  (the  present 
Edgemoor ),  and  on  the  "  Boght,"  a  tract  of  land  north 
of  the  latter  place.  Here  the  Swedes  worshipped 
until  1698,  when  the  present  old  Swedes'  Church  was 
built,  and  a  burial-place  established  around  it.  No 
settlement,  however,  grew  up,  and  Old  Swedes  re- 
mained a  parish  church,  practically  isolated  until 
within  the  past  forty  years,  when  the  locality  became  a 
part  of  the  city. 

From  the  abandonment  of  the  town  of  Christina- 
ham, about  1664,  until  1731  no  attempt  was  made  to 
found  a  settlement  or  lay  out  a  town  on  the  river 
north  of  New  Castle,  within  the  limits  of  Delaware, 
and  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Wilmington  was 
mostly  in  five  large  tracts  that  about  1671  came  into 
possession  of  John  (Anderson)  Stallcop,  Dr.  Tyman 
Stidham,  Jacob  Vanderveer,  Jean  Paul  Jacquett  and 
Peter  Alrich,  who  were  all  residents  under  the  Dutch, 
either  at  New  Amstel  (New  Castle)  or  at  Fort  Altena. 
Jacob  Vanderveer,  from  whom  the  Vandevers  in 
that  vicinity  descended,  came  to  this  locality  in  1658, 


and  was  a  sergeant  under  the  Dutch  for  about  a  year, 
when  he  left  the  army  and  for  several  years  com- 
manded a  vessel  which  traded  along  the  coast.  He 
then  settled  on  a  large  tract  of  land  north  of  the 
Brandywine,  and  erected  a  house  on  the  site  of 
Pickel's  foundry,  near  which  the  family  resided 
until  within  the  past  fifty  years. 

Dr.  Tyman  Stidham,  a  Swede,  was  a  physician  and 
surgeon,  who  came  to  this  country  with  Gov.  Risin^r 
in  1654,  resided  at  New  Amstel  in  1658,  and  later  took 
up  lands,  for  which  he  received  a  patent  May  23, 
1671.  Rattlesnake  Run  was  its  eastern  boundary. 
Peter  Alrich,  who  was  active  in  the  government  of 
the  colony  from  1656  to  1682,  both  under  the  Dutch 
and  English,  was  in  possession  of  the  lands  on  the 
Delaware  on  the  south  side  of  the  Christiana. 

Jean  Paul  Jacquett,  who  was  Vice-Director  in 
1655-56,  was  the  owner  of  "  Long  Hook,"  a  property  on 
the  Christiana,  opposite  the  old  town  of  Wilmington, 
which  embraced  a  tract  at  the  foot  of  Market  Street, 
east  and  west.  The  territory  on  which  the  old  town 
stood,  and  the  present  business  part  of  Wilmington  now 
stands,  is  the  tract  of  eight  hundred  acres  granted  to 
John  (Anderson)  Stallcop  in  1671.  It  was  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Stidham 's  land  ;  on  the  west  by  Rat- 
tlesnake Run  and  a  line  of  marked  trees ;  on  the  south 
by  the  Christiana  and  the  meadows,  and  extended 
eastward.^ 

On  April  16,  1675,  Stallcop,  by  an  article  of  agree- 
ment, conveyed  the  one  undivided  half  of  the  greater 
part  of  his  estate  to  Samuel  Peterson  and  Lars  Cor- 
nelison.  The  latter  sold  his  interest  to  Justa  Ander- 
son, by  whom  later  it  was  assigned  respectively  to 
Mathias  Defoss  and  Charles  Pickering.  In  April, 
1686,  Thomas  Pierson,  a  surveyor  under  the  govern- 
ment, was  employed  to  survey  the  property  and 
make  a  division  of  the  estate.  The  tract  assigned  in 
the  division  to  Samuel  Peterson,  who  still  held  under 
the  conveyance  of  April,  1675,  was  bounded,  as 
described  by  a  later  survey,  as  follows:  Begin- 
ning at  a  thorn-bush  standing  in  the  middle  of 
French  Street  and  on  a  line  with  the  south  side 
of  Water  Street;  from  thence  the  eastern  boun- 
dary line  passed  up  the  middle  of  French  Street  to  a 
point  about  two  rods  above  the  upper  side  of  Third 
Street ;  thence  by  a  line  running  in  a  northwest- 
ward direction  diagonally  across  the  square  at 
Fourth  and  Market  to  the  east  end  of  "  Love  Lane," 
and  following  the  lane  to  a  stake  near  Rattlesnake 
Run,  a  distance  of  four  hundred  and  forty-four  rods 
from  place  of  beginning.  From  the  run  the  boundary 
line  extended  in  a  southwesterly  direction  fifty  rods 
to  a  stake,  and  from  thence  to  the  mouth  of  a  small 

1  Very  little  Is  known  of  the  early  history  of  John  Anderson.  There 
was  a  tradition  among  the  early  settlers  that  he  came  from  Holland,  as 
a  cook  on  board  a  vessel.  On  the  voyage  he  wore  a  woolen  cap  which 
he  used  in  place  of  a  towel.  It  thos  became  very  much  soiled,  greasy 
and  glossy.  For  this  reason  the  sailors  nick*named  him  StAelkappe,  after- 
wards spelled  Stallcop.  To  the  deeds  which  he  executed  he  signed  bis 
name  Johan  Anderson.  In  deeds  of  conveyance  from  his  descendants, 
he  is  called  John  Anderson  Stallcop.  There  is  no  evidence  that  the 
name  Anderson  was  retained  by  any  of  his  posterity,  all  taking  the  name 
Stallcop.    He  left  four  sons,— Andrew,  Charles,  John  and  Peter. 


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rivaJet  which  then  flowed  into  the  Christiana  below 
the  corner  of  Front  and  West  Streets. 

The  tract  of  Charles  Pickering,  according  to  the 
survey  of  1686,  had  the  following  boundary  lines : 
Spinning  at  a  Spanish-oak  tree  standing  in  what  is 
now  Poplar  Street,  five  rods  below  Seventh,  within 
six  feet  of  a  spring;  from  this  point  the  line  ex- 
tended in  a  northwest  direction  foor  hundred  and 
sixty  rods,  nearly  one  and  a  half  miles  to  a  white-oak 
tree  near  Rattlesnake  Run ;  thence  in  a  southwest- 
erly direction  seventy-four  rods  to  a  comer  of  Peter- 
son's land ;  thence  by  the  line  of  Peterson's  land  to 
French  Street  near  Third,  and  down  French  to  the 
thorn  bush  mentioned  above ;  thence  by  shore  of  the 
Christiana  to  the  mouth  of  Stallcop's  Run  and  along 
the  run  to  the  oak  where  the  survey  began. 

John  Anderson  died  before  1686,  and  the  remain- 
der of  his  land  was  divided  between  his  widow, 
Christiana,  and  his  eldest  son,  Andrew.  The  widow 
rscdved  the  land  lying  east  of  Stallcop's  Run  and 
Dcnth  of  Pickering's  tract.  It  was  bounded  by  Tymen 
Stidham's  land  on  the  north,  by  a  line  near  Rattle- 
snake Run  on  the  west,  and  by  the  Christiana  on  the 
•oath.  The  eastern  limit  was  near  the  old  church- 
jtrd.  Andrew  Anderson's  portion  lay  to  the  south- 
west of  Peterson's  tract 

The  tract  of  land  that  Charles  Pickering  owned 
tfterwarda  became  the  property  of  the  Swedish  con- 
gregation. In  1736,  by  an  indenture  under  the  sig- 
natures of  John  Enelberg,  the  pastor,  Charles 
Springer,  Jacob  Stilly  and  Garret  Garrison,  church 
wardens,  and  Philip  Vandevere  and  Mouns  Justice, 
vestiymeDy  Charlee  Springer  became  their  trustee, 
who,  with  Jacob  Stilly  and  Giurret  Garrison  and  their 
snccesBOfs,  were  granted  power  to  '''lease  and  demise 
for  a  term  of  years  or  forever,  in  small  lots,  any  part 
of  said  church  lands."  These  lands  are  now  occu- 
pied by  the  central  part  of  Wilmington. 

Samuel  Peterson,  by  his  will  dated  November  20, 
1669,  devised  to  his  son  who  should  live  longest  with 
the  mother,  all  his  real  estate.  By  this  novel  bequest 
it  came  to  his  son  Peter,  who  owned  it  during  his 
life.  By  his  will,  January  29,  1714,  he  bequeathed 
it  to  his  son,  Peter  Peterson,  who,  on  the  8th  of  May, 
1727,  conveyed  to  Andrew  Justison  **  all  that  part  of 
the  plantation  lying  on  the  Christiana,  extending 
from  the  foot  of  French  Street  to  the  mouth  of  a 
rivulet  at  Front  and  West  Streets,  and  north  and 
west  according  to  the  lines  above  described."  Thomas 
Willing,  in  1728,  married  Catharine,  daughter  of 
Andrew  Justison. 

September  26,  1731,  his  father-in-law  deeded  him 
part  of  the  land  lying  between  what  is  now  West  and 
French  Streets.  The  part  lying  between  French  and 
3farket  was  then  the  most  eligible ;  and,  as  nearly 
as  can  be  ascertained,  in  October,  1731,  Thomas 
Willing  laid  out  this  tract  into  lots  and  then  began 
the  village  of  Willingtown,  from  which  Wilmington 
really  grew.  The  first  house  known  to  have  been 
erected  on  the  plan  for  a  town  made  by  Willing, 


stood  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Market  and  Front 
Streets.  It  was  built  of  brick  and  bore  the  date 
1732  and  the  initials  I.  W.  S.  cut  in  a  marble  tablet 
placed  in  the  gable  wall.  This  building  stood  eight 
feet  out  from  the  present  western  line  of  Market 
Street.  It  was  torn  down  in  1825  by  Eli  Sharpe,  who 
kept  tavern  in  it  for  many  years,  as  did  others  be- 
fore him. 

In  July,  1732,  Joseph  Way  bought  a  lot  in  Wil- 
lingtown for  ten  pounds.  On  the  same  day,  Dr. 
James  Milner  bought  two  lots  at  the  intersection  of 
Front  and  Market  Streets  for  ten  pounds,  and  Charles 
Empson  one  lot  for  fifteen  pounds.  In  1734, 
Samuel  Kirk,  store-keeper,  purchased  a  lot  sixty 
by  ninety  feet  at  the  west  end  of  Market  Square 
for  fifteen  pounds.  A  few  other  purchases  were 
made  about  the  same  time.  In  1735  there  were 
about  ^wenty  houses  in  the  village.  In  that  year, 
William  Shipley,  of  Ridley,  Pennsylvania,  at  the 
suggestion  of  his  wife,  who  had  previously  travel- 
ed through  the  town,  came  to  it  on  a  visit  of 
inquiry.  On  May  20,  1735,  he  purchased  a  lot  of 
Samuel  Kirk  and  his  wife  Margaret,  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  Market  and  Second  Streets.  The  lot  was 
described  as  being  on  Market  Square.  On  August  9, 
1735,  William  Shipley  bought  of  Andrew  Justison 
and  Thomas  Willing  eight  acres  for  one  hundred 
and  four  pounds,  all  lying  between  Market  and  West 
Streets  above  Second,  and  below  Fifth  Street.  At  the 
same  time  he  bought  of  Charles  Empson  one  acre 
and  four  rods  for  forty  pounds.  He  also  bought 
some  of  the  church  land. 

It  may  be  said  of  William  Shipley  that  he  was  the 
virtual  founder  of  the  town  of  Wilmington,  by  his 
purchases  and  investments.  He  was  born  in  Leice»- 
tershire,  England,  in  1693,  and  married  Mary  Ann 
Tatnall,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Ann  Tatnall, 
and  had  three  children — Thomas,  Ann  and  Elizabeth. 
Eariy  in  1725  he  came  from  England  to  Philadel- 
phia and  settled  at  Ridley,  Pennsylvania.  His  wife 
died  soon  after  his  arrival  in  America,  and  he  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Lewis,  of  Springfield,  Pa.  She  was  a 
preacher  in  the  Society  of  Friends,  an  intelligent 
woman  and  very  influential  amoDg  her  people.  A 
very  curious  and  well  authenticated  story  is  told  ot 
the  coming  of  herself  and  her  husband  to  Delaware. 
While  they  were  living  at  Ridley,  Pa.,  in  1730,  she 
had  a  dream  which  the  next  day  she  ^elated  to 
her  husband.  In  it  she  was  traveling  on  horseback, 
along  a  high  road,  and  after  a  time  she  came  to  a 
wild  and  turbulent  stream,  which  she  forded  with 
difficulty ;  beyond  this  stream  she  mounted  a  long 
and  steep  hill-side ;  when  she  arrived  at  this  summit 
a  great  view  of  surpassing  beauty  spread  out  before 
her.  The  hill  whereon  she  stood  melted  away  in  the 
distance  into  a  broad  savannah,  treeless  and  covered 
with  luxuriant  grass.  On  either  side  of  the  hill  ran 
a  stream — upon  one  the  wild  water-course  which  she 
had  just  crossed ;  upon  the  other,  a  snake-like  river 
that  wound  sluggishly  along  in  the  sunlight.    Then 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


for  the  first  time  ihe  saw  that  a  guide  accompanied 
her,  and  she  spoke  to  him. 

'^  Friend,  what  country  is  this  that  thou  hast  taken 
me  to?" 

"  Elizabeth  Shipley,"  answered  he,  "  beneath  thee 
lieth  a  new  land  and  a  fruitful,  and  it  is  the  design 
of  Divine  Providence  that  thou  shouldst  enter  in 
thereto,  thou  and  thy  people,  and  ye  shall  be  enrich- 
ed even  unto  the  seventh  generation.  Therefore, 
leave  the  place  where  now  thou  dwellest,  and  enter 
into  and  take  possession  of  this  land,  even  as  the 
children  of  Israel  took  possession  of  the  land  of 
Canaan."  He  finished  speaking,  and  as  she  turned 
to  look,  he  vanished,  and  she  awoke. 

William  Shipley  bade  his  wife  think  no  more  of 
her  dreams,  for  if  one  pulls  up  blue  beans  after  they 
have  sprouted,  one's  pot  is  like  to  go  empty.  So, 
meeting  with  no  encouragement,  after  some  days  the 


OLD  SHIPLEY   MANSION,   WILMINGTON. 

sharpness  of  her  dream  became  dulled  against  the 
hard  things  of  every-day  life. 

A  year  passed,  and  Elizabeth  received  a  Divine 
call  to  go  and  preach  at  a  meeting  of  the  Society  of 
Friends  held  in  that  peninsula  that  lies  between  the 
Delaware  and  Chesapeake  Bays.  It  was  in  the  spring- 
time, when  the  meadows  were  clad  with  bright 
green,  when  the  woodlands  were  soft  with  tender 
leaves  unfolding  timidly  in  the  generous  warmth  of 
the  sun,  when  the  birds  sang,  when  the  cocks  crowed 
lustily,  when  the  wren  chattered  under  the  eaves, 
and  all  the  air  was  burdened  with  the  sweetness  of 
the  apple  blossoms,  among  which  the  bees  swarmed 
with  drowsy  hum.  So  she  set  forth  on  her  journey, 
jogging  southward  along  the  old  King's  road.  She 
passed  many  streams  of  sweet  water  untainted  with 
lime,  where  the  little  fish  darted  here  and  there  as 
her  old  gray  farm  horse  went  splashing  across  their 
pebbly  reaches.    After  a  journey  of  sixteen'or  eigh- 


teen miles  she  came  to  a  roaring  stream  that  cut 
through  tree-covered  highlands,  and  came  raging 
and  rushing  down  over  great  rocks  and  boulders. 
The  cawing  of  crows  in  the  woods,  and  a  solitary 
eagle  that  went  sailing  through  the  air,  was  all  the 
life  that  broke  the  solitude  of  the  place.  As  she 
hesitated  on  the  bank  before  entering  the  rough- 
looking  ford,  marked  at  each  end  by  a  sapling  pole 
to  which  a  red  rag  was  fastened,  the  whole  scene 
seemed  strangely  familiar  to  her.  After  she  had 
crossed  the  stream  she  began  ascending  a  hill  up 
which  the  highway  led,  that  feeling  strong  upon  her 
which  one  has  at  times  of  having  lived  through  such 
a  scene  before.  At  the  top  of  the  hill  she  came  to 
a  clearing  in  the  forest  where  an  old  Swede  had  built 
him  a  hut,  and  begun  to  till  the  land.  Here  the 
woods  unfolded  like  a  curtain,  and  beneath  her  she 
saw  the  hill  melt  away  into  level  meadows  that 
spread  far  to  a  great  river  sparkling  in  the 
sunlight  away  in  the  distance.  Upon  one 
hand  ran  a  sluggish  river  curving  through 
the  meadows ;  on  the  other,  the  brawling 
stream  she  had  just  crossed.  She  sat  in 
silence  looking  at  the  scene,  while  the  little 
barefoot  Swedish  children  gathered  at  the 
door  of  the  hut,  looking  with  blue-eyed 
wonder  at  the  stranger ;  then  clasping  her 
hands  she  cried  aloud,  "  Behold,  it  is  the 
land  of  my  vision,  and  here  will  I  pitch 
my  tent  I" 

Such  is  the  story  told  by  Howard  Pyle, 
the  author  and  artist,  regarding  the  re- 
moval of  William  and  Elizabeth  Shipley  to 
Wilmington.  In  1735  Mr.  Shipley  built  a 
large  tliree-story  brick  house  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Fourth  and  Shipley  Streets. 
It  was  then  doubtless  the  largest  building 
within  the  present  limits  of  Delaware.  In 
this  house  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1768, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  It  was 
owned  for  many  years  by  Henry  Latimer* 
president  of  the  Bank  of  Delaware,  and  was  subse- 
quently sold  to  Gawthrop  &  Bro.,  who  in  1883  re- 
moved the  venerable  and  historic  old  mansion  and 
upon  the  site  erected  the  beautiful  Gawthrop  Build- 
ing. The  Shipley  mansion  thus  stood  one  hundred 
and  forty-eight  years  and  when  torn  down  was  still 
in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 

Thomas  Shipley,  the  oldest  son  of  William  and 
Mary  Shipley,  was  born  in  England  in  1718,  came 
with  his  parents  to  America,  settled  with  them  in 
Wilmington,  and  afterwards  purchased  part  of  the 
water-power  of  the  Brandywine,  which  became  a 
source  of  wealth  to  the  family.  By  his  marriage 
with  Mary  Marriott  he  had  nine  children.  Those 
who  grew  to  adult  age  were  William,  Mary,  Joseph, 
Sarah,  Ann  and  Anna.  William,  bom  in  1746,  died 
in  1816.  Mary,  born  1760,  married  Phineas  Buckley 
and  died  in  New  York  in  1795.  Joseph  was  born  in 
1762,  married  Mary  Levis,  of  Springfield,  Delaware' 


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Co.,  Pa.,  aod  died  in  1882.  He  inherited  the  large 
mill  property  on  the  Brandywine,  was  successful  in 
bosiness  and  left  an  honorable  name.  His  wife  Mary 
died  in  1843.  Sarah,  fourth  child  of  Thomas  Shipley, 
bom  1765,  married  Cyrus  Newlin,  of  Wilmington, 
and  died  in  1884,  leaving  two  children — ^Mary  and 
Thomas.  Ann,  fifth  child,  was  bom  in  1758,  married 
John  Jones,  and  died  in  1808,  leaving  two  children, 

'        Cyrus  and    Lydia.     Anna,  the  youngest  child    of 
Thomas   Shipley,  born  in  1760,    married    William 
Byrnes,  and  died  in  1808,  leaving  one  son,  Thomas. 
The  children  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Shipley  were 

I  Samuel,  Mary,  Thomas,  John,  Rebecca,  Anna,  Eliza- 
beth, Sarah,  Margaret,  Joseph  and  Hannah.  Samuel, 
the  oldest  son,  born  in  1777,  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Captain  James  Jefieris.  He  engaged  in 
the  milling  business  with  his  father  until  his  health 
failed  and  he  died  in  1844,  leaving  two  children — 
Thomas  and  Sarah.  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  Joseph 
Shipley,  married  John  Dixon,  of  Wilmington.  She 
died  in  1844. 

Thomas,  second  son  of  Joseph  Shipley,  born  in 
1780,  engaged  in  the  shipping  business  at  Philadelphia, 
and  vas  remarkably  successful.  He  was  prostrated 
with  Bunsferoke  while  visiting  in  the  south  of  France. 
He  died  soon  afterwards,  in  1818,  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-two. 

John,  third  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Shipley,  bom 
1782,  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  milling  business, 
and  died  in  1868. 

Joseph,  fourth  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Shipley, 
born  17d5,at  the  age  of  eighteen  entered  the  counting- 
house  of  Samuel  Canby,  in  Philadelphia.  In  1819, 
he  went  to  England  and,  as  will  be  seen,  soon  after 
became  a  member  of  the  great  banking  house  of 
Brown,  Shipley  &  Co.  The  reputation  of  this  house 
is  sufficient  evidence  of  Mr.  Shipley's  character  and 
ability,  for  his  importance  to  the  firm  was  shown  not 
only  in  prosperous  times,  but  in  adverse  and  trying 
circumstances,  and  his  worth  as  a  merchant  and  a 
citizen  was  recognized  in  the  community  in  which 
he  so  long  resided  in  England. 

Joseph  Shipley,  the  subject  of  the  following  notice, 
was  born  December  4, 17d5.  He  was  the  great-grand- 
son of  William  Shipley  and  Mary  (Tatnall)  Shipley, 
who  came  to  America  in  1785,  and  belonged  to  the 

I       Soei^  of  Friends,  as  also  did  his  parents. 

Though  not  strictly  conforming  to  the  plain  speech 
of  Quakers,  nor  fully  recognizing  their  discipliae 
persoDally,  he  nevertheless  remembered  his  origin 
with  peculiar  satisfaction. 

While  yet  a  young  man,  he  went  to  England,  and 
assisted  to  build  up  an  extensive  business  in  the  name 
of  Brawn^  Shipley  &  0>,,  which  yielded  him  a  fortune. 

I  Thirty  years  after  he  went  abroad  he  returned  to 

!  his  native  State  and  purchased  a  fine  property  in 
Brandywine  Hundred,  where  he  erected  a  beautiful 

I  residence,  and  called  the  place  ''Rockwood."  Here 
he  continued  to  reside  until  his  decease. 

'  Mr.  Shipley  was  noted  for  being  always  judicious 


in  action,  and  to  his  high  character  as  a  man  the  firm 
to  which  he  belonged  was  largely  indebted  for  its 
celebrity  and  success.  His  sound  judgment  and 
singular  aptitude  for  business  rendered  him  an  ad- 
mirable ally  in  prosperous  times ;  but  it  was  under 
adverse  circumstances  that  his  many  resources  de- 
rived from  long  experience  and  natural  resolution 
were  most  strikingly  developed. 

In  conversation  he  was  solid  rather  than  brilliant 
and  showy,  while  his  knowledge  of  the  world  made 
him  a  genial  companion.  His  hospitality  was  large, 
and  the  friends  he  collected  at  his  board  were  such 
as  gave  zest  to  the  feast.  He  was  well  read  in  litera- 
ture, especially  the  English  poets,  whom  he  loved  to 
recite.  He  died  at  his  residence  on  the  9th  of  May, 
1867,  in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age,  and  his 
body  was  interred  in  the  Friends'  Burying-Grounds 
in  Wilmington,  amid  a  large  concourse  of  relatives 
and  friends.  The  last  sad  rites  were  performed  in  the 
usual  quiet  and  unostentatious  manner,  there  being  no 
ceremony  or  address  observed.  He  passed  from 
earth  at  a  ripe  age,  his  life  being  one  of  honor  and 
usefulness,  and  we  doubt  whether  the  soil  of  Delaware 
covers  the  remains  of  a  more  trusty  merchant,  a  more 
worthy  citizen  or  a  better  man  than  Joseph  Shipley. 

The  enterprise  of  the  first  William  Shipley  was 
equal  to  his  wealth,  and  the  town  began  to  grow  rap- 
idly after  his  removal  to  it.  In  1786  lots  were 
bought  by  Joseph  Steel,  yeoman,  of  Maryland ;  John 
McArthur,  weaver;  Thomas  Tatnall,  of  Ridley; 
William  Levis,  Joseph  Peters,  Abraham  Skinner, 
mariner;  Lucas  Stidham,  Enoch  Lewii>,  cordwainer; 
Hans  Rudolph,  Henry  Heath,  George  Howell,  store- 
keeper; David  Bush,  merchant;  Alexander  Hooge, 
carpenter;  Thomas  Downing,  inn-keeper;  Thomas 
Broom. 

Benjamin  Canby,  ancestor  of  the  Canby  family  in 
America,  resided  in  Yorkshire,  England.  Thomas, 
the  second  of  his  two  sons,  emigrated  to  Bucks  Coun- 
ty, Pa.,  and  about  1786  moved  to  Wilmington.  He 
died  in  1742. 

Oliver,  son  of  Thomas  Canby,  settled  in  Wilmington 
about  1740.  He  owned  the  old  Timothy  Stidham  mill, 
which  was  the  first  built  within  its  limits,  and  stood 
near  the  old  ford  road,  now  Adams  Street.  In  1744  he 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
Shipley,  and  died  in  1754.  William,  the  eldest  of  the 
five  children  of  Oliver,  in  1774  married  Martha,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Marriott,  of  Bristol,  Pa.  They 
settled  in  Wilmington,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Brandy- 
wine,  the  same  year.  She  died  in  1826,  and  he  sur- 
vived her  until  1830,  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two. 

Niles'  RegUter,  in  noticing  his  death,  said :  "  William 
Canby,  a  much  beloved  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  died  in  Wilmington.  If  it  is  even  possible 
to  suppose  that  any  one  man  was  more  separated  from 
worldly  affairs,  more  willing  to  perform  deeds  of  char- 
ity and  benevolence,  less  guilty  of  bad  thoughts  or 
capable  of  a  bad  action,  than  any  of  the  rest  of  his 


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kind,  we  should  have  fixed  upon  William  Canby/' 
He  was  the  author  of  a  letter  to  Thomas  Jefferson  in 
1818  which,  with  the  reply,  was  very  extensively  pub- 
lished, and  may  be  found  in  the  supplement  of  the 
ninth  volume  of  the  Register^  page  183.  Though  en- 
dowed with  a  vigorous  intellect,  and  fitted  by  educa- 
tion for  commercial  success,  he  relinquished  a  lucra- 
tive business  in  the  meridian  of  life.  He  had  a 
considerable  knowledge  of  practical  mathematics,  and 
was  a  diligent  student  of  history,  astronomy  and  some 
of  the  other  sciences. 

Samuel  Canby,  second  son  of  Oliver  Canby  and 
Elizabeth  Shipley,  was  born  in  Wilmington  in  1751. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  three  years  old.  He 
learned  the  business  of  a  carpenter  and  cabinet-maker 
with  Ziba  Ferris.  When  his  term  of  service  as  an  ap- 
prentice ended,  in  1771,  he  removed  to  Brandywine 
and  engaged  in  the  milling  business.  In  1775  he 
married  Frances  Lea,  daughter  of  James  and  Margaret 
Lea,  of  Wilmington,  and  moved  to  the  house  former- 
ly owned  by  his  father  on  the  banks  of  the  Brandy- 
wine,  between  Orange  and  Tatuall  Streets.  Later  in 
life  he  built  a  large  residence  at  the  corner  of  Four- 
teenth and  Market  Streets,  in  which  his  son  James 
afterwards  resided.  In  this  mansion  he  lived  forty- 
one  years,  until  his  death.  Id  the  words  of  Benjamin 
Ferris,  "here  he  had  room  to  gratify  his  hospitable 
disposition,  and  to  have  his  friends  around  him,  which 
he  greatly  enjoyed.  His  home  for  many  years  was 
the  principal  one  in  the  place  for  the  accommodation 
and  entertainment  of  Friends  traveling  on  religious 
service.  He  was  prudent  in  the  management  of  his 
affairs  and  prospered  in  business.  His  exemplary 
conduct,  dignified  deportment,  undoubted  integrity 
and  uprightness  raised  him  to  a  high  standing  in  the 
estimation  of  his  friends  and  fellow-citizens."  He  died 
in  1882,  aged  eighty-one  years. 

James  Canby,  son  of  Samuel  Canby,  was  born 
January  30,  1781,  and  for  most  of  his  adult  life 
continued  the  flour-mills  founded  by  his  father.  He 
was  one  of  the  originators  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wil- 
mington and  Baltimore  Railroad  and  became  the  first 
president  of  the  company.  He  was  also  president  of 
the  Union  National  Bank,  and  in  all  respects  a  busi- 
ness man  of  the  highest  class.    He  died  May  24, 1858. 

Merrit  Canby,  son  of  William  Canby,  was  born  in 
Wilmington,  November  19,  1783.  From  1815  to  1836 
he  was  engaged  in  the  sugar  refining  business  in 
Philadelphia.  In  1836  he  removed  to  Wilmington 
and  was  connected  with  various  financial  institutions 
and  other  corporations  until  his  death,  December  10, 
1866. 

Benjamin  Ferris,  the  author  of  the  "History  ef  the 
Early  Settlements  on  the  Delaware,"  was  descended 
from  an  English  family  who  emigrated  from  Reading, 
England,  and  settled  at  Groton,  near  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts. From  there  Samuel  Ferris,  the  ancestor  of 
Benjamin,  removed  about  1682  to  New  Milford,  Con- 
necticut. From  this  place  his  grandson,  John  Ferris, 
with  other  members  of  the  family,  came  to  Wilming- 


ton and  settled  in  the  year  1748.  He  was  the  grand- 
father of  Benjamin  Ferris,  who  was  born  August  7, 
1780,  in  the  house  still  standing  at  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Shipley  Streets.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  learned  the  business 
of  watchmaking,  which  he  followed  in  that  city  until 
the  year  1813,  when  he  returned  to  Wilmington, 
where  he  resided  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Not  being  actively  engaged  in  business,  and  fond  of 
knowledge,  he  read  extensively  upon  religious  and 
historical  subjects,  especially  the  history  of  our  own 
country.  In  connection  with  this  he  became  much 
interested  in  collecting  and  preserving  such  facts  as 


he  could  obtain  of  the  early  settlement  and  history 
of  Wilmington  and  its  neighborhood.  He  conversed 
much  with  the  oldest  inhabitants,  and  gathered  such 
information  as  they  could  give  him,  and  searched 
diligently  through  old  family  records  for  such  facts 
and  dates  as  might  be  preserved  in  them.  In  this 
way  and  with  a  most  excellent  and  retentive  memory 
he  laid  up  a  store  of  facts  which  he  turned  to 
valuable  uses. 

He  was  warmly  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the 
American  Indians,  and  deeply  felt  the  wrongs  they 
suffered  through  the  neglect  of  the  government  in  fail- 
ing to  protect  them  in  their  rights.  In  1889  he  was 
appointed  one  ef  a  committee  of  the  Yearly  Meetings 
of  Friends  of  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore, 
to  investigate  the  case  of  the  Seneca  Indians,  who 
were  about  to  be  defrauded  of  their  valuable  reserva- 
tions of  land  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  to  present 
a  statement  of  their  wrongs  to  the  President  and  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States.  These  efforts  were  con- 
tinued for  years,  and  finally  resulted  in  securing  to 
the  Indians  their  claim  to  fifly-three  thousand  acres 
of  land,  on  which  they  still  reside. 

The  frequent  visits  made  by  Benjamin  Ferris  to  the 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


63& 


State  of  New  York,  in  connection  with  his  duties  on 
this  committee,  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  examin- 
ing the  records  of  Albany,  and  those  of  the  New  York 
Historical  Society.  Finding  that  much  of  the  infor- 
mation he  desired  to  obtain  was  only  preserved  in  the 
Swedish  records,  he  engaged  the  services  of  a  young 
Swede  to  give  him  instruction  in  his  native  language. 


BB|p'rTrV;j-  III 

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TUOMA8   WEST   BUILDING,   WILMINGTON. 

and  acquired  enough  knowledge  of  it  to  enable  him 
to  use  the  records  of  the  Old  Swedes*  Church  in  con- 
nection with  his  work.  With  painstaking  care  and 
unremitting  effort,  he  devoted  several  years  of  his  life 
to  historical  research,  and  as  a  result  of  his  labors, 
pablished  in  1846  his  *'  Early  Settlements  on  the 
Delaware,''  a  work  of  rare  historical  value,  copies  of 
which  are  now  very  diflScult  to  obtain.  From  the 
year  1835,  until  he  was  disabled  by  disease,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six,  Mr.  Ferris  spent  his  time  chiefly 
in  literary  pursuits,  in  the  congenial  society  of 
his  family,  and  the  large  circle  of  his  friends 
and  relatives,  and  in  duties  connected  with  the 
Society  of  Friends,  of  which  he  was  a  faithful 
member.  He  took  little  interest  in  politics,  ex- 
cept when  great  national  questions  which  in- 
volved the  interest  of  our  general  welfare  were  at 
issue.  He  died  on  November  9,  1867,  aged  eighty- 
•even  years. 

Thomas  West  was  one  of  the  purchasers  at  this 
time,  and  the  first  house  on  Quaker  Hill  was  built  by 
him  in  1738.  It  stood  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Fifth  and  West  Streets,  and  for  nearly  a  century  was 
without  the  limits  of  the  town.  After  standing  for 
the  long  period  of  one  hundred  and  forty- five  years 
it  was  removed  by  Cyrus  Stern,  a  great-great-grand- 


son of  the  original  owner,  who  built  three  brick  houses 
on  the  site. 

Thomas  West  (a  distant  relative  of  Lord  De  La 
Warr,  whose  name  also  was  Thomas  West,  from 
whom  Delaware  takes  its  name)  was  an  uncle 
to  the  celebrated  painter,  Benjamin  West.  He 
was  married  to  Mary  Dean,  in  the  Devonshire 
Square  Friends'  Meeting,  London,  in  1709.  Their 
children  were — Sarah,  Samuel,  Jane,  Thomas,  Wil- 
liam, Mary,  Rachel,  Elyner,  Elizabeth  and  Joseph. 
Thomas  West  came  to  America  in  1712,  settled  at 
Concord,  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  removed  to  Wil- 
mington in  1736.  He  died  in  1743.  Joseph,  the 
youngest  son,  owned  one  of  the  first  tanneries  in  the 
town.  It  wait  situated  in  the  square  bounded  by 
Third  and  Fourth,  Shipley  and  Tatnall  Streets. 

William,  an  older  brother,  married  Mary  Wilson. 
They  had  two  children,— Mary  and  Sarah.  Mary 
married  John  Craig.  Sarah  married  George  Stern, 
who  inherited  the  homestead  and  farm  of  William 
West,  his  father-in-law,  at  the  north  end  of  Eennett 
turnpike,  near  the  State  line. 

John  Stern,  his  son,  learned  the  saddler's  trade. 
He  was  born  in  1776,  and  was  married  to  Phebe 
McFarlan,  and  resided  near  Gause's  Corners,  Ches- 
ter County,  Pa.,  until  1816,  when  he  moved  to  with- 
in one  mile  of  Centreville,  Delaware,  where  his 
youngest  son,  Cyrus  Stem,  now  a  merchant  of  Wil- 
mington, was  born  January  5,  1818.  In  1885,  Mr. 
Stern  published  a  complete  history  and  genealogy  of 
the  McFarlan,  Stern,  Heald  and  West  families  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Delaware.  It  is  a  work  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  quarto  pages,  and  required  sever- 
al years  of  careful  investigation  to  prepare  it. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1736,  there  were  thirty- three 
dwelling-houses  in  Wilmington.  The  plan  was  ex- 
tended west  from  Market  to  Tatnall,  and  east  to  Walnut 
Street,  and  Wm.  Shipley  at  his  own  expense  erected  a 
market-house  on  Fourth  Street,  extending  from 
Shipley  Street  half-way  to  Market  Street,  which  be- 
came a  fruitful  source  of  contention.  A  notice  was 
given  July  16,  1736,  by  the  people  interested  in  the 
Fourth  Street  Market  that  they  would  hold  mar- 
ket days  on  each  Wednesday  and  Saturday.  In 
the  same  year  a  rival  faction  had  taken  steps  towards 
opening  a  market  on  Market  Street  near  Second, 
and  a  war  was  begun  between  them  and  the  Shipley 
people,  which  resulted  in  an  appeal  to  Governor 
Thomas  Penn.  Charges  were  made  by  the  opposition 
affecting  the  private  character  of  Mr.  Shipley,  but  he 
was  subsequently  vindicated,  and  a  compromise  was 
reached  by  which  the  lower  market  was  erected  on 
Second  Street,  and  a  number  of  citizens  bought  Ship- 
ley's market  and  dedicated  it  to  the  use  of  the 
public. 

Willingtown  was  still  without  any  municipal  gov- 
ernment, and  on  June  10,  1736,  a  hundred  and 
three  citizens  petitioned  Governor  Penn  for  a  borough 
charter,  *'that  they  may  be  impowered  to  choose 
burgesses  and  inferior  ofSces  as  shall  be  found  neces- 


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sary  for  the  encouraging  virtue,  preserving  the  King's 
peace  and  the  detecting  of  vice,  that  they  may  be 
enabled  to  form  and  enact  such  or4inance8  for  the  re- 
gulation of  the  markets  and  streets,  and  cleansing 
and  mending  the  streets  and  highways  within  the 
precincts  of  the  said  town  or  borough,  as  may  prove 
commodious  and  advantageous  both  to  the  said  town 
and  country  adjacent,  etc."  The  signers  of  the  peti- 
tion were  Joseph  Pennock,  William  Shipley,  Joseph 
Way,  Charles  Empson,  Thomas  Peters,  Robert  Read, 
Thomas  West,  Joshua  Way,  Theodore  Broom,  Ed- 
ward Tatnall,  James  Milner,  Samuel  Pennock,  Grif- 
fith Minshall,  John  Pierce,  Caleb  Way,  Erasmus 
Stidham,  William  Athorton,  Samuel  Houton,  John 
Smith,  Christopher  Marshall,  Mordecai  Lewis,  Ma- 
thias  Morton,  Goldsmith  Folwell,  William  Empson, 
Joseph  Greist,  Andrew  Justice,  Thomas  Willing, 
Thomas  Tatnall,  David  Bush,  Philip  Vandeverej 
John  Gkiest,  William  Cheneay,  Joseph  Williams, 
Richard  Evenson. 

The  granting  of  this  charter   was   deferred  -  until 
November  16, 1739,  and  when  allowed  it  contained 


THOMAS  WEST,  (LORD  DE   LA   WARRE). 

an  additional  provision  that  the  householders  should 
decide  by  vote  where  to  hold  their  markets  and  fairs, 
and  on  December  10,  1739,  they  elected  that  the 
Saturday  market  and  Spring  Fair  should  be  kept  at 
the  market-place  in  High  Street,  and  the  Wednesday 
market  and  Fall  Fair  at  the  market-place  on  Second 
Street.  The  name  then  became  Wilmington  in 
place  of  Willingtown.  By  the  charter  the  burgesses 
were  clothed  with  the  functions  of  justices  of  the 
peace,  and  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  the 
disorderliness  of  the  lower  element  of  the  town  had 
made  it  very  necessary  that  a  vigorous  police  power 
should  be  exercised.    There  were  smugglers  on  the 


Delaware  in  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  the  river  inlets  around  New  Castle  and  Wil- 
mington furnished  the  most  convenient  landing- 
places  for  illicit  rum,  tobacco,  dress  goods  and  various 
articles  of  personal  adornment  and  finery,  that  found 
their  way  thence  to  Philadelphia  without  undergoing 
the  inspection  of  the  excise  officers.  The  crews  of 
smuggling  vessels  could  make  very  lively  their  nights 
on  shore  after  duty  was  done,  and  rum  was  cheap 
enough  to  allow  even  the  negro  slaves  to  touch  oc- 
casionally an  extreme  limit  of  indulgence.  Hence 
the  new  government  of  Wilmington  had  scarcely 
been  installed  before  they  discovered  that  one  of  their 
most  pressing  needs  was  a  prison,  in  which  of- 
fenders might  be  confined  pending  their  transporta- 
tion to  the  county  town  of  New  Castle  for  trial.  On 
March  31,  1740,  the  burgesses  bought  from  William 
Shipley  a  piece  of  ground,  on  which  they  erected  a 
*'cage'*  or  prison,  the  stocks  and  the  whipping-post. 
For  fifty-eight  years  thereafter  the  cage  is  said  to 
have  been  the  most  prominent  public  building  in  the 
town.  It  stood  on  the  west  side  of  Market  Street,  a 
few  doors  above  Third.  In  the  borough  records  the 
prison  is  designated  as  "  the  Cage,'*  though  it  was 
generally  known  as  "  the  smoke-house."  Well  au- 
thenticated tradition  says  there  was  no  fire-place  in 
it.  In  very  cold  weather  a  dish  full  of  burning  coals 
was  used  to  heat  the  rooms.  These  may  have  emit- 
ted smoke,  and  from  that  cause  the  name  probably 
originated.  It  was  a  quaint  one-story  brick  house, 
twelve  feet  square  and  eight  feet  high,  with  two 
apartments,  one  for  males  and  one  for  females,  but  it 
has  no  chimneys  or  windows.  The  only  place  for 
light  or  pure  air  to  enter  was  between  the  iron 
grating  in  an  opening  about  a  foot  square  in  each  ot 
the  two  doors. 

Prisoners  who  were  held  for  trial  at  the  County 
Courts  until  sent  to  New  Castle  Jail,  vagabonds  and 
disorderly  persons  were  incarcerated  here.  Vagrants, 
or  what  are  now  called  *'  tramps,"  and  some  disturb- 
ers of  the  peace,  were  taken  before  the  burgesses,  who 
sentenced  them  to  the  stocks,  to  the  whipping-post, 
or  to  be  *'  drummed  out  of  town."  When  it  became 
known  that  a  culprit  was  sentenced  to  the  last-men- 
tioned punishment,  crowds  assembled  in  front  of  the 
prison,  awaiting  for  the  unfortunate  one  to  be 
brought  out.  Amidst  the  shouts  of  the  rabble,  the 
constable  marched  the  prisoner  to  the  centre  of  the 
street  and  shouted,  "  Forward  ! "  The  drum  then 
began  to  beat  and  the  procession  moved.  Says  an 
early  chronicler, — "The  first  step  the  prisoner  took 
was  the  signal  of  attack ;  a  shower  of  every  kind  oi 
offensive  matter  wa-*  poured  upon  him.  By  the  time 
he  arrived  down  to  Fourth  Street  he  was  dripping 
from  head  to  foot  with  the  contents  of  rotten  eggs 
and  all  the  filth  of  the  streets  and  gutters.  The 
wretched  sufferer  was  all  the  time  begging  in  vain 
for  mercy.  The  rattle  of  the  drum,  the  shout  of  the 
mob  which  followed,  and  the  cries  of  the  victim  could 
only  be  realized  by  the  spectator.    Sometimes  the 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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procession  moved  in  the  other  direction  as  far  as  Bran- 
dywine  Bridge." 

Most  of  the  scenes  such  as  described  took  place 
soon  after  the  Bevolation,  when  the  country  here- 
abouts contained  many  vagabonds  of  the  worst  de- 
scription. They  had  been  followers  of  the  army,  and 
after  the  war  became  robbers,  thieves  and  drunken 
beggars.  A  class  of  characters  called  "  wheelbarrow- 
men"  were  troublesome  in  Wilmington  a  century 
ago.  They  were  discharged  prisoners  from  Philadel- 
phia, where  many  were  then  sentenced  to  work  on 
the  roads  and  streets  at  the  wheelbarrow,  with  an 
iron  collar  around  their  necks,  and  a  heavy  ball 
chained  to  one  leg.  About  1792,  when  the  **  smoke- 
house "  became  old  and  dilapidated,  a  sailor  prisoner 
was  placed  in  it.  His  comrades  marched  from  the 
Fonl  Anchor  Inn,  armed  with  handspikes,  smashed 
open  the  prison-door  and  released  their  man,  whom 
they  carried  on  their  shoulders  in  triumph  down 
Market  Street.  The  Delaware  Gazette,  a  day  or  two 
later,  in  an  amusing  article,  "  ridiculed  the  old  prison 
and  the  borough  authorities  for  retaining  it."  In 
1798,  fifty- eight  years  after  its  erection,  it  was  torn 
dowB,  and  the  cells  in  the  basement  of  the  town  hall, 
bailt  that  year,  were  used  as  a  place  of  imprisonment 
DJitil  the  erection  of  the  addition  to  the  old  building, 
since  which  time  prisoners  have  been  kept  in  cells. 

The  first  borough  election  was  held  September  8, 
1740,  the  franchise  extending  to  all  freeholders  and 
to  all  tenants  who  paid  at  least  five  pounds  yearly 
rent,  and  who  had  resided  in  the  town  one  year.  The 
officials  elected,  and  the  number  of  votes  for  each, 
were  as  follows :  Chief  Burgess,  William  Shipley,  61 ; 
Second  Burgess,  Joseph  Way,  50 ;  High  Constable, 
Charles  Empson,  54;  Assistant  Burgesses,  Thomas 
West,  96 ;  David  Ferris,  87 ;  George  Howell,  78 ;  Eob- 
ert  Hannum,  58 ;  Joshua  Way,  50 ;  Joshua  Lit- 
tler, 46;  Town  Clerk,  Gouldsmith  Edward  Folwell,  96. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  burgesses 
and  clerks  elected  under  the  original  charter,  those 
given  for  1739  being  named  in  the  charter  for  the 
offices  designated: 

Chief  Burgeu. 


Wnihm  Shipley .-1739 

JottphWay 1742 

WflllMn  Shipley « 1743 

Bob«t  Huinam 1744 

J<»ph  Peten -.1746 

John  fluplar 1748 

JauMFev 1760 

JoihiMLttUer 1761 

John  Stepler. ^.1762 

Joibna  Littler ^1753 

JoAw  Littler. 1754 

WwMd  Ikwee « »756 

JohnShipler 1756 

Ihootts  Gilpin 1767 

John  Stapler „ 1768 

John  XcKinley 1769 

Wwini  Dawes. 17C2 

J*n  Lee ^....1764 

J««ph  Wey 1766 

John  McKinley 1767 

J«^  Benoet  ...„ 1770 

John  McKinley ^771 


NichohM  Robinaon 1774 

John  McKinley 1776 

Joseph  Bennett 1777 

Joseph  Stidham 177H 

Jacob  Broom 1783 

Thomas  Kean 1781 

Jacob  Broom 1786 

James  Gibbons 1786 

Thomas  Way „ 1788 

Joseph  ShallcrosB 1790 

David  Bush 1792 

Jacob  Broom 1794 

Peter  Brynberg 1796 

Joseph  Warner. 1798 

Nehemiah  Tllton 1799 

James  Brobeon 1801 

Isaac  Hendrickson 1802 

James  Brobson 1803 

James  Lea 1806 

Isaac  Dixon.. 1807 

James  Brobeon 1808 


Second 

Thomas  West 1739 

Joseph  Way 1740 

Gouldsmith  £.  Folwell 1742 

Thomas  Ganby 1743 

Joseph  Way 1745 

Thomas  Gilpin 1747 

Darid  Ferris 1748 

Joshua  Littler 1749 

Edward  Dawes 1750 

John  Stapler 1761 

Kobert  Lewis 1752 

John  Stapler 1753 

George  Grow 1766 

William  Morris 1757 

Qeoi^e  Crow 1768 

Edward  Dawes 1769 

JohnSUpler 1761 

John  McKinley 1762 

William  Marshall 1763 

Peter  Osborn .....1764 

Edward  Dawes 1765 

John  McKinley 1766 

Edward  Dawes 1767 

James  Lea 1768 

John  McKinley 1770 


Burgess, 

Edward  Dawes 1771 

John  McKinley 1774 

Nicholas  Robinson 1775 

Jonathan  Robinson. 1777 

David  Bush 1778 

Thomas  Kean 1780 

Francis  Robinson 1783 

Jacob  Broom 1784 

Thomas  Way 1786 

James  Gibbons 1788 

Joseph  Shallcroes 1780 

John  Hayes 1790 

David  Bush,  Jr 1791 

Joseph  SballcrosB 1792 

John  Ferris. 1794 

Jacob  Broom 1796 

James  Milner 1797 

Samuel  Nichols.. 1798 

John  Way 1799 

James  Brobson 1800 

Nehemiah  Tilton 1801 

Isaac  Dixon.. 1803 

James  Lea 1806 

Edward  ftoche 1806 

George  Monro 1807 


Oerh 


Gouldsmith  E.  Folwell 1739 

Joseph  FolweU 1750 

William  Warner 1767 

William  Poole 1759 

Joseph  West 1761 

Joseph  Folwell 1763 

William  Poole 1764 

John  Littler 1770 

Thomas  Crow 1771 

John  Ferris. 1772 

Jacob  Broom 1773 

William  Hemphill ^ 1774 

John  Hayes 1776 

John  Stow 1778 

Jacob  Garrignes. 1781 

Joseph  ShallcroBS 1783 

James  Brobeon 1784 

Israel  Brown 1786 


James  Robinson,  Jr. 1786 

James  Lea 1787 

James  Robinson.. 17«8 

Isaac  Hendrickson 1789 

Joseph  Bailey 1791 

Samuel  Byrnes 1793 

John  8.  Littler 1794 

Edward  Hewes 1796 

John  Jones 1797 

Joseph  Bringhurst 1799 

Joseph  Hoopes » 1800 

Hezekiah  Niles.., „1801 

David  Chandler 1802 

Edward  Hewes 1803 

Hesekiah  Niles 1804 

John  Rea .....1806 

Robert  Porter „ 1806 

James  Wilson „1808 


Asnstant  Burgesses, 


Timothy  Stidham.. 1739 

Joseph  Hewes. 1739 

George  Howell 1739 

David  Ferris 1739 

Joseph  Way 1739 

Thomas  West 1740 

David  Ferrl8„ 1740 

George  Howell 1740 

Robert  Hannum.. 1740 

Joshua  Way 1740 

Joshua  LitUer. 1740 

David  Ferris - 1741 

Joeeph  Hewes 1741 

Joshua  Littler 1741 

Alexander  Seaton 1741 

Thomas  West 1741 

Griffith  Minshall 1741 

Thomas  West 1742 

David  Ferris 1742 

Thomas  Canby 1742 

Joseph  Hewe8» 1742 

Joshua  Littler 1742 

Griffith  Minshall 1742 

Timothy  stidham 1743 

David  Ferris 1743 

Joshua  Littler 174:j 

Griffith  Minshall 1743 

Edward  Dawes 1743 

Joeeph  Way 1743 

William  Shipley 1744 


DaTid  Ferris „ 1744 

Griffith  MinshaU ......1744 

Joseph  Hewes. 1744 

Andrew  Jolly ....1744 

Joshua  Littler „ 1744 

David  Bush 1746 

Joseph  Way 1745 

Edwai-d  Dawes..... 1746 

Timothy  Stidham 1746 

Robert  Hannum.^ 1746 

JohnStalcop 1746 

Joshua  Littler.. 1746 

David  Bush 1746 

Thomas  Gilpin 1746 

Peter  Smith 1746 

Edward  Dawes 1746 

Robert  Hannum 1746 

David  Ferris 1747 

Joshua  Littler «..1747 

David  Bush 1747 

Robert  Hannum 1747 

Edward  Dawes. 1747 

Griffith  Minshall 1747 

Griffith  Minshall 1748 

Thomas  Ganby 1748 

Joseph  Hewes „ 1748 

Joseph  Way 1748 

Joshua  Littler 1748 

Joshua  Way 17a 

Andrew  Tranberg 1749 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Jamee  Robinson ~ 1740 

Thomw  Canby 1749 

Griffith  Minihall 1749 

JaineaFow 1749 

David  Biuih 1749 

Andrew  Tranberg 1760 

Joshua  Way 1750 

Olirer  Canby 1760 

James  Robinson 1750 

Griffith  Minshall 1760 

JohnKnowlee 1750 

Peter  Grubb 1750 

Andrew  Tranberg 1751 

Joseph  Way 1761 

Joshua  Way 1761 

Dayid  Bush 1751 

Thomas  Oanby 1751 

Oliver  Canby 1761 

James  Robinson 1752 

Robert  Hannum 1752 

Mathew  McKinney 1752 

David  Ferris „ 1762 

Andrew  Tranberg 1762 

Joshua  Littler 1752 

Thomas  Canby .1753 

Joshua  Way 1763 

Robert  Lewis 176:* 

David  Ferris 1753 

David  Bush « 1763 

James  Few 1763 

Andrew  Tranberg 1754 

Robert  Lewis 1764 

Thomas  Canby 1764 

John  Derry 1754 

Vincent  BonsaU 1754 

James  Lea 1754 

James  Few 1755 

Lulof  Stidham 1766 

Mathew  McKinney 1755 

David  Bush 1766 

William  Morris 1756 

Robert  Richardson 1765 

Mathew  McKinney 1766 

James  Robinson 1756 

Robert  Lewis 1756 

Pet«r  Osborn 1766 

Vincent  BonsalU 1756 

James  I.iea 1766 

Mathew  McKinney 1757 

James  Lea 1767 

James  Robinson^ 1757 

Andrew  Tranberg^ 1767 

Robert  Hannum 1757 

Sdward  Dawes 1767 

Vincent  BonsaU 1758 

PeUr  Osborne 1768 

Joshua  LitUer 1758 

James  Lea 1758 

James  Robinson 1758 

Mathew  McKinney 1768 

James  Robinson 1759 

Peter  Osborne « 1759 

James  Lea 1769 

Vincent  BonsaU 1769 

Griffith  Miukhall 1759 

Joshua  Littler 1759 

William  Poole 1760 

Joshua  Littler 1760 

Griffith  Minshall 1760 

Vincent  BonsaU 176ii 

James  Robinson. 1760 

James  Lea 1760 

James  Robinson 1761 

James  Lea 1761 

William  Poole 1761 

Sdward  Dawes 1761 

Vincent  BonsaU 1761 

Thomas  Giffin 1761 


James  Lea 1762 

James  Robinson 1762 

William  MarahaU „1762 

Peter  Osborne 1762 

Watkins  Crampton 1762 

Griffith  Minshall 1762 

James  Robinson 1763 

Edward  Tatnall 1763 

Griffith  MinshaU 1763 

JohnBrwin 1763 

David  Enoch 1763 

Jacobus  Hains. 1763 

Watkins  Crampton 1764 

Thomas  Giffin 1764 

James  Robinson 1764 

Vincent  BonsaU 1764 

James  Bennett 1764 

Nicholas  Robinson 1764 

JohnKrwin 1765 

Edward  TatnaU 1766 

Caleb  Way 1765 

William  Brobeon 1765 

John  Giles 1765 

William  Marshall 1765 

David  Bush 1766 

John  Way 1766 

Watkins  Crampton 1766 

Thomas  Giffin 1766 

Nicholas  Robinson 1766 

James  Lea 1766 

David  Bush 1767 

Watkins  Crampton 1767 

John  Littler 1767 

John  Way 1767 

Nicholas  Robinson 1767 

Nicholas  Robinson 1768 

David  Bush 1768 

Watkins  Crampton 1768 

Griffith  MinshaU 1768 

Thomas  Giffin 1768 

John  Erwin 1768 

Watkins  Crampt<m 1769 

Griffith  MinshaU 1769 

Nicholas  Robinson 1769 

David  Bush  ....„ 1760 

Thomas  Giffin 1760 

James  Robinson » 1769 

Watkins  Crampton 1770 

David  Bush 1770 

Joseph  Way 1770 

Thomas  Giffin. 1770 

Archibald  Littler 1770 

John  Way 1770 

David  Bush... 1771 

Joseph  SUdham 1771 

Nicholas  Way 1771 

Heeekiah  Niles 1771 

John  Stapler 1771 

WlUlani  Brobeon 1771 

Watkins  Crampton 1772 

Job  Harvey 1772 

Joseph  Stidham 1772 

David  Nelson 1772 

David  Bush 1772 

.lohn  Littler 1772 

Watkins  Crampton 1773 

Caleb  S«il « 1773 

Thomas  Gilpin 1773 

Joseph  Stidham 1773 

Job  Harvey 1773 

Vincent  Gilpin 1773 

Watkins  Crampton 1771 

i  Joseph  Stidham 1774 

John  Erwin 1774 

Caleb  Sheward 1774 

Archibald  Littler 1774 

Caleb  Seal 1774 

Joseph  Stidham 1776 


Watkins  Crampton 1776 

Charles  West 1776 

Joseph  Shallcroes 1776 

William  Hemphill 1776 

Archibald  Littler 1776 

William  HemphiU „ 1776 

Watkins  Crampton 1776 

Jacob  Broom 1776 

Simon  Johnson 1776 

Charles  West 1776 

Archibald  Littler 1778 

John  Councel 1778 

Thomas  Crow 1778 

Watkins  Crampton 1778 

Francis  Robinson 1778 

John  Erwin 1778 

Watkins  Crampton 1779 

Jacob  Broom 1779 

Francis  Robinson 1779 

Thomas  Crow 1779 

George  aark 1779 

Miles  Patterson 1779 

Watkins  Cinmpton....^ 1780 

Thomas  Robinson 1780 

Jacob  Broom 1780 

Thomas  Crow .....1780 

George  Chirk 1780 

William  Crefry 1780 

Francis  Robinson 1781 

Watkins  Crampton 1781 

George  Clark 1781 

William  Creery 1781 

William  Ashtou 1781 

William  Cook 1781 

Watkins  Crampton 1782 

Francis  Robinson 1782 

William  Cook 1782 

William  Creery 1782 

WUllani  UemphlU 1782 

William  Ashton 1782 

Watkins  Crampton 1783 

WUIlam  Creery 1783 

William  HemphlU 1783 

William  Ashton.. .„ 1783 

William  Cook „ 1783 

Francis  Robinson  ...„ 1783 

Watkins  Crampton 1784 

Wm.  HemphUl 1784 

Wm.  Ashton 1784 

Wm.  Creery 1784 

Jas.  McCorkell 1784 

Robert  Hamilton 1784 

Watkins  Crampton 1785 

Wm.  HemphiU 1786 

Joseph  Shallcroes 1785 

James  Gibbons 1785 

John  Hayes 1785 

Thomas  Cunger.. 1786 

Jehu  Hayes 1786 

Samuel  HoUingsworth 1786 

George  aark 1786 

Thomas  Crow 1786 

Watkins  Crampton 1786 

Joseph  Warner 1786 

Watkins  Crampton 1787 

Samuel  HoUingsworth 1787 

George  CUu-k 1787 

Joseph  Warner 1787 

John  Hayes „ 1787 

Thomas  Crow 1787 

Geerge  Taylor 1788 

Watkins  Crampton 178h 

John  Hayes 1788 

George  CUirk 1788 

John  Erwin 1788 

Joseph  Warner 1788 

Joseph  Poole 1788 

Joseph  Hayes 1789 


Samuel  HoUingsworth 1789 

Watkins  Crampton 1789 

Geo.  CUu-k 1789 

Isaac  Stow 1789 

Jehn  Milner « 1789 

Joseph  Shallcroes 1790 

Isaac  Stow 1790 

Watkins  Crampton 1790 

John  Milner „17»0 

Watkins  Crampton 1791 

George  Oark 17bl 

John  Milner 1791 

Joseph  SumriU 1791 

Edward  Gilpin 1791 

Thomas  Crow 1791 

BeAJ.  Laforge «  1792 

Samuel  HoUingsworth. 1792 

Watkins  Crampton 1792 

Joseph  Smnrill 1792 

Edward  GUpin 1792 

I   EleaKer  MoComb 1792 

I  Jacob  Broom 1792 

,   Edward  Gilpin 1793 

Joseph  SumriU 1793 

'   Jacob  Broom 1793 

Samuel  HoUingsworth 1793 

George  Clark „ 1793 

John  Milner « 1793 

Edwerd  Gilpin 1794 

Wm.  Poole 1794 

John  Hayes 1794 

Peter  Brynberg 1794 

John  Milner 1794 

Eleaxer  McComb 1794 

Wm.  Poole ^ „ 1796 

Eleazer  McComb 1795 

Thomas  Mendenhall.. 1795 

Peter  Brynberg 1795 

John  Milner 1795 

George  Clarke 1796 

James  Lea 1796 

Eleazer  McCumb 1796 

Wm.  Poole « 1796 

John  Milner 1796 

Isaac  Hendrickson .^..1796 

James  Brobson 1796 

Edward  Gilpin 1797 

James  Brobson 1797 

Isaac  Hendrickson 1797 

Eleazer  McComb 1797 

John  Way. 1797 

James  Lea,  Jr 1797 

James  Brobeon 1798 

James  Lea 1798 

Edward  GUpin 1798 

Eleazer  McComb ».. 1798 

John  Way 1798 

Isaac  Hendrickson 1798 

Samuel  Nichols 1799 

Edward  Gilpin 1799 

Isaac  Hendrickson 1799 

Peter  Brynberg 1799 

John  Jones » 1799 

Joseph  Warner 1799 

James  Lea 1800 

Peter  Brynberg. 1800 

John  Jones « 1800 

John  Way 1800 

John  Warner I18OO 

Isaac  Hendrickson 1800 

Wm.  Poole ...1802 

George  CUrk 1803 

HezekiahNilee 1802 

Jonliua  Seal 180« 

John  Tripp 1802 

Robert  Squibb 1802 

EllMendenhaU 1803 

Jeremiah  Wolleston.. 1803 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


639 


StmntA  Buh » \SOS 

PM«r  Bcynbers. I8U8 

Stmnti  Nichols. 1803 

John  Wwoer „ 1803 

P«tor  Brrntwrg 1804 

Janmiah  WoUaaton. 1804 

aunwIBivh ^ 18«4 

WBi.PtoI« ^ 1804 

Imac  H.  Starr 1804 

JamM  Lea „ 1804 

I«ac  Dixon 1806 

Inae  H.Starr. 1806 

EU  Mendenhan 1806 

Jacob  Alrich. 1805 

HeMkiahNilaa 1806 

Canon  WOaoo 1806 

Tkomas  Richaidaon. 1806 


Jacob  Alrich 18o6 

EU  Mandenhall.. ......1806 

IMMC  H.Starr ISJfi 

Wm.  Seal 1806 

Uaac  Heudriokaon 1806 

EllHendenbaU 1807 

Samuel  Biiah 18U7 

Wm.  Seal 1807 

Thomas  Richardaon 1807 

Isaac  H.  Starr 1807 

John  Patterson 1807 

CymsNewlIn 1808 

Samuel  Bosh 1808 

JohnTorbert 1808 

Isaac  H.  Starr. 1806 

Wm.8eal 1808 

Jeremhkh  WoUaston. 1808 


In  1739  the  population  was  only  610,  but  at  the 
opeoing  of  the  Revolution  in  1775  it  had  increased 
to  1172  whites  and  57  colored.  There  was  no  other 
computation  until  1790,  when  the  town  comprised 
2335  inhabitants.  In  1791  the  insurrection  of  the 
negroes  in  San  Domingo  drove  hundreds  of  the  French 
fiunilies  from  the  island  to  the  United  States,  quite 
t  nnmber  of  the  emigres  settling  in  Wilmington. 
The  population  was  further  augmented  in  1793  by 
Hiigees  fleeing  from  the  yellow  fever  plague  in  Phila- 
del^ia,  who  sought  new  homes  in  Wilmington.  So 
luge  was  their  number  that  ail  the  residences  in  the 
town  were  overcrowded  and  high  rents  were  paid  for 
the  poorest  kind  of  accommodations.  The  Christiana, 
from  the  old  ferry  to  the  upper  wharf,  was  so  crowded 
with  ships  of  all  kinds  that  there  was  scarcely  room 
left  for  Uie  passage  of  a  boat.  In  1795-96  the  pesti- 
lence was  again  manifested  in  Philadelphia  and  when 
itattacked  that  city  in  the  most  malignant  form  in  1798 
some  of  the  refugees  brought  it  to  Wilmington,  which 
had  previously  escaped  the  contagion.  The  conse- 
quences were  terrible.  First  developed  in  the  low 
Und  on  the  river-bank,  the  fever  spread  to  the  higher 
localities  and  out  into  the  village  of  Brandywine. 
The  mortality  rate  was  enormous  and  during  all  that 
year  there  was  a  partial  paralysis  of  trade  and  indus- 
try. Nevertheless  the  city  hall  was  completed  in  1798 
and  the  growing  commerce  of  the  port  was  fairly 
maintained. 

Wilmington  existed  under  Governor  Pen n's  charter 
until  1809,  and  in  January  81st  of  that  year  the  Leg- 
islature passed  an  amendment  to  it,  by  which  the 
borough  boundaries  were  defined  as  follows : 

"  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Brandy  wine  Creek, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  same ;  thence  along  the  eastern 
and  northeastern  side  of  the  same  about  two  and  a  half 
miles  to  the  Old  Ford  above  the  head  of  tide-water  ; 
thence  crossing  the  Brandy  wine  westwardly  and  passing 
along  the  Old  King's  Road,  according  to  the  several 
courses  there  to  the  State  Boad,  leading  from  Wil- 
mington to  Lancaster ;  thence  in  a  direct  line  south- 
easterly, passing  over  the  mouth  of  the  riverlet  called 
Stallcnp's  Gut,  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  Christiana 
River ;  thence  down  the  side  of  the  same  until  south- 
west of  the  lower  point  of  the  meuth  of  the  Brandy- 
wine  ;  thence  northeast  to  the  place  of  beginning.'* 


The  amended  charter  established  a  government  by 
chief  burgess,  one  assistant  burgess,  a  Town  Council  of 
thirteen  members,  an  assessor,  a  treasurer  and  a  high 
constable.  Under  it  the  officisls  chosen  from  term  to 
term  w^re  the  following: 

Chief  Burgess. 

•'   Jamee  Brobson 1822 

I   Jamea  McKean 1825 

I   Jamea  Broboon 1826 

Frederick  Leonard 1880 


Dr.  George  Monro 1809 

James  Brobsou 1814 

George  Monro 1815 

John  Torbert^ 1817 

Robert  Porter. 1820 


Isaac  Sterenson 1809 

Robert  Porter 1817 

HanooNaff.„ 1818 

James  Sorden 1822 


Assistant  Burgess, 

James  Gordon 1823 

Frederick  Leonard 1826 

HanceNaff. 1830 


derk, 

Jamea  Wilaon„ 18  9  I  Joseph  C.  Hartley 1816 

Joseph  Read 1812  I   Cfliartes  T.  Grubb ....1829 


Borough 

John  Torbert 1809 

Cyrus  Newlin 1809 

Isaac  H.  Starr. 1809 

Samuel  Bush 1809 

Jeremiah  Wooleston 18  9 

William  Seal 1809 

Isaac  Dixon 1809 

OarwD  Wilson 1809 

John  Reynolds 1809 

James  Jeffries. 1809 

John  Hendrickson 1809 

Matthew  R.  Lockerman 18<>9 

James  Collins 1809 

Cyrus  Newlin 1810 

William  Seal 1810 

Isaac  Dixon 1810 

Robert  Porter - 1810 

Joseph  Grubb 1810 

John  White. 18l'» 

Samuel  Wallace 1810 

James  Oanby 1810 

Robert  Wilkinson 1810 

Jacob  Alrich 1810 

JohnTorbert 1810 

JohnHadden 1810 

Eli  Mendenhall 1810 

Cyrus  Newlin 1811 

JohnTorbert 1811 

Isaac  H.  Starr. 1811 

John  White 1811 

Joseph  Grubb 1811 

Jacob  Alrich 1811 

Ziba  Ferris.. 1811 

James  Jeffries.. 18U 

Robert  Wilkinson 1811 

William  Seal 1811 

Eli  Mendenhall 1811 

Jeremiah  Wolleston 1811 

Joseph  B.  Shipley 1811 

John  Rumsey 1812 

Joseph  Grubb 1812 

JohnTorbert 1812 

Eli  Mendenhall 1812 

Joseph  Robinson 1812 

Jamee  B.  Shipley 1812 

Thomas  McConnell 18U 

James  Jeffries. 1812 

Patrick  O'Flinn.- 1812 

Robert  Wilkinson 1812 

James  ColUns. 1812 

Cyrus  NewUn 1812 

Patrick  O'Fllnn 1813 

JohnTorbert 1813 


Council. 

HanceNaff. 1813 

Allen  Thompson 1813 

John  Gordon 18L3 

Joseph  Jones 1813 

David  Fitzpatrick, 1813 

Joseph  B.  Shipley.. 1813 

George  Jones 1813 

Corson  Wilson 1813 

AbUah  Sharp 1813 

Washington  Rice 1813 

James  Robinson.. 1813 

Frederick  Leonard 1814 

John  Torbert 1814 

Matbew  K.  Lockerman 1814 

James  Collins; 1814 

John  Dixon 1814 

Robert  Porter 1814 

Thomas  McCooneU 1814 

William  Shipley ^ 1814 

(^jrson  Williams. 1814 

George  Monro.. 1814 

Jared  Chestnut 1814 

John  Rumsey 1814 

John  Reynolds 1814 

Joseph  Robinson 1814 

John  Rumsey 1815 

Jamee  Hogg 1816 

Jared  Chestnut 1815 

John  Roes 1815 

William  Shipley 1815 

James  Cochran 1815 

James  Collins.. 1815 

James  Wolf. 1815 

John  Dixon 1815 

Frederick  Leonard 1816 

Darid  Bush 1816 

ZilMt  Ferris 1816 

Joseph  Grubb 1816 

James  Hogg 1816 

Thomas  McConnell 1816 

Henry  Physick 1816 

WilMam  Shipley 1816 

Jeremiah  Wolleston 1816 

David  0.  Wilson.. 1816 

James  Wolf. 1816 

Bei\}amin  Webb.. 1816 

BeiUamin  H.  Springer 1817 

John  Patterson 1817 

Frederick  Leonard 1817 

Joeeph  Grubb 1817 

Nance  Naff 1817 

Thomas  Warrington 1817 

John  Rumsey 1817 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


John  Sella™. WH 

JameeHogg 1817 

ThoniaaMcConnell 1817 

William  Enikino 1817 

JowphGrubb 1818 

William  Seal 1818 

DftvidBiuh 1818 

John  Bedges 1818 

James  Hogg.. 1818 

John  Pattoreon 1818 

BeiUamin  H.  Springer 1818 

John  Runuey 1818 

John  Sellers. 1818 

Frederick  Leonard 1818 

Edward  Gilpin 1818 

Thomas  HcConnell 1818 

Aaron  Paulson 1818 

Thomas  0.  Aldrich 1818 

John  Hedges 1819 

Edward  Gilpin 1819 

DaTid  Bush 1819 

James  Hogg 1819 

JohnRumsey 1819 

James  Oanby 1819 

Samuel  Wood« 1819 

William  Seal 1819 

George  Jones 1819 

Evan  Lewis. 1819 

William  Seal 1820 

John  Rumsey 1820 

Edward  Gilpin 1820 

George  Jones 1820 

Isaac  Bonsell 1820 

EU  Hilles. 1820 

David  Bnsh 1820 

Evan  Lewis. 1820 

William  Seal 1821 

John  Patterson 1821 

George  Jones 1821 

James  S.  White 1821 

James  Hogg 1821 

Thomas  C.  Alricha. 1821 

Joseph  Grubb 1821 

WilUam  Chandler 1821 

Joha  Gordon 1821 

James  Canby 1821 

James  McKean 1821 

David  Bush 1821 

Eran  Lewis. 1821 

Thomas  Richardson 1822 

John  Rumsey 1822 

Jo«)ph  Grubb.. 1822 

Henry  Rice» 1822 

Henry  Hoopes. 1822 

James  Gardiner. 1822 

John  Sellars.. 1822 

Eli  Mendenhall... 1822 

Samuel  Wood. 1822 

James  McKean 1822 

David  Bush 1822 

William  Chandler. 1822 

John  Jones~ 1822 

Jacob  Alrich 1823 


William  Chandler. 1828 

EaauCoxe 1823 

Joseph  Grubb 1823 

George  Jones 1823 

William  G.  Jones 1823 

John  Jones 1823 

Eli  Mendenhall. 1823 

James  McKean 1823 

Robert  Porter. 1823 

John  Patterson 1823 

John  Rummy 1823 

James  Rice ..1823 

William  Chandler 1824 

Esau  Coxe 1824 

Eli  Mendenhall.. 1824 

Henry  Hoopes. 1824 

Jacob  Alrich 1824 

Eli  Hilles. 1824 

John  Adams. 1824 

Samuel  Wood 1824 

John  R.  Brinckle 1824 

William  Seal 1824 

John  F.  Gilpin 1824 

Robert  Porter 1824 

John  McClung 1824 

Robert  Porter 1826 

William  Chandler. 1826 

William  Seal 1826 

Josiah  F.  Clement 1825 

John  Patterson 1826 

James  Price. 1826 

Joseph  C.  Gilpin 1826 

Eli  Hilles. 18  >6 

Jacob  Airichs. 1825 

Samuel  Wood 1826 

James  Canby 182) 

William  G.  Jones 1826 

John  McClung 1826 

David  Bush 1826 

Joseph  Grubb.. 1826 

William  Urkin 1826 

Israel  D  Jones 1826 

James  Gardner 1826 

William  Rice 1826 

JohnSelUrs. 1826 

Thomas  Moore 1826 

Henry  Hoopes. 1826 

Eli  Sharpe 1826 

Jacob  File 1826 

Aaron  Hughes. 1826 

William  Townsend. 182« 

William  Chandler 1829 

William  Townsend 1829 

EHsha  Huxley 1829 

John  M.  Smith 1829 

Thomas  Hawkins 1829 

Thomas  Moore 1829 

George  Winslow 1829 

Patrick  Higgins. 1829 

MahlonBetta. 1829 

James  Rice 1829 

Bei^jamin  Webb. 1829 

JohnCleland 1829 


In  1832  the  Legislature  granted  the  charter  that 
converted  Wilmington  from  a  borough  into  a  city. 
It  provided  for  a  mayor,  one  alderman,  a  City  Council 
of  fifteen  members,  a  treasurer,  an  assessor,  who  also 
filled  the  oflSce  of  collector,  one  inspector  of  election, 
and  two  assistants  for  each  ward.  On  January  25, 
1833,  Wilmington  Hundred  was  erected  by  act  of  As- 
sembly, and  called  the  City  of  Wilmington.  From  1832 
to  1843  the  mayor  was  elected  by  City  Council  for  a 
three  years'  term  ;  in  1843  the  term  was  shortened  to 
one  year,  and  since  1850  he  has  been  elected  by  the 


people.  In  1869  the  term  was  restored  to  three  years 
and  the  mayor  made  ineligible  to  re-election.  The 
original  salary  was  two  hundred  dollars  per  annum, 
which  has  been  increased  by  successive  steps  until  it 
is  now  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The  roster  of  the  mu- 
nicipal officials  from  1832  to  the  present  time  is  as 
subjoined : 

Mayors, 


Richard  H.  Bayard. 1832 

KichoUisG.  Williamson. 1834 

David  C.  Wilson 1843 

Alexander  Porter 1845 

WilUam  Huffington 1848 

Joshua  E.  Driver 1850 

Columbus  P.  Evans. 1851 

Wm.  Hemphill  Jones. 1852 

John  A.  Alderdice 1853 

James  F.  Hey  ward.. 1854 

William  B.  Wiggins 1855 

WilUam  Huffington. 1856 


George  W.  Sparks 1857 

Thomas  Young 1858 

VinoentC.  Gilpin 1860 

John  M.  Turner w 1863 

Joshua  Blaris 1865 

Joshua  S.  Valentine. I9ffl 

Jodiua  L.  Simms 1872 

WilUam  G.  Whitely.. 1875 

John  P.  AUmond 1878 

John  P.  Wales 1882 

Calvin  B.  Rhoads. 1886 


Aldermen, — This  office  was  abolished  in  1869. 
tween  1832  and  that  date  its  occupants  were  : 


Be- 


N.  G.  Wniiamson Ib32 

Alexander  McBeth 1834 

George  W.Gardner 1839 

David  C.  Wilson 1841 

John  Gordon 1842 

William  P.  Chandler 1843 

William  G.  Whitely 1^ 

John  Hedges.. 1847 

Stephen  Boddy.. „ 1850 


Elias  a  R.  Butler. 1854 

John  T.  Robinson. 1855 

John  Wright 1856 

John  T.  Robinson 1857 

John  Wright 1869 

Hanson  Uarman... 1860 

John  H.  Adams 1861 

Francis  Vincent,  1865,  who 
served  until 1869 


Presidents  of  Couneil.^From  1832  to  1868  the 
president  of  Council  was  elected  by  the  members, 
and  since  1868  has  been  chosen  by  the  people  at  the 
regular  election.  The  salary  in  6fty-six  years  has 
been  increased  from  fifty  to  three  hundred  dollars 
yearly.    The  incumbents  of  the  office  have  been  : 

Lea  Pusey.. 1832 

John  Gordon 1834 

William  R.Sellars 1837 

Wro.  Hemphin  Jones.. 1841 

Allen  McLane,   M.D.„ 1842 

William  R.  Sellare 1813 

Henry  Hicks 1840 

James  Canby 1850 

John  M.  Turner 1851 

John  Rice 1852 

Jesse  Lane 1855 

Samuel  MoCauUey 1856 

Vincent  C.  Gilpin 1857 

The  Clerk  has  always  been  chosen  by  the  Cily 
Council.  The  salary  at  first  was  four  hundred  dollars 
a  year.  It  is  now  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  These 
have  been  the  occupants  of  the  office : 


John  M.  Turner 1860 

Achilles  Hollingswortb ^  1864 

Edwin  L  Homer. „..  1865 

Edward  T.  Bellak 1866 

John  H.  Adams 1867 

WiUiam  Bright. 1869 

Joshua  Maris 1871 

H.  L.  Litchtenstein 1875 

Harry  Sharpley 1879 

Henry  C.  Conrad 1882 

John  C.  Farra 1885> 

Henry  Eckel 1886 


Charles  T.  Grubb 1832 

Edward  E.  Warrington 1883 

T.  Booth  Roberts 1836 

William  B.  Wiggins 1849 

John  A.  Alderdice 1850 

Hanson  Harman.. 1853 

Joshua  Maris. 1859 

Edward  T.  Taylor 1862 


WJlliam  S.  Hayes. 187^ 

William  H.  Lee 1875 

William  H.  Foulk 1876 

1  Edmund  B.  Fraxer 1877 

Henry  B.  Penington 1881 

Roberta  Fraim 1882 

WilUam  B.  HyUnd. 1884 

AugustusF.  Messlck 1886^ 


7%tf  City  Assessor  was  originally  elected  by  the 
people  for  a  one  year  term.  In  1845  it  was  provided 
that  an  assessor  be  chosen  for  each  of  the  five  wards,. 


1  Resigned  July  7, 1881,  when  he  was  elected  registrar  of  deaths. 
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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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bat  from  1858  to  1870  there  was  a  reversion  to  the  old 
system  of  one  assessor.  Since  1871  the  city  has  been 
dinded  into  two  assessment  districts,  and  an  assessor 
cliosen  from  each  for  a  term  of  three  years.  The 
names  of  the  assessors,  except  for  the  period  from 
1845  to  1858,  are: 


InacAnderaon 1832 

Jonph  Scott 1837 

B«iM«DiDWebb 1839 

John  B.  Lowis. 1840 

•John  M   TuriH^r 1843 

JobD  B.  Lewia^ 1844 

Bobtn  Gftlbreath. 1858 

JohD  9.  McNmI 1859 

William  B.  Scout 1860 

Diaiel  Fkrr*.. 1861 

Bdwftrd  L.  Brown 1862 

Alezuul«r  Cbaodler 1864 

AnraSmltb 1865 

JMeph  Pl«reoD^ 1866 


Daniel  T.  Hawkins 1868 

Lewis  McOall 1869 

WiUUmStlUey 1871 

Alexander  Chandler 1871 

Edward  Fanner 1874 

Edmund  PreToef 1874 

William  Kyne 1877 

Edmund  Preroet 1877 

Dennis  Kane 1880 

Edmund  Prerort 1880 

Dennis  Kane 1883 

Edmnnd  P.  Moody 1883 

Martin  J.  Mealy 1887 

Edmund  P.  Moody 1887 

W«  City  Treasurer  has  always  been  an  elective  offi- 
cii]. His  term  was  originally  one  year,  and  his  sal- 
try  four  hundred  dollars ;  now  he  serves  two  years, 
tod  is  paid  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars  per 
annum.  Allan  Thomson  was  borough  treasurer  for 
twelve  years,  and  after  him  came  the  following : 


James  F.  Wilson,  M.D 1859 

John  F.  Miller 1861 

William  Preston 18M 

Weeley  Talley 1865 

William  Preston 18C6 

George  C.  Marls 1867 

JaraesMcCabe 1869 

Joseph  L.  Kilgore 1870 

Francis  Vincent.: 1873 

John  Qathrle 1879 

Jacob  E.  Pierce 1882 

Milton  S.  Simpers 1884 

Richard  R.  Griffith 1886 


J«hi  Beynolds 1832 

Hw7  Hicks 1837 

**■  Hagany 1840 

faMc  Dixon 1841 

Abnham  Alderdice 1843 

iMcDixon 1844 

Bobert  B.  KobinsoD 1848 

Mn  T.  Robinflon 1850 

B^Jamin  8.  CUrke„ 1851 

JoMphSeott 1862 

BMjamln  8.  Clarke 1853 

Seboo  Oariisle~ 1854 

George  D.  Armstrong 1857 

Municipal  QmrL—From  1832  to  1883  the  mayor  was 
the  sole  police  and  committing  magistrate,  but  on 
Jane  1, 1883,  the  Municipal  Court  was  established  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature,  to  assume  the  functions  of 
primary  jurisdiction.  Walter  Cummins  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Stockley  as  judge  of  the  court,  and  still 
holds  the  position.  Henry  R.  Penington  was  clerk 
until  his  death,  in  September,  1886,  and  his  successor, 
William  B.  Hyland,  was  appointed,  and  has  since  been 
the  incumbent 

Chief  Engineer. — ^The  department  of  engineering 
and  surveying  was  created  by  an  ordinance  passed  by 
City  Council,  January  5, 1871.  The  head  of  the  de- 
partment is  the  chief  engineer,  who  receives  an  annual 
ulary  of  two  thousand  dollars,  and  is  chosen  by 
Council  for  a  term  of  three  years.  He  is  allowed  two 
or  more  assistants  at  an  eight  hundred  dollar  salary. 
Daniel  Farra  was  elected  chief  engineer  in  1871,  and 
in  1874  was  superseded  by  Myers  C.  Con  well,  who 
resigned  in  1883  and  went  on  professional  service  to 
the  United  States  of  Colombia,  where  he  soon  perished 
of  yellow  fever.  Frederic  H.  Robinson  was  elected 
his  sncceasor,  and  was  filling  the  office  in  1887. 

The  CUy  Couwci/.— Under  the  charter  of  1832  the 
election  of  Council  men  was  so  fixed,  that  while  the 

1  Elected  by  a  nuOorlty  of  nine  rotee  over  John  B.  Lewis. 

41 


term  of  each  member  covered  three  years,  such  a  pro- 
portion retired  each  year  as  to  call  for  an  annual 
election  of  their  successors.  By  this  arrangement 
one  member  was  chosen  from  each  of  the  five  wards 
yearly.  The  names  of  the  incumbents  are  subjoined. 
Where  more  than  five  are  recorded  the  additional  ones 
were  chosen  to  fill  vacancies. 


Thomas  Toung 1832 

Benjamin  Boulden 1832 

Wni.  Townaend 1832 

Allan  Thomson 1832 

LeaPnsey 1832 

James  Canby 1832 

John  Holand 1832 

Thomas  Hawkins 1832 

John  Gordon 183J 

Robert  Porter ia32 

Wm.  Chandler^ 183i 

Wm.  P.  Brobson 1832 

James  Webb ls:« 

William  Townsend 18  W 

Samuel  S.  Poole 1833 

Robert  Porter 1833 

John  McClung 1«33 

Mahlon  Betts I8.W 

Thomas  Young 18:13 

Joseph  M.  Bailey 1833 

John  McGung 1834 

John  Gordon 1834 

William  Chandler 18;M 

Samuel  Shipley lH3i 

John  CleUnd 18:^3 

William  R.  Sellars 183.5 

David  Bush IH35 

William  Hemphill  J.nes         18.]A 

Benjamin  Webb \v>'.\b 

Esau  Cox 18:15 

Samuel  Shipley 1835 

Darid  C.  Wilson 1835 

Thomas  Toung 18:J5 

William  Chandler 1835 

John  Cleland 18:16 

John  Gordon 1835 

William  Townsend 1836 

James  Webb 1836 

David  Bush 1836* 

Thomas  Young 1H.J6 

Mahlon  Betto 1836 

William  P.  Brobsun le3T 

Nelson  CI<*Und 1837 

William  Seal 1837 

William  Solomon 1837 

Jacob  Derrickson .  18J7 

William  Hemphill  Jone^       .  1838 

William  P.  bellam   law 

Samuel  Biizby IK^H 

William  Chandler.. 18:^8 

John  A.  Duncan 1838 

Dr.  Allen  McLsiih   IKJji 

James  Webb .  1839 

Juhu  Harris I.s:i9 

William  Townsend I8:<9 

David  BuKh 1839 

William  Seal 1840 

Enoch  Moore 184(» 

Joseph  C.  Seeds. 1810 

Allan  Thomson Ih40 

William  P.  Brol»on  I84«» 

George  McGeo 1841 

WiUiani  F.  O'Daniel 1841 

William  Hemphill  Joih<«       .  1841 

Henry  Hicks 1841 

John  L.  Hadden 1841 

George  Baird 1841 

Daniel  Wring 1841 


William  Townsend 1842 

John  HarHs 1842 

Joseph  A.  Hunter 1842 

Dr.  Allen  McLane 1842 

Jacob  Miller 1842 

Benjamin  Webb 1842 

William  R.  Sellaru 1843 

Richard  B.  Gilpin 1843 

Edwin  A.  Wilson 1843 

Kvan  C.  StotsenburR 1843 

Elisha  Huxley 18^ 

John  Rice 1843 

Achilles  HoUingsworth 1843 

William  F.  O'Daniel 1844 

James  Jllllott 1844 

Henry  Hicks 1844 

Joseph  Seal 1844 

Dr  Henry  F.  Askew 1844 

James  Canby I84fi 

William  Townsend 1846 

Samuel  McCaulley 1845 

spencer  D.  Eves 1846 

Achilles  HoUingsworth 1846 

William  R.  Sellais  1846 

John  M.  Turner 1846 

John  Rice 1S46 

Aaron  Hewee 1846 

Abraham  Boys 1846 

Eli  Todd 1847 

Edward  Moore 1847 

George  Read  Riddle 1847 

Henry  Hicks 1847 

Dr.  Robert  R.  Porter 1847 

Abraliam  Boys 1848 

Henry  Bleyer 1848 

Samuel  McCaulley 1848 

JamesCauby 1848 

Achillea  HolUngsworth    1848 

John  McClung 1849 

William  CanipU'll 1849 

Jacob  .loiTeres 1849 

John  M.  Turner 1849 

Ut  Jtiuieii  W.  Thomson 1849 

Jes-e  Slinrpe I860 

Kli  Todd 1850 

Jesse  Lane 1850 

Cyrus  l»yle 1860 

John  Rice 1850 

J.  Morton  Pot)le 1851 

Henry  Bleyer 1861 

Samuel  McCaulley 1851 

Achilles  HoUingsworth 1861 

Vincent  C.  Gilpin 1861 

John  McClung 1852 

Joshua  S.  Valentine 1862 

Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw 1862 

John  Cochran 1862 

Joseph  T.  Price 1862 

George  Mages 1863 

Lewis  Piiyuter 1863 

Cyrus  Pyle 1853 

Jesse  Lane 1863 

John  Rice 1853 

John  Rudolph 1854 

John  S.  Brady 1854 

Samuel  Mc(!aulley 1861 

Vincent  C.  Gilpin 1864 

Thomas  Z.  Mahafley 1854 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


J.  Morton  Poole 

1856 

John  P.  8prin(r*»r 

1855 

Jamet*  Elliott 

1855 

JoMph  A.  Hnnter 

1855 

Jacob  S.  Weldin 

...1856 

Samuel  F.  BiitK     

.1856 

liewis  Paynter 

lJ'5e 

Jamee  Bradford 

-.1856 

Joseph  Pyle 

1856 

Edward  BetN 

1856 

Dr.  Bobort  R.  Porter 

.18.56 

Albert  Thatcher 

..1856 

John  P.  Springer 

.1857 

Dr.  John  A.  Draper 

.1867 

Thomas  Yonog 

.1857 

Edwin  J.  Horuer 

1857 

Vincent  C.  Gilpin 

.1857 

Joseph  M.  Pusey 

1867 

Spencer  D.  Evos 

ia58 

William  H.  Alderdire... 

.  IS'iS 

John  H.Stidham 18^8  , 

James  Scott 1858 

John  M.  Turner  1858 

Samael  F.  Betts 1858 

George  Nebeker 1858  , 

Georges.  Hagany 1859  | 

John  Aikin 1859  ^ 

Edwanl  Betts 1869  I 

Achilles  Holllngewortli 1859  I 

Wm.  H.  England 1850  | 

Joseph  M.  Pusey 1859  ; 

Henry  Bleyer 1860  , 

John  Aikin. I860 

William  S.  Hayec 1800 

Edwin  I.  Homer 1860 

Henry  W.  Bartmro 1860 

Edward  T.  Bellak 1861 

Gregg  Chandler 1861 

John  M.  Turner 18t>l 

Jowph  W.  Day I8nl 

William  H.  Pierce 18112 

Abraham  Boys 1862 

Achilles  Uollingsworth 1862  I 

Dr.  James  F.  Wilson 1862  ' 

Joseph  BI.  Pusey 18n2  [ 

Philip  Plunkett 1863 

George  H.  Walter 1863 

William  S.  Haytfl 1863 

Edwin  I.  Homer 1863 

Philip  McDowell 1863 

Edward  T.  Bell«k 1864 

Thomas  Titnt 1864 

Gregg  Chandler 1864 

John  A.  Duncan 1864 

Joseph  W.  Day 1861 

David  Woolman 1865 

Morris  Weldie 1865 

Edward  Mclnall 1805 

Joseph  D.  Pierson  1866 

John  H.  Adams. 1866 

Samael  F.  Betts 1865 

George  W.  Dorsey 1865 

Philip  Plunkett 18f6 

Joseph  C.  RowUnd 1866 

Henry  F.  Plckels 1866 

John  K.  Kirkraan 1866 

William  C.  Leibrandt   1866 

Charles  H.  Gallagher 1866 

1  Ralph  McCall ..1867 

James  Conner 1867 

Gregg  Chandler 1867 


Edwin  Lewis 1867 

George  W.  Dorsey 1867 

Thomas  Johnson 1868 

William  H.  Qninn 1868 

E.  C.  Stotsenburg 1868 

John  U.  Adams 1868 

Charles  S.  Weldi«? 1868 

Charles  H.  GalUigher 1868 

»  William  Bright 1869 

George  Simmons 1869 

William  H.  Quinn 1869 

William  Stilley 1869 

Henry  Finnegan 1869 

Edward  J.  McManiis     1869 

Fxl  ward  Mel  mire 1869 

Charles  McCloekey 1 869 

Henry  F.  Plckels 1869 

William  8.  Hayes It69 

George  H.  Walter.  ...1869 

William  H.  Fonik 1869 

JohnJones 1869 

M.L.  Lichtenstolu 1869 

Charles  H.  Gallagher 1869 

Joseph  R.  Phillipe 1869 

Christian  Febiger 1869 

Jvdward  C.  Johnson    1869 

Patrick  Dillon 1870 

William  L.  Gilbert 1870 

Albert  Thatcher 1870 

John  W.  Walker 1870 

Lewis  Paynter 1870 

Wm.  H.  Fouik 1870 

Williams.  Bullock     1870 

Joseph  B.  Phillipp 1870 

Henry  Lea 1870 

»  Joshua  Marls 1871 

Peter  B.H  nested 1871 

William  H.  Qulun  1871 

Joshua  Baker 1871 

Henry  Finnegan 1871 

JohnG.  Baker 1871 

Philip  W.  McDowell 1871 

Gilpin  P.  Underwood 1871 

Christian  Febiger 1871 

Dennis  J.  Menton 1871 

William  L.  Gilbert  1872 

Henry  B.  Mclntire 1872 

August  BIcta 1872 

James  P.  Hayes   1872 

William  Canby 1872 

Wm.  H.  Fouike „187i 

M.  L.  Lichtenstein 1872 

John  T.  Richardson 1»72 

Eli  Mendenhall 1872 

Lewis  P.  Lynch  1872 

Isaac  Murray 1873 

Robert  H.  Taylor 1873 

William  Green 1873 

John  G.Baker 1873 

Henry  F.  Plckels 1873 

John  P.  McLear 1873 

John  H.Adams. 1873 

Joseph  R,  Phillips 1873 

Gilpin  B.  Underwood   1873 

Christian  Febiger 1873 

Mylee  Burke 1873 

William  M.  Canby 1873 

Thomas  Johnson 1874 

H.  B.  Mclntire 1874 

James  P.  Hayes 1871 

A.  BIcU 1874 


1  Ralph  McOaU  was  the  first  Democrat  elected  to  Council  since  1860. 

9 In  1869  the  city  was  divided  Into  nine  wards,  by  act  of  Assembly,  and 
the  City  Conndl  increased  to  eighteen  members.  Two  members  were 
elected  to  represent  each  ward.  After  1870  nine  members  were  elected 
annually  for  a  terra  of  two  years. 

*  The  city  charter  was  further  amended  February  6,  1871,  creating 
ten  wards  and  Increasing  the  City  Council  to  twenty  members.    • 


William  Canby , 1874 

Wm.  McMenamIn 1874 

William  M.  Canby 1874 

M.  L.  Lichtenstein 1874 

Henry  W.  Downing 1874 

Martin  Farrell 1874 

Louis  P.  Lynch 1874 

David  Ireland 1875 

Robert  H.  Taylor. 1 875 

James  McGlInchey 1875 

Lewis  Paynter 1875 

Dr.  Obed  Bailey 1875 

Joseph  K.  Adams 1<175 

John  Jones 1875 

Gilpin  B.  Underwood 1876 

Christian  Febiger 1875 

Thomas  Ford  1875 

Tbomns  Johnson 1876 

B.  Frank  Townseud 1870 

Caleb  P.  WIndle 1876 

John  G.  Baker 1876 


..1876  j 

.1876  I 

..1870  ' 

.1876  I 

.1876  I 
.1870 

.1876  , 


William  Canby 

Henry  F.  Plckels 

Seth  H.  Feaster 

Philemroa  Chandler. 
Henry  W.  Downing 

John  Dhtis 

Lewis  P.  Lynch 

Wm.  J.  Maxwell 1877 

R.  H.Taylor 1877 

Samuel  A.  Price 1877 

Lewis  Paynter 1877 

Henry  Evans. 1877 

Aaron  Conrad 1877 

Joseph  K.  Adams 1877 

H.  W.  Downing .1877 

JohnJones 1877 

Will  lam  B.  Norton  1877 

Bennett  Haslett 1877 

Edwin  C.  Knight .1877 

John  Guthrie 1877 

Peter  B.  Huested 187& 

B.  F.  Townsend 1878 

James  McGlinchey  .1878 

Alex.  J.  Hart 1878 

Aaron  Conrad 1878 

H.W.  Downing 1878 

Philemma  Chandler 1878 

Peter  Wood 1878 

Richard  Rowe 1878 

LewisP.Lynch 1878 

Merris  Taylor 1879 

Robert  H.  Taylor 1879 

William  H.  Blake 1879 

Lewis  Paynter 1879 

George  Abele 1870 

James  Carraichael 1879 

Joseph  K.  Adams  1879 

Caesar  A.  Rodney 1879 

William  McMonamin 1879 

George  T.  Barnhill 1879 

David  R.Smith 1879 

Dennis  J.  Menton 1879 

William  Hanna 1879 

James  McKenna 1880 

Benjamin  F.  Townseml 1880 

William  F.  Roblinnm 1880 


George  Abele 1880 

Edwin  C.  Moore 1880 

Charles  W.  Talley 1880 

Abner  P.  Bailey 1880 

David  R.  Smith 1880 

Robert  C.Shaw 1880 

Abraham  I*.  Beecher 1880 

4  William  G.  Baugh 1882 

James  31cKenna 1882 

Thumas  Johnson 1882 

William  H.  BlHke 1882 

Lewis  Paynter 1882 

F.  B.  F.  Miller 1882 

David  Stevenson 1882 

Levi  Garrett 1882 

Lewis  T.  Gmbb 1882 

Joseph  C.  File 1882 

Dennis  J.  Mcnti»n 1882 

Alfre<l  S.  Denny 1882 

John  M.  Newell 1882 

Amos  A.  E  fttburii ..1882 

W.  II.  Quinn 1882 

JameMMcKenna 1883 

Robert  II.  Taylor 1883 

WilliHm  H.  Blake 18«3 

George  Abele 1883 

Martin  Fa rrel ..1883 

Henry  F.  Pickels 1883 

Edwin  C.  Moore 1883 

Samuel  Speakman 1883 

Joshua  S.  Stitzenberg 1883 

James  Lynn 1883 

James  Jlurrny 1883 

John  M.  Newell 1883 

David  R.  Smith 1883 

William  G.  Baugh .1884 

Thomas  B.  Brison 1884 

Merris  Taylor I88i 

Martin  Famll 1884 

B.  F.  Miller 1884 

Samuel  H.  Beyuard 1884 

Thomas  H.  Latlnitr    1884 

Lewie  T.  Gmbb.,.. 1884 

D.R.Smith 1884 

Dennis  J.  Menton 1881 

Alfred  S.Denny 1884 

James  McKennn 1885 

Robert  H.  Taylor 1^86 

William  H.  Blake 1885 

George  Abele 1885 

Thomas  Mitchell 1885 

Edwin  (-*.  Moore iggs 

John  W.  Hawkins .1885 

Francis  T.  Barney 1886 

George  T.  Baruhill 1885 

Jamee  Murray 1885 

John  M.  Newell 1886 

Preston  Ayars iggg 

Thomas  B.  Brison 1886 

Merris  Taylor I886 

Isaac  Diliin i886 

F.  B.  F.  Miller 1886 

S.  H.  Baynaid 1886 

Samuel  ChamberN i886 

William  B.  Norton  1886 

Daniel  A.  Forrest 1886 

Owen  J.  Heti(»ion 1886 

Francis  T.  Sawdon 1886 


The  City  Council,  since  the  addition  of  the  Twelfth 
Ward,  is  composed  of  twenty-four  members,  twelve 

4  By  act  of  Assembly  pawed  Apiil  7,  1881,  the  time  of  the  city  elec- 
tion was  changed  from  September  to  June,  and  the  mayor  and  members 
of  Council  held  over  until  the  election  in  June,  1882.  There  was  no 
election  in  1881.  The  ending  of  the  fiscal  year  was  changed  from  Jan- 
uary to  July.  The  Eleventh  Ward  was  added  to  the  city.  Joslah  V. 
Lawrence  and  Alfred  Denny  were  named  in  the  act  to  represaot  UuU 
ward  in  Council  until  the  next  election. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


NEW  CASTLK  COUNTS. 


643 


of  whom  are  elected  annually, 
entire  membership  for  1887  : 

WflUam  0.  Bangb. 
Preston  Ayara. 
William  H.  Quino. 
JohD  McTsy. 
Sttoiel  McKaoney. 
M  erris  Tajlor. 
JaniM  F.  McGonigal. 
Ijaac  OllUn. 
Levis  A.  Bower, 
r.  B.  F.  Miller. 
Edwin  C.  Moore. 
Samod  H.  Baynard. 


The  following  is  the 


John  W.  Hawkins. 
Samuel  Chambers 
William  McMenamin. 
Aaron  S.  Beale. 
Daniel  A.  Forrest. 
H.  J.  Sharkey. 
Charles  A.  Ryan. 
John  White. 
Francis  T.  Sawdou. 
Owen  J.  Uession. 
James  F.  McBride. 


173d.. 
1790., 
IMO.. 
1810.. 
18i0.. 
1830.. 


610 
2,336 
8,241 
.  4,416 
.  6,268 
.  6,628 
.  8,462 


The  following  has  been  the  population  of  Wil- 
mington at  the  dates  given  : 

1846 10,639 

1847 12,632 

1850 .13,979 

1860 21,258 

1870 30,841 

1880 42,499 

1888 66,188 

The  first  town  hall  was  built  over  the  west  end  of 
the  Second  St.  market-house,  with  a  frontage  on 
Market  Street.  It  was  supported  on  arches  extend- 
ing from  the  columns,  which  divided  the  market 
Italia,  and  when  the  borough  officials  were  not  occupy- 
ing the  one  room  which  it  contained,  it  was  used  for 
the  accommodation  of  one  of  the  early  schools.  It 
waa  erected  in  1774,  to  provide  accommodation  for 
the  Borough  Council,  which,  since  the  establishment 
of  Willingtown,  in  1739,  had  been  meeting  at  public 
taverns  or  at  the  residences  of  members.  It  had  a 
•mall  square  cupola,  surmounted  by  a  spire  and 
weather-vane.  It  was  demolished  about  1795,  and  a 
part  of  the  lot  where  the  City  Hall  now  stands  was 
purchased  by  the  borough  for  £127.  The  owner  of  the 
remainder  of  the  site  wanted  $816  for  it,  and  the 
bargeases  refused  to  give  him  more  than  1640.  Several 
enterprising  citizens,  well  aware  of  the  future  impor- 
tance of  the  addition,  made  up  the  balance;  the 
borough  borrowed  $1500  on  bond,  and  in  1798  the 
City  Hall  was  completed.  Peter  Bauduy  drew  the 
plans,  and  in  1798  it  was  undoubtedly  '*a  creditable 
mofement  to  the  liberality  and  public  spirit  of  the 
citizens  of  Wilinington."  The  following  letter  of 
Joseph  Tatnall,  then  president  of  the  Bank  of  Dela- 
ware, tells  from  what  source  the  clock  and  bell  were 
obtained: 

**rrindt  and  /tOoio-irinMiif,— I  have  for  several  years  past  appre- 
kM^cd  that  great  oouveoleuce  would  arise  to  the  inhabitantu  of  this 
boroagh  by  haTlng  a  commodioiu  tiine-pltK:e  erected  Id  a  central  part  of 
the  town.  Inthefint  place  it  would  accelerate  the  punctual  meeting 
0f  the  religioualj-dispoaed  people  at  their  placet  of  worship ;  secondly,  it 
vUlbeof  service  to  tho«e  who  think  themselvee  not  of  ability  to  pur- 
chase time-i^eces ;  and  the  last,  but  not  least  consideration  is  it  will 
e  ornamental  to  the  place  uf  my  nativity.  Therefore,  I  have  pro- 
1  from  Europe  a  large  and  complete  townolock  of  excellent  work- 
hip,  which  I  DOW  preaeut  to  you  for  the  use  of  the  ttiwn,  with  a 
ssu  of  money  not  fxceeding  S20U,  to  be  laid  out  in  a  large,  complete 
sad  good  bell  to  serve  the  clock  as  well  as  the  Town  Hall  now  erecUng, 
«hkk  I  beg  yon  to  accept. 

*'  I  am  your  Friend, 

**J0S£PB  Tatnau. 
"  InntywlM  Bridge,  5th  mo.  22d,  1798." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  burgesses  May  25,  1798,  the 


gift  was  accepted,  in  resolutions  of  thanks  to  Mr. 
Tatnall,  and  a  copy  ordered  to  be  sent  to  him.  The 
bell  hung  in  the  cupola  of  the  hall  from  1798  to  1866, 
and  in  those  sixty-eight  years  it  struck  the  hour  of 
day  over  half  a  million  times.^ 

In  1878  it  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  Delaware 
Historical  Society,  and  subsequently  passed  into  the 
possession  of  the  Phoenix  Fire  Company,  who  still  re- 
tain it.  The  clock  in  1849  was  overhauled  by  Jacob 
Alrich,  who  said  it  would  last  for  fifty  years  more. 
The  City  Hall  has  always  been  a  focus  of  interest  for 
the  people  of  Wilmington.  Besides  being  the  meet- 
ing-place of  Council  and  the  court-house  of  Municipal 
Courts  for  three-fourths  of  a  century,  nearly  all  public 
meetings  were  held  within  iti  walls.  All  the  fire 
companies  and  many  other  corporations  met  there, 
and  it  was  the  scene  of  many  notable  public  fes- 
tivities, including  the  banquet  to  Lafayette,  Octo- 
ber 26,  1824.  In  the  basement  cells  hundreds  of 
prisoners  have  awaited  trial  or  undergone  penal 
sentences.  The  building  is  historic  and  honorable, 
and  while  Wilmington  should  preserve  it  as  a  souve- 
nir of  the  past,  it  is  in  itself  now  unworthy  of  a 
wealthy  and  public-spirited  community. 

The  first  directory  of  Wilmington  was  issued  in 
1814,  and  marked  an  epoch  in  the  progress  of  the  city. 
It  was  published  by  Robert  Porter,  then  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Delaware  Journal^  and  also  of  the 
book-store,  still  maintained  by  his  grrindson,  Harry 
Porter,  who  owns  one  of  the  few  copies  of  the  direc- 
tory now  in  existence,  and  has  granted  the  use  of  it 
for  re-publication  in  these  pages.  The  names  of  the 
streets  north  of  Third,  and  parallel  with  it,  were 
changed  when  the  city  charter  was  obtained,  in  1832, 
the  numerical  titles  taking  the  place  of  the  original 
names.  The  streets  that  are  now  Fourth  to  Fifteenth, 
both  included,  were  in  1814  known  respectively  as 
High,  Queen,  Hanover,  Broad,  Kent,  Wood,  Chestnut, 
Elizabeth,  Dickinson,  Franklin,  Washington  and 
Stidham.  In  the  directory  of  1814  the  old  street  num- 
bers were  used,  and  the  list  of  names  and  residences 
was  as  subjoined  : 

Adams,  Mrs Corner  French  and  Third  St. 

Adams,  Widow,  geijilewoman 144  Shipley  St. 

Alrich,  Isaac,  tailor 6  Market  St. 

Aliich  Thomas  C,  tinman 6  W.  High  St, 

Alrichs,  Jacob  k  Co.,  machine  shups Shipley,  corner  Broad  St. 

Alriclis  &  Dixon,  machine  shops g  E.  Uanover  St. 

Alrichs,  David,  carpenter Shipley,  bet.  Broad  and  Kent  Sts. 

Alrichs,  Jacob,  machinist Brandy  wine  Walk. 

Alderdice,  Jane,  bonnet-maker 3  £.  Second  St. 

Allen,  Eli,  niachina-maker 14  E.  Queen  St. 

Anderson,  Mrs 8  E.  High  St. 

Anderson,  John,  tobacconist 67  E.  Front  St. 

Anderson,  Isaac,  innkeeper 7  W.  High  St. 

Arbuckle,  James,  tavern-keeper,    '*Spi-ead  Eagle**.. Maricet  St. 

Ashby,  Nancy,  seamstress Spring  Alley 

Askew,  Samuel,  carpenter Kenuett  Road. 

Bayard,  James  A.,  attomey-at-iuw 221  Market  St. 

Basiett,  Nathan,  dry  goods 05  Mnrket  8t. 

Baasett,  Richard,  Esq Cor.  Third  and  French  Sts. 

Barr,  Neal,  cooper 146  Market.St. 

Bailey,  Joseph,  dwelling 47  Market  St. 

1  Park  Mason,  a  somewhat  noted  personage  in  his  day,  was  the  town 
bellman  for  half  a  century.  Ue  was  high  constable  of  the  borough  of 
Wilmington  for  a  docan  or  more  years  and  was  bailiff  for  City  Council 
from  lti32  to  1867. 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


644 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


Bailey  &  Co.,  apothecaries 49  Market  St. 

Bailey,  Henry,  Johns  &  Co.,  tmdeni xligh  cor.  French  St. 

Battereby.  Jmnes,  butcher Cor.  French  and  Queen  Sta. 

Ball,  Peter,  stage-driver W.  Queen  and  High  St. 

Barrett,  Thomas,  carniau Below  Walnut,  on  Second  St. 

Barnes,  Miller,  huckster 19  W.  High  St. 

Barnes,  Nathan,  shoemaker W.  Queen  St. 

Baker,  George,  ship-airponter 36  E.  Water  St, 

Btiker,  Thomas,  sea  captain 6  K.  Second  St. 

Bannard,  John,  putter I2B.  Second  St. 

Baldwin,  Sarah,  milliner 16  E.  Second  St. 

Baldwin,  Widow 29  Shipley  St. 

Bail,  Ann,  milliner 32  King  St. 

Beris,  Joseph,  carter 0  King,  cor.  FrontSt. 

Bovit,  Job. 

Bemis,  John,  machine-maker. 

Benderman,  Bridget,  huckster ....W.  Hanover  St. 

Betts,  Benjamin,  carpenter Wwt,  bet.  Hanover  and  Queen  Sts. 

Bannard,  William,  cooper Walnut,  below  Second  St 

Beckley,  Solomon,  brush-maker 9  W.  High  St. 

Beckley,  Chester,  tinman 83  and  85  Shipley  St. 

Beckley,  Nathaniel,  tinman. ..Tatuall,  bet.  Queen  and  Hanover  St. 

Beckley,  Oren,  tinman High,  beyond  West  St. 

Beckley,  Robinson  &Spriiigt«r,  carU  luauutacturers,  44  W.  High  St. 

Beckiuy,  Cliester,  brush-maker  and  tinman 44  King  St. 

Beckley,  Justis,  machine-maker 44  King  St. 

Brigham,  Mary,  dry  goods 37  Market  St 

Bines,  Rachel,  dry  goods 15  £.  Second  St 

Blackburn,  Alexander,  soap-boiler High,  bel.  Walnut  St 

Blackwell,  George,  shoemaker 165  Market  St. 

Black,  Mary,  gentlewoman 211  Market  St. 

Bhick,  Mary,  baker 20  E.Second  St 

Blackford,  Garrett,  dry  goods 9  E.  Second  St 

Bogga,  Ann,  slop-shop 16  Market  St 

Bowles,  Widow,  huckster 139  Market  St 

Bowers,  Thomas,  shoemaker French,  bet  3d  and  High  Sts. 

Boon,  Andrew,  laborer Second,  bel.  Walnut  Sts. 

Boddy,  Stephen,  saddler. 71  Market  St 

Boyd,  Matthew,  tailor 30  E.Secnd  St 

Bonsall,  Widow,  grocery 107  and  109  Market  St 

Bousall,  Isaac,  book-binder 10  B.  High  St 

Bonsall,  Hannah 29  E.  High  St 

Bonsall,  John,  stone-uiabou West  St 

Bonsall,  Eleanor,  teacher 109  Market  St. 

Bonsall,  Hannah,  seamstress 109  Market  St. 

Broom  &  Davis,  attorneys W.  Third  St. 

Broom,  Widow,  gentlewoman Oor.  3d  and  Shipley  Sts. 

Brown,  William,  coach-maker 149  Market  St 

Brown,  Mary 156KingSt 

Brown,  John  A  James,  wtmyers Ji  E.  High  St 

Brown,  Isabella,  shop-keeper 3  E.  High  St. 

Brown,  William  tanner 22  E.  High  St. 

Brown,  Bei^amin,  grocery  store 4  W.  High  St 

Brinton,  Darid,  stage-office,   "Indian  King"  tavtjrn,  S.  £.  cor.  4th 
and  Market  Sts. 

Bringhurst,  Joseph,  apothecary 85  Market  St 

Brobson,  James,  marshal 48  Market  St 

.  Brobson,  WiUlam  B.,  attorney- a t-Uw 48  Market  St. 

Briuckle,  Dr.  John 76  King  St 

Bryan,  James,  merchant W.  Frunt,  bet.  Orange  and  Tatnall  Sts. 

Bry^n,  Hugh,  laborer French,  betFrontand  Second  Sts. 

Bradun,  Thomas,  grocery 7  E.  Second  St. 

Bradun,  Thomas,  tailor Tatuall,  above  Kent  St 

Brookes,  Widow,  gentlewoman 91  Shipley  St. 

Bradford,  Mra.,  nurse 82  King  St 

Bradford,  M.,  printer  and  staiiuuer 36  Market  St. 

Burgees,  John,  farmer I'nciture  at  end  of  Broad  St. 

Burrows,  Eliza,  mantua-makcr French  St. 

Burrows,  John,  stone-mason West  St. 

Buchanan,  Nathan,  hatter 34  E.  Second  St 

Bush,  William,  merchant Bush's  Wharf. 

Bush,  David,    captain Cor.  French  and  Water  Sts. 

Bush,  Samuel,  captain 30  King.  cor.   Second  St. 

Bums,  Mary,  widow Cor.  Hanover  and  French  Sts. 

Byrnes,  Daniel,  cashier  (Bank  of  Wilmington  and  Brandywine),  2 
W.  Second  St. 

Byrnes,  Jonathan,  apothecary 49  Market  St. 

Camahan,  Samuel  weaver Cor.  Orange  and  High  Sts. 

Carnahan,  James,  wheelwright Konnett  Road. 

Catterwood,  Mary,  widow 32  Kent  St. 

Cannon,  Ann,  milliner ou  Market  St 

Caverly,  Peter,  gentleman 76  Market  St 

Canby,  Charles,  clock  and  watchniakur 77  Market  St 

Campbell,  Joseph,  gardener Brandywine  Walk. 

Carshaw,  Robert,  stone-mason WestSt. 

Cable,  Thomas,  shoemaker 10  E.  Second  St. 

Carr,  Nancy,  spinster French,  bet  Third  and  High  Sts, 

Chandler,  BeBO-.hricklayer - W.  Broad  St 

Chandler,  William,  currier-shop 15  Shipley  St. 


Chestnut  A  Harker,  dry  goods 22  Market  St 

Chestnut,  Jared,  chair-maker 20  Market  St 

Clark,  William,  hatter One  door  below  3d,  on   French  St. 

Clark,  Charles,  painter  and  glazier Tatnall  St. 

Clark,  William,  lumber  merchant 39  Market  St. 

Clark,  Widow Orange,  bet  3d  and  High  Sts. 

Chtyton,  Charlotte West,  bet  Kent  and  Broad  Sts. 

Cloud,  Widow,  boardinghouse 219  Market  St 

Oollina,  William,  gentleman 115  Market  St 

Collins,  James,  tailor 23MarketSt 

Cochran,  James,  dry  goods 57  Market  St 

Cochran,  Doctor 143  Shipley  St. 

Coxe,  Esau,  brickmaker. 131  KingSt. 

Connelly,  Dominie 147  King  St 

Crozier,  Thomas,  shoemaker. 

Crosier,  Widow 50  King  8t 

Conger,  John 20  E.  High  St. 

Cole,  Thomas,  house-carpenter 37  E.  Water  St 

Conway,  Patrick,  tailor 18  B.  Front  St 

Cook,  Zacheus,  stage-office Cor.  French  and  High  Sts. 

Cook,  William,  nailer 11  E.  Water  St. 

Cw)k,  William 8E.  High  St 

Crawford,  John,  weaver Hanover  St 

Creetner,  Jacob,  tobacconist 5  Market  St. 

Crompton,  Charles,  laborer 86  King  St. 

Critson,  Philip,  shoemaker Cor.  French  and  Queen  Sts, 

Crawford,  John,  weaver W.  Hanover  St 

Crawford,  James,  carter 15  E.  3d  St 

Crosby,  James,  spring  wbeoluiaker W.  Broad,  bet  Tatnall  and 

West  Sts. 

Crips,  John,  shoemaker Shipley,  bet  Broad  and  King  Sts. 

Currey,  William,  barber 68  Market  St. 

Croeier,  Josltn,  combmaker 14  E.2d  St 

Curtz,  Elizabeth,  midwife ...Orange,  bet  Kent  and  Wood  Sta. 

Davis,  John,  attorney-at-law 206  Market  St 

Davis,  James,  teacher 136  King  St. 

Davis,  Peter,  sexton 136  KingSt 

Davis,  Matthew Brandywine  Walk 

Dawson,  Sarah,  gentlewoman Walnut,  opp.  Methodist  Charcb 

Dauphin,  Joseph,  ship-chandler 16  £.  Water  St 

Dauphin,  Jane,  widow,  gentiewoumu...WtMt,  bet  Kent  and  Bruad 
Sts. 

Dauphin,  Frederick,  ropemaker West,  bet.  Kent  and  Broad  Sts. 

Day,  Joseph,  shipwright Tatnall,  bet. High  and  Queen  Stt. 

Dare,  E.  K.,  teacher W  French,  bet  2d  and  3d  Sta. 

Derickton,  Captain  Nathaniel Cor.  French  and  Kent  Sts. 

Degrier,  Doctor French,  bet.  Hanover  and  Broad  Sta. 

Dell,  Thomas,  butoher Orange,  bet  High  and  Queen  Sts. 

Devou,  Bei\|amiu,  shoemaker 3  West  High  St 

Dennison,  Joseph,  butoher French,  near  Second 

Dickinson,  David,  patent  plonghmaker...  W.  Front,  beyond  Tatnall 
St 

Dixon,  John,  merchant 199  Market  St. 

Dixon,  Isaac,  machinist 197  Market  St. 

Dingee,  Daniel,  shoemaker 78  King  St 

Downey,  Michael,  carter 17  W.  FrontSt 

Downing,  Joseph,  clerk 219  Market  St 

Donaldson,  Margaret,  dry  gomls 19  Market  St. 

Doras,  Barney,  weaver Orange,  bet  Second  and  Third  Sta. 

Dougherty,  Captain 56  E.  Second  St. 

Dodge,  Rev.  Daniel 44  E.  High  St 

Dobby,  William,  laborer French  St 

Dunlap,  Margaret,  spinster French  St 

Duulap,  Margaret,  tuiloress French  St 

Durell,  Joseph,  painter Shipley  St 

Duddell,  James,  machine-maker. Cor.  ot  Kent  and  King  Sta. 

Dunnott,  Miller,  bookbinder 105  Shipley  St 

Duiton,  William,  carter Cor.  French  and  Spnng  Alley 

Elliott,  John 93  Shipley  St. 

English,  Elisha,  laborer. 

Erwin,  Letitia 33  High  St 

Erskine,  bhicksmith 117  Shipley  St 

Evans,  Robert,  hedger Near  Believue  St 

Fairlamb,  Jonas  P.,  surveyor  and  conveyancer 9  E.  High  St. 

Ferris,  Ziba,  clock  and  watchmaker 1  W.  High  St 

Ferris,  John 161  Market  St 

Fisher,  George,  blacksmith     12  E.  Front  St 

File,  John,  inn«keeper Christiana  Feny 

Flemraing,  John,  grocer 113  Market,  cor.  Queen  St 

Fletcher,  James,  butoher Orange,  bet.  Second  and  Third  Sts. 

Flannelly,  Michael,  carpenter Orange,  bet.  Second  and  Third  Sts. 

Foot,  James,  brickmaker. 

Ford,  Samuel,  teacher «171  Market  St, 

Ford,  Turbin,  carter 15  E.  Third  Su 

Ford,  William,  bUcksuiith West,  bet  Kent  and  Bruad  Sta. 

Fox,  Mn.,  huckster Cor.  French  and  Second  Sts. 

Forrester,  Dr.  Alexander 161  Shipley  St. 

Foei,  James,  plasterer 144  King  St 

Fobee,  Azariah,  teacher 82  King,  cor.  High  St 


Digitized  by 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


645 


rrvocb  k  Wftj.  cabiiMtimkeri 99  and  101  Market  St. 

rnaeh,  WUUain,  cabinetmaker 148  King  St. 

JTivDcfa,  BebecGa,hackit«r 63  S.  Front  St. 

rwdd,  John,  kborar 68  R.  Second  St. 

riead,  John,  Jr,  revenue  iervice 33  K.  Second  St. 

VvmM,  bther,  mantuamaker....  French,  bet.  Second  and  Third  Ste. 

FuwU,  Jacob ^ French,  bet  Second  and  Third  Sts. 

tWk)w»y,  William,  cooper Paetiire  Si. 

Ourett,  Christopher Tatnall,  bet.  Uighand  Queen  Ste. 

GariMf,  JameS)  dry  goods 76  Market  St. 

Oarriaoa,  Gaptain 70  E.  Second  St. 

GeddM,  Henrj,  domestic  dry  ge^dv 28  Market  St. 

6«irge,  Bebeooa,  gentlewoman 181  Market  St. 

Ocet,  Abraham,  carpenter 168  King  St. 

GilpiD,  IdvAzd,  Ironmonger 42  Market  St. 

GOpiB,  Abigail 28  E.  Second  St. 

GUpiD,  WiUiam W.  High  St. 

6Upio,Jflwpb  C,  grocery 13  E.  Second  St. 

Gilpia,  WUUaan 18  W.  High  St. 

Oilpio,  Idw«rd 2^  King,  cor.  Second  St. 

Ortfflog,  Andrew,  grocery 8  King  St. 

Griflhig,  John ,  shoemaker 7  E.  High  St. 

GiUlDg,  ThoEui,  dioemaker -J4  £.  High  St. 

Grifing,  Edward,  cooper 9  E.  Water  St 

Gibbons,  Dr.  William 121  Market  St 

QOnon,  Tbonuu,  waterman Walnut  St 

eilUi,  James,  diy  goods  and  hatter 7o  Market  St. 

Gordon,  John,  merchant 7  W.  Front  St. 

Gocfex,  WilUaun. Tatnall,  bet  ii^nt  and  Second  Sta 

Orsbb,  Joseph,  tinman 17  E.  Front  St 

Gicgory,  John French,  bet  Broad  and  Hanover  Sts. 

Gfeu^  Ckleb,  sea  captain lU9  Shipley  St 

GriflMS.  John,  stonemason Tatnall  St. 

&usell,  Sosan,  nurse 49  Market  St 

Geyer,  Hetekiah,  catUe French  St 

Hsddock,  Jacob nail  factory,  near  tollhouse.  Market  St  Wharf. 

HtiMi,  Joseph,  Sr 40  Front,  cor.  French  Sts. 

HsiloweU,  William  J.,  potter Uniuge,  bet  Third  and  High  Sts. 

HigMiy,  John,  shoemaker 73  Market  St 

Hsmiltoo,  Jamce,  tailor Ill  Market,  cor.  Queen  Sts. 

HsBdlton,  Archibald,  attomey-at-iaw 6  W4>8t  Queen  St 

laadily,  Henrietta,  gentlewoman 11  East  High  St 

Haaam,  Thomas,  merchant 59  East  Frout  St 

Haeson,  Samuel,  carpenter „.. Walnut  St 

HmmI,  Jacob,  bressfounder...  W.  Broad,  bet  Orange  and  Tatnall  Sts. 

Usrp,  David,  waterman Itf  King  St 

Hsrris,  John,  shipwright Second,  bet.  Orange  and  Tatnall  Sts. 

Harris  Joseph,  carpenter 24  E.  Third  St 

BarbiBon,  David,  boarding-house 48  King  St 

HorUMo,  William,  Windsor  chairmaker 66  King  St 

Uaiker,  Joseph,  cartowner h  B.  Front  St 

Herbert,  Isaiah,  laborer 13  E.  Front  St 

Hartlsy,  Joseph  C,  grocer 50  Market  St 

Hart,  Oliver,  laborer opp.  African  Church. 

Harvey,  Charifs,  dry  goods 127  Market  St 

Harrey,  John ^ 127  Market  St 

Harvey,  Andrew,  painter  and  gbizier.....,Uor.  French  and  Broad  Sts. 

Harvey,  William,  painter  and  glazier 5  E.  Hanover  St. 

Hajei,  DavU,  shoemaker 88  Market  St 

iiayt,  Henry,  grocer 41  Market  St 

Hayi,  Stephen,  cooper Near  the  Arsenal. 

Hayi,  Joseph,  co<^ter W.  Front,  bet.  Orange  and  Tatnall  Sts. 

Bsdrkk,  Jubn,  merchant 28  King  St 

Hedges,  Jolin,  rupe-iuaker 10  Market  St 

Hcdgas.  Hannah,  midwife Kennett  Road. 

Hsmpbill,  \\illi«ui,  genUeman 102  Market  St 

Heodrkkson,  John,  cart  owner 35  King  St 

Ueodrickson,  Iseac,  conveyancer 42  £.  Second  St. 

Hswes,  Edward,  clerk  (Bank  of  Delaware) 94  Market  St. 

Uigby,  James,  carpenter « 8  W.  High  St 

Hillcs,  lli,  boarding-«:hool 168  King  St 

HiUea,  Samuel,  boarding-school 168  King  St 

HickinaD,  Aaron,  carman Walnut,  bet  Front  and  Second  Sts. 

HiU,  John  F.,  revenue  service 28  E.  Front  St 

Hmaiao,  Beqj.,  cooper .19  E.  Front  St 

Hon,  Eatber  and  sister,  spinstorM 25  E.  Front  St 

Uugg,  Janie*,  tallow  chandler :tl  E.  Water  St 

Hogg,  Jane,  baker ....» Cor.  Unuige  and  High  Sts. 

HoDingsworth,  Eli,  machine-maker 230  Market  St 

Hohmo,  William,  carter Frout  St 

HutikiiM.  Charies,  lieut  U.  &  Aruiy ..31  Shipley  St 

Buiwy,  Outerbridge,  attomey-at-law 215  Market  St 

Uaikia,  Jamee,  fatU.rer 31  E.  Second  St 

Hoaiphreya,  IVtfr.  n etch  maker U  E.  High  St. 

Inel,  Bamet Orange,  bet  Front  and  Second  Sis. 

laael,  John,  pedler W.  Second,  bet  Orange  aud  Tatnall  Sts. 

bimroaudiy W.  Second,  beyond  Tatnall  St 

JMksoa,  Joslln,  dry  goods „ 94  Market  St 

Jecksuis  BehMca  ami  Mary 29  E.  Second  St 


James,  Mary,  gentlewoman „ 195  Market  St 

Jefferis,  Bmsillai,  turner 179  Market  St 

Jefferis,  Mrs.,  widow Shipley,  bet  Broad  and  Kent  Sts. 

Jones,  George,  tailor 80  Market  St 

Jones,  Theophiins,  shoemaker V  Market  St 

Jones,  George,  clock  and  watchuiaker 29  Market  St 

Jones,  Edward,  sea  captain Walnut  above  Spring  Alley 

Jones,  Rebecca,  nurse Walnut  above  Front  St 

Jones,  Morgan,  merchant 31  E.  High  St 

Jones.  William  G.,  cabinetmaker 13  Shipley  St. 

Jonee,  Widow 60  Shipley  St. 

Jones,  John,  potter Orange  St 

Jones,  Widow 12  W.  Front  St 

Jones,  Richard,  farmer W.  Second  St 

Jones,  Joseph,  clerk Second,  bet.  Orange  and  Tatnall  Sts. 

Jones,  Philip,  carpenter W.  Third  St 

Johnson,  M.  and  E.,  bonnet-makers ,131  Market  St. 

Johnson,  Nathan,  ship-carpenter Brandywlne  Walk. 

Johnson,  Caleb West,  bet  Second  and  Thii*d  Sts. 

Johnson,  Widow W.  Second  St 

Johns,  D.  Arthur,  clerk Delaware  District 

Kean,  Matthew,  dry  goods 25  Market  St. 

Kean,  Mrs.,  gentlewoman 25  Market  St 

Kendall,  lanac,  tailor 167  Market  St 

Kendall,  Widow Shipley,  bet  Kent  and  Wood  Sts. 

Kendall,  Samuel Shipley,  bet  Kent  and  Wood  Sts. 

Kindigh,  Abraham,  stage  driver French  St 

King,  William,  laborer. 

Klrkpatrick,  David,  collector 116  Shipley  St 

Kirk,  Caleb,  bellman French,  below  Second  St 

Kirk,  Widow Orange,  cor.  High  St 

Kirk,  Jacob,  wheelwright Kennett  Road. 

Kinsey,  Abraham,  teacher. 

Kinsey,Steacy,  carpenter W.  Broad  St 

Lamborn,  £11,  Innkeeper 112  Market,  cor.  of  Queen  St 

Lamborn,  Jonathan,  tailor 4  Market  St 

Lang,  Mrs 144  King  St 

Larken,  William,  grocer 10  W.  High  St. 

Latimer,  Ann,  gentlewoman 123  Market  St 

Lavery,  Michael,  blacksmith 6j  King  St 

Lowery,  Peter,  blacksmith 18  E.  Third  St 

Leonard,  Fred.,  lumber  merchant...Market,  near  Christiana  Bridge. 

Lewis,  Evan,  teacher 125  King,  dwelling  125  Market  St 

Linch,  Margaret,  spinster. ...French  St 

Linch,  Hugh,  laborer 3  King  St 

Lister,  Edmund,  revenue  service Walnut  St. 

Leslie,  James,  fence-maker Tatnall  St 

Lockerman,  Matthew  R..  stationer  and  book-biud«r 93  Market  St. 

Lock,  Thomas,  tanner Orange,  bet  Second  and  Third  Sts. 

Lane,  Robert,  printer 116  King  St. 

Lowndes,  George cor.  Kent  and  King  Sts. 

Lowderback,  Henry,  blacksmith 23  E.  High  St 

Macfarlane,  Robert,  innkeeper cor.  Market  and  Water  Sts. 

McDowell,  John,  cooper Brandywlne  St. 

Manuel,  Jane,  nurse 63  £.  Front  St. 

Marshall,  Margaret 120  Market  St 

Mackey,  Widuw 164  King  St 

Mason,  Barrett 16  E.  High  St 

Mason,  Peter,  farmer ^23  Market  St. 

Mason,  Beuj.,  carpenter Bruad  St 

Mason,  Park,  constable Shipley,  bet  Kent  and  Wood  Sts. 

Matlack,  Benj.,  carter 6  King,  cor.  Front  St 

Massey,  Thomas,  manufacturer 140  Market  St 

Massey,  Ezekiel,  toll-keeper Wilmington  Bridge. 

Marrow,  William,  laborer Kent  St. 

Megear,  Mlchoel,  hatter.. 144  Market  St 

Meudeuhall,  Eli,  dry  goods 17  £.  Second  St 

Mondeuhall,  Joseph,  grocer 25  King,  cor.  Second  St 

Mendenhall,  Thomas,  Captain 69  B.  Frout  St 

Mendenhall,  Phili|,,  Lieut  U.  S.  Army 69  K.  Front  St 

Merritt,  Mrs 9  B.  Water  St 

Merrihew,  Joseph,  sea  captain Cor.  Walnut  and  Spring  Alley. 

Meta,  Henry 106  Shipley  St 

Meti^  George,  traveling  bookseller W««t  St. 

McAllister,  Widow .32  Market  St 

McAllister,  A.,  shoemaker 104  Market  St 

McBride,  Mrs.,  nurse French  St 

McCall,  Andrew,  tobacoonist 46  Market  St 

McCall  A  White,  tobacconists 33  Market  St. 

McCall,  Eliia,  nurse 67  E.  Front  St 

McCall,  Isaac,  carter French  St 

McOarton,  John,  grocer 9  Market  St 

McCtorroll,  Widow W.  Second  St 

McClary,  Margaret,  tailorew 6  E.  Second  St 

McClary,  Samuel,  machine-maker Cor.  High  and  French  Sts. 

McClear,  Mary,  milliner ^..68  Market  St 

McCiung,  John,  tailor M  Market  St. 

McCorkle,  Mary,  miiliuer 79  Market  St. 

McOonnell,  Thomas,  goldsmith  and  Jeweler 122  Market  St 


Digitized  by 


Google 


646 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


HcOoombs,  Jacob,  carter Orange  St. 

McCoy,  Daniel,  laborer French  St. 

McDowell,  Thomas,  merchant. Ciutuni  House  Wharf. 

McDowell,  Jane,  seamstress Brandywine  Walk. 

McGinn,  innkeeper 1  King,  cor.  of  Water  St. 

McIWane,  John,  shoemaker 31  Market  St. 

Mclntyre,  William,  stone-mason Orange  St. 

Mclntyre,  Christopher,  laborer Orange  St 

Mclntyre,  Michael,  plasterer W.  Hanorer  St. 

MoKnight,  James,  cooper French  St. 

McKinney,  M.  Major,  domestic  store 19  E.  Water  St. 

McKean,  Ann,  talluw  chandler 142  King  St. 

McKean,  James,  shoemaker 31  Market  St. 

McKee,  Hugh,  carpenter 183  Market  St. 

McLane,  Allen,  Colonel,  collector  of  the  port,  French,  two  doors 
above  Second  St. 

McLane,  Louis,  attomey-at-law 119  Market  St. 

McLane,  Allen,  Jr.,  doctor .^77  Market  St. 

McLane,  Mary,  storekeeper French  St. 

McLane,  Charles,  tailor .33  K.  Second  St. 

McLaskey,  John,  cake  man W.  Front  St. 

McManyman,  Barney,  tailor French  St. 

McNeal,  Valentine,  shoemaker 100  Market  St. 

McSparren,  Widow,  huckster Front  St. 

Miller,  William,  brickmaker Church  Lane. 

Miller,  Caleb,  butcher Orange  St. 

Milligan,  Catharine,  gentlewoman 169  Market  St. 

Milligan,  Grace,  midwife 25  E.  Second  St. 

Mitchell,  John,  millwright Cor.  Chestnut  and  French  Sts. 

Monroe.  Qeorgs,  doctor 26  Market  St. 

Montgomery,  Widow,  dry  goods 185  Market  St. 

Montgomery,  Elizabeth,  teacher 185  Market  St. 

Moore,  Joseph,  shoemaker 68  Market  St. 

Moore  A  Robinson,  coach-makers Market,  cor.  of  Hanover  St. 

Moore,  John,  stage-drirer French  St. 

Moore,  Nathaniel,  ooach-maker  ..French,  b«>t.  Front  and  Second  Sts. 

Moore  &  Ritchie,  Uilors 6  £.  Second  St. 

Moore,  Robert,  coach-maker 80  Shipley  St. 

Moore,  Enoch,  shipwright Orange,  bel.  Front  St. 

Moore,  Widow Queen,  bet.  Marketand  Shipley  Sts. 

Morrison,  Thomas,  carter Orange  St. 

Mount,  John,  stone  mason 83  Shipley  St. 

Mowltn,  Richard,  constable Shipley  St. 

Murdock,  James,  livery  stable 8  E.  Second  St. 

Murphy,  Arthur,  huckster  13W.  FrontSt. 

Kaff,  Hance,  auctioneer  and  flour  inspector 82  Market  St. 

Newlin,  Cyrus 201  Market  St. 

Newlin,  Joseph,  carpenter 92  King  St. 

Nichols,  Samuel,  dry  goods 82  Market  St. 

Nicholi,  Hannah 46  E.  Queen  St. 

Nicholls,  John,  laborer French  St. 

Noblett,  Dell,  cabinetmaker Shipley,  bet.  Broad  and  Kent  Sts. 

O'Dantel,  Francis,  Justice  of  the  peace 63  Market  St. 

O'Daniel,  Peter,  tailor 3  Market  St. 

Ocheltree,  Elizabeth,  dry  goods 6  E.  Second  St 

Oclieltree,  Eliza,  milliner 6  B.  Second  St. 

O'Flinn,  Capt.  Patrick,  innkeeper S.  £.  cor.  3d  and  Market  Sts. 

Otiey,  Abner,  brassfounder Shipley,  bet  Kent  and  Wood  Sts. 

Our,  David,  dk  Co.,  domestic  cotton  yarns 96  Market  St. 

Painter,  Saml.,  rush  bottom  chair-moulder 148  Market  St 

Patterson.  John,  dry  goods utO  Market  St 

Patterson,  Wni.,  saddler 61  Market  St 

Paulson,  Aaron,  dry  goods 43  Market  St 

Penington,  Ashbury,  Sr.,  bookbinder 98  Shipley  St 

Pepper,  Henry  J  ,  si'versmith  and  Jeweler 60  Market  St 

Pepper,  Lydia,  milliner 60  Market  St 

Perkins,  Widow,  geutlewoman..« 175  Market  St 

Perriue,  John,  bricklayerand  stonemason  French  St 

Peterson,  Jacob,  carpenter 61  E  Second  St 

Peterson,  John,  innkeeper **  Museum  Tavern." 

Peterson,  John,  turner Orange  St 

Pbysick,  Heury  W.,  gentleman 54  King  St 

Pierce,  Joseph,  druggist 62  Market  St 

Pierce,  Dinah,  boarding-house 208  Market  St 

Pierson,  Robert,  carpenter-shop 116  Market  St 

Pierson,  Jonathan,  painter 127  Shipley  St 

Piueselt,  Solomon,  captain French,  near  African  Church. 

Pineselt,  Uriah,  captain „ 41  E.  FrontSt. 

Plumley,  Jjunes,  tavern W.  Front,  bey.  Tatnall  St 

Poole,  RichHrd,  shoemaker 8  Market  St 

Poole,  William,  shoemaker 40  King  St 

Pugue,  John,  fisherman 29  E.  FrontSt 

Pogue,  William^  shoemaker 37  E.  Front  St 

Porter,  R.,  printer,  stationer,  etc. ..97  Market  ;  office,  97  Shipley  St 

Porter,  Alexunder,  livery  stable 64  Shipley  St 

Pryce,  Rev.  Wm 226  Market  St 

Rankin,  Wm 164  King  St 

Rankin,  Wm.,  teacher West,  bet  Kent  and  Bruad  Sta. 

Rea,  Moses,  stonemason 203  Market  St 


Read,  Jos.,  surveyor,  conveyancer  and  accountant..  .205  Market  St. 

Read,  Thomas,  Rev French,  bet  Kent  and  Broad  Sts. 

Reading,  Mrs.,  gentlewoman 229  MaiicetSt 

Reason,  Margaret,  widow W.  Queen  St. 

Reynolds,  John,  ironmonger Market,  cor.  3d  St 

Rice,  James,  grocer Market,  cor.  Water  St 

Richardson,  Thomas,  coacbmaker 202  Market  St 

Richardson,  John Cor.  French  and  Third  Sts. 

Richards,  Nathaniel,  dry  goods 14  W.  High  St 

Richards,  Wm.,  ironfounder W.  2d,  bet.  Orange  and  Tatnall  Sta. 

Richards,  Wm.,  flour  and  feed  store 56  Shipley  St. 

Richmond,  Samuel,  weaver »  Orange  St. 

Riley,  Samuel,  chairmaker 27  E.  Front  St. 

Ring,  Wm.,  nailer 13  E.  Water  St 

Ritchie,  Elifsabeth,  huckster , Tatnall  St 

Robinson,  Nicholas 86  Klug  St 

Robinson,  Israel,  carpenter French  St. 

Robinson,  Wm.,  coachmaker... French,  bei.  Mauover  and  Broad  Sto. 

Robinson,  Wm.,  shoestore 9d  Market  St 

Robinson,  Ebenezer,  grocer 32  Market  St. 

Robinson,  Jos.,  merchant 19  EL  Second  St. 

Robinson,  Aquilla,  carpenter 79ShipIej  St 

Robinson,  Thomas Orange,  near  Second  St 

Robinson,  Jacob,  carter. 

Robinson  &  Gwynn,  chair  manufacturers 16  Market  St 

Roblnett,  David,  captain Revenue  SerHce. 

Robinett,  Rachel French,  ab.  3d  St 

Roberts,  Lydia,  gentlewoman French,  ab.  2d  St 

Roberts,  Catharine 121  Market  St 

Roche,  Ed  ward  Justice  of  the  peace 90  Market  St 

l^ney,  Csesar  A.,  attorney-at-law ^ 193  Market  8t 

Rollins,  Thomas,  hatter 63  Shipley  St 

Rose,  Samuel,  confectioner 31  King  St 

Ross,  Samuel,  grocer 12  Market  St 

Ross,  Samuel  &  Co.,  merchants Market  Street  Whnrf. 

Ross,  John,  grocer 21  West  Front  St 

Rudolph,  John,  butcher  and  commissary  U.  S.  A ..13  Market  St. 

Rumsey,  John  and  William,  gentlemen 21  Market  St. 

Rumford,  John,  potter,  brickmaker,  etc 92  Market  St. 

Rumford,  Sarah 11  E.  High  St 

Rumford,  Samuel,  hatter Hanover,  bet  King  and  Fremh  Sta. 

Rumford,  Thomas,  printer Hanover,  bet.  King  and  French  Sta. 

Rumford,  William,  hatter 67  and  136  Market  Sta. 

Ring,  Thomas,  tanner 39  King  St 

Sanders,  Abel,  carpenter 162  King  St. 

Sanders,  John,  painter  and  glacier 77  King  St 

Savill,  Levi« High,  near  Walnut  St 

Savill,  Jonathan,  blacksmith 10  E.  Hanover  St 

Savill,  John,  wood-corder 179  Market  St 

Savier,  Mary,  storekeeper 84  King  St 

Scanlin,  John,  grocery 66  Market  St 

Scott,  Robert,  hatter 140  Shipley  St 

Schrader,  Frederick,  gunsmith  «uid  tavern-keeper... West,  cor.  Han- 
over. 

Sherwood,  Juhn,  hatter Orange,  below  High  St. 

Sellars,  Juhn,  hatter 51  Market  St;  factory,  64  Shipley  St. 

Seeds,  Joseph,  machine-maker Cor.  Third  and  French  Sts. 

Seal,  Widow 7u  Shipley  St 

Seal,  Caleb West,  cor.  Hanover  St 

Seal,  William West,  cor.  Hanover  St 

Seal,  William  and  Caleb  Un-yard West,  cor.  Hanover  St 

Sharpe,  Eli,  tavern-keeper. 11  Market,  cor.  of  Front  St 

Sharpe,  A  bial,  sea  captain West  FrontSt 

Sbarpe,  Jacob,  carpenter 44  E.  Second  St 

Sheward,  John  and  Perry,  cabinetnuikers ,...207  Market  St 

Sheward,  Caleb,  brewer  and  maltster,  W.  Second,  bet  Orange  and 
Tatnall  Sts. 

Shiveri,  Thomas,  gentleman 94  King  8t 

Sheets,  Get»rgo,  Rev Near  King  and  Broad  Sta. 

Shipley,  William,  butcher 66  Shipley  Sta. 

Shipley,  Joseph,  brewer  and  maltster Tatnall,  cur.  High  St 

Shipley,  Robert,  Thomas  and  John,  farmers West,  cor.  High  St. 

Simmons,  George,  carpenter  and    lumber  merchant,   M'at«r   smd 
French  Sts. 

Simpson,  John,  weaver  and  dyer .H7  Shipley  St. 

Sims,  Joseph,  gentleman Coul  Spring. 

Simpson,  James,  shoes  and  dry  goods. lu  W.  French  St 

Smith,  Dr  E.  A King,  cor.  Broad  St 

Smith,  Dr.  Robert  S King,  cor.  Broad  St 

Smith,  Thomas,  tannery W.  Second,  beyond  Tatnall  St, 

Smith,  William,  coach  trimmer    162  King  St. 

Smith,  John,  painter  and  glazier 18  Market  St 

Smith,  John,  starch  manufacturer Walnut  and  High  Sta. 

Smyth,  David,  domestic  yarn-store 95  Market  St 

Smith,  Charles,  tallow  chandler Tatnall  St 

Sneath,  Sarah,  milliner 70  Market  St. 

Solomon,  Isaac,  grocer 20  Market  St 

Spackmaa,  Thomas,  bricklayer West  8t 

Springer,  B.  H. Fianvh,  below  TbiidSt. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


647 


Springer,  Peter,  wbeelwriffht 48  King  St. 

Springer,  John,  tailor 46  Market  St. 

^nger.  Thomai,  sboetnak^r 79  Kinjc  St. 

Speny,  John,  grocer Hanover  St. 

Spocia,  John,  baker King,  cor.  High  St. 

Squibb,  Robert,  cnrriershop 24  W.  Uigti  St. 

StagK,  Joeiah.  brickmaker Chnrcli  Lane. 

Sta&ton,  Tbomaa,  Unner W.  High,  bet.  Tatnall  and  Wast  Sta. 

Starr,  Gkleb,  teller  in  Bank  of  Delaware. 

Starr,  Joabua,  tanner West.  bet.  Second  and  Tbird  Sta. 

Stapler,  Jobn,  merchant.. Front,  bet.  Orange  and  Tatnall  Sta 

Stewart,  Dancan,  revenne eervica .38  King  St. 

8teTen«m,  Inac,  Bsq.,  surveyor  and  conveyancer,  Broad  and  King 
StrmH. 

Stidbam,  Peter 23  Shipley  St. 

Sttdham,  John,  waterman „.W.  Front  St 

Stigers,  Jordan,  cart wrIght Orange  St 

Stockton,  John,  General 71  Slilpley  St 

Stnmd,  Samuel '.69  Shipley  St 

StargcM,  Jonathan,  bhoemaker Walnut  St 

Tklley,  John,  laboi«r Walnut  St 

Tiylor,  Andrew,  baker 62  Market  St 

Tlijlor,  Eiiza,  milliner 62  Market  St 

Taytor,  Samuel,  grocery 47  Market  St 

Ti^kir,  Gaorge ». 14  King  St 

Taylor,  A.  F.,  hatter 0pp.  AfHcan  Church. 

Tajlor,  John,  trader C!or.  Front  and  French  Sts. 

Taytor,  Charles,  shoenwker 42  E.  Second  St 

Taykn',  Debonh,  widow 'W.  Queen  St 

Tbomaou,  Allan,  dry  goods Market,  cor.  High  St. 

Thomas,  Edward,  tavern-keeper 39  Market  St 

Tbelwell,  Drborah,  teacher 88  King  St 

Thomaa,  John  B.,  tailor 10  E.  Queen  St 

Torbert,  John,  Esq 76  Shipley  St 

Towaaend,  William,  carpenter 99  Shipley  St. 

TowDsend,  Mary,  widow.. W.  SecondSt 

ToMn,  Thomas,  gentleman Orange  St 

Thiner,  Susan,  huckster Walnut  St 

Trip  A  Bonsall,  curriers Cor.  Tatnall  and  Second  Sts. 

Treat,  William,  stagenuin French  above   Second  St 

Tall,  J6hn,  carpenter lUO  Shipley  St 

Toaey,  Alex.,  carter Church  Lane. 

Uhaan,  Widow,  gentlewoman 117  Market  St 

▼andiver,  Rebecca,  mantua-maker 164  King  St 

Vangban,  EUza  L.,  dry  goods 72  Market  St 

Tining,  Mia,  gentlewoman^ Brandywlne  Walk  Market 

fining,  Henry,   printer Tatnall  above  Queen  St 

Tirtws  Margaret,  grocery Cor.  Water  and  King  Sts. 

Wagataff,  James  k  Hugh,  spindle  makers,  188  Market  St,  W.  Kent 
near  Shipley,  dweliiug  on  Kennett  Roid. 

Walker.  Eliza,  milliner 44  Market  St 

Walker,  William,  blacksmith Market  St.,  near  toll-house. 

Wallace,  Thomas,  brick  maker..... French,  near  African  Church. 

Wallace,  Samuel,  pnmpwrigbt Cor.  French  and  High  Sts. 

Walraven,  Jesse,  carp  nter 39  E.  High  St 

Ward,  John,  mill 128  Shipley  St 

Ward,  John,  stage-driver 7  W.  High  St. 

Warner,  John,  fitrmer West  St. 

Warrington,  Thonoas,  house<arpenter 2  E.  Second  St. 

Watt  John,  Jr,  watch  and  clockmaker 34  Market  St 

Watson,  Thomas,  butcher French,  near  Second  St. 

Warwk*,  Abraham Tatnall,  near  Front  St 

Way,  Francis,  huckster W.  Front  8t 

Weaver,  William  B.,  watchmiaker 52  Market  St 

Webiter,  John,  bricklayer. 

Webster,  John,  steddler King,  cor.of  High  St. 

Webb,  Be^j., laborer 07  E.  FrontSt 

Webb,  Widow,  grocery Shipley,  near  HanoverSts. 

Webb,  BeqJ.,  tanner West  bet.  Hanover  and  Queen  Sts. 

Webb,  Uichulas,  laborer 169  Market  St 

Welch,  John,  U borer Second,  below  Walnut  St 

Wella,  Arthur  A.,  grocery King,  cor.  High  St 

White,  Martha,  umbrella-maker  and  layer-out  of  the  dead,  80  Mar- 
ket 8t. 

Witaill,  Adam,  cedar-cooper 10  E.  Water  St 

White,  Nicholas  B.,  carpenter 108  Market  St 

White,  John,  apothecary  and  china  store 106  and  110  Market  St 

White,  Robert  merchant - 33  Market  St 

Whitelock,  George,  cabinet-maker l:j7  Market  St 

Whitekick,  Martha W.  Queen,  near  WestBts. 

Wkkersbam,  Tbomaa,  trader 138  Market  St 

WOUamson,  Nicholas  G.,  attorney  at-law 77  Shipley  St. 

Wilklason,  William,  cooper West,  near  High  Sts. 

WOkioson,  Robert  ft  Co.,  tanners 40  W.  High  St 

Wilson,  James,  editor,  publisher  and  stationer,  103  and  105  Market 
Street 

WHaoQ,  James,  laborer 144  King  St 

Wilson,  Susan,  gentlewoman 43  E.  High  St 

.Jane. ^ 11  E.  Second  St. 


Wilson,  Carson  ft  David,  tan-yard W.  3d,  near  Tatnall  Sts. 

Windell,  William,  revenue  service. 

Winterbottom,  Thomas,  huckster,  bath-house,  W.  Front,  beyond 
Tatnall  Sts. 

Witherspoon,  Thomas,  late  clerk  of  district 122  Market  St 

Wiisill,  George,  cedar  cooper 10  E.  Water  St 

WItslll,  Henry,  cedar  cooper Shipley,  oor.  High  St 

Woolfe,  Nanc3',  boarding-house 150  Market  St 

Wolfe,  General  Jamos,  silversmith Market,  cur.  of  High  St. 

Wolfe,  Michael,  baker West  Front,  near  Tatnall  St 

Wolfe,  John,  baker West  Front,  near  Tatnall  St 

Wooston,  Jeremiah,  grocer 142  Market  St 

Wollaston,  Joshua,  bricklayer Shipley,  near  Broad  St 

Wood,  Samuel,  coppersmith  and  tin  plate  worker 63  Market  St. 

Woodslde,  Widow,  teacher 11  Shipley  St 

Woodcock,  William 4  W.  High  St 

Worrell,  Edward,  cashier  Bank  of  Delaware 64  King  St 

Worthington,  Joseph,  stage  driver Third,  below  French  St 

Wrench,  Henry,  carpenter West  Brund  St. 

Yamall,  Edith,  dry  goods 6  W.  High  St 

Yeats,  Widow 45  Shipley  St 

Teates,  C.  and  A.,  tobacconists 24  Market  St 

Toung,  George,  machine  maker 35  E.  Front  St 

Zane.  Joel,  teacher 66  E.  Front  St 

There  were  112  colored  people. 

Inhabitants  of  Brandt/wine  Village. 

Anderson,  William Merchant 

Askew,  Parker Merchant 

Ban nard,  Robert ..Cooper 

Bt«ck,  John Laborer 

Boyd,  John Cooper 

Bullock,  Curtis Inn-keeper 

Ounpbell,  Colin Tailor 

Can  by,  Samuel Merchant  miller 

Canby,  James Merchant  miller 

Canby,  William. 

Canby,  Merritt Clerk 

Canby,  William Carpenter 

Carlisle,  William Cooper 

Chandler,  James Cooper 

Clark,  William Carpenter 

Conwell,  Ellas Cabinet  maker 

Cooper,  William Hiachine  maker 

Cummings,  Inaac Miller 

Dougherty,  Charle* Laborer 

Davis,  George Carpenter 

Davinport,  — Machine  maker 

Derrickson,  Jacob Millwright 

Draper,  Alexander        Shipbuilder 

Dnlton,  Jacob Millwright 

Duncan,  Jethro Cooper 

Elliott  BeiKfiunin ". Butcher 

EUis,  Benlamln Miller 

Ewing,  John. Laborer 

Ferris,  Benjamin Cotton  manufacturer 

Feight,  Manuel Cooper 

File,  Samuel Cooper 

Freil,  Daniel Huck»ter 

Fulton,  John Cooper 

Garrison,  Wm Miller 

German,  James Waterman 

Gregg,  John Cooper 

Grimes,  Joseph Cooper 

Harris,  Stephen Waterman 

Harris,  Samuel Cooper 

Harris,  Jesse Co»»per 

Hawkins,  Thomas Cooper 

Hayes,  John Cooper 

Hemphill,  William Miller 

Hewes,  Ellis Miller 

Hindman,  John , Cooper 

Hull,  Thomas  J Clerk 

Hoopes,  Henry Lumber  merchant 

Hooten,  Jacob Innkeeper 

Jefferis,  Jonathan   Miller 

Lea,  Thomas Merchant  miller 

Lea,  Thomas,  Jr Merchant  miller 

Martin,  Lazarus Blacksmith 

Malin,  Joeeph Gentleman 

Mace,  Thomas Miller 

McConnell,  Henry Machine  maker 

McConnell,  William Cooper 

McKinzey,  William Machine  maker 

McKee,Andrew Farmer 

McGee,  Alexander Miller 

Michael,  John Millwright 

Moore,  David Waterman 

Moore,  Robert Teacher 


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648 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Murdock,  WiUiam - Cooper 

Payne,  George Machine  maker 

Pierce,  Amoe Carpenter 

Pierce,  William   Millwnj?iit 

Pierson,  Richard Cooper 

Pool,  William Mprchant  miller 

Poulaon,  Mrs dtorokeeper 

Poiilsun,  Isaac Shoemaker 

Poll Ison,  George Shoemaker 

Price,  Jamee Merchant  miller 

Pyle,  Joel Cooper 

Rawsou,  Warren Ship  carpenter 

Reynolds,  WillUm BlackimJlh 

Reynolds,  Thomas Blacksmith 

Rice,  James Cooper 

Rice,  Henry Cooper 

Roesell,  Stacey Blacksmith 

Roseell,  John MUler 

Shipley.  Joseph Merchant  miller 

Shipley,  Samuel Merchant  miller 

Shipley,  John Merchant  miller 

Smith,  Robert Ship  carpenter 

Smith,  Thomas Cooper 

Smith,  William Shoemaker 

Smith,  James Cooper 

Smith,  Thomas Laborer 

Smithell,  Joseph Cooper 

Springer,  William Cooper 

Starr,  Jacob Waterman 

Stidham,  John Miller 

Smart,  William Cooper 

Tatem,  Charles Blacksmith 

Tatnall,  Edward Merchant  miller 

Thompson,  Mordecai Cooper 

Thompson,  Thomas Farmer 

Vanderer,  Peter Farmer 

Vandever,  Tobias Farmer 

Yandegrift,  James, Miller 

Valentine,  Abraham,  colored. 

Walker,  Davis Shoemaker 

Walker,  Andrew Cooper 

Watkins,B«iOamin. Cooper 

Weathereau,  John Cooper 

Weatherby,  William Gentleman 

Wilson,  John Waten^ian 

WiUiams,  Richard Miller 

Woodruff,  Joseph Farmer 

Woodward,  William Cooper 

Toung,  William Cooper 

Ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  Wilmington  in  1814 
were  Revs.  Read,  D.D.,  Daniel  Dodge,  William 
Pryce,  George  Sheetz  and  William  Meeks.  The 
places  of  worship  were  the  Friends'  Meeting,  West 
Street ;  First  Baptist  meeting-house,  on  King  Street ; 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  corner  Market  and  Tenth  ; 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  corner  Walnut  and 
Fifth  ;  Trinity  Church  (Old  Swedes),  then  "  below  the 
borough  on  the  Christiana ; "  Methodist  meeting- 
house, Walnut,  below  Third ;  Zion  Church  (colored) 
and  African  Union,  nearly  opposite ;  New  Baptist 
meeting-house,  corner  of  French  and  Sixth. 

The  practicing  physicians  were  Drs.  E.  A.  Smith, 
George  Monro,  William  Gibbons,  Allen  McLane, 
John  Brinkle,  Robert  S.  Smith,  Alexander  Forrester, 
Richard  E.  Cochran,  Arthur  Johns,  J.  Degier,  James 
Tilton. 

The  attorneys  were  James  A.  Bayard,  Outerbridge 
Horsey,  Csesar  A.  Rodney,  Brown  &  Davis,  Louis 
McLane,  Archibald  Hamilton,  N.  G.  Williamson, 
William  P.  Brobson. 

Edward  Roche  and  Francis  O' Daniel  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  Jonas  P.  Fairlanb,  Isaac 
Stevenson  and  Joseph  Reed  were  surveyors. 

The  Bank  of  Delaware  was  at  the  corner  of  Market 
and  Fourth,  but  removed  to  its  present  site  the  next 


year.  The  capital  was  $110,000.  Joseph  Baily  was 
president  and  Edward  Worrell  cashier.  This  bank 
was  then  nineteen  years  old.  The  Bank  of  Wil- 
mington and  Brandy  wine  was  at  that  time  located 
at  its  present  site.  John  Way  was  president  and 
Daniel  Byrnes  cashier.  Capital,  $120,000.  The 
Farmers'  Bank  was  the  third  door  above  Third  on 
Market,  with  John  Rumsey,  president  and  Peter 
Caverly,  cashier. 

Colonel  Allen  McLane  was  collector  of  customs, 
with  office  at  10  E.  Water  St.  Joseph  Bringhurst  was 
botanist.  The  arsenal  was  on  Washington  Street, 
above  Eighth.  Reliance  Fire- Engine  House,  West 
Third  Street,  between  Market  and  Shipley.  Friend- 
ship Engine-House,  corner  of  Seventh  and  Shipley. 
Brandywine  Engine-House,  near  Brandywine  Bridge. 

The  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia  stages  left 
David  Brinton's  Indian  King  Hotel  every  morning  at 
eight  o'clock,  and  Anderson's  coachee  for  same  city, 
left  Swan  Tavern  (now  Gibson  House)  at  same  hour, 
taking  four  hours  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  and  that 
was  pretty  good  time  by  stage.  Cook's  coachee, 
started  at  Christiana  Bridge  Inn,  daily  at  seven  a.m., 
and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  at  one  P.  M.  The  south- 
ern mail-coach  stopped  at  Indian  King  for  breakfast 
every  morning  at  seven  o'clock.  The  northern 
mail-coach  from  Baltimore  stopped  at  same  public 
inn  for  dinner.  The  *' Exposition '*  and  *'Pilot" 
were  stages  of  other  lines  running  north  and  south,  that 
also  stopped  daily  for  meals.  Members  of  Congress 
were  frequently  on  these  stages  going  to  and  from 
Washington,  and  partook  of  meals,  at  this  time  pre- 
pared by  David  Brinton.  His  tavern  was  known  as 
the  stage-office.  Stages  for  down  the  Peninsula  also 
started  from  here  daily. 

There  was  one  steamboat  to  Philadelphia  in  1815, 
the  "  Delaware."  The  packet  boats,  **  Ann,"  Captain 
Bush  ;  "  Tryphena,"  Captain  Garretson  ;  "  Sarah 
Ann,"  Captain  Dougherty,  plied  between  Wilmington 
and  Philadelphia,  one  of  which  left  or  arrived  at 
either  place  daily. 

In  1814  the  Abolitionist  Society  in  Wilmington 
flourished.  A  society  for  the  education  of  colored 
children,  a  female  benevolent  society,  one  Masonic 
lodge,  and  a  musical  organization  of  young  gentlemen. 

Mail  was  received  daily.  The  great  Northern  and 
Southern  mail  route  passed  through  Wilmington.  It 
was  surveyed  between  June,  1812,  and  January,  1813, 
and  extended  from  Robinstown,  Maine,  to  St.  Mary's, 
in  Georgia.  The  Northern  route,  from  Washington 
City  to  Robinstown,  the  Northeast  coast  of  Maine ^ 
was  eight  hundred  and  sixty-eight  miles.  The  South- 
ern route,  from  Washington  to  St.  Mary's,  G^eorgia, 
eight  hundred  and  twelve  miles. 

The  country-seats  and  mansion-houses  in  view  of 
Wilmington  (the  sites  of  most  of  which  are  now  in  the 
city  limits)  in  1814  were  those  of  Colonel  Alexander 
Fairfield,  David  Alrichs,  Peter  S.  Alrichs,  south  of 
Christiana  River;  Peter  Bauduy,  Eden  Park;  Hon. 
James  A.  Bayard,  Thomas  Beeson,  Philadelphia  Road; 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


649 


Dr.  John  Brinkle,  John  Hirons,  John  Shallcross^  Ken- 
nett  Tornpike;  J.  M.  Brown,  E^->  Tusculum  Boadi 
Wilmington  Turnpike ;  Peter  Brynberg,  Healthy  Hill ; 
Dr.  Colesbury,  near  Red  Lion  Road ;  Andrew  Crips, 
Poor-House  Road;  Benjamin  Elliot,  north  of  Bran- 
dywine;  Jane  Elliott,  Sheaf  of  Wheat  Tavern,  Phila- 
delphia Road ;  Robert  Hamilton,  Esq.,  near  Delaware 
River;  William  Hemphill,  Shellpot  Hill;  Major 
Peter  Jaquett,  Long  Hook,  New  Castle  Road ;  Cap- 
tarn  Peter  Jaquett,  farmer.  Locust  Grove,  Christiana 
Ferry;  Isaac  Jones,  north  of  Brandy  wine;  John 
Piatt,  Chatham ;  Henry  Rice,  near  Prospect  Hill ; 
Aahton  Richardson,  John  Richardson  and  Joseph 
Bobmson,  Newport  Road ;  Caesar  A.  Rodney,  Esq., 
Cool  Spring;  Samuel  Spackman,  Philadelphia  Road>* 
John  Smith,  Leipsic ;  Thomas  Smyth  near  Delaware 
River ;  Isaac  Stidham,  Point  Pleasant ;  General  John 
Stockton,  Bedford, near  Christiana;  Dr.  James  Tilton, 
Bellevue,  near  King's  Road ;  John  Townsend,  Adam 
Tnmhill,  south  of  Christiana;  William  Tussey, 
Shellpot  Hill ;  Thomas  Yandever,  east  of  Brandywine 
Creek ;  William  Walker,  merchant,  south  of  Chris- 
tiana ;  Captain  John  Warner,  near  Newport  Road ; 
John  Washington,  inn-keeper,  Cross  Keys,  Kennett 
Tampike ;  John  Way,  near  King's  Road ;  John 
Wethered,  Prospect  Hill. 

The  records  of  Willingtown  and  Wilmington,  as 
preserved  by  tradition  and  print,  are  replete  with 
interesting  incidents  of  the  people  who  made  the  city. 
There  was  a  good  deal  of  wealth  in  the  old  commu- 
nity, and  its  owners  were  much  given  to  investing  it 
io  fine  houses  and  costly  furniture.  The  early  clergy 
were  not,  as  a  rule,  overburdened  with  temporal  for- 
tune, but  Rev.  Peter  Tranberg,  rector  of  Old  Swedes' 
from  1742  to  1748,  built  at  the  corner  of  French 
Street  and  Spring  Alley  a  residence  for  himself,  which 
was  the  most  elegantly  furnished  in  town.  His 
widow  lived  there  many  years  after  his  death,  and 
hit  descendants  occupied  it  to  the  sixth  generation. 

His  only  son  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution,  and 
Colonel  Benzel,  who  married  his  eldest  daughter, 
waa  stationed  at  Crown  Point,  New  York,  about  1750, 
and  died  in  the  service  of  King  George.  His  young- 
est daughter  married  Orloff  Parlin,  pastor  of  Old 
Swedes'  Church,  Philadelphia,  from  1750  to  1767. 

Dr.  John  McKinley,  the  first  President  of  Dela- 
ware, resided  at  the  northwest  comer  of  Third  and 
French  Streets,  where  he  built  a  mansion ;  back  of 
which,  extending  to  King  Street,  was  a  beautiful  gar- 
den of  tulips  and  other  rare  floweri*.  One  of  his  dis- 
tinguished guests  was  Alexander  H.  Rowan,  the  Irish 
nobleman,  then  an  exile  in  Wilmington.  The  doctor 
died  here  in  1796.  The  property  was  afterward  occu- 
pied by  Gevemor  Caleb  P.  Bennett.  Late  in  life  he 
wrided  on  the  west  side  of  Market  Street,  just  below 
the  Lore  Building. 

Dr.  Didie,  a  French  physician  of  note,  and  for- 
merly a  surgeon  in  Napoleon  Bonaparte's  army,  lived 
on  the  west  side  of  French  Street,  opposite  the  pres- 
ent lite  of  Wesleyan  Collie  Building.  J.  B.  Garesche 
42 


the  wealthy  Frenchman,  owner  of  the  Eden  Park 
Powder-Mills,  lived  on  the  east  side,  and  Dr.  Bayard 
at  the  corner  above,  until  his  death,  in  1802. 

Dr.  Ebenezer  Smith,  Revolutionary  surgeon,  and 
whose  father  was  one  of  the  earliest  Presbyterian 
ministers  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  resided  at  Seventh 
and  King  Streets.  He  was  health  officer  when  the 
yellow  fever  prevailed  here  in  1802.  His  brother.  Dr. 
Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  was  president  of  the  Collie 
of  New  Jersey,  at  Princeton,  from  1795  to  1812.  One 
of  his  sons,  also  a  physician,  died  in  Mississippi, 
where  he  had  gone  to  recuperate  his  health ;  and  his 
daughter,  Eliza  B.  Smith,  was  killed  by  lightning  in 
July,  1824,  while  sitting  by  an  open  window  in  the 
third  story  of  their  home.  A  second  son  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  Professor  of  Mathematics  at  West 
Point  Military  Academy.  He  died  of  typhoid  fever 
during  a  summer  vacation.  Captain  Joseph  Nichol- 
son, of  the  United  States  Navy,  was  a  neighbor  to 
Dr.  Smith. 

Captain  Prole  owned  the  house  at  southeast  corner 
of  Second  and  Walnut  Streets.  It  had  an  orchard  in 
the  rear,  and  in  1796  he  sold  the  property  to  Robert 
Montgomery,  who  laid  out  a  beautiful  flower  garden 
around  the  house.  He  made  a  tour  of  Europe  when 
quite  young  and  spent  a  year  or  more  in  France.  He 
entertained  the  Governor  (Thomas  McKean)  of 
Pennsylvania  four  months  in  1797,  when  the  yellow 
fever  prevailed  in  Philadelphia. 

Isaac  Henderson,  a  merchant  trader  of  the  last 
century,  resided  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Second 
and  French  Streets.  Captain  Elisha  Brown,  soon 
after  the  Revolution,  bought  this  property,  and  in 
1791  sailed  for  the  West  Indies.  He  and  his  crew 
were  lost  at  sea.  Colonel  Allen  McLane  afterwards 
lived  in  the  mansion  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Second  and  French  Streets,  and  John  Stapler  owned 
the  honse  next  above. 

Phebe,  widow  of  John  Vining,  United  States  Sena- 
tor from  1793  to  1798,  lived  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
Third  and  French  Streets,  and  from  there  to  Water 
Street  was  the  court  end  of  town  in  those  days. 

James  A.  Bayard,  Sr.,  who  died  soon  after  his  re- 
turn from  signing  the  treaty  of  peace  with  England, 
in  1814,  once  occupied  this  house,  and  Oovemor  Baa- 
sett,  his  father-in-law,  once  resided  in  it. 

The  Bush  family,  in  colonial  days,  lived  at  the 
corner  of  King  and  Water  Streets,  and  Captain  Giles, 
a  wealthy  trader,  resided  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
King  and  Front  Streets.  His  children  were  a  son  and 
a  daughter.  The  latter  married  a  young  man  named 
Malcolm,  who  was  drowned  in  the  Delaware  a  few 
days  after  the  wedding,  while  boating  with  a  party  of 
his  young  friends.  Captain  Joseph  Gilpin  married 
the  young  widow  and  for  a  long  time  occupied  the 
Giles  homestead.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  moved  to  the  West,  where  he  lived  to  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years.  His  brother,  Israel  Gilpin, 
lived  to  be  nearly  one  hundred  years  old.  At  the 
southwest  corner  of  Second  and  King  Streets  Edward 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Gilpin  long  resided.  He  moved  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  died  in  1844.  Charles  Gilpin,  bis  son,  was 
elected  mayor  of  that  city  in  1850  by  the  Whig  party. 

Eli  Mendenhall  had  a  card  factory  and  a  dry  goods 
and  grocery  store  nearly  opposite  Second  Street 
Market,  on  King  Street.  Near  by  were  the  watch- 
maker shops  of  Thomas  Crow  and  Jonas  Aldrich. 

Timothy  Hanson,  a  chair  manufacturer,  lived  on 
Second  Street,  between  Market  and  King  Streets. 

The  residence  of  Captain  Jeffries,  a  noted  seaman, 
was  on  King  Street,  above  Second  Street.  Captain 
Brlnton,  who  was  lost  at  sea,  was  his  neighbor. 

John  and  Samuel  Adams  were  printers  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Fourth  and  King  Streets. 

Matthew  Crips,  about  1760,  bought  the  land  east 
of  King  Street,  between  Seventh  and  Eighth  Streets, 
and  on  it  started  the  first  pottery  in  Wilmington. 
He  also  made  cups  and  saucers  and  sold  the  products 
of  his  manufacture  in  Delaware  and  New  Jersey,  un- 
til he  grew  wealthy.  In  1797  he  built  a  large  man- 
sion on  this  square,  in  which  he  lived  for  several 
years,  and  then  it  was  rented  by  John  Keating,  a 
wealthy  Englishman,  who  married  the  daughter  of 
Madame  Deschappeles. 

Peter  Proenchere,  an  educated  Frenchman,  who 
had,  prior  to  the  French  Revolution,  been  attached  to 
V},  the  household  of  the  Due  d*Orleans,  brother,  of  King 
Louis  XVI.,  was  a  member  of  this  family.  He  came 
to  this  country  in  1794,  and  returned  to  France  when 
the  Bourbons  were  restored  to  the  throne,  after  the 
downfall  of  Napoleon.  One  of  Mr.  Keating's  sons 
was  educated  in  Paris  and  became  a  skilled  chemist 
and  mineralogist,  dying  in  London  in  1840.  Another 
son  was  a  lawyer  of  some  note  in  Philadelphia.  When 
Mr.  Keating  moved  from  the  Crips  mansion,  Mrs. 
Capron,  of  Philadelphia,  took  it  as  a  boarding-house, 
and  it  was  subsequently  occupied  by  Joshua  Maule. 
Later  on  it  became  Eli  Hilles'  boarding-school  for 
girls. 

Peter  Vandever  owned  a  bridge  across  the  Brandy- 
wine,  which  he  built  as  early  as  1760,  and  charged 
toll  for  crossing  it. 

His  ancestors  settled  on  a  large  tract  of  land  now 
included  in  the  northeast  section  of  the  city,  a  por- 
tion of  which  was  known  as  Vandever's  Ibland,  being 
then  surrounded  by  the  stream.  The  last  bridge  at 
the  site  was  taken  away  by  a  flood  in  January,  1839. 

Front  Street  from  Walnut  to  Market  was  a  beauti- 
ful green  lawn  in  early  days. 

Dr.  George  Monro's  re;iidence  until  his  death  was 
on  the  east  side  of  Market  Street,  a  few  doors  below 
Second.  He  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolution  and 
married  a  daughter  of  Col.  John  Haslet.  John  Pat- 
terson, dry  goods  merchant,  was  adjoining.  The 
house  above  was  first  the  home  of  Major  Adams, 
and  afterwards  of  the  celebrated  architect  Benjamin 
H.  Latrobe,  who  designed  part  of  the  Capitol  at  Wash- 
ington. On  the  northwest  corner  of  Front  and  Mar- 
ket Streets  stands  the  building  for  a  century  known 
as  the  Buck  Tavern.    On  this  site  the  first  house  in 


town  was  built.  Col.  Thomas  Kean,  a  hero  of  the 
Revolution,  and  who  died  of  yellow  fever  in  1802, 
had  a  mansion  on  the  opposite  corner,  south  of  the 
Bank  of  Brandy  wine.  Dr.  Pascal's  drug  store  was 
near  the  centre  of  the  square,  on  the  west  side. 
Joseph  Baily,  for  thirty-three  years  president  of  the 
Bank  of  Delaware,  succeeded  him  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness. Joseph  Shallcross,  the  merchant  trader  and 
patriot,  who  sent  a  letter  to  General  Washington  be- 
fore the  battle  of  Brandywine,  lived  next  above.  Late 
in  life  he  moved  to  Delaware  Avenue,  above  Adams. 
John  Sellars,  the  hatter,  afterwards  occupied  the  same 
house.  William  R.  Sellars  was  his  son.  John  Reyn- 
olds' hardware  store  was  on  the  southwest  corner  ol 
Third  and  Market.  Within  the  same  square  James 
Brobson,  a  prominent  merchant,  had  a  store.  He 
was  many  years  burgess  of  the  town.  The  Sign  of 
the  Ship,  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Market,  was  a 
well-known  old-time  tavern.  It  was  the  headquarters 
for  several  officers  of  Washington's  army  just  before 
the  battle  of  Brandywine.  John  Marshall  was  pro- 
prietor at  that  time,  and  afterwards  Captain  Patrick 
O'Flinn  kept  it  until  his  deach,  in  1818.  John  Web- 
ster, a  wit,  and  in  1790  a  successful  teacher  in  town, 
started  a  drug  store,  which,  for  many  years  aftiervrards, 
was  owned  by  Joseph  Bringhurst  and  now  by  H.  R. 
Bringhurst.  David  Bush  resided  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Third  and  Market  Streets. 

Thomas  Spackman  had  a  shoe  store  just  above  the 
Bush  homestead.  His  daughter  married  Joseph 
Grubb,  owner  of  one  of  the  earliest  hardware  stores 
in  town ;  another  daughter  married  Joseph  Richard- 
son. 

James  Lea,  Sr.,  resided  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Fourth  and  Market  Streets,  afterwards  the  site  of  the 
Bank  of  Delaware,  from  1795  to  1815.  Bonsall  & 
Niles'  printing-office  was  next-door  above,  and  when 
Hezekiah  Niles  moved  to  Baltimore,  his  daughter, 
Mary  B.  Niles,  remained  in  Wilmington  and  was 
known  as  one  of  the  most  successful  teachers  in  the 
town.  The  residence  of  Robert  Hamilton,  an  Eng- 
lishman, was  on  Market  Street,  above  Fifth  Street. 

Francis  Robinson,  a  Friend,  emigrated  to  Wilming- 
ton, from  County  Wicklow,  Ireland,  in  1732,  and 
bought  the  land  now  bounded  by  Market,  King, 
Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets.  In  the  centre  of  this 
square,  in  his  newly-built  house,  he  engaged  in  the 
preparation  of  buck-skins  and  chamois  leather. 
Nicholas  Robinson,  his  son,  during  his  leisure  hours, 
shot  squirrels  in  the  thickly-wooded  land  now  em- 
braced in  the  same  square,  and  afterward  succeeded 
his  father.  When  he  retired  William,  his  son,  took 
the  business,  and  in  1823  was  the  first  person  in 
Wilmington  to  manufacture  moroccos.  For  seven 
years,  with  about  a  dozen  employees,  he  carried  on  that 
business,  and  in  1830,  with  James  Rice  as  partner, 
built  a  foundry  at  Tenth  and  Orange  Streets.  He  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia  and  later  to  Baltimore. 
Francis  Robinson,  his  brother  and  now  an  aged  citizen 
of  Wilmington,  together  with  his  brother  Harrison, 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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io  1833  and  for  eleven  years  afterward,  engaged  in 
cleaning  and  preparing  imported  wool  on  the  site 
where  his  ancestors  had  previously  conducted  the 
tannery.  This  square  for  a  century  and  a  quarter 
WIS  owned  by  the  Robinsons.  Hanson  Robinson 
went  to  Philadelphia  in  1843,  and  began  the  wool 
bnsiness  on  Front  Street,  below  Chestnut  Street.  In 
1855  be  built  as  his  country  residence  Wool  ton  Hall, 
Brandywine  Hundred,  where  he  died  in  March,  1871. 

General  John  Stockton  owned  the  Bauduy  Man- 
sion, opposite  the  City  Hall.  He  was  brigadier- 
general  of  the  New  Castle  County  militia  during  the 
War  of  1812,  and  his  youngest  son  was  killed  fighting 
the  British,  on  the  Niagara  frontier.  Captain  Thomas 
Stockton,  an  older  son,  commanded  a  company  and 
was  distinguished  at  the  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane  in 
that  war.  His  company  marched  from  Wilmington 
to  Canada.  He  was  elected  Governor  of  Delaware, 
and  died  while  in  office.  He  lived  in  New  Castle. 
Job  Harvey,  a  leading  shipping  merchant,  owned  the 
comer  now  occupied  by  the  Clayton  House,  before 
1780.  The  Queen  of  the  Otaheite  tavern  was  opened 
there  before  1800.  On  the  south  side  of  Sixth  Street, 
near  Market  Street,  prior  to  1800  stood  John  Jordan's 
one-story  brick  school -house. 

The  headquarters  of  the  French  officers  in  Wash- 
ington's army  during  its  stay  in  Wilmington  was  in 
the  large  mansion  of  Abijah  Dawes,  a  Friend,  on  the 
eirt  tide  of  Market  Street,  above  Sixth  Street,  now 
owned  by  the  McCaalleys.  They  had  considerable 
siuns  of  French  money  placed  in  kegs  and  deposited 
in  the  cellar.  Gunning  Bedford,  whom  Washington 
presented  with  a  pocket  pistol  for  his  serviceti  in  the 
war,  afterwards  lived  here  until  his  death.  He  was 
one  of  the  framers  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  one  of  the  first  Representatives  in  Congress, 
and  a  judge  of  the  courts.  Martha  Washington  gave  him 
the  crimson  satin  Masonic  sash  of  the  first  President. 
Mra.  Bedford  was  the  daughter  of  James  Parker,  one  of 
the  early  journalists  of  New  York  City.  Her  mother  was 
a  French  lady.  The  Bedford  home  was  famed  for  its 
hospitality  and  brilliant  entertainments.  The  man- 
sion was  sold  in  1813  by  the  original  owner  to  Louis 
HcLane. 

On  the  west  side  of  Market  Street,  opposite  the  old 
Presbyterian  Church,  prior  to  1800,  there  was  a  large 
vegetable  garden,  owned  by  Governor  Dickinson. 
Adjoining  it  was  the  cabin  of  an  old  colored  woman, 
Lydia  Hall,  who  lived  to  the  age  of  one  hundred 
years.  She  had  two  sons  in  the  Revolutionary  army, 
one  ef  whom  was  captured  and  executed  by  the 
British. 

On  the  south  side  of  Front  Street,  near  Tatnall, 
lived  Francis  Way,  a  Friend.  His  ancestors  were. 
among  the  first  settlers.  The  home  of  Belle  McClos- 
key,  a  camp  follower  of  the  Revolution,  was  on  the 
north  side  of  Front  Street,  nearly  opposite.  Major 
Pfttten,  an  officer  of  the  famous  Delaware  Regiment 
in  the  Revolution,  lived  on  Front  Street  until  his 
death  of  yellow  fever,  in  1798. 


William  Jones,  prior  t<J  1800,  owned  a  residence  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  Shipley  and  Front  Streets, 
with  a  beautiful  flower  garden  surrounding  it.  His 
son,  William  G.  Jones,  the  leading  undertaker  and 
cabinet-maker  of  half  a  century  ago,  and  father  of 
Washington  Jones,  president  of  the  Bank  of  Brandy- 
wine,  succeeded  in  the  ownership.  Shipley  Street  up 
to  Third,  in  1800,  was  not  built  up.  On  the  north  side 
of  Second,  between  Orange  and  Tatnall  Streets,  was 
Caleb  Sheward's  brewery,  one  of  the  first  in  Wilming- 
ton. He  operated  it  as  late  as  1814.  William  Shew- 
ard,  his  son,  was  the  next  owner  till  1843,  when  it  was 
sold.  Zachariah  Ferris,  a  minister  among  the  Friends, 
owned  a  tanyard  and  dwelling-house  on  the  south 
side  of  Second,  beyond  West  Street.  His  son,  John 
Ferris,  built  a  large  house  on  Market  Street. 

Dr.  Nicholas  Way  erected  a  large  mansion  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Third  and  Shipley  Streets.  He 
began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1775,  and  was  an 
eminent  physician  and  preceptor.  In  1798  he  enter- 
tained nearly  a  hundred  Philadelphians  during  the 
yellow  fever  epidemic.  Monsieur  Hammond,  a 
wealthy  Frenchman,  bought  the  Way  mansion  and 
resided  in  it  until  1802.  Jacob  Broom,  one  of  the 
framers  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  was 
its  next  owner,  and  died  there.  His  son,  Jacob  M. 
Broom,  was  a  Representative  in  Congress.  John 
Wales,  United  States  Senator  from  1849  to  1851,  lived 
here  for  many  years. 

Nicholas  G.  Williamson,  a  lawyer,  resided  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  Third  and  Shipley  Streets.  He 
was  postmaster  of  Wilmington  and  second  mayor  of 
the  city.  It  was  at  his  house  that  Myra  Clark  Gaines 
was  entertained  the  night  before  she  started  with  her 
future  husband  to  New  Orleans  to  claim  her  fortune. 
In  Revolutionary  days  Joel  Zane  kept  a  hardware 
store  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  Shipley 
Streets,  and  his  wife  daily  gave  food  to  the  French 
soldiers  quartered  in  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Zane 
moved  to  Front  Street  after  the  war.  Ziba  Ferris  and 
his  son  of  the  same  name  resided  for  many  years  at 
the  corner  of  Third  and  Shipley  Streets.  John  Ferris, 
who  was  unceasing  in  his  care  of  the  yellow  fever 
patients  in  1798  and  1802,  was  one  of  the  last  victims 
of  the  disease,  dying  October  30,  1802. 

On  the  east  side  of  Shipley  Street,  near  Fifth,  was 
the  most  famous  school  of  colonial  days,  conducted 
by  Henry  Pepper.  William  Cobbett,  the  notorious 
political  agitator,  was  for  a  brief  period  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Pepper  as  a  teacher.  Captain  Kirkpatrick,  of 
Revolutionary  fame,  lived  opposite  Pepper's  school. 
He  was  the  father  of  David,  James  and  Robert  Kirk- 
patrick,  who  founded  a  large  importing  house  in 
Philadelphia. 

About  1800  "  Billy  "  McDougall,  a  town  notoriety, 
kept  a  little  tavern  on  the  edge  of  the  marsh  at  Tat- 
nall Street  and  Delaware  Avenue.  He  called  it 
"  The  House  that  Jack  Built,"  but  it  was  better  known 
as  "Bull  Frog  Tavern."  The  marsh  was  full  of 
plump  and  juicy  frogs  that  found  no  better  destination 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


than  to  be  stoned  by  the  boys,  until  the  French  refu- 
gees from  San  Domingo  and  Paris  settled  in  Wilming- 
ton. They  knew  what  a  table  delicacy  the  big,  green 
batrachians  were,  and  soon  had  them  served  by  their 
own  cooks,  but  it  required  time  and  persuasion  to  in- 
duce the  Delaware  natives  to  eat  them. 

Dr.  William  Gibbons  lived  south  of  Delaware  Ave- 
nue near  Jefferson  Street,  and  in  the  vicinage  resided 
John  Hedges,  who  occupied  an  old-time  hipped- 
roof  house,  and  died  in  it  at  the  age  of  one  hundred. 
Moses  Bradford  built  the  large  stone  mansion  after- 
ward owned  by  Job  Jackson.  William  Shipley's 
brewery  was  at  the  foot  of  Quaker  Hill.  A  large 
stone  house — one  of  the  first  on  West  Street — was 
built  by  Joseph  Shallcross,  and  was  sold  to  Mordecai 
Woodward,  who  owned  a  large  rope-walk  on  what  is 
now  Washington  Street.  John  Dauphin,  a  French- 
man, succeeded  him  in  its  ownership.  Frederick 
Shrader,  the  gunsmith,  lived  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  Sixth  and  West  Streets,  since  the  site  of  a  Catholic 
Seminary.  Caleb  Seal,,  who  died  at  ninety- three 
years  of  age,  owned  a  residence  at  northeast  corner 
of  Sixth  and  West  Streets.  His  son,  William  Seal, 
lived  here  during  his  life. 

The  father  of  Governor  Caleb  P.  Bennett,  who  was 
chief  burgees  in  1809,  resided  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  Fifth  and  West  Streets.  The  headquarters  of  Gen- 
eral Washington,  before  the  battle  of  Brandywine, 
was  in  a  building  below  the  southwest  corner  of 
Fourth  and  West  Streets,  afterwards  owned  by  Jo- 
seph C.  Gilpin.  Captain  John  Lea  lived  next  door 
below,  and  the  famous  William  Cobbett  in  1794  was 
his  nearest  neighbor.  Mrs.  Mary  Johnson,  a  woman 
**  with  a  masculine  mind,"  who  always  wore  a  man's 
hat  and  carried  a  cane,  lived  next  door.  She  was 
said  to  be  "the  first  woman  lawyer  in  the  United 
States."  Before  1800  she  argued  causes  in  court  at 
New  Castle  and  West  Chester,  in  the  presence  of  the 
ablest  attorneys  of  that  day. 

The  old  barley  mill  was  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Brandywine  above  the  residence  of  the  late  Bishop 
Lee.  John  Fleming  used  it  for  cleaning  barley  for 
a  score  of  years.  The  Jordans  next  turned  it  into 
an  establishment  for  printing  and  dying  calico.  In 
1790  Archibald  Hamilton  Rowan,  the  Irish  exile, 
and  William  Alfred  continued  in  the  same  business. 
In  1798  Rowan  took  charge  of  it  himself,  and  engaged 
Walter  Mclndoe,  Robert  Council  and  John  Mc Wil- 
liams, "  experienced  artists,"  in  his  works.  The  old 
mill  was  enlarged,  and  the  name  "Rockburn"  was 
given  to  it  when  run  as  a  cotton-mill.  Joseph 
Bringhurst  afterward  turned  it  into  a  carding-mill. 
Spindle-making  was  later  carried  on  in  it  by  John 
Schofield,  of  the  Cross-Keys  Tavern. 

Federal  Hill,  or  Bellevue,  was  originally  the  home 
of  Bancroft  Woodcock,  an  Englishman  who  was  a 
silversmith  in  the  town  as  early  as  1765.  Though  a 
conservative  and  somewhat  austere  member  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  he  was  known  as  the  best  skater  in 
all  the  country  round-about.      In  mid-winter,  even 


when  he  had  attained  the  age  of  three-score  years,  his 
familiar  tall,  slim  form  was  seen  to  glide  over  the  glassy 
surface  to  the  admiration  of  all  spectators.  He  was  also 
noted  as  a  pedestrian,  and  when  he  moved  to  Red- 
stone, then  in  the  backwoods  of  Pennsylvania,  about 
1800,  he  would  walk  seventeen  miles  from  his  home 
to  the  meeting-house.  Dr.  James  Til  ton  bought  the 
Bellevue  property  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Federal 
Hill  for  the  reason  that  it  was  one  of  the  sites  con- 
sidered by  the  committee  of  Congress  appointed  to 
select  the  location  of  the  national  capital.  They 
eventually  fixed  upon  Washington,  but  the  Tilton 
place  was  much  admired  by  them.  The  view  from 
the  cupola  of  the  old  mansion  extends  over  the  city 
ot  Wilmington,  reaches  Philadelphia,  and  stretches 
away  to  New  Jersey  on  the  east  and  touches  the  Mary- 
land boundary  on  the  south.  In  1802  Dr.  Tilton 
built  the  big  house,  thirty-eight  feet  square,  and  in 
1808  planted  large  chestnut  trees  around  it,  some  of 
which  are  now  standing.  Charles  W.  Howland  has 
been  the  owner  of  this  property  since  1852,  and  in 
1856  remodeled  it  as  it  now  stands. 

Monckton  Park,  afterwards  called  Eden  Park,  was 
another  of  the  old-time  country-seats  adjacent  to  Wil- 
mington. Before  the  Revolution  it  was  owned  by 
Mr.  Haines,  an  Englishman  of  wealth,  largely  engaged 
in  trading  with  foreign  ports.  His  business  centred 
in  Philadelphia  and  he  spent  much  time  in  the 
West  Indies.  Monckton  Park  was  his  summer  home 
and  he  usually  came  here  on  horseback.  He  took 
an  interest  in  public  improvement  and  was  the  first 
person  to  propose  the  erection  of  mile-stones  in  New 
Castle  County,  and  with  others  had  them  placed  along 
the  road  between  Wilmington  and  Red  Lion.  He 
was  an  intimate  friend  of  Robert  Morris,  the  cele- 
brated financier  of  the  Revolution,  and  with  him  and 
others  founded  the  Bank  of  North  America.  Al- 
though of  English  birth,  he  was  a  friend  of  the  Ameri- 
can cause  when  it  was  not  known  which  country 
would  triumph.  He  was  one  of  the  most  exact  men 
of  his  day  in  his  business  as  well  as  in  his  home.  Late 
one  evening,  just  he  was  completing  an  invoice  for 
the  cargo  of  a  vessel  to  sajl  the  next  day,  a  drop  of  ink 
fell  upon  the  paper  and  he  spent  the  remainder  of  the 
night  re-copying  it.  He  wore  large  metal  buttons  on 
his  coat,  fashionable  in  that  day.  These  he  covered 
with  tissue  paper,  every  night  before  going  to  bed,  that 
they  might  be  protected  from  rust.  On  one  occasion, 
during  the  prevalence  of  the  small-pox,  he  wais  com- 
pelled to  make  a  business  trip  to  Boston  on  horseback. 
He  related  that  at  every  place  where  he  stopped  over- 
night he  was  placed  in  a  smoke-house  and  thoroughly 
smoked  before  he  could  enter  the  town. 

After  the  declaration  of  peace  in  1788  Mr.  Haines 
returned  to  England.  His  youngest  daughter  mar- 
ried Henry  Phy«»ick,  who  bought  the  Governor 
Dickinson  mansion.  Robert  Morris  purchased 
Monckton  Park  and  lived  there  during  the  summer 
months.  In  1800  it  was  bought  by  Peter  Bauduy, 
who  changed  the  name  to  Eklen  Park.     Bauduy  was 


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65a 


born  in  France  in  1767,  emigrated  to  St.  Domingo 
«arly  in  life,  and  in  1791,  during  the  insurrection  in 
that  island,  came  to  Wilmington.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  M.  Deschappelles,  who  lived  in  the  house 
built  by  Abijah  Dawes  in  1784,  immediately  above 
the  Delaware  House. 

Baudny  moved  to  Cuba  in  1819,  and  settled  on  a 
sugar  plantation  near  Matanzas,  but  subsequently 
made  numerous  visits  to  Wilmington.  In  1801  he  es- 
tablished the  Eden  Park  Powder-Mills,  subsequently 
owned  by  his  son-in-law,  J.  P.  Garesche,  who  oper- 
ated them  until  1861.  M.  Bauduy's  principal  recrea- 
tion was  the  indulgence  of  his  artistic  talent,  and 
before  he  removed  from  Eden  Park  to  the  West  In- 
dies he  painted  the  large  canvas  of  **  Phoebus  driving 
the  Chariot  of  the  Sun,"  which  was  exhibited  in  a 
building  standing  on  the  site  of  the  present  Post-Of- 
fice. He  made  the  plans  for  the  City  Hall  in  1798, 
and  during  the  War  of  1812  proposed  to  dam  the 
Brandy  wine  and  Christiana  and  flood  the  town  if  the 
British  should  approach  it.  His  much-loved  Eden 
Park  is  now  the  property  of  the  Lobdell  Car- Wheel 
Company. 

Tusculum  was  the  name  that  Hon.  Jacob  M.  Broom, 
« classical  dtudent  and  an  admirer  of  Cicero,  gave 
the  country-seat  that  he  established  early  in  the 
present  century.  He  was  an  eminent  lawyer,  and 
when  a  young  man  was  elected  to  Congress  by  the 
Federal  party.  In  1820  he  removed  to  Philadelphia, 
and  Tnsculum  was  bought  by  Dr.  Martin,  who  resided 
upon  it  with  his  ft^ther  by  adoption,  Rev.  Thomas 
Read,  D.D.  It  was  afterwards  sold  to  John  Connell, 
Dr.  Read's  son-in-law,  with  whom  Mrs.  Read  contin- 
ued to  reside  until^her  death,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two. 
On  -ne  occasion  when  Henry  Clay  visited  Wilming- 
ton she  said  to  him :  "  Sir,  I  presume  you  are  seldom 
approached  on  the  subject  of  religion.  Permit  me  to 
entreat  you,  after  having  so  long  devoted  your  talents 
to  the  good  of  your  country  and  having  served  it  so 
faithfully  and  well,  to  spend  the  remainder  of  your 
dari*  in  searching  the  Scriptures  in  the  service  of  your 
Master."  The  distinguished  orator  replied  with  great 
dignity  and  in  a  feeling  manner.  Tusculum  is  now 
owned  by  Dr.  Read  J.  McKay. 

The  "Willows,"  on  Brandywine  Walk,  North 
Market  Street,  was  the  home  of  Miss  Vining,  the 
famous  beauty,  in  her  later  years.  Miss  Vining  was 
renowned  for  her  personal  charms,  intelligence  and 
wealth.  During  the  Revolutionary  period  her  society 
was  much  courted  by  officers  of  both  armies,  and 
those  of  France  particularly  praised  her  in  their 
letters  home,  to  such  an  extent  that  Marie  Antoinette 
expressed  to  Mr.  Jefferson  a  desire  to  "see  Miss 
Vining  at  the  Tuileries."  General  Lafayette  was 
one  of  her  correspondents  for  a  third  of  a  century, 
and  she  waa  visited  by  the  Duke  de  Liancount  and 
l/)uii  Philippe.  She  was  often  invitell  to  Governor 
Dickinson's  mansion  to  meet  and  dine'  with  his  dis- 
tinguished guests.  Her  brother,  John  Vining,  was  in 


United  States  Senator  from  1795  to  1798.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Seaton,  the  New  York  poetess,  and  they 
died  young,  leaving  four  sons,  whom  his  sister  raised. 
Miss  Vining  was  subsequently  very  greatly  reduced 
in  circumstances  and  lived  in  seclusion  until  her 
death,  in  1821,  aged  sixty-three  years.  She  was  bur- 
ied in  the  Old  Swedes'  church-yard,  and  her  grave 
is  not  designated. 

Cool  Spring  is  the  name  of  the  stone  mansion  at 
the  brow  of  the  hill  near  the  reservoir.  It  was  the 
country-seat  of  Gsesar  A.  Rodney,  nephew  of  Csesar 
Rodney,  the  "signer,"  a  Congressman  and  the  last  ot 
six  attorneys-general  in  the  Cabinet  of  President  Jef- 
ferson. The  vessel  which  took  his  library  and  house- 
hold furniture  to  Washington  was  wrecked  and  the 
goods  much  damaged.  This  prevented  his  family 
from  going  to  the  national  capital.  He  remained  in 
the  Cabinet  to  the  end  of  Jefferson's  term.  Soon 
afterwards  he  went  to  South  America  with  Dr.  Bald- 
win, the  botanist.  He  was  sent  as  minister  of  the 
United  States  government  to  the  Argentine  Republic, 
and  sailed  in  the  frigate  "  Congress  "  under  Commo- 
dore Biddle.  He  died  while  there  and  his  family  re- 
turned home  in  1824.  Cool  Spring  is  still  owned  by 
the  Rodneys. 

Kentmere,  near  the  Riddle  Mills  on  the  Brandy- 
wine,  was  the  location  of  some  of  the  first  factories 
and  flour-mills.  Joshua  and  Thomas  Gilpin  had 
their  paper-mills  there  in  1787,  the  first  to  manufac- 
ture paper  by  means  of  revolving  cylinders.  They 
had  a  foundry  near  by,  at  which  they  constructed 
their  own  machinery.  The  erection  of  these  mills 
and  the  improvements  to  1888  cost  $850,000.  In  1821 
they  provided  Matthew  Carey  &  Son,  of  Philadelphia, 
with  paper  for  printing  a  large  edition  of  Lavoisne's 
Celebrated  Atlas.  Their  mills  soon  become  widely 
known  and  the  new  process  was  destined  to  entirely 
revolutionize  the  business  of  making  paper  in  this 
country.  The  difficulties  which  followed  were  very 
discouraging.  Others  were  envious  of  the  probable 
success  of  the  new  invention,  and  obtained  informa- 
tion of  the  process  from  some  of  the  employees 
of  these  mills.  By  these  means  sufficient  knowl- 
edge was  gained  to  secure  a  patent  and  make 
similar  machinery  by  avoiding  infringement 
of  Gilpin's  patent.  By  the  year  1825  the 
improved  machinery  was  introduced  into  the 
paper-mills  at  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  and  soon 
thereafter  into  other  paper-mills  throughout  the 
country,  and  the  prestige  of  the  invention  was  never 
properly  credited  to  Thomas  Gilpin. 

The  great  flood  of  February  22,  1822,  when  the 
Brandywine  rose  twenty  feet  above  its  banks,  took 
away  the  dam,  destroyed  the  races  and  badly  injured 
much  of  the  machinery  and  some  of  the  buildings  of 
these  mills,  and  in  April,  1825,  one  of  the  buildings 
and  its  valuable  machinery  were  destroyed  by  fire.  By 
the  freshet  of  1838  still  greater  damage  was  done  and 
the  bridges  immediately  below  were  carried  away. 
The  Gilpins  owned  and  conducted  the  paper-mills  for 


Congress  from  Delaware,  from   1789  to    1792,  and 


654 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


half  a  century,  when  the  business  was  discontinued 
and  the  property  sold  to  a  company  that  spent  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  improvements.  Large 
quantities  of  bank-note  paper  were  also  made  here. 
Thomas  Gilpin  resided  most  of  the  year  in  Phil- 
adelphia, but  spent  part  of  each  summer  at  the 
mills  in  a  pleasant  cottage.  On  a  more  elevated  por- 
tion, surruunded  by  a  forest,  was  the  house  of  John 
Gilpin.  He  called  it  Kentmere.  In  it  he  enter- 
tained his  numerous  friends  who  frequently  visited 
him.  He  died  here  in  1841.  The  large  stone  house 
opposite  the  mill  was  occupied  by  Lawrence  Great- 
rake,  manager  of  the  establishment.  The  buildings 
after  their  sale  by  the  Gilpins  were  turned  into  cotton- 
mills. 

Rokeby  was  a  cotton  factory  on  the  Brandywine 
near  the  old  wire  bridge,  established  by  Louis  Mc- 
Lane  about  1818.  It  was  formerly  one  of  the  leading 
grist-mills  of  the  vicinity  and  was  owned  for  nearly 
half  a  century  by  Vincent  Gilpin,  a  very  worthy  citi- 
zen of  Wilmington.  Rumford  Dawes'  slitting-mill 
was  near  here.  It  was  afterwards  bought  by  the 
Du  Fonts  for  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  they  erected 
powder-mills  on  the  sites.  Jacob  Broom,  in  1795, 
built  the  first  cotton-mill  in  the  vicinity.  It  was  con- 
sidered a  wonderful  enterprise.  He  put  up  a  large 
mansion  in  the  vicinity,  which  was  afterwards  owned 
by  Dr.  Smith.  In  1793  William  Young,  a  Scotch- 
man in  the  book  business  in  Philadelphia,  erected  a 
paper-mill.  He  built  a  house  tor  religious  worship 
about  the  same  time.  The  floor  was  of  solid  rock. 
He  also  erected  for  himself  a  mansion  and  then  called 
the  place  Rockland.  He  was  the  chief  director  of 
the  Wilmington  Steamboat  Company,  which  ran  a 
line  of  boats  to  Philadelphia.  Near  the  Lancaster 
road  is  a  stone  house  of  historic  interest,  which  for 
some  years  was  the  residence  of  Louis  de  Tousard,  a 
French  officer  who  came  to  this  country  with  the 
troops  of  his  nation  to  assist  the  Americans.  In 
1793  he  removed  to  a  farm,  where  he  covered  the 
walls  of  his  house  with  canvas,  on  which  some  of  his 
guests  painted  landscape  scenes.  Madame  Tousard 
died  on  this  farm  in  1794.  Her  remains  were  interred 
in  Old  Swedes  Church-yard. 

On  Sixth  Street  near  French  was  the  little  stone 
dwelling  once  inhabited  by  the  Marquise  de  Sourci 
and  her  ingenious  son.  She  was  a  refugee  from  the 
Reign  of  Terror  in  France  in  1792,  and  arrived  at 
Wilmington  impoverished  and  infirm.  Her  country- 
men relieved  her  necessities  until  her  boy  grew  up 
and  was  able  to  support  her.  From  the  fruit  of  the 
dwarf-gourd,  that  grew  in  the  yard  of  their  home,  he 
made  boxes,  that,  when  varnished  and  carved  by  his 
deft  hand,  found  ready  sale.  He  constructed  toys  for 
the  children  and  found  much  profit  in  making  an 
automatic  grasshopper  of  wood  and  whalebone.  Then 
he  built  a  boat  for  himself  and  ferried  sand  and  gravel 
from  the  New  Jersey  shores  for  the  Wilmington 
builders.  This  proved  a  lucrative  business,  but  dur- 
ing a  storm  his  boat  capsized,  and  young  De  Sourci 


was  lost,  and  his  body  never  recovered.  His  mother 
died  soon  afterward  and  was  buried  in  the  Old  Swedes' 
Church-yard. 

Incidents  in  Wilmington  History.— The  22d 
of  February,  1800,  was  a  warm,  pleasant  day.  It  was 
the  sixty-ninth  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Washing- 
ton, who  died  on  the  14th  of  December,  preceding. 
The  members  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  in  Del- 
aware, had  arranged  for  a  funeral  procession  in  his 
honor,  through  the  streets  of  Wilmington,  on  that  day. 
Gunning  Bedford  was  master  of  ceremonies,  assisted 
by  Major  Cass,  of  the  regular  army,  who  commanded 
a  detachment  then  quartered  in  the  town.  The  pro- 
cession was  formed  in  front  of  the  Town  Hall,  with  a 
military  band,  followed  by  the  soldiers  of  the  regular 
army,  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati  and  the  Masons; 
then  came  nine  young  ladies  to  represent  the  Muses, 
sixteen  ladies  to  represent  the  sixteen  States  which 
then  composed  the  Union.  The  ladies  were  dressed  in 
white,  with  short  sleeves,  long  kid  gloves,  little  muslin 
hats  turned  up  at  the  side,  blue  kid  slippers  and  a  red 
sash  of  broad  ribbon  over  the  right  shoulder  tied  in 
a  bow  on  the  left  side,  and  the  name  of  the  State  rep- 
resented in  gilt  letters  in  front.  Virginia  led  the 
Southern  and  Delaware  the  Northern  Staties.  Each 
lady  held  in  her  hand  a  sprig  of  laurel.  Next  came 
the  members  of  the  State  Legislature,  members  of  Uie 
bar  and  ministers  of  the  gospel,  followed  by  a  large 
number  of  eitizens.  When  the  ceremonies  were  closed 
the  sixteen  ladies  deposited  the  sprigs  of  laurel  on  the 
bier,  which  stood  in  front  of  the  old  academy,  with 
the  following  words :  "  Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
Washington,  I  deposit  this  laurel  as  an  emblem  of  his 
never-dying  fame." 

One  of  the  early  celebrations  of  the  4th  of  July  was 
held  in  1794,  at  Cool  Spring,  where  a  thousand  or 
more  persons  sat  down  to  a  bounteous  dinner  prepared 
by  the  industrious  house-wives  of  the  town  and  its 
vicinity.  Many  patriotic  toasts  were  drunk,  followed 
by  the  singing  of  national  airs  by  the  vast  multitude, 
and  the  delivery  of  an  oration  suited  to  the  occasion. 

Many  of  the  4th  of  July  celebrations  after  the  Revo- 
lution were  held  in  the  Academy  woods,  then  situated 
on  the  side  of  Market  Street,  above  Eighth. 

There  was  a  very  numerous  assemblage  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Wilmington  and  vicinity  at  Cool  Spring,  near 
Wilmington,  belonging  to  C.  A.  Rodney,  July  4,  1803. 
On  that  "  auspicious  oocc4ision  "  Doctor  James  Tilton 
was  chosen  president,  Captain  Patrick  O'Flinn,  Major 
Peter  Jacquett,  Dr.  A.  Alexander,  Andrew  Reynolds, 
George  Clark,  Capt.  James  Campbell,  vice-presidents. 
One  hundred  and  fifty  persons  sat  down  to  a  table 
prepared  by  David  Brinton  at  his  tavern.  Turtle 
soup  from  a  sea-turtle  weighing  one  hundred  pounds, 
cold  rounds  of  beef  and  ham  were  served  at  one 
dollar  for  each  man.  Numerous  toasts  were  responded 
to,  and  the  day  was  spent  in  general  rejoicing. 

Michael  Wolf  was  quite  a  character  in  Wilmington. 
He  was  bom  in  1736,  and  for  more  than  a  half-century 
sold  cakes  through  the  streets.    He  died  in  1825. 


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655 


French  Kellum  was  in  the  colonial  navy  during 
the  Re?olatioD.  In  1783  he  sailed  for  the  West  In- 
dies in  a  merchantman.  He  was  gone  two  years  and 
was  sapposed  to  be  dead,  but  returned  to  Wilmington 
and  fell  into  the  well  at  his  house  while  trying  to 
make  his  toilet  preparatory  to  discovering  himself  to 
his  family. 

Archibald  Hamilton  Rowan,  one  of  the  most  noted 
Irish  refugees  who  came  to  America,  had  a  peculiarly 
romantic  career.  As  a  leader  of  the  Society  of  United 
Irishmen  in  his  native  land,  he  sturdily  fought  the 
anion  of  England  and  Ireland,  and  favored  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Irish  Republic.  He  was  arrested  on 
diarges  of  treason  to  the  King  and  imprisoned  in 
Dublin.  His  wife  was  allowed  the  privilege  of  visit- 
ing him,  and  she  smuggled  into  his  cell  a  woman's 
dress,  clad  in  which  he  escaped  from  the  jail.  A 
reward  of  ten  thousand  pounds  was  offered  by  the 
government  for  his  recapture;  but  he  reached  the 
French  shore  in  a  fisherman's  boat,  and  in  a  few 
months  later  crossed  the  ocean.  In  1790  he  came  to 
Wilmington  and  was  given  a  home  by  Thomas  Armor. 
His  traubles,  however,  had  turned  his  disposition 
toward  the  life  of  a  recluse,  and  he  took  up  his  abode 
in  a  cabin  on  the  Brandy  wine,  where  his  only  com- 
panions were  his  dogs  **  Sallie"  and  "  Charles,"  named 
for  the  wife  and  child  he  had  left  in  Europe.  He 
hid  a  small  business — ^printing  and  dyeing  calico-— 
that  rendered  him  sufficient  income  for  his  modest 
wants.  In  1802  amnesty  was  granted  him  by  the 
King  of  England,  and  he  returned  to  his  Irish  home 
and  his  valuable  family  estate,  which  yielded  a  large 
income.  He  was  visited  there  in  succeeding  years  by 
friends  who  had  known  him  in  his  days  of  adversity  in 
America,  and  to  whom  he  delighted  in  extending  the 
most  generous  of  Irish  hospitality.  When  he  built 
&  new  mansion  upon  his  property  he  named  one  of 
htt  reception-rooms  "  Wilmington." 

Rev.  Lawrence  Girelius,  who  left  Wilmington  in 
1791,  was  the  last  of  the  Swedish  pastors  of  the  Old 
Swedes'  Church.  There  were  no  religious  services  in 
the  Scandinavian  tongue  in  or  near  Wilmington 
from  that  date  until  1849,  when  Rev.  Mr.  Unonius 
became  pastor  of  the  Swedes  in  Trinity  Chapel.  In 
1S83  the  Methodists  founded  a  Swedish  mission  on 
Heald  Street,  among  some  new  immigrants  to  Wil- 
mington. 

John  Thelwell,  the  town  bellman  and  clerk  of  the 
market,  waa  widely  known  in  1780,  and  on  one  oc- 
casion, as  he  was  making  his  rounds  of  the  market, 
he  found  a  woman  selling  butter  in  "  pound  cakes  " 
of  twelve  ounces  each.  He  told  her  that  sixteen 
ounces  made  a  pound  in  Delaware,  and  proceeded  to 
confiscate  all  her  produce  for  violation  of  the  law. 
In  the  altercation  which  followed,  the  woman  struck 
him  in  the  eye  with  a  print  of  the  butter,  and  disap- 
peared before  he  recovered  his  sight.  He  was  town 
bellman  over  thirty  years.  Thelwell  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  one  of  its  first  exhorters.    He  was  a  teacher  and 


taught  at  the  foot  of  Quaker  Hill  in  a  small  log 
house.  Afterwards  the  burgesses  allowed  him  to  use 
as  a  school-room,  their  own  building  over  the  '^Second 
Street  Market. 

Anna  Dorothea  Vertz,  known  as  "Dutch  Dolly," 
had  a  vegetable  garden  at  Sixth  and  King  Streets. 
Her  husband  was  a  tailor  called  "  Frederick  the  Great, 
fortune-teller."    He  predicted  events  by  the  stars. 

Louis  Philippe,  in  1793,  as  the  banished  Duke  of 
Orleans,  spent  considerable  time  in  Wilmington  with 
the  French  emigres.  He  succeeded  to  his  title  on 
the  execution  of  his  father  in  1792,  during  the  French 
Revolution.  For  participating  with  his  father  in  the 
battles  of  Valmy  and  Jemappes,  he  was  exiled.  In 
America  he  remained  several  months,  sustaining  him- 
self part  of  the  time  teaching  languages  and  mathe- 
matics. Subsequently  he  became  the  wealthiest  man 
in  France,  was  declared  King  in  1830,  and  continued 
until  1848,  when  the  Second  Republic  was  estab- 
lished. 

Prospect  Hill,  north  of  Wilmington,  was  the  home 
of  Joshua  North  during  the  Revolution,  but  he  was 
a  Tory  and  fled  the  country  for  safety.  The  property 
soon  afterwards  was  owned  by  Rev.  Dr.  Wharton, 
who  succeeded  Rev.  Dr.  Girelius  as  rector  of  Old 
Swedes'  Church.  He  removed  to  Burlington,  New 
Jersey. 

Fairfield,  near  the  site  of  the  Old  Cranehook  Church, 
was  the  residence  of  Dr.  Alexander,  a  surgeon  in  the 
army  during  the  Revolution. 

William  Hemphill  was  born  in  Belfast,  Ireland, 
January  4,  1743.  His  father  was  engaged  largely  in 
the  linen  business.  He  came  to  America  about  the 
age  of  fifteen  years,  landed  at  New  York,  and  there 
obtained  a  situation  in  a  mercantile  house.  Thence 
he  removed  to  Philadelphia,  and  afterwards  to  Wil- 
mington, where  he  became  one  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men.  He  engaged  in  the  shipping  business 
several  years,  and  then  entered  into  partnership  with 
Robert  Ralston,  of  Philadelphia,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  business  men  of  that  city.  The 
ships  of  this  firm  traded  with  the  West  Indiies,  France, 
Ireland  and  China.  Mr.  Hemphill  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  United  States  government.  May 
6, 1778.  Hebecame  a  large  land-holder  in  Wilmington, 
and  was  interested  in,  and  contributed  much  to,  its 
business  prosperity.  He  married  Elizabeth  Allison, 
of  Wilmington,  May  22,  1770.  Their  children  were 
James,  William,  Sarah,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and  John. 
He  died  February  10, 1823,  and  was  buried  in  the 
cemetery  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wil- 
mington. 

John  James  Ullman,  a  native  of  Strasbourg,  France, 
educated  at  the  University  of  Paris,  settled  in  Wil- 
mington in  1791.  He  had  lived  many  years  in  India, 
and  was  celebrated  as  a  traveler  and  a  linguist. 
While  here  he  was  reputed  worth  a  million  dollars. 
He  died  of  apoplexy  in  1811,  aged  fifty -seven  years, 
and  his  tomb  is  in  the  French  corner  of  the  Old 
Swedes'  Church-yard. 


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Joseph  Shallcross,  a  Revolutionary  patriot,  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  beyond  Cool  Spring,  in 
1750,  for  $500.  He  lived  in  a  stone  house  near  Cool 
Spring.  He  was  a  leading  shipping  merchant  of  Wil- 
mington. 

Joseph  Springer  lived  and  died  in  a  log  cabin  near 
the  Lancaster  road.  He  was  a  son  of  Carl  Christopher 
Springer,  an  educated  Swede  with  a  romantic  history, 
who  went  to  London  with  the  Swedish  embassador, 
was  "  Shanghaied  ''  and  brought  to  Virginia,  where 
he  was  sold  into  servitude  for  five  years.  After  work- 
ing out  his  time  he  came  to  Wilmington.  His  son 
Joseph  became  a  farmer  and  gardener,  and  lived  to 
the  age  of  ninety-two  years. 

Commodore  Perry,  the  hero  of  Lake  Erie,  stopped 
in  Wilmington,  February  4,  1814,  on  his  way  from 
Philadelphia  to  Baltimore.  He  traveled  in  a  '' pri- 
vate four-in-hand,"  and  took  dinner  at  the  Indian 
King  Inn,  southeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  Market, 
then  kept  by  David  Brinton.  It  was  soon  after  he 
gained  his  brilliant  victory  on  the  lake,  and  there 
was  an  imposing  demonstration  in  his  honor  the  next 
day  in  Baltimore. 

An  elegant  banquet  was  given  to  Hon.  Louis  Mc- 
Lane,  in  the  Town  Hall,  July  28, 1829,  by  the  citi- 
zens of  Wilmington.  It  was  the  day  before  his 
departure  for  Europe  as  minister  of  England.  Gen. 
John  Caldwell  presided,  and  Richard  H.  Bayard 
wa<s  vice-president.  Among  the  distinguished  guests 
present  was  Martin  Van  Buren,  then  Secretary  of 
State  in  Andrew  Jackson's  Cabinet  Alexander  Porter, 
of  the  Indian  Queen  Hotel,  prepared  the  feast. 

Dr.  Daniel  Bancroft,  with  his  brother,  discovered 
the  proceess  of  making  quercitron,  or  dye  from  black 
oak  bark,  in  1787,  and  several  years  afterward  lived  in 
the  building  on  West  Street  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
Benjamin  Ferris.  He  was  born  in  Boston  and  spent 
the  most  of  his  early  life  in  England.  While  in  Wil- 
mington he  was  engaged  in  the  export  trade  and  was 
the  first  person  to  ship  quei citron  from  America  to 
England,  or  any  foreign  country.  It  was  made  near 
Wilmington. 

Dr.  John  Vaughan,  in  June,  1802,  introduced  the 
practice  of  vaccination  in  Wilmington. 

Peter  Davis  was  the  first  to  sell  ice  to  the  people  of 
Wilmington,  in  1802.  Benjamin  Webb  moved  to  Wil- 
mington from  Chester  County,  Pa.,  at  a  later  period, 
and  sold  ice  on  a  more  extended  scale  for  many  years. 
He  owned  several  tracts  of  land  in  the  vicinity.  In 
1836  he  became  very  much  interested  in  the  culti- 
vation of  the  silk  mulberry  trees,  planting  several 
acres  with  them  on  his  farm  near  town. 

Bache  and  Todd  in  1803  announced  that  they  **  have 
a  physiognatrice  whereby  any  person  may  have  four 
correct  likenesses  in  profile  taken  for  25  cents  without 
any  part  of  the  machine  passing  over  the  face,  at 
McLean's  tavern  Sign  of  the  Buck,  on  Market  Street '' 
(now  Sharp's  Hotel). 

In  1800  John  la  Teller,  one  of  the  first  dentists  in 
town,  with  an  office  four  doors  below  southeast  corner  of 


Fourth  and  Market  Streets,  announced  that  he  "^ould 
cleanse  teeth  and  set  artificial  teeth  with  enamel." 
He  had  Brufi'^s  patented,  perpendicular  instruments 
for  extracting  teeth.  Henry  Tonveille,  from  Paris, 
was  the  next  dentist  in  Wilmington. 

John  Chandler,  on  Market  Street  opposite  the  Acad- 
emy, in  1797,  advertised  as  a  likeness-painter  in 
miniature  by  a  new  method  of  his  own  invention. 

S.  Dewey,  in  1814,  at  the  corner  of  Market  and 
Third  Streets,  made  '*  profile  likenesses,  plain  or  in 
colors." 

Frederick  Shraeder,  in  1808,  athb  residence  comer 
of  Sixth  and  West  Streets,  opened  "  a  mead  and  flower 
garden  with  a  number  of  small  summer  houses  for 
the  accommodation  and  amusement  of  genteel  com- 
pany." 

Charles  Tatem,  bom  in  Virginia,  learned  the  trade 
of  a  blacksmith  in  Wilmington,  and  in  1818^  moved 

1  The  most  diiMtrooi  explosion  at  Dupont's  powder-mllli  oocarred 
March  19,  1818.  The  origin  of  the  dimater,  as  given  at  the  time,  was 
the  ponnding-roill.  Several  workmen  were  employed  there  when  one 
of  them  noticed  a  spark  of  fire  on  the  sleeve  of  another.  The  man  who 
made  the  discovery  ran  out  to  the  bridge  over  the  mill-race  and  q>rang 
into  the  water,  dragging  another  workman  with  bim.  These  were  the 
only  two  nved  at  the  immediate  scene  of  the  explosion.  The  ponndlng- 
mill  blew  up  and  covered  the  grain! ng-house  and  magazine  with  a 
shower  of  fire.  The  mngazine,  a  stone  structure,  built  on  solid  rock, 
was  distant  two  hundred  and  fif^  yards.  It  exploded  a  half  hour  later, 
and  the  report  fh>m  the  thirty-flve  tons  of  powder  stored  in  It  was  heard  as 
far  as  Lancaster,  a  distance  of  forty  miles.  Thirty-six  workmen  were 
killed  and  four  received  mortal  injuries.  All  of  the  buildings  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  mills,  including  Mr.  Dupont's  residence,  were  badly 
.  damaged,  and  the  shock  produced  such  consternation  in  Wilmington  that 
many  persons  temporarily  abandoned  their  homes.  Mr.  B.  I.  Dapont 
was  not  at  home,  but  on  his  return  he  pensioned  the  widows  of  the 
victims  at  his  own  expense  and  clothed  and  educated  their  children. 
The  loss  by  the  explosion  was  thirty  thoasand  dollars.  Mr.  Delnms, 
brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Dnpont,  had  bis  shoulder  dislocated.  Marshal 
and  Colonel  Grouchy  were  guests  of  Mr.  Dupont's  family,  and  by  their 
presence  of  mind  and  t  ravery  prevented  greater  loss  of  life  and  property. 
Beferring  to  them  a  Philadelphia  paper  said : 

"These  distinguished  strangers  were  on  a  visit  to  their  friend,  Mr. 
Victor  Dupont,  and  were  preparing  to  go  out  on  a  shooting  party  when 
the  awful  explosion  of  the  powder  works  on  the  Brandywine  took  place. 
Upon  the  first  alarm  they  rushed  out  with  othere  to  the  scene  to  afford 
whatever  assistance  circumstances  might  require,  and  had  Just  crowed 
the  creek  when  the  magazine  blew  up,  spreading  destruction  in  all 
quarters.  A  workman  at  the  elbow  of  Colonel  Grouchy  was  killed  by 
a  stone  which  paiMed  through  his  breast,  and  the  head  of  another  fell 
at  the  Marshal's  feet ;  they,  however,  both  escaped  unhurt  It  was 
supposed  that  all  the  buildings  in  this  quarter  had  been  destroyed  by 
the  first  explosion,  as  they  appeared  to  be  all  in  flames,  but  it  was 
presently  pointed  out  to  them  by  one  of  the  surviving  workmen  that  the 
drying-house  (in  which  they  perceived  through  a  window  there  was  a 
considerable  quantity  of  powder)  had  not  yet  caught  firs. 

**  There  was  time  enough  for  escape  from  all  danger  fh>m  this  building, 
had  they  sought  safety  by  flight ;  but  with  that  decision  and  promptness 
in  action  which  distinguishes  truly  brave  men,  they  instantly  seized 
axes  and  commenced  cutting  and  tearing  awi^  a  kind  of  a  bridge  or 
platform  which  communicated  with  all  the  buildings  and  was  then  in 
flames,  and  which  in  a  few  minutes  more  must  have  set  fire  to  the 
drying  bouse.  Their  example  and  encouragement  drew  others  to  the 
spot,  and  after  great  exertions,  with  the  aid  of  water  buckets,  the  firs 
hero  stopped.  Had  this  building  blown  up,  the  refinery  and  other 
buildings  on  the  right  of  the  creek,  which  had  escaped  from  the 
explosion  of  the  magazine,  together  with  the  c*oth  manufactory  on  the 
left,  with  what  remained  of  the  dwellings  of  the  Mr.  Duponts,  would. 
In  all  probability,  have  been  entirely  destroyed,  and  with  these  buildings 
the  houses  occupied  by  the  wives  and  children  of  the  workmen." 

In  February,  182.1,  an  explosion  occurred  at  the  Eden  Park  Powder- 
Mills,  south  of  the  Christiana,  rvsulling  in  the  death  of  twelve  persons. 

On  April  13,  1847,  nineteen  men  were  killed  by  an  explosion  at 
Du|)ont*B  mtlbi,  and  their  remains  so  scattered  that  the  number  of 
victims  could  only  be  ascertained  by  calling  the  roll  of  employees. 

During  the  forenoon  of  May  30,  1851,  three  five  horse  wagon-loads  of 
powder  from  Dupont's  powder  works  exploded  in  the  streets  of  Wilming- 
ton, while  in  transit  to  the  wharf  for  shipment  The  wagons,  h<Hses 
and  drivers  were  blown  to  pieces,  and  five  tons  of  powder  contributed  to 
the  work  of  destruction.  The  disaster  occurred  on  Fourteenth  Street 
near  Tatnall  and  Market  Streets.    The  residence  of  Bishop  Lee  was 


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t)57 


to  CiDclnnati,  where  he  became  a  leadiog  citizen. 
He  owned  a  large  foundry  and  machine-shop.  He 
diedMay29,1845. 

Isaac  Kendall  was  well  known  to  the  boys  who  went 
swimming  in  the  Brandy  wine  about  1820.  He  was 
called  at  this  time  "Old  Isaac/'  and  lived  many 
yean  later  to  teach  the  boys  how  to  swim,  and  that, 
too,  without  charge.  He  lived  in  a  little  cabin  near 
the  old  barley-mill,  along  the  Brandy  wine,  and  was 
most  happy  when  a  dozen  or  more  youths  of  the  town 
were  his  visitors  and  companions.  They  pasted  the 
walls  of  his  home  with  pictures,  which  delighted 
him. 

The  assessed  valuation  of  goods  in  some  of  the  lead- 
ing stores  in  Wilmington,  in  1825,  was  as  follows : 

Chalkley  Someis,  $4500;  James  Gardner,  $6000; 
Eean  &  Oliver,  $4000 ;  William  &  Robert  Polk,  $2000 ; 
Joseph  Pogue,  $6000;  Gordon  &  Clement,  $3000; 
Jose  Mendenhall,  $2000 ;  William  McCauUey,  $8000 ; 
John  W.  Tatem,  $2000;  Samuel  McCaulley,  $2000; 
William  Townsend,  $4000. 

Jonas  Pusey  moved  from  London  Grove,  Chester 
County,  Pa.,  in  1826,  and  resided  on  the  north  side  of 
Tenth  Street,  second  door  west  of  Market.  He  was 
not  then  a  man  of  means,  but  soon  became  an  enter- 
prising and  public-spirited  citizen.  He  was  the  first 
treasurer  of  the  Savings  Fund  Society,  and  filled  many 
other  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  Lea 
Pusey,  his  brother,  came  to  Wilmington  about  the 
same  time.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  literary  taste,  and 
knew  roost  of  the  poems  of  Burns  by  heart.  Both  the 
brothera  were  conveyancers.  After  1837,  Jonas  Pusey 
moved  to  Seventh  Street,  and  later  lived  in  the  bank 
building.  He  died  October  4,  1851.  Pennock  Pusey, 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Minnesota,  is  his  son. 

Don  C.  Hall  was  the  first  barber  in  Wilmington 
who  advertised  his  business.  It  was  in  1829  that  he 
announced  that  he  would  '*  shave  the  gentry  of  the 
town  once  each  day,  for  $2.50  a  quarter,  and  $1.50  per 
quarter,  3  times  a  week." 

Blythe's  circus  exhibited  at  Cross  Keys  Tavern  in 
1820,  and  in  1827  for  two  weeks  in  the  yard  of  General 
Wolf's  Tavern,  at  Third  and  Market  Streeto.  A  cir- 
cus exhibited  at  the  comer  of  Seventh  and  Market 
Streets,  on  October  3, 1830.  Malcolm  &  Howe's  me- 
nagerie and  circus  spent  one  week  at  Fourth  and 
French  StreeU  in  1846. 

The  woolly  horse  captured  by  General  Fremont  in 
New  Mexico  in  1847,  was  exhibited  in  Wilmington  in 
1S50,  and  considered  a  great  curiosity.  It  was  with 
Van  Amburgh's  circus. 

A  locomotive  built  in  Wilmington  in  1834,  under  the 
direction  of  E.  A.  Young,  chief  engineer  of  the  New 
Castle  and   Frenchtown  Railroad,  on  June  13th  of 

Udlj  (knuMced,  and  thon  of  James  Canby  and  Jamee  E.  Price  were  also 
MTcrely  Injured.  Hundreds  of  window  panee  were  broken.  The  owners 
of  the  povder  paid  the  Igoses.  The  origin  of  the  explosion  was  never 
■soertBliwd. 

On  March  10,  1865,  four  men  were  killed  by  an  explosion  at  the 
GwMche  powder-mills,  at  Eden  Park,  and  on  August  2,  1855,  the 
^rying'hoose  at  the  same  place  was  destroyed  with  one  hundred  tons  of 
powder,  and  all  the  w<^men,  with  one  exception,  were  killed. 


that  year,  was  put  into  successful  operation  on  that 
road.  It  passed  over  twenty-five  feet  ascent  per  mile, 
near  Frenchtown,  at  twelve  miles  per  hour.  Young 
was  a  native  of  Norfolk,  Virginia.  This  was  the  first 
railroad  engine  in  successful  operation  in  Delaware. 

In  1835  a  man  in  South  Carolina  owed  Thomas 
Garrett,  of  Wilmington,  a  considerable  sum  of  money 
for  manufactured  .products  shipped  to  him.  Being 
unable  to  pay  the  debt  in  cash,  he  proposed  to  give  in 
exchange  for  it  a  supply  of  moras  multicauliSf  or  silk 
mulberry  trees,  which  were  then  being  profitably  cul- 
tivated in  his  State.  The  proposition  was  accepted, 
and  Thomas  Garrett  planted  them  on  seven  acres  of 
his  land  south  of  the  Christiana. 

At  this  time  silk-growing  became  a  mania  through- 
out all  the  Middle  and  Northern  States.  In  the  au- 
tumn of  1845  Thomas  Garrett  sold  the  cuttings  on  the 
ground  for  $7500.  The  purchaser  sold  them  to  anoth- 
er for  $10,000,  he  to  a  third  for  $12,000,  he  to  a  fourth 
for  $15,000,  and  the  last  buyer  paid  $18,000  for  them. 
By  this  time  the  morus  muUicaulU  fever  had  abated, 
and  the  trees  were  still  on  the  ground  untouched. 

A  silk  farm  was  established  three  miles  from  Wil- 
mington, along  the  Concord  turnpike,  where  mul- 
berry trees  were  cultivated  and  a  large  cocoonery 
started.  As  late  as  1845  the  crop  reports  show 
that  five  thousand  five  hundred  pounds  of  cocoons 
were  raised  in  Delaware  during  the  year  1845. 

Joseph  Wigglesworth,  in  1837,  owned  the  "  Wil- 
mington Museum,''  at  No.  15  East  Second  Street.  It 
was  a  rare  collection  of  curiosities.  In  1838  he  re- 
ceived one  thousand  birds  from  London  on  the  ship 
**  St.  Jamei»,"  of  New  York.  In  1840  he  had  a  very 
fine  collection  of  birds,  insects,  animals  and  wax 
figures. 

Betty's  Hollow  was  well-known  to  the  school- 
boys of  1840.  "Old  Betty"  lived  alone  in  a 
half  tumbled  down  frame  house  in  this  hollow,  across 
which  was  a  path  leading  to  the  skating  place  on  the 
Brandy  wine  by  the  site  of  the  barley  mill.  She  kept 
chickens  and  ducks  in  great  numbers,  and  they  were 
her  companions.  She  had  no  use  for  boys.  They 
believed  her  to  be  a  witch.  The  depression  surround- 
ing her  cabin  became  known  as  "  Betty's  Hollow," 
and  the  boys  changed  the  path  to  the  skating  park  so 
as  to  run  south  of  her  abode.  She  lived  to  old  age 
and  made  a  little  money  by  telling  fortunes. 

William  Seal,  for  many  years  an  influential  citizen 
of  Wilmington,  died  September  20, 1842,  aged  sixty- 
six  years.  He  filled  many  ofiices  of  public  trust  with 
faithfulness  and  ability.  He  was  president  of  the 
Bank  of  Wilmington  and  Brandy  wine,  and  president 
of  the  Delaware  Fire  Insurance  Company  until  the 
time  of  his  death. 

Arunah  S.  Abell,  now  (1888)  the  aged  and  honor- 
ed proprietor  of  The  Sun,  published  at  Baltimore, 
Md.,  was  the  pioneer  in  the  use  of  the  "  pony  ex- 
press," by  which  he  anticipated  all  his  contempo- 
raries in  announcing  the  exciting  news  of  the  day. 
He  established  relays  of  fleet  ponies  from  Halifax  and 


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HISTOKY  OF  DELAWAKE. 


Portland,  Me.,  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  to  convey  the 
news  brought  by  steamers  from  Europe.  Fifty  hours 
was  the  time  in  which  the  thousand  miles  were  pass- 
ed. The  little  Sun  penny  sheet  then,  as  now,  proved 
itself  to  be  the  peer  in  enterprise  of  the  New  York 
press,  and  far  beyond  its  "  blanket  sheet''  contem- 
poraries in  all  that  push  and  pluck  which  the  modem 
newspaper  requires. 

Mr.  Abell  was  the  master  mind  also  in  organizing 
an  overland  express  for  the  transmission  of  news 
from  the  battle-lields  of  Mexico,  in  1846,  across  the 
continent  to  the  news-rooms  of  27ie  Sun,  in  Balti- 
more, and  The  Ledger  in  Philadelphia,  of  which 
latter  paper  he  was  one  of  the  founders  and  part 
owner.  This  overland  express  consisted  of  **  sixty 
blooded  horses,"  and  cost  over  one  thousand  dollars  a 
month.  It  almost  invariably  anticipated  the  great 
Southern  mail  from  New  Orleans  by  thirty  hours, 
and  kept  the  government  at  Washington  advised  of 
every  important  event  transpiring  at  the  seat 
of  war,  and  thereby  served  the  entire  press  of  the 
country.  Mr  Abell  was  also  the  pioneer  in  utilizing 
the  "  carrier  pigeon  express"  to  Baltimore,  and  the 
newly-invented  magnetic  telegraph  found  in  him  a 
liberal  patron.  As  a  matter  of  scientific  history,  it 
may  be  added  that  the  first  Presidential  message  ever 


THE   PONY   EXPRESS. 

transmitted  by  telegraph  appeared  in  the  columns  of 
The  Sun  on  May  11,  1846.  Mr.  Abell  in  the  sole 
surviving  member  of  the  firm  which  established  and 
created  two  of  the  greatest  and  most  prosperous  news- 
papers in  this  country — The  Sun  in  Baltimore,  Md., 
and  The  Ledger  in  Philadelphia,~both  of  which  have 
a  large  circulation  in  Delaware,  and  command  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  public.  In  a  ripe  old 
age,  Mr.  A.  S.  Abell  enjoys  the  confidence,  respect 
and  afiection  which  a  long  and  useful  life  merits. 
His  hand  has  never  been  missing  from  The  Sun,  and 
he  has  kept  it  abreast  of  every  change  which  the 
publication  of  a  great  newspaper  demands.  In  1887, 
Mr.  Abell  as-^ociated  with  him  in  the  management  of 
The  Sun,  his  three  sons, — George  W.,  Edward  F.  and 
Walter  Abell, — who  are  striving  to  do  their  responsi- 
ble work  for  the  public  with  conscience  and  common 
sense,  honest  purpose  and  clean  hands. 

The  pony  express  established  by  A.  S.  Abell,  about 
1846,  were  largely  looked  to  by  the  newspapers  of 
Delaware  for  the  exciting  news  of  the  day. 

The  messages  of  the  President  were  obtained  in  this 
way  for  early  publication.  It  is  astonishing  how 
rapidly  news  was  carried  by  these  expert  riders,  who 
had  frequent  relays  of  horses.    One  of  the  most  re- 


markable instances  occurred  on  April  2,  1846.  The 
rider  for  The  Sun  and  also  for  the  Delaware  Republi- 
can left  Philadelphia  fifteen  minutes  past  two  o'clock 
in  the  a^rnoon,  and  arrived  in  Wilmington  twenty 
minutes  before  four  o'clock,  traveling  the  distance, 
twenty-eight  miles,  in  one  hour  and  twenty -five  min- 
utes. The  rider  of  The  Sun  and  the  Delaware 
Journal  on  the  same  day  left  Philadelphia  at  half-past 
two  o'clock,  and  arrived  in  Wilmington  ten  minutes 
before  four  o'clock,  making  the  distance  in  one  hour 
and  twenty  minutes.  The  news  they  brought  on  this 
occasion  was  from  Europe,  and  related  to  the  Oregon 
Question  on  the  controversy  between  the  United 
States  and  England,  regarding  the  northwest  bound- 
ary line. 

The  Delaware  Journal ,  on  April  10,  1846,  issued 
an  extra  with  news  from  Europe  sent  by  telegraph 
from  New  York  to  Philadelphia,  and  brought  from 
the  last-named  city  to  Wilmington  and  Baltimore,  for 
the  papers  above  named,  by  pony  express.  This  was 
soon  afler  the  declaration  of  war  between  the  United 
States  and  Mexico,  and  the  news  brought  explained 
the  attitude  of  foreign  governments  toward  the  bel- 
ligerent countries. 

The  Telegraph. — Cyrus  Abbott,  of  Wilmington, 
on  January  23, 1846,  contracted  to  construct  the  first 
telegraph  line  between  Philadelphia  and  Wilmington. 
On  March  28d,  following,  the  posts  were  all  erected, 
and  the  wires  placed  in  position  as  far  as  Chester, 
Pa.  The  wires  were  stretched  to  Wilmington,  and 
the  telegraph  put  in  operation  on  April  13,  1846. 

The  line  was  tested  the  day  following.  The  Dela- 
ware Journal,  in  its  issue  of  April  17th,  says : 

**The  telefcraph  has  be«n  in  micceaifnl  operation  for  the  pa«t  few  days 
and  a  number  of  persons  have  examined  its  operation  on  Tuesday 
afternoon.  Through  the  kindness  of  its  gentlemanly  agent  at  the  sta- 
tion, Joseph  Beatty,  we  witnessed  the  performance  of  this  highway  of 
thought.  The  sales  of  the  afternoon  Board  of  Brolcers,  at  Philadelphia, 
were  ordered  and  in  a  short  time  the  whole  proceedings  were  here.  We 
sent  to  Philadelphia  the  late  n<^w8  from  Washington  received  by  mall, 
on  Tuesday  afternoon,  and  it  was  published  in  the  same  day^s  edition  of 
the  Evenmg  Neuft  of  that  city.    The  charges  ai-e  26c.  for  ten  words.*' 

On  May  the  26th  the  same  paper  contained  the 
following  : 

"  The  line  between  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  was  completed  and 
tested  this  week.  The  whole  line  of  posts,  one  hundred  miles,  was  com- 
pleted in  36  days.  Between  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia  a  newly 
adopted  iron  cord,  instead  of  the  single  wire,  commonly  used,  has  been 
put  into  successful  operation.  This  iron  cord  was  made  at  a  wire  fac- 
tory in  New  Jersey." 

••The  only  link  now  wanting  in  the  great  chain  of  the  electric  tele- 
graph between  Washington  and  Boston  through  Wilmington,  is  the  die* 
tance  fh)m  Bridgeport  to  New  Haven,  Connecticut  When  this  great 
scheme  is  completed  it  will  make  the  Union  a  whispering  gallery  and 
re-echo  through  the  country  with  instantaneous  speed  from  one  extreme 
to  the  other." 

The  line  from  Washington  to  Boston  was  com- 
pleted June  23,  1846. 

The  first  telegraph  office  in  Wilmington  was  in  the 
second  story  of  the  Wilson  Building,  corner  of  Fifth 
and  Market  Streets.  The  telegraph  line  down  the 
Peninsula  to  Dover  and  Mil  ford  was  completed  in 
1848. 

The  telegraph  office  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and 
Market  Streets  was  moved  to  the  central  building, 
corner  Front  and  King  Streets,  on  June  12,  1848. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


659 


Banes'  Tel^mph  Line  was  completed  between 
Baltimore  and  Wilmington  May  27,  1^49.  It  was 
afterwards  the  North  American  Telegraph  Line. 

The  third  of  a  class  of  new  passenger  coaches 
for  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore 
Railroad  Company,  made  by  Betts,  Harlan  &^ 
Hollingsworth,  was  first  placed  on  the  road  June  19, 
1848,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Asbury  Sunday 
School,  on  an  excursion  to  the  Susquehanna  River. 
The  cars  were  fifty  feet  long,  eight  feet  eight  inches 
wide.  They  were  one-third  longer  than  any  cars 
previously  used  on  the  same  soad.  They  had  two 
apartments,  one  for  ladies  and  one  for  gentlemen, 
and  were  provided  with  a  sofa  and  mirrors.  The 
seats  were  of  crimson  velvet. 

The  railroad  company,  on  June  20,  1848,  bought  of 
J.  A  J.  W.  Duncan,  for  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  seven 
acres  of  the  old  ferry  property,  as  a  site  for  a  new 
station.  J.  W.  Duncan,  the  next  year,  moved  to 
Chicago  to  engage  in  the  lumber  business.  J.  &  J. 
A  Harris  completed  their  marine  railway  in  1850. 

On  the  day  the  cars  first  came  to  Wilmington,  an 
old  gentleman  passed  up  Market  Street  after  having 
seen  the  train,  informing  every  one  that  he  had  heard 
Oliver  Evans,  the  inventor,  tell  his  father,  many  years 
before,  that  it  would  only  be  a  few  hours'  journey 
from  Philadelphia  to  Baltimore,  and  that  carriages 
would  be  invented  to  go  without  horses.  When  the 
predicUon  was  made,  it  is  said  a  Quaker  stepped  up 
and  said,  "  Oliver,  I  always  thought  thy  brain  was  a 
little  cracked,  and  now  I  know  it  I" 

A  church  stood  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Tat- 
nall  Streets,  on  a  site  procured  on  ground  rent 
from  Mr.  Hallowell,  and  the  lease  expired  Thurs- 
day night  November  25,  1849.  The  trustees  wanted 
to  buy  the  land,  but  the  owner  asked  an  extravagant 
price,  and  at  the  last  minute  announced  that  he 
would  claim  the  building  after  the 'lease  expired. 
The  bellman  was  sent  through  the  town  to  proclaim 
the  removal,  and  just  before  midnight  a  large  crowd 
collected  and  removed  it,  amidst  great  excitement. 

David  C.  Wilson  in  1846  bought  twenty  acres  of 
land,  for  three  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars,  op- 
posite the  old  Cross  Keys  Tavern,  which  was  situated 
on  what  is  now  the  southwest  corner  of  Brandy  wine 
Cemetery,  laid  it  out  into  streets  and  lots,  and  called 
it  Washington.  It  is  now  part  of  the  city  of  Wil- 
mington. 

Charles  I.  Du  Pont  &  Co.  in  1846  exhibited  at  the 
National  Fair  at  Washington,  cloths,  cassimeres  and 
kerseys  of  their  own  manufacture.  The  government 
then  ordered  sixty  thousand  yards  of  kerseys  and 
twenty  thousand  yards  of  blue  cloth  for  the  army 
daring  the  Mexican  War. 

Large  brickyards  were  operated  in  Wilmington  in 
1846  by  D.  C.  Wilson,  Evan  Coxe,  Samuel  McCaulley, 
Jacob  Rice,  William  Lovell  and  Washington  Moore. 
During  that  year  nine  million  bricks  were  made,  and 
thirteen  million  in  1848.  McCaulley  &  Rice  in  1848 
built  a  brick-making  machine,  propelled  by  steam. 


It  cost  ten  tliousand  dollars  and  made  twenty-five 
thousand  bricks  a  day. 

Superior  cloths  were  made  at  the  Wilmington 
mills  early  in  the  present  century.  When  the  War 
of  1812  opened,  exportation  of  goods  was  cut  off. 
The  chief  market  then  was  Philadelphia,  but  some  of 
the  merchants  of  that  city  claimed  that  American 
cloths  were  inferior  to  the  foreign.  An  English  agent 
took  the  entire  supply  of  goods  then  on  hand  in  Wil- 
mington, shipped  them  to  Philadelphia  and  disposed 
of  them  there  as  English  goods.  It  was  a  clever 
trick  and  made  the  cloths  of  the  Wilmington  mills 
popular  before  it  was  discovered.  Large  quantities 
of  them  wen^  sold  soon  after  this  event. 

In  1848  there  were  two  lines  of  steamboats  running 
between  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia.  Competition 
was  lively,  and  the  fare  was  put  down  to  twenty-five 
cents.  The  railroad  reduced  the  fare  to  twelve  and 
a  half  cents.  The  boats,  to  meet  this,  for  a  time 
charged  but  ten  cents. 

In  1866  there  were  160  persons  in  Wilmington 
between  75  and  102  years  old ;  14  were  over  90  years. 
David  Hammond  was  102. 

Henry  Herz,  composer  and  pianist  to  the  King  of 
France  and  professor  in  the  Royal  Conservatory  of 
Paris,  with  Signora  Pico,  of  the  Italian  Opera  of 
Milan,  and  Savoni  the  violinist,  gave  a  concert  in  the 
City  Hall,  December  7,  1846.  Says  a  local  journal : 
"There  never  was  so  swell  an  audience  in  Wilming- 
ton before.  The  ladies  were  dressed  in  opera  style, 
and  there  was  a  brilliant  array  of  beauty  and 
fashion." 

Charles  Grobe,  of  Wilmington,  in  1847,  wrote  a 
piece  of  music  entitled  **  Buena  Vista,"  named  in 
honor  of  General  Taylor's  famous  victory  over  the 
Mexicans.  "  Old  Rough  and  Ready  "  sent  a  glowing 
compliment  to  the  composer  after  he  heard  it  played. 

Adams  Express  Company  opened  its  first  office  in 
Wilmington,  December  12,  1847.  J.  Shaw  was  the 
first  agent.  William  F.  O'Daniel  in  1850  sold  the 
first  sewing-machines  in  Wilmington. 

Lieutenant  Joseph  Roberts,  of  Wilmington,  was  in 
all  the  leading  engagements  of  the  Florida  War. 
Soon  after  its  close  he  was  made  Assistant  Professor  of 
Natural  Philosophy  in  West  Point  Military  Academy, 
until  1848,  when  he  was  appointed  a  captain  in  the 
Fourth  Regiment  of  the  United  States  Artillery. 

Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the 
Fourth  Regiment  of  Delaware  Militia  in  1848. 

William  Holland  in  1848  was  appointed  an  en- 
gineer in  the  United  States  navy,  and  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Graham,  in  1850,  was  detailed  by  the  War 
Department  to  assist  in  running  the  northwest  bound- 
ary line  of  the  United  States.  Both  were  from  Wil- 
mington. 

Business  Men  of  Wilmington  in  1845. — Near'y 
all  the  stores,  previous  to  this  year,  were  on  Market 
Street.  The  city  began  to  grow  rapidly  about  this 
time,  and  stores  were  opened  on  all  of  the  streets. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  merchants  of  the  city 


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HISTORV^  OF  DELAWARE. 


for  1845.  The  present  plan  of  numbering  houses  did 
not  go  into  effect  until  three  years  later. 

Jewelry  Stores, — Ziba  Ferris,  corner  Market  and 
Fourth ;  W.  F.  Robinson,  Market  Street,  near  Fifth ; 
Benjamin  S.  Clark,  Market  above  Fourth;  Charles 
Canby,  83  Market  Street ;  John  F.  Robinson,  second 
door  above  Farmers*  Bank. 

Dry- Goods  Stores, — John  McClung,  next  door  to 
Bank  of  Brandywine ;  Washington  Jones,  43  Market 
Street ;  William  Martin,  Jr.,  J.  P.  Young's  old  stand, 
84  Market  Street ;  B.  A.  Janvier,  N.  W.  comer  Fifth 
and  Market  Streets ;  H.  B.  Penington  <&  Son,  S.  £. 
comer  Market  and  Fourth  Streets ;  Spencer  D.  Eves, 
removed  to  new  store,  47  Market  Street;  M.  W. 
Aylwin,  45  Market  Street;  J.  T.  Bonsall,  76  Market 
Street;  John  McLear,  99  Market  Street;  Samuel 
Buzby,  62  Market  Street ;  James  Megratton,  52  Market 
Street ;  A.  C.  Thompson,  101  Market  Street ;  Norris 
W.  Palmer,  74  Market  Street. 

Drug  ^SJore*.— Marshall  Phillips,  S.  W.  corner  Fifth 
and  Market  Streets ;  Benjamin  Johnson,  179  Market 
Street ;  Joseph  Bringhurst,  87  Market  Street ;  Edward 
Bringhurst,  corner  Sixth  and  Market  Streets ;  E.  G. 
Chandlee  &  Co.,  44i  Market  Street ;  John  P.  Polk, 
three  doors  below  Second  on  Market. 

Groceries, — George  D.  Armstrong,  N.  E.  corner 
Market  and  Third  Streets ;  Slocum  &  Vane,  comer 
Second  and  King  Streets ;  Edward  L.  Rice,  7  East 
Second  Street ;  John  B.  Lewis,  corner  Market  and 
Seventh  Streets ;  George  W.  Robinson,  corner  Third 
and  Poplar  Streets ;  Thomas  B.  Rice,  S.  W.  corner 
Market  and  Front  Streets ;  Robert  Cleland,  Second 
Street,  opposite  market-house ;  John  H.  Barr,  S.  E. 
corner  Second  and  Market  Streets ;  William  Murphy, 
Jr.,  corner  Tenth  and  Shipley  Streets;  William 
Morrow,  Fourth  between  Market  and  King  Streets ; 
Jacob  S.  Weldin,  King  and  Seventh  Streets ;  Jacob 
Rice,  corner  Market  and  Fifteenth  Streets;  Henry 
Read,  S.  W.  corner  Second  and  Walnut  Streets;  J,  & 
J.  C.  Aiken,  corner  Market  and  Fourth  Streets. 

Bookstores,^Yi&DLTy  Moore,  61  Market  Street;  John 
B.  Porter,  97  Market  Street ;  Wilson  &  Heald,  107 
Market  Street. 

Hardware, — T.  &  H.  Garrett,  Shipley  above  Second 
Street;  T.  &  J.  B.  Morrison,  18  Market  Street;  John 
L.  Hadden  &  Co.,  57  Market  Street;  George  Richard- 
son, 72  Market  Street ;  Henry  G.  Banning,  42  Market 
Street ;  John  A.  Duncan,  50  Market  Street ;  R.  B. 
Gilpin,  corner  Third  and  Shipley  Streets. 

Miscellaneous, — Evan  J.  Pusey,  wood  and  coal,  4 
Market  Street ;  William  H.  Naff,  auctioneer,  1  West 
Fourth  Street ;  Franklin  Supplee,  flour  and  feed  store, 
West  and  Front  Streets ;  Andrew  S.  Clark,  painting 
and  glazing,  Shipley  near  Third  Street ;  C.  S.  Patter- 
son, tailor.  Market  above  Sixth  Street;  T.  Dooley, 
shoe  store,  corner  Sixih  and  Shipley  Streets;  Patrick 
Kelley,  dyeing  works,  Shipley  above  Fourth  Street ; 
Andrew  Jack,  shoe  store,  Market  above  Sixth  Street ; 
William  Alexander,  baker,  Market  above  Fourth 
Street;    George  Kates,  cabinetmaker.  Market  near 


Front  Street;  William  S.  Pine,  hat  store.  Market 
below  Third  Street;  Abram  Alderdice,  grain-fan- 
maker.  Front  and  Orange  Streets ;  Henry  Mitchell, 
sash  factory,  Front  near  West  Street;  William  G. 
Lowe,  clothing  store,  22  Market  Street;  Edward 
Robinson,  stove  store,  N.  E.  corner  Second  and  King 
Streets;  J.  A.  Hunter,  saddler,  opposite  Bank  of 
Delaware ;  Thomas  H.  Robinson,  60  Market  Street ; 
R.  Wallace  &  Co.,  shoe-finding  store,  8  Market  Street ; 
Jonas  P.  Fairlamb,  civil  engineer,  Shipley  above 
Third  Street ;  J.  B.  Moore,  Orange,  between  Front 
and  Second ;  Robert  Douglass,  Venetian  blind  manu- 
factory, 18  Sixth  Street ;  Slocum  &  Vane,  commis- 
sion store,  Second  and  King  Streets ;  Adam  Car- 
penter, wool  dealer  and  skinner,  Tatnall  and  Fifth 
Streets ;  Thomas  D.  Webb,  hat  store,  56  Market 
Street ;  Porter  &  Naff,  Sfate  Journal,  97  Market  Street ; 
Evans  &  Vernon,  Delaware  Republican,  Third  and 
Market  Streets;  William  McCaulley,  conveyancer. 
169  Market  Street;  Alfred  D.  Thompson,  portrait 
painter.  Temperance  Hall ;  R.  Greenwood,  fiancy  sign 
painter,  Shipley  Street ;  John  C.  Brison,  plumber,  9 
East  Fourth  Street;  Samuel  McClary,  Jr.,  cabinet- 
maker, Shipley  above  Fourth  Street;  William  G. 
Jones,  cabinetmaker,  Shipley  above  Front  Street ;  J. 
Rumford,  hatter,  92  Market  Street;  S.  &  E.  Wilson, 
notion  store,  Market  above  Fourth  Street ;  Jacob  M. 
Garretson,  shoe  store,  7  East  Fourth  Street;  E.  T. 
Taylor  &  Co.,  china  store,  66  Market  Street;  David 
McCall,  segar  store,  N.  E.  comer  Market  and  Fourth 
Streets ;  Lewis  Thatcher,  shutter  factory,  Shipley  and 
Seventh  Streets;  Jeandell  &  Vincent,  Blue  Hen*s 
Chicken,  Market  and  Front  Streets ;  James  Robinson, 
marble-yard.  Ninth  and  Market  Streets ;  Calvin  Tag- 
gart,  coal  dealer,  Steamboat  Wharf ;  Johnson  &  Bosee, 
Delaware  Gazette,  2  East  Fourth  Street ;  John  Yohe, 
shoe  store,  opposite  City  Hall ;  Hartley  &  Foreman, 
cabinetmakers,  103  Shipley  Street;  Charles  Devon, 
shoe  store,  104  Market  Street;  Joseph  C.  Carpenter, 
ice  cream  maker,  145  Market  Street ;  George  Powell, 
tailor,  78  Market  Street ;  William  F.  G'Daniel,  mer- 
chant tailor,  46  Market  Street ;  Joseph  Wall,  livery 
stable.  Fourth  and  Tatnall  Streets ;  Jonas  Pusey,  sur- 
veyor and  notary,  145  Market  Street;  James  Grubb, 
Jr.,  shoe  store,  100  Market  Street;  NewUn  Pyle, 
leather  store,  Shipley,  near  Front  Street ;  John  Sparks, 
millinery,  88  Market  Street;  William  Chandler, 
tanner  and  currier,  Fourth  and  Tatnall  Streets; 
William  Clark,  Lehigh  and  Schuylkill  coal ;  Enoch 
Roberts,  soap  and  candles,  Third  and  Orange  Streets; 
Henry  S.  McComb,  leather  store.  Third  and  Orange 
Streets ;  Lydia  C.  Wolfe,  millinery,  41  Market  Street ; 
James  M.  Roach,  barber,  S.  W.  corner  Sixth  and 
Market  Streets;  D.  &  George  Bush,  coal  dealers, 
French  Street  wharf;  John  M.  Moedinger,  baker. 
King,  between  Second  and  Third  Streets;  John 
Noblit,  cabinetmaker,  corner  ^larket  and  Sixth 
Streets ;  William  H.  Griffin,  stove  and  tin  store,  40 
Market  Street ;  Thomas  J.  MahaflTey,  stove  and  tin 
store,  110  Market  Street. 


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The  country  seats  and  mansions  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Wilmington,  in  1845,  were  owned  and 
occupied  by  the  following-named  persons :  Captain 
John  Andrews,  Red  Lion  Boad ;  Henry  W.  Bartram, 
Dear  railroad  bridge;  John  R.  Brinckle,  farmer, 
Kennett  Boad ;  Edward  T.  Bellak,  farmer,  near  Brandy- 
wine;  James  T.  Bird,  Newport  Boad ;  J.  S.  H.  Boise, 
fanner,  old  King's  Boad;  Peter  Bowman,  farmer, 
Philadelphia  Boad;  James  Cleaden,  farmer,  New 
Castle  Boad ;  Colonel  S.  B.  Davis,  Lancaster  Boad ; 
Charles  Egner,  near  Delaware  Biver ;  Benjamin 
Elliott,  farmer,  Concord  Boad ;  Isaac  Cloud  Elliott, 
farmer,  near  Brandywine;  Eliza  Elliott,  Concord 
Road;  W.  B.  Garden,  farmer,  Philadelphia  Boad; 
John  Gardner,  near  old  King*s  Boad ;  J.  B.  Garesche, 
powder-mill,  Eden  Park ;  Bev.  S.  M.  Gay  ley.  Classical 
Institute,  Lancaster  Boad ;  John  B.  Latimer,  farmer, 
Newport  Boad ;  Joseph  Floyd,  farmer,  Kennett  Boad; 
Joseph  Mendenhall,  farmer,  Brandywine  Hundred; 
Andrew  McKee,  farmer.  Concord  Boad ;  George  B. 
McLane,  M.D.,  Kennett  Boad ;  Alexander  S.  Bead, 
Lancaster  Boad ;  Ashton  Bichardson,  farmer,  New- 
port Road ;  William  Bobinson,  farmer,  Philadelphia 
Road ;  John  Schofield,  Cross-Keys  Tavern,  Kennett 
Road ;  Eli  Wilson,  farmer,  Philadelphia  Boad. 

In  1845  there  were  in  Wilmington  fourteen  clergy- 
men, thirteen  physicians,  three  cuppers  and  leechers, 
two  judges,  eleven  attorneys,  twelve  houses  of  religious 
worship,  seventeen  public  and  benevolent  institutions, 
two  insurance  companies,  six  fire  companies,  sixteen 
hotels,  forty  schools  and  ten  thousand  six  hundred 
and  thirty-nine  inhabitants.  There  were  erected  that 
year  two  hundred  and  ninety-eight  houses  in  this  city 
and  three  hundred  and  fifty  in  1847. 

General  Tom  Thumb,  "the  little  great  man,"  first 
presented  himself  before  a  Wilmington  audience, 
December  26,  1848.  He  announced  that  he  had  kissed 
a  million  ladies  and  had  a  few  more  kisses  left  for 
Delaware  lasses.  He  was  then  seventeen  years  old, 
weighing  fifteen  pounds  and  was  twenty-eight  inches 
high. 

8ignor  Blitz,  "  the  great  and  unrivalled  magician," 
first  exhibited  in  Wilmington,  May  10,  1848;  he 
"  brought  the  moon  to  the  earth  and  sent  the  stars  on 
a  wild  goose  chase  through  the  backwoods  in  the 
shortest  kind  of  notice." 

Signer  L.  Grassa,  the  world-renowned  pianist, 
played  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  in  1850,  and  spent  part 
of  the  summer  at  Brandywine  Springs. 

Ole  Bull,  the  greatest  violinist  of  this  century, 
appeared  in  City  Hall,  January  21, 1845 ;  an  immense 
audience  greeted  him. 

Jenny  Lind,  the  Swedish  songstress,  passed  through 
Wilmington,  December  7, 1850,  in  a  private  car  on 
her  way  from  Philadelphia  to  Baltimore,  where  she 
sang  the  following  evening.  The  highest  price  paid 
for  admission  was  one  hundred  dollars.  The  average 
price  of  the  tickets  was  $7.50.  Genin,  a  hat  manu- 
fi^turer,  paid   nearly  three  hundred  dollars  for  a 


ticket  to  hear  her  sing  a  few  nights  before  in  Castle 
Garden,  New  York  City. 

The  Siamese  Twins  were  exhibited  for  the  first 
time  in  Wilmington,  December  13,  1836,  and  the  last 
time  in  1878. 

Elihu  Burritt,  "  the  learned  blacksmith,"  lectured 
before  the  Ciceroneon  Literary  Society  December  5, 
1842. 

Edgar  Allan  Poe,  the  distinguished  American  poet, 
lectured  for  the  Wilmington  Lyceum  November  24, 
1843. 

Allan  McLane  died  in  California,  February  23, 
1850.  He  was  a  son  of  Dr.  Allan  McLane,  of  Wilming- 
ton. He  entered  the  American  Navy  but  in  1840  re- 
signed and  emigrated  to  Missouri,  settled  in  Platte  City 
as  a  lawyer,  and  later  published  a  newspaper,  and  waa 
a  member  of  the  State  Senate.  He  was  one  of  the 
"  forty-niners  "  in  California. 

Midshipman  Charles  Bayard,  son  of  Bichard  H. 
Bayard,  died  at  Naples,  March  20, 1850.  A  few  daya 
before  his  death,  while  visiting  Mount  Vesuvius,  he 
passed  down  into  its  crater  where  an  unexpected  erup- 
tion of  the  volcano  occurred.  Huge  stones  were 
thrown  up  in  the  air ;  one  falling  struck  him  in  the 
right  side  of  his  body.  His  right  arm  was  amputated 
after  which  there  were  hopes  of  his  recovery,  but  the 
injury  proved  fatal. 

In  1852,  William  B.  Anderson,  son  of  Daniel  B. 
Anderson,  of  Wilmington,  colored,  when  quite  a  young 
man  went  to  the  Republic  of  Liberia,  in  Africa.  He 
possessed  remarkable  intelligence  and  soon  gained  a 
good  reputation  and  exercised  a  commanding  in- 
fluence among  the  people  of  his  race  in  that  country. 
Aftier  a  few  years  of  residence  there  he  was  elected 
speaker  of  the  lower  branch  of  the  National  Legisla- 
ture. He  served  one  term  in  that  position  and  then 
was  elected  by  the  government  of  Liberia  to  negotiate 
a  five  hundred  thousand  dollar  loan  in  England.  Soon 
afl»r  accomplishing  this  he  visited  his  parents  in 
Wilmington.  He  then  left  the  public  service  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  business  and  accumulated  con- 
siderable property.  On  the  14th  of  September,  1872, 
he  was  assassinated  in  Monrovia,  the  capital  of  the 
country,  by  a  political  opponent.  He  died  on  the  27th 
of  the  same  month  in  his  forty-third  year.  It  is  said 
he  was  the  ablest  colored  man  Delaware  has  produced. 

William  R.  Sellers,  a  gentleman  well-known  in 
Delaware,  died  May  1,  1855.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  represented  the  First  Ward  in  City  Coun- 
cil for  many  years  and  was  president  of  that  body 
from  1843  to  1849.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Wilmington  by  President  Tyler  and  recommissioned 
by  President  Polk,  and  was  director  in  the  Philadel.- 
phia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad  Company. 
He  was  a  generous  and  noble-hearted  citizen. 

In  1855,  the  city  of  Wilmington,  collected  and  sent 
$2284  to  the  sufferers  from  yellow  fever,  in  Norfolk, 
and  Portsmouth,  Virginia. 

In  1878,  the  city  of  Wilmington,  sent  to  the  yellow 
fever  sufferers,  in  Memphis,  Vicksburg,  Jackson  and 


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New  Orleans,  $2878;  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  $531 ;  Masons,  $229 ;  Odd  Fellows,  $389 ; 
concert  of  Millard  Club,  $710 ;  several  of  the  churches 
sent  upwards  of  $100.  The  total  amount  contributed 
by  Wilmington,  was  $6777. 

Charles  Moore,  now  the  oldest  ship-carpenter  in 
Delaware,  was  born  May  29,  1807.  He  is  a  son  of 
Enoch  Moore,  and  grandson  of  Nathaniel  Moore,  who 
came  to  Wilmington  about  1800,  and  engaged  in  the 
shipping  business  with  Barney  Harris. 

Charles  Moore,  laid  the  plans  for  the  Ashland  and 
the  Ocean,  the  first  iron  vessels,  double  propellers,  built 
by  the  Harlan  &  Hoi  lings  worth  Company.     He  re- 


CHARLE8  MOORE. 

modelled  and  put  in  shape  the  vessels  of  the  Wilming- 
ton Whaling  Company.  He  planned  all  the  vessels 
for  Thomas  Young  &  Co.,  and  E.  &  C.  Moore,  for 
fifteen  years,  and  is  one  of  the  best  informed  persons 
on  ship-building,  in  the  country. 

Dell  Noblit,  who  on  account  of  having  lived  the 
age  of  100  years,  was  somewhat  a  historic  personage  in 
Wilmington.  He  was  born  in  Middletown,  Delaware 
county,  Pennsylvania,  October  16,  1777,  of  French 
Huguenot  parents.  He  moved  to  Wilmington,  in 
1810.  He  was  twice  married,  and  was  father  of  six- 
teen children. 

Hon.  Henry  Wilson,  in  October,  1856,  in  the  City 
Hall  of  Wilmington,  addressed  the  firdt  Republican 
meeting,  held  in  the  State  of  Delaware.  He  was  then 
United  States  Senator  from  Massachusetts,  and  after- 
wards vice-president  during  Grant's  second  adminis- 
tration. This  speech  was  delivered  during  the  can- 
didacy of  General  Fremont  as  the  first  nominee  of  the 
Republican  party,  for  President  of  the  United  States, 
against  James  Buchanan,  Democrat  who  was  elected. 
Delaware  that  year  cast  but  three  hundred  votes  for 
Fremont,  known  in  campaign  hiotory  as  ^Hbe  immor- 
tal three  hundred.''  Wilson  aft;erwards  reminded  a 
distinguished  Delaware  statesman,  that  he  received 
exactly  three  hundred  electoral  votes  when  he  waa 
chosen  Vice-President. 

Theonly  time  that  Andrew  Johnson  paid  his  respects 
to  Wilmington  people  was  on  the  occasion  of  his  tour 


of  the  States,  in  the  Spring  of  1866.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  William  H.  Seward,  Secretary  of  State, 
and  General  Grant,  then  Secretary  of  War.  The 
President  made  a  brief  speech,  from  the  platform  of 
the  car,  while  the  train  was  standing  at  the  depot. 

General  Grant  made  a  visit  to  Wilmington  on 
Thursday,  February  3,  1873,  -  a  month  previous  to 
his  second  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United 
States.  The  city  put  on  her  holiday  attire,  and  in- 
terest and  enthusiasm  knew  no  bounds.  Mayor 
Simms,  a  committee  of  City  Council  and  a  committee 
of  citizens  went  to  Perryville  to  meet  him.  As  the 
train  was  crossing  the  State  line,  the  mayor,  in  be- 
half of  the  committees,  received  the  President  in  a 
glowing  speech.  He  came  here  to  take  a  view  at  the 
industrial  establishments  of  the  city,  and  in  response 
spoke  as  follows: 

"  It  gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure  that  I  have  this 
opportunity  of  visiting  Wilmington,  the  chief  city  of 
the  State  of  Delaware,  and  noted  throughout  the 
Union  for  her  manufacturing  and  commercial  inter- 
ests. Especially  was  the  invitation  to  come  interest- 
ing to  me,  since  it  was  not  a  partisan  one.  I  shall  be 
delighted  to  visit  your  manufacturing  establishments 
and  accept  the  hospitalities  of  your  people." 

When  the  train,  at  12.20  p.m.,  arrived  at  the  sta- 
tion, the  President  and  party,  including  George  M. 
Robeson,  Secretary  of  Navy,  and  George  W.  Childs, 
were  escorted  to  the  residence  of  Joshua  T.  Heald, 
at  Delaware  Avenue  and  Broome  Street,  where  the 
distinguished  party  was  waited  upon  by  the  Governor 
of  Delaware  and  the  members  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture. Miss  Emma  Worrell,  in  behalf  of  the  ladies, 
presented  General  Grant  with  a  beautiful  bouquet 
"  for  his  great  act  in  excluding  wine  from  his  New 
Year's  reception."  At  two  o'clock  the  entire  party 
started  on  a  visit  to  the  leading  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments, and  at  5.30  proceeded  to  Institute  Hall, 
where  four  hundred  persons  partook  of  a  banquet. 
At  eight  o'clock  the  President  was  escorted  to  the 
military  fair  in  Masonic  Temple.  As  he  entered, 
the  band  struck  up  "Hail  to  the  Chief."  Thirty- 
seven  young  ladies,  representing  the  States  of  the 
Union,  formed  in  a  semi-circle  on  the  stage,  and 
sang  a  patriotic  air  entitled  "  Welcome  to  the  Chief." 
He  proceeded  to  the  stage  and  shook  hands  with 
each  of  the  ladies*,  and  then  was  introduced  to  hun- 
dreds of  citizens  by  Ex-Mayor  Valentine.  At  ten 
P.M.  he  became  the  guest  of  Joseph  C.  Grubb  on 
King  Street,  and  at  1  a.m.  left,  in  the  train  for  Wash- 
ington. 

Dom  Pedro,  Emperor  of  Brazil,  while  on  his  visit 
to  the  United  States  during  the  Centennial  year,  was 
the  guest  for  one  day  of  William  S.  Auchincloss  in 
Wilmington,  who  had  previously  spent  some  lime  in 
Brazil,  in  the  interests  of  the  Jackson  &  Sharp  Com- 
pany, and  wrote  a  book  describing  the  resources  of 
that  country.  The  emperor  was  met  at  the  railroad 
by  a  delegation  of  manufacturers.  He  visited  a 
number  of  the  leading  industrial  establishments  and 


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some  of  the  public  schools,  with  the  design  of  exam- 
iniog  into  their  managemeut  for  the  purpose  of 
introducing  needed  improvements  in  his  own  coun- 
try. He  returned  to  Philadelphia  in  the  evening  of 
the  same  day. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
WILMINGTON— ( (kmtinued), 
PUBOC  IMPROVEMENTS,  ETC. 

The  Post-Office. — ^The  present  postal  system 
wgs  established  in  the  year  1790,  during  the  first  term 
of  President  Washington's  administration.  In  that 
year  Joseph  Bringhurst  became  the  first  post-master 
at  Wilmington.  He  kept  the  office  in  a  small  room 
adjoining  his  drug  store,  on  Market  Street,  below 
Third.  Few  letters  and  papers  were  received  and  few 
were  sent,  as  the  entire  population  of  the  town  at 
that  time  did  not  exceed  2,500.  Mails  arrived  daily 
ftom  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  and  was  brought' 
by  means  of  post-coaches.  The  amount  required  to 
lend  a  letter  depended  upon  the  distance,  and  hence 
the  postage  was  paid  by  the  one  who  received  the 
letter,  ranging  from  five  to  twenty-five  cents.  Joseph 
Bringhurst  held  the  office  continously  from  1790  to 
1823,  a  third  of  a  century.  His  successor  was  Ni- 
cholasG.  Williamson,  a  lawyer,  who  was  appointed  by 
President  Monroe,  and  continued  in  office  under  John 
Qaincy  Adams,  Andrew  Jackson  and  Martin  Van 
Boren,  serving  from  1823  to  1841,  or  eighteen  years. 
While  Williamson  was  post-master  the  office  was 
kept  at  the  Northwest  corner  of  Third  and  Shipley 
Streets.  When  Harrison  became  President,  in  1841, 
he  appointed  Jacob  Alrich  post-master.  Airich  was 
an  ardent  Whig,  had  been  a  jeweller  and  machinist, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  appointment  lived  in  a  house 
opposite  the  site  of  the  present  court-house.  He 
moved  the  post-office  to  Cyrus  Newlin's  store,  near 
the  Delaware  House.  Upon  the  death  of  the  Presi- 
dent and  the  succession  of  Vice-President  Tyler  to 
the  office,  Alrich  was  removed  and  John  McClung, 
a  dry-goods  merchant  who  had  a  store  on  Market 
Street,  was  appointed  in  his  place.^  The  office  was 
removed  April  1,  1842,  to  the  Southwest  corner  of 
Third  and  Market  Streets,  where  it  continued  until 
the  Government  building  was  erected,  in  1855,  at 
Sixth  and  King  Streets.  The  chief  clerk  during 
McClung's  term  and  for  several  years  succeeding, 
was  James  A.  Roche,  a  small  man  with  a  club  foot, 
who  was  so  familiar  with  the  duties  of  the  office  and 
also  very  popular,  that  the  public  learned  to  think 
his  services  almost  indispensable  to  the  Wilmington 
Po8tH)ffice. 

1  DiriDg  hit  administrattoD  he  anoonnced,  by  authority  of  the  Poet 
Ofic«  DopartmeDt,  that  the  portage  od  letters  weighing  a  half  ounce  or 
lea,  and  tent  three  hundred  milee  or  leas,  would  be  five  cents,  and 
«k«o  tax  over  three  hundred  milee,  ten  cents. 


When  James  K.  Polk  became  President,  in  1844, 
McClung  retired  and  William  R.  Sellars  was  given 
the  place.  He  was  a  prominent  hatter,  lived  on 
Market  Street,  near  Third,  and  held  the  office  four 
years.  The  Whigs  again  came  into  power  in  national 
affairs  under  President  Taylor,  and  appointed  Henry 
H.  J.  Naff,  editor  of  the  Journal^  postmaster  at  Wil- 
mington. He  was  continued  under  Fillmore,  serving 
until  1852.  Franklin  Pierce  in  that  year  gave  the 
office  to  Dr.  Henry  F.  Askew,  a  leading  physician  of 
the  city,  who  was  prominent  as  a  local  politician  in 
the  Democratic  party.  His  chief  clerk  wan  John 
Otto.  President  Buchanan  continued  Askew  until 
the  opening  of  the  Civil  War,  in  1861. 

It  was  during  Dr.  Askew's  term,  in  1855,  that  the 
office  was  removed  to  the  Government  building  on 
King  Street.  The  appropriation  for  the  building  was 
obtained  largely  through  the  exertions  of  Hon. 
George  Read  Riddle,  then  a  Representative  in  Con- 
gress from  the  city  of  Wilmington.  His  efforts  were 
ably  seconded  by  United  States  Senators  James  A. 
Bayard  and  Martin  W.  Bates.  The  site  for  the  build- 
ing was  selected  by  Mr.  Riddle.  It  was  previously 
occupied  by  Moore's  carriage  works.  The  land  was 
purchased  May  27, 1853,  for  $3,500,  the  contract  price 
for  constructing  the  building  being  $29,234.  The 
cost,  however,  before  it  was  completed  was  $40,146..34 ; 
in  1869  certain  improvements  were  added,  making  the 
entire  cost  of  the  building  $45,400.29. 

After  an  earnest  and  prolonged  contest  for  the 
office  of  postmaster  in  1861,  President  Lincoln  ap- 
pointed Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw,  who  immediately  upon 
assuming  the  duties  of  office,  selected  an  entire  new 
force  of  employees.  George  D.  Armstrong,  at  present 
(1888)  cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  was  given 
the  position  ol  assistant-postmaster,  and  Isaiah 
Thomas,  previously  a  mail  agent  on  the  railroad,  as- 
sistant clerk.  There  were  then  two  carriers.  On  the 
death  of  President  Lincoln  and  the  succession  of  An- 
drew Johnson,  another  clean  sweep  was  made  of  the 
Federal  officers  in  Delaware.  Captain  Joseph  M. 
Barr  was  made  postmaster.  He  served  until  the  be- 
ginning of  the  administration  of  General  Grant,  in 
1869,  when  James  Lewis  received  the  appointment. 
He  was  removed  in  1872,  and  William  M.  Pyle,  who 
had  been  chief  clerk  in  the  office  for  several  years, 
was  given  the  position.  He  was  reappointed  by  Presi- 
dent Hayes,  serving  until  May  11,  1882,  when  Presi- 
dent Arthur  appointed  William  Y.  Swiggett,  pre- 
viously a  mail  agent,  who  served  four  years.  Robert 
H.  Taylor,  the  present  efficient  postmaster,  was  ap- 
pointed June  18,  1886,  by  President  Cleveland. 

There  is  a  full  force  of  assistants  to  manage  the 
details  of  the  office,  and  seventeen  letter-carriers  who 
deliver  mail  in  all  parts  in  the  city  four  times  each 
day.  Their  salary  the  first  year  is  $600  and  after- 
ward $850  a  year. 

A  site  has  been  purchased  at  the  Southwest  corner 
of  Ninth  and  Shipley  Streets,  upon  which  the  United 
States  Government  is  about  to   erect  an  elegant  and 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


costly  Federal  buildinfi:.  Congress  having  appropriated 
$150,000  for  that  purpose. 

Board  of  Health. — A  Board  of  Health  for  the 
borough  of  Wilmington  was  organized  in  1793.  Some 
of  its  original  members  were  Drs.  James  Til  ton,  John 
Vaughan  and  Geo.  Monro,  all  of  whom  were  eminent 
practitioners  of  medicine  in  their  day.  Some  of  the 
other  early  members  were  Joseph  Shallcross,  John 
Ferris,  Gen.  .Tohn  Stockton,  Jacob  Broom,  John  War- 
ner and  Joseph  Tatnall.  As  a  body  it  did  effective 
work  during  the  prevalence  of  yellow  fever  here  in 
1798  when  Dr.  James  Tilton  was  president.  In  1802 
during  the  prevalence  of  the  yellow  fever  its  mem- 
bers were  James  Brobson,  president ;  Samuel  Spack- 
man,  secretary;  Allen  McLane,  Edward  Worrell, 
Joshua  Seal,  John  Warner,  James  Hemphill,  Jos- 
eph Bailey  and  Dr.  E.  A.  Smith,  port  physician. 

In  1832  when  the  cholera  prevailed,  Willard  Hall 
was  president,  William  Magens  secretary  and  the 
other  members  were  Dr.  W.  W.  Baker,  William  G. 
Jones^  Joseph  Bailey,  Samuel  McClary,  Samuel  Hilles, 
Washington  Rice,  John  Wright,  John  Wales,  Samuel 
Wollaston  and  Stephen  Bonsall. 

In  1853  the  members  were  Dr.  J.  G.  Barstow,  presi- 
dent ;  Hanson  Harman,  secretary ;  Ziba  Ferris,  trea- 
surer; Samuel  Hilles,  William  Rice,  Thomas  Mahaf- 
fey.  Dr.  J.  F.  Hey  ward,  John  H.  Barr,  Henry  Eckel, 
James  Murdock,  Abner  Cloud,  John  Rudolph,  Dr. 
Henry  F.  Askew  and  John  W.  Smith. 

Under  an  ordinance  of  City  Council  passed  April 
15,  1865,  the  Board  of  Health  was  composed  of  two 
members  from  each  ward  in  the  city  and  the  port 
physician.  This  rule  was  in  force  until  1881  when  an 
act  of  Assembly  was  passed  under  which  the  Board  is 
now  composed  of  the  port  physician,  two  other  phy- 
sicians, one  practical  plumber  and  one  general  busi- 
ness man.  All  except  the  port  physician  are  ap- 
pointed annually  by  the  mayor.  The  chief  engineer 
of  the  Surveying  Department  is  ex  officio  a  member, 
without  salary  as  such.  The  other  members  of  the 
Board  receive  $100  each.  The  Board  annually  ap- 
point two  executive  officers,  one  for  the  eastern  and 
one  for  the  western  district,  vested  with  police 
powers  and  receive  $500.  It  is  their  duty  to  attend 
all  meetings  of  the  Board  and  to  examine  into  the 
sanitary  condition  of  all  houses  in  that  city. 

The  impurity  of  the  water  supplied  to  the  city  from 
the  Brandy  wine  was  a  subject  of  frequent  discussion. 
In  1863  Dr.  L.  P.  Bush,  Obed  Bailey,  Edward  Dar- 
lington, Henry  Eckel,  Joseph  Richardson  and  Wil- 
liam Canby,  members  of  the  Board,  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  examine  into  it  and  reported  the  water 
to  contain  an  undue  amount  of  mineral  and  organic 
matter. 

In  1881  Dr.  L.  Bush  was  president;  Dr.  James  A. 
Draper,  Edward  F.  Kane,  plumber ;  John  Otto,  Jr., 
general  business ;  Dr.  Willard  Springer,  port  physi- 
cian ;  M.  C.  Conwell,  chief  engineer ;  E.  B.  Frazer, 
Secretary ;  G.  B.  Underwood,  executive  officer  eastern 
district ;  A.  V.  Gay  nor,  executive  officer  western  dis- 


trict. The  work  of  this  Board  for  the  year  1881,  ac- 
cording to  the  present  report  was  arduous  on  account 
of  the  prevalence  of  small-pox.  Prof.  Leeds,  of  Brook- 
lyn, analyzed  the  water  of  the  Brandywine  in  1882, 
when  it  showed  a  greater  degree  of  impurity  than 
ever  before.  This  report  was  confirmed  by  an  an- 
alysis made  by  Dr.  J.  H.  J.  Bush,  the  same  year.  The 
Board  inspected  the  banks  of  the  stream  to  the  State 
line  and  had  certain  nuisances  removed. 

Drs.  Draper  and  L.  P.  Bush  and  Mr.  Otto  were  ap- 
pointed to  revise  and  condense  the  health  laws. 

Dr.  E.  G.  Shortlidge  and  Dr.  I.  W.  Hazlett  were 
elected  assistant  vaccine  physicians.  In  relation  to- 
small-pox  the  Board  this  year  required  the  isolation 
of  all  cases,  private  funerals,  all  houses  where  death» 
occurred  disinfected,  and  would  not  allow  convales- 
cent persons  to  leave  their  homes  without  permission 
from  a  physician. 

In  1884,  Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw,  Seth  H.  Feaster  and 
Alfred  Gawthrop,  were  the  new  members  appointed. 
In  1885,  James  C.  Van  Trump  as  plumber  was  the 
new  member.  In  1886  Dr.  James  A.  Draper  was 
president,  James  H.  Griffin  treasurer,  Edward  F. 
Kane,  Dr.  Howard  Ogle,  Dr.  Willard  Springer  and 
Fred  H.  Robinson  the  other  members.  William  H» 
Lee  was  chosen  secretary. 

The  act  of  Assembly,  providing  for  the  registration 
of  births,  deaths  and  marriages  was  passed  March  15, 
1881.  Under  it  the  City  Council  on  July  18,  of  that 
year  appointed  E.  B.  Frazer,  the  first  registrar  for  a 
term  of  five  years,  with  a  salary  of  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars per  annum.  This  officer  is  also  secretary  of  the 
board  of  health  with  an  additional  salary  of  three 
hundred  per  annum.  William  H.  Lee  succeeded  a» 
registrar  in  1886. 

The  Wilmington  Water  Department. — On 
31st  day  of  December,  1796,  Isaac  Hendrickson  and 
William  Poole  were  appointed  a  committee  by  the 
Borough  Council  "  to  inquire  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Wilmington  who  own  pumps,  whether  they  would  be 
willing  to  give  them  up  to  the  Corporation,  who  will 
take  care  of  them  and  keep  them  in  order."  A  few 
property-holders  consented  and  this  is  the  first 
reference  in  the  borough  records  relating  to  water. 

In  1800,  an  attempt  was  made  by  the  Borough 
Council,  to  introduce  water  and  John  Way,  John 
Jones  and  S.  Nichols  were  appointed  a  committee 
**  to  examine  into  the  propriety  and  expense  of  bring* 
ing  water  from  the  spring  on  the  hill  in  Third  Street 
near  Tatnall,  and  conveying  the  water  from  Third 
down  Market  Street,  to  supply  the  town."  This 
committee  estimated  the  cost  for  eight  hundred  and 
thirty-five  feet  of  pump  logs,  and  for  digging  and  lay- 
ing them  in  the  ground,  and  a  cistern  containing 
thirty  hogsheads,  would  be  £112  9«.  and  lid.  This 
effort  to  supply  the  town  with  water  was,  however, 
unsuccessful. 

The  Spring  Water  Company,  was  organized  in 
1808.  The  first  directors  were  James  Lea,  William 
Kobison,  Peter  Bauduy,  Thomas  Cl'ow,  John  Sellars^ 


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Joseph  Bailey,  James  Brobson,  Jacob  Alrichi,  Samuel 
Nichols,  Eli  Mendenhall,  Edward  Boche  and  Jere- 
miah WoIlastoD. 

They  were  incorporated  in  1804,  as  the  "  Wilming- 
ton Sprinjc  Water  Company,"  with  power  to  levy  a 
sum  of  money  on  such  persons  as  should  use  the 
water  irom  its  works.  A  fountain  was  opened  on 
High  (4th)  Street,  between  West  and  Tatnall,  which 
sapplied  all  that  part  of  the  Borough  lying  south  of 
High  Street.  In  1805,  the  works  were  extended  to 
accommodate  the  inhabitants  living  north  of  Fourth 
Street,  and  arrangements  were  also  made  for  fountains, 
persons  owning  property  near  Kennett  Heights  then 
outside  the  Borough  limits. 

In  1810,  the  Borough  Council  purchased  of  the 
Spring  Water  Company  for  ten  thousand  dollars  all 
their  right  and  interest  in  the  water-works,  and  es- 
tabhahed  the  Wilmington  water  department.  The 
water  ^m  the  different  fountains  was  conveyed  in 
wooden  pipes  from  the  reservoirs  at  the  Springs  along 
the  principal  streets,  where  a  number  of  cisterns  were 
placed.  In  1816,  at  the  '*  upper  work,"  a  reservoir 
sixty  feet  long,  ten  feet  wide  and  ten  feet  deep,  was 
boilt  of  brick  and  arched.  Into  this  reservoir  the 
witer  was  led  and  from  thence  conveyed  in  under- 
groand  wooden  pipes  down  the  Kennett  Road  to 
Market  Street  to  supply  the  inhabitants  north  of 
Fourth  Street.  On  September  6,  1819,  Joseph  Bring- 
iinrst  petitioned  Council  for  the  right  to  introduce 
"  the  Spring  water  into  his  kitchen,"  which  was  the 
first  request  of  the  kind  made  and  was  granted.  This 
was  the  first  hydrant  used  in  the  town. 

The  supply  of  water  did  not  prove  equal  to  the  de- 
mand, because  several  citizens  sunk  pumps  near  the 
springs  which  diminished  the  supply  of  water.  The 
large  Lombardy  poplars  and  willow  trees  in  the  vici- 
nity of  the  Water  Works  were  believed  to  absorb 
much  of  the  moisture  in  the  soil,  and  also  aided  in 
dimmishing  the  supply  of  water  at  the  Springs. 
To  remedy  this,  the  Borough  Council  unwisely  order- 
ed ^  all  Lombardy  poplar  and  willow  trees  growing 
in  any  of  the  streets,  lanes  or  alleys  of  this  Borough 
within  fifty  feet  of  any  fountain,  reservoir,  cistern, 
conduit  or  well  shall  be  removed."  The  action  of 
the  Borough  authorities  caused  a  great  deal  of  dis- 
satis&ction.  The  owners  of  those  beautifiil  trees  were 
unwilling  to  have  them  cut  down,  as  they  were  an 
adornment  to  the  town,  and  also  furnished  delightful 
shade.  Many  of  them  were  relics  of  a  former  day 
under  whose  balmy  shade  the  "  forefathers  of  the 
^iUage  rested  "  their  weary  limbs  protected  from  the 
scorching  rays  of  the  summers'  sun.  Some  were 
planted  by  the  ancestors  of  those  who  then  owned 
them,  and  who  were  justified  in  saying  "  spare  that 
tree,  in  youth  it  sheltered  me  and  I'll  protect  it  now." 
An  old  gentleman,  on  Market  Street  above  Fourth, 
as  the  ruthless  woodman  was  passing  around  fullfil- 
ing  the  edict  of  the  irreverent  Council,  clasped  af- 
fectionately the  "  dear  old  tree  "  in  the  front  of  his 
home  saying,  that  if  the  axe  touched  "  a  single  bough  " 
43 


it  must  first  strike  him.  The  certiorari  of  a  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  supported  the  ordinance  of  the 
Council,  that  "trees  on  the  streets  of  Wilmington 
are  public  nuisances."  The  opinion  of  two  attor- 
neys declared  that  the  certiorari  was  not  a  "  super- 
sedeas "  of  the  warrant ;  but  the  edict  of  the  be- 
nighted town  authorities  took  its  course,  the  sturdy 
monarchs  of  the  highways  were  felled  and  soon 
their  sacred  ashes  were  offered  in  honor  of  Siva. 

The  trees  were  all  removed  and  a  few  months  later 
when  the  water  supply  from  the  springs  was  still  in- 
adequate to  the  demands  the  council  awoke  from  its 
accustomed  lethargy  and  stupidity,  and  in  1820  ap- 
pointed Chief  Burgess,  Eli  Hilles,  and  John  Rumsey 
a  committee  to  "  view  the  field  and  report  the  prob- 
able expense  of  having  the  water  brought  from  the 
Brandy  wine."  They  said  at  the  next  meeting  that 
the  revenue  from  the  Water  Works  by  taxation  was 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  annually,  and  the  expenses 
the^same  amount.  They  said  the  scarcity  of  water  in 
the  upper  district  was  so  great  and  the  works  in  such 
a  ruinous  condition,  that  the  tax  in  justice  could  not 
be  levied  on  the  citizens  of  that  portion  of  the  town, 
which  would  decrease  the  revenue  five  hundred  dol- 
lars. This  committee  also  reported  that  for  the  sum 
of  fourteen  thousand  six  hundred  dollars  the  town 
could  be  supplied  with  water  from  the  Brandy  wine 
through  iron  pipes,  by  means  of  forcing  pumps,  to  a 
tank  or  reservoir  near  the  junction  of  Shipley  and 
Chestnut  (Tenth)  Streets  from  whence  it  could  be  fur- 
nished in  iron  pipes  to  all  parts  of  the  borough.  The 
report  of  this  committee  was  not  immediately  acted 
upon.  Three  hundred  dollars  was,  however,  spent  in 
1823  in  repairing  the  "upper  water  works."  The 
combined  works  then  furnished  but  fourteen  gallons 
of  water  per  minute  against  thirty-five  gallons  per 
minute  in  1810.  Then  the  noble  old  trees  in  the  town 
were  standing,  and  in  1823  they  were  gone  and  the  diffi- 
culty remained.  On  August  2,  1824,  a  committee 
composed  of  Eli  Mendenhall,  Henry  Hoopes  and 
John  F.  Gilpin  claimed  that  the  deficiency  "has 
arisen  from  defective  log  pipes  and  cisterns,"  and  re- 
quested the  use  of  iron  pipes,  and  on  May  2d  of  the 
same  year  Jacob  Alrichs,  John  F.  Gilpin  and  Eli 
Mendenhall  reported  the  work  so  "  fiir  progressed  as 
to  be  conducted  in  a  three- inch  iron  pipe  from  the 
borough  line  to  the  lot  intended  for  a  reservoir  "  be- 
tween Tenth  and  Eleventh  Streets  and  Market  and 
King.  The  reservoir  at  this  place  was  built  under 
the  superintendence  of  William  H.  Naffl  The  site 
was  purchased  of  Isaac  Kendall. 

In  1825,  permission  was  granted  to  all  citizens  to 
introduce  spring  water  in  yards  and  houses,  in  metalic 
pipes. 

Joseph  Grubb,  Aaron  Hewes,  Frederick  Leonard, 
Israel  D.  Jones  and  James  Gardner  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  consult  with  Eli  Mendenhall,  Henry 
Heald,  Isaac  H.  Starr  and  Jacob  Alrichs  and  propose 
the  adoption  of  some  measures  "  to  insure  an  ample 
supply  of  water  for  domestic  and  other  purposes." 


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666 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Their  report  presented  August  26,  1826,  was  brief. 
They  unanimously  decided  the  only  hope  was  for  the 
people  of  Wilmington  in  the  future  to  quench  their 
thirst  with  "  Brandy  Wine."  On  the  17th  of  June, 
1827,  the  borough  authorities  purchased  of  John 
Cummins  for  the  sum  of  twenty-eight  thousand  dol- 
lars his  large  mill  on  the  south  side  of  the  Brandy  wine 
as  the  site  for  the  location  of  the  Double  Acting 
Pump  to  be  used  as  a  motive  power  to  force  the  water 
to  the  basin.  On  July  9th.  following,  a  lot  fronting 
on  Market,  Tenth  and  King  Streets  (now  the  site  of 
the  court-house)  was  purchased  of  Sallie  N.  Dickin- 
son for  twenty -seven  hundred  dollars  where  the  reser- 
voirs were  erected.  Fire  plugs  were  also  erected  at 
the  same  time. 

In  1832,  the  remainder  of  what  is  now  Court 
House  Square,  was  bought  for  twelve  hundred  dollars. 

The  forcing  pump,  which  cost  eight  hundred  dol- 
lars, was  made  by  Prosper  Martin,  of  Philadelphia. 
A  stone  building  covered  the  over-shot  water-wheel 
at  the  mill  enclosing  also  the  pump  which  was  worked 
by  the  water-wheel  of  the  mill.  The  pump  was  put 
into  operation  November  15,  1827,  with  a  six  feet 
stroke  and  in  eighteen  minutes  the  water  reached 
the  west  basin.  Israel  D.  Jones  ran  up  from  the  pump 
and  took  the  first  draught  of  water  at  the  basin. 

The  length  of  the  pipe  from  pump  to  basin  was 
two  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet,  and  the 
ascent  ninety-nine  feet.  The  iron  pipe  was  eight 
inches  in  diameter  and  from  mill  to  basin  contained 
five  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty-five  gallons  of 
water.  The  two  basins  adjoined  each  other  and  when 
filled  had  a  combined  capacity  of  one  million  gallons, 
or  ten  thousand  hogsheads.  There  could  be  thrown 
four  hundred  and  eighty-seven  thousand  six  hundred 
gallons  per  day  into  the  basins. 

The  civil  engineer  who  superintended  the  erection 
of  the  works  was  Jonas  P.  Fairlamb,  a  well-known 
citizen  of  Wilmington.  Chief  Burgess  at  the  time 
was  James  Brobson ;  second  burgess,  Frederick 
Leonard ;  council,  Joseph  Grubb,  Henry  Rice,  Israel 
D.  Jones,  James  Gardner,  Thomas  Moore,  John  M. 
Smith,  Mahlon  Betts,  Eli  Sharp,  William  Larkin, 
William  Townsend,  Aaron  Hewes,  Jacob  File,  Elisha 
Huxley.  The  mason  work  was  done  by  John  Web- 
ster, excavation  made  by  Joseph  Pierson  and  pipes 
laid  by  James  Logan. 

A  two-story  building  was  erected  at  the  northeast 
corner  Market  and  Tenth  Streets,  and  long  used  as 
the  oflSce  of  the  water  Department.  In  1837  a  new 
forcing  pump,  made  by  Betts,  Pusey  and  Harlan,  was 
purchased  for  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  In 
1839  a  new  basin  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  feet  by 
eighty  feet  and  fourteen  feet  deep  was  built  at  a  cost 
of  four  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seven  dollars,  but 
there  were  no  improvements  made  until  1847. 

The  cost  of  what  was  known  as  the  Spring  Water 
Works  from  1820  to  1827,  was  twenty-two  thousand 
three  hundred  and  eighty-eight  dollars;  cost  of 
Brandy  wine  Water  Works,  erected  in  1827,  was  forty- 


two  thousand  and  twenty-six  dollars ;  cost  of  manage- 
ment and  improvements  from  1827  to  1847  inclusive 
sixty-eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-one  dol- 
lars. 

Owing  to  the  insufficient  supply  of  water  on  Sep- 
tember 7,  1848,  on  motion  of  James  Canby,  the  mayor 
appointed  David  C.  Wilson,  Isaac  R.  Trimble,  Elisha 
Huxley,  Dr.  Henry  F.  Askew,  Mahlon  Betts  and 
NeUon  Cleland  irom  the  citizens  of  Wilmington,  and 
William  R.  Sellers  and  Dr.  Robert  R.  Porter  from  the 
Council  and  the  Water  Committee  to  examine  intothe 
condition  of  the  Water  Works.  The  size  of  the  reser- 
voir wa4  then  increased  one  half.  In  1855  a  direct 
acting  Cornish  pump  was  added  to  the  power  of  the 
works,  and  used  until  1872. 

The  first  annual  report  of  the  superintendent  of  the 
works  was  made  by  Aquilla  Pritchard,  in  1867,  in 
which  it  was  stated  that  an  average  of  fourteen  mil- 
lion gallons  of  water  monthly  supplied  the  city,  and 
distributed  to  two  thousand  six  hundred  and  ^ye 
places.  The  total  number  feet  of  pipes  laid  was 
sixty-three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-eight ; 
entire  cost  of  Brandy  wine  Water  Works,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-four  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  dollars ;  amount  of  water  rents  received 
annually,  sixteen  thousand  dollars.  An  act  of  the 
Legislature  was  passed  empowering  the  Council  to 
borrow  ten  thousand  dollars  for  extension  of  the 
water  works.  At  this  time  the  machinery  of  the 
works  consisted  of  a  water-wheel,  two  double  acting 
forcing  pumps,  of  eight  inch  diameter,  and  a  Cornish 
pumping  engine  with  one  eighteen-inch,  all  forcing 
water  through  one  sixteen  inch  main  into  the  basins. 
In  March,  1861,  the  mill  property  and  water  power  of 
James  E.  Price,  west  of  the  city  mill,  was  bought  for 
twenty-five  thousand  doUai:^.  Mr.  Bayard,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1862,  sold  the  City  Council,  a  part  of  his 
land  known  as  the  "Gilpin  tract,"  near  Ninth  and 
Broome  Streets  for  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  Part  of 
this  land  was  exchanged  for  lands  of  Dr.  George  P. 
Norris  and  Charles  W.  Howland,  the  present  site  of 
the  Rodney  Street  reservoir. 

The  superintendent  in  his  report  for  1864,  stated  that 
the  new  reservoir  in  the  square  bounded  by  Rodney 
and  Clayton  Streets,  and  Eighth  and  Ninth  Streets, 
was  partially  erected.  An  eight-inch  pipe  was  laid 
from  a  new  pipe  and  a  boiler-house  was  erected  on 
the  old  basin  square  at  Tenth  and  Market.  The 
pump  was  also  connected  with  the  old  basins.  The 
whole  cost  of  the  improvements  made  was  $19,205  ; 
the  amount  appropriated  by  Council  under  new  leg- 
islative enactment  $25,000  ;  the  amount  of  water  rent 
for  1863  was  $19,772  ;  cost  of  laying  pipe  from  pump- 
house  to  new  basin  and  connecting  with  old  basin^ 
$14,020.  The  Council  sold  bonds  of  the  city  to  the 
amount  of  $15,000  to  complete  the  works.  In  1866 
the  water  committee  reported  the  works  to  consist  of 
two  double-acting  pumps,  capable  of  forcing  into  the 
reservoir  at  Tenth  and  Market  Street,  nine  hundred 
thousand  gallons  of  water  in  twenty-four  hours,  and 


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I  Cornifth  steam  pump  forcing  through  a  twenty-four 
inch  main-pipe  one  million  gallons  daily.  This  aggre- 
gate was  not  considered  sufficient  to  supply  the  future 
demanddof  the  town.  A  citizen  committee  composed 
of  Edward  Betts,  Wm.  T.  Porter,  William  Canby, 
Je«e  Sharpe  and  John  Jones  after  conferring  with 
Gregg  Chandler,  Jos.  C.  Rowland,  John  A.  Duncan, 
Philip  Plunkett  and  C.  H.  Gallagher  the  water  com- 
mittee, reported  at  a  public  meeting  of  the  citizens, 
held  February  13,  1867,  'Uhe  absolute  necessity  of  in- 
creasing the  Hupply  of  water.*'  On  motion  of  Dr.  L. 
P.  Bush,  the  City  Coudcil  was  recommended  to  make 
application  to  the  Legislature  to  borrow  money  for 
completing  the  Cool  Spring  reservoir.  A  bill  author- 
izing a  loan  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  **  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  increasing  the  supply  of  water  in  Wil- 
mington," was  passed.  Isaac  S.  Cassin  received 
seveo  thousand  dollars  in  1869,  for  repairs  made  on 
the  Rodney  Street  basin.  The  daily  consumption  of 
waterin  1869,  was  1,118,237  gallons.  A  committee  of  the 
City  Council  composed  of  C.  H.Gallagher,  George  H. 
Walter,  H.  F.  Pickel.s,  H.  F.  Finegan,  Jr.,  and  E.  J. 
McManus  April  7,  1870,  urged  the  erection  of  new 
water  works.  William  E.  Morris,  civil  engineer  of 
Philadelphia,  was  employed  to  "go  over  the  whole 
groond  "  and  make  a  report  to  the  Council,  which  he 
did  August  31,  1870.  The  large  increase  in  the  con- 
lamption  of  water  on  the  river  front,  together  with 
the  increase  of  population  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
city,  made  such  a  draft  upon  the  pipes  as  to  almost 
deprive  citizens  who  resided  on  the  elevated  parts 
from  obtaining  any  water  except  at  night  and  on 
Saoday.  Improvements  were  needed,  but  at  this 
time  none  were  made,  save  a  new  pump-cylinder  and 
anew  boiler  were  placed  at  the  pump-house  on  the 
Bnndywine.  In  October,  1871,  the  office  of  the 
water  department  was  removed  from  north-west 
comer  of  Tenth  and  King  Streets,  to  the  north-west 
comer  of  Tenth  and  Market  Streets,  and  the  old  office 
was  used  by  the  surveyor  and  engineer.  On  February 
1, 1S72,  Col.  Febiger,  in  behalf  of  the  water  commit- 
tee, reported  that  a  contract  had  been  entered  into 
with  Henry  R.  Worth ington  of  New  York,  for  the 
coottmction  of  a  compound  Duplex  pump  to  cost 
$37,000,  with  a  capacity  of  forcing  5,000,000  gal- 
lons per  day.  The  total  amount  of  water  supplied 
to  the  city  in  1871  was  551,232,000  gallons,  forty-seven 
gallons  to  each  citizen,  ;  number  of  places  supplied, 
5,358  ;  entire  revenue  $44,000. 

J.  D.  WinHlow  constructed  a  new  pump-house  sixty 
feet  square,  for  $9,486,  on  the  site  of  the  old  mill  in 
1872.  The  total  cost  of  the  Water  Works  to  the  city, 
inclading  expense  of  running  from  the  time  of  their 
citobliahment  in  1872,  was  $354,589. 

There  was  general  discontent  among  the  tax-payera 
of  the  city,  and  March  30,  1877,  an  act  of  assembly 
wai  passed  by  which  the  completion  of  the  Cool 
Spring  reservoir  was  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
City  Council,  and  John  P.  Allmond,  Csesar  A.  Rod- 
ney and  James  Bradford  created  a  commission  to 


carry  the  work  into  execution.  They  secured  the 
services  of  Col.  Julius  W.  Adams,  engineer  of  the 
Brooklyn  Water  Department,  Charles  P.  Manning, 
consulting  engineer  of  the  Baltimore  Water  Depart- 
ment, and  William  J.  McAlpine,  hydraulic  engineer 
of  New  York  who  examined  the  incompleted  reser- 
voirs, and  made  a  report  giving  their  views  as  to  the 
best  method  of  procedure  to  finish  it.  The  com- 
mission acting  upon  this  report  and  upon  their  own 
judgment,  entered  into  a  contract  with  Peter  F.  Col- 
lins and  James  Kennedy,  of  Philadelphia,  to  com- 
plete the  North  Basin  for  $33,000,  with  a  capacity, 
filled  to  the  coping,  of  17,964.000  gallons,  and  $36,- 
600  for  the  South  Basin,  ^ith  a  capacity  of  20,809,- 
000  gallons.  Samuel  Canby  was  the  resident  en- 
gineer, and  gave  the  lines  for  the  work.  Coul  Spring 
Reservoir  was  entirely  finished  and  opened  Tuesday, 
December  18,  1877,  and  the  water  was  turned  into  the 
supply  pipes  on  January  1,  1878. 

The  board  of  Water  Commissioners  was  created  by 
act  of  Liegislature  passed  April  18,  1883,  which  named 
William  T.  Porter,  Ceesar  A.  Rodney,  and  Lewis 
Paynter  as  the  first  members,* who  by  drawing  lots 
were  made  members  for  six,  four  and  two  years  re- 
spectively. Upon  the  death  of  his  two  associates, 
William  T.  Porter,  by  virtue  of  his  office  appointed 
William  G.  Gibbons  and  Christian  Febiger  to  fill  out 
their  unexpired  terms,  at  the  expiration  of  which  the 
mayor  under  the  act  appointed  James  Carmichael  to 
succeed  William  G.  Gibbons,  and  reappointed  Chris- 
tian Febiger. 

During  the  early  history  of  the  Water  Department 
some  of  the  superintendents  were  James  Logan,  ap- 
pointed in  1826  at  three  hundred  dollars  per  annum, 
Joseph  Seeds,  in  1830  ;  Joseph  R.  Townsend,  in  1839; 
Thomas  Mahaffey,  in  1845;  James  G.  File,  in  1851, 
and  Aquilla  Pritchard,  in  1856.  The  last  named 
served  several  years.  Upon  the  reorganization  of  the 
Water  Department,  the  office  of  chief  engineer  was 
created  and  Charles  H.  Gallagher  was  first  appointed 
by  Council  to  that  office.  Joseph  Hyde  succeeded 
in  1874;  Allen  Ruth,  in  1875;  Charles  H.  Gallagher, 
in  1876 ;  Henry  B.  Mclntire,  in  1878 ;  David  H.  Coyle, 
from  January,  1883,  to  July,  1884,  when  the  Board  of 
Water  Commissioners  organized.  The  appointing 
power  being  now  vested  in  the  hands  of  that  body 
choose  Henry  B.  Mclntire,  who  retired  in  May  1886, 
and  the  present  chief  engineer,  Joseph  A.  Bond,  was 
appointed. 

The  office  of  registrar  was  created  in  1871,  when 
Frank  A.  Taylor  was  the  first  appointee.  His  suc- 
cessors have  been,  William  S.  Hayes,  William  J. 
Morrow,  Thomas  M.  Ogle,  Joseph  A.  Bond  and  John 
S.  Grohe.  George  H.  Simmons  is  inspector  and 
collector. 

Chief  Enginer  Bond  in  his  report  for  the  year  ending 
January  1,  1887,  gives  the  receipts  for  the  preceding 
twelve  months,  $173,849;  disbursemenU  $130,430, 
with  a  balance  on  hand  of  $43,418.  The  revenue  of 
the   Water    Department  increased  from  $19,696  in 


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668 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


1862  to  $96,046  in  1886.  Daring  the  year  1886,  there 
were  supplied  to  the  city  1,738,412,408  gallons  of 
water.  Estimating  the  population  then  at  52,000, 
the  daily  average  per  capita  was  ninety-one  and 
three  fifth  gallons. 

The  Wilmington  Gas  Company  was  organized 
in  1833,  with  a  capital  of  six  thousand  dollars,  in  two 
hundred  and  forty  shares  of  twenty-five  dollars  each. 
Five  dollars  on  each  share  was  paid  at  the  time  of 
subscription.  The  commissioners  named  in  the 
charter  of  incorporation  granted  by  the  Legislature 
were,  James  Canby,  William  Seal,  Thomas  Garrett, 
Elisha  Huxley  and  Lewis  Rum  ford.  James  Canby 
was  the  first  president  of  the  company  and  the  first 
secretary,  William  H.  Naff.  The  office  was  at  No.  1 
West  Fourth  Street. 

The  works  were  erected  on  Orange  below  Water 
Street,  and  rosin  was  used  in  the  production  of  gas. 
The  price  at  first  charged  was  eighty  cents  per  hun- 
dred cubic  feet  of  gas,  which  in  1835  was  reduced  to 
seventy  cents.'  In  April,  1835,  Dr.  James  W.  Thomp- 
son, Edward  Grubb,,John  McClung  and  Peter  B. 
Porter,  '*a  committee  of  consumers,"  reported 
through  the  newspapers  that  the  gas  supplies  by 
rosin  works  afforded  "  cheaper  light  than  sperm  oil 
and  for  beauty,  brilliancy  and  freedom  from  smoke 
far  exceeds  it."  The  works  were  enlarged  in  1847, 
"  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  increased  demand 
for  gas."  The  first  superintendent  was  Peter  Bourk  ; 
he  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  McClary  who  managed 
the  works  for  several  years.  The  meters  used  by 
this  company  were  made  in  London. 

On  Thursday  evening  January  20,  1848,  as  a  small 
boy  was  amusing  himself  by  lighting  a  small  jet  of 
gas  issuing  from  the  gasometer,  the  flames  were  com- 
municated to  a  large  body  of  gas,  and  a  terrific  ex- 
plosion took  place.  The  works  were  blown  up  and 
the  loss  was  two  thousand  dollars.  The  boy  was 
injured;  there  was  an  insurance  of  three  hundred 
dollars  in  the  Delaware  Fire  Insurance  Company. 
The  company  before  this  accident  was  just  out  of  debt, 
new  works  were  built  and  the  company  continued  to 
operate  until  1851,  when  the  Coal  Gas  Company  pur- 
chased its  effects. 

Wilmington  Coal  Gas  Company.— By  an  act  of 
the  Legislature,  passed  March  4,  1851,  Jesse  Sharpe, 
J.  T.  Seal,  Joseph  Seal,  John  A.  Duncan,  Stephen 
Bonsall,  Samuel  McCaulley,  William  Chandler,  Wash- 
ington Jones,  Jacob  Rice  and  their  associates,  or  per- 
sons who  shall  become  stockholders,  were  constituted 
a  body  politic  and  corporate  by  the  name  and  style  of 
the  "  Wilmington  Coal  Gas  Compay."  Under  this 
act  the  capital  stock  of  the  compay  was  fixed  at  $60,- 
000,  in  twelve  hundred  shares  of  $50  each,  with  the 
privilege  of  increasing  it  to  $130,000.  At  a  meeting 
held  March  11,  1851,  Stephen  Bonsall  was  chosen 
president  of  the  company,  John  A.  Duncan,  Secretary 
and  Washington  Jones,  treasurer.  The  next  meeting 
held  on  March  13th,  nearly  the  entire  amount  of  the 
capital  stock  was  subscribed.     A  portion  of  the  site 


now  occupied  at  the  corner  of  Madison  and  Read 
Streets,  was  purchased,  on  which  works  with  a  limited 
capacity  were  erected  and  the  gas  was  first  turned  on 
for  use,  November  22,  1851,  and  during  the  first  night 
seven  thousand  two  hundred  and  ten  cubic  feet  of 
manufactured  gas  were  consumed.  Originally  there 
were  but  fifty  consumers.  The  average  daily  consump- 
tion for  the  month  of  December  in  the  years  named 
was  about  as  follows :  in  1851,  8000  cubic  feet ;  in  1852, 
15,000  cubic  feet ;  in  1860,  60,000  cubic  feet ;  in  1870, 
120,000  cubic  feet;  in  1880,  250,000  cubic  feet;  in 
1887,  with  four  thousand  four  hundred  consumers 
about  500,000  cubic  feet,  daily.  The  works  as  first 
built,  had  a  holding  capacity  of  30,000  cubic  feet  of 
gas,  and  a  manufacturing  capacity  of  50,000  cubic  feet, 
and  had  a  retort  house,  a  purifying  house  and  a  con- 
denser. 

Soon  after  the  first  works  were  constructed,  ad- 
ditions and  improvements  were  made.  The  most  im- 
portant improvement  made  in  1887,  was  the  water 
gas  plant,  originated  by  Joseph  Flannery,  of  New 
York,  as  an  auxiliary  to  the  coal  gas  works,  thus  in- 
creasing the  producing  capacity  of  the  entire  works  to 
one  million  cubic  feet  in  twenty-four  hours.  The 
consumption  of  coal  in  producing  gas  is  ten  thousand 
tons  annually  ;  the  entire  consumption  of  gas  for  the 
year  1886  was  108,000,000  cubic  feet.  Two  engines 
of  fifleen-horse  power  each  are  used,  and  the  exhaust- 
ers, scrubbers  and  condensers  are  all  in  duplicate. 
The  plant  covers  an  area  of  abont  three  hundred  feet 
square.  The  company  owns  three  acres  of  land  near 
by  and  south  of  P.  W.  &  B.  R.  R.  A  holder  with 
88,000  cubic  feet  is  situated  at  Fourteenth  and  Wilson 
Streets ;  one  holder  at  the  works  has  a  capacity  of 
450,000  cubic  feet,  and  the  other  100,000,  both  tele- 
scopic. 

While  the  English  and  American  law  requires  the 
gas  companies  to  furnish  gas  of  sixteen  candle  power, 
this  company  furnish  gas  equal  to  twenty  candle, 
which  is  twenty-five  per  cent,  more  light  than  is  re- 
quired by  law. 

Stephen  Bonsai,  the  first  president  of  the  company, 
served  from  1851  to  1864,  when  he  resigned,  and 
George  Richardson  was  elected  president,  and  has 
since  occupied  the  position  for  a  term  of  twenty-three 
years. 

John  A.  Duncan  was  secretary  from  1851  until  his 
death  in  1868,  when  Thomas  Lawson  succeeded  him 
from  1868  to  1877,  at  which  time  William  P.  Taylor, 
the  present  secretary,  was  elected.  In  1856,  John  A. 
Duncan  was  chosen  treasurer,  in  connection  with  the 
oflSce  of  secretary,  and  since  that  time  the  secretary 
has  also  been  treasurer  of  the  company.  Washington 
Jones  was  treasurer  until  1856,  when  John  A.  Duncan, 
the  secretary,  was  also  chosen  treasurer,  and  since 
that  time  the  two  positions  have  been  filled  by  the 
secretary.  The  business  office  is  at  300  Shipley 
Street. 

Thomas  J.  Mahaffey  was  superintendent  of  the 
works  from  the  time  of  their  erection  until  1867, 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


669 


wbeD  Thomas  Curley  succeeded  him  in  the  position, 
and  has  served  continuously  ever  since.  He  has 
been  an  employe  of  the  company  from  the  date  of  its 
establishment,  having  previously  served  as  foreman. 
Michael  Newell  is  the  present  foreman.  The  capital 
stock  of  the  company  now  is  $408,000. 

The  Wilmington  City  Electric-Light  Com- 
PAKY. — A  charter  was  granted  October  31,  1882,  to 
the  Amoux  Electric -Light  Company  to  manufacture 
and  sell  the  electric  arc-light,  of  the  Arnoux  and 
Hockhausen  system,  in  the  City  of  Wilmington.    A 
company  was  organized  in   November,   1882,   with 
John  R.  Flinn,  president;  W.  W.  Pusey,  vice  presi- 
dent ;  Howard  L.  Chandler,  secretary,  and  Qeorge  F. 
Archer,  treasurer.    The  paid-in  capital  of  the  com- 
pany was   $60,000.     An    electric-light    station    was 
erected  on  south  Third,  near  Spruce  Street,  which 
was  ready  for  optjration  January  1,  1883,  and  began 
with  a  patronage    of    thirty- five   arc-lights.     The 
Board  on  May  23, 1883,  had  the  following  officers  and 
directors:  8.  H.  Grey,  of  Camden,  N.  J.,  president; 
W.  W.  Pusey,  of  Wilmington,  vice-president;  H.  C. 
Robinson,  secretary  and  treasurer;  Francis  B.  Colton, 
J.  H.  Hoffecker,  Joseph  Pyle,  John  R.  Flynn,  Sam- 
uel N.  Trump,  of  Wilmington,  and  W.  C.  Dreyer,  of 
New  York.    The  company  ran  the  arc-light  from  the 
Third  Street  station  until  December  2,  1885,  when 
the  first  incandescent  lamps  of  the  Edison  system 
were  installed.    On  September  6,  1886,  a  charter  was 
^oted  by  the  Courts  of  Delaware,  incorporating  the 
"Wilmington  City  Electric-Light  Company,"  appli- 
cation having  been  made  to  the  State  of  New  Jersey 
for  the  dissolution  of  the  original  company,  the  stock- 
holders of  which  agreed  to  exchange  its  stock  for 
that  of  the  new  company.    At  this  time  S.  M.  Trump 
was  president ;  J.  Davis  Sisler,  vice-president ;  Fer- 
dinand L.  Gilpin,  secretary ;  H.  G.  Robinson,  treas- 
urer; W.   W.  Pusey,  J.  H.  Hoffecker,  Francis   B. 
Colton,  and  Thomas  H.  Savery,  directors.    Owing  to 
the  increasing  demand  for  electricity  as  a  motor  and 
to  produce  light  in  Wilmington,  the  company  pur- 
chased a  lot  on  the  north  side  of  Fifth  Street,  between 
Orange  and  Tatnall,  and  erected  a  large  station,  with 
an  electrical  plant  with  a    manufacturing  capacity 
of  foor  thousand  lamps  of  ten  candle-power.    This 
plant,  including  the  lot,  building  and  electrical  ap- 
paratos,  coat  sixty  thousand  dollars.  Since  the  spring 
of  1887  the  company  has  greatly  extended  its  busi- 
ness by  way  of  supplying  electricity  as  a  motive- 
power  for  manufacturing,  and  has  entered  into  a 
contract  with  the  Wilmington  City  Railway  Company, 
to  ran  its  cars  over  the  Brandy  wine  extension  of  the 
Market  Street  line.    This,  with  exioting  contracts  for 
notive  power  and  light,  will  exhaust  the  entire  pro- 
ducing power  of  the  station,  with  its  present  capa- 
city, and  a  still  greater  extension  of  facilities  to  meet 
ftirther  demands  is  contemplated. 

The  Wilmington  City  Railway  Company. — 
Oq  the  14th  of  March,  1864  the  first  meeting  of  the 
stockholders  of  this  company  was  held  in  the  office 


of  the  New  Castle  County  Mutual  Insurance  Com- 
pany, on  which  occasion  they  elected  seven  directors 
as  follows:  William  Tatnall,  Joshua  T.  Heald,  Wil- 
liam Wharton,  Jr.,  Clement  B.  Smyth,  Daniel  M. 
Bates,  Eli  Garrett  and  Philip  McDowell.  The  first 
officers  elected  were  J.  T.  Heald,  President ;  Philip 
McDowell,  Vice-President ;  and  Clement  B.  Smyth, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The  charter  incorporating 
the  company  was  granted  by  the  Legislature  on  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1864.  The  capital  of  the  company  under 
this  charter  is  two  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  shares 
of  ten  dollars  each,  of  which  but  five  dollars  on  each 
share  has  been  called,  making  the  present  paid  in 
capital  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  William 
Wharton,  Jr.,  contracted  to  build  a  line  from  the 
Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad 
station,  up  Front  Street  to  Market,  up  Market  to 
Delaware  Avenue  and  from  thence  to  Middle  Depot 
a  distance  of  two  miles  for  twenty-nine  thousand  two 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  by  June  1, 1864. 

The  company  bought  of  William  Tatnall,  for  one 
thousand  dollars  payable  in  bonds,  a  lot  upon  which 
the  present  office,  stables  and  car-house  are  built. 
The  amount  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  was  borrowed 
on  coupon  bonds  at  five  per  cent.,  payable  January  18,  . 
1874,  to  assist  in  constructing  the  road.  On  Mky  17, 
1864,  it  was  decided  to  extend  the  line  to  Rising  Sun 
Village.  At  this  date  one  mile  of  the  track  was  laid. 
The  first  cars  were  run  over  the  road  June  29,  1864, 
when  the  mayor,  city-council  and  other  city-officers 
joined  the  directors  in  an  excursion  over  the  line,  and 
were  delightfully  entertained  in  a  grove  on  the 
Brandywine,  belonging  to  Clement  B.  Smyth. 

Seven  cars  were  purchased  from  John  Stephenson, 
of  New  York,  for  seven  thousand  and  ninety -two  # 
dollars,  and  thirty-five  horses  were  secured. 

George  W.  Kelsey  was  appointed  the  first  superin- 
tendent of  the  road  June  27,  1864.  Phineas  Stearn, 
James  W.  Wood,  James  Fletcher  and  George  Turner 
were  appointed  the  first  conductors.  Bennett  Fling's 
stage-line,  running  between  Wilmington  and  Brandy- 
wine  Banks,  was  purchased  for  two  hundred  dollars. 
Clement  B.  Smyth  resigned  his  position  as  secretary 
and  treasurer  May  2,  1864,  and  John  F.  Miller  was 
elected. 

At  the  second  annual  election  in  July,  1865,  the 
directors  chosen  were  James  Bradford,  J.  Taylor 
Gause,  Eli  Garrett,  J.  T.  Heald,  Philip  McDowell, 
William  Canby  and  William  Tatnall.  From  1865  to 
1879  there  was  no  material  increase  in  the  annual  re- 
ceipts of  the  company ;  from  1879  to  1884  the  increase 
was  rapid,  the  receipts  of  the  latter  year  being  double 
those  of  the  former  year.  From  the  opening  of  the 
road  to  1887  about  twelve  million  passengers  were 
carried.  The  average  dividend  paid  is  about  one  per 
cent,  annually. 

The  rails  first  put  down  lasted  twenty-two  years. 
In  1887  the  company  spent  twenty  thousand  dollars 
in  improving  its  lines,  in  renewing  the  substructure 
of  the  road  and  in  replacing  worn-out  rails. 


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670  HISTORY  OF  DBLAWARE. 

On  March  28, 1881,  the  company  decided  to  con-  and  care  firet  run  on  Saturday  mominj?,  September  11, 

struct  a  line  from  Fourth  and  Market  Streets,  east-  1881.     The  firet  outfit  included  four  care,  built  by 

ward  on  Fourth  Street  to  the  Christiana  River.    This  Bowers,  Dure  &  Company,  of  Wilmington,  and  twelve 

road  was  built  by  William  Wharton,  Jr.,  at  a  cost  of  mules.    The  company  now  owns  six  passenger  caw 

nine  thousand  one  hundred  dollare.    On  October  3,  and  one  large  excureion  car.    Its  patronage  is  steadily 

1881,  a  resolution  was  passed  to  construct  a  line  on  increasing.    The  office  and  stables  are  at  the  west  end 

Spruce  Street.     The  contract  for  this  was  given  to  of  the  line.      This  section  of  Wilmington  is  rapidly 

Jeremiah  Mahoney  June  3, 1882.  improving ;  many  new  residences  have  lately  been 

In  1887  the  same  contractor  built  the  extension  erected  near  the  western  terminus  of  the  road.     The 

from  Market  and  Tenth  Streets  to  Riverview  Ceme-  officers  of  the  company  are  George  W.  Bush,  presi- 

tery,  a  distance  of  one  and  a  half  miles.    This  line  dent;    S.  A.  Price,    secretary  and  superintendent; 

is  run  by  the  Sprague  Electric  Railway  System,  the  E.  T.  Taylor,  treasurer.      The  other  directore  are 

motive-power   being  furnished  by  the  Wilmington  Philip  Plunkett,    John  R.  Tatum,  R.   J.   Mackay, 

Electric  Light  Company.    The  following  is  a  list  of  M.D.,  William  Ferris,  Joseph  Pyle  and  James  C. 

the  presidents  of  the  company  :  McComb. 

The  Brandy  wine  Bridge.— The   only    way   of 

Joihua  T.  Heald March  14,  1864,  to  August  3.  1864  •        ..      t*        j        •        •  i         x  •        r 

wm.  Wharton.  Jr Augurt  3. 1864,  to  March  21. 1865  crossing  the  Brandy wiuo  lu  comJng  to  or  going  from 

wm.  Oanby March  21, 1866,  t»  May  7,1868  Wilmington  in  carlv  davs  was  by  means  of  a  ferry 

Eli  Garrett May  7, 1868,  to  October  9, 1873  ,      r     j.        ^i.       *  mu      /         *         •      ^• 

James  Bradford October  9, 1873,  to  July  1, 1882  or  by  fordiug  the  Stream.     The  ferry  terminating  at 

Wm.  Canby July  11, 1882,  to  date  the  point  where  French  Street  reaches  the  creek  was 

The  following  have  filled  the  oflSce  of  secretary  and  in  use  to  1764.     Peter  Vandever  had  a  bridge  con- 
treasurer:  structed  near  where  the  Eleventh  St.  Bridge  spans 

aement  B.  Smyth March  14, 1864,  to  May  2, 1864  the  Stream,  but  there  is  no  authentic  information  to 

i***^  'n;  »*"*'" - V^*'  ^'  JTo*«?f "^""^i'  \T.  esUblish  the  date.      It  was  standing  in  1767.  though 

C.  W.  Talley January  1, 1866,  to  June  16,  1870  ,-,,  j.  !./•  \        X 

Wiiuam  H.  Colby June  30, 1870,  to  NoTember  3, 1873  Ordered  to  be  removed  three  years  before,  wnen  tne 

Edward  Taylor ^^^^^^J  3,  If  ^'  ^,  October  2. 1875  j^^idge  above  was  built     Under  an  act  of  Assembly, 

Frank  J.  HobK)n October  2,  1876,  to  January  2i,  1877  *  ,    .,       ^  .i.       ^  u         ai. 

Samuel  Chambers January  22, 1877,  to  June  1, 1881  pasSed  in  1762,  a  Dndge  tO  CrOSS  the  Stream  Where  the 

John  K.  Bradford June  1,  iwi,  to  July  1, 1882  present  beautifiil  ouo  docs,  was  Ordered  to  be  built  It 

John  T.Miller July  1,  1882,  to  date  *^  ,   .    -,    •       ,«/».  j    ^.i.  j  j     i. 

was  completed  in  1764,  and  the  roads  made  to  cou- 
William  H.  Burnett  was  appointed  superintendent  nect  with  it.  For  fifty-six  years  it  served  its  purpose, 
October  3,  1881.  The  directors  for  the  year  1888  are  having  borne  many  hundred  heavily-freighted  wagons 
William  Canby,  James  Bradford,  Joshua  T.  Heald,  within  that  period  of  time.  Repairs  were  needed,  of 
John  Jones,  Washington  Jones,  George  H.  Bates,  course,  at  various  times.  As  early  as  1775,  Ziba 
George  W.  Bush.  Since  the  lines  of  this  company  Ferris,  by  order  of  James  Latimer  and  John  Stapler, 
•  have  been  built,  great  improvements  have  been  made  bridge  commissioners,  expended  eighty-four  pounds, 
in  the  northern  and  northwestern  part  of  Wilming-  five  shillings  and  four  pence  for  that  purpose*  One  of 
ton.  This  was  greatly  owing  to  the  accommodation  the  items  of  expense  was  one  pound  and  one  shilling, 
afforded  by  the  street  railway  passing  through  these  for  **  six  gallons  of  rum  for  the  workmen."  The  first 
localities.  bridge  became  old  and  somewhat  dilapidated  with 
The  Front  and  Union  Street-Railway  Com-  more  than  half  a  century's  use.  In  1806  a  move  was 
PANT. — ^The  first  meeting  of  stockholders  who  con-  on  foot  and  a  company  incorporated  with  a  capital  of 
templated  the  organization  of  this  company  was  held  $20,000  to  build  a  stone  bridge,  but  it  never  was  done, 
at  the  Artisans'  Savings  Bank,  February  17,  1881,  A  petition  was  presented  to  the  Levy  Court,  March  4, 
when  they  elected  the  following-named  directors :  1806,  praying  for  the  erection  of  a  new  bridge.  John 
H.  S.  McComb,  William  G.  Gibbons,  Francis  N.  Warner,  George  Clark  and  Dr.  Arnold  Naudain 
Back,  Philip  Plunkett,  John  R.  Tatum,  £.  T.  Walton  were  appointed  to  view  the  bridge  and  report  its  con- 
and  George  W.  Bush.  On  the  same  day  the  directors  dition.  They  made  no  report  until  1807.  Another 
elected  George  W.  Busb,  president;  Edward  T.  petition,  signed  by  one  hundred  persons  of  Brandy- 
Taylor,  secretary ;  Philip  Plunkett,  treasurer.  A  wine  and  Christiana,  asked  that  the  bridge  be  repaired 
charter  of  incorporation  was  obtained  February  20,  or  a  new  one  built.  John  BrynbeVg,  David  Stewart  and 
1877.  The  paid-in  capital  was  $25,000,  which  has  Anthony  Higgins,  on  May  2, 1809,  a  new  committee, 
since  been  increased  to  $30,000  in  shares  of  $10  reported  favorably  to  the  erection  of  the  desired 
each.  bridge,  and  the  same  day  Capt.  James  Jefferis, 
William  Wharton,  Jr..  of  Philadelphia,  April  20,  William  Poole,  John  Way  and  Edward  Tatnall  were 
1881,  contracted  to  build  the  road  at  the  rate  of  $7400  appointed  as  commissioners  to  build  one,  '*on  the 
per  mile,  for  a  single  track,  $2.80  per  foot  for  the  curved  plan  of  the  bridge  at  the  Falls  of  the  Schuylkill 
part  of  the  track,  and  $6  per  foot  for  gutter  plate.  River,"  with  three  chains,  its  width  to  be  decided  upon 
Samuel  A.  Price  was  appointed  superintendent  May  by  the  commissioners.  The  first  commissioners  re- 
2,  1881.  The  road  was  completed  to  its  present  fused  to  act,  and  the  court  appointed  Jacob  Derrickson, 
length,  a  little  more  than  one  and  one-third  miles,  Robert  Forwood,  John  McClintock,  Isaac  Dickson, 

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and  Jamee  Jefferia  to  erect  a  chain  bridge.  On  June 
13, 1809,  the  Levy  Court  appropriated  $4000  for  that 
purpose.  It  was  completed  in  1810,'  and  was  used 
until  1822,  when  it  was  taken  away  by  a  flood,  and  a 
covered  wooden  bridge  built  at  a  cost  of  $7558.23. 
The  old  bridge  was  sold  for  $884.07.  This  was 
carried  away  by  a  flood  in  1839,  and  another  placed 
there,  which  stood  forty-eight  years.  In  1887,  a 
committee  of  the  Levy  Court  erected  the  beautiful 
one  which  now  spans  the  stream,  at  a  cost  of  $27,000. 
The  committee  were  Henry  D.  Hickman,  of  Wilming- 
ton Hundred ;  Isaac  N.  Grubb,  of  Brandywine  Hun- 
dred ;  Thomas  Toy,  of  Christiana  Hundred ;  Robert  B. 
Morrison,  of  New  Castle  Hundred;  and  Thomas 
McCracken,  of  Pencader. 

Thb  Christiana  Bridge  at  Market  Street. — 
In  answer  to  a  petition  signed  by  a  large  number  of 
citizens  of  Wilmington  and  vicinity,  an  act  was 
passed  January  20, 1807,  by  the  General  Assembly, 
incorporating  a  company  to  erect  a  draw-bridge  over 
the  Christiana  "  at  the  foot  of  Market  Street,  and  to 
open  a  road  from  thence  through  Holland  Creek 
Marsh  to  the  fast  land  near  the  residence  of  Major 
Peter  Jacquette,  to  intersect  with  the  road  from  Clark's 
Corners  and  New  Castle  to  Christiana  Ferry  below 
Wilmington." 

It  was  chartered  as  the  **  Wilmington  Bridge  Com- 
pany," with  a  capiul  of  $15,000,  in  shares  of  fifty 
dollars  each.  The  draw,  as  prescribed  by  the  .act, 
was ^ to  be  twenty-five  or  more  feet  in  width;  the 
bridge  to  be  lighted  with  six  lamps,  two  at  each  end^ 
and  two  in  the  middle  of  the  draw." 

James  Stroud,  Nehemiah  Tilton,  James  Brinckley, 
Samufl  Caoby  and  Joseph  Shipley  were  appointed 
commissionera  to  locate  the  site  of  the  bridge  and  lay 
oat  the  road.  The  directors  chosen  were  William 
Collins,  William  Hemphill,  John  Warner,  James  Lea 
and  Jacob  Broom.  They  reported  to  the  stockholders 
that  the  bridge  was  complete,  April  5,  1808. 

A  bill  passed  the  Legislature,  January,  1851,  au- 
thoriring  the  Levy  Court  to  purchase  this  bridge, 
since  which  time  no  toll  has  been  charged.  The 
present  bridge  was  built  in  1883. 

The  Brandywine  Park. — The  first  move  toward 
securing  a  part  of  the  lands  bordering  on  the  Brandy- 
wine  within  the  city  limits,  for  a  public  park,  was  in 
1868.  On  the  1 1th  of  July  of  that  year  a  meeting  of 
citizens  was  held  in  City  Hall,  when  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Samuel    M.  Harrington,   Charles  B.   Lore, 


>  In  1814  tbe  main  post  road  fh>m  the  Eastern  to  the  Southern  States 
rwti  the  Brandywine  on  a  hanging  bridge,  passed  through  the 
berongb  of  Wilmington,  Teered  off  to  the  west  and  southwest  ranxes  of 
tlie  Bortbem  banks  of  the  Christiana  and  continued  toward  the  South. 
A  branch  of  this  road  crossed  the  Christiana  and  continued  down 
thrcragb  the  Peninsula  to  the  Chesapealce  and  Delaware  Bays.  The 
Christiana  bridge  bad  a  draw  of  thirty  feet.  Three  stone  turnpikes  ex« 
ttoded  into  Bsnnsylrania.  Wilmington,  or  a  large  portion  of  it,  was 
bailt  on  tbe  southwest  of  a  hill,  nine  hundred  feet  above  tide-water,  and 
Bsar  tbe  Christiana.  Tbe  Tillage  of  Brandy  vkine  \ras  on  the  northeast 
lAope  of  tbe  lame  hill  and  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  There  were  seven 
kondred  and  fifty  hoos^  in  both  towns.  Many  handsome  country  reel- 
itotm  were  located  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
skove  tide-water  in  the  highlands,  which  extended  from  the  Delaware 
roond  to  the  southwest  and  east  of  the  town. 


Daniel  W.  Taylor  and  George  W.  Stone  were  appoint- 
ed a  committee  to  take  the  necessary  steps  towards 
procuring  the  desired  site.  On  July  16,  1869,  after 
haying  carefully  examined  the  lands  on  both  sides  of 
the  stream,  this  committee,  in  the  name  of  the  public 
meeting  of  citizens,  reported  to  the  City  Council, 
recommending  the  purchase  of  the  land  ^*  lying  be- 
tween Adams  Street,  adjoining  Brandywine  Cemetery 
grounds  and  Rattlesnake  Run,  northward  to  Levering 
Avenue,  including  the  Brandywine  Creek  and  Race,  to 
such  natural  boundaries  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
Brandywine  as  may  be  deemed  most  desirable.''  This 
committee,  in  a  published  report,  glowingly  described 
the  eligibility  of  this  site,  its  beautiful  scenery  and 
interesting  surroundings,  and  declared  that  no  city  in 
the  land  had  such  a  stream  as  the  Brandywine  with- 
in its  limits.  The  report  further  gives  a  concise 
description  of  the  leading  public  parks  in  other  cities 
of  the  Union,  and  the  great  advantages  derived  from 
them. 

The  City  Council  made  arrangements  to  purchase 
the  lands  recommended  by  borrowing  money  to  pay 
for  the  same ;  but  before  this  could  be  accomplished, 
several  citizens  procured  counsel  and  had  further  pro- 
ceedings stopped  by  an  injunction  issued  by  the 
chancellor  of  the  State,  on  the  plea  that  the  city 
charter  forbade  the  borrowing  of  money  for  such 
purpose. 

No  further  action  was  taken  until  1882,  when  a 
number  of  prominent  citizens  met  together,  and, 
prompted  by  a  promise  of  a  large  tract  of  land  outside 
the  city  limits,  by  William  P.  Bancroft,  made  the 
draft  of  an  act  which  was  submitted  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, and  substantially  as  drawn,  became  a  law  in 
1888.  Under  this  act  the  following-named  persons 
and  their  successors  were  created  a  Board  of  Park 
Commissioners  for  the  city:  William  P.  Bancroft, 
Oeorge  H.  Bates,  Thomas  F.  Bayard,  Edward  Betts, 
Francis  N.  Buck,  George  W.  Bush,  William  M.  Can- 
by,  Joseph  L.  Carpenter,  Jr.,  Henry  A.  Du  Pont, 
J.  Taylor  Gause,  the  mayor  of  Wilmington,  the  pres- 
ident and  the  chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee  of 
the  City  Council,  and  the  chief  engineer  of  the  Sur- 
veying Department  William  Can  by  and  Dennis  J. 
Menton  have  since  been  appointed  to  take  the  places 
of  others  who  have  retired  from  the  board. 

The  original  act  was  inoperative  from  lack  of 
authority  to  borrow  sufficient  money,  and  an  amend- 
ment was  passed  in  1885,  authorizing  the  city  to  bor- 
row $150,000  for  the  purchase  of  land  for  the  contem- 
plated park.  The  lands  at  present  embraced  in 
the  City  Park  on  the  Brandywine,  and  in  a  tract  in  the 
western  part  of  Wilmington,  were  purchased  by  the 
city  authorities  at  a  cost  of  $146,000.  The  grounds  on 
the  Brandywine  extend  on  the  south  side  from  Van 
Buren  Street  to  the  city  limits  back  to  Levering 
Avenue. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

WlLUmOTON— {Continued). 
MARKET -HOUSES. 

The  greatest  of  all  controversies  in  the  history  of 
Wilmington  arose  on  the  establishment  of  the  markets. 

The  first  market-house  in  Wilmington  was  built  by 
William  Shipley,  at  his  own  expense  and  on  his  own 
land,  in  the  spring  of  1736,  the  year  after  he  moved 
to  Wilmington  from  Ridley  Township,  Chester 
County,  Pa.  It  stood  on  Front  Street  and  extended 
from  Shipley  Street  half-way  to  Market.  The  town 
then  had  but  thirty-three  houses,  nearly  all  of  which 
were  south  of  Third  Street,  and  between  Walnut  and 
Market  Streets.  The  Fourth  Street  market  house  was 
erected  three  years  before  the  town  was  incorporated 
as  a  borough  under  the  name  of  Wilmington,  and 
when  it  yet  was  known  as  Willingtown. 

On  July  13,  1736,  thirty  persons  put  their  signa- 
tures to  a  public  notice  declaring  that  there  ''should 
be  particular  days  on  which  the  country-people  may 
bring  to  town  their  victualing  which  they  are  minded 
to  sell,  and  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  may 
furnish  themselves  with,  as  they  may  think  conveni- 
ent.'^  It  was  therefore  agreed  and  advertised  that 
"after  the  17th  of  July,  1736,  there  may  be  a  public 
sale  of  all  sorts  of  victualing  kept  in  the  market-house 
built  in  Willingtown,  On  Wednesday  and  Saturday  of 
each  week,  to  begin  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning." 

The  market-house  being  erected  by  William  Ship- 
ley on  his  own  land  and  at  his  own  expense,  even 
though  allowed  to  be  used  by  the  public,  was  not  con- 
sidered lost,  and  eighty-one  persons,  in  Willingtown 
and  the  Hundred  of  Christiana,  in  which  the  village 
was  then  located,  nominated  Thomas  West  and 
Joseph  Hewes,  of  Willingtown,  Timothy  Stidham 
and  Henry  Colesbury,  of  New  Castle  County,  and 
Jossph  Mendenhall  and  Jacob  Chandler,  of  Chester 
County,  as  trustees  to  receive  and  collect  subscriptions 
to  purchase  the  market-house,  that  it  might  become 
public  property,  and  *^  to  finish  it  and  to  build  an  ad- 
dition thereto."  They  performed  their  duty  by  col- 
lecting sixty-seven  pounds,  of  which  William  Shipley 
himself  contributed  ten;  Joshua  Way,  four;  David 
Ferris,  three;  Thomas  West,  two;  William  Levis, 
two;  Edward  Tatnall,  two;  Robert  Lewis,  two; 
GriflSth  Minshall,  two;  G.  E.  Fol well,  two ;  Joseph 
Mendenhall  and  Joseph  Hewes,  each  one  pound  and 
ten  shillings ;  Christopher  Wilson,  Samuel  Hooten, 
Samuel  Littler,  Enoch  Lewis,  William  Warner,  John 
Swett,  Richard  Carson,  James  Speary,  John  Vanne- 
man,  William  Cleny,  William  Seal,  Stephen  Foulk, 
Timothy  Stidham,  Honce  Smith,  Anthony  Benezet, 
Joshua  Littler,  Job  Jacob,  George  Howell,  each  one 
pound ;  Thomas  Hollingsworth,  William  Hewes,  each 
fifteen  shillings  ;  John  Trimble,  John  Gleave,  Chris- 
topher Springer,  William  Tussey,  James  Chandler, 
George  Jen  kin,  Daniel  Barker,  Joseph  Williamson, 
Andrew  Jolly,  Richard  Eveson,  Daniel  Calfat,  Na- 


thaniel Pennock,  Isaac  Lobdell,  each  ten  shillings ; 
Owen  Evans,  Nathan  Wood,  Wm.  Welton,  Daniel 
Few,  Moses  Minshall,  Jonathan  Sell,  Jacob  Stiliey, 
Jacob  Springer,  Mouns  Justis,  Joseph  Springer, 
Jonas  Walraven,  John  Way,  Samuel  Pennock  and 
Joseph  Davis,  each  five  shillings.  A  number  of  other 
persons  a  distance  from  town  contributed  the  re- 
mainder. 

With  the  money  thus  raised  they  bought  the  right 
of  the  owner  to  it  and  obtained  a  deed,  and  the  mar- 
ket-house became  public  property.  This  pleased  the 
advocates  of  what  then  became  known  as  the  "  Upper 
Market,"  but  some  time  previous  to  its  erection,  and 
before  Wm.  Shipley  moved  to  the  young  town,  the 
people  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town  had  discussed 
the  advisability  of  building  a  market- house  down 
**  nigher  to  the  water*s  side,"  on  Second  Street,  be- 
tween Market  and  King,  on  land  given  by  Thomas 
Willing  and  Andrew  Justison,  when  the  town  was 
first  laid  out. 

To  oppose  the  completion  of  the  lower  market,  the 
supporters  of  the  Fourth  Street  Market  prepared  the 
subjoined  address,  which  is  here  inserted  to  illustrate 
the  nature  of  the  controversy,  and  show  who  the  first 
settlers  of  the  town  wei'e : 

*'  To  all  Chri$tiaH  people  to  tchom  theae  preeenU  shall  come : 

"  We,  whoee  names  are  hereunto  snbsoribed,  inhabitants  of  and  adven- 
turers in  Willingtown,  on  the  Hundred  of  Christiana,  in  the  County  of 
New  Castle  upon  Delaware,  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  Country  and 
parts  adjacent,  send  greeting : 

*'  Whereas,  There  has  already  been  built  in  Willing  Town  aforesaid, 
for  the  use  and  benefit  of  said  Town  and  conntiy  a4JoiniDg,  one  house  or 
building  commonly  called  a  Market-House  or  Sharablee,  and  situated  on 
High  (Fourth)  Street  and  between  Market  and  Shiply,  and 

**  Wherea*^  There  in  since  proposed  by  some  persons,  inhabitants  in  the 
said  Town,  and  now  by  them,  a  putting  forward  to  be  built,  another 
Market-House,  proposed  to  be  erected  in  Market  Street  or  Second  Street 
aforesaid,  but  down  nigher  to  the  wator  side  :  Now  theae  are,  therefore, 
to  declare  to  all  persons,  that 

'*  Ws,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  very  well  satisfied 
that  the  Market-House  already  built  in  High  Street  as  aforesaid  is,  and 
doth,  stand  very  commodious  for  the  benefit  of  said  Town,  both  as  to 
situation,  largeness  and  form  of  building,  and  that  ws,  and  every  of  ca, 
do  approve  the  same,  and  that  wb,  nor  any  of  ns,  do  any  waysapproTS  of^ 
but  do  utterly  disallow  and  disapprove  the  building  or  erecting  any 
other  Market-House  or  Shambles  in  the  said  Town  at  the  present,  and 
until  we  shall  see  more  reasonable  occasion  for  the  same. 
*' William  Shipley.  Daniel  Macforson. 

David  Ferris.  John  Pogue. 

James  Speary.  Thomas  McCullough. 

Thomas  West.  James  Phillips. 

Edward  Tatnall.  Jonathan  Langley. 

Joshua  Way.  Ephraim  Pogne. 

William  Warner.  George  Harlan. 

Samuel  Hooten.  Samuel  Hollingsworth. 

Samuel  Littler.  Enoch  Hollingsworth. 

John  Sweet.  Edward  Way. 

John  Vanneman.  Ellis  Lewis. 

Robert  Read.  Jacob  Chandler. 

Daniel  Few.  Samuel  Pennock. 

Christopher  Wilson.  Joseph  Mendenhall. 

George  Robinson.  Thomas  Hollingsworth. 

Nathan  Wood.  William  Levis. 

John  Blto.  Robert  Lewis. 

Swithin  Cliandler.  Thomas  Carlton. 

Joseph  Pennock.  Jacob  Way. 

John  Gregg.  Christopher  Marshall. 

John  Heald.  John  Glennis. 

William  Passmore.  Job  Jacob. 

Daniel  Webb.  John  Trimble. 

Joshua  Pearce.  Nathaniel  Pennock. 

Briuesby  Barnes.  William  Garsuch. 

Valentine  Hollingsworth.  Daniel  Colfelt. 

Alexander  Frazier.  Enoch  Hollingsworth. 

John  Ball.  Samuel  Greave,  Jr. 

Samuel  Greave.  Adolphus  Kirk. 

Thomas  Wilson.  Adam  Kirk." 


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The  signers  to  the  above  document  were  nearly  all 
English  Qoakers,  who  lived  in  or  near  the  town.  It 
seems  the  Swedes  to  a  man  were  also  opposed  to  the 
erection  of  an  additional  market.  They  also  pre- 
pired  a  written  protest  opposing  it,  stating  that  for 
their  own  interests  and  that  of  their  lessees : 

"  Now  th«ie  are  to  docUre  to  ail  persons  that  we,  whose  naraee  are  here- 
unto Mbacribed,  members  of  said  (Swedish)  congregation,  holding  diTers 
Uada  io  the  «Ud  Town  for  the  use  of  said  (Swedes*)  church  and  minister 
UMiectf,  and  hsTiog  by  our  tmstees  leased  many  lots  of  land  there  to 
diren  persona,  and  considering  the  interests  of  our  said  charch  and 
minister,  and  ss  well  the  interest  and  advantage  of  those  persons  that 
hare  already,  or  which  shall  hereaftfr,  lease  any  of  our  said  church 
laiidi,and  the  fature  adrantage,  rise  and  growth  of  the  said  town  in 
gn«aJ,  and  being  wvll  satisfied  of  the  situation  of  the  present 
MariLct-Honse  on  High  Street,  etc. 

(Signed)  John  Embbko. 

"Charles  Springer.  Paul  Jnstison. 

PblUp  TandeTer.  William  Tussey. 

Morton  Jostis.  Henry  Stidham. 

Timothy  Stidbam.  George  Read. 

Haas  0.  Schmiz.  Joseph  Springer. 

Jseob  Stilly.  Timothy  Stiddeu. 

John  Morten.  Andrew  A.  Lina. 

Morton  Morton.  Ellas  King. 

Lucas  Stidham.  Hans  Peterson. 

JaoMS  Sinnexson.  .Tohn  Springer. 

PMerHeodrickBon.  Matthias  Morten. 

Andrew  Stilly.  Henry  Colesberry. 

Christian  Brynberg.  Peter  Peterson. 

William  Cleneay.  Andrew  Hendrickson. 

Jonas  WaliaTen.  Jonas  Stidham.  ** 

JHtis  Jnstis. 

By  the  frame  of  gorernment  of  the  province  of 
Pennsylvania,  of  which  the  counties  of  New  Castle, 
Soasex  and  Kent  were  then  a  part,  one  of  the  powers 
delegated  to  the  Gk>vernor  and  Provincial  Council  was 
"to  settle  and  order  the  situation  of  all  cities  and 
market  towns  in  every  county,  modelling  therein  all 
public  buildinflfs,  streets  and  market-places.''  As 
WUlingtown  was  not  a  chartered  corporation  and  there 
being  no  municipal  body  in  it,  the  "  down-towners," 
or  those  opposed  to  the  erection  of  the  upper  mar- 
ket, addressed  a  letter  to  **  the  Hon.  Thomas  Penn,  one 
ofthe  proprietors  of  Pennsylvania/'  describing  their 
wants.  Governor  Penn  ordered  James  Steel  to  write 
a  letter  to  the  "  down-towners*'  asking  them  to  sus- 
pend further  proceedings  in  relation  to  the  erection 
of tht  lower  market-house  until  it  would  be  con- 
venient to  the  Governor  to  pay  them  a  visit. 

A  letter  signed  by  the  following  persons  was  then 
^ent  to  the  Governor :  Samuel  Scott,  Charles  Empsom, 
James  Milner,  Sr.,  John  McArthur,  David  Bush, 
Thomas  Peters,  David  Enoch,  Thomas  Milner, 
Simnel  Milner,  James  Milner,  Thomas  Downing, 
Timothy  Scott,  Joseph  Tomlinson,  James  Hutchin- 
aon,  Joseph  Steel,  John  Buchanan,  Daniel  Beeby, 
Richard  Dockrill  and  Alexander  Hooge. 

They  stated  that  they  desired  to  erect  a  market- 
boose  on  the  spot  originally  selected,  and  claimed 
that  William  Shipley  "  had  fallen  away  from  the 
pablic  interest  and  his  former  good  intentions*'  by 
building  a  market -house  on  Fourth  Street,  and  they 
"oilered  to  pay  the  full  expense  he  had  gone  to,  but 
his  resolution  is  so  strong  that  he  is  not  moved  to 
acc^t  any  acknowledgement."    Therefore,  it  would 


be  a  great  detriment  to  defer  the  building  of  their 
market  on  Second  Street  until  the  Governor  would 
visit  them,  "  the  workmen  being  all  ready  employed, 
the  bricks  and  other  materials  provided."  This 
market-house  was  built  in  1737. 

Their  address  to  the  Governor  contained  some 
reflection  on  the  conduct  of  William  Shipley,  and  on 
November  15, 1737,  he  explained  his  position  in  a 
letter  to  Governor  Penn.  In  very  strong  terms  he 
assured  the  authorities  that  he  had  acted  for  the  pub- 
lic interest  and  not  for  his  own  welfare.  He  further 
claimed  that  the  site  upon  which  the  down-town  party 
were  about  to  erect  a  market-house  "  was  a  low,  dirty 
place."  Two  months  later  David  Ferris  addressed 
a  letter  to  the  Governor  in  defense  of  his  friend 
Shipley,  and  Joseph  Hewes,  another  early  settler,  did 
the  same  a  few  days  afterwards. 

For  a  short  time  there  was  peace  and  quiet  in  the 
"  quaint  old  Quaker-town,"  until  the  "  down-towners" 
became  indignant  at  the  apparent  success  of  the  *'  up- 
towners."  In  command  of  a  somewhat  audacious 
leader,  they  marched  up  to  Fourth  Street,  and  with 
axes  determined  to  cut  down  the  white-oak  pillars 
that  supported  the  market-house.  They  demanded 
that  the  men  who  were  at  work,  enlarging  and  com- 
pleting it,  should  discontinue  their  operations.  A 
large  crowd  soon  assembled.  There  was  a  stirring  war 
of  words,  in  which  a  strong  mixture  of  bad  English, 
Swedish  and  Scotch-Irish  blood  was  shown,  and 
things  waxed  so  warm  that  some  of  them  came  to 
blows.  This  resulted  in  two  men  being  badly  injured. 
Quiet  was  again  restored,  and  the  belligerent  party 
marched  down-town  to  their  homes.  The  question 
was  never  finally  decided  until  a  borough  charter  was 
obtained  in  1739.  The  matter  was  put  to  a  vote  of 
the  "  freeholders  and  inhabitants  of  the  borough," 
December  10,  1739,  who  decided  that  "The  Saturday 
market  and  Spring  Fair,''  be  held  at  the  market- 
house  on  Fourth  Street,  and  the  "  Wednesday  market 
and  Fall  Fair"  at  the  market- house  on  Second  Street. 

The  controversy,  which  greatly  disturbed  the  peace 
and  harmony  of  the  town,  was  now  settled.  The 
Fourth  Street  market-house  was  slightly  enlarged,  but 
few  changes  were  made,  and  it  did  good  service  for 
one  hundred  and  ten  years,  being  removed  in  1846, 
and  another  erected  on  the  same  site,  which  was  com- 
pleted November  17th  ofthesame  year,  and  stood  until 
about  1867,  when,  by  order  of  the  City  Council,  it  was 
taken  away.  In  1830  the  Athenaeum  was  built  over 
the  eastern  end  of  the  old  market-house,  and  was  used 
as  a  meeting-place  of  literary  societies.  The  Wil- 
mington Library  was  kept  in  it  for  a  time. 

The  Second  Street  Market,  built  in  1737,  stood  until 
1793,  when  it  was  rebuilt. 

77ie  Second  Street  Market- Ho use^  now  (1888)  stand- 
ing, was  erected  by  the  City  Market  Company  in 
1876  on  the  site  of  the  old  one,  the  ground  being 
leased  from  the  city.  The  oflScers  of  the  company  then 
were:  President,  William  Miller;  Vice-president, 
Peter    B.    Huested;    Secretary,  James    F.  Sutton; 


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674 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Treasurer,  Joseph  L.  Carpenter,  Jr.;  Directors,  Her- 
man Ahrens,  J.  L.  Carpenter,  Jr.,  Henry  Ward, 
Richard  Lovell,  Peter  Wood,  JamC')  F.  Sutton,  Peter 
Durham,  John  Gibbon,  James  Curren,  Peter  B. 
Huested  and  William  Miller. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  with  ceremonies  on  April 
10th,  1876.  On  the  outside  of  the  comer-stone  are 
the  dates  1737  and  1876. 


OLD  SECOND  STREET  MARKET-HOUSE. 

The  following  are  the  officers  and  directors  of  the 
company:  President,  William  Miller;  Vice-president, 
John  J.  Joslin  ;  Secretary,  David  H.  Magill ;  Treas- 
urer, Abraham  P.  Geary ;  Lewis  Lee,  John  Gibbons, 
Thomas  Curtis,  H.  H.  Moore  and  William  F.  Lovell. 

The  Twelfth  Street  Market  was  established  by  the 
city  authorities  in  1848.  Market-sheds  were  built  on 
ihtX  street  between  Market  and  King,  at  a  cost  of 
three  thousand  dollars,  and  farmers  were  allowed  to 
have  wagons  on  either  side  of  the  street,  along  the 
pavements,  to  Walnut.  This  market  never  prospered ; 
very  few  farmers  and  fewer  butchers  secured  stalls, 
and  at  the  end  of  six  months  from  its  start  was  dis- 
continued, and  the  building  for  years  was  used  to  store 
carriages,  and  eventually  was  removed. 

Front  Street  Market-House  was  owned  by  David  H. 
Craig,  and  was  situated  between  Jefferson  and  Madison 
on  Front.  It  was  conducted  for  a  year  or  two  and  then 
discontinued  for  lack  of  patronage.  The  building  is 
now  used  as  a  carriage  manufactory. 

The  Farmers^  Market  on  Eighth  Street  was  estab- 
lished by  Gregg  &  Bowe  in  1868,  when  they  erected 
their  large  carriage  works  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  and 
Shipley.  It  has  Mnce  been  incorporated.  The  market 
is  on  the  first  floor  of  their  large  building,  one  hundred 
and  sixty-seven  by  fifty-two  feet.  It  is  well  patron- 
ized by  butchers,  truckers  and  farmers,  and  is  open 
every  day.  Wednesdays  and  Saturdays  and  the  after- 
noons preceding  them  are  days  when  farmers  attend. 
There  are  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  stalls. 

Wilmington  Market  Company  was  chartered  in  1885. 
It  is  familiarly  known  as  the  "Third  Street  Market," 
at  the  corner  of  Third  and  King.  It  was  established 
at  the  same  place  by  James  Bradford  in  1876,  who 
then  erected  the  present  building,  sixty  by  one  hun- 
dred and  eleven  feet,  and  three  stories  high,  contain- 


ing one  hundred  stalls,  all  of  which  are  disposed  of 
to  butchers,  hucksters  and  farmers.  The  board  of 
directors  are  Patrick  Monaghan,  president;  Joel 
Walton,  treasurer ;  John  K.  Bradford,  secretary ;  J. 
W.  Butler  and  Charles  C.  Mamele. 

A  market  has  recently  been  opened  on  Washington 
Street. 

As  the  town  grew  in  size  and  importance  and 
the  population  increased,  the  farmers  sold  most  of 
their  produce  from  their  wagons  on  Market  and 
Fourth  Streets,  until  the  street  railway  was  built  in 
18G3,  and  since  then  they  stand  on  King  Street.  Thus 
for  a  century  and  a  half  have  the  country  people  from 
this  neighborhood  and  from  across  the  Delaware 
brought  their  produce  to  town  in  carts,  dearborns  and 
market  wagons,  which  stand  with  their  tail-boards  to 
the  pavement,  while  a  row  of  benches  placed  along 
the  curb  displays  their  wares ;  butter  as  yellow  as 
gold  and  as  sweet  as  a  nut,  milk,  eggs,  sausage,  scrap- 
ple, vegetables,  and  poultry,  all  fresh  from  the  farm. 
Up  and  down  in  front  of  this  array  of  benches  the 
town-folk  crowd  and  jostle,  inspecting  the  marketing, 
and  driving  shrewd  bargains  with  the  venders.  Rain 
or  shine,  on  every  Saturday  and  Wednesday,  the  line  of 
farm  wagons  stands  along  the  pavement.  In  the  hottest 
day  of  summer,  when  the  sun  beats  down  on  straw-hats 
and  shirt-sleeves,  in  the  coldest  day  of  winter,  when 
the  snow  drifts  in  blinding  sheets  up  the  street,  these 
good  folk  come  to  town  to  turn  an  honest  penny 
In  summer-time  the  wagons  stand  upon  the  east 
side  of  the  street  to  avoid  as  much  as  possible  the 
morning  sun ;  in  winter  .they  shift  to  the  west  side, 
so  as  to  gain  ihe  warmth  as  soon  as  possible. 

During  the  spring  and  early  Fummer  the  markets 
are  gay  with  flowers,  sometimes  ranged  tier  on  tier  in 
a  gaudy  tableau  of  color  and  fragrance  newly  trans- 
ported from  the  greenhouse,  sometimes  tied  in  home- 
ly nosegays  of  homely  flowers — daflbdils,  lilacs  and 
pinks,  pied  and  plain.  Around  these  stands  gather 
a  group  of  feminine  folk,  and  in  many  a  market-bas- 
ket butter  and  eggs  contest  the  place  with  a  bouquet, 
or  jostle  against  a  flower-pot,  in  which  blooms  some 
sweet  blossom,  or  are  decked  with  a  bunch  of  the 
water-lilies  which  barefooted  boys  offer  at  every  cor- 
ner. Then  in  the  season  come  the  fruits  in  their 
natural  order,  free  from  forcing-houses,  from  the  early 
strawberry  of  the  spring  to  the  apples  of  late 
autumn,  each  with  a  freshness  and  ripeness  only  too 
rarely  found  in  our  larger  cities. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

WILMINGTON— ((7o/i<mit«(£). 
FIBE   DEPARTMENT   AND   INSURANCE  COMPANIES. 

Fire  Department— 7%^  Friendship  Fire  Company 
— On  the  22d  of  December,  1775,  a  number  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  Wilmington,  for  the  protection 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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of  their  own  property  and  that  of  their  neighbors 
from  fire,  formed  themselves  into  an  association,  to  be 
known  as  the  Friendship  Fire  Company.  Each  mem- 
ber pledged  himself  to  fumi«h  during  a  fire  two  leather 
backets  and  one  large  wicker  basket,  and,  when  a 
fire  occurred,  to  place  a  lighted  candle  in  their  win- 
dows and  proceed  to  the  conflagration.  Should  one 
member  in  passing  another  member's  house  fail  to 
see  a  '*  light  in  the  window,"  he  was  in  duty  bound  to 
stop  and  awaken  the  other.  The  whole  fire  appara- 
tus at  this  time  consisted  of  some  seventy- four  buck- 
ets and  baskets.  When  a  fire  occurred  two  parallel 
rows  of  firemen  and  citizens  were  formed  leading  from 
the  fire  to  a  spring,  well,  pump  or  stream  of  water. 
The  buckets  full  of  water  were  passed  down  one  row 
and  returned  empty  up  the  other  to  the  source  of 
supply.  This  work  was  continued  until  the  fire  was 
pat  oat.  The  old  time  hand-engines  were  supplied 
with  watar  in  the  same  way.  A  small  hand-engine 
was  purchased  by  the  Friendship  before  1790.  It  was 
gotten  from  a  French  man-of-war.  A  fire  broke  out 
in  a  row  of  old  houses  on  East  Fourth  Street,  in  1801 » 
when  nearly  all  the  members  of  the  Friendship  Com- 
ptoy  were  at  New  Castle  attending  the  general  elec- 
tioD,  which  was  then  the  voting-place  for  the  entire 
county.  In  the  absence  of  the  men,  women  acted 
(heir  part  well  as  firemen.  Following  the  example  of 
the  men,  some  of  them  arranged  themselves  into  rows 
with  buckets,  while  others  pumped  the  hand-engine. 
They  did  their  work  so  faithfully  that  a  general  con- 
iligretion  was  averted. 

In  1793  a  borough  ordinance  was  passed  directing 
how  chimneys  should  be  "burned  out"  and  in  1803 
another  ordinance  fined  every  person  five  dollars  who 
allowed  the  flames  to  extend  a  "  yard  above  the  top 
of  the  chimney."  The  members  of  the  fire  company 
then  were  oflered  a  reward  if  they  reported  persons 
who  disobeyed  this  ordinance. 

In  1798  the  Friendship  declared  it  would  disband 
unless  the  Council  gave  it  all  the  buckets  belonging 
to  the  borough  and  grant  thirty  dollars  to  assist  in 
building  a  house  for  the  engine.  In  1803  the  engine 
was  reported  as  being  "  very  much  deranged.''  It  was 
"fixed  up"  and  used  until  1826.  The  first  engine- 
hoose  was  on  Fifth  Street,  between  Shipley  and 
Orange. 

The  Friendship  Company  was  incorporated  Janu- 
ary 15, 1805.  In  1812  its  engine-house  was  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Seventh  and  Shipley  Streets. 
The  bell  was  hung  on  a  pole  in  front  of  it.  The 
membership  then  was  forty-three.  Carson  Wilson 
was  president;  David  C.  Wilson,  his  son,  secretary; 
Joseph  Qrubb,  treasurer.  The  engineers  were  Samuel 
Wollaston,  Joseph  Newlin,  James  Crosby  and  General 
James  Wolfe.  Charles  Yeates  and  Adam  Witsell  were 
appointed  to  collect  buckets  after  a  fire. 

The  engine-house  about  1825  was  moved  to  the  east 
side  of  Market  Street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh 
Streets.  It  was  a  one-story  building.  The  ofiScers 
elected  February  28,  1827,  were:  President,  Cai son 


Wilson  ;  Secretary,  Joseph  K.  Robinett ;  Treasurer » 
George  Jones;  Commander,  Captain  John  McClung. 
The  engineers  were  Samuel  Wollaston,  Aaron  Hewes, 
John  Cleland  and  Albert  Robinson. 

The  oflScers  elected  February  26, 1835,  were :  Presi- 
dent, John  McClung ;  Treasurer,  George  Jones ;  Sec- 
retary, John  T.  Robinson ;  Commander,  Charles  Bush ; 
Engineers,  Jeremiah  W.  Duncan,  James  Kernes, 
Joseph  C.  Seeds,  Elisha  Huxley;  Hose  Directors, 
Thomas  Moore,  Charles  T.  Grubb,  James  C.  Aiken 
and  Esau  Coxe ;  Committee  to  see  that  chimneys  in 
houses  are  properly  burned,  Aaron  Hewes,  William 
Hemphill  Jones,  James  Carson  and  John  McClung ; 
Committee  of  Accounts,  Stephen  Bonsall,  James  C. 
Aikin  and  Samuel  Wollaston.  These  men  were  then 
some  of  the  leading  citizens  in  the  city. 

In  1840,  John  McClung  was  president;  George 
Jones,  treasurer ;  J.  B.  Lewis,  secretary ;  J.  W.  Dun- 
can, commander;  James  Kearns,  Joseph  C.  Seeds, 
Alexander  Kelley  and  Thomas  Baynes,  engineers. 
In  1845  the  engine-house  on  Market  Street  was  sold 
and  the  site  used  as  a  marble-yard  by  James  Robin- 
son. In  1847  the  company  built  an  engine-house  on 
Orange  Street  above  Tenth.  The  present  engine 
house  is  on  Tenth  Street  facing  Shipley. 

On  December  22, 1875,  the  company  celebrated  its 
one  hundreth  anniversary  by  firing  one  hundred  guns, 
a  ball  in  the  Masonic  Temple  and  a  supper  at  the 
Clayton  House.  The  ofiicers  in  1877  were :  Presi- 
dent, Jacob  Stevenson;  Vice-President,  John  A. 
Shroeder ;  Secretary,  Samuel  T.  Bayliss ;  Treasurer, 
Thomas  Lynch.  The  steamer  now  owned  cost  five 
thousand  dollars  and  was  made  by  the  Gould  Manu- 
facturing Company,  of  Newark,  New  Jersey.  This 
company  now  (1888)  has  a  new  La  France  engine 
valued  at  four  thousand  one  hundred  dollars,  three 
horses,  a  Silsby  hose-carriage,  one  thousand  feetof  hose, 
sixteen  hundred  feet  of  fire  hose,  a  four-story  engine- 
house  with  iron  front,  valued  at  sixteen  thousand 
dollars,  eighty-seven  active  and  honorary  members. 
It  can  be  justly  proud  of  its  historic  record. 

The  Rdmnoe  Fire  Chmpany  was  organized  March  4, 
1796,  and  obtained  a  charter  of  incorporation  January 
2, 1802.  It  was  originally  a  bucket  company  only, 
but  as  early  as  1810  had  also  a  hand-engine.  The 
engine-house  in  1812  was  on  Third  Street,  between 
Market  and. Shipley.  This  company,  like  the  Friend- 
ship, was  instituted  and  controlled  by  iome  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  the  town.  In  1814  the  member- 
ship was  fifty.  John  Reynolds  was  president ;  Joseph 
Read,  secretary;  Isaac  H.  Starr,  treasurer;  John 
Jones,  Samuel  Askew,  James  Wilson,  William  Seal, 
Robert  Porter  and  Hance  Naff,  engineers. 

On  February  7,  1824,  Evan  Thomas  was  elected 
president ;  Ziba  Ferris,  treasurer ;  and  Dr.  Henry  F. 
Askew,  secretary.  Buckets  were  still  in  use.  The 
company  had  an  open  lattice- work  wagon  to  carry  the 
men.  The  Reliance  Fire  Company,  together  with  the 
Friendship  and  Delaware,  did  good  service  at  the 
great  fire  in  New  Castle  in  1824.    They  arrived  at 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


that  town  within  half  an  hour  from  the  time  of  start- 
ing, by  the  steamer  '*  Superior/'  in  command  of  Cap- 
tain Henry  Read.  In  1829  John  Hedges  was  presi- 
dent ;William;H.  Naff,  secretary ;  Ziba  Ferris,  treasur- 
er ;  Allan  Thomson,  Henry  F.  Askew,  Samuel  Buzby, 
William  J.  Hallo  well  and  Joseph  Hayes,  engineers. 
The  company  then  owned  a  hook-and-ladder,  which 
was  carried  to  a  fire  by  the  members. 

About  1830  a  building  owned  by  William  Naff,  on 
Fifth  Street  near  Orange,  was  used  as  the  engine- 
house.  Many  years  later  the  company  erected  an 
engine-house  on  Fifth  Street,  between  Walnut  and 
Poplar,  which  continued  to  be  the  headquarters  of  the 
company  until  the  building  now  occupied  by  it  was 
erected. 

In  1836  the  following  were  elected:  President, 
Samuel  Buzby  ;  Secretary,  William  H.  Naff;  Captain, 
Ziba  Ferris  ;  Engineers,  John  L.  Hadden,  Edward 
Bringhurst,  George  Reynolds,  P.  Countess,  B.  A. 
Crozier  and  George  W.  Mortimer.  Ten  hosemen  and 
fifteen  ladder-men  were  elected  at  the  same  time. 

The  Reliance  in  1840  purchased  a  largesupply  of  hose 
and  a  fine  hose-carriage.  The  affairs  of  this  company 
had  heretofore  been  conducted  without  asking  aid. 
A  few  voluntary  contributions  were  made  by  the 
banks  and  by  individuals.  On  March  12, 1841,  the 
company  sold  its  old  engine,  which  would  yet  throw 
water  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet,  and  their  "buck- 
et-carriage," and  on  April  3d  of  the  same  year  ob- 
tained from  Betts,  Pusey  &  Harlan  a  handsome  new 
engine.  It  had  a  "  seven  and  a  half  inch  cylinder  and 
a  nine-inch  stroke,  and  threw  a  gallery  stream  and 
had  one  discharging-screw  on  each  side.^* 

The  motto  of  the  company  "  Non  nobis  solum  " — 
not  laboring  for  ourselves  alone — was  neatly  engraved 
on  the  engine. 

Henry  H.  J.  Naff,  editor  of  the  Delaware  Journal^ 
and  postmaster  of  the  city,  was  president  of  the  Re- 
liance for  twenty  years,  and  Ziba  Ferris  served  as 
treasurer  equally  as  long.  The  engineers  in  1843  were 
John  C.  Price,  John  B.  Porter,  Benjamin  Johnson, 
Jacob  Stevenson,  Edward  Bringhurst  and  William 
R.  Pennington.  In  1871  the  Reliance  had  forty  ac- 
tive members,  eleven  hundred  feet  of  steam-forcing 
hose,  a  two-story  brick  house,  on  Fifth  Street  below 
Walnut,  built  in  1820.  In  1887  there  were  sixty-three 
active  and  honorary  members.  G.  A.  Messick 
president,  and  H.  A.  Duffy,  treasurer.  The  new  en- 
gine-house, at  the  southeast  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Lombard  Streets,  erected  in  1886,  is  20  by  80  feet  and 
cost  $17,000.  The  company  owns  a  Silsby  engine 
valued  at  $5500,  with  a  capacity  of  discharging  650 
gallons  per  minute,  1  Silsby  hose-carriage,  1000  feet, 
of  hose  and  3  horses. 

The  Brandi/mne  Fire  Company  was  organized  in 
Brandywine  Village  early  in  the  present  century, 
and  had  a  very  honorable  existence  for  nearly  half  a 
century.  In  1841  it  had  thirty-eight  members,  most 
of  whom  were  connected  with  the  large  flouring- 
mills  or  cooper-shops  in  that  section   of  town.    This 


company  contributed  liberally  toward  providing  fire 
apparatus  and  an  engine-house  for  the  Phoenix  when 
it  organized. 

The  Delaware  Fire  Company. — A  number  of  young 
men  met  on  April  23,  1819,  to  organize  a  fire  com- 
pany in  Wilmington.  Vincent  Gilpin  was  chairman, 
and  Samuel  Harker,  •  then  editor  of  the  Delaware 
Gazette,  secretary.  The  name  "  Delaware  Fire  Com- 
pany "  was  decided  upon.  Jesse  Mendenhall,  George 
Bush,  Vincent  Gilpin  and  Samuel  Harker  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  wait  on  the  Borough  Council 
and  request  to  be  recognized  in  the  Fire  Department 
and  to  secure  an  appropriation.  George  Worrell, 
Jesse  Mendenhall,  Thomas  S.  Newlin,  Lewis  Rum- 
ford,  James  Webb,  Josiah  H.  Gilpin  and  Israel  D. 
Jones  were  appointed  to  call  on  the  citizens  for  sub- 
scriptions toward  erecting  an  engine-house  and  to 
secure  appratus.  The  next  meeting  was  held  in  the 
Town  Hall,  February  29,  1819,  when  the  citizens' 
committ-ee  reported  a  collection  of  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  and  from  the  Council  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  William  Alrich,  George  Bush  and 
John  F.  Gilpin  were  appointed  to  procure  an  engine. 
They  reported  soon  after  that  "  the  hand-engine  they 
bonght  was  constructed  upon  the  old  English  prin- 
ciple, with  the  addition  of  Coleman  Sellers'  patent 
improvement  of  the  follower  in  the  air  chamber,  and 
would  play  from  two  pipes  at  the  same  time."  The 
first  officers  of  the  company  were  Henry  J.  Pepper, 
president;  Isaac  Jackson,  vice-president;  George 
W.  Worrell,  secretary;  and  Vincent  Gilpin,  treas- 
urer. 

The  following  members  signed  the  constitution  and 
by-laws,  November  9,  1819 ; 


Vincent  Gilpin. 
Samuel  Harker. 
John  F.  Gilpin. 
John  D.  Vaughan. 
John  D.  Wood.    • 
John  McLear. 
Lewis  Rumford. 
Wesley  McClung. 
Israel  Jones. 
James  Webb. 
Samael*Brown. 
Jesse  Mendenhall. 
E.  W.  Buckman. 


George  W.  Worrell. 
Josiah  H.  Gilpin. 
George  Bush. 
Henry  J.  Pepper. 
Charles  Reynolds. 
Thomas  S.  Newlin. 
William  Alrich. 
John  Guyer. 
Henry  Vining. 
Israel  Saunders. 
James  P.  Merihew. 
William  Simmons. 


The  membership  was  soon  afterwards  increased  by 
the  following  additional  names  : 


George  Simmons. 

Archibald  Bingham. 

John  R.  Brinckle. 

William  D.  Brinckle,  M.D. 

William  Johnston. 

Reuben  Webb. 

James  White. 

Mahlon  Betts. 

Thomas  Cole,  Jr. 

Isaac  Jackson. 

Samuel  Ash. 

B.  W.  Bracken. 

George  GrifBn. 

E.  S.  Ray. 

A.  N.  Watwn. 

Peter  A.  Humphreys. 

Thomas  G.  Cable. 

Thomas  A.  Sterrett. 


James  Brown. 
John  Virtue. 
Samuel  Hogg. 
Ezekiel  Harkei. 
James  Watson. 
John  Wright. 
John  Rudolph. 
Ephraim  Thompson. 
Samuel  McLary,  Sr. 
John  Joneis. 
John  Adams. 
John  F.  Gunn. 
Joseph  Pogue. 
Allan  W.  Law. 
Edward  Stroud. 
Jonas  P.  Fairlamb. 
Dell  Noblit 


In  1824,  Peter  Dulaney  was   president;  John  D. 
Vaughan,  vice-president;  Jesse  Mendenhall,  secre- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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tary ;  and  Vincent  Gilpin,  treafiurer.  In  1828,  Mah- 
Ion  Betts  waa  president ;  Lewis  Bumford,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Charles  B.  Peterson,  secretary  ;  John  McLear, 
treasurer.  The  engineers  were  Jesse  Mendenhall, 
John  F.  Gilpin,  Samuel  McClary,  Sr.,  Wilson  Pier- 
son,  Mahlon  Betts,  James  Simpson  and  Dell  Noblit. 
In  1842,  Evan  C.  Stotsenburg  was  president ;  Spen- 
cer D.  Eves,  vice-president;  Benjamin  S.  Clark, 
secretary ;  John  McLear  was  treasurer  for  more  than 
twenty  years,  and  Benjamin  S.  Clark  secretary  for 
the  same  length  of  time.  A  one-story  frame  engine 
house,  eighteen  feet  front,  was  the  first  one  owned 
by  this  oMnpany.  It  stood  on  Sixth  Street,  to  the 
rear  of  the  present  Water  Department  building.  A 
three-story  brick  engine-house  was  built  on  same 
site,  but  was  burned  down  when  nearly  finished.  It 
was  rebuilt  and  used  until  the  one  now  owned  by  this 
company  was  erected. 

Their  first  hand-engine  was  made  by  Alrich  &  Mc- 
Kay, members  of  the  company.  It  played  two 
streams,  and  took  thirty-two  members  to  man  it,  and 
did  good  service  for  many  years. 

A  steamer  was  bought  January  1,  1869,  in  Port- 
land, Maine,  for  four  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, which  was  kept  in  service  until  1883,  when  the 
company  sold  it  to  the  town  authorities  of  Crisfield, 
Maryland. 

The  Hayee  hook-and -ladder  truck,  built  by  the 
Ja  France  Engine  Company,  of  Elmira,  New  York, 
was  bought  August  21, 1882,  at  a  cost  of  three  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars. 

The  officers  of  the  company  in  1887  were  Henry 
W.  Perkins,  president ;  Edward  Lummis,  secretary ; 
James  F.  WiNon,  treasurer.  Some  of  the  oldest 
members  are  William  J.  King,  John  C.  Williams, 
H.  W.  Perkins,  Peter  Wood,  John  Hendrickson, 
Joseph  C.  Button,  Thomas  Wilson  and  Charles  Hig- 
gins.     William  J.  King  is  fire  recorder. 

The  Phcenix  Fire  Company. — As  the  open  territory 
on  the  hill  between  Wilmington  and  the  village  of 
Brandywine  b^an  to  be  occupied  by  dwellings,  so 
that  the  two  towns  came  nearly  together,  it*was  de- 
termined to  organize  a  fire  company  in  that  section. 
On  December  8,  1825,  a  meeting  of  a  number  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Wilmington  residing  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  mills,  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  Brandywine, 
was  held,  and  after  a  brief  discussion  the  Phoenix  Fire 
Company  was  instituted  with  about  thirty  members. 
James  Canby  was  elected  the  first  president;  John 
H.  Price,  secretary ;  and  Samuel  S.  Poole,  treasurer. 
The  engineers  chosen  at  this  meeting  were  James 
Price,  Samuel  S.  Poole,  Edward  Canby,  John  H. 
Price,  William  S.  Poole,  Wm.  H.  Marshall,  John 
Springer  and  Wm.  Rice/all  of  whom  were  prominent 
citizens.  Treasurer  Poole  reported  the  cash  assets  of 
the  Brandywine  Fire  Company  to  be  $383.87,  which  was 
transferred  to  the  Phcenix.  The  borough  of  Wil- 
mington gave  $100.  The  organization  having  been 
effected,  a  hand-engine  was  purchased  firom  Sellars  <& 
Pennock,  of  Philadelphia,  at  a  cost  of  $545.    This 


was  used  for  many  years.  The  first  ofllcers  of  the  com- 
pany were  several  times  re-elected.  January,  1827, 
Edward  Canby  was  chosen  secretary.  In  1828  Wm. 
Morrow  was  appointed  to  collect  fines.  March  13, 
1830,  the  president  appointed  Samuel  S.  Poole  and 
Henry  Rice  to  wait  upon  the  Water  Department  of 
the  borough,  and  obtain  permission  to  use  the  water 
from  the  fire-plugs  "  in  filling  and  playing  their  new 
engine."  The  original  headquarters  of  the  company 
seems  to  have  been  temporary.  In  1832  the  company 
rented  "  a  room  of  Mary  Wilkinson,  for  six  dollars 
per  annum,  as  an  engine-house."  It  was  a  small 
building,  which  then  stood  on  the  west  side  of  French 
Street,  north  of  Twelfth.  The  bell  was  hung  in  the 
forks  of  a  willow  tree  which  stood  near  by.  It  was 
known  as  the  "  Factory  bell."  A  committee  appointed 
to  secure  a  site  and  build  a  new  house  reported  at  a 
meeting,  January  3, 1835,  that  the  engine-house  was 
removed  to  the  situation  proposed  on  "  The  Green.*' 
A  new  engine-house  and  a  ladder- house  were  built, 
and  the  bell  hung,  and  ''  everything  in  good  condi- 
tion." The  site  of  this  Qngine-house  was  on  the 
east  side  of  the  market-house,  between  Fourteenth 
and  Fifteenth  Streets.  At  this  time  James  Canby 
was  treasurer  of  the  company.  In  1837  Joseph  Bice 
was  president  and  James  McAllister,  treasurer.^  The 
engine-house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Phoenix, 
situated  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Twelfth  and  King 
Streets,  was  built  in  1869.  It  was  remodeled  to  pres- 
ent dimensions — twenty  and  one-half  feet  front,  sixty 
feet  deep  and  two  stories  high — in  1883.  Its  value  ia 
$7000. 

In  1875  the  company  celebrated  the  fiftieth  year  of 
its  existence  by  an  interesting  demonstration,  with 
street  parade  and  banquet.  The  first  charter  waa  ob- 
tained ffom  the  State  Legislature  on  January  26, 
1835 ;  renewed  in  February,  1855,  March  6, 1869  and 
again  March  2, 1875. 

A  Haupt  engine  was  bought  in  1867,  and  used  un- 
til 1875,  when  the  company,  on  July  3d,  purchased  a 
steam  engine  from  the  Allerton  Iron  Company  for 
$4400.  The  other  apparatus  are  one  hose-carnage, 
value  $500 ;  one  thousand  two  hundred  feet  of  hose, 
value  $1000.  The  company  owns  three  horses.  The 
entire  valuation  of  real  and  personal  property  i& 
$13,750. 

In  the  second  story  of  the  engine-house  is  a  parlor. 
It  is  carpeted  with  Brussels,  has  a  fine  suite  of  furni- 
ture and  piano  and  the  walls  are  decorated  with  pic- 
tures. 

The  number  of  active  members  of  the  company  i» 
twenty-seven,  and  honorary  members,  ninety-one. 

The  oflScers  in  1887  were :  President,  William  Price ; 
Vice-President,  Scott  Porter;  Secretary,  Williano 
McCracken;  Treasurer,  H.  R.  Price;  Trustees,  Wm. 
Brown,  E.  G.  Patterson,  Sr.,  and  Wm.  Walker. 

The  Water  Witch  Fire  Chmpany  was  instituted  with 
thirty  members  May  1,  1833.     It  was  incorporated 

1  In  1860  William  Morrow  was  president ;  Thomas  Porter,  vlce-presi^ 
dent ;  Henry  Shane,  secretary  ;  and  J.  Wesley  Hawkins^  treasurer. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


January  22,  1835,  and  filled  a  very  influential  position 
in  the  Fire  Department  of  the  city  to  the  time  it  dis- 
banded, in  1882.  The  first  engine-house  of  this  com- 
pany was  on  Fifth  Street,  nearly  opposite  Every 
Evening  office.  It  was  a  small  frame  building  erected 
by  the  members  of  the  company  at  a  cost  of  two  hun- 
dred dollars.  The  bell  was  hung  on  a  pole  in  front  of 
the  engine-house.  The  Delaware  Fire  Company  pre- 
sented the  Water  Witch  with  a  hand-engine,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1840.  The  company  bought  a  new  hand- 
engine  of  "Betts,  Fusey  &  Harlan,  for  two  thousand 
dollars.  It  was  tried  in  front  of  City  Hall,  and  threw 
water  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  feet  on  the 
street,  and  fifteen  feet  above  the  spire  of  the  City 
Hall.  It  had  two  side  streams,  three  receiving 
streams  and  one  suction.  This  engine  was  used  for 
twenty  years,  and  in  1860  was  sold  for  old  iron.  The 
same  year  a  new  steam  fire-engine  was  bought  of  a 
Philadelphia  firm,  and  in  1873  another  engine  of 
Clapp  &  Jones,  Hudson,  New  York,  at  a  cost  of  five 
thousand  dollars. 

In  1837,  F.  Robinson  ^^as  president ;  B.  Staggers, 
vice-president ;  T.C.  Plumly,  treasurer ;  E.  A.  Wilson, 
secretary  ;  F.  Hollingaworth,  E.  A.  Wilson,  Cyrus 
Pyle,  C.  P.  Mattock,  H.  Robinson,  engineers.  On  June, 
1839,  this  company  extinguished  the  fire  and  saved  from 
destruction  the  brig  "  Rupert,''  from  Bangor,  Maine, 
on  her  way  down  the  Delaware  from  Philadelphia  to 
Matanzas.  The  firemen  went  to  the  rescue  of  the 
vessel  on  the  steamboat  "  New  Jersey."  In  1840  the 
company  built  a  two-story  engine-house  on  Shipley 
Street,  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  Streets.  It  was  re- 
built three  stories  high  in  1857,  at  a  cost  of  four 
thousand  dollars  ;  a  one  thousand  six  hundred  pound 
bell,  costing  five  hundred  dollars,  was  bought  at  the 
flame  time.  • 

May  12,  1841,  W.  Buchman,  J.  L.  Pusey  and  T.  F. 
Lowe  presented  each  member  of  the  Water  Witch 
with  a  fire  hat,  cape,  coat  and  belt. 

Among  the  presidents  of  the  company  were  R.  B. 
Oilpin,  Francis  Robinson,  William  Weatherold, 
Timothy  Bowe,  H.  R.  Bringhurst,  E.  A.  Wilson  j 
Secretaries,  Francis*  Robinson,  E.  A.  Wilson,  Samuel 
J.  Flinn,  F.  B.  Richards,  William  H.  McCIees,  H.  R. 
Bringhurst,  John  B.Ginder,  Franklin  Wright,  Joseph 
D.  Pierson  and  Samuel  G.  Tazewell ;  Treasurers, 
Thomas  C.  Plumly,  William  H.  Horn,  James  D. 
Pierson,  Franklin  Wright  and  Joseph  K.  Adams. 

The  Fame  Hose  Company, — A  meeting  for  the  organi- 
zation of  this  company  was  held  at  the  "  Bird  in 
Hand"  tavern  on  Front  Street,  kept  by  Joseph  K. 
Robinett,  on  New  Year's  day,  1839,  when  Joseph 
S.  Hedges  was  elected  president,  Joseph  K.  Robinett 
secretary  and  James  C.  Aiken  treasurer.  Some  of 
the  other  original  members  were  Henry  G.  Banning 
<now  president  of  the  National  Bank  of  Delaware), 
(George  Richardson,  president  of  the  Farmers'  Bank 
of  Delaware),  Biuduy  Simmons,  Samuel  N.  Pusey, 
John  Stewart,  Charles  Warner,  David  Woolman 
and  Lewis  Paynter.      The  permanent  name  of  the 


company  was  not  decided  upon,  until  a  committee 
returned  from  Philadelphia,  where  a  hose-carriage  was 
procured  for  $350  from  the  Fame  Hose  Company  of 
that  city,  when  this  organization  assumed  the  same 
name.  A  charter  of  incorporation  was  obtained 
February  9,  1841.  The  oflScers  of  the  company  in 
1846  were :  president,  John  A.  GriflSn ;  vice-president, 
James  C.  Aiken ;  treasurer,  John  C.  Patterson ;  sec- 
retary, John  T.  Robinson ;  directors,  Bernard  Calahan, 
Lewi^  Paynter,  John  Read,  Joseph  S.  Hedges,  John 
Bowers  and  David  Pogue. 

In  1850,  Lewis  Paynter  was  president ;  Joseph 
Hyde,  vice-president;  Joseph  K. Robinett,  secretary; 
James  C.  Aiken,  treasurer ;  William  Stevenson,  Rob- 
ert A.  Young,  John  Decatur,  William  Banner,  Albert 
Coxe  and  William  McLaughlin,  directors. 

The  first  headquarters  of  the  company  was  nearly 
opposite  the  present  engine-house,  on  the  north  side 
of  Second  Street,  where  a  two-story  brick  building 
was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $1500.  It  was  afterwards 
made  into  a  three-story  building  and  continued  to  be 
used  until  1873,  when  the  handsome  three-story  brick 
engine-house  now  owned  by  this  company  was  com- 
pleted at  a  cost  of  $13,000.  The  iron  front,  costing 
$3000,  was  made  in  Baltimore.  The  building  com- 
mittee were:  David  Woolman,  John  V.  Christy, 
John  Wentz,  Manuel  Richenberger,  John  Stewart, 
Leighton  Grimes  and  Harry  Feldmeyer.  Elliot  k 
Houston  made  a  hose-carriage  for  the  company  in 
1846,  which  was  in  use  until  1868.  In  1867  the  com- 
pany purchased  a  Haupt  steam  fire-engine,  at  a  cost 
of  $4500,  though  the  name  Fame  Hose  Company  was 
still  retained.  This  engine  was  disposed  of  in  1874,  and 
in  May  of  that  year  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
company  purchased  a  new  engine  from  R.  J.  Gould, 
of  Newark,  New  Jersey,  at  a  cost  of  $5500.  This  en- 
gine was  brought  to  Wilmington  from  Chicago,  having 
been  sent  there  by  the  manufacturer  to  take  part  in 
a  competitive  trial  of  engines  of  American  manu- 
facture. A  new  hose-carriage  was  made  for  the 
company  by  William  S.  Bullock  in  1887,  at  a  cost  of 
$405.    • 

The  Fame  in  1846  was  composed  mostly  of  owners 
of  real  estate.  J.  A.  Griffin  was  president  and  J.  T. 
Robinson  secretary.  The  same  year  this  company 
bought  a  new  hose-carriage,  made  by  Elliot  <&  Hous- 
ton, of  Wilmington.  On  one  side  of  it  wjis  painted 
the  Goddess  of  Fame  holding  a  trumpet  in  one  hand 
and  a  portrait  of  Washington  in  the  other.  This  was 
done  as  a  mark  of**  Friendship  toward  the  Washing- 
ton "  company.  On  the  other  side  of  the  carriage 
the  goddess  was  represented  as  sculling  over  the  open 
sea,  while  the  **  Water  Witch  "  was  plowing  her  way 
over  the  waves  underneath  her. 

The  first  time  this  company  was  brought  into  active 
service  was  in  1839,  at  a  fire  in  New  Castle,  when 
the  members  arrived  there  on  foot,  fifty-eight  minutes 
after  starting  from  Wilmington.  Within  the  past 
few  years  this  company  has  paid  fraternal  visits  to 
fire  companies  in  Hagerstown  and  Frederick,  Mary- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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knd,  and  Philadelphia,  Reading  and  Harrisburg, 
Peonaylvania. 

In  the  second  story  of  the  engine-house  is  a  parlor 
elegantly  furnished,  with  hanging  pictures,  full  parlor 
suit  of  furniture  and  Brussels  carpet.  The  meeting 
room  is  on  the  third  floor.  The  total  value  of  the  ef- 
fects of  the  company,  including  apparatus,  three  horses 
and  real  estate,  is  about  $28,000 ;  number  of  active  and 
honorary  members,  two  hundred  and  fifly-six.  The 
officers  in  1887  were  Hugo  F.  Bourdon,  president  j 
Lewis  Peekey,  vice-president ;  Alexander  Whitcraft, 
secretary;  Thomas  Johnson,  treasurer;  Alexander 
Whitcraft,  Hugh  F.  Sweeney  and  James  Crawford, 
trustees. 

T/u  Washington  Fire  Company, — The  first  meet- 
ing of  tiie  citizens  of  Wilmington,  who  laid  the 
plans  for  the  organization  of  the  Washington  Fire 
Company,  was  held  in  a  school-house,  on  the  east 
side  of  Shipley  Street,  above  Third.  On  the  4th  of 
Jan  nary,  1840,  the  second  meeting  was  held  at  the 
Delaware  House,  where  the  organization  was  effected 
with  John  Quinby  as  president,  Samuel  McLaughlin 
secretary,  and  John  Luff*  treasurer.  Of  the  original 
members  Thomas  Mitchell,  of  Wilmington,  and 
William  Blackshire,  now  of  Philadelphia,  are  still 
linDg. 

The  first  apparatus  was  a  hand-engine  presented 
by  the  Friendship  Fire  Company,  known  among  its 
members  as  the  ''Black  Maria.'*  A  hose-carriage 
wa<i  bought  from  a  Philadelphia  hose  company  for 
ODe  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  hand-engine  was 
in  use  until  October  18,  1842,  when  Betis,  Pusey  & 
Harlan  built  for  the  company,  at  a  cost  of  one  thou- 
sand two  hundred  and  ninety-five  dollars,  a  new  hand- 
engine  which  did  good  service  until  1866.  It  was 
then  sold  to  the  Fenwick  Fire  Company,  of  Salem, 
New  Jersey,  for  four  hundred  dollars,  and  the  same 
year  a  new  Amoskeag  steam  fire-engine  was  pur- 
chased at  a  cost  of  four  thousand  six  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  This  engine  is  still  in  active  use.  In 
1880  it  was  rebuilt  at  Manchester,  New  Hampshire. 
The  third  hose-carriage  was  built  by  John  TVeed,  of 
Wilmington.  The  fine  hook-and-ladder  truck  now 
owned  by  the  Washington  was  bought  in  New  York, 
July  3, 1868,  for  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifcy 
dolUis.  By  this  additional  apparatus  it  became  also 
a  truck  company. 

The  name  first  given  to  the  company  was  the  Fame 
Fire  Company  of  Wilmington.  This  was  changed  to 
the  present  title  about  six  months  after  organization. 
Daring  the  first  few  months  the  apparatus  was  kept 
in  the  Friendship  engine-house,  then  on  the  east  side 
of  Market  Street,  where  the  Smith  Building  stands. 
The  first  engine-house  of  the  Washington  was  a  one- 
ttory  fimne,  on  East  Sixth  Street,  between  Market 
and  King.  This  was  torn  down  in  1852,  and  on 
the  same  site  a  three-story  brick  engine-house  was 
erected  and  used  as  the  headquarters  of  the  company 
until  1873.  It  was  then  sold  to  the  city  for  four 
thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  is  now 


occupied  by  the  offices  of  the  city  treasurer,  auditor 
and  street  commissioner. 

In  1873  the  company  bought  the  lot  on  the  west 
side  of  French  Street,  between  Third  and  Fourth, 
from  Mrs.  McNamee,  for  four  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred dollars,  and  the  same  year  erected  the  present 
engine-house,  three  stories  high,  at  a  cost  of  thirteen 
thousand  dollars.  The  building  committee  were 
William  Hanna,  Isaac  G.  Saxton,  Maxwell  B.  Dixon, 
Samuel  R.  Jones,  Thomas  Massey  and  Isaac  Steven- 
son. This  company  has  on  several  occasions  paid 
fraternal  visits  to  the  Fire  Departments  of  Norfolk, 
Petersburg  and  Richmond,  Va.,  Charleston,  S.  C, 
and  Philadelphia,  Reading  and  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Among  the  interesting  relics  of  the  Washington 
carefiilly  preserved  are  a  large  gilt  frame,  six  by  nine 
feet,  containing  pictures  of  prominent  members  of 
the  company  at  different  times ;  a  silver  horn  pre- 
sented, in  1866,  by  the  Hanover  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Wilmington ;  a  gold  horn  and  silk  flag  by  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  1866;  a  white  metal  horn 
presented  by  the  citizens  of  New  Castle  for  services 
rendered  at  a  fire  March  19, 1869 ;  a  solid  silver  horn 
in  a  vase  presented  by  the  Washington  Fire  Company, 
of  Conshohocken,  Pa.;  a  silk  banner  presented  by 
the  United  Fire  Company,  of  Norfolk,  in  1872;  and 
a  silver  pitcher  and  goblet  by  the  Fire  Department 
of  Charleston,  S.  C,  in  1872. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  presidents  of  the  com- 
pany since  its  organization  : 

Thomu  Mitchell 

William  H.  Hyatt. 

Samuel  L.  Bodgera. 

David  Titu». 

Iflaac  SteveDsoD  (nine  years). 

A.  W.  Nolen  (six  yean). 

Joseph  H.  Greenman  (eight 

yeara). 
George  U.  Leech. 
Peter  J.  Babcock. 
Wm.  Hanna  (nine  years). 


John  Quinby. 

Abner  P.  Baily. 

Joseph  Henderson. 

George  Gregg. 

Joel  Frist. 

James  M.  Dixon. 

Bichard  Beynolds. 

Isaac  G.  Saxton  (thirty  years), 

though  not  continuous. 
James  Scott. 
George  MoOall. 
James  £.  Speakuian. 


Edward  H.  Singles  was  secretary  twenty-one  years ; 
M.  B.  Dixon,  five  years;  James  H.  Yates,  four 
years;  Ii*aac  W.  Hallam,  two  years;  and  Benjamin 
F.  Strickler,  eight  years.  Kennett  Martin  was  treas- 
urer seven  years,  and  Joseph  H.  Greenman,  fifteen 
years. 

Weccacoe  Fire  Company,  whose  engine-house  is  at 
the  corner  of  Jackson  and  Second  Streets,  was  organ- 
ized July  19,  1869.  The  first  meeting  to  take  steps 
toward  the  formation  of  a  company  in  the  western 
part  of  the  city,  was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Thomp- 
son, on  Linden  Street.  The  first  memher^  of  the  com- 
pany were  William  J.  Donaughy,  Robert  Cottingham, 
Dennis  J.  Menton,  Michael  Holland,  John  Dunn, 
Charles  W.  Sol lo way,  Samuel  Cannon,  John  Thomp- 
son, Benjamin  Green,  John  J.  Donahue,  James  Har- 
rigan,  Bernard  •  Nugent,  Philip  Lynch,  James  Zeb- 
ley,  Michael  Vaughan,  James  P.  Devlih,  James  A. 
Bourke  and  Edward  McGuire.  Of  these,  ten  were 
members  in  1887. 


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680 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  first  officers  of  the  company  were  Dennis  J. 
Menton,  president ;  William  J.  Donaughy,  secretary  ; 
John  Dunn,  treasurer;  Samuel  Cannon,  William 
Green,  Michael  Holland,  Robert  Oottingham  and 
James  Zebley,  directors. 

The  name  first  chosen  was  "  The  Western  Fire  Com- 
pany," by  which  it  was  designated  but  a  short  time. 
A  committee  composed  of  William  J.  Donaughy,  Rob- 
ert Cottingham  and  Dennis  J.  Menton  petitioned  the 
City  Council  to  be  admitted  into  the  Fire  Department  of 
Wilmington  as  a  hose  company.  Another  committee 
appointed  to  procure  apparatus  visited  the  Weccacoe 
Hose  Company,  of  Camden,  New  Jersey,  and  obtained 
from  that  company  a  fine  hose-carriage  for  $250  and 
five  hundred  feet  of  hose  for  $300.  It  was  decided  then 
to  call  the  new  organization  the  Weccacoe  Hose  Com- 
pany of  Wilmington,  in  honor  of  the  Camden  com- 
pany. Philip  Lynch  was  chosen  the  first  honorary 
member,  and  being  a  man  of  wealth  was  of  valuable 
service  to  the  Weccacoe  in  its  early  days.  Robert 
Cottingham  served  several  years  as  treasurer  and  is 
yet  a  member  of  the  company. 

When  the  first  hose-carriage  became  unfitted  for 
use  it  was  sold  to  a  Philadelphia  dealer  and  another 
one  purchased  of  a  fire  company  in  Reading,  Penn- 
sylvania, for  $350.  William  S.  Bullock,  of  Wilming- 
ton, about  the  same  time,  made  for  the  Weccacoe  the 
hose-cart  now  in  use. 

It  continued  as  a  hose  company  until  December  3, 
1875,  when  it  was  chartered  as  "  Weccacoe  Steam 
Fire-Engine  Company,  No.  8,"  which  name  it  now 
bears.  The  fire  engine  was  obtained  firom  Samuel 
Tazewell,  of  Wilmington,  for  $1500,  which  was  used 
until  1878  when  it  was  sold  to  the  Rolling-Mills  Com- 
pany at  Marshallton,  Delaware.  The  same  year  the 
company  bought  a  second-class  Clapp  &  Jones  engine, 
which  is  now  in  use,  for  $3500.  The  first  engine- 
house  of  the  Weccacoe  was  a  frame  building  on  Lib- 
erty Street,  erected  by  members  of  the  company.  It 
continued  to  be  the  headquarters  for  three  years,  when 
a  site  was  secured  nearly  opposite  the  present  engine- 
house,  on  which  a  two-story  engine-house  was  built 
at  a  cost  of  $3500.  In  1886  this  was  sold  and  the 
present  convenient  and  suitable  location  secured,  upon 
which  was  erected,  in  1886,  at  a  cost  of  $9000,  the 
handsome  three-story  brick  engine-house,  thirty  by 
eighty  feet,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  Weccacoe, 
and  of  which  its  members  can  justly  feel  proud.  The 
building  committee  were  John  McCloskey,  Charles 
W.  Solloway,  Peter  Matthews  and  Michael  Walsh. 
The  first  floor  is  used  for  the  apparatus ;  on  the  second 
story  front  is  an  elegantly  furnished  parlor,  to  the  rear 
of  which  is  the  business  meeting  room  of  the  company ; 
the  third  story  is  a  large  hall  used  as  a  ball  room  and 
contains  a  piano. 

The  equipments  are  an  engine,  hose-cart,  2000  feet 
of  hose  and  three  bay  horses.  The  total  value  of  real 
and  personal  property  of  the  company  is  nearly  $20,000. 
Some  of  the  presidents  of  the  company  have  been  D. 
J.    Menton,  Robert    Cottingham,   Edward  Nugent, 


Ezra  Lukens  and  William  F.  Green ;  secretaries,  J. 
P.  Devlin  (now  an  active  member),  Charles  W. 
Solloway,  Charles  Lukens,  Edward  McGuire  and 
Michael  S.  Kelley.  Peter  H.  Miller  is  the  present 
treasurer. 

Chief  Fire  Engineers. — An  ordinance  was  passed 
April  6, 1868,  reorganizing  the  Fire  Department.  One 
of  its  provisions  created  the  oflSce  of  chief  engineer 
of  the  department,  to  be  elected  by  the  members  of 
the  diflferent  companies  for  a  term  of  two  years. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  engineers,  with  the 
names  of  the  company  to  which  they  belonged : 

1868.  Wilson  E.  Perkins. Delaware 

187U.  Samuel  Springer Friendship 

1872-74,  George  McCall Washington 

1876.  William  Hanna Washington 

1878.  William  MuOrae. Fame  Hoee 

181^0.  Samuel  G.  Tazewell ^.WateT  Witeh 

1882.  Patrick  Murphy Reliance 

1884.  DaTld  Reeder Weccacoe 

1886.  Hugh  F.  Sweeney Fame  How  • 

Destructive  Fires,— Some  of  the  most  destructive 
fires  occurring  in  Wilmington,  from  1797  to  1887, 
were: 

1797,  June  3d.--0otton  factory  of  Jacob  Broom  ;  loss,  (4000. 

1804,  March  7th. — County  almshouse,  totally  destroyed. 

1804  —Four  houses  on  East  Fourth  Street  burned.  This  flre  took  place 
during  an  election  and  was  extinfi^tished  by  women. 

1824,  March  30th.— OiHce  of  WibningtonUm  and  the  BereoM,  and  Joseph 
Pogne's  dry-goods  store. 

1826,  March  29th.— Joshiia  &  Thomas  Gilpin's  paper-mills. 

1826,  May  10th. — Mahlon  Betts'  foundry,  southwest  corner  Eighth  and 
Orange  Streets. 

lg40._Large  flre  Fourth  and  Market  and  Shipley  Streets. 

1H40.— St.  Andrew's  Church. 

1840,  March.  —A  fire  broke  out  in  a  stable  attached  to  Mrs.  Magee't 
hotel,  in  Fourth  Street  The  stable  was  destroyed  and  tho  roof 
and  second  story  of  the  hotel  burned ;  the  three  story  house  of 
David  C.  Wilson,  corner  Fourth  and  Shipley  Streets,  burned  to 
the  second  story,  and  furniture  of  Stephen  Boddy  was  badly 
damaged  ;  grocery  store  of  J.  Menough  burned  to  second  story 
and  goods  and  furniture  broken  and  damaged  ;  roof  and  thiid 
story  of  adjoining  millinery  ttore  burned ;  roof  and  part  of 
third  story  of  house,  corner  Fourth  and  Market  Streets,  burned, 
occupied  by  Ziba  Ferris,  watchmaker;  Joseph  Briughurst, 
druggist ;  Misses  Barr  &  Brown,  milliners ;  A.  Shadd,  barber, 
and  W.  H.  Naff;  roof  and  garret  floor  of  the  Union  Bank  &e- 
stroyed.  Tho  flre  was  supposed  to  hare  been  ef  incendiary 
origin. 

1840,  December  2d.— Grist-mill  on  Brandywine. 

1841,  January  27th.— Iron-foundry  of  Mr.  Hyatt,  Front,  near  Washing- 
ton Streets. 

1842,  0ct(^>er  28th.— Soap  and  candle  factory  of  Isaac  Solomon  A  Co. 

1843,  February  10th —Fan  factory  and  wire- weaving  works  of  Abrsham 

Allderdice,  on  Orange  Street 

1846,  January  14th.— J.  Adams  A  Co.'s  sad  iron  factory. 

1846,  June  8th.— Storehouse  of  George  Craig,  near  Hemphill's  wharf 
was  totally  destroyed  ;  two  flro  companies  which  responded  en- 
gaged in  a  free  fight  and  allowed  the  fire  to  bum  ;  meantmie, 
Wetherald's  Neat's  foot  oil  factory,  on  Second  Street,  was 
burned. 

1846,  June  18th.— C.  I.  Du  Font's  large  woolen-mill,  at  Rokeby  ;  rebuilt 
in  six  weeks. 

1846,  July  10th.— Machine-shop  of  Holllngsworth  and  Teas,  Front  Street, 

between  Poplar  and  Lombard  Streets. 

1847,  March  6th.— Steam  saw  and  planing-mill  of  Thomas,  Walter  & 

Jeshua  &  Baudy  Simmons ;  loss,  912,000 ;  also  Mitchell  & 
McFarlane's  sash-flu;tory  adjoining. 

1848,  March  23d.— Du  Font's  cotton-mill,  east  side  of  Brandywine,  near 

bridge,  Mr.  Walker,  of  Philadelphia,  lessee ;  leasee's  loss  on 
machineiy,  925,000 ;  Harmony  Mills  were  burned  the  same 
year. 

1849,  February  4th.— W^illiam  Chandler's  tannery,  Fourth  and  Tatnall 

Streets. 
•*      April  1.— Poor-house  stable  and  bam. 
"      May  14th.— Sash,  planing  and  carving-mill  of  Garrett  A  Wollastoa 

and  valuable  machinery. 
*•      June  21.— Gilbert  &  Campbell's  foundry,  on  Tenth  Street 
•*'     Aug\ist  30th.— Carpenter-shop  of  S.  D.  Newlin. 
•*      October  2d.— Rockland  cotton-mills  on  Brandywine. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


681 


lUO,  July  24th.— South  wiog  county  almshouse  ;  Ion,  14000. 

l>iS5, 3Iay  20th.— Car- wheel  foundry  of  Bush  k,  Lobdell. 

ljJ7f\  October  25th.— Bancroft  A  Sod's  cotton -fiictory,  on  Brandy  wine, 
partially  destroyed ;  Ion,  86488. 

IfiTl,  Miy  3l8t— Number  of  fires  in  the  year  reaching  twenty-seven  ; 
leces,  $3,136 ;  insured. 

1^73 -.Forty-seTen  fires  ;  losses,  $14,000  ;  insurance,  $5165. 

lST7.-Torty-fonr  fires;  losses,  $47,435;  insurance,  $11,610;  during 
ysar  John  Green's  carriage  (isctory  ;  loss,  $6000 ;  Oanby  k  Co.'b 
floor-miU,  near  Stanton  ;  lose,  $6000  ;  Jessup  k  Moore's  paper 
mill,  on  Brandy  wine,  $250,000 ;  Bee-hive,  on  Orange  Street,  loss, 
130,000. 

Iwi-Eigbty-two  fires  ;  loss,  $102,050  ;  insurance,  $100,080 ;  first  fire 
aUnu  telegraph  used  July  4th  ;  Pusey  k  Jones'  establishment 
partially  destroyed  this  year,  loss,  f75,000 ;  Joseph  Stoeckel's 
brewery,  FUlh  and  Adams  Street,  burned  ;  loss,  $18,000. 

l!i>U. -Seventy-two  fires;  losses,  $117,625 ;  insurance, $41 ,050;  McLear 
k  Kendall's  carriage-fiftctory  burned,  Hay  27th  ;  loss^  $75;000  ; 
Person's  sash-factory,  September  3d  ;  loss,  $20,000. 

I»^.>-Thirty-oine  fires ;  losses,  $34,754 ;  insurance,  $22,579  ;•  Wilming- 
ton Glass  Works  destroyed,  November  9th ;  loss,  $15,000. 

ISt'T.-'Fony-nine  fires;  losses,  $73,825;  insurance,  $59,925;  David 
Lemon's  candy-factory  destroyed  May  18th  ;  loss,  $12,000 ;  An- 
drew Traymore's  stable,  $6,175 ;  Bradford's  paint-store,  January 
7th  ;  loos,  $30,000 ;  Kennebec  Coal  and  Ice  Co,'s  property, 
March  4th  ;  loss,  $17,000 ;  Bailey's  cracker  bakery,  southeast 
comer  Fourth  and  French  Streets,  August  10th  ;  loss,  $30,000 ; 
Both  k  Co.,  building  materials,  August  15th  ;  loss,  $25,000. 

For  many  years  members  of  the  fire  companies 
ptid  their  poll  tax  with  firemen's  certificates,  under 
an  ordinance  granting  that  privilege.  In  1843  this 
Uw  was  repealed.  In  1842  the  city  collector  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  $2330  in  firemen's  cer- 
tificates. This  money  accrued  to  the  companies  and 
aided  them  in  the  improvement  of  apparatus.  An 
appropriation  of  $1000  to  the  city  fire  companies  was 
anthorized  by  the  State  Legislature  in  1843.  This 
was  amended  in  1847,  increasing  the  amount  to 
$1500.  The  sum  of  .$2500  is  now  annually  appro- 
priated to  each  company  by  City  Council. 

The  Fire  Watch,  or  fire  alarm  station  for  many 
years  was  on  the  top  of  City  Hall.  The  Fire  Alarm 
Tel^;raph  was  first  used  in  Wilmington,  July  4, 1882. 

Parade  in  1841.— On  May  1,  1841,  all  the  fire  com- 
panies of  the  city  engaged  in  a  street  parade  in  order 
to  show  the  strength  of  the  Fire  Department  and  make 
a  display  of  the  apparatus,  much  of  which  was  new. 
Jeremiah  W.  Duncan  was  chief  marshal  and  Dr.  H. 
F.  Askew  and  George  Powell  assistants.  The  Water 
Witch,  with  seventy-three  members,  marshaled  by 
Richard  P.  Gilpin,  headed  the  parade.  They  wore 
black  hats  and  capes,  with  the  name  of  the  company 
in  gold  letters.  The  Washington  came  next  with 
^ixty-eight  members,  wearing  black  hats  and  capes, 
with  Greorge  Gregg  as  marshal.  The  Phoenix  was  in 
citizens'  dress  with  name  of  company  in  gold  letters 
OQ  hats.  There  were  seventy-two  members  in  line, 
UDder  command  of  William  F.  Eice.  James  L. 
Devon  led  off  the  Friendship,  following  with  their 
"  newly  improved,  enlarged  and  beautified  "  engine. 
Thirty  members  marched  in  line  with  blue  hats  and 
capes'  with  name  of  company  in  gold  letters.  The  Re- 
liance, forty -seven  members,  with  their  '*  new,  highly 
ornamental  engine,  with  carved  work/'  followed. 
George  McCorkle  marshaled  them.  They  wore  green 
capes  and  hats.  The  Brandywine  Company,  with 
thirty-eight  members,  wearing  black  tarpaulin  hats 
and  a  black  badge  gilded  with  the  name  of  the 
company.  Milton  Bnssell  marched  in  the  van.  Then 
43J 


came  the  Delaware,  just  two  years  old,  with  ninety 
members  in  line,  wearing  '^  handsome  hats  and  highly 
ornamental  capes,"  with  Wilson  Pierson  marshal. 
This  parade  was  the  subject  of  conversation  for 
several  days  thereafter,  so  delighted  were  the  people 
with  the  display. 

The  FiremevCi  GtntenniaZ  Association  was  formed 
January  16, 1876,  by  repreientative  delegates  of  the 
different  fire  companies  of  Wilmington.  Its  object 
was  to  raise  funds  and  erect  a  building  on  the  exhi- 
bition grounds  at  Philadelphia,  to  represent  the  State 
during  the  Centennial.  At  the  first  meeting  in  the 
Washington  engine-house  George  McCall,  of  the 
Washington,  was  elected  president ;  William  Blake,  of 
Fame  Hose,  vice-president;  S.  H.  Bay  lis,  of  the 
Friendship,  secretary ;  George  A.  Messick,  of  the  Re- 
liance, assistant  secretary  ;  and  Joseph  K.  Adams,  of 
the  Water  Witch,  treasurer.  The  finance  committee  was 
composed  of  Greorge  McCall,  Thomas  Lynch,  Joseph 
H.  Smith,  Alfred  H.  Kirby,  L.  Stidham  and  L, 
Grimes;  the  soliciting  committee,  John  Stratner, 
Joseph  K.  Adams,  William  Hanna,  P.  H.  Peterson, 
Robert  Cottingham,  D.  Richardson  and  J.  Porter. 
Efforts  were  at  once  made  and  by  the  middle  of  April 
sufficient  money  was  raised.  J.  K.  Adams,  J.  W. 
Carey,  Greorge  A.  Messick,  B.  Richardson,  T.  Riley, 
Gleorge  McCall  and  C.  Lukens  were  appointed  the 
building  committee.  £.  L.  Rice,  Jr.,  was  the  archi- 
tect. 

A  neat  and  attractive  cottage  was  erected  during 
the  months  of  April  and  May  at  a  cost  of  two  thou- 
sand three  hundred  and  sixty- four  dollars.  It  be- 
came the  pride  of  every  Delawarean  who  visited  the 
Centennial  Exhibition  and  was  familiarly  known  as 
the  "  Delaware  Building."  The  whole  Firemen's 
Association,  together  with  thousands  of  other  people 
of  the  State,  visited  the  Centennial  on  "Delaware 
Day,"  October  19, 1876.  This  association,  after  hav- 
ing accomplished  its  patriotic  work,  feeling  very  jubi- 
lant over  it,  did  not  disband  until  February  18,  1878. 
Insurance  Companies. — The  Delaware  Fire  In- 
surance Company  was  organized  August  19, 1825,  with 
a  capital  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  of  which 
thirty  thousand  dollars  was  immediately  paid  in. 
William  Seal  was  elected  president ;  Daniel  Byrnes, 
secretary;  and  William  Chandler,  John  Patterson, 
Joseph  Bailey,  David  C.  Wilson,  Joseph  C.  Gilpin, 
Robert  Porter,  Joseph  Grubb  and  David  Bush,  di- 
rectors. The  first  office  was  at  21  Shipley  Street,  but 
removed  to  29  Shipley  in  1829.  It  was  a  stock  com- 
pany in  shares  of  fifty  dollars  each,  and  paid  a  divi- 
dend of  three  per  cent,  at  the  end  of  the  first  six  months, 
and  dividends  varying  from  four  to  six  per  cent,  semi- 
annually thereafter.  A  charter  was  obtained  January 
25,  1826,  giving  the  company  the  privilege  of  taking 
both  inland  and  marine  insurance.  John  Wales  and 
T.  C.  Alrich  were|elected  directors  in  1830,  and  William 
Mendenhall  secretary,  with  office  on  Shipley  Street, 
two  doors  below  post-office.  He  died  in  1839,  and  Mat- 
thew Kean  succeeded  him  as  secretary.  November  2, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


1883,  the  seventeenth  dividend  of  five  per  cent,  was  paid. 
In  1844  Oeorge  Jones  was  president  and  Matthew  Kean 
secretary,  and  the  directors  were  George  Jones,  Wil- 
liam Chandler,  John  Wales,  David  Bush,  Thomas  0. 
Alrich,  Joseph  Mendenhall,  Joseph  Scott  and  John 
Ferris.  Perpetual  insurance  on  real  estate  was  then 
taken.  The  same  persons  were  officers  and  directors 
in  1850. 

This  company  gradually  extended  its  business  with 
profitable  results,  and  in  1876  declared  two  stock  div- 
idends amounting  to  forty-five  thousand  dollars.  The 
full  capital  stock  was  then  paid  in.  The  assets  in 
1879  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  five  thousand  one 
hundred  and  sixty-one  dollars,  and  the  liabilities  to 
fourteen  thousand  six  hundred  and  eight  dollars. 
The  officers  were  William  Canby,  president ;  F.  L. 
Gilpin,  secretary  and  treasurer;  and  William  Canby, 
George  W.  Sparks,  Wm,  G.  Gibbons,  George  W. 
Stone,  John  R.  Tatum,  George  W.  Bush,  William 
M.  Canby,  George  S.  Capelle,  the  board  of  managers. 
The  office  was  then  at  608  Market  Street. 

The  company  continued  in  business  until  March  10, 

1884,  when  it  was  decided,  owing  to  the  small  margin 
of  profit  realized  after  the  increase  of  the  capital 
stock  in  1879,  paid  up  largely  out  of  the  earnings  of 
previous  years,  that  it  was  to  the  best  interest  of 
stockholders  to  reinsure  the  company's  liabilities 
under  the  policies  of  insurance,  retire  from  business 
and  make  a  dividend  of  assets  among  the  stockholders. 
The  reinsurance  was  effected  in  the  American  Fire 
Insurance  Company  of  Philadelphia,  and  during  the 
year  ending  December  31,  1886,  there  was  paid  back 
to  the  stockholders  $104,600,  including  $4600  surplus 
over  the  capital  of  $100,000. 

The  Wilmington  Insurance  Company  was  incorpor- 
ated February  20,  1833,  with  a  capital  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Its  office  was  on  the 
east  side  of  Market  Street,  first  door  below  City  Hall. 
James  Canby  was  the  first  president  and  Lea  Pusey 
secretary.  The  other  original  directors  were  James 
Price,  Stephen  Bonsai  1,  Lewis  Rum  ford,  Vincent 
Gilpin,  Jesse  Mendenhall,  Jacob  Pusey,  Edward  Tat- 
nall,  Thomas  H.  Larkin,  Joseph  C.  Gilpin,  Washing- 
ton Rice  and  George  Bush.  This  company  did  not 
take  marine  insurance.  In  1835  Stephen  Bonsall  was 
elected  president,  William  McCaulley  secretary,  and 
Samuel  Hilles  and  E.  I.  Du  Pont  were  directors.  In 
1842  other  new  directors  were  John  Bullock,  James 
Delaplaine,  Dr.  R.  R.  Porter,  Samuel  Buzby,  Thomas 
Janvier,  John  A.  Duncan,  John  Rice  and  Joseph 
Bringhurst.  The  office  was  then  opposite  City  Hall, 
in  property  bought  that  year  of  Philip  Jones.  In  1847 
the  company  had  an  eight  per  cent,  dividend.  In 
1849  William  McCaulley  was  succeeded  by  Joseph 
Bringhurst  as  secretary.  Soon  after  this  date  it  closed 
out  business. 

l%e  Farmers*  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  the 
State  of  Delaware  was  organized  June  12,  1839,  at  the 
Mermaid  Tavern  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred.  The  first 
officers  elected  were  James  Thompson,  president; 


Robert  McCabe,  secretary ;  Jonathan  Wilson,  treas- 
urer; William  Bracken,  Thomas  Walter,  David  Wil- 
son, Maxwell  B.  Ocheltree,  managers;  Dr.  F.  W. 
Clement,  Philip  Chandler,  Stephen  M.  Stapler,  Mat- 
thew Lockhard,  Stephen  B.  Johnson  and  M.  B. 
Ocheltree,  appraisers.   A  charter  was  procured  March 

24,  1843,  the  original  name  being  the  Farmers' 
Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Mill  Creek  Hun- 
dred, by  which  it  was  known  until  a  revised  charter 
extending  the  privileges  of  the  company  was  received 
in  1853,  and  the  present  name  given  to  it.  Originally 
the  taking  of  risks  by  this  company  was  limited  to 
Mill  Creek  Hundred.    By  resolution  passed  August 

25,  184i,  the  territory  was  increased  so  as  to  include 
White  Clay  Creek  and  Christiana  Hundreds,  and  in 
1847,  the  whole  of  New  Castle  County.  Insurance  is 
now  taken  throughout  the  State  of  Delaware  and  the 
bordering  counties  of  Maryland.  The  company  was 
organized  with  a  board  of  three  managers,  which  in 
1843  was  increased  to  nine,  and  in  March,  1853,  in- 
creased to  seventeen,  and  January,  1878,  reduced  to 
fifteen — five  elected  annually  for  three  years.  The 
managers  elected  in  1843  were  Aquila  Lambom, 
James  Griffin,  M.  B.  Ocheltree,  James  J.  Brindley, 
John  S.  Caldwell,  John  Allen,  Thomas  Benneson. 
Thomas  B.  Armstrong  and  James  Lindsey. 

The  regular  business  meetings  of  the  company 
were  held  at  the  Mermaid  Tavern  in  Mill  Creek 
Hundred,  from  1839  to  1850,  when,  after  a  few  meet- 
ings held  at  the  Indian  Queen  Hotel  in  Wilmington, 
a  room  was  secured  in  the  Odd  Fellows*  Hall  in  Wil- 
mington. This  continued  to  be  the  office  of  the  com- 
pany until  1865,  the  year  in  which  the  premises  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  company  at  833  Market 
Street,  were  purchased  of  Miss  Black  for  $6000,  and 
a  brown  stone  office  and  dwelling  erected  at  an  addi- 
tional cost  of  $16,500. 

Only  a  limited  amount  of  insurance  was  taken  the 
first  year  of  the  company's  history,  but  since  1870  it 
has  steadily  increased.  The  following  statistics  will 
illustrate  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  company: 
The  cash  surplus  fund  in  1850  was  $10,700 ;  1869, 
$61,000;  1875,  $129,000;  1880,  $234,000 ;  1886,  $230,- 
000.  In  addition  to  the  above  cash  surplus,  the 
company  holds  $900,000  of  notes  of  members  subject 
to  assessment  in  the  event  of  extraordinary  losses. 
As  a  security  to  members,  this  fund  is  invested  in 
city,  county  and  railroad  bonds  and  first  mortgage 
liens.  The  value  of  life  policies  issued  by  the  com- 
pany is  $11,442,666;  the  amount  received  from  mem- 
bers for  annual  payments,  and  the  interest  on  loans 
and  investments  for  the  year  1886,  was  $56,904.  The 
amount  of  losses  by  fire,  paid  from  1851  to  1886,  was 
$534,935.  The  afiairs  of  this  company  are  careftilly 
and  judiciously  managed  to  the  best  interest  of  all 
members. 

Jonathan  Wilson  held  the  position  of  treasurer  from 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  company  until 
his  death,  in  March,  1850,  when  Pusey  Wilson  was 
elected,  who  served  one  year,  when  the  office  of  sec- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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retaiy  and  treasurer  were  merged  in  one,  and  Robert 
McCabe  elected. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  presidents,  with  the 
length  of  time  each  served : 

Janes  Thompaon June  1, 1839,  to  Aug.  8, 1843 

AqaflaUmborn ~ Aug.  8,  1843,  to  Jan.  1, 1840 

Maxwell  R  Ocheltree «Jan.  22,  1849,  to  Jan.  26,  1851 

Samael  HUIm Jan.  26, 1851,  to  Feb.  3,  1867 

JeM  Sharp Feb.  3,  1867,  to  Jan.  1,  1874 

B.  C.  Stotaenburg Jan.  17, 1874,  to  Jan.  17, 1882 

Ytetor  Dq  Pent Jan.  17, 1882,  to  date 

8«cre(afTf  and  Tr9a$urer. 

Soben  McC^be June  1, 1839,  to  Dec.  22, 1869 

S.  BodnoDd  Smith Jan.  19,  1869,  to  Sept.  16,  1873 

William  A.  U  Motte Sept  16,  1873,  to  date 

Board  of  Direotonfor  1888. 

Victor  Dn  Pont Wilmington 

W.  H.Swift t Wilmington 

Samoel  McClary,  Jr Wilmington 

Ricbard  P.  GIbbona Wilmington 

William  T.  Porter Wilmington 

Chrwtlan  Febiger Wilmington 

Philip  Plunkett Wilmington 

Samael  Bancroft,  Jr Wilmington 

Charles  0.  Ash Delaware  City 

Gwfge  Z.  Tybout Red  Lion 

Maolore  Hayes DoTer 

John  P.  Cochran Middletown 

WikonS.  GaTender. 8myma- 

Bei\)amin  Burton Georgetown 

Solomon  K.  Curtis Newark 

The  New  Castle  OourUy  Mutual  Insurance  Company, 
—An  act  of  incorporation  for  this  company  was  passed 
by  the  State  Legislature,  February  6, 1849,  there  being 
thirty-five  charter  members.  At  a  meeting  held  in 
the  Town  Hall,  December  21, 1849,  James  Canby  was 
chosen  chairman,  and  John  A.  Duncan  secretary. 
On  January  2, 1850,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  Indian 
Qaeen  Hotel,  when  the  following  named  directors  were 
elected :  James  Canby,  Stephen  BonsalK  William  R. 
Sellare,  Jesse  Sharpe,  Samuel  N.  Pusey  and  John  A. 
Duncan,  of  Wilmington,  Rathmel  Wilson,  of  New- 
ark, and  James  Brindley,  of  Christiana  Hundred. 
Thej  organized  the  same  day  by  electing  James  Can- 
by  president  and  Joshua  £.  Driver  secretary.  Dr. 
Charles  Black  was  elected  a  director  June  21,  1850, 
and  William  Morrow,  Jacob  Pusey  and  George  Rich- 
ardson in  1851,  to  take  the  place  of  directors  who  re- 
tired from  the  board.  In  1851  an  act  of  Assembly 
was  passed  increasing  the  number  of  directors  from 
nine  to  fifteen.  The  new  members  chosen  were 
George  W.  Churchman,  Eli  B.  Tally,  Samuel  Canby, 
Caleb  Heald  and  Samuel  £.  Thompson.  The  com- 
pany began  business  in  a  building  four  doors  below  City 
Hall,  on  east  side  of  Market  Street,  continued  theresev- 
eral  years  and  then  removed  to  602  Market  Street, 
and  from  thence  to  the  luHtitute  Building.  In  1874  the 
office  was  returned  to  its  present  place,  602  Market 
Street,  the  property  being  purchased  of  the  McLear 
eitate.  The  amount  of  insurance  taken  by  this  com- 
pany has  steadily  increased ;  great  care  has  always  been 
exercised  in  the  selection  of  risks,  and  the  claims  of 
policy-holders  promptly  paid.  In  1870  the  surplus 
was  $22,539;  in  1875,  $49,583;  in  1880,  $73,756; 
b  1885,  $100,980  ;  1887,  $110,149.  This  fund  is  judi- 
cioosly  invested  in  safe  securities. 

The  amount  of  the  policies  in  force  for  the  year 


1887  is  $5,454,784.    The  following  is  a  list  of  the  dif- 
ferent  presidents: 

James  Canby » Jan.  2, 18M,  to  Jan.  1, 1862 

Jacob  Pusey Jan.  21, 1852,  to  Jan.  21,  1857 

Wmiam  Canby „ Jan.  21.  1867,  to  May  2,  1870 

WllUam  Tatnall May  2, 1870.  to  Oct.  38, 1886 

William  Canby Nov.  2, 1886.  to  date 

The  following-named  persons  have  been  secretary 
and  treasurer: 

Joehua  B.  Driver Jan,  2, 1850,  to  May  8, 1861 

William  B.  Wiggins. May  8, 1851,  to  Jan.  19, 1867 

George  H.  P.  Simmoni Jan.  19,  1867,  to  Jan.  4, 1866 

Samuel  D.  Smith Jan.  4,  1866,  te  Jan.  20, 1879 

Mark  M.  Cleaver .Jan.  20, 1879,  to  date 

The  office  of  vice-president  was  created  by  act  ot 
the  Legislature,  March  23, 1883,  and  William  Canby 
elected  January  21, 1884.  He  filled  the  office  until 
elected  president  of  the  company,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  William  Tatnall.  George  Rich- 
ardson was  chosen  vic^president  November  2,  1885. 
William  Tatnall,  who  was  a  director  for  thirty  years, 
and  president  fifteen  years,  died  suddenly  in  the  office, 
while  attending  to  business,  October  28,  1885. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

WILMINGTON— ( Continued), 

THE  SCHOOLS  OF  WILMINGTON. 

The  first  school  within  the  present  limits  of 
Wilmington  was  opened  before  1700  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  pastor  of  Old  Swedes'  Church.  It  was 
continued  for  nearly  a  century,  and  among  its  early 
teachers  was  the  brother  of  Emanuel  Swedenborg. 
In  1716  Lars  GUwding  was  the  teacher. 

A  portion  of  the  house  of  Johan  Gustafson  was 
used  as  the  school-room.  The  names  of  the  pupils 
will  indicate  their  nationality.  The  exercises  of 
this  opening  day  began  with  a  prayer  and  a  speech 
by  the  pastor.  The  teacher  then  examined  his  pu- 
pils, and  placed  on  record  the  following : 

"  Qustaf,  Bon  of  Joliann  Gustafson,  9  years  old.  He  can  read  bis 
catechism  tolerably  and  answer  nice  questions  in  doctrines. 

"  Peter,  son  of  the  same,  can  recite  the  ten  commandments  tolerably. 

**  Mary  Qeens,  9  years,  can  read  Swedish  and  recite  the  ten  com- 
mandments. 

**Annika,  daughter  of  Mans  Qustof,  6  years  old,  can  read  Swedish 
tolerably. 

"Catharine,  daughter  of  Andraes  Gustafiron,  12  years  old, can  read  a 
book,  but  must  begin  with  spelling  right. 

"Peter,  son  of  John  Stalcop,  5  years  old,  knows  the  letters. 

"Margaret,  daughter  of  Peter  Stalcop  (deceased),  11  years  bid,  reads 
indifferently  well  Swedish  and  must  learn  to  spell  anew. 

"  Thomas,  son  of  M.  Davis,  11  years  old,  can  read  very  little. 

"Annika,  daughter  of  Andreas  Gustafiton,  8  years  old,  can  spell  a 
little. 

**  Lars,  son  of  Ante  Vainon,  7  yten  old,  and  knows  the  letters. 

On  April  8, 1719,  the  same  teacher  was  in  charge 
of  this  school,  then  kept  at  the  house  of  Johan  Stal- 
cop. This  parochial  school  was  continued  as  long  as 
services  were  held  in  the  old  church  in  the  Swedish 
language. 

Master  Wilson,  a  learned  Scotchman,  in  1760  kept 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


a  school  in  a  frame  building  in  the  centre  of  an  or- 
chard, back  of  which  is  now  southeast  corner  of 
Third  Street  and  Spring  Alley.  He  taught  both 
sexes ;  but  he  said  he  did  not  think  it  was  necessary 
for  girls  to  **  go  in  arithmetic  further  than  through 
simple  Division,  'cause  it  was  no  use ;  only  torn-boys, 
with  big  slates,  would  care  to  cipher  in  the  Double 
Rule  of  Three." 

Dr.  Nicholas  Way  and  Samuel  Canby  were  among 
his  pupils. 

Robert  Coram  was  an  old-time  schoolmaster  of 
note.  In  1790  he  taught  in  a  building  on  Fourth 
Street  between  Market  and  King  Streets. 

James  Filson  taught  in  Wilmington  before  the 
Revolution.  He  returned  from  the  army  with  no 
injury,  save  a  slight  wound  in  the  right  arm.  He 
again  opened  his  school  in  1785,  and  continued  it 
for  two  years.  His  wounded  arm  prevented  him 
from  ''thrashing  the  boys"  as  he  thought  they  de- 
served; so  he  abandoned  his  profession,  went  to 
Kentucky,  and  was  one  of  the  early  adventurers 
there  with  Daniel  Boone.  He  made  the  first  com- 
plete map  of  the  State  of  Kentucky.  Less  favored 
than  the  famous  hunter,  he  fell  a  victim  to  the  toma- 
hawk, and  was  killed  in  a  desperate  contest  with  an 
Indian  about  1810.     . 

The  name  of  the  teacher  who  succeeded  Filson 
has  not  been  ascertained.  The  latter  studied  law 
with  Gunning  Bedford,  and  removed  to  Tennessee, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  Representatives  in  Congress 
from  that  State. 

John  Thelwell  was  a  well-known  teacher  in  Wil- 
mington and  the  surrounding  country.  He  began 
his  career  in  his  chosen  profession  about  1765,  and 
continued  it  for  nearly  half  a  century,  besides  follow- 
ing the  occupations  of  bellman,  market  master  and 
clerk.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Asbury 
Methodist  Church,  and  its  first  records  were  kept  on 
the  fly-leaves  of  his  "  ciphering-book."  His  daugh- 
ter, Deborah,  was  also  a  teacher. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Way  was  a  popular  teacher  of  nee- 
dle-work in  1790,  and  later  taught  in  a  room  of  her 
own  house  on  French  Street,  where  a  dozen  or  more 
girls  of  that  day  were  continually  under  instruction. 
She  used  a  cat-o'-nine-tails  to  make  her  pupils  obe- 
dient, and  put  leather  spectacles  on  those  who  did 
imperfect  work.  In  her  early  days  she  was  a  school- 
mate of  Benjamin  West,  the  famous  painter. 

M.  Michel  Martel,  a  French  refugee,  was  a  teacher 
in  Wiltoington  a  century  or  more  ago.  He  was  a 
linguist,  and,  tradition  says,  knew  fifteen  languages. 
Success  attended  him  in  New  York  and  Boston, 
where  he  had  taught  for  years.  Hearing  that  some 
of  his  friends  lived  in  Wilmington,  he  determined  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  with  them.  Two 
more  yeajrs  in  his  profession  were  spent  with  pleasure 
and  profit  in  Wilmington,  and  he  then  fell  a  victim 
to  paralysis.  He  lost  his  knowledge  of  all  languages 
save  his  native  tongue.  Sad  as  it  was,  charity 
waned,  and  M.  Martel,  now  poor,  became  an  inmate 


in  the  County  Almshouse,  a  large  white  building  on 
the  hill  west  of  the  town,  where  he  died.  He  had 
once  been  a  teacher  of  Theodosia  Burr  and  on  inti- 
mate terms  with  her  father,  Aaron  Burr.  To  her  he 
dedicated  several  poems,  chiefly  translations,  whicli 
ha  wrote  in  this  eountry.  Aaron  Burr  visited  Wil- 
mington when  Vice-President  of  the  United  States, 
in  1808.  People  thought  he  would  be  generous  to 
his  daughter's  former  preceptor,  but  with  his  charac- 
teristic ingratitude,  said  he  knew  Martel  when  ho 
was  rich — he  did  not  know  him  in  his  poverty. 

William  Cobbett  taught  school  for  awhile  in  an  old 
house  standing  on  Quaker  Hill  (so  named  on  account 
of  the  numerous  Quaker  families  residing  there). 
Cobbett's  straight,  soldierly  figure  and  military  tread, 
were  well  known  in  the  town  and  long  remembered 
by  his  scholars. 

Monsieur  Turel,  in  1797,  had  a  fencing  school  on 
Market  Street,  and  Francis  Gattels  a  drawing  and 
dancing  academy  on  French  Street.  Azariah  Forbes, 
on  January  5,  1803,  b^an  to  teach  "psalmody"  in 
the  academy.  At  the  expiration  of  one  quarter,  he 
congratulated  himself  and  the  public  on  his  success, 
and  resolved  ta  continue  his  instructions.  M.  du 
Coudray  opened  a  dancing  school  at  Mr.  McOoy'd 
house,  on  Market  Street,  in  September,  1803.  Cath- 
arine Hall,  in  1804,  advertised  a  school  in  which  she 
taught  pupils  to  play  on  the  piano.  The  next  year, 
John  Scanlan  started  a  school  on  Shipley  Street,  and 
Mrs.  Chandler  her  seminary  on  Market  Street.  John 
Webster  advertised,  in  1805,  that  he  could  "teach 
the  Latin  and  Greek  classics  with  grammatical  accu- 
racy and  give  strict  attention  to  the  vernacular 
tongue."  He  was  a  teacher  in  Wilmington  as  early 
as  1785.  For  a  number  of  years  he  presided  over  his 
'' kingdom''  on  Quaker  Hill. 

General  Lewis  Cass,  a  distinguished  American 
statesman,  who  represented  Michigan  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  was  Secretary  of  War  in  the  Cabinet 
of  Andrew  Jackson  ;  minister  to  France,  and  Secre- 
tay  of  State  in  President  Buchanan's  Cabinet,  and  a 
candidate  for  President  against  Taylor,  taught  school 
in  Wilmington  during  1797.  He  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire,  came  to  Wilmington  on  foot  on  his 
way  West  and  remained  here  nearly  a  year.  In  1848, 
when  he  made  a  great  speech  in  City  Hall,  he  refer- 
red to  his  experience  as  a  teacher  in  Wilmington,  a 
few  of  his  former  pupils  being  present. 

In  1814,  Evan  Lewis  taught  a  Ladies'  Seminary 
on  comer  of  Sixth  and  King ;  Miss  Elizabeth  Mont- 
gomery a  sewing  and  drawing  school  at  Market  co^ 
ner  of  Eighth  Street ;  Miss  Eleanor  Bonsall  a  similar 
school  on  Market  Street.  Miss  Green's  school  was 
at  109  Shipley ;  Miss  Deborah  Thelwell  at  33  King ; 
Mrs.  Woodside,  on  Shipley  Street;  Mrs.  Martha 
Mason's  at  223  Market ;  Mrs.  Hannah  Hollingsworth 
147  King  Street;  Azariah  Forbes  had  an  English 
and  musical  school  at  the  corner  of  King  and 
Fourth  Streets;  James  Davis'  school  was  at  136 
King ;  Joel  Zane's  at  65  East  Front ;  Jesse  Gause's 


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685 


West  Street  near  Friends'  Meeting-house;  William 
Rankin's,  West  Street,  corner  of  Seventh.  William 
Wickes  opened  a  select  school  for  young  ladies, 
August  3, 1814,  and  Richard  Elkton  a  tjeminary  for 
young  ladies  and  gentlemen  on  French  Street. 

In  1814  there  was  one  school  for  colored  children, 
with  thirty-four  pupils.  On  January,  1816,  Evan 
Lewis  sold  to  William  Seal,  Jacob  Alrichs  and  Ben- 
jamin Webb,  trustees  of  the  African  School  Society, 
a  lot  on  Sixth  Street  between  West  and  Tatnall,  on 
which  a  school-house  for  colored  children  was  built, 
at  the  cost  of  eight  hundred  dollars.  Nicholas 
Donelly,  on  January  25,  1822,  removed  his  school 
from  Oxford  to  Wilmington,  and  opened  it  at  the 
honse  of  Mr.  Pogue,  on  Market  Street.  He  adver- 
tiaed  to  teach  a  "  class  of  English  grammarians  on 
the  celebrated  plan  of  Mr.  Green  leaf."  D.  Hewett 
in  1822,  advertised  ''a  geography  and  penmanship 
school  near  the  Indian  Queen  tavern.  Running 
hand  a  specialty."  The  Female  Fr'ie  School  was  kept 
in  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1823.  The  Mis$»es 
Grosvenor  in  1823  opened  a  seminary  for  females  un- 
der the  direction  of  Rev.  R.  Williston,  of  St.  An- 
drew's Church.  In  1826  they  moved  to  King  Street ; 
their  school  was  well  patronized.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shifler  had  a  school  on  Orange  Street  in  1824.  Mrs. 
Brady  began  teaching  in  Wilmington  in  the  same 
year. 

fl.  Hardy,  in  1833,  opened  a  school  in  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church  session-room.  Miss  M.  C. 
Smith  opened  a  boarding-school  in  1825,  which  was 
quite  popular. 

The  system  of  grammar  taught  by  James  Brown, 
in  his  school,  was  criticised  through  the  newspa- 
pers. This  annoyed  him  so  much  that  he  called  a 
public  meeting  in  the  Town  Hall  in  1825,  where  he 
defended  his  mode  of  teaching.  Edward  Maher  the 
same  year  kept  a  school  above  the  "  barber-shop  '*  on 
Front  Street. 

Enoch  Roberts,  who  was  a  noted  teacher  in  Wil- 
mington, in  1828  gave  a  course  of  lectures  in  the 
Town  Hall  on  the  Natural  Sciences.  Edward  Wor- 
rell kept  the  "  Union  school  room,'*  Fourth  and 
French  Streete,  in  1828.  James  C.  Allen,  from  1826 
to  1830,  taught  a  school  on  Orange  Street  above 
Fourth. 

William  Sherer  removed  from  Newark  in  1826, 
where  he  taught  several  Jyears  and  started  a  young 
ladies'  boarding-school  in  Wilmington,  which  he  con- 
ducted until  1828,  when  Bishop  Davenport  succeeded 
him  with  several  female  assistants. 

Enoch  Lewis,  afterward  noted  as  a  mathematician 
and  educator,  taught  a  school  for  advanced  pupils 
at  Third  and  West  Streets  about  1830. 

Caleb  Kimber  began  the  Wilmington  Seminary 
for  boys  on  Market  Street  near  Eighth  in  1835.  His 
school  was  large  and  popular.  In  1842,  he  and  J. 
Sharpless  revised  and  published  an  edition  of  Com- 
\f»  Spelling-book. 

Madame  Decl6my  started  a  French  school  in  1835. 


J.  M.  €k>odman  opened  "  his  celebrated  Chirograph- 
ic Institution  "  on  Market  Street  in  1835. 

James  Gardner,  July  6,  1835,  opened  an  English 
and  classical  school  in  a  room  on  the  third  floor  of 
Webb's  leather-store,  at  Orange  and  Fourth  Streets. 

J.  McNevin,  in  1836,  and  before,  taught  a  seminary 
for  boys  and  girls  on  Eighth  Street,  between  Market 
and  King  Streets. 

Drawing,  painting  and  French  school  by  F.  G. 
Gwinczewski  in  1839. 

Mrs. 'Janvier's  seminary  for  young  ladies  was  pros- 
perous in  1840.  It  was  situated  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  west  of  the  city. 

Rev.  K.  J.  Stewart,  in  1841,  started  his  English  and 
Classical  Institute. 

Mr.  Parker  had  a  school  at  Sixth  and  French  Sts. 
in  1839,  with  Miss  Wilkinson  as  assistant.  Miss 
Charlotte  Grimshaw  succeeded  Mrs.  M.  C.  Smith  with 
a  school  for  young  ladies,  in  1842,  on  King  Street. 

John  Thomas,  in  1840,  was  principal  of  an  academy 
in  the  old  Presbyterian  Church  on  Market  Street 

Mrs.  Maxwell's  academy  for  young  ladies  was 
opened  in  1841. 

In  1840  the  Wilmington  Classical  Institute,  with 
Rev.  S.  M.  Galey  as  principal,  was  removed  from  Mar- 
ket Street  to  Mantua,  one  mile  from  the  city.  This 
was  quite  a  school  in  its  day. 

In  1842  Rev.  Corry  Chambers  started  the  Literary 
Institute. 

The  Franklin  Academy  was  established  in  1842,  on 
Sixth  Street,  between  Market  and  King  Streets,  by 
Benjamin  F.  Niles  and  Mary  B.  Niles. 

John  T.  Page,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College  in 
1845,  began  a  classical  school  in  "  Mayor  Wilson's 
new  building,  on  Market  Street." 

Captain  Aldin  Partridge,  in  1846,  opened  a  mili- 
tary and  scientific  academy  at  Ninth  and  Market 
Streets,  and  Colonel  Hyatt's  celebrated  Chester  Mili- 
tary Academy  was  started  in  Wilmington,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Ninth  and  Tatnall  Streets.  It  prospered  here 
for  a  few  years,  and  was  then  removed  to  West  Ches- 
ter, occupying  the  old  Bolmar  Academy,  and  from 
thence  to  its  present  location,  at  Chester,  Pa. 

The  Hannah  More  Academy,  for  young  ladies,  was 
for  many  years  a  well-conducted  educational  institu- 
tion, at  the  northwest  corner  of  Eighth  and  West 
Streets.  The  building,  which  is  now  used  as  a  board- 
ing-house, was  erected  in  1853,  with  large  recitation- 
rooms,  dormitories  and  dining-room.  The  principals 
were  Misses  Charlotte  and  Isabella  Grimshaw.  Dr. 
Arthur  H.  Grimshaw  delivered  lectures  to  the  stu- 
dents on  various  subjects.  This  school  flourished  for 
many  years. 

Carson  Adams,  who  afterward  became  a  prominent 
clergyman  in  New  England,  taught  a  classical  school 
in  the  basement  of  Hanover  Street  Church  in  1847. 
Rev.  E.  Wilson,  in  the  same  year,  moved  from  New- 
ark, and  started  a  school  in  Wilmington,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Eighth  and  West  Streets.  In  1849  he  opened 
a  boarding-school  for  girls. 


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686 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Rev.  Azariah  Prior  was  principal  of  Trinity  Epis- 
copal Church  school  in  1849. 

William  Robert  Stratton,  in  1850,  opened  a  select 
school  for  boys  at  the  comer  of  Fourth  and  West 
Streets.  Sarah  Tyson  was  at  the  same  time  teacher 
of  the  Friends'  school,  on  West  Street. 

Rev.  T.  M.  Cann's  Young  Ladies'  Institute  was 
well  patronized  in  1859. 

James  H.  Crabb  taught  in  the  Wilmington  Acad- 
emy for  several  years,  beginning  in  1876. 

Joshua  Maule  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
teachers  of  Delaware.  He  was  bom  in  Radnor,  Pa., 
in  1776,  of  Quaker  parentage.  At  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  enlisted  in  the  army,  and  joined  the  march  to 
quell  the  Whiskey  Insurrection  in  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  his  father  met  him  at  Downingtown,  and 
induced  him  to  return.  He  taught  school  near  home, 
and,  in  1803,  came  to  Wilmington  and  founded  the 
boarding-school  for  girls  on  King  Street.  He  became 
a  minister  among  the  Friends,  and  in  1809  made  a  re- 
ligious visit  to  Canada.  In  1809  Eli  Hilles  joined 
him  in  the  school.  Joshua  Maule  died  in  1812,  in 
Bucks  County,  where  he  had  gone  on  a  visit. 

The  Old  Academy  was  situated  on  the  east  side 
of  Market  Street  between  Eighth  and  Ninth.  The 
building  was  built  of  stone,  two  and  a  half  stories 
high  and  stood  a  distance  in  from  the  street.  It  was 
the  leading  educational  institution  in  the  State  of 
Delaware  during  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century. 
Many  hallowed  associations  to  the  early  residents  of 
Wilmington,  were  associated  with  it,  as  within  its 
walls  most  of  them  obtained  their  education.  It  was 
built  as  early  as  1765,  on  land  obtained  from  John 
Stalcop,  within  a  beautiful  grove  of  native  trees. 

The  celebrated  preacher  of  Methodism,  George 
Whitefield,  on  his  visit  to  this  country  in  1774,  noted 
in  his  journal :  **  In  the  academy  woods  at  Wilming- 
ton I  preached  to  3000  persons."  On  April  10,  1773, 
it  was  chartered  as  a  Public  Grammar  School  for  the 
County  of  New  Castle.  Rev.  Lawrence  Girelius, 
pastor  of  the  Old  Swedes'  Church,  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  trustees.  Some  of  the  first  mem- 
bers of  the  board  were  Bishop  White,  Hon.  Thomas 
McKean,  Gunning  Bedford,  Dr.  Robert  Smith, 
Thomas  Gilpin,  Dr.  Nicholas  Way  and  Joseph  Shall- 
cross.  The  first  principal  of  this  institution  of  learn- 
ing, of  whom  there  is  any  record,  was  Professor  Robert 
Patterson.  He  was  the  father  of  Dr.  Robert  M.  Pat- 
terson, of  Philadelphia,  once  president  of  the  United 
States  Mint.  When  the  War  of  the  Revolution 
opened,  he  proved  himself  to  be  a  devoted  patriot — 
versed  in  military  tactics.  He  began  to  drill  his 
older  pupils,  and  the  young  men  of  the  town  and 
vicinity.  Israel  Gilpin,  whom  he  trained,  took  charge 
of  this  company.  Prof.  Patterson  afterward  joined 
the  New  Jersey  Line,  and  was  a  major  in  the  pay- 
master's department  during  the  war. 

The  instructors  in  charge  of  the  academy  soon  after 
the  war  were  M.  Murdock  and  M.  Maffit. 

In  1786  a  meeting  of  scientific  men  was  held  in  it, 


among  whom  were  Benjamin  Franklin,  Dr.  Ritten- 
house,  Benjamin  Rush  and  James  Madison.  They 
brought  with  them  instmmeuts  for  astronomical  inves- 
tigation, and  from  the  cupola  of  the  building  made 
some  observations.  The  next  day  Dr.  Franklin  ex- 
perimented with  electricity. 

Interest  in  the  academy  must  have  declined  about 
1795,  when  the  building  was  turned  into  a  cotton 
factory,  and  filled  with  looms  and  spinning-jennies, 
and  so  continued  for  a  few  years. 

In  1803  it  was  remodeled  and  refitted,  and  on 
January  26th  of  that  year  an  act  was  passed  revok- 
ing the  charter  granted  in  1773,  and  granting  power 
to  found  an  institution  of  learning  in  the  academy 
building,  to  be  known  as  the  ''  College  of  Wilming- 
ton." The  province  of  the  institution  was  "  to  edu- 
cate the  young  in  the  American,  learned  and  foreign 
languages.''  Gunning  Bedford  was  chosen  president 
of  the  board  of  trustees.  The  other  members  were 
William  White,  Thomas  Read,  D.D.,  John  Dickin- 
son, Caesar  A  Rodney,  James  A.  Bayard,  Dr.  James 
Tilton,  Dr.  George  Monro,  Outerbridge  Horsey,  Dr. 
Latimer,  Jacob  Broom,  Louis  McLane,  Joseph  Tat- 
nall,  Henry  Latimer,  Thomas  McComb,  Robert  Ham- 
ilton, Ebenezer  Smith,  Joshua  Gilpin,  David  Hall, 
Nicholas  Ridgely,  James  Sykes,  John  Warner,  James 
Lea,  Thomas  Lea,  James  Wilson,  Daniel  Rodney, 
George  Kennard  and  William  McKee.  This  board  of 
trustees  was  remarkable  for  the  number  of  distin- 
guished men  in  it.  The  charter  of  1803  gave  full 
powers  to  grant  degrees  upon  graduation,  but  there 
is  no  record  of  any  classes  that  completed  a  coll^iate 
course.  The  higher  branches  were  taught,  however, 
by  experienced  teachers.  William  Maffit  and  his 
brother  John,  who  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College, 
were  teachers.  £.  K.  Dare  was  principal  of  the  male 
department,  and  Abraham  Kinsey  of  the  female 
department. 

In  1805  an  act  was  passed  allowing  the  trustees  to 
raise  money  by  lottery  to  support  the  institution, 
which  power  was  renewed  in  1809.  In  1811  an  act 
to  raise  ten  thousand  dollars  by  lottery  was  passed. 

In  1814  the  Latin  department  was  in  charge  of  Job 
Staples.  He  was  succeeded  in  1818  by  Joseph  Down- 
ing, a  teacher  who  was  very  successful.  He  was 
superintendent  of  Trinity  Church  Sunday-school  of 
three  hundred  pupils,  which  in  1819  met  in  the 
academy.  Lyman  Matthews,  a  graduate  of  Middle- 
bury  College,  Vermont,  was  elected  principal  of  the 
academy  in  1823,  by  the  trustees,  composed  of  E  .W. 
Gilpin,  Archibald  Hamilton,  Robert  Porter,  Rev.  E. 
W.  Gilbert,  John  Brinckle,  M.D.,  John  Rurasey, 
and  Allan  Thomson.  Edward  La  Forest,  a  linguist, 
was  chosen  an  assistant.  William  Rankin  was  a 
principal  in  1825,  and  returned  thanks  to  the  people 
for  their  liberal  patronage.  Mrs.  Aurelia  W.  Cort- 
land at  this  time  had  charge  of  the  female  depart- 
ment. 

The  building  was  offered  for  sale  by  the  sheriff  of 
New  Castle  County  in  1825,  but  was  bought  by  the 


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f 


?i^-'-' 


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' ,  \i   l..\ 


cijru<;t  ui  jLcucu  a-iici  xviug  otreewj,  wnere  ne  continued     proachable  character  and  sterling  integrity,  he  lived 
to  reside  during  the   remainder  of  his  life.    Being     for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 


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•  I    \ 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


687 


Masons,  to  whom  the  debt  was  due,  to  prevent  the 
sheriff's  sale.  Dr.  H.  L.  Davis,  was  principal  in  1826, 
and  still  advertised  it  as  **  Wilmington  College." 
Byron  Lawrence,  a  graduate  of  Oxford  University, 
succeeded  in  1828  as  the  principal. 

The  building  was  sold  to  David  C,  Wilson,  who 
tore  it  down  about  1832  and  erected  private  resi- 
deDces  on  the  site.    - 

The  Boarding-School  for  Young  Ladies, 
conducted  by  Eli  and  Samuel  Hilles,  was  an  educa- 
tional institution  of  high  standing  and  excellent  rep- 
utation. Joshua  Maule,  a  very  worthy  member  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  had  been  conducting  a  school 
on  King  Street  for  a  few  years.  In  1809  Eli  Hilles 
came  to  Wilmington  from  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and 
in  association  with  him  founded  a  boarding-school 
for  young  ladies  on  the  east  side  of  King  Street,  be- 
tween Seventh  and  Eighth.  The  building  occupied 
for  this  school  at  first  was  a  large  mansion  erected  by 
Matthew  Crips  in  1797.  Under  the  intelligent  and 
well-directed  management  of  these  two  gentlemen  the 
school  was  at  once  filled  with  pupils  coming  from  the 
homes  of  the  better  class  of  people.  It  was  not  a  sec- 
tarian school,  and  young  ladies  whose  parents  be- 
longed to  different  religious  denominations  were  ad- 
mitted. Joshua  Maule  died  a  few  years  after  the 
institution  was  established,  and  Samuel  Hilles,  who 
bad  opened  a  school  for  boys  in  an  octagonal  build- 
ing, near  the  present  site  of  Central  Presbyterian 
Church,  discontinued  that,  and  associated  with  his 
brother,  Eli  Hilles,  in  conducting  the  boarding-school 
for  girls  in  the  building  where  it  was  first  started. 
The  intimate  friendship  of  these  two  brothers,  and 
their  superior  qualification  for  the  careful  education 
and  training  of  the  young  ladies  who  composed  their 
school,  gained  for  it  increased  popularity.  It  was  at  a 
time  when  there  were  very  few  schools  in  this  coun- 
try for  young  ladies,  and  when  girls  were  not  gener- 
ally afforded  the  same  educational  advantages  as  the 
opposite  sex.  In  1818  Eli  and  Samuel  Hilles  erected 
a  large  building,  surrounded  by  beautiful  grounds, 
with  a  delightful  view  of  the  Delaware  River,  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Tenth  and  King  Streets.  Here, 
with  extended  school  accommodation  and  increased 
facilities,  they  enlarged  the  scope  of  their  institution. 
Young  ladies  from  nearly  all  the  States  of  the  Union 
and  from  the  West  Indies  were  pupils.  The  school 
became  so  favorably  known  for  its  excellent  manage- 
ment, the  ennobling  influence  it  exerted  on  the  man- 
ners and  character  of  its  pupils,  and  the  practical  and 
useful  instruction  given,  that  applications  were  con- 
stantly being  made  fo^  admission  to  it.  The  two 
brothers  conducted  the  school  very  prosperously  to- 
gether until  1828,  when  Eli  Hilles,  intending  to  retire 
from  the  educational  w^ork,  withdrew  from  the  part- 
nership, and  moved  into  the  mansion  previously  built 
and  occupied  by  his  brother,  and  now  owned  by  his 
daughter,  Miss  Elizabeth  B.  Hilles,  at  the  southeast 
comer  of  Tenth  and  King  Streets,  where  he  continued 
to  reside  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.    Being 


deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of  education,  and  nat- 
urally adapted  for  the  correct  training  of  the  young, 
the  next  year  (1829)  Eli  Hilles  was  persuaded  to  open 
a  day-school  for  young  ladies,  to  which  a  few  board- 
ing pupils  were  admitted.  For  this  purpose  he 
erected  a  building  a  few  doors  below  his  residence  on 
the  same  side  of  the  street,  and  successfully  conducted 
a  school  there  from  1829  to  1838.  He  then  retired 
with  a  competence  as  the  result  of  his  school  work. 

Samuel  Hilles  in  1828  exchanged  homes  with  his 
brother,  moved  into  the  building  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Tenth  and  King  Streets,  took  charge  of  the 
Boarding-School  for  Young  Ladies,  and  continued  its 
popularity  and  success  until  1832,  when  he  was  in- 
vited to  take  a  position  at  Haverford  College,  then 
being  founded.  The  Boarding-School  was  subse- 
quently taught  by  John  M.  Smith  and  Dubre  Knight. 

Eli  Hilles  was  a  son  of  William  and  Rebecca  Hilles, 
aud  was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  in  1783.  His 
ancestors  were  of  Welsh  descent.  When  he  was 
quite  young  his  parents  moved  to  the  western  part  of 
Pennsylvania  when  that  region  contained  but  few 
inhabitants.  As  a  young  man,  he  was  a  diligent  stu- 
dent of  the  books  that  came  within  his  reach,  and  for 
a  short  time  taught  school.  Soon  after  he  became 
twenty-one  years  old  he  came  to  the  well-known 
Westtown  Boarding-School  in  Chester  County,  and 
was  the  librarian  of  that  institution  several  years  pre- 
vious to  his  removal  to  Wilmington  in  1809 — a  young 
man  of  twenty-six  years.  In  connection  with  his 
school  interest  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  Wilmington,  and  during  his  long 
life  was  identified  with  a  number  of  institutions.  As 
early  as  1826  he  was  elected  a  director  in  the  Bank  of 
Delaware,  and  for  more  than  a  third  of  a  century 
continued  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Savings  Fund  Society, 
and  for  thirty  years  a  director  in  it.  He  was  also 
one  of  the  commissioners  who  secured  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Union  Bank  of  Delaware.  When  the 
city  of  Wilmington,  in  1851,  accepted  the  provisions 
of  the  act  establishing  the  public  schools  he  was 
chosen  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Board  of  School 
Directors  in  the  city,  and  was  elected  its  first 
president,  serving  but  a  few  weeks  when  he  retired 
from  the  position  in  favor  of  Judge  Willard  Hall,  and 
in  association  with  him  and  others  was  instrumental 
in  putting  into  successful  operation  the  excellent 
school  system  of  which  Wilmington  now  is  justly 
proud.  He  continued  in  the  School  Board  about  ten 
years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  for  many  years  an  elder  in  the  meeting  at 
Wilmington.  In  the  days  of  slavery  he  was  a  stanch 
abolitionist,  at  a  time  when  it  required  a  brave  man, 
residing  in  a  slave  State,  to  favor  the  freedom  of  the 
colored  race.  As  an  enterprising  and  public-spirited 
citizen  of  Wilmington  he  was  highly  esteemed  by 
every  one  who  knew  him.  A  man  of  upright,  irre- 
proachable character  and  sterling  integrity,  he  lived 
for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Eli  Hilles  was  married  in  1809  to  Martha  Barker, 
of  Burlington,  N.  J.,  and  the  same  year  came  to 
Wilmington.  His  wife  died  in  1849.  During  the 
last  year  of  his  life  he  was  an  invalid,  and  died  in 
1863,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  leaving  but 
one  child,  Miss  Elizabeth  B.  Hillee,  now  residing  in 
Wilmington. 

Samuel  Hilles,  son  of  William  and  Rebecca  Hilles, 
was  born  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1788,  and  died  in  Wilmington  August  4, 1873, 
aged  eighty-five  years.  When  a  small  boy  he  moved 
with  his  parents  to  the  western  part  of  the  State  and 
there  obtained  the  rudiments  of  his  education.  When 
he  grew  to  be  a  young  man  he  went  to  the  Westtown 
Boarding-School.  Owing  to  rapid  advancement  in 
his  studies  he  was  soon  invited  to  become  a  teacher. 
He  remained  in  that  famous  institution  as  an  instruc- 
tor for  a  few  years  and  then  came  to  Wilmington  and 
entered  upon  the  prosperous  career  as  an  educator^ 
an  account  of  which  is  given  above.  After  his  retire- 
ment from  the  school  work  in  Wilmington  in  1832, . 
he  spent  nearly  two  years  in  Haverford  College,  being 
invited  there  to  become  its  general  superintendent, 
and  gave  his  valuable  services  to  that  young  institu- 
tion without  charge.  He  then  returned  to  Wilming- 
ton, built  a  house — the  first  building  south  of  the  Old 
Baptist  Church— where  he  resided  until  theBoarding- 
School  closed,  when  he  removed  into  that  building. 
By  industry  and  perseverance  he  had  accumulated  a 
handsome  fortune,  which  was  increased  by  his  caretiil 
business  transactions,  and  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  years  in  looking  after  his  private  affairs  and  in 
attendance  upon  the  interests  of  the  institutions  ot 
Wilmington  with  which  he  was  connected.  In  1841 
he  was  elected  a  director  in  the  Bank  of  Delaware, 
continued  a  member  for  thirty-five  years,  and  was 
one  of  the  board  of  directors  that  converted  that  in- 
stitution into  a  National  Bank.  For  a  long  time  he 
was  a  director  in  the  Wilmington  Savings  Fund  So- 
ciety. He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Society 
of  Friends.  Early  in  life  he  became  interested  in  the 
question  of  the  freedom  of  slaves,  was  an  avowed 
abolitionist,  and  at  the  end  of  the  war  was  one  of  the 
first  persons  in  the  State  of  Delaware  to  propose 
means  and  methods  for  the  education  of  the  children 
of  the  colored  race.  The  Howard  School  in  Wil- 
mington was  organized  largely  through  his  instru- 
mentality. When  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  and 
during  his  whole  life  Samuel  Hilles  was  a  diligent 
student  of  the  science  of  botany.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Wilmington  Botanical  Society,  which 
existed  for  several  years.  Together  with  his  brother 
and  others,  he  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the 
Board  of  Education  in  Wilmington.  He  served  as 
secretary  of  the  board  for  a  time  and  was  devotedly 
interested  in  the  cause  of  public  education.  He  was 
a  man  of  excellent  judgment,  fine  intelligence  and 
most  exemplary  character,  constantly  using  his  best 
effort  for  the  good  of  the  coi](imunity  in  which  he 
lived. 


Samuel  Hilles  was  married  October  31,  1821,  to 
Margaret  Hill  Smith,  on  her  paternal  side  a  great- 
granddaughter  of  James  Logan,  Deputy  Governor  of 
Pennsylvania  under  William  Penn.  On  her  mater- 
nal side  she  was  a  great-granddaughter  of  Grovemor 
Lloyd,  of  Pennsylvania.  The  children  of  this  mar- 
riage were  Gulielma  Maria,  William  S.  and  John  S. 
Hilles. 

William  S.  Hilles,  the  oldest  son,  was  a  prominent 
and  influential  citizen  of  Wilmington.  In  1861  he 
was  chosen  a  director  in  the  Bank  of  Delaware.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Artisans' 
Savings  Bank  and  served  as  its  first  president. 

Gulielma  Maria  Hilles  was  married  September  7, 
1843,  to  Charles  W.  Howland,  of  Cayuga  County, 
New  York,  who  has  resided  in  Wilmington  since 
1853.  Their  children  are  Samuel  Hilles  Howland, 
William  H.  Howland,  Margaret  Smith  Howland, 
Charles  Samuel  Howland,  Susan  Howland,  Eacbel 
Smith  Howland. 

William  S.  Hilles  married  Sarah  L.  Allen,  May 
17,  1849,  and  their  children  are  Susannah  W.  Hilles, 
Thomas  Allen  Hilles,  Samuel  Eli  Hilles,  Margaret  S. 
Hilles. 

John  S.  Hilles  married  Sarah  C.  Tatum  July 
21,  1832.  Their  children  are  Anna  Cooper  Hilles, 
William  S.  Hilles,  Joseph  T.  Hilles,  Margaret  H. 
Hilles. 

St.  Mary's  College  was  an  institution  of  learn- 
ing, founded  by  Rev.  Patrick  Reilly,  afterwards 
pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  Wil- 
mington, and  vicar-general  of  the  diocese.  The 
entire  grounds  comprised  fifteen  acres  on  Delaware 
Avenue,  and  extended  from  Jefferson  to  Madison 
Streets,  and  ran  in  an  irregular  outline  on  one  side 
to  Ninth  Street  and  on  another  to  Monroe. 

In  1840  there  was  a  female  academy  in  Wilmington, 
conducted  by  the  Sisters  of  Charity.  A  gentleman 
whose  daughters  were  being  educated  here  prevailed 
upon  Father  Reilly  to  open  a  school  for  boys,  which 
he  did  August  15,  1841,  at  his  residence  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  Fifth  and  West  Streets.  The  school 
prospered  and  he  bought  a  house  and  grounds  of  Mr. 
Bradford,  father  of  the  late  Judge  Bradford,  on  Dela- 
ware Avenue,  and  removed  the  school  there. 

Father  Reilly  had  a  natural  fondness  and  great  apt- 
ness to  teach,  and  his  school  soon  grew  in  public  favor. 
In  1842  the  building  was  enlarged  with  dormitories 
to  accommodate  thirty-six  students,  and  other  day 
scholars.  A  charter  was  obtained  from  the  L^islature 
of  Delaware  January  29,  1847,  granting  fiill  power  to 
confer  scholastic  degrees.  The  same  year  the  college 
building,  four  stories  high  and  one  hundred  by  sixty 
feet,  was  built  with  a  large  bell  in  the  belfry. 

The  first  graduates  of  the  institution  in  1850  were 
Wm.  McCauUey,  of  Wilmington;  Edward  McCabe, 
of  New  Orleans ;  Edward  Ridgely,  of  Dover ;  and 
John  Fulmer.  Archbishop  Corrigan,  of  New  York 
received  his  preparatory  training  here,  and  eighteen 
of  the  students  afterwards  became  priests.    The  col- 


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VRW  PASTT.R  nOTTNTY.  689 


Hibool  for  boys  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Ninth  and     profession. 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


689 


l^re  had  studeats  from  nearly  ail  the  States  of  the 
Union,  and  a  few  from  South  America.  The  first 
board  of  trustees  were  Rev.  Patrick  Beilly,  Rev.  J. 
Walsh,  Alfred  Du  Pont,  J.  B.  Garesche,  Dr.  S.  Miller, 
Peter  N.  Brennan  and  Henry  Miller. 

In  1857  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty  students 
io  attendance.  The  institution  prospered  until  the 
opening  of  the  war.  Students  from  the  South  then 
withdrew  and  the  attendance  was  greatly  diminished. 
The  city  extended  its  limits,  and  the  section  surround- 
ing the  buildings  was  occupied  by  dwelling-houses. 

In  1866  the  college  closed  its  doors,  and  in  1868  the 
building  was  sold  to  a  syndicate.  The  older  portion 
was  torn  down.  The  main  building  was  afterwards 
occupied  for  a  short  time  by  the  Nuns  of  the  Visita- 
tion, a  religious  community  of  ladies.  It  was  also 
torn  down  a  year  or  two  later. 

Academy  of  the  Visitation. — Among  the  educa- 
tional institutions  of  high  rank  in  Wilmington  is 
the  Academy  of  the  Visitation,  conducted  by  the  Sis- 
ters of  that  order,  which  was  founded  in  France  by 
St.  Francis  de  Sales  in  1610,  for  the  education  of 
young  ladies  of  the  higher  class,  and  whose  academies 
are  well  known  throughout  Europe  and  the  United 
States.  This  branch  was  established  in  Wilmington 
in  18G8,  from  the  house  in  Mouthiel,  near  Lyons, 
France.  The  academy  was  first  opened  in  the  build- 
ing on  Delaware  Avenue,  known  as  St.  Mary's  Col- 
lege, but  at  the  close  of  the  second  scholastic  year 
was  removed  to  the  handsome  Hollingsworth  property 
on  Delaware  Avenue,  between  Harrison  and  Van 
Buren  Streets,  which  was  purchased  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
T.  A.  Becker,  bishop  of  Wilmington,  and  fitted  up  for 
that  purpose.  Young  ladies  of  all  denominations  are 
received  as  pupils,  without  regard  to  creed,  and  all 
religious  discussions  are  strictly  prohibited.  Within 
these  walls  the  Sisters  work  silently  but  faithfully, 
fulfilling  the  mission  they  have  chosen,  and  to  which 
they  have  dedicated  their  lives — educating  the  hearts 
IS  well  as  the  minds  of  those  entrusted  to  their  care. 

Brandywine  Academy  was  founded  in  1799.  On 
February  29th,  of  that  year,  seventy-nine  persons 
met  and  by  subscription  raised  $443.13,  and  with  this 
amount  soon  thereafter  erected  the  building  on  land 
donate  I  by  John  Dickinson  and  John  Welsh.  The 
institution  was  incorporated  January  31,  1815,  when 
the  trustees  were  Isaac  Jones,  James  Price,  James 
Smith,  Alexander  Draper,  William  Smith,  Charles 
Tatem  and  Thomas  Lea.  In  1830  Mr.  McNevin  con- 
ducted it  as  an  "English  and  Classical  Academy." 
Another  charter  was  obtained  for  this  school  January 
26, 1832.  The  incorporators  named  in  it  were  John 
M.  Clayton,  Gregory  Bedell,  Stephen  H.  Tyng,  Cyrus 
H.  Jacobs,  Thomas  Robinson,  James  W.  Thompson, 
Thomas  Mitchell,  John  W.  Downing,  John  R. 
Brinckle,  James  Booth,  John  B.  Clemson,  J.  H.  Coit 
tnd  others. 

John  Bullock'8  Boarding-School. — About  the 
jear  1821,  John  Bullock,  a  Friend,  opened  a  boarding- 
school  for  boys  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Ninth  and 
44 


Tatnall  Streets,  which  continued  in  operation  until 
1846,  a  period  of  twenty-five  years.  The  school  soon 
acquired  a  reputation  which  drew  to  it  pupils  from 
remote  parts  of  the  country  and  from  the  West  India 
Islands,  at  a  time  when  the  facilities  for  communica- 
tion were  far  from  being  what  they  are  at  present. 
This  reputation,  apart  from  the  solid  character  of  the 
instruction,  was  in  no  small  degree  based  upon  the 
parental  care  and  oversight  bestowed  upon  those  com- 
mitted to  his  charge. 

The  following  paragraph  is  found,  written  in  her 
quaint  style,  by  Miss  Elizabeth  Montgomery,  in  her 
"  Reminiscences  of  Wilmington :  '*  "  Of  those  com- 
mitted to  his  charge,  John  Bullock  was  a  faithful  and 
conscientious  teacher,  and  a  public-spirited  citizen 
interested  in  the  public  education  of  the  day,  and 
ready  to  advance  with  influence  and  effort  all  measures 
that  concerned  the  general  welfare.  He  died  in  1847, 
aged  sixty-three  years.  Samuel  Alsop  then  took  the 
school.  He  was  well-known  as  an  accomplished 
mathematician  and  capable  instructor. " 

Wilmington  Boarding-School  for  boys  was 
founded  by  Samuel  Smith  in  a  large,  three-story 
building  on  West  Street  below  Fourth,  in  1829.  The 
school  building  was  on  high  grounds  overlooking  the 
town  of  Wilmington,  whose  limits  had  not  then  ex- 


WILMINGTON  BOARDING-SCHOOL. 

tended  as  far  west  as  the  street  upon  which  it  was 
situated.  In  this  institution  the  English  branches, 
natural  sciences  and  the  higher  mathematics  were 
very  thoroughly  taught  by  experienced  teachers,  and 
a  large  number  of  students  regularly  attended  it, 
coming  from  the  various  States  of  the  Dnion  as  well 
as  from  Wilmington  and  the  surrounding  country. 
Samuel  Smith,  who  was  the  father  of  Albert  W.  Smith, 
of  Wilmington,  continued  as  principal  of  the  school 
from  1829  to  1839,  during  which  time  he  educated  a 
large  number  of  boys  and  young  men.  He  possessed 
the  natural  qualification  of  a  successfiil  instructor  of 
the  young,  and  had  carefully  prepared  himself  for  his 
profession. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Samuel  Smith,  who  founded  the  Wilmington  Board- 
ing School  for  Boy 8,  was  born  Eleventh  month  (Nov.) 
24, 1794,  in  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania.  William 
Smith,  his  ancestor,  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  came  from  Yorkshire,  England,  in  1684,  and 
settled  at  what  is  now  Wrightstown,  Bucks  County, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  purchased  three  hundred 
acres  of  land,  bordering  on  Neshaminy.  At  that 
time  he  was  one  of  the  only  two  white  men  living  in 
that  locality.  In  1690  he  married  Mary  Croasdale, 
also  a  Friend,  according  to  the  good  order  of  that  re- 
ligious society.  The  certificate  of  their  marriage  is 
still  in  existence. 

William  Smith  died  in  1743,  on  his  Wrightstown 
farm,  where  he  had  lived  from  the  time  he  first  came 
to  the  place.  He  left  a  son,  Thomas  Smith,  who  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Sanders  in  1727.  He  died  leaving  a 
son  also  named  Thomas  Smith.  This  Thomas  Smith 
married  Mary  Ross  in  1750,  and  died  leaving  a  son 
also  named  Thomas  Smith,  who  married,  in  1793 
Elizabeth  Linton,  and  died  leaving  a  son,  Samuel 
Smith,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  married  Sarah 
Watson  in  1817.  She  was  a  direct  descendant  of 
Thomas  Watson,  also  a  member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends,  who  married  Rebecca  Mark  in  1682,  and 
subsequently  settled  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania. 

Samuel  Smith,  whose  ancestry  we  have  thus  traced, 
evinced  in  early  life  a  fondness  for  study,  and  acquir- 
ed great  proficiency  in  grammar,  mathematics  and 
astronomy.  He  was  a  student  in  John  Gummere*d 
famous  academy  at  Burlington,  New  Jersey.  His 
habii  of  thought,  strength  of  mind  and  earnestness 
of  purpose  peculiarly  fitted  him  for  the  profession  of 
teaching,  in  which  he  delighted,  and  which  he  pur- 
sued through  his  whole  life.  As  an  instructor,  he 
possessed  the  happy  faculty  of  arousing  the  enthu- 
siasm of  his  students.  They  loved  to  gather  around 
him  after  the  study  hour  to  hear  him  illustrate  and 
explain  difficult  parts  of  the  branches  studied  in  his 
classes.  In  social  life  he  was  cheerful  fCnd  entertain- 
ing,- a  fine  conversationalist,  a  man  of  strong  convic- 
tions and  attracted  many  warm  friends. 

He  conducted  a  successful  mathematical  school  in 
Philadelphia  until  the  year  1829,  when,  at  the  solici- 
tation of  his  friends,  he  instituted  in  Wilmington, 
Delaware,  an  academy,  where  a  full  course  of  studies 
was  thoroughly  taught.  In  connection  with  this  in- 
stitution, Mr.  Smith  had  an  unusually  large  and  ex- 
cellent collection  of  mechanical,  philosophical  and 
scientific  apparatus. 

His  school  was  justly  celebrated,  and  a  number  of 
his  students  became  prominent  and  influential  men. 

In  1839  he  removed  to  Poughkeepsie,  New  York, 
a  large  number  of  his  pupils  accompanying  him, 
where  he  pursued  his  admirable  mode  of  instruction 
for  several  years. 

Afterwards  retiring  to  Philadelphia,  he  died  in 
1861,  closing  his  long  life-work,  respected  and  honored 
by  many  friends. 

Wesley  AN  Female  College  was  for  many  years 


a  prosperous  and  influential  institution  of  learning. 
Rev.  Solomon  Prettyman,  who  previously  had  con- 
ducted a  school  for  girls  at  Seaford,  Delaware,  opened 
Wesleyan  Female  Seminary  with  thirty  pupils,  in  a 
rented  building  on  Market  Street,  in  October,  1837. 
In  1838  it  was  removed  to  a  larger  building  at  Ninth 
and  Market  Streets.  David  C.  Wilson,  of  Wilming- 
ton, made  a  liberal  proposition  for  the  erection  of  a 
building  specially  adapted  for  school  purposes.  A 
site  was  secured  on  French  Street  above  Sixth.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  June  8, 1839,  in  the  presence  of 
students  and  faculty.  In  ten  months  from  that  date 
the  building,  forty-five  by  eic:hty-six  feet, was  finished 
and  occupied.  In  1841  the  school  was  chartered 
under  the  name  of  Wesleyan  Female  Collegiate  In- 
stitute. The  number  of  pupils  had  increased  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five.  In  1844  the  Female  Student 
and  Young  Ladies^  Advocate  was  published  by  the 
students  and  continued  three  years.  From  1847  to 
1850  the  institution  did  not  prosper.  In  1851  it  passed 
from  the  control  of  Mr.  Prettyman  into  the  hands  of 
a  board  of  trustees  representing  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  Under  the  directions  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Conference  a  new  charter  was  obtained  and  the 
name  changed  to  Wesleyan  Female  College,  with 
power  to  confer  degrees  upon  graduation.  Under  that 
name,  for  thirty  years  it  did  good  work.  It  was  con- 
ducted for  one  year  by  Prof.  T.  E.  Sudler,  a  graduate 
of  West  Point.  Rev.  George  Loom  is,  a  man  of  fine 
scholastic  attainments,  followed  and  was  very  success- 
ful. The  building  on  Sixth  Street  was  erected  under 
the  superintendance  of  William  Bright,  one  of  the 
trustees,  at  a  cost  of  $13,000.  Rev.  J.  Thompson 
joined  in  the  educational  work  and  a  brother  of  Prof. 
Loomis  was  president  for  a  time.  In  1859  Rev.  John 
Wilson  was  chosen  president  with  a  complete  faculty. 
He  remained  for  three  years  and  then  went  away  for 
a  short  time  and  returned  again  and  continued  the 
institution  for  several  years.  In  1882  the  property 
was  purchased  by  William  Bright,  the  present  owner. 
A  new  charter  was  obtained  under  the  name  of  the 
Wesleyan  College.  A  complefte  board  of  trustees 
was  selected,  with  Hon .  Charles  B.  Lore  as  president. 
The  institution  for  the  past  few  years  has  been 
closed. 

The  Taylor  Academy.— T.  Clarkson  Taylor,  who 
was  a  very  popular  and  successful  teacher,  came  to 
Wilmington  from  Virginia  about  1850.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  the  celebrated  school  of  Benjamin  Hal- 
lowell  at  Alexandria.  His  first  experience  here  was 
in  charge  of  the  Friends'  School,  corner  of  Fourth 
and  West  Streets.  He  next  erected  a  four-story  build- 
ing at  the  comer  of  Eighth  and  Wollaston  Streets— 
long  known  as  the  Taylor  Academy,  first  for  the  edu- 
cation of  boys  only,  and  afterwards  for  both  sexes. 
His  school  numbered  from  seventy-five  to  one  hun- 
dred pupils  regularly,  and  many  persons  who  have 
since  prospered  in  business  were  educated  by  him. 
He  had  a  natural  aptness  to  teach,  was  an  excellent 
disciplinarian  and  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  bis 


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by  many  triends.  He  naa  a  natural  aptut»t»  to  Mmcu,  f%«u»  4^ts  wi^wkvui. 

WE8LEYAN  FEMALE  COLLEGE  was  for  many  years     disciplinariaD  and  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  bis 


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i;fa.4f^^^^.e^      i%c*.^^o^ 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


691 


pnpik.  Some  of  his  awbtants  were  J.  K.  Taylor, 
Posey  Heald,  Daniel  W.  Taylor,  Charles  Swayne  and 
Milton  Jackson.  After  the  death  of  the  founder  it 
was  coodacted  as  the  Taylor  and  Jackson  Academy. 
The  boilding  is  now  used  as  a  public  school.  Few 
schools  anywhere  were  more  favorably  known  than 
this  academy. 

The  Friends*  School,  on  West  Street  near  Fourth, 
was  established  in  1748,  by  some  of  the  first  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Friends  who  settled  in  Wil- 
mlngtoo.  Within  the  one  hundred  and  forty  years 
of  its  history  thousands  of  children  of  both  sexes 
La?e  been  educated  in  it  It  is  the  oldest  school 
having  a  continuous  existence  in  the  State  of  Delaware. 
The  first  building  used  was  the  meeting-house, 
twenty-four  feet  square,  with  a  projecting  roof  at  the 
Boath  end.  A  sun-dial  to  tell  the  time  of  day  was 
placed  over  the  small  window  under  the  peak  of  the 
roof.  For  nearly  a  century  this  school  was  without 
the  city  limits,  in  what  was  known  as  **  Quaker  Hill.'' 
Of  the  early  teachers  very  little  information  can  be 
given  either  from  records  or  tradition.  For  half  a 
centary  or  more  the  most  important  branches  taught 
were  '*  Reading,  'Riten  and  'Rithmetic," — the 
last  named  was  generally  called  "ciphering."  In 
1786  the  committee  of  the  Friends  Meeting  hav- 
ing control  of  the  school  employed  a  teacher 
from  Philadelphia,  who  introduced  the  study  of 
English  grammar,  Latin  and  Greek,  and  the  stan- 
dard of  the  school  was  raised  in  competition  with 
the  old  academy  on  Market  Street.  John  Webster, 
who  taught  here  before  1780  and  many  years  later, 
was  a  man  of  note.  He  became  an  influential  citizen 
of  the  town.  It  was  on  him  that  the  old-time  trick 
of  "barring  out  the  teacher"  was  last  played.  "  Twas 
the  night  before  Christmas"  that  the  boys  climbed 
into  the  school-house  by  the  chimney  way,  piled  wood 
against  the  door  inside  and  nailed  the  windows  down. 
Master  Webster  appeared  at  the  door  at  eight 
o'clock  the  next  morning,  turned  the  latch  with  the 
well-worn  key  he  always  carried  in  his  pocket,  but 
conld  not  open  the  barricaded  door.  ''  We  will  only 
let  you  in,"  shouted  the  biggest  boy,  peeping  through 
the  window,  "  if  you  promise  to  give  us  a  holiday." 

"It  is  not  my  will  that  boys  shall  rule  or  dictate 
terms  of  peace,"  responded  the  irate  teacher,  and 
more  vehemently  than  ever  did  he  attempt  to  capture 
the  "  fort,"  as  the  boys  then  called  it.  It  was  nearly 
ten  o'clock  and  Master  John  was  still  assailing  the 
fort.  Three  male  Friends,  on  their  way  to  meeting 
in  the  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  came 
to  his  rescue.  With  a  crowbar  they  banged  open 
one  of  the  windows,  just  as  some  of  the  boys  escaped 
oat  of  another,  but  most  of  them  were  caught  in  the 
house,  and  finally,  the  whole  party  of  them  were 
inflicted  with  all  the  punishment  that  the  law  and 
the  rod  could  apply.  Nothing  was  saved  but  the  boys 
and  the  reputation  of  the  teacher. 

James  A.  Bayard,  Louis  McLane,  Judge  Qilpin 
and  Cfesar  A.  Rodney  were  pupils  of  John  Webster, 


but  it  is  not  known  that  they  helped  to  bar  him 
out. 

Jesse  Gause  was  teacher  in  1810,  and  many  years 
later.  He  was  followed  by  Alexander  McKiever. 
The  Bayards,  Gil  pins  and  the  Mendenhalls  were 
pupils  under  him.  He  punished  the  boys  by  shut- 
ting them  in  a  wood  closet.  Robert  Hurnand,  an 
Englishman,  was  an  early  teacher.  He  believed  in 
"  moral  suasion  with  a  grape  vine,"  he  used  to  say. 
Aquilla  Thomas  was  engaged  as  teacher  in  1828,  and 
was  succeeded  several  years  later  by  Thomas  Hay- 
hurst.  Nathan  Bassett  and  Jacob  Heald  were  also 
among  the  early  teachers.  Among  the  teachers  of 
the  girls'  school  were  Margaret  McCannon  and  Mar- 
garet Dixon. 

Sarah  Ann  Tyson,  in  1847,  had  a  very  popular 
school  for  girls.  She  was  very  successful  in  teaching 
geography,  a  study  introduced  but  a  few  years  before. 
In  1846  a  new  building  for  females  was  erected.  Miss 
Emma  Worrell  was  a  teacher  here  for  many  years. 

This  school  has  had  many  teachers  within  the  past 
quarter  of  a  century,  and  is  now  under  the  control  of 
Isaac  T.  Johnson,  a  graduate  of  Haverford  College, 
who,  with  Mary  £.  Butler,  Anna  Bach,  Enos  L.  Doan, 
Ella  M.  Turner,  Mary  J.  Hoopes  and  Augusta  La- 
Compte  as  assistants,  is  doing  an  excellent  work  for 
the  educational  interest  of  Wilmington.  Males  and 
females  are  taught  together,  and  the  total  enrollment 
for  1887  was  two  hundred  and  eight  pupils.  The 
school  within  the  past  few  years  has  prepared  a  large 
number  of  pupils  for  college. 

The  school  property  is  situated  opposite  the 
Friends'  Meeting-house,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and 
West  Streets.  The  building,  in  1883,  was  remodeled 
and  arranged  with  convenient  class-rooms  and  labor- 
atories, and  a  new  study  hall  was  erected.  The 
school  is  under  the  charge  of  a  committee  of  the 
Monthly  Meeting,  composed  of  Edward  T.  Bellak, 
Thomas  Worrell,  Elizabeth  W.  Smith,  Deborah  Fer- 
ris, Anna  Ferris,  Lindley  C.  Kent,  Ellwood  Giu-rett, 
Catharine  W.  Garrett,  Sarah  S.  Richardson,  Mary  B. 
Pyle,  Pri«»cilla  T.  Speakman  and  Lucy  Smyth. 

The  Friends'  School  at  Ninth  and  Tatnall  Streets, 
to  the  rear  of  the  meeting-house,  was  originally  oii 
Market  Street  above  Eleventh.  In  1882  Samuel  Can- 
by  donated  a  lot  and  $1000  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing the  school  at  its  present  place.  A  school- 
house  was  built  that  year,  part  of  the  money  being 
raised  by  subscription.  The  school  was  placed  under 
the  charge  of  a  committee  of  the  Monthly  Meeting, 
and  has  been  regularly  continued  since.  In  1874  the 
original  frame  building  was  replaced  by  the  one  now 
in  use. 

W.  A.  Reynolds,  for  twenty-nine  years  a  teacher  in 
Delaware,  was  born  in  Cincinnati.  He  graduated  at 
Wesleyan  College,  Middletown,  Conn.,  came  to  Dela- 
ware and  opened  a  school  at  Dover,  Nov.  3, 1858.  This 
school  grew  rapidly  from  two  scholars  to  a  hundred, 
they  coming  in  from  every  part  of  the  Peninsula.  For 
the  last  ten  years  he  has  taught  privately,  except  for 


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692 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


one  year,  when  he  held  a  submastership  in  the  Boston 
Latin  School.  During  1887  he  had  under  hie  instruc- 
tion eight  pupils  who  entered  the  best  colleges  of  the 
North. 

At  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  he  came  to  Wilming- 
ton, where  he  had  greater  success  than  at  Dover, 
building  up,  in  the  face  of  strong  competition, 
a  school  of  from  two  to  one  hundred  and  thirty 
scholars.  This  success  continued  for  about  ten 
years.  Professor  Reynolds  has  from  time  to  time  had 
many  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Delaware  under  his 
care. 

H.  S.  Goldey,  in  the  spring  of  1887,  in  Institute 
Building,  opened  the  "  Wilmington  Ck)mmercial  Col- 
lege," for  the  preparation  of  young  men  and  women 
for  business.  The  school  is  flourishing.  He  has  a 
number  of  assistants,  and  some  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  Wilmington  deliver  lectures  to  students. 

Rugby  Academy,  for  boys,  was  opened  by  Samuel 
W.  Murphy,  A.M.,  M.D.,  January  2,  1872,  and  has 
always  had  an  enviable  reputation  for  thorough 
scholarship  and  good  discipline.  It  has  prepared 
quite  a  number  of  students  for  various  collies,  and 
many  more  for  business.  There  are  three  depart- 
ments—Primary, Junior  and  Senior — having  together 
about  one  hundred  pupils.  The  convenient  and 
attractive  rooms  occupied  are  on  the  second  floor  of 
Masonic  Temple.  They  are  decorated  with  the  por- 
traits of  distinguished  literary  personages  and  some 
landscape  paintings.  There  is  also  apparatus  for  in- 
struction in  chemistry  and  physics  and  a  fine  cabinet 
of  minerals  and  fossils.  Two  literary  societies  are 
conducted  by  the  pupils  under  the  direction  of  the 
principal.  A  military  drill  has  been  a  feature  of  the 
course  of  instruction,  and  the  "Rugby  Cadets*'  are 
drilled  regularly  with  light  arms.  Dr.  Murphy,  after 
conducting  this  school  with  success  for  fifteen  years, 
sold  out  October  18,  1887,  to  W.  M.  Foulk,  late 
principal  of  Elkton  Academy,  who  is  the  present 
principal. 

The  Misses  Hebb,  in  1880,  opened  an  English  and 
French  boarding  and  day-school  for  young  ladies  and 
girls  at  Ninth  and  West  Streets,  with  fifty-four  pupils. 
The  demand  for  admission  increased,  and  in  1886  they 
erected  a  large  and  commodious  house  expressly  for 
school  purposes  at  Franklin  Street  and  Pennsylvania 
Avenue.  Into  it  they  moved  their  school  in  1887,  when 
the  number  of  pupils  in  attendance  was  ninety-six. 

Brandy  WINE  Seminary. — ^The  Brandy  wine  Semi- 
nary was  established  by  W.  S.  McNair,  A.M.,  in  the 
Institute  Building,  September,  1878.  From  a  small 
beginning,  it  grew  to  be  one  of  the  leading  schools  in 
the  city.  The  course  of  study  commenced  with 
young  children  unable  to  read,  and  extended  to  pre- 
paring a  pupil  for  business  life  or  entrance  in  any 
clai<s  in  college.  A  kindergarten  was  annexed,  where 
children  were  trained  by  natural  methods,  applying 
the  principles  developed  by  Pestalozzi,  Froebel  and 
Grube.  Both  sexes  were  taught,  and  the  school  re- 
ceived boarding  pupils  from  New  Jersey  and  Penn- 


sylvania. In  the  management  Mr.  McNair  was 
assisted  by  Mrs.  McNair,  and  the  instruction  given 
was  of  such  an  excellent  nature  that  the  school 
enjoyed  an  enviable  reputation  for  its  thoroughness 
and  discipline.  It  was  removed  to  the  Harkness 
Building,  Tenth  and  Market  Streets,  where  after  sev- 
eral years  it  was  discontinued. 

The  Public  Schools. — The  State  Constitution  of 
1792  enjoined  upon  the  Legislature  the  duty  to  provide 
for  the  establishment  of  schools.  In  1796  an  act  was 
passed  to  form  a  school  ftind.  Nothing  effectual  was 
done  in  Wilmington  until  1829,  when  the  act  for  the 
establishment  of  free  schools  formed  the  system 
which,  with  additions  and  amendments,  is  still  in  force 
in  the  city  and  State.  Under  this  act  Wilmington  was 
divided  into  ten  school  districts.  There  was  consider- 
able opposition  to  organizing  schools  in  these  dis- 
tricts.^ 

In  two  other  districts  schools  existed  for  irregular 
periods.  In  1833  a  considerable  sum  of  dividends 
from  the  income  of  the  school  fund  standing  to  the 
credit  of  eight  of  these  districts  was  obtained.  A 
plan  was  conceived  to  unite  them  and  form  one  large 
public  school.  A  supplement  to  the  act  was  passed 
February  6, 1833.  Under  it  the  districts  from  nine  to 
eighteen,  inclusive,  were  organized  as  the  United 
School  Districts  of  New  Castle  County.  This  was  ac- 
complished October  20,  1834.  An  election  of  two 
school  commissioners  from  each  of  the  sub-districts 
was  held  November  15th.  A  school-house  was  built 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  French  and  Sixth  Streets, 
with  two  rooms,  one  for  male  and  the  other  for  fe- 
male pupils,  each  containing  one  hundred  and  twenty 
seats.  G^d  teachers  were  selected,  male  for  the 
boys*  rooms  and  female  for  the  girls'  rooms,  and 
these  schools  continued  till  1852.^  They  accom- 
plished much  good,  but  there  was  no  general  interest 
taken  in  them  from  the  fact  that  the  rooms  would 
only  accommodate  a  small  portion  of  the  school  chil- 
dren of  the  city.  At  times  there  was  stern  opposi- 
tion to  them,  but  the  public  mind  settled  to  the  con- 
viction that  the  benefit  of  public  school  instruction 
ought  to  be  extended  to  all  desiring  it.  A  meeting 
of  citizens  was  held  in  1851,  and  it  was  unanimously 
agreed  that  "  the  city  needed  a  better  system  of 
Schools,"  and  an  act  was  passed  February  9,  1862, 


1  In  ISSO  Bei^amin  Webb,  Eli  Hollingsworth  and  Jonas  Pony  w«re 
choaen  a  committee  to  secure  a  teacher  and  open  a  **  free  school  "  in  the 
Tenth  District.  lu  November  of  the  same  year  the  Eleventh  District 
was  united  with  it  in  the  support  of  a  school,  and  Krastus  Edgerton 
was  appointed  teacher  of  the  boys  atone  hundred  dollars  per  quarter, 
and  Hannah  Monaghan,  teacher  of  the  girls'  department  at  seventy-five 
dollars  per  quarter.  James  Wallace,  of  Kent  County,  taught  the  boys' 
department  the  second  quarter,  and  reported  thirty  -three  pupils  in  at- 
tendance. The  girls*  school  had  forty-four  pupils.  The  Nchool  was  kept 
in  the  old  academy  building  on  Market  Street.  Jonas  Pusey  took  charge 
in  ISU.  Henry  S.  Alrichs,  Jacob  Pienon  and  £11  Hollingsworth  were 
the  school  committee  for  1832 

*  The  whole  number  of  pupils  in  the  schools  of  the  United  School  IMs- 
trict  in  1836  was  716,  of  which  372  were  boys  and  344  girls ;  217  pupils 
were  admitted  in  1838.  All  the  "common  branches'*  were  taught,  and 
some  **take  leesons  in  definitions,  Grammar  and  English  plaasica.  In 
tlie  girls*  schools  two  days  of  each  week  were  devoted  to  needle* work, 
which  was  attended  with  guod  satisfaction.*'  The  Visitiug  Committee 
were  Willard  Hall,  Thomas  Young  and  Jonas  Pusey. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


693 


establkhiDg  the  school  system  which  is  now  in  force 
in  Wilmington.  The  members  of  the  first  Board  of 
Edacation  were  Samuel  Hi  lies,  Jesse  Sharpe,  Aza- 
riah  H.  Quinby,  Robert  Carswell,  David  C.  Wilson, 
Dr.  J.  F.  Wilson,  John  H.  Stidham,  J.  Morton 
Poole,  Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw,  John  Rudolph,  Edward 
Moore  and  James  Webb.  They  met  for  organization 
in  the  City  Hall,  March  17,  1852.  Samuel  Hilles 
was  elected  president,  J.  Morton  Poole  secretary  and 
Jesse  Sharpe  treasurer.  John  Rudolph,  representing 
the  First  Ward ;  Jesse  Sharpe,  the  Second ;  Dr.  J.  F. 
Wilson,  the  Third;  and  Robert  Crane,  the  Fourth, 
were  appointed  a  committee  "to  propose  and  sub- 
mit to  a  future  meeting  of  the  Board  some  plan  for 
the  establishment,  organization  and  government  of 
the  Public  Schools  of  the  city." 

At  the  next  meeting  Samuel  Hilles  resigned  his 
position  as  a  member  of  the  board,  and  Judge  Wil- 
lard  Hall  was  elected.  School  District  No.  9 
"was  united  with  the  rest  of  the  city  of  Wilming- 
ton" April  6,  1852.  An  election  was  held  in  the 
Fifth  Ward  April  13th  following,  and  Right  Rev. 
Alfred  Lee  and  Samuel  Walker  were  chosen  mem- 
ben  of  the  board  to  represent  that  ward. 

The  second  story  of  the  building  corner  of  Tenth 
and  King  Streets,  the  office  of  the  Water  Department, 
was  granted  by  City  Council  as  a  school-room.  The 
school-building  at  French  and  Sixth  Streets  was  or- 
dered to  be  repaired.  Bishop  Lee  reported  that 
School  District  No.  9,  when  it  was  united  with  the 
City  School  District,  was  in  debt.  Messrs.  Lee,  Poole 
and  Dr.  Wilson  were  appointed  to  ''  take  charge  of 
the  new  school  in  the  Fifth  Ward." 

On  May  10, 1852,  the  building  committee  bought 
as  a  site  for  a  new  school-house  the  lots  on  Washing- 
ton Street  between  Second  and  Third,  one  each  from 
John  Menough,  and  John  and  James  Jackson.  The 
price  paid  was  seventeen  dollars  per  foot,  the  entire 
front  being  eighty-six  feet.  On  the  26th  of  May 
"  James  S.  Williams  making  the  lowest  and  best  pro- 
posal for  the  erection  of  the  school-house  on  Wash- 
ington Street,  for  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars,  a  contract  was  made  with  him." 

Under  the  act  establishing  the  schools,  City  Council 
was  allowed  to  appropriate  ten  thousand  dollars 
annually  for  school  purposes. 

William  Hilles  was  chosen  member  of  the  board. 
Oliver  H.  Bryant  was  paid  $108.15,  for  one  quarter's 
salary  as  teacher  of  boys*  school  at  Sixth  and  French 
Street ;  Mrs.  C.  G.  Hutchins,  $75  ;  Miss  E.  C. 
Holliday,  $62.50  ;  Margaret  H.  Mehaffy  and  Miss 
Lydia  P.  Bunting,  $50. 

John  H.  Stidham  resigned  on  June  24th,  and 
George  G.  Lobdell  was  elected  director  in  his 
place.  Samuel  Walker  also  resigned  at  the  next 
meeting,  and  William  F.  Torbert  was  elected.  The 
board  decided  to  call  the  school  comer  Sixth  and 
French  Streets  No.  1 ;  the  one  on  Twelfth  Street, 
in  the  Fifth  Ward,  No.  2 ;  primary  school  at  Tenth  and 
King,  No.  3;  and  Washington  Street  School,  No.  4. 


At  the  meeting  held  September  13,  1852,  on 
motion  of  Dr.  Grimshaw,  an  order  was  drawn  on  the 
city  treasurer  for  five  thousand  dollars,  "being 
money  borrowed  by  authority  of  the  Legislature  by 
City  Council  for  the  exclusive  benefit  of  the  Board 
of  Public  Education."  Wesley  Talley  was  elected 
teacher  of  Boys'  School  No.  2,  on  Twelfth  Street  be- 
tween Orange  and  Market.  October  4,1852,Bishop  Lee, 
J.  M.  Poole  and  Dr.  Wilson,  who  were  appointed  to 
purchase  school-books,  made  a  contract  with  J.  T. 
Heald  to  furnish  them  for  the  year  1852-53.  The 
estimated  co^t  for  conducting  all  of  the  schools  for 
the  year  1853  was  $8238.50. 

Owing  to  the  increasing  number  of  applications  for 
admissions  to  the  public  schools,  the  City  t/ouncil 
granted  the  building  on  Sixth  Street,  between  the 
Delaware  and  the  Washington  engine-houses,  for 
school  purposes.  This  is  now  used  by  the  receiver  of 
taxes  and  Board  of  Education.  It  was  then  called 
School  No.  5.  Miss  Mary  Bumford  was  elected  princi- 
pal teacher  of  this  school,  at  two  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars a  year,  and  Miss  Mary  B.  Simpson  assistant,  at 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  a  year.  The  latter 
requested  the  privilege  of  having  vocal  music  taught 
in  her  school,  which  was  allowed,  providing  the  board 
"  would  not  be  asked  to  pay  for  such  instructions." 
School  No.  4,  on  Washington  Street,  was  completed 
in  October,  1852,  and  Albert  G.  Webster,  then  at 
North  Dan  vers,  Massachusetts,  was  elected  principal 
teacher  of  the  boys*  department,at  seven  hundred  dol- 
lars a  year.  He  was  authorized  to  "  bring  his  assist- 
ant teacher  with  him.''  Miss  Laura Ofigood  was  elected 
principal  teacher  of  the  girls'  department,  at  three 
hundred  dollars  a  year. 

Among  the  items  of  the  committee  on  accounts  for 
1853  was  $1.40  "  for  mouse  traps  for  use  in  school- 
rooms,'' of  $12.50  for  druggets  and  $19.75  to  John 
Stein  as  "  house-keeper"  of  School- house  No.  4. 

Robert  Carswell  resigned  his  place  in  the  board 
January  25, 1853,  and  Daniel  M.  Bates  was  elected. 
Dr.  Grimshaw  offered  a  resolution,  which  was  passed, 
stating  that  "  severe  punishment  is  injurious  to  the 
manners  and  morals  of  the  children  of  the  public 
schools."  John  T.  Robinson  was  elected  secretary,  at 
a  salary  of  one  hundred  dollars  a  year.  He  was 
chosen  under  a  new  rule  and  was  not  a  member  of 
the  board.  The  second  annual  election  for  members 
of  the  board  was  held  in  March,  1853.  The  members 
chosen  were  Eli  Hilles  and  James  C.  Aiken.  J. 
Morton  Poole  was  elected  treasurer  April  11,  1853. 

Messrs.  Poole,  Webb,  Moore,  Wilson  and  E.  Hilles 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  superintend  the  erec- 
tion of  a  school-house  in  the  2d  Ward,  on  a  lot  on  the 
west  side  of  Walnut  Street  between  Third  and  Fourth. 
The  property  on  Tenth  Street,  west  of  Orange  Street, 
known  as  the  Bowling  Alley,  was  bought  for  eight 
hundred  dollars  and  fitted  up  for  a  primary  school.  A 
contract  was  entered  into  July  24th,  with  Joseph  C. 
Seeds,  for  the  erection  of  School-house  No.  6,  on 
Walnut  Street  lot,    to  seat   two  hundred  and  forty 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


scholars,  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand  two  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  Oliver  T.  Bryant  resigned  as  principal  of 
School  No.  1,  and  Jabez  M.  Lyle  was  elected  at  six 
hundred  dollars  per  annum  ;  Miss  Mary  Ann  Robin- 
son was  elected  teacher  of"  School  No.  7,  with  sixty- 
one  pupils,'*  just  opened,  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  dollars  a  year.  A  night  school  with 
seventy-nine  pupils  was  opened  on  November  18, 
1863. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Dixon  was  elected  principal  teacher 
of  School  No.  6,  at  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars. 
B.  I.  Howe  was  elected  principal  of  Boys*  School  No. 
4,  to  take  the  place  of  W.  G.  Webster,  resigned.  The 
board  allowed  Miss  Dixon  to  spend  two  months  visit- 
ing the  primary  schools  of  Philadelphia  "  for  the  pur- 
pose of  informing  herself  as  to  the  mode  of  teaching 
there," 

New  members  of  the  board  elected  for  1854  were 
George  Washington  Hayes,  Dr.  James  W.  Thomson 
and  Abraham  Staats.  D.  C.  Wilson,  G.  W.  Hayes 
and  Dr.  Grinshaw  resigned  in  June,  1854,  and  A.  H. 
Quinby,  H.  J.  H.  Naff  and  D.  M.  Bates  were  elected. 
A  normal  school  for  teachers,  to  be  held  every  Satur- 
day forenoon,  was  begun  this  year.  In  July,  William 
Travis  was  engaged  as  principal  of  Washington  Street 
School,  No.  4,  at  a  salary  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  a  year  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  as 
principal  of  the  Normal  School.  Adolphus  Brown,  of 
Maine,  was  at  the  same  time  elected  principal  of  the 
boys*  school  at  Sixth  and  French  Streets,  at  seven 
hundred  dollars  a  year. 

Leonard  E.  Wales  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
board  November,  1854,  in  place  of  John  Rudolph 
(deceased),  Edward  Betts  was  elected  in  place  of  Dr. 
Wilson  (resigned),  and  Thomas  Webb  in  place  of  Mr. 
Staats.  The  remainder  of  School  District  No.  18, 
partly  without  the  city  limits,  was  added  to  the  United 
City  District.  J.  Morton  Poole,  Eli  Hilles,  Edward 
Moore,  Edward  Betts  and  William  S.  Hilles  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  purchase  two  lots  for  new 
school-houses  and  'to  superintend  the  erection  of 
them.  They  bought  of  Enoch  Roberts  a  lot  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Fifth  and  Pine  Streets,  for  one 
thousand  dollars,  and  of  William  Torbert  a  lot  at 
northeast  corner  of  Eleventh  and  Washington  Streets 
for  seven  hundred  dollars,  now  No.  2  School.  The 
members  of  the  board  elected  in  1855  were  Allen 
Gawthrop,  Allen  M.  Robinett,  Benjamin  S.  Clark, 
Lewis  H.  Coxe  and  Joseph  Warner.  The  proposition 
of  Jacob  Jefleris  to  erect  two  school-houses  at  a  cost 
of  fourteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty  dol- 
lars, on  the  lots  recently  bought,  was  accepted,  the 
buildings  to  be  ready  by  October  15th.  One  acre  of 
land  was  bought  from  John  Connell  for  five  hundred 
dollars  as  a  site  for  a  new  school-house  in  the  First 
Ward.  Miss  Laura  A.  Osgood  was  elected  principal 
of  Washington  Street  School  No.  4,  in  place  of  Mr. 
Travis,  and  all  the  higher  grade  pupils  sent  to  Mr. 
Brown,  teacher  of  the  grammar  school  at  Sixth  and 
French  Streets.  The  Normal  School  was  discontinued. 


October  16th,  Miss  Harriet  Pike,  of  Newbury,  Ver- 
mont, was  elected  principal  of  No.  2  Primary  School, 
formed  in  the  new  school-hottse  corner  of  Eleventh 
and  Washington  Streets.  On  account  of  a  report 
that  some  teachers  did  not  read  the  Scriptures  at  the 
daily  opening  of  the  schools,  the  board  passed  a  reso- 
lution requiring  that  they  should  be  read  "  and  the 
scholars  required  to  repeat  the  Lord's  Prayer  in  con- 
cert in  a  serious  manner.*'  An  association  of  teachen 
for  mutual  improvement  was  formed  in  September, 
1866,  and  met  weekly.  A  general  examination  of  the 
scholars  in  all  the  schools  was  begun  by  a  committee 
of  the  board.  The  new  school  building  at  Fifth  and 
Pine  Streets  was  completed,  and  School  No.  7  opened 
in  it  November  6th.  The  entire  number  of  pupils  in 
the  public  schools  at  this  date  was  one  thousand  five 
hundred  and  sixty -nine.  Members  of  the  board 
elected  in  1866  were  Joseph  Richardson,  Albert 
Thatcher,  Joshua  8.  Valentine,  James  P.  Hayes,  John 
B.  Porter  and  Vincent  C.  Gilpin.  Treasurer  Poole 
reported  that  but  eight  thousand  six  hundred  and 
eighty-one  dollars  of  the  appropriation  for  1864  was 
received,  six  thousand  six  hundred  and  five  dollars  in 

1866,  and  the  amount  due  the  board  from  the  city  in 
1866  for  back  appropriations  was  three  thousand  seveo 
hundred  and  twelve  dollars.  The  Visiting  Com- 
mittee stated  that  it  was  important  to  sustain  the 
character  of  the  boys'  grammar  school,  at  Sixth  and 
French  Streets,  at  a  high  standard.  The  teachers  in 
that  school  were  Adolphus  Brown  and  Miss  Mary 
Brown,  who  displayed  superior  capacity  for  teaching. 
Miss  Brown's  salary  was  three  hundred  dollars  per 
annum.  Adolphus  Brown  resigned  July  1,  1856, 
stating  that  it  *^  is  a  matter  of  interest  to  him  to  enter 
another  business."  He  recommended  as  his  successor 
William  D.  Dowe,  of  New  Hampshire,  a  graduate  of 
Dartmouth  College,  who  was  elected.  John  A.  Lamp- 
rey, of  New  Castle,  Maine,  in  the  following  Novem- 
ber, was  elected  principal  of  this  school  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  **  Association  for  the  Mutual  Improve- 
ment of  Teachers."  On  motion  of  Dr.  Thomson, 
public  examinations  of  pupils  were  ordered  to  be  held 
semi-annually,  conducted  by  teachers  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Visiting  Committee. 

Eli  Hilles,  Azariah  H.  Quinby,  Wm.  S.  Hilles  and 
J.  P.  Hayes  were  elected  members  of  the  board  in 

1867.  Miss  Pike  resigned  as  principal  of  School  No. 
2,  went  to  her  home  in  New  Hampshire,  and  Miss  Sarah 
Brown  was  elected.  Miss  Lillias  Watson  was  principal 
of  the  girls'  grammar  school  at  Sixth  and  French 
Streets  for  several  years.  A  school-house  was  built  at 
a  cost  of  four  thousand  three  hundred  and  ten  dollars 
on  Jefferson  Street,  back  of  School  No.  4,  located  on 
Washington  Street,  and  called  No.  3. 

The  Committee  on  Examination  in  1867  reported  to 
the  board  that  *^  a  revolution  in  the  system  of  educa- 
tion in  the  city  had  taken  place  within  the  five  years 
past."  The  number  of  children  in  the  schools  had 
increased  during  that  period  from  three  hundred  to 
one  thousand  eight  hundred,  and  comfortable  school 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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boildings  had  been  erected.  The  plan  of  regular 
examlnatioDs  had  proven  to  be  very  beneficial.  The 
pupils  were  well  prepared  in  the  elementary  branches. 
The  exercises  in  spelling  and  mental  arithmetic  were 
remarkable  for  accuracy  and  promptness  and  reading 
was  well  taught. 

Willard  Hall,  president  of  the  Board  of  Public 
Education,  in  his  report  of  1859,  said  :  '*  In  School- 
boose  No.  1,  at  Sixth  and  French  Streets,  are  two 
schools,  one  for  boys  and  one  for  girls ;  in  the  former 
all  of  the  elementary  branches  and  history,  astronomy^ 
algebra,  geometry  and  philosophy  are  taught,  and  in 
the  latter  nearly  the  same  course  of  study,  together 
with  drawing.  All  the  lower  schools  are  carefully 
graded.  The  number  of  teachers  is  thirty-nine;  pupils^ 
one  thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty." 

The  board  in  1859  applied  to  City  Council  for 
funds  to  raise  school  building  No.  6  one  story  and  to 
purchase  a  lot  on  which  to  erect  a  grammar  school 
building.  The  amount  required  was  fifteen  thousand 
dollars.  The  Council  assented.  Permission  was 
asked  of  Greneral  Assembly,  and  granted,  provided  the 
expediency  of  the  loan  be  approved  by  a  majority  of 
the  Totes  of  citizens.  Upon  taking  this  vote  in  1860, 
the  persons  in  the  city  for  the  benefit  of  whose  chil- 
dren this  measure  was  proposed,  voted  it  down. 

In  1861  there  were  eight  school-houses  in  use  in  the 
city— six  of  which  were  the  property  of  the  board.  The 
aggregate  number  of  seats  in  the  school-room  were  two 
thoosand  and  seventy-two ;  number  of  pupils  in  attend- 
ance, two  thousand  and  fifty -two ;  number  of  teach- 
ers, thirty-two,  of  whom  seven  were  principals ;  cost 
for  supporting  the  schools,  twenty-four  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  thirty  dollars.  D.  M.  Johns  was  princi- 
pal of  male  department  of  the  highest  grade  school  at 
Sixth  and  French  Streets  and  Miss  Lillias  Watson 
principal  of  the  female  department. 

The  schools  were  continued  regularly  ten  months 
of  each  year,  and  grew  in  public  favor.  The  exami- 
nation of  pupils  was  conducted  by  the  teachers  and  a 
committee  of  the  Board  of  Education  until  the  ofiice 
of  city  superintendent  of  schools  was  created. 
Da?id  W.  Harlan  was  elected  the  first  superintendent, 
entering  upon  the  duties  of  the  ofiice  January  1, 1871. 
He  was  re-elected  annually  for  a  time  and  triennially 
for  the  last  four  terms,  having  filled  the  ofiice  con- 
tinually since  his  first  election  with  great  accepta- 
bility.   He  is  a  graduate  of  Oberlin  College. 

Since  1871  the  following  features  of  the  system 
have  been  added :  A  course  of  study  definite  in  its 
outlines  and  divisions,  designed  to  lay  the  foundations 
of  knowledge  well  in  the  primary  schools  and  to 
secure  in  every  grade  clear  conceptions  and  good 
training.  A  method  of  semi-annual  promoting  of 
pupils  that  is  stimulating  both  to  pupils  and  teachers, 
and,  under  which,  with  few,  if  any,  exceptions,  the 
pupils  who  ought  to  be  promoted  are  promoted. 

A  rule  allowing  the  superintendent  to  call  teachers 
together  in  such  meetings  as  often  as  he  thinks  best 


fon  consultation  and  advice  in  regard  to  methods  of 
school  work. 

A  rule  granting  teachers  time  to  visit  other  schools 
for  the  purpose  of  observing  resuhs  and  methods. 

The  establishment  of  a  training-school  in  which  all 
the  candidates  for  positions  as  teachers  who  have  not 
had  one  year's  successful  experience  are  required  to 
spend  eighty  days  in  training  and  on  trial,  under  the 
instruction  and  marking  of  a  skillful  teacher. 

A  plan  for  selecting  teachers  that  requires  every 
candidate  for  a  position,  before  her  name  is  put  on  the 
list  from  which  appointments  are  made,  to  show  by  an 
examination  that  she  is  a  good  scholar  according  to 
the  grade  of  position  she  wants,  and  by  certificates 
that  she  has  taught  successfully  one  year,  or  by  a 
term  in  the  training-school  that  she  has  skill  in  impart- 
ing knowledge  and  the  power  to  interest  and  control. 

A  civil  service  practice,  an  appointing  and  promoting 
teachers,  that  has  been  adhered  to  closely  for  ten  years, 
and  that  secures  to  each  teacher  on  the  list  of  accep- 
ted applicants  appointment  in  turn,  and  after 
appointment,  promotion  in  turn,  unless  her  unfitness 
for  promotion  is  already  established. 

The  free  text-book  system,  by  which  all  pupils  are 
supplied  with  the  needed  books  and  slating  without 
charge. 

Superintendent  Harlan,  in  a  recent  annual  report 
of  the  school,  said  : 

*'  I  gave  the  following  as  an  outlino  of  tho  inquiries  mndo  in  my  vi«it8 
of  inspection.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  a  teacher'M  classos  are  doing  well 
when  all  these  qneetious  can  be  answered  in  tho  afflnnativo  : 

••1.  Are  the  pupils  who  ought  to  be  studying  trying  quietly  to  learn 
their  lessons  ? 

*' 2.  Do  the  pupils  who  are  at  recitation  give  proper  attention  to  the 
questions,  answers  and  explanations,  and  do  they  recite  promptly  and 
in  a  way  that  shows  that  they  are  getting  clear  ideas  ? 

**  3.  Does  the  teacher  show  ability  in  explaining  the  difficult  parts  of 
the  lesson,  and  in  getting  the  pupils  to  try  to  leain  these  parts? 

**  4.  Is  the  teacher  dividing  his  attention  between  those  who  are  at 
recitation  and  those  who  are  studying,  so  as  to  keep  all  his  pupils  at  their 
proper  work  ? 

**  ft.  When  the  teacher  commands  a  thing  to  be  done,  does  he  follow 
up  his  command  and  see  that  it  is  done  ? 

"  6.  Do  the  manner  and  words  of  the  teacher  iudicatn  a  kindly  inter- 
est  in  the  success  of  his  pupils  ? 

"7.  Is  the  teacher  willing  to  do  a  fair  day's  teaching  every  school 
day?" 

Average  number  belonging  to  the  High  School  c lames 204 

Increase 16 

Average  dally  attendance  in  the  High  School  clauses 195 

Increase 13 

Whole  number  enrolled  in  the  Grammar  and  Primary  Schools 858.5 

Increase 147 

Average  number  belonging  to  the  Grammar  and  Primary  Scheols...  6600 

Decrease 79 

Average  daily  attendance  in  the  Grammar  and  Primary  Schools. 6075 

Decrease 80 

Per  cent,  of  attendance  in  all  the  schools  of  the  average  number 

belonging 90.6 

Per  cent,  of  attendance  in  the  High  School  classes  of  the  average 

number  belonging 96.6 

Per  cent,  of  attendance  in  the  Grammar  and  Primary  Schools  of  the 

average  number  belonging 90.4 

Percent,  of  attendance  in  all  the  schools  of  the  whole  number  en- 
rolled       70 

The  following  table  shows  the  increase  of  school 
attendance  during  the  last  fifteen  years : 

Average 

For  the  year  ending  Number  of       attendance  Whole  num- 

Jnly  31st.  teachers.  of  pupils.  her  belonging. 

1873 82  rwr>5  5920 

1874 90  3566  6776 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


1876 98  3505  6033   » 

1876 97  3720  6947 

1877 106  4158  6687 

1878 110  44;J5  6831 

1870 Hi  4387  6802 

1880 113  44/7  6963 

1881 lift  4:i85  7W^ 

1882 117  46(10  7123 

1883 I.i2  6197  7675 

1884 155  5718  8Z69 

1885 161  5974  8718 

1886 162  6237  8677 

1887 167  6170  8814 

The  High  School  building,  at  Eighth  and  Adams 
Streets,  was  erected  in  1884-85.  On  the  11th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1883,  the  following  committee  to  select  a  site  for  the 
building  was  appointed :  Dr.T.  A.  Keables,  Dr.  Read  J. 
McKay,  J.  H.  HoflTecker,  B.  R.  Heisler  and  Jacob 
Pusey.  February  25th  the  committee  purchased  the 
lot  for  eight  thousand  dollars  of  J.  C.  Patterson.  On 
May  12th  the  committee  was  re-appointed,  with  the 


THE  WILMINGTON   HIGH-SCHOOL. 

substitution  ot  William  Stilley  in  place  of  Dr.  Read 
J.  McKay,  whose  term  had  expired  as  a  member  of 
the  board.  S.  J.  Willey  was  added  to  the  commit- 
tee in  place  of  Jacob  Pusey,  who  resigned. 

The  plans  of  E.  L.  Rice,  Jr.,  were  adopted  Octo- 
ber 16,  1884.  J.  R.  D.  Seeds  &  Sons  contracted  to 
erect  the  buildings  for  fifty-two  thousand  nine  hun- 
dred dollars. 

On  December  11th  the  corner-stone  was  laid  by 
Charles  Baird,  the  president  of  the  board.  The  other 
members  present  were  Messrs.  Allen,  Dunn,  Fuekel, 
Hanson,  Heisler,  Hoffecker,  Keables,  S.  R.  Smith, 
Beaton  Smith,  Stilley,  Trump,  Willey  and  West. 
The  furnishing  of  the  building  was  completed  the 
4th  of  January,  1886,  and  occupied  by  the  school 
January  11, 1886. 

The  cost  of  the  ground,  building  and  furnishings 
was  $70,514.88.  This  is  one  of  the  finest  school 
buildings  in  this  country  and  one  which  the  citi- 
zens of  Wilmington  may  feel  proud  to  own. 

The  Boys'  High  School  grew  out  of  the  Boys' 


Grammar  School  in  1871.  The  following  is  a  list  of  it8 
principals,  all  of  whom  took  the  position  in  September 
of  the  years  named,  exceptOharlesD.  Raine,who  was 
elected  in  January  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
resignation  of  Stansbury  J.  Willey, — 

Loring  H.  Barnum 1871 

Albert  F.  Teiiuey 1872 

StanBbury  J.  Willey 1873 

Charlea  D.  Ralne 1882 

WilliHm  W.  Birdsall IH82 

Thomas  L.  Graham iHSo 

Mr.  Graham,  the  present  principal,  is  a  graduate  of 
the  College  of  New  Jersey,  at  Princeton. 

Prof.  S.  J.  Willey,  Ph.B.,  who  was  for  many  yeard 
principal  of  the  Wilmington  High  School,  was  born 
on  the  farm  of  his  father,  in  Sussex  County,  Delaware, 
March  19,  1845.  His  parents,  Robert  A.  and  Mary 
M.  Willey,  gave  their  attention  and  energies  to  the 
usual  duties  of  farm  life. 

His  early  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home.  Afterwards  he 
attended  Newark  Academy,  Newark,  Delaware ;  Crit- 
tenden's Commercial  College,  Philadelphia;  and 
Boylston  Hall  of  Harvard  College.  His  honorary  de- 
jrree  of  Ph.B.  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Delaware 
College. 

Mr.  Willey  taught  for  a  time  at  Public  School  No. 
20,  in  Christiana  Hundred,  and  after  acceptable  ser- 
vice there  he  became  an  assistant  teacher  in  the  High 
School  of  Prof.  William  A.  Reynolds,  in  Wilmington, 
and  filled  this  position  with  credit  to  himself  and  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  principal.  While  in  this  latter 
position  he  was  elected  principal  of  the  Wilmington 
High  School.  After  seven  years  of  service  in  thi3 
capacity,  he  resigned  the  place  to  take  the  position  he 
now  holds  in  the  Dental  Manufacturing  Company,  of 
Wilmington.  Profe8.sor  Willey  was  for  four  years  a 
valuable  and  esteemed  member  of  the  Board  of  Public 
K  lucatiun  of  Wilmington,  to  which  he  was  twice 
chosen  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  his  ward.  He  is 
held  in  high  esteem  by  his  fellow-citizens,  irrespec- 
tive of  creed  or  party.  Professor  Willey  is  now  the 
secretary -treasurer  of  the  Wilmington  Dental  Man- 
ufacturing Company,  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Welch 
Dental  Company,  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Willey  holds 
a  high  position  in  the  Order  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  served  for  ten  years  as  Grand  Keeper  of  Records 
and  Seals,  and  has  been  twice  chosen  Supreme  Master 
of  Exchequer.  At  the  second  election,  in  1884,  the 
choice  was  unanimous.  For  the  eleven  years  previous 
to  1884  he  served  as  Supreme  Representative  of  the 
order.  On  December  27,  1885,  he  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Moore,  daughter  of  Robert  R.  Robin- 
son, late  of  Wilmington.  He  is  an  adherent  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

The  first  class  of  girls  who  took  the  full  high  school 
course  graduated  in  1875.  The  Girls*  High  School 
grew  out  of  the  grammar  school  in  School -house  No.  1, 
and  its  beginning  properly  dates  from  the  formation 
of  this  class  in  1872.  The  Girls*  High  School  has 
from   its  formation  been  under  the  charge  of  Miss 

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Mary  Miller,  one  of  the  most  efficient  of  principals, 
agisted  by  a  corps  of  capable  and  zealous  teachers. 
Nearly  all  the  teachers  now  in  the  public  schools  of 
the  city  were  educated  in  this  school,  or  in  the  gram- 
mar school,  out  of  which  it  grew;  and  sixty-one  of 
them  are  graduates  of  the  full  High  School  course. 

The  Training  School  was  started  in  school  No.  9  in 
1876,  under  the  principalship  of  Miss  Elizabeth  D. 
Fraser.  In  1881  Miss  Fraser  resigned  and  Miss 
Mary  C.  I.  Williams  succeeded  her.  Eighty-one  of 
the  teachers  now  in  the  public  schools  of  the  city, 
after  leaving  the  High  School,  took  the  course  in 
methods  in  this  school.  While  a  larger  course  of 
study,  and  one  including  psychology  and  the  science 
of  teaching,  would  be  better  for  the  preparation  of 
teachers  than  the  present  course,  the  thorough  teach- 
ing done  in  the  High  School,  and  the  insight  into 
methods  given  in  the  Training  School  have  been  ud- 
obtrusive  but  potent  factors  in  the  production  of  the 
excellent  corps  of  teachers  now  in  the  public  schools 
of  the  city. 

School  Buildings.— School-house  No.  1  was  the 
High  School  building  from  1871  to  1886.  It  is  three 
stories  high,  as  indicated  in  the  accompanying  illus- 
tration, and  will  accommodate  five  hundred  and  forty- 
six  pupils.  The  superintendent's  office  is  in  the 
bailding. 

School-house  No  8,  comer  Seventh  and  Spruce,  was 
built  in  1863 ;  No.  9,  comer  Eighth  and  Wollaston, 
formerly  the  Taylor  Academy  building,  was  pur- 
chased soon  afterward ;  No,  10,  corner  of  Adams  and 
Elm  Streete ;  No.  11,  corner  Ninth  and  Scott,  in  1869 ; 
No.  12,  on  Twenty-second  Street  near  Market,  in 
1869;  No.  14,  Claymont,  near  Lobdell  Street,  in 
1872;  No.  16,  at  Third  and  Harrison,  in  1874;  No.  16, 
on  Orange  between  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth,  formerly 
Howard  School,  built  by  "  Delaware  Association  for 
the  Moral  Improvement  of  Colored  People,"  is  now 
owned  by  the  Board  of  Education. 

School-house  now  called  No.  5  was  erected  in 
1876.  The  building  committee  was  Henry  Eckel, 
Allen  Ruth,  Jacob  F.  Sharp,  Lewis  Zebley  and  James 
C.  Morrow.  The  lot,  one  hundred  and  fifty  by  one 
hundred  feet,  was  bought  of  John  B.  Tatam  for  $1500. 
It  was  built  by  contract  by  James  Mitchell,  at  a  cost 
of  $11,659.  The  entire  cost  of  building,  furniture, 
land,  etc.,  was  $16,885. 

No.  18  was  built  in  1881-82.  The  committee  was 
Peter  U.  Furry,  Samuel  F.  Betts,  Edward  Mclntire, 
Dr.  N.  B.  Morrison  and  Luther  W.  Palmer.  Con- 
tractor, William  R.  Beatty,  for  $4343.  The  entire  cost 
was  $5517. 

No.  19  was  built  the  same  year  at  an  entire  cost  of 
|18,JH8.  P.  Chandler,  the  contractor,  erected  it  for 
$11,743.  The  building  committee  was  William  J. 
Morrow,  William  W.  Lobdell,  Jonathan  Hilton.  Wil- 
liam F.  Forsythe  and  Charles  Baird. 

No.  20  was  built  in  1881-82.    Building  committee — 
Allen  Ruth,  Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw,  Dr.  E.  G.  Short- 
Udgc,  William  Kyne,  Daniel  O'C.  Kenny.  Cost  of  lot, 
44i 


$3048;  F.R.  Carswell,  architect,  $250;  J.R.  D.  Seeda 
&  Son,  contractors,  $15,921.61.      Entire  cost,  $22,056. 

The  enlargement  of  School-house  No.  4  was  made 
in  1882.  Building  committee — Henry  D.  Hickman, 
B.  R.  Heisler,  Samuel  F.  Betts,  Peter  U.  Furry,  James 
H.  HefTecker,  Jr.  J.  R.  D.  Seeds  &  Son,  contractors, 
$13,349;  F.  R.  Carswell,  architect,  $250.  Entire  cost 
$15,318. 

No.  17  was  built  in  1883.  Building  committee — 
Stansbury  J.Willey,  James  J.Monaghan,  William  G. 
Grier,  W.  Scott  Vernon  and  Dr.  T.  A.  Keables.  Cost 
of  lot,  $1560;  J.  R.D.  Seeds  &  Son,  contractors,  $11,- 
176 ;  E.  L.  Rice,  Jr.,  architect,  $555.  Entire  cost, 
$14,257. 

Nob.  21  and  22  are  small  buildings. 

In  September,  1883,  M.  M.  Child,  James  Bradford 
and  J.  T.  Heald,  by  request,  visited  all  of  the  school- 
houses  of  the  city,  and  estimated  their  combined  valu- 
ation from  No.  1  to  22  and  the  new  High  School  to 
be  $398,660. 

The  Board  of  Education. — ^The  following  is  a 
complete  list  of  all  the  presidents  of  the  Board  of 
Education : 

Hon.  Wlllard  Hall „ from  1852  to  1870 

Dr.  William  R.  BaUock from  1870  to  1872 

Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw from  1872  to  1873 

Mr.  William  8.  HilleB. ftvm  1873  to  1874 

Dr.  B.  O.  Shortlidge from  1874  to  1876 

Dr.  C.  Elton  Buck ftiom  1876  to  1878 

Mr.  Henry  Bckel from  1878  to  1880 

Henry  C.  Conrad,  Esq - from  1880  to  1882 

Mr.  Gharlen  Baird „ from  1882  to  date 

The  offices  of  secretary  and  treasurer  have  been 
filled  most  of  the  time,  since  the  establishment  of  the 
school  in  1852,  by  one  person  who  is  not  a  member  of 
the  board.  The  following  have  served  in  that  posi- 
tion in  the  order  named :  J.  Morton  Poole,  John  T. 
Robinson,  William  S.  Hilles,  Wesley  Talley,  Joseph 
L.  Killgore,  William  H.  Cloward,  Henry  Morrow, 
John  S.  Grohe  and  Benjamin  E.  Bartram. 

Board  of  Education  for  1887. — William  Kyne, 
Luther  W.  Palmer,  Myers  Hayes,  William  Stuart,  J. 
P.  Theodore  Fuekel,  John  T.  Dickey,  J.  Clayton 
Ma^sey,  John  Hanson,  Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw,  S.  Rod- 
mond  Smith,  William  H.  Foulk,  Samuel  F.  Betts, 
Frank  Magaw,  Charles  Baird,  Bernard  Ddnohue, 
James  H.  Morgan,  Dr.  Sylvester  Chadwick,  Dr.  E.  G. 
Shortlidge,  Lawrence  B.  Jones,  William  G.  Grier, 
J.  Frank  Ruth,  Samuel  N.  Trump,  Alfred  Collins, 
Joseph  Pyle. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Montgomery,  daughter  of  Captain 
Hugh  Montgomery  of  Revolutionary  fame,  spent 
several  years  in  the  profession  of  teaching,  and  was 
very  successful.  She  is  best  known  to  the  people  of 
her  native  town  by  her  "  Reminiscences  of  Wilming- 
ton,"— an  entertaining  volume  of  310  pages,  first 
published  at  the  request  of  her  friends  in  1851.  This 
edition  had  a  large  sale,  and  the  work  was  re-pub- 
lished in  1872  by  Johnston  &  Bogia. 

Francis  Vincent,  whose  biographical  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  the  History  of  the  Press,  was  also 
a  diligent  student  of  the  history  of  Delaware.     Un- 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ofrtuDately  he  only  published  in  numbers  the  first 
volume  of  his  "  History  of  Delaware,"  which  shows 
great  research,  and  is  the  source  of  information  of 
much  of  the  early  history  of  the  State.    It  is  to  be 


FRANCIS  VINCENT. 

regretted  that  Mr.  Vincent's  work  did  not  receive 
sufficient  encouragement  to  enable  him  to  complete 
his  laudable  enterprise. 

Howard  Pyle,  the  author  and  artist,  who  has  been 
for  many  years  closely  identified  with  the  educational 
history  of  Delaware,  was  bom  in  Wilmington,  Dela- 
ware, March  5,  1853.  He  was  educated  at  T.  Clark- 
son  Taylor's  well-known  academy,  in  Wilmington, 
and '  studied  art  under  Van  du  Milen,  in  Phila- 
delphia, a  graduate  of  the  Art  School  of  Ant- 
werp, where  he  took  the  first  prize  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two.  The  first  literary  production  of  Mr. 
Pyle,  which  indicated  the  remarkable  talent  with 
which  he  is  gifled,  was  "The  Magic  Pill,"  a  short 
poem  or  rather  a  story  in  verse,  published  in  the  bric- 
a  brae  department  of  Scribner^s  Monthly,  He  has 
since  been  a  frequent  contributor  to  magazine  litera- 
ture. Some  of  his  most  meritorious  articles  of  this 
kind  are  the  following :  "  The  Island  of  Ponies"  and 
*•  The  Thousand  IsIca,"  which  appeared  in  Scribner^s; 
"The  Peninsular  Canaan,"  "The  Last  Revel  in 
Printz  Hall,"  "The  May  Idyl,"  "Life  in  an  Old- 
Time  Quaker  Town,"  "Stephen  Wycherly,"  "The 
Buccaneers  and  the  Mariners,"  in  Harper^s  Magazine, 
His  fairy  tales,  running  for  three  years  through  Har- 
per's Young  People,  have  proven  to  be  exceedingly  in- 
teresting to  children.  They  have  gained  him  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  popular  writers 
for  the  young  in  this  country.  "Robin  Hood,"  the 
first  book  from  his  fertile  brain,  brim-full  of  charac- 
teristic illustrations  of  his  own  designing,  has  passed 
through  several  editions  and  has  had  a  very  large 
sale.  "  Within  the  Capes,"  a  story  whose  scenes  and 
incidents  are  laid  in  his  native  State,  is  charmingly 
written.  "  Pepper  and  Salt,"  his  next  work,  appeared 
in  1884.  It  was  the  quaintest  and  most  entertaining 
fairy  book  of  the  season  and  profusely  illustrated  by 
himself.  "  The  Wonder  Clock,"  also  a  book  for  chil- 
dren, was  published  in  1887.  It  is  a  fascinating  fairy 
story,  and 'at  once  won  great'popularity.    The  book  is 


fairly  brimming  over  with  bright  and  lively  things ;  it 
contains  twenty-four  marvelous  tales,  one  for  every 
hour  of  the  day,  embellished  with  charming  verses 
written  by  his  sister,  Miss  Catherine  Pyle.  The  illus- 
trations, one  hundred  and  sixty  in  all,  are  quaint  and 
characteristic.  "The  Rose  of  Paradise,"  his  last 
work,  with  its  appropriate  drawings,  appeared  in  De- 
cember, 1887.  It  is  a  detailed  account  of  certain 
adventures  which  happened  to  Captain  John  Mackre 
in  connection  with  the  noted  pirate  Edward  England, 
in  1720,  off  the  Island  of  Juanna,  in  the  Mozambique 
Channel. 

The  history  of  literature  in  Delaware  does  not  pre- 
sent a  stronger  representative  than  Howard  Pyle. 
His  productions  are  noted  for  purity  of  style, 
elegancy  of  diction  and  fine  rhetorical  finish.  As  a 
story- writer  he  has  endeared  himself  to  thousands  of 
children,  and  as  an  artist  and  designer  his  work  indi- 
cates remarkable  proficiency. 

Dr.  Caleb  Harlan,  of  Wilmington,  a  sketch  of  whom 
appears  in  the  medical  chapter  of  this  work,  is  the 
author  of  "The  Fate  of  Marcel,"  a  work  of  fiction; 
"The  Elflora  of  the  Susquehanna,"  a  poem;  *'Ira 
Randolph,"  a  poem ;  and  "  Mental  Power  and  Sound 
Health." 

Right  Rev.  Alfred  Lee,  late  bishop  of  the  diocese 
of  Delaware,  is  the  author  of  "  Eventful  Nights  in 
Bible  History." 

Miss  Harriet  P.  Belt,  daughter  of  Z.  James  Belt,  of 
Wilmington,  wrote  "  Marjorie  Huntingdon,"  an  inter- 
esting novel.  It  was  published  in  1884,  by  J.  B.  Lip- 
pincott  &,  Co.|  of  Philadelphia,  in  a  12mo  book  of 
882  pages.  The  same  firm,  in  1887,  published  the 
"  Mirage  of  Promise,"  another  story  written  by  Miss 
Belt. 

Gren.  James  H.  Wilson,  after  his  return  from  a  trip 
through  Asia,  wrote  a  popular  book  of  travels,  en- 
titled "  China."  It  was  issued  from  the  press  of  D. 
Appleton  &  Co.,  of  New  York. 

Miss  Margaret  Canby,  who  has  been  a  frequent  con- 
tributor to  magazine  literature,  wrote  "  Birdie,"  "  His 
Fairy  Friends,"  and  other  works,  published  by  Clax- 
ton,  Remsen  &  Haffelfinger,  of  Philadelphia. 

Benjamin  S.  Clark,  who  conducted  the  jewelry  bus- 
iness for  fifty  years  at  407  Market  Street,  Wilmington, 
was  bom  in  1817,  and  died  in  January,  1888.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Friends'  School,  comer  of  Fourth 
and  West  Streets,  and  leamed  his  trade  with  G^rge 
Jones,  whom  he  succeeded  in  business,  in  the  same 
building,  January,  1837.  Mr.  Clark  was  a  well-known 
and  very  popular  man  of  sterling  integrity,  and  hon- 
orable in  all  his  business  transactions.  He  was  elected 
city  treasurer  by  the  Whig  party  in  1852,  re-elected 
in  1864,  serving  four  years  in  that  office.  He  was  sev- 
eralyears  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the 
city,  was  a  director  in  the  Wilmington  Gas  Company 
and  in  the  Savings  Fund  Society.  He  was  well  in- 
formed in  local  history. 


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CHAPTER  XXXII. 
WILMINGTON— (Cbn«»nw«l). 
BELIOIOUS  DENOMINATIONS. 

Early  Chubghes  and  Ministers. — Among  the 
original  colony  of  Swedes  who  settled  in  Delaware 
and  built  Fort  Christina  in  1638  was  Rev.  Reorus 
Torkillus,*  who  established  religious  worship  in  the 
fort,  the  first  meeting-place  for  Christians  on  the 
Delaware,  and  there  it  was  continued  until  the 
church  at  Tinicum  was  erected  in  1646. 

Rev.  John  Campanius  came  to  Christina  February 
15,  1643,  with  Goyernor  Printz,  and  ministered  to 
the  Swedes  there  and  at  Tinicum  until  1648.  In  the 
latter  year  he  returned  to  Sweden,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Lawrence  Locke*  in  1647.  The  latter 
was  identified  with  the  congr^ations  of  Christina, 
Tinicum  and  Craine  Hoot,  and  died  in  1688. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  Council  at  New  Amstel, 
August  9,  1656,  Vice-Director  Jacquet  in  charge, 
"Mr.  Laers"  is  mentioned  as  ''a  preacher  and  an 
ecclesiastical  deputy  in  matrimonial  affairs."  In 
1660  the  Vice-Director  reports  to  the  Governor  that 
he  had  fined  the  priest,  Mr.  Laerson,  fifty  guilders 
for  marrying  a  couple  irregularly.  "  Mr.  Laers,  the 
Swedish  priest,"  in  April,  1661,  notified  the  Vice- 
Director  that  his  wife  had  eloped  with  one  Jacob 
JoDgh'  during  the  night  Laers  was  fined  heavily 
for  viijiting  Jongh's  house  and  breaking  open  his 
chest,  etc.  He  pleaded  that  he  was  looking  for  his 
wife. 

In  June,  1663,  Rev.  Abelius  Zetscoren  *  arrived  at 
^'ew  Castle,  and  received  a  call  from  the  Swedish 
congregation ;  but  Vice-Director  Beekman  wrote  that 
"Dominie  Laers  objected"  to  his  presence  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  had  to  threaten  the  dominie  with  a 
protest  before  he  could  be  persuaded  to  permit  Dom- 
inie Zetscoren  to  preach.  The  latter  was  subse- 
quently "offered  as  high  a  salary  as  Dominie  Laers 
receives;  but  they  of  New  Amstel  would  not  let 
him  go." 

A  few  years  after  the  occupancy  of  the  territory  by 
the  English,  an  insurrection  was  much  feared,  and 
one  Coningsmark,  known  as  ".The  Long  Finn,"  was 
arrested,  and  later  tried.    (Governor  Lovelace,  in  a 

1  R«v.  Torkfllos  died  at  Ghristiim  September  7, 1643,  and  hii  remalDs 
an  Mid  to  have  been  interred  in  the  fort 

^  The  minfarter  called  by  Acrelins  the  BeT.  Lawrence  Loolc  is  also 
caHed  by  him  Lawrence  Charles  Lockensius,  Lars  Lock  and  the  Rev. 
Un.  In  the  article  of  Garl  K.  S.  Springhorn,  on  History  of  Colony  of 
5«v  Sweden,  Vol.  VIII.,  pMnwybaiiia  Magaxi$u  of  Htttoryy  page  22,  he 
aeotionshlm  as  Lars  <>irl«son  Lock  and  Laurontius  Lockensius.  In 
the  translations  in  VoL  XII.,  he  is  called  the  Bey.  Laars-Laanen  Laur- 
eotiasCarotos. 

'  JoBf;h  or  Toang  was,  at  the  time  of  his  flight,  hearily  in  debt.  He 
««•  at  Buhemia  Mancir  and  Oppeqaenomen  later,  and  owned  considera- 
te property  at  l»oth  plaree.  His  name  occurs  in  Clay's  "Annals,'*  in 
ftB  oiklal  letter  dated  Wicaco,  August  10,  1684,  note  A,  Appendix,  p. 
135.  where  he  is  mentioned  as  agent  for  the  Wicacu  congregation. 

*  Acrelins  says:  **A  student,  A.  Selskoom,  came  to  the  country  and 
for  some  time  held  divine  service  at  Sand  Hook  (New  Castle) ;  then 
vest  to  New  Amsterdam,  and  received  a  call  fVom  Stuyvesant  He 
■ever  had  charge  of  any  congregation  on  the  South  Biver  as  a  regularly 
ordained  clevgyman/* 


letter  to  Captain  John  Oarr,  then  commandant  at 
New  Castle,  dated  Fort  James,  in  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 15, 1669,  says:  "I  perceive  y*  Little  Dominie' 
hath  played  y*  Trumpeter  to  thi«  disord".  I  refer  y* 
quality  of  his  punishment  to  ye  discretion." 

Dominie  Laers  continued  in  charge  of  the  Swedish 
congregation  until  after  1675,  and  his  name  appears 
May  19, 1679.  The  Swedish  congregation  at  Crane 
Hook*  endeavored  to  keep  their  services  in  the 
Swedish  language. 

Crane  Hook  Church  is  said  to  have  been  built  in 
1667,  and  probably  by  the  united  eflforts  of  the  Dutch 
congregation  and  the  Swedes.  It  was  used  for  public 
worship  until  the "  Old  Swedes'  Church "  was  built, 
in  1698,  on  the  present  site.  Rev.  Eric  Biork,  in 
a  letter  to  the  reverend  superintendent.  Dr.  Israel  Kol- 
modi,  dated  Christiana  Creek,  October  29, 1697,  after 
speaking  of  a  visit  to  Wicaco,  June  30th,  writes  :  **  We 
did  the  same  thing  on  the  2d  of  July,  to  the  lower 
congregation  at  Tran  Hook  where  they  also  have  a 
church.  On  the  11th  of  July  I,  their  unworthy  min- 
ister, clad  in  my  surplice,  delivered  my  first  discourse 
to  them  in  Jesus'  name  on  the  subject  of  the  righteous- 
ness of  the  Pharisees." ' 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Biork  at  that  time  was  preparing  for 
the  erection  of  the  church  at  Christeen,  now  known 
as  **  Old  Swedes',"  and  which  was  erected  in  1698, 
and  dedicated  Trinity  Sunday,  1699.  Mr.  Biork,  in 
the  same  letter,  writes  respecting  Tran  Hook  or  Crane 
Hook  congregation :  **  They  were  uncomfortably  situ- 
ated, the  land  which  led  to  their  church,  being  then 
overflowed  with  water,  and  yet  they  would  not  aban  - 
don  the  place  until  they  should  have  ministers  to 
whom  they  could  commit  the  work  in  which,  through 
God's  grace,  I  have  succeeded,  and  agreed  with  them 
to  fix  on  a  more  convenient  place  to  build  a  stone 
church  to  be  called  Christina  Church.  ...  In 
comparing  the  religious  situation  of  these  people,  their 
divine  service,  attention  to  the  ordinances  and  in- 
struction of  their  youth  in  the  catechism  and  other 
things  with  the  congregations  in  Sweden,  I  must  say 
that  they  are  quite  irregular.  .  .  .  This  state  of 
things  is  not  to  be  wondered  at;  for  their  ministers,^ 

*>Ir.  Femow,  in  a  note,  says :  "  Probably  Magister  Fabriclus."  This 
was  not  the  case,  however;  for  by  a  letter  shown  later,  dated  New 
York,  April  13,  1670,  Fal>riciii8  was,  at  that  time,  pastor  of  a  Lutheran 
congregation  at  that  place.  That  it  was  Dominie  Laers  is  proven  by 
the  fact  that  his  nHiue  occurs  among  those  fined  as  Confederates  of  the 
Long  Finn.  It  is  there  signed  as  "Laurens  Carolus,  Minister,"  and  he 
was  fined  600  guilders  There  were  36  confederates  who  received  fines 
from  15(K)  guilders  to  50  guilders.    His  name  appears  as  fifth  in  amount. 

«  Grane  Hook  is  the  plot  of  land  that  lies  below  the  mouth  of  Chris- 
tiana Creek,  and  upon  this  place  the  church  was  built,  close  to  the 
Delaware  Biver.  Ferris,  writing  In  1846,  says:  "A  few  years  since,  on 
a  visit  to  this  spot,  which  was  pointed  out  by  Peter  Alrich,  no  tomb- 
stone or  other  trace  of  the  grave-yard  could  be  discovered.  The  church, 
which  was  a  wooden  one,  was  entirely  gone.  The  only  vestiges  of  the 
building  were  four  large  hornblende  rocks,  which  had  served  for  cor- 
ner-stones to  raise  the  house  above  the  wtrth. . . .  The  building  and 
grave-yard  occupied  a  piece  of  ground  on  which  is  at  present  an  or- 
chard." 

7  Clay's  "  Annals,"  pp.  64-66. 

B  It  is  stated  by  the  early  writers,  Rudman,  Acrelius  and  Clay,  that  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Loch  was  at  Tinicum  from  1647  to  1688,  and  it  Is  shown  from 
the  records  here  quoted  that  the  Rev.  Laurentius  Carolus  Laers  was  in 
this  vicinity  from  1656  to  1679  and  perhaps  later.  This  minister,  one 
and  the  same,  preached  in  the  Swedish  language.  The  Rev.  Jacobus 
Fabritius  or  Fabricius  preached  to  the  Swedes  in  the  Dutch  language, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


particularly  the  last,  was  old  and  infirm  and  could 
not  pay  proper  attention  to  the  education  of  youth." 

In  the  year  1699  the  Christina  congregation  was 
thoroughly  organized,  and  Charles  Springer  was  their 
authorized  agent.  He  had  been  the  reader  in  Crane 
Hook  Church  for  some  time. 

The  property  of  the  old  church  was  sold  November 
1,  1699.  The  deed  as  quoted  by  Mr.  Ferris  is  here 
given : 

"  Articles  of  Agreement  done,  made  and  concluded  by  A  between 
Plotter  Mounsoo,  ofy«one  party,  andCharlee  Springer,  ofy*  other  party, 
witneesetb  as  followetb : 

'<Be  it  known  that  I,  Pietter  Mounson,  doe  acknowledge  that  I  have 
bought  a  certain  tract  of  Land,  namely,  100  acres,  with  all  the  con- 
veniences thereunto  belonging,  Lying  &  being  upon  Delaware  River 
Joyning  next  unto  ray  Land,  which  Tract  of  Land  did  formerly  1>eIong 
nnto  Hance  Pietterson  and  Charles  Springer  and  the  rest  of  y*  Church 
Wardens,  which  then,  at  that  time,  were  Church  Wardens,  did  buy  this 
aforesaid  Tract  of  Land  for  a  Minister  to  live  upon,  w«fc  they  did  in  the 
behalfe  of  ye  Congregation  then  y*  Cranehooks  Congregation  called. 
Butt  when  it  pleased  God  in  his  mercy,  that  when  our  Reverend  Minis- 
ter arrived,  and  the  Congregation  did  conclude  to  Build  ye  Church  upon 
Christeen,  so  was  this  Land  altogether  found  not  convenient  for  a  Minis- 
ter to  live  upon,  and  so  with  a  common  consent  for  to  be  sould.  Which 
aforesaid  Tract  of  land,  with  13 V^  acres  of  Marish  and  all  y*  conveniences 
wh  :  thereunto  doth  belong  I,  Charles  Springer,  as  Church  Warden,  A 
in  behalfe  of  y  Congregation,  doe  sell  this  uuto  Pietter  Mounson  for 
him  and  his  heirs,  for  to  have  and  to  hold  for  ever. 

"And  for  which  aforeed  Tract  of  Land  I,  Pietter  Mounson,  doe 
obledge  roe  &  my  heirs  to  pay  unto  Charles  Springer  or  his  Ase*  the  full 
A  just  summ  of  Thirty-five  pounds  In  Silver  Money.  Twenty  pounds  of 
Silver  Money  to  be  paid  at  the  21  of  Novemb^,  at  which  day  Charles 
Springer  doth  obledge  himself  to  make  this  aforesaid  Land  over  to 
Pietter  Mounson,  If  It  please  the  Lord  to  permit  him  Life  and  health  ; 
and  the  other  15  pounds  the  s^  Pietter  Mounson  Is  to  pay  at  or  upon  y* 
16th  of  Sept.,  1700.    As  witnesH  our  hands  and  seals. 

"Christeen  y  Ist  of  Nov.,  1699. 

his 
"PiBTTBB  P.  Mounson, 

mark 
"Charles  Spsinokb. 

"Signed,  Sealed  and  delivered  In  y*  presence  of  Us. 

"EftlCVS  BlORK. 

"  Minbter  of  Christeen  CongregaUon. 
his 
"  Lucas  L.  8    Stidham.'* 
mark 

Peter  Mounson,  who  bought  the  church  property, 
was  one  of  the  early  Swedes,  who  settled  on  Vertrecht 
Hook.  He,  with  others,  received  a  patent  for  seven 
hundred  acres  in  1675. 

After  the  purchase  the  church  gradually  went  to 
decay;  the  grave-yard  was  used  a  few  years  later, 
and  finally  given  up,  and  at  present  no  trace  of  it  re- 
mains. 

When  the  Dutch  recaptured  Fort  Casimir  from  the 
Swedes,  in  1655,  Jean  Paul  Jacquet  was  sent  to  the 
colony  as  Vice-Director,  and,  in  taking  the  oath  of 
office,  pledged  himself  to  "  maintain  and  advance  as 
much  as  I  can  the  Reformed  religion  as  the  same  is 
taught  and  preached  here  and  in  the  Fatherland, 
conform  to  God's  word  and  the  Synod  of  Dortrecht  ;*' 
but  it  does  not  appear  that  in  laying  out  the  town  of 
New  Castle,  after  his  arrival,  he  made  any  provision 
for  a  church  or  place  of  worship ;  nor  was  there  any 
minister  among  the  Dutch  at  this  time.  Subsequent- 
ly, in  April,  1657,  the  West  India  Company  promised 
to  send  a  minister  to  the  colony.  They  referred  to 
Rev.  Mr.  Wei  ins,  who  came,  and  was  at  New  Amstel 
and  Altena  until  his  death,  December  9, 1659.^ 

which  was  but  little  understood  by  them,  and  not  acceptable.    He  was 
at  New  Castle  and  Wicaco  from  1670  to  about  1693 
1  H*.iv.  J.  B.  Spotswood,  in  his  history  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 


After  Mr.  Welins'  death,  Vice-Director  Beekman, 
of  Altena,  referred  in  a  letter  to  one  Jan  Jorien 
Becker,"  "who  does  not  perform  any  other  service 
here  than  to  read  aloud  on  Sundays,  which  I  can 
have  done  by  the  sergeant  or  any  other." 

From  the  time  of  Rev.  Welins'  death  until  Jun**  6, 
1663,  there  was  no  regular  minister  among  the  Dutch 
colonists'  and  this  was  the  cause  of  a  number  of 
appeals  from  Vice-Director  Beekman  to  his  superior. 
On  one  occasion  he  wrote  that  there  were  several 
children  in  the  colony  to  baptize,  and,  at  another 
time,  that  the  Lord's  Supper  had  not  been  adminis- 
istered  for  two  and  a  half  years.  During  the  interval 
Rev.  ^gidius  Luyck  did  visit  the  colony  and  preach, 
but  did  not  perform  any  other  ministerial  ftinctions. 
On  June  6,1663,  Mr.  Beekman  writes :  "Until  to-day  no 
chance  has  offered  itself  to  speak  with  the  Swedish  or 
Lutheran  Dominie."  He  referred  to  the  Rev.  Zet»c*o- 
ren,  mentioned  among  the  early  Swedish  preachers. 

No  further  information  concerning  church  affairs 
is  obtained  until  1670,  except  that  among  the  priri- 
leges  granted  by  the  English  to  the  Dutch  upon  their 
occupation  in  1664,  it  was  provided  "That  all  people 
shall  enjoy  the  liberty  of  their  consciences  in  church 
discipline  as  formerly." 

On  the  13th  April,  1670,  Governor  Lovelace,  writ- 
ing from  Fort  James,  in  New  York,  to  Captain  John 
Carr,  commandant  at  New  Castle,  says:  "Upon  ye 
request  of  Magister  Jacobus  Fabricius,  pastor  of  ye 
Lutheran  confession,  commonly  called  ye  Augustan, 
who,  by  the  Duke's  Lycense  hath  a  Congr^ation 
here,  I  have  granted  my  Passe  to  him  and  his  wife  to 
goe  to  New  Castle  or  any  place  in  Delaware  River." 

In  1674  Rev.  Fabricius  was  tried  for  having  vio- 
lated the  law  by  marrying  Ralph  Doxey  and  Mary 
Von  Harris,  "  without  having  any  lawful  authority 
thereto,  and  without  publication  of  bans."  There 
were  present  at  the  meeting^of  the  court,  the  Governor- 
General,  Anthony  Colve,  the  honorable  councillor 
Cornells  Steenwyck,  Mr.  Comelis  von  Ruyven  and 
Secretary  Bayard,  as  associated  councillors. 

*'  The  Honorable  Fiscal  PlainUflT  ^ 

against  V 

Jacob  Fabricius,  Late  Lutheran  Preacher,  Defendant.**) 

AAer  the  recitation  of  the  facts  heretofore  stated 
the  plaintiff 

"therefore  demands  sx  qfflcio  that  Deft,  shall  be  brought  to  the  place 
where  Justice  is  usually  executed,  lie  whipped  there  severely  and  tben 
be  forever  banished  tvom  this  government.  Deft,  confesses  to  hwve 
erred  through  Ignorance,  asks  forgiveness  and  promises  to  behave  prop- 
erly in  future." 

New  Castle,  says :  "  In  the  year  of  1657  or  1658  a  Dutch  Church  was  or- 
ganized in  this  town  by  the  Rev.  John  Polhemns,  while  on  his  way 
from  Brazil  (where  the  Dutch  at  that  time  had  a  colony)  to  New  Am- 
sterd'm,  near  which  he  settled  and  died.  The  same  year  a  schoolmaster 
was  sent  from  Holland  by  the  name  of  Evert  Peterson,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  the  Rev.  Everardus  Welins  was  commis^oned  by  the  Classls  of 
Amsterdam  as  minister  of  the  church  in  New  Amstel,  where  he  ar- 
rived soon  after.  He  was  the  first  ordained  minister  of  any  denomina- 
tion in  this  town." 

*  Becker  had  been  brought  before  the  Council  several  times  for  selling 
liquor  to  the  Indians  unlawfully.  He  was  clerk  and  reader,  and  was  de- 
graded from  this  position  by  the  Fiscal  at  Amsterdam  April  12,  1660, 
fined  five  hundred  guilders  and  ordered  to  remove  from  the  colony. 
Andreas  Hudde  succeeded  him  as  clerk  and  reader. 

3  Rev.  Mr.  Spotswood  says  in  16C2  the  Rev.  Wamerus  Hadeen  was 
sent  from  Holland  to  minister  to  this  church,  and  died  on  the  i 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


701 


The  Governor-General  and  Council  of  New  Neth- 
erlands heard  the  complaint^  and  "  would  not  proceed 
against  him  in  the  most  vigorous  manner,  consider- 
ing bis  age  and  late  position,  but  they  condemn  him 
and  declare  him  incapable  to  perform  the  functions 
of  a  minister,  and  what  is  connected  with  them 
vHihin  this  province,  for  the  time  of  one  year.  After 
the  time  has  elapsed.  Deft,  shall  be  held  to  ask  for 
special  consent  before  he  shall  be  readmitted  to  the 
performance  of  said  functions." 

On  the  18th  of  April  following  Fabricius  requested, 
in  a  petition,  **That  the  sentence  against  him  should 
be  mitigated  so  far  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  bap- 
tize, if  he  may  not  preach  and  act  as  minister.''  The 
request  was  denied. 

About  this  time  efforts  were  being  made  to  divide 
this  religious  field  between  Rev.  Laers,  the  Swedish 
preacher,  and  Rev.  Fabricius,  the  Dutch  minister, 
and  in  a  petition  to  Governor  Andross,  June  1,  1676, 
one  element  presented  its  claims  as  follows : 

*  Show  with  an  reTerence  the  sabscribed  petltionere  tho  commnnity  of 
tbe  naefauigeable  Angsbnrg  GonfeMdoD,  called  the  Latbenkn,  which  has 
lU  recideiice  on  tho  Sooth  rirer  that  after  the  petitiunera  had  uddi-eesed 
an  homUe  petition  to  tbe  Right  Honorable  Oovemor  on  the  13^  of 
Maj.  1676,  together  with  a  document  drawn  up  in  Council  at  New  Castle 
oD  tbe  lo«*  of  December,  1672,  aud  presented  by  petltionera'  niiuister, 
whereby  they  divided  the  rirer  into  two  {larishee,  so  that  all  aliote 
Vmhitice  Uoek  i  is  and  shall  remain  under  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Laers,  and 
sU  below  Verdritige  Uoek  under  the  pastorate  of  Magr  Jakobus  Fabricius, 
ud  requested  and  asked  with  due  humility  that  your  Noble  Honor  would 
pirese  to  conlinn  the  action  and  the  division  for  the  sake  of  Ood*B  glory 
and  good  ofder,  the  petitionera  expected  hereupon  a  favorable  answer  and 
dedflion  and  had  hoped  to  receive  tbe  same  through  Capt.  Ed.  Kaut- 
wdl,  bat  as  the  qwedy  Journey  and  many  troubles  have  prevented  your 
Noble  Honor,  the  petitioners  do  not  know  how  to  act  and  they  come 
theiefbre  sgain  to  your  Noble  Right  Honorable  Worship  with  tlie  linm- 
bfe  request,  to  confirm  the  act  aud  the  division,  also  their  minister  Mag* 
jAkobus  Fabricius  and  to  grant  a  favorable  r^'ply  to  the  petitioners  doing 
vhkb  tfaey  remain  your  Noble  Right  Honorable  Worsliip^s  subjects  and 
atdktonwith  God. 

''The  Commnnity  of  the  Unchangeable  Confession  of  Augsburg  on 
ihf  Sooth  river  belonging  to  the  Churches  of  Swaenewyck  and  Kraen- 
ho(k. 
"*  Henrick  Jansen,  Hinrick  Fronsen, 

Heodrick  J«nsen  von  Breeman,  William  Jansen, 

Hamen  JaiMMn,  Jan  Jansen, 

PMcr  Velcker,  John  Vokmer, 

Peter  CIsaen,  Claes  Andressen, 

PMer  Willem's  Mark,  and  tfli  the  others.*' 

Cofn  Jansen, 
IVter  Manslandt, 
JanBsrenda, 
Sibrand  JauMn, 

To  this  action  some  of  the  Swedes  and  Finns  of 
Crane  Hook  Church  objected,  and  sent  to  the  Gov- 
ernor the  following  remonstrance  i 

**  La  TO  Deo  Super,  Tlie  14*^  of  August,  1675. 
*'Tbe  Swedes  and  Fins  belonging  to  the  Church  at  Crane  Hooke 
SDdemand  that  the  Dutch  Minister  Fabricius  very  unfairly  aud  without 
o«r  knowledge  .  .  .  to  the  HonU*  General  our  church,  and  the  .  .  . 
which  was  never  granted  him  by  General  Lovelace,  except  the  com- 
BtiBity  consented  to  it  and  what  reasons  could  induce  us  to  do  it,  for 
Mither  we  nor  our  wives  and  children  are  able  to  understand  him.  We 
nqocst,  therefore,  his  Honor  Capt  Cantwell  with  due  respect,  humbly 
toaA  the  HonM*  General  that  we  hold  divine  service  with  our  priest  for 
«v  edification  as  we  have  done  so  far.  If  the  Dutch  priest  desires  to 
teteh  let  him  remain  among  his  own  people  at  Swanewyck  and  pi  each 
brfwe  the  Dutch. 

**  Hemdricksbm  Lkmmks. 
'  Ai  deacons  of  tbe  church,— 
*'  Olle  Fome. 
Jan  Matson. 
Samuel  Peetersen. 
Moos  Ptiuwelsen. 
The  rest  of  the  congregation.** 


^  The  Verdritige  Hook  was  the  land  lying  on  the  east  bwnk  of  Chris- 


An  order  passed  the  Council  at  New  Castle,  June 
4, 1676,  for  the  construction  of  two  dykes  which  did 
not  meet  the  approbation  of  many  of  the  people  and 
much  disturbance  arose.  John  Ogle  and  Magister 
Jacobus  Fabricius  were  leaders  of  the  movement,  and 
Captain  Cantwell,  high  sheriff,  was  compelled  to  ar- 
rest them  both.  The  magistrates  in  their  declaration 
concerning  it  said,  "  The  priest  wa-*  very  angry  on 
the  way  to  the  boat,  and  when  Capt.  Cantwell  wanted 
to  take  him  by  the  arm  he  swore  and  scolded,  saying, 
*  may  the  Devil  take  you  if  you  touch  me.* "  The 
two  men  were  soon  released,  but  afterwards  rearrested 
and  ordered  to  New  York  for  trial  by  warrant  dated 
July  20,  1675.  Fabricius  appeared  at  the  place  at 
the  time  appointed,  and  on  September  15, 1675,  it 
was  "  Ordered  that  ye  said  Magister  Fabricius,  in  re- 
gard of  his  being  guilty  of  what  is  layd  to  his  charge 
and  his  former  irregular  life  and  conversation,  be  sus- 
pended from  exei'ciiting  his  functions  as  a  Minister  or 
preaching  any  more  within  this  government,  either 
in  publique  or  private."  To  this  sentence  he  peti- 
tioned the  Governor  Edmund  Andros  for  relief,  and 
probably  favorably,  as  he  was  preaching  in  later 
years.* 

In  1676  and  early  in  1677,  Amillius  de  Bingh  was 
reader  in  the  church,  and  collected  the  fees  for  his 
maintenance  through  the  court.  In  1678  Dominie 
Petrus  Teschemacker  came  to  New  Castle,  and  in 
1679  petitioned  the  court  for  a  lot  on  which  to  build 
a  house  aud  make  a  garden,  which  request  was 
granted;  and  the  same  court,  June  3,  1679,  gave  him 
**  an  order  against  the  estate  of  Walter  Wharton,  de- 
ceased, for  50  fi^ilders,  for  his  preaching  the  funeral 
sermon  of  the  s**  Wharton." 

At  a  council  held  in  New  York  September  30, 
1679,  the  following  action  was  taken :  "  Upon  appli- 
cation of  the  inhabitants  of  New  Castle,  an  order  to 
bee  given  to  minist"  or  any  8  of  them  to  examine 
Peter  Tetschemacker,  &  if  they  shall  find  him  fitly 
qualified,  then  to  ordain e  him  to  bee  a  minister  of 
God's  holv  word,  &  to  administer  the  Sacraments,  as 
is  usuall  in  the  protestant  or  Reformed  churches." 

On  March  2, 1680,  Dominie  Petrus  Teschemacker 
asked  of  the  court  an  order  for  salary,  against  the 
estate  of  Ralph  Hutchinson,  as  he  was  a  signer  for 
his  maintenance.  This  was  also  granted.  He  re- 
mained in  charge  a  year  or  two  1  mger,  and  removed 
to  Schenectady,  New  York.' 

tiana  Creek,  and  extending  up  the  river ;  its  inland  boundary  was  Shell* 
pot  Creek. 

*  Clay's  "Annals,*'  page  37,  and  in  notes  A  and  B,  pages  135-137, 
says  that  in  1077  the  Swedes  at  Wicaco  applied  for  Jacob  Fabritlus,  then 
at  New  York,  to  become  their  pastor,  and  that  he  accepted  and  preached 
his  first  sermon  on  Trinity  Sunday,  1677 ;  and  that  he  preached  there 
fourteen  years,  the  last  nine  of  which  he  whs  entirely  blind. 

'  In  Jnspar  Danken.'  and  Peter  Sluyten*'  Journal,  publbhed  by  the 
Long  Island  Historical  Society,  p.  22,  is  found  this  reference  to  Domi- 
nie "Tessemaker:**  We  had  an  opportunity  to-day  to  hear  Dominie 
Tfssemaker,  which  we  "did,  but  never  heard  worse  preaching.  ...  He 
is  a  man  who  wishes  to  effect  some  etabliM»«meni  or  reform  liere,  but  he 
will  not  accomplish  much  in  that  respect,  hm  he  liafl  not  only  no  grace 
therefor,  but  there  seems  to  be  something  in  his  life  which  will  hereaf- 
ter manifest  itself  more.  For  the  present  we  can  say  with  truth  that  he 
is  a  perfect  wordling.**  Dominie  Tesaemaker  accepted'  a  call  tu  S('lie> 
nectady  in  1682,  and  was  a  victim  of  the  French  and  Indian  nuasacre  in 


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702 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Rev.  Mr.  Spotswood  aays  that  in  1684  a  French 
clergymaD  resided  at  New  Castle,  of  whom  nothing 
was  known,  and  that  in  that  year  the  Classis  of  Am- 
sterdam sent  a  pastoral  letter  to  the  church  at  New 
Amstel,  in  which  they  deplore  the  condition  of  the 
church.  Wm.  Penn,  in  a  letter  dated  1683,  said : 
"  The  Dutch  have  a  meeting-place  for  worship  at  New 
CaHtle."  The  territory  down  to  the  Horekill  was 
purchased  by  the  West  India  Company  in  1658.  No 
mention  is  made  of  a  minister  for  that  region,  and  as 
late  as  1675  there  were  but  forty-seven  persons  at 
'•  Sekonnei<sinck  on  Horekill ; "  and  it  was  not  until 
the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  that  any  or- 
ganized movement  for  religious  purposes  began  in 
the  lower  counties  of  the  State. 

Episcopal  Churches.*— ^o/y  Trinity  Church  (Old 
Swedes\)'-The  history  of  Trinity  Parish  begins  in  1638^ 
when  Peter  Minuit  built  a  fort  on  the  north  side  of 
Minquas  Creek,  at  a  place  called  by  the  Indians, 
Hopokahacking,  naming  it  Christina,  after  the 
reigning  Queeu  of  Sweden. 

With  him  came  the  Rev.  ReorusTorkillus  as  pastor 
of  the  colony.  For  sev^eral  years  religious  services 
were  held  in  the  fort,  and  their  churchyard  or  cem- 
etery was  on  a  hillside  in  the  rear  of  the  present 
Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity  (Old  Swedes*),  ihe  ground 
coming  just  half-way  up  the  side  of  the  church. 

In  1667,  a  timber  church  having  been  built  on  the 
south  side  of  the  creek  on  land  now  owned  by  Richard 
Jackson,  near  the  old  Alrich  house,  called  Crane 
Hook,  the  services  were  transferred  to  it,  and  a  cem- 
etery laid  out  for  the  use  of  the  people  on  that  side  of 
the  creek. 

The  Rev.  Reorus  Torkillus  died  in  Fort  Christina 
September  7, 1643.  The  Rev.  John  .Campanius  came 
over  with  Governor  Printz,  and  remained  about  six 
years.  The  Rev.  Israel  Holgh  and  the  Rev.  Lawrence 
Charles  (Lai-s  Carl)  Lokenius  were  sent  out  about  that 
lime  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Peter  came  with  one  of  the 
bands  of  colonists  soon  after.  It  is  uncertain  when 
Pastors  Holgh  and  Peter  returned  to  Sweden,  but  the 
former  about  1655.  Pastor  Lokenius  served  the 
churches  at  Tenakong  and  Christina,  but  chiefly  the 
latter,  for  twenty-two  years,  notwithstanding  he 
became  very  infirm  in  his  latter  years,  and  died  in 
1688. 

The  Rev.  Jacob  Fabricius  was  called  from  New 
York  in  1677,  and  notwithstanding  he  became  blind 
five  years  afler,  did  the  best  he  could  for  both  churches 
until  about  1693.  After  his  complete  disability 
Charles  Christopher  Springer,  a  young  Swede  of  good 
education,  kept  up  the  services  by  prayers,  hymns  and 
reading  from  the  Postilla  (Sermons  on  the  Gospels). 
Thus  they  seem  to  have  been  destitute  of  an  ordained 
minister  for  about  four  or  five  years. 

In  1693  Springer  and  others  of  both  congregations 
sent  an  urgent  request  to  Sweden  for  two  priests  to  be 

1090.    HU  head  was  iplit  opoD  and  hia  bodjr  buraed  to  the  ahouldar 
blttdea. 
1  By  Horac«  Burr,  M.D. 


sent  over  to  them,  and  some  Bibles,  hymn-books  tod 
other  religious  works.  The  King,  Charles  XL,  after 
some  delay  occasioned  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  Queen 
Ulrica  Eleanora,  called  to  the  castle  Dr.  Jesper  Swed- 
berg,*  who  was  at  that  time  provost  of  the  cathedral 
in  Upsala,  gave  him  the  letter  to  read  and  asked  him 
what  should  be  done.  He  replied:  '*In  America, 
most  gracious  sovereign,  where  there  are  many  Swedes 
who  now  need  and  desire  ministers,  bibles,  hymn- 
books  and  various  other  works  of  devotion,  there  is  a 
good  opportunity  to  convert  the  heathen — ^yea,  and  to 
see  to  it  that  the  children  of  Sweden  do  not  become 
heathen,  as  they  dwell  among  them."  The  King 
answered:  **We  shall  find  the  means  thereto,  and 
provide  them  ministers,  Gk>d's  word  and  the  necessary 
books;  therefore  provide  suitable  ministers  for  me.'' 

Thereupon  the  doctor  suggested  that  His  Majesty 
put  the  matter  into  the  hands  of  the  prchbishop.  Dr. 
Clans  Swebilius,  which  was  done  with  the  proper  in- 
structions. The  archbishop  laid  his  instructions  be- 
fore the  Consistory,  and  after  due  deliberation,  they 
called  Andrew  Rudman,  of  Oestrichen,  candidate  for 
the  degree  of  Master  in  Philosophy,  and  it  was  left 
to  him  to  select  a  fellow-laborer.  Dr.  Swedberg  pro- 
posed Mr.  Eric  Bj6rk,  of  Westmania,  who  was  then 
in  his  house,  being  tutor  to  the  sons  of  his  brother, 
Judge  Sk6nstr6m. 

To  these  two  were  added,  by  the  King's  command, 
Mr.  Jonas  Aureen,  of  Wermeland,  whose  duty  should 
be  to  gather  information  of  the  country  and  its  inhab- 
itants, and  transmit  it  to  His  Majesty.  And  that  he 
might  do  the  more  good,  he  was  ordained  with  Mr. 
Bjork  at  Upsala,  Mr.  Rudman  having  been  ordained 
previously.  By  the  recommendation  of  the  archbish- 
op, the  King  appropriated  for  their  outfit  1300  dollars 
copper  mynt,  of  which  was  given  Mr.  Rudman 
500  dollars,  as  he  had  still  something  to  pay  for  his 
academic  degree  of  Magister,  which  was  then  confer- 
red, and  to  each  of  the  others  400  dollars. 

The  King  called  the  three  clergymen  into  his  cabi- 
net, and  told  them  to  apply  directly  to  him  for  what- 
ever they  should  need,  and  gave  a  large  number  of 
books  as  a  free  donation  from  himself,  to  be  delivered 
to  the  oflScers  of  the  churches,  among  which  were  five 
hundred  copies  of  Luther*s  Catechism,  translated  into 
the  American  Virginian  language;  and  on  all  the 
books  the  King's  initials  were  stamped  in  gold  letters. 
When  they  departed  the  King  said  to  them, — "  Go, 
now,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  the  place  to  which  I 
send  you,  and  may  He  make  your  undertaking  suc- 
cessful." 

Messrs.  Rudman  and  Bj5rk  went  on  board  ship  at 
Dalaridn,  December  4, 1696,  and  Mr.  Aureen  went  by 
land  to  Gotheborg  to  join  them  in  London.  On  the 
10th  of  October  they  arrived  in  London,  and  were 
given  a  special  pass  by  King  William  (of  Orange). 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1697,  they  went  to  sea. 
They  were  ten  weeks  at  sea,  "  landing  first  in  Vir- 

<  The  father  of  EnutDuel  Swedberg,  commouljr  called  Swedenborg. 


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gioiSf  and  then  went  up  to  Maryland,  where  the  ship 
was  bound." 

Then,  after  the  (Joyemor  of  Maryland,  Sir  Francis 
Nicholson,  had  hospitably  entertained  them  for  two 
weeks,  and  presented  them  with  twenty-six  dollars 
for  their  traveling  expenses,  they  continued  their 
journey  on  a  yacht  to  Elk  River,  where  they  arrived 
June  24th.  There  were  some  Swedes  dwelling  in  that 
place,  who  welcomed  their  countrymen  most  heartily, 
and  Rent  word  to  their  brethren  in  Pennsylvania,  who 
came  without  delay,  and  with  tears  of  joy  greeted 
their  much-longed-for  pastors,  and  conducted  them 
overland  to  their  homes. 

We  now  come  to  the  diary  of  Mr.  Bj5rk,  which  is 
so  liill  and  rich  in  incidents  that  it  is  diflBcult  to 
select  and  condense  from  it 

He  says,  July  2, 1697,  "After  I,  together  with  my 
eoUesgues,  Magister  Andrew  Budman  and  Mr.  Jonas 
Aoreen,  had  notified  the  Vice-Grovernor,  Wm.  Mark- 
ham,  of  our  arrival  at  Philadelphia,  and  shown  him 
our  passport,  with  King  Wm.'s  Royal  seal  thereon, 
giving  us  liberty  of  passage  from  England  over  to  this 
place,  dated  at  Kensington,  Nov.  22, 1696,  and  the 
Vice-Qov.  had  given  us  assurance  of  all  possible 
favor  and  assistance,  we  assembled  for  the  first  time 
in  the  Cranehook  Church,  when  I  read  to  them  the 
letters  and  commission  of  King  Charles  XI.,  of 
Sweden,  sending  us  over  here  with  the  promise  of  re- 
call, after  a  time,  and  proper  preferment  at  home,  in 
Sweden,  others  being  sent  in  our  place,  and  also  the 
King's  own  letter  to  the  congr^ations,  dated  at  Stock- 
holm, July  15th,  1696,  stating  what  books  His  Maj- 
esty had  sent  to  them,  being  a  great  many  more  than 
they  had  asked  for. 

*'Then  we  read  our  commission  from  the  Arch- 
bishop, Dr.  Glaus  Swebilius,  with  his  representation 
of  oar  duties  to  the  churches  and  theirs  to  us  as  their 
pastors. 

"As  Magister Rud man  preferred  to  remain  with  the 
church  at  Wicacoe,  I  took  up  my  residence  at  Chris- 
tina, and,  on  July  11th,  the  16th  Sunday  after  Trin- 
ity, began  in  Jesus'  name  my  first  Divine  Service  in 
Cranehook  Church." 

The  charge,  or  parish,  of  Mr.  Bj5rk  embraced  at 
that  time  the  settlement  on  both  sides  of  the  River 
Delaware,  extending,  on  the  west  side,  from  Upland 
(now  Chester)  on  the  north  to  St.  George's  on  the 
south ;  and  on  the  east  side  from  Raccoon  Creek 
(Swedesbury )  on  the  north  to  Pumpkin  Hook  (Penn's 
Neck)  on  the  south;  and  he,  with  his  assistant,  Jonas 
Aurecn — who  did  not  prove  very  reliable — the  only 
clergyman  and  his  log  church  the  only  church  for 
tU  that  region. 

He  not  only  was  the  pastor  of  the  Swedes  scat- 
taed  over  this  wide  extent  of  territory,  but  also  be- 
gin, almost  at  the  very  commencement  of  his  minis- 
try, to  preach  to  the  English  in  their  own  language, 
tnd  perform  all  needed  pastoral  offices  for  them, 
while  the  comparatively  few  Dutch  settlers  were  in- 
corporated into  the  Swedish  fold. 


To  return  to  the  diary, — he  says :  "  On  the  30th 
of  July,  agreeable  to  notice  given  on  the  26th,  we 
met  to  choose  certain  discreet  persons  from  both  sides 
of  the  River  to  act  for  the  whole  church  in  selecting 
and  agreeing  upon  a  place  where  we,  in  Jesus'  name, 
should  set  the  new  church ;  and  from  this  side  were 
chosen  Charles  Springer,  John  Numerson,  Hans  Pie- 
terpon,  Hendrick  Juassen  and  Brewer  Seneke  ;  from 
the  other  side,  Mr.  Whole  Stobey,  Stafian  Juranson, 
Jacob  Van  Dover  and  Olle  Fransen.  And  the  fixing 
of  the  site  was  earnestly  discussed,  as  some  wished  it 
to  be  Cranehook,  some  Thirdhook  and  some  Chris- 
tina; while  those  on  the  east  side  of  the  River 
feared  that  if  they  were  to  coutriWte  to  the  build- 
ing of  a  new  church  on  this  side  they  would  not 
be  helped  by  their  brethren  when  they  should  be 
numerous  enough  to  form  a  separate  church  on  the 
other  side.  But  they  on  this  side  immediately  sat- 
isfied them  by  promising  that  whenever  they  should 
become  sufficiently  numerous  to  form  a  separate 
church,  and  able  to  support  a  separate  minister  of 
the  evangelical  doctrine,  they  would  do  as  much 
for  them  as  they  now  would  do  towards  building  a 
church  on  this  side  of  the  river.  Then  those  who 
usually  cross  over  from  the  other  side  to  Sandhook 
(New  Castle),  and  come  up  on  this  side,  thought  it 
would  be  hard  for  them  to  pay  ferriage  across  the 
Christina  Creek  if  the  church  were  set  on  the  north 
side  of  it,  and,  to  content  them,  it  was  promised 
that  they  should  be  provided  with  a  new  canoe  for 
their  o^n  special  use  in  coming  to  church.  And 
so  it  was  finally  unanimously  decided  that  the 
church  should  be  at  Christina,  and  as  there  was 
not  ground  enough  in  the  cemetery  on  which  to 
set  the  building,  without  encroaching  upon  graves, 
and  also  that  it  was  too  much  of  a  side  hill,  John 
Stalcop,  of  his  own  free  will,  gave  land  enough  to 
set  the  upper  half  of  the  church  on,  and  also  20 
ft.  on  each  side  of  the  building,  and  a  church- walk 
to  the  highway.  It  was  first  decided  that  the 
church  should  be  30  ft.  long  and  12  ft.  in  height, 
and  the  walls  of  stone  3  ft.  thick,"  but  when  they 
came  to  the  final  consideration  of  the  matter  Mr. 
Bjork  says:  "Now  although  some  of  the  church 
wardens  wished  to  have  the  church  no  longer  than 
was  first  talked  of,  and  most  of  the  congr^ation 
thought  it  would  be  large  enough,  I  opposed  it  ear- 
nestly, in  the  confidence  that  God  would  help  me, 
for  I  saw  plainly  that  it  would  not  be  what  it 
ought,  and  that  we  should  so  build  that  it  would 
not  be  necessary  to  enlarge,  and  I  urged  that  our 
contract  should  be  for  a  building  60  ft.  long  and 
80  ft  broad  within  the  walls,  and  that  the  wall 
should  be  20  feet  high  and  three  ft.  thick,  up  to 
the  lower  end  of  the  windows,  and  then  two  ft. 
upwards,  and  the  contract  was  so  made. " 

The  limited  space  allotted  to  this  sketch  pre- 
cludes the  recital  of  the  interesting  details  of  con- 
struction, and  it  must  suffice  to  add  that  the  stones 
were     broken    by   the   congregation,    and    hauled. 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


mostly,  on  sleds  in  winter;  that  the  boards  were  all 
sawed  by  hand  on  a  saw-pit  and  the  naib  all 
forged  by  a  blacksmith,  and  it  was  happily  com- 
pleted and  ready  for  consecration  on  Holy  Trinity 
Sunday,  July  4,  1699. 

September  19,  1698,  there  was  a  meeting  of  the 
congregation  at  Christina  to  choose  new  church 
wardens ;  but  two  of  the  old  were  retained  for  an- 
other year  viz.:  Charles  Christopher  Springer  and  Mr. 
Wholley  Stobey,  to  whom  four  were  added,  viz.:  Hans 
Pieterson,  Brewer  Seneke,  John  Stalcop,  and  from 
the  other  side  of  the  river,  Jacob  Van  de  Ver. 

From  that  time  to  the  present  there  is  an  un- 
broken record  of  the  wards,  or,  as  they  were  after- 
wards constituted,  wardens  and  vestrymen. 

On  the  4th  Sunday  after  Easter,  1699,  the  last 
service  was  held  in  Cranehook  Church,  when  the 
pastor  says :  "  I  exhorted  the  congregation  to  renew 
their  hearts  before  God,  and  joyfully  thank  Him 
that  He  had  blessed  them  with  a  new  church. '' 

Holy  Trinity  Sunday,  July  4,  1699,  Mr.  Bjork 
says:  "God  graciously  gave  me  and  the  congrega- 
tion a  delightful  day  for  our  first  entrance  into  our 
new  church  at  Christina,  after  so  much  labour 
and  cost,  and  the  consecration  took  place  in  the 
presence  of  many  hundred  persons  of  various  relig- 
ious belief,  besides  our  own  people,  and  proceeded  as 
follows :  After  the  assembly  had  been  called  together 
by  the  ringing  of  the  bell,  my  colleague  from  the  up- 
per church,  Magister  Andrew  Rudman,  and  myself, 
clad  each  in  a  surplice  (but  not  in  a  chasuble,  as  they 
could  not  be  obtained  here),  went  in  before  the  altar, 
as  also  our  colleague,  Mr.  Jonas  Aureen,  though  he 
had  only  a  long  cloak,  with  a  cape. 
.  "  Then  Magister  Rudman  and  myself  stood  in  front 
next  to  the  altar,  and  Mr.  Aureen  before  us,  and 
we  began  thus : 

"  Mag,  Hud,,  1$L — *  Come,  let  us  praise  the  Lord 
God.' 

"  Mag,  Bud,,  2d, — A  prayer  of  his  own  composing 
that  God  will  be  graciously  pleased  with  this  house. 

**  Mr,  Aureen,  3d. — Read  Kings  1st,  the  whole 
chapter. 

''Pastor  Zocit,  4^A.— Read  the  24th  King  David's 
psalm,  the  whole. 

"  Mr.  Aureen,  5<A.— Read  from  the  New  Testament 
John  10th,  the  whole  chapter. 

"  Mr,  Aureen,  6th, — Sang  Our  Father  which  art  in 
Heaven,  etc. 

''Mag,  Bud,,  7th, — With  a  loud  and  slow  voice 
read  the  Holy  (Helig),  as  it  is  set  forth  in  the  church 
directory  for  such  an  occasion. 

''Mag,  Bud,  Sth,—'Come,  Holy  Spirit,  Lord  God, 
etc.' 

"  Then  Magister  Rudman  preached  the  consecra- 
tion sermon  from  the  pulpit,  beginning  with  Tobit, 
12th  chapter,  7th  verse.  The  counsels  and  secrets  of 
Kings  and  rulers  shall  be  conceded,  etc.,  but  the 
proper  text  was  Psalm  cxxvi.,  verse  3d :  *  The  Lord 
hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad.' 


"  And  the  Church  was  named  Holy  Trinity  Churdi. 

"ll^A. — ^Then  from  the  pulpit  he  began:  *  We 
praise  thee,  O  God,  etc'  11th. — ^Then  Magister  Rud- 
man and  I  only  went  before  the  altar  again  and  he 
sang  the  prayer  and  then  the  blessing. 

"12th, — And  then  gave  an  exhortation  to  keep 
and  reverence  this  house  as  the  house  of  Grod,  and 
thereupon  said  '  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the 
Son,  and  to  the  Holy  Ghost' 

"Pastor  Locii, — Answering.  'As  it  was  in  the 
beginning,  is  now,  and  ever  shall  be,  world  without 
end.    Amen.' 

"And  this  was  the  conclusion  of  the  proper  con- 
secration service. 

"The  Holy  Communion  was  then  celebrated  and 
administered  and  children  baptized,  closing  with  a 
sermon  by  Mr.  Aureen  and  the  customary  Psalms  and 
hymns. 

"  After  the  conclusion  of  the  services  we  gathered 
all  the  notable  strangers  in  John  Stalcop's  house  and 
entertained  them  with  food,  wine  and  beer,  and  after- 
wards  all  the  rest.  6k>vernor  Markham  was  invited 
to  be  present,  but  was  prevented  by  illness." 

The  congregation  contributed  for  this  entertain- 
ment of  their  guests  five  sheep,  two  quarters  of  veal, 
one  quarter  of  venison,  six  hundred  pounds  of  wheat 
flour,  ten  pounds  of  butter,  four  dozen  of  eggs,  six 
pounds  of  sugar,  one  turkey,  several  loaves  of  bread, 
eight  bushels  of  malt,  three  gallons  red  wine  and  a 
quantity  of  coffee,  raisins  and  hops,  and  John  Stal- 
cop's wife,  with  the  help  of  Anne  Ritman,  an  English 
woman  from  the  other  side  of  the  river,  who  was 
familiar  with  such  occasions,  made  all  necessary 
preparations. 

The  cost  of  the  church,  reckoning  all  labor  and 
gifts  at  the  ordinary  price,  was  estimated  to  be  £800, 
Pennsylvania  currency.  A  considerable  part  of  the 
money  necessary  for  the  payment  of  the  masons, 
carpenters,  etc.,  who  were  obtained  from  Philadelphia, 
was  given  by  members  of  the  congregation,  and  what 
was  needed  besides  was  borrowed  from  John  Hanson 
Stelman,  a  wealthy  Swede  at  Elk  River,  Maryland, 
on  Mr.  Bjork*s  own  recognizance,  £130  of  which  was 
paid  by  him  and  given  into  the  church  when  he 
returned  to  Sweden. 

Thus  was  completed  in  the  year  of  our  blessed 
Lord,  1699,  this  substantial  church  building  which 
shall  stand  for  ages  a  testimony  to  future  generations 
of  the  piety,  zeal  and  perseverance  of  that  humble 
servant  of  Christ,  but  really  great  man,  the  Rev. 
Eric  Bjork,  and  it  may  be  truly  said  that  of  all  the 
names  of  those  who  have  helped  to  make  our  beloved 
Commonwealth  what  it  is,  none  should  be  remembered 
with  greater  reverence  and  gratitude  than  his. 

Before  the  completion  of  the  church  the  indefatig- 
able pastor  conceived  the  project  of  securing  a  glebe 
for  the  use  of  the  ministers  of  the  parish,  and  after 
long  and  tedious  negotiations  purchased  of  John 
Stalcop  a  fiirm  of  five  hundred  acres,  on  which  now 
stands  the  greater  part  of  the  city  of  Wilmington, 


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and  which,  notwithstanding  much  of  it  was  lost  in 
after-years  by  maladministration  and  dishonesty,  has 
been  the  means  of  sustaining  and  carrying  the  church 
throogh  many  seasons  of  depression  and  weakness. 

He  also  secured  from  Jo^in  Stalcop  ground  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  church-yard,  and  no  sooner  was 
the  church  finished  than  he  stirred  up  the  congrega- 
tion to  go  forward  in  their  good  work  and  provide  for 
their  ministry  a  substantial  and  comfortable  parsonage 
house. 

A  part  of  the  money  for  the  farm  and  other  im- 
provements waB  also  borrowed  of  the  above-mentioned 
John  Hanson  Stelman,  and  gradually  repaid  by 
contributions  of  the  congregation,  except  £100  given 
in  by  Stelman  to  the  church,  he  finding  himself 
liable  to  prosecution  by  the  Maryland  authorities  for 
charging  ten  per  cent,  interest,  which  was  illegal  in 
that  colony. 

Thus  in  the  short  time  of  three  or  four  years  he 
had  laid  foundations  for  the  lasting  prosperity  of 
this  depressed  and  disheartened  community,  and  by 
his  exhortations  and  example  infused  life  and  energy 
into  his  people,  calling  them  together  often  to  lay 


OLD  SWEDES  CHURCH. 

his  plans  before  them,  and  by  his  unremitting  and 
unselfish  devotion  to  the  interest  and  welfare  of  the 
church,  gaining  their  confidence  and  stimulating 
them  to  work  earnestly  and  faithfully  for  the  common 
good. 

As  early  as  October,  1699,  a  school  was  established, 
and  with  occasional  interruptions  was  continued 
in  various  parts  of  the  parish  through  Mr.  Bjdrk's 
administration,  and  from  time  to  time  through  follow- 
ing generations  so  long  as  the  children  could  speak 
Swedish. 

As  has  been  said  above,  the  English  people  soon 
began  to  look  to  him  for  religious  instruction, 
and  he  qualified  himself  to  be  useful  to  them  by 
learning  their  language,  and  was  able  to  preach  to 
them  in  their  own  tongue  shortly  after  his  arrival  in 
the  country,  and  with  him  and  his  colleagues  b^an 
that  close  and  intimate  connection  with  the  English 
Episcopal  clergy  and  congregations  which  remained 
unbroken  for  a  century,  and  led  to  the  absorption  of 
the  Swedish  Churches  into  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
communion  when  they  had  ceased  to  understand  the 
46 


language  of  their  fathers  and  the  direct  union  with 
their  mother  church  was  dissolved.  The  Swedish 
and  English  clergy  attended  each  other's  councils, 
held  mutual  councils  of  both  communions,  and 
preached  in  each  other's  churches. 

Most  of  the  Swedish  ministers  were  allowed  certain 
stipends  for  preaching  in  vacant  English  Churches  by 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,  and 
Bishop  Swedberg  was  a  member  of  that  society.  The 
bishops  of  London,  who  had  the  oversight  of  the 
Episcopal  Churches  and  missions  in  America, 
repeatedly  recommended  the  Swedish  ministers  to  the 
kindness  and  hospitality  of  the  English,  and  the  various 
archbishops  of  Sweden  and  Bishop  Swedberg 
exhorted  the  Swedish  ministers  and  churches  to  live 
in  unity  and  friendship  with  the  English  Churches. 

Thus,  naturally,  when  the  time  came  that  English- 
speaking  preachers  and  pastors  were  necessary,  and 
the  Swedish  authorities  deemed  it  best  to  withdraw 
their  fostering  care  and  allow  the  churches  to  choose 
religious  teachers  from  this,  now  their  native 
country,  a  clergyman  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  was  chosen  in  the  place  of  those  who  returned 
to  Sweden.  Indeed,  not  all  did  return.  Mr.  Collins 
remained  rector  of  Gloria  Dei  Church  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1830,  having  several  Episcopal  minis- 
ters in  succession  as  assistants. 

There  was  no  difference  in  doctrine,  and  very  little 
in  the  manner  of  conducting  religious  services,  and 
many  in  the  outlying  districts  had  already  connected 
themselves  with  Episcopal  Churches  in  their  neighbor- 
hood, and,  as  will  be  shown  farther  on,  the  last  Swedish 
minister  of  Holy  Trinity  requested  and  received  from 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gk>spel  religious 
books  for  his  English-speaking  young  people. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1714,  Mr.  Bj5rk,  with  his  fam- 
ily, started  for  Sweden,  having  been  recalled  by  King 
Charles  XII.,  by  a  letter  written  at  Tamarlark,  near 
Adrianople,  in  Turkey,  June  23, 1713,  and  appointed 
provost  and  to  be  pastor  of  the  great  Copperburg 
Church  in  the  city  of  Fahlun,  in  Dalecartin,  where  he 
preached  till  an  old  man,  dying  in  1740,  and  from 
whence  was  sent,  in  1718,  a  beautiful  chalice  and 
paten  of  silver  given  to  the  Holy  Trinity  Church  by 
the  mining  company  of  that  city,  a  result  of  his  lov- 
ing remembrance  of  his  first  charge  here  in  the  wil- 
derness, which  communion  service  is  still  used  in  the 
churches  of  the  parish  on  all  anniversary  and  special 
occasions. 

Immediately  on  the  intended  recall  of  Mr.  Bjork 
two  other  ministers  were  selected  by  the  ecclesiastic 
authorities  and  commissioned  by  the  Royal  Council 
(the  King  being  a  fugitive  in  Turkey,  to  which  coun- 
try he  escaped  after  the  disastrous  battle  of  Pultowa 
in  Russia.)  They  were  Magister  A.  Hessellius  and  Mr. 
Abraham  Lidenius,  and  they  arrived  May  1,  1711. 
They  labored  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Bjdrk  until  the 
3d  of  May,  1712,  when  they  took  formal  charge  of 
Holy  Trinity  Church,  Mr.  Bjork  having  been  ap- 
pointed provost  of  all  the  churches  by  Bishop  Swed- 


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berg  (who  now  had  ihe  oversight  of  the  churches  in 
America),  he  serving  in  that  capacity  until  the  King 
could  be  heard  from  and  his  regular  transfer  to  the 
church  above  mentioned  be  made. 

The  Rev.  Jonas  Aureen  had  been  in  charge  of  that 
part  of  the  congregation  on  the  east  side  of  the  Dela- 
ware, under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Bjork,  for  some  time 
past,  but  had  died  in  the  previous  February,  so  it 
was  thought  best  that  Mr.  Lidenius  should  be  as- 
signed to  that  side  of  the  Delaware  and  Magister 
Thessellius  remain  at  Christiana  as  pastor,  with  the 
general  oversight  of  the  parish. 

The  people  on  the  other  side  soon  after  began  the 
erection  of  a  church  on  the  spot  where  the  present 
Penn's  Neck  Church  stands,  and  were  organized  a 
separate  church,  with  Mr.  Lidenius  for  their  pastor, 
and  as  circumstances  would  permit,  the  congregation 
fulfilled  their  promise  to  those  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  to  repay  them  as  much  as  they  had  contributed 
towards  the  building  of  Holy  Trinity,  which,  on  ac- 
count of  the  great  scarcity  of  money,  was  paid  mostly 
in  wheat. 

The  folks  at  Raccoon  Creek  having  already  built  a 
small  church,  they  were  united  under  the  same  pas- 
torate with  Penn's  Neck,  and  Holy  Trinity  Parish 
was  henceforth  confined  to  the  west  side  of  the  Dela- 
ware River. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Magister  Hessellius  the 
church  prospered,  and,  notwithstanding  the  times 
were  bard,  paid  off  their  debts  and  provided  schools 
for  their  children.  He  preached  his  last  sermon  Sep- 
tember 15,  1723,  and  soon  afcer  returned  to  Sweden, 
the  English  clergy  giving  him  a  most  hearty  testimo- 
nial for  his  zeal  in  serving  in  vacant  English  neigh- 
borhoods, and  his  brother  Samuel,  who  had  been  for 
several  years  in  the  country  serving  in  congregations 
in  Pennsylvania,  was  transferred  to  Holy  Trinity. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Hessellius  preached  his  last  ser- 
mon October  10, 1731,  and  returned  to  Sweden. 

The  English  clergy  gave  him  a  testimonial  and  re- 
commendation to  the  bishop  of  London  and  the 
Swedish  authorities,  on  account  of  his  exemplary  life 
and  his  great  service  to  the  English  people,  the  sign- 
ers of  which  were  Archibald  Cummins,  commissary ; 
George  Ross,  minister  at  New  Castle;  Richard  Back- 
house, minister  at  Chester ;  Walter  Hacket,  minister 
at  Appoquinimink ;  William  Becket,  minister  at 
Lewes. 

The  Rev.  John  Enneberg,  who  was  already  in  the 
country,  served  the  congregation  as  he  had  opportu- 
nity, and  finally  took  the  pastorate,  his  commission 
being  dated  at  Stockholm,  July  4,  1732,  and  remained 
till  1742,  when  he  returned  to  Sweden  and  the  Rev. 
Peter  Tranberg  was  transferred  from  Raccoon  and 
Penn's  Neck  to  Christina,  August  1,  1742.  Pastor 
Tranberg  died  suddenly  at  Penn's  Neck,  where  he  had 
gone  to  attend  the  fiineral  of  an  old  friend  and 
parishioner,  Nove^nber  8,  1748,  and  lies  buried  in 
front  of  the  altar  in  Holy  Trinity  Church. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Tranberg  became   known    to 


Archbishop  Benzelius  and  the  Consistory  in  May' 
1749,  and  they  immediately  transferred  the  Rev.  Is- 
rael Acrelius  (the  historian)  from  Raccoon  and  Penn's 
Neck  to  Holy  Trinity,  and  he  took  charge  of  the 
parish  in  November  following.  Acrelius  was  recalled 
to  Sweden,  and  took  his  departure  November  9, 1756. 

The  Rev.  Eric  Unander  was  transferred  from  Rac- 
coon and  Penn's  Neck  to  Christina  in  1755,  and  took 
the  pastoi-ate  by  his  own  authority,  he  being  provost, 
being  confirmed  therein  by  a  commission  from  Swe- 
den as  soon  as  it  could  be  obtained.  He  exerted 
himself  very  earnestly  to  bring  the  financial  condi- 
tion of  the  church  to  a  more  safe  and  satisfactory 
state,  and  in  order  to  legalize  titles  and  save  what  re- 
mained of  the  glebe  and  other  real  estate  from  being 
squandered  and  lost,  applied  to  Governor  William 
Denny  and  the  General  Assembly  at  New  Castle  for 
a  charter,  which  was  granted  October  27,  1759,  the 
corporate  title  being  the  Minister,  Church  Wardens 
and  Vestrymen  of  the  Swedes'  Lutheran  Church,  called 
Trinity  Church,  in  the  Boroughof  Wilmington,  which 
is  the  present  legal  title,  except  that  by  a  subseqaent 
amendment  the  word  minister  was  left  off,  Thi^  had 
long  been  a  necessity,  as  the  property,  by  bad  man- 
agement and  dishonesty  of  agents,  had  more  than 
one-half  of  it  been  lost,  and  not  being  a  body  corpor- 
ate, the  church  as  such  could  give  no  I^al  title. 

Mr.  Unander  had  leave  to  return,  brought  by  Dr. 
Weanzell  and  Magister  Andrew  Borell  in  1758,  but 
he  remained  till  July,  1760,  staying  to  finish  his 
undertakings  and  leave  all  things  in  good  order. 

Mr.  Borell  was  provost  of  the  churches  and  had 
charge  of  Holy  Trinity  until  the  arrival  of  Rev. 
Lawrence  Girelius,  October  21, 1767,  who  says  on  the 
25th  of  October  Mr.  Borell  preached  in  English,  but 
with  great  difficulty,  he  was  so  weak ;  and  this  was 
his  last  sermon,  and  the  last  time  he  was  in  the 
church  until  he  was  carried  there  and  buried,  after  a 
long  and  painful  illness,  on  the  5th  of  April,  1768. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  church,  burial  within  its 
walls  was  considered  the  highest  honor  and  tribute  of 
respect  that  could  be  shown  to  the  departed.  Mr. 
Bj5rk  relates  that  he  buried  Church- Warden  Brewer 
Seneke  under  his  own  seat,  he  being  the  first  buried  in 
the  church,  and  also  tells  us  that  he  buried  a  son, 
who  died  here,  on  the  south  side  of  the  altar,  and 
when  John  Hanson  Stelman,  of  Elk  River,  gave  up  to 
the  church  the  note  for  one  hundred  pounds,  as  a 
special  mark  of  gratitude  they  voted  him  a  place 
of  burial  on  the  main  aisle  of  the  church.  The 
floor  being  of  brick  and  stone,  a  place  waa  easily 
made  for  the  graves. 

During  the  illness  of  Provost  Borell,  Mr.  Girelius 
had  charge  of  the  congr^ation,  and  he  says,  "  I 
preached  alternate  Sundays  in  Swedish  and  English, 
with  very  good  effect,  so  that  on  the  2d  of  Easter,  I, 
assisted  by  pastor  Gk)ran8on,  administered  the  Lord's 
Supper  to  fifteen  persons,  it  being  the  first  time  the 
Holy  Communion  was  ever  celebrated  in  English  in 
this  church." 


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After  the  death  of  Mr.  Borell,  Mr.  Girelius  was  ap- 
pointed pastor,  and  in  1770  he  says,  **  I  began  to  in- 
struct  the  youth  in  the  English  catechism,  beginning 
25th  of  November,  teaching  them  every  day,  except 
Friday,  from  eleven  to  two  o'clock,  and  followed  it  up 
till  Ihe  2d  of  June,  and  at  the  same  time  distributed 
amoD^  them  small  religious  books  in  English,  pub- 
liflhed  by  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Oos- 
pel,  which  they,  by  the  request  of  Dr.  and  Provost 
Wrangell,  furnished  me,  to  give  out  wherever  I 
thooght  good  might  be  done.  I  also  sent  a  number 
of  the  books  to  the  Swedes  at  Egg  Harbor,  when 
Pastors  Goranson  and  Wicksell  visited  them.  I  es- 
pecially gave  them  the  small  book  called  '  The  Bap- 
tismal Vow  or  Covenant  Explained,'  with  directions 
to  learn  it  by  heart,  and  told  them  that  hereafter  I 
would  examine  them  yearly,  so  long  as  Grod  allows 
me  to  work  in  His  vineyard." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Girelius  was  made  provost  of  all  the 
churches  in  1770,  and  continued  in  charge  of  Trinity 
Pariah  until  1791,  at  which  time  the  Swedish  super- 
intendence was  officially  discontinued. 

Soon  after  the  departure  of  Mr.  Girelius  the  vestry 
called  the  Rev.  Joseph  Clarkson,  a  clergyman  of  the 
Episcopal  Chnrch,  who  remained  until  1799. 

December  15,  1799,  the  Eev.  William  Price  was 
engaged  at  a  salary  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
pounds  and  the  parsonage,  and  he  remained  pastor  up 
to  March  25,  1812. 

April  16, 1814,  the  vestry  agreed  to  give  the  Rev. 
William  Weeks  seven  hundred  dollars  and  the  use 
of  the  lot  by  the  church,  provided  the  congregation 
should  approve  of  him,  and  their  approval  was  voted 
at  a  meeting  on  the  19th.  Mr.  Weeks  resigned  June 
25, 1817. 

January  31,  1818,  a  committee  appointed  to  take 
the  sentiment  of  the  congregation  in  writing,  by 
their  signatures,  with  regard  to  the  call  of  the  Rev. 
Levi  Bull  to  Trinity  Church  for  the  ensuing  year,  re- 
ported that  they  had  obtained  eighty- nine  names  in 
favor  and  but  one  against,  and  it  was  resolved  that 
Mr.  J.  M.  Broom  communicate  the  intelligence  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Bull. 

Mr.  Bull  resigned  January  2, 1819,  but  served  till 
March  following.  March  2,  1819,  the  vestry  offered 
the  Rev.  Richard  D.  Hall  eight  hundred  dollars,  if 
the  ^congr^ation  approved,  and,  a  meeting  being 
called,  there  was  a  unanimous  approval.  Mr.  Hall 
resigned  December  25«  1821. 

The  Rev.  Ralph  Williston  was  called  March  30, 
1822,  the  sense  of  the  congr^ation  having  been  taken 
by  a  canvass  of  the  parish.  Mr.  Williston  left  in 
1827,  and  the  Bev.  Pierce  Connelly  was  engaged,  and 
remained  two  years,  his  salary  being  five  hundred 
dollars  and  the  rent  of  the  parsonage-house.  The 
Bev.  Isaac  Pardee  was  engaged  September  25, 1828, 
and  remained  till  1835. 

Having  erected  a  new  house  of  worship  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Fifth  and  King  Streets,  the  congregation  of 
Tiinity  Church  removed  there  at  Christmas,  1830,  and 


the  old  church  being  in  a  dilapidated  condition  the 
removal  was  permanent.  In  1836  an  effort  was  made 
to  rescue  the  venerable  building  firom  ruins,  and  a 
part  of  the  roof  was  newly  shingled  and  new  windows 
put  in  and  new  shutters  provided  for  their  protection. 
The  vestry  meeting  held  April  4,  1842,  was  adjourned 
to  meet  at  the  old  church  on  the  11th,  to  determine 
what  repairs  were  necessary,  and  a  committee  was 
then  appointed  to  make  the  repairs,  Miss  Henrietta 
Almond  having  left  by  will  seven  hundred  dollars  for 
the  renovation  of  the  interior.  August  25,  1842,  is 
the  following  minute  in  the  vestry-book : "  On  Sunday 
last  the  old  church  was  re-opened  for  occasional 
services,  when  Bishop  Lee  said  prayers  and  read  the 
lessons  and  the  Rev.  J.  W.McCullough,  Rector  of  the 
parish,  preached.'^  In  1847,  at  a  meeting  of  the  vestry, 
it  was  decided  to  hold  services  at  the  old  Trinity 
Church  every  Sunday  afternoon,  and  that  the  evening 
service  at  Fifth  and  King  be  dispensed  with.  Febru- 
ary, 1848,  it  was  resolved  that  the  offerings  at  the  old 
church  be  kept  separate  and  subject  to  the  order  of 
the  assistant  minister.  I  have  not  been  able  to  find 
the  name  of  the  assistant.  The  bell  was  re-cast  and 
it  was  ordered  that  it  be  rung  not  only  for  service  at 
the  old  church,  but  also  the  new.  April  5, 1852,  the 
Rev.  Walter  Franklin  was  chosen  assistant  minister 
to  officiate  at  old  Swedes*.  January  14,  1853,  the 
rector  was  authorized  to  procure  an  assistant  to 
officiate  at  the  old  church.  December  4,  1854, 
Alexis  I.  Du  Pont  and  George  D.  Armstrong,  who  had 
been  appointed  a  committee  to  engage  the  Rev.  J.  A. 
Spooner  as  missionary  for  the  parish,  report  that  they 
have  engaged  him  and  made  the  arrangement  that 
Mr.  Spooner  should  preach  every  Sunday  morning  at 
the  old  church  and  in  the  evening  at  the  new  house 
for  the  rector,  Mr.  Buck,  and  in  the  afternoon  Mr. 
Buck  preach  at  the  old  church  and  Mr.  Spooner  read 
the  service.    Mr.  Spooner  remained  till  1856. 

July  21, 1856,  it  was  resolved  that  the  Rev.  Stevens 
Parker  be  invited  to  become  assistant  minister  at  a 
salary  of  seven  hundred  dollars,  and  that  the  wardens 
make  all  necessary  repairs  to  the  church. 

In  September,  1857,  Alexis  I.  Du  Pont,  senior  war- 
den and  a  munificent  benefactor  of  Trinity  Parish,  died, 
and  the  church  losing  his  aid  in  support  of  Mr. 
Parker,  thought  it  necessary  to  accept  his  resignation ; 
but,  November  2,  1857,  he  was  re-elected  and  served 
at  St.  John^s  and  Old  Swedes',  in  conjunction  with 
the  rector,  Mr.  Buck.  Mr.  Parker  resigned  as  assistant 
January  4,  1859,  and  after  his  resignation  no  con- 
tinuous services  were  kept  up  till  November,  1868, 
when  the  rector  was  requested  to  engage  the  Rev. 
William  Murphy,  who  served  until  May  14,  1877. 

In  February,  1882,  Rev.  Louis  R.  Lewis  was 
engaged  as  assistant  in  care  of  the  old  church,  and 
continued  till   Easter,  1883. 

To  return  to  the  rectory  of  the  parish.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Pardee  resigned  December  25,  1834,  and  the 
Rev.  Hiram  Adams  accepted  a  call  March  3,  1835, 
and  resigned  February  22, 1838. 


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The  Rev.  John  W.  McCullough  accepted  Septem- 
ber 12, 1838,  and  resigned  March  25,  1847.  The 
Eev.  Edwin  M.  Vandeusen  accepted  May  21,  1847, 
and  resigned  October  20,  1852. 

The  Rev.  Charles  Breck  was  elected  rector  Decem- 
ber 6,  1852,  and  resigned  September,  1869.  The  Rev. 
Wm.  J.  Frost  became  rector  Jane  1st  1870  and  con- 
tinued till  April  17, 1881. 

The  Rev.  Henry  B.  Martin  was  elected  rector, 
November  9,  1881.  During  this  year  the  building 
at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  King  Streets  was  sold  by 
consent  of  the  bishop  and  standing  committee  of  the 
diocese,  and  a  lot  of  ground  purchased  at  the  comer 
of  Delaware  Avenue  and  Adams  Street,  and  on  the 
south  part  of  it  a  commodious  house  of  worship  was 
erected,  to  be  used  as  a  church  until  circumstances 
should  be  favorable  for  the  erection  of  a  larger  and 
more  appropriate  church  building  fronting  on  Dela- 
ware Avenue,  which  house  is  now  used  by  the  Trinity 
congregation  as  their  regular  place  of  worship.  The 
Rev.  Henry  B.  Martin  resigned  July  4, 1886. 

The  Rev.  H.  Ashton  Henry  was  elected  rector  Feb- 
ruary 16,  1887. 

The  present  officers  of  the  pari^  are :  Rector,  Rev. 
H.  Ashton  Henry,  pastor  of  Trinity  congregation  and 
ex-officio  president  of  the  vestry;  Assistant  Minister, 
Rev.  Jesse  Higgins,  pastor  of  Holy  Trinity  congre- 
gation; Senior  Warden,  Horace  Burr;  Junior  War- 
den, Samuel  M.  Murphy;  Vestrymen,  Victor  Du 
Pont,  Thomas  F.  Bayard,  Walter  Cummins,  William 
Davidson,  Isaac  C.  Pyle,  Edwin  T.  Canby,  John  P. 
R.  Polk,  John  M.  Harvey  and  James  Carrow  ;  Secre- 
tnry,  Walter  Cummins;  Treasurer,  Edwin  T.  Canby; 
Receiver,  John  8.  Grohe. 

Among  the  many  honored  laymen  who  have  been 
connected  with  this  old  parish  during  its  two-and-a- 
half-centuries'  existence  two  names  stand  out  as  espe- 
cially worthy  of  grateful  remembrance — Charles 
Christopher  Springer  and  Alexis  I.  Du  Pont  The 
former,  in  the  early  days  of  its  history,  was  the  trusty 
agent,  wise  counselor  and  unwearied  worker  for  its 
prosperity  from  early  youth  to  a  ripe  old  age  of  four- 
score years.  The  latter,  though  suddenly  cut  off  in 
the  prime  of  life,  had  already,  by  his  untiring  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  religion  and  his  princely  contri- 
butions towards  the  various  needs  of  the  parish,  en- 
deared himself  to  the  church ;  and  the  beautiful  and 
substantial  St.  John's  stands  a  lasting  memorial  to 
his  great-hearted  munificence,  which,  though  only  in 
embryo  at  his  untimely  death,  was  built  by  his  fam- 
ily in  accordance  with  his  wish  and  intentions. 

The  offspring  of  this  old  parish  are  St.  Andrew's, 
St.  John's,  Christ  Church  and,  through  St.  Andrew's, 
Calvary,  and  the  descendants  of  her  old  membership 
are  not  only  found  in  the  various  Episcopal  Churches 
of  the  vicinity,  but  make  up  no  inconsiderable  por- 
tion of  the  best  membership  of  the  other  religious 
communions  around  us  and  many  of  the  honored  and 
respected  citizens  of  distant  sections  of  our  country 
bear  the  name  and  proudly  trace  their  descent  from 


those  whose  dust  lies  in  the  shadow  of  this  reverend 
old  sanctuary.  Old  Swedes'  Church. 

8t,  Andrew* 9  Protestant  Epucopal  Church} — ^The  sub- 
ject of  a  new  Episcopal  Church  in  Wilmington  was 
agitated  as  early  as  1815  in  response  to  a  sentiment 
declaring  the  Old  Swedes'  Church  inconveniently 
situated  and  inaccessible.  As  &  result,  '*  the  Episcopal 
Association  of  the  borough  of  Wilmington "  was 
formed,  and  on  April  26,  1815,  John  Lynam  was  made 
chairman ;  James  M.  Broom,  secretary ;  and  John 
Rumsey,  Henry  Rice,  Dr.  John  Brinckle,  John 
Hedges  and  Francis  O'Daniel  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee and  purchased  the  Second  Baptist  Church, 
corner  King  and  Sixth  Streets,  together  with  an  ad- 
joining lot.  Work  was  begun  immediately,  but 
owing  to  the  business  depression  of  1817  the  pro- 
jected edifice  was  abandoned  and  the  lots  sold.  Rev. 
Ralph  Williston,  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  reported 
to  the  Diocesan  Convention,  June  7, 1828,  a  proba- 
bility of  a  new  church  being  commenced  during  the 
ensuing  summer,  but  this  was  not  consummated. 

Subsequently  a  movement  was  inaugurated,  re- 
sulting in  the  formation  of  a  congregation,  which, 
through  the  courtesy  of  the  ancient  Presbyterian 
congregation,  utilized  the  church  belonging  to  the 
latter,  at  the  corner  of  Market  and  Tenth  Streets, 
with  Rev.  John  Howland  Coit,  called  in  June,  1828, 
as  rector.  In  a  few  months  the  new  congregation 
considered  the  expediency  of  erecting  a  church  build- 
ing, and  on  Tuesday,  December  23, 1828,  the  "  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Episcopal  Congregation  in  the 
Borough  of  Wilmington  and  its  Vicinity  '*  met  at  Dr^ 
John  Brinckle's  residence  and  took  formal  action. 
There  were  present  Dr.  John  Brinckle,  Henry  Rice, 
Dell  Noblit,  John  B.  Lewis  and  Albert  Wilson.  Dr. 
Brinckle  was  chairman  and  Albert  Wilson  secretary. 
It  was  decided  to  purchase  the  lot  offered  by  S.  Mc- 
Clary  and  C.  Bush,  southwest  corner  Shipley  and 
Eighth  Streets,  and  to  erect  a  stone  building  forty-five 
by  fifty-five  feet.  The  stone  was  furnished  at  a 
price  considerably  under  market  rates  by  Edward 
Tatnall.  The  church  was  consecrated  October  1, 
1829,  by  Bishop  White,  of  Pennsylvania,  assisted  by  a 
number  of  clergymen  from  that  State  and  Delaware; 
Rev.  Mr.  Bedell,  of  Philadelphia,  reading  the  service 
for  the  day  and  Rev.  Dr.  Bull,  formerly  rector  of 
Trinity  Church,  preaching  the  sermon.  On  Easter 
Monday,  1830,  the  first  vestry  of  St.  Andrew's 
Church  was  elected.  The  earliest  register  contain  g 
twenty-seven  names  of  those  who  had  previously 
been  members  of  the  church  and  who  united  in 
forming  the  new  congregation.  The  first  report  of 
St.  Andrew's  Church,  1830,  signed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Coit, 
rector,  showed  that  the  membership  was  gradually  in- 
creasing and  nearly  all  the  pews  had  been  taken. 
Within  two  years  between  twenty  and  thirty  had  been 
added  to  the  communicants,  who  numbered  fifty; 
scholars  in  the  Sunday-school,  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

1  Compiled  from  a  sermon  by  Right  Rev.  Alfred  Lee,  D.D.,  at  the 
Bemi-centenDiAl  of  St.  Andrew*B  Obnrch,  Norember  12,  1879. 


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709 


Fonrteen  persons  were  received  on  the  first  confirma- 
tion, May  30,  1830,  by  Bishop  H.  U.  Onderdouk. 
The  first  deleglttes  to  the  Diocesan  Convention  were 
John  B.  Lewis  and  James  L.  Devon,  183L  In  April, 
1832,  Rev.  Mr.  Coit  resigned  the  rectorship  to  accept 
a  call  to  Plattsburg,  New  York. 

Rev.  Wm.  C.  Russell,  who  became  rector  in  Novem- 
ber, 1834,  established  the  missionary  organization,  an 
important  auxiliary,  which  has  continued  in  exist- 
ence since.  At  Easter,  1837,  Mr.  Russell  resigned  in 
consequence  of  failing  health  and  died  six  months 
later.  In  1839  a  spire  was  put  on  the  church  and 
other  improvements  were  made,  but  on  January  25, 
1840,  the  church  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
coDgr^ation  then  used  the  Hanover  Street  Presby- 
terian Church  until  October,  the  same  year,  when  a 
new  edifice,  forty-eight  by  eighty  feet,  was  com- 
pleted at  a  cost  of  eleven  thousand  dollars.  On 
October  16,  1840,  it  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Onder- 
donk,  assisted  by  Bishop  Wbittingham,  of  Maryland. 
Rev.  Alfred  Lee  assumed  temporary  charge  of  the 
parish  in  June,  1842,  and  accepted  the  rectorship  July 
80, 1843.  In  1854  the  church  was  enlarged.  In  1857 
t  mission  was  started  in  a  carriage-shop  at  Front  and 
Jnstison  Streets,  under  the  auspices  of  St.  Andrew's 
Church,  and  resulted  in  the  erection  of  Calvary 
Charch,  which  was  opened  for  service  October  20, 
1859,  and  organized  as  an  independent  parish  April 
15, 1868.  A  colored  Sunday-school  was  organized  in 
connection  with  St.  Andrew's  Church  in  1852,  and 
was  continued  until  1883. 

The  following  list  embraces  the  rectors  of  St.  An- 
drew's Church  with  their  terms  of  service :  Rev.  J. 
Rowland  Coit,  1828-32;  Rev.  John  V.  E.  Thorn, 
1832-33;  Rev.  Chaplin  S.  Hedges,  1833-34;  Rev. 
William  C.  Russell,  1834-37 ;  Rev.  William  James 
Clark,  1837-38 ;  Rev.  John  V.  E.  Thorne,  1838-39; 
Rev;  William  H.  Tr.%pwell,  1840-41 ;  Rt.  Rev.  Alfred 
Lee,  D.D.  L.L.D.,  1842-87;  and  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Murray,  1887. 

The  following  clergymen  have  served  as  assistant 
ministers:  Rev.  Samuel  Hazlehurst,  1854-55;  Rev. 
William  AlliboneNewbold,  1857-58;  Rev.  Marshall 
B.  Smith,  1858-59 ;  Rev.  George  A.  Strong,  1859-00 ; 
Rev.  N.  C.  Pridham,  1861;  Rev.  Joseph  Newton 
Malford,  1861-62 ;  Rev.  James  Leason  Hood,  1862- 
64;. Rev.  Edward  Hale,  1864-65;  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Mcllvaine,  1866-67 ;  Rev.  George  A.  Latimer,  Rev. 
Charles  W.  Williamson,  Rev.  George  Albert  Reddles, 
1868-71;  Rev.  Francis  E.  Arnold,  1871-78;  Rev. 
John  William  Kaye,  1878-81 ;  and  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Murray,  1881-87. 

The  following  gentlemen  compose  the  vestry  of  the 
church :  E.  Tatnall  Warner,  senior  warden  ;  Williard 
Thomson,  junior  warden  ;  Alfred  S.  Elliott,  secretary ; 
J.  H.  Hoffecker,  Jr.,  treasurer;  George  H.  Bates,  Al- 
fred Lee,  George  W.  Baker,  Harry  H.  Johnson,  C. 
Elton  Buck. 

St.  John's  JProieitant  Episcopal  Church} — Occasion- 

1  By  Ber.  T.  Gardiner  LItteli. 


ally,  services  were  held  in  private  houses,  in  what  was 
known  as  Brandywine  Village,  a  hamlet,  which  grtw 
up  around  the  old  grist-mills  on  both  banks  of  the 
Brandywine  Creek,  long  since  absorbed  in  the  grow- 
ing city  of  Wilmington.  About  the  year  1850  Rev. 
Charles  Breck,  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  began 
holding  services  in  the  old  district  school -house, 
standing  upon  what  is  now  known  as  Vandever  Ave- 
nue. In  August,  1855,  measures  were  taken,  through 
the  earnest  influence  of  Mr.  Alexis  Irenee  Du  Pont, 
to  organize  a  parish ;  and  to  this  end  a  meeting  was 
called  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Amor  H.  Harvey,  on  Au- 
gust 7th,  at  which  the  organization  was  completed. 
The  parish  received  the  name  of  St.  John's,  and  the 
Rev.  Charles  Breck  was  elected  rector.  On  May  8, 
1856,  the  property  of  an  old  tavern,  the  "  Green  Tree 
Inn,"  was  purchased.    No  services  were  held  during 


ST.  JOHN'S  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  WILMINGTON. 

this  year,  as  the  trustees  of  the  academy  would  not 
allow  it  to  be  used  for  religious  purposes.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1856,  a  brick  building  was  begun  for  Sunday- 
school  purposes,  and  was  first  used  for  services  De- 
cember 27th  of  that  year,  and,  every  Sunday  afternoon 
and  Wednesday  evening  thereafter  by  Messrs.  Breck 
and  his  assistant,  the  Rev.  Stevens  Parker.  A  Sun- 
day-school was  opened  January  1,  1857.  On  March 
25, 1857,  full  possession  of  the  entire  property  was 
obtained,  and  the  work  of  tearing  down  the  tavern 
begun.  On  June  4,  1857,  the  convention  of  the 
diocese  sitting  in  St.  Andrew's  Church,  attended  the 
laying  of  the  corner-stone.  The  vestry  of  St.  John's, 
lay  delegates,  clergy  and  the  bishop  passed  in  pro- 
cession in  the  order  given,  from  the  Sunday-school 
building  to  the  east  corner  of  the  tower.  The  service 
was  conducted  by  Bishop  Lee ;  addresses  being  deliv- 
ered by  the  bishop  and  Rev.  Benjamin  Franklin;  Mr. 


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HISTOFY  OF  DELAWAKjbi. 


Du  Pont  reading  the  list  of  articles  deposited  in  the 
stone.  On  August  23, 1847,  Mr.  Du  Pont  died  from 
the  eflfects  of  an  explosion  at  the  powder  mills.  The 
walls  of  the  church  were  only  a  few  feet  above  the 
ground ;  but  Mrs.  Du  Pont  labored  earnestly  and  suc- 
cessfully for  the  completion  of  her  husband's  design. 
Bev.  Stevens  Parker  was  most  assiduous,  and  did  a 
very  noble  work,  for  several  years.  A  parish  school 
was  opened  in  February,  1857.  The  church  was  con- 
secrated November  3, 1868,  on  which  day  Mr.  Breck 
resigned,  and  the  Rev.  Stevens  Parker  became  rector. 
A  guild  did  much  work  among  the  poor.  The  neigh- 
borhood was  so  rude,  that  the  services  were  often  dis- 
turbed by  noisy  men  and  boys.  Rev.  James  Ghrystal 
and  Rev.  Thomas  G.  Clemson  were,  at  different  times, 
assistants.  In  1863  Mr.  Parker  resigned,  and  Rev. 
Leigh  ton  Coleman  succeeded  him  as  rector.  A  sew- 
ing school,  night  school  and  colored  Sunday-school 
were  opened.  In  1866  Mr.  Coleman  resigned,  and 
Rev.  Thomas  Gardiner  Littell  became  rector.  In 
May  a  mission  Sunday-school  was  opened  at  the 
Augustine  paper-mill.  The  comer-stone  of  a  parish 
building  was  laid  August  15, 1885,  and  the  structure 
was  first  used  November  3d.  The  old  brick  building 
was  taken  down,  and  the  new  Sunday-school  erected 
the  same  year,  and  occupied  December  28th.  In  1886 
an  organ  chamber  was  built  on  the  north  side  of  the 
chancel,  and  a  new  organ  presented.  The  congrega- 
tion has  always  been  remarkable  for  its  zeal  and  devo- 
tion. 

Calvary  Protestant  Episcopal  Churchy  corner  ofThird 
and  Washington  Streets,  was  started  as  a  mission  of 
St.  Andrew's  Church,  and  was  fostered  by  the  clergy 
of  that  parish.  The  initial  services  were  held  in  1857 
in  a  carriage  shop,  corner  of  Front  and  Justison 
Streets,  "  a  portion  of  the  city  then  illy  supplied  with 
religious  advantages.''  From  a  small  beginning  the 
mission  grew  rapidly,  and  a  large  and  flourishing  Sun- 
day-School was  also  soon  in  operation.  As  a  result 
Calvary  Chapel  was  erected,  at  a  cost  in  excess  of  five 
thousand  dollars,  and  opened  October  20,  1859.  On 
April  15,  1868,  it  was  organized  as  an  independent 
parish,  and  the  same  year  Rev.  G«orge  A.  Latimer 
was  chosen  rector.  In  1872  a  recess  chancel  was 
added  to  the  church.  In  March,  1877,  Rev.  Mr.  Lati- 
mer resigned,  and  the  following  year  Rev.  B.  H. 
Latrobe  succeeded  him.  The  latter  resigned  in  1879, 
and  Rev.  Wm.  G.  Ware  became  rector  in  November, 
and  was  in  turn  succeeded  by  Rev.  George  W. 
Du  Bois,  D.D.,  who  continued  in  charge  until  Janu- 
ary 1,  1885.  On  May  1,  1885,  Rev.  Mr.  Latrobe  be- 
gan his  second  pastorate  and  remained  until  April  24, 
1887.  On  May  29,  1887,  Rev.  David  Howard,  of  St. 
John's  Memorial  Church,  Ashland,  Pa.,  became  rector. 
In  1887  Calvary  Church  had  one  hundred  communi- 
cants and  a  Sunday-School  membership  of  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty. 

The  Rrformed  Episcopal  Church  of  the  Covenant,  on 
Second  Street,  near  Washinsrton  Street,  Wilmington, 
was  organized  in  1878,  by  thirty  former  members  of 


Calvary  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  The  first  ser- 
vices were  held  in  Institute  Hall,  July  21, 1878,  bj 
Bishop  Fallows.  On  September  21 ,  a  vestry  was  chosen ; 
the  following  week  Rev.  J.  L.  Estlin  was  elected  rec- 
tor. Services  were  held  respectively  in  the  Unitarian 
Church,  the  Masonic  Temple  and  the  Western  Mar- 
ket House.  Subsequently  the  present  church  build- 
ing was  leased  then  purchased.  In  1881  forty  members 
withdrew  to  organize  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  of 
which  Mr.  Estlin  became  rector.  After  his  departure 
Rev.  W.  L.  White  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
supplied  the  pulpit  until  the  election  of  Rev.  W.  H. 
Barnes  as  rector.  Rev.  Charles  H.  Tucker,  the  pres- 
ent rector,  began  his  term  of  service  in  1886.  The 
church  has  a  membership  of  two  hundred  and  fifty, 
and  the  Sunday-school  numbers  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five;  D.  B.  Chapin  is  Superintendent  In 
1882,  the  Church  of  the  Covenant  purchased  a  school- 
house  at  Fifth  Avenue  and  Brown  Street,  and  organ- 
ized a  Mission  Sunday-school.  It  has  now  two  hun- 
dred scholars,  with  William  Y.  Warner,  Superin- 
tendent. ^ 

The  Reformed  Episcopal  Church  of  the  Redeemer y  at 
Eighth  and  Monroe  Streets,  Wilmington,  was  organized 
May  23,  1881,  by  about  forty  members  who  withdrew 
from  the  Church  of  the  Covenant,  succeeding  the 
resignation  of  its  rector,  Rev.  J.  L.  Estlin,  for  the 
purpose  of  founding  a  parish  in  the  northwestern  sec- 
tion of  the  city.  A  lot  belonging  to  Henry  Evans, 
improved  by  a  church  building  formerly  occupied  by 
the  West  Presbyterian  Congr^ation,  but  for  many 
years  used  as  a  carpenter-shop  by  Mr.  Evans,  was 
purchased  for  four  thousand  dollars,  and  improved  at 
a  further  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars.  Pending  re- 
pairs the  congregation.  Rev.  Mr.  Estlin,  rector, 
worshipped  at  the  residence  of  Benjamin  Elliot  on 
Shipley  Street.  When  the  church  was  finished  a  con- 
gr^ational  meeting  was  held  for  permanent  organiza- 
tion. Rev.  Mr.  Estlin  presided,  and  Isaac  W.  Hal- 
lam  was  secretary.  About  forty  persons  present  or- 
ganized as  the  Reformed  Episcopal  Church  of  the 
Redeemer,  and  elected  a  vestry  consisting  of  Isaac  W. 
Hallam,  Franklin  P.  Mason,  Robert  Roberts,  Benja- 
min Elliott,  Jno.  W.  Todd  and  Edwin  N.  Morley, 
Rev.  Mr.  Estlin  was  formally  continued  as  rector. 
The  church  has  now  a  membership  of  seventy-six, 
and  a  Sabbath-school  of  three  hundred  scholars.  The 
present  vestry  is  composed  of  Isaac  W.  Hallam. 
Jonathan  Magargle,  John  F.  Keys,  Dr.  S.  C.  Brinckie, 
Benjamin  Elliott,  Edwin  N.  Morley,  John  W.  Betelle. 

The  Society  of  Friends, — About  the  year  1682  several 
families  of  Friends  arrived  in  America,  and  settled  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Brandy  wine,  in  New  Castle  County. 
Among  them  were  Valentine  Hollingsworth,  William 
Stockdale,  Thomas  Conoway,  Adam  Sharpley,  Morgan 

1  Bishop  Cumming,  founder  of  the  Reformed  EpiscopiU  Church  ia 
the  United  StAtee,  whs  born  in  Smyrna,  grmdoated  at  Dickinson  OoUege 
and  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Lee  in  1845.  In  187:1,  while  Bishop  of 
Kentaclcj,  he  withdrew  from  the  Proteetant  Episcopal  Church,  and 
eetablished  the  Reformed  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  was  the  fint 
Bishop.    He  died  in  1876. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


711 


Druitt,  Valentine  Morgan,  Cornelius  Empson.  In 
the  year  1684  a  survey  of  nine  hundred  and  eighty- 
six  acres,  was  made  for  Valentine  Hollingsworth,  on 
Shellpot  Creek,  north  of  Wilmington,  near  the  coun- 
try »eat  of  the  late  Edward  Bringhurst.  The  surveyor, 
in  making  his  return,  named  the  tract  "  New  Worke." 
The  owner  of  this  land  Eleventh  Month,  7, 1687,  gave 
one-half  an  acre  for  a  meeting-house  and  a  graveyard. 

This  was  named  the  Newark  Meeting  which  was 
continued  until  1754. 

In  1684  John  Hussey,  John  Richardson,  Ed- 
ward Blake,  George  Hogg,  Benjamin  Sweet  and 
other  Friends  settled  in  and  near  the  town  of  New 
Castle.  They  first  held  meetings  in  each  other's 
booses  by  permission  of  the  Philadelphia  Quarterly 
Meeting.  In  1705  a  lot  was  bought  and  a  meeting- 
house built. 

When  the  settlement  of  Friends  above  the  Brandy- 
wine  increased  the  Newark  Meeting  established  the 
New  Castle  Meeting,  declined  and  was  finally  discon- 
tinued in  1758.  Its  members  aflerwards  attended  the 
meeting  efttablished  at  Wilmington  and  the  meeting- 
bouse  in  New  Castle  was  sold. 

A  Monthly  Meeting  was  held  in  New  Castle  in 
1686.  In  1687  this  meeting  decided  that  it  was  *'  more 
convenient  for  the  present  that  the  meeting  be  held 
twice  on  the  other  side  of  the  Brandy  wine  and  the  third 
which  will  be  the  Quarterly  Meeting  at  New  Castle." 
From  1689  to  1704  the  Monthly  meeting  seems  to  have 
been  "  held  at  Valentine  Hollingsworth's  and  other 
Friends'  hous^es,"  and  was  called  Newark  Monthly ► 
Meeting.  It  was  then  changed  to  Greorge  Harlan's 
house  at  Centre. 

The  last  monthly  Meeting  held  at  Newark  was  in 
1707.  It  was  generally  held  at^  Centre  though  some- 
times at  Keonett,  from  that  date  1760,  when  it  was 
changed  to  the  Kennett  Monthly  Meeting.* 

A  number  of  Friends  settled  in  the  village  of  Wil- 
mington in  1736,  among  whom  were  William  Ship- 
ley, Joshua  Way,  Thomas  West  and  Joseph  Hewes, 
and  the  18th  day  of  theTwelflh  Month,  1737,  Chester 
Quarterly  Meeting  established  the  Wilmington  Meet- 
ing for  worship.  The  record  of  that  date  says :  "  New- 
ark Monthly  Meeting,  on  behalf  of  Friends  living  in 
and  near  Wilmington,  do  request  that  this  Meeting 
would  give  the  said  Friends  liberty  of  keeping  meet- 
ing for  worship  on  every  first  and  fifth  days  of  the 
week,  which  this  meeting  allows  until  further  orders." 

The  first  meeting  Was  held  in  the  one-story  brick 
house  of  William  Shipley.  Later  meetings  were  held 
in  William  Shipley's  new  house  at  the  southwest 
comer  of  Fourth  and  Shipley  Street,  until  the  first 
meeting-house  was  completed  in  the  fall  of  1738.  It 
was  built  of  brick  on  the  site  of  the  Friends'  school- 
house  on  West  Street,  and  the  date  of  the  erection, 
1738,  was  placed  in  the  gable-wall  with  black  glazed 
bricks. 

Benjamin  Ferris,  the  historian,  says  this  building 

*  The  facta  were  obtained  ttom  "  A  Retroepect  of  Early  QnakerSp**  a 
«Dffk  prepared  bj  Ezra  Micfaner,  of  Chester  County,  Pa.,  in  1860. 


was  twenty-four  feet  square  and  one-story  high.  Ori- 
ginally a  broad  projecting  roof  extended  across  the 
entire  southwest  front.  A  sun-dial  was  placed  over 
the  small  window  under  the  peak  of  the  roof  in  the 
south  gable  wall  and  remained  there  for  sixty  years  or 
more.  Within  ten  years  aft«r  the  establishment  of 
this  meeting,  the  society  had  become  quite  large.  A 
great  many  Friends  from  New  Castle  and  Newark 
Meetings  came  here  regularly  to  worship,  and  those 
meetings  declined.  The  first  meeting-house  was  after- 
wards used  exclusively  for  school  purposes,  and  in  a 
changed  form  is  still  standing.  In  1748  another 
meeting-house  was  built  on  West  Street  on  the  site  of 
the  present  one.  It  was  forty-eight  feet  square,  two- 
stories  high,  with  galleries  extending  over  one-half  the 
ground  floor.  Over  each  of  the  doors  was  a  double  pitch 
roof,  and  elliptical  arch  over  each  of  the  windows 
in  the  first  story.  The  form  of  the  building  was  very 
singular.    The  four  sides  were  of  equal  size,  the  root 


OLD   FRIENDS*   MEETING-HOUSE. 

was  a  truncated  pyramid.  On  the  top  of  the  pyramid, 
on  the  truncated  part,  was  a  small  building  about  six 
feet  square.  Its  roof  was  also  of  the  form  of  a  pyra- 
mid with  a  chimney  rising  out  of  the  apex,  and  a 
window  on  each  of  the  sides  to  light  the  garret.  This 
meeting-house  was  a  great  centre  of  interest,  and  the 
society  which  met  in  it  increased  in  numbers  and 
prospered,  having  for  many  years  a  very  numerous 
membership. 

Concord  Quarterly  Meeting,  on  the  14th  of  the  Third 
Month,  1750,  constituted  Wilmington  and  New  Castle 
Preparative  Meetings,  a  Monthly  Meeting  for  disci- 
pline, under  the  name  of  Wilmington  Monthly  Meet- 
ing. It  was  that  year  that  the  records  of  the  Wil- 
mington Meeting  now  in  the  hands  of  the  society 
begin.  In  1758  the  same  Quarterly  Meeting  advised 
the  New  Castle  Preparative  Meeting  to  resign  its 
right  of  holding  a  meeting,  and  join  that  of  Wilming- 
ton, which  was  done,  and  the  New  Castle  meeting- 
house was  sold. 

The  meeting-house  erected  on  West  Street  in  1748 
was  used  until  1817,  when  the  present  one  was  built. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Among  the  prominent  ministers  of  the  Wilmington 
Meeting  since  the  beginning  of  the  present  century, 
on  the  men's  side  were  Joshua  Maule,  Edward 
Brooks,  John  Brooks  and  Ezra  Fell ;  and  on  the 
women's  side  were  Deborah  8packman,  Ann  Ferris, 
Elizabeth  Robinson  and  Sarah.  Ferris. 

The  Friends  of  Wilmington  continued  as  one  or- 
ganization until  the  general  division  of  the  Society 
in  1827,  when  the  followers  of  Elias  Hicks  became 
possessors,  and  have  since  worshipped  in  the  Fourth 
and  West  Street  Meeting-House.  The  orthodox 
Friends  built  a  meeting-house  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  Ninth  and  Tatnall  Streets,  which  has  since  been 
their  place  of  wor:»hip. 

Some  of  the  earliest  marriages  of  members  of  the 
Society  in  Wilmington  are  the  following ;  to  the  first 
of  which  all  the  names  of  persons  present  and  who 
signed  the  certificate  of  marriage  are  given  : 

Robert  Bichardson,  ion  of  John  and   Sara!)  Shipley,  daughter  of 
William  and  Eliicabeth  Sliiplej,  of  Wilmington,  6  mo.  10  d.  1762. 
Blchard  lUchardson.  Hannah  Wood. 

Samuel  Levis.  John  Richardson. 

David  Finney.  William  Shipley. 

John  Knowles.  Klizabeth  Shipley. 

David  Ferris.  Sarah  Finney. 

Joseph  Hewes.  Ann  Richardseu. 

Jeremiah  Wollaston.  Rebecca  Peters, 

John  Perry.  Elizabeth  Oanby. 

Zacharlah  Ferris.  Elizabeth  Knowles. 

Thomas  Way.  Elizabeth  Bayard. 

James  Robinson.  Elizabeth  Finney. 

Absalom  Dawes.  John  Finney. 

William  West.  Peter  Bi^ard. 

Jonathan  Rumford.  William  Morris. 

Henry  Troth.  Rachel  Woodward. 

Francis  Hinkley.  Hannah  Osborne. 

Hannah  Gilpin.  Rebecca  Jones. 

Sarah  Canby.  Jane  Hinshall. 

Mary  Ferris. 
Henry  Troth,  of  Wilmington,  and  Sarah  Paschal,  of  Chester  County, 
Seoond  Month,  25,  17M. 

William  Shipley.  Jr.,  son  of  William,  and  Sarah  Rumford,  daughter 
of  Jonathan,  Twelfth  Month,  27,  1763 

Daniel  Jackson  and  Ann  Warner,  daughter  of  William,  Fifth  Month, 
23,  1754. 
William  Poole  and  Martha  Roberts,  Sixth  Month,  27, 1764. 
William  Warner  and  Sarah  Eldridge,  Tenth  Month,  'M,  1764. 
William  Dean  and  Katherine  King.  Third  Month,  16, 1766. 
John  Stuart,  son  of  Robert,  and  Hannah  Lea,  daughter  of  Isaac, 
Sixth  Month,  10,  1766. 

William  Marshall  and  Mary  Tatnall,  daughter  of  Edward,  Eighth 
Month,  26, 1757. 

John  Hobson,  of  Philadelphia  County,  and  Elizabeth  Warner,  daugh- 
ter of  William,  of  Wilmington,  Ninth  Month,  29, 1767. 

Joseph  Hewes,  of  West  New  Jersey,  and  Rachel  Boll,  of  Wilming> 
ton,  Fourth  Month,  16,  1752. 

William  Evans,  s')n  of  William,  of  Lancaster  County,  and  Cathar- 
ine Wollaston,  daughter  of  Jeremiah,  of  Wilmington,  Ninth  Month, 
19,1761. 

William  Morris,  Jr.,  of  Trenton,  New  Jersy,  and  Rebeckah  Peters,  of 
Wilmington,  Tenth,  6,  1762. 
Thomas  Canby,  Jr.,  and  Elizabeth  Lewis,  Seventh  Month,  28,  1763. 
Oouldsmith  Throlwell,  of  Wilmington,  and  Sarah  Cadwalader,  of 
Chester  County,  Fifth  Month,  31, 1759. 

Samuel  Wharton,  son  of  Joseph,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Sarah  Lewis, 
of  New  Castle,  Del.,  Second  Month,  15, 1764. 
Thomas  Parry  and  Catharine  Dean,  Fifth  Month,  29,  1756. 
William  Poole  and  Elizabeth  Canby.  Twelfth  Month,  3,  1761. 
Thomas  Underbill,  of  Cecil  County,  Md.,  and  Rachel  Mendenhall, 
Seventh  Month,  25,  1764. 

William  White,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Ann  McMullen,  of  Brandywine, 
Eighth  Month,  21,  1760. 
Job  Harvey  and  Sarah  Dawes,  Tenth  Month,  30, 1760. 
Bei^jamin  Canby,  son  of  Thomas,  of  Darby,  and  Susanna  Littler,  of 
Wilmington,  Twelfth  Month,  21,  1760. 
Thomas  Gilpin  and  Ann  Caldwell,  19th  of  Fifth  Month,  1757. 
Ezekiel  Andrews  and  Rebecca  Robinson.  Fifth  Month,  8,  1761. 
Bei^amin  Yamall  and  Elizabeth  Trolwell,  Fourth  Month,  30,  1761. 
Aaron  Aahbridge,  of  Ooehen,  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  May  Tomlin- 
son,  of  Wilmington,  Twelfth  Month,  4,  1760. 


Thomas  Lambom,  of  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  Dinah  Canon,  of  Wil- 
mington, Fourth  Month,  1, 1762. 

Robert  Johnson  and  Mary  Wollaston,  Sixth  Month,  3,  1762. 

William  Treth  and  Lydie  Osborne,  Eighth  Month,  4, 1762. 

John  Andrews,  sonot  William,  and  Sarah  Ferris,  daughter  of  David, 
Eighth  Month  25, 1763. 

John  Littler  and  Sarah  Stapler,  Seventh  Month,  6, 1763. 

Philip  Jones  and  Edith  Newlin,  Fifth  Month,  31, 1765. 

William  Jenkins,  son  of  Charles,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Hannah  littler, 
daughter  of  Joshua,  Sixth  Month,  8, 176i. 

Samuel  Carter  and  Rebecca  Wiley,  Twelfth  Month,  27,  1764. 

Joshua  Tatnall,  son  of  Edward,  and  Elizabeth  Lea,  daughter  of  Jamsi 
Lea,  First  Month,  31, 1766. 

Richard  Richardson,  son  of  John,  and  Sarah  Tatnall,  daughter  of 
Edward,  Fourth  Month,  4,  1766. 

Hezekial  Niles,  Philadelphia,  and  Mary,  daughter  of  Fnmds,  of  Vni- 
mington,  14th  of  Seventh  Month,  1766. 

Richard  Dickinson,  son  of  Richard,  of  New  Jersey,  and  Phebe  Osrson, 
daughter  of  Richard,  of  Wilmington,  Tenth  Month,  10,  1766. 

Phineas  Buckley,  of  Bristol,  and  Mary  Shipley,  daughter  of  Thomas, 
of  Wilmington,  Fifth  Month,  12,  1768. 

William  Wollaston,  son  of  Joseph,  and  Elizabeth  England,  Tenth 
Month,  4. 1770. 

Joseph  Townsend  and  Hannah  Ferris,  Tenth  Month,  25, 1770. 

Joseph  Canby,  of  Maryland,  and  Hannah  Lea,  dau^ter  of  John,  laie 
of  Chester,  Tenth  Month,  2, 1772. 

Presbyterian  Churches.  —  Mnt  Prabyierian 
Church,^ — Among  the  early  settlers  of  Wilmington 
were  a  number,  principally  Scotch  and  Irish  descent, 


OLD  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  BUILT  IN   1740. 


who  had  been  educated  in  the  Presbyterian  faith, 
and  there  being  no  place  of  worship  nearer  than  in 
New  Castle,  measures  were  taken  to  procure  a  site 
for  place  of  worship  and  a  burying-gronnd  and  a 
sanctuary.  On  December  1,  1737,  an  acre  was  pur- 
chased by  the  trustees  chosen  for  that  purpose. 
Three  years  afler,  the  old  First  Presbyterian  Church 
was  erected,  and  still  stands  near  the  corner  of  Tenth 
and  Market  Streets. 

For  several  years  the  congregation  were  limited  io 
numbers  and  feeble  in  sources,  enjoying  no  regular 
ministrations.  The  pulpit  was  occasionally  supplied 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  with  which  the 
church  has  always  with  the  exception  of  a  brief  inter- 
val been  connected.  Finally  Rev.  Robert  Cathcart 
occupied  the  pulpit  every  fourth  Sunday  until  his 
death,  when  the  church  had  only  such  supplies  as 
they  could  occasionally  procure,  being  still  too  feeble 
to  sustain  a  pastor.  In  June,  1759,  Rev.  Wm.  Mc- 
Kennan  began  his  ministrations,  and  in  1761,  divid- 
ed his  time  between  the  churches  of  Wilmington 
and  Red  Clay  Creek.     In  1766  the  first  elder,  Thomas 


1  By  Rots.  Charles  D.  Kellogg,  and  Henry  D.  Lindsay. 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


713 


Watt,  is  mentioned.  Under  the  pastorate  of  Mr. 
McKennan  the  church  flourished,  and  soon  a  demand 
WW  made  for  regular  services.  In  April,  1773,  a  call 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Bey.  Joseph  Smith  to 
preach,  except  on  the  days  when  Mr.  McKennan  offi- 
ciated, and  regular  services  were  secured  through  the 
united  efforts  of  Messrs.  Smith  and  McKennan. 

The  real  pastorate  soon  led  to  dual  diiferences.  The 
friends  of  Mr.  Smith  were  the  most  aggressive  and 
demanded  his  undivided  time  to  the  exclusion  of 
Mr.  McKennan,  whose  friends  opposed  this  demand 
and  a  contention  ensued,  resulting  in  the  secession 
of  the  friends  of  Mr.  Smith,  and  the  abrupt  discon- 
tionance  of  his  labors.  The  adherents  of  Mr.  Smith 
formed  a  new  congregation  under  the  title  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wilmington,  and  he 
became  their  pastor  October  25, 1774. 

The  loss  of  so  many  members  proved  disastrous  to 
the  first  Church,  and  for  the  next  sixty-five  years  it 
had  a  continuous  struggle  for  existence.  The  pastoral 
relation  of  Mr.  McKennan  was  dissolved  by  Presbytery 
in  17d5  at  his  own  request,  and  on  November  23, 
1796,  Rev.  Francis  Allison  Latta  was  installed,  and 
remained  until  1803.  After  the  departure  of  Mr. 
Latta  the  church  was  supplied  for  a  few  months  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Henderson.  For  the  nine  years  ensuing, 
the  congregation  was  without  stated  supply,  and 
although  during  this  period  represented  by  trustees, 
wu  i^iparently  without  the  means  of  supporting  oc- 
casional ministrations.  In  February,  1813,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Snowden  was  engaged  for  one  year.  At  the  end 
of  this  time  a  period  of  four  years  of  inactivity  en- 
saed. 

In  1817,  Rev.  Thomas  Read,  D.  D.,  having  resigned 
a  successful  pastorate  of  twenty  years  over  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,  commenced  to  labor  as  his 
health  permitted  in  the  First  Church,  continuing 
for  four  years  when  he  was  disabled  by  a  fall.  During 
Dr.  Read's  labors  in  this  church  a  Sabbath-School 
wu  for  the  first  time  established  in  1819. 

In  1824,  Rev.  James  Taylor  supplied  the  pulpit  for 
one  year.  Another  interval  of  five  years  then  ensued 
without  stated  ministrations.  Rev.  Thomas  Love, 
conducted  regular  services  from  1829  to  1832.  Then 
for  a  time  it  seemed  doubtful  whether  or  not  the  First 
Church  was  in  existence.  The  champion  upholding 
the  corporate  capacity  of  the  church,  was  the  Rev. 
Samuel  M .  Gayley.  In  October,  1833,  he  united  with 
the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle.  For  the  ensuing  three 
years  the  First  Church  was  closed,  Mr.  Gayley  de- 
Toting  his  time  to  the  church  at  Rockland.  In  1836, 
he  again  commenced  to  preach  in  the  First  Church 
every  Sabbath  afternoon.  Mr.  Gayley,  was  often  the 
•ole  occupant  of  the  room.  He  received  no  stipulated 
•alary  and  at  times  supplied  the  necessary  fuel  and 
lights.  At  this  time  an  application  was  made  to  the 
Tnutees  by  Hanover  Church,  a  branch  from  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church,  to  open  the  First 
Church  to  Mr.  Gilbert,  their  pastor,  to  the  exclusion 
of  Mr.  Gayley,  which  was  refused.    Toward  the  close 


of  1837,  at  the  suggestion  of  certain  persons,  a  curb 
was  laid  by  the  city  authorities  in  front  of  the  grounds 
occupied  by  the  First  Church,  in  order  that  a  debt 
might  thereby  be  created  which  would  necessitate  a 
sale.  The  funds,  however,  were  raised  by  the  few 
remaining  friends.  The  congregation  subsequently 
received  valuable  accessions  from  the  Second  Presby- 
terian Church,  up  to  that  time  worshipping  on  the 
corner  of  Walnut  and  Fifth  Streets.  The  congrega- 
tion thus  largely  increased  extended  an  invitation 
July  7, 1838,  to  Rev.  Stephen  R,  Wynkoop,  to  preach 
temporarily  and  afterwards  a  call  was  extended  to  him 
which  he  accepted  and  was  installed  January  22, 
1839.  Under  the  care  of  Mr.  Wynkoop  the  congrega- 
tion increased  rapidly  and  at  a  meeting  held  February 
4,  1839,  it  was  determined  to  build  a  more  commodious 
church.  The  congregation  of  the  Second  Church, 
having  become  identified  with  them,  the  funds  of  that 
organization  were  appropriated  to  the  new  building. 
The  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  was  laid  May  7, 
1839.  The  building  was  completed  and  the  congrega- 
tion commenced  to  worship  therein  early  in  the 
following  year.  A  few  years  later  the  old  church 
was  remodelled  and  employed  for  a  school.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Wynkoop's  ministry  three  hundred  and 
ninety  were  added  to  the  membership  of  the  church. 
Owing  to  failing  health  he  resigned  in  April,  1858. 
Rev.  Wm.  C.  Roberts,  succeeded  him  and  was  installed 
October  13, 1858.  In  1859,  the  church  was  enlarged. 
During  Mr.  Roberts'  pastorate  an  average  of  eighteen 
were  added  yearly  to  the  membership  of  the  church. 
He  resigned  in  October  1862.  On  May  11,  1863,  a 
call  was  presented  to  the  Rev.  Charles  D.  Kellogg, 
who  was  pastor  until  the  Spring  of  1864.  This  pastor- 
ate represents  one  of  the  most  vigorous  periods  in  the 
church's  history — the  membership  was  largely  in- 
creased and  the  treasury  was  in  better  condition  than 
in  any  former  period.  The  present  officers  of  the 
church  are  as  follows :  Pastor,  Rev.  Henry  D.  Lind- 
say. Elders,  N.  B.  Culbert,  Read  J.  McKay.  M.  D., 
James  F.  Pricef.  TVustees,  Wm.  Lawton,  President, 
T.  F.  Crawford,  Joseph  L.  Carpenter,  Jr.,  N.  B.  Cul- 
bert, J.  S.  Hamilton,  R.  J.  McKay,  M.  D.,  Howard  J. 
Wallace.  Superintendent  of  Sunday  School,  Howard 
J.  Wallace. 

Subjoined  is  a  list  of  the  Pastors  who  have  served 
the  church  during  the  one  hundred  and  fifly  years  of 
its  existence.  Rev.  Robert  Cathcart,  1742-1754 ;  Rev. 
William  McKennan,  1760-1795;  Rev.  Francis  A. 
Latta,1796-1803 ;  Rev.  Samuel  Henderson,  1811-1812  ; 
Rev.  Nathaniel  B.  Snowden,  1813-1814  ;  Rev.  Thomas 
Reed,  D.  D.,  1817-1822  ;  Rev.  James  Taylor,  1323- 
1824 ;  Rev.  Thomas  Love,  1825-1830 ;  Rev.  Samuel  M, 
Gayley,  1832-1838;  Rev.  Stephen  R.  Wynkoop,  1839- 
1858 ;  Rev.  William  C.  Roberts,  1858-1862  ;  Rev. 
Charies  D.  Kellogg,  1863-1867 ;  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Mc- 
Kown,  1869-1874  ;  Rev.  Frederick  B.  DuVal,  1875- 
1884 ;  Rev.  Henry  D.  Lindsay,  1884. 

The  Hanover  Street  Presbyterian  Church  is  the  suc- 
cessor of  the  Second  and  the  Christiana  Presbyterian 


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714 


HISTOEY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Churches.  The  Second  Church  was  organized  by 
members  who  withdrew  from  the  First  Church  in 
1774,  with  Rev.  Joseph  Smith^  as  pastor. 

In  1787  the  Second  Church  was,  by  act  of  assembly, 
changed  to  Christiana  Church.  In  January,  1780, 
Rev.  William  R.  Smith  succeeded  Rev.  Joseph  Smith 
as  pastor  of  the  Second  Church,  and  continued  in 
charge  until  1795.  He  was  succeeded  in  1797,  by 
Rev.  Thomas  Read,  whose  pastoral  relations  termi- 
nated in  1817.  On  May  20,  1818,  Rev.  E.  W.  Gilbert 
was  installed  as  Mr.  Read's  successor.  In  1832,  Mr. 
Gilbert  resigned,  but  accepted  a  second  call  in  1836, 
and  remained  until  May  3,  1841,  when  he  was  elected 
president  of  Newark  College.  The  old  church  prov- 
ing too  small,  the  present  building  was  erected  corner 
of  King  and  Sixth,  then  Hanover,  Streets,  and  dedi- 
icated  March  12,  1829.  In  1833,  the  congregation 
was  incorporated  under  the  titlo  of  the  Hanover 
Street  Church.  Rev.  Arthur  Granger  succeeded  Dr. 
Gilbert  and  resigned  in  1835.  Rev.  William  Hogarth, 
a  licentiate  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  Presbytery,  became 
pastor  December  6, 1841,  and  resigned  November  21, 
1846.  Rev.  Joel  Edson  Rockwell  was  installed  as 
pastor.  May  4, 1847,  remaining  five  years.  Rev.  A. 
D.  Pollock,  of  Virginia,  was  in  charge  from  1852  to 
1855.  On  November  31,  1855,  Rev.  William  C. 
Dickinson  was  elected  pastor,  but  was  never  formally 
installed.  Rev.  William  Aikman,  D.  D.,  was  in- 
stalled in  October,  1857,  and  during  his  ministrations 
Olivet  Chapel  was  built.  The  present  pastor,  Rev. 
Lafayette  Marks,  D.  D.,  was  called  in  1869.  His 
pastorate  has  continued  longer  than  any  in  the  history 
of  the  church,  and  has  been  the  longest,  with  one 
exception,  of  any  Protestant  minister  in  Wilmington. 
The  Sabbath -School  of  Hanover  Church  is  the  oldest 
in  the  State,  having  been  organized  in  1814. 

Olivet  Presbyttrian  Churchy  corner  of  Adams  and 
Chestnut  Streets,  grew  out  of  a  Sunday  School  started 
in  1849,  in  a  frame  building,  corner  of  Dock  Street 
and  Newport  Road,  afterwards  known  as  the  '*  Little 
Arch,"  or  the  "  Hedgeville  School  House."  It  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $435,  collected  mainly  by  Samuel 
Floyd  and  John  L.  Haddon.  The  lot  was  donated  by 
George  Jones.  The  Sabbath  School  commenced 
August  5,  1849,  with  twenty  scholars.  Edward  G. 
Taylor  was  superintendent  and  the  teachers  were 
Samuel  Floyd,  John  L.  Haddon,  James  Anderson,  A. 
T.  Taylor,  Robert  Porter,  John  McLear,  George 
Clark,  Sarah  Simpson,  Elizabeth  Simpson,  Martha  P. 
Bush,  Mrs.  Lamb,  Miss  C.  Smith  and  Miss  Quimby. 
The  building  was  deeded  to  the  trustees  of  the  Han- 
over Street  Church.      Weekly  prayer- meetings  and 

1  B«v.  Joseph  Smith  was  born  in  NottinKham,  Maryland,  in  1736,  edu- 
cated at  Princeton  and  licensed  bj  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  1767. 
He  was  first  attached  to  the  Lower  Brandywine  Presbyterian  Chnrcb  in 
1768,  and  in  1772  began  to  preach  for  the  First  Presbyterian  congrega- 
tion of  Wilmington,  in  conjunction  with  Rev.  Mr.  McKennan.  The 
ministration  of  the  two  pastors  led  to  a  division  and  the  nu^Jority  of  the 
First  congregation  withdrew  and  organised  the  Second  church  with  Mr. 
8mith  in  charge.  Mr.  Smith  continued  as  pastor  of  the  Second  and 
the  Brandywine  Churches  until  1778,  when  he  went  to  the  west  of  the 
Alleghenies  and  founded  the  Pioneer  Presbyterian  Churches  in  that 
section.    He  died  April  10, 1792,  in  Washington  County,  Pa. 


occasional  preaching  were  maintained  for  several 
years.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  August  12, 
1849,  by  the  Rev.  W.  W.  Taylor  of  Philadelphia,  but 
now  a  resident  of  Wilmington.  The  Sabbath  School 
prospered  and  on  February  27,  1859,  Mr.  Taylor  was 
succeeded  as  superintendent  by  J.  P.  McLear. 
Among  the  most  active  workers  in  the  school  were 
Joseph  W.  Day,  Charles  Baird,  W.  J.  Morrow, 
Thomas  L.  Lawson,  John  Crozier,  J.  M,  Ocheltree, 
James  Morrow,  Sarah  J.  Brown,  Mary  Ogle,  William 
D.  Dowe,  Esq.,  Brynburg  Porter,  Jane  C.  Capelle, 
William  M.  Pyle,  George  Morrison,  Thomas  K.  Porter, 
Lizzie  A.  Morrow,  and  Misses  Anna  and  EllaPort^. 
Mr.  McLear  resigned  the  superintendency  in  1869, 
and  was  succeeded  by  William  D.  Dowe.  The  subse- 
quent superintendents  were  William  M.  Pyle,  Thomas 
K.  Porter  and  George  Morrison.  In  1863,  steps  were 
taken  to  erect  the  present  building,  known  as  Olivet 
Chapel,  at  the  corner  of  Adams  and  Chestnut  Streets, 
the  cost  being  nearly  $4,000 ;  the  ladies  of  Han- 
over Church  raised  $937,  and  partially  furnished  the 
building.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  October  8, 1863, 
Rev.  William  Aikman,  pastor  of  Hanover  Church, 
officiating.  Addresses  were  delivered  by  Judge  Wil- 
lard  Hall  and  the  Kev.  Charles  D.  Kellogg.  The 
dedication  services  were  held  February  7, 1864.  Rev. 
William  Aikman  preached  the  sermon,  and  Rev. 
Thomas  McCann  made  an  address.  The  Sabbath 
School  was  reorganized  February  14, 1864.  In  De- 
cember, 1864,  Rev.  William  Edwards  was  elected  pas- 
tor, and  resigned  in  June,  1865.  Rev.  A.  J.  Snyder 
was  pastor  from  September,  1867,  to  March  17, 1878. 
He  was  succeeded  June  30, 1878,  by  Rev.  Charles  P. 
Mallery,  who  resigned  in  October,  1885,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Edwin  D.  Newberry,  the  preseot 
pastor,  April  1,  1886.  The  congregation  was  formerly 
organized  as  Olivet  Presbyterian  Church,  January  81, 
1868,  with  Andrew  Muir  as  elder.  George  Morrison 
and  Newton  C.  Sample  were  ordained  elders  on  April 
28,  1872. 

The  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wilmington 
was  organized  by  the  Presbytery  of  Wilmington, 
December  6,  1855.  The  application  for  the  new 
congregation  was  made  by  a  number  of  members  of 
the  Hanover  Street  Church,  by  which  the  movement 
was  encouraged  in  the  following  terms : 

**  We  approve  the  separation  propoeed  and  bid  those  who  are  engaged 
in  it  God-speed  ;  that  although  it  will  take  away  from  us  mnoh  of  oar 
wealth  and  a  greater  portion  of  the  youth  and  vigor  of  this  Church, 
instead  of  deploring  we  rejoice  over  it,  because  it  will  form  so  energetic 
a  nucleus,  not  only  to  make  the  enterprise  strong  In  its  outset,  bat  to 
impart  character  to  the  aoeessions  that  will  be  made  to  it.' 

The  original  members  of  the  church  were : 

Lewis  p.  Bush,  M.D. 

George  W.  Bush. 

Mrs.  Emma  D.  Bush. 

John  0.  Price. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  B.  McGomb. 

Ann  Harvey. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Homer. 

Emma  L.  Valentine. 

Mrs.  Hitrrlet  F.  Ck)le. 

Mrs.  Helen  G.  Anderson. 

The  initial  services.  Rev.  George  Duffield,  Jr.,  of 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


Mrs.  Fannie  M.  Prlca. 
Edward  T.  Taylor. 
Mrs.  Martha  C.  Taylor. 
Mn.  Amelia  R.  Peterfttn. 
Mre.  Mary  Robinson. 
Mrs.  Martha  M.  Day. 
Mrs.  Matilda  R.  Wiggins. 
Mrs.  Susanna  Jefferson. 
Mrs.  Louisa  A.  Lindsay. 


NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


715 


Philadelphia,  officiating,  were  held  on  Sunday,  De- 
cember 23, 1855,  in  the  stone  building  at  the  comer 
of  Fifth  and  Walnut  Streets,  previously  occupied  by 
the  Presbyterian  Society  and  now  used  by  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  congregation.  On  the  following  Sab- 
bath forty -nine  persons  were  admitted  as  members  of 
the  new  church.    They  were : 


Georgv  F.  Fetenon. 
G«orgeBainL 
G«orge  &  KJnkaad. 
Oiftrlei  Stewart. 
Henry  8.  McOomb. 
Idwin  J.  Horner. 
George  L.  Baird. 
CherleaBiard. 
Mre.  Mmt  A.  Baird. 
Mil.  Blizabeth  Stewart. 
MrkMarthA  Binh. 
Mn.  Phoebe  A.  Cooper. 
Mn.  lUn  A.  Ogle. 
M n.  XUsa  J.  Niekta. 
MA.  Maiy  McVey. 
Mn.  Bachel  A.  Valentine. 
Mzn  Mary  Hnghea. 
Oavki  Binh. 
John  N.Ogle. 
John  Addiaon. 
SwayseB.  Hagbea. 
boch  D.  Howell. 
WiDlaoi  J.  Morrow. 


William  Bnih. 
William  B.  Wiggins. 
George  T.  Clark. 
Min  Lydia  A.  Kinkead. 
MiM  Maiy  H.  Bush. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Stewart. 
Miss  Agnes  Stewart. 
Miss  Eliaa  A.  Howell. 
MissSallieA.  HolUugsworth. 
Miss  Elixabeth  H.  Clark. 
Mia  Lydie  M.  Clark. 
Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Howell. 
Mrs.  Jane  W.  Jack. 
Mrs.  Matilda  Morrow. 
Mrs.  Hannah  E.  Stanhope. 
Mrs.  Letitia  Remmington. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  PhiUpa. 
Mrs.  Harriet  A.  Clark. 
Mrs.  Sallle  Bradford. 
Mrs.  Sarah  Maory. 
Mn.  Sarah  Miller. 
Mrs.  Ann  Janvier. 


Twenty-two  additional  members  were  received  on 
March  14,  1856,  twelve  on  June  8th,  seven  on  Sep- 
tember 2l8t  and  four  on  December  14, 1856,  thirty- 


and  the  session  was  organized  January  3, 1856,  with 
Rev.  Nicholas  Patterson  as  moderator.  Charles 
Stewart,  Edward  T.  Taylor  and  Joseph  W.  Day  were 
ordained  elders. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  church  was  laid  June  18, 
1856,  and  the  building,  sixty  by  one  hundred  and 
six  feet,  was  completed  and  dedicated  November  10, 
1867,  Rev.  Albert  Barnes  officiating.  The  building 
committee  were  John  R.  Latimer,  William  Bush, 
Jourdan  W.  Maury,  Henry  S.  McComb,  Lewis  H. 
Coxe,  Philip  Quigley  and  George  F.  Peterson.  The 
Sunday-school  was  organized  December  23,  1856, 
with  lifly-one  scholars  and  twelve  teachers;  Edward 
T.  Taylor,  superintendent.  In  1868  seventy  mem- 
bers of  the  Central  Church  founded  the  West  Pres- 
byterian Church  and  in  1880  thirty  other  members 
organized  the  Rodney  Street  congregation.  The 
pastors  of  the  Central  Church  and  dates  of  their 
instalment  were : 

Rot.  George  F.  Wiswell May  4, 18ft6 

Rer.  Charles  D.  Shaw » October  9, 1867 

Rev.  John  P.  Conkey January  4, 1872 

Rev.  J.  Howard  Nixon,  D.D October  10, 1876 

The  ruling  elders  and  date  of  their  instalment 
were: 

Lewis  P.  Biuh January  9,1856 

Charles  Stewart January  9, 1866 


WEST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 


ieven  April  5,  1857,  four  in  June,  thirty-three  on 
April  4, 1858,  twenty-five  in  June,  four  in  September 
ind  five  in  December.  There  were  thirty  accessions 
to  the  church  in  1859,  twenty-nine  in  1860,  forty-four 
in  1862,  nineteen  in  1863  and  fifty-three  in  1864. 
The  congregation  in  1887  numbered  three  hundred 
tnd  twenty -five. 

Rev.  George  F.  Wiswell,  of  Peek^kill,  N.  Y.,  be- 
«me  tiie  first  regular  pastor  of  Central  Church  March 
2,1856.    Dr.  Lewis  P.  Bush  was  constituted  elder 


Joseph  W.  Day ....January  9, 186G 

B.  T.Taylor January  9, 1866 

Homer  Barry December  2, 1872 

Lewis  P.  Biwh.  Jr May  9,  1880 

William  K.  Crwby May  9,1880 

Thomas  S.  Brown January,  1887 

Charles  W.  HowUnd January,  1887 

The  West  Presbyterian  Church  ofWilmingtonMsan 
outgrowth  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of  that 
city.  The  movement  leading  to  its  organization  began 
as  early  as  March,  1867,  but  was  not  consummated  until 

I  From  a  sketch  by  Mr.  Charles  Baird. 

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716 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


October  19, 1868,  when  the  new  church  was  constituted 
by  the  New  Castle  Presbytery,  with  the  full  consent  and 
fiympathy  of  the  Central  congregation.  The  West 
Church  was  formed  by  sixty-seven  members  from  the 
Central  and  thirty  three  from  the  Hanover  Street 
church.  The  first  public  service  was  held  October 
25,  1868,  in  the  Hall  of  the  Wilmington  Institute, 
Rev.  Geo,  F.  Wiswell,  of  Philadelphia,  officiating.  A 
Sunday-school  was  organized  a  week  later,  and  on 
February  10,  1869,  the  session  was  constituted.  On 
June  1,  1869,  Rev.  George  H.Smyth,  of  Washington 


BISHOP  FRANCIS  ASBURY. 

Oity,  became  pastor  and  was  installed  September  30, 
1869.  In  a  few  months  the  congregation  removed  to 
Monroe  Street  Chapel,  corner  of  Monroe  and  Eighth 
Streets,  belonging  to  the  Central  Church.  On  April 
21,  1871,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  church  was 
laid,  and  it  was  completed  and  dedicated  December 
28th,  the  same  year.  It  cost  between  160,000  and 
<70,000.  Rev.  Mr.  Smyth  continued  as  pastor  until 
September,  1873,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  M. 
Otts,  of  Columbia,  Tenn.,  who  resigned  January  27, 
1878.  The  present  pastor.  Rev.  Albert  N.  Keigwin,  of 
Philadelphia,  was  installed  November  19,  1878. 


The  Sabbath  School  commenced  its  sessions  No- 
vember 1, 1868,  with  forty  persons  enrolled  as  teachers 
and  scholars.  Ac  a  meeting  held  November  7, 1868, 
the  officers  elected  were  superintendent,  John  P. 
McLear ;  secretary,  James  A.  Robinson  ;  treasurer, 
Charles  Baird;  librarians,  J.  Eldridge  Pierce  and 
Edward  F.  Lummis. 

April  18, 1869,  when  the  church  removed  to  the  Mon- 
roe Street  chapel,  the  School  continued  its  sessions  in 
the  same  building.  Mr.  McLear  continued  superin- 
tendent until  the  close  of  1871. 

When  the  church  removed  to 
their  new  building  corner  of 
Eighth  and  Washington  Streets, 
the  school  was  reorganized. 
There  had  been  until  this  time 
a  Sabbath-school  in  progress  in 
the  before  named  chapel  under 
the  control  of  the  Central 
church  since  1 861.  This  school 
was  united  with  the  other  school 
at  the  time  of  this  removal  u) 
Eighth  and  Washington  Streets, 
under  one  organization.  Charles 
Baird,  who  had  filled  the  office 
of  superintendent  of  this  after- 
I  noon  school  since  1868,  was 
I  elected  superintendent  of  the 
I  united  schools,  and  continues 
in  the  position  to  the  present 
time,  December,  1887. 

The  officers  are  superinten- 
dent, Charles  Baird ;  recording 
secretary,  H.  C.  Taylor  ;  finan- 
cial secretary,  R.  O.  Janvier; 
treasurer,  W.  J.  Morrow ;  libra- 
rian, F.  E.  Janvier. 

There  are  enrolled  forty-three 
teachers  and  five  hundred  and 
fifty -two  scholars. 

Rodney  Street  Presbyterian 
Church, — For  more  than  twen- 
ty-five years  the  Rodney  Street 
Sabbath-school  was  a  mission 
school,  under  the  control  of  the 
Central  Presbyterian  Church. 
Lack  of  teachers  and  inadequate 
accommodations  sometimes  re- 
duced its  numbers  until  its  officers  almost  despaired  of 
its  ever  succeeding.  As  the  portion  of  the  city  in 
which  it  is  situated  became  more  thickly  populated 
the  school  increased,  and  became  so  over-crowded 
that  better  accommodations  were  necessary. 

In  1883  the  building  which  is  now  known  as  the 
Rodney  Street  Church  was  erected.  On  Jan.  28, 18S6, 
a  church  organization  was  efiected,  under  the  name<»f 
ihe  Rodney  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  with  fifty-six 
members,  twenty-six  of  whom  were  from  the  Central 
Presbyterian  Church.  Eight  joined  on  profession  ot 
their  faith,  and  the  others  were  from  different  church 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


71T 


oiganizatioDS.  W.  M.  Canby  and  Henry  B.  Seidel 
were  iodtalled  elders.  Rev.  William  L.  McEwan  was 
installed  pastor  in  May,  1886. 

The  church  has  been  self-sustaining  from  its  organ- 
ization, and  rapidly  increased  in  membership.  At 
the  first  communion  thirty-five  members  were  added, 
and  before  the  end  of  the  second  year  the  membership 
was  006  hundred  and  sixty. 

MsTHODiST  Churches. — The  Ashury  Methodist 
Epi$€0]Hil  Church,  of  Wilmington,  traces  its  origin 
back  to  1766.  In  that  year  Captain  Webb,  a  British 
army  officer,  preached  in  Wilmington  under  some 
shady  trees,  near  the  corner  of  King  and  Kent  (now 
Eighth)  Streets.  John  Thelwell,  who  kept  a  public 
house  near  the  lower  market,  officiated  as  clerk  and 
led  the  singing.  Subsequently  Mr.  Thelwell  offered 
hit  school-house,  southeast  corner  King  and  Third 
Streets,  as  a  place  of  worship,  and  there  Asbury  So- 
ciety was  organized. 

The  original  members  of  the  society  were  John 
Thelwell  and  Deborah,  his  daughter,  Henry  Coles- 
bai^,  Betsy  Colesburg,  Sarah  Colesburg,  John  Miller, 
Thomas  Webster,  William  Wood,  J.  Jaquet,  Greorge 
Whitsill,  David  Ford,  James  Belt,  Patience  Erwin 
and  Sarah  Wood,  a  little  band,  which  gave  expres- 
sion to  the  sentiment,  "  Thus  far  have  we  come  after 
twenty  years.*' 

The  society  aoon  numbered  forty-three  whito  and 
nineteen  colored  members.' 

On  May  12, 1789,  a  lot  of  ground,  southeast  cor- 
ner of  Third  and  Walnut  Streets,  the  site  ot  the 
present  Asbury  Church,  was  purchased  of  Caleb  and 
Sarah  Way  for  one  hundred  and  five  pounds,  and 
rabsequently,  by  purchase  and  gift  from  Edward 
Worrell,  additional  area  was  secured. 

On  this  location,  in  1789,  the  society  proceeded  to 
erect  a  church.  Its  dimensions  were  thirty-five  feet 
square  with  a  gallery.  This  was  opened  and  dedi- 
cated October  10, 1789,  by  Bishop  Asbury.  In  1811 
the  building  was  enlarged,  and  again  in  1828,  giving 
a  structure  of  seventy  by  fifly  feet.  Wilmington  was 
a  part  of  Chester  Circuit  until  1789,  when  it  was 
made  a  station  and  continued  as  such,  excepting  from 
1S04  to  1806,  when  it  was  again  in  Chester  Circuit. 
Rer.  Wm.  Jessup  was  pastor  in  1789.  A  school- 
hooae  was  built  adjacent  to  the  church  in  1791.  In 
1829  the  society  put  up  a  two-story  brick  academy  on 
Shipley,  near  High  Street.  The  institution  was 
continued  for  several  years,  and  the  building  was 
then  used  as  a  parsonage  until  1843.  In  1803  Asbury 
Church  had  ninety-one  contributing  members,  and 
John  Thelwell's  "  ciphering  book ''  was  used  as  the 
congregational  registry  for  many  years. 

The  ninety-one  members  were  divided  into  three 
claaaes  as  follows : 

Bunday  class, — 


lotert  Kluey. 
SMibMoora. 


Maty  Rodman. 
John  Tbompaon. 


I  Ia  U05  the  colored  memben  withdrew,  formed  a  society  and  built 
t  pbct  of  wonhip  on  the  site  of  Zion  Church. 


CliriatiaDa  Horton. 
Ruth  Wolf. 
SuaaonaPearce. 
leaac  Hughes. 
George  WhitslU. 
Henry  Colesburg. 
WUliam  Morrew. 
Eleanor  Morrow. 
Elizabeth  Zebley. 
Sarah  Webster. 
Philip  Rodman. 


John 


Benjamin  Gmbb. 
Debby  Rodman. 
Ann  Corkshot. 
Francis  McMahan. 
John  Robertson. 
Henry  Pepper. 
James  Oilmore. 
John  Peach. 
Ann  Jones. 
Philip  Cake. 
Ann  Cake. 
Pestherbridge. 


Monday  night  class, — 


Henry  Metz. 
Henry  Whitsill. 
Justice  Dunott. 
Rachel  Dunott. 
Elizabeth  Kendall. 
Jonathan  Bturgis. 
Samuel  Walker. 
Jane  Walker. 
Ann  Mclntire. 
Hannah  Fred. 
Samh  McCardle. 
Elizabeth  Lang. 
Deborah  Thelwell. 
Eleanor  Hughes. 
Hetty  Bignell. 
Sally  Conntis. 
Elizabeth  Shay. 
Margaret  Kenton. 
Sally  Wilson. 


Tuesday  night  class, — 


Sarah  Dawson. 
Mary  Metz. 
Rachel  Whitsill. 
Martha  Saunders. 
Rebecca  Paynter. 
Robert  McLane. 
Mary  Pepper. 
Ann  Cake. 
Rachel  Jones. 
Rebecca  Raison. 
Sally  Wilkinson. 
Sarah  Smith. 
Jane  Vance. 


Ruth  Conner. 
Nancy  Welch. 
Betsy  Wilson. 
Mary  McCoy . 
Patience  Wood. 
Robert  Sturgis. 
Elizabeth  Pratt 
Isabella  Saylor. 
Samuel  W^alker. 
Day  Branson. 
George  Whitsill,  Jr. 
Ira  Robertson. 
Sarah  Welch. 
Daniel  Coleman. 
Mary  Ishbow. 
Hannah  Cloud. 
George  Metz. 
Daniel  Lowber. 
Eliza  Lowber. 


Nancy  Clark. 
Elizabeth  Webster. 
Ann  Boggs. 
Peggy  McCardle. 
Debby  Walker. 
Lydia  Fredd. 
Mary  Walker. 
Katy  Witsil. 
Elizabeth  Rogers. 
Susan  Popham. 
Maiy  Ishbow. 
Elizabeth  Sturgis. 
Mary  Sturgis. 


In  1807,  the  membership  was  97  ;  in  1815,  226  ;  in 
1820,326;  in  1834,  439;  in  1841,  589;  in  1845,  840; 
in  1847,  688 ;  one  class  having  withdrawn  to  organize 
St.  Paul's  Church.  The  present  membership  is  813, 
with  about  fifty  probationers.  The  trustees  are 
Daniel  S.  Truitt,  W.  B.  Genu,  Charles  W.  Welsh, 
John  Gray,  Augustus  Dennis,  James  Floyd,  Thomad 
Downing,  George  Richard,  Henry  Butler.  The  pas- 
tors of  Asbury  Church  have  been 


William  Jessup 1789 

J.  McOhkskey 1790 

T.  Ware 1791 

8.  Hutchinson 1792 

B.  Cloud 1793 

E.  Rogers 1794 

On  the  Circuit 17^*) 

J.  Naneman - 1796 

E.  Cooper 1797-98 

D.  Fialer „1799 

C.  Kendall 1800-01 

J.  Latamus 1802 

T.  Jones 1803 

On  the  Circuit 1804-6 

J.  Wells 1806 

J.  McClaskey 1807 

William  Bishop 1808 

E.  Cooper 1809 

William  McLenahan 1810 

J.  Sanders 181 1 

J.  Bateman 1812 

O.  Shectz 1813 

G.  Sheets 1814 

J.  Emory 1815 

William  Williams 1816 

J.  Goforth 1817 


8.  J.  Cox 181S 

J.  RusUng a819-20 

L.  lAurenson 1821 

J.  Potts 1822-23 

8.  Sharpe „ 1824 

H.  White 1826 

L.  McConibs 1826 

8.  Higgins „..1827-2S 

D  Daily 1829 

J.  Keuneday 1830-31 

J.  Lybrand 1832-33 

Joseph  Rusling 1834-36 

BJ.  Sorin 1836 

W.  A.  Wiggins 1.1837-38 

J.  Lybrand 1839-40 

B.  Gerry 1841-42 

J.  Kenneday 1843-44 

A.  Atwood 1846-46 

T.  J.  Thompson 1847-48 

WllUam  Cooper 1849-60 

J.  A.  Roche 1861-62 

R.Gerry .* 1868-64 

J.  Mason 1856-66 

G.Oram 1857-68 

W.  Kenny 1859-60 

Charies  Hill 1861-62 


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718 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


W.  0.  Robinson 1863-64 

G.  Qulgley 1865-66 

J.  D.  Curtis ....1867-68 

Charles  Hill 1869-72 

E.  Stubbs 1872-75 

G.  R.  Kramer 1875-77 


T.  B.  KUliam. 1878 

J.  A.  B.  Wilson 1878-80 

Charles  HiU 1880-93 

W.  L.  S.  Murray 1883-84 

J.  K.  Brian 1886 


The  Aflbury  Sunday-school  was  organized  aa  early 
as  1820.  In  1834  it  had  twenty-five  teachers  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  scholars.  In  1841  Isaac  McConnel 
and  Althea  Fleming,  as  superintendents,  reported  a 
membership  of  272  scholars,  41  teachers  and  434 
books  in  the  library.  In  1883  the  number  of  scholars 
was  632,  and  in  1887  it  was  795.  Edward  Spencer  was 
superintendent  for  many  years.  James  McKay  is 
now  superintendent  of  the  school  and  James  Floyd 
assistant  superintendent.  The  infant  department  is 
in  care  of  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Taggart,  assisted  by  Mrs. 
Sarah  Moore. 

Among  the  early  records  of  the  church  are  the 
following  marriages : 

In  1788,  John  Miller  to  Eleanor  Latimer ;  Samuel  Foudray  to  Ann 
Wood.  In  1791,  Robert  Bumsey  to  Elizabeth  Colesburg;  Jonathan 
Sturgis  to  Mary  Mehollen.  In  1793,  Samuel  Wood  to  Patience  Irwin. 
In  1796,  James  Krampton  to  Elisabeth  Derrick.  In  1797,  Thomas  Mc- 
Gorkle  to  Ann  Osborne  ;  J^hn  Food  to  Sarah  Boetick  ;  Olden  Griffin, 
to  Rebecca  Griffin  ;  Thomas  Hyatt  to  Sarah  Whitsili ;  James  Hudson  to 
Letitia  Eelley  :  James  Lynch  to  Elizabeth  Widemire ;  Henry  Witsill  to 
Rachel  Smith.  In  1798,  Alexander  Abbott  to  Mary  Sullivan  ;  John 
Francis  to  Jane  Hersche ;  jMmes  Mitten  to  Elisabeth  Trampton  ;  Wil- 
liam Norris  to  Margaretta  McOuire  ;  Samuel  Warren  to  Elizabeth  Mo- 
GiU.  In  1799,  Joeeph  Bates  to  Ann  West;  James  Bevard  to  Maria 
Anderson ;  William  North  to  Elinor  Robison  ;  John  Paynter  to  Re- 
becca  Fredd;  George  Reed  to  Elinor  Reed;  William  Smith  to  Rachel 
Jennett. 

St  PauPs  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Wilming- 
ton was  organized  January  26,  1844,  at  the  residence 
of  Hyland  B.  Pennington,  southeast  corner  of  Fourth 
and  Market  Streets,  by  a  number  of  members  of  As- 
bury  M.  E.  Church.  Rev.  John  Kenneday,  pastor  of 
Asbury  Church,  was  chairman  of  the  meeting  and 
Mr.  Pennington,  secretary.  The  present  site  of  St. 
PauPs  Church  was  immediately  purchased  of  Jno. 
McKnight  and  Samuel  D.  Newlin  for  $3000,  includ- 
ing improvements,  and  the  erection  of  the  church  be- 
gan without  delay.  The  material  and  work  were  fur- 
nished at  reduced  prices.  Samuel  McCaulley  supplied 
the  brick  at  $6  per  m.,  and  John  Flinn  laid  them  at 
$2.25 ;  John  M.  Turner  did  the  carpenter  work  and 
contributed  $700 ;  M.  Edwards  was  the  painter  and 
afterward  prominent  as  a  singer  in  the  congregation. 
The  purchasing  committee  were  Miller  Dunott,  Sam- 
uel McCaulley,  Henry  Hicks,  Thos.  Young,  Edward 
Moore,  John  Flinn,  John  M.  Turner,  William  H. 
Calvert  and  H.  B.  Pennington.  The  building  com- 
onittee  were  William  H.  Calvert,  Samuel  McCaulley, 
Edward  Moore,  Henry  Hicks  and  Miller  Dunott.  The 
trustees*of  the  society  were  H.  B.  Pennington,  Henry 
Hicks,  William  H.  Calvert,  Miller  Dunott,  Samuel 
McCaulley,  Jacob  M.  GrarreUon  and  Ekiward  Moore. 

The  new  church  was  dedicated  on  Thursday  after- 
noon, March  3,  1845,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Kenneday  and  Rev. 
Levi  Scott.  Dr.  Kenneday,  celebrated  as  a  preacher, 
lecturer  and  poet,  was  the  first  pastor,  and  in  two  years 
the  congregation  numbered  three  hundred.  On  Octo- 
ber 29, 1847,  the  church  was  somewhat  damaged  by 


an  accidental  fire.  In  1872  the  church  was  improved 
at  a  cost  of  $7000  and  a  $1500  pipe  organ  was  pur- 
chased. Miss  Fannie  McGonigle  was  the  first  organist. 
The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  four  hun- 
dred. The  board  of  trustees  are  Joseph  Pyle,  president; 
Authur  R.  Lewis,  James  C.  Pickles,  Jabez  HodgsoD, 
Edgar  Finley,  Benjamin  Murgatroyd,  William  Swig- 
get,  Samuel  H.  Baynard  and  Edward  Morrow.  The 
pastors  of  St.  Paul's  have  been,  1845-46,  John  Ken- 
neday; 1847-48,  Jos.  Castle;  1849-^0, Pen n el  Coomb; 
1851-52,  F.  Hodgson ;  1853,  C.  D.  Carson ;  1854,  Jo- 
seph Mason  ;  1855-56,  G.  R.  Crooks ;  1857-58,  Charles 
Cooke;  1859-60,  W.  H.  Bartine;  1861-62,  T.  C.  Mur- 
phy;  1863-65,  W.  J.  Stevenson;  1866-68,  Aaron 
Rittenhouse;  1869-70,  J.  F.  Clymer;  1871-72,  B.  W. 
Todd  ;  1873-75,  J.  B.  Merritt ;  1876-77,|W.  P.  Davis; 
1878-80,  J.  H.  Caldwell;  1881-82,  M.  A.  Richards; 
1883-84,  R.  H.  Adams.  Rev.  Mr.  Hill  is  the  present 
pastor.  The  Sunday-School,  organized  contempo- 
raneously with  the  church,  has  over  six  hundred 
scholars  and  seventy-two  officers  and  teachers.  Joseph 
Pyle  has  been  superintendent  for  nearly  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  In  1886  the  two-story  building  used  for 
the  infant  department  of  the  Sunday -School  was  torn 
down  and  a  large  and  commodious  Sunday-School 
erected,  at  a  cost  of  $6000. 

The  Union  Methodist  Episcopal  Churchj^  of  Wil- 
mington, north-wesi  corner  of  Fifth  and  Washington 
Streets,  was  established  originally  in  1847,  by  Rev. 
Edward  Kennard,  as  the  Orange  Street  Society.  Mr. 
Kennard  was  a  supernumerary  of  the  Philadelphia 
Conference.  In  1847  he  removed  to  Wilmington 
from  Elkton,  Maryland.,  and  purchased  the  building 
corner  Third  and  Orange  Streets,  previously  used  by 
a  society  of  Methodist  Protestants.  Here  he  organ- 
ized the  Orange  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Society 
with  fifty-three  members,  and  it  was  placed  under  the 
care  of  Rev.  J.  Castle,  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
with  Rev.  Mr.  Kennard  as  supernumerary.  In  1849 
Rev.  H.  S.  Atmore  was  assigned  to  the  charge  in  con- 
junction with  Mr.  Kennard.  In  this  year  there  were 
seventy-three  members  and  a  Sunday-school  of  one 
hundred.  During  the  early  part  of  Mr.  Atmore's 
term  a  lot  was  secured  on  Second  near  Washington 
Street,  on  which  to  build  a  new  church,  and  building 
operations  proceeded  until  the  edifice  was  ready  for 
the  roof.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  with  Masonic 
ceremonies,  and  this  caused  a  disaffection  which  re- 
sulted in  the  disbanding  of  the  church  and  suspen- 
sion of  the  work.  In  the  fall  of  1849  Miss  Margaret 
Rumford,  a  member  of  Asbury  Church,  contributed 
sufficiently  to  roof  the  building,  and  the  following 
year  Rev.  Andrew  Manship  was  appointed  to  Union 
Mission,  as  the  abandoned  church  was  called.  He 
found  the  former  congregation  scattered  and  a  debt 
of  twenty-six  hundred  dollars  on  the  unfinished  struc- 
ture. He  began  services  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  Third 
and  King  Streets,  with  Miss  Margaret  Rumford  and 
one  other  lady  as  sole  members  of  his  congregation. 

1  From  a  sketch  by  Rev.  Adam  Strangle,  paator. 


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Soon,  however,  the  mission  grew  and  a  new  board  of 
trustees,  consisting  of  Asa  Pointsett,  George  McGee, 
John  Rudolph,  Albert  Thatcher,  Grubb  Talley, 
Thomas  H.  Bajnard  and  Edward  Moore,  completed 
the  building  of  the  church,  at  a  cost  of  seven  thousand 
dollars,  and  it  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  E.  B.  Ames, 
November  28, 1850.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Manship's 
firat  year  the  church  had  one  hundred  and  fifty- four 
members,  one  hundred  and  forty  probationers,  and  a 
Sunday-school  of  two  hundred  scholars.  In  addition 
to  the  trustees  named,  the  following  were  the  original 
church  officers:  Class  Leaders,  Barney  C.  Harris, 
JohnBoyce,  Isaac  McConnell,  William  Edmundson 
and  Albert  Thatcher ;  Stewards,  Asa  Pointsett,  John 
Rudolph,  George  McGee  and  John  M.  Guire ;  Ex- 
horters,  William  Edmundson,  Franklin  Supplee  and 
Cyras  Stem ;  Cyrus  Stern  was  also  the  first  Sunday- 
school  superintendent  and  was  assisted  by  Miss  Mar- 
garet Bumford,  who  was  the  first  female  superinten- 
dent In  1865  it  was  determined  to  build  a  larger 
church  in  a  better  location  and  the  present  Union 
Church  is  the  result.  The  committee  appointed  to 
take  the  matter  in  charge  consisted  of  Rev.  J.  D. 
Curtis,  pastor ;  Cyrus  Stern,  Stephen  Postles,  Henry 
F.  Pickels,  Wm.  Edmundson,  Asa  Pointsett  and  Wes- 
ley Talley.  This  committee  purchased  the  lot  and 
appointed  three  of  their  number,  Stephen  Postles, 
Chrrus  Stern  and  Jethro  McCollough,  as  building  com- 
mittee. Of  the  latter  Mrs.  Postles  contributed  more 
than  one-tenth  of  the  entire  cost.  The  lecture  room 
was  dedicated  December  23,  1866,  «nd  the  auditorium 
November  17,  1868,  by  Bishops  E.  R.  Ames  and  Levi 
8cott.  The  cost  of  the  edifice  was  thirty-six  thousand 
dollars.  Of  the  members  who  joined  during  Mr. 
Manship's  first  year,  the  following  remain  :  Margaret 
Rumford,  Barney  C.  Harris,  Eliza  Harris,  Letitia 
Hanunitt,  Susan  Sinex,  Cyrus  Stern,  Caroline  Stern, 
Eliza  Lewis,  Lizzie  Hallowell,  Maria  Edmundson, 
Hannah  McDonald,  Mary  Robinson,  Susan  Ford, 
Catherine  D.  Kelley,  Mary  A.  Flagler,  Joanna  Gordon, 
James  Dawson,  Mary  Dawson.  The  church  has  now 
five  hundred  and  fifty  members,  with  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  in  the  Sunday-school.  The  pastors  have 
been— Orange  Street,  from  1847  to  1850 :  1847,  Ed- 
ward Kennard,  supernumerary;  1848,  J.  Castle  (in 
connection  with  St.  Paul);  1849,  H.  S.  Atmore 
(Union),  1850-51,  Andrew  Manship;  1852-53, 
Jothna  Humphries ;  1854-55,  John  B.  Maddux  ; 
1856,  J.  T.  Cooper;  1857-58,  John  Ruth;  1859- 
60,  William  Barnes ;  1861-62,  John  Arthur;  1863-64, 
James  A.  Brindle ;  1865-66,  J.  D.  Curtis ;  1867-68, 
W.E.  England;  1869-70,  S.  L.  Gracy;  1871,  J.  H. 
Lightboume;  1872-73,  Charles  Hill;  1874-76,  T.  E. 
Martindale;  1877-79,  J.  B.  Mann;  1880-82,  Adam 
Stengle ;  1883-85,  C.  W.  Prettyman ;  1886-87,  Adam 
Stengle. 

The  Scott  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  the  out- 
growth of  a  union  Sunday-school  established  corner 
of  Seventh  and  Walnut  Streets,  September  28, 1851, 
bj  members  of  the  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  and 


Hanover  Street  Presbyterian  Churches,  with  J.  T. 
Welden  superintendent.  The  following  year  the 
school  was  removed  to  the  public  school  building  at 
Sixth  and  French  Streets,  pending  the  erection  of  a 
chapel  corner  Seventh  and  Spruce  Streets,  which 
was  dedicated  in  December,  1852. 

The  Methodist  denomination  then  came  into  pos- 
sesion of  the  school,  and  in  1854  a  Methodist  society, 
under  the  title  of  Seventh  Street  Church,  was  organ- 
ized by  Rev.  Mr.  Geary,  and  among  the  members 
were  J.  S.  Welden,  George  Mortimer,  William  H. 
Riley,  Thomas  Orpwood,  Gilbert  Holmes,  Stewart 
Carlisle,  William  Bicking,  William  H.  Foulk,  John 
Dick,  William  Heisler,  William  Grifienberg,  John 
Lansdale,  George  Carpenter  and  Joseph  Spurway, 
In  1855  the  seating  capacity  of  the  church  was 
doubled  and  its  name  was  changed  to  Scott  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  In  1866  the  congrega- 
tion was  supplied  jointly  with  Grace  Church  and  was 
called  Grace  Chapel,  but  in  1867  resumed  its  old 
name  and  independent  character.  The  church  was 
again  improved  in  1868,  and  in  1872-  a  new  audience 
room  was  built.  The  Sunday-school  is  conducted 
by  Thomas  O'Daniel.  The  pastors  of  the  Church 
have  been  Rev.  Charlton  Lewis,  1855 ;  Henry  King, 
supernumerary,  one  year;  Rev.  E.  I.  D.  Pepper, 
two  years ;  Rev.  William  Ridgway,  1859 ;  Rev.  H.  A. 
Bodine,  1861;  Rev.  A.  Gather,  1862-63;  Rev.  H.  A. 
Cleveland;  Rev.  J.  O'Neil,  1865;  Rev.  John  J. 
Jones,  1866 ;  Rev.  Leonidas  Dobson,  1867 ;  Rev.  A. 
Gather,  1868 ;  Rev.  Francis  M.  Chatham,  three  years ; 
Rev. T.  L.  Tomkinson,  two  years;  Rev.  J. O,  Sypherd, 
1874-76 ;  Rev.  C.  M.  Pegg,  1877-79 ;  Rev.  P.  H.  Raw- 
lins, 1880-81 J  Rev.  T.  R.  Creamer,  1882-84;  Rev.  N. 
M.  Browne,  1885-87.  Colonel  H.  S.  McComb  at  one 
time  manifested  an  active  interest  in  the  Sunday- 
school  work,  and  among  the  earlier  members  of  the 
church  were  L.  T.  Grubb,  Isaac  McKaig  and  Isaac 
Forman.  In  1868,  Revs.  J.  D.  Curtis  and  R.  G. 
Moody  held  a  revival  in  the  church,  continuing  over 
seven  months. 

Brandywine  Methodist  Episcopal  Churchy  of  Wil- 
mington, was  founded  in  1857,  with  Rev.  Wm.  G. 
Kennard,  of  Asbury  Church,  as  pastor.  The  society 
first  worshipped  in  Brandywine  Academy.  Its  orig- 
inal members  were:  Sarah  Rigby,  Mary  A.  Hill, 
Catherine  Lable,  Sarah  Morrow,  Elizabeth  Hill, 
Emeline  Bullock,  Mary  Hill,  Edgar  Pierce,  Rebecca 
Burton,  Franklin  Lloyd,  Elizabeth  Lloyd,  James  H. 
Spencer,  Sarah  E.  Spencer,  from  Asbury;  James 
Dengle  and  wife,  Joseph  Bratten,  Elizabeth  Bratten, 
David  Lurten,  Elizabeth  Lurten,  Wm.  A.  Brian,  and 
Wm.  H.  McKenny,  from  other  charges.  The  church 
was  organized  November  19, 1857,  when  a  meeting 
composed  of  Wm.  Kennard,  Joseph  T.  Bratten,  Wm. 
H.  Brian,  James  Spencer,  John  P.  Paselle,  James 
Dengee,  Franklin  Lloyd,  Edgar  C.  Pierce,  Amos  S. 
Wickersham,  Benjamin  String,  Wm.  Kenny,  Wm. 
Souther,  Rachel  H.  Tally,  Sarah  Rigby,  Catherine 
Loab  met  in  the  old  academy  and  elected  the  follow- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ing  trustees :  Chajs.  Moore,  Geo.  W,  Sparks,  George 
Tally,  Lewis  Weldon,  Wm.  Todd,  Garrett  Megan, 
John  T.  Gause,  John  S.  Kennard,  John  S.  Crosley. 
The  first  house  of  worship  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
six  th  >usand  dollars,  northeast  corner  of  Twenty- 
second  and  Market  Streets.  In  1884,  through  the 
energy  of  the  pastor  and  the  co-operation  of  Eli  Men- 
den  hall,  one  of  the  trustees  and  his  friends,  the  church 
was  enlarged  at  a  cost  of  about  four  thousand  dollars. 
The  present  brick  structure  is  valued  at  seventeen 
thousand  dollars,  and  will  seat  seven  hundred.  The 
membership  is  two  hundred  and  fifty ;  two  Suuday- 
schools  have  five  hundred  officers  and  scholars.  Rev. 
E.  L.  Hubbard  conducted  revival  services  in  a  tent 
in  1884,  during  the  remodeling  of  the  church  and  one 
hundred  and  sixty  persons  were  converted.  The  pas- 
tors of  this  charge  have  been  Rev.  Wm.  Kennard, 
1857-68 ;  John  France,  1858-60 ;  Thos.  Montgomery, 
1860-61 ;  Wm.  H.  Fries,  1861-62 ;  Benjamin  Christ, 
1862-63 ;  Thos.  McElroy,  1863-64 ;  E.Wilson,  1864-65 ; 
John  France,  1865-68 ;  Joshua  Humphries,,! 868-69 ; 
John  Shilling,  1869-72;  Thos.  Hunter,  1872-74; 
Wm.  M.  Warner,  1874-75 ;  A.  W.  Milby,  1875-76  ; 
John  W.  Pierson,  1876-78 ;  E.  E.  White,  1878-81 ; 
John  Shilling,  1881-84;  E.  L.  Hubbard,  1884-87. 
C.  A.  Grise,  the  present  pastor,  was  appointed  to  the 
charge  in  March,  1887. 

Grace  Methodist  EpUcopal  Churchy^  of  Wilmington, 
springs  from  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
On  November  17,  1864,  a  meeting  was  held  of  twelve 
persons,  who  adopted  a  mutual  pledge  that  ''our  most 
zealous  efforts  and  constant  labors  in  the  work  of  con- 
structing a  new  and  handsome  Methodist  Church  in 
this  city;  and  that  with  the  blessing  of  God,  our 
labors  shall  not  be  relaxed  until  this  great  and  good 
work  shall  have  been  accomplished.^'  On  March  28, 
1865,  the  plans  of  the  present  Grace  Church  were 
adopted.  Messrs.  George  W.  Sparks,  J.  Taylor  Gause 
and  Job  H.  Jackson  were  appointed  the  building 
committee.  The  trustees  were  Hon.  Daniel  M.  Bates, 
chancellor  of  the  State  of  Delaware;  Deleplaine  Mc- 
Daniel,  C.  F.  Rudolph,  Job  H.  Jackson,  Jno.  Mer- 
rick, George  P.  Norris,  Jared  Megaw,  George  W. 
Sparks,  Eklward  Moore,  J.  Taylor  Gause,  Samuel  M. 
Harrington,  Esq.,  was  secretary,  and  William  H.  Bil- 
lany,  treasurer  of  the  Board. 

On  October  7,  1865,  the  corner-stone  was  laid. 
Bishop  Simpson  made  the  address  on  that  occasion, 
and  prominent  clergyman  of  the  Presbyterian  and 
Methodist  Churches  of  Wilmington  participated.  On 
March  25,  1866,  services  were  held  for  the  first  time 
in  the  nearly  finished  chapel.  Rev.  William  J.  Ste- 
venson, who  had  fostered  the  enterprise  from  the  first, 
was  made  pastor.  On  June  10,  1866,  the  chapel  was 
dedicated  by  Bishop  Ames,  and  on  June  17, 1887,  the 
Sunday-school  room  was  dedicated. 

The  church  was  completed  and  dedicated  on  Thurs- 
day, January  23,  1868,  Bishop  Simpson  preaching, 
and  Bishops  Scott  and  Ames  being  also  present.    The 

1  From  a  sketch  by  Prof.  W.  A.  Beynolds. 


building  is  of  decorated  gothic  design,  and  was  built 
of  Connecticut  River  valley  stone,  serpentine  from 
the  battle-field  of  Chadd's  Ford  and  drab  stone  from 
Nova  Scotia.  The  interior  is  very  handsomely  fin- 
ished. 

The  pastors  have  been :  William  J.  Stevensoo, 
1866-68;  Alfred  Cookman,  1868-71;  Jacob  Todd, 
1871-78;  L.  C.  Matlack,  1873-74;  Job  E.  Smith, 
1874-77;  William  J.  Stevenson,  1877-80 ;  George  W. 
Miller,  1880-83 ;  J.  Richards  Boyle,  1883-86 ;  and 
Jacob  Todd,  1886. 

The  church  building  cost  over  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  the  membership  aggregates  four 
hundred  and  fifty.  Ep worth  and  Madeley  chapels 
have  been  erected  under  the  auspices  of  Grace 
Church.  Epworth,  comer  of  Tenth  and  Church 
Streets,  was  first  organized  as  a  Sunday-school  under 
the  auspices  of  St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 


!sr. 


GRACE  M.  E.  CHURCH. 

November  6,  1863.     When  Grace  Church  went  out 
from  St.  PauPs,  Epworth  was  transferred  to  Grace. 

The  history  of  Madeley  chapel  begins  with  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Todd,  who  preached  on  an  open  lot 
in  May,  1871.  He  subsequently  preached  in  a  tent, 
and  then  services  were  held  in  a  temporary  structure. 
The  present  chapel  was  finished  and  dedicated  by 
Rev.  Jacob  Todd,  assisted  by  Rev.  William  J.  Steven- 
son, in  the  winter  of  1872-73.  The  building  and  fur- 
niture, exclusive  of  lot,  cost  eight  thousand  dollars. 
The  pastors  have  been  :  Rev.  I.  N.  Forman,  Rev.  J. 
E.  Mowbray,  Rev.  D.  Dodd,  Rev.  T.  H.  O'Brien,  Rev. 
B.  F.  Price,  Rev.  H.  W.  Ewing.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  eighty. 

Epworth  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Wilmington 
was  founded  in  1867,  in  the  second  story  of  a  frame 
building  near  East  Seventh  and  Locust  Streets,  and 
held  occasional  services.  A  class  of  converts  was 
formed  with  Edward  Jackson  as  leader,  and  Rev.  A. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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Seott,  son  of  the  late  Bbhop  Scott,  was  the  first  regu- 
Itr  pastor,  in  conjunction  with  Bev.  Mr.  Stephenson, 
of  Grace  Church.  Subsequently  the  Sunday-School 
Union  of  Grace  Church  became  interested  in  this 
field  and  as  a  result  a  chapel  was  built  at  Tenth  and 
Chorch  Streets,  and  dedicated  March  17,  1879.  Rev. 
H.  H.  Davis  was  pastor  until  1875,  and  was  succeed- 
ed by  Rev.  A.  D.  Davis.  The  other  pastors  have 
been  Rev.  L.  E.  Barrett,  1876  ;  Rev.  E.  C.  Macnichol, 
1878;  Rev.  W.  S.  Robinson,  1879;  Rev.  Edward 
Davis,  1880-1 ;  Presiding  Elder,  1882 ;  Rev.  C.  A. 
HiD,  1883;  Rev.  B.  Gr^g,  1884r^;  Rev.  D.  H. 
Corkran,  1886-7.  In  1873  the  church  property  was 
tomsferred  to  the  trustees  of  Epworth  Society. 

Kingtwood  Methodist  Episcopal  Churchy  Thirteenth 
and  Claymont  Street,  Wilmington,  grew  out  of  a 
Sanday-school,  started  in  1878,  by  Mrs.  Rinker,  in 
the  kitchen  of  her  residence.  As  the  school  increased 
George  R.  Greenman  became  superintendent,  and  St. 
PaaFs  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  assisted  in  the 
work.  A  mission  was  established  and  a  chapel  cost- 
ing one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars  was  built  in 
1873.  It  continued  as  a  mission  until  1884,  when 
ReT.  William  A.  Wise  was  appointed  pastor.  Re- 
cently, Rev.  W.  L.  White,  a  local  preacher,  has  been 
officiating.  The  church  has  a  membership  of  seven- 
ty-five, and  the  Sunday  School  has  two  hundred 
members.  Jabez  Hodson  was  superintendent  for  two 
years  and  G^eorge  W.  Todd  for  the  past  six  years. 

Silvtr-Brook  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Wil- 
mington, was  established  as  the  result  of  open  air 
meetings,  on  Hawley  Street.  They  began  in  May, 
1881.  Andrew  J.  Dal  bow  was  leader  of  the  first 
meeting  and  Charles  A.Foster  organized  a  Sunday- 
ichool.  On  July  12, 1881,  a  society  was  formed,  and 
A.  J.  Dillon,  Charles  A.  Foster,  B.  Monkton,  J. 
Walton,  B.  Astor,  William  Read,  John  Harris, 
Thomas  Kennedy  and  Samuel  Morris  were  elected 
trustees.  The  open-air  meetings  continued  until 
October,  1881,  and  the  services  were  then  suspended 
until  May  27,  1883,  when  Mr.  Foster  re-organized  it. 
The  Sanday-school  and  services  were  resumed  by 
▼arioQs  ministers.  Subsequently,  the  dwelling  of 
Robert  West  and  a  remodeled  stable  were  used  re- 
spectively. Asbury  Church  took  charge  of  it  as  a 
minion  and  Charles  Moore,  a  local  preacher,  was,  in 
January,  1884,  assigned  to  it.  In  1885,  a  place  of 
worship  was  built  and  dedicated  May  3d  by  Rev. 
Measra.  Murray,  Hubbard  and  Jones.  Rev.  W.  L. 
Tompkinson  is  now  pastor  and  Mr.  Foster  is  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school. 

The  Swedish  Mission  at  Eleventh  And  Heald  Street, 
Wilmington,  was  started  as  a  Sunday  school,  in 
Kingswood  Chapel  in  1882.  Miss  Huldah  Nelson 
was  the  first  teacher  of  the  school,  composed  of  ten 
children,  of  Swedes  who  had  lately  arrived  in  this 
coantry.  A  number  of  the  members  of  Grace  Church 
took  an  active  interest  in  the  mission,  prominent 
*mong  whom  was  Capt.  Alexander  Kelley.  Rev. 
Carl  0.  Carlson,  a  native  Swede,  was  sent  from  Phila- 
46 


del  phi  a  to  take  charge  of  the  mission.  He  was 
ordained  by  Bishop  Simpson  and  entered  upon  his 
duties  in  1883.  The  present  church  was  built  in 
1883.  In  1885,  Rev.  A.  Z.  Fryxwell,  of  Gottenberg, 
Sweden,  succeeded  Mr.  Carlson,  and  remained  two 
and  a  half  years.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Konrad 
R.  Hartwig,  also  came  from  Sweden.  He  took  charge 
November  2, 1886.  Mrs.  Jenny  Hartwig,  wife  of  the 
pastor,  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school. 
Services  are  conducted  in  the  Swedish  language. 
The  church  has  a  membership  of  about  fifty.  The 
trustees  are  Captain  Alexander  Kelly,  Justin  Fars- 
berg,  J.  W.  Difiendorf,  Andrew  Nelson,  Robert* 
Wheeler,  O.  Fundiu,  Z.  Todd  and  Charles  Olsen. 

Wesley  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Wilmington 
had  its  inception  in  a  Sunday-school  started  in  a 
store  by  Jabez  Hodson,  January  11, 1885.  St.  Paul's 
Church  made  it  a  mission  and  in  1886  a  society  was 
formed  with  about  twenty-five  members.  For  sev- 
eral months  the  second  floor  of  the  Old  Weccacoe 
Engine-house,  on  Jackson  Street,  was  used  for  relig- 
ious services.  Subsequently  a  church  was  built  at 
Linden  and  Jackson  Streets  at  a  cost  of  sixteen  hun- 
dred. Rev.  S.  T.  Gardner  was  the  first  pastor  and 
Rev.  W.  G.  Koons  succeeded  him.  The  church  has  a 
membership  of  seventy  and  the  Sunday-school  one 
hundred  and  twenty.  Howard  L.  George  is  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school.  The  trustees  are 
Wm.  C.  Gray,  Jabez  Hodson,  Howard  L.  Gkorge, 
Wm.  Mattier,  Richard  C.  Jones  and  M.  Adams. 

A  religious  society  was  formed  in  the  Athenaeum, 
Wilmington,  May  24,  1843,  and  clergymen  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church  performed  ministerial 
ofi[ices  for  them.  The  first  trustees  were  W.  A.  Bird, 
C.  B.  F.  Smith,  Samuel  Hutton,  Zenas  B.  Glazier, 
William  F.  Jeandell  and  H.  F.  Askew.  This  society, 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  William  H.  F.  Barnes, 
an  eloquent  young  clergyman,  February  18, 1844,  was 
changed  to  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Wil- 
mington. The  trustees  then  were  Joseph  L.  Carpen- 
ter, William  P.  Colmery,  George  F.  Hampton,  Wil- 
liam Miller  and  the  pastor. 

A  society  of  Methodist  Protestants  in  1845  put  up 
a  church  building  fifty  feet  by  thirty-three  feet  at 
northwest  corner  Third  and  Orange  Streets,  Wilming- 
ton. The  building  committee  were  William  S.  Pine, 
Thomas  Lynam  and  James  Stalcup.  Rev.  Samuel 
Keener  Cox  was  pastor  and  the  church  membership 
was  thirty. 

An  Independent  Methodist  Church,  Rev.  Andrew 
Thomas,  pastor,  was  organized  in  Wilmington,  in 
1850.  It  prospered  for  a  short  time  and  then  dis- 
banded. 

me  Mrst  Methodist  Protestant  Church  of  Wilming- 
ton, was  organized  January  9,  1880.  Among  the 
original  members  were  Rev.  W.  T.  Potter,  John 
Gray,  T.  L.  Layton,  W.  G.  Rowand,  Samuel  Gray,  J. 
W.  Dill  and  William  Budd.  The  first  board  of 
trustees  were  John  Gray,  H.  W.  Morrow,  William 
Budd,  Thomas  Budd,  James  Budd,  George  Walls  and 


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722 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Henry  Primrose.    In  March,  1880,  the  organization 
was  received  into  the  Maryland  Annual  Conference 
and  constituted  a  mission  under  the  care  of  the  Home 
Missionary  Society.     The  first  public  services  were 
held  in  an  old  building  on  Seventh  Street  near  Wal- 
nut.   This  building  was  bought  September  1,  1880, 
for  twenty-five   hundred  dollars.     In   1885  the  old 
building  was  enlarged  and  remodeled  at  an  expense 
of  three  thousand  four  hundred  dollars,  under  the 
direction    of   a    building    committee   consisting    of 
Henry  Conner,  Jesse  Rhinehart,  James  McKelvey, 
J.    H.     Moss,    J.    D.    Cael    and    Franklin    Wyre. 
On    November    29,   1885,   the   Sunday-school  room 
was  reopened  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Benson,  A.M.,  of  West- 
minster, Maryland,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  E.  T.  Ewell,  of  Balti- 
more, and  Rev.  J.  W.  Charlton,  of  Seaford,  Delaware- 
The  building  was  completed  in  1886  at  an  additional 
expense  of  one  thousand  dollars,  and  reopened  Jan- 
uary 31,  1887,  by  Rev.  W.  S.  Hammond,  President  of 
the  Maryland  Annual  Conference  and  President  of 
the  General  Conference.    The  first  pastor  was  Rev. 
J.  G.  Sullivan,  appointed  in  March,  1880,  Jind  served 
one  year.    Rev.  F.  C.  Klein  was  appointed  in  March, 
1881,  and  resigned  in  September,  1882,  to  take  charge 
of  a  missionary  station  in  Yokohama,  Japan,  as  the 
first  male  foreign  missionary  of  the  Methodist  Prot- 
ostant  Church.    In  September,   1882,   Rev.   W.  T. 
Valiant  was  appointed  pastor.     Rev.  G.  F.  Farring, 
the  present  pastor,  was  appointed  in  March,  1883. 
The  church  numbers  seventy-five  members.     The 
Sunday-school,  under  the  superintendency  of  G.  H. 
Gilbert  and  James  McKelvey,  numbers  over  three 
hundred  scholars. 

Baptist  Chukches .—i^r«^  Baptist  Church, — 
The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Wilmington,  found- 
ed Ocftober  8,  1785,  was  the  pioneer  of  that  de- 
nomination in  that  city.  Prior  to  this  date  occa- 
sional services  were  held,  and  among  the  Baptists 
in  Wilmington  were  Mrs.  Ann  Bush,  who  came  in 
1748;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Way,  in  1764;  and  John  Stow 
and  family,  in  1769.  Rev.  Philip  Hughes  preached 
in  1782.  In  April,  1783,  Thomas  Ainger,  a  Philadel- 
phia Presbyterian,  settled  in  Wilmington,  and,  his 
wife  being  a  Baptist,  he  took  a  great  interest  in  that 
denomination,  of  which  he  subsequently  became  a 
member,  and  it  was  mainly  through  his  efforts  that 
the  First  Church  was  established.  Referring  to  him 
Edwards,  the  historian,  says :  "  What  Baptists  could 
not  do  a  Presbyterian  did  for  them."  Soon  after  his 
arrival  Rev.  Messrs.  Fleeson  and  Boggs,  by  invitation, 
held  meetings  at  Mr.  Ainger's  house,  and  on  May  25, 
1784,  Mr.  Boggs  administered  the  rite  of  baptism  to 
Thomas  Ainger,  Rachael  Ainger,  Noah  Cross  and 
Mrs.  Ferris.  During  the  same  year  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes 
visited  Wilmington  to  publish  an  original  work  on 
Baptism,  and  preachel  alternately  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  and  the  town's  school-house.  He 
baptized  Robert  Smith,  John  Redman,  James  Mc- 
Laughlin and  Henry  Walker  in  Brandy  wine  Creek. 
Nine  of  the  original  Baptists  of  Wilmington  joined 


the  Welsh  Tract  Church,  in  New  Castle  County  and 
they,  in  conjunction  with  six  others,-^  organized  the 
First  Baptist  Church.  These  were  Thomas  Ainger, 
James  McLaughlin,  Thomas  Williams,  Henry 
Walker,  Joseph  Tomlinson,  John  Redman,  Robert 
Smith,  John  McKim,  Curtis  Gilbert,  Sarah  Stow, 
Elizabeth  Hopkins,  Mary  Mattson,  John  Stow,  Thos. 
Stow  and  Abigail  Ainger,  of  whom  Thomas  Ainger, 
James  McLau/^hlin,  Henry  Walker  and  Curtis  Gil- 
bert were  subsequently  ordained  to  the  ministry. 
The  organization  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  met 
with  opposition  from  the  other  denominations,  except- 
ing the  Presbyterians  whose  pastor  encouraged  the 
new  congregation,  placed  his  pulpit  at  the  disposal 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes,  the  Baptist  minister,  and  pro- 
mulgated the  doctrine  of  *'  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 
The  Baptists  soon  erected  a  brick  chucch,  thirty-five 
by  forty  feet,  and  joined  ihe  Philadelphia  Association. 
The  first  regular  pastor  of  the  First  Church  was  Rev. 
Thomas  Fleeson,  who  laid  the  corner-stone  of  the 
edifice,  accomplished  its  erection  and  remained  in 
charge  of  it  until  1788.  He  was  succeeded  by  Thomas 
Ainger,  who  was  elevated  to  the  ministry  April  25, 
1786.  He  was  ordained  as  pastor  October  28,  1788, 
and  continued  bis  ministration  until  his  death,  in 
1797.  His  successors  were  Revs.  Joseph  Boggs, 
Gideon  Farrell,  John  Ellis  and  Joseph  Flood.  Rev. 
Flood  was  soon  excluded  from  the  pulpit  for  preach- 
ing polygamy.  He  subsequently  went  to  Norfolk, 
Va.,  and  created  considerable  trouble.  From  1802  to 
1819  Rev.  Daniel  Dodge  was  pastor  of  the  church, 
and  during  this  interval  baptized  two  hundred  and 
fifty  converts.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Samuel 
R.  Green,  1819  to  1824;  Rev.  David  Lewis,  1824  to 
1826 ;  Rev.  John  D.  Strumpfer,  1826  to  1827 ;  Rev.  Jno. 
P.  Peckworth,  1827  to  1828.  During  Mr.  Peckworth's 
ministry  the  Sabbath-school  was  organized.  His 
successors  were  Revs.  John  Miller,  Alfred  Earle, 
Joseph  Smart,  Wilson  Housel,  Wm.  Matthews, 
Samuel  Earle  and  Elder  E.  Rittenhouse.  From  1846 
to  1858  the  First  Church  was  irregular  in  its  connec- 
tion with  the  Philadelphia  Association,  which  it 
again  joined  in  1862,  and  remained  until  1867, 
when  it  discontinued  the  connection,  but  in  1870  re- 
united with  it.  It  was  now  in  the  Delaware  Baptist 
Association.  A  portion  of  its  members  assisted  in 
organizing  the  Bethany  Church. 

The  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Wilmington^  was  or- 
ganized September  7,  1835,  by  thirteen  members 
from  the  First  Baptist  Church,— Gideon  F.  Tindall, 
Susanna  Boulden,  John  Haazlet,  Susan  Darby, 
Moses  Bannister,  Ann  Bannister,  Robinson  Beckley, 
Margaret  Springer,  Sally  Ann  Todd,  Sarah  A. 
Graham,  Margaret  Sterret,  Mary  E.  Stroud  and  Jane 
E.  Cochran.  In  1836  it  united  with  the  Philadel- 
phia Association.  The  congregation  worshipped 
first  in  a  rented  room  on  Sixth  Street,  and  in  the  old 
Presbyterian  meeting-house,  and  was  originally  sup- 
plied for  three  months  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Collom. 

1  From  a  history  by  Bev.  Rich&rd  B.  Cook,  D.D. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


723 


^^absequentlv  a  church  was  built  by  them,  corner 
of  Wdnut  and  Fifth  Streets,  now  occupied  by  the 
Gennan  Baptist  congregation.  In  1840  the  member- 
ship numbered  eighty -one.  On  January  21,  1842, 
Bev.  E.  Andrews  began  a  twelve  weeks'  meeting,  dur- 
ing which  one  hundred  and  twenty -five  converts 
wen  baptized,  among  them  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reuben 
Wheaton,  Thomas  Milner,  Eliza  J.  Cloward,  Wm. 
Stevenson,  Mary  and  Bebecca  Slack,  Mary  Billings, 
Mrs.  William  Emmons,  Charles  P.  Matlack,  Mrs. 
Samael  Tindall,  Mrs.  J.  Wollaston  and  Martha  A. 
Jones.  At  this  time  Washington  Jones,  (>.  G.  Lob- 
dell  and  W.  G.  Jones  were  trustees,  and  Lydia  P. 
Drew  and  Betsy  P.  Bonney  were  leading  members. 
In  1843  thirty-four  of  the  scholars  in  the  Sunday- 
ochool  were  baptized.  Elder  Jacob  Knapp  assisted 
the  pastor  from  December  1,  1843,  to  January  23, 
lS44,and  one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  were  baptized 
during  the  year,  among  them  Joseph  and  Mrs. 
Gould,  Edward  and  Mrs.  Bodle,  L.  B.  Findley  and 
Mary  Lowe.  Anne  Semple,  Mrs.  Sarah  Coxe,  J.  M. 
Chalfant  and  Mrs.  Chalfant  united  with  the  church 
by  certificate.  In  March,  1849,  John  and  Bebecca 
firadford,  Alexander  Brattan  and  wife,  James  and 
M&ry  A.  Bichardaon  and  Joseph  and  Mary  Bonney 
were  baptized  ;  in  1847,  Mrs.  Washington  Hayes  and 
Mrs.  Ann  J.  Eldridge;  and  in  1850,  W.  H.  Gregg  and 
Hannah  E.  Cloward.  In  1844  the  membership 
aggregated  three  hundred  and  sixty-nine,  and  three 
Sunday -schools  connected  with  the  church  had  three 
hundred  and  twelve  scholars  and  thirty-seven  ofl^cers 
and  teachers.  In  1853  a  lot  for  a  new  church  at  the 
northeast  corner  Fourth  and  French  Streets  was  pur- 
chased for  two  thousand  six  hundred  dollars  and  a 
building  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  Bev. 
Frederick  Charleton,  pastor,  Thomas  Allen,  J.  M. 
Chalftmt,  Washington  Jones,  Jacob  Bice  and  G.  G. 
Lobdell.  On  May  3,  1855,  the  new  church  was  dedi- 
cated at  a  total  cost  of  $28,091.37.  On  May  29,  1865, 
fifteen  members  were,  by  request,  dismissed  to  or- 
ganize the  Delaware  Avenue  Church  and  others 
subeeqaently  followed  them.  An  organ  was  added 
to  the  church,  in  1867,  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  the  same  year  three  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  twenty-two  dollars  were  expended 
in  repairs.  In  1870  the  Baptist  City  Mission,  the 
forerunner  of  the  Bethany  Church,  was  formed.  The 
Bemi-centennial  of  the  church  was  celebrated  Septem- 
ber 6  to  13,  1885,  in  the  meeting-house  corner  of 
Fourth  and  French  Streets.  Bevs.  Wm.  Cathcart, 
D.D.,  J.  W.  T.  Boothe,  D.D.,  H.  L.  Wayland,  D.D., 
H.  G.  Weston,  D.D.,  C.  0.  Bitting,  D.D.,  L.  Marks, 
D.D.,  C.  W.  Prettyman,  W.  L.  S.  Murray,  C.  L. 
Williams,  B.  W.  Perkins,  a  former  member  of  the 
church;  B.  M.  Luther,  Washington  Jones,  W. 
H,  Gregg,  Alfred  Gawthrop  and  others  took  part. 
The  historical  sermon  was  preached  by  the  pastor, 
Ke?.  R.  B.  Cook,  D.D.,  and  a  semi-centennial  hymn 
composed  by  Bev.  Prof.  M.  Heath,  a  member  of  the 
ciiorch,  was  sung  by  the  congregation.    The  Trinity 


choir,  under  Prof.  Bhoads,  assisted,  and  Mr.  Kurtz 
was  musical  director  and  organist. 

The  several  pastors  of  the  church  were :  Bev.  C. 
W.  Dennison,  September  9,  1836,  to  April  1, 1839 ; 
Bev.  G.  J.  Carleton,  September  15,  1839,  to  April  14, 
1841 ;  Bev.  Sanford  Leach,  July  1,  1841,  to  June  17, 
1842 ;  Bev.  Morgan  Bhees,  February  14,  1843,  to 
July,  1850;  Bev.  J.  G.  CoUom,  August  1,  1850,  to 
1853;  Bev.  Frederick  Charleton,  July  28,  1853,  to 
August,  1857 ;  Bev.  G.  M.  Condron,  February  1,1858,  to 
October  1, 1859  ;  Bev.  J.  S.  Dickerson,  December  10, 
1860,  to  May  1,  1865;  Bev.  W.  H.  H.  Marsh,  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  to  March,  1871 ;  Bev.  James  Waters, 
March  24, 1872,  to  1873;  Bev.  A.  McArthur,  1873  to 
1875;  Bev.  Bichard  B.  Cook,  D.D.,  December  1,  1875, 


SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH, 

and  is  the  present  incumbent.  Dr.  Cook  has  been 
prominent  in  his  church  at  State  and  national  meet- 
ings, as  trustee  and  moderator  of  the  Philadelphia 
Association,  manager  of  the  American  Baptist  His- 
torical Society,  secretary  of  the  National  Baptist 
Bible  Convention,  and  in  various  other  positions. 
He  has  also  written  and  published  "  The  Early  and 
Later  Delaware  Baptists,"  and  "The  Story  of  the 
Baptists,"  a  general  Baptist  history,  which  in  three 
years  has  reached  a  circulation  of  twenty  thousand 
copies. 

7%«  German  Baptist  Church  of  Wilmington  was 
founded  by  Bev.  Jeremiah  Grimmell,*  who  in  1855 

1  Ber.  Grimmell  was  bora  in  Marburg,  and  left  his  natire  place  be- 
cause of  religious  persecutions.  He  came  to  America  in  1851  and 
labored  as  a  colporteur,  founding  a  church  In  Williamsburg,  N.  T.    Id 


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724 


HISTORY  OF  DBLAWAKE. 


devoted  his  leisure  to  fostering  the  religious  interests 
of  the  German  Baptists,  whom  he  invited  to  meet  at 
his  house,  where  he  conducted  worship.  At  the  first 
service  there  were  thirteen  persons  present,  and  these 
comprised  the  original  memhers  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist Church,  which  was  organized  in  1856.  His  house 
being  too  small  to  accommodate  those  attracted 
by  his  preaching.  Rev.  Grimmell  was  offered  a  room 
in  the  residence  of  John  Swager,  corner  Fourth  and 
Pine  Streets,  where  services  were  continued  for  quite 
a  period.  Rev.  Leonard  Fleishman  preached  to  the 
converts  of  Mr.  Grimmell  on  several  occasions  and 
encouraged  him  in  his  religious  labors.  In  March, 
1856,  nine  of  them  were  baptized  in  the  Second  Bap- 
tist Church.  Through  the  efforts  of  Miss  Annie 
Semple,  who  manifested  a  zealous  interest  in  the 
work,  the  church  comer  of  Fifth  and  Walnut  Streets 
was  purchased  for  three  thousand  dollars.  Here  the 
congregation  was  organized  April  17,  1856,  by  Rev- 
Mr.  Grimmell  and  his  wife,  Edward  Austermiihl, 
John  Muhlhausen  and  Sophia,  his  wife,  John  Swager 
and  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  Peter  Braunsteiti  and  Susan, 
his  wife,  Frederick  Neutze,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Kaiser 
Mrs.  Theresa  Herzel  and  Catherine  Brauustein.  A 
Sunday-school  was  also  organized  the  same  year. 
The  church  has  had  the  following  pastors :  Decem- 
ber, 1856,  Rev.  F.  A.  Bauer,  one  and  a  half  years; 
Rev.  J.  C.  Haselhuhn,  three  years ;  Rev.  H.  Trump» 
four  years;  Rev.  P.  Piepgrass,  one  year;  Rev.  J* 
Fellman,  five  years;  Rev.  J.  M.  Heofflin,  1875  to 
1881 ;  Rev.  Henry  W.  Geil,  1882,  is  the  present  pas- 
tor. The  church  has  a  membership  of  over  one  hun- 
dred, and  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

The  Delaware  Avenue  Baptist  Church  of  Wilming- 
ton^ was  organized  June  22,  1865,  by  Miss  Annie 
Semple,  Alex.  Brattan,  Miss  Mary  Slack,  Mrs.  Mary 
A.  Brattan,  Mrs.  Amanda  Brattan,  Mrs.  Marian 
Moore,  Mrs.  Mary  Smith,  Thomas  Hess,  William  H. 
Gregg,  Mrs.  Lucy  V.  Gregg,  John  Bradford,  Mrs. 
Eliza  J.  Clowan  and  Charles  Townsend,  of  the 
Second  Baptist  Church,  at  the  residence  of  Miss 
Semple.  The  deacons  elected  were  Wra.  H.  Gregg 
and  John  Bradford;  clerk,  Thomas  C.  Heas;  trustees, 
Wm.  H,  Gregg,  Thomas  C.  Hess  and  Alexander 
Brattan.  The  first  services  were  held  July  6,  1865. 
Rev.  E.  W.  Dickinson,  D.D.,  preached  and  Rev. 
Levi  G.  Beck  delivered  the  charge.  For  awhile  the 
Wilmington  Institute  and  the  Phanix  engine-house 
were  used  as  places  of  worship.  On  April  1,  1866, 
Rev.  G.  W.  Folwell  entered  upon  the  first  pastorate 
of  the  church,  and  on  June  27,  1866,  ground  was 
broken  for  a  church  building,  which  was  completed 
and  dedicated  October  13,  1870,  the  lecture-room 
being  finished  and  dedicated  January  2,  1868.  Mr. 
Folwell  remained  as  pastor  until  December  31,  1874, 

1855  he  Tisited  hii  countrymen  in  Wilmington,  and  being  without 
money,  was  befriended  by  John  H.  MOlhausen.  He  found  employment 
tm  bookbinder,  a  trade  acquired  in  bis  youth,  and  subsequently  removed 
to  Buffalo,  N.  T.,  where  he  assisted  bis  son  in  organizing  a  church.  He 
returned  to  Wilmington,  where  he  died  April  4,  1871. 
1  From  a  sketch  by  Rer.  J.  W.  T.  Boothe,  D.D. 


when  the  membership  was  two  hundred  and  forty-six. 
On  April  1,  1875,  Rev.  Isaac  M.  Haldeman  began  a 
pastorate  which  continued  until  August,  1884.  During 
his  term  the  New  Hampshire  Confession  was  aban- 
doned and  pre-millenarian  doctrine  was  adopted; 
two  mission-schools  were  established,  and  about  one 
thousand  one  hundred  persons  were  baptized.  Id 
October,  1882,  the  membership  of  the  church  was  one 
thousand  one  hundred  and  forty -five,  but  in  1883  de- 
clined to  seven  hundred  and  eighty-three,  and  sub- 
sequently to  its  normal  number  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five.  Rev.  George  C.  Needham,  the  revivalist, 
succeeded  Mr.  Haldeman,  but  only  remained  about 
three  months,  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  W.  T.  Boothe, 
in  July,  1885.  After  the  latter  took  charge  about 
sixty  members  withdrew   to    form    Grace    Church. 


DELAWARE  AVENUE  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

Under  Dr.  Boothe's  charge  the  large  debt   of  the 
church  has  been  largely  reduced. 

77ie  Shiloh  Baptist  Church,  of  Wilmington,  comer 
Twelfth  and  Orange  Streets,  was  the  first  congrega- 
tion for  colored  people  of  that  denomination  establish- 
ed in  the  State.  It  was  an  outgrowth  of  the  colored 
Sunday-school  of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  Hiram 
Yeger,  superintendent,  which  met  in  a  hall  on  Twelfth 
Street,  between  Market  and  Orange  Streets.  In  this 
hall  Shiloh  Church  was  organized  May  31,  1876,  by 
Annie  M.  Anderson,  Thomas  Anderson,  John  W. 
Jackson,  George  L.  Hall,  William  M.  Winston,  Jacob 
Galloway,  Maggie  Mitchell,  Maggie  V.  Miner,  Rachel 
Brodus,  Lucinda  Brodus,  Jefferson  Crayton,  Peter 
Saunders,  Julia  Parsall,  John  W.  Gordon,  Jennie 
Henderson  and  Sarah  Elias.  Thomas  W.  Jackson 
was  clerk.  Subsequently,  the  basement  of  the  church 
corner  Twelfth  and  Orange  Streets  waa  used.  Rev. 
Benjamin  T.  Moore  was  made  pastor  November  15, 
1876,  and  has  ofiSciated    ever  since.      The  church 


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building  was  begun  in  1881,  and  the  basement  was 
dedicated  in  September,  1885.  The  church  has  a  mem- 
bership of  one  hundred  and  thirty;  Sunday-school, 
one  hundred.  The  trustees  are  John  W.  Jackson, 
Arthur  Thomas,  Archie  P.  Hendley,  Benjamin  Lan- 
den,  Tobias  Whiten,  Hiram  Tate  and  Jeremiah 
MUler. 

The  Bethany  Baptist  Church,  of  Wilmington,  corner 
of  Elm  and  Jackson  Streets,  was  organized  November 
14,  1878,  with  eighty-eight  members.  It  succeeded 
the  Elm  Street  Baptist  Church,  which  had  grown  out 
of  a  Sunday-school  organized  by  William  H.  Gregg 
and  others.  The  present  membership  of  Bethany 
Church  is  about  225  and  the  Sunday-schools  number 
300.  John  Rumer  and  William  U.  Gregg  are  super- 
intendents. A  handsome  brick  church  was  erected 
in  1887.  The  pastors  of  Bethany  Church  have  been 
fie?.  Thomas  M.  Eastwood,  Rev.  E.  J.  McKeever, 
Re?.  F.  B.  Greul.  Rev.  Harry  Tratt  and  O.  G.  Bud- 
dington,  present  incumbent. 

Grace  Baptist  Churchy^  of  Wilmington,  was  organ- 
ized Odtober  1,  1885,  with  the  following  officers: 
Deacons,  James  J.  Walker,  George  W.  Sutton, 
George  W.  Hardin,  John  Gately,  Julius  Reed,  Wm. 
Cloud  and  John  A.  Bennett;  Trustees,  Maris  V. 
Pyle,  Parke  Ma^n,  James  Morrow,  Jacob  Melvin, 
J.  Travers  Jones,  Philip  Jones,  Benjamin  R.  Connor, 
and  William  Crawford;  Church  Clerk,  J.  Travers 
Jones.    Treasurer,  James  J.  Walker. 

This  congregation  is  an  off-shoot  from  Delaware 
Aveoae  Baptist  Church.  The  cause  of  separation 
from  the  mother-church  is  best  described  by  an  extract 
(rom  Grace  Church  letter  to  the  Baptist  Council  held 
in  Wilmington,  September  14,  1886 :  "  A  party  of 
sixty  members  of  the  mother-ehurch  in  this  city  met 
October  1st,  last,  and  completed  organization  as  a 
community  of  worshipers.  Before  undertaking  the 
abo?e,  the  brethi'en  and  sisters  referred  to  made  care- 
Ail  consideration  of  the  matter,  and  at  length  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  a  parting  from  the  mother- 
church  was  unayoidable,  and,  as  recorded  of  Abraham 
and  Lot, '  separated  themsel  ves.' "  The  Philadelphia 
CoDf««ion  of  Faith  was  adopted  by  special  enact- 
ment The  church  was  incorporated  March,  1886, 
tod  elected  Rev.  S.  B.  Hay  ward,  of  Milford,  Del.,  as 
pastor.    Mr.  Hayward  accepted  the  call  October  1st. 

The  Sunday-school'  of  Grace  Baptist  Church  was 
inatituted  November  16,  1885,  with  John  W.  Gately, 
superintendent,  and  J.  Travers  Jones,  secretary.  The 
church  was  recognized  as  a  regular  Baptist  Church 
September  14,  1886,  by  a  council  of  Baptist  churches 
which  conveoed  in  the  old  Baptist  Church,  South  and 
King  Streets.  Seven  churches  from  Philadelphia  and 
vicinity  were  represented,  in  addition  to  the  local 
Baptists. 

The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  F.  W.  Overhiser,  who 
commenced  his  term  December  4,  1887.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  Bucknell  University,  and  also  of  Crozer 
Theological  Seminary,  Upland. 

I  From  a  ikstch  by  J.  TraTera  Jones. 


Roman  Catholic  Churches.— aSJ.  Peter's  iVo- 
Gathedral^  of  Wilmington. — Prior  to  the  latter  half 
of  the  last  century  the  number  of  Catholics  in  and 
around  Wilmington,  and,  indeed,  in  the  State  of  Del- 
aware, was  very  limited.  The  Jesuits  from  Maryland 
and,  perhaps,  from  Pennsylvania  extended  their  visits 
into  Delaware,  until  the  secular  priests  entered  the 
field,  and  either  assisted  them  or  relieved  them 
altogether.  Father  Whalen  was  one  of  the  first 
secular  priests  and  lived  at  Coffee  Run.  He  was 
succeeded  in  1805  by  Rev.  Patrick  Kenny,  who  found 
a  little  log  chapel  there,  from  which  he  ministered  to 
the  wants  of  the  Catholics  in  Wilmington.  He  had 
as  his  assistant,  for  a  time,  Rev.  George  Aloysius 
Carrel  1,  who  afterwards  became  a  Jesuit  and  finally 
died  bishop  of  Covington,  Ky.  After  the  French  Revo- 
lution, and  the  negro  insurrection  in  St.  Domingo, 
some  distinguished  French  Catholic  families  settled 
in  and  around  Wilmington.  These  French  Catholics 
had  priests  of  their  own  nationality  with  them,  but 
whether  for  want  of  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  the 
language  or  for  other  reasons,  they  do  not  seem  to 
have  attended,  to  any  great  extent  at  least,  to  any 
but  their  own  people.  In  1816,  Father  Kenny  built 
St.  Peter's  church,  at  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  West 
Streets,  Wilmington,  and  divided  his  labors  between 
Cofiee  Run  and  that  city.  In  1830  the  Sisters  of 
Charity  from  Emmittsburg,  Maryland,  established 
an  academy  and  orphan  asylum,  nearly  oppbsite 
St.  Peter's,  which  is  still  under  their  charge.  In  1834, 
Father  Kenny  had  assigned  to  him  as  his  assistant 
Rev.  Patrick  Reilly,  then  a  young  priest  just  ordained. 
He  was  a  man  of  zeal,  energy  and  self-sacrifice,  and 
on  the  death  of  Father  Kenny,  in  1842,  he  succeeded 
him  as  pastor  of  St.  Peter's.  During  his  pastorate 
of  nearly  twenty  years  he  from  time  to  time  made 
such  improvements  as  circumstances  permitted.  In 
1839,  at  great  personal  sacrifice,  Father  Reilly  built 
and  opened  a  school  which  afterwards  developed  into 
St.  Mary's  College.  He  was  not  unmindftil  of  the  wants 
of  the  poorer  children  of  his  parish,  and  a  parochial 
school  was  built  adjoining  St.  Peter's  Church.  In 
1853,  finding  the  labors  of  the  parish  and  the  collie 
too  great  a  tax  upon  his  strength,  he  withdrew  from 
St.  Peter's  and  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  the 
college.  In  1856,  when  the  growing  wants  of  the 
Catholics  of  Wilmington  seemed  to  demand  another 
church.  Bishop  Neumann,  recognizing  the  invaluable 
services  of  Father  Reilly  as  a  parish  priest,  directed 
him  to  build  the  new  St.  Mary*s  Church.  St.  Peter's 
passed  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev.  Patrick  A.  Pren- 
dergast,  who  labored  here  for  four  or  five  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  P.  R.  O'Brien.  In  1866  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Wood  appointed  the  Rev.  M.  A. 
McGrane  (late  vicar  general  of  the  diocese  of  Wil- 
mington) pastor  of  St.  Peter*s,  and  the  Rev.  P.  P. 
McGrane,  his  brother,  as  his  assistant.  Under  their 
care  old  St  Peter's  was  enlarged,  and  improved  inside 
and  out ;  so  that  in  August,  1868,  when  the  Rt.  Rev. 

*  By  B6T.  John  N.  Lyons. 


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HIST0R7  OF  DELAWARE. 


Thomaa  A.  Becker,  D.D.,  the  first  bishop  of  Wilming- 
ton, entered  its  portals,  he  found  his  Cathedral  already 
erected  and  a  beautiful  Pro-Cathedral  ready  to  receive 
its  first  bishop.  The  second  ordination  in  St.  Peter's 
was  held  on  July  31,  1870,  when  the  Rev.  John  N. 
Lyons,  the  first  priest  ordained  in  Wilmington  for  the 
diocese  of  Wilmington,  received  the  Holy  Order  of 
Priesthood.  Rev.  M.  X.  Fallon,  ordained  for  the  dio- 
cese of  Wilmington,  had  been  raised  to  the  priesthood 
some  time  before  at  Mount  St.  Mary's,  Emmittsburg. 
Father  Lyons  was  assigned  to  duty  in  St.  Peter's  as 
assistant  to  Bishop  Becker,  a  position  he  held  for 
nine  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Keiley,  who  acted  in  the  same  capacity  for  seven 
years.  Bishop  Becker  gave  a  new  impetus  to  religion 
around  old  St  Peter's.  He  transferred  the  boys' 
Parochial  School  from  the  charge  of  lay  teachers  to 
that  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis.  He  established 
temperance  societies  for  the  men  and  beneficial  so- 
cieties for  the  women.  He  enlarged  and  beautified 
the  sanctuary  and  exchanged  the  old  wooden  altars 
for  three  marble  ones.  For  the  orphans,  he  had 
erected  an  imposing  structure  to  replace  the  old  rook- 
ery that  had  so  long  been  an  eyesore,  and  had  served  in 
times  galore  as  a  tavern  and  beer  garden.  The  num- 
ber of  Catholics  increased  so  much  in  the  eighteen 
years  of  Bishop  Becker's  administration  that  it  was 
found  necessary  to  build  the  churches  of  St.  James, 
St.  "Paul's,  Sacred  Heart  for  the  Germans,  and  St.  Pat- 
rick's. On  the  occasion  of  the  elevation  of  Bishop 
Gross  to  the  Archiepiscopal  See  of  Oregon,  Bishop 
Becker  was  transferred  to  the  vacant  See  of  Savannah, 
where  he  was  soon  followed  by  Father  Keiley,  who 
became  his  vicar  general.  Right  Rev.  Alfred  Am- 
brose Curtis,  for  twelve  years  secretary  in  the  Cathedral 
of  Baltimore,  to  Archbishop  Bayley  and  Cardinal 
Gibbons,  was  chosen  as  the  successor  of  Bishop  Becker 
in  the  diocese  of  Wilmington.  He  was  consecrated 
on  November  14,  1886,  in  the  Cathedral  of  Baltimore, 
by  Cardinal  Gibbons,  and  was  installed  in  St.  Peter*s 
Pro-Cathedral  on  the  following  Sunday,  by  Cardinal 
Gibbons,  assisted  by  Archbishop  Ryan,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  Bishop  Becker  and  Bishop  Moore,  of  Florida. 
Cardinal  Gibbons  preached  the  sermon,  at  the  con- 
clusion of  which  he  delivered  a  most  glowing  eulo- 
gium  on  the  great  learning,  piety  and  zeal,  combined 
with  extraordinary  humility  and  meekness,  of  his  for- 
mer secretary,  whom  none  knew  but  to  love  and  to 
love  all  the  more  the  better  he  was  known. 

Alfred  A.  Curtis  was  born  in  Somerset  County, 
Maryland,  and  is  about  fifty-three  years  of  age.  He 
began  his  studies  for  the  ministry  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  1854,  supporting  himself  during 
his  course  by  teaching.  He  was  ordained  in  1859  by 
Bishop  Whittingham.  After  doing  duty  in  different 
stations  of  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland,  he  was 
placed  in  charge  of  Mt.  Calvary  Church,  Baltimore, 
where  he  remained  as  rector  until  the  end  of  1870, 
when  he  resigned.  He  went  to  England  in  1871  and 
in  April  of  that  year  was  received  into  the  Catholic 


Church  by  Cardinal  Newman.  He  returned  to  Balti- 
more and  entered  the  Seminary  of  St.  Salpice  in  Sep- 
tember, 1871,  and  there  remained  until  ordained  by 
Archbishop  Bayley  in  1874,  and  by  him  taken  to  the 
Cathedral  as  his  assistant  and  secretary,  which  posi- 
tion he  held  as  stated  up  to  the  time  of  his  election  to 
the  episcopal  dignity.  Bishop  Curtis  was  always 
very  popular  as  an  Episcopalian  minister  and  a  Cath- 
olic priest,  and  all  his  people  parted  from  him  with 
the  deepest  regrets.  Cardinal  Gibbons  declared  that 
he  himself  and  his  Cathedral  congregation  could  only 
become  reconciled  to  his  loss  by  the  knowledge  that 
Bishop  Curtis  would  have  a  larger  field  in  which  to 
display  his  extraordinary  learning  and  virtue.  Biahop 
Curtis  has  already  endeared  himself  to  the  people  of 
his  diocese,  both  Protestants  and  Catholics,  and  by 
his  untiring  zeal  and  suavity  of  manners  has  compen- 
sated in  great  measure  for  the  loss  of  the  indefati- 
gable and  learned  Dr.  Becker.  Bishop  Curtis  ap- 
pointed the  Rev.  John  N.  Lyons  to  the  rectorship  of  St. 
Peter's  Pro-Cathedral,  made  vacant  by  the  traoefer 
of  Very  Rev.  B.  J.  Keiley  to  the  diocese  of  Savannah, 
and  later  on,  after  the  death  of  the  venerable  Father 
McGrane,  selected  him  to  be  his  vicar-general.  The 
Rev.  Francis  J.  Connelly,  lately  ordained,  was  made 
secretary  to  the  bishop  and  assistant  to  the  very  rev- 
erend rector  of  the  Cathedral. 

St,  Mary^s  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  Oatholic 
Church,  of  Wilmington,  was  established  as  the  result 
of  a  meeting  of  Catholics  in  the  study  hall  of  St. 
Mary's  College  January  17,  1858.  The  site,  comer 
Sixth  and  Pine  Streets,  had  then  been  purchased  ten 
years.  Rev.  Patrick  Reilly  presided  and  nominated 
three  persons  from  each  ward  to  receive  subscriptions 
for  the  proposed  church  building.  They  were  George 
Winterhalter,  Philip  Plunkett,  Joseph  Eising,  Wil- 
liam J.  J.  Purcell,  Michael  Harrity,  Henry  Bleyer, 
William  McMenamin,  Christian  Messick,  John  F. 
Miller,  Charles  Smith,  Charles  O'Donnell,  Patrick 
McGrowan,  Hugh  Sweeny,  Thomas  Curley  and  John 
Fox.  This  committee  realized  eleven  thousand  dol- 
lars and  a  building  committee  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  Rev.  P.  Reilly,  pastor,  Rev.  Emilius 
Stenzel,  assistant  pastor,  George  Winterhalter  and 
Philip  Plunkett.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  May  2, 
1858,  by  Rev.  P.  Reilly,  assisted  by  all  the  clergy  of 
the  State,  and  the  church  was  consecrated  October 
3l8t  of  that  year.  The  trustees  were  Joseph  Eising, 
Michael  Harrity,  Christian  Messick  and  William 
McMenamin.  All  the  Germ  an -speaking  Catholics 
of  the  city  were  assigned  to  St.  Mary's  Church,  under 
the  direction  of  Father  Stenzel.  In  May,  1864,  the 
pastor  purchased  of  Michael  Harrity  for  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  sixty  dollars  a  lot,  eighty- 
six  by  eighty  feet,  adjoining  the  church,  on  which, 
two  years  later,  he  built  a  school-house  and  placed 
it  in  charge  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  of  Philadel- 
phia. He  also  built  a  residence  for  the  Sisters,  mak- 
ing a  total  outlay  of  fifteen  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.    The  school  was  opened  in   1867.    A  year 


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later,  on  the  division  of  the  diocese,  the  Sisters  being 
withdrawn,  their  places  were  supplied  with  lay- 
teachers.  The  school  was  soon  discontinued  and  the 
boilding  rented  to  the  Board  of  Public  Education. 
Id  1866  the  first  mission  was  given  in  St.  Mary's 
Church  by  the  Bedemptorist  fathers,  and  there  have 
been  three  since.  In  1871  the  central  tower  was 
built  and  other  improvements  made  at  a  cost  of 
eighteen  thousand  dollars.  The  pastoral  residence 
was  built  in  1881.  The  pastor's  health  failing,  Rev. 
Dennis  J.  Flynn  was  appointed  his  assistant.  On 
August  24,  1884,  Father  Reilly  celebrated  his  golden 
jubilee,  over  forty-nine  of  his  fifty  years  of  priesthood 
having  been  spent  in  Wilmington,  and  was  presented 
with  an  address  of  congratulation.  The  event  was 
also  the  occasion  of  a  parade  of  all  the  Catholic 
aocieties  and  other  imposing  ceremonies.  Father 
Reilly  died  July  30,  1885,  in  the  seventy-eighth  year 
of  his  age.  Rev.  Father  Flynn  had  charge  of  the 
work  of  the  church  during  the  pastor's  illness  and 
made  many  needed  improvements  to  the  church, 
including  a  new  marble  altar.  At  the  Month's  Mind 
Father  Flynn  was  sent  to  Oalena,  Md.,  and  Father 
Fallon,  of  St.  Patrick's,  to  St.  Mary's.  The  latter 
made  many  additional  improvements  to  the  church 
and  also  organized  the  Reilly  Lyceum  for  young 
men.  When  Bishop  fiecker  was  transferred  to  Greor- 
gia,  Bishop  Curtis,  his  successor,  transferred  Rev. 
George  J.  Kelly  from  St.  Joseph's,  Brandy  wine,  to 
St.  Mary's,  and  Father  Flynn  returned  as  assistant. 
Four  Sisters  belonging  to  the  Third  Order  of  St. 
Francis^  a  religious  community  of  women,  whose 
mother  house  is  in  Philadelphia,  re-opened  the  paro- 
chial school  on  the  first  Monday  of  September, 
1887. 

The  Sacred  Heart  Catholic  Church  was  established 
by  Rev.  Wendeline  M.  Mayer,  O.S.B.  As  early  as 
1857  Father  Stenzel,  recently  from  Germany,  was 
sent  to  Wilmington  by  the  bishop  of  Philadelphia  to 
take  charge  of  the  Oerman  Catholics.  Rev.  Father 
Reilly  volunteered  the  use  of  St.  Mary's  College 
Chapel  until  a  church  could  be  built.  After  a  year's 
service  Father  Stenzel  left  Wilmington,  and  the  Ger- 
man Catholics  had  no  services  in  their  language 
for  a  considerable  period.  In  1874  Rev.  Wendelioe 
M.  Mayer  was  invited  by  Bishop  Becker  to  collect  the 
scattered  German  Catholics  and  give  them  a  mission 
at  St.  Mary's  Church,  which  was  successftilly  accom- 
plished. In  August,  1874,  a  lot  two  hundred  and 
thirty -six  by  three  hundred  feet  on  Tenth  Street, 
between  Madison  and  Monroe  Streets,  was  bought  of 
Eev.  Patrick  Reilly  for  sixteen  thousand  five  hun- 
dred dollars,  less  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
which  he  donated.  After  collecting  about  twelve 
thousand  dollars  Father  Mayer  made  arrangements  to 
build  a  church  and  parochial  residence.  The  comer- 
stone  was  laid  by  Bishop  Becker,  on  Sunday,  August 
16, 1874.  On  August  27,  1881,  Father  Mayer  died  at 
Gape  May,  where  he  had  gone  for  his  health.*    He 

>  TathM*  Kajer  waa  born  In  Neohansen,  WQrtemberg,  November  3, 


was  succeeded  by  Rev.  P.  Corbinian  Gustbihl,  the 
present  pastor,  September  10, 1881.  At  that  time  the 
parish  comprised  forty  families.  The  basement  was 
used  from  August  16,  1875,  to  September  2,  1883, 
when  the  building  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Becker. 
It  is  of  Roman  architecture,  sixty-five  by  one  hundred 
and  forty  feet,  and  has  twenty-eight  stained  windows, 
costing  two  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  The  high 
marble  altar,  costing  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  was  pre- 
sented by  Joseph  Eising  and  Herman  and  Herbert 
Lange,  his  nephews.  The  late  F.  A.  Drexel,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, gave  one  side-altar  and  John  and 
Eva  Fuchs,  of  Wilmington,  the  other.  The  Brandy- 
wine  granite  stone  steps  leading  to  the  church  door 
cost  two  thousand  three  hundred  dollars;  chandelier, 
five  hundred  dollars;  three  bells,  one  thousand 
three  hundred  dollars.  The  latter  weigh  2700, 1200 
and  760  pounds  respectively.  There  are  now  about 
one  hundred  families  in  the  congregation.  A  paro- 
chial school,  now  in  charge  of  the  Benedictine  Sisters, 
was  opened  in  the  basement  of  the  parish-house  soon 
after  its  completion,  and  is  now  located  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  church.  In  October,  1888,  the  pastor 
opened  a  high  school  for  boys,  and  Rev.  Dominic 
Block  was  instructor.    It  has  been  discontinued. 

St.  PauVs  Catholic  Church,  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Jackson  Streets,  Wilmington,  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  churches  in  the  diocese  of  Wilmington. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Becker, 
June  6,  1869.  The  church  was  dedicated  and  opened 
for  service  on  Sunday,  December  20,  1869,  by  Bishop 
Becker,  assisted  by  Rev.  Joseph  Plunkett,  of  Ports- 
mouth, Va.,  and  all  the  clergy  of  the  diocese.  The 
bishop  delivered  the  dedicatory  sermon. 

At  the  Solemn  Pontificfal  Vespers  in  the  evening 
the  bishop  appointed  Rev.  M.  X.  Fallon  first  pastor 
of  the  new  parish,  which  was  bounded  by  Jefferson 
Street  and  Delaware  Avenue,  making  an  angle  in- 
cluding Stanton  and  Newport,  six  miles  south.  There 
were  then  between  fifty  and  sixty  families  in  this 
area.  In  five  years  there  were  four  hundred  families, 
but  all  in  very  moderate  circumstances.  The  ground 
was  purchased  for  twelve  thousand  dollars  from  the 
late  Aaron  Conrad,  father  of  Henry  C.  Conrad,  Esq. 
Third  Street  was  then  opened  only  to  Madison  Street, 
and  Van  Buren  from  Front  to  Second  Streets.  The 
church  was  built  by  McCloskey  Bros.,  and  cost 
twenty-three  thousand  dollars  before  dedication.  In 
1873  the  spire  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars.  The  bell  was  then  put  in.  It 
weighs  between  three  thousand  and  four  thousand 
pounds,  and  cost  one  thousand  four  hundred  and 
sixty  dollars. 

In  1875  Costaggini,  the  famous  Roman  artist,  and 
now  Brumedi's  successor,  did  the  frescoing,  at  a  cost 
of  three  thousand  one  hundred  dollars.  The  pillars 
and  columns  were  done  in  Kilkenny  Irish  marble. 
The  organ  cost  three  thousand  dollars.    Miss  Magar- 

1832 ;  waa  ordained  priest  of  the  Order  St.  Benedict,  May  28,  1857.  He 
wrote  a  prayer-book  In  English  and  German,  which  was  approved  by 
the  biahopa  of  the  church. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


rity,  of  Broom  and  Cedar  Streets,  was  the  first 
organist. 

The  Germans  have  now  a  church  at  Tenth  and 
Madison  Streets,  so  that  St.  Paul's  Parish  is  practically 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Fourth  Street,  while  St, 
Peter's  Parish  includes  the  east  side  of  Madison  St. 

St.  James'  Catholic  Churchy  on  the  corner  of  Lover- 
ing  Avenue  and  Du  Pont  Street,  is  a  neat  frame  struc- 
ture, 30  by  65  feet.  It  was  built  in  1869.  The  first 
resident  pastor  was  Rev.  John  P.  Hogan,  who  was  in- 
stalled in  December,  1870.  The  present  pastor  is 
Rev.  William  DoUard.  Attached  to  this  church  is  a 
protectory  for  orphan  boys,  conducted  by  the  Francis- 
can Sisters,  who  are  doing  a  most  excellent  work.  A 
new  church  is  now  in  course  of  erection.  It  is  to  be 
large  and  of  Brandy  wine  granite.  The  basement 
was  dedicated  in  December,  1887,  by  Bishops  Becker 
and  Curtis. 

St.  Patrxck^s  Catholic  Churchy  a  neat  brick  struc- 
ture, forty-five  by  one  hundred  feet,  is  situated  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  Fifteenth  and  King  Streets.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  by  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Becker, 
bishop  of  Wilmington,  on  Sunday,  July  3, 1881. 

The  congregation,  at  first  numbering  only  about  forty 
souls,  under  the  charge  of  Rev.  M.  X.  Fallon,  worship- 
ped in  a  rough  shed  for  some  time.  On  Christmas 
morning  following,  divine  service  was,  for  the  first 
time,  held  in  the  basement.  After  a  few  months  the 
church  proper  was  completed,  and  service  was  held  in 
the  main  room  above.  The  basement  was  thereafter 
used  as  a  school  and  Sunday-school  room.  The 
church  contains  the  handsomest  marble  altar  in  the 
diocese.  Its  organ  is  also  one  of  remarkable  sweet- 
ness and  ranks  with  the  first  in  the  city.  It  has  a 
large  bell,  of  nearly  two  tons  in  weight. 

The  congregation  soon  increased  under  Father 
Fallon,  who  was  the  founder  of  the  church  and  par- 
ish. The  church  is  now  too  small  to  accommodate 
its  members.  The  first  pastor  remained  in  charge  for 
four  years,  and  on  September  20,  1885,  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  George  S.  Bradford,  who  is  the  resident 
pastor.  The  present  boundaries  of  the  parish  are : 
On  the  north  by  PenuBylvania,  east  by  the  Delaware 
River,  south  by  Tenth  Street  and  Delaware  Avenue 
to  Van  Buren  Street,  and  west  by  Van  Buren  Street 
to  Pennsylvania. 

Lutheran  Churches. — The  Lutheran  Churchy  of 
Wilmington,  was  organized  in  1848  by  Rev.  F.  Walz, 
and  the  congregation  originally  used  the  old  Central 
Hall,  N.  W.  corner  of  Fourth  and  King  Sts.  Among 
the  first  members  were  Gust.  Weyl,  Jac.  Karch, 
Job.  Sch wager,  Jac.  Butz,  G.  Hiller,  John  F.  Busch, 
G.  Gouert,  H.  D.  Fr.  Klund,  Job.  Fullmer,  J.  Greiner, 
H.  Grebe  and  John  Otto.  Only  two  of  these — John 
F.  Busch  and  John  Fullmer — are  still  in  connection 
with  the  church. 

In  1857,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Thomas  Steck, 
the  congregation  erected  a  church  building  on  Walnut 
Street,  above  Sixth.  There  they  worshipped  for 
nearly  ten  years,  meanwhile  growing  larger  by  immi- 


gration from  Germany,  while  a  good  many  of  the 
original  members  had  joined  other  denominations. 
The  congregation  intending  to  open  a  school  for  its 
children,  and  the  building  not  having  the  necessary 
room  for  that  purpose,  it  was  decided  to  sell  the 
church  and  buy  the  public  school-house,  comer  of 
Sixth  and  French  Streets. 

In  the  basement  of  this  building  the  school  was 
established ;  the  first  story  being  converted  into  a 
place  of  worship,  while  the  upper  story  was  rented 
by  the  city  for  school  purposes.  In  the  new  quarters 
the  congregation  prospered,  and  after  a  few  years  re- 
modeled the  interior  for  church  and  Sabbath-school 
purposes  exclusively. 

The  congregation,  during  the  forty  years  of  its  ex- 
istence, has  had  eight  pastors,  viz. :  Revs.  F.  Walz, 
C.  Jaeger,  Thomas  Steck,  W.  Hasskarl,  J.Kucher,  H. 
Weicksel,  H.  B.  Kuhn  and  the  present  pastor,  P.  Isen- 
schmid,  who  has  served  the  congregation  since  1871. 

There  are  about  two  hundred  communicant  mem- 
bers. The  Sunday-school,  under  the  care  of  its  su- 
perintendent, Mr.  Fr.  Weil,  has  over  two  hundred 
members.  J.  P.  Theodore  Fueckel  is  choir  director 
and  organist. 

SwEDENBORGiAN  Church. — The  First  Society  of 
the  New  Jerusalem  or  Stoedenborgian  Church  in  Wil" 
mington  was  organized  in  the  beginning  of  1857. 
Daniel  La  Motte  was  president ;  Hon.  £.  W.  Gilpin, 
treasurer ;  Daniel  La  Motte,  Jr.,  secretary ;  and  there 
were  about  twenty  members.  A  room  was  rented, 
and  services  were  held  by  Rev.  D.  E.  Whittaker  and 
Rev.  E.  A.  Beaman.  On  August  6,  1857,  the  corner- 
stone of  the  present  church  at  Delaware  Avenue  and 
Washington  Street  was  laid,  and  on  April  29, 1858, 
the  building  was  dedicated.  Rev.  Abiel  Silver  was 
called  as  pastor,  and  remained  until  March  16,  1860. 
The  pulpit  was  temporarily  supplied  until  September 
1,  1860,  when  Rev.  J.  T.  Eaton  came  for  one  year. 
In  September,  1861,  Rev.  R.  N.  Foster  became  pas- 
tor, and  remained  until  July,  1863,  when  he  left  the 
ministry.  The  church  was  closed  until  the  follow- 
ing spring,  although  the  Sunday-school  was  contin- 
ued, and  in  May,  1864,  the  Rev.  Abiel  Silver  returned 
and  remained  until  May,  1866,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Willard  H.  Hinkley,  of  Baltimore, 
grandson  of  Rev.  John  Hargrove,  the  first  ordained 
clergyman  of  the  New  Church  in  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Hinkley  remained  until  May,  1873.  The  church 
was  without  a  settled  pastor  again  for  some  months, 
although  the  services  were  regularly  held  by  Rev.  B. 
F.  Barrett  and  Rev.  E.  P.  Walton  till  January,  1874, 
when  Rev.  S.  S.  Seward  became  pastor,  remaining 
until  November,  1878.  The  pulpit  was  again  tempo- 
rarily supplied  till  February,  1879,  when  Rev.  J.  B. 
Parmelee,  the  present  pastor,  accepted  the  call.  The 
present  oflScers  are  W.  H.  Swift,  president;  W.  A. 
La  Motte,  secretary;  F.  L.  Gilpin,  treasurer.  The 
Sunday-school  numbers  about  fifty  members.  James 
H.  Cameron  is  superintendent.  The  church  is  free 
of  debt. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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The  Unitarian  Church  of  Wilmington,  the 
only  one  of  that  denomination  in  the  State,  was  or- 
ganized February  6,  1866.  A  number  of  persons 
assembled  at  a  private  house,  and  after  discussing 
the  subject  of  organizing  a  society,  made  declaration 
that, — "  The  undersigned  propose  to  associate  them- 
selves for  the  purpose  of  forming  and  sustaining  a 
church  and  society  of  the  Unitarian  faith."  The 
signers  were  Rev.  F.  A.  Farley,  D.D.,  Edmund  Q. 
Sewall,  Charles  P.  Bent,  N.  M.  Gookin,  Cyrus  Pyle, 
Thomas  Y.  de  Normandie  and  their  wives,  and  Mrs. 
J.  P.  Wales.  The  next  meeting  was  attended  by 
thirty  persons  who  abo  adopted  a  declaration  and 
determined  "  to  form  a  society  in  the  Spirit  and  love 
of  Christ,  that  shall  be  known  under  the  name  of  the 
First  Unitarian  Society  of  Wilmington."  Signing 
this,  constituted  membership.  Rev.  James  Y.  de 
Normandie  preached  the  first  sermon  to  the  society 
in  April,  1866,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  Dr.  F.  A. 
Farley,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Rev.  Fielder  Israel  was 
the  pastor  from  September  9,  1866,  to  1876,  when  he 
resigned.  Under  his  ministry,  this  congregation 
erected  the  house  of  worship  now  owned  by  them,  on 
West  Street  above  Eighth.  The  corner-stone  was 
hud  October  18,  1867,  and  the  building  was  dedi- 
cated March  9,  1868.  For  a  year  the  church  was 
without  a  regular  pastor,  until  Rev.  J.  M.  W.  Pratt 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  in  the  church  January 
28,  1878.  The  ordination  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  H.  W.  Bellows,  D.D.,  of  New  York.  Mr.  Pratt 
remained  until  1880.  Rev.  H.  R.  Wilson,  M.D.,  was 
called  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  June,  1881,  and  is  the 
present  pastor.  This  church  has  no  creed.  Individ- 
ual members  are  left  entirely  to  the  exercise  of  their 
private  judgment  on  all  theological  questions.  Its 
standard  of  membership  is  what  a  person  is,  rather 
than  what  he  believes.  The  board  of  trustees  are 
Lea  Pusey,  Thomas  McClary,  George  G.  Barker, 
George  W.  Stone,  Heywood  Conant,  John  Wain- 
wright.  Dr.  W.  W.  Thomas. 

The  Household  of  Faithj  a  religious  denomination 
rejecting  the  theories  of  eternal  punishment  and  in- 
fant baptism,  was  founded  in  Wilmington  June  24, 
1877,  by  Rev.  George  R,  Kramer,  formerly  pastor  of 
Asbury  M.  E.  Church,  and  the  majority  of  the  seven- 
ty original  members  had  also  been  identified  with 
that  charge. 

The  Household  first  worshipped  in  a  tent  at  Fourth 
and  Lombard  Streets,  and  afterwards  in  the  McClary 
boilding  on  Market  Street,  where  the  membership  in- 
creased to  about  three  hundred.  In  1880  a  church 
was  built  on  Tatnall  Street,  at  a  cost  of  thirteen  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  dedicated  December  3, 1881.  In 
1SS2  Rev.  Mr.  Kramer  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  0.  W.  Wright.  Subsequently  the  pulpit  became 
vacant,  and,  with  a  large  debt  on  the  church,  the  con- 
gregation declined. 

In  1887  the  property  was  surrendered  for  sale,  and 
lervices  were  discontinued. 

Colored  Churches.— ^ion  Methodist  Episcopal 


Church — ^The  colored  people  of  Wilmington,  in  early 
days,  worshipped  with  the  whites,  most  of  them  at 
Asbury  Church.  Richard  Allen,  afterwards  raised  to 
the  office  of  bishop,  on  September  13,  1783,  was  the 
first  colored  man  known  to  have  preached  in  Wil- 
mington. 

In  1789,  of  the  forty-nine  members  of  Asbury,  nine- 
teen were  of  this  race.  When  the  colored  membership 
had  increased  to  fifty  they  began  to  hold  religious  ser- 
vices in  their  own  houses  and  in  the  shady  groves  on 
the  suburbs  of  the  town.  This  they  began  as  early  as 
1800.  In  the  year  1805  they  withdrew  from  Asbury, 
and,  by  the  assistance  of  some  members  of  that  so- 
ciety and  others,  built  a  stone  meeting-house  at  the 
corner  of  Ninth  and  French  Streets,  the  site  of  Ezion 
Church.* 

A  society  was  formed  entirely  of  colored  members 
— the  first  in  the  State — and  was  placed  in  charge  of 
a  white  minister,  sent  by  the  Philadelphia  Methodist 
Episcopal  Conference.  For  a  time  it  prospered.  In 
1812  most  of  the  members  desired  an  independent  or- 
ganization. Litigation  for  church  property  ensued, 
pending  which  a  large  portion  of  the  membership 
withdrew,  under  the  leadership  of  Peter  Spencer,  a 
colored  local  preacher,  aad  formed  the  "  Union 
Church  of  Africans."  They  built  a  house  of  worship 
nearly  opposite  the  "  stone  church,"  as  it  was  called. 
It  remained  under  the  control  of  the  Methodist  Confer- 
ence until  the  Delaware  Colored  Conference  was  es- 
tablished. 

In  1838  another  division  occurred,  but  the  old 
members  continued  their  work,  and  in  1844  enlarged 
the  church.  Rev.  Whittington,  who  had  long  been 
the  pastor,  had  grown  old.  Rev.  John  G.  ManlufT, 
one  of  the  most  intelligent  colored  men  of  his  day, 
succeeded  him.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Delaware  Conference  of  Colored  Methodists.  Rev. 
W.  S.  Elsey  was  the  next  pastor,  and  was  also  a  pre- 
siding elder.  He  traveled  through  the  Eastern  Shore 
of  Maryland  and  part  of  Virginia.  Rev.  Harrison 
Smith  was  next  appointed.  During  his  pastorate  the 
word  "  colored  "  was  stricken  from  the  Book  of  Disci- 
pline. 

Ezion  Church  was  rebuilt  in  1870.  The  pastors 
since  then,  sent  by  authority  of  the  bishop,  have 
been  Revs.  Jehu  H.  Price,  Peter  Burrow,  J.  D.  El- 
bert, Solomon  Cooper,  L.  Y.  Cox,  W.  F.  Butler,  D.D., 
W.  J.  Parker,  Henry  Augustus  Monroe,  who  in  1887 
was  appointed  to  St.  Mark's  Church,  New  York.    The 

present  pastor  is  Rev. Walters.    Mr.  A.  Murray 

has  filled  the  position  of  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  for  several  years.  It  has  thirty-five  teachers 
and  officers,  and  six  hundred  pupils.  Church  mem- 
bership, six  hundred  and  fifty;  valuation  of  church 
property  and  parsonage,  thirty-eight  thousand  four 
hundred  dollars.  The  church  was  nearly  destroyed 
by  fire  January  6,  1886,  and  rebuilt  the  same  year. 

African  Union  Church, — Peter  Spencer  was  one  of 

1  It  derived  Its  name  f^oin  EzioD  G«ber,  a  town  in  the  Land  of  Edom, 
where  Solomon^e  voeseLi  were  built. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


the  colored  Methodists  who  left  Asbury  Church  in 
1805,  and  assisted  in  forming  Ezion  Church.  In  1818, 
he  and  William  Anderson  founded  the  *' Union 
Church  of  African  Members,"  being  the  first  church 
in  the  United  States  organized  and  entirely  controlled 
by  colored  people.  Peter  Spencer  and  his  associates 
gave  the  following  reasons  for  their  secession : 

"  In  the  year  1805  the  colored  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  in  Wilmington  thought  that  we 
might  have  more  satisfaction  of  mind  than  we  then 
had,  if  we  were  to  unite  together  and  build  a  house  for 
ourselyea;  which  we  did  the  same  year.  The  Lord 
gave  us  the  favor  and  good-will  of  all  religious  denom- 
inations, and  they  all  freely  did  lend  us  help,  and  by 
their  good  graces  we  got  a  house  to  worship  the  Lord 
in.  Then  we  thought  we  could  have  the  rule  of  our 
Church,  so  as  to  make  our  own  rules  and  laws  for 
ourselves;  only  we  knew  that  we  must  help  to  sup- 
port the  preachers  that  were  stationed  in  Wilmington 
to  preach  at  both  Churches,  which  we  were  willing  to 
do.  We  then  thought  we  had  the  power  to 
refuse  any  that  were  not  thought  proper  persons 
to  preach  for  us;  but  the  preacher  that  was 
stationed  in  Wilmington  to  preach,  told  us 
plainly  that  we  had  no  say,  and  that  he  must 
be  en  tire  judge  of  all.  Then  that  body  of  us  who 
built  the  meeting-house  could  not  see  our  way  clear 
to  g^ve  up  all  say,  and  for  that  reason  our  minister 
said  we  had  broke  the  Discipline  and  turned  out  all 
the  Trustees  and  class-leaders,  and  never  allowed  us  a 
hearing.  This  was  done  December,  1812.  For  the 
sake  of  peace  and  love,  and  nothing  but  that,  we 
soberly  came  away." 

The  trustees  named  in  the  articles  of  association, 
signed  by  the  heads  of  thirty -one  families  and  legally 
recorded,  September  18,  1813,  were  Peter  Spencer, 
Scotland  Hill,  David  Smith,  Jacob  March,  Benjamin 
Webb,  John  Simmons  and  John  Kelly.  Some  of  the 
original  members  were  William  Anderson,  Deborah 
Anderson,  Simon  Weeks,  Ellen  Weeks,  David  Bias, 
John  Benton,  Edmund  Hays,  Henry  Butcher,  Amelia 
Butcher,  Susan  Hicks,  Moses  Chippey,Richard  Jack- 
sdn,  Peter  Clayton,  Samuel  Bayard,  Charles  Read, 
John  Kelley,  Perry  Cooper,  Sarah  Hall  and  Grace 
Powell.  The  African  Union  Church  building  was 
erected  on  a  site  nearly  opposite  Ezion  in  1813,  re- 
built in  1827,  and  enlarged  in  1842.  William  Ander- 
son, who  was  one  of  the  leaders  and  also  a  local 
preacher,  died  in  March,  1843.  Peter  Spencer,  who 
ministered  to  the  colored  people  of  this  church 
from  1813,  died  July  24,  1843.  He  was  a 
very  worthy  man  and  was  also  a  mechanic.  He 
was  born  in  Kent  County.  The  Delaware  Ga- 
zeUe,  in  noticing  his  death,  said :  "  His  char- 
acter for  veracity  and  honesty  was  without  re- 
proach. He  possessed  unusual  good  sense,  was  quite 
intelligent,  dignified  in  his  manner,  and  exercised 
wonderful  influence  with  his  people." 

Daniel  Bailey,  who  served  under  Peter  Spencer  as 
a  deacon,  was  chosen  to  succeed  him  and  continued 


in  charge  several  years.  The  African  Union  Church, 
as  it  was  generally  called,  or  the  **  Union  Church  of 
African  Members,"  in  1851,  had  thirty-one  societies 
and  houses  of  worship  in  the  United  States.  A  con- 
ference already  organized  elected  Peter  Spencer 
an  elder  or  bishop  of  the  States  of  New  Jersey,  Dela- 
ware and  Pennsylvania,  and  Isaac  Barney  to  the  same 
position  for  New  York  and  New  England.  Upon  the 
death  of  Peter  Spencer,  the  surviving  elder,  Isaac 
Barney,  ordained  Ellis  Saunders,  of  Christiana,  Dela- 
ware, as  an  associate  with  him  in  the  control  of  all 
the  churches  of  the  denomination.  The  majority  of 
the  members  in  Wilmington  refused  to  allow  Ellis 
Saunders  to  preach  or  administer  the  ordinances.  A 
few  favored  him,  among  whom  were  some  of  the  trus- 
tees. At  the  next  annual  election  none  of  the  former 
board  of  trustees  were  chosen,  and  those  who  advo- 
cated the  cause  of  the  newly-ordained  elder  were 
expelled  from  membership. 

Ellis  Saunders  obtained  a  mandamus  to  compel  his 
restoration.  The  case  was  argued  in  the  Superior 
Court,  and  on  the  opinions  of  Judges  Wootten  and 
Houston  the  writ  was  refused,  Chief  Justice  Harring- 
ton dissenting.  The  case  was  carried  to  the  Court  of 
Errors  and  Appeals,  Chief  Justice  Johns  rendering  a 
decision  that  where  there  is  no  legal  right  there  was 
no  legal  remedy,  and  that  the  question  in  dispute  was 
for  an  ecclesiastical  body  to  settle. 

This  difficulty  culminated  ultimately  in  the  with- 
drawal of  all  excepting  the  Wilmington  churches 
from  the  parent  organization  of  that  denomination. 
The  thirty  churches  which  withdrew  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Elder  Isaac  Barney  organized  the  Union 
American  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Two  subse- 
quently returned, — the  churches  at  Cedar  Grove  and 
at  Marlboro*,  N.  J. 

Tke  African  Vnwn  Methodist  Protestant  Church, 
after  the  separation  in  1851,  was  an  independent 
church  body  until  1860,  when  it  united  with  a  church 
in  Baltimore,  and  formed  the  "  African  Union  First 
Colored  Methodist  Protestant  Church  of  U.  8.  A." 
In  the  mean  time  Daniel  Bailey  and  Isaac  Parker 
were  pastors.  The  pastors  since  1860,  under  the 
itinerancy  system,  have  been  Rev.  Benjamin  Scott, 
J.  W.  Leecons,  E.  H.  Chippey,  Isaac  Johnson,  E,  H. 
Chippey,  Henry  Davis,  Gaylord  Peterson,  John  W. 
Hall  and  E.  H.  Chippey,  who,  in  1886,  was  called  as 
pastor  the  third  time. 

The  church  building  was  remodeled  in  1877,  and 
stands  on  the  site  of  the  original  African  Union 
Church,  built  in  1813.  The  church  membership  is 
two  hundred  and  fifly.  The  Sunday-school,  with 
Spencer  Antrim  as  superintendent,  has  one  hundred 
and  fifty  members.  Four  missions  have  lately  been 
established  by  this  church  in  different  parts  of  Wil- 
mington. The  tnistees  are  William  Page,  Peter  S. 
Chippey,  Nero  Backus,  Perry  Trusty,  Jonathan  Chip- 
pey and  William  Lewis.  The  "  Big  Quarterly "  is 
held  at  this  church  once  a  year.  As  early  as  1846 
one  thousand  colored  persons  from  Philadelphia  came 


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to  attend  it  Formerly  there  were  four  Quarterly 
Meetings  held  at  different  towns.  This  one  attracted 
the  largest  attendance ;  hence  its  name.  The  others 
were  discontinued  years  ago. 

The  African  Wtsl^an  Church  was  on  Second  Street, 
between  Tatnall  and  West.  The  society  was  organ- 
ized in  1843,  with  Matthew  Leary  as  pastor.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Jones.  In  1847  the  old  building 
in  which  the  society  worshipped  was  removed  and 
another  built.  The  congregation  has  since  dis- 
banded. 

Btthel  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  on  Wal- 
nut Street  near  Sixth  Street,  was  founded  in  1845. 
Among  its  first  members  were  Bennett  Hill  and 
Charles  Caldwell,  who  still  belong  to  it.  The  first 
house  of  worship  owned  by  the  society  was  a  frame 
building  at  Twelfth  and  Elizabeth  Streets,  which  was 
built  in  1846,  and  dedicated  the  following  year  by 
Rev.  Stephen  Smith,  of  Philadelphia,  who  contrib- 
uted liberally  toward  its  cost.  For  fi\^  years  the 
society  worshipped  in  it,  and  then  erected  a  brick 
church,  seventeen  by  thirty-four  feet,  on  Penn  Street 
near  Seventh  Street,  using  it  until  1865.  Meantime, 
the  membership  was  increased  to  nearly  two  hundred. 
Id  1865  the  German  Lutheran  Church  building,  on 
the  site  of  the  present  Bethel  Church,  was  bought  for 
four  thousand  dollars.  In  1878  the  present  edifice 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  seventeen  thousand  dollars. 
The  leading  members  of  the  building  committee  were 
D.  P.  Hamilton,  John  Green  and  James  H.  Jones. 
It  was  dedicated  in  1881.  The  pastor  at  that  time 
was  Rev.  C.  0.  Felts.  The  pastors  who  succeeded 
him  were  Revs.  D.  P.  Sexton,  Robert  Way  man,  Jos- 
eph H.  Smith,  T.  G.  Stewart,  Leonard  Paterson,  John 
F.  Thomas,  T.  G.  Stewart,  John  W.  Becket  and 
George  W.  Brodie.  The  pipe-organ  cost  eleven  hun- 
dred dollars.  The  membership  in  1887  is  three  hun- 
dred and  thirty.  The  Sunday-school  has  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  names  on  its  roll.  M.  F.  Sterling  is 
superintendent. 

Union  American  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — Soon 
after  the  controversy  of  1851  a  portion  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  African  Union  Church,  in  Wilmington, 
formed  themselves  into  a  new  society  and  held  wor- 
ship for  three  years  at  the  house  of  John  M.  Benton. 
Rev.  Edward  Williams,  now  holding  the  oflSce  of 
bishop,  was  chosen  pastor.  They  bought  a  lot  of 
ground  at  1206  French  Street  and  on  it  erected  a 
board  tent,  which  was  used  for  a  time  and  in  1856  a 
meeting-house  was  built  on  the  same  site.  This 
building  was  removed  and  in  1882  the  present  one 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  eight  thousand  dollars.  The 
pastors  who  have  served  this  society  are  Revs.  Ed- 
ward Williams,  Asbury  Smith,  B.  T.  Ruley,  William 
Billingsly.  Rev.  B.  T.  Ruley  was  called  to  the  pastor- 
ate a  second  time  in  1886.  The  church  membership 
is  one  hundred  and  eighty -two.  The  Sunday-school, 
organized  in  1836,  has  one  hundred  and  fifty  schol- 
ars. The  superintendents  at  different  times  have 
been  Peter  D.  Hubert,  J.  C.  Gibbs  and  J.  F.  Bostick. 


St.  Peter^s  Church,  corner  of  Second  and  Union 
Streets,  is  now  a  station  of  the  African  Union  Meth- 
odist Protestant  Church.  A  number  of  the  members 
of  the  church  of  this  denomination  on  French  Street 
lived  in  thettvestern  part  of  the  city.  Rev.  E.  H. 
Chippey,  pastor,  had  a  platform  erected  in  the  colored 
cemetery  on  Union  Street  and  there  held  the  first 
services,  which  resulted  in  founding  a  mission.      In 

1870  a  lot  was  purchased  from  Mr. Reynolds  for 

one  thousand  three  hundred  dollars  and  a 
church  building  of  brick  was  erected  costing  one 
thousand  dollars.  Rev.  Nicholas  Collins  was  the 
first  pastor  appointed  by  Conference  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Revs.  Isaac  B.  Cooper,  George  W.  Riggs, 
John  H.  Nichols,  Daniel  Russell  and  George  W.  C. 
Laws.  The  membership  is  forty ;  Sunday-school, 
fifty  ;  Joseph  Price,  superintendent. 

Whittington  Chapel,  in  South  Wilmington,  now 
an  independent  colored  congregation  of  the  M.  E. 
Church,  was  for  thirteen  years  a  mission  of  Ezion 
Church.  On  the  10th  of  June,  1870,  Rev.  Solomon 
T.  Bantoum  began  mission  work  in  that  section  of  the 
city,  holding  services  in  the  dwelling-house  of  Francis 
Bird,  on  Buttonwood  Street.  A  Sunday-school  was 
organized  and  William  B.  Blake  chosen  superinten- 
dent. 

In  1873  a  chapel  was  built  and  named  after  the  late 
Rev. Whittington,  pastor  of  Ezion.  The  lot  and  build- 
ing cost  $584  and  Revs.  Hooper  and  Jarley  ofiSciated 
at  the  dedication  in  October,  1873.  This  chapel 
burned  down  in  1874,  and  for  two  years  services  of 
the  society  were  held  in  dwelling-houses.  In  1876 
the  first  chapel  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $700.  The 
church  membership  is  80  and  150  scholars  attend  the 
Sunday-school. 

The  ministers  of  this  congregation  were  Revs. 
Solomon  T.  Bantoum,  Solomon  Cooper,  William  H. 
Harlan,  Isaac  H.  White,  Thomas  Hubbard,  Harrison 
Webb,  John  J.  Campbell,  William  F.  Butler,  J.  J. 
Wallace  and  Charles  H.  Hudson. 

St.  Jame^  Colored  Church,  in  Ekst  Wilmington,  is 
the  second  congregation  originated  and  fostered  by 
the  A.  U.  M.  P.  Church,  on  French  Street.  It  was 
organized  as  a  mission  in  1873  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Chippey 
at  the  house  of  Stephen  Welsh.  For  several  years  it 
was  conducted  as  a  mission.  The  pastors  were  Revs. 
E.  H.  Chippey,  Benjamin  Scott,  Robert  Smith,  Moses 
Chippey  and  Daniel  Russell,  until  1884,  when  it  was 
made  a  station  with  Rev.  Charles  Walker  as  pastor. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Thomas  T.  Scott.  When 
the  mission  was  founded  a  day-school  and  Sunday- 
school  was  started,  which  has  since  merged  into  a 
public  school  for  colored  children.  The  church  mem- 
bership in  1887  was  eighty  and  the  Sunday-school, 
superintended  by  Henry  Farrow,  had  one  hundred 
scholars.  The  first  frame  school  was  built  in  1874, 
costing  $600.  It  has  since  been  rebuilt  at  a  cost  of 
$1600.    The  lot  cost  $250. 

St  FauPs  Church,  in  South  Wilmington,  is  the 
third  congregation  established  by  the  A.  U.  M.  P. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWABE. 


Church  on  French  Street.  Mission  work  was  b^un 
in  1874  by  Rev.  E.  H.  Chippey.  Religious  worship  was 
held  in  a  private  house  for  about  six  months,  when  a 
lot  was  bought  of  Mr.  —  Townsend  for  two  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  and  in  1875  the  trustees  of  the  French 
Street  Church  built  a  house  of  worship  on  it,  for  the 
mission,  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars.  As  a  mis- 
sion it  was  served  by  Revs.  Henry  W.  Davis,  Gaylord 
Peterson  and  John  Hall.  It  became  a  station  in  1885, 
and  has  had  as  pastors,  Revs.  Hadrian  Davis,  Daniel 
Russell  and  Isaac  B.  Cooper.  The  membership  of 
this  church  is  seventy-five ;  Sunday-school,  seventy. 

Moore^B  Chapel,  on  Ford  Street,  between  Scott  and 
Lincoln,  is  the  house  of  worship  of  a  mission  con- 
nected with  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  Church.  A  number  of 
members  of  Bethel  Church  lived  in  McDowellvill  e, 
now  the  northwestern  part  of  Wilmington,  and  to  ac- 
commodate them,  religious  services  were  first  held  in 
a  private  house  in  that  section,  commencing  in  1875; 
during  which  year  the  trustees  of  Bethel  Church  pur- 
chased a  lot  of  L.  W.  Stidham  A  Son  for  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  dollars  and  erected  the  present 
Moore's  Chapel  at  a  cost  of  six  hundred  dollars.  A 
Sunday-school  was  started  with  Francis  S.  Norton  as 
superintendent.  A  camp-meeting  was  held  in  the 
vicinity,  and  soon  after  a  mission  of  thirteen  members 
formed  by  Rev.  John  F.  Thomas.  Religious  services 
were  conducted  by  the  pastors  of  Bethel  Church  and 
local  preachers  for  several  years.  The  first  pastor 
sent  to  the  mission  was  Rev.  Charles  Fareira,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Revs.  J.  B.  Till  and  Charles  H. 
Johnson. 

The  Haven  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  yras  orig- 
inally known  as  Browntown  Mission,  and  was  estab- 
lished in  1876  by  Rev.  William  H.  Butler,  D.D., 
then  pastor  of  Ezion  Church.  The  first  place  of  wor- 
ship was  a  small  chapel  in  Browntown,  along  the 
Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad. 
After  a  continuance  of  two  years  as  a  mission  under 
the  direction  of  Ezion  Church,  it  was,  in  1879,  organ- 
ized into  a  station  as  Mount  Zion  Chapel.  The  rail- 
road company  bought  the  small  chapel  in  Browntown, 
December  15, 1879,  for  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
and  the  society  procured  a  lot  on  Third  Street,  between 
Dupont  and  Scott  Streets,  and  in  1880  erected  a 
house  of  worship,  at  a  cost  of  thirteen  hundred  dol- 
lars. This  work  was  accomplished  through  the  efibrts 
of  the  trustees  of  Ezion  Church.  The  membership 
of  the  church  in  1887  was  sixty-eight.  The  Sunday- 
school  has  one  hundred  and  two  scholars.  Ellis 
Jefierson  is  superintendent.  The  pastors  who  served 
the  church  have  been  Isaac  H.  White,  T.  M.  Hub- 
bard, Harrison  D.  Webb,  J.  J.  Campbell,  J.  R. 
Brinkley  and  D.  A.  Ridout. 

Plymouth  Church,  of  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Zion  denomination,  was  organized  in  the  *'  old  Union 
Church,"  corner  of  Second  and  Washington  Streets, 
in  1876,  by  Rev.  M.  M.  Bell,  under  the  direction  of 
Bishop  Clinton,  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore 
Conference.    Rev.  Isaac  R.  Johnson,  formerly  pastor 


of  African  Union  Church,  was  assigned  to  the  charge 
and  remained  two  yeari).  He  was  succeeded  by 
Revs.  Jacob  B.  Trusty,  E.  S.  Lane  and  John  C. 
Brown.  Mr.  Johnson  was  recalled  to  the  pastorate 
in  1887.  The  congregation  worshipped  two  years  in 
the  building  where  it  was  organized,  in  Rice's  Foun- 
dry, at  Tenth  and  Orange  Streets,  nearly  two  years, 
and  in  1880  rented  rooms  in  the  "  Arcade  Row,"  on 
Tatnall  Street,  below  Second,  which  is  now  the  place 
of  worship.  The  membership  is  thirty-five.  Thomas 
Bird  was  the  first  class-leader. 


CHAPTER  XXXIIL 
WILMINGTON— ( Continued), 
I       BANKING  INSTITUTIONS. 

The  National  Bank  of  Delawake.— The 
records  of  public  banking  in  this  State  go  back 
to  February  9,  1795,  when  the  Legislature  char- 
tered "The  President,  Directors  and  Company" 
of  the  Bank  of  Delaware,  the  institution  to  be  lo- 
cated in  Wilmington,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,- 
000,  in  500  shares  of  $200  each.  At  the  first  meeting 
of  the  stockholders,  June  5,  1795,  Joseph  Tatnall. 
Wm.  Hemphill,  Eleazer  McComb,  Samuel  Canby, 
Isaac  Hendrickson,  John  Ferris,  Samuel  Hollings- 
worth,  Joseph  Warner  and  Thomas  Mendenhall 
were  elected  directors,  who  organized  the  same  day 
by  electing  Joseph  Tatnall  president.  A  committee, 
consisting  of  Joseph  Warner,  Wm.  Hemphill  and 
Samuel  Canby,  purchased  from  James  Lea,  for  one 
thousand  pounds,  the  property  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  Market  and  Fourth  Streets  for  the  location 
of  the  bank,  and  on  August  17th  it  was  opened  for 
deposits  and  discounts.  Notes  were  then  issued  to 
the  amount  of  twenty  thousand  dollars,  in  denomina- 
tions of  fives,  tens,  twenties,  thirties  and  fifties,  pay- 
able in  specie  on  demand,  as  required  by  the  State 
law.  A  new  system  was  introduced  in  1800,  but  a 
five  dollar- note  of  the  first  issue  and  the  only  one 
now  in  existence,  was  deposited  in  a  Baltimore  bank 
as  late  as  July  17, 1888,  and  sent  to  this  bank  for  re- 
demption. It  is  now  neatly  framed  and  kept  as  a  rel- 
ic among  the  archives  of  the  institution. 

John  Hayes  was  elected  cashier,  at  a  salary  oi 
$600  per  annum  if  the  yearly  dividends  should 
amount  to  six  per  cent.,  and  $500  if  less.  In  1798 
his  salary  was  increased  to  $800,  and  from  the  begin- 
ning he  was  furnished  a  residence  in  the  bank  build- 
ing free  of  rent.  John  Hel lings  was  chosen  assis- 
tant, at  a  salary  of  $400,  and  Daniel  Byrnes  teller,  at 
$200.  It  was  decided  to  receive  no  money  on  de- 
posit except  specie,  notes  of  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States,  Bank  of  North  America  and  Bank  of  Penn- 
sylvania, all  of  Philadelphia.    Silver  supposed  to  be 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY.  733 

spuriooB  and  plugged  gold  coin  were  rejected.  By  Joseph  Baily,  Jacob  M.  Broom,  James  Canby,  John 
the  rules  it  was  provided  that  the  bank  should  be  Ferris  and  Joshua  Wollaston  were  the  building  corn- 
open  daily  except  Sunday,  from  9  a.m.  to  12  noon,  mittee.  The  old  bank  building  and  site  were  sold, 
and  from  3  to  5  p.m.;  discount  days  on  Tuesdays  and  July  14,  1815,  to  William  Larkins  for  $10,000.  On 
Fridays;  no  man  living  more  than  a  mile  from  the  January  2,  1816,  a  meeting  of  representatives  of  all 
bank  would  be  accepted  as  an  indorse r  unless  the  the  banks  of  the  State  was  held  at  Dover,  and  it  was 
principal  or  payer  lived  within  that  distance;  ac-  agreed  that  each  should  receive  the  note  issues  of  the 
couits  to  be  kept  in  dollars  and  cents.  At  the  first  other  in  order  to  establish  a  general  circulation  of 
business  meeting,  on  August  17,  1795,  notes  to  the  currency  throughout  Delaware, 
amount  of  $5000  were  discounted  ;  November  20th,  The  Bank  of  Delaware  was  successfully  guided  by 
$9396;  December  29th,  $13,045;  March  11,  1796,  its  directors  through  the  depressing  period  between 
$22,502,  which  illustrates  the  gradual  increase  in  the  1811  and  1820,  when  one  hundred  and  ninety-five 
bqsiness.  banks  in  the  Union  became  insolvent.  A  new  char- 
On  October  16, 1796,  John  James,  of  Philadelphia,  ter  was  obtained  January  11,  1820.  During  the 
was  appointed  by  the  Bank  of  Delaware  to  receive  financial  crisis  of  1837,  after  the  failure  of  the  Bank 
moneys  in  that  city  and  make  deposits  of  it  in  the  of  the  United  States  and  one  hundred  and  eighty 
Bank  of  North  America  to  the  credit  of  the  Wil-  other  monetary  institutions  in  this  country,  this  bank 
mington  Bank,  the  Philadelphia  institution  to  send  stopped  specie  payments  for  a  brief  period,  in  com- 
a  weekly  report  of  the  moneys  received.  A  commit-  mon  with  all  other  stable  institutions,  but,  like  them, 
tee  of  directors,  appointed  in  1796,  to  examine  into  in  1838  renewed  payments  in  specie.  In  the  same 
the  condition  of  the  bank,  reported  on  April  29th  of  year  the  number  of  directors  was  reduced  to  seven, 
that  year  that  there  was  $38,548  in  the  "  inner  As  early  as  1850  the  stock  was  held  at  double  its  par 
vault"  and  $41,408  "in  the  stairway."  value,  and  the  institution  had  earned  large  fortunes 
The  first  semi-annual  dividend  declared  was  five  that  were  mainly  directed  to  the  promotion  ofindus- 
dollars  on  a  share.  Some  interesting  correspondence  trial  and  commercial  enterprises  of  the  town.  The 
passed  between  the  banks  of  Philadelphia  and  the  prudence  of  its  management  brought  it  through  the 
Bank  of  Delaware  in  reference  to  the  banks*  of  financial  panic  of  1857  with  undiminished  credit  and 
the  former  city  recognizing  the  notes  of  the  latter  resources.  It  continued  business  as  a  State  corpora- 
and  receiving  them  on  deposit.  On  March  3,  1796,  tion  for  more  than  two  years  after  the  establishment 
John  Nixon,  president  of  the  Bank  of  North  Ameri-  of  the  national  banking  system,  but  on  June  16, 1865, 
ca,  wrote  to  Joseph  Tatnall,  the  Wilmington  president,  it  was  decided  to  enter  the  new  system,  and,  on  July 
sayiDg,  "this bank  is  disposed  to  evidence  the  most  29th,  it  was  made  the  "National  Bank  of  Delaware," 
friendly  disposition  toward  your  institution."  The  with  a  capital  of  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand  dol- 
bosiness  relations  between  these  two  concerns  have  lars,  and  these  directors :  Henry  Latimer,  Samuel 
regularly  continued  ever  since.  On  June  2,  1802,  Hilles,  Joseph  Shipley,  Henry  G.  Banning,  Edward 
there  was  on  deposit  $113,635.  Joseph  Tatnall,  the  Bringhurst,  Charles  Warner,  Lewis  P.  Bush,  M.D., 
first  president,  served  until  June  2,  1802,  when  his  William  P.  Richardson  and  Joseph  P.  Richardson  ; 
son-in-law,  Thomas  Lea,  was  elected,  who  continued  Cashier,  Samuel  Floyd  ;  Assistant,  R.  H.  Ewbanks ; 
to  fill  the  position  until  1810,  and  was  then  succeeded  Teller,  Henry  Baird.  The  number  of  directors  was 
by  Joseph  Baily.  John  Hayes,  elected  cashier  at  goon  afterward  again  reduced  to  seven, 
the  organization,  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health,  xhe  subsequent  prosperity  of  the  institution  is  at- 
March  27, 1810.  The  directors  gave  him  "  a  beauti-  tested  by  the  fact  that  the  stock,  the  par  value  of 
fill  silver  tea-set  as  a  token  of  their  appreciation  of  which  is  $200  a  share,  has  sold  as  high  as  $700.  The 
his  faithful  services."  Edward  Worrall,  one  of  the  surplus  is  $115,000,  and  the  deposits,  at  the  latest  offi- 
directors,  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy,  at  $1200  a  cial  statement,  amounted  to  $538,755.81. 
year.  Evan  Thomas  was  made  assistant  cashier  at  Joseph  Tatnall,  the  first  president,  was  one  of  the 
1800,  and  Edward  Hewes  teller  at  $600.  leading  citizens  of  Wilmington  of  his  time.  Thomas 
After  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain  had  been  j^^,  his  successor,  was  his  son-in-law.  Joseph  Baily, 
coDcluded,  business  increased  so  rapidly  that  the  old  the  third  president,  was  a  leading  merchant  of  Wil- 
bank  building  could  not  accommodate  it,  and,  on  mington,  and  son-in-law  of  Joseph  Tatnall,  and  Henry 
May  23,  1815,  the  directors  appointed  James  Pride,  Latimer,  the  fourth  president,  was  a  man  of  fine  cap- 
Joseph  Baily  and  James  Canby  a  committee  to  select  abilities.  He  served  as  a  director  for  nearly  sixty- 
a  new  location.  They  reported,  on  June  2d,  that  for  ^wo  years,  during  thirty-one  of  which  he  was  presi- 
15000  they  had  purchased  from  William  Warner  the  dent.  Henry  G.  Banning,  who  is  now  the  efficient  pres- 
premises  at  the  corner  of  Market  and  Sixth  Streets,  j^ent,  has  served  since  1872.  The  following  is  a  list 
running  through  to  King  Street,  then  occupied  as  a  of  the  presidents,  with  their  terms  of  service: 

store  by  Moore  &  Robinson.  By  paying  this  firm  $500,  ^^^^  ^^^„^„ ^^^^  ^^  ^,^^  ^  j^„^  2,  I802 

their  immediate  removal  was  effected,  the  old  build-  ThomaB  Lea June  2,  I802,  to  June  6, 1810 

ings  were  demolished,  and  before  the  year  1816  the  i^^^  .^J^ - f  °« ,*•  ??]?» ^  f  °*  !•  ]^\ 

^  '  ''  Henry  Latimer June  4,  1841,  to  June  7,  1872 

present  banking-house   was  completed  and  occupied.  Henry  G.  Banning June  7,  I872,  to  date 

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734 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  following;  have  been  cashiers : 

John  Hayef fh>in  August  17,  1796,  to  Mardi  27,  ino 

Edward  Worrell March  27,  1810,  to  December  20, 1830 

William  Paxon December  24, 1830,  to  June  30,  1839 

Henry  Warner  ^ July  1,  1839,  to  August  8, 1844 

Samuel  Floyd August  8,  1844,  to  December  1,  1873 

Richard  H.  Ewbanks December,  1873,  to  September  11, 1885 

Henry  Baird ^ September  11, 1885,  to  date 

Mr.  Baird  has  been  connected  with  the  bank  since 
January,  1866.  The  present  teller  is  E.  W.  Smith  ; 
discount  clerk,  Henry  R.  Carpenter ;  exchange  clerk, 
John  H.  Banning. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  directors 
from  1796  to  1887,  together  with  the  dates  of  their 
election : 

Peter  Brynberg 1796 

Jamee  Lea,  Jr 1796 

Isaac  H.  Starr 1797 

William  Poole 1797 

Samuel  Nichols 1798 

John  Warner 1798 

Joshua  Seal 1799 

John  Way 1799 

Peter  Bauduy 1799 

Henry  Latimer,  M.D » 1800 

Thomas  Lea 1802 

James  Canby 1804 

Joseph  Baily 1804 

Nathaniel  Richards 1805 

Eli  Mendenhall 1805 

JohnKeating„ 1806 

Jacob  Broom 1807 

James  Ferris 1808 

John  Hedrick 1809   I 

Edward  Worrell 1809   I 

John  Hayes 1810 

Edward  Tatnall 1810 

James  A.  Bayard 1810 

James  M.  Broom 1810  i 

Daniel  Lowber 1812 

James  Price 1813 

John  Richardson 1816 

WlUiamSeal 1817 

Oeorge  Monro „ 1819 

John  Shallcroes 1821 

John  Bullock „ 1822 

Samuel  Sappington 1823 

Henry  Latimer 1828 

BUHilles 1826 

The  board  of  directors  for  1888  are  Henry  G.  Ban- 
ning, Charles  Warner,  Edward  Bringhurst,  John 
Richardson,  Richard  P.  Gibbons,  J.  H.  Hoffecker, 
Jr.,  and  Francis  H.  Hoffecker. 

Joseph  Tatnall,  the  first  president  of  the  Bank 
of  Delaware,  for  forty  years  one  of  the  principal 
millers  on  the  Brandywine,  and  a  noble,  patriotic  and 
public-spirited  citizen,  was  born  at  Wilmington,  Ninth 
Month  6,  1740,  and  died  Eighth  Month  3,  1813,  aged 
seventy-three  years.  He  was  in  the  line  of  direct 
descent  in  the  third  generation  from  Robert  Tatnall, 
a  native  of  Leicestershire,  England,  who  died  in  his 
native  country  in  1715,  and  whose  widow  and  five  of 
their  seven  children,  about  1725,  sailed  from  Bristol, 
England,  and  settled  in  Darby,  Pa.  These  children 
were  Jonathan,  Thomas,  Mary,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Ann 
and  Edward. 

Edward  Tatnall,  the  youngest  child,  and  father  of 
Joseph  Tatnall,  was  married  at  London  Grove 
Friends'  Meeting,  Chester  County,  Pa.,  Fourth  Month 


James  Latimer,  Jr 1830 

John  Solomon 1833 

William  P.  Brobeon 1834 

John  H.  Price 1835 

Stephen  Bonsall 1837 

William  H.  Jones 1837 

Samuel  Bailey 1838 

Edward  W.  Gilpin 1839 

William  S.  Poole 1839 

John  B.  Latimer 1840 

Samuel  Hilles 1841 

LewisP.  Bush,  M.D 1813 

Joseph  C.  Gilpin 1843 

Joseph  Bringhurst 1843 

William  G.  Whltely 1844 

£11  Hanrey 1845 

Ashton  Richardson 1846 

Evan  C.  Stotsenberg 1847 

Goodman  Chalftint 1848 

Joseph  Shipley...... 1852 

Henry  Lawrence 1852 

Joseph  S.  LoYoring 1853 

Joseph  Chandler 1856 

Henry  G.  Banning 1860 

William  P.  Richardson 1860 

William  S.  Hilles 1860 

Edward  Bringhuret 1861 

Charles  Warner 1864 

Bobert  R.  Porter,  M.D 1868 

Joseph  Bringhurst 1874 

Richard  P.  Gibbons 1879 

Edward  Bringhunt,  Jr 1881 

J.  H.  Hoffecker,  Jr 1886 


11,  1735,  to  Elizabeth  Pennock,  by  whom  he  had  five 
children — ^Mary,  married  to  William  Marshall ;  Ann, 
died  unmarried  ;  Joseph,  the  sulj^ect  of  this  sketch ; 
Elizabeth,  married  to  John  Tripp ;  and  Sarah,  msziifid 
to  Richard  Richardson. 

Soon  after  their  marriage  Edward  and  Elizabeth 
Tatnall  moved  to  Wilmington,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
first  carpenters  in  the  town.  In  1765  he  placed  a 
weather-vane,  still  swinging  over  a  building  in  the 
ninth  ward,  on  the  same  site  of  the  stone  house  over 
which  he  placed  it  one  hundred  and  twenty -three  yean 
ago.  He  died  in  Wilmington,  Fourth  Month  11, 
1790. 

Joseph  Tatnall,  son  of  Edward  and  Elizabeth  Tat- 
nall, was  first  married  to  Elizabeth  Lea,  First  Month 
31, 1765,  in  the  Friends'  Meeting  at  Wilmington.  His 
second  marriage'  was  with  Sarah  Paxson.  His  chil- 
dren were  Sarah,  born  1765,  married  to  Thomas  Lea; 
Margaret,  born  1767,  married  to  James  Price ;  Eliza- 
beth, born  1770,  married  to  Joseph  Baily,  for  thirty- 
one  years  president  of  the  Bank  of  Delaware ;  Ed- 
ward, died  an  infant;  Ann,  born  1775,  married  to 
John  Bella h;  Joseph,  born  1777,  died  of  yellow 
fever  in  1798 ;  Esther,  born  1779,  married  to  William 
Warner,  father  of  Charles  Warner,  of  Wilmington ; 
Edward,  born  1782,  married  to  Margery  Paxson; 
Thamas,  born  1785,  died  of  yellow  fever  in  1798. 

Joseph  Tatnall  was  the  first  of  the  name  to  engage 
in  the  milling  business  on  the  Brandywine.  Daring 
the  War  of  the  Revolution,  when  yet  a  young  man, 
he  purchased  grain  and  manufactured  flour  in  large 
quantities.  His  name  was  known  far  and  near,  for  his 
energy  in  conducting  his  extensive  business,  his  great 
hospitality  and  his  sterling  patriotism  during  the 
eventful  period  of  the  struggle  for  independence. 
When  Washington  was  in  Wilmington,  before  the 
battle  of  Brandywine,  he  was  for  a  time  the  guest  of 
Joseph  Tatnall,  who  ground  flour  for  the  famishing 
army  when  few  others  would,  owing  to  the  danger  of 
his  mill  being  destroyed  by  the  enemy  if  they  ap- 
proached. A  few  years  lat€r,  as  the  first  President  of 
the  United  States,  Washington,  while  passing  througd 
Wilmington  on  his  way  from  Philadelphia,  then  the 
national  capital,  to  his  Mount  Vernon  home,  stopped 
his  chaise  in  front  of  the  home  of  Friend  Tatnall,  and 
not  finding  him  there,  walked  down  to  the  mill  to 
greet  this  worthy  patriot. 

About  1770  Joseph  Tatnall  built  the  large  stone 
mansion,  now  No.  1803  Market  Street,  and  then 
one  of  the  few  dwellings  in  the  village  of  Brandy- 
wine, and  it  was  here  that  Washington  and  Lafa- 
yette dined  j  with  him.  Lafayette  stopped  in  front 
of  it  and  inquired  concerning  the  family  of  his  former 
friend  when  he  visited  America  in  1824.  Greneral 
Wayne  had  his  headquarters  in  this  house,  the  rear 
parlor  being  used  as  the  council  chamber.  The  front 
door  jamb  for  many  years  had  the  mark  of  a  missile 
thrown  at  Gen.  Wayne  while  here.  It  is,  therefore, 
one  of  the  most  historic  buildings  now  standing  in 
Wilmington. 


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734  Higxgax..o£  ii£L^iu£Ji;. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY.  735 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


735 


^  Joseph  Tatnall  was  engaged  extensively  in  the 

shipping  trade  for  nearly  half  a  century.  As  an  evi- 
dence of  his  ability  to  perform  large  business  trans- 
actions, it  is  related  that  on  one  occasion  he  pur- 
chased thirty-five  thousand  bushels  of  grain  of  Col. 
Lloyd,  of  Talbot  County,  Maryland,  valued  at  forty 
thousand  dollars,  and  paid  for  it  in  cash.  This  oc- 
curred just  before  the  beginning  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, and  was  then  considered  a  very  large  amount  of 
money.  In  1798,  when  the  pre^ient  City  Hall  was 
'  built,  he  purchased  a  fine  town  clock  and  bell  in 
Europe,  and  presented  them  to  the  citizens  of  Wil- 
mington. The  bell  remained  in  position  on  the  City 
Hall  until  1866,  and  in  1878  was  given  to  the  Phoenix 
Fire  Company,  in  the  belfry  of  whose  engine  build- 
ing it  now  hangs. 

On  account  of  his  rare  executive  and  administra- 
tive abilities,  Joseph  Tatnall  was  chosen  the  first 
president  of  the  Bank  of  Delaware,  when  it  was  or- 
ganized in  1795,  and  continued  in  that  position  until 
1802.  Two  of  his  sons-in-law,  Thomas  Lea  and  Joseph 
Baily,  succeeded  him  in  the  same  position.  Late  in 
life  he  built  the  large  house  at  the  corner  of  Nine- 
teenth and  Market  Streets,  now  the  residence  of 
Christian  Febiger.  He  intended  this  building  for 
himself,  but  his  son,  Edward  Tatnall,  having  married 
about  this  time,  the  father  gave  him  possession 
of  it.    He  died  August  13,  1813. 

Edward,  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  I^ea  Tatnall, 
married  Margery  Paxson  in  1809,  by  whom  he  had 
the  following  sons  and  daughters :  Joseph,  Edward 
and  the  late  William  and  Henry  L.  Tatnall ;  Eliza- 
beth T.,  widow  of  the  late  Commodore  Gillis ;  Sarah  T., 
(deceased),  married  Christian  Febiger ;  Anne  T.,  mar- 
ried William  Canby  ;  Mary,  married  to  Edward  Betts ; 
Margery  (deceased),  married  E.  Tatnall  Warner. 

Edward  Tatnall,  the  father,  was  connected  with  the 
Brandywine  Mills  the  most  of  his  life.  He  was  in 
business  there  with  his  father  first,  and  later  with 
James  Price.  The  firm  of  Tatnall  &  Lea  was  orig- 
inally Joseph  Tatnall  and  Thomas  Lea,  and  after- 
ward, from  1838  to  1864,  the  present  Joseph  Tatnall 
and  William  Lea. 

Joseph  Tatnall,  the  oldest  son  of  Edward  and  Mar- 
gery Paxson  Tatnall,  owns  and  resides  in  the  late  home- 
•tead  of  hia  grandfather,  Joseph,  at  1803  Market  {Street, 
built  about  one  hundred  and  eighteen  years  ago,  the 
floors  in  the  front  of  which  have  never  been  changed. 
The  high  ceilings  show  the  advanced  ideas  of  the 
builder.  Joseph  Tatnall  was  married,  in  1841,  to  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Ashton  Richardson.  The  surviving  chil- 
dren of  this  marriage  are  Ashton  R.,  Thomas,  Richard 
R.,  Lucy  R.  and  William. 

Henry  Latimer,  who  for  the  long  period  of  thirty- 
one  years  filled  the  position  of  president  of  the  Bank 
of  Delaware  with  honor  to  himself  and  great  credit 
to  that  institution,  was  born  in  Wilmington  May  21, 
1799,  and  died  at  his  house  near  the  same  city  Febru- 
ary 28, 1885.  James  Latimer,  his  grandfather,  came 
to  America  in  1736,  settled  at  Newport,  in  New  Castle 


County,  and  engaged  extensively  in  the  mercantile 
and  shipping  business.  Largely  through  his  indus- 
try and  enterprise  that  village  in  early  days  was  made 
an  important  mercantile  centre.  He  became  one  of 
the  most  prominent  and  influenlial  men  of  his  day  in 
Delaware,  and  was  president  of  the  convention  that 
framed  the  first  State  Constitution.  Dr.  Henry  Lati- 
mer, his  son,  and  father  of  Henry  Latimer,  was  a 
skillful  physician ;  practiced  for  many  years  in  Wil- 
mington, and  was  a  surgeon  in  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution. He  was  elected  a  Representative  in  Congress 
in  1793  from  Delaware,  and  served  until  1795,  when 
he  was  chosen  United  States  Senator,  which  high 
position  he  filled  until  he  resigned  in  1801.  Henry 
Latimer  inherited  a  large  landed  estate,  including 
*'  Woodstock,"  the  homestead  near  Newport,  owning 
it  during  his  entire  life.  He  obtained  his  education 
in  the  best  schools  the  town  of  Wilmington  then 
afibrded.  Under  the  excellent  guidance  of  intelligent 
and  worthy  parents,  he  was  early  taught  that  nobility 
of  character,  honesty  and  integrity  were  essential  to 
a  successful  and  useful  career.  It  was  these  valued 
traits  that  Henry  Latimer  always  cultivated  and  pos- 
sessed during  his  long  and  prosperous  life  of  four- 
score and  six  years. 

When  he  reached  the  age  of  seventeen  he  went  to 
Philadelphia,  and  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  that  city  for  several  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Delaware  to  superintend  the  cultivation  of 
his  farms,  residing  at  the  homestead,  "  Woodstock," 
until  by  the  death  of  his  brother,  John  R.  Latimer,  he 
came  in  possession  of  the  beautiful  country-seat  near 
Wilmington,  on  the  Newport  turnpike.  It  was  here 
that  he  resided  during  the  later  years  of  his  life. 

In  his  successful  career  as  a  banker,  Henry  Lati- 
mer was  beat  known  in  Wilmington,  in  Philadelphia 
and  over  a  very  large  area  of  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. In  1823,  when  but  twenty-four  years  old,  he  was 
chosen  a  director  in  the  Bank  of  Delaware,  and  con- 
tinued by  annual  election  to  be  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  that  institution  until  his  death, 
a  period  of  sixty-two  years.  This  incident  is  a  re- 
markable one,  and  doubtless  does  not  have  a  parallel 
in  the  whole  history  of  the  State.  After  serving 
seventeen  years  as  a  director  of  the  bank,  a  vacancy 
occurred  in  the  oflSce  of  president,  and  Henry 
Latimer  was  unanimously  chosen  to  fill  that  position 
June  4,  1841.  He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the 
ofiice  and  performed  them  with  his  characteristic 
good  judgment  and  wise  foresight,  continually  keep- 
ing uppermost  in  his  mind  during  his  whole  career 
the  best  interests  of  the  institution  over  which  he  was 
called  upon  to  preside.  He  was  regular  and  punctual 
in  his  attendance  at  the  bank,  watched  with  zealous 
care  all  its  afiairs,  continued  its  reputation  for  excel- 
lent management  and  increased  its  prosperity.  On 
the  7th  of  June,  1872,  after  a  long,  successful  and 
prosperous  administration,  he  resigned  the  presidency 
of  the  bank  and  retired  to  private  life,  though  con- 
tinuing a  member  of  its  board  of  directors.      He  was 


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736 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


a  highly  esteemed  and  very  useful  citizen  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived. 

National  Bank  of  Wilmington  and  Brandy- 
wine. — ^The  institution  now  known  by  this  name 
was  chartered  in  1810  as  the  President,  Directors  and 
Company  of  the  Bank  of  Wilmington  and  Brandy- 
wine,  the  articles  of  association  having  been  signed 
by  one  hundred  and  forty  subscribers  to  the  stock. 
The  capital  was  fixed  at  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  in  shares  of  fifty  dollars,  of  which  five  dollars 
must  be  paid  at  the  time  of  subscribing ;  five  dollars 
at  the  expiration  of  every  thirty  days  until  twenty- 
five  dollars  had  been  paid,  and  the  remainder  at  the 
pleasure  of  the  directors.  No  director  of  another 
bank  could  hold  a  similar  office  in  this  one,  and  all 
must  be  citizens  of  the  State.  On  April  16,  1810,  the 
stockholders  met  at  the  public  inn  of  Edward  Thomas^ 
two  doors  above  the  present  location  of  the  bank,  and 
elected  these  nine  directors, — John  Way,  William 
Poole,  Daniel  Lowber,  Robert  Hamilton,  Joseph 
Robinson,  Jeremiah  Woolston,  James  Jefferis  and 
John  Torbert.  They  organized  by  electing  William 
Poole  president,  which  position  he  held  but  eleven 
days  and  then  resigned.  The  amount  of  eighteen 
thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty  dollars  was  sub- 
scribed to  the  capital,  and  Robert  Hamilton,  Jere- 
miah Woolston  and  Joseph  Robinson,  the  committee 
appointed  to  procure  a  banking-house,  reported  that 
Samuel  Hogg's  property,  immediately  above  the 
present  site  of  the  bank,  could  be  rented  for  three 
hundred  dollars  a  year.  The  lease  was  executed 
May  11th,  and  the  president  was  instructed  to  draw 
five  hundred  dollars  from  the  "  trunks  "  of  this  bank, 
deposited  in  the  Bank  of  Delaware,  to  fit  the  building 
up  and  buy  paper  and  plates  for  engraving  the  notes. 
A  loan  of  its  plate  press  was  ofi*ered  by  the  Bank  of 
Delaware.  Daniel  Byrnes,  of  Baltimore,  was  elected 
cashier  at  one  thousand  dollars  a  year,  but  refused  to 
come  for  less  than  one  thousand  one  hundred  dollars 
and  *'  house  found  him.*'  The  first  bauking  business 
was  done  May  19,  1810,  when  John  James'  note  for 
two  thousand  dollars,  and  Thomas  Coffin's  note  for 
two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  were  discounted  at 
sixty  days.  May  26th  a  committee  reported  that  the 
amount  of  paid-in  capital  was  thirty-four  thousand  five 
hundred  and  sixty- four  dollars.  The  third  instalment 
of  seventeen  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty-five 
dollars  was  paid  on  June  9th,  and  Samuel  Smith's 
note  for  two  thousand  dollars  was  discounted  the 
same  day.  The  president  and  Daniel  Lowber,  on 
June  29th,  took  twenty-two  thousand  and  ninety-six 
dollars  of  the  paid-in  capital  in  notes  to  Philadelphia 
and  obtained  in  exchange  the  same  amount  in  specie. 
Three  hundred  impressions  were  made  on  half-sheets 
of  five,  ten  and  fifteen-dollar  notes  to  the  amount  of 
twenty-one  thousand  dollars,  from  plates  bought  "  by 
this  bank  in  Philadelphia."  Six  hundred  sheets  of 
the  same  denomination,  and  fifleen  hundred  sheets  of 
one,  two  and  three-dollar  notes  were  ordered.  The 
bank  was  opened  r^ularly  for  deposits  and  discounts 


June  21, 1810,  on  which  day  notes  to  amount  of  14816 
were  discounted,  and  on  June  28th,  $7198;  July  2d, 
$8364;  August  30th,  $12,115.  One  of  the  heaviest 
amounts  discounted  during  the  bank's  early  history 
was  on  April  9, 1812,  being  $21,816. 

The  fourth  installment  of  five  dollars  a  share  was 
paid  July  6,  1810,  amounting  to  $17,530.  The  fifth 
installment  was  called  for  August  16th.  One-half  of 
the  capital  stock,  or  $100,000,  was  now  paid  in. 

The  first  dividend  of  eight  per  cent,  per  annum 
was  declared  January  7,  1811.  Edward  Thomas  was 
paid  on  the  same  day  $41.49  for  the  use  of  his  house 
by  the  bank  and  for  a  place  of  meeting  of  stockhold- 
ers during  the  preceding  year.  John  Way,  John 
Torbert  and  Robert  Hamilton  were  paid  $58.77  od 
January  11,1811,  "for  going  to  Dover  on  charter 
business."  Two  thousand  impressions  in  small  notes 
were  made  February  27, 1811.  The  president's  sal- 
ary for  the  first  year  was  $400.  A  4}  per  cent  divi- 
dend for  the  preceding  six  months  was  declared  July 
1st.  On  August  11th  there  was  $46,997  in  specie  on 
deposit,  and  on  January  1, 1812,  $53,036.  The  cashier 
informed  the  public,  in  1812,  that  there  were  counter- 
feit notes  on  this  bank  in  circulation.  A  dividend  of 
5  per  cent,  for  the  preceding  six  months  was  declared 
January  2,  1812,  when  there  was  a  surplus  of  $3500 ; 
ten  thousand  sheets  of  bank  paper  were  printed  for 
the  year.  A  committee  made  up  of  John  Way,  Jacob 
Jefieris  and  John  Torbert  reported,  on  February  12, 
1812,  that  they  had  bought  from  William  Townsend, 
for  $3300,  the  present  site  of  the  bank  ;  whereupon, 
the  directors  decided  that  "  the  bank  ought  not  to  be 
a  tenant-house,  and  the  erection  of  a  banking  build- 
ing would  add  confidence,  security  and  re>pectability 
to  the  institution."  The  new  edifice  was  finished 
March  25,  1813.  On  May  10th,  Directors  Joseph 
Robison  and  Samuel  Shipley  were  instructed  to  have 
$20,000  in  specie  put  in  boxes  ready  for  ha-ty  removal 
should  it  be  necessary  in  consequence  of  reports  of 
the  arrival  of  the  British  fleet  in  Delaware  Bay ;  but 
this  order  was  revoked  on  reception  of  the  news  of 
the  defeat  of  the  enemy  at  Baltimore  on  September 
12th-15th.  The  cashier,on  August  28,1815,  was  ordered 
to  purchase  for  the  bank,  with  the  Baltimore  paper 
on  deposit,  $62,000  worth  of  United  States  stock  at 
99i.  These  were  transferred  to  the  Bank  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  finally  sold  to  the  Bank  of  Philadelphia, 
February  22,  1816.  The  Bank  of  Wilmington  and 
Brandywine  sent  representatives  to  a  meeting  of 
bankers  held  in  Dover  January  3,  1816,  for  reinstat- 
ing the  credit  of  the  paper  of  the  banks  of  the  State. 
The  surplus  fund  was  increased  $4000  this  year. 
This  bank,  the  Farmers*  Bank  and  the  Bank  of 
Delaware  each  subscribed  $10,000  in  stock  to 
assist  in  constructing  the  Qap  and  Newport  Turn- 
pike. 

The  financial  crisis  which  caused  considerable 
trouble  from  1815  to  1819  had  now  shown  itself,  and 
an  agreement  by  this  bank  with  the  banks  of  Pennsyl- 
vania was  made  January,  1816,  not  to  receive  on  de- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


737 


poeit  any  paper  issued  by  banks  in  the  South  and 
West.  During  a  part  of  the  year  1816  the  local 
banks  of  Delaware  would  not  receive  or  deposit 
each  other's  notes  on  account  of  *'  the  great  embar- 
rassment of  the  circulating  medium."  January  20, 
1817,  the  Farmers*  Bank  of  Delaware  agreed  to  accept 
notes  of  this  bank,  which  reciprocated  the  favor. 

The  same  relations  were  soon  afterwards  established 
with  the  Bank  of  West  Chester. 

The  notes  of  the  Bank  of  Wilmington  and  Brandy- 
wine  were  placed  at  par  in  Philadelphia  in  July, 
1817,  when  eighty  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  dollars  in  United  States  bank  stock  were  sold. 
The  following  statement  was  made  in  August  of  this 
year:  Specie  on  hand,  $16,333;  bank-notes,  $81,714; 
checks,  drafts,  etc.,  $54,875  ;  surplus  fund,  $50,000 ; 
paid-in  capital,  $120,000. 

At  the  meeting  of  stockholders  held  at  the  public 
inn  of  Mary  Thomas,  widow  of  Edward,  six  of  the 
nine  directors  were  not  re-elected.  A  difficulty  had 
arisen  on  account  of  certain  defaced  notes  not  be- 
ing properly  destroyed  and  the  institute  became 
nearly  bankrupt.  The  stockholders  appointed  Jacob 
Airichs,  James  Brian,  John  Walker,  Evan  Morris 
and  Samuel  Spackman  to  confer  with  the  directors  on 
the  advisability  of  closing  the  bank.  It  was  decided, 
however,  to  restore  the  stock  to  par  value.  The 
amount  of  the  bank's  notes  in  circulation  then  was 
fifty-eight  thousand  dollars,  to  provide  for  a  redemp- 
tion of  which  there  was  but  thirty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars in  assets.  For  a  time  the  institution  ceased  to 
issue  money  or  receive  deposits.  John  Torbert,  Jo- 
seph Grubb  and  John  Wardell  visited  Philadelphia 
"  to  assist  in  restoring  credit  of  bank  there."  A 
committee  appointed  to  examine  into  the  condition 
of  the  bank  on  May  10,  1819,  reported  the  liabilities 
to  be  $265,165,  and  resource  in  bills  receivable, 
bonds,  stocks,  etc.,  $298,445,  leaving  a  "  nominal  bal- 
ance in  favor  of  the  bank  of  $33,280,  most  of  which 
is  collectible."  It  was  therefore  determined  to  im* 
mediately  restore  the  credit  of  the  bank,  and  for  this 
parpoee  $12,000  was  borrowed  from  the  State  Bank 
at  Camden,  N.  J.,  $10,000  from  the  Bank  of  Delaware 
and  $22,000  from  the  Bank  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
president  and  directors  signing  notes  payable  in  four 
months,  thus  making  themselves  personally  responsi- 
ble to  the  lenders.  The  bank  resumed  business  May 
18th  by  discounting  paper  to  the  amount  of  $13,510. 
The  first  notes  were  issued  from  new  plates  on  July 
15, 1820,  to  the  amount  of  $12,000.  Cashier  Byrnes 
agreed  to  serve  a  year  for  $900 ;  Evan  Thomas  was 
elected  clerk  ;  John  Torbert,  the  president,  received 
1300  a  year.  The  first  dividend  after  the  crisis  was 
a  semi-annual  one  of  fifty  cents  on  each  share,  de- 
clared July  2, 1821.  A  new  charter  was  obtained 
February  7,  1822.  Daniel  Byrnes  resigned  the  posi- 
tion of  cashier  May  12, 1823,  and  Evan  Thomas  was 
elected  at  $700  a  year.  Joseph  Wollaston  was  chosen 
teller  at  $400. 

John  Torbert  resigned  as  president  in  1824,  and 
47 


John  Wales  succeeded  him.  Evan  Thomas,  the 
cashier,  died  November  25,  1825.  Joseph  P.  Wol- 
laston was  elected  to  the  position.  Daniel  Byrnes 
returned  to  the  bank  as  teller  at  the  same  time.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  stockholders  in  December,  1828,  they 
resolved  to  make  good  the  capital  stock  and  on  the 
21st  of  the  following  January  obtained  from  the 
Legislature  the  necessary  enabling  act.  An  install- 
ment of  $5  per  share  was  called  on  March  28, 1829, 
$5  on  July  11th  and  $8  on  August  30th.  On  Septem- 
ber 17th  fourteen  hundred  and  twenty-five  new 
shares  were  issued  at  $30  each,  and  by  January  4, 
1830,  the  bank  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  pay 
a  six  per  cent,  dividend.  It  escaped  disaster  in  the 
financial  convulsion  which  shook  the  country  in 
1837,  when  the  following  were  amo^g  the  principal 
stockholders:  John  Janvier,  244  shares;  James 
Gardner,  220 ;  Jesse  Mendenhall,  164 ;  Joseph  Men- 
denhall,  153 ;  Jeremiah  Wollaston's  executors,  137  ; 
John  Wales,  110;  William  Seal,  100;  Martha  Pen- 
nock,  100 ;  John  Walker,  95 ;  Jesse  Chandler,  85  ; 
Vincent  Gilpin,  75 ;  Samuel  McClary,  68 ;  William 
R.  Sellers,  69 ;  George  Bush,  56 ;  Mahlon  Betts,  53 ; 
Jacob  Pusey,  50. 

An  act  of  Assembly,  passed  February  18, 1837,  ex- 
tended the  provision  of  the  charter  by  creating 
twenty-six  hundred  and  sixty-seven  new  shares,  to 
be  disposed  of  at  not  less  than  $35  each.  The  amount 
on  deposit  October  19,  1837,  was  $98,602. 

Washington  Jones,  now  president  of  the  bank,  was 
the  first  discount  clerk,  elected  in  1839,  and  served 
until  the  fall  of  that  year,  when  he  resigned  and  was 
succeeded  by  William  S.  Hagany.  In  1854  a  divi- 
dend of  five  per  cent,  and  an  extra  dividend  of  two 
per  cent,  were  declared,  and  by  April,  1856,  the  de- 
posits had  increased  to  $123,349.70.  Seventpen  months 
later  came  the  great  panic  of  1857,  and  Mr^  George 
Bush,  president  of  the  bank,  represented  it  at  the  gen- 
eral meeting  of  Wilmington  bankers  on  September 
28,  1857,  when  it  was  resolved  to  suspend  specie 
payments.  It  resumed  with  the  general  resumption 
of  the  next  year,  but  of  course  suspended  again  during 
the  Civil  War  and  until  1879.  In  January,  1862,  it 
loaned  the  State  $10,000  to  pay  the  direct  tax  assessed 
by  the  general  government.  On  May  22, 1865,  it 
became  a  member  of  the  national  banking  system  as 
the  "  National  Bank  of  Wilmington  and  Brandy  wine," 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $200,010,  the  directors  being 
John  A.  Duncan,  Jacob  Pusey,  Leonard  E.  Wales, 
Washington  Jones,  George  W.  Sparks,  William 
Richards,  Thomas  W.  Bowers,  Joseph  Mendenhall 
and  Joseph  T.  Bailey. 

President  John  A.  Duncan  died  Wednesday,  Au- 
gust 5,  1868.  and  Washington  Jones  was  elected  to 
succeed  him  and  has  held  the  position  continuously 
for  nineteen  years.  Jacob  Pusey,  after  serving  as  di- 
rector for  nearly  twenty-five  years,  died  March  6, 
1869.  A  dividend  of  seven  per  cent,  was  declared 
yearly  from  1870  to  1878,  and  six  per  cent,  in  1879. 
Otho  Nowland,  the  present  cashier,  entered  the  bank 


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738 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


aa  a  clerk,  April  26,  1872.  Caleb  Sheward  is  paying 
teller  and  Aubrey  Thatcher  ia  receiving  teller.  On 
December  26,  1884,  Washington  Jones,  Oeorge  S. 
Capelle  and  W.  T.  Porter  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  enlarge  and  improve  the  banking-house.  By 
November  ot  the  following  year  it  was  extended  to 
Shipley  Street  and  the  office  of  the  bank  is  now  a 
large,  roomy,  well-lighted  structure,  and  furnished 
with  the  best  ot  conveniences  for  banking  purposes. 
One  of  Hall's  improved  burglar  and  fire-proof  vaults 
was  recently  procured.  The  capital  of  the  bank  is 
$200,010 ;  surplus,  $100,000;  undivided  profits,  about 
$25,000;  loans  and  discount  during  the  past  year, 
$600,000;  and  deposits,  about  $550,000. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  presidents  and  the 
length  of  time  each  has  filled  the  office : 

WnUam  Poole April  1«,  1810,  to  April  28, 1810 

John  Way May  4,  1810,  to  April  6, 1819 

John  Torb«rt April  6. 1819,  to  May  17,  1824 

John  Wales May  17,1824,  to  April  9. 1829 

WUliam  Seal April  9,  1829,  died  Sept  20, 1842 

George  Biuh 8ept.'.24, 1812,  to  Sept.  22,  1863 

John  A.  Duncan Oct  6,  1863,  to  Aug.  6, 1868 

Washington  Jones „...Aug.  24,  1868,  to  date 

The  following  have  been  cashiers : 

Daniel  Byrnes May  4, 1810,  to  May  12,  1823 

Evan  Thomas May  12,  1823,  to  Nor.  25,  1826 

Joseph  P.  WoUaston Dec.  1, 1826,  te  Oct  9, 1837 

George  W.  Sparks Oct  9, 1837,  to  April  7, 1866 

WiUiam  8.  Hagany April  7, 1866,  to  Dec.  16,  1862 

Evan  Bice Dec.  16, 1862,  to  Feb.  10,  1879 

George  W.  Sparks Feb.  10, 1879,  to  Jan.  30, 1882 

Otho  NowUnd Jan.  30, 1882,  to  date 

The  names  of  the  first  directors  are  •  given  above. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  other  directors,  with  the 
date  of  their  election : 

Peter  Biynberg 1810 

Samuel  Shipley 1811 

William  Seal 1811 

Joseph  Grubb 1812 

Isaac  Dixon 1812 

WilUamBice 1813 

John  Jones 1813 

Jeremiah  Woolston 1814 

Thomas  Bichardson 1814 

Jacob  Alrichs 1815 

Michael  McGear 1815 

Allen  Thompson 1816 

Bobert  Porter 1816 

Thomas  Braden 1817 

John  Warden 1819 

EUMendenhall 1819 

John  Gordon 1819 

DaridBush 1819 

John  Patterron ...1819 

Isaac  Lamb 1819 

Jeremiah  Woolston 1819 

John  Stapler 1820 

John  Walk6r 1821 

Benjamin  C.  Chandler 1821 

Isaac  Pennock 1822 

John  Wales. 1823 

Edward  Tatnall 1824 

Washington  Bice 1826 

Samuel  McClary 1827 

Jesse  Mendenhall 1827 

George  Griffin 1828 

James  Gardner 1829 

Edward  Inskip 1829 

Joseph  C.  Gilpin. 1829 

WUUamSeal 1829 

MaUon  Betts. 1830 


William  Chandler 1831 

James  Brown 1831 

Vincent  Gilpin 1832 

John  P.  McLear 1832 

George  Bush 1833 

George  Jones 1834 

Jacob  Pusey 1835 

Henry  Hicks ia39 

Benjamin  A.  Janvier 1839 

John  A.  Duncan.^ 
Henry  G.  Banning. 
George  Bichardson. 
Thomas  C.  Alrichs. 
Thomas  B.  Bice. 
Evan  C.  Stotsenburg. 

Washington  Jones. 1847 

Edward  L.  Bice 1860 

Joseph  Mendenhall 1850 

William  Bichards 1851 

JohnH.  Adams 1853 

Edward  Betts 1865 

George  W.  Sparks 1856 

Stephen  S.  Southard 1857 

Joseph  T.  Baily 1857 

Edward  B.  Mcaees ..1858 

William  8  Craig 1860 

Edward  Darlington 1861 

Leonard  E.  Wales.. 1862 

Henry  F.  Dure 1863 

Thomas  Darlington 18C4 

Thomas  W.  Bowers 1865 

James  Morrow 1866 

Jesse  Lane 1866 

George  S.  Capelle 1868 

John  P.  Wales,  MJ) 1870 

Edward  PuK^y 1872 


1  The  records  from  1841  to  1848  are  not  known  to  be  in  •zlstenoe. 


Allen  Gawthrop^ 1879      Alfred  D.  Warner \m 

Wm.  G.  Pennypacker 1879      J.  Newlin  Gawthrop 1885 

Holstein  Harvey 1879       Henry  Mendenhall ISM 

William  T.  Porter 1883      Thomas  P.  Smith „...188? 

Charles  W.  Weldin 1883 

The  directors  for  1888  are  Washington  Jones,  Geo. 
S.  Capelle,  William  G.  Pennypacker,  C.  Wesley  Wel- 
din, William  T.  Porter,  J.  Newlin  Qawthrop,  Alfred 
D.  Warner,  Thomas  P.  Smith  and  James  Morrow. 

Washington  Jones,  now  and  for  many  years  presi- 
dent of  the  National  Bank  of  Wilmington  and  Bran- 
dy wine,  and  who  is  about  equally  well  known  » 
manufacturer  and  banker,  rather  singularly,  was  not 
brought  up  or  educated  to  either  calling,  but  spent 
twenty  years  of  his  early  manhood  in  the  mercantile 
business.  He  is  of  Welsh  and  Irish  descent.  His 
great-grandfather  came  from  Wales,  and  was  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers  of  that  nationality  in  Delaware. 
His  father,  William  G.  Jones,  who  was  a  cabinet- 
maker, lived  all  of  his  life  in  the  house  where  he  was 
born,  and  died  there  in  his  eighty-ninth  year.  His 
wife,  Rachel  Walker,  was  of  a  Pennsylvania  family, 
of  Irish  origin.  Their  son  Washington,  the  subject 
of  this  short  memoir,  was  bom  in  Wilmington  Janu- 
ary 5, 1818,  and  his  youth  was  spent  in  the  manner 
usual  in  the  then  small  town,  except  that  he  could 
not  fully  enjoy  even  the  limited  educational  advan- 
tages of  the  time  because  of  poor  health.  When 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  Philadelphia  and 
entered  a  retail  dry-goods  store,  and  two  years  later 
he  became  a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  house  in  the  same 
city.  After  the  expiration  of  a  year  he  returned  to 
Wilmington,  clerked  a  year  in  a  dry -goods  store, 
served  another  year  as  discount  clerk  in  the  same 
bank  of  which  he  has  since  been  president,  and  then, 
in  1839,  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  with  very  little 
capital  besides  the  knowledge  which  he  had  picked  up 
in  his  varied  experience  as  a  clerk,  he  engaged  in  the 
dry-goods  business  upon  his  own  account.  He  pros- 
pered, slowly  at  first,  and  then  more  rapidly,  and  for 
nearly  twenty  years  he  followed  this  line  of  merchan- 
dizing with  such  generally  good  results  as  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  a  fortune.  In  1858  he  sold  this  store 
and  became  associated  with  Thomas  H.  Baynard, 
under  the  firm-name  of  Baynard  &  Jones,  in  the 
manufacture  of  morocco.  He  has  ever  since  been 
identified  with  that  trade,  as  a  sketch  in  the  manu- 
facturing chapter  shows. 

Mr.  Jones  became  a  director  of  the  Wilmington 
and  Brandywine  Bank  a  few  years  afler  he  served 
there  as  discount  clerk,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  brief  intervals,  has  held  the  position  ever  since. 
He  was  elected  president  in  1868.  Large  and  exact- 
ing as  have  been  his  duties  in  this  office,  and  at  the 
head  of  a  great  morocco  house,  his  energies  have  had 
exercise  in  numerous  other  channels.  He  has  been  a 
prime  mover  and  active  force  in  many  of  the  enter- 
prises which  have  been  instrumental  in  advancing 
the  material  welfare  of  the  city.  He  was  prominent* 
ly  identified  with  the  Franklin  Cotton  Factory,  and 
was  one  of  the  foremost  pushers  in  the  movement 


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738  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


MahionBetts 1830  I  Edward  PMPy 1872     ly  laenuneu  Wit H  ine  i?  rau Klin  uoMon  racwry,  wu 

1  The  noordf  from  1841  to  1848  are  not  known  tobe  in  ezMenoe.  was  One  of  the  foremoSt   pushers  in  the  mOYefflent 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


739 


which  secured  the  establishment  of  gas  works  in  the 
city.  He  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  directors  who, 
in  1852,  obtained  the  charter  for  the  gas  company. 
He  has  also  been  a  chief  promoter  of  several  railroad 
enterprises,  and  has  held  positions  of  responsibility  in 
connection  with  them.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  careful  and  prudent  business  men  of  the  city, 
and  while  his  abilities  have  brought  a  reward  to  him, 
they  have  not  been  of  less  value  to  the  city — the  peo- 
ple generally — both  in  a  material  and  moral  way. 
His  religious  affiliation  has  been  with  the  Baptist 
denomination,  and  he  has  long  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Second  Church,  has  held  nearly  every 
official  position  in  it,  including  the  presidency  of  the 
board  of  trustees  and  the  treasurership ;  took  a  prom- 
inent part  in  securing  the  funds  for  erecting  the  hand- 
some church  edifice  at  Fourth  and  French  Streets, 
and  was  himself  one  of  the  largest  contributors.  He 
has  ever  been  one  of  its  principal  supporters,  and  was 
for  fifteen  years  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  Mr.  Jones  has  been  twice  married.  His  first 
wife,  with  whom  he  was  united  in  1841,  was  Margaret 
Wilson,  daughter  of  Washington  Rice,  a  prominent 
citizen  and  business  man  of  Wilmington.  There 
were  four  children  by  this  union, — Emma  D.  (Mrs. 
Wm.  W.  Lobdell),  Charles  R.,  Margaret  R.  (Mrs.  D. 
S.  Cresswell,  of  Philadelphia)  and  William  G.  Mrs. 
Jones  died  October  4,  1864.  In  1866  Mr.  Jones  mar- 
ried Emma  W.  Stager,  of  Philadelphia,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Lizzie  S.  (Mrs.  N.  B.  Danforth). 

The  Wilmington  Clearing-house  Association 
was  organized  in  September,  1887,  by  electing  Wash- 
ington Jones  president,  and  the  National  Bank  of 
Wilmington  and  Brandywine,  managers,  for  six 
months.  The  business  of  this  association  was  begun 
October  1,1887. 

The  Farmers*  Bank.— The  act  incorporating  the 
Farmers'  Bank  of  the  State  of  Delaware  was  passed 
February  4, 1807,  empowering  it  to  organize  with  a 
capital  not  to  exceed  $600,000,  in  ten  thousand  shares 
of  fifty  dollars  each.  The  principal  bank  under  this 
act  was  established  at  Dover,  with  branches  at  New 
Castle  and  Georgetown. 

By  a  supplementary  charter  of  January  22,  1813,  a 
branch  of  the  bank  was  established  at  Wilmington 
and  opened  a  few  months  later  on  the  west  side  of 
Market  Street,  a  short  distance  above  its  present 
location.  While  the  institution  thus  consists  of 
branches,  it  is  invariably  treated  as  a  unit  in  legisla- 
tion. Each  branch  has  a  separate  business,  but  the 
allotment  of  capital  is  permanent,  and  the  entire 
resources  of  the  corporation  guarantee  the  liabilities 
of  any  one  branch.  The  holdings  of  the  State,  which 
amount  to  $360,d60,  constitute  a  majority  of  the  stock, 
and  the  investment  of  this  block  is  mainly  devoted  to 
the  fund  for  establishing  free  schools.  Annually  the 
bank  pays  to  the  State  in  dividends  for  the  public  use, 
121,669,  thus  making  the  welfare  of  the  institution  a 
matter  of  personal  interest  to  every  citizen.  In  return, 
the  bank  enjoys  by  law  the  custody  of  certain  State 


and  county  funds  which  form  a  large  proportion  of 
the  public  moneys. 

The  total  capital  now  is  $680,000  distributed  as 
follows : 

Bank  At  Dover 1224,000 

Bank  at  Georgetown $120,000 

Bank  at  New  Oastle 100,000 

Bank  at  Wilmington 236,000 

The  present  building  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Wil- 
mington was  erected  in  1836.  Under  the  charter 
there  were  nine  directors,  six  of  whom  are  chosen  by 
the  stockholders,  and  nine  elected  by  the  General 
Assembly.  The  presidents  of  the  Wilmington  branch 
since  its  establishment,  have  been  : 

John  Ramsey July  6, 1813,  to  Aug.  26, 1816 

Louis  McLane Sept.  18, 1816,  to  Jan.  7,  1818 

John  Ramsey Jan.  8, 1818,  to  Jan.  8,1824 

Dr.  Allen  HcLane Jan.  8, 1821,  to  Oct  19,  1831 

Allan  Thomson Oct.  22,  1881,  to  Jan.  7,  1836 

Jamee  A.  Bayani Jan.  7, 1836,  to  Jan.  6,  1848 

David  G.  Wilson ..Jan.  6, 1843,  to  March  31, 1866 

Charles  I.  Dn  Pont April  6, 1866,  to  Dec.  12, 1868 

Francis  Barry Jan.  7, 1868,  to  Jan.  8,  1878 

George  Richardson Jan.  8, 1878,  to  date 

The  cashiers  have  been  : 

Peter  Caveriy July  6,  1813,  to  Aug.  19,  1816 

John  Rumsey Aug.  26,  1815,  to  March  16,  1817 

James  Uarper^ March  16, 1817,  to  Dec.  30, 1820 

Peter  Oaverly* Dec.  30, 1820,  to  Oct.  1,  1827 

John  Torbert* Oct  17,  1827,  to  June  2,  1842 

Allan  Thomson June  6,  1842,  to  Jan.  16,  1843 

Robert  D.  Hicki Jan.  17,  1848,  to  Feb.  16, 1868 

JoMph  A.  Heeton Feb.  15, 1868,  to  March  6,  1867 

Aquila  G.  Robinson March  9, 1867  to  date. 

The  subjoined  is  a  list  of  the  directors,  and  the  dates 
of  their  appointment  or  election,  the  first  nine  names 
being  those  of  the  original  board  chosen  July  6, 1813 : 
John  Bumsey,  Frederick  Leonard,  Louis  McLane, 
Mordecai  McKinney,  John  McOalmont,  George  Duf- 
field,  John  Stockton,  Alexander  Forrester,  John  War- 
ner, Caesar  Rodney,  1814;  E.  L  Du  Pont,  1814;  John 
Gkurdon,  1816 ;  Richard  E.  Cochran,  1816 ;  Outerbridge 
Horsey,  1816;  Isaac  Lamb,  1817;  N.  G.  Williamson, 
1817;  Dr.  John  Brinckle,  1817;  Dr,  Allen  McLane, 
1818;  Joseph  Robinson,  1818;  Dr.  Archibald  Alexan- 
der, 1820  ;  Thomas  Bradun,  1820;  William  Warner, 
1822 ;  George  Read,  Jr.,  1822 ;  Victor  Du  Pont,  1828 ; 
John  R.  Brinkle,  1823;  Allen  Thomson,  1823;  James 
A.  Bayard,  1824;  Cyrus  Lamborn,  1824;  David  C. 
Wilson,  1826;  Joseph  C.  Gilpin,  1826;  Joseph  G. 
Rowland,  1826 ;  Josiah  F.  Clement,  1827;  John  J. 
Milligan,  1827;  William  Chandler,  1829 ;  Samuel  S. 
Grubb,  1829  ;  John  P.  Garesche,  1830 ;  Harry  Con- 
nelly, 1830;  Charles  LDu  Pont,  1830;  Henry  White-' 
ly,1833;  Enoch  Roberts,  1833;  Henry  M.  Bayard, 
1836;  John  Evans  Young,  1837;  Elisha  Huxley, 
1841;  George  Craig,  1841;  Hyland  B.  Pennington, 
1843;  John  Flinn,  1843;  Edward  G.  Bradford,  1843: 
Henry  Hicks,  1861 ;  Spencer  D.  Eves,  1861 ;  J.  M. 
Turner,  1866 ;  R.  R.  Robinson,  1867  ;  N.  T.  Boulden, 
1867 ;  Thomas  Clyde,  1867 ;  T.  F.  Crawford,  1868 ; 
J.  Morton  Poole,  1861 ;    Vincent  C.  Gilpin,  1861 ; 

1  Died  in  office. 

*  Appointed  caahier  of  office  of  discount  and  depoeit  of  the  Bank  of 
United  States,  at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  December,  1820. 

*  Died  in  office. 

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740                                                 HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 

James  Delaplaine,    1861;     James  Bradford,    1863;  Gilpin.    From  these  a  board  of  twenty-five  managers 

Francis  Barry,  1867 ;  William  Bright,  1867  ;  George  was  elected,  which  organized  by  the  election  of  the 

G.  Lobdell,  1867;  William  G.  Gibbons,  1869;  William  late  Hon.  Willard  Hall  as  president  and  Lea  Posey 

M.  Kennard,  1869 ;    Edward  Moore,  1870  ;    George  as  secretary.    A  code  of  by-laws  was  adopted  Febm- 

Richardson,  1875  ;   George  H.  Bates,  1875 ;    James  ary  2,   1832.    The  first  investment  committee  was 

Ponder,  1878 ;  E.  T.  Warner,  1879 ;   John  P.  Dough-  composed  of  the   president  and    Edward   Tatnall, 

ten,  1879;  John  P.  Allmond,  1881;  J.  L.  Carpenter,  David  C.  Wilson,  Eli   Hilles  and  James  Canby.    At 

Jr.,  1883 ;  Alexander  J.  Hart,  1885;   Enoch  Moore,  the  same  time  it  was  **  Resolved,  that  for  the  purpose 

1887.  of  receiving  deposits  and  making  payments  the  office 

The  Board  of  Directors  for  1888  are  George  Rich-  of  the  society  shall  be  open  and  the  proper  officers 

ardson,  president ;  Theodore  F.  Crawford,  George  G.  attend  from  ten  o'clock  a.m.  till  noon,  and  from  two 

Lobdell,  George  H.  Bates,  John  P.  Doughten,  John  o'clock  p.m.  till  four,  in  every  seventh  day  (Saturday) 

P.  Allmond,  J.  L.  Carpenter,  Jr.,  James  Bradford  and  commencing  on  seventh  day  the  18th  instant."    The 

Enoch  Moore.  first  office  of  the  society  was  that  of  its  secretary,  Lea 

George  Richardson  is  president  of  the  bank ;  A.  G.  Pusey,  which  was  on  the  east  side  of  Market  Street, 

Robinson,  cashier ;  Thomas  E.  Young,  teller ;  John  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  Streets,  below  the  City  Hall ; 

N.  Carswell,    discount  clerk  and  J.  H.   Gooding,  and  here  business  was  commenced  February  18, 1832. 

clerk.  The  president  served  without  salary,  and  this  contin- 

State  of  the  Farmers*  Bank  at  Wilmington,  Jan-  ued  to  be  the  rule  for  nearly  fifty  years.    The  com- 

uary,  1888.  pensation  to  the  secretary  for  his  services  and  the  use 

^■**=™-  of  his  office  was  fixed  at  $100  yearly.    Interest  on 

SS^?o;i*di;iiunt^*ani''o^^^^^^^                     m^fi  dcposiU  was  paid  at  four  per  cent,  per  annum,  calcu- 

Current  Expensee and  Taxes  paid 8,351.11  lated  on  wholc  Calendar  months;  but  no  sum  less 

^^i:^,^£^-i^;:i.r;::::::::z:::z:::::z:  ^^^i  t»»»n  five  doiurs  couw  draw  inter^t.  it  is  a  cuhous 

commentary  on  the  business  habits  of  the  day,  that 

Liabilities.                  $571,072.73  ^^^  Bank  of  Delaware  was  asked  to  allow  the  society 

Capital  stock |23ft,ooo.oo  to  Overdraw  its  account  to  an  amount  not  exceeding 

?;:s'"d.ii:;iflt.::::::::;::;::.:;::::;:             1S:«  *5oo.  Thh  was  granted,  someyean,  later  the  Bank 

Certified  Checks 8,304.69  of  Wilmington  and  Brandywine  agreed  to  extend 

{;i?"S'ntaSSlni;;;.::::::.:;:::::::;;:::..:::"^    'S:^ul  ^hu  privilege  to  a  sum  not  exceeding  $iooo,  and  the 

account  was  moved  to  it.    The  business  of  the  society 

$571,072.78  gradually  increased.  The  first  audit,  made  by  C.  I. 
The  Wilmington  Savings  Fund.— On  August  Dupont,  Arnold  Naudain  and  Isaac  Johnson,  eighteen 
20, 1831,  a  committee  reported  to  an  adjourned  meet-  months  after  commencement  of  business,  showed 
ing  of  some  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  the  that  there  had  been  received  $19,588.76,  in  four  bun- 
town  that  in  accordance  with  their  instructions  they  dredand  twenty  deposits,  of  which  sum  $3800.22  had 
had  prepared  articles  of  association  for  a  savings  been  repaid,  while  the  investments  and  cash  amounted 
fund,  which  were  adopted  and  signed  by  fifty-seven  to  $16,966.77. 

persons.    At  another  meeting  a  few  days  later  Lea  In  1837  the  assets  amounted  to  $37,463.11,  the  sur- 

Pusey,  Richai'd  H.  Bayard  and  Samuel  Hilles  were  plus  being  $1,835.60.    In  1847  the  assets  amounted  to 

commissioned  to  procure  an  act  of  incorporation,  $71,280.46,  and  the  surplus  to  $9010.35. 

which  was  passed  January  11,   1832.    The  charter  The  business    made  rapid   progress    in  the  next 

members  were  Joseph  G.  Rowland,  Richard  H.  Bay-  decade  and  in  1857  the  assets  amounted  to  $251,659.- 

ard,  William  Gibbons,  Thomas  Garrett,  E.  W.  Gilbert,  93,  and  the  surplus  to  $27,987.46.  In  1867  the  amount 

E.  W.  Gilpin,  D.  C.  Wilson,  Allen  Thompson,  John  of  assets  was  $481,896.34,  and  of  surplus,  $53,876.68. 

Bullock,  Samuel   Hilles,  Henry  F.  Askew,  George  These  again  nearly  doubled  in  the  next  ten  yean, 

Jones,  W.  A.  Mendenhall,  Henry  Gibbons,  James  W.  being  respectively,  in  1877,  assets  $876,637.79,  and 

Thompson,  John  Gordon,  John  Elliot,  Samuel  Buzby,  surplus  $99,406.43.    In  the  ten  years  following  the  in- 

Hy.  Whiteley,  Robert  Porter,  James  Webb,  Samuel  crease  was  very  rapid  so  that  in   1887  the   assets 

Wollaston,  Henry  Latimer,  Willard  Hall,  Lea  Pusey,  reached  the  sum  of  $2,546,903.48,  and  the  surplus 

James   Canby,  John    Wales,  William  P.   Brobson,  amounted  to  $214,249.21. 

Joseph  Dauphin,  Edward  Tatnall,  John  H.  Price,  In  an  institution  such  as  the  Wilmington  Savings 
Joseph  T.  Price,  Edmund  Canby,  Samuel  Shipley,  Fund,  it  is  necessary  that  the  greatest  caution  should 
Eli  Hilles,  Jacob  Alrichs,  Mahlon  Betts,  Samuel  be  taken  in  investing  the  money  of  its  depositors. 
Poole,  James  Price,  James  J.  Brindley,  Philip  .Tones,  This  baa  always  been  mest  carefully  done.  The  bulk 
Thomas  C.  Alrichs,  David  Bush,  Washington  Rice,  of  the  investments  have  been  in  mortgages  of  a  first- 
Benjamin  B.  Boulden,  Harry  Connelly,  James  Sidall,  class  character,  mainly  in  that  city.  Of  late  years 
J.  P.  Gkuresche,  Charles  I.  DuPont,  David  Smyth,  these  investments  have  resulted  in  aiding  many  of  the 
Edward  Grubb,  A.  S.  Reed,  Ziba  Ferris,  Joseph  depositors  in  obtaining,  on  easy  terms,  houses  of  their 
Bringhurst,  E^dwardBringhurst,  W.  W.  Baker,  Thomas  own,  thus  doing  them  a  double  service  by  first  giving 

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May,  1876.     He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  J.  Ernest    which  he  displayed  in  the  discharge  of  duties  pertain- 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


741 


them  a  safe  place  to  inveat  small  accumulations  and 
•avingB,  and  then  aiding  them  further  by  loaning 
them  money  to  purchase  properties,  which  loans,  by 
continued  savings,  are  gradually  discharged.  This 
institution  has  therefore  combined  the  best  features 
of  a  savings  fund  and  loan  association. 

In  1840  the  office  of  the  Fund  was  removed  to  a 
property  on  the  ^est  side  of  Market  Street,  between 
Sixth  and  Seventh  Streets,  which  was  bought  for 
four  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  where 
it  remained  until  1856,  when  the  corporation  erected 
the  fine,  iron*  front,  four-story  building  at  the  corner 
of  Eighth  and  Market  Streets,  for  the  use  of  the  so- 
ciety, and  as  a  dwelling  for  the  treasurer.  Within 
the  last  few  years  the  growth  of  the  business  has  been 
so  very  rapid  that  it  was  quite  evident  that  some  fur- 
ther accommodation  would  be  required.  Rather  than 
attempt  to  improve  the  building  which  had  well 
served  for  more  contracted  times,  the  managers  wisely 
determined  to  make  another  move.  Two  large  houses 
at  the  corner  of  Ninth  and  Market  Streets  were  pur- 
chased and  torn  down,  and  the  very  solid  and  splen- 
did structure  which  now  adorns  the  site  was  erected ; 
and  to  this  on  the  21st  of  November,  1887,  the  busi- 
ness was  transferred.  It  is  by  far  the  finest  building 
of  its  character  in  the  State.  The  architect  was 
Addison  Hutton.  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  builder 
James  Mitchell.  The  material  is  Fox  Island  granite, 
and  it  is  very  substantially  built.  The  banking- 
room  is  spacious  and  lofly,  being  about  ninety  feet  in 
length  by  thirty-six  in  width  and  thirty-five  feet  in 
height,  from  fioor  to  ceiling.  A  steel  vault  fifteen 
feet  by  ten  feet,  in  floor  dimensions,  and  eight  feet 
high,  with  doors,  time-locks,  etc.,  of  the  latest  and 
most  effective  invention,  protects  its  contents.  This 
was  built  by  the  Marvin  Safe  Company.  The 
rooms  for  managers'  meetings,  and  for  the  useof  com- 
mittees, and  the  president  and  secretary,  are  perfect 
in  convenience  and  exquisite  in  tasteful  furnishing, 
while  the  arrangements  for  heating  and  ventilating 
the  whole  leave  nothing  to  be  desired. 

The  managers  of  the  Savings  Fund  have  always 
been  ably  seconded  by  its  officers.  The  venerable 
Judge  Hall  was  president  from  its  foundation  till  his 
resignation,  in  December,  1872,  a  period  of  forty-one 
years,  during  which  time  he  saw  the  society  grow 
from  a  feeble  beginning  to  a  place  of  great  usefulness 
and  influence  in  the  community ;  and  his  wise  and 
prudent  management  and  counsel  were  mainly  instru- 
mental in  producing  this  result.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Joseph  Bringhurst,  who  continued  in  office  until 
his  death,  in  March,  1880,  and  he  by  the  present 
President,  William  M.  Canby. 

The  first  treasurer  was  Lea  Pusey,  who  resigned  in 
December,  1838,  and  was  succeeded  by  Jonas  Pusey, 
who  continued  to  hold  the  office  until  his  death,  in 
September,  1851.  ^  Albert  W.  Smith  was  then  elected, 
and  continued  the  trusted  and  faithful  treasurer  of  the 
society  until  ill  health  compelled  him  to  resign  in 
May,  1876.     He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  J.  Ernest 


Smith,  who  also  resigned  in  April,  1885,  in  order  to 
take  'the  office  of  solicitor,  then  newly  created.  Wil- 
mer  J.  Ellison,  the  present  treasurer,  was  elected  his 
successor. 

The  office  of  auditor  was  established  in  September, 
1848,  and  Albert  W.  Smith  was  elected  to  it.  He  re- 
signed in  1851  to  take  the  office  of  treasurer.  The 
other  occupants  of  this  responsible  office  have  been 
William  B.  Wiggins,  Joseph  Richardson,  Edward 
Tatnall  and  Joseph  A.  Richardson,  the  last  of  whom 
ably  performs  tbe  duties. 

Albert  W.  Smith,  the  eldest  son  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  Watson  Smith,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
on  February  13,  1818.  He  was  educated  at  his 
father's  academy  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  and  finished 
there  a  full  course  of  studies,  including  the  French 
and  Latin  languages,  qualifying  himself  for  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching,  which  he  pursued  during  his  early 
life,  in  co-operation  with  his  father  both  at  Wilming- 
ton, Delaware,  and  Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  From 
the  latter  place  he  removed  to  Wilmington,  which  he 
made  his  permanent  home. 

He  held  commissions  as  notary  and  commissioner 
of  deeds  for  many  years,  and  was  also  by  appointment 
city  engineer  and  surveyor  of  Wilmington,  all  of 
which  offices  he  filled  with  great  acceptability.  He 
was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Wilmington  and 
Brandywine  Cemetery  Company  for  thirty-three 
years,  and  after  his  resignation  from  that  position 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  that 
company.  He  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  Wilmington  Savings  Fund,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  from  1851  to  1876,  having  previously  filled 
the  office  of  auditor  for  that  corporation.  During  his 
long  term  of  office  the  deposits,  which  were  less  than 
$75,000  when  he  came  into  office,  had  increased  to 
$603,000  and  the  surplus  from  $14,400  to  $89,600. 

Under  careful  management,  and  the  conservative 
policy  adopted  by  this  institution,  which  in  a  great 
degree  devolved  upon  Mr.  Smith  to  execute,  its 
losses  were  exceedingly  small,  and  a  correspondingly 
sure  and  profitable  business  always  enabled  it  to 
maintain  its  credit  unimpaired. 

Ill  health,  resulting  from  overwork,  compelled 
Mr.  Smith's  resignation  as  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Wilmington  Savings  Fund,  and  his  retire- 
ment from  active  business  duties.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  board  of  managers,  held  May  9,  1876,  compli- 
mentary resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted, 
and  the  hope  expressed  that  many  years  of  happi- 
ness and  prosperity  might  follow  his  improving 
health.  He  was  subsequently  elected  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  this  institution.  His  health  was 
so  much  impaired  as  to  necessitate  his  absence  abroad 
for  upwards  of  a  year. 

Mr.  Smith,  as  a  business  man,  was  conscientious, 
thorough,  prompt  and  of  sound  judgment  These 
characteristics  won  him  strong  friends  and  the  con- 
fidence of  the  community.  The  ability  and  integrity 
which  he  displayed  in  the  discharge  of  duties  pertain- 


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742 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ing  to  poBitioDS  of  trust  and  responsibility  are  best 
attested  by  the  oflScial  indorsement  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  above  institution  to  that  effect,  passed 
on  the  occasion  of  his  retirement  from  ofSce. 

Mr.  Smith,  although  often  solicited,  declined  to 
enter  politics.  He  was  an  original  Republican,  op- 
posed to  the  extension  of  slavery  in  the  Territories, 
and  was  one  of  the  very  few  Delawareans  who  support- 
ed Fremont  and  Dayton  in  the  campaign  of  1856. 

He  is  an  active  and  prominent  member  of  the  relig- 
ious Society  of  Friends. 

Mr.  Smith  enjoys  a  green  old  age ;  he  is  cheerful, 
fond  of  companionship  and  never  so  happy  as  when 
surrounded  by  his  children.  He  is  a  great  reader, 
absorbing  the  current  topics  of  the  day  as  well  as  the 
more  serious  productions  of  the  best  thinkers. 
.  Mr.  Smith  married  Elizabeth  Wollaston,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Wollaston,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Wil- 
mington, June  6,  1839. 

Their  descendants  are  S.  Rodmond  Smith,  who 
married  Sarah  £.,  only  daughter  of  Charles  A.  and 
Anna  M.  Ware,  of  Alexandria,  Va. 

Linton  Smith,  who  married  Margaret,  only  daugh- 
ter of  Charles  and  Mary  R.  Warner,  of  Wilmington, 
Delaware. 

Alexis  Smith,  who  married  Mary  H.,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Allen  C.  and  Margaret  Harmon,  of  Alexan- 
dria, Va. 

Walter  Harold  Smith,  who  married  Isabella  S., 
eldest  daughter  of  George  H.  Sellers  and  Anna  W. 
Sellers,  of  Ridley  Park,  Pa. 

Joshua  Ernest  Smith,  who  married  Josephine  T., 
second  daughter  of  Henry  L.  and  Caroline  G.  Tatnall, 
of  Wilmington,  Del. 

And  Arthur  H.  Smith,  unmarried. 

Mr.  Smith's  ancestry  on  the  paternal  side  is  given 
in  the  foregoing  sketch  of  his  father,  Samuel  Smith. 
On  the  maternal  side  it  is  as  follows  : 

His  mother,  Sarah,  was  the  daughter  of  Levi 
and  Rebecca  ( Yerkes)  Watson  his  wife ;  Levi  was  the 
son  of  Joseph  and  Rachel  (Croasdale)  Watson ;  Joseph 
was  the  son  of  Mark  and  Anna  (Sotcher)  Watson ; 
and  Mark  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Rebecca 
(Mark)  Watson,  his  wife,  who  were  married  the  4th 
day  of  the  Ninth  Month,  1682,  at  Scotby,  near  Car- 
lisle, county  of  Cumberland,  England,  both  being 
members  of  the  religious  Society  of  Friends.  They 
subsequently  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  the 
Pennsylvania  province. 

The  Union  National  Bank.— This  bank  was 
chartered  as  a  State  institution  February  15,  1839, 
as  the  Union  Bank  of  Delaware.  The  following 
commissioners  were  appointed  to  receive  subscrip- 
tions to  the  capital  stock  :  James  Price,  James  Canby, 
Edward  Tatnall,  John  Gordon,  Alfred  Du  Pont, 
Thomas  Stockton,  Archibald  Hamilton,  Nicholas  G. 
Willliamson,  William  Chandler,  Merrit  Canby,  Wm. 
Hemphill  Jones,  William  P.  Brobson,  David  C. 
Wilson,  John  H.  Price,  Samuel  Canby,  John  Elliott, 
John  Connell,   Eli   Hilles,  James  A.  Bayard,  Wil- 


liam   Lea,    Allan    Thomson,   John  Hemphill,    Dr. 
James  W.  Thomson  and  Mahlon  Betts. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  commissioners  was  held 
at  John  HalPs  Inn,  the  Indian  Queen,  on  February 
23, 1839.  James  Price  was  appointed  chairman,  and 
William  P.  Brobson  secretary.  Subscription  books 
were  opened  at  City  Hall  on  the  21st  of  March,  fol- 
lowing. Edward  Tatnall  was  appointed  treasurer  of 
the  board  of  commissioners,  Mahlon  Betts  assistant 
treasurer  and  William  Hemphill  Jones  assistant  sec- 
retary. "  Peter  Countiss  high  constable  and  Park 
Mason  constable  were  appointed  to  preserve  order  iu 
City  Hall  during  the  sittings  of  the  Commissioners.'' 
At  this  meeting  the  entire  capital  stock,  six  thousand 
shares  of  fifty  dollars  each,  or  three  hundred  thous- 
and dollars,  was  subscribed  and  five  hundred  dollars 
on  each  share  immediately  paid  in.  The  next  meet- 
ing of  the  commissioners  was  held  at  Indian  Queen 
Hotel  on  April  3d,  to  conduct  the  first  election  for 
directors  to  serve  until  the  first  Monday  in  January, 
1840.  The  following  were  elected:  James  Price, 
James  Canby,  Edward  Tatnall,  Alfred  Du  Pont, 
John  H.  Price,  Merritt  Canby,  William  Lea,  Isaac 
Starr,  William  Chandler,  John  Hemphill,  James  W. 
Thompson,  William  Hemphill  Jones  and  Miller 
Dunott. 

William  P.  Brobson  was  the  first  cashier.  The 
doors  were  opened  for  business  in  a  building  on  the 
site  of  the  present  large  and  commodious  banking 
house  in  May,  1839. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature  was  passed  in  1843 
changing  the  time  of  holding  election  of  directors 
from  first  Monday  in  January  to  first  Monday  in 
February  each  year  and  also  reduced  the  number  of 
directors  from  thirteen  to  nine,  which  is  the  present 
number.  Application  was  made  to  the  Legislature 
and  the  charter  of  the  bank  amended  so  as  to  divide 
the  capital  stock  into  twelve  thousand  shares  of 
twenty-five  dollars  each  instead  of  six  thousand  shares 
of  fifty  dollars  each,  and  authorizing  the  directors  to 
dispose  of  the  residue  of  the  shares  for  the  benefit 
of  the  bank. 

The  Union  Bank  of  Delaware  was  then  fully  estab- 
lished and  soon  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading 
financial  institutions  in  the  State.  Since  it  began 
business  in  1839  it  has  met  with  the  greatest  suc- 
cess, as  facts  and  statistics  herein  given  will  indicate. 
As  a  State  institution  it  flourished,  but  the  national 
banking  system  furnished  superior  advantages.  The 
Board  of  Directors,  therefore,  made  application  and 
on  the  20th  of  June,  1865,  received  a  certificate  from 
the  comptroller  of  the  currency  at  Washington  con- 
verting the  Union  Bank  of  Delaware,  into  a  National 
Bank.  The  directors  then  were  Hon.  Edward  W. 
Gilpin,  president;  Henry  Du  Pont,  James  C.  Aikin, 
Edgar  Hounsfield,  Joseph  T.  Warner,  Edward  T. 
Bellah,  John  H.  Price,  John  B.  Porter  and  Victor 
Du  Pont.  On  June  27, 1865,  they  published  the  fol- 
lowing statement  of  the  liabilities  and  resources  of 
the  institution : 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


748 


LIABIUTIEI. 

Capital  Stock 1203,176.00 

(IrtuUtion 99,391.00 

Depodto 185,674.1fl 

Due  to  Banlu. 19.862.28 

Stupenso  aocoont. 1,000.00 

DiTidends 807/8 

InterMt  account 16,661.31 

Sarpluflfund. 31,166.76 


The  following  were  preBidents  at  the  time  men- 
tioned: 

James  Price,  first  president,  April  8, 18:i9  to  1841 ;  James  Canby,  second 
president,  January  4,  1841  to  1843;  Edward  W.  Oilpin,  third  president, 
1843  to  1866  ;  Victor  Du  Pont,  fourth  president,  1866  to  date. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  directors 
with  the  daces  of  election  and  retirement  of  each : 


BS80URCB8. 


1666,627.09 


Notes  of  this  bank $  30,068.00 

Other  notes. 7,060.00 

Specie... 9,783.71 

■  and  discounts. 274,668.98 

160,000.00 

60,000.00 

1,158.98 

22,366.17 

636.43 

803.73 


U.S.  loans 

Delaware  State  bonds... 
Other  bonds. 


Incidental  expenses.. 

Salaries 

IT.  S.  taxes,  paid  dtiring  past  five  months. 1,636..30 

Premium  account.. 1,277.00 

Due  from  Banks 7,277.79 


1666,627.09 

The  following  is  a  record  of  the  deposits  and  loans 
of  this  institution  for  the  years  given : 


1S48.. 
I860.. 
I860.. 
1866.. 
1870.. 
1875.. 
1880.. 
1886.. 
1886.. 
1887.. 


Deposit. 


Loans. 


$  264,000 

221,000 

306,000 

I    185.000    355.000 

186,000    284,000 

643,(K)0    654,000 

600,000  600,000 

700,000  662,000 

831,000  900,000 

1,100,000  1,070,000 


After  an  existence  of  twenty-one  years  as  a  National 
Bank  on  October  5,  1887,  the  following  official  state- 
ment was  furnished  the  government  : 


RESOURCES. 

LoMns  and  discounts. fl, 

Orerdrafts. 

r.  8.  bonds  to  securH  oirculatiou 

Other  stockA,  bonds  and  mortgagee 

Doe  from  approved  reeervo  ligents 

Due  from  otlitr  National  Rnnks 

Due  from  State  Banks  and  bankers 

Real  estate,  furniture  and  fixtures 

Current  expenstii  and  taxes  |Mid 

Premiums  paid 

Checks  and  other  cash  items 

Exchanges  for  rl»iaring-house 

Bills  of  other  bflnks 

Fractional  paper  currency,  iiiditls  and  cents 

Specie 

Legal  tender  notes 

U.  8.  certificates  of  deposit  for  legal  tenders...  

Bederoption  fund  with  U.  S.  Treasurer  (5  per  cent, 
of  ctrcniation) 


,008,625.26 

1,140.74 

203,200,00 

69,837.75 

13i,8.34.95 

27,429.65 

18,793.27 

52,575.94 

4,910.54 

20,931.87 

2,764.62 

18,617.79 

15,503.00 

Sn.OO 

44,544.33 

8,440.00 

10,000.00 

9,142.50 


ToUl 11,641,402.21 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in $  203,175.00 

Sarplua  fond 140,000.00 

UndJTided  profits 46,374.28 

National  Bank  notes  outstanding 178,800.00 

DiTidends  unpaid 686.29 

Indlridoal  depodta  subject  to  check.....  1,031,414.84 

Certified  checks 7,691.12  1,039,105.96 

Dnes  to  other  National  Banks 32,926.66 

Does  to  State  Banks  and  bankers. 334.12 


James  Price 1840-41 

James  Canby 1840-42 

Kdward  Tatnall 1840-43 

Alfred  Du  Pont 1840-66 

Merrit  Canby 1840-62 

John  H.  Price 184t>-66 

William  Lea 1840-46 

William  Chandler 184tM3 

Miller  Dunoit 1840-44 

James  W.  Thompson 184U-42 

Wm.  Hemphill  Junes 1840-41 

Isaac  Starr. 1840-42 

John  Hemphill 184f»-41 

Joseph  T.  Price 1841-52 

Caleb  Ileald 1841-43 

Courtland  I.  Fell 1841-42 

Samuel  Busby 1842-50 

Kdward  W.  Gilpin 1843-66 

James  C.  Aiken 1843-84 


Total Jl,641,402.21 

This  bank  has  paid  four  hundred  and  seventy-four 
thousand  dollars  in  dividends  since  the  date  of  its 
oiganization  as  a  National  Bank  to  January  1887. 


John  0.  Phillips. 1843-44 

John  B.  Porter 1M6-53 

Ziba  Ferris 1847-58 

Vincent  C.  Gilpin 1848-56 

Victor  Du  Pont,  president.  ..1854 

Edward  T.  Beliah 1854 

Henry  Du  Pont, 1857-85 

Christian  Febiger 1867-64 

Edgar  Hounsfield 1864-65 

Joseph  T.  Warner 1865-66 

Charles  L  Du  Pont,  Jr 1866-72 

Benjamin  S.  Clark 1866-83 

William  M.  Canby 1867 

Jacob  Derrickson 1867 

William  H.  Swift 1869 

Henry  R.  Dupont 1873 

Preston  Lea 1884 

P.  N.  Brennan 1885 

Henry  A.  Du  Pont 1886 


The  board  elected  in  1888  comprises  Victor  Du 
Pont,  Edward  T.  Beliah,  William  M.  Canby,  Preston 


HON.    E.  W.   UILPIN. 

Lea,  Dr.  Jacob  Derrickson,  William  H.  Swifl,  Henry 
R.  Du  Pont,  Henry  A.  Du  Pont  and  Charles  G. 
Rumford. 

In  January,  1873,  Victor  Du  Pont,  Edward  T. 
Beliah,  James  C.  Aiken  and  William  M.  Canby 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  improve  the  bank 
room  and  place  a  brown  stone  front  to  the  building. 
In  1885  Preston  Lea,  William  H.  Switt  and  William 
M.  Canby,  a  committee  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
remodelled  the  banking-house.  The  same  year  a 
substantial  vault  was  built  in  the  banking-room  and 
one  in  the  basement,  faced  with  Brandywine  granite 
and  lined  with  steel  and  iron. 


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744 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


Since  his  election  as  president  of  this  bank,  in  July, 
1866,  Victor  Du  Pont  has  administered  its  affairs  with 
rare  business  foresight.  William  P.  Brobson,  the  first 
cashier,  retired  on  account  of  feeble  health  February  1, 
1848,  when  Joseph  Warner  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 
William  S.  Craig  was  at  the  same  time  chosen  teller. 
John  H.  Danby  entered  the  bank,  as  assistant  clerk* 
in  November,  1870.  He  has  occupied  every  position 
in  it  to  his  present  one,  having  been  chosen  cashier 
April  1, 1885.  Frank  C.  Carpenter,  paying  teller  and 
notary  public,  entered  this  bank,  as  assistant  clerk,  in 
1871.  E.  Frank  Sharpley,  receiving  teller,  in  1878  ; 
E.  A.  Ryan,  discount  clerk,  in  1884 ;  George  H. 
Robinette,  book-keeper,  in  1885;  William  C.  Buck, 
book-keeper,  in  1885 ;  William  Butz,  exchange  clerk, 
in  1885. 

The  late  distinguished  chief  justice,  Hon.  Edward 
Woodward  Gilpin,  was  for  many  years  president  of 
the  Union  National  Bank,  besides  being  associated 
in  many  other  ways  with  enterprises  having  for  their 
object  the  advancement  of  the  business  interests  of 
Wilmington.  He  died,  greatly  lamented,  on  April 
29, 1876.  A  sketch  of  his  legal  career  will  be  found 
in  the  chapter  on  the  *'  Bench  and  Bar,"  elsewhere 
in  thb  work. 

The  Mechanics'  Bank,  for  a  few  years,  did  busi- 
ness at  the  south-east  corner  of  Fourth  and  Market 
Streets.  The  capital  of  this  institution  was  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  The  directors  in  1859  were 
Mahlon  Betts,  Evan  C.  Stotsenburg,  Jesse  Lane,  G. 
W.  Churchman,  J.  W.  Maury,  William  Tatnall, 
Joshua  T.  Heald,  John  Marshall,  Thomas  Walter,  E. 
Moore  and  George  Richardson. 

Mahlon  Betts  was  president;  Samuel  Biddle, 
cashier;  and  Joseph  C.  Spear,  teller.  When  this 
institution  closed  out  its  business,  Mahlon  Betts,  its 
president,  was  chosen  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank.    This  was  in  July,  1864. 

FittST  National  Bank  of  Wilmington.— This 
was  the  first  bank  in  Wilmington  organized  under 
the  National  Banking  Law  of  1864.  It  was  organ- 
ized March  31st  of  that  year,  with  these  directors : 
Joshua  T.  Heald,  Clement  B.  Smyth,  Israel  Puiey, 
George  W.  Bush,  Stephen  S.  Southard,  Delaplaine 
McDaniel,  Mahlon  Betts,  William  Tatnall  and  Dan- 
iel James.  On  July  2d  Mahlon  Betts  was  elected 
president.  Samuel  Biddle  was  elected  cashier  June 
30th.  The  bank  was  opened  for  business  the  4th  of 
July,  1864,  in  a  building  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
Fourth  and  Market  Streets. 

Joseph  C.  Spear,  on  the  same  day,  was  elected 
teller  and  clerk  and  William  H.  Connell  discount 
clerk.  The  original  capital  stock  was  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars,  which,  on  April  3,  1865,  was  in- 
creased to  four  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  on 
January  4th,  1871,  to  five  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
being  the  largest  capital  of  any  bank  in  the  State  of 
Delaware. 

Edward  Betts,  owing  to  the  retirement  of  Mahlon 
Betts,  was  elected  president  on  the  11th  of  July,  1864, 


one  week  after  its  organization,  and  has  filled  that 
responsible  position  continuously  from  that  date  to 
the  present  time.  George  D.  Armstrong  has  been 
the  efficient  cashier  since  August  1, 1864. 

Dividends  have  been  paid  stockholders  semi-annu- 
ally since  the  time  of  organization.  The  first  twen- 
ty-eight dividends  yielded  an  annual  income  of  ten 
per  cent. ;  the  succeeding  nine  dividends  eight  per 
cent.,  and  all  dividends  since  nine  per  cent,  annually. 
The  present  surplus  fund  is  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  The  average  amount  of  deposits  for  the 
year  1864  was  $171,657 ;  for  1875  $364,272 ;  and  for 
1886  $721,950.  Loans  and  discounU  for  1886  were 
$735,888. 

These  facts  illustrate  the  substantial  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  institution,  and  its  intelligent  and 
well-directed  management. 

The  principal  correspondents  of  this  bank,  through 
which  it  makes  collections,  are  the  First  National 
Bank,  of  Philadelphia ;  the  National  Park  Bank,  of 
New  York ;  and  the  National  Bank  of  the  Common- 
wealth, of  Boston.  On  the  1st  of  April,  1873,  the 
bank  was  removed  from  its  original  location  to  the 
one  now  occupied,  at  the  comer  of  Fifth  and  Market 
Streets. 

The  names  of  the  first  directors  are  given  above. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  directors  who  have  been 
chosen  since,  with  the  dates  of  their  election  : 

Edward  B«tti July  11,  18*4 

Isaacs.  Chamberlaia Jan.  10,1865 

Eli  Garrett Jan.  14,  1868 

IF.  8.  McComb Jan.  lo,  1871 

Samuel  Bancroft,  Jr Aug.  14,  1876 

John  H.  Adaroi June  30, 1879 

James  C.  McComb Jan.  10,  1882 

Wm.  Bush Jan.  12,  1886 

Z.  James  Belt March  25, 1886 

Lewis  C.  Yandegrift July  16,  1886 

The  directors  for  1888  are, — 

Edward  Betts.  Daniel  James. 

Clement  B.  Smyth.  William  Bush 

George  W.  Bush.  James  C.  McComb. 

Lewis  C.  Yandegrift.  Samuel  Bancroft,  Jr. 

Z.  James  Belt. 

The  cashiers  have  been, — 

Samuel  Biddle June  30,  1861,  to  Aug.  1,  1864 

George  D.  Armstrong Aug.  1, 1864,  to  date 

The  tellers  have  been, — 

Joseph  C.  Spear July  4, 1864,  to  October,  1864 

Peter  T.  E.  Smith October  24,  1864,  to  data 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  clerks,  with  dates  of 
appointment : 

Wm.  H.  Connell July  4, 1864 

Charles  W.  Gouert Jan.  3, 1867 

Henry  Bush Dec.  28,  186rt 

I.  Trimble  Quigley June  12, 1871 

Frank  T.  Darls April  29,  1872 

Oscar  0.  Gouert Sept.  2,  1872 

I.  Wilberforce  Foreman July  3,  1873 

Henry  C.  Downwai-d Sept.  8,  1873 

Edward  W.  Smith Dec.  10,  1874 

George  H.  Ellison March  »,  1881 

Wm.  L.  Buck Dec.  18,  1882 

Wra.  Percy  Morrison Dec.  21,  1882 

Robert  Adair April  80,  1886. 

Central  National  Bank,— A  number  of  mer- 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


t 


745 


chants,  manu&cturers  and  capitalists  of  Wilmington, 
daring  the  year  1884  determined  to  organize  another 
banking  institution.  The  first  meetings  were  held  at 
the  office  of  S.  &  T.  McClary,  606  Shipley  Street, 
where  the  stock  was  subscribed  and  the  organization 
effected.  The  directors  elected  were  John  H.  Adams, 
Samuel  McClary,  Henry  C.  Robinson,  Phillip  Plun- 
kett,  Archbald  A.  Capelle,  Samuel  G.  Simmons,  Win- 
field  S.  Quigley,  Benjamin  Nields,  John  Peoples, 
Charles  E.  Fritz,  Henry  F.  Dure,  James  A.  Hart,  J. 
Davis  Sislerand  William  M.  Field.  The  board 
organized  by  electing  John  H.  Adams,  president,  Sam- 
uel McClary,  vice-president,  and  John  Peoples, 
cashier. 

The  capital  stock  is  two  hundred  and  ten  thousand 
dollars,  in  shares  of  one  hundred  dollars  each.  The 
requisite  amount  having  been  subscribed  the  president 
forwarded  the  names  and  number  of  shares  taken  by 
each  of  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  five  stock-holders, 
to  the  comptroller  of  the  currency  at  Washington  and 
a  certificate  was  returned  empowering  the  institution 
to  begin  business  as  the  "  Central  National  Bank  of 
Wilmington."  The  bank  was  opened  in  its  elegant 
new  rooms,  in  the  Security,  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit 
Company  building,  November  30,  1885.  Henry 
Rumford,  was  elected  teller  and  Philip  Q.  Churchman, 
discount  clerk.  John  H.  Adams,  on  account  of  ill 
health,  retired  from  the  position  of  president,  Febru- 
ary 20, 1886,  and  Samuel  McClary  was  elected  presi- 
dent ;  Phillip  Plunkett  was  elected  vice-president. 

The  surplus  fund  at  the  end  of  the  first  six  months 
was  eight  thousand  dollars,  and  the  second  six 
months  sixteen  thousand  dollars.  In  January  1888, 
it  was  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  Since  the 
organization  of  the  bank,  Allen  Speakman  and 
Charles  Baird  have  been  elected  directors,  taking  the 
places  of  John  H.Adams  and  W.  S.  Quigley.  The 
principal  correspondents  and  reserve  banks  of  the 
Central  National,  are  the  Central  National  Bank  of 
Philadelphia  and  the  Park  National  Bank  of  New 
York.  The  directors  for  1888,  are  Samuel  McClary, 
Jr.,  Phillip  Plunkett,  John  Peoples,  Charles  £.  Fritz, 
J.  D.  Sisler,  Henry  C.  Robinson,  H.  F.  Dure,  Samuel 
G.Simmons,  William  M.  Field,  Benjamin  Nields, 
James  A.  Hart,  Charles  Baird,  Allen  Speakman  and 
A.  A.  Capelle. 

The  late  John  Hyndman  Adams,  first  president  of 
the  Central  National  Bank  and  of  the  Security  Trust 
and  Safe  Deposit  Company,  and  for  many  years  a 
heavy  iron  manufacturer,  was  born  in  Wilmington 
October  13, 1820.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mar- 
garet (Hyndman)  Adams,  both  descended  from  fami- 
lies long  settled  in  Delaware,  and  belonging  to  the 
best  elements  of  the  pioneer  population.  His  career 
was  a  simple  but  successful  one,  marked  with  little  of 
incident  and  yet  interestingbecauseof  the  influence 
that  emanated  from  the  man,  and  had  its  effect  in 
various  ways  upon  the  community.  To  sum  up  re- 
sults of  that  influence  or  to  portray  fully  the  charac- 
ter of  our  subject,  would  be  a  difllcult  task,  and  be- 
47i 


yond  the  province  of  this  work,  but  the  outline  story 
of  his  life  may  be  briefly  told.  His  boyhood  and 
youth  were  not  notable  for  incident  or  peculiar  expe- 
rience. He  received  a  liberal  English  education  in 
the  best  private  schools  of  his  early  boyhood  days, 
and  later  in  life  he  attended  the  Belknap  Academy,  one 
of  the  best  known  of  the  higher  institutions  of  learning 
that  existed  in  Wilmington  during  the  early  part  of 
the  century.  After  leaving  school  he  availed  him- 
self of  every  opportunity  for  pursuing  his  studies  and 
improving  himself  mentally.  As  one  evidence  of  this, 
we  find  him  as  one  of  the  seven,  founding,  in  1834, 
the  "  Young  Men's  Literary  and  Debating  Society  of 
Wilmington,"  of  which  he  became  president  in  1841 
and  which  he  was  finally  instrumental  in  merging 
with  the  Wilmington  Institute.  Thus  at  that  early 
day  he  was  evincing  something  of  the  taste  for  intel- 
lectual diversions  and  desire  for  knowledge,  which 
became  marked  characteristics  of  the  mature  man. 
The  greater  part  of  his  time,  however,  was  of  neces- 
sity, devoted  to  business,  and  he  was  permitted,  in 
later  years,  to  hold  a  place  at  the  front  rank  of  self- 
made  men. 

His  first  humble  duties  in  the  line  of  making  a  liv- 
ing were  in  the  hardware  store  of  Duncan  Brothers, 
and  they  must  have  been  faithfully  and  satisfactorily 
discharged,  for  after  serving  for  a  period  as  an  ap- 
prentice with  Messrs.  Betts,  Pusey  &  Harlan,  and 
buying  his  remaining  time  from  them,  he  became,  in 
1839,  a  salesman  for  Mr.  John  A.  Duncan,  who  had, 
in  the  mean  time,  dissolved  partnership  with  his 
brother.  This  position  he  filled  for  eight  years.  In 
1847  he  began  business  for  himself  in  the  heater  and 
range  and  hardware  business,  and  in  this  he  succeeded 
so  well  that  at  the  expiration  of  ten  years  he  had 
accumulated  a  modest  capital,  with  which  he  decided 
to  embark  in  the  manufacture  of  iron.  He  accord- 
ingly connected  himself  with  the  firm  of  McDaniel, 
Craige  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  the  Old  Ferry  Boiling 
Mill,  which  three  years  later,  upon  the  withdrawal 
of  Mr.  Craige,  became  McDaniel,  Adams  &  Co.  In 
1863  this  firm  was  succeeded  by  the  Diamond  State 
Iron  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Adams  was  elected  pres- 
ident. Two  years  later  he  resigned  this  oflice,  retired 
from  the  company,  and  early  in  1866,  connected  him- 
self with  the  McCullough  Iron  Company,  with  which 
he  remained  for  sixteen  years,  twelve  years  as  vice- 
president  and  four  years  as  president,  devoting  him- 
self unremittingly  to  the  interests  of  the  house  and 
largely  enhancing  its  capabilities  as  a  great  manufac- 
turing establishment.  In  1882  he  retired  and  after  a 
sojourn  in  Europe  returned,  only  to  be  again  pressed 
into  active  business  life  by  reason  of  his  universally 
recognized  qualifications  for  responsible  position. 
He  was  actively  influential  in  organizing  the  Central 
National  Bank  and  the  Security  Trust  and  Safe  De- 
posit Company,  and  upon  December  12,  1884,  was 
elected  president  of  both  institutions,  which  positions 
he  held  until  his  death.  Such,  in  brief,  was  the 
career  and  the  success  of  one  of  Wilmington's  repre- 


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746  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


of  the  masses,  and  was  a  champion  of  every  measure    stockholders,  held  April  1,  of  the  same  year,  the  fol- 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


747 


lowing  were  elected  managers :  Edward  Betts,  Leon- 
ard E.  Wales,  Clement  B.  Smyth,  William  Canby, 
Joseph  W.  Day,  Eli  Todd,  Edward  Moore,  George 
Bosh,  Dr.  J.  F.  Vanghan,  James  Scott,  William  S. 
Hilles,  Charles  W.  Howland  and  Thomas  W.  Bowers. 
They  organized  by  electing  William  S.  Hilles,  Presi- 
dent ;  George  W.  Bush,  Vice-President ;  and  John  P. 
McLear,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  Edward  Betts,  L. 
E.  Wales,  Eli  Todd  and  Clement  B.  Smyth  were 
chosen  the  first  investigating  committee.  The  bank 
opened  its  doors  for  business  April  1, 1864,  in  a  build- 
ing since  removed,  at  No.  117  Market  Street,  where 
the  first  meeting  of  stockholders  and  of  the  board  of 
managers  had  been  held. 

The  changes  in  the  election  of  managers  have  been 
as  follows :  February  10, 1863,  N.  R.  Benson,  Henry 
C.  Jones  and  William  Billany  were  elected,  and 
Thomas  W.  Bowers,  Eli  Todd  and  James  Scott  re- 
tired; February  14,  1865,  George  S.  Capelle,  Job  H. 
Jackson  and  Henry  F.  Dure  were  elected,  when  Wil- 
liam Canby,  Edward  Moore  and  Henry  C.  Jones 
retired ;  February  13,  1866,  Edward  Darlington  in 
place  of  Leonard  E.  Wales ;  February  12,  1867,  M. 
L.  Lichtenstein,  in  place  of  Dr.  J.  F.  Vaughan;  Feb- 
ruary 9, 1869,  William  H.  Swift  in  place  of  Joseph  W. 
Day :  February  8, 1870,  Anthony  Higgins,  in  place  of 
William  H.  BUlany ;  February  14,  1871,  John  P.  Mc- 
Lear, in  place  of  Edward  Betts;  February  10,  1874, 
Evan  Stotsenbuig,  in  place  of  John  P.  McLear ;  Febru- 
ary 13, 1877,  William  M.  Field,in  place  of  William  S. 
Hilles;  February  12,  1878,  Edward  Pusey  and  Wash- 
ington Hastings,  in  place  of  William  M.  Field  and  E. 
C.  Stotsenburg ;  February  12, 1884,  Joseph  L.  Carpen- 
ter, Jr.,  in  place  of  Edward  Darlington ;  February  10, 
1S85.  T.Allen  Hilles,  in  place  of  Clement  B.Smyth; 
February  8, 1887,  C.  Wesley  Weldin,  in  place  of  Ed- 
irard  Pusey. 

William  S.  Hilles,  the  first  president,  filled  that 
position  from  the  time  of  organization  until  his  de- 
cease, and  at  the  seventeenth  annual  meeting,  held 
February  12, 1878,  George  W.  Bush  was  elected  and 
has  since  continued  in  that  position.  On  the  same 
day  George  S.  Capelle  was  elected  vice-president  in 
place  of  George  W.  Bush,  who  was  promoted.  John 
P.  McLear,  the  first  secretary  and  treasurer,  resigned 
November  9, 1872,  when  E.  T.  Taylor,  the  present 
secretary  and  treasurer,  was  elected.  Joseph  M. 
Mather  is  the  present  auditor. 

The  managers  for  1887,  are  George  W.  Bush, 
George  S.  Capelle,  William  H.Swift,  Anthony  Hig- 
gins, Charles  W.  Howland,  N.  R.  Benson,  Job  H. 
Jackson,  Henrv  F.  Dure,  Joseph  L.  Carpenter,  Jr., 
Washington  Hastings,  T.  Allen  Hilles  and  C.  Wesley 
Weldin. 

Two  of  the  present  board,  George  W.  Bush  and 
Charles  W.  Howland,  were  members  of  the  first  board 
in  1861.  Of  the  first  board  of  managers  five  are  de- 
ceased,  viz. :  Joseph  W.  Day,  Dr.  J.  F.  Vaughan, 
William  S.  Hilles,  Eli  Todd  and  Edward  Moore. 

In  the  year  1865  the  bank  was  removed  from  No. 


117  to  No.  602  Market  Street,  and  since  1873  the  ex- 
cellently arranged  apartments  in  the  north  side  of  the 
Clayton  House,  on  Market  Street,  have  been  occu- 
pied. 

The  bank  has  continued  to  prosper  in  its  business, 
and  fill  a  very  important  position  among  the  financial 
institutions  of  Wilmington.  The  amount  of  deposits 
for  1887  was  $730,000,  and  the  general  fund,  or  surplus, 
$70,600.  The  individual  depositors  number  2200,  and 
the  average  for  each  depositor  is  $250.  Most  of  the 
depositors  are  of  the  laboring  classes. 

The  Security  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Com- 
pany, of  Wilmington,  was  chartered  by  act  of  the 


THE  SECURITY  TRUST  AND  SAFE  DEPOSIT 
COMPANY  BUILDING. 

L^islature  of  March  25,  1885.  The  incorporators 
were :  John  H.  Adams,  Samuel  McClary,  Jr.,  Benja- 
min Nields,  Samuel  Simmons,  James  A.  Hart,  Henry 
F.  Dure,  Archibald  A.  Capelle,  John  Peoples,  Phillip 
Plunkett,  Charles  E.  Fritz,  J.  Davis  Sisler,  Winfield 
S.  Quigley  and  Henry  C.  Robinson. 

An  eligible  site  at  519  Market  Street  was  purchased 
of  Robert  Logan  and  sisters,  and  on  the  25th  of  March , 
1885,  the  work  of  removing  the  buildings  on  it  was 
begun,  preparatory  to  the  erection  of  the  commodious 
and  elegant  building  with  all  the  necessary  conveni- 
ences of  a  trust  and  safe  deposit  company.  It  was 
completed  in  1885,  at  a  cost  of  $71,000,  and  is  an 
ornament  to  the  city,  as  well  as  a  credit  to  the  enter - 


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748 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


prise  of  its  owners.  The  first  officers  were :  President, 
John  H.  Adams;  vice-president,  Samuel  McClary, 
Jr.;  treasurer  and  secretary,  James  B.  Clarkson; 
directors,  John  H.  Adams,  Samuel  McClary,  Jr., 
Henry  C.  Robinson,  Phillip  Plunkett,  Archibald  A. 
Capelle,  Samuel  G.  Simmons,  Winfield  S.  Quigley, 
Benjamin  Nields,  John  Peoples,  Charles  E.  Fritz, 
Henry  F.  Dure,  James  A.  Hart,  J.  Davis  Sisler, 
WilHam  M.  Field. 

The  company  commenced  business  on  the  30th  of 
November,  1885,  with  a  capital  of  $140,000,  which  has 
since  been  increased  to  $300,000. 

The  officers  and  directors  for  1888  are :  Benjamin 
Nields,  president ;  Henry  C.  Robinson,  vice-president 
and  J.  B.  Clarkson,  secretary  and  treasurer.  Directors : 
Samuel  McClary,  Jr.,  William  M.  Field,  Charles  E. 
Fritz,  Henry  F.  Dure,  Samuel  G.  Simmons,  James  A. 
Hart,  Archibald  A.  Capelle,  J.  Davis  Sisler,  Philip 
Plunkett,  John  Peoples,  Joseph  H.  Chandler,  M.D., 
and  William  R.  Brinkle. 

The  following  official  statement  shows  the  condition 
of  the  company  at  the  close  of  the  year  1887 : 

Besources. 

Beal  estate,  fornitnre  and  flxtores 4  72,163.31 

Mortgages,  bonds,  etc 78,100.00 

Time  loans ~ 166,735.02 

Demand  loans 117,600.00 

Premiamspaid 2,616.00 

Gash  on  band  and  in  banks 44,455.61 

$481,668.87 

Liabilities, 

Capital  stock  paid  in «.  J300,000.00 

Surplus 15,000.00 

UndiTided  profits 984.28 

DiTidandNo.l 7,600.00 

Duetmst  estates 40,493.82 

Due  depositors 117,741.27 

$481,668.87 

The  firm  of  R.  R.  Robinson  &  Company,  at  Fourth 
and  Market  Streets,  conducts  a  private  banking  bufti- 
ness  which  is  the  oldest  in  the  city,  having  been  es- 
tablshed  in  1849,  though  the  present  title  is  but  little 
more  than  twenty-five  years  old.  The  house  does  a 
general  banking  business,  and  among  its  principal 
correspondents  are  Drexel  &  Company,  of  Philadel- 
phia ;  Drexel,  Morgan  &  Company,  of  New  York ; 
De  Haven  &  Towsend,  of  Philadelphia ;  and  McKim 
&  Company,  of  Baltimore.  The  bank,  originally 
founded  by  R.  R.  Robinson,  has  always  been  under 
the  active  management  of  himself  or  members  of  his 
family ;  now  by  his  son,  H.  C.  Robinson. 

Robert  Randolph  Robinson,  banker  and  broker 
of  Wilmington,  was  born  in  Wilmington,  December 
16,  1805.  For  many  years  he  followed  the  business 
of  a  tobacconist,  and  continued  in  it  until  1849, 
when,  with  his  son,  John  N.,  he  began  the  business 
of  a  banker.  Together  they  founded  the  well-known 
Banking-House  of  R.  R.  Robinson  &  Co.  This 
firm  has  embraced  two  other  sons,  Robert  Emmet 
and  Henry  C.  Robinson.  The  latter  is  now  the 
only  surviving  member.  Mr.  Robinson  was  married, 
March  31,  1831,  to  Sarah  Norris,  of  Wilmington,  and 


had  six  children,  viz. — John  Norris,  Robert*  Emmett, 
Henry  C,  Lydia  A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Prof.  Stans- 
bury  J.  Willey,  Clara  and  Wm.  Neff,  the  two  latter 
deceased.  Mr.  Robinson  died  February  17, 1885,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty.  He  was  an  exemplary 
citizen,  and  always  highly  respected.  The  firm,  un- 
der the  original  title,  is  continued  at  Fourth  and 
Market  Streets,  Wilmington.  Mr.  Robinson  died  al 
his  residence.  No.  810  Market  Street. 

John  Norris  Robinson,  banker  and  broker,  was  the 
son  of  Robert  Randolph  Robinson.  He  was  born  in 
Wilmington,  January  8, 1832.  His  early  life  was  passed 
in  his  native  city  and  he  enjoyed  its  valuable  advan- 
tages. His  first  entry  into  regular  business  was  as  a 
clerk  in  the  employ  of  J.  B.  Glazier,  whose  office  was 
located  at  Third  and  Market  Streets.  Subsequently 
he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  after  a  short  time  spent 
in  the  ofllce  of  Hopkins  &  Co.,  he  returned  to  Wil- 
mington and  established  the  firm  of  R.  R.  Robinson 
&  Co.,  of  which  he  continued  the  active  head  until 
the  close  of  1864.  During  this  period,  among  other 
matters  in  which  he  took  a  great  interest,  was  teleg- 
raphy, then  in  its  infancy.  He  constructed  the  line 
between  Wilmington  and  New  Castle,  one  of  the 
earliest  in  operation  in  this  State.  January  1, 1865, 
he  left  Wilmington  to  become  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  Drexel  &.  Co.,  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  remained 
until  1869,  during  which  year  he  was  transferred  to 
the  New  York  house,  Drexel,  Winthrop  &  Co.,  and 
upon  the  formation  of  Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co.,  in  1871, 
he  joined  that  firm,  continuing  a  partner  in  the  New 
York,  Philadelphia  and  Paris  houses  until  he  was 
compelled  by  ill  health  to  retire  from  business  at  the 
close  of  1874.  After  a  year  spent  in  Europe  in  the 
vain  search  for  health,  Mr.  Robinson  returned  to 
Philadelphia,  taking  up  his  residence  in  that  city, 
and  spending  his  summers  at  "Glengarry,"  Torres- 
dale,  near  Philadelphia,  where  he  died  suddenly  Sep- 
tember 13, 1878,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  a  self-made  man  ;  one  to  whose 
untiring  industry,  clear  business  perception  and  in- 
tegrity was  due  his  successful  business  career.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  Noyember,  1856,  Mr.  Robinson  was  married  to 
Mary,  only  daughter  of  Edward  Moore,  an  old  mer- 
chant of  Wilmington.  Mrs.  Robinson  survived  her 
husband,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  J.  Hood  Wright, 
of  the  firm  of  Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co.,  New  York. 

Robert  Emmett  Robinson,  a  banker  and  broker  of 
Wilmington,  was  a  son  of  Robert  Randolph  Robin- 
son. He  was  born  in  Wilmington,  August  6,  1833, 
and  always  resided  in  his  native  city.  In  1849 
he  entered  the  Banking-House  of  Messrs.  R.  R. 
Robinson  &  Co.  as  a  clerk,  and  served  continuously  in 
that  capacity  until  1864,  when  he  became  a  partner 
in  the  firm  upon  the  withdrawal  of  his  brother, 
John  N.  Robinson.  Mr.  Robinson  was  an  ac- 
tive, public-spirited  citizen,  as  well  as  a  skillful 
banker.  He  was  one  of  those  who  organized  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and    enthusiastically 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


749 


pushed  forward  the  erection  of  this  elegant  place  ot 
wonhip.  Later  he  joined  heartily  in  its  mission  ef- 
forts, and  took  a  deep  interest  in  Ep worth  and  Mad- 
ely  Chapels,  both  of  which  he  did  much  to  estab- 
lish. For  a  long  time  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  Sun- 
day-School of  Grace  Church,  and  for  six  years  he 
was  one  of  the  trustees.  He  was  a  gentleman  of 
many  excellent,  agreeable  traits,  and  had  many 
Mends,  who  esteemed  him  for  his  social  as  well  as 
bosiness  merits.  He  was  married,  November  lb 
1856,  to  Maria  J.  Kates,  daughter  of  Joseph  L. 
Kates,  of  Wilmington,  and  sister  of  John  Kates, 
Boperintendent  of  telegraphy  at  Wilmington,  on  the 
Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad. 
He  died  November  28, 1876,  r^retted  by  a  large  cir- 
cle of  acquaintances.  His  wife  and  four  children 
survive  him.  Three  of  the  four  are  now  married,  and 
ire  living  in  Philadelphia. 

The  late  Joshua  T.  Heald  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  financiers  of  the  city,  and  it  is  probably  not 
ID  exaggeration  to  say  that  he  did  more  to  enhance 
the  interests  of  Wilminaton  than  any  other  one  man. 
He  projected  and  built  the  Delaware  and  Western 
Railroad,  was  the  inaugurator  of  the  city  passenger 
railway  service,  laid  out  large  additions  to  the  city, 
called  the  attention  of  capitalists  to  the  advantages 
offered  here  for  manufacturing  enterprises,  and  in  a 
score  of  ways  contributed  to  the  development  of  the 
dty.  When  Wilmington  extends  itself  to  the  Dela- 
ware, as  it  inevitably  must  in  the  next  few  years, 
the  student  of  history  wiU  find  in  Mr.  Heald  the 
initial  impulse  of  that  movement,  though  others  may 
be  accredited  by  superficial  observers  with  the  ac- 
complishment of  that  result.  Mr.  Heald  took  a 
letding  part  in  organizing  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Wilmington  and  he  was  a  director  of  the  institu- 
tion (in  more  than  that  term  usually  implies)  until 
1876.  He  was  also  instrumental  in  organizing  the 
Board  of  Trade.  In  politics  he  was  a  Republican 
and  a  very  active  worker.  He  was  bom  May  26, 
1826,  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred,  New  Castle  County, 
near  the  curving  boundary  line,  and  was  thedescend- 
ant  of  a  family  which  settled  in  Chester  County,  Pa., 
shortly  after  the  arrival  of  William  Penn.  He  died 
in  Wilmington  July  22, 1887,  after  a  short  illness. 

His  successor  and  the  present  head  of  the  house 
is  Daniel  W.  Taylor,  with  whom  is  associated  Mr. 
Edwin  H.  Gayley,  both  members  of  the  original  firm 
of  Heald  &  Company  established  under  that  name  in 
1874.  The  house  conducts  a  general  banking  and 
brokerage  business,  transacting  all  affairs  which  are 
known  under  those  general  titles,  buying  and  selling 
all  kinds  of  stocks  and  bonds,  making  collections, 
baying  and  selling  foreign  exchanges,  acting  as  for- 
eign steamship  agents,  and  doing  a  large  business  in 
real  estate  and  rentals.  In  thb  department  the  house 
is  undoubtedly  the  most  important  in  the  city^  their 
transactions  probably  amounting  to  seventy-five  per 
cent,  of  the  total  real  estate  operations.  The  man- 
ner in  which  the  firm  is  most  beneficial  to  the  city  is 


in  cutting  up  large  estates  and  putting  them  into  the 
market  in  small  lots,  and  upon  easy  terms,  thus  en- 
abling the  humbler  classes  to  secure  houses  almost  as 
low  as  rent  prices  and  developing  the  growth  of  the 
property  owning  class  in  a  degree  scarcely  known  in 
any  city  of  the  union,  except  Philadelphia.  Al- 
though the  death  of  Mr.  Heald  caused  an  irreparable 
loss  to  the  firm  (as  it  was  also  to  the  city)  the  busi- 
ness is  carried  on  upon  the  basis  which  he  established, 
and  the  members  of  the  house  as  at  present  consti- 
tuted having  been  long  known  to  the  people,  possess 
their  entire  confidence. 

The  firm  of  Elliott,  Johnson  &  Company  has  car- 
ried on  a  banking  business  in  connection  with  brok- 
erage for  about  fourteen  years,  and  with  few  changes 
in  its  formation  (the  principal  one  being  that  which 
recently  occurred,  and  caused  very  serious  loss,  in  the 
death  of  Henry  H.  Johnson).  The  firm  was  estab- 
lished under  the  name  of  Merrick,  Johnson  &  Com- 
pany in  1874,  subsequently  became  Craige,  Johnson 
&  Company,  and  in  1876  was  constituted  as  it  at 
present  exists  and  under  the  same  firm-name,  the 
partners  being  Alfred  S.  Elliott,  Henry  H.  Johnson 
and  Henry  P.  Scott  While  conducting  a  general 
brokerage  business  the  firm  makes  a  specialty  of 
State,  county,  city  and  railroad  investnients,  and  they 
stand  high  in  the  estimation  of  business  men. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

WILMINGTON— ( CanHnued). 

THE  COMMERCE  OF  WILMINGTON. 

Wilmington  enjoyed  very  extensive  commercial 
interests,  particularly  during  the  last  century,  and  at 
one  time  imports  and  exports  comprised  her  largest  and 
most  important  item  of  industry.  The  first  vessel,  of 
which  there  is  any  record,  leaving  the  port  of  Wilming- 
ton to  engage  in  trade  with  foreign  countries,  was  the 
brig  "Wilmington"  in  1740.  She  was  owned  by  Grif- 
fith Minshall,  William  Shipley,  David  Ferris,  Joshua 
Way  and  others,  and  originally  sailed  out  of  the 
Christiana,  and  down  the  Delaware,  during  the  sum- 
mer of  1741,  laden  with  flour,  ship-bread,  white  and 
black  oak  staves,  butter  and  beef  in  barrels.  Her 
destination  was  the  Island  of  Jamaica.  Within  a 
year  the  "  Wilmington  "  returned  to  port  with  a  valu- 
able cargo  of  tropical  products  sufficient  to  meet  the 
demands  of  the  people  of  Wilmington  and  surround- 
ing country.  The  "  Wilmington  "  made  several  suc- 
cessful voyages  and  encouraged  a  traffic  with  foreign 
countries,  which  grew  to  large  proportions.  With  the 
Revolutionary  War  it  languished  and  did  not  revive 
to  any  considerable  extent  until  1789. 

Nearly  all  of  the  leading  citizens,  from  1741  to 
1775,  owned  or  were  interested  in  one  or  more  sailing- 
vessels,  the  majority  of  which  were  built  at  home.  In 
1750,  Thomas  Willing  built  the  first  sloop  packet  that 
ran   between  this  port  and  Philadelphia.      Joseph 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Tatnall,  Joseph  Sh  allcrose,  Jacob  Broom,  Job  Har- 
vey and  others  were  prominent  shipping  merchantft 
here  before  the  Revolution,  and  were  engaged  in  trade 
with  other  countries.  .  William  Woodcock  and  Barney 
Harris  were  ship-builders,  and  merchant  traders  of 
considerable  note.  John  Harris  succeeded  them. 
Simon  Cranson  as  early  as  1720  made  small  brigs  at 
Stanton,  and  sailed  them  from  there.  James  Latimer, 
who  settled  early  last  century  at  Newport,  carried  on 
an  extensive  business  in  flour.  It  was  brought  from  Lan- 
caster County  in  the  old-time  Conestoga  wagons,  and 
was  shipped  from  his  wharf  to  Philadelphia.  About  the 
same  time  the  Lancaster  teams  began  to  come  to  Wil- 
mington, and  continued  for  nearly  a  century  to  bring 
the  products  of  that  fertile  agricultural  region  for 
shipment.  Isaac  Harvey  owned  several  brigs  and 
schooners,  and  did  a  large  business.  From  his  wharf, 
now  owned  by  George  W.  Bush  &  Co.,  many  vessels 
sailed  subsequent  to  1750.  Captain  Mendenhall  suc- 
ceeded to  the  ownership  of  this  wharf,  engaging  in 
the  flour  traffic,  and  running  his  packets  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  found  a  market.  The  principal  part 
of  the  flour  shipped  by  him  came  from  Lancaster 
County.  As  many  as  thirty  wagons  remained  over- 
night in  his  yard,  which  was  above  Front  Street  and 
extended  from  Walnut  to  French  Street,  near  the  old 
Foul  Anchor  Inn.  John  Froudray  at  that  time 
owned  a  wharf  below  Harvey's  and  ran  a  packet  to 
Philadelphia.  He  lived  on  the  corner  of  French  and 
Walnut  Streets,  and  at  high-tide  the  water  surrounded 
his  house.  Capt.  Samuel  Bush  ^  bought  this  wharf. 
Joseph  Shallcross,  a  large  shipper,  owned  the  ad- 
jacent wharf  up  the  stream.  Wm.  Hemphill  suc- 
ceeded him  and  engaged  in  foreign  commerce.  About 
1812  he  retired  and  lived  in  a  handsome  residence  on 
Market  Street.  He  died  February.  10,  1828,  aged 
eighty  years. 

Robinson's  wharf,  now  owned  by  Charles  Warner, 
was  the  fourth  in  order  up  stream  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lution. Robinson  was  a  sea  captain  early  in  life,  and 
later  a  shipping  merchant.  He  built  a  large  residence 
on  Front  Street,  where  he  died  before  reaching  mid- 
dle age.  Jonathan  Rumford,  an  extensive  shipper  in 
1780,  and  for  many  years  prior,  owned  the  wharf  im- 
mediately above  the  draw-bridge.' 

George  Taylor,  a  Hollander,  who  died  wealthy,  in 
1787,  lived  here  and  ran  a  packet  to  New  York.  In 
1792,  Eleazer  McComb,  of  Dover,  bought  the  Rum- 
ford  property,  fitted  up  the  mansion  in  elegant  style, 
and,  with  Colonel  Tilton,  conducted  a  trade  in  flour, 
in  conjunction  with  a  line  of  packets  up  and  down 
the  Delaware.  In  1793,  during  the  yellow  fever 
scourge  in  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Wilcox,  one  of  the 
leading  shipping  merchants  of  that  city,  brought  the 

1  An  extended  notice  of  Captain  Bush  and  bis  family  will  be  found 
eUewbere. 

*  Rumford  lived  In  a  large  mansion,  sontbwest  corner  Front  and 
Thorn  Streets,  and  during  the  Reyolution  was  a  Royal  sympathizer,  al- 
though not  an  avowed  Tory.  He  was  the  victim  of  some  over-Kealons 
patriots,  and  in  consequence  of  the  treatment  received  from  them,  his 
health  was  affected  permanently.  His  business  failed  to  prosper  and  he 
died  in  1791. 


majority  of  his  vessels  to  Philadelphia  and  made  his 
home  with  Mr.  McComb.  The  latter,  together  with 
his  wife,  died  of  the  yellow  fever  in  1798. 

In  1789  the  following  vessels  belonging  to  mer- 
chants in  Wilmington  were  actively  engaged  in  the 
West  India  trade :  The  schooner  '*  Isabella,"  Capt. 
Parks ;  the  schooner  *'  Pratt,"  Capt.  Thomas  Menden- 
hall ;  sloop  ''  Hannah,"  Capt.  Samuel  Lovering ;  brig 
"  Polly  and  Betsy,"  Capt.  Andrew  Morris ;  sloop 
"Industry,"  Capt.  Hill;  sloop  "Sukey  and  Polly," 
Captain  Ingham ;  sloop  **  Hope,"  Capt.  T.  Newbold ; 
sloop  "  Polly,"  Capt.  Congdon ;  brig  ''Munton,"  Capt. 
Staunton  ;  brig  "  Maria,"  Capt.  Fort ;  brig  "  Keziah," 
Captain  Collins.  A  number  of  vessels  at  the  same 
time  were  engaged  in  trade  with  Ireland,  among 
them  the  brig  "  Brothers,"  Capt.  James  JefTeris ;  brig 
"  Keziah,"  Capt,  Brown ;  brig  "  Maria,"  Capt.  Fort ; 
brig  «'  Sophia,"  Capt.  T.  Thomson  ;  ship  "  Happy  Re- 
turn," Capt.  Erwin ;  and  ship  *'  Nancy,"  Capt.  Craw- 
ford. They  were  laden  with  flour  and  other  Ameri- 
can products,  and  brought  back  Irish  linen,  window- 
glass  and  glassware.  Emigrants  were  also  frequently 
brought  over.  For  several  years  after  this  period, 
says  Benjamin  Ferris,  "  the  foreign  trade  from  this 
port  continued  to  increase,  particularly  with  Ireland. 
Several  ships,  from  three  hundred  to  four  hundred 
tons  burden,  were  owned  in  Wilmington.  One  object 
of  this  trade  was  the  transportation  of  emigrants,  of 
whom  great  numbers  in  early  days  were  brought 
into  this  port." ' 

In  1799,  James  Brian  *  purchased  the  McComb  es- 
tate. Brian  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  came  to 
this  country  about  fifteen  years  before.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  he  joined  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  was 
afterwards  one  of  the  leading  shipping  merchants, 
engaging  largely  in  the  West  India  and  Nova  Scotia 
trade.  He  also  owned  the  packet  "Sarah  Ann," 
which  plied  for  many  years  between  Wilmington  and 
Philadelphia.  His  wife  died  in  1802,  of  yellow  fever. 
He  died  in  1817.  John  Stapler,  his  son-in-law,  suc- 
ceeded him  in  business. 

The  coasting  trade  with  the  Eastern  States  and 
with  Nova  Scotia  was  very  extensive  about  1800  and 
l>efore.  Numerous  vessels  came  into  Wilmington 
from  coasting  ports,  with  plaster  of  Paris,  smoked 
salmon   and  other  varieties  of  fish,  and  potatoes. 

8  Among  these  emigrants  were  what  were  Icnown  as  *'  Redemptioncn," 
people  who  pledged  their  labors  for  two  or  three  years  in  the  new  coun- 
try to  the  captain  in  return  for  their  passage.  On  their  arrival  in 
America  the  captain  Iwund  them  out  for  the  specified  period  to  reim- 
burse himself.  Many  of  these  redemptionera  became  useful  citizens  and 
some  were  afterwards  among  the  most  useful  and  respected  residents  of 
the  State. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  stated  that  the  West  Indian  traffic  devel- 
oped  a  passenger  feature  which  was  not  so  pleasant  an  addition  to  the 
colony.  In  1760  a  two-masted  veasel,  laden  with  colored  slaTes,  wnt 
by  their  British  owners  from  the  West  Indies  dropped,  anchor  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Christiana,  and  the  following  year  another  cargo  of  them 
arrived.  An  early  writer  describes  the  appearance  of  a  gang  of  thirty 
or  more  of  these  human  beings  fresh  from  Africa,  driven  through  the 
streets  of  Wilmington  like  so  many  animals  and  offered  for  sale.  Kren 
the  consenrative  Quaker  at  that  time  experienced  no  compunctions  in 
buying  dares,  as  some  of  them  were  slare-ownera  a  century  ago. 

4  James  McCartney,  a  nephew  of  Brian,  conducted  the  okl  "Sign  of 
the  Conestoga  Wagon  "  Tarem,  on  Front  Street,  opposite  Thorn  Street, 
which  was  a  populur  hostelrie  with  the  Lancaster  teamsten. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


751 


They  returned  with  cargoea  of  flour,  corn,  meal  and 
grain.  ^ 

Prior  to  the  War  of  1812,  beef,  pork,  flour,  grain 
and  cheese  were  exported  in  large  quantities  from 
Wilmington.  After  the  war,  the  home  demand  was  so 
great  that  the  foreign  trade  declined,  and  agricul- 
tural interest  grew  correspondingly.  The  Brandy- 
wine  Mills,  in  1814,  owned  nine  sloops  of  from  forty 
to  sixty  tons,  and  used  them  in  shipping  flour  to 
Philadelphia  and  elsewhere.' 

The  Western  Transportation  Line  was  established 
in  1827,  between  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  via 
Wilmington  and  Elkton. 

An  interesting  ceremony  incident  to  the  early 
commerce  of  Wilmington  was  that  of  ^*  Chairing  the 
Captain.''  It  was  a  compliment  extended  to  a 
popular  skipper  at  the  end  of  a  successful  voyage. 
An  arm-chair  was  procured  from  "  The  Foul  Anchor 
Inn,''  or  at  Captain  O'Flynn's  tavern,  at  Third  and 
Market  Streets,  two  poles  attached  to  it,  and  the  skip- 
per was  carried  triumphantly  up  Market  and  down 
King  Street,  followed  by  his  cheering  crew. 

An  important  factor  in  the  commercial  interests  of 
Wilmington  during  the  present  century  was  the  Wil- 
mington Whaling  Company,  organized  November  23, 
1833.'  Up  to  this  time  the  whaling  industry  had 
been  confined  almost  exclusively  to  New  England, 
but  the  demand  for  sperm  and  whale  oil  became  great 
and  the  profits  large ;  this  induced  capitalists  to  go  into 
the  business.  The  Wilmington  Company  organized 
with  a  capital  stock  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
and  the  following  directors :  Edward  Tatnall,  James 
Can  by,  James  Price,  James  G.  Howland,  C.  I.  Du 
Pont,  S.  B.  Davis,  John  Gordon,  David  C.  Wilson, 
Bobert  Porter,  G^rge  Bush,  Mahlon  Betts,  Jonathan 
Bonney,  William  Chandler,  William  Seal,  John 
Wales,  Stephen  Bonsall,  James  W.  Thompson,  Henry 
Whitely,  George  Jones,  Thomas  Newlin,  Thomas  H. 
Larkin,  Miller  Dunott,  John  Rice,  John  Wright  and 
William  P.  Brobson.  Beyond  disposing  of  their 
stock,  this  board  did  not.accomplish  anything  definite. 
On  January  23,  1835,  the  company  was  chartered 
with  an  authorized  capital  of  three  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  and  reorganized  with  twenty-five  directors, 
some  of  whom  were  Philadelphians.    The  Wilming- 

I A  prominent  figure  in  connection  with  the  conunerce  of  Wilmington 
WM  Paul  Coffee,  whoee  fittber  was  an  Afrlc»n  slave  and  his  mother  an 
Indian.  Paul  adopted  a  sea  faring  life  at  a  very  early  age  and  developed 
nnnsoal  intelligent  and  businees  capacity.  He  soon  owned  a  sloop  and 
•Dgaged  in  the  coasting  trade.  ISext  he  became  the  possessor  of  a 
•ebooner,  then  a  brig  and  eventually  a  large  ship,  with  a  crew  of  col- 
ored men,  which  was  a  novelty  in  that  age.  Later  in  life  he  iMcame 
well-known  at  American  and  foreign  ports.  He  was  flrequentiy  in 
Wilmington,  where  he  stood  high  and  spent  much  of  his  time.  He 
Joinefll  the  Society  of  Friends  there  and  sometimes  **  spolie  in  meeting.** 
Jmmm  Brian  was  his  intimate  friend  and  had  extensive  business  rela* 
Uons  with  him,  as  did  also  General  John  Stockton  and  Isaac  Craig. 
Cnflee  was  an  advocate  of  civilisation  among  the  negroes.  He  owned 
vbvea  in  Sierra  Leone.  He  is  known  in  history  as  the  most  intelligent 
of  him  race  and  day. 

1  The  brig  **  Mermaid,**  four  hundred  and  fifty  tons,  was  the  beet 
Wilmfngton  veasel  in  the  foreign  trade.  She  made  her  final  voyage 
mbont  U25. 

3  Whaling  vesMls  sailed  from  Wilmington  to  the  South  Pacific  and 
recnrned  with  oil  as  early  as  18U0,  but  their  cargoes  were  small  and  the 
indoatry  never  amounted  to  much  until  the  Wilmington  Whaling 
Cbtnpany  went  into  operation. 


ton  directors  were  David  C.  Wilson,  Eklward  Tatnall, 
Samuel  B.  Wheeler,  Thomas  Newlin,  Thomas  Bon- 
sall, Charles  I.  Du  Pont,  Thomas  Larkin,  Jonathan 
Bonney,  Mahlon  Betts  and  James  A.  Bayard.  In 
1835  the  company  purchased  the  whaleship  ''Ceres" 
in  New  Bedford,  and  she  became  the  pioneer  of  the 
fleet.  The  vessels  belonging  to  the  company  and 
their  cost  were,—"  Ceres,"  Captain  Wheeden,  $39,886 ; 
**Lucy  Ann,"  Captain  Baker,  $33,910;  "Superior," 
Captain  Crocker,  $40,346 ;  "  Jefferson,"  Captain  Baker, 
$87,275;  "North  America,"  Captain  Simmons,  $32,- 
313.  The  several  voyages  of  these  vessels  and  their 
results  were  as  follows:  The  "Ceres,"  sailed  in  April, 
1835,  absent  two  and  a  half  years,  loss  on  voyage, 
$5228;  ''Lucy  Ann," sailed  in  the  fall  of  1835, absent 
nearly  two  years,  net  profit  of  voyage,  $4006 ;  "Supe- 
rior," sailed  in  1838,  absent  nearly  two  years,  net 
profit  of  voyage,  $11,254;  "Jefferson,"  sailed  Sep- 
tember 16,  1839,  absent  twenty-eight  months,  profits 
not  given ;  "  Lucy  Ann  "  (second  voyage),  sailed  June, 
1837,  absent  twenty-one  months,  net  profits  of  voyage, 
about  $5000;  "Ceres"  (second  voyage),  sailed  De- 
cember 1,  1837,  absent  forty  months,  profitable  re- 
sults; "Lucy  Ann"  (third  voyage),  returned  June 
24,  1841,  net  profits  of  voyage,  $2500;  "Lucy  Ann" 
(fourth  voyage),  sailed  November  25,  1841,  absent 
three  years,  voyage  profitable.  The  "North  Ameri- 
ca" subsequently  made  two  profitable  voyages,  and 
then  the  company  met  with  reverses.  The  "Supe- 
rior" on  her  second  voyage  lost  her  captain  and  re- 
turned at  a  loss  to  the  company.  The  "North 
America"  on  her  third  voyage  was  wrecked  in  a 
hurricane  off*  New  Holland  in  July,  1841.  The 
"Ceres"  made  another  unprofitable  voyage  after- 
wards, and  the  "  Jefferson  "  made  two,  and  the  "  Lucy 
Ann  "  one  voyage  at  a  small  profit.  The  whaling  in- 
dustry then  declined,  and  the  company  sold  its 
property  in  1846  and  went  out  of  existence. 

In  February,  1839,  Merrit  Canby,  William  Chand- 
ler and  John  Wright  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
audit  the  treasurer's  accounts,  and  reported  a  balance 
of  $7267.  The  company  also  owned  thirteen  thou- 
sand dollars'  worth  of  real  estate,  including  a  wharf, 
store  and  cooper-shop.  In  1840  Stephen  Bonsall  was 
president  of  the  company ;  William  T.  Wheeler,  sec- 
retary ;  and  Allan  Thomson,  treasurer.  A  dividend 
of  seven  per  cent,  was  declared  in  that  year,  and 
the  net  profits  were  $16,598;  valuation  of  vessels, 
$180,185.* 

The  Christiana  was  navigable  to  Wilmington  in 
1814  to  vessels  drawing  fourteen  feet,  and  Christiana 
Bridge  was  the  head  of  navigation  on  that  stream ; 
but  when  the  Wilmington  Whaling  Company  was  at 
the  height  of  its  prosperity,  large  vessels  laden  with 


*  Captain  Bdward  Ayers  was  the  only  master  in  the  employ  of  the  com> 
pany  that  settled  in  Wilmington.  He  subsequeptly  sailed  from  Mew 
York  and  made  two  voyages  around  the  globe.  During  the  late  Civil 
War,  while  on  a  voyage  to  China,  his  vessel,  the  "  Tycoon,"  was  cap- 
tured by  the  Confederate  cruiser  **  Alabama,"  and  all  of  his  effects  were 
confiscated.  Captain  Ayres  died  of  yellow  fever  in  Galveston,  Texas,  in 
1867,  and  his  heirs  were  awarded  thirty-two  hundred  dollars  by  the  Ala- 
bama Claims  Commission. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE 


oil  were  anable  to  get  up  to  their  wharf,  which  was 
located  where  Pusey,  Jodcs  &  Co.'s  ship-yards  now 
are.^  The  ships  were  anchored  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Chris tiana,  where  a  portion  of  the  cargo  was  dis- 
charged, and  they  afterward  went  up  lightered.  In 
order  to  deepen  the  channel,  Congress  was  appealed 
to  in  1836,  and  appropriated  fifteen  thousand  dollars 
"  for  improvement  of  the  Harbor  at  the  port  of  Wil- 
mington." Of  this  amount  the  City  Council  of  Wil- 
mington, through  a  committee  consisting  of  William 
R.  Sellars,  William  Chandler  and  Thomas  Young, 
expended  fourteen  thousand  dollars  in  a  dredging- 
machine  made  at  the  ship-yard  of  John  Harris,  under 
the  supervision  of  Captain  Alexander  Kelley,  now 
connected  with  the  Harlan  &  Hollingsworth  Com- 
pany, who  was  sent  by  the  committee  to  Baltimore  to 
inspect  the  dredges  then  at  work  there.  A  force  of 
men,  under  the  charge  of  Captain  Kelley,  were  then 
engaged  during  the  summer  months  for  three  years 
in  dredging  the  Christiana.  Meantime,  other  appro- 
priations were  made  by  Congress.  Up  to  1880  the 
work  of  improving  the  harbor  was  confined  to  dredg- 
ing, at  a  total  cost  of  $106,156,  and  a  twelve-foot  low- 
water  channel  was  maintained.  In  1880  Congress 
directed  a  survey  of  the  Christiana,  from  the  Dela- 
ware Railroad  bridge  to  its  mouth,  and  the  estimated 
cost  of  establishing  a  mean  depth  of  fifteen  feet. 
This  contemplated  the  building  of  a  jetty  at  the  en- 
trance to  the  harbor  and  dredging  the  channel  above 
to  fifteen  feet  and  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  wide.  This  work  has  been  in  progress  since  1881, 
and  up  to  1887  the  government  appropriated  $150,750 
toward  it.  The  jetty  was  finished  in  1881,  and  since, 
a  limited  amount  of  dredging  has  been  required  to 
maintain  a  fifteen-foot  channel,  which,  in  1887,  was 
made  seventy -five  feet  wide  from  Market  Street 
Bridge  to  a  point  within  two  hundred  feet  of  the  outer 
end  of  the  jetty  entrance.  In  addition  to  the  funds 
contributed  by  the  government  ($259,906),  since  1837, 
considerable  sums  have  been  expended  by  individual 
enterprise.  There  has  been  in  Wilmington,  since 
1884,  an  oflSce  which  controls  the  improvements  of 
harbors  and  rivers  in  the  district  of  Delaware,  with 
General  William  F.  Smith  in  charge. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  several  collectors  of  cus- 
toms at  the  port  of  Wilmington  up  to  the  present 
time  : 

Georg«  Bush  « « October  1, 1790 

Allen  McLnne March  1,  1797 

Henry  Whiteley June  8, 1829 

Arnold  Nandain,  M.D March  22, 1841 

1  The  harbor  or  Little  Lake,  in  the  rear  of  the  site  of  Fort  Christiana 
(near  the  foot  of  Seventh  Street  of  the  present),  was  flUod  up  in  1820.  It 
was  here  the  first  Swedish  settlers  ianded  in  1638.  Old  Ferry  Point,  foot 
of  Third  Street,  and  the  point  opposite  extended  into  the  stream  in  early 
times,  and  were  called  the  Capos  of  Christiana.  In  178^1  there  was  quite 
a  stream  emptied  in  the  river  at  the  comer  of  what  Lb  now  Second  and 
Orange  Streets,  and  tliere  was  a  mill  on  it  operated  by  water-power. 

s  The  date  of  the  appointment  of  Mi^or  Bush  is  not  known.  His  first 
account  was  filed  October  1, 1790,  and  his  last  February  28, 1797,  the 
year  of  his  death.  The  accounts  of  Col.  Allen  McLane  b^;an  March  I, 
1797,  and  closed  June  7,  1829.  President  Andrew  Jackson,  after  his  in- 
auguration sent  Col.  McLane  word  that  "  to  the  Tictora  belong  the 
spoils"  and  appointed  his  political  fHend,  Col.  Henry  Whitley,  of  Kew- 
nrk,  to  succeed  him.  Nathaniel  Toung  resigned  April  19,  1849,  and 
Wm.  P.  Brobson  died  during  his  incumbency. 


Henry  Hicks June  28, 1846 

Nathaniel  Young u....~ April  19, 1849 

William  P.  Brobion « ^ „..M^4, 1819 

Charles  Polk March  6, 1850 

Jesse  Sharpe March  24, 1863 

Thomas  M.  Rodney ~ May  14,  1^1 

Theodore  F.  Crawford „ September  17, 1866 

William  D.  Nolen April  12, 1869 

Lewis  Thompson ».Mi^  9, 1876 

Henry  F.  Piokels June  30. 1884 

Dr.  £.  A.  Smith  was  port  physician  in  1795  ;  Dr. 
James  Tilton,  Jr.,  was  appointed  in  1803  ;  Dr.  Wil- 
liam D.  Brinckle  in  1824 ;  Dr.  L.  P.  Bush  in  1840 ; 
Dr.  H.  F.  Askew  in  1853,  and  Dr.  Willard  Springer 
is  present  incumbent.  The  appointment  is  a  life 
office  in  the  gift  of  the  Grovernor. 

The  exports  from  the  District  of  Delaware  in  1811, 
the  largost  proportion  being  from  Wilmington,  aggre- 
gated $88,623,  of  which  $76,945  were  domestic  arti- 
cles ;  tonnage  for  the  same  year,  8192.  The  exports 
of  domestic  articles  from  Wilmington  in  1846,  were 
$113,683  ;  in  1847,  $250,595. 

Ck>llector  Brobson's  report  of  expenses  of  his 
department  for  the  year  ending  January,  1849,  was : 
Amount  expended  in  collector's  department,  $1447 ; 
maintaining  thirteen  light-houses  from  Cape  Henlo- 
pen  to  Fort  Mifflin,  $6208  ;  floating  lighte,  $4821 ; 
beacons  and  buoys,  $3532  ;  inspections  and  measures, 
$4804;  total,  $20,316.  Revenue  marine  service: 
Schooner  "  Forward,"  Capt.  Henry  B.  Nones,  four 
lieutenants,  three  second  lieutenants,  fifty  seamen 
and  twenty-five  attendants,  $5876  ;  Schooner  "  Galla- 
tin," captain,  two  lieutenants,  thirty  seamen  and 
eighteen  attendants,  $4549.  The  revenue  service 
was  removed  during  Collector  Nolen's  term  to  Phila- 
delphia. 

The  number  of  vessels  and  total  ^tonnage  owned 
and  recorded  in  Wilming^n  for  the  years  1882  to 
1887  was  1882,  vessels  165,  tonnage  16,668;  1883,  ves- 
sels 177,  tonnage  17,677  ;  1884,  vessels  181,  tonnage 
19,864 ;  1885,  vessels  186,  tonnage  19,945 ;  1886, 
vessels  176,  tonnage  16,750 ;  1887,  vessels  120,  ton- 
nage 16,412. 

The  total  operations  of  the  port  for  1885  aggre- 
gated $13,181,000  for  the  year,  and  in  June  30, 1887, 
$15,326,000. 

The  custom  house  was  originally  at  New  Castle, 
but  was  removed  to  Wilmington  about  1800.  For 
nearly  a  half  century  thereafter,  it  was  located  in  a 
small-rented  building  on  Water  street,  between  Mar- 
ket and  King  streets,  where  G.  W.  Stone's  store  is 
now.  It  remained  there  until  the  building  comer 
Sixth  and  King  Streets  was  erected. 

The  first  steamboat  to  ply  between  Wilmington 
and  Philadelphia  was  the  "Vestal,**  which  was 
launched  at  Grice's  ship-yard  in  Philadelphia,  April 
23, 1812,  and  made  a  trial  trip  the  succeeding  day. 
George  Coxen  was  captain  and  part  owner.  The 
arrival  of  the  "  Vestal "  was  the  occasion  of  much 
enthusiasm  and  hundreds  of  citizens  visited  her  tt 
the  wharf.  She  was  called  the  **  VesU"  after  1815. 
Captain  Milner  commanded  her  in  1818. 

The  steamboat  *'  Delaware"  was  put  on  the  river 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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August  20,  1814,  to  run  between  Wilmington  and 
Philadelphia  ''  during  the  stoppage  of  the  intercourse 
by  water  to  Baltimore  by  the  British." 

The  ''Superior"  was  built  in  1820  and  put  in 
charge  of  Captain  Milner.  It  took  her  eight  hours 
to  go  to  Philadelphia,  and  two  days  were  required  for 
the  trip.  The  fare  to  Philadelphia  was  one  dollar. 
Captain  Henry  Read  ran  her  for  several  years.  She 
was  owned  by  the  Wilmington  Steamboat  Company 
of  which  William  Young  was  president.  Captain 
Read  afterwards  commanded  the  "Wilmington," 
built  in  1829,  at  Philadelphia,  and  owned  by  the  same 
company.  In  1836  he  retired  and  took  the  Indian 
King  Hotel  at  Fourth  and  Market  Streets.  Captain 
Black  took  charge  of  the  ''  Wilmington." 

Wilmer  Whildin  wa<»  one  of  the  most  successful 
steamboat  captains  on  the  river  half  a  century  ago. 
In  1829  he  opened  Cape  May  Point  as  a  seaside  resort 
and  built  a  hotel  there.  The  same  year  he  com- 
menced to  run  the  steamer  "  Emerald  "  from  Phila- 
delphia to  Cape  May  Point,  charging  only  seventy- 
five  cents  for  the  trip.  The  "  Emerald  "  afterwards 
ran  from  Philadelphia  to  Wilmington.  In  1835  he 
bought  the  "New  Castle,"  and  his  son,  W.  Whildin, 
Jr.,  who  was  educated  for  a  physician  became  her 
captain.  The  same  year  the  "Lineas,"  Captain 
Bilderbach,  was  put  on  the  river.  The  "  New  Castle" 
in  1836,  was  the  first  boat  to  make  the  round  trip  to 
Philadelphia  the  same  day,  resulting  in  active  com- 
petition between  the  various  boats  and  the  newly 
constructed  railroad.  The  latter  put  the  fare  down  to 
twelve  and  one-half  cents  and  the  steamboats  for 
several  months  carried  passengers  at  ten  cents. 

George  Thom  was  engineer  of  the  steamer  "  Balti- 
more "  and  afterwards  of  the  *'  Emerald  "  and  "  Dela- 
ware." He  was  born  in  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  in  1795, 
came  to  this  country  in  1822,  and  is  still  living  on 
Justison  Street,  Wilmington,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
three.  He  superintended  the  construction  of  a  num- 
ber of  engines  at  the  works  of  Thomas  HoUoway  in 
Philadelphia. 

Captain  Douglass  ran  the"  Robert  Morris"  up  and 
down  the  river  in  1838 ;  Captain  J.  L.  Robinson  on 
the  ''Balloon"  in  1842;  Captain  Whildin,  the 
"Sun  "in  1843. 

The  "  W.  Whildin,"  named  after  its  original  owner, 
was  the  first  iron  steamboat  with  side  wheels  to  run 
in  the  Delaware.  It  was  built  about  1841,  and  ran 
between  Philadelphia  and  Wilmington.  The  "  Whil- 
din "  was  enlarged  in  1846  and  is  now  running  be- 
tween Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  as  one  of  the 
Ericsson  Line. 

The  steamboat  Balloon  and  the  Rainbow,  in  1843, 
charged  twelve  and  one-half  cents  between  Wilming- 
ton and  Philadelphia. 

The  steamer  E.  I.  Dupont,  launched  from  Harris' 
ship  yard  in  February,  1845,  had  a  double  propeller 
and  a  sixteen -inch  cylinder,  equal  to  a  ninety  horse- 
power engine. 

Captain  Whildin,  in  1846  bought  the  Napoleon  and 
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put  her  on  between  Philadelphia  and  Smyrna  Land- 
ing. In  1848  he  owned  a  controlling  interest  in  the 
Balloon,  Robert  Morris,  Ohio  and  Sun,  but  sold  the 
Sun  to  Capt.  Douglass  the  same  year  for  $27,500.  He 
bought  the  Pioneer  in  1849  and  gave  Captain  Robin- 
son charge  of  her. 

The  Zephyr  ran  between  New  Castle  and  Dover 
Landing  in  1848.  In  1829  the  New  Jersey  Steamboat 
Company  commenced  to  run  small  boats  from  Wil- 
mington to  the  Jersey  shore,  to  accommodate  market 
people,  and  sold  them  in  1838.  The  Bolivar,  a  large 
boat,  was  next  put  on  and  run  until  1847,  when  she 
was  transferred  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Captain  Wil- 
son Pierson  was  given  charge  of  the  Enterprise  on 
this  line  April  27th  of  the  same  year.  The  Gosport, 
Captain  Baker,  was  enlarged  in  1850.  The  Telegraph, 
a  fine  steamboat,  was  owned  by  Captain  Whildin. 

The  "  Alice  E.  Preston  "  ran  for  a  while  between 
Pennsgrove,  New  Jersey,  and  Fourth  Street  Wharf, 
Wilmington,  when  she  was  succeeded  by  the  "  Susie 
McCall,"  under  Captain  Denney.  The  "McCall" 
ran  until  December,  1887,  when  she  was  sold,  and  is 
now  (1888)  plying  in  Southern  waters. 

The  Oregon  was  a  handsome  new  steamboat,  put  on 
the  line  between  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  in  1849, 
and  the  Mountaineer  began  to  ply  between  Philadel- 
phia, Wilmington  and  Cape  May,  the  same  year. 
The  Montana  and  the  Napoleon  were  fine  river  boats 
then.  The  Nebraska,  built  by  Thomas  Young  in 
1849,  was  a  steam  propeller  for  the  New  York  and 
Baltimore  line.  The  engine  was  made  by  Harlan 
and  Hollingsworth.  The  Napoleon,  Captain  Ball, 
took  the  place  of  the  Baltimore,  between  Smyrna  and 
Philadelphia.  The  Santa  Clara  and  Eldorado,  each 
one  hundred  and  forty  feet  long,  twenty  feet  beam, 
three  hundred  tons,  were  made  by  Thomas  Young  for 
Aspinwall  &  Co.,  for  the  line  from  Philadelphia  to 
California  during  the  "  gold  fever." 

Captain  J.  L.  Robinson,  of  the  Pioneer  and  Balloon, 
in  1850  bought  the  steamer  "  Cohanzey"  and  turned  it 
into  a  "  down  river  boat."  The  iron  steamer  Cali- 
fornia, one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long,  twenty-seven 
feet  beam  and  eleven  feet  hold,  was  built  by  Harlan 
and  Hollingsworth  in  1850. 

"The  Ariel "  ran  between  Wilmington  and  Philadel- 
phia, and  was  succeeded,  in  1866,  by  the  "Samuel  M. 
Felton,"  which  continued  to  run  until  1886.  Thb  year 
an  explosion  took  place  and,  upon  the  repairing  of  the 
boat,  she  was  taken  off  the  line.  The  boat  was  the 
property  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Wilmington  Steam- 
boat Company,  and  was,  for  a  time,  the  only  opposi- 
tion to  the  railroad  company.  After  a  few  years  the 
railroad  company  purchased  a  controlling  interest  in 
the  former,  and  the  boat  was  run  in  the  company's 
interest.  When  the  railroad  bridge  on  the  Brandywine 
was  washed  away  in  the  freshet  of  1869,  the  boat  ran 
night  and  day  transferring  passengers  across  the  river. 
The  "  Felton  "  was  built  by  Reaney,  Son  &  Archbold, 
of  Chester,  in  1866,  and  for  a  time  was  the  finest  boat 
on  the  Delaware  River.    She  was  the  fleetest  steamer 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


on  the  river  in  1869-70,  and  when  the  "  John  Syl- 
vester "  and  "  Eliza  A.  Hancock  '*  were  put  on  as 
opposition  boats,  made  the  fastest  time  between 
Philadelphia  and  Wilmington.  At  this  time  the  fare 
was  reduced  to  ten  cents  one  way,  and  fifteen  cents 
the  round  trip.  The  "  Felton  "  withstood  all  opposi- 
tion, and,  in  1870,  it  was  withdrawn.  The  **  Felton  " 
was  without  opposition  until  the  propeller  "Wil- 
mington," owned  by  J.  Shields  Wilson  and  others  of 
Philadelphia,  was  placed  on  the  route,  and  has  been 
running  ever  since.  In  1885,  the  "  Brandywine,"  a 
companion  boat,  and  one  of  the  fastest  propellers  in 
the  country,  was  built  by  the  Harlan  &  Hollingsworth 
Company  for  the  same  parties.  A  third  boat,  the 
"  City  of  Chester,"  is  now  in  course  of  construction 
for  the  same  company,  and  will  be  placed  on  the  line 
in  1888.  For  several  months,  in  1883,  M.  Green 
Wright  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  placed  the  "  Morrisania" 
on  the  river  to  run  between  Wilmington  and  Phila- 
delphia. She  was  succeeded  by  the  "  Shady  Side," 
and,  for  a  time,  Wilmington  had  three  steamboat 
lines  to  Philadelphia.  The  "  Shady  Side  "  was  dis- 
continued, and  the  only  boats  that  ran  in  1887 
were  the  **  Wilmington,"  Captain  Peter  Bloomsburg, 
and  the  "  Brandywine,"  Captain  Horace  Wilson. 

The  First  Board  of  Trade  of  Wilmington  was 
organized  January  3,  1837.  David  C.  Wilson  was 
chosen  president,  Jacob  Alrichs,  vice-president,  Wil- 
liam Chandler,  treasurer,  and  Jonas  Pusey,  secretary. 
The  first  directors  were  C.  I.  Du  Pont,  Jonathan 
Bonney,  Samuel  B.  Wheeler,  Samuel  Buzby,  Wash- 
ington Rice,  Vincent  Gilpin,  Edward  Grubb,  John 
Bancroft,  Thomas  Young,  Stephen  Bonsall,  George 
Bush,  Allan  Thomson,  James  Canby,  Mahlon  Betts, 

F.  H.  Larkins,  Thomas  Garrett,  Elisha  Huxley  and 
John  Wright. 

The  object  of  the  Board  was  "  for  the  better  organ- 
ization and  regulation  of  the  trade  and  business  of 
Wilmington,  mercantile,  manufacturing  and  me- 
chanic." The  original  members  were  Peter  Porter, 
J.  B.  Porter,  D.  C.  Wilson,  James  Canby,  Jonathan 
Bonney,  Samuel  Buzby,  Elisha  Huxley,  Edward 
Grubb,  John  Bancroft,  Jr.,  Bracken  Pinkerton, 
John  Gordon,  Edward  Warner,  Dr.  H.  F.  Askew,  Dr. 
James  W.  Thomson,  John  A.  Duncan,  Jeremiah  W. 
Duncan,  Dell  Noblitt,  John  Harris,  Benjamin  Chand- 
ler, James  C.  Aiken,  John  Wright,  Jonas  Pusey,  J. 
L.  Robinson,  James  Stroud,  Mahlon  Betts,  William 
McCauUey,  James  Bayne,  M.  K.  Carnahan  &  Co.,  F. 

G.  H.  Robinson,  Cyrus  Pyle  &  Co.,  Eli  Todd,  Joseph 
S.  Hedges,  W.  P.  Brobson,  James  Carson,  Miller 
Dunott,  Wilson  Pierson,  Esau  Cox,  John  M.  Turner, 
George  Craig  and  Thomas  Garrett. 

At  the  first  business  meeting  of  the  Board  James 
Canby  offered  a  resolution,  which  was  pa^-sed,  favor- 
ing the  removal  of  obstructions  from  the  bed  of  the 
Christiana  Creek,  so  as  to  make  it  navigable  for  large 
vessels.  A  resolution  was  at  the  same  time  adopted 
advocating  the  extension  of  the  city  limits  so  as  to 
include  the  mouth  of  the  Christiana,  and  a  memorial 


with  three  hundred  and  sixty  signatures  was  sent  to 
Congress  asking  for  the  improvement  of  the  wharves, 
and  the  appropriation  of  funds  for  the  erection  of  a 
custom-house  in  Wilmington.  This  Board  had  an 
active  existence  for  several  years.  In  1850  Da?id 
C.  Wilson  was  president,  Jonas  Pusey  and  John  A. 
Duncan,  vice-presidents,  Joshua  T.  Heald,  secretary, 
and  Greorge  Richardson,  treasurer. 

The  Wilmington  Board  of  Trade,  was  organ- 
ized October  27,  1868,  Edward  Bett3,  was  elected 
president,  Francis  Barry,  vice-president,  Geerge  W. 
Stone,  secretary  and  James  Bradford,  treasurer.  The 
board  of  managers,  were  Edward  Betts,  Jo^ua  T. 
Heald,  Casper  Kendall,  George  Richardson,  George 
W.  Bush,  C.  Febiger,  Victor  Du  Pont,  Howard  M. 
Jenkins,  E.  Tatnall  Warner,  Jr.,  Washington  Jones, 
Henry  B.  Seidel,  William  M.  Kennard,  George  G. 
Lobdell,  Lea  Pusey,  James  Morrow,  James  Lewis, 
Eli  Garrett,  Charles  Moore,  William  G.  Gibbons, 
Henry  F.  Finnegan, Caleb  P.  Johnson,  William  H. 
Swift,  James  Morrow,  Job  H.  Jackson.  The  object  of 
this  board  was  "  for  mutual  counsel  and  deliberation 
on  the  business  interests,  manufacture,  commerce  and 
trade  of  the  city."  The  first  effort  of  the  board  was 
to  arouse  an  interest  in  the  erection  of  a  large  hotel 
building.  E.  T.  Warner,  Jr.,  J.  T.  Heald  and  Wil- 
liam G.  Gibbons,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  pre- 
sent plans  for  it,  who  recommended  that  the  subject 
be  referred  to  the  Wilmington  Hotel  Company, 
chartered  in  1867. 

James  Bradford  and  H.  M.  Jenkins,  were  elected 
representatives  and  attended  the  meeting  of  the 
National  Board  of  Trade  in  Cincinnati,  December  2, 
1 868.  The  same  year  George  Richardson ,  Wi  lliam  H. 
Swift  and  George  W.  Stone,  were  sent  as  representa- 
tives to  the  opening  ceremonies  of  the  Hall  of  the 
Commercial  Exchange,  in  Philadelphia.  A  resolution 
was  almost  unanimously  adopted  by  this  Board, 
recommending  the  repeal  of  usury  laws  of  the  State. 

George  G.  Lobdell,  Francis  Barry  and  George  W. 
Stone,  were  appointed  to  visit  the  State  Senate,  then 
in  session,  and  ask  that  the  tax  bill  passed  by  the 
House  of  Representatives  be  altered  so  as  to  decrease 
the  heavy  demands  its  final  passage  would  have  on 
the  manufacturing  interests  of  Wilmington.  Through 
the  efforts  of  this  board  the  bill  was  modified. 

In  1870  Geo.  Bush  was  president.  The  new  man- 
agers elected  to  take  the  place  of  others  who  retired 
were  D.  H.  Kent,  H.  C.  McLear,  T.  Y.  de  Normandie, 
H.  F.  Pickels,  Geo.  R.  Townsend  and  D.  W.  Taylor. 
The  delegates  to  the  National  Board  of  Trade  at 
Richmond,  Virginia,  were  Francis  Barry  and  W.  H. 
Swift.  The  port-wardens  elected  were  Francis  Barry, 
Charles  Moore  and  E.  T.  Warner.  In  January  of 
this  year,  J.  T.  Heald,  G.  W.  Bush  and  George  G. 
Lobdell,  members  of  this  board,  with  a  Committee  of 
City  Council,  visited  Washington,  and  through  Rep- 
resentative Biggs,  obtained  an  interview  with  the 
Congressional  Committee  on  Appropriations,  which 
resulted  in  the  government  granting  fifteen  thousand 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


755 


doUan  for  an  examination  and  survey  of  the  harbor 
of  the  Christiana.  Alfred  Lears,  civil  engineer,  in 
April,  1870,  read  an  interesting  paper  before  the  board 
on  "  The  Improvement  of  the  Harbor  of  Wilming- 
ton." The  extension  of  the  streets  of  the  city 
to  the  Delaware  river  was  the  next  topic  dis- 
cussed. "American  Commerce  and  Shipbuilding" 
was  a  subject  of  frequent  discussion.  On  May  10, 
1870,  the  board  petitioned  Congress  to  enact  such 
measures  as  shall  encourage  the  building  of  vessels  in 
the  ship-yards  of  this  country,  at  prices  which  will 
enable  American  ship  owners  to  successfully  compete 
with  those  in  foreign  countries  for  the  commerce  of 
the  world. 

The  opening  of  the  Wilmington  and  Northern  Rail- 
road, June  15  and  16,  1870,  was  conducted  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Wilmington  Board  of  Trade,  by  invi- 
tation of  Hugh  E.  Steele,  president  of  the  road.  The 
exercises  of  the  15th  were  held  in  the  rooms  of  the 
board,  northeast  corner  of  Third  and  Market  Streets. 
The  City  Council  of  Reading  was  present,  and  promi- 
nent citizens  from  other  towns  and  cities, — all  of 
whom  were  hospitably  entertained.  In  the  even- 
ing a  complimentary  supper  was  given  in  Institute 
Hall.  After  the  banquet  speeches  were  made  by 
Hugh  E.  Steele,  Frederick  Lauer  and  Heister  Cly- 
mer,  of  Reading;  Dr.  Charles  Huston,  of  Coatesville; 
Henry  S.  Evans,  of  West  Chester;  C.  W.  Wright, 
Secretary  of  State;  Dr.  Franklin  Taylor,  of  West 
Chester;  Joshua  Valentine,  mayor  of  Wilmington, 
and  George  W.  Bush.  The  following  day  a  trip  was 
made  over  the  new  railroad,  stopping  at  Coatesville 
for  dinner,  and  arriving  in  Reading  at  two  p.m.,  when 
the  party  was  received  by  Mayor  Gernand,  of  that 
city,  and  a  banquet  was  given  in  the  Mansion  House. 
The  opening  of  the  railroad  created  a  bond  of  union 
between  Reading  and  Wilmington,  which  has  since 
been  maintained. 

E.  Tatnall  Warner  was  president  and  William  H. 
Swift  vice-president  in  1871.  Among  the  new 
members  of  the  board  of  managers  were  W.  S.  Auch- 
incloas,  T.  S.  Bellah,  J.  N.  Cooling,  J.  Taylor  Gause, 
Washington  Hastings,  W.  Y.  Warner  and  Henry  S. 
McComb.  A  resolution  was  passed  advocating  the 
widening  of  Water  Street  suflScient  to  accommodate 
the  wants  of  railroads.    This  was  accomplished. 

J.  T.  Heald  and  W.  H.  Swift  were  delegates  to  the 
meeting  of  the  National  Board  of  Trade  at  Buffalo. 
They  were  instructed  to  bring  up  the  subject  of  Civil 
Service  Reform  before  that  body.  They  did,  and 
secured  the  passage  of  a  series  of  resolutions  favoring 
it  The  Wilmington  Board  next  passed  resolutions 
advocating  the  removal  of  the  county  buildings  to 
Wilmington.  The  question  of  State  taxation  and 
representation  in  the  Legislature  was  next  discussed. 
The  new  hotel,  the  project  of  the  erection  of  which 
was  freely  discussed  by  the  board  two  years  before, 
was  now  in  course  of  erection. 

In  1872  Henry  S.  McComb  was  president,  and 
Preston  Lea  vice-president.     George  W.  Stone  was 


secretary  and  James  Bradford  treasurer  since  time  of 
organization.  George  S.  Capelle,  W.  T.  Croasdale,  F. 
N.  Buck  and  George  A.  Le  Maistre  were  new  di- 
rectors. This  was  a  year  of  business  prosperity. 
Nearly  every  enterprise  advocated  by  the  Board  of 
Trade  the  year  before  was  pushed  to  completion.  The 
meeting-place  of  the  board  was  moved  to  newly-fur- 
nished apartments  in  Masonic  Temple.  The  propo- 
sition to  hold  an  industrial  exposition  met  with  great 
public  favor,  but  was  not  held  until  the  fall  of  1874  in 
Third  Street  Market-House.  The  board  in  1872  had 
seventy-five  members ;  a  new  constitution  was  adopted, 
and  the  rooms  in  Masonic  Temple  for  a  time  were 
open  daily. 

After  1873  the  board  did  not  hold  regular  meet- 
ings, nor  put  forth  as  vigorous  an  effort  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  its  aims  as  during  the  years  immediately 
preceding.  The  depression  in  the  business  affairs  of 
the  country  was  deeply  felt  in  Wilmington  at  this 
time.  Meetings  were  held,  however,  and  better  sew- 
erage for  the  city,  a  more  satisfactory  water  supply, 
extension  of  the  city  limits  and  other  subjects  re- 
lating to  the  public  needs  were  discussed  with  effect. 

One  important  good  accomplished  in  recent  years 
by  the  board  was  its  advocacy  and  finally  securing 
the  passage  by  the  Legislature  of  the  Port  Warden 
Bill.  Appropriations  of  recent  years  by  Congress  for 
the  improvement  of  the  harbor  of  Wilmington  were 
obtained  largely  through  the  energetic  measures  of 
this  body. 

Preston  Lea  was  elected  president  in  1873,  Henry 
Mendenhall  in  1875,  George  S.  Capelle  in  1877,  F.  N. 
Buck  in  1881.  E.  A.  Van  Trump  succeeded  George 
W.  Stone  as  secretary  in  1875.  The  port  wardens  are 
Alexander  Kelly,  Job  H.  Jackson,  Joshua  L.  Pusey, 
James  Bradford,  Enoch  Moore,  Jr.  The  rooms  of 
the  board  since  1882  have  been  in  the  Exchange 
Building  at  Seventh  and  Market  Streets. 

At  the  last  annual  election  Daniel  W.  Taylor  was 
chosen  president,  George  W.  Bush,  Jr.,  vice-pres- 
ident, E.  A.  Van  Trump,  secretary,  and  James  Brad- 
ford, treasurer.  The  membership  has  been  increased, 
and  the  board  has  again  become  an  active  and  ener- 
getic organization. 

Col.  Henry  8.  McComb,  the  successful  manu- 
facturer and  great  railroad  operator,  was  born  in 
Wilmington,  July  28,  1825,  and  died  December 
30,  1881.  He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  and 
inherited  the  excellent  traits  and  strong  character- 
istics of  worthy  and  highly  respected  ancestors. 
He  was  the  second  of  a  family  of  five  children, 
whose  father  died  when  he  was  quite  young,  and 
the  care  and  protection  of  the  children,  devolved 
upon  the  mother,  a  woman  possessed  of  many 
noble  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  and  who  was 
earnestly  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  those  under 
her  charge. 

But  few  of  the  early  years  of  Col.  McComb 
were  spent  in  school,  as  he  was  required  to  assist  in 
the  common  support  of  the  family.      When  but  a 


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756 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


boy  he  became  an  employee  in  the  office  of  the 
Delaware  Journal,  and  a  year  or  two  later  was 
apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of  currier.  He 
acquired  a  knowledge  of  his  new  occupation  so 
rapidly  that  he  was  enabled  to  buy  two  years 
from  the  face  of  his  indenture  papers,  and  was  free 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  years.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  been  a  diligent  student,  and  spent  all  his  leisure 
time  at  home  with  his  books  and  improved  every 
opportunity  for  mental  culture.  He  next  became 
journeyman  with  a  prominent  leather-dealer,  in 
Wilmington,  and  by  judicious  management,  and 
by  saving  his  earnings  soon  bought  out  the  estab- 
lishment of  his  employer,  and  just  as  he  entered 
upon  his  manhood,  began  his  brilliant  and  suscess- 
ful  business  career.  By  means  of  his  intelligent 
mental  grasp  of  every  situation  in  which  he  was 
placed,  by  dint  of  his  surpassing  energy  and  un- 
tiring devotion  to  his  business,  he  succeeded  in 
ever3rthing  he  undertook.  At  twenty-five  he  was 
recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost  business  men  of 
Wilmington,  and  at  thirty  had  surpassed  nearly 
all  his  competitors  in  trade.  He  continued  in  this 
leather  trade  with  the  greatest  success,  continually 
enlarging  and  expanding  his  business,  until  he  be- 
came known  as  one  of  the  most  extensive  manu- 
facturers, in  his  line,  in  this  country. 

He  was  a  stanch  defender  of  the  Union  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  Gvil  War.  He  held  a  number 
of  very  important  contracts  from  the  Government 
for  the  manufacture  of  tents,  knapsacks,  etc.,  and 
filled  them  with  such  promptness  and  satisfaction, 
that  he  secured  the  strong  friendship  of  President 
Lincoln,  Secretary  of  War  Stanton,  and  the  other 
members  of  the  Cabinet.  When  a  Military 
Grovernor  was  ordered  for  Delaware,  the  commis- 
sion was  made  out  to  Col.  McComb,but  he  advised 
against  it,  and  no  such  governor  was  appointed. 
He  then  raised,  and  equipped  at  his  own  expense, 
the  Fifth  Delaware  Regiment,  of  which  he  was 
Colonel. 

After  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  he  became  in- 
terested in  a  number  of  railroads.  He  was  one  of 
the  originators  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  construction  of  this  great 
highway.  In  1868  the  Mississippi  Central  Rail- 
road came  under  his  control  and  put  into  opera- 
tion a  trunk  line  between  New  Orleans  and  Cairo, 
Illinois,  by  securing  control  of  the  New  Orleans, 
Jackson  and  Great  Northern  Railroad.  The  com- 
plete consolidation  of  these  roads  was  efifected 
July  4,  1873,  the  trunk  line  extending  a  distance 
of  six  hundred  miles.  In  1870  he  bought  six 
thousand  acres  of  land  along  this  route,  about  one 
hundred  and  five  miles  from  New  Orleans.  It 
was  covered  with  valuable  pine  timber.  On  part 
of  this  land  now  stands  McComb  City,  with  a 
population  of  thirty-five  hundred. 

The  successftil  railroad  operations  of  Colonel 


McComb  in  the  South  brought  him  into  intimate 
intercourse  with  the  leading  men  of  the  South,  as 
well  as  the  entire  country.  Besides  being  presi- 
dent of  the  railroads  mentioned  above,  he  was 
president  of  the  Southern  Railroad  Association, 
and  he  was  interested  in  various  lines  of  railroads 
in  the  North  and  West.  He  was  also  president  of 
the  Narragansett  Steamship  Co.  running  the  Bristol 
line  of  steamships  between  New  York  and  Boston. 

When  he  became  president  of  the  Great  North- 
ern and  Mississippi  Railroads  they  were  burdened 
with  debt  and  out  of  repair.  Within  three  years 
he  put  over  five  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  com- 
plete order,  extended  the  business  of  the  roads, 
which  greatly  developed  the  resources  of  the 
country  through  which  they  passed,  and  added 
much  to  the  material  wealth  of  the  South.  The 
bonds  of  the  company  in  the  meantime  passed 
from  seventy  to  one  hundred,  their  par  value. 

In  1880  he  purchased  a  controlling  interest  in 
the  Delaware  and  Western  Railroad,  procured  an 
amended  charter  for  it,  and  made  this  road  neces- 
sary to  the  projected  through  line  to  New  York. 
It  was  greatly  through  the  instrumentality  of 
Colonel  McComb  that  the  exposures  of  the  Credit 
Mobilier  scheme  were  made. 

Colonel  McComb  was  a  man  of  commanding 
presence,  magnificent  physique,  being  six  feet  two 
inches  tall.  He  was  possessed  of  great  magnetism, 
had  a  pleasing  address  and  great  suavity  of  man- 
ners. He  was  genial,  affable  and  courteous.  These 
qualities  made  him  very  popular  and  greatly  con- 
tributed to  his  success  in  life. 

In  politics  he  was  a  Republican  and  earnestly 
advocated  the  policy  and  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party. 

In  his  youth  he  attended  the  Hanover  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Wilmington,  and  later  was  a 
member  of  the  Central  Presbyterian  Church  of 
the  same  city  in  which  he  always  resided. 

Colonel  McComb  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
McKean  Bush,  daughter  of  Charles  Bush,  of  Wil- 
mington, on  the  16th  of  June,  1853.  The  children 
bom  of  this  marriage  were  Charles  Bush  (deceased), 
Ellen  Bush  (deceased),  James  Craig,  Jane  Eliza- 
beth and  Martha  McComb. 

Transportation  Lines.  —  The  transportation 
house  of  Messrs.  George  W.  Bush  &  bons  is  one  of 
the  oldest  in  any  line  of  business  in  the  city  of 
Wilmington,  its  inception  antedating  the  Revolution, 
and  the  continuity  of  its  existence  being  unbroken 
from  the  outstart  to  the  present.  There  was  just  a 
trifle  of  romance  in  the  establishment  of  this  business 
house  over  a  century  ago.  Samuel  Bush,  the  founder, 
son  of  Charles  Bush,  a  West  India  importer,  having 
been  born  in  1747 — December  27th — was  in  1773 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  and  it  so  happened  in  that 
year  he  fell  in  love  with  and  became  engaged  to  Ann 
McKee,  the  daughter  of  Andrew  McKee,  one  of  the 


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B  S  T  AB  LISHBD       177  4. 


G.  W.  BUSH  &  SONS,  PROPRIETORS  WILMINGTON  AND  PHILADELPHIA  STEAM  FREIGHT  LINE, 

WHOLESALE  AWD  RETAIL  DEALERS  IN  COAL^  WILMINGTON,  DEL,      GoOQIc 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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old  settlers,  a  resident  of  Brandywine  Hundred  and 
the  owner  of  broad,  well-tilled  acres  there, — a  man 
of  substance  and  character  and  influence.  His 
daughter,  too,  had  influence,  at  least  with  young 
Bush,  and  she  exerted  it  in  the  matter  of  inducing 
her  lo?er  to  abandon  a  sea-faring  life.  Now,  Samuel 
Bush  knew  more  about  the  sea  and  ships  than  of  any 
other  matters  in  the  world,  for  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  had  sailed  on  board  of  one  of  the  West  India  ves- 
sels, and  he  had  followed  the  sea  for  several  years, 
going  out  several  times  as  captain,  and  yet  he  readily 
enough  abandoned  his  chosen  and  well-liked  calling, 
at  the  simple  request  of  Ann  McKee.  Casting  about 
for  other  means  of  making  a  living,  he  conceived  the 
idea  that  he  could  create  and  build  up  a  business  by 
trading  and  freighting  between  Wilmington  and 
Philadelphia,  and,  with  this  object  in  view,  early  in 
1774  he  bous^ht  a  little  sloop  of  thirty  tons  burthen, 
which  naturally  enough  he  named  the  "  Ann." 
With  this  little  craft,  the  energetic  and  hopeful 
youDg  man  started  a  weekly  line  between  the  two 
towns,  and  laid  the  foundation  for  the  great  commer- 
cial operations  of  successive  generations  of  his  de- 
scendants. His  plan  was  to  take  to  Philadelphia  the 
produce  collected  by  storekeepers  and  others  in  Wil- 
mington and  dispose  of  it,  and  also  to  fill  orders  for 
Wilmington  merchants,  thus  making  a  freight  both 
ways  and  a  small  commission  besides.  This  was 
something  altogether  new  to  the  business  men  of  the 
town.  Previously  to  1774,  when  Samuel  Bush  began 
sailing  the  "  Ann,"  there  had  been  no  regular  com- 
munication between  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia. 
It  was  a  day's  journey  from  one  town  to  the  other, 
either  by  land  or  water,  and  hence  the  journey  was 
not  often  made.  Merchants  were  accustomed  to  go 
up  to  the  Quaker  City  in  the  spring  and  fall  to  buy 
their  stocks  of  goods,  and  chartering  sloops  to  bring 
them  down,  occasionally  making  the  trip  by  land, 
when  they  needed  things  between  the  regular  buying 
seasons;  but  Bush's  enterprise  changed  all  of  this. 
The  people  of  Wilmington  were  not  slow  to  find  out 
the  conveniences  of  the  new  plan  and  to  enter  heartily 
into  it, — so  that  it  was  a  success  from  the  outstart, 
but  only  in  a  small  way.  The  breaking  out  of  the 
War  of  the  Revolution  unsettled  all  business;  but 
Captain  Bush  found  full  employment  for  his  sloop 
carrying  stores  and  produce  for  the  army.  When,  in 
September,  1777,  after  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine, 
the  British  fleet  came  up  the  Delaware  River  and 
occupied  Philadelphia,  they  chased  his  sloop  so 
closely  that  he  was  compelled  to  run  into  a  creek  on 
the  Jersey  side  and  scuttle  her,  to  prevent  her  cap- 
ture and  destruction.  Afler  the  British  evacuated 
Philadelphia  he  raised  and  refitted  the  sloop,  and 
again  commenced  freighting  on  the  river  as  before. 
By  this  time  the  millers  and  distillers  of  Lancaster 
and  Chester  Counties,  Pa.,  had  found  out  that  it  was 
much  cheaper  for  them  to  send  their  produce  to  Wil- 
mington, and  ship  it  thence  to  Philadelphia,  than  to 
send  it,  as  they  had  always  before  done,  direct  to  the 


city  in  wagons.  To  give  them  easy  access  to  Wil- 
mington, turnpikes  were  built  out  iit  all  directions  as 
far  as  the  State  line.  The  success  of  the  shipping 
enterprise  being  recognized,  and  also  the  fact  that 
the  ''Ann''  was  getting  all  the  freight  she  could 
carry,  another  sloop  was  started  from  French  Street 
wharf  by  John  Foudrey,  who  continued  the  business 
until  about  1790,  when  he  sold  out  his  whole  prop- 
erty, from  the  river  to  Front  Street,  to  Captain 
Bush. 

Finding  the  *'  Ann  "  too  small  for  the  trade  now 
offering,  Captain  Bush  built  a  new  sloop,  of  about 
double  her  tonnage,  which  he  called  the  "  Nancy  " 
after  the  brig  whose  tragical  fate  created  so  much  ex- 
citement in  this  part  of  the  country.  She  was  fitted 
up  to  carry  passengers  as  well  as  freight,  the  passage 
money  being  a  charge  that  would  now  be  equal  to 
fifty  cents.  The  merchants  of  Wilmirgton  being 
offered  this  convenience,  soon  began  to  go  to  Phila- 
delphia to  buy  their  goods  in  person,  instead  of  send- 
ing orders  as  they  had  done  heretofore.  For  some 
time  they  took  with  them  their  provisions  for  the  trip, 
but  after  a  year  or  so  the  convenience  of  having  their 
meals  prepared  upon  the  sloop  became  generally 
appreciated  and  thus  one  of  the  now  common  features 
of  travel  by  water  was  duly  inaugurated.  The  charge 
was  twenty-five  cents  for  breakfast  or  supper  and  fifty 
cents  for  dinner,  and  as  it  usually  took  from  six  to 
nine  hours  to  make  the  trip,  the  cost  was  from  a  dol- 
lar to  a  dollar  and  a  quarter.  A  large  bell  hung  upon 
the  store-house  signaled  the  hour  of  departure,  which 
was  so  arranged  as  to  take  advantage  of  the  tides,  and 
the  friends  of  those  going  up  to  the  city  accompanied 
them  to  the  wharf  to  see  them  off*  and  say  good-bye, 
much  as  in  these  days  is  done  on  the  departure  of 
ocean  steamships  for  Europe. 

Mr.  Bush  soon  found  it  would  be  more  profitable  to 
him  to  hire  a  captain  for  the  sloop  and  himself  remain 
at  home  to  receive  and  deliver  the  freight  and  to  attend 
to  the  other  business,  which  was  becoming  quite  exten- 
ded. Consequently  engaging  Captain  Milner  to  sail  the 
sloop  and  placing  his  son  David,  then  a  lad  of  fourteen 
•or  fifteen  years,  on  board  to  look  after  the  business  in 
Philadelphia,  he  established  a  regular  mercantile 
business  on  French  Street  wharf,  not  only  freighting 
to  Philadelphia,  but  buying  all  kinds  of  produce  and 
shipping  it  on  his  own  account  to  Philadelphia,  New 
York  or  the  West  Indies,  as  he  could  find  the  best 
market.  He  also  kept  in  store  such  articles  as  the 
people  of  the  surrounding  county  had  need  of, — flour, 
salt,  fish,  plaster  of  Paris,  etc.,  etc., — ^and  soon  had  a 
flourishing  trade. 

About  the  year  1794,  Captain  Milner,  in  company 
with  some  other  persons,  started  a  sloop  of  his  own 
for  trading  between  the  two  towns,  and  Samuel  Bush 
promoted  his  son  David  to  the  captaincy  of  the 
"  Nancy."  In  the  year  1801  he  took  his  son  Charles 
into  business,  and  he  remained  until  his  death  in 
1804,  when  David  Bush  took  his  place,  but  continued 
in  command  of  the  sloop  for  nearly  twenty  years  af- 


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terward.  Another  sloop,  the  "  Mary  Ann,"  was  built, 
and  a  semi-weekly  line  was  put  in  operation.  The 
firm,  as  thus  constituted,  remained  unchanged  until 
about  1820,  when  Samuel  Bush,  then  in  his  seventy- 
fourth  year,  retired  from  the  business,  and  George, 
his  youngest  son,  took  his  place,  the  firm-name  being 
changed  to  that  of  David  <&  George  Bush,  which  name 
it  retained,  with  one  short  interruption,  until  the 
year  1846,  when  David  Bush,  in  his  seventy-first 
year,  gave  up  his  share  of  the  business  to  his  youngest 
son,  George  W.,  and  the  firm-name  was  changsd  to 
George  &  George  W.  Bush.  The  senior  member  of 
the  firm  died  in  1863,  but  the  business  was  continued 
by  George  W.  Bush.  In  1873  George  W.  Bush  took 
into  partnership  his  oldest  son,  Walter  D.,  who  had 
been  raised  in  the  business,  and  the  firm  became 
George  W.  Bush  &  Son.  Again,  in  1882,  George 
W.  Bush,  Jr.,  a  younger  son,  was  admitted  to  the 
firm,  and  the  present  name  was  adopted,  viz. :  George 
W.  Bush  &  Sons.  The  transportation  business  of  the 
present  firm  has  grown  to  large  dimensions,  and 
though  it  is  scarcely  to  be  recognized  as  the  modest 
business  commenced  by  Samuel  Bush  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  years  ago,  yet  its  growth  has  propor- 
tioned itself  naturally  to  the  growth  of  the  city  of 
whose  history  it  has  for  so  long  a  time  been  a  part. 
The  warehouses,  barges,  tug-boats  and  wharves  now 
used  by  the  firm  in  the  transactions  of  their  business, 
both  in  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia,  have  mate- 
rially assisted  Wilmington  in  all  stages  of  its  growth, 
by  affording  to  the  people  of  this  enterprising  city 
convenient  and  satisfactory  means  of  freight  commu- 
nication with  Philadelphia,  and,  in  conjunction  with 
other  lines,  ready  access  to  the  markets  of  this  and 
of  foreign  countries. 

In  the  early  days  of  anthracite  coal  the  sale  of  this 
commodity  was  added  to  the  general  mercantile  busi- 
ness of  the  house,  and  this  department  of  the  business 
has  grown  side  by  side  with  the  transportation  business 
to  a  prominent  position  in  the  coal  trade.  It  has 
been  principally  during  the  life  of  George  W.  Bush, 
and  through  his  wise  and  able  management,  that  the 
coal  department  has  developed  to  large  proportions. 
Through  the  general  office  at  Wilmington,  and  the 
branch  office  at  207  Walnut  Place,  Philadelphia, 
the  firm  places  great  quantities  of  anthracite  and 
bituminous  coal  throughout  the  Eastern  tier  of  States. 
Their  anthracite  coal  comes  from  all  three  districts 
of  the  anthracite  region,  and  the  Cumberland  region 
of  Maryland  and  West  Virginia  furnishes  the  largest 
part  of  the  bituminous  coal  which  they  market.  The 
larger  part  of  the  fuel  of  the  city  of  Wilmington,  as 
well  as  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  is  supplied  by  this 
firm,  and  their  operations  extend  throughout  the 
coast  States. 

During  the  past  few  years  railroads  and  builders 
have  learned  to  appreciate  the  value  of  the  Southern 
yellow-pine  timber  in  frame  construction,  and  in 
1884  the  firm  commenced  to  bring  yellow-pine  tim- 
ber from  the  Gulf  States,  and  from  the  Carolinas,  for 


use  in  the  Middle  and  New  England  States.  This 
department  works  under  the  name  of  (Jcorge  W. 
Bush  &  Son**'  Lumber  Co.,  and  has  already  achieved 
a  high  position  in  the  yellow-pine  trade.  Their  deal- 
ings are  at  wholesale  only,  and  their  yard  at  Wil- 
mington is  used  to  distribute  lumber  to  inland  points 
on  the  various  railroads  which  proceed  from  Wilming- 
ton. The  recent  change  of  gauge  of  the  railroads  in 
the  South  from  the  broad  gauge  of  five  feet  to  that 
of  four  feet  nine  inches,  the  latter  being  the  standard 
gauge  of  the  Northern  railroads,  has  opened  a  means 
of  transporting  lumber  through  by  rail  from  the  far 
South  to  the  North,  thus  enabling  the  yellow-pine 
lumber  to  be  brought  through  in  a  few  days,  when 
quick  delivery  is  necessary ;  but  by  reason  of  cheaper 
transportation,  a  large  part  of  this  lumber  from  the 
South  is  still  brought  to  the  markets  of  Wilmington, 
Philadelphia,  New  York  and  Eastern  ports  by  coast- 
ing schooners  of  heavy  draft.  Georgia  and  Florida 
pine  has  become  the  synonym  for  strength  and 
durability  in  constructive  work,  and  if  it  is  possible 
to  add  to  the  reputation  for  stability  of  a  commercial 
house  that  has  been  in  existence  for  more  than  a 
century,  the  bringing  to  our  markets  of  the  stanch- 
est  building  timber  would  have  that  effect. 

The  Charles  Warner  Company  is  the  suc- 
cessor of  one  of  the  oldest  transportation  and  general 
business  houses  in  Wilmington,  and  its  commercial 
value  to  the  city  has  been  incalcuable.  For  about  a 
hundred  years  the  present  location  upon  the  Chris- 
tiana at  the  foot  of  Market  Street  has  been  the  busi- 
ness home  of  this  firm  or  its  immediate  predecessors 
of  the  same  family.  The  records  or  accounts  prove 
nothing  anterior  to  1794  as  connecting  the  business 
with  the  transactions  of  the  present  company,  but  it 
is  well  known  that  the  commercial  history  of  the 
house  extends  through  a  hundred  years.  The  wharf  was 
the  fourth  one  built  in  the  city  and  was  owned  first 
by  one  Robinson,  who,  before  the  Revolution,  com- 
manded vessels  from  this  port,  but  afterwards  de- 
clined a  sea-faring  life,  became  a  shipping  merchant 
of  some  note,  and  dying,  left  a  widow  from  whom 
William  Warner  purchased  the  property.  The  ear- 
liest information  we  have  of  the  family  in  Wilmington 
shows  that  John  and  William  Warner  and  their 
father  Joseph  were  engaged  in  the  West  India  trade, 
and  that  the  last-named  was  also  a  silversmith  by 
trade.  He  was  a  descendant  of  one  Skippwith,  who 
came  to  America  with  William  Penn  and  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  first  of  the  family  in  Wilmington. 
His  son  William  married  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Tat- 
nall,  who  was  thus  the  maternal  grandfather  of  Mr. 
Charles  Warner.  Of  this  ancestor,  Miss  Montgomery, 
in  her  "  Reminiscences  of  Wilmington,"  says  ;  "  Jo- 
seph Tatnall  was  the  most  distinguished  of  those 
worthy  men  whose  memories  deserve  notice  in  this 
community,  and  the  rising  generation  ought  to  be  in- 
formed that  Mr.  Tatnall  was  a  true  patriot.  He  alone 
dared  to  grind  flour  for  the  famishing  army  of  the 
Revolution  at  the  risk  of  the  destruction  of  his  mill." 


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Tha  general  wholesale  and  transportation  business 
Id  which  John  and  William  Warner  were  engaged 
certainly  as  early  as  1794,  and  which  was  in  all  proba- 
bility a  direct  outgrowth  or  continuance  of  the  enter- 
prises in  which  they  were  associated  with  their  father, 
was  carried  on  by  them  without  interruption  until 
about  1820,  when  the  senior  brother  was  appointed 
United  States  consul  to  Havana,  and  then  it  passed 
iato  the  hands  of  William  as  sole  proprietor.  The 
firm  had  been  sorely  pressed  for  means  during  the 
War  of  1812-15,  but  maintained  its  credit  and  activity 
and  passed  successfully  the  only  threatening  period 
the  house  has  ever  known. 

In  1837  Charles  Warner  was  taken  into  partnership 
with  his  father,  under  the  firm -name  of  Charles 
Warner  &  Company,  and  in  1845  William  died,  leav- 
ing his  son  the  entire  responsibility  of  the  large  and 
rapidly-growing  business. 

Up  to  this  time  the  transportation  facilities  of  the 
house  were  such  as  two  small  sloops  afforded.  They 
sailed  between  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia,  making 
four  trips  per  week.  In  1846,  Mr.  Warner  completed 
the  first  steam  packet,  which  he  named,  in  honor  of 
his  father's  old  friend,  the  "  E.  I.  Dupont ;"  but  the 
enterprise  proving  immature,  she  only  remained  upon 
the  route  one  season.  The  sloops  "  Fame  "  (the  name, 
by  the  way,  of  one  of  the  earlier  Swedish  ships)  and  the 
**  Mary  Warner,"  each  of  about  sixty  tons  burden, 
were  placed  upon  the  line,  and  they  continued  to  per- 
form the  service  of  four  trips  per  week  until  1866, 
when  they  were  found  to  be  inadequate,  and  were 
replaced  by  the  barges  "Anna**  and  "Mary,"  each 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  tons,  which  were 
towed  by  steam  tugs  and  formed  a  daily  line  between 
this  city  and  Philadelphia. 

Prior  to  this  time,  in  1860,  the  proprietor  took  into 
partnership  his  nephew,  E.  Tatnall  Warner,  and  the 
firm-name  again  became  Charles  Warner  &  Co. 

At  the  close  of  1868,  Charles  Warner,  who  had 
seen  many  years  of  active  business  life,  and  under 
whose  skillful  and  energetic  management  the  house 
bad  led  a  career  of  constantly-increasing  prosperity, 
retired  in  favor  of  his  son,  Alfred  D.  Warner.  Since 
his  retirement  Charles  Warner  has  resided  continu- 
ously in  Wilmington. 

The  business  was  continued  under  the  old  name 
until  1885,  when  an  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained 
creating  "  The  Charles  Warner  Company  "  of  which 
E.  Tatnall  Warner  was  elected  president ;  Alfred  D. 
Warner,  vice-president  and  treasurer;  and  E.  Andrews, 
secretary. 

Such  in  brief  has  been  the  history  of  this  house ; 
but  it  remains  to  give  a  few  facts  concern iag  the 
growth  of  its  business.  And  in  this  connection  we 
may  state  that  the  traffic  between  Wilmington 
and  Philadelphia  had  so  increased  that  still  larger 
craft  than  the  "Anna  "  and  "  Mary  "  were  demanded, 
and  they  were  superseded  by  two  barges,  the 
'*Coleta"  and  "Minquas,"  each  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  tons,  or  double  the  capacity  of  their  predecessors. 


Another  large  enterprise  of  the  firm  was  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  ElectriclSteamship  Line  to  New  York, 
for  which  Charles  Warner  &  Co.  had  laid  the  founda- 
tion in  1866.  The  charter  of  the  Wilmington  Steam- 
ship Company  of  Delaware,  of  which  Warner  &  Co. 
and  William  M.  Baird,  of  Philadelphia,  were  the 
promoters,  was  passed  in  1869,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing year  the  Wilmington  house  which  we  have 
under  consideration  purchased  Mr.  Baird's  interest, 
and  in  turn  sold  a  part  interest  to  George  W.  Bush. 
In  1870  a  favorable  arrangement  was  made  with  the 
Delaware  and  Raritan  Canal  Company,  enabling  the 
establishment  of  a  safe  and  advantageous  inland 
route.  This  line,  on  which  three,  and  sometimes  four, 
steamers  plied,  proved  reasonably  profitable  to  the 
projectors  and  of  vast  advantage  to  the  city,  encourag- 
ing, as  it  did  by  its  facilities  of  cheap  transportation, 
the  development  of  numerous  extensive  manufac- 
tories, and  especially,  perhaps,  the  iron  industry. 
The  line  was  only  discontinued  in  1886,  its  usefulness 
having  been  in  a  large  measure  neutralized  by  rail- 
road extension. 

The  growth  of  the  firm*s  various  lines  of  business 
has  been  most  gratifying.  In  the  single  item  of 
anthracite  coal,  of  which  it  is  interesting  to  note 
this  house  brought  the  very  first  to  Wilmington,  just 
after  the  opening  of  the  Schuylkill  mines,  about  1830, 
the  increase  in  tonnage  has  been  immense.  The 
bulk  brought  to  the  city  now  is  fully  seventy  times 
8S  great  as  that  which  was  annually  handled  twenty 
years  ago.  While  its  transportation  and  coal  interests 
may  be  considered  as  constituting  the  greater  part  of 
its  business,  the  company  also  makes  specialties  of 
hydraulic  cement,  sand,  coke  and  lime,  and  handles 
them  in  large  quantities,— of  the  last-named  article 
taking  the  product  of  thirty-two  kilns.  It  owns  the 
Philadelphia  and  Wilmington  Propeller  Line,  better 
known  as  Warner's  Propeller  Line  of  freight  vessels. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 
WILMINGTON— ( Continued). 
MANUFACTURERS  AND  MANUFACTORIES. 

Wilmington  had  scarcely  become  the  nucleus 
of  an  established  community  before  the  thrifly 
and  energetic  settlers  of  the  colonial  period  began 
to  plant  the  seeds  that  have  developed  into  the 
vast  wealth- producing  manufacturing  enterprises 
that  now  make  it  hum  with  industry.  In  its  ship- 
building yards,  its  car  factories,  its  manufactories 
of  boilers,  engines  and  machine  tools,  its  morocco 
factories,  and  in  numerous  other  branches  of  in- 
dustrial undertaking,  it  has  reached  a  stage  of 
success  which  its  products  have  made  famous  in  all 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


quarters  of  the  world.  While  agriculture  was  the 
main  pursuit  of  the  pioneers  of  the  State,  its  situ- 
ation upon  the  great  bay,  giving  immediate  access 
to  the  ocean,  could  not  but  stimulate  commerce, 
quick  upon  the  heels  of  which  came  the  impulse 
toward  employing  home  facilities  in  the  construc- 
tion of  such  articles  of  daily  use  as  might  be  more 
cheaply  produced  in  the  Delaware  country  than  it 
cost  to  import  them  from  abroad.  The  water- 
power  provided  by  the  Brandy  wine,  as  it  made  its 
swift  tumble  from  the  Pennsylvania  hills  to  the 
broad  estuary  of  the  Atlantic,  was  available  for 
the  economical  working  of  the  first  flour-mills  and 
fulling-mills,  so  that  when  the  non-importation  and 
non-exportation  acts  of  its  opening  Revolutionary 
era  threw  the  people  upon  their  own  resources, 
Delaware  could  turn  out  a  very  important  quan- 
tity of  food  and  the  material  for  dress.  Then 
when  the  epoch  of  steam  came,  her  forests  con- 
tributed to  firing  the  first  boilers  set  up.  And 
again,  with  the  use  of  coal  and  the  introduction  of 
iron,  she  was  within  cheap  transportation  distance 
of  the  beds  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland,  and 
so  was  enabled  to  hold  her  place  and  even  improve 
it  in  the  swift  march  of  progress. 

It  was  by  the  early  Dutch  that  manufactures 
and  ship-building  were  given  their  birth  in  the 
Wilmington  neighborhood.  Soon  after  the  arrival 
of  the  Swedes  two  ship-carpenters  from  Holland 
had  settled  at  the  high  point  called  Mauathan, 
just  above  the  mouth  of  the  Christiana,  and  were 
the  first  traders  and  shipwrights  on  the  Delaware. 
Peter  Minuit  says,  that  in  1642  these  men  had 
their  work-people  and  their  families  there,  and 
made  boats  and  small  trading  vessels  for  them- 
selves and  other  colonists.  Campanius  records 
that  in  1643  two  Dutch  coopers  began  on  Cooper's 
Island,  a  small  piece  of  fast  land  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Brandywine,  to  make  kegs  and  hogsheads, 
and  the  flat-bottomed  sailing  shallops  in  which 
trade  and  transportation  was  conducted  up  and 
down  and  across  the  bay.  From  this  starting 
point  a  small  business  grew  up  around  Fort  Chris- 
tana  and  the  neighboring  settlements  of  Christi- 
anaholm.  Before  1679  three  grist-mills  were  in 
operation  on  Shellpot  Creek,  and  a  fourth  was 
subsequently  built  by  Timothy  ^Stidham,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Brandywine,  where  it  was  crossed 
by  the  Ford  road.  Soon  after  the  foundation  of 
Willingtown  (Wilmington),  in  1736,  Wm.  Shipley 
began  the  queerly-combined  business  of  building 
vessels  and  brewing  malt  liquor  in  the  town..  lu 
1749  the  mill  seals,  formerly  Stedhams,  were  pur- 
chased by  Oliver  Canby,  and  the  mill  then  built 
was  the  beginning  of  what,  in  1764,  was  known  as 
the  Brandywine  system  of  mills  numbering  eight, 
four  on  each  side  of  the  stream. 

In  1797,  John  Patterson  &  Son  were  manufac 
turing  saddles  on  the  west  side  of  Market  Street, 


next  door  to  the  Sign  of  the  White  Hart  tavern, 
and  Wm.  Bryant  had  a  shoemaker's  shop  near  by. 
Jacob  Broom  had  already  built  a  cotton  factory  on 
the  Brandywine.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1797,  and  at  the  next  session  of  the  Assembly  an 
act  was  passed  authorizing  a  lottery  to  furnish 
funds  for  rebuilding ;  but  the  project  appears  to 
have  failed — at  least  the  mill  did  not  rise  from  its 
ruins.  The  old  stone  grist-mill,  still  standing  on 
the  Brandywine  above  Sixteenth  Street,  was,  as 
stated  by  the  inscription  on  the  comer-stone, 
erected  by  I.  Canby  in  1800.  Originally  it  com- 
prised two  buildings,  in  which  ^ye  run  of  stone 
were  used ;  but  the  city  has  acquired  most  of  the 
property  in  connection  with  the  water-works,  and 
only  two  run  of  stone  remains  in  operation.  In 
1802,  John  Aiken  moved  his  cabinet-making  es- 
tablishment from  Philadelphia  because  of  the  yel- 
low-fever epidemic  there,  and  located  at  the  comer 
of  Fourth  and  Shipley  Streets,  in  Wilmington. 
George  Whitelock,  at  the  same  lime,  was  a  cabinet 
and  chair-maker  next  door  above  the  Town  Hall 
The  Delaware  Paper-Mills  at  Brandywine  were 
operated  by  Wm.  Young  and  Robert  Gilmour,  as 
Wm.  Young  &  Co ,  until  1803,  when  Wm.  Young 
became  sole  proprietor.  In  the  same  year  Van- 
dever  &  Test  were  engaged  in  distilling  whiskey 
and  rum  from  rye  and  molasses,  near  Queen  and 
Tatnall  Streets,  and  at  that  time  increased  the 
capacity  of  their  distillery.  David  West  made 
cut  nails  and  other  brands  at  his  factory,  at  Front 
and  Market  Streets.  James  Ross  discontinued  his 
cooperage  business  and  engaged  with  J.  Chestnut 
in  the  manufacture  of  rush  bottomed  chairs.  George 
Young  made  Windsor  chairs  at  King  and  Second 
Streets.  In  1804,  Chalfant  &  Dixon  were  black- 
smiths and  machinists,  on  Shipley  Street  near  Sixth, 
adjoining  John  Dixon's  coach  factory. 

The  large  establishment,  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive of  its  tiaie,  known  as  the  Rokeby  Cotton  Fac- 
tory, was  originated  early  in  the  century,  first  run- 
ning five  hundred  spindles.  In  1813  stone  build- 
ings were  erected  and  the  capacity  increased  to 
twelve  hundred  spindles.  In  1823  the  mills  were 
operated  by  John  D.  Carter,  whose  employees  were 
accommodated  in  eleven  tenement-houses  on  the 
property.  A  still  more  ambitious  enterprise  was  the 
Simmelville  Mills,  on  the  Brandy  wine,  a  four-story 
stone  structure  running  three  thousand  spindles, 
and  completed  in  1814  by  John  Siddall  &  Co.,  who 
in  1823  sold  out  to  John  Torbert  and  Cyrus  Lam- 
born.  Joseph  B.  Simms  became  the  purchaser  in 
1824.  Beginning  about  1814,  Justus  Beckley, 
Jacob  W.  Robinson  and  Benjamin  H.  Springer 
made  at  No.  40  Fourth  Street  a  large  quantity  of 
the  machine  cards  used  in  these  mills.  The  "Upper 
Brewery"  was  established  in  1814  a°d  i"  1^*^'^  ^'^ 
owned  by  Wigmore  &  Henderson.* 


1  In  the  immediato  vicinity  of  Wilmington  tbo^e 


In  1814,  ftwr- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


761 


John  Sellars  &  Son,  about  1814,  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  hats  in  large  quantities  on  Market 
Street.  In  1825  the  partnership  was  dissolved  and 
the  son,  William  R,  Sellars,  continued  the  business. 
About  the  same  time  Sylvester  A.  Bratten  &  Co. 
manufactured  caps  on  Third  Street  opposite  the 
Mechanics'  Bank 

In  1822  Greorge  W.  Metz  made  brushes,  hand- 
bellows  and  blacksmith-bellows  on  the  corner  of 
High  (now  Fourth)  and  Shipley  Streets.  James 
Bannister  made  and  repaired  mattresses  "near  the 
wharf."  In  the  same  year  Justin  Briggs  began  the 
manufacture  of  "spring-seated  and  spring-pointed 
saddles*'  on  Market  Street,  and  James  Sebborn 
announced  that  he  would  "  begin  to  make  strong 
and  table  beer  at  Shipley's  brewery  as  good  as  any 
received  from  Philadelphia." 

In  1826  JohnSebo  was  a  cabinet  and  sofa-mak- 
er at  Seventh  and  Market  Streets.  The  next  year 
John  Guyer  moved  his  tannery  from  Shipley  to 
Market  Streets.  The  brewery  that  in  1828  stood 
on  the  corner  of  Tatnall  and  Fourth  Streets  was 
in  1835  conducted  by  A.  Rudman. 

The  Phoenix  Foundry  and  Furnace,  which  stood 
on  King  Street,  was  established  by  William  Robin- 
son in  1828,  and  in  the  same  year  Benjamin  Pot- 
tage opened  on  Market  Street  a  shop,  in  which  he 
manufactured  copper,  tin- ware  and  sheet-iron. 

The  old  foundry  at  Tenth  and  Orange  Streets 
was  built  by  William  Robinson  and  James  Rice  in 
1830.  Some  years  later  Robinson  moved  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  Jonathan  Bonney  became  a  partner 
in  the  business.  Rice  enlarged  the  foundry  and 
was  very  successful.  In  1833,  William  WoUey 
and  James  Siddall  formed  a  partnership  as  Wil- 

te#n  gTist-milU  on  the  Brandywine,  with  a  capacity  of  five  hundred 
tbonand  bushels  per  year ;  sixteen  cooper-shops,  one  tilt-hammer  and 
one  shop  fur  making  cotton  and  woolen  machinery.  A  half-mllo  up  tlie 
Brandy  wine  there  was  a  cotton-mill,  with  seven  hundred  spindles ;  a 
half-mile  beyond  that  a  paper-mill  and  a  snuff-mill.  From  this  on  up 
the  stream  were  located,  in  tlie  order  named,  two  woolen  factories,  shops 
for  makinff  cotton  and  woolen  machinery,  employing  one  hundred  men  ; 
a  cotton-mill,  15U0  spindles  ;  a  machine-shop,  a  large  cotton  mill  an- 
other cotton-mill,  1000  spindles;  large  powder-mills  a  woolen  cloth 
brtory ,  a  cotton-mill,  6oO  spindles  ;  grist-mill,  barley  mill,  saw-mill  and 
woolen- factory.  All  of  these  industrial  eetablisliments  were  located 
along  the  Brandy  wine  bocuuse  of  its  advantages  for  water-power.  Its 
waters  bad  a  fall  of  one  hundred  feet  in  four  and  a  half  milos  above  the 
Brandywine  Bridge,  and  there  were  in  operation  in  that  distance  Ihirty- 
•ix  water-wheeU.  Mill  Creek  had,  at  that  perlcd,  along  its  banks,  a 
steam  saw  and  grist-mill.  Red  Clay  Creek  had  7  grist-mills,  6  saw-mills, 
2  coiton-mllls,  1  snuff  mill,  a  woolen-factory  and  other  enterprises. 
Barrow's  Run  had  several  saw-mills  and  a  grist  mill. 

Wilmington  and  Brandywine  had  9  places  of  public  worship,  11 
schools,  with  317  scholars;  a  library  of  lOOtl  volumes,  3  fire  companies,  3 
banks  and  2  markets.  Flour  sold  at  4  cents  per  pound  ;  corn,  70  cent, 
p«r  bushel ;  beef,  10  cents  per  pound  ;  pork,  10;  mutton,  7  ;  butter  16  ; 
and  potatoes.  66  cents  per  bushel.  There  were  9  shops  in  Wilmington, 
•mploying  120  hands  in  making  woolen  and  cotton  machinery ;  and 
vithin  a  radius  of  20  milea  there  were  30  cotton  and  woolen-factories, 
which  disbursed  |4*,000  per  year  in  wages.  One  farmer  near  the  town 
owned  746  merino  sheep,  2317  mixed  and  1239  common  breeds.  There 
were  22  cooper-shops,  8  blacksmith-shops,  6  machine-makers,  for  making 
cotton  and  woolen  goods  ;  35  mill  hands.  19  master  shoemakers,  9  master 
tailors,  6  master  carpenters,  3  carriage- making  shops,  3  wheelwright 
shops,  6  cabinet-makers,  2  rope-yards,  2  shipyards,  2  breweries,  ,'4 
ilniggists,  6  tanneries,  4  curriers,  1  skinner,  2  semi-weekly  papers,  5 
bookblDdiri,  4  tin-shops,  1  copperamith,  6  hat-factories,  3  board-yards,  2 
potteriM,  4  watchmakers,  3  silversmiths,  1  pump-maker,  1  brass  foundry, 
1  gvannith,  7  weavers,  3  tallow  chandlerik  3  tobacconists. 

48} 


liara  Wolley  &  Co.,  for  the  manufacture  of  ma- 
chine tools,  in  the  former  factory  of  Wood  <fc 
Reeves  at  the  Brandywine  Bridge.  A  foundry 
was  established  in  1845  on  Front  Street,  between 
Tatnall  and  Washington,  by  Adams  &  Co.,  and 
in  the  adjoining  building  Hall  &  Aldrich  began 
the  manufacture  of  patent  locks. 

El  wood  Garrett  in  1846  invented  a  machine  for 
manufacturing  wood-screws,  and  C.  &  W.  Pyle 
began  the  manufacture  of  japanned  leather  on 
Orange  Street.  Moore  &  Chamberlain  built  a 
foundry  in  1847  adjoining  their  plow  factory.  In 
the  same  year  Samuel  N.  Pusey  started  a  cotton- 
mill  at  Front  and  Tatnall  Streets  with  forty-eight 
looms,  which  were  run  by  a  forty  horse-power 
engine.  The  machine-shop  formerly  owned  by 
Garrett  A.  Hollingsworth  in  the  western  part  of 
the  city  was  changed  into  a  steam  saw-mill,  and 
William  Chandler  built  a  steam-mill  on  Tatnall 
Street,  between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets  C.  H. 
Gallagher  at  the  same  time  had  a  planing-mill 
and  sash  factory  at  Shipley  and  Seventh  Streets. 

In  1847  the  Wilmington  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany was  organized  with  sixty  stockholders  and  a 
capital  of  fifty-four  thousand  dollars.  A  large 
building  was  erected  at  the  corner  of  Ninth  and 
Walnut  Streets.  Lewis  Thatcher,  in  February, 
1848,  moved  his  sash  and  blind  factory  to  a  new 
steam-mill  on  Shipley  Street. 

In  1849,  Betts  &  Stotsenburg  erected  a  brick 
foundry  on  Front  Street,  at  the  foot  of  Washington, 
for  the  production  of  large  castings.  Soon  after 
beginning  operations  they  moulded  a  shaft  twenty- 
four  feet  long  and  one  and  a  half  feet  in  diameter, 
weighing  six  tons.  It  was  cast  in  a  deep  well  dug 
in  the  building  and  was  made  for  a  firm  in  South 
Carolina. 

M.  M.  Cook,  of  Massachusetts,  began  the  busi- 
ness of  sailmaking  and  ship  chandlery  near  the 
railroad  station  in  1849.  At  the  Castle  Garden  Fair 
in  New  York,  October,  1849,  Bush  &  Lobdell  re- 
ceived premiums  for  the  best  car-wheels  in  America ; 
J  Pierson  for  best  patent  wheat-drill ;  Jesse  Urmy 
for  self  supporting  endless  chain  and  railway  horse- 
power of  his  own  invention.  The  Franklin  Factory, 
at  Ninth  and  French  Streets,  was  started  in  1849, 
and  made  muslins  and  tickings 

E.  Belts  &  Co.  in  1850  established  an  iron,  brass 
and  bell  foundry  at  Eighth  and  Orange  Streets. 
A  "gold  mill,"  weighing  fourteen  tons,  was  made  by 
Pusey  &  Jones  in  1850  for  use  in  California  mines. 
Major  K  B.  Gilpin  in  1850  leased  the  ship-yards 
at  the  old  ferry  and  began  to  operate  them. 

The  cotton  factory  in  Brandywine  Village  was 
built  in  1855.  It  was  five  hundred  feet  long,  one 
hundred  feet  wide  and  one  story  high.  Forty 
dwellings  were  built  in  the  vicinity  the  same  year. 

As  indicative  of  the  condition  of  manufactures 
in  the  decade  prior  to  the  war,  the  statistics  gather- 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


762 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ed  by  Joshua  T.  Heald  in  1853  are  presented, 
which,  however,  do  not  include  the  Du  Pont  pow- 
der works,  or  the  other  large  establishraents  along 
the  Brandy  wine  considered  as  belonging  to  the  city. 
In  1860  the  output  of  the  manufactures  of  New 
Castle  County  (almost  entirely  in  Wilmington), 
amounted  to  nearly  nine  millions  of  dollars  and 
employed  5757  hands.  The  statistics,  as  given  in 
the  United  States  Census,  were  as  follows : 


MAKUTACTUmn. 


m 

70 
675 


Agrlcultitral  ImpIemontB.. 

Axles 

Bolts,  Nuts,  etc , 

BoDoDust 

Boots  and  Shoes 

Brais-foundlng 

Bread  aod  Crackers., 

Brick 

Ottbinet  Famitiire 

Cars , 

Car  Springs 

Carriiiges 

Cigars 

Clothing 

Confectionery 

Cotton  Goods ~ 

Drain  Tile „ 

Fire  Brick 

Flour  and  meal 

Gunpowder 

Horse-shoe  Nails. 

Hoop-skirts. 

Iron-f  mndings. 

Iron,  Rolled. - .■ 

Leather ;. ... 

Leather  Hose  and  Belting , 

Machinery.  Steam-engiues.  etc.... 

Machinists'  Tools , 

Malt 

Masts  and  Spars , 

MetolUc  Kegs 

Morocco „ , 

Paper 

Patent  Leather , 

Plaster,  Ground , 

Pottery-ware 

Quercitron  Bark 

Sails , 

Saddlery  and  Harness. 

Sashes,  Doors  and  Blinds 

Sewing-machines 

Shlp-building 

Ship-smithing. 

Shirts 

Snuff 

Soap  and  Candles 

Spokes  and  Felloes 

Spices,  Ground 

Stone  and  Marble-cutting 

Tin,  Sheet-iron  and  Copperware... 

Turning .3 

Wool-carding |      2 

Woolen  goods.. |      4 

Total,  including  MlncelPs Man- 
ufactures, not  above  sptjciflcd.    3tM) 


..I 


$6J»,571 

16,660 

30,650 

6.713 

106,241 
10,225 

8o,:j<>o 

73,000 

49,347 

100,0<iO 

24,750 

633,2.'>0 

44,030 

177,.H40 

27,460 

94l,7a3 

6,300 

16,<I00 

1,5.37,266 

600,000 

2,496 

4,125 

668,750 

192,600 

237,080 

6,500 

348,600 

22,142 

15,000 

4,176 

16,000 

461,660 

385,000 

190,750 

7,»)0 

12,187 

8,100 

6,6.30 

48,246 

29.436 

16,000 

674,660 

13,925 

4,260 

47,200 

41,500 

12,060 

60,000 

25,990 

79, 79^ 

16,068 

3,600 

153,035 


|4,863.472|  15,513,066  $8,963,440 


138,500 
10,500 
8,000 
3,000 
79,976 
12,000 
19,50«» 
59,000 
60,100 

60. 000  < 
8,000 

204,860 

10,000 

68,67.'] 

11,0(K> 

582,600 

6,000 

4,000 

471,762 

500,000 

100 

2,000 

312,000 

190,000 

122,900 

100 

237,000 

3f),860 

7,000 

1,000 

5,000 

160,000 

280,000 

95,000 

4,800 

7,300 

2,0(J0| 

l,<i00i 

.32, 22.5 

34.000 

10,0(K>| 

29.3,600 

6,000 

2,0(K) 

25.000 1 
26,0001 
16,000 
60.0001 
17,700 1 
49,300 1 

S,5"0i 

1,0001 

117,(K)0 


120,878 

5,855, 

20,100 

3,9501 

96,863 

7,2261 

66,780! 

17,650| 

21,7071 

54,600 

15,7761 

2:J6,260 

20,410 

100,708 

16,1.30 

690,102 

1,626 I 

1,600| 

1,297,061' 

358,6401 

936 

809 

436,090. 

112,254' 

168,066, 

4,500' 

136,650 

7,199 

11,660 

2,000 

8,000' 

329,962 

286,439 1 

111,400 

4,946 

2,616! 

4,8U0| 

4,1.30 

22,078. 

11,886 

2,876! 

327,300 

5,300 

1,296] 

11,600 

24,7.30' 

7,000 

40, 000 1 

14,766 

40,069 

9,8501 

3,000 

76,8071 


Cast-iron  and  brass  (including  car-wheels,  water" 
wheels,  mill  machinery): 

Tons  of  cast  iron...... 6400 

Tons  of  brass 12 

Number  of  employees. 216 

Wrought  and  rolled-iron,  steel  and  railroad  cars, 
including  locomotives  and  car  steel  springs,  cotton 
and  mill  machinery  and  ship  work : 

Tons  of  iron  and  steel 1480 

Iron  steamboats 5 

Steamboats  repaired ^  20 

Eight'Wbeel  passenger  cars 53 


23 
100 
962 


Freight  cars 

Steam -engines 

Number  of  employees. 

8h^  buOdUg  and  Coal  Bargf. 

New  Tessels  made « 

Vessels  repaired 

Persons  employed 

Briel'Making, 

Employees 202 

Bricks  made 11,700,000 

CoUon  F\wtorie$. 

Persons  employed „ „  218 

Yards  made 2,654,400 

Leather  Manu/aetured. 

Goat-skins » 180,000 

Calf,  kip  and  other  bides 40,000 

Persons  employed 178 

Lumber. 

Penons  employed 22 

Feet  of  lumber  sawed 1,500,000 

Feet  of  lumber  planed 1,250,000 

Spokes  for  wheels  made 250,000 

Soap  Work*. 

Persons  employed 8 

Pounds  ot  tallow  melted «      500,000 

Pounds  of  candles  made 200,000 

Pounds  of  soap  mada 400,000 

Ckx^tr  Work. 

Persons  employed „  126 

Barrels  made 82,200 

Half-barrels  made 21,950 

Kegs  made 40,650 

Hogsheads 4,726 

From  1860  to  1880  giant  strides  were  made, 
and  the  value  of  the  productions  of  Wilmington's 
manufactories  was  increased  from  a  little  less  than 
nine  million  dollars  to  considerably  over  thirteen 
millions  in  1880,  and,  including  the  industriee, 
along  the  Brandy  wine,  to  more  than  fourteen 
millions.  These  figures,  it  should  be  borne  in 
mind,  represent  the  net  value  of  products,  while 
the  gross  value  (taking  into  consideration  the  cost 
of  raw  materials)  would  amount  to  more  than 
twenty-one  millions.  In  the  census  report,  as  will 
be  seen,  the  net  figures  are  given : 


Capital 
employed. 


Blacksmithing 

Boots  and  shoes 

Bread  and  other  bakery  pro- 
ducts  

Brick  and  tile 

Carpentering 

Carriage  and  wagon  nmte- 
rials ! 

Carriages  and  wagons 

Clothing,  msn*s 

Coffins,  buriul  canes  and 
undertakers'  goods 

Confectionery 

Cotton  goods 

Foundry  and  machine-shop 
products. „ 

Furniture 

Iron  and  steel 

Iron  forgings. 

Kindling  wood   

Leather,  dressed  skins 

Looking-glass  and  picture 
frames 

Marble  and  stone  work 

Masonry,  brick  and  stone... 

Paper i 

Booflng  and  roofing  mate- 
rials  ' 

Saddlery  and  harness. 

Shipbuilding 

Soap  and  candles 

Tinware,  copperware,  sheet- 
iron  ware 

Tobacco,  cigars,  cigarettes... 

Wheelwrlghting. 


▲mount 

of  wages 

paid. 


Value 

of 

Materials. 


128.400 
16,300 

109,700 
86,000 
42,500 

108,000 

415,270' 

70,500 

19,000 
49,000 
385,000 

766,800 

36,200 

1,109,469 

61,000 

6,800 

861,500 

1,900 

27,500 

21,000 

2,448,000 

10,500 

23,700 

906,600 

14,800 

110,600 
82,300 
24,160 

2,975,000 


J23,075       $14,780 
6,400  7,000 


All  other  industries  (44  es- 
tablishments)  

Total $10,744,389 13, 174,821  $7,8»4,847,$U,«05^0 


25,130 
43,416 
41,000 

43,760 
128,056 
25,100 

5,250 

6,U00 

125,892 

260,168 
8,000 

276,346 
16,360 
3,976 

364^944 

1,860 

8,400 

22,500 

102,817 

8,344 

12,500 

850,248 

5,180 

31,108 
24,420 

23,460 


•7,456 
22,173 
109,900 

47,600 
263,098 
44.600 

10,750 

18.000 

350,762 

323,472 

7.700 

1,010,979 

57,043 

4,150 

1,300,860 

2,400 

10,000 

iai,600 

648,999 

11,600 
28,300 
836,608 
13,400 
I 
81,9«3. 
34,840, 
10,600 


$56,150 
17,000 

158,300 
89,600 
202,200 

126,000 
479,067 
86,600 

84,000 
35,('00 
546,460 

671,125 
30,800 

2,004,670 
0,783 
12,500 

1,801,697 

6,500 
22,400 
170,000 


29,500 

67,500 

l,974,2(a 

22,070 

150.027 
78,453 

45,700 


681,6621  2,612,516     3,552,361 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY.  763 


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Uely  IK^n    prvparauons  lor  e^lbarKing   upon   niS      the  posseaston  of  the  powder  compauy. 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


763 


About  one  million  bushels  of  grain  ground  at 
the  four  Brandy  wine  mills  on  south  side  and  three 
on  north  side  of  the  stream. 

The  census  report  for  1880  sets  the  value  of 
gunpowder  manufactured  in  New  Castle  County, 
outside  of  Wilmington,  at  8243,365,  which  is  un- 
doubtedly a  very  low  estimate;  and  of  paper, 
8737,^5.  These  additions  bring  the  total  up  to 
$14,186,640,  as  the  value  of  the  product  for  that 
census  year.  In  the  whole  State  the  value  for 
that  year  was  only  a  trifle  over  $20,500,000. 

PowDER-MiLLS. — The  Powder-MUla  of  E.  L 
du  Pant  de  Netnours  &  Co. — This  vast  establish- 
ment now  and  for  many  years  the  largest  of  its  kind 
in  the  world,  was  founded  upon  a  comparatively 
small  scale  in  1802,  by  Eleuthere  Ir^n^  du  Pont 
de  Nemours,  and  has  been  gradually  enlarged  to 
its  present  proportions  by  his  descendants,  who, 
in  thus  adhering  to  a  single  industry  throughout 
several  generations  and  for  a  period  stretching 
well-nigh  to  a  hundred  years,  have  followed  a 
custom  of  conservative  stability  which,  very  na- 
turally, is  less  common  in  America  than  in  the 
countries  of  Europe.  The  founder  was  a  French- 
man who  had  left  his  native  land  fur  political 
reasons  (as  is  elsewhere  more  fully  set  forth),  in  the 
last  days  of  the  last  century,  arriving  at  Newport, 
R.  I.,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1800.  He  had  been 
a  pupil  of  the  celebrated  chemist  Lavoisier,  who 
was  superintendent  of  the  powder-mills  of  the 
French  government.  Some  months  after  reach- 
ing this  country  an  accidental  occurrence  called 
Ir^nee  du  Font's  attention  to  the  bad  quality  of 
the  gunpowder  made  in  America,  and  gave  him 
the  first  idea  of  engaging  in  its  manufacture.  In 
January,  1801,  he  went  back  to  France  to  pro- 
cure plans  and  models,  returning  in  August  with 
a  portion  of  the  machinery  for  the  ftiture  mills. 
It  now  remained  to  find  a  suitable  site  and  he 
determined  to  engage  in  its  manufacture,  and  went 
back  to  France  in  January,  1801,  to  perfect  his 
knowledge  of  the  theory  and  obtain  additional 
ideas  of  the  practical  side  of  the  science.  When 
he  returned  to  America,  in  August,  he  was  well 
provided  with  plans  and  models,  and  brought 
with  him  some  of  the  machinery  for  his  pro- 
posed mills.  It  is  noteworthy  that  he  was  urged 
by  Thomas  JeflTerson,  who  had  been  his  father's 
friend,  to  locate  in  Virginia,  and  that  he  de- 
clined, chiefly  because  of  the  strength  which  slav- 
ery as  an  institution  possessed  in  that  State,  and 
the  efiects  which  it  had  produced  upon  the  char- 
acter of  the  white  race.  He  was  deterred  by  the 
same  reason  from  locating  in  Maryland,  and  pre- 
ferring the  Brandyinrine  to  the  vicinity  of  Paterson, 
N.  J.,  and  several  other  localities  which  he  visited, 
he  bought,  in  June,  1802,  a  tract  of  land  upon  its 
banks,  four  miles  from  Wilmington,  and  immedi- 
ately began  preparations  for  epubarking  upon  his 


cherished  enterprise.  This  was  deemed  by  many,  at 
the  time,  a  mad  or,  at  least,  exceedingly  unwise  un- 
dertaking, for  it  was  thought  that  the  quality  of  the 
powder  imported  from  England  could  not  by  any 
possibility  be  surpassed,  and  that  ruin  awaited  the 
man  who  in  this  country  attempted  to  equal  it. 
Thus  Eleuthere  Ir^n^e  *  du  Pont '  had  little  sym- 
pathy or  encouragement ;  but  he  seems  to  have  been 
a  man  well  qualified  to  get  along  without  those 
aids  and  comforts.  He  possessed  wonderful  confi- 
dence, courage  and  capacity  for  doingy  and  it  was 
well  he  did,  for  he  underwent  many  bitter  disap- 
pointments and  losses  before  he  made  the  Brandy - 
wine  Powder-Mills  an  assured  success.  Du  Font's 
powder  almost  from  the  first,  however,  was  of 
good  quality,  and  Wilson,  the  American  ornitholo- 
gist, who  used  it,  said  that  it  left  no  stain  on  paper 
when  burned — one  of  the  most  common  but  cru- 
cial tests  of  good  powder.  The  powder  was  put  up 
in  packages  bearing  the  picture  of  an  eagle. 

**  From  fuAining  Brandywine*8  rough  shores  it  came. 
To  sportsmen  dear  its  merits  and  its  name ; 
du  Ponfs  best  Eagle,  matchless  for  its  power, 
Strong,  swift  and  fatal,  as  the  bird  it  bore." 

By  1810  the  aspiring  French  powder-maker  was 
using  a  <5apital  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  His 
works  gave  employment  to  thirty-six  men^  had  a 
capacity  of  six  hundred  thousand  pounds  per  year, 
and  were  regarded  as  the  most  perfect  in  operation. 
These  works,  it  may  be  remarked,  which  are  still 
in  operation,  and  known  as  the  Eleutherian  Mills, 
have  now  a  capacity  of  five  thousand  pounds  of 
sporting  powder  per  day,  or  one  million  five  hun- 
dred thousand  pounds  per  year. 

The  Upper  Hagley  Mills  were  commenced  by 
Mr.  du  Pont  in  1812,  and  the  Lower  Hagley 
Mills*  were  built  in  1828,  and  all  brought  into 
such  perfection  of  working  power  that  before  his 
death,  in  1834,  the  energetic  proprietor  had  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  his  labors  had  re- 
sulted in  making  these  the  most  extensive  powder- 
mills  in  the  country. 

After  the  death  of  E.  I.  du  Pont  the  responsi- 
bilities of  the  great  manufactory  rested  upon  his 
eldest  son,  Alfred,  and  it  was  under  his  direction 
that  the  Brandywine  Mills,  in  the  lower  yard, 
were  built  in  1836.  He  remained  head  of  the 
house  until  1850,  when  his  brother.  Gen.  Henry 
du  Pont,  became  its  chief,  and  later,  there  were 
associated  with  him  his  nephews,  Ir^n^e  and 
La  Motte,  sons  of  Alfred,  both  now  deceased,  and 
Eugene  and  Francis,  sons  of  his  younger  brother, 
Alexis,  and  his  own  sons,  Henry  A.  and  William, 
constituting  the  firm  as  it  now  exists  under  the  old 

I  The  site  of  these  works  was  known  as  Lower  Hagley  as  far  back  a* 
the  Rerolntion,  when  Samuel  Gregg  surveyed  a  tract  of  twenty 'thre* 
acres  there,  which  be  gare  to  his  son  **  whereon  to  erect  and  build  a 
forge  and  other  water  works.*'  John  and  Joshua  Gibson  became  asso- 
ciated with  John  Gregg,  and  did  build  there  a  forge  and  rolling  and 
slitting-mill,  sold,  in  1783,  to  Rumford  Dawes.  Shortly  after  18IU  the 
mills  were  made  cotton  works,  and  two  or  three  years  later  paswd  into 
the  possession  of  the  powder  company. 


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764 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


name  of  E.  I.  du  Pont  de  Nemours  &  Co.  Un- 
der this  company  a  work  of  improvement  and  en- 
largement has  been  constantly  carried  on  until  the 
plant  has  grown  to  be  not  only  the  largest  in  the 
world,  as  stated  at  the  outstart  of  this  article,  but 
it  is  believed  also  the  best  arranged  and  most  ad- 
vantageous for  the  purpose  designed.  Beside  these, 
to  supply  a  constantly-growing  demand,  ten  mills 
have  been  built  or  acquired  in  Pennsylvania,  as 
follows:  In  Luzerne  County —  the  Wapwallopen 
Mills,  built  in  1859,  and  Great  Falls  Mills,  built  in 
1869;  in  Schuylkill  County— the  Edgeworth 
Mills,  built  in  1845;  the  Tunnel,  in  1860;  Gin- 
ter's,  in  1862  ;  Pine  Creek,  in  1863  ;  Indian  River, 
in  1866 ;  Locust  Creek,  in  1869,  and  theMahanoy 
Mills  in  the  same  year ;  also  the  Paxinos  Mills  in 
Northumberland  County. 

But  it  is  of  the  Brandywine  Mills  we  have  prin- 
cipally to  treat  in  this  work.  They  afford  a  pe- 
culiar and  interesting  sight.  Here  are  no  vast 
buildings  such  as  one  usually  finds  vast  industries 
housed  in — no  rushing  railroad  trains  such  as  one 
is  accustomed  to  look  for  in  proximity  to  great  in- 
dustrial establishments.  It  needs  but  a  moment's 
reflection  however,  to  make  it  clear  that  these  are 
not  a  desideratum  ;  indeed,  they  would  be  utterly 
impracticable,  if  not  absolutely  destructive.  In- 
stead of  one  or  two  large  buildings,  there  are  about 
seventy-five  or  eighty  small  ones,  widely  scattered, 
and  the  various  processes  of  manufacture  being 
thus  isolated,  the  destruction  in  case  of  an  explo- 
sion is  reduced  to  the  minimum.  The  buildings  in 
which  there  is  greatest  danger  are,  besides,  so  built 
as  to  still  further  curtail  loss  to  life  and  property 
in  case  of  accident.  Each  has  very  massive  stone 
walls,  except  upon  the  side  towards  the  creek  or 
river,  and  that  is  made  as  light  as  possible,  while 
the  roof  is  a  light  shell  of  frame  work.  Thus, 
should  an  explosion  occur,  the  effect  would  be  al- 
most exactly  that  of  firing  a  colossal  mortar  in  the 
direction  where  there  was  the  least  chance  of 
doing  harm.  The  walls,  with  the  exception  of  the 
one  towards  the  water,  would  doubtless  remain  in- 
tact. It  is  such  careful  precaution  and  ingenious 
devices  as  this  that  show  the  knowledge  that  has 
been  gained  through  long  experience  by  the  man- 
agers of  these  works.  It  is  obvious  that  it  is  not 
desirable  to  have  locomotives  come  too  near  the 
mills.  The  nearest  railroad  station,  on  the  Wil- 
mington and  Northern  Railroad,  is  a  mile  away, 
but  railroad  tracks  run  in  and  about  the  works 
and  the  cars  upon  them  are  drawn  by  horses,  an 
easy  means  of  handling  materials  and  the  finished 
product  being  thus  afforded.  Stationary  engines 
are  employed,  but  there  are  effective  means  of 
guarding  against  danger  from  them.  Fifteen  of 
these  are  in  use  at  different  parts  of  the  works,  but 
the  greater  portion  of  the  power  here,  as  at  the 
other  works  of  the  company,  is  derived  from  the 


fall  of  water,  and  there  are  ninety-three  \^  heels  in 
use,  most  of  which  are  turbines. 

Besides  the  mills  proper  are  various  buildings 
in  which  auxiliary  work  is  carried  on.  The**  Salt- 
petre Refinery,"  with  a  laboratory  attached,  is 
two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  feet  by  ninety-six 
feet  and  contains  ample  appliances  for  sup- 
plying all  of  the  nitre  required  for  the  fabrication 
of  powder,  and  also  considerable  quantities  for 
the  market,  for  such  purposes  as  require  an 
article  chemically  pure.  Large  store-houses  are 
in  close  proximity.  There  are  three  charring- 
houses  for  the  preparation  of  charcoal,  and  adja- 
cent buildings  for  the  storage  of  the  wood  from 
which  it  is  made — chiefly  the  twigs  and  the  smaller 
branches  of  willow,  which,  in  some  cases,  is  grown 
for  this  especial  purpose,  in  the  surrounding  region. 
There  are  also  attached  to  the  works  extensive 
machine  and  millwright-shops,  where  all  repairs 
are  made  and  most  of  the  machinery  built ;  a  saw- 
mill, planing-mill,  carpenter  and  blacksmith  shops, 
and  capacious  buildings  for  the  making  of  wooden 
and  metallic  kegs  and  barrels  and  powder  can- 
isters. 

It  is  characteristic  of  the  careful  management 
and  far-seeing  policy  of  the  "  du  Ponts  "  that  the 
company  should  own  a  great  tract  of  land  sur- 
rounding their  works,  and,  indeed,  this  seems  a 
wise  provision,  both  for  the  company  and,  in  pos- 
sible event,  for  outsiders.  In  this  way  the 
company  prevents  the  approach  of  endangering 
establishments,  and  practically  says  to  the  public : 
"  Keep  at  a  distance  and  you  are  safe,"  indeed, 
making  people  keep  at  a  distance.  The  lands  of 
the  company  amount  to  about  two  thousand  five 
hundred  acres,  stretching  for  a  distance  of  three 
miles  along  both  sides  of  the  stream.  General  du 
Pont  owns  about  a  thousand  acres  more.  Upon 
this  property  are  three  woolen-mills,  a  cotton-mill, 
a  merchant's  and  grist-mill,  and  a  population  of 
about  four  thousand  people,  including  three  hun- 
dred or  more  employees  of  the  works.  The  farms 
of  this  great  estate  are  in  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, supplied  with  the  best  of  machinery  and 
utensils,  and  all  have  dwellings  of  excellent  char- 
acter, most  of  them  built  of  stone.  The  roads 
are  macadamized  for  ease  of  transportation,  some 
at  the  sole  expense  of  the  company,  and  others  at 
the  joint  expense  of  the  company  and  county. 

As  before  mentioned,  the  nearest  railroad  station 
is  a  mile  away.  Between  this  station  and  the 
works,  and  back  and  forth  from  their  shipping- 
points,  in  Wilmington,  great  six-mule  teams  ply 
daily,  drawing  huge  wagons  laden  with  materials 
or  with  gunpowder.  The  passing  of  these  ponderous 
teams  and  equipages  through  the  streets  of 
Wilmington  forms  one  of  the  city's  novel  and  in- 
teresting sights,  at  which  strangers  stare  in  wonder. 

The  company  have  about  one  hundred  of  these 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


765 


mules  and  horses  at  the  works  here  and  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, 

The  shipping  facilities  are  excellent.  The  main 
line  of  the  Wilmington  and  Northern  Railroad, 
as  well  as  its  Kentmere  and  Rockland  Branches, 
pass  through  the  property,  on  all  of  which  the 
firm  has  one  or  more  sidings  for  forwarding  and 
receiving  freight.  The  W^ilmington  and  Northern 
Railroad  connects  with  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  near  Wilmington,  and  with  the  Phila- 
delphia and  Reading  Railroad  near  Birdsboro',  and 
with  the  Pennsylvania  system  at  Coatesville  and 
other  points.  They  have  also  two  shipping-points, — 
one  on  the  river  Delaware,  with  magazines  and  a 
wharf  at  which  large  vessels  can  lie ;  the  other  on 
the  Christiana  Creek,  with  ample  wharfage  for 
coasters  and  for  landing  coal,  wood,  etc. 

Returning  to  the  works,  it  may  be  remarked 
that  the  original  works,  built  in  1802,  have  a 
capacity  for  producing  five  thousand  pounds  of 
sporting  powder  per  day  ;  the  Middle,  or  Hagley 
Works,  two  complete  sets  in  one  inclosure,  so  ar- 
ranged that  both  can  work  on  one  description  of 
powder,  or,  if  required,  each  on  a  different  kind, 
have  a  capacity  of  thirty  thousand  pounds  of 
blasting  powder  per  day ;  and  the  Lower  Works 
have  a  capacity  of  five  thousand  pounds  per  day. 
Thus  the  total  capacity  for  twenty  four  hours  is 
forty  thousand  pounds,  or,  allowing  three  hundred 
working  days  to  the  year,  about  twelve  million 
pounds  annually.  This  amount  is  largely  augmented 
by  the  mills  in  Pennsylvania.  Including  the 
latter,  there  were  used  in  the  works,  in  1886,  over 
sixteen  million  five  hundred  thousand  pounds  of 
saltpetre  and  nitrate  of  soda,  the  chief  ingredients 
of  gunpowder.  These  figures  are  enormous,  but 
they  are  correct.  The  production  of  the  mills  is 
principally  consumed  in  the  United  States,  the 
firm  having  agencies  and  magazines  at  all  the 
most  important  points,  with  a  principal  depot  for 
the  Pacific  States  at  San  Francisco,  and  agencies 
in  South  America  and  West  Indies.  The  pro- 
ducts of  the  works  embrace  all  descriptions  of 
gunpowder  including  prismatic,  hexagonal, 
square,  mammoth,  cannon,  mortar,  musket  and 
rifle  for  army  and  navy  ordnance  service  ;  crys- 
tal grain,  eagle,  and  the  various  grades  of  canister 
and  sporting  powders,  also  shipping,  blasting, 
mining  and  fuse  powders.  They  also  supply 
mealed  sulphur  and  pulverized  charcoal  to  order, 
refined  saltpetre,  warranted  pure,  and  Patent  Safety 
Fuses  for  blasting,  and  cocoa  or  brown  powder  for 
army  and  navy  use. 

To  illustrate  tjie  progress  which  has  been  made 
in  the  manufacture  of  powder  in  the  United 
States,  it  is  only  necessary  to  recall  the  fact  that 
during  the  Crimean  War  the  Allies,  to  enable  them 
to  prosecute  the  siege  of  Sebastopol,  were  obliged 
to  procure  large  supplies    of  gunpowder   in   the 


United  States  (one-half  of  which  was  furnished 
by  the  Brandy  wine  Powder-Mi  lis),  and  that  the 
American  powder  compared  favorably  with  the 
best  they  could  procure  in  Europe. 

The  founder  of  the  powder  works,  Eleuthere-Ir^- 
n6e  du  Pont  de  Nemours,  youngest  son  of  Pierre- 
Samuel  du  Pont  de  Nemours  the  eminent  French 
author  and  statesman,  and  of  NicoleCharlotte- 
Marie- Louise  Le  D6e  de  Rencourt,  was  born  in 
Paris  on  the  24th  of  June,  1771.  His  somewhat 
unusual  baptismal  names  were  those  selected  on 
account  of  their  significance  by  his  god-father,  the 
celebrated  Turgot.  Ir^n^e  du  Pont,  as  he  was 
commonly  called,  was  a  man  remarkable  in  many 
ways,  and  his  life  was  full  of  action  and  incident, 
both  in  his  native  and  his  adopted  country ;  it 
would  require  an  extended  biography  to  do  justice 
to  his  useful  and  honorable  career,  the  limits  of  this 
article  only  permitting  us  to  touch  upon  the  more 
salient  features  of  his  life  and  character.  Brought 
up  in  the  country,  in  what  is  now  the  Department 
of  "Seine  et  Mame."  his  tastes  turned  early  to- 
wards scientific  pursuits,  and  his  father's  friend, 
Lavoi!«ier,  whom  Turgot  had  made  superintendent 
of  the  government  powder-mills  {Regie  royale  des 
poudres  et  salpHres),  offered  to  take  him  in  charge 
and  secure  his  reversion  to  that  important  post. 
This  led  to  his  going  to  the  royal  mills  at  Essonne 
to  acquire  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  manufac- 
ture of  gunpowder,  where  he  remained  until  the 
outbreak  of  the  French  Revolution  apparently 
changed  his  whole  future  destiny.  On  the  8th  of 
June,  1791,  his  father,  very  prominent  in  public 
life  and  one  of  the  leading  advocates  of  a  constitu- 
tional monarchy  in  the  Constituent  Assembly,  es- 
tablished, in  the  interest  of  the  moderate  and  law- 
abiding  party,  a  large  printing  and  publishing 
house.  At  its  head  he  placed  his  son  Ir^n^e,  whom 
he  had  summoned  to  Paris,  and  thus,  at  the  age  of 
twenty,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  found  himself 
conducting,  almost  alone,  a  great  business  which 
was  necessarily  connected  with  the  political  troubles 
of  those  stormy  times.  He  was  three  times  im- 
prisoned and  in  the  utmost  peril  on  the  10th  of 
August,  1792,  when  both  he  and  his  father  were 
at  the  Tuilleries  among  the  armed  defenders  of 
Louis  XVI.  Although  Ir^n^e  du  Pont  was  fortun- 
ate enough  to  save  his  father*s  life  as  well  as  his 
own  on  that  fatal  day,  both  were  marked  for  sub- 
sequent destruction ;  the  son  succeeded  in  hiding 
himself  at  Essonne,  and  the  father,  after  being  con- 
cealed for  several  weeks  by  the  astronomer  Lalande 
in  the  dome  of  the  Paris  Observatory,  was  able  to 
reach  his  home  in  the  country,  where  he  was  ar- 
rested some  six  months  later  and  thrown  into  prison, 
the  fall  of  Robespierre  alone  saving  him  from  the 
guillotine.  After  the  Reign  of  Terror,  du  Pont  de 
Nemours  and  his  son  renewed  their  courageous 
opposition  to  the  Jacobins,  who,  finding  themselves 


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Alfred    Victor    Du    Pont,    upon    whom      the     when  soiicueu  to  accept  poi«t-i.^*  j, 

chief  responsibility    of   managing    the    powder-     might  h^ve  extended  his  field  of  usefulness,  he  de- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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*       uuu  supporter  of  the  government,  and  raised   a     necessary  to  follow  here,  and  we  conclude  this  sec- 


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768 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


tion  of  the  history  of  the  company  simply  by 
giving  the  present  organization,  which  is  as  follows, 
viz  :  President,  J.  Taylor  Gause;  vice-president  and 
secretary,  H.  T.  Gause ;  treasurer,  Sam'l  K.  Smith  ; 
directors,  John  Taylor  Gause,  H.  T.  Gause,  Thomas 
Jackson,  Nathaniel  R.  Benson,  Jr.,  Alex.  Kelley; 
stockholders,  John  Taylor  Gause,  H.  T.  Gause, 
Thomas  Jackson,  N.  R.  Benson,  Jr.,  Alex.  Kelley, 
Thomas  B.  Smith,  Edward  Mahoney,  Thomas 
Johnson,  Andrew  G.  Wilson.  Horace  W.  Gause, 
T.  Jackson  Shaw,  Samuel  K.  Smith. 

The  growth  of  the  company's  business  and  some 
of  the  most  interesting  features  thereof  must  be 
indicated,  although  it  is  impossible  to  follow  step 
by  step  the  development  of  the  huge  establishment 
of  the  present  from  the  humble  one  of  1836. 
Having  in  view  the  magnitude  of  the  present 
plant  of  the  company,  and  its  world-wide  recogni- 
tion, it  is  well  to  pause  for  a  moment  and  recall  its 
condition  for  work  in  1836.  Car-building  was  at 
this  time  the  main  industry.  The  works  embraced 
a  three-story  brick  building,  sixty-five  feet  in 
length  and  forty-five  in  depth.  In  the  basement 
were  placed  the  blacksmith  fires  where  the  iron 
was  forged  for  the  trucks,  while  the  cars  were 
built  and  trimmed  upon  the  upper  floors.  Here 
they  were  also  painted  and  varnished,  in  readiness 
for  departure,  when  they  were  lowered  through 
large  traps  in  the  floor  to  a  level  with  the  street. 
Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  volume  of  the 
firm's  trade  at  this  time,  when  it  is  stated  that  the 
number  of  hands  employed  was  but  twenty;  yet 
with  this  meagre  force  they  had  turned  out  the 
enormous  amount  of  $6580.79  of  business. 

In  1838  the  number  of  employees  had  increased 
to  forty-five,  and  the  annual  production  to  sixty- 
three  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars.  The  increase  of  work  compelled  a  change 
in  the  direction  of  larger  accommodations  to  be 
made  in  the  year  1841,  when  the  old  car  build- 
ing was  abandoned  and  more  commodious  quarters 
were  secured  by  moving  into  a  new  brick  building 
which  the  firm  erected  at  the  foot  of  West  Street, 
south  of  the  track  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington 
and  Baltimore  Railroad,  and  conveniently  near  to 
it  for  purposes  of  loading  freight. 

The  main  industry  up  to  1841  was  the  building 
of  cars,  and  it  was  conducted  mainly  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Harlan,  who,  previous  to  being 
admitted  to  the  firm  in  1837,  had  been  connected 
with  the  concern  in  the  capacity  of  manager  and 
agent.  He  was  equal  to  every  new  obligation  that 
a  rapidly-increasing  business  imposed. 

Up  to  this  date  the  firm  was  taking  work  prin- 
cipally for  small  jobbing  repairs,  with  occasionally 
large  contracts  for  stationary  engines,  and 
machinery  for  mills.  The  increasing  business 
made  it  imperative  to  secure  the  talents  of  some 
person  who  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  machine 


work.  To  this  end  Mr.  Elijah  Hollings worth, 
then  the  foreman  of  the  Baldwin  Locomotive 
Works  at  Philadelphia,  was  engaged  in  negotiation 
which  resulted  in  his  purchasing  Mr.  Pusey's 
interest,  and  from  henceforth  the  machine  depart- 
ment had  a  head  acquainted  with  its  entire  details 
and  management. 

Elijah  HoUingsworth,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  Brandy  wine,  in  New 
Castle  County,  Delaware,  November  28, 1806,  and 
was  the  son  of  Joel  and  Phcebe  (Kirk)  HoUings- 
worth. 

Mr.  HoUingsworth's  grandmothers  were  first  cous- 
ins—  Mary  Chandler  married  Amor  HoUings- 
worth, and  Sarah  Chandler  married  Caleb  Kirk. 

The  family  of  Mr.  HoUingsworth  were  well 
known  in  New  Castle  County,  and  had  for  gene- 
rations resided  in  or  about  the  place  where  he  was 
born. 

In  the  year  1830  or  '31  we  find  him  filling  the 
responsible  position  of  foreman  of  the  machine  de- 
partment at  the  Baldwin  Locomotive  Works  at 
Philadelphia,  where  he  was  employed  for  more 
than  ten  years. 

On  August  28, 1841,  he  was  engaged  by  the  firm 
of  Betts,  Pusey  &  Harlan  to  superintend  their  de- 
partment of  machinery.  At  the  time  of  this  en- 
gagement he  purchased  the  interest  of  Samuel  N. 
Pusey,  and  was  admitted  a  partner  in  the  concern. 

In  every  successive  advance  made  by  the  com- 
pany, the  strong  individuality  of  Mr.  HoUingsworth 
was  so  thoroughly  felt  in  the  details  of  this  depart- 
ment, that  it  is  safe  to  aflSrm  the  great  success  in 
the  history  of  the  firm  was  in  a  large  degree  due 
to  his  clear  judgment  and  entire  knowledge  of  that 
special  work.  To  those  who  knew  him  well,  Mr. 
HoUingsworth  united  a  kindly  disposition  to  a 
cheerfulness  that  was  rarely  subject  to  sombre  in- 
fluences. W^hilst  he  was  at  all  times  ready  to  listen 
to  advice  and  suggestions,  he  was  nevertheless  ex- 
ceedingly tenacious  of  his  opinions,  and  demanded 
the  most  irrefutable  proofs  before  he  would  confess 
himself  in  error. 

Having  been  brought  up  a  Quaker,  he  never 
could  be  made  to  comprehend  the  importance  of 
an  open  profession  of  religion,  but  he  always  after 
his  marriage  (his  wife  being  a  member  of  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  communion)  regularly  attended 
St.  Andrew's  Church  with  his  family. 

He  was  a  warm  personal  friend  of  the  late  Bishop 
Lee,  and  for  many  years  was  a  vestryman  of  St. 
Andrew's  Church. 

In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  inappropriate 
to  remark  that  Mrs  HoUingsworth  presented  a 
memorial  bell  to  St.  Andrew's  Church,  and  upon 
asking  Bishop  Lee  for  an  appropriate  inscription 
for  the  same,  he  replied,  "The  memory  of  the  just 
is  blessed."  That  bell  tolled  out  the  eighty  years 
of  the  good  bishop's  life. 


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•,  V.   ■  .1.    ii '  I  '.,  \'. ;   !■  f'.'* 


49 


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NEW  OASTLE  COUNTY. 


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Elijah  Hollingsworth  had  nine  children,  only  one 
of  whom  is  now  living, — Mrs.  Susan  H.  Siter,  the 
wife  of  Edward  Siter,  of  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Hollingsworth  died  at  Wilmington,  Novem- 
ber 9,  1866.  and  was  buried  in  the  Wilmington 
and  Brandywine  Cemetery. 

The  new  machine-shop,  under  the  energetic 
impulse  of  Mr.  Hollingsworth  was  now  fitted  up 
CD  a  scale  beyond  anything  hitherto  attempted  in 
Wilmington,  and  they  were  quickly  in  condition 
to  meet  every  demand  for  machinery,  both  on  land 
and  water,  that  was  now  rapidly  being  made  upon 
them.  The  circumscribed  space  necessarily  allot- 
ted to  the  Harlan  &  Hollingsworth  Company  in 
this  work  precludes  the  possibility  of  a  detailed 
account  of  the  successive  additions  to  plant  and 
buildings,  as  well  as  the  immense  increase  to  the 
personneL  It  may  be  as  well  here  to  record  the 
fact  that  much  of  the  information  contained  in 
this  sketch  is  derived  from  a  voluminous  and 
comprehensive  work  issued  by  The  Harlan  & 
Hollmgsworth  Company,  1887. 

In  the  year  1843  the  ship-building  ventures  of 
the  firm  began  to  assume  such  a  magnitude  as  to 
take  precedence  of  the  car  construction.  It  is  here 
to  be  noted  that  the  fird  iron  sea-going  propeller 
constructed  in  the  United  States  was  begun  at  the 
yard  of  Betts,  Harlan  &  Hollingsworth  in  1843, 
and  launched  in  1844.  She  was  delivered  to  her 
owners  in  eight  months  from  the  day  her  keel  was 
placed  in  position.  From  this  date  up  to  the 
present  time  the  immense  work  done  in  iron  ship- 
building, both  for  the  government,  foreign  and 
on  private  account,  has  been  of  such  a  magnitude 
as.  to  cause  the  name  of  the  firm  to  be  recognized 
at  its  proper  estimation  the  world  over. 

In  the  year  1841,  the  firm  made  an  important  ac- 
quisition in  its  personnel  in  adding  Captain  Alex- 
ander Kelley  to  the  outside  corps  of  practical  men. 
His  services  were  such  as  to  almost  immediately 
mark  him  as  a  rising  man. 

Captain  Alexander  Kelley,  machinist  and  boat- 
captain,  now  living  (January,  1888)  as  a  retired 
citizen,  withdrawn  from  the  active  cares  of  business, 
in  Wilmington,  was  born  in  Milburn,  New  Jersey, 
February  12,  1813.  His  father,  Patrick  Kelley, 
in  his  nineteenth  year,  came  from  the  North 
of  Ireland,  and  settled  at  Short  Hills  (now  Mil- 
burn),  New  Jer«ey,  and  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness as  a  merchant  tailor.  His  mother,  Barbara 
McLeod,  was  seven  years  old  when  she  came  with 
her  parents  and  one  brother,  John,  to  this  country 
from  the  vicinity  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  Captain 
Kelley *s  father  died  when  he  was  but  twelve  years 
old.  Two  years  later  he  lost  his  mother.  Afler 
the  death  of  his  father  he  went  with  his  mother  to 
the  home  of  his  uncle,  his  mother's  only  brother, 
John  McLeod.  In  the  four  years  immediately  fol- 
lowing the  death  of  his  father,  while  living  with  his 
49 


uncle,  he  attended  school  in  Reading,  Pa.  Before 
his  father's  death  he  had  learned  some  rudiments 
in  the  schools  at  Short  Hills.  When  sixteen  years 
old,  he  became  an  apprentice  to  learn  the  trade  of 
a  millwright  with  his  uncle  at  his  (Mr.  McLeod's) 
mills  on  the  Brandywine.  After  entering  upon  his 
apprenticeship  he  still  sought  to  enlarge  his  stock 
of  knowledge  by  attending  night-school  in  the  vi- 
cinity. These  mills  are  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Messrs.  James  Riddle,  Son  &  Company,  as  a 
cotton  factory.  They  were  formerly  known  as 
Gilpin's  mill.  After  some  time  spent  here,  Mr. 
Kelley  went  to  Richmond,  Virginia,  to  superin- 
tend the  erection  of  a  large  plant  of  paper-mill 
machinery  in  that  city.  After  seventeen  months 
spent  in  this  work  he  returned  home  to  take  charge 
of  a  large  job  of  machinery  erection  at  Siddle's 
mill  on  the  Brandywine.  This  work  he  finished 
in  the  fall  of  1838.  A  new  position  was  now  opened 
to  him  as  master  of  the  United  States  Dredge,  then 
employed,  under  the  control  of  the  City  Council  of 
Wilmington,  in  dredging  about  the  Delaware  and 
Christiana  Rivers.  This  position  first  procured  for 
him  his  title  of  ''  Captain."  By  faithful  attention 
to  duties  not  always  pleasant,  but  always  involving 
responsibility  and  sometimes  perilous,  he  well 
earned  his  title.  The  necessity  for  a  thorough  over- 
hauling of  the  mill  and  renewal  of  the  machinery 
of  this  boat,  in  the  spring  of  1839,  brought  Captain 
Kelley  into  acquaintance  with  the  firm  of  Betts» 
Pusey  &  Harlan,  ship-builders,  and  finally  into 
business  connection  with  them.  In  the  fall  of  1840, 
after  voting  for  General  Harrison,  the  ninth  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  Captain  Kelley  went  to 
Cuba,  in  the  interests  of  Messrs.  I.  P.  Morris  &  Com- 
pany, to  erect  a  large  sugar-mill,  put  in  the  ma- 
chinery and  "  take  off  the  crop."  To  do  the  work 
indicated  by  the  last  phrase,  it  would  be  necessary 
for  him  to  harvest,  work  up,  store,  and  perhaps 
ship  the  season's  sugar  crop.  He  did  all  that  he 
was  sent  to  do  with  signal  success,  and  aft^r  eight 
months'  absence  returned  home  and  resumed  his 
calling  among  his  old  associates.  While  on  the 
train  between  Philadelphia  and  Wilmington,  com- 
ing to  the  latter  city,  he  met  Mr.  Harlan,  of  the 
ship  building  firm,  and  the  circumstances  having 
naturally  led  to  a  conversation  about  his  recent  trip 
to  the  West  Indies,  Mr.  Harlan  told  the  Captain 
that  he  would  like  to  have  him  **  take  hold  with 
their  concern — in  the  morning  -  and  hold  on,*'  The 
captain  did  as  Mr.  Harlan  wished,  and  devoted 
himself  heartily  to  the  interests  of  that  firm,  and 
has  ^*  held  on  "  steadily  and  is  now,  and  has  been 
long,  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  corporation, 
well-known  as  the  Harlan  &  Hollingsworth  Com- 
pany of  Wilmington.  The  first  important  piece 
of  work  undertaken  by  the  captain  after  he  took 
"hold"  was  the  refitting  of  the  steamer  **8un," 
which  needed  a  new  cylinder,  and  various  new  parts 


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770 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


for  her  machinery.  The  successful  accomplish- 
ment of  this  undertaking,  which  at  first  seemed  to 
be  beyond  the  ability  of  the  firm,  marked  a  new 
era  in  the  history  of  the  concern,  and  established 
it  as  the  first  iron  ship-building  yard  in  the  United 
States.  The  details  of  this  "  first  successful  effort " 
to  make  an  iron  cylinder  for  a  large  vessel,  and  of 
Captain  Kelley's  success  in  setting  it  in  place  with 
the  accompanying  machinery,  form  an  important 
epoch  in  the  history  of  ship-building  in  this  country. 
They  may  be  found  more  at  length  in  the  "  Semi- 
centennial History  of  the  Harlan  and  Hollings- 
worth  Company,  1836-1886,"  pp.  186-190.  In 
1844  Captain  Kelley  was  sought  by  Messrs.  Charles 
Warner  and  Company  as  a  desirable  person  to  be 
put  in  command  of  the  "  E.  I.  Dupont,"  a  passen- 
ger and  freight  packet  running  between  Philadel- 
phia and  Wilmington.  After  much  urging  the 
captain  consented  to  take  the  position  offered,  but 
finding  it  unsuited  to  his  tastes,  he  soon  resigned 
the  command  in  favor  of  a  young  man  named 
James  Downing,  and  returned  to  his  position  in  the 
ship-building  firm.  From  that  time  he  continued 
for  fifteen  or  eighteen  years  to  erect  all  the  machin- 
ery built  by  the  firm.  He  was  promoted,  in  187 b, 
to  the  more  responsible  position  of  superintendent 
of  dock  and  repairs  for  the  corporation. 

Captain  Kelley  was  married,  December  14, 1837, 
to  Miss  Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  Clotworthy  and 
Ellen  Bellingham,  of  Wilmington.  They  have 
had  the  following  children,  viz  ,  Emma  Jane,  wife 
of  Joseph  L.  Carter,  of  Felton,  Delaware  County, 
Pa.;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  James  M.  Williamson,  of 
Wilmington;  John  M.,  master  car-builder,  in 
charge  of  the  car-shops  of  the  Alabama  and  Great 
Southern  Railroad,  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee; 
Alexander,  formerly  a  draughtsman  for  the  H. 
and  n.  Company,  Wilmington,  but  now  deceased; 
William  P.,  a  machinist,  now  deceased ;  Samuel  H., 
deceased,  and  Ellen  E.,  wife  of  Geo.  Wright  Pier- 
son,  secretary  of  the  Jackson  Lime  and  Coal  Com- 
pany. For  over  sixty  years  Captain  Kelley  has 
been  a  communing  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  much  of  that  time  an  oflSce-bearer 
of  some  kind,  and  is  now  the  president  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
of  Wilmington.  Captain  Kelley  is  slill  quite  an 
active  man  (January,  1888),  and  having  good  health 
for  one  of  his  age,  he  enjoys  life  and  the  comforts 
of  a  delighful  home  at  213  West  Street. 

In  1854  the  company  receive  1  another  noted 
acquisition  in  the  person  of  Captain  Benson. 

Captain  Nathaniel  Ratcliffe  Benson  was  bom 
April  8,  1820,  at  Dagsboro',  Sussex  County,  Del. 
His  father,  Thomas  Benson,  was  a  millwright, 
who  married  Sarah  Hill  Irons,  of  Dagsboro'.  His 
grandfather,  Major  Benson,  was  one  of  three 
brothers  who  came  from  England  and  settled 
first  in  Virginia,  and  subsequently  removed  to 


Delaware.  In  1831,  when  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  but  eleven  years  old,  his  father  re- 
moved, with  the  family,  to  Philadelphia.  Mr. 
Benson's  educational  advantages  were  very  lim- 
ited. A  few  terms  in  the  public  schools  of  Sussex 
County  afforded  his  first  opportunity  to  learn  the 
rudiments  of  an  English  education.  But  these 
advantages  were  enjoyed  at  an  age  when  he  had 
no  adequate  appreciation  of  their  value.  His  sur- 
roundings led  his  attention  frequently,  if  not 
chiefly,  to  maritime  pursuits,  and  before  he  was 
twelve  years  old  he  began  the  struggle  of  life  in 
his  own  behalf  as  an  apprentice  cook  on  a  schooner 
of  the  type  then  term^  "  Shingle  Weavers," — a 
term  applied  to  vessels  that  carried  shingles  and 
staves  from  New  York  to  Norfolk.  His  first  voy- 
age was  taken,  in  the  capacity  mentioned,  on  the 
"  John  McLung,"  on  which  he  embarked  at  Phil- 
adelphia for  Norfolk,  Va.  This  business  he  fol- 
lowed for  three  successive  years,  spending  his 
winters  at  school  in  Wilmington. 

In  1834  Mr.  Benson  started  as  "  deck  boy  "  on 
the  wooden  side-wheel  steamboat  "  Wilmington," 
plying  between  Philadelphia  and  Wilmington, 
his  shore  duty  being  to  carry  the  mail  to  and  from 
the  post-office.  Three  years  were  passed  in  this 
position  before  another  change  came  to  relieve  the 
monotony  of  his  burdensome  existence,  so  distaste- 
ful to  the  active  and  ambitious  life.  The  next  move 
was  on  board  the  steamers  "  Providence,"  "  Narra- 
gansett  '  and  "  Mohican,"  belongingto  the  Old  Prov- 
idence Line.  The  work  here  was  that  of  fireman 
and  stoker, — a  step  higher  than  his  former  occu- 
pation. He  continued  two  years  in  this  capacity, 
and  then  shipped  for  one  year  aboard  the  tow- 
boat  "  Indiana,"  running  between  New  York  and 
Albany.  This  brought  him  to  the  year  1841  when 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  next  went  as 
fireman  on  the  wooden  side-wheel  steamboat  "  Bal- 
loon," which  ran,  for  her  first  trip,  from  New 
York  to  Norfolk,  Va.,  for  the  purpose  of  opening 
a  route  between  Norfolk  and  Richmond.  The 
next  year  the  boat  was  run  between  Philadelphia 
and  Wilmington.  Captain  Benson  remained  in 
the  capacity  of  fireman.  He  next  engaged  him- 
self, in  1844,  as  engineer  on  the  wooden  side- 
wheel  steamer  "Pioneer,"  running  in  the  Phila- 
delphia route  The  "Balloon,"  "Whildin"  and 
"  Pioneer "  all  belonged  to  Captain  Wilmon 
Whildin,  whose  name  was  long  connected  with 
the  early  history  of  steamboating  on  the  Delaware 
River. 

For  ten  years  Captain  Benson  served  as  cap- 
tain or  engineer  on  one  or  the  other  of  these 
boats,  until  on  August  14,  1854,  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  concern,  and  was,  from  the  first, 
given  his  present  position  of  superintendent  of 
hull  construction  in  the  ship-yard.  Captain  Ben- 
son has  devoted  many  years  of  earnest  labor  to 


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770  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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the  management  of  his  department,  and  has  ad- 
^  yanced  steadily  in  the  confidence  of  the  concern, 
as  in  the  good  will  of  his  associates.  His  services, 
moreover,  have  been  appreciated  by  his  employers, 
and  his  connection  with  the  company  as  a  stock- 
bolder  gives  evidence  of  the  approbation  he  has 
merited  by  his  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  all  the 
I         responsibilities  placed  upon  him. 

Mr.  Benson  was  married  October  5,  1843,  to 
Hargareth  P.umell,  of  Smyrna,  Delaware,  and  they 
have  had  the  following  children,  viz.,  Rebecca  S., 
wife  ofL.  E.  P.  Dennis,  manufacturer  of  fertilizers, 
Crisfield,  Maryland.  Susan  P.,  wife  of  Henry  C. 
English,  brass  founder,  of  Wilmington.  Sarah  H., 
wife  of  Geo.  Holton,  proprietor  of  stave-mills,  Mark 
Centre,  Ohio.  Nathaniel  R.,  a  superintendent  in ' 
the  works  of  Harlan  &  HoUingsworth  Company. 
Margaret  P.,  wife  of  E.  J.  Muhlhausen,  of  Wil- 
mington. Thomas,  with  Harlan  &  HoUingsworth 
Company.  Nellie  H.,  wife  of  Harvey  F.  Smith, 
train  dispatcher  at  Clayton,  Delaware. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Benson  purchased  and  removed  to 
his  present  handsome  residence,  at  the  junction  of 
Delaware  Avenue,  JeflTerson  and  Eleventh  Streets. 

The  period  embraced  between  the  years  1843 
and  1860  mark  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  the 
company  distinguished  by  great  results  and 
vigorous  growth.  In  1858  John  Taylor  Gause 
was  formally  admitted  to  an  equal  partnership 
in  the  concern.  The  rise  and  progress  of  this 
gentleman,  who  is  now  the  president  of  the 
corporation,  has  been  simply  phenomenal.  He 
was  bom  on  September  80,  1823,  and  comes  from 
an  English,  Welsh  and  Teutonic  stock.  His  an- 
cestors in  1682  came  from  England  in  the  company 
of  William  Penn,  and  settled  in  Chester  County, 
Pa.  The  boyhood  of  Mr.  Gause  was  passed 
on  his  father*s  farm,  and  in  his  twentieth  year  he 
came  to  Wilmington  to  seek  his  fortune.  From 
1848.  when  he  started  in  the  humble  capacity  of  an 
errand  boy,  by  diligence  and  a  conscientious  per- 
formance of  his  duties,  he  rose  through  at  least 
fourteen  successive  grades  until  to-day  he  stands  at 
the  head  of  the  corporation  where  forty- five  years 
before  he  served  in  one  of  the  lowliest  capacities. 

During  the  Civil  War  some  of  the  most  noted 
ironclads  were  constructed  for  the  government  by 
the  firm,  together  with  vessels  of  a  different  charac- 
ter, and  it  is  pleasing  to  record  that  these  vessels, 
without  exception,  fulfilled  the  terms  of  their  con- 
tract to  the  most  minute  degree.  Up  to  the  present 
time  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  vessels  of  all 
classes  have  been  built. 

Constant  improvement  has  appeared  to  be  the 
policy  of  the  company,  especially  during  the  later 
years.  One  of  the  most  important  adjuncts  of  the 
ship-yards  waa  made  in  1870,  when  a  dry  dock 
was  constructed,  with  a  capacity  for  vessels  three 
hundred  and  forty  feet  in  length.  New  machinery, 


the  most  modern  power  appliances — ^masting 
shears,  derricks,  building  ways,  etc., — and  the 
best  tools  are  to  be  found  in  shop  and 
yard.  A  railway  system  extends  throughout  the 
works,  forming  one  of  its  most  important  and 
unique  features  and  greatly  facilitating  the  hand- 
ling of  materiak,  and  an  elaborate  fire  apparatus, 
manned  by  a  regularly  organized  company  of  em- 
ployees, affords  as  strong  an  assurance  of  safety  as 
it  is  possible  to  secure.  The  number  of  employees 
varies  from  about  one  thousand  to  one  thousand 
five  hundred.  The  total  number  of  engines  em- 
ployed is  fifteen,  from  which  an  aggregate  of  four 
hundred  horse-power  is  obtained. 

Perhaps  the  best  idea  of  the  growth  of  this  con- 
cern is  conveyed  by  the  single  statement  that 
while  its  plant  in  1836  covered  an  area  of  only  forty- 
five  by  fifty-five  feet  (a  three-story  building),  its 
buildings  and  ship-yard  now  include  forty-three, 
acres  of  land  upon  both  banks  of  the  Christiana — 
certainly  no  mean  expansion.  The  buildings  number 
fifty-eight,  and  there  are  a  little  over  six  acres  of 
ground  under  roof. 

The  Puaey  &  Janes  Company, — This  company 
has  an  immense  plant,  extending  along  Rail- 
road Avenue,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Philadel- 
phia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore  passenger  station, 
with  offices  at  the  foot  of  Poplar  Street,  and  manu- 
factures all  kinds  of  heavy  machinery,  engines 
and  boilers,  and  builds  iron  and  steel  ships. 
Like  many  of  the  large  industrial  establishments 
of  Wilmington,  this  had  a  very  humble  begin- 
ning. 

In  the  year  1848  Joshua  L.  Pusey  and  John 
Jones  started  the  business,  which  has  gradually 
been  developed  into  its  present  vast  proportions. 
Their  plant,  devoted  to  general  machine-making, 
at  that  time  consisted  of  a  small  shop  located  just 
back  of  where  the  present  tool-room  stands,  and 
occupied  a  space  of  about  forty  by  seventy-five 
feet  Ten  men  were  employed  and  the  weekly  pay- 
roll amounted  to  not  more  than  one  hundred  dol- 
lars. Various  changes  took  place  in  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  firm  from  time  to  time.  In  1851, 
Edward  Betts  and  Joseph  Seal  joined  the  original 
proprietors,  and  the  firm  was  known  as  Betts, 
Pusey,  Jones  &  Seal.  These  partners  retired  in 
1857,  and  Alfred  Betts  succeeded  them,  the  style 
of  the  house  becoming  Pusey,  Jones  &  Betts. 
Alfred  Betts  gave  place  to  William  G.  Gibbons  in 
1860,  and  the  firm  became  Pusey,  Jones  &  Co. 
In  1866  John  Jones  withdrew  and  Thomas  H. 
Savery  succeeded  him,  the  firm  name  remaining 
unchanged.  The  present  incorporated  style  was 
taken  in  the  year  1879,  William  G.  Gibbons  be- 
ing president  subsequent  to  1886.  The  man- 
agement has  been  in  the  hands  of  the  following 
gentlemen:  President,  Joshua  L.  Pusey;  Vice- 
President,  Thomas  H.  Savery ;  General  Manager, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Chas.  W.  Pusey ;  Treasurer,  William  W.  Pusey  ; 
Secretary,  Samuel  C.  Biddle. 

The  plant  has  been  steadily  increased  until  it 
now  covers  seven  acres,  with  a  wharf  frontage  of 
one  thousand  feet  upon  the  Christiana,  and  con- 
sists of  a  dozen  or  more  large  shops  splendidly 
equipped  with  powerful  tools  and  machinery  of  the 
most  modern  types,  for  the  prosecution  of  the  varied 
lines  of  manufacture  which  form  the  business  of 
the  house.  These  buildings  or  departments,  enu- 
merating them  in  rude  order  from  west  to  east, 
are :  the  general  machine  shop,  the  second  story 
of  which  is  the  pattern  shop;  the  blacksmith 
shop,  the  paper  machinery  department,  with  the 
boiler  works,  tin  shop  and  rivet  factory  ;  on  the 
wharf  the  paint  and  plumbers*  and  rigging  shops, 
and  the  boat-yard  shed,  in  which  are  the  tools  used 
in  the  construction  of  vessels,  the  second  story  of 
which  is  the  mould  loiU  Next  comes  the  furnace 
shed  for  building  the  frames  and  plates  for  use  in 
the  boat-yard,  and  then  farther  east  the  saw  and 
planing-mill,  over  which  is  the  joiner  s  shop ;  the 
iron  foundry,  with  capacity  for  casting  eight  mil- 
lion pounds  annually ;  the  pattern  storage  house, 
the  brass  foundry,  store  or  supply  house,  and  still 
farther  east  the  marine  railway  and  lumber-yard. 
There  is  much  that  is  interesting  to  be  seen  in 
these  various  departments.  The  machinery  gen^ 
erally  is  elaborate  and  intricate  and  nearly  all  of 
,  it  ponderous  and  powerful  to  a  degree  that  one 
seldom  sees  surpassed.  Eleven  steam-engines  are 
used  to  develop  the  poVer  required  by  this  large 
establishment.  Huge  cranes,  some  of  them  oper- 
ated by  steam,  are  placed  here  aticl  there  through- 
out the  shops  and  yard  where  heavy  machinery  or 
parts  of  machines  are  to  be  handled.  The  iron 
foundry,  built  in  1873,  and  the  brass  foundry, 
built  in  1885,  are  model  ones,  and  there  are  facili- 
ties for  casting  almost  anything  that  may  be  de- 
manded, however  huge  or  complicated  The  writer 
saw  here  a  cylinder  for  a  cotton  compress,  having 
an  internal  diameter  of  sixty-eight  inches,  or  nearly 
six  feet,  and  weighing  over  thirteen  tons,  but  this 
is  by  no  means  one  of  the  heaviest  castings  that 
have  come  from  the  Pusey  A  Jones  Company's 
foundry.  They  cast  the  large  anchors  for  the 
Brooklyn  bridge,  which  weighed  twenty-three  tons 
each,  the  dimensions  being  so  great  the  castings 
could  not  be  transported  by  rail,  and  had  to  be 
made  at  a  foundry  having  direct  water  communi- 
cation with  New  York.  A  good  idea  of  the  im- 
mensity and  variety  of  the  work  done  at  the  estab- 
lishment is  afforded  by  a  tour  through  the  pattern 
store-house  in  which  the  wooden  patterns  fot 
almost  every  conceivable  form  of  casting  crowd 
the  shelving  of  a  large  three-story  building,  leaving 
only  narrow  aisles,  in  which  the  genius  of  the  place, 
who  has  been  seventeen  years  in  the  charge  of  the 
department,  can   walk   to  and   fro  and  lay  his 


hand  on  any  especial  pattern  that  may  be  desired 
among  the  many  thousands. 

This  great  plant,  in  which  from  seven  to  nine 
hundred  men  are  employed  at  a  weekly  expense  of 
about  $7000  (contrasting  strangely  with  the 
weekly  pay-roll  of  $100  in  1848),  is  devoted  to  the 
construction  of  iron  and  steel  ships,  the  building 
of  engines  and  boilers,  the  manufacture  of  heavy 
boat-yard  and  boiler  shop  tools,  large  and  small 
castings  of  all  descriptions  both  iron  and  brass,  the 
building  of  improved  machinery  for  paper-mills 
and  altjo  for  sugar-making  factories,  the  latter  with 
especial  reference  to  the  new  process  of  **  diffusion ;" 
also  machinery  for  powder-mills  and  for  cotton- 
presses,  building  for  the  latter  the  famous  three 
thousand  ton  Taylor  patent  compress. 

The  products  of  this  business  are  not  only  dis- 
tributed throughout  this  country,  but  are  found  in 
foreign  lands — paper  machinery  in  England, 
Scotland,  Austria,  Switzerland,  Russia  and  Japan  ; 
and  iron  and  steel  steamers  and  lighters  on  the 
rivers  of  Mexico,  Peru,  New  Granada,  Venezuela, 
Ecuador,  Brazil,  and  in  other  parts  of  South 
America.  Thirty-seven  steamers  built  by  this 
establishment  are  in  service  upon  the  river  Amazon 
and  its  tributaries,  and  the  fact  has  been  noted  that 
vessels  for  four  nations — viz. :  the  United  States, 
Brazil,  Venezuela  and  Mexico — were  upon  the 
stocks  here  at  the  same  time.  During  the  past 
twenty-five  years  the  company  has  built  over  one 
hundred  iron  and  steel  steamers  for  Mexico,  Cen- 
tral and  South  America  and  the  West  Indies, 
many  of  which  were  shipped  in  sections  and 
erected  afler  arrival  at  destination,  this  process 
being  a  specialty  with  the  company,  and  thus  while 
their  machinery  has  made  them  known  almost 
everywhere  throughout  the  civilized  world,  the 
name  of  the  Pusey  &  Jones  Company  has  been 
carried  by  their  vessels  on  nearly  all  the  waters  of 
the  Western  Hemisphere. 

Enoch  Moare*8  ship-yard  and  marine-railway  is 
at  the  foot  of  East  Fourth  Street,  and  occupies  over 
two  acres  of  ground,  including  yard,  saw-mill,  store- 
houses and  railway  for  hauling  vessels  out  prepara- 
tory to  giving  them  such  attention  as  they  may 
i^uire.  A  steam-engine  of  about  thirty  horse- 
power is  used  for  operating  the  various  appliances, 
and  about  fifty  men  are  employed.  Mr.  Moore 
builds  wooden  vessels  and  ships,  from  the  smallest 
yawl  or  yacht  up  to  the  large  full-rigged  ship,  but 
his  specialty  is  the  construction  of  steam  freight- 
barges,  and  he  has  constructed  a  large  number  of 
these  which  have  been  sent  to  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. He  has  ample  facilities  for  the  docking  and 
repairing  of  all  kinds  of  vessels,  and  in  this  respect 
his  yard  cannot  be  surpassed  even  in  such  localities 
as  Philadelphia  or  Baltimore.  A  vessel  of  as  great 
burthen  as  seven  hundred  tons  can  be  drawn  out 
of  water  high  and   dry  upon  the  marine-railway. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


773 


Mr.  Moore  has  had  a  life-long  experience  in  this 
business,  having  begun  it  in  the  firm  of  E.  &  C. 
Moore^  as  early  as  1856,  and  conducts  it  as  sole  pro- 
prietor since  1871. 

One  of  the  ships  built  at  Wilmington  had  an 
interesting  history  and  became  widely  known. 
This  was  the  brig  "Nancy,"  built  by  Barney 
Harris  at  a  ship  yard  at  the  foot  of  Marker  Street, 
and  owned  by  Joseph  Shallcroes,  Joseph  Tatnall, 
and  other  citizens  of  Wilmington,  and  commanded 
by  Captain  Hugh  Montgomery.  On  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Revolution  she  was  chartered  (in  March, 
1775)  by  Robert  Morris,  the  great  financier, 
"  without  whom  Washington's  sword  would  have 
rusted  in  its  sheath,"  to  proceed  to  the  West 
Indies  and  procure  a  cargo  of  the  munitions  of 
war.  In  March,  1776,  she  sailed  for  Porto  Rico 
under  English  colors,  taking  the  Spanish  consul, 
Don  Antonia  Serona,  to  procure  arms  and  ammu- 
nition under  a  contract  previously  made  with  the 
Spanish  government  In  order  to  elude  suspicion 
she  made  frequent  trips  to  other  islands  in  the 
vicinity,  and  while  at  St.  Thomas  her  captain 
received  the  news  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence and  the  adoption  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  as 
the  national  colors.  Captain  Montgomery  im- 
mediately procured  materials  and  had  a  flag  made, 
and  as  he  sailed  out  of  the  harbor  pulled  down 
the  English  flag  and  hoisted  the  Stars  and  Stripes, 
saluting  it  with  thirteen  guns. 

On  arriving  in  the  Delaware  he  was  chased  by 
tbe  Englbh  fleet  and  to  escape  and  save  as  much 
of  his  cargo  as  possible.  Captain  Montgomery  ran 
the  **  Nancy"  ashore  above  Cape  May  and  began 
to  unload  her.  The  English  kept  up  a  constant 
fire,  which  he  returned  with  his  guns.  At  last  he 
succeeded  in  getting  the  cargo  all  landed  except  a 
few  barrels  of  powder,  but  the  fire  of  the  British 
had  reduced  the  brig  to  a  perfect  wreck.  Deter- 
mined that  she  should  never  be  captured,  Mont- 
gomery made  his  preparations  for  blowing  her  up, 
and  taking  the  flag  which  had  been  floating  de- 
fiantly from  the  stump  of  the  mast,  he  left  the 
vessel  and  rowed  rapidly  away.  Seeing  him  leav- 
ing the  brig,  the  British  sent  their  barges  to  take 
possession  and  just  as  they  were  going  on  board 
she  blew  up,  destroying  many  lives.  Of  course 
such  a  tragical  end  to  a  vessel  built  and  owned  in 
Wilmington  created  an  immense  excitement  in  the 
town,  and  for  that  matter  throughout  the  country. 
Captain  Montgomery  was  complimented  and  fited 
as  a  hero  and  the  **  Nancy"  was  the  theme  of  song 
and  story. 

Car-Building. — Jackson  &  Sharpe  Company. — 
The  great  railroad  passenger  car  and  ship-building, 
plant  of  the  Jackson  A  Sharpe  Company,  known 
as  the  Delaware  Car  Works,  and  situated  at  the 

^  Koocb  and  CbM-ks  Moore,  u  •blpwiighta,  began  boslneis  at  the  foot 
•r  Poplar  street  October  Ifi,  1883. 


foot  of  Eighth  Street,  alongside  the  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad  tracks,  and 
between  the  Brandy  wine  and  Christiana,  constitute 
not  only  one  of  the  largest,  but  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting industrial  establishments  in  the  city.  It 
was  founded  by  Job  H.  Jackson,  and  Jacob  F. 
Sharpe  in  January,  1863,  the  erection  of  the 
first  buildings  immediately  following,  and  the 
building  of  cars  being  commenced  in  May.  The 
first  product  of  the  works,  the  pioneer  peach  or 
fruit  cars  of  Delaware,  were  finished  and  deliv- 
ered in  July,  and  thus  was  begun  the  activity  of 
this  house,  which  has  been  uninterruptedly  main- 
tained and  constantly  increased  for  almost  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  The  only  change  which 
has  occurred  in  the  house  came  about  in  1870, 
when  Mr.  Sharpe  withdrew,  and  Mr.  Jackson,  as- 
sociating with  himself  two  or  three  others,  secured 
a  charter  of  incorporation  for  Jackson  &  Sharpe 
Company,  with  a  capital  of  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  Job  H.  Jackson  became  president  of 
this  organization,  and  has  continued  in  that  posi- 
tion to  the  present  time.  Chas.  S.  Howland  is  now 
the  treasurer,  and  Eilwood  C.  Jackson,  secretary. 

Some  idea  of  the  growth  of  this  concern  may 
be  conveyed  to  him  who  reads  as  he  runs,  by  the 
simple  statement  that  at  the  outstart  the  shops  had 
capacity  for  only  six  cars,  one  hundred  men  being 
employed,  ^hile  now  the  vast  buildings  con- 
tain from  seventy  to  eighty  cars  in  various  stages 
of  construction,  and  the  number  of  employees  is 
from  one  thousand  to  eleven  hundred.  There  has 
been  a  corresponding  increase  in  steam-power,  and 
the  capabilities  of  the  plant  have  been  further  en- 
hanced by  the  introduction  of  labor-saving  ma- 
chinery, every  known  device  that  is  an  improve- 
ment upon  an  old  one  being  secured  without  re- 
gard to  cost  of  the  new  or  the  value  of  the  dis- 
carded article.  The  tract  of  land  on  which  the 
works  are  located  consists  of  about  twenty  acres, 
and  being  bounded  by  the  Christiana  and  the 
Brandywine,  and  by  the  tracks  of  the  Philadel- 
phia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad,  the 
facilities  for  shipment  are  unsurpassed.  The 
buildings,  by  successive  additions  and  new  erec- 
tions, have  extended  over  about  two-thirds  of  the 
ground,  and  constitute  an  elaborate  and  con- 
venient system,  each  of  the  greater  ones  being 
devoted  to  a  specific  purpose,  and  the  whole  form- 
ing such  a  diversified  hive  of  industry  as  is  seldom 
met  with,  even  in  this  city,  noted  for  its  colossal 
manu&ctories. 

But  before  taking  a  view  of  the  interior  of 
these  buildings  let  us  glance  for  a  moment  at  what 
may  be  called  the  out-door  interests  of  the  Jack- 
son &  Sharpe  Company.  These  may  be  said  to 
be  the  ship-yard,  and  the  lumber-yard.  This  in- 
dustrial house,  known  chiefly  as  the  builders  of 
cars,  curiously  enough,  has  constructed   and  set 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWAEE. 


afloat,  from  the  yard  on  the  Christiana,  about 
one  hundred  and  eighty  veflsels,  and  there  is  seldom 
a  time  when  from  two  to  a  half-dozen  hulls  are 
not  to  be  seen  in  various  processes  of  construction 
upon  the  stocks  or  floating  in  the  river  awaiting 
the  concluding  details  of  finish.  These  vessels 
are  of  every  variety  (except  iron),  and  most  of 
them  are  stanch,  sea-going  ships,  whose  keels 
cleave  the  waters  of  every  ocean  of  the  world, 
making  the  name  of  the  builder  known  in  the 
farthest  parts  of  the  Occident,  the  Orient  and  the 
antipodes.  The  repairing  of  ships  is  quite  a  fea- 
ture here,  and  a  fine  marine  railway  is  in  opera- 
tion, upon  which  the  man-made  monsters  of  the 
deep  can  be  hauled  up  high  and  dry,  repaired  to 
any  extent  and  slid  back  in  the  water.  The 
lumber-yard  in  itself  represents  a  vast  business. 
It  contains  almost  always  from  five  to  seven 
million  feet  of  lumber,  representing  about  a 
quarter  of  a  million  dollars.  It  is  kept  on  hand 
for  several  years — undergoing  a  seasoning  by 
natural  processes,  and  that  which  is  used  in  the 
finer  work  is,  in  addition,  carefully  kiln-dried. 
Here  are  yellow-pine,  ash,  oak,  white-wood  and 
white  pine,  for  the  substantial  parts  of  the  car, 
and  cherry,  black-walnut  and  rich  mahogany, 
from  Mexico  and  the  West  Indies,  for  the  inside 
ornamental  work. 

Within  the  buildings  this  lumber  is  rapidly 
worked  into  form,  for  building  the  cars,  by  hun- 
dreds of  machines,  many  of  them  costly  and  intri- 
cate. In  two  immense  rooms,  which  seem  perfect 
wildernesses  of  machinery  and  ever  running,  end- 
less belts,  innumerable  wheels  are  whirring,  and 
swift,  steam-driven  saws  and  blades  are  eating  their 
way  into  oaken  plank  and  beam,  and  fashioning 
more  delicate  ornaments  from  costlier  woods,  the 
drowsy  hum  of  wheels  high  in  air  mingling  with 
the  more  incisive  sound  of  those  in  contact  with 
the  wood.  The  shrieking  saws  and  rumbling 
planers  make  a  wonderful  conglomeration  of  noise ; 
but  if  one  listens  long  enough  it  seems  to  resolve 
itself  into  a  sturdy  rythmic  song  of  the  restless 
and  resistless  energy  of  labor  and  achievement 
which  has  a  dignity  of  its  own.  In  these  great 
machinery  halls  there  b  no  dust,  for  a  complicated 
system  of  huge  tubes  ramifies  throughout  the 
building,  and  there  is  an  open  mouth  at  every 
piece  of  machinery,  which  sucks  the  saw  dust  and 
other  fragments  of  wood  away  as  fast  as  they  fly 
from  the  iron,  and  presto !  they  are  stored  in  a 
great  brick  stack  contiguous  to  the  boilers,  and 
thus  the  waste  of  the  mill  is  made  to  drive  the 
engines  which  keep  all  of  this  machinery  in  mo- 
tion. 

But  these  men  who  labor  in  conjunction  with  the 
hundred  curious  and  complicated  machines  in  the 
wood-working  department  are,  after  all,  only  a 
small  portion  of  the  whole  force  employed.     Else- 


where there  are  skillful  designers,  decorators,  up- 
hobterers,  and  hundreds  of  carpenters,  cunning 
carvers  of  wood,  and  in  a  darksome,  far-extending 
shop,  by  themselves,  a  throng  of  the  swarthy  sons 
of  Tubal  Cain,  toiling  at  their  fiery  forges  and 
ringing  anvib.  Here,  too,  man*s  strongest  ser- 
vant, steam,  b  pressed  into  the  service  of  Vulcan, 
and  strikes  more  ponderous  hammer-blows  than 
can  the  arm  of  most  stalwart  man.  The  elabor- 
ate construction  of  a  modern  railroad  car,  and 
varied  nature  of  its  materiab,  and  the  trades  and 
arts  employed  in  building  it,  are  not  oft;en  thought 
of,  probably,  by  those  who  enjoy  the  luxury  of 
modern  travel ;  but  an  enumeration  of  the  trades- 
men and  mechanics  who  contribute  to  the  structure 
will  convey  some  idea  of  the  complexity  of  the 
work.  To  begin  with,  there  are  the  blacksmiths, 
of  whom  we  have  spoken  (and  the  Jackson  & 
Sharpe  Company  make  all  of  their  own  forgings), 
the  carpenter,  the  designer,  painter,  cabinet-maker, 
carver,  turner,  machinbt,  iron-founder,  brass- 
founder,  wheel-maker,  spring-maker,  pattern- 
maker, upholsterer,  hardware  man,  lamp-maker, 
stove-maker,  plumber,  steam-pipe  fitter,  china 
dealer,  glazier,  gilder,  tinsmith,  electro-plater,  rub- 
ber manufacturer,  engraver,  chaser,  letterer,  axle- 
maker,  varnisher,  carpet  weaver,  plush-maker,  tan- 
ner, the  silk,  cotton,  woolen,  thread,  oil-cloth  and 
trimming  manufacturers,  the  common  laborer,  and 
last,  but  not  least,  in  thb  year,  1887,  the  electrician, 
who  "  wires  "  the  car  and  introduces  incandescent 
lamps. 

The  process  of  building  a  car  after  the  lumber 
is  sawed  and  planed  and  otherwbe  prepared  is 
something  like  this :  It  goes  fir:$t  to  the  setting  up 
building,  where  b  performed  the  work  of  laying  the 
silb,  framing  up  and  covering  in,  a  process  which 
b  about  half-way  between  ship  building  and  house- 
building. Indeed,  the  cars,  arranged  much  in  the 
same  manner  as  when  composing  a  train,  strongly 
suggest  the  latter  when  about  half  completed,  look- 
ing not  unlike  a  row  of  well-built  miniature  houses. 
Wh<in  the  wood- work  b  completed,  the  car  goes  on 
temporary  tracks  to  the  painting-house,  where  it 
receives  a  long  course  of  treatment,  one  coat  of 
paint  aft^r  another  being  laid  on  to  the  number  of 
six.  This  b  allowed  to  dry  and  penetrate  the  wood, 
is  then  rubbed  off*  until  a  proper  surface  is  pre- 
pared for  the  three  coats  of  varnbh  which  form  the 
finbh.  Aft;er  the  painting  comes  the  uphobtering 
and  ornamenting  of  the  car.  The  seats  have  been 
made  ready  in  the  cabinet-shop,  the  cushions  pre- 
pared, etc.,  and  the  cloth  ceilings  have  received 
their  handsome  decorations  in  a  loft  set  aside  for 
the  purpose.  The  trucks,  which  have  been  made  in 
a  separate  shop,  are  brought  in,  and  the  car  being 
mounted  upon  them,  is  trundled  out  upon  the  side- 
track to  be  in  due  time  whbked  away  to  any  part 
of  the  United  States,  Canada  or  Mexico,  or  per- 


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hape  shipped  to  Australia,  Brazil,  the  Argentine 
Republic,  Central  America  or  the  West  Indies,  for 
all  of  these  lands  and  many  others  pay  tribute  un- 
to the  Jackson  &  Sharpe  Company.  The  whole 
time  occupied  in  passing  from  the  crude  material  to 
the  finished  car  is  about  two  months,  a  large  portion 
of  the  period  being  taken  up  in  the  slow  drying  of 
the  several  coats  of  paint  and  varnish.  From  seventy 
to  eighty  cars  are  constantly  undergoing  this  evo- 
lution, and  the  works  have  a  capacity  for  turning 
out  about  four  hundred  passenger,  sleeping  and 
parlor  coaches  per  year,  which,  with  the  ships  built, 
makes  a  total  annual  product  of  upwards  of  a  mil- 
lion and  a  half  dollars  value.  Since  the  establish- 
ment of  the  works  many  thousand  cars  have  been 
built,  and,  as  heretofore  mentioned,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  wooden  vessels  have  been  launched 
fix)m  the  ship-yards.  The  Jackson  &  Sharpe  Com- 
pany were  the  pioneers  in  the  building  of  narrow- 
gauge  cars,  the  first  ever  constructed  in  America 
being  delivered  by  them  at  Denver,  Colorado,  for 
the  Denver  and  Rio  Grande  Railway  Company, 
on  August  2,  1871.  Another  interesting  feature 
in  the  work  at  this  establishment  has  been  the 
building  of  palatial  private  cars,  among  others  one 
for  Dom  Pedro,  Emperor  of  Brazil,  awarded  the 
medal  at  the  Centennial  Exposition.  They  have 
also  built  many  for  the  uncrowned  kings  of  com- 
merce and  trade  in  the  United  States,  many  of 
whom  are  in  the  true  sense  of  the  term  grander 
characters  and  possess  more  power  than  the  sov- 
ereigns of  foreign  countries;  but  perhaps  the  most 
notable  item  upon  the  books  of  the  Jackson  &  Sharpe 
Company  is  one  which  refers  to  the  building  of  a 
coach  for  King  Oscar  of  Sweden.  It  is  a  fact  to 
be  proud  of  that  a  sovereign  of  the  Old  World, 
wanting  the  best  railway  car  that  could  be  pro- 
duced, should  call  into  service  the  brains  of  New 
World  artists  and  artisans,  and  beyond  this  there 
is  a  certain  striking  and  practical  significance  in  the 
fact  that  a  sumptuous  private  car  for  Sweden's 
King  should  be  built  in  1876  within  a  stone's  throw 
of  "  the  Rocks,"  forming  a  natural  wharf  in  the 
Christiana,  where  the  first  Swedish  immigrants 
landed  in  1638. 

The  Jackson  &  Sharpe  Company's  works  form  a 
model  industrial  institution,  and  one  exhibiting 
many  admirable  features  peculiar  to  itself.  The 
building  up  and  successfiil  maintenance  of  such  a 
huge  industry  is  always  a  matter  worthy  of  admi- 
ration and  respect,  and  in  this  case  deserving  of 
more  than  usual  praise  because  exhibiting  the  re- 
sults of  industry  and  acumen  in  a  man  who  has 
had  the  benefit  of  no  adventitious  aids  in  life,  and 
made  his  way  by  his  own  resources  of  ability  and 
energy  from  a  very  humble  position  in  boyhood 
and  early  manhood. 

The  Pallman  Palaee  Car  Company's  Works  is 
another  great  establishment  which  b  of  vast  benefit 


to  Wilmington.  The  works  were  originally  started 
as  a  private  enterprise  in  1871,  by  Bowers, 
&  Dure  (Thomas  W.  'Bowers  and  Henry  F. 
Dure),  and  were  successfully  carried  on  by  them 
for  several  years.  They  made  all  kinds  of  railway 
and  street  cars,  and  employed  as  many  as  three 
hundred  and  fifty  men.  Mr.  Dure  finally  became 
sole  proprietor,  and  sold  out  the  plant  and  real 
property  around  it  to  the  Pullman  Company  in 
the  summer  of  1886. 

This  company,  notwithstanding  its  huge  plant 
near  Chicago  desiring  similar  shops  in  the  East 
have  erected  the  present  commodious  buildings. 

The  work  done  here  is  rebuilding  and  repairing, 
and  yet,  it  being  the  policy  of  the  company  to 
give  every  one  of  its  cars  an  overhauling  every  six 
months,  the  aggregate  is  a  huge  accomplishment 
The  shops  have  a  capacity  for  holding  twenty- 
seven  cars,  and  about  six  hundred  can  be  handled 
in  a  year.  To  do  this  work,  an  average  force  of  six 
hundred  and  seventy-five  is  needed,  and  also  the 
best  of  machinery  in  the  difiHTerent  departments 
driven  by  an  eighty  horse  power  engine.  The  shops 
are  under  charge  of  Superintendent  A.  J.  Drake, 
who  has  been  with  the  Pullman  Company  about 
twenty-three  years,  located  at  Elmira,  New  York, 
and  at  Philadelphia,  until  the  shops  there  were 
burned,  and  the  company  located  in  Wilmington. 

The  Lohdell  Car-  Wheel  Company's  plant  is  not 
only  one  of  the  very  largest  and  oldest  manufac- 
tories of  any  kind  in  Wilmington,  but  the  oldest 
car-wheel  establishment  in  the  country,  and  it  is 
claimed  the  best  equipped  and  most  complete  for 
making  chilled  wheels  in  the  world.  The  com- 
pany also  does  a  large  business  in  manufacturing 
chilled  rails,  but  that  specialty  is  one  of  compara- 
tively recent  adoption.  The  car-wheel  works  have 
been  in  existence  over  half  a  century,  having  been 
established  in  18o6.  The  founders  were  Bonney 
&  Bush.  It  is  significant  that  whea  they  started 
their  small  works,  Ross  Winaus,  of  Baltimore,  was 
the  only  other  successful  manufacturer  in  this  line 
in  the  whole  country,  and  that  now  there  are  about 
ninety  establishments  in  the  land  with  an  annual 
capacity  of  about  one  million  five  hundred  thou- 
sand wheels  of  all  kinds  When  Bonney  &  Bush 
started,  they  considered  it  an  exceptional  day's 
work  to  cast  six  wheels  and  fit  them  to  axles,  while 
now  the  works  have  a  capacity  of  five  hundred 
wheels  per  day.  The  maximum  capacity  reached 
by  this  firm  in  1838  was  thirty  to  forty  wheels  per 
day,  with  facilities  for  fitting  possibly  one-half  to 
axles.  In  1838,  Mr.  Bonney  died,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  nephew,  George  G.  Lobdell,  the 
new  firm  bearing  the  title  of  Bush  &  Lobdell. 
The  business  grew  to  such  proportions  that  in  1844 
they  were  compelled  to  build  a  new  foundry,  with 
a  capacity  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  wheels  per 
day,  although  it  was  some  time  before  that  many 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


were  caat.  The  fitting  capacity  at  this  time  was 
not  over  fifty  per  day,  the  wheels  being  forced  on 
the  axle  by  means  of  a  ^crew-press.  In  1853  the 
new  foundry  was  burned  down,  but  was  rebuilt  as 
soon  as  possible  thereafter,  and  a  fitting-up  shop 
added ;  the  capacity  being  increased  to  two  hun- 
dred wheels  per  day,  with  facilities  for  fitting 
about  eighty.  It  was  about  this  time  that  the 
hydraulic  press  was  introduced,  which  greatly 
facilitated  fitting  wheels  to  axles.  In  1855,  Charles 
Bush,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Bush  & 
Lobdell,  died,  and  the  business  was  conducted  by 
his  heirs  and  George  G.  Lobdell  under  the  same 
name  until  1859,  when  George  Q.  Lobdell  obtained 
full  possession.  The  works  during  this  regime  were 
somewhat  enlarged  to  admit  of  casting  an  increased 
number  of  tires,  which  had  become  an  important 
part  of  the  business,  reaching,  in  fact,  a  total  of 
thirty  tires  per  day.  It  was  not  until  1867,  how- 
ever, that  the  demand  required  an  increased  out- 
put of  wheels.  During  that  year  additional 
ground  adjoining  the  works  was  bought ;  the 
capacity  for  casting  was  increased  to  two  hundred 
and  fifty  wheels  per  day,  and  for  fitting  to  seventy 
pairs.  In  the  spring  of  1867  the  Lobdell  Car- 
Wheel  Company  was  organized,  and  business 
transferred  to  that  corporation,  the  officers  being 
George  G.  Lobdell,  president ;  William  W.  Lob- 
dell, secretary;  and  P.  N.  Brennan,  treasurer. 
The  demand  increased  to  such  an  extent  that  in 
1872  it  was  found  necessary  to  build  an  additional 
foundry  and  a  large  machine-shop.  In  the  two 
foundries  three  hundred  wheels  per  day  were  cast, 
and  the  fitting  facilities  approached  one  hundred 
pairs  daily.  The  panic  of  1873  prostrated  the 
business  for  some  years,  as  it  did  nearly  all  other 
branches  of  manufacture,  and  it  was  not  until 
1880  and  1881  that  the  increased  demand  over- 
taxed the  capacity  of  the  works.  At  that  time 
further  enlargement  became  neccessary,  and  as 
there  was  no  room  for  additional  buildings  at  the 
old  site,  it  was  thought  best  to  build  an  entirely 
new  plant  on  land  owned  by  the  company  in 
South  Wilmington.  Ground  was  broken  in  the 
fall  of  1881,  and  by  July,  1882,  the  new  works  were 
ready  for  occupancy.  The  new  foundry,  which 
is  almost  entirely  built  of  brick  and  iron,  is  two 
hundred  and  eighty-six  feet  by  two  hnndred  feet, 
with  an  addition  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  feet 
by  eighty-eight  feet  for  sand-bins,  core-ovens,  etc. 
There  is  sufficient  floor-room  to  cast  seven  hundred 
and  twenty  wheels  per  day  in  the  main  building, 
and  the  sortiog-room  and  iron-shed,  which  adjoin 
the  same,  are  so  arranged  that  by  simply  remov- 
ing a  partition  of  corrugated  iron,  they  can  be 
thrown  into  the  main  building  and  also  utilized 
for  moulding  purposes.  The  cupolas,  five  in  num- 
ber, have  a  combined  melting  capacity  of  sixty 
tons  per   hour.     The  machine-shop,  pattern-shop 


and  smith-shop  are  conveniently  located  near  the 
wheel  foundry,  separated  from  it  by  the  railroad 
tracks  necessary  for  the  receipt  of  the  raw  mate- 
rials and  the  shipment  of  the  finished  products. 
The  machine-shop,  besides  the  machinery  for 
finishing  our  own  fixtures  and  doing  the  necessary 
repairs,  contains  lathes,  mills  and  presses  sufficient 
to  fit  up  one  hundred  pairs  of  wheels  per  day,  and 
is  so  arranged  that,  by  putting  in  additional 
machinery,  this  output  could  be  doubled.  Situ- 
ated within  a  half-mile  of  the  Delaware  River  and 
with  fine  dockage  upon  the  Christiana  and 
connected  by  side  tracks  with  the  Philadel- 
phia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad,  the 
company  has  as  fine  shipping  advantages  as 
could  be  desired.  In  order  to  further  assist  their 
business,  the  company  in  1880  bought  three  cold- 
blast  furnaces  in  S>outhwest  Virginia  with  the  neces- 
sary ore  beds  and  timber  lands  to  operate  them, 
and  thus  assuring  themselves  of  a  constant  supply 
of  the  best  cold -blast  charcoal  iron.  In  the  manu- 
facture of  chilled  wheels — called  •'chilled"  because 
of  the  chilling  or  hardening  of  the  surface  through 
being  cast  in  metal  moulds — there  have  been 
numerous  patents  and  some  of  the  best  by  mem- 
bers of  this  house.  George  G.  Lobdell,  in  1861, 
patented  what  is  known  as  Lobdell's  Improved 
Single  Plate  Wheel,  and  in  1869  a  combination 
wheel,  and  in  1876  William  W.  Lobdell  for  turn- 
ing, grinding  or  otherwise  trueing  the  treads  of 
chilled  wheels,  thus  insuring  a  perfectly  cylindrical 
shape. 

The  shop  where  the  manufacture  of  chilled  rolls 
for  paper-machines,  flour-mills,  etc.,  is  carried  on  is 
separate  from  the  car-wheel  works,  and  the  offices 
of  the  company  are  in  connection  with  this  latter 
building.  The  shop  is  about  five  hundred  feet 
long,  and  filled  with  all  varieties  of  machinery  used 
in  grinding  the  huge  rolls  down  to  the  perfectly 
cylindrical  form  and  smoothness  which  are 
absolute  essentials  when  the  rolls  are  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  paper  and  for  grinding  flour,  etc. 
About  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  are  employed 
here  and  about  five  hundred  in  the  car-wheel 
works.  The  company  casts  as  well  as  grinds  its 
rolls  and  has  received  premiums  upon  them  at  the 
Centennial  Exposition,  the  Paris  Exposition  and 
the  International  Cotton  Exposition  at  Atlanta,Ga., 
in  1881.  The  officers  of  the  company  (1887)  were : 
President,  George  G.  Lobdell ;  Vice-President, 
W.  W.  Lobdell;  Secretary,  George  G.  Lobdell, 
Jr. ;  Treasurer,  P.  N.  Brennan. 

Charles  Bush  was  the  eldest  son  of  David  and 
Martha  Bush  and  great-great-grandson  of  Chris- 
toph  and  Elizabeth  Bush,  the  first  progenitors  of 
the  family  of  whom  an  authentic  account  exists  in 
this  country.  He  was  bom  in  Wilmington  in  1805, 
and  was  educated  in  his  native  city. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  went  to  Baltimore  to 


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learn  the  ti*ade  of  a  machinbt.  After  attaining 
his  majority  he  was  established  in  business  by  his 
father. 

In  1835  as  a  partner  of  Jonathan  Bonney,  he 
made  the  first  movement  towards  enlarging  the 
manufacturing  enterprises  of  the  city  in  which  he 
was  born.  This  he  did  by  building  the  large 
foundry  and  machine-shop  on  the  corner  of  Second 
and  Ijombard  Streets. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Bonney,  in  1838,  a  new 
firm  was  established  under  the  title  of  Bush  & 
Lobdell.  These  gentlemen  invented  the  double- 
plate  railroad  car-wheels  now  in  use  on  all  rail- 
roads. They  built  additional  works  at  Second 
and  Lombard  Streets,  and  for  many  years  were 
the  most  extensive  manufacturers  of  car-wheels  in 
the  country,  and  derived  liberal  profits  from 
their  business.  Mr.  Bush  was  widely  known  and 
esteemed  as  an  industrious,  prudent  business  man, 
of  sterling  integrity  and  Christian  rectitude. 

He  was  one  of  the  efficient  friends  of  the  earlier 
movements  which  resulted  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Central  Presbyterian  Church. 

He  was  denied  the  privilege,  however,  of  seeing 
the  church  edifice  completed  and  dedicated.  He 
was  thrown  from  his  carriage  in  October,  1855, and 
survived  his  injuries  but  a  few  hours. 

The  widow  of  Mr.  Bush  is  still  a  resident  of 
Wilmington.  They  had  the  following  children, 
viz  :  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  H.  8.  McComb ;  David 
P. ;  Charles  C,  deceased ;  and  William  C,  a  resi- 
dent of  Wilmington. 

The  Diamond  State  Car  Spring  Company  at 
Eighth  Street  and  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington 
and  Baltimore  Railroad  tracks,  is  the  out- 
growth of  a  concern  started  as  early  as  1844 
by  Edwin  J.  Horner.  In  1872  the  works 
passed  into  the  hands  of  James  P.  Hayes  &  Co. , 
the  junior  member  of  the  firm  being  James  C. 
Pickles.  In  1883  there  grew  out  of  this  firm  the 
present  company,  which  was  duly  incorporated 
with  the  title  already  given.  The  president  is 
Nathan  H.  Davis,  and  the  secretary  and  treas- 
urer Lewis  C.  Gratz,  both  residents  of  Philadel- 
phia. The  works  occupy  a  half-acre  of  ground 
nearly  covered  with  buildings  adapted  to  the 
peculiar  line  of  manufacture,  well  supplied  with 
machinery  and  a  sixty  horse-power  engine.  The 
number  of  employees  is  about  thirty -five.  The 
company  manufactures  the  highest  grade  of  rail- 
way springs,  including  locomotive  springs,  elliptic 
springs,  freight  bolster  springs,  equalizing  springs, 
draw  and  buffer  springs,  Davis  freight  springs, 
Davis  journal  springs,  and,  indeed,  every  kind  of 
first-class  springs  required  in  the  construction  of 
locomotives  or  cars.  They  also  make  all  kinds  of 
springs  for  machinery  valves,  and  special  purposes, 
also  the  edge-rolled  spring,  under  patents,  and  the 
Davis  combined  spiral  and  car-springs. 
49i 


Machinery  — Bdts  Machine  Co. — A  firm  doing 
an  extensive  business  in  the  manufacture  of  heavy 
machinery  is  the  Betts  Machine  Company,  of 
Maryland  Avenue.  The  house  of  E.  &  A.  Betts 
was  established  in  1860,  and  incorporated  under 
its  present  title  in  1879 ;  the  present  officers  being, 
president,  Alfred  Betts;  vice-president,  William 
Betts;  treasurer,  Edward  T.  Betts.  The  plant  is 
located  on  a  tract  of  about  seven  acres  of  land,  and 
the  buildings  are  extensive,  the  foundry  having 
an  area  of  seventy  by  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet, 
the  machine  shop  four  hundred  by  fifty  feet,  the 
pattern  shop,  blacksmith  shop  and  pattern  store- 
houses one  hundred  and  twenty  by  forty  feet^ 
besides  which  are  the  office  building,  etc.  Steam- 
power  is  supplied  by  three  large  engines.  The 
facilities  for  shipment  from  these  works  are  un- 
surpassed, as  the  railroad  tracks  run  directly 
through  the  yards,  and  the  house  possesses  about 
every  convenience  desirable.  The  products  of  the 
works  consist  of  machine  tools  and  appliances  of 
all  kinds,  including  lathes,  planers,  drills,  Plotting - 
machines,  turning  and  boring-machines,  car-wheel 
borers,  cutting-off*  machines,  standard  gauges,  etc., 
for  the  manufacture  of  all  of  which  the  company 
has  the  highest  reputation  in  the  trade. 

The  Remington  Machine  Company  occupies  an 
honored  place  among  the  workers  in  iron,  and  its 
plant  i?erves  also  the  Hall  Steam  Pump  Company. 
Mr.  George  W.  Remington  started  the  business,  to 
which  the  company  bearing  his  name  succeeded, 
in  1872,  and  it  was  gradually  developed  by  him 
until  1886,  when  it  became  desirable  to  organize  a 
private  corporation.  This  was  accordingly  done. 
Mr.  Remington  being  elected  as  president ;  H.  M. 
Taylor,  secretary  and  treasurer ;  and  J.  J.  Satter- 
thwait,  superintendent.  The  particular  lines  of 
business  carried  on  are  the  building  of  engines, 
boilers,  steam-pumps,  etc.,  and  also  brass  casting 
and  finishing.  A  specialty  is  the  building  of  Cor- 
liss engines.  The  company  has  an  extensive  plant 
at  411-419  Front  Street,  the  works  being  supplied 
with  all  of  the  best  machinery  used  in  this  line  of 
manufacture,  and  employing  about  seventy-five 
skilled  mechanics.  The  market  is  found  in  all 
parts  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  The  officers 
of  the  company  are  the  same  as  those  first  chosen. 

Of  the  Hall  Steam  Pump  Company,  formerly 
doing  business  under  the  laws  of  New  Jersey,  a 
partial  reorganization  was  effected  by  the  Reming- 
ton Company,  March  15, 1887.  The  officers  are: 
president,  William  G.  Pennypacker;  vice-presi- 
dent, Frank  Taylor  (both  of  Wilmington) ;  gene- 
ral manager  and  treasurer,  E.  J.  Waring  (of  New 
York);  and  J.  J.  Satterthwait,  of  Wilmington, 
superintendent  of  the  works. 

O.  W.  Baker  &  Co, — The  specialty  of  this  firm 
is  morocco  machinery,  though  the  firm  are  general 
machinists.    The  business  was  established  in  1870 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


by  the  senior  member,  and  the  present  title  was 
adopted  in  1883,  M.  P.  Batterthwaite  being  the 
silent  partner.  The  works  occupy  buildings  at 
214,  216  and  218  French  Street  and  employ  about 
twenty  hands.  The  firm  is  prepared  to  fully  equip 
a  morocco  house  with  every  detail  in  iron  or  wood. 

A,  L.  HendereVy  general  machinist,  is  only  a 
trifle  younger  in  business  than  the  house  just  spoken 
of,  having  started  in  1872  The  plant  was  removed 
from  Christiana  Street  only  a  short  time  since  to 
Maryland  Avenue  and  Beach  Streets,  where  it  oc- 
cupies a  three-story  brick  building.  A  specialty 
of  Mr.  Henderer's  is  the  manufacture  of  boiler 
tube  expanders,  which  are  shipped  all  over  the 
country.     Stationary  engines  are  also  made. 

E  Henderer  &  Co,  are  engaged  in  general  ma- 
chine making  in  the  same  locality.  • 

The  Trump  Brothers  Machine  Company  are  heavy 
manufacturers  of  small  machinery,  such,  for  in- 
stance, are  the  "Keystone  Knitter,' '  and  also  of  bolts 
and  nuts.  They  are  located  on  Maryland  Avenue 
and  caifte  here  in  1873.  coming  irom  Rochester^ 
New  York.  The  incorporation  of  the  house  under 
its  present  title  followed  in  1879.  They  were  the 
inventors  and  patentees  of  the  famous  **  Fleetwood 
Scroll  Saw,"  of  which  they  formerly  made  immense 
numbers,  which  were  sold  throughout  the  country. 
Their  business  is  now  principally  in  hosiery  ma- 
chinery and  the  articles  heretofore  mentioned,  for 
the  former  of  which  the  sale  market  is  in  Phila- 
delphia. They  employ  about  fifty  men,  and  their 
works  are  well  supplied  with  machinery  adopted 
to  their  peculiar  line  of  manufacture.  The  president 
of  the  company  is  Charles  N.  Trump ;  vice-presi- 
dent and  treasurer,  Samuel  N.  Trump ;  secretary, 
George  R.  C.  HofTeoker ;  superintendent,  C.  Fred- 
crick  ;  and  assistant  superintendent,  William  Fred- 
erick. Some  of  the  goods  of  this  house  go  to  such 
remote  parts  of  the  world  as  Japan,  Siam  and 
Australia. 

Walker  &  Elliott,  although  general  machinists, 
make  a  specialty  of  phosphate  machinery  or  fertil- 
izer-mills, with  which  they  have  supplied  some  of 
the  leading  manufacturers  in  the  country.  The  in- 
dividual members  of  the  firm  are  V.  C.  Walker  and 
R.  T.  Elliott,  and  their  plant  is  at  Second  and 
Lombard  Streets.  It  has  been  operated  since  1880. 
J,  G,  Hirzely  No.  206  East  Second  Street,  com- 
menced business  in  1870  and  manufactures  a  bolt 
and  rivet-cutter  which  he  invented,  besides  which 
he  invented  a  drilling-machine  and  a  meat  chopper. 
He  is  now  working  on  a  vacuum-machine. 

Charles  Heinel  &  Son  commenced  in  1885  on 
East  Second  Street,  No.  206,  and  do  electric  work, 
modeling,  and  all  kinds  of  machine  work. 

Iron. — The  Diamond  State  Iron  Company. — 
The  large  works  of  this  company,  where  about 
seven  hundred  workmen  are  employed  and  the 
pay-roll  exceeds  $1000  per  day,  had  their  incep- 


tion in  a  very  small  establishment  started  in  1853, 
and  their  present  extent  and  the  solidity  of  the 
business  illustrates  what  may  be  attained  by  the 
gradual  but  constant  growth  of  a  manufacturing 
industry  under  strong  but  conservative  and  safe 
management'    In  the  year  referred  to,  Robert  S. 
Harris,  with   whom   Joshua  P.  Edge  appears  to 
have  been  associated  (but  not  as  partner,  or  at  least 
not  in  the  possession  of  property),  in  connection 
with  a  shipsmithing  business,  put  in  operation  a 
small  "  train  of  rolls  "  for  the  manufacture  of  bar 
iron,  upon  the  ground  now  covered  by  the  lower 
or  southern  part  of  the  Diamond  State  Mill.  From 
that  time  to  the  present  there  have  been  numerous 
changes  in  proprietorship  and  a  constant  increase 
in  the  capacity  of  the  works,  of  which  we  will  give 
an  outline  before  attempting  to  describe  the  plant 
as  it  now  exists.   To  begin  with,  we  find  that  Robt. 
S.  Harris  retained  ownership  only  a   couple  of 
years,  selling,  in  1865,  to  Delaplaine  McDaniel, 
William  S.  Craige  and  Joshua  P.  Edge,  who  con- 
tinued under  the  firm-name  of  McDaniel.  Craige 
&  Co.,  until  1857,  when  Mr.  Edge  retired,  his  in- 
terest being  taken  by  the  two  remaining  partners. 
In   1859    they  took    into   partnership  John   H. 
Adams,  and  the  firm-name  was  changed  to  McDan- 
iel, Adams  &  Co.     In  the  latter  part  of  the  same 
year  or  early  in  1860  Mr.  Craige  sold  out  his  in- 
terest to  the  late  Henry  Mendinhall.  and  the  firm, 
of  which  Mr.  McDaniel  and  Mr.  Adams  still  re- 
mained members,  continued  to  do  business  under 
the  firm-name  of  McDaniel,  Adams  &  Co.,  until 
June  17, 1865,  when  they  sold  out  to  the  Diamond 
State  Iron  Company,  which  had  received  its  char- 
ter the  previous  month,  and,  it  is  worthy  of  note, 
was  the  first  incorporated  manufacturing  company 
in  the  State.     The  persons  forming  this  company 
were  the  same  who  had  constituted  the  firm  just 
prior  to  incorporation,  and  they  organized  under 
their  charter  by  electing  John  H.  Adams  presi- 
dent, and  Henry  Mendinhall.  secretary  and  treas- 
urer.   Towards  the  latter  part  of  1866,  Mr.  Adams 
resigned  his  office  and  retired  from  the  company, 
disposing  of  his  interest  to  Clement  B.  Smyth,  and 
thereupon  Mr.  Mendinhall  was  elected  to  die  office 
of  president  (which  he  held  continuously  until  hia 
death,  April  28,  1887),  and  Mr.  Smyth  was  made 
treasurer.     In   October,   1866,  George  W.  Todd 
entered  the  company,  and  early  in  the  following 
year  John  T.  Davis,  a  practical  iron  man,  becacLe  a 
member  and  was  made  superintendent  of  the  works 
(which  place,  by  the  way,  he  held  until  January, 
1885,  when  he  was  elected  general  superintendent). 
Mr.  Smyth  retained  the  office  of  secretary  only 
about  two  years,  or  until  November  14,  1868,  when 
he  resigned,  and  George  W.  Todd  was  elected  as 
his  successor.     Mr.  Smyth  was  then  elected  vice- 
president  and  still  retained  the  office  of  treasurer. 
He  resigned  the  latter  in  July,  1884,  and  Mr.  Todd 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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wa9  chosen  to  fill  the  position,  which  he  did  (in 
addition  to  performing  the  duties  of  secretary)  un- 
til Julj,  1887.  At  that  time,  when  was  held  the 
first  meeting  of  the  directors  after  the  death  of 
Mr.  Mendiuhall,  Mr.  Clement  B.  Smyth  was  elect- 
ed president;  Mr.  Todd,  vice-president  (still  re- 
taining the  office  of  treasurer) ;  and  Mr.  Howard 
T.  Wallace  was  chosen  as  secretary,  and  served 
in  that  capacity  until  January,  1888,  when  he  re- 
signed that  office  to  accept  another  important  posi- 
tion with  the  company,  and  Mr.  Lewis  A.  Bower 
was  chosen  secretary.  There  have  been  no  changes 


smce. 


Up  to  1865  the  plant  consisted  of  a  small  build- 
ding,  with  only  one  engine  and  a  large  and  small 
train  of  rolls,  the  capacity  of  the  works  being  about 
fifty  tons  of  finished  iron  per  week,  and  the  num- 
ber of  employees  did  not  exceed  about  seventy, 
while  the  pay-roll  amounted  only  to  the  compari- 
tively  small  sum  of  about  $800  per  week.  Never- 
theless, the  firm  had  been  quite  successful  through 
the  war  period  under  the  greatly  stimulated  con- 
dition of  trade,  and  it  was  that  prosperity  which 
led  to  the  incorporation  of  the  Diamond  State 
Iron  Company,  and  a  very  extensive  enlargement 
of  the  plant  It  was  at  thi^  time  that  the  company 
began  the  erection  of  the  large  building  on  Church 
Street,  in  which  were  placed  two  trains  of  rolls, 
four  heating  furnaces  and  all  the  necessary  accom- 
panying implements  and  machinery,  by  which 
addition  the  capacity  of  the  works  was  more  than 
doubled.  In  1869  th«  company  enlarged  its 
possessions  by  the  purchase  of  a  considerable 
tract  of  ground  contiguous  to  its  mills  from  the 
Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Rail- 
road Company,  and  in  1870  a  great  addition 
to  the  works  was  made  by  the  erection  of  a  large 
machine  shop,  and  also  a  spike,  bolt  and  nut  shjp, 
both  of  which  were  elaborately  equipped  with  the 
best  of  machinery,  tools,  etc.,  for  the  manufacture 
of  track-fastenings,  plain  and  angle  splice  bars, 
bolts,  nuts,  washers,  spikes  and  other  railroad 
supplies. 

The  business  of  the  company  was  still  further 
increased  in  1876  by  the  purchase  of  the  property 
known  as  the  Old  Ferry*  Rol ling-Mill  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  Christiana  River,  and  in 
1883  ten  acres  of  land  adjoining  this  mill  was 
bought  by  the  company.  In  1877  was  begun  the 
.manufacture  of  horse  and  mule-shoes,  which  now 
forms  one  of  its  large  specialties. 

The  capacity  of  the  works  for  the  production  of 
finished  material  of  all  kinds  is  over  thirty  thou- 
sand gross  tons  per  year.  There  are  four  trains  of 
rolls  in  the  Diamond  State  Mills,  and  the  number 
of  heating  furnaces  at  this  mill  is  six,  and  the 
number  of  puddling  furnaces  five.  At  the  Old 
Ferry  Mill  there  are  seven  trains  of  rolls,  and 
nine  heating  and  four  puddling  furnaces.     For 


the  benefit  of  those  to  whom  these  figures  do  not 
convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  mighty  work  of 
Vulcan  performed  here,  we  may  add  a  few  more 
statistics  which  will  perhaps  be  easier  for  the  mind 
inexperienced  in  iron  manufacture  to  comprehend. 

Twenty-one  steam-engines  are  displaying  their 
restless  and  resistless  energy  in  difierent  parts  of 
the  works,  the  number  being  greater  than  in 
any  other  of  the  huge  eitablishments  which  make 
Wilmington  a  well-known  name  all  over  the 
world.  They  vary  in  size  from  quite  small  ones 
up  to  the  great  two  hundred  horse  power  Corliss 
engine,  which  is  a  magnificent  specimen  of  its 
class.  The  coal  consumption  in  the  furnace  and 
under  the  numerous  boilers  in  connection  with  the 
engines  amounts  to  about  one  hundred  tons  per 
day  and  some  da}S  more  than  one  hundred  tons  of 
finished  iron  are  produced  with  this  outlay  of  fire 
and  steam,  laboring  in  conjunction  with  the  brawn 
and  brain  of  the  hundreds  of  skilled  employees. 
As  we  have  before  said,  the  number  of  hands  en- 
gaged here  is  about  seven  hundred. 

An  inspection  of  the  works  is  very  interesting . 
The  iron  from  the  time  it  leaves  the  puddling  fur- 
nace in  a  great  glowing  mass,  like  the  "  golden 
fleece," — and  certainly  greater  possibilities  of  wealth 
than  the  fabled  article  for  which  the  ancient  Greeks 
sought, — goes  through  many  processes  before  the 
finished  product  lies  in  the  warehouse.  It  is 
griped  and  rolled  into  a  cyliodrical  form  in  the 
powerftil  rotary  squeezer,  passed  back  and  forih  by 
deft  and  strong  hands  through  the  trains  of  rolls 
until  it  comes  out  in  long  bars—the  **  merchant 
bar"  of  commerce — or  in  bars  of  other  forms  to 
undergo  still  further  manipulations  in  ponderous 
machines  which  fashion  it  into  spikes,  bolts,  nuts, 
horse  and  mule-shoes  and  many  other  articles. 
Some  of  these  muchiues, — as,  for  instance,  those 
which  form  finished  railroad  spikes  from  long 
rods  of  iron,  biting  off*  the  proper  length 
and  making  head  aud  point  at  a  single  stroke — ex- 
hibit almost  the  perfection  of  ingenuity  in  modern 
machinery.  More  striking,  however,  than  anything 
else  in  the  entire  works  are  the  automaticspike- 
machines,  located  in  the  Old  Ferry  Mill  (where, 
by  the  way,  are  also  ten  ingeniously  constructed 
horse-shoe  machines).  These  spike-machines,  un- 
like those  alluded  to,  are  fed  with  red-hot  iron, 
which,  from  the  time  it  leaves  the  rolls  is  scarcely 
touched  by  human  hands  until,  in  the  form  of  per- 
fected railroad  spikes,  it  reaches  the  keggers.  The 
process  in  brief  is  this :  The  iron  in  the  form  of  a 
white-hot  "faggot"  or*- billet,"  is  brought  from 
the  furnace  to  the  rolls,  through  which  it  passes 
several  times,  becoming  constantly  more  attenu- 
ated until  finally,  though  in  bar  shape,  it  appears 
like  a  slender,  fiery  serpent,  rearing  its  head  as  it 
comes  through  the  rolls  and  then  gliding  and 
writhing  upon  the  polished  iron  floor.   When  the 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


glowing  bar,  perhaps  fifty  or  sixty  feet  in  length, 
passes  for  the  last  time  through  the  rolls,  it  glides 
along  an  iron  trough  into  another  fiirnace,  a  long 
low  oven,  which  serves  to  keep  it  hot  until  it  reaches 
the  machines  proper.  Into  these  ponderous  and 
complicated  masses  of  wheels  two  of  the  bars 
are  creeping  side  by  side.  One  stroke  of  the 
massive  mechanism  forms  a  perfect  spike,  a)id  so 
fast  do  these  strokes  come  that  the  spikes  drop  from 
the  two  machines  that  one  cannot  well  count  them. 
They  are  caught  by  buckets  on  endless  belts,  which 
carry  them  up  still  hot  and  drop  them  with  cease- 
less thud,  thud,  thud,  into  cars  upon  a  miniature 
elevated  railroad.  The  cars  being  run  along  this 
tramway  high  overhead,  are  opened  at  the  proper 
place  automatically,  and  their  loads  of  spikes  crash 
down  upon  the  cooling  frames,  still  ruddy  from 
the  heat  of  the  furnace.  The  iron  has  passed  in 
the  space  of  two  or  three  minutes  a  distance  of  a 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  or  more  from  the  glowing 
lump  of  metal  at  the  furnace  to  the  condition  of 
the  finished  and  fast  blackening  spike  at  the 
"  keggers' "  hands. 

As  marvelous  as  are  their  spike-machines  and 
various  appliances  for  the  production  of  their 
standard  railroad  plain  and  angle  splices,  bars 
and  bolts  and  nuts  (which  are  so  well  and  favoi- 
ably  known  by  most  of  the  largest  railroads  of  the 
United  States),  possibly  no  part  of  this  establish- 
ment is  as  well  equipped  with  ingenious  and 
modern  machinery  as  their  horse-shoe  department, 
where  over  one  hundred  different  patterns  and 
sizes  of  shoes  are  made,  and,  undoubtedly,  no  part 
of  their  product  so  much  interests  the  residents  of 
the  State  of  Delaware,  as  every  owner  of  a  horse 
or  mule  should  desire  to  have  him  shod  with  the 
latest  and  best  shoe.  These  shoes  are  made  either 
of  iron  or  steel,  and  the  fact  that  during  the  past 
year  the  company  have  been  compelled  to  double 
their  capacity  to  make  these  goods,  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  their  rapidly-increasing  trade, 
speaks  more  conclusively  than  any  words  we  can 
write,  of  the  appreciation  with  which  they  are  re- 
ceived by  consumers,  their  trade  for  shoes  extend- 
ing from  Maine  to  Texas. 

The  warehouses  by  Third  Street  Bridge,  one  on 
each  side  of  the  Christiana  River,  are  kept  con- 
stantly supplied  with  the  different  products  of  the 
works  awaiting  shipment,  for  which  fine  facilities 
are  afforded  from  the  four  or  five  hundred  feet  of 
wharf.  A  cooperage,  in  which  all  of  the  kegs  used 
by  the  company  for  putting  up  spikes,  horse-shoes, 
etc.,  are  made,  adjoins  the  warehouses.  The  works 
are  lighted  throughout  by  electricity,  and  possess 
every  modern  improvement  for  economic  manufac- 
ture, as  do  the  offices  at  the  corner  of  Third  and 
Church  Streets  for  the  prompt  and  rapid  discharge 
of  business.  In  fact,  the  Diamond  State  Iron  Com- 
pany's Works  proclaim  everywhere  a  wise  and 


far-seeing  management,  and  they  constitute  an 
establishment  of  which  the  proprietors  may  be 
justly  proud. 

The  J.  Morion  Poole  Company,  makers  of  chilled 
iron  rolls  and  calenders,  is  one  of  the  large  and 
widely-known  Wilmington  manufactories,  which 
had  an  exceedingly  humble  origin,  and  grew  little 
by  little  through  constant  application  and  endeavor, 
into  its  present  greatness.  This  greatness  consists 
not  in  immensity  of  plant  or  the  employment  of 
a  host  of  men,  but  in  the  pre-eminence  attained  in 
an  exceedingly  baffling  line  of  manufactures  and 
of  the  wide-spread  acknowledgement  of  that  pre- 
eminence through  patronage,  for  the  whole  coun- 
try and  almost  every  quarter  of  the  globe  pay  this 
practical  tribute  to  the  establishment  we  are  about 
to  briefly  consider.  The  company  are  manufac- 
turers of  chilled  rolls  used  in  the  grinding  of  flour, 
the  making  of  paper,  sheet  rubber,  cloth,  and  lat- 
terly, linoleum.  It  at  first  seems  curious,  that  a 
large  house  engaged  exclusively  in  this  one  specialty 
should  have  grown  from  a  very  small  establishment 
engaged  in  the  production  of  a  great  variety  of 
articles — but  it  is,  in  accordance  with  the  spirit 
which  has  governed  manufacturing  generally  du- 
ring the  past  few  years,  and  which  has  led  to  the 
highest  excellence  of  result.  The  small  establish- 
ment referred  to,  out  of  which  the  present  one  was 
evolved  was  a  machine  shop,  started  in  1839  by 
J.  Morton  Poole,  upon  the  Brandywine  where  the 
Bancroft  mills  now  are.  Indeed  the  shop  was  in 
the  basement  of  one  of  the  old  buildings.  Here 
Mr.  Poole,  then  a  young  man,  carried  on  the  mis- 
cellaneous business  common  to  such  establishments, 
made  a  scanty  living,  and  began  that  course  of 
practical  study  and  experiment  which  in  after  years 
brought  him  success.  In  1848  he  purchased  of 
John  Merrick  an  old  building  standing  on  the  site 
of  the  present  works,  and  removing  to  this,  slight- 
ly enlarged  his  operations.  If  he  had  a  specialty, 
it  may  be  said  to  have  been  milling  machinery. 
On  May  2,  1853,  William  T.  Porter,  who  had 
learned  his  trade  with  Mr.  Poole  was  taken  into 
partnership.  From  this  time  on  the  business  was 
conducted  prosperously  enough  and  without  inci 
dient  of  unusual  note,- except  that  the  shop  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1855  ;  but  this  was  perhaps  a 
blessing  in  disguise,  for  it  enabled  the  company  to 
build  a  larger  and  more  convenient  structure  in 
which  they  could  carry  on  the  more  extensive* 
business  which  was  soon  to  come  to  them.  In  1867 
the  manufacture  of  chilled  rolls  was  commenced, 
and  for  twenty  years  it  is  safe  to  say  that  line  of 
manufacture  has  been  steadily  advancing.  What 
is  known  as  "  chilled "  roll  is  simply  a  roller  of 
regular  cylindrical  shape,  cast  in  a  metal  mould, 
by  which  process  the  surface  is  "  chilled  "  or  made 
hard  almost  to  the  degree  of  steel,  thus  permitting 
it  to  be  accurately  giound  or  polished  and  prepar. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


781 


ing  it  to  withstand  great  pressure.  It  is  the  grind- 
ing or  turning  down  of  these  rolls  that  forms  the 
difficult  part  of  their  manufacture.  They  must  be 
absolutely  true,  so  that  pairs  of  them  may  touch 
equally  throughout  their  length  and  must  turn  on 
exact  centres.  The  necessity  of  this  precision  is 
what  makes  rolls  expensive  and  the  rollmaker*s 
work  an  art  and  science.  It  is  what  made  and  still 
wakes  experiment  and  study  indispensable  to  this 
branch  of  manufacturing.  It  took  a  year's  time 
to  produce  the  first  roll  at  these  works,  and  the 
second  was  made  in  a  couple  of  days,  but  the  ma- 
kers had  got  their  education  while  bringing  to  a 
finish  the  primal  one.  The  process  after  the  roll 
is  cast  is  very  similar  to  that  of  l&the-turning  of 
wood,  in  fact  exactly  the  same  thing  except  that 
the  motion  is  exceedingly  slow,  as  no  tools  could 
withstand  the  heat  generated  by  a  rapid  motion. 
The  roll  after  being  turned  down  to  comparative 
smoothness  is  taken  to  what  is  called  the  "  grind- 
ing machine  "  which  is  simply  to  the  eye  of  the 
uninitiated  a  finer,  a  finishing  lathe,  but  which  in 
reality  is  a  very  wonder^l  piece  of  mechanism.  It 
is  upon  this  little  machine,  grimy  and  greasy, 
dripping  with  water  and  half  covered  with  iron 
cuttings  that  the  responsibility  so  to  speak,  of 
making  a  mathematically  accurate  roll  rests.  It 
is  a  big  responsibility,  but  the  little  machine  never 
fails  to  meet  it  and  perform  what  is  expected  of  it. 
The  iron  cylinder  here  slowly  revolves  upon  its 
own  axis  and  passes  horizontally  backward  and 
forward  between  two  emery  wheels  which  pare  off 
here  and  there  the  millionth  part  of  an  inch  until 
the  roll  is  perfect  and  ready  to  do  its  perfect  work 
in  the  paper-mill  or  some  other  manufactory.  It 
is  in  reality  performing  upon  ponderous  iron  as 
delicate  work  as  the  watchmaker's  or  that  employed 
by  the  producer  of  the  finest  scientific  instru' 
ments.  The  common-place  appearing  little  black 
machine  slowly  pursuing  the  purpose  of  the  man 
that  planned  it,  slowly  but  surely  brings  absolute 
exactness  out  of  roughness  and  inaccuracy  is  a 
masterpiece  of  mathematics  and  mechanics.  There 
is  a  secret  in  the  simple  appearing  mechanism 
which  many  skilled  and  scientific  mechanics  have 
looked  for  in  vain.  There  is  a  secret  even  in  the 
solid  little  emery  wheels  which  do  the  grinding  I 
But  to  the  casual  observer  the  strangest  thing  about 
this  little  wonder  is  the  way  in  which  it  is  govern- 
ed. A  man  stands  beside  it  with  a  long,  light 
mallet  in  his  hand,  and  every  few  seconds  or  min- 
utes taps  gently  upon  small  cranks  or  levers  which 
regulate  the  pressure  of  the  wheels  upon  the  roll. 
Sometimes  the  top  of  the  mallet  turns  the  crank 
half  way  around,  sometimes  it  moves  it  a  distance 
scarcely  appreciable  to  the  eye,  but  every  time  he 
moves  it  a  little  backward  or  forward,  and  his 
strokes  in  the  course  of  a  day  are  innumerable. 
The  marvellous  thing  about  it  is  that  he  is  not  gov- 


erned by  what  he  sees  but  what  he  hears.  There 
is  not  much  to  hear  at  any  time,  and  what  there  is 
seems  to  the  common  ear  drowned  in  the  voice  of 
the  many  larger  machines  throughout  the  shop 
doing  rougher  work,  but  he  notes  every  infinitesi- 
mal variation  in  the  grinding  sound,  and  if  it 
indicates  too  great  or  too  little  pressure  he 
rectifies  it.  And  so  an  ear,  more  exact  than  the 
piano-tuners  or  musician's,  is  brought  to  the  work 
of  fashioning  a  huge  iron  roll — a  work  which  most 
people  would  suppose  needed  only  brawn  and  pon- 
derous machinery. 

It  il  the  extreme  nicety  thus  employed  which 
has  made  the  chilled  rolls  of  the  Morton  Poole 
Company,  as  near  mathematical  perfection  as  is 
possible,  and  given  them  a  world-wide  reputation. 
Their  work  achieved  distinction  in  the  French 
Exposition,  of  1878,  and  specimens  of  it  have 
been  sent  to  the  paper,  cloth  or  flour  mills  of 
almost  every  manufacturing  center  of  our  own 
country,  and  to  almost  every  civilized  foreign 
country, — including  Australia.  The  works  give 
employment  to  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
men,  and  the  value  of  their  annual  output  is  not 
far  from  one  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  J.  Morton  Poole  died  in  1879,  but  his  name 
was  retained  when  the  company  was  incorporated, 
and  Mr.  William  T.  Potter  and  the  estate  of  the 
deceased  now  carry  on  the  works. 

Something  of  what  the  late  J.  Morton  Poole  ac- 
complished, has  been  shown  in  the  preceding 
sketch,  but  he  was  so  prominent  and  popular  a 
man  it  is  fitting  that  a  few  further  details  of  his 
personal  life  should  be  preserved.  He  was  born 
July  10,  1812,  in  Brandy  wine  Village,  now  a  part 
of  the  city  of  Wilmington,  and  was  a  son  of 
William  and  Sarah  (Sharple&s)  Poole.  His  father 
was  a  man  of  character  and  ability,  a  miller  by 
occupation,  deeply  interested  in  mechanical  mat- 
ters ;  a  cotemporary  and  friend  of  the  celebrated 
Oliver  Evans,  and  intimately  acquainted  with  all 
of  the  men  there  locally  prominent  in  manufac- 
turing and  kindred  pursuits.  He  named  his  son 
after  John  Morton,  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
and  advanced  of  Wilmington's  mechanics.  Young 
Poole  obtained  the  rudiments  of  his  education  in 
the  schools  of  the  village  and  at  West- town 
Academy.  He  was  then  apprenticed  to  a  machin- 
ist, in  Mattawan,  N.  Y.  Thence  he  went  to  Phil- 
adelphia where  he  attended  the  Franklin  Institute 
Lectures,  and  indulged  his  taste  by  studying 
science  and  drawing,  obtaining  much  of  the 
practical  knowledge  that  served  him  well  in  later 
years.  At  this  time  too  he  met  the  lady  who 
afterwards  became  his  wife,  and  thus  this  was  a 
peculiarly  fateful  period  in  his  life — the  seed  time 
both  of  the  success  and  the  happiness  of  his  future. 
From  Philadelphia  Mr.  Poole  went  to  Providence, 
R.  I.,  and  entered  into  partnership  with  Edward 


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HKTOEY  OS  DELAWARE. 


auu  a  tew  ottiers,  were  caiiea  upon  to  pertorm  that    speaking,  to  that  of  the  horses  represented, 
work.    Mr.  Poole  was  afterwards  a  member  of  the        The  Seidel  ik  Hastings  Company.    Among  the 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


783 


extensive  iron-industries  of  the  city  are  the  Plate 
Rolling  Mills  of  the  Seidel  &  Hastings  Company, 
whose  plant  is  located  on  Church  Street,  between 
Ninth  and  Eleventh.  The  property  having  a  front- 
age of  about  six  hundred  feet  on  the  street  first 
mentioned  and  extending  back  to  the  Brandy  wine. 
The  first  industry,  located  on  this  side,  was  a  small 
rolling-mill  built  about  1845  This  passed  into 
the  ownership  of  Henry  B.  Seidel  in  1864,  and  was 
carried  on  by  him  as  sole  proprietor  until  1867, 
when  Washington  Hastings  became  associated  with 
him  under  the  firm-name  of  Seidel  &  Hastings. 
Ten  years  later  there  was  another  change,  and 
the  style  of  the  house  became  Seidel,  Hastings  & 
Company,  the  latest  partner  being  Edward  T.  Can- 
by.  In  1884  the  house  became  an  incorporated  com- 
pany under  the  title  The  Seidel  &  Hastings  Com- 
pany with  Henry  B.  Seidel  as  president,  Washing- 
ton Hastings  vice-president  and  general  manager 
a)id  Edward  T.  Canby  as  secretary  and  treasurer. 
Such  in  brief  is  the  partnership  and  corporate  his- 
tory of  this  well-known  old  house.  There  remains 
not  much  more  to  say,  because  the  most  successful 
careers  of  companies  or  corporations,  like  those  of 
individuals,  are  very  apt  to  present  the  least  of 
event  The  firm  in  its  several  forms  has  pushed 
steadily  ahead,  and  steadily  gained  ground,  and 
held  it.  They  have  made  gradually  great  improve- 
ments, so  that  the  little  establishment,  which  was 
the  nucleus  of  the  now  great  one,  is  completely  lost 
within  it  The  original  mill,  built  in  1845,  was 
simply  for  rolling  small  iron  boiler  plates.  The 
house  now  makes  both  iron  and  steel  plates,  for 
boUere,  for  ships,  for  bridgework,  etc.  They  have 
added  two  rolling-mills  and  a  forge  for  making 
charcoal-blooms,  besides  many  other  appliances. 
The  capacity  of  the  mill  prior  to  1864  was  from  six 
to  seven  hundred  tons  of  iron  per  year,  and  the 
establishment  can  now  turn  out  about  hve  thou- 
sand tons  in  the  same  length  of  time.  That  is  to 
say,  the  output  has  been  increased  more  then  seven 
fold,  besides  being  extended  and  diversified  in  na- 
ture. The  establishment  gives  employment  to  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  hve  men.  It  contains 
seven  horizontal  engines  running  in  power  from  ten 
to  two  hundred  and  fifty  horse-power;  three  steam- 
hammers,  three  steam-hoisters,  seven  pairs  of  shears 
for  shearing  iron  ranging  from  i  to  IJ  inches  in 
thickness;  it  has  three  sets  of  rolls,  five  heating 
furnaces,  five  charcoal  forge  fires  and  six  steam 
boilers.  The  company  sells  about  fifty  per  cent  of 
its  iron  and  steal  plates  to  boiler-makers  and  ship- 
builders in  Wilmington,  and  the  rest  is  sent  all  over 
the  country  wherever  there  are  industries  in  ex- 
istence which  have  use  for  such  wares.  Con- 
siderable quantites  have  been  sent  to  San  Francisco. 
The  company  has  a  warehouse  at  1 83  Christopher 
Street,  New  York  where  quite  a  large  stock  of  the 
different  kinds  of  plates  is  kept  constantly  on  hand 


to  supply  immediate  demand.  The  members  of 
the  company  which  has  thus  been  built  up  to  large 
proportions  from  a  comparatively  humble  begin- 
ning are  all  well  known  Wilmingtonians,  and 
enjoy  individually  as  high  a  place  in  the  regard 
of  the  people  in  general  as  their  house  does  in  the 
estimation  of  the  trade. 

Washington  Hastings,  Vice-President  and  Gen- 
eral Manager  of  "The Seidel  &  Hastings  Com- 
pany "  of  Wilmington,  plate  iron  and  steel  manu- 
facturers, was  bom  in  New  Castle  County, 
September  15,  1837.  When  he  arrived  at  the  age 
of  twelve  he  removed  to  Wilmington  and  attended 
for  two  years  the  public  school  which  was  at  the 
southwest  corner  Sixth  and  French  Streets,  and 
which  is  now  used  as  a  Grerman  Church.  He 
then  attended  for  a  year  the  private  school  of 
Theodore  Hyatt,  at  that  time  in  the  building  now 
occupied  by  the  Historical  Society  of  Delaware, 
at  Tenth  and  Market  Streets.  This  ended  his 
school  life  and  being  devoid  of  the  many  advan- 
tages that  more  fortunate  young  men  have,  he  was 
compelled  to  decide  upon  a  course  of  life  that 
would  fit  him  for  a  business  career  and  with  this 
end  in  view  he  apprenticed  himself  to  a  hardware 
firm  at  Second  and  Market  streets.  Here  he 
remained  until  his  twenty-first  year  when  he 
entered  the  employ  as  a  clerk  of  the  Wilmington 
Plate  Iron  Works,  now  owned  by  the  Seidel  and 
Hastings  Company.  Here  the  inherent  business 
ability  and  tact  in  the  young  clerk  asserted  itself. 
Poss^sed  as  he  was  with  business  capabilities  of 
the  first  quality,  with  an  early  life  that  had  been 
formed  under  the  direction  and  care  of  Christian 
influence,  he  soon  won  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  his  employers,  rising  to  a  position  of  prominence 
in  the  manufacturing  community  of  Wilmington 
that  is  enviable.  Always  an  ardent  Republican, 
he  has  been  a  valued  counsellor  in  the  councils  of 
his  party,  and  his  ability  was  recognized  in  1881 
by  his  being  made  a  candidate  for  the  office  of 
Representative  to  Congress.  This  more  than 
anything  else  indicates  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held,  for  in  Delaware  either  party  rarely  goes  out 
of  the  bar  to  obtain  candidates  for  the  national 
congress.  The  campaign  that  followed  was  the 
most  fiercely  contested  known  in  the  history  of 
the  State,  the  largest  vote  ever  polled  being 
cast,  and  his  election  was  for  a  time  re- 
garded as  more  than  probable,  but — as  usual 
in  this  State  the  large  Democratic  majority 
was  found  impossible  to  be  overcome.  This  is  the 
only  office  that  Mr.  Hastings  was  ever  a  candi- 
date for. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen  Mr.  Hastings  connected 
himself  with  the  St.  PauFs  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  this  tells  the  story  as  much  of  his 
success  in  life  as  any  other  one  thing.  In  1865, 
with  a  number  of  prominent  members  of  St.  Paul's 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


they  organized  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Ninth  and  West  Streets.  Here  he  has 
been  active  ever  since,  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday  school 
since  its  organization  and  of  late  years  its  superin- 
dent.  He  was  elected  President  of  the  Wilming- 
ton Board  of  Trade  in  1874  and  a  delegate  to  the 
Convention  of  Merchants  and  Manufacturers  held 
in  Washington  in  1876.  He  is  also  a  director  of 
the  Artisans*  Saving  Bank,  a  manager  of  the  Home, 
for  Friendless  and  Destitute  Children  of  Wilming- 
ton, and  a  number  of  other  benevolent  institutions 
in  a  quiet  way. 

He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  National 
Convention  held  in  Chicago  in  1884,  which  nomi- 
nated James  G.  Blaine ;  Mr.  Hastings,  however, 
voted  for  President  Arthur  on  all  the  four  ballots. 

September  20,  1864,  he  was  married  to  Miss. 
Catharine,  daughter  of  the  late  Samuel  McCaulley, 
Esq.,  of  Wilmington.  William  P.  Hastings  now 
a  young  man  is  the  only  child. 

The  Ainsivorth  Boiler  and  Pipe  Covering  Com- 
pany on  East  Fourth  Street,  No.  521,  was  incor- 
porated in  1885,  when  the  company  was  formed 
but  the  business  was  started  about  1872.  They 
employ  seven  men  and  cover  steam  boilers,  pipes 
and  steam  heated  surfaces  with  plastic  cement  and 
felting,  using  about  five  hundred  tons  of  material 
and  covering  from  fifteen  to  twenty  thousand 
square  feet  of  surface  per  year. 

The  McCullaugh  Iron  Company  occupy  about 
seven  acres  of  ground  lying  between  the  Phila- 
delphia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad  and 
the  Christiana  River,  at  the  foot  of  Seventh  Street. 
Upon  this  they  have  erected  the  Minquas  Iron 
Works  for  the  manufacture  of  sheet  iron.  These 
mills  were  completed  and  first  went  into  operation 
in  September,  1875.  The  principal  buildings  are 
two  structures,  each  about  eighty  by  two  hundred 
feet,  built  of  corrugated  galvanized  iron  and  con- 
taining machinery,  furnaces  and  apparatus  of  the 
best  character  for  the  production  of  tine  sheet  iron. 
The  total  cost  of  the  plant,  including  the  ground, 
$250,000,  and  the  annual  product  is  three  thousand 
tons.  The  iron  manufactured  here  is  well  known 
among  consumers  of  iron  throughout  the  whole 
country  aa  "  Harvey's  Patent  Cleaned  **  iron. 
This  name  is  derived  from  the  machine  by  which 
the  finish  is  imparted  to  the  sheets,  being  the  in- 
vention of  Mr.  E.  A.  Harvey,  the  present  president 
of  the  company.  It  consists  of  very  ingenious  and 
complicated  mechanism  for  removing  the  dust  and 
dirt  from  the  surface  of  the  sheets,  thereby  obvi- 
ating what  had  previously  been  the  great  objec- 
tion to  the  use  of  the  ordinary  black  sheet  iron. 
About  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  are  employed 
in  the  mills  and  the  yearly  expenditure  for  wages 
is  about  $100,000.  The  company  is  incorporated 
in  the  States  of  Delaware  and  Maryland,  and  the 


Minquas  mill  is  one  of  four  mills  belonging  to  and 
operated  by  the  same  company.  The  largest  one  of 
their  Maryland  mills  is  situated  at  North  East, 
Cecil  County,  and  stands  upon  the  site  of  the  old 
forge  and  furnace  formerly  owned  and  operated 
by  the  Principio  Company,  an  English  organiza- 
tion which  existed  before  the  days  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. As  far  back  as  1725  the  Principio  company 
had  acquired  land  in  Cecil  County  and  elsewhere 
in  Maryland  and  Virginia.  They  opened  exten- 
sive ore  banks  and  developed  in  the  courie  of  the 
next  fi fly  years  a  very  large  industry  in  making 
pig  iron  and  bar  iron.  For  many  years  the 
greater  portion  of  the  iron  made  by  them  was 
sent  over  to  England  for  use  in  that  country. 
During  the  Revolution  the  property  of  the  Prin- 
cipio company  was  confiscated  as  belonging  to 
British  subjects,  and  was  sold  by  the  State,  except 
two  portions,  one  the  share  of  Thomas  Russell, 
their  manager  in  Maryland,  who  remained  loyal 
to  the  Continental  government  and  the  other 
being  the  share  originally  owned  by  Lawrence 
Washington,  brother  of  George  Washington,  who 
received  it  from  their  father  Augustine  Washing- 
ton, who  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the 
Principio  company.  The  Virginia  furnace,  named 
Accokeek,  was  situated  not  far  from  the  estate. 

The  McCul lough  Iron  Company  was  the  out- 
growth of  a  partnership  beginning  in  1847,  when 
Delaplaine  McDaniel,  Jethro  J.  McCullough  and 
E  A.  Harvey,  all  residents  of  Delaware,  joined 
together  to  purchase  the  small  iron  works  at  North 
East,  Maryland,  then  standing  idle.  Under  the 
name  of  McCullough  &  Company  they  proceeded 
to  put  the  property  in  order  and  began  the  manu- 
facture of  sheet  iron.  In  this  they  were  very  suc- 
cessful, and  in  1867  they  added  to  their  works  the 
mill  on  the  Octoraro  Creek,  at  Rowlands ville,  Md., 
which  had  formerly  been  owned  and  worked  by 
Joseph  Roman.  In  1865  they  were  incorporated 
as  the  McCullough  Iron  Company,  and  included 
with  their  other  property  the  West  Am  well  mill, 
near  Elkton,  Md.,  which  had  been  owned  and 
operated  for  a  few  years  preceding  by  Mr.  E.  A. 
Harvey.  In  1875,  as  above  stated,  they  still 
further  enlarged  their  capacity  by  building  the 
Minquas  mill.  In  addition  to  this  they  had  estab- 
lished in  Philadelphia  their  central  office  and 
warerooms  and  the  large  galvanizing  works,  at 
which  is  galvanized  a  large  proportion  of  the  sheet 
iron  produced  at  their  mills.  The  site  in  Wil- 
mington upon  which  the  Minquas  mills  are  located 
is  the  place  where  the  first  sheet  iron  was  first 
galvanized  in  the  United  States.  In  1853  McCul- 
lough &  Co.  secured  some  trained  workmen  from 
England,  and  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  E.  A. 
Harvey  erected  a  small  galvanizing  works,  which 
was  the  starting  point  of  the  manufacture  of  gal- 
vanized sheet  iron  in  this  country. 


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785 


The  President  of  the  MeCullough  Iron  Company 
from  its  organization  until  his  death  in  1885  (ex- 
cept during  several  years  of  ill  health)  was  Mr. 
Delaplaine  McDaniel,  who  had  been  the  promi- 
nent and  active  man  in  the  management  of  its 
affkira  from  the  beginning.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Mr.  E.  A.  Harvey,  the  present  incumbent  of  the 
office.  The  third  of  the  original  members,  Mr. 
Jethro  J.  MeCullough,  died  in  1878. 

H.  F.  Pickles  Foundry  Co.,  Thirteenth  and 
Heald  Streets,  was  established  in  1868.  They  em- 
ploy from  thirty  to  one  hundred  men,  and  do  archi- 
tectural and  all  kinds  of  light  castings.  Capacity, 
six  tons  of  castings  a  day. 

Cleaver  <fe  Hollis,  of  Market  Street,  began  in 
1884  the  manufacture  of  wrought  iron  house  heat- 
ers and  tin  ware,  and  have  developed  a  trade  which 
in  1887  rendered  a  new  building  necessary.  An 
extensive  tinning  business  is  also  carried  on  by 
Rease  &  Brother,  at  6  East  Fourth  Street. 

John  Taylor  carries  on  the  manufacture  of 
freight  elevators  and  ship  steering  apparatus,  at 
the  foot  of  Tatnall  Street,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  the  trade  for  over  twenty  years. 

Saws  are  manufactured  by  G.  L.  Norris,  at  222 
West  Second  Street,  the  establishment  being  known 
as  the  Wilmington  Saw  Works.  The  business, 
which  was  established  January  1,  1886,  consists 
chiefly  of  repairing. 

Boilers  are  made  by  S,  S.  Adams,  Jr.,  at  609 
West  Front  Street.  The  establishment  is  a  com- 
paratively new  one,»  and  makes  more  pretence  to 
fineness  than  to  magnitude  of  work. 

Machine  Tools,  Etc. — Hilles  &  Jones'  Mor 
chine  Tool  Works, — Ih  the  year  1854  John  S. 
Crossley  and  Samuel  Davis,  two  machinists  then 
in  the  employ  of  Pusey  &  Jones,  of  Wilmington, 
were  desirous  of  going  into  the  business  of  building 
machinists'  tools,  for  which  there  seemed  to  be  a 
great  demand,  there  being  but  few  tool  manufac- 
turers in  this  country  at  that  time.  Their  means 
being  very  limited,  they  began  in  a  small  way, 
erecting  a  building  at  the  corner  of  Ninth  and 
Church  Streets,  which  at  that  time  was  far  from 
the  business  part  of  the  town.  The  streets  were 
not  paved  and  almost  impassable  in  winter.  This 
partnership  existed  but  a  short  time,  the  firm  be- 
coming Crossley  &  Allen ;  it  was  again  changed 
to  Crossley  &  Barr,  and  then  to  Robert  H. 
Barr.  In  1862  William  S.  Hilles  became  associ- 
ated with  Robert  H.  Barr,  forming  the  co-partner- 
ship of  Robert  H.  Barr  &  Co.,  and  in  1863  Henry 
C.  Jones  was  admitted  without  changing  the  firm 
name.  They  now  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
engines  and  boilers,  and  also  built  several  wooden 
vessels,  the  largest  of  which  was  the  seven  hundred 
ton  schooner,  called  "  William  S.  Hilles."  At  the 
close  of  the  war  they  abandoned  vessel  building 
50 


and  gave  their  whole  attention  to  the  machine  and 
boiler  building,  and  were  quite  successful. 

In  1870  Robert  H.  Barr  retiring  from  the  busi- 
ness, William  S.  Hilles  and  Henry  C.  Jones  con- 
tinued it  under  the  style  of  Hilles  &  Jones.  Mr. 
Hilles  not  being  a  practical  machinist,  he  attended 
to  the  finances  while  Mr.  Jones  did  the  designing 
and  managed  the  business.  While  the  business 
was  not  large,  yet  by  constant  attention  and  hard 
work  it  grew  steadily,  and  the  machinery  acquired 
a  good  reputation.  The  firm's  financial  condition 
was  such  as  to  easily  withstand  the  depreciation  of 
values  and  panic  commencing  with  1873.  In  1876 
William  S.  Hilles,  being  in  ill  health,  was  advised 
to  go  abroad,  and  while  travelling  with  his  son,  T. 
Allen  Hilles,  died  suddenly  at  Nice,  France.  The 
firm  continued  without  change,  Mrs.  William  S. 
Hilles  retaining  her  husband's  interest  and  Mr. 
Jones  assuming  entire  control  of  all  the  firm's  busi- 
ness. He  gradually  changed  it  from  the  produc- 
tion of  all  kinds  of  machinery  to  a  special  line  of 
tools  for  locomotive  builders,  railroad  shops,  boiler- 
makers  and  bridge  builders.  In  1885  T.  Allen 
Hilles,  son  of  the  late  William  8.  Hilles,  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  firm,  having  had  experience  with  all 
the  diflferent  classas  of  work,  to  give  him  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  business.  The  works  now 
occupy,  approximately,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
on  Church  Street,  six  hundred  feet  on  Ninth  Street, 
with  a  good  wharf  frontage  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty-five  feet  on  the  Brandy  wine  River.  Rail- 
road tracks  in  the  various  shops  give  direct  ship- 
ping facilities  to  all  parts  of  the  country. 

Oawthrop  &  Brother  carry  on  at  102  and  104 
West  Fourth  Street,  in  a  handsome  building 
erected  by  them,  the  manufacture  of  plumbers, 
steam  and  gas  fitters'  supplies,  and  they  are  also 
gas  fitters  and  plumbers  themselves,  and  deal  ex- 
tensively in  gas  fixtures.  The  manufacture  was 
begun  by  the  father  of  the  present  proprietors, 
Allen  Gawthrop,  in  1854,  the  present  firm  suc- 
ceeding in  ]  868.  Their  great  specialty  is  steam- 
fitting  and  sanitary  engineering.  Among  special- 
ties handled  by  them,  we  will  instance  Nason  & 
Co.'s  Steam  Appliances,  Knowles  Steam  Pumps, 
Consolidated  Pop  Safety  Valves,  and  H.  Belfield 
&  Co.'s  Steam  Fittings.  They  are  also  manufac- 
turers of  the  Gawthrop  boiler  for  low  pressure 
steam  heating.  An  appliance  said  to  be  unex- 
celled for  this  purpose.  They  have  introduced 
steam  heating  apparatus  into  the  Opera  House, 
School  Building,  Clayton  House,  and  over  thirty 
private  dwellings  in  Wilmington,  besides  many 
elsewhere.  Their  business  extends  throughout  the 
peninsula,  and  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  New 
Jersey.  They  employ  a  large  force  of  highly- 
skilled  mechanics,  and  the  machinery  in  their 
works  is  operated  by  a  thirty  horse-power  engine, 
while  the  boiler,  of  the  same  capacity,  also  sup- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


plies  fi(team  to  heat  the  building.  The  factory  is 
supplied  with  the  best  of  machinery  and  utensils, 
and  is  a  model  establishment  in  all  particulars. 
The  individual  members  of  the  firm  are  J.  New- 
lin  Gawthrop  and  Alfred  Grawthrop. 

John  C.  Brison  is  extensively  engaged  in  plumb- 
ing, and  well-known  for  his  excellent  work. 

Allen  Speakman  carries  on  the   same   business. 

Flouring  Mills. — The  Brandywine  Mills,  now 
owned  by  The  William  Lea  &  Sons*  Company,  and 
for  over  a  century  in  the  possession  of  the  family 
now  controlling  them,  constitute  one  of  the  his- 
toric institutions  of  AVilmington,  and  their  story 
fully  written  out,  giving  the  details  of  their  develop- 
ment, from  the  time  of  their  establishment,  long 
before  the  Revolution,  to  the  present,  would  afford 
a  complete  picture  of  the  rise  of  the  milling  inter- 
est in  the  United  States.  From  the  time  they  were 
built  until  within  a  few  decades,  they  held  their 
place  as  the  finest  mills  on  the  continent,  regulat- 
ing the  price  of  grain  through  a  very  extensive 
portion  of  the  country,  and  supplying  the  bulk  of 
exports  to  the  AVest  Indies  and  other  places. 
There  came  a  period,  indeed,  when  they  were  tem- 
porarily surpassed,  but  then  later  owners  seem  to 
have  possessed  the  same  vigor  and  mastery  of  busi- 
ness which  characterized  their  fathers  and  pre- 
decessors, and  renewed  their  endeavors  in  the  race 
of  excellence.  And  so  it  happens  that  "The 
Brandywine  Mills,"  of  the  present  day,  bear  very 
much  the  same  relative  position  that  the  old  ones 
did,  to  the  industry  of  the  region.  The  proprie- 
tors have  availed  themselves  of  all  that  is  best  in 
modern  machinery  and  processes,  adding  inven- 
tions of  their  own,  and  the  result  of  their  long 
and  intimate  experience  in  the  business.  Thus 
these  mills  enjoy  a  distinction,  difierent  from  it  is 
true,  but  far  exceeding  that  of  the  primitive 
ones  from  which  they  have  been  developed. 
There  are  larger  mills  in  the  country,  but  none 
that  are  better  appointed,  that  do  finer  work,  or 
whose  products  are  more  widely  or  more  uniformly 
sought. 

The  great  value  of  the  water-power  of  the 
Brandywine,  obtained  early  recognition,  and  we 
find  that  even  before  Wilmington  was  settled  as  a 
village  there  had  come  those  shrewd  enough  to 
avail  themselves  of  it,  to  stay  for  a  time  its  rushing, 
tumbling  tide  that  it  might  gather  strength  to 
turn  the  wheels  of  mills.  In  a  deed  bearing  date 
of  May  1,  1729,  for  a  narrow  strip  of  land  along 
the  South  side  of  the  stream,  which  can  now  be 
best  described  as  extending  from  French  to  Adams 
Street,  mention  is  made  among  other  buildings,  of 
"Two  Grist  Mills"  and  "Two  Boulting  Mills," 
etc.  This  property  (owned  as  early  as  1671,  by 
Dr.  Tyman  Stidham)  was  conveyed  at  the  date 
first  mentioned,  by  Samuel  Kirk  to  John  Rich- 
ardson.     It    was  subsequently    repurchased    by 


Kirk  and  passed  in  a  few  years  through  several 
hands,  a  portion  in  1749,  and  finally  all  coming 
into  possession  of  Oliver  Canby.  Heretofore  no 
allusion  has  been  made  by  local  writers  to  the  two 
grist  mills  which  we  have  shown  by  the  deed  from 
Kirk  to  Richardson,  to  have  stood  upon  the 
Brandywine,  in  1729.  Oliver  Canby  has  always 
been  stated  to  have  built  the  first  in  1742,  and 
that  he  did  build  one  is  undeniable,  but  his  mill 
had  certainly  two  predecessors,  however  humble 
they  may  have  been.  They  doubtless  were  exceed- 
ingly crude  affairs,  and  that  fact,  together  with 
the  additional  one,  that  both  were  destroyed  by 
fire  at  an  early  day,  accounts  for  their  lapse  into 
oblivion  so  far  as  the  memory  of  man  goes. 
Canby's  was  probably  the  first  mill  of  any  import- 
ance. It  stood  by  the  side  of  the  creek  just  below 
the  northeasterly   termination   of  Orange  street. 

To  that  mill  the  Swedes  and  other  early  settlers 
brought  their  grist  in  small  row  boats,  from  the 
New  Jersey  shore  of  the  Delaware,  as  well  as 
various  outlets  along  the  Eastern  Shore,  and  up  the 
Christiana.  Oliver  Canby  died  about  1755,  and 
the  mill  became  the  property  of  Thomas  Shipley, 
in  the  following  year.  It  was  only  a  few  years 
after  this  that  Shipley  bought  land  along  the 
creek  between  the  terminations  of  French  and 
Market  Streets,  and  here  he  built,  in  1762,  the 
structure  which  became  famous  as  "  The  Ohl 
Shipley  Mill."  In  this  he  invested  the  fiinds  from 
the  Oliver  Canby  estate,  and  the  mill  eventually 
became  the  property  of  William  Canby.  Other 
milL*  were  built  soon  after  *  this  one  upon  the 
South  side  of  the  stream. 

It  was  not  believed  at  this  time  when  the  Vater 
power  was  condemned  to  the  owners  on  the  South 
side,  that  the  North  side  could  be  improved,  on 
account  of  a  mass  of  rock  jutting  into  the  river, 
but  nevertheless  half  the  water  was  reserved  to 
the  owners  there,  and  in  1770,  James  and  William 
Marshall  contracted  with  the  owners  to  build  a 
race  and  make  the  necessary  improvements  there. 
They  also  built  a  mill.  The  digging  of  the  race, 
however,  proved  more  of  an  undertaking  than 
they  had  expected,  and  they  sold  the  contract  to 
Joseph  Tatuall,  who  was  precisely  the  man 
needed  at  this  juncture  of  affairs,  and  whose 
energy  was  of  great  utility  in  developing  their 
great  milling  business  on  the  Brandywine.  He 
gave  up  his  interests  on  the  South  side  to  his  part- 
ners, built  extensive  mills  upon  the  North  side, 
and  established  a  large  business  there.  His 
son-in-law,  Thomas  Lea,  who  became  associated 
with  him,  was  another  of  the  wealthy,  enterprising 
men  of  the  day,  and  did  as  much  as  Joseph  Tat- 
nall  to  utilize  this  valuable  water  power.  Wil- 
liam Poole,  William. Canby,  George  Evans,  John 
Morton  and  John  Welsh  were  contemporaries, 
and  later  John  Bulkley  and  Cheney  Broom  be- 


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THE  WILLIAM  LEA  &  SONS  COMPANY, 

BRANDYWINE  MILLS,  WILMINGTON,  DEL. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTiT. 


787 


came  interested  in  these  mills,  though  Thomas 
Shipley  and  Joseph  Tatnall  remained  the  active 
and  vital  forces  in  the  enterprise,  and  to  them,  with 
Thomas  Lea,  must  be  ascribed  the  worth  and  fame 
which  was  attained  by  the  Brandy  wine  Milb 
from  the  outstart.  Building  went  on  with  almost 
equal  rapidity  on  both  sides  of  the  creek,  and  as 
early  as  1764  there  was  in  operation  a  group  of 
eight  mills,  four  on  each  side. 

During  the  period  of  the  Revolutionary  War, 
the  owners  of  these  mills,  through  Robert  Morris, 
Washington's  financier,  supplied  very  consider- 
able quantities  of  flour  and  meal  to  the  patriot 
troops  encamped  at  various  times  in  this  region. 
Shortly  before  the  memorable  battle  of  the  Bran- 
djwine,  Washington  ordered  the  dismantling  of 
several  mills  in  Northern  Delaware  and  contiguous 
portions  of  Pennsylvania  for  fear  that  they  might 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  British,  whom  it  was  ap- 
prehended would  cross  the  Brandywine  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Wilmington,  and  be  operated  by  them  for 
the  sustenance  of  their  army.  These  mills  were 
among  them.  The  order,  signed  by  Washington, 
and  cautioning  the  utmost  haste  and  great  secrecy 
in  the  removal  of  the  "  running  "  or  upper  stones 
to  a  safe  distance,  is  still  preserved.  The  work 
was  duly  accomplished.  Soldiers,  coming  with 
wagons  to  the  Brandywine,  conveyed  them  to 
Chester  County,  Pennsylvania.  After  safety  had 
been  assured,  Thomas  Lea  was  sent  to  ask  a  return 
of  the  stones,  and  Washington,  although  signifying 
his  willingness,  neglected,  amid  the  hurry  and  con- 
fusion of  the  time,  to  give  an  order.  They  were 
ultimately  recovered,  for  by  the  order  of  the  great 
commander  himself,  they  had  been  marked  to  dis- 
tinguish them  from  others  taken  at  the  same  time. 

It  was  during  the  Revolution  that  wheat  and 
flour  brought  the  highest  (apparent)  prices  ever 
known  in  the  history  of  milling.  The  old  books 
at  the  Brandywine  Mills  show  that  in  1780  wheat 
was  bought  at  twenty-four  dollars  a  bushel,  and 
that  some  three  or  four  hundred  barrels  of  flour 
were  sold  for  the  gross  sum  of  twenty-one  thousand 
pounds.  It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  the  currency 
was  somewhat  inflated  at  that  period. 

After  the  Revolution  some  curious  laws,  ren- 
dered necessary  by  the  condition  of  those  days, 
were  passed  affecting  the  military  interest.  In 
1785  the  Legislature  of  Delaware  issued  an  act 
compelling  certain  mills,  as  those  on  the  Christi- 
ana,  to  grind  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  county 
(New  Castle)  on  Monday  and  Saturday  of  each 
week  ;  others,  as  those  on  the  Brandywine,  above 
the  bridge,  on  the  road  leading  from  Wilmington 
to  Chester,  were  excepted,  their  rule  being  "  first 
come,  first  served,"  but  those  below  the  bridge 
were  to  be  regulated  by  the  Court  of  Quarter  Ses- 
sions, which  was  to  "/i  and  determine  which  day  in 
every  week  for  the  next  year  the  said  mills  should 


appropriate  to  the  grinding  and  manufacturing  of 
wheat  and  any  other  grain  for  the  family  consump- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  of  the  county. 

"  Beginning  with  the  mills  known  by  the  name 
of  Shipley's  and  Canby's  and  Marshall's,  and  then 
fixing  the  days  of  rotation  so  that  two  milb  on 
every  day  of  each  week  may  be  employed  in  that 
service.  This  to  be  advertised  at  the  door  of  every 
mill,  and  also  at  five  of  the  most  public  places  in 
Brandywine  and  Christiana  Hundreds."  Neglect 
or  refusal  to  obey  this  law  was  punishable  by  a  fine 
of  twenty  shillings. 

Laws  were  also  framed  in  the  several  States  prior 
to  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution  regu- 
lating intercourse  with  foreign  nations.  The  laws 
bearing  upon  this  matter  were  much  more  stringent 
in  Pennsylvania  than  in  Delaware,  and  conse- 
quently a  large  shipping  trade  sprang  up  between 
Wilmington  and  the  West  Indies  Corn-meal 
was  in  great  demand  in  this  trade  and  was  shipped 
in  large  quantities,  but  it  invariably  spoiled  before 
reaching  destination.  It  was  then  suggested  at  the 
Brandywine  Mills  that  the  com  be  dried  before 
grinding.  An  experiment  was  tried  by  drying 
some  in  a  malt-house,  and  being  found  to  answer, 
drying-  houses,  similar  to  malt  houses,  were  con- 
structed alongside  the  mills,  with  brick  floors  and 
heated  by  flues  and  turned  over  with  shovels  every 
half-hour.  In  this  primitive  way  about  two 
hundred  bushels  could  be  dried  every  twenty- four 
hours.  The  proprietors  of  these  mills,  anxious  to 
improve  their  facilities,  purchased  in  1812,  of  John 
R.  Parry,  of  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania, 
for  eighty  dollars,  the  right  to  construct  and  use 
his  "patent  machine  for  kiln-drying  com,  etc." 
but  whether  it  was  found  a  success  is  not  known. 
About  1816  one  Crook,  of  New  Hope,  Pennsylva- 
nia, invented  the  pan-kiln,  which,  until  lately,  was 
used  very  much  as  originally  constructed;  and 
even  now,  though  large  quantities  are  manufac- 
tured in  other  parts  of  the  country,  the  Brandy- 
wine meal  is  largely  preferred  by  shippers. 

In  the  old  days  of  the  mills  there  were,  perhaps, 
more  conspicuous  indications  of  activity  and  of 
huge  business  than  now.  For  the  railroads  handle 
thousands  of  bushels  of  grain  and  flour  swifter 
and  with  less  of  outward  show  of  labor  than  did 
the  cumbersome  Conestoga  wagons  carry  their 
hundreds.  These  Conestogas,  or  "  inland  ships," 
which  brought  grist  to  the  mills,  were  mighty  ve- 
hicles constructed  to  carry  huge  loads,  and  need- 
ing teams  of  six  horses  to  move  them  to  good  ad- 
vantage on  the  average  road.  They  came  to  the 
mills  from  a  wide  circuit,  from  Dauphin,  Lan- 
caster, York,  Berks  and  Chester  Counties,  in 
Pennsylvania,  usually  in  companies  or  droves,  of 
from  twenty  to  thirty,  blocking  the  streets  for 
squares.  The  rumbling  wheels,  clattering  hoofs, 
mingled  with  the  noisy  shoutings  and   clamorings 

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788  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 

of  the  Dutch  driverSj  produced   an   almost  pros-    ^.anj.     The  mills  are  supplied  with  the  latest  im- 


'    ' .      \' 


I  1 
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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


789 


the  Brandy  wine  Mills,  and  was  for  a  time  president  of 
the  Bank  of  Delaware.  He  died  at  his  residence  in 
Brandywine  Village  in  his  sixty-seventh  year,  univer- 
sally respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  prominent  men  of  his  day  in  New  Castle 
County,  as  the  following  from  a  paper  published  at 
that  time  shows : 

"  Oo  tbe  morniDg.  of  th«  4th  inst.,  »t  his  reaidence  in  th«  Tillage  of 
BnmdjrwiDe,  Delaware,  Thomas  Lka,  Id  hia  •ixtjr<«erenth  year.  Seldom 
ba«  woman  mourned  the  privation  of  a  hmband  more  affectionate  and 
attentive ;  seldom  hare  children  that  of  a  kinder  fk^i^r.  Extensive  and 
honorable,  even  liberal  in  his  dealings,  the  poor  man^s  friend  and  tbe 
coancU  of  the  rich,  tbe  patron  of  integritj  and  industry,  the  communi- 
cative and  agreeable  companion,  he  had  enlisted  numerous  fHends  who 
took  a  deep  interest  in  his  concerns,  who  now  share  in  the  foeling  ex- 
cited by  the  late  event,  and  who  must  long  ciierlsli  his  estimable  mem- 
ory. The  public  has  sustained  the  loss  of  one  of  its  most  exemplary,  in- 
telligent, enterprising  citizens — an  highly  distinguished  contributor  to 
those  modem  improvements  which  grace  New  Castle  County  and  add 
much  to  tbe  re^iectability  of  our  nation.  A  fortitude,  native  and  culti- 
vated, rarely  equaled,  enibled  him  to  endure  In  the  decline  of  life  his 
various  bereavements  and  afflictions,  particularly  the  last  illness,  long 
protracted,  with  amazing  patience  and  serenity.  In  the  sweetest  com- 
posure he  finally  resigned  his  spirit  to  Him  who  gave  it,  possessing  to  the 
last  his  mental  faculties,  seemingly  unimpaired.  Few  men  ever  were 
rsndered  leas  ostentatious  by  signal  succeMes  in  business,  still  ever  were 
BO  soperior  to  the  reverses  of  fortune.*' 

William  Lea,  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
grew  to  manhood  in  Brandywine,  and  was  educated  at 
the  best  schools  which  Wilmington  afforded.  Early 
in  life  he  evinced  those  strong  traits  of  character  which 
made  him  a  successful  business  man  and  a  highly- 
respected  citizen.  He  was  first  employed  with  his 
father  at  Brandywine,  then  he  engaged  in  business 
at  Manayunk,  Pa.,  and  afterwards,  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health,  removed  to  New  Orleans,  Louisiana.  Here 
he  remained  for  a  time,  and  then  entered  into  business 
at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana. 

In  1837  he  returned  to  Wilmington  and  settled  in 
his  old  home  at  Brandywine,  where  he  spent  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  The  same  year  he  succeeded  his 
ance^stors  as  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Brandywine 
Mills.  This  extensive  industry  afforded  an  excellent 
opportunity  for  the  development  of  his  powers  as  a 
business  man.  For  thirty-nine  years,  until  his  death, 
be  gave  his  time  and  attention  to  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  mills,  and  in  that  time  showed  rare 
tact,  superior  judgment  and  fine  executive  and  admin- 
istrative abilities.  His  name  became  known  far  and 
near  for  his  correct  business  methods.  By  his  devo- 
tion to  the  milling  interest  he  amassed  a  fortune,  and, 
what  was  still  better,  acquired  an  enviable  reputation 
as  a  man  of  the  highest  honor  and  the  most  sterling 
integrity. 

He  was  for  many  years  a  director  in  the  Union 
National  Bank  of  Wilmington,  and  was  also  a  direc- 
tor in  the  Wilmington  and  Brandywine  Cemetery 
Company. 

William  Lea  was  of  fine  presence  and  address.  He 
was  kind-hearted  and  charitable.  His  genial  dispo- 
sition endeared  him  to  all,  just  as  his  honorable  deal- 
ings caused  him  to  be  respected  by  all.  These  quali- 
ties led  to  his  being  frequently  solicited  to  become  a 
candidate  for  office,  but  he  always  declined  such 
honors.  He  was  greatly  interested  in  the  improve- 
ment of  Brandy wiTie  Village,  in  which  he  lived,  and 


favored  its  annexation  to  the  city  of  Wilmington  as 
the  Ninth  Ward. 

William  Lea  was  married  to  Jane  Scott  Lovett,  of 
Middletown,  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  on  the  1 8th  of  October, 
1836.  They  had  eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  sur- 
vived him.  He  was  devotedly  attached  to  his  family, 
and  spent  all  of  his  leisure  hours  at  home.  This 
brought  about  a  mutual  endearment  and  a  mutual 
tenderness  of  sympathy  and  affection  in  his  house- 
hold, of  which  he  was  the  most  exemplary  husband 
and  father.  His  sudden  death  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
one  years,  in  the  same  house  in  which  he  was  born, 
was  a  sad  bereavement  to  his  family  as  well  as  a  great 
loss  to  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 

Morocco  and  Leather. — I-usey  <fe  Scott  Com- 
pany,— The  oldest  house  in  the  city  in  this  line  of 
manufacture  is  that  of  the  Pusey  &  Scott  Com- 
pany,^ at  Third  and  Madison  Streets.  It  was  es- 
tablished in  1845  by  Pusey,  Marr  &  Scott,  the  in- 
dividual members  of  the  firm  being  Israel  Pusey, 
William  Marr  and  James  Scott.  They  com- 
menced operations  in  a  small  building  at  Third  and 
Tatnall  Streets,  and  remained  there  until  1866, 
when  they  came  to  the  present  stand.  In  the 
meantime  (in  1849),  Mr.  Marr  had  left  the  firm, 
going  to  California  when  the  gold  fever  had  sent 
its  infection  east.  In  1869  the  firm  became  Pusey, 
Scott  &  Co.,  John  Scott  and  William  Y.  Warner 
being  the  silent  partners.  Then  the  firm  remained 
unchanged  until  the  death  of  Israel  Pusey  about 
ten  years  ago,  and  even  after  that  there  was  no  al- 
teration in  the  style  of  the  house,  the  name  of  the 
deceased  partner  and  founder  being  still  retained, 
when  in  1883  the  house  was  incorporated  as  the 
Pusey  &  Scott  Company,  which  was  constituted  by 
James  Scott,  J.  Winfield  Scott  and  W.  L.  G. 
Thomas,  -who  are  now  respectively  president , 
treasurer  and  secretary.  The  capacity  of  the  fac- 
tory is  about  two  hundred  dozen  skins  per  day, 
and  when  the  business  is  at  its  height  of  activity 
about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  men  are  em- 
ployed, the  average  force  being  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty.  The  building  is  of  brick,  four  stories  in 
height  upon  the  street,  and  five  stories  upon  the 
yard  side.  It  has  a  frontage  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  .six  feet  on  Third  Street,  and  fifty-eight  feet 
on  Madison  Street.  The  works  are  admirably 
systematized  and  divided  into  departments  for  the 
efiTective  prosecution  of  the  work.  The  specialties 
of  manu&cture  are  known  to  the  trade  as  brush  kids, 
dongola  finish,  pebbles,  etc.  The  trade  of  the  house 
extends  throughout  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
and  for  the  convenience  of  the  business,  the  com- 
pany have  established  branch  houses  in  Philadel- 
phia and  Cincinnati. 

1  William  Robinson,  prior  to  1829,  establisbed  works  on  a  limited  scale 
'  on  Market  Street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth  Streets.   John  Scott  worked 
with  him  in  that  year.    About  1835  Lewis  C.  England  established  mo- 
rocco works  at  Fifth  and  Orange  Streets,  and  continued  until  1S47. 
James  Scott,  later  of  the  firm  of  Pusej  A  Scott  Company,  was  appren- 


ticed to  him  in  1837. 


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full   of  struggles   mux  aeveie   tv/**,  |>vyo*.}    .  '  ♦   .     >  '       ,    ..    .  . 

pensed,  that  his  later  life  was  so  prosperous.    The    some  residence  in  Camden,  owned  by  Hon.  joau 


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:«3^b>''.-5»-.h,r  i  =,r.HVl--T'.tJr 


tyC-C^yy^     ^^/TJLa 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


791 


Glancey  Jones,  and  thence  he  removed  on  his  re- 
tirement from  active  business  life.  He  has  forty- 
six  acres  of  land  contiguous  to  his  home,  and  thus 
enjoys  both  town  and  country  life.  Mr.  Postles' 
old  age  is  a  healthful  and  happy  one,  a  proper 
season  of  rest  well  earned  by  long  labor.  He  has 
since  1829  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Politically  he  was  one  of  the  original  old-time 
Whigs,  voted  for  Bell  and  Everett,  and  for  Lin- 
cob  the  second  time  he  was  nominated,  but  finally 
left  the  Republican  Party  because  differing  from 
its  polity  in  regard  to  negro  suffrage,  and  has 
since  voted  the  Democratic  ticket.  As  before 
stated  Mr.  Postles  married  early  in  life,  a  Miss 
Roe,  of  Kent  County.  Her  first  name  was  Eliza- 
beth, and  she  was  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  Roe.  The  offspring  of  this  union  were 
Thomas,  who  died  in  infancy,  William,  who  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Union  Army,  and  now  resides  in 
Camden,  James  Parke,  also  a  soldier  foe  three 
years,  late  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  and  suc- 
cessor to  his  father's  morocco  business;  Ellen 
Melissa,  wife  of  John  P.  Doughten,  of  Wilming- 
ton, and  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Postles  died  January  21,  1848.  Mr.  Postles  mar- 
ried as  his  second  wife,  January  8, 1850,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Casson,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children,  Elizabeth,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  seven  ;  Mary  Ann,  who  died  in 
infancy,  and  Laura  Baynard  Postles.  The  mother 
of  tbes*e  children  died  August  16, 1875. 

Charles  E.  Fritz  &  Co,,  began  manufacturing 
at  their  present  place  of  business,  211  West  Third 
Street,  in  1877.  They  employ  about  fifty  hands 
and  turn  out  thirty  dozen  skins  per  day,  the  skins 
being  the  large  ones  of  the  Mexican  goat,  and  the 
product  the  finest  grade  of  morocco. 

Washington  Jones  &  Co. — This  house  is  another 
of  the  old  ones  in  this  line  of  manufacture,  having 
been  established  in  1858  as  Baynard  &  Jones.  In 
1864  Thomas  H.  Baynard  died,  and  Mr.  Jones 
carried  on  the  business  alone  until  1867,  when 
Daniel  Poet  Price  and  his  son,  Charles  R.,  were 
admitted.  Another  son,  William  G.,  being  taken 
into  partnership  in  1873,  the  firm  was  constituted 
as  it  now  exists.  The  plant  occupies  the  five-story 
brick  buildings  at  104  to  110  Walnut  Street,  and 
includes  everything  necessary  to  the  most  thorough 
prosecution  of  the  business.  The  products  of  the 
house  consist  of  a  full  line  of  moroccos,  including 
pebbles,  kid  and  imitation  French  kid,  and  the 
out-put  amounts  to  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dozen  skins  per  day,  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the 
country  where  the  manufacture  of  ladies'  shoes  is 
carried  on.  The  skins  handled  by  this  house  are 
imported  by  them  from  Calcutta,  and  the  sumac  is 
brought  from  Sicily. 

William  Bush, — Among  the  oldest  and  most  ex- 
tensive morocco  manufistcturers  is  William  Bush,  of 


114  Walnut  Street  (who  is  a  descendant  of  the 
Samuel  Bush,  who,  in  1774,  founded  the  transpor- 
tation line  now  operated  by  the  firm  of  G.  W. 
Bush  <fc  Sons,  elsewhere  the  subject  of  extended 
remark).  The  morocco  house  was  established  in 
1858,  by  G.  T.  Clark  &  Co.,  who  conamenced  busi- 
ness in  a  small  building  now  lost  sight  of  in  the 
aggregations  of  later  erections.  Mr.  Bush  was  the 
silent  partner  in  this  firm,  but  a  practical  worker 
and  judicious  business  man,  who  contributed  his 
full  share  to  the  success  attained  by  the  house.  In 
1866  the  firm  became  Bush,  Clark  &  Co.,  and  in 
1870  the  present  style,  William  Bush  &  Co.,  was 
adopted.  The  specialty  of  the  house  is  the  manu- 
facture of  black  morocco,  French  kid  and  maroons 
of  fine  and  medium  grades,  made  from  Cape,  Tam- 
pico  and  South  American  skins.  The  results  of 
extensive  experience,  the  employment  of  the  most 
approved  methods,  and  of  none  but  skilled  labor, 
have  given  the  products  of  the  house  a  high  stand- 
ing in  the  trade,  and  there  is  always  a  ready  mar- 
ket for  their  goods  at  the  best  prices.  The  firm 
turns  out  from  six  to  seven  thousand  feet  of 
morocco  per  day,  which  represents  the  labor  of 
from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
using  the  best  machinery  and  appliances.  Every 
modern  device  calculated  to  enhance  the  quality 
of  the  goods  or  lessen  the  cost  of  manufacture  is 
to  be  found  in  this  establishment.  Steam  power  is 
supplied  from  a  sixty-horse  power  engine.  The 
plant  is  among  the  most  important  in  the  city. 
The  manufactory  consists  of  a  five-story  brick 
building,  70x300  feet  with  an  L  125x100  feet  in 
area,  and  a  further  extension  35x80  feet. 

Charles  Baird  &  Co, — ^This  firm  has  been  known  to 
the  morocco  trade  since  1872,  having  in  that  year 
succeeded  to  the  business  of  Maltritz,  Baird  &  Taylor, 
which  was  formed  in  1865  and  began,  business  on 
East  Fifth  Street,  near  Poplar.  They  moved  to  Mr. 
Baird's  present  location.  No.  214  West  Third  Street, 
(the  old  stand  of  Pusey,  Scott  &  Co.)  in  1866.  The 
silent  partner  of  Charles  Baird  &  Co.,  for  a  number  of 
years  before  his  death,  was  Henry  S.  McComb,  and 
his  estate  is  still  represented  in  the  house.  The 
building  in  which  Mr.  Baird  carries  on  manufacturing 
has  been  enlarged  by  him  until  it  covers  an  area  of 
eighty  by  one  hundred  feet,  and  as  it  is  four  stories  in 
height,  with  a  basement,  it  affords  ample  accommo- 
dation for  the  large  business.  It  is  supplied  with  the 
best  and  latest  improved  machinery  known  to  the 
trade,  which  is  driven  by  a  twenty-five  horse  power 
engine.  About  seventy-five  hands  are  employed, 
and  the  factory  turns  out  about  one  hundred 
dozen  skins  per  day.  The  product  consists  of  fine 
kid,  in  imitation  of  the  French  article,  pebbles, 
straight  grains,  maroons  and  some  finer  grades  of 
goods,  for  which  there  is  always  open  market  and 
good  demand. 

John   G,  Baker  is  probably  the  largest  morocco 


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792 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


maker  in  the  city,  and  be  is  the  president  of  the 
Morocco  Manufacturers'  Exchange  of  Wilmington. 
He  bought  the  building  which  forms  a  portion  of  his 
present  establishment,  an  old  morocco  manufactory* 
of  Dr.  Porter,  and  began  business  in  1867. 

The  old  building  fronts  on  East  Fifth  Street,  and 
the  office  number  is  708,  but  the  newer  and  larger 
buildings  front  on  Sixth  Street,  and  altogether,  the 
plant  occupies  about  three-quarters  of  a  block.  The 
factory  is  a  model  one  in  all  respects,  employs  about 
two  hundred  hands,  is  supplied  with  an  engine  of 
thirty  horse  power,  and  an  electric  motor  of  ten 
horse  power,  and  turns  out  about  two  hundred  dozen 
skins  per  day.  These  are  what  are  known  as  Mex- 
ican, Brazilian,  Ouracoa,  Mocha  and  East  India  skins, 
and  the  product  is  chiefly  what  is  designated  as  "  Del- 
aware Kid,"  for  which  there  is  a  large  demand. 

James  Bonner,  202  West  Fifth  Street,  succeeded  to 
the  morocco  manufacturing  business  formerly  con- 
ducted by  Jones  &  Richmond,  who  commenced  in 
1876.  They  employed  about  twenty-five  men,  and 
manufactured  about  fifteen  dozen  skins  per  day. 

J,  Mahoney  &  Co.,  711,  713,  West  Third  Street, 
commenced  tanning  morocco  in  1879.  They  employed 
thirty-five  men,  and  have  a  capacity  of  twenty -five 
dozen  skins  per  day. 

Bradenkopf  d:  Bro.f  1009  Fourth  Street,  commenced 
tanning  morocco  in  1880.  He  tans  altogether  by  the 
sumac  process.  He  employs  forty-five  men,  and 
his  tannery  has  a  capacity  of  twenty-five  dozen  skins 
a  day. 

W.  J.  Mc  Clary  and  /.  T,  Quigley,  started  in  this 
business  in  1881,  and  they  are,  therefore,  among  the 
newest  morocco  houses  in  the  city.  The  factory  of 
the  former,  which  is  located  at  718  West  Sixth  Street, 
consists  of  a  building  one  hundred  and  twenty -eight 
feet  by  thirty  feet,  and  having  six  floors.  It  is  ad- 
mirably supplied  with  the  best  appliances  known  to 
the  trade,  employs  about  sixty  hands,  and  has  capacity 
for  turning  out  from  sixty  to  eighty  dozen  skins  per 
day.  A  specialty  is  the  proprietor's  own  patent  tan- 
nage in  bright  and  dull  finish,  formerly  known  as  dou- 
gola,  but  all  kinds  of  morocco  are  made. 

Mr.  Quigley's  manufactory  just  alluded  to,  was 
originally  established  by  I.  T.  Quigley  &  Co.  Later 
the  style  of  the  house  became  Quigley  &  Mullen,  and  in 
1882  the  present  proprietor  assumed  entire  charge  of 
afiairs.  The  house  has  from  the  first  carried  on  a 
large  business.  The  manufacture  consists  of  tam- 
picos,  oil  pebbles  and  straight  grains,  most  of  which 
are  supplied  to  the  trade  in  the  State  of  New  York. 
The  building  in  which  the  work  is  carried  on  at 
Fourth  and  Monroe  Streets,  is  six  stories  in  height 
and  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet  by  thirty  feet  in 
dimensions.  From  seventy  to  one  hundred  operatives 
are  employed,  and  the  daily  output  is  from  60  to  80 
dozen  skins  per  day.  He  has  also  leased  John  Taylor's 
tannery  near  by,  and  he  now  has  a  capacity  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  dozen  skins  a  day,  and  employs  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  hands. 


B,  L,  Kent  dh  Cb,,  Front  and  Justison  Streets, 
started  morocco  tanning  in  1886.  Their  tannery  has 
a  capacity  of  thirty  dozen  skins  per  day. 

Charles  Mullin  commenced  the  tanning  of  morocco 
leather  in  1881,  on  the  corner  of  Front  and  Monroe 
Streets.  He  has  the  largest  tannery  in  the  city,  con- 
sisting of  two  six-story  buildings,  one  hundred  and 
seventy  by  forty  feet,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
two  by  twenty-eight  feet,  one  five-story  building  one 
hundred  and  ten  by  twenty-eight  feet,  one  three-story 
building  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  by  twenty-eight 
feet,  and  two  stories  of  another  building  one  hundred 
and  thirty  by  twenty-eight  feet.  He  employs  three 
hundred  men,  and  the  tannery  has  a  capacity  of  three 
hundred  skins  per  day. 

Ford  &  Ryan  Company,  on  Webb  Street,  between 
Second  and  Third,  have  a  brick  building  six  stories 
high,  forty  by  one  hundred  and  forty  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, erected  in  1886,  in  which  is  employed  one 
hundred  and  five  hands,  that  turn  out  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dozen  goat-skins,  morocco  tanned,  per 
day.  Most  of  the  tanning  in  this  factory  is  done  by 
the  sumac  process. 

W,  B.  Clerk  <£•  Cb.  (formerly  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  as 
Clerk,  Lennox  &  Briggs),  began  the  manufacture  ot 
morocco,  November  1,  1887,  in  the  old  Franklin  Mill 
on  Ninth  and  Walnut.  Machinery  is  now  in  for  an 
output  of  one  hundred  dozen  per  day. 

C.  &  W.  Pyle,  Fourth  and  Van  Buren  Streets, 
started  a  sheep-skin  tannery  in  1886.  They  employ 
eleven  men,  and  their  tannery  has  a  capacity  of  three 
hundred  dozen  skins  a  week.  They  make  fancy 
colored  leather  for  pocket-books  and  bookbinders. 

Wilmington  Oil  and  Leather  Company, — Porpoise 
leather  production  is  one  of  the  newest  and  most 
novel  and  interesting  industries  of  the  city.  It  was 
very  recently  introduced  by  the  Wilmington  Oil  and 
Leather  Company,  who,  recognizing  the  possibilities 
of  wealth  that  lay  in  the  fat  and  skin  of  the  plump 
and  playful  porpoise,  organized,  in  1885,  a  stock-com- 
pany for  the  puipose  of  rendering  those  parts  useful 
to  mankind,  especially  that  portion  of  mankind 
included  in  the  company.  At  first  they  had  a  plant 
located  on  an  island  off  the  South  Atlantic  Coast, 
but,  for  the  better  operation  of  the  business,  a  factory 
was  established  in  Wilmington,  at  Lord  and  Church 
Streets.  This  is  a  four-story  building,  of  good  size 
and  proportions,  provided  with  steam-power  and  all 
necessary  machinery,  some  of  it  of  a  peculiar  nature, 
adapted  to  the  handling  of  this  new  kind  of  leather. 

This  leather  is  ot  three  kinds  or  qualities, — ^first, 
the  true  porpoise  (so-called  to  distinguish  it  from  the 
skin  of  the  North  Sea  porpoise) ;  second,  porpoise 
'^calf;''  and  third,  porpoise '*  kid,"  made  from  the 
skin  of  the  infant  animal.  Great  merit  is  claimed 
for  the  porpoise  leather.  Among  the  leading  quali- 
ties imputed  to  it  being  its  toughness,  pliability,  im- 
perviousness  to  water,  smoothness  and  durability.. 
The  company  has  about  seventy-five  men  fishing  for 
porpoises  at  the  island  alluded  to,  and  quite  a  num- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTS. 


793 


ber  at  the  factory  here.  They  manufacture  a  lubri* 
catiug  oil  from  the  fat  of  the  porpoise,  and  a  fine 
watch  and  clock  oil  from  the  creature's  jaw. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are  Z.  James  Belt, 
president ;  8.  L.  West,  vice-president ;  Benjamin  F. 
Jackson,  secretary ;  Henry  C.  Conrad,  treasurer;  and 
Colonel  John  Wainwrifi^ht,  business  manager. 

C,  &  J.  Fyle  Company, — Patent  leather  is  manu- 
factured by  only  one  firm,  but  that  one  does  a  very 
lai^e  business.  We  allude  to  the  C.  &  J.  Pyle  Com- 
pany, at  Sixth  and  Monroe  Streets,  which  has  a  history 
dating  from  1844.  The  business  was  started  in  1844 
upon  a  small  scale,  on  Orange  Street  between  Fifth 
and  Sixth,  and  removed  to  the  present  location  three 
or  four  years  later.  The  firm  was  not  then  constitu- 
ted as  now.  It  was  under  the  style  of  C.  W.  Pyle  & 
Co,  and  the  individual  members  were  Eidwin  A.  Wil- 
son, Cyrus  Pyle,  William  Pyle  and  James  Webb. 
About  1850  the  title  became  Pyle,  Wilson  &  Pyle, 
and  in  1861  was  first  known  as  C.  &  J.  Pyle.  The 
present  incorporated  company  dates  its  existence 
from  April,  1886.  The  officers  are  Joseph  Pyle, 
president ;  Frank  Pyle,  vice-president ;  Willard  S. 
Pyle,  secretary ;  and  Fred.  Pyle,  treasurer.  The 
property  embraces  a  whole  square,  the  offices  being 
at  Sixth  and  Monroe  Street^'.  In  addition  to  this,  the 
company  bought,  in  1887,  a  tract  of  eight  acres  of 
ground  across  the  Christiana,  upon  which  they 
erected  a  second  factory,  of  which  the  main  building 
is  fiHy  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet.  The 
company  commencedshipping  to  England  about  1878, 
and  now  sends  across  the  water,  upon  an  average,  five 
hundred  '*  sides  "  of  patent  leather  per  week,  about 
one- half  of  the  total  out-put.  The  services  of  about 
eighty  men  and  of  a  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
horse-power  engine  are  required,  and  they  are  kept 
constantly  employed,  for  the  smoothness  with  which 
the  affairs  of  this  house  is  carried  on  is  one  of  its 
notable  features.  The  operatives  are  well  treated, 
and  strikes  have  been  an  unknown  thing.  The  busi- 
ness has  been  slowly  and  evenly  developed  to  its 
present  proportions  through  all  the  years  since  1844, 
showing  a  prudence  and  care  on  the  part  of  the  man- 
agers as  well  as  the  possession  of  rare  skill  necessary 
to  the  production  of  the  best  goods  and  consequent 
command  of  the  best  markets. 

Mr.  Joseph  Pyle,  the  present  head  of  the  house,  is 
a  man  of  practical  experience  in  the  manufacture  of 
patent  leather  and  the  inventor  of  a  valuable  "  soft- 
ening "  machine,  now  in  use  at  the  factory. 

Bhoads  dt  McOomb  started  in  the  manufacture  of 
belting  and  hameraat  their  present  stand.  Fourth  and 
Orange  Streets,  in  1877,  when  they  purchased  the 
five-story  building  from  J.  T.  Kirkpatrick.  It  had 
formerly  been  used  as  a  leather  house  for  about 
twenty  years  by  I.  T.  Chamberlain. 

Gallaher,  Kitselman  &  Fox. — Shoes  are  manufac- 
tured on  quite  a  large  scale  by  J.  Hayes  Gallaher, 
C.  W.  Kitselman  and  David  Fox,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Gkillaher,  Kitselman  <&  Fox,  at  Third  and 
50i 


Orange  Streets.  Wilmington  at  that  time,  with  all  of 
the  variety  in  its  manufactories,  had  no  shoe  house  for 
several  years  until  this  one  was  set  in  operation  in  1886. 
It  was  at  first  carried  on  by  Barnett,  Gallaher  &  Co., 
but  the  firm  was  organized  as  it  at  present  exists  on 
the  1st  of  January,  1886.  About  thirty-five  men  are 
employed,  besides  those  who  act  as  salesmen.  Steam- 
power  is  employed  and  operates  the  latest  improved 
machinery.  The  goods  produced  are  ladies*,  misses*, 
and  children's  fine  shoes,  and  a  specialty  of  the 
house  is  the  ''  Eclipse  '*  shoe,  said  to  possess  the 
maximum  of  merit  for  the  minimum  of  cost.  The 
market  of  the  house  is  chiefly  in  Delaware,  Mary- 
land and  Pennsylvania,  and  it  also  extends  west- 
ward. 

Miscellaneous. — The  Diamond  Match  Company  is 
an  extensive  organization,  formed  in  1882,  by  the  con- 
solidation of  several  local  companies,  one  of  which 
was  located  here,  and  was  known  as  Swift  &  Courtney. 
Their  works  were  established  many  years  ago,  and  as 
carried  on  now  by  the  new  company,  employ  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  operatives,  under  C.  B. 
White,  the  resident  manager,  W.  H.  Swift,  of  the 
old  firm  of  Swift  &  Courtney,  is  president  of  the  now 
existing  company;  Joseph  Swift  is  vice-president; 
O.  C.  Barber,  treasurer;  and  L.  W.  Beecher,  sec- 
retary. 

Paper-Making. — The  history  of  the  manufacture 
of  paper  on  the  Brandy  wine  dates  from  the  erection, 
in  1787,  of  a  mill  for  that  purpose  by  Joshua  and 
Thomas  Gilpin.  The  mill  was  located  on  a  curve  of 
the  Brandywine,  about  two  miles  above  Wilmington, 
and  at  the  time  of  its  erection  was  the  farthest  down 
the  stream. 

Thomas  Gilpin  patented  in  1816  the  first  endless 
sheet  machine  ever  used  in  America.  The  invention 
revolutionized  the  manufacture  of  paper,  cheapened 
its  cost  and  increased  its  production,  the  manu- 
facture being  entirely  by  hand  prior  to  that  time. 
The  machine  was  first  put  into  operation  in  August, 
1817,  and  the  first  newspaper  to  be  printed  on  it  was 
the  Americayi  Daily  Advertiser, 

A  freshet  visited  the  mill  February  22, 1822,  carry- 
ing away  the  greater  portion  of  the  plant.  Three 
years  later  a  fire  destroyed  one  of  the  principal  mills, 
and  finally,  in  the  spring  of  1888,  a  greater  freshet 
than  ever  before  carried  everything  away.  The  manu- 
facture was  discontinued,  the  mills  were  never  rebuilt 
and  the  estate  was  sold. 

Six  years  after  the  Messrs.  Gilpin  had  erected  their 
mill,  William  Young,  a  bookseller  of  Philadelphia, 
embarked  in  the  paper  manufacture  at  a  place  that  he 
named  Rockland,  three  miles  above  the  site  of  the 
Gilpin's.  Large,  substantial  stone  buildings  were 
erected,  and  the  works  were  conducted  successfully 
for  many  years,  and  after  being  used  as  a  cotton-mill 
until  1860,  was  purchased  by  the  firm  of  Jessup  & 
Moore. 

Bloomfield  Haines  Moore  was  born  in  Philadelphia 
December  16, 1819.    His  parents  both  belouged  to  the 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Society  of  Orthodox  Friends,  and  originally  came 
from  Moorestown  and  Haddonfield,  New  Jersey.  He 
was  educated  at  Clermont  Academy,  and  then  spent 
some  years  in  the  office  of  the  late  Jacob  Ridgway. 

In  1843  Mr.  Moore  associatedhimself  in  business 
with  his  father-in-law,  Augustus  £.  Jessup,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Jessup  &  Moore. 

In  1845  the  firm  altered  an  old  snuff  and  flour-mill 
situated  on  the  Brandywine,  and  adapted  it  to  the 
manufacture  of  paper.  This  is  now  known  as  Augus- 
tine Mill.  Subsequently,  Rockland  Mill  was  built  on 
the  Brandy  wine,  about  four  miles  from  Wilmington. 
Both  mills  were  afterwards  destroyed  by  fire,  and  re- 
built on  a  far  larger  scale. 

From  1870  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred irom  pneumonia,  July  5,  1878,  he  was  the  en- 
tire owner  of  the  business. 

Mr.  Moore  had  traveled  extensively ;  he»spoke  sev- 
eral languages  fluently ;  and  his  hours  of  recreation 
were  spent  mainly  among  his  books. 

During  the  war  he  was  foremost  in  every  measure 
to  aid  the  Union,  and  with  his  brother-in-law,  Alfred 
D.  Jessup,  was  among  the  twenty-five  men  who  orig- 
inated the  Union  Club,  of  Philadelphia,  from  which 
the  Union  League  of  America  had  its  origin. 

Modern  paper- making  can  be  said  to  commence 
contemporaneously  with  the  improvements  that  have 
been  made  within  the  past  thirty  years  in  the  art  of 
printing.  In  no  other  industry  have  these  improve- 
ments been  so  marked.  The  increase  of  intelligence 
among  the  people,  the  demand  for  books  and  the 
multiplicity  of  newspapers  so  increased  the  demand 
for  paper  that  the  old  method  of  using  only  rags,  cot- 
ton and  flax  was  found  entirely  impracticable  and  ex- 
pensive. In  view  of  this  fact,  wood  was  introduced 
in  this  country,  and  in  England  the  Spanish  esparto- 


The  vegetable  kingdom  furnishes  innumerable  ma- 
terials from  which  paper  can  be  manufactured ;  cel- 
lulose being  the  principal.  Rags  give  a  very  pure 
white,  and  are  used  now  for  the  finest  grades  of  paper, 
and,  in  connection  with  chemical  wood,  for  the  me- 
dium quality  of  paper.  The  rags  are  procured  from  a 
great  many  sources,  but  by  far  the  main  portion 
comes  from  our  Southern  States  and  from  the  Baltic 
and  Mediterranean  ports. 

The  first  step  in  the  manufacture  of  paper  is  the 
sorting  and  dusting  of  rags.  This  sorting  is  necessarily 
done  by  hand,  and  the  cutting  by  a  machine  which 
cuts  them  into  pieces.  Both  before  and  after  the 
sorting  they  are  passed  through  thrashers  or  dusters, 
which  beat  them  and  drive  the  dust  through  wire 
gauze  partitions.  They  are  then  placed  in  a  large 
boiler  and  boiled  in  lime-water.  They  are  then 
washed  in  engines  built  for  that  purpose  until  they 
are  clean. 

The  bleaching  comes  next,  and  is  efiected  with  a 
liquor  made  by  dissolving  bleaching-powder  in  water, 
although  bleaching  with  gas  and  sour-bleaching  are 
sometimes     followed,    but,    whatever     the    method 


adopted,  any  excess  of  bleaching-agent  must  be  re- 
moved. The  next  process  is  the  beating-engines. 
This  process  takes  from  six  to  nine  hours,  according 
to  the  paper  to  be  made.  During  the  process  of 
beating  the  sizing  and  alum  are  put  in  the  rags.  The 
sizing  for  printing  papers  is  of  various  materials,  the 
alum  being  used  in  connection  to  precipitate  the 
sizing.  For  letter-papers  the  sizing  is  done  by  being 
passed  through  a  solution  of  glue  after  the  paper  is 
made.  It  is  then  cut  ofi*  into  sheets  to  suit  the 
trade,  and  dried.  The  pulp  when  beaten  is  conveyed 
into  large  stone  cisterns  or  chests,  and  from  there  is 
pumped  to  the  vat  or  reservoir  at  the  head  of  the 
machine ;  from  there  to  a  screen,  made  for  that  pur- 
pose, to  take  out  any  particles  of  rags  that  have 
escaped  the  beating  process ;  from  there  to  an  end- 
less cloth  of  very  fine  wire,  carried  by  a  large  num- 
ber of  small  rolls  (the  frame  and  rolls  carrying  the  wire 
cloth  have  a  shaking  motion,  which  unites  the  fibres) ; 
thence  it  passes  to  endless  felts,  passing  over  and  be- 
tween rolls  until  the  water  is  pressed  out,  then  over 
drying  cylinders  and  between  polished  chilled  rolls, 
putting  a  finish  on  the  paper.  This  finish  applies  to 
ordinary  books  and  newspapers,  but  for  the  higher 
grades  of  writing,  plate  and  school-book  papers,  an 
additional  finish  is  added  by  a  series  of  steel  and 
paper  rolls,  called  "  super-calendar,"  which  imparts 
the  beautiful  finish  necessary  to  print  cuts  for  fine 
books  and  writing-papers. 

In  1843  Augustus  E.  Jessup,  of  Westfield,  Mass., 
and  Bloom  field  H.  Moore,  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
formed  a  co- partnership  for  the  manufacture  of  paper 
on  the  Brandy  wine  and  with  them  the  history  of 
modern  paper-making  in  Delaware  commences.  The 
firm  purchased  the  Augustine  Mill,  which  had  been 
used  previously  as  a  snufi'-mill,  and  built  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  complete  paper-mills  to  be  found  in 
the  United  States,  where  the  finest  lithograph,  map 
and  plate  paper  is  made.  It  is  a  fire-proof  structure, 
built  of  iron  and  stone,  with  the  latest  and  best 
improved  machinery  to  be  found.  The  power  is  de- 
rived from  turbine  water-wheels  and  steam-engines 
aggregating  about  nine  hundred  horse-power.  The 
machines  for  making  the  paper  are  the  Fourdrinier, 
two  of  them  being  ninety  inches,  the  other  seventy- 
six  inches.  This  firm  is  now  supplying  the  leading 
publishers  with  the  finest  quality  of  book,  plate  and 
magazine  paper,  its  superior  quality  giving  it  the 
prestige  in  the  trade.  It  is  lighted  with  electricity, 
and  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore 
Railroad  goes  direct  to  the  mill,  and  carries  the  raw 
material  and  takes  the  manufactured  product  to  all 
parts  of  the  country. 

The  mill  is  located  one  mile  from  Market  Street 
bridge,  on  one  of  the  prettiest  spot§  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Brandywine,  and  the  abundance  of  clear,  pure 
water  furnished  by  that  stream  enhances  the  value  of 
the  location.  The  water  is  held  in  large  reservoirs. 
Constant  employment  is  given  to  one  hundred  hands, 
who  turn  out  thirty-six  thousand  pounds  of  paper 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


795 


daily,  under  the  superintendency  of  Dayid  Lindsay. 
The  firm  next  purchased  the  old  Young  mill  at 
Rockland,  and  ran  it  continuously  until  April  9, 1869, 
when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  then  rebuilt  of 
stone  and  iron,  making  it  a  fire-proof  structure^  and 
supplied  with  the  latest  and  best  machinery  and  be- 
gan operations  in  August,  1869.  It  was  the  first 
mill  to  begin  the  use  of  cellulose  or  wood-pulp, 
and  pulp  made  from  straw;  it  is  now  manufac- 
turing the  best  quality  of  school-book,  magazine 
and  other  papers  used  in  printing. 

The  Wilmington  and  Northern  Railroad  connects 
the  Rockland  Mill  with  its  main  road  by  a  track, 
bringing  the  raw  material  to  the  mill,  and  distrib- 
uting the  manufactured  paper  all  oyer  the  country. 
Power  is  derived  by  steam-engines  of  eight  hundred 
horee-power  and  supplemented  by  turbine  water- 
wheels  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  horse-power,  so  con- 
nected as  to  be  used  when  water  is  plenty.  Three 
Fourdrinier  machines  are  used,  one  of  seventy-four 
inches  and  two  eighty-six  inches  in  width,  and  they 
turn  out  twenty -six  thousand  pounds  of  paper  daily. 

The  plant  embraces  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on 
both  sides  of  the  Brandy  wine  Creek,  and  owns  twenty- 
eight  comfortable  houses,  where  the  men  employed  at 
the  works  reside.  Employment  is  given  to  seventy- 
five  hands,  who  are  under  the  management  of  Wil- 
liam Luke,  who  has  had  charge  of  the  mills  since 
1862. 

On  December  1,  1878,  the  Jessup  &  Moore  Paper 
Company  was  organized,  its  officers  consisting  of  C. 
B.  Moore,  president;  D.  W.  Evans,  of  New  York 
City,  vice-president ;  F.  W.  McDowell,  of  Philadel- 
phia, secretary,  and  J.  R.  Moore,  of  New  York, 
treasurer. 

Besides  the  Augustine  and  Rockland,  the  com- 
pany owns  and  operates  the  Delaware  Mills  on  the 
Christiana,  near  Wilmington.  The  daily  product  of 
the  company  is  112,000  pounds. 

The  offices  of  the  New  York  house  are  in  the  Ben- 
nett building,  New  York.  The  Philadelphia  ware- 
house is  at  28  South  Sixth  Street,  Philadelphia. 

The  new  corporation  started  February,  1881,  the 
extensive  Delaware  Mills,  located  on  a  tract  of  sev- 
enty-eight and  a  half  acres,  at  the  intersection  of  the 
Christiana  River  and  Mill  Creek,  one-quarter  of  a  mile 
from  the  city  limits  embracing  fifteen  large  buildings 
built  of  stone  and  bnck,  fitted  with  the  most  complete 
machinery,  driven  by  steam-engines  aggr^ating 
about  eight  hundred  horse-power. 

The  railroad  facilities  are  of  the  best  kind — the 
Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad, 
Baltimore  and  Ohio,  and  Wilmington  and  Northern 
Railroad  have  switches  into  the  yard,  afibrding  the 
most  complete  system  of  shipping  to  be  found — while 
a  wharf  frontage  of  nearly  one  thousand  feet  on  the 
Christiana  River,  giving  a  depth  of  water  twenty-four 
feet,  afibrds  the  best  of  shipping  points. 

Employment  is  given  to  one  hundred  and  fifty 
hands,  and  a  product  of  forty-eight  thousand  pounds 


of  pulp  is  prepared  daily.  The  Delaware  Mills  are 
under  the  management  of  John  Saunders,  who  is 
ably  assisted  by  his  sons,  Samuel,  William  and  John 
Saunders. 

John  Saunders,  superintendent  of  Delaware  Pulp 
Works,  was  born  April  29,  1821,  in  Blockley  town- 
ship, Philadelphia  County,  Pa.  He  was  the  son  of 
William  Saunders,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
township  in  1789,  and  Mary  (Dight)  Saunders,  bom 
in  1780,  and  is  still  living.  William  Saunders,  Jr., 
died  in  1838,  and  was  the  son  of  William  Saunders, 
Sr.,  born  in  1739,  and  died  in  1835.  The  father  ot 
the  latter  was  born  in  Germany.  William  Dight, 
the  father  of  Mary  Dight,  was  also  born  in  Blockley 
township  in  1760.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ger- 
many. 

The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  died  when 
the  latter  was  in  his  twelfth  year,  and  he  was  bound 
out  to  a  farmer,  with  whom  he  remained  until  his 
sixteenth  year,  when  he  was  bound  to  George  M. 
Wagner,  of  Montgomery  County,  to  learn  coach-mak- 
ing, at  which  position  he  remained  until  his  twenty- 
first  year.  He  then  went  to  Allentown  to  work  at  his 
trade.  Here  his  first  venture  in  life  proved  most 
unsuccessftil,  for,  after  working  seven  months,  he  re- 
ceived but  five  dollars,  and  had  paid  his  board  out  of 
savings  previously  made.  He  then  came  back  to 
Barren  Hill,  Montgomery  County,  started  a  shop  of 
his  own  and  continued  there  for  one  year,  and  moved 
afterwards  into  the  borough,  and  after  eighteen  months 
decided  to  quit  coach-making,  and  having  a  natural 
taste  for  machinery,  he  started  into  millwrighting 
with  Kelly  &  Nixon,  with  whom  he  remained  five 
years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  entered  into  the 
employment  of  Nixon  &  Feinour,  paper-makers,  at 
Flat  Rock  Mills,  Manayunk,  and  continued  with 
them  two  years.  He  then  went  to  Gray's  Ferry,  put 
up  a  rolling-mill  for  Edward  Buckley,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Flat  Rock  Mills  with  Martin  Nixon, 
and  remained  there  until  1865,  and,  upon  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Manayunk  Pulp  Works,  took  charge  of 
the  same  for  Martin  Nixon  and  Jessup  &  Moore,  and 
remained  there  until  the  death  of  B.  H.  Moore,  the 
only  one  of  the  original  firm  then  living.  He  then 
entered  the  employ  of  the  American  Pulp  Works, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  1880.  The  Delaware 
Pulp  Works  were  completed  that  year,  and  Mr.  Saun- 
ders removed  to  Wilmington,  and  took  charge  of 
these  works,  where  he  still  continues. 

Mr.  Saunders  isof  that  type  of  men  who  have,  by  their 
own  efforts,  raised  themselves  to  positions  of  prom- 
inence, and  in  his  adopted  home  he  is  respected  and 
esteemed  for  his  integrity  and  sterling  business  quali- 
ties. He  possesses  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  busi- 
ness, which  has  always  been  appreciated  by  his  em- 
ployers. 

In  January,  1843,  he  was  married  to  Hannah  Tar- 
ter, the  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Hannah  (Bignot)  H. 
Tarter,  ail  of  French  descent.  Mrs.  Saunders  died  in 
1886.    The  children  now  living,  four  of  whom  are 


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employed  in  the  same  work  with  Mr.  Saunders, 
are  William,  Samuel,  Alphonzo,  John,  Leander,  Cath- 
arine, Marzilla,  Blanche  and  Jennie. 

William  Luke,  now,  and  for  the  past  twenty-five 
years,  superintendent  of  the  company's  Rockland 
Mill,  was  trained  to  the  business  from  his  boyhood. 
He  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  at  Crook  of  Devon, 
in  Kinrosshire,  May  28, 1829.  His  father  had  a  paper- 
mill  there,  which  his  father  (the  grandfather  of  our 
subject)  had  operated  before  him,  and  which  is  still 
owned  in  the  family.  In  this  establishment  William 
Luke  learned  practically,  and  in  all  of  its  details,  the 
art  of  paper-making,  and  when  twenty-three  years  of 
age  came  to  this  county  in  the  hope  of  putting  his 
knowledge  to  good  use  and  obtaining  benefits  which  he 
could  scarcely  expect  at  home.  He  found  employ- 
ment at  a  paper-mill  in  New  Jersey,  went  from  there 
to  Connecticut,  returned  to  New  Jersey,  worked  for 
a  time  in  Massachusetts,  and  then  going  a  second 
time  to  Connecticut,  was  made  superintendent  of  the 
Rockland  Mill,  at  Montville.  He  had  been  there 
only  a  comparatively  short  time  when  his  brother-in- 
law,  David  Lindsay,  who  was  superintendent  at 
Jessup  &  Moore's  Rockland  Mill,  on  the  Brandy  wine, 
died,  and  he  was  called  to  fill  the  vacancy  thus 
caused.  This  was  in  February,  1862.  He  has  since 
held  the  responsible  position  without  interruption, 
and  has  witnessed  a  great  enlargement  and  improve- 
ment in  the  mill  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  it  has  been  in  some  measure  attributable  to  his 
own  exertions.  Mr.  Luke's  children  have  followed 
him  in  the  paper-making  trade  and  two  of  them  have 
already  reached  enviable  places.  He  was  married  in 
Westville,  Conn.,  August  21,  1856  (then  working  in 
Trenton,  N.  J.),  to  Miss  Rosa  T.  Lindsay.  The  eldest 
son,  by  this  marriage,  John  G.  Luke,  has,  since  1885, 
been  superintendent  of  the  Richmond  Paper  Com- 
pany's mill  at  Providence,  R.  L,  a  house  which  makes 
an  excellent  article  of  paper  entirely  from  wood. 
The  second  son,  William  A.,  is  in  charge  of  Jessup 
&  Moore's  mill,  at  Modena,  Pa.,  and  the  third  son, 
David,  assists  his  father  at  the  Rockland  Mill.  The 
other  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luke  are  Jean 
(deceased),  Isabel,  James,  Adam  and  Thomas. 

David  Lindsay,  superintendent  of  the  Augustine 
Mills,  of  the  Jessup  &  Moore  Paper  Company,  at 
Wilmington,  was  born  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  September 
14, 1844.  His  ancestors  for  several  generations  have 
been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  paper.  His 
grandfather,  Adam  Lindsay,  learned  the  business  in 
Scotland,  and  about  1880,  with  his  wife,  Jean  Hogarth 
Lindsay,  and  their  nine  children,  came  to  America, 
and  settled  at  Saugerties,  on  the  Hudson  River,  in 
New  York.  They  subsequently  moved  to  Norwich, 
Conn.,  where  Adam  Lindsay  died  April  23,  1843. 
His  son,  Adam  Lindsay,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  paper, 
first  at  Norwich  and  afterwards  at  New  Haven,  Conn., 
to  which  city  he  moved  in  1851,  to  take  the  position 
of  superintendent  of  paper-mills. 


He  was  married  to  Sarah  Lincoln,  who  died  in 
1846.  He  died  in  1853.  David  Lindsay  was  their 
only  child.  Becoming  an  orphan  at  an  early  age,  he 
went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Thomas  Lindsay,  under 
whose  care,  and  that  of  his  grandmother,  who  also 
lived  in  the  same  family,  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 
attended  school  for  seven  years  in  his  native  town 
of  Norwich,  and  then  moved  with  his  father 
to  New  Haven,  where  he  remained  in  school 
until  he  completed  his  fifteenth  year.  His  uncle 
then  moved  to  Montville,  Conn.,  to  become  superin- 
tendent of  paper-mills.  David  Lindsay  spent  two 
years  in  school  in  Montville,  and  then  began  to  learn 
the  business  of  manufacturing  paper,  in  which  he  has 
since  been  successfully  engaged. 

In  the  fall  of  1865  he  came  to  Wilmington  with  his 
uncle,  who  was  chosen  superintendent  of  the  Augus- 
tine Mills  of  Jessup  &  Moore.  He  filled  various  po- 
sitions in  their  mills  on  the  Brandy  wine  with  great 
acceptability  to  the  proprietors,  until  1870,  when  be 
was  appointed  superintendent  of  the  Augustine  Mills 
to  succeed  Thomas  Lindsay,  who  that  year  moved  to 
Indiana.  He  was  then  quite  a  young  man  to  fill  so 
responsible  a  position,  but  he  performed  the  duties 
devolving  upon  him  with  the  utmost  care  and  faitb- 
fiilnees  to  the  interests  of  the  firm,  and  when  the 
Jessup  &  Moore  Paper  Company  was  organized  and 
incorporated,  in  1877,  Mr.  Lindsay  became  one  of  its 
directors  and  a  stockholder.  He  has  the  entire  man- 
agement of  the  Augustine  Mills  as  far  as  the  manu- 
facturing interests  are  concerned.  At  these  mills  are 
one  hundred  and  twenty  employees.  The  daily  pro- 
duct is  sixteen  tons,  mostly  book  paper. 

Jean  Hogarth  Lindsay,  his  grandmother,  who  was 
born  in  Scotland,  came  to  Wilmington  with  her  son 
Thomas  in  1865,  and  in  1870  moved,  with  him,  to  In- 
diana, where  she  died  in  1874,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-four  years. 

Mr.  Lindsay  was  married,  December  23, 1868,  to 
Ella  A.  Brumley,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sophia 
Brumley,  of  Montville,  Conn.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  are  May  L.,  Jennie  B.,  W.  Allan,  Clara  J., 
David  and  J.  Horace  Lindsay.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lind- 
say are  members  of  St  Andrew's  Episcopal  Church 
in  Wilmington.  He  is  a  member  of  Temple  Lodge, 
No.  11,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  Brandywine 
Lodge,  No.  18,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

Tainall  Brothtn^  fiour-mill  and  feed  and  grain 
warehouse,  at  101  Maryland  Avenue,  waa  founded  by 
the  present  proprietor,  A.  R.  Tatnall,  in  1879.  The 
firm-name  was  changed  in  1883  to  Tatnall  Brothers, 
but  there  is  now  only  a  single  owner.  One  "  run"  of 
French  burr  stones  are  now  in  operation  and  the 
mechanical  facilities  are  to  be  considerably  increased. 
At  present  the  business  of  the  house  is  chiefly  in  the 
wholesale  and  retail  handling  of  fiour,  feed,  grain  and 
hay.  A  little  article,  unique  at  least  in  Wilmington, 
is  to  be  seen  at  this  place — ^a  hay-saw,  used  in  sawing 
in  two  large  bales  of  hay. 


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796  HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


797 


Ariingtan  Cotton  Mills,— A  cotton  factory  was 
started  at  this  place  about  1830,  by  Mr.  La  Motte.  It 
subsequently  changed  proprietorship  a  number  of 
times  until  about  1880  a  stock  company  was  organized 
with  William  H.  Baldwin  as  president.  The  com- 
pany was  incorporated,  the  buildings  were  enlarged 
and  the  fectory  is  now  being  operated  with  John 
Greer  as  manager  and  agent.  The  buildings  are 
brick  and  occupy  two  squares  in  length  and  one 
square  in  width  on  Vandever  Avenue.  They  employ 
tv^  hundred  hands,  run  fifteen  thousand  spindles  and 
four  hundred  and  eighty-three  looms,  manufacturing 
about  five  million  yards  of  colored  cotton  cloths, 
mostly  ginghams,  dress  and  staple. 

Melville  Qamhrill  purchased  Edward  Pusey's  inter- 
est in  the  cotton-factory  in  1886,  and  has  since  made 
extensive  improvements.  He  employs  one  hundred 
hands  and  runs  six  thousand  spindles. 

Barlow  &  ThcUcher  rent  a  building  of  E.  I.  du  Pont 
de  Nemours  &  Co..  which  was  used  as  a  cotton-mill  by 
Joseph  Walker  and  others  for  many  years.  In  1881, 
Messrs.  Barlow  &  Thatcher  placed  new  machinery  in 
the  building  and  make  colored  twisted  warp  a 
specialty.  They  employ  fifty-four  hands  and  run  six 
thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty-eight  spinners 
and  twisters.  They  make  two  and  three-ply  yarn, 
one-third  of  their  product  being  fine  yarn.  Their 
machinery  is  driven  by  a  one  hundred  and  fifteen 
horse-power  engine  and  sixty-five  horse  water-power, 
and  their  fectory  is  lighted  by  electricity  generated 
by  their  own  dynamo. 

The  «/.  Jf.  Pusey  Company^  manufacturers  of 
hosiery  and  hosiery  yarns,  at  Thirteenth  and  Poplar 
Streets,  is,  by  descent  or  succession,  one  of  the  oldest 
houses  in  the  city,  dating  from  1814,  when  it  was 
founded  by  Jacob  Pusey.  It  was  later  conducted  by 
Pusey  Brothers  and  in  1879  the  present  title  was 
adopted.  The  president  is  J.  M.  Pusey,  the  vice- 
president  Jacob  Pusey,  and  the  secretary  F.T.Webb. 
In  the  company's  manufactory,  which  is  a  building 
one  hundred  by  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  in  area, 
crowded  with  the  best  of  machinery,  are  made  knit 
hosiery  and  hosiery  yams  of  high  grade.  The  market 
for  the  former  is  general,  and  for  the  latter  Philadel- 
phia is  the  principal  destination. 

Bakeries. — A  steam  bakery  and  candy  manufactory, 
probably  the  largest  in  the  State,  is  carried  on  by  the 
J.  Barkley  &  Bros.  Company,  at  Fourth  and  French 
Streets.  It  was  founded  in  1868,  and  the  present 
stock  company  was  formed  in  1884.  The  premises 
occupied  for  business  purposes  comprise  a  three-story 
building,  fifty-six  by  sixty-four  feet  in  dimensions,  in 
which  from  thirty  to  forty  operatives  are  constantly 
engaged.  The  company  manufactures  crackers  of  all 
kinds,  biscuits,  cakes,  confectionery,  etc. 

A  business  similar  to  the  above  was  established  in 
the  same  year  (1868)  by  W.  &  J.  Lang,  who  have 
since  carried  it  on  successfully  and  constantly  in- 
creased its  scope  and  extent.     They    employ  steam- 


power  and  about  twenty-five  operatives,  and  occupy 
a  building  three  stories  in  height,  sixty-seven  by  one 
hundred  feet,  manufacturing  everything  in  the  way  of 
crackers,  biscuits  and  cakes.  Adam  J.  Lang  is  now 
the  sole  proprietor. 

Bock/ord  Bleaching  and  Dye  Works  and  Cotton  Fac- 
tor j/,  at  Rockford,  on  the  Brandy  wine,  were  established 
as  a  cotton  factory  in  the  year  1831.  In  early  days  a 
grist-mill  owned  by  Job  Harvey  occupied  the  site  of 
this  extensive  industry.  Subsequently  George  Hud- 
son had  a  machine-shop  here  and  the  Rockford  Manu- 
facturing Company  owned  the  property.  Caleb  Kirk, 
William  W.  Young,  John  Torbert  and  E.  I.  and 
Alfred  du  Pont  were  connected  with  this  company. 

John  Bancroft  bought  the  site  in  1831,  remodeled 
the  stone  building  for  a  cotton  factory  and  placed  in 
it  about  one  thousand  five  hundred  spindles.  He 
continued  the  manufacturing  of  cotton  goods,  in  the 
meantime  increasing  the  size  of  the  buildings,  until 
1859,  when  he  added  to  his  industry  the  bleaching 
and  dyeing  of  cotton  goods.  The  growth  of  the  busi- 
ness necesitated  the  erection  of  additional  buildings, 
which  are  stone.  The  oldest  part  of  the  building  now 
occupied  was  erected  in  1848.  The  proprietor  took 
into  the  business  as  partners  his  sons,  William  P.  Ban- 
croft and  Samuel  Bancroft,  Jr.,  establishing  the  firm 
of  Joseph  Bancroft  &  Sons.  Joseph  Bancroft  died  in 
1874,  after  a  successful  business  career,  but  the  firm's 
name  was  left  unchanged  and  has  since  continued. 
In  1874  and  since,  the  buildings  have  been  greatly 
enlarged  and  extended  to  increase  the  facilities  for 
bleaching  and  dyeing  cotton  goods  to  the  present 
capacity  of  seven  hundred  thousand  yards  per  week. 
In  1885  the  cotton  factory  was  enlarged  and  refitted, 
and  has  now  seven  thousand  spindles  and  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety  looms.  For  thirty  years  past  the 
preparation  of  cloth  for  window  shades  has  been  a 
specialty  of  these  works.  Some  of  these  goods  are 
manufactured  here,  while  much  the  greater  part  of 
them  are  made  in  New  England  and  sent  to  the  Bock- 
ford  Works  to  be  bleached  and  dyed  by  contract. 

The  water-power  here,  which  is  utilized  in  running 
the  mills,  furnished  by  twenty-two  feet  fall  of  the 
Brandywine  Creek,  is  probably  the  best  in  the  State  of 
Delaware.  Half  of  this  water-right  is  owned  by  thp 
Bancrofts  and  the  other  half  by  E.  I.  du  Pont  &  Co., 
who  own  the  land  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream. 
The  water-power  furnished  in  these  works  by  the 
stream  is  equal  to  five  hundred  horse-power  and  is 
used  almost  exclusively  as  a  motor  during  six  months 
of  the  year.  Steam-engines  to  furnish  a  power  equal 
to  that  of  the  water-wheels  have  recently  been  added 
to  the  works.  The  buildings  extend  along  the  Brandy- 
wine  for  a  distance  of  six  hundred  feet  There  are 
here  about  three  hundred  employees,  most  of  whom 
live  in  the  tenement  houses  erected  on  the  property. 

To  the  south  of  the  works,  on  a  gently  sloping  hill 
surrounded  by  a  beautiful  lawn  and  dense  shade,  is 
the  large  stone  mansion  built  by  the  founder  of  this 
industry  and  now  occupied  by  his  widow,  and  near  by 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


it  are  the  homes  of  the  present  proprietors,  William 
and  Samuel  Bancroft,  Jr. 

Wadding, — Wadding  is  manufactured  by  the  Lea 
Pusey  Company,  at  Thirteeuth  and  Lombard  Streets. 
The  house  was  originally  founded  in  1854  as  J.  Pusey 
&  Sons.  Later  it  became  Pusey  Brothers,  and  they 
operated  this  business,  and  in  conjunction  with  it  the 
warps  and  woven  goods.  In  1882  Mr.  Lea  Pusey 
assumed  sole  proprietorship  and  so  carried  on  the 
business  until  1887,  when  the  present  company  was 
formed.  The  products  of  the  hou^e  are  used  in  mak- 
ing clothing  and  for  other  purposes. 

Ice  is  produced  by  artificial  process  by  the  company 
just  spoken  of,  pure,  filtered  water  being  used  for  the 
purpose.  The  same  concern  deals  also  in  wood  and 
coal.  The  president  of  the  company  is  Mr.  Lea 
Pupey,  and  the  vice-president  and  treasurer  is  Mr.  R. 
B.  Chillas. 

Wilmington  Dental  Manufacturing  Company.  —The 
manufacture  of  teeth  was  begun  in  Wilmington  in 
1866,  by  Dr.  E.  Shelp,  who  had  a  small  establishment 
in  a  building  on  the  corner  of  Ninth  and  Market 
Streets,  which  subsequently  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Dr.  J.  R.  Tantum.  In  1879  Dr.  J.  F.  Frantz  became 
a  partner,  and  the  business  was  conducted  by  J.  R. 
Tantum  &  Co.,  in  a  little  building  on  Girard  Street, 
until  1882,  when  H.  C.  Robinson  and  Prof.  S.  J.  Wil- 
ley  became  interested  in  the  concern,  and  the  Wil- 
mington Dental  Manufpcturing  Company  was  in- 
corporated with  a  capitalized  stock  of  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

The  manufactory  is  now  located  on  King  Street, 
opposite  the  Court-House.  The  company  employ 
firom  fifty  to  seventy-five  hands,  and  manufacture 
about  three  million  teeth  annually,  which  are  shipped 
to  all  parts  of  the  civilized  world.  The  feldspar  and 
silex,  of  which  the  teeth  are  made,  is  obtained  from 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  the  platinum  from  the 
Ural  Mountains  of  Russia.  The  process  of  manufac- 
ture consists  in  reducing  the  crude  material  to  a  very 
fine  powder  by  mills  for  that  purpose,  after  which  it 
is  dried,  sifted  and  compounded  in  proper  propor- 
tions; being  reduced  to  a  paste-like  consistency,  it  is 
moulded  in  brass  moulds  ;  the  platinum  pin  that  is 
used  to  attach  the  tooth  to  the  vulcanite  having  been 
inserted  therein,  the  whole  is  placed  in  a  Bunsen 
fiame  and  the  moisture  is  extracted  therefrom,  giving 
the  tooth  form  and  a  certain  hardness.  All  defects 
are  now  carefully  filed  away  or  repaired  by  skillful 
workmen,  when  the  teeth  are  placed  on  slides  made 
of  fire-clay  upon  which  is  placed  a  bedding  of  broken 
quartz,  which  is  not  infusible.  They  are  then  sub- 
jected to  a  white  heat  in  the  dental  furnace  for  about 
fifteen  minutes,  which  hardens  the  enamel  and  gives 
the  teeth  a  bright  appearance.  Gold,  chemically  pre- 
pared, is  used  to  give  a  red  or  pinkish  color;  titanum 
imparts  a  yellowish  hue  and  platinum  tint.  These 
chemically  prepared  ingredients  are  blended  with  the 
paste  by  skillful  workmen  so  as  to  produce  the  de- 
sired effect. 


Marble  Works. — ^The  marble  and  granite  works  of 
Chas.  £.  Smith,  at  Tenth  and  Tatnall  Streets,  are  the 
oldest  in  the  city,  having  been  established  in  1848 
by  Chas.  H.  Smith,  father  of  the  present  proprietor. 
About  fifteen  workmen  are  employed.  The  house 
also  operates  steam  saw-mi l!s  in  Philadelphia,  for 
sawing  stone. 

The  Delaware  Steam  Marble  and  Granite  Works,  at 
Fifth  and  King,  were  started  in  1861,  by  Brown  & 
Davidson.  Subsequently  the  establishment  was  con- 
ducted by  Davidson  Brothers,  and  since  1888  Thomas 
Davidson  has  been  sole  proprietor.  Thirty  or  more 
workmen  are  employed,  and  the  services  of  a  thirty 
horse-power  engine  are  als>>  brought  into  requisition. 
The  house  does  monumental  and  decorative  work 
and  deals  in  marble  and  granite.  The  business  is 
also  carried  on  by  William  Davidson,  at  Ninth  and 
King  Streets ;  by  John  L.  Malone,  on  Delaware 
Avenue  near  Madison  ;  and  by  L.  W.  Megowen,  at  233 
Shipley  Street. 

Fertilizers. — Fertilizers  are  manufactured  on  a  huge 
scale  by  the  Walton  &  Whann  Co.  The  business 
was  established  in  1861 ;  the  siyle  of  the  house  be- 
came Walton,  Whann  &  Co.  in  1865,  and  the  present 
company  was  incorporated  in  1885.  The  large  works 
are  located  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the  Christiana 
from  the  city,  and  the  store-houses,  ofSces  and  lab- 
oratory are  upon  West  Second  Street.  The  house, 
upon  the  average,  makes  about  one  hundred  tons  of 
super-phosphate  per  day.  This  involves  not  only  a 
great  mechanical  power,  but  the  constant  exercise  of 
high  professional  skill,  for  this  branch  of  manufac- 
ture is  a  department  of  applied  science.  Bones 
from  the  Western  packing-houses,  from  the  great 
prairies,  from  Texas,  from  the  pampas  of  South 
America,  from  the  markets  of  the  East,  bones  from 
the  sea,  are  brought  here  by  car  and  ship-loads,  and 
under  the  powerful  machinery  join  in  a  "  prodigious 
dance  of  death.''  Reduced  to  powder,  they  are  either 
sold  as  '*  bone  meal,"  or  undergoing  further  processes 
of  a  chemical  nature,  go  out  as  other  forms  of  fertil- 
izer. Some  are  treated  with  ammonia,  others  com- 
bined with  potash,  and  a  great  deal  of  sulphuric 
acid  is  used,  all  of  which  is  manufactured  upon  the 
spot,  in  great  leaden  chambers,  from  sulphur  im- 
ported from  Sicily.  Thus  a  product  of  the  Old 
World  here,  under  scientific  guidance,  meets  the 
ghastly  bones  from  slaughter-house  and  prairies  of 
the  two  American  continents,  to  form  a  food  for  im- 
poverished soils  in  the  farms  of  the  United  States. 
The  company  has  branch  houses  at  Baltimore,  Md.; 
Macon,  Ga.;  and  Cleveland,  O.  Its  officers  are, — 
President,  E.  T.  Walton ;  Vice-President,  A.  L.  An- 
derson ;  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Francis  N.  Buck ; 
and  Superintendent,  G^.  A.  Le  Maisire. 

Pipe  Covering. — James  F.  Wood  &  Co.  are  the 
successors  of  Wilson,  Wood  &  Co.,  who  established  the 
business  of  making  a  patent  pipe-covering  about  1872. 
The  change  in  the  house  occurred  over  three  years  ago, 
and  since  that  time  the  scope  of  manufacture  has 


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been  greatly  broadened.  The  products  of  their  house 
at  Front  and  Orange  Streets  now  consists  largely  of 
a  patent  pipe-covering,  but  they  also  make  metal 
roofing,  and  are  the  largest  manufacturers  in  the 
city  of  sheet  iron,  brass  and  cooper. 

Emit  Juices. — Natural  juices  and  flavors-  The 
firm  of  Smith  &  Painter  b^an  business  as  druggists 
on  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  Market  Streets,  Wil- 
mington, in  1866,  and  continued  until  1885.  In  the 
year  1872  an  incident  occurred  which  was  the  begin- 
ing  of  the  present  thriving  industry.  An  agent  for  a 
New  York  wholesale  house,  when  in  the  store,  drank 
a  glass  of  soda,  the  flavor  of  which  was  pineapple, 
and  which  he  particularly  liked.  A  conversation 
concerning  it  developed  the  fact  that  all  the  flavors 
used  were  made  by  the  druggists.      The  agent  asked 


hundred  feet,  connected  at  the  two  ends  by  office  and 
boiler-rooms,  to  which  they  removed  January  16, 1888. 
Shipments  of  their  products  are  made  to  every  State 
in  the  Union,  and  during  the  busy  season  from  forty 
to  fifty  persons  are  employed. 

The  Vulcanized  Fibre  Company,  at  their  works.  Tenth 
and  Walnut  Streets,  manufacture  a  material,  by  a 
more  or  less  secret  process,  which  is  made  to  take  the 
place  of  leather  in  many  mechanical  uses,  as,  for  in- 
stance, washers  for  bolts,  and  is  made  into  various 
utensils.  The  works  were  started  in  1876,  with  Wil- 
liam Courtney,  of  New  York,  as  president,  and  after 
numerous  changes  he  again  holds  that  position.  A 
number  of  Wilmington ians  are  stockholders  in  the 
company  and  Frank  Taylor  is  superintendent  and 
treasurer. 


SMITH   A   PAINTER, 
Eleventh,  Church  and  Bennett  Streeta,  Wilmington,  I>el. 


if  they  could  fill  an  order  for  the  pineapple,  and  was 
informed  they  could.  A  few  days  after  the  agent 
returned  to  New  York  City  they  received  an  order 
for  three  hundred  bottles  of  pineapple  flavor,  which 
was  shipped  and  was  followed  soon  after  by  orders  for 
other  flavors.  The  demand  increased,  and  in  1874  a 
small  laboratory  was  erected  in  the  rear  of  the  drug- 
store, where  the  juices  and  flavors  were  made  and  put 
up.  In  1878  business  had  so  much  increased  that  a 
lot  was  purchased  at  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  Tatnall 
Streets,  and  a  two-story  brick  building  was  erected, 
one-half  of  which  was  used  for  their  business,  which 
at  that  time  embraced  the  preparation  of  fruit  juices 
and  many  flavors.  In  the  spring  of  1883  the  entire 
building  was  occupied,  and  in  1885  so  great  had 
become  the  demand  that  the  drug  business  was  dis- 
posed of  and  the  attention  of  the  proprietors  was 
entirely  given  to  the  business.  In  the  fall  of  1887  a 
block  of  land  was  purchased,  one  hundred  and  forty- 
sev^  feet  on  Eleventh  Street,  extending  from 
Bennett  to  Church  Streets  and  northward  three 
hundred  feet  to  Brandywine  Creek,  on  which  was 
erected  two  brick  buildings,  each  thirty-five  by  one 


Thomas  Drein  &  Son  and  S,  T,  Bannarsire  among  the 
leading  builders  of  small  boats,  the  former  having 
been  engaged  at  the  trade  since  1866  and  the  latter 
since  1884.  The  business  of  the  former  house  (  now 
carried  on  solely  by  Wm.  M.  Drein  )  consists  largely 
of  the  building  of  Cone's  patent  life-rafts,  adopted  by 
many  steamship  lines  and  vessel-owners,  and  the  oper- 
ations of  Mr.  Bannar  consist  chiefly  of  building  me- 
tallic boats. 

Wilmington  Mills  Manufacturing  Company. — Jute 
goods  in  considerable  variety — as  twine,  rug  yarn, 
carpet  filling,  ropes,  etc., — are  the  product  of  the  Wil- 
mington Mills  Manufacturing  Company,  which  con- 
sists of  James  Morrow  and  his  sons,  James  C.  and 
Lewis  B.  Morrow.  The  works  are  located  at  Sixteenth 
Street  and  Railroad  Avenue,  in^mediately  alongside 
of  Brandywine  station  on  the  Philadelphia,  Wil- 
mington and  Baltimore  Railroad,  but  have  only 
been  there  about  five  years,  when  originally  es- 
tablished, in  1870,  being  located  at  the  corner  of 
Fourth  and  Spruce  Streets.  The  chief  interest  in  the 
history  of  these  works,  the  only  ones  of  their  kind  in 
Delaware,  belongs  to  the  period  subsequent  to  1882, 


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HISTOKY  OF  DELAWAKE. 


when  they  were  removed  to  the  present  site,  and  hence 
we  pass  over  the  prior  years  except  to  say  that  they 
exhibited  slow  and  uniform  growth  and  prosperity, 
culminating  in  a  condition  which  made  enlarged  facil- 
ities, and  therefore  removal,  a  necessity.  They  took 
possession  of  the  building  formerly  used  by  the 
Stotsenburg  Nut  and  Bolt  Works,  which,  however, 
forms  but  a  small  part  of  their  present  factory.  This 
is  a  building  fifty  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in 
area,  perfectly  adapted  in  every  respect  to  the  purpose 
for  which  it  is  used.  It  is  indeed  a  model  factory, 
well-lighted  and  ventilated,  supplied  with  the  best  of 
protection  against  fire,  and  admirably  arranged  for 
the  economic  handling  of  material.  The  gearing  of 
the  machinery  is  all  enclosed  to  prevent  accident  to 
the  operatives  and  every  other  precaution  is  taken 
for  their  safety  and  comfort.  The  number  of  employees 
is  about  one  hundred.  The  motive  force  is  a  Corliss 
engine  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  horse-power.  The 
machinery,  which  is  for  the  most  part  delicate  and 
complicated,  is  nearly  all  imported  and  necessarily 
very  expensive.  Jute  comes  from  India,  the  port  of 
shipment  being  Calcutta,  and  the  two  million  pounds 
or  more  which  is  handled  annually  by  this  manufac- 
tory is  unloaded  at  the  doors  firom  cars  side-tracked 
into  the  yard.  The  four  hundred  pound  bales  being 
opened  and  th^  fibre  subjected  to  a  soaking  process  is 
passed  through  a  heavy  machine  which  breaks  and 
removes  the  coarse  fibre,  after  which  it  is  ready  for 
the  more  delicate  spinning  machines.  Two  thousand 
whirling  spindles  form  it  into  a  kind  of  yarn  from 
which  afterwards  it  is  made  into  twine,  carpet  filling 
and  small  ropes ;  in  the  latter  process,  lightning-like 
little  machines  occupying  scarcely  a  dozen  square  feet> 
taking  the  place  of  the  old-fashioned  rope-walk  in 
which  "human  spiders  walking  backward,"  spun  so 
tediously  and  slow  in  time  not  long  past.  The  crude 
material,  entering  at  one  end  of  the  building,  passing 
through  its  entire  length  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
feet,  comes  out  wound  in  balls  and  coils  at  the  other 
end,  ready  for  shipment,  if  necessary,  by  the  same 
cars  that  brought  it  in.  The  product  is  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  country  and  the  company  has  a  contract 
with  the  United  States  government  for  700,000  pounds 
of  its  wares  this  present  year.  Of  this  unique  and 
prosperous  manufacturing  establishment  the  officers 
are:  President,  James  Morrow;  vice-president, 
James  C.  Morrow,  and  secretary  and  treasurer,  Lewis 
B.  Morrow.  The  active  and  practical  management 
of  the  works  devolves  upon  Mr.  James  C.  Morrow. 

Cooperage. — The  coopering  business  flourished  in 
Wilmington  at  a  very  early  day.  Thousands  of  barrels 
were  required  yearly  to  supply  the  Brandy  wine  mills, 
and  the  other  flour  mills  in  the  vicinity  before  the  time 
of  the  Revolution.  The  establishment  of  the  du  Pont 
powder  mills  increased  the  demand  and  the  number 
of  men  engaged  in  making  them.  It  was  a  century 
ago  that  James  Smith  made  barrels  along  the  Brandy- 
wine  for  Joseph  Tatnall,  in  large  numbers.  He  con- 
tinued until   1824.    John   Hayes,    William  Stewart 


and  others,  made  barrels  for  the  mills  "  when  Wil- 
mington was  but  a  village."  Philip  McDowell  at  a 
later  day  prospered  exceedingly  well  in  the  business, 
employing  as  many  as  forty  coopers  in  his  shop,  mak- 
ing barrels  and  hogsheads  for  the  Brandy  wine  mills. 
He  began  in  1832  on  French  Street,  between  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth,  remaining  there  four  years,  and  th^n 
moved  west  of  the  site  of  J.  Taylor  Oause's  residence, 
and  built  a  dwelling  and  shop.  His  workmen  settled 
around  him  until  everybody  called  the  place  "  Mc- 
Dowell ville,"  a  name  not  yet  forgotten,  even  if  it  is  in 
the  city  limits.  He  died  in  the  Centennial  year,  and 
the  business  then  declined. 

John  Danby,  an  intelligent  Englishman,  began 
the  business  in  his  stone  house  on  the  Kennett  pike» 
a  building  still  standing  between  Shipley  and  Tatnall 
near  Tenth.  He  made  powder-kegs  and  saltpeter 
barrels  for  the  du  Ponts.  Later  he  built  a  house  on 
Shipley  Street,  and  increased  his  facilities  for  manu- 
facture, employing  twenty-five  men,  and  prospered, 

Asa  Poinsett  b^an  on  French  Street  to  make  pow- 
der kegs.  From  1835  to  1842,  when  the  Wilmington 
Whaling  Company  flourished,  he  made  all  the  cask» 
and  barrels  that  it  needed,  and  employed  twenty  men 
regularly.  He  later  moved  to  the  Brandy  wine,  in- 
creased the  number  of  employees,  and  made  barrels 
for  the  Prices  at  the  mills.  George  McGee,  in  1824: 
and  later  made  powder-kegs,  finally  moved  to  Brandy- 
wine,  and  made  barrels  for  William  Lea.  James 
Montgomery  and  J.  H.  T.  Rice  made  large  numbers- 
of  barrels.  During  the  year  1849,  coopers  received 
seventeen  cents  for  making  a  barrel.  The  best  work- 
men could  make  thirty  per  week.  There  were 
then  about  two  hundred  journeymen  employed  in  the 
diflerent  shops  in  Brandywine  village. 

John  W.  Hawkins,  now  a  retired  citizen  of  Wil- 
mington, started  in  1840,  at  the  corner  of  Fifteenth  and 
French  Street.  His  father,  Thomas  Hawkins,  an  in- 
dustrious Swede,  began  the  business  at  the  same  site^ 
in  1803,  and  made  flaxseed  casks  for  the  West  India 
trade,  beef  and  pork  and  flour-barrels,  until  his  son 
succeeded  him.  The  latter  for  twenty-flve  years,  with, 
as  many  men  made  barrels  for  John  H.  and  James 
Price.  In  1845  he  took  charge  of  the  "  red  cooper 
shop  *'  over  which  John  Hyndman  presided  for  twenty 
years  previously.  In  all  Mr.  Hawkins  had  four  shops 
going  for  a  considerable  time.  William  Rice  in 
Brandywine  village  corner  of  Sixteenth  and  King,  em- 
ployed twenty-five  men,  and  conducted  three  shops 
for  a  long  period,  James  Carswell  and  William  Mor- 
row did  a  considerable  business.  William  M.  Council 
now  conducts  four  shops,  making  barrels  for  William 
Lee  k  Sons. 

Coppersmiths. — The  coppersmith  works  were  start- 
ed by  Heisler  &  Roberts  in  1836.  This  firm  was  suc- 
ceeded by  B.  and  R.  Heisler,  who  were  succeed!^  by 
Heisler,  McBride  &  Co.,  the  present  firm.  They  em- 
ploy from  eight  to  ten  men  and  do  all  kinds  of  copper 
sheet  metal  work.     A  large  part  of  the  work  done 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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here  is  copper- piping  for  steamships.  This  is  the  only 
coppersmith  shop  in  the  State. 

Bbandywine  Cotton  Mills. — ^The  Gilpins  had 
erected  several  stone-buildings  for  their  paper-mill 
which  were  partially  destroyed  by  the  floods. 

Aboat  1838,  Riddle  and  Lawrence  purchased  these 
milU  and  converted  them  into  a  cotton  spinning-mill) 
and  about  1850  a  large  five  story  weaving-mill  was 
erected ;  this  was  followed  by  a  picker-house,  dressing- 
house  and  boiler,  dye  and  dry  houses,  altogether 
making  a  very  complete  factory  with  improved  ma- 
chinery. Two  hundred  and  eighty  hands  are  em- 
ployed to  operate  twelve  thousand  spindles,  and 
weave  one  thousand  two  hundred  pieces  of  fancy 
ticking,  containing  fifty-seven  yards  in  each  piece  per 
week.  James  Riddle  associated  his  son  and  son-in- 
law  in  business  with  him  under  the  firm-name  of  Rid- 
dle, Son  &  Co.  He  was  a  quiet,  industrious  man  and 
accumulated  a  good  property.  After  hid  death  in  1872, 
his  son,  Leander,  managed  the  business.  He  was  a 
progressive  man,  and  introduced  the  latest  improved 
machinery  into  his  mills.  His  early  death  left  the 
business  in  the  hands  of  the  son-in-law,  William  M. 
Fields,  who  has  recently  rented  the  mills  to  C.  J. 
Milne  &  Co.  There  is  a  large  stone  quarry  on  the 
estate,  which  is  being  worked  successfully. 

The  Christiana  Window-  Glass  Company  operate  the 
works  originally  known  as  those  of  James  Bradford, 
aod  have  done  so  since  the  late  summer  of  1886.  It 
it  a  stock -company  with  Edward  H.  Burns  as  presi- 
dent. It  b  conducted  on  the  cooperative  plan  and 
consists  of  seventeen  members,  among  whom 
are  Michael  J.  Burns  the  superintendent,  and 
his  five  sons,  who  like  all  of  the  operatives 
came  here  from  the  works  at  Quinton,  N.  J. 
There  are  about  fifty  men  on  the  pay-roll  of  the 
company.  There  is  much  that  is  interesting  in  the 
work.  Even  the  preparatory  processes  are  peculiar. 
For  instance  the  "  pots"  or  huge  crucibles  in  which 
the  sand,  lime  and  soda  are  mixed  and  fused  to  make 
glass,  are  not  completed  in  much,  if  any  less  time 
than  five  months.  The  peculiar  clay  of  this  compo- 
sition which  is  brought  from  Germany,  has  first  to  be 
ground  and  then  in  a  moist  state  kneaded  for  about 
three  weeks  under  a  man's  bare  feet,  no  other  method 
than  this  slow  and  laborious  one  having  ever  been 
ditcovered  which  will  give  the  clay  its  necessary  qual- 
ities. The  "  pot "  having  been  formed — in  its  inverted 
position  looking  like  a  small  dome — must  be  carefully 
dried  for  four  months.  And  after  all  of  this  pains- 
taking and  time  expenditure  it  lasts  in  the  fiery 
furnace  only  about  eight  weeks!  The  men  who  blow 
glass — especially  window-glas^,  toil  harder  than  any 
rolling-mill  man  or  other  workers  in  iron,  for  they 
have  to»wingnpon  the  end  of  a  seven-foot  tube  with- 
OQt  leverage,  masses  of  the  molten  '* metal"  ore 
weighing  from  eighteen  to  twenty-eight  pounds,  and 
blow  almost  continuously  to  inflate  it  to  the  form  of  a 
cylinder  fifty-eight  inches  long  by  thirty-four  in  cir- 
cumference. When  not  engaged  in  blowing  and 
51 


swinging  this  substantial  bubble,  the  workman  is 
engaged  in  rolling  it,  by  the  aid  of  a  helper  upon  a 
concave  iron  or  flat  wooden  surface.  Afler  the 
cylinder  is  properly  fashioned  it  is  cut  longitudinally 
and  flattens  out  like  a  sheet  of  paper.  Then  comes 
the  annealing  process,  the  cutting,  assorting  and 
packing,  and  finally  the  glass  is  ready  for  the  market. 
The  management  of  the  afiairs  of  the  company  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  following  gentlemen :  Edward  Burns, 
President;  Nathaniel  Fox,  Secretary  and  Treasurer; 
James  Burns,  Edward  Fox  and  Frederick  Eberhart. 
These  constitute  the  board  of  directors,  and  in  ad- 
dition, Mr.  Michael  Bums  is  General  Superintendent. 
Carriage  Builders, — Thomas  Moore  was  one  of  the 
first  carriage  builders  in  Wilmington.  He  had  an 
old  rickety  shanty  where  the  Wilmington  post-office 
now  stands,  and  built  a  few  carriages  after  the  style  of 
that  day,  which  was  very  much  heavier  »nd  more 
cumbersome  than  the  style  of  the  modern  light  run- 
ning carriage.  The  next  builder  was  Joseph  Hunter, 
who  had  a  frame  building  on  Seventh  and  Shipley 
Streets,  then  John  Merrick  commenced  business,  at 
first  in  an  old  cotton  factory  on  Front  and  Orange — a 
dissatisfaction  sprang  up  among  his  employees,  which 
resulted  in  seven  of  his  workmen  withdrawing  from 
his  iltctory  and  establishing  a  co-operative  factory  in 
an  old  shop  on  the  corner  of  Market  and  Water 
Streets  in  1844.  From  here  they  removed  across  the 
Christiana  Creek  into  a  large  wooden  shop  that 
Charles  Canby  erected  for  them.  They  did  business 
under  the  name  of  Flagler  &  Co.,  until  they  disagreed 
and  part  of  the  company  withdrew  and  went  to  Bal- 
timore! The  remainder  of  the  company  continued 
business  for  four  or  ^ve  years,  when  there  was  another 
disagreement  resulting  in  Messrs.  Frist  and  Almond 
withdrawing  about  1836,  when  they  established  a 
business  on  the  corner  of  Seventh  and  Shipley  Streets. 
Messrs.  Flagler  and  Huntsburger  were  the  only  re- 
maining members  of  the  original  seven  seceders  in 
the  old  firm.  They  continued  in  business  about  three 
years,  and  last  of  all  they  disagreed  also.  Flagler, 
who  was  determined  to  never  flag,  retained  the  old 
place  and  Huntsburger  came  back  across  the  river 
and  tore  down  the  original  building  on  Water  and 
Market  Streets,  and  built  a  five-story  brick  building 
covering  the  entire  block.  These  houses  all  did  a 
large  business,  enjoying  a  monopoly  of  the  Southern 
trade,  which  at  that  time  was  large.  More  silver- 
plating  was  used  then  than  now.  Sometimes  from  fifty 
to  sixty  dollars  worth  of  silver  was  thus  used,  and  it 
was  no  uncommon  thing  for  a  Southern  gentleman  to 
put  his  carriage  in  his  parlor,  but  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  War  destroyed  this  trade  and  Huntsburger 
lost  all  of  his  money  and  died  of  a  broken  heart. 
The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  are  now  building 
a  freight  depot  where  his  building  stood.  About 
1850-55,  Wilmington  was  the  first  city  in  the  Union 
in  the  manufacture  of  carriages.  She  does  not  occupy 
that  position  now,  but  still  she  does  a  large  business 
in  the  local  trade  and  with  Philadelphia.    Althongh 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


there  is  not  as  much  silver-plating  used  as  formerly, 
yet  the  workmanship  is  much  finer.  Skilled  work- 
men receive  twenty  dollars  per  week  where  they 
formerly  received  only  eight  dollars.  Formerly  from 
fifty  to  sixty  carriages  were  made  from  one  pattern ; 
now  frequently  only  one  is  made  from  a  pattern  and 
new  styles  are  constantly  being  designed.  Most  of 
the  hickory  lumber  used  comes  from  Pennsylvania, 
second  growth  ash  from  Ohio  and  Connecticut,  soft 
yellow  poplar  from  Michigan. 

Qregg  and  BawCj  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Or- 
ange and  Eighth  Streets,  commenced  carriage  mak- 
ing in  1855,  and  are  now  the  oldest  firm  engaged  in 
the  business  in  the  city.  They  occupy  a  large  brick 
building,  one  hundred  and  sixty-five  by  forty -two,  on 
Eighth  Street,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty -five  by  forty- 
two  on  Orange  Street,  besides  having  a  ware-house  on 
Twelfth  and  Arch  Streets,  and  a  repair-shop  on  Filbert 
Street,  Philadelphia.  They  do  nothing  but  the  best 
custom  work,  employing  from  fifty  to  sixty  hands  and 
making  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  carriages  per 
year. 

JoneSf  Guthrie  &  Company y  coach  manufacturers,  are 
located  on  the  south  side  of  Market  Street  bridge. 
This  establishment  was  founded  in  1849  and  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  city.  The  shops  of  this  company 
are  well  adapted  to  the  work  and  the  best  material  is 
employed.  The  firm  have  a  good  reputation  and  keep 
a  large  stock  of  elegant  carriages  constantly  on  hand. 

FriBt  <Sc  Allmon,  have  a  carriage  factory  on  the 
comer  of  Shipley  and  Seventh  Streets,  wherein 
excellent  light  carriages,  such  as  buggies.  Surreys, 
Brewster  Park  and  Pony-phaBtons,  are  mades,  a 
specialty.  This  house  was  established  in  1846  as 
Flagler  &  Company,  which  was  succeeded  by  the 
present  company  in  1856.  The  firm,  Messrs,  Joel 
Frist  and  George  Allmon  are  practical  men  and 
employ  from  twelve  to  twenty  workmen.  Their  fac- 
tory is  sixty-four  by  fifty-eight  feet  in  dimensions  and 
five  stories  high. 

Cooling  Brothers  commenced  carriage  making  in 
1862,  on  Front  Street  above  Fourth.  They  have  a 
large  brick  building  and  employ  about  fifty  hands  and 
make  from  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred 
vehicles  of  all  kinds  per  year.  The  firm  has  a  branch 
on  Broad  Street  near  Race,  Philadelphia. 

Gatta  &  Kaiser,  have  been  engaged  for  twenty-five 
years  without  change  in  firm-name  or  removal  from 
their  original  stand,  in  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds 
of  heavy  hauling  and  business  wagons.  They  began 
work  in  1862  where  they  carry  on  business  now  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  Third  and  Walnut  Streets. 

McLear  <&  Kendall,  at  present  the  larvest  manu- 
facturers of  carriages  in  the  city,  were  the  successors, 
as  already  shown,  of  Mr.  Merrick.  They  formed  a 
partnership  and  bought  out  his  Second  and  French 
Street  establishment  in  1864,  and  in  1866  purchased 
from  him  the  building  at  Ninth  and  King  Streets, 
which  they  at  present  occupy.  This  is  a  four-story 
brick,  two  hundred  and  nineteen  by  seventy-five  feet 


in  dimensions.  Mere  figures,  however,  give  an  in- 
adequate idea  of  the  hugeness  of  this  plant  The 
building  is  divided  into  six  departments — the  iron, 
wood-working,  trimming,  painting,  repository  and 
offices,  and  in  these  the  work  is  carried  on  in  the 
most  systematic  manner.  A  forty  horse-power  en- 
gine drives  the  extensive  and  varied  system  of  ma- 
chinery, including  all  of  the  most  improved  and  the 
latest  invented  appliajices.  Upon  the  average,  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men  are  employed,  among  theoi 
many  highly  skilled  in  their  different  departments, 
and  also  several  designers  constantly  employed  in 
producing  new  patterns  of  vehicles.  Extensive  aa 
are  these  works,  they  do  not  represent  the  ftiU  scope 
of  Messrs.  McLear  &  Kendall's  business,  for  they 
have  large  branch  establishments  in  Philadelphia  and 
Charleston,  S.  C.  The  productions  of  the  firm  com- 
prise a  general  line  of  fine  carriages  and  wagons;  ia 
fact,  everything  from  the  most  costly  and  elaborate 
down  to  the  simplest  and  cheapest  form  of  work — the 
common  road-wagon  and  buggy,  landaus,  coupes, 
coaches,  broughams,  rockaways,  victorias,  phaetons, 
cabriolets,  cabs,  hansoms,  etc.  The  business  has  been 
slowly  developed  to  its  present  proportions,  and  the 
firm  has  probably  done  more  than  any  other  to  give 
Wilmington  its  reputation  as  a  carriage-building 
centre,  their  goods  being  shipped  to  every  State  in 
the  Union,  to  Mexico  and  foreign  countries.  The  in- 
dividual members  of  the  firm  are  Henry  0.  McLear 
and  Caspar  Kendall. 

S.  D.  Paschairs  carriage  manufactory  is  located  on 
the  south  side  of  Market  Street  Bridge.  He  com- 
menced manufacturing  carriages  in  1866,  and  has  one 
of  the  largest  establishments  in  the  city,  employing 
some  seventy-eight  men  in  the  manufacture  of  a 
large  number  of  extension-top  phaetons,  coupes,  rock- 
aways, physician's  buggies,  family  carriages  and  bus- 
iness wagons.  The  ground  on  which  the  various 
shpps,  office  and  storage-rooms  of  this  house  are 
located  is  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  on  Market 
Street,  one  hundred  and  forty-three  feet  front  for 
wharfage  on  Christiana  River,  and  sixty  feet  at  the 
longest  part,  containing  two  and  one-fourth  acres. 

C.  W.  Horn,  whose  establishment  is  at  108  Walnut 
Street  and  110  French  Street,  began  business  for 
himself  in  1867,  but  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
city  since  1863  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  part- 
ner with  the  veteran  carriage  builder,  John  Merrick. 
Since  obtaining  possession  of  his  present  stand,  he  has 
enlarged  the  buildings  several  times,  and  they  now 
afford  a  floor  area  of  fully  ninety  thousand  feet.  The 
specialties  of  manufacture  are  light  carriages  and 
sleighs. 

John  Walther,  on  the  south  side  of  Market  Street 
bridge,  commenced  carriage-making  in  1870.  He 
does  custom  work  principally,  employing  ten  hands 
and  making  one  hundred  carriages  per  year. 

John  W.  Reeve  commenced  in  1873-74,  and  em- 
ploys from  twelve  to  sixteen  hands.  He  makes  about 
one  hundred  light  buggies  per  year. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


803 


E.  M.  Hammitt,  Nos.  501-^5  French  Street,  has 
a  carriage  repair-shop  and  has  recently  added  car- 
riage-making. 

The  firm  of  Mills  &  Combs  was  organized  in  1869 
for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  wagons,  and  was 
under  the  management  of  James  Mills,  who,  in  1882> 
became  sole  proprietor.  The  premises  now  occupied 
are  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Railroad  Avenue, 
and  embrace  an  area  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-six 
by  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet,  which  includes, 
besides  the  wagon  factory,  coal  and  wood  yards. 

William  H.  Cole  commenced  wagon-making  in 
1873.  He  employs  from  five  to  ten  men  and  makes 
some  seventy-five  carriages  and  wagons  per  year. 

William  Hammond,  corner  of  Second  and  French 
Streets,  started  to  make  wagons  in  1874.  He  does 
custom  work  and  employs  as  high  as  twenty-five 
hands,  making  about  one  hundred  wagons  during  the 
winter  season. 

Novelty  Carriage  Works,  Samuel  Kerns,  proprietor, 
Second  and  French  Streets.  This  house  succeeded  John 
Green  in  1874  and  employs  about  forty  hands,  pro- 
ducing light  carriages,  buggies,  phaetons,  jump-seats, 
surrey  and  rockaways,  which  are  sold  throughout  the 
country.  The  factory  consists  of  a  three-story  build- 
ing one  hundred  by  forty  feet. 

Cahill  &  Co.  occupy  two  buildings  on  Orange 
Street,  thirty-five  by  sixty  feet  and  forty-six  by  sixty 
feet  in  extent,  making  a  very  complete  carriage- 
factory,  having  four  general  departments,  the  wood- 
working, blacksmithing,  trimming  add  painting. 
About  twenty  skilled  workmen  are  employed  under 
the  management  of  P.  J.  Cahill,  the  successor  of 
Hudson  &  Cahill,  who  started  the  business  in 
1878.  The  annual  production  of  the  factory  is  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  vehicles,  besides  an 
extensive  repairing  trade. 

Bice  &  White,  south  side  of  Market  Street  bridge, 
commenced  manufacturing  carriages  about  1880. 
Their  factory  consists  of  two  large  buildings,  one  two 
hundred  by  seventy  feet,  used  as  a  factory,  and  the 
other,  one  hundred  by  sixty  feet,  used  as  a  show- 
room. They  employ  from  thirty-five  to  fifty  hands 
and  carry  a  large  stock  of  light  carriages,  buggies, 
phaetons,  etc. 

McCabe  &  Darragh,  manufacturers  of  carriages,  on 
comer  of  Fourth  and  Walnut  Streets,  established  the 
business  in  1884.  Their  building  is  four  stories  high 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  square  in  area.  They 
employ  fifty  hands  and  annually  produce  about  one 
thousand  vehicles,  including  beach  wagons,  landaus, 
carryalls,  rockaways,  surreys,  victorias  and  express 
wagons,  the  latter  being  a  specialty.  This  firm  ship 
carriages  to  various  parts  of  the  United  States,  be- 
sides having  a  West  India  trade. 

F.  T.  Clymer,  northeast  corner  of  Third  and  Orange 
Streets,  has  two  commodious  buildings,  and  makes  a 
specialty  of  wagon  and  carriage  bodies  of  all  kinds. 
He  employs  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  men, 
and  has  over  three  hundred  different  patterns,  in- 


cluding every  style  of  vehicle,  comprising  heavy  and 
light  carriages,  coaches,  omnibuses,  hearses,  etc.  One 
of  his  buildings  is  a  three-story  brick,  fifty-four  by 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  dimensions,  and  the 
other  is  twenty-four  by  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet, 
and  is  used  principally  as  a  storage  room. 

JBfd>  Factory. — Stephen  Downey  has  an  extensive 
hub  factory  on  the  comer  of  Third  and  Tatnall 
Streets.  The  increase  of  carriage  manufacturing  in 
Wilmington  led  Mr.  Downey,  in  1868,  to  establish  a 
hub  tlEictory,  which  he  has  succensfuUy  carried  on  in 
connection  with  turning  newell-posts,  having  im- 
proved machinery  for  their  manufacture,  also  for  the 
manufacture  of  balusters  and  ship-turning  material, 
stair-building  being  a  specialty  with  Mr.  Dawney; 
this  branch  of  his  business  is  quite  extensive. 

7%e  Diamond  State  Brewen/y  of  which  Joseph 
Stoeckle  is  proprietor,  occupies,  above  Fifth  and 
Adams  Streets,  the  site  of  the  old  brewery  of  Nebeker 
Brothers,  built  in  1859.  Mr.  Stoeckle  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1855  and  became  the  owner  of  this  property  in 
1871.  The  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1881,  and 
he  then  erected  the  present  imposing  structure,  five 
stories  in  height,  surmounted  by  a  tower  and  adorned 
with  a  gigantic  statue  of  Gambrinus.  Here  the  pro- 
prietor has  unsurpassed  facilities  for  the  brewing  of 
lager  beer  and  porter,  and  the  products  of  the  estab- 
lishment have  a  high  reputation  throughout  the 
peninsula  and  Pennsylvania  and  to  a  considerable 
extent  through  territory  further  removed.  Every- 
thing known  to  the  science  of  brewing  is  to  be  found 
in  this  house,  and  some  idea  of  the  extent  of  the 
manufacture  may  be  conveyed  by  the  statement  that 
an  eighty-horse  power  engine  is  needed  to  operate 
the  brewery,  the  capacity  of  which  is  thirty  thousand 
barrels  annually. 

Hartmann  &  Fehrenbach's  Brewery,  at  the  corner 
of  Lovering  Avenue  and  Scott  Street,  was  originated 
by  John  Hartmann  and  John  Fehrenbach,  at  the 
same  site  in  1866.  The  first  buildings  used  were 
frame,  which  were  fitted  out  with  a  capacity  to  pro- 
duce thirty  barrels  of  lager  beer  daily.  They  con- 
tinued with  such  facilities  until  1878,  when  the  old 
buildings  were  removed  and  a  large  three-story  brick 
building  erected  and  fitted  out  with  improved  ma- 
chinery and  apparatus,  the  entire  cost  being  forty 
thousand  dollars.  The  motive  force  is  supplied  by  an 
engine  and  two  boilers,  one  of  eighty  and  the  other  of 
fifty  horse-power.  A  large  refrigerator  has  recently 
been  placed  in  the  brewery.  The  present  capacity 
of  manufacture  is  thirty-five  thousand  barrels  annu- 
ally. The  beer  made  here  is  consumed  in  Wilming- 
ton and  the  towns  of  the  Peninsula,  and  a  prosperous 
business  is  done.  In  1885  an  incorporated  company 
was  formed  with  John  Hartmann,  president;  John 
G.  Hartmann,  vice-president ;  and  John  Fehrenbach, 
secretary  and  treasurer.  The  other  members  of  the 
company  are  J.  G.  Fehrenbach  and  Charles  Fehren- 
bach. Sixteen  men  are  employed,  and  the  brewery  is 
constantly  in  operation. 


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HISTOPY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Jame9  H.  Beggs  &  Company* s  Brick-yard  is  located  a 
short  distance  out  of  the  city  limits,  the  office  of  the 
firm  being  at  Eighth  and  Shipley  Streets.  Mr. 
Beggs  has  been  engaged  in  brickmaking  for  twenty- 
two  years.  Several  years  since  the  firm  of  J.  H. 
Beggs  &  Co.  was  formed,  the  members  being  James 
H.  Beggs  and  John  P.  Allmond.  The  deposit  of 
clay  suitable  for  good  brickmaking  around  Wilming- 
ton is  large,  and  this  firm  have  an  exceptionally 
good  article.  Several  years  ago  the  firm  introduced 
a  new  feature  in  Wilmington  brickmaking  by  im- 
porting a  number  of  skilled  Italian  workmen,  who 
turn  out  all  kinds  of  fancy  and  ornamental  brick  and 
tile  work.  The  firm  turn  out  from  nine  to  twelve 
million  bricks  a  year,  and  employment  is  given  to 
two  hundred  hands. 

James  E.  Moore  &  Co. — This  firm  is  composed  of 
James  E.  Moore  and  S.  W.  Darby,  and  was  started 
in  1887.  The  plant  is  located  at  the  southwest 
of  the  city,  and  turns  out  three  million  bricks  annu- 
ally. 

Bricks  are  also  manufactured  by  Alvan  Allen  and 
the  firm  of  Pierce  &  Beeson.  Mr.  Allen  in  1872  bought 
the  old  brick-yard  of  Lewis  &  Sons,  at  Front  and  Du 
Pont  Streets,  and  in  1882  he  established  his  present 
yard  near  the  junction  of  the  Wilmington  and  North- 
em  and  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroads  at  Union 
Street,  where  he  has  unsurpassed  facilities  for  ship- 
ping. He  employs  from  eighty  to  eighty-five  men, 
and  makes  about  five  million  bricks  per  year. 

Messrs.  Pierce  &  Beeson  have  the  yard  on  Elliott 
Avenue  started  by  Samuel  McClary,  Jr.,  in  1878.  It 
passed  into  th«  hands  of  Forest  <&  Pierce  in  1882,  and 
to  the  present  proprietors  March  3,  1886.  The 
firm,  of  which  the  individual  members  are  J. 
Eldridge  Pierce  and  Harry  A.  Beeson,  employ  over  a 
hundred  men,  and  the  production  of  their  yard 
amounts  to  about  seven  million  bricks  per  year. 

Lumber, — Quinby  &  Co.,  lumber  merchants,  are  the 
successors  of  A.  H.  Quinby,  who,  in  1839,  purchased 
the  business  of  a  firm  previously  established,  thereby 
dating  the  business  back  to  1834.  During  this  time 
the  stand  has  been  removed  twice,  and  now  occupies 
the  square  of  ground  on  Front  and  Madison  Streets, 
adjacent  to  the  saw  and  planing-mill,  which  are  run 
in  connection  with  the  business, — dressing  flooring, 
ceiling,  siding  and  the  various  kinds  of  lumber  used 
in  the  large  manufacturing  concerns  of  the  city.  The 
firm  make  a  specialty  of  yellow  and  North  Carolina 
pine,  but  handle  white  pine,  cypress  and  other  woods. 

Wm.  H.  Pierson  &  Son,  No.  421  West  Front  Street, 
have  one  of  the  largest  sash  and  door  establishments 
in  the  city.  Their  building,  forty  by  one  hundred, 
and  three-stories  high.  The  upper  stories  are  reached 
by  an  elevator,  upon  which  is  a  truck  and  car  track 
which  connects  with  a  car  track  on  each  floor. 
Formerly  this  house  had  a  factory  opposite  their 
storage-room,  but  now  all  the  manufacturing  is  done 
by  them  at  Lock  Haven,  Pa.  The  Piersons  are 
among  the  oldest  families  in  the  State.    John  Pierson 


was  one  of  the  surveyors  that  helped  to  survey  the 
ten-mile  circle  that  forms  the  northern  boundary  of 
Delaware.  Joseph  Pierson,  grandfather  of  William 
H.,  kept  the  Cross-Keys  and  Lafayette  hotels  in  Wil- 
mington, and  his  son,  Joseph,  was  the  main  carpenter 
and  builder  in  Wilmington  for  many  years.  Jacob 
Pierson,  another  son,  invented  the  first  seed^rill  that 
was  ever  manufactured.  Bush  &  Lobdell  manufac' 
tured  and  sold  it  for  many  years.  He  also  invented 
a  snow-plow  and  a  book  and  paper  folding-machine. 

Springer,  Morley  &  Oause  have  a  large  wheel,  sash 
door  and  blind  factory  on  Third  and  Orange  Streets, 
which  was  established  in  1861,  by  L.  R.  Springer,  E. 
N.  Morley  and  S.  I.  Gause.  They  employ  fifty  men 
and  use  modern  machinery  in  doing  mill- work  for 
builders,  such  as  sash,  doors,  blinds,  shutters,  frames, 
mouldings  and  brackets  from  hard  and  soft  wood.  All 
the  mill-work  for  Machinery  and  Agricultural  Halls 
at  the  Philadelphia  Centennial  were  made  here.  The 
wheel  department  is  under  the  control  of  L. '  R. 
Springer,  and  the  wheels  of  this  house  are  known  for 
their  durability,  style  and  finish.^ 

In  the  line  of  lumber  manufacturing  the  oldest 
house  in  the  city  is  that  of  S.  G.  Simmons  &  Bros.,  a^ 
Front  and  Tatnall  Streets,  which  was  founded  just 
about  half  a  century  ago,  as  Joshua  Simmons  &  Co. 
The  present  plant  of  the  firm  occupies  about  two 
acres  and  extends  to  the  river,  on  which  it  has  a 
frontage  of  a  hundred  feet.  In  addition  to  the  facility 
aflbrded  for  shipping,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the 
railroad  traces  run  directly  through  the  yard.  The 
planing-mill  is  a  two-story  building,  forty  by  one 
hundred  and  sixty  feet,  and  is  supplied  with  almost 
everything  in  the  way  of  wood-working  machinery, 
which  is  driven  by  a  sixty  horse- power  engine.  The 
product  of  the  mill  includes  dressed  lumber  of  all 
kinds,  sash,  doors,  blind:*,  mouldings,  stair-railings, 
newel  posts,  balusters,  lath,  shingles,  etc.  About 
fifty  men  are  employed.  The  members  of  the  firm 
are  Messrs.  S.  G.,  Charles  and  Jesse  G.  Simmons. 

Another  comparatively  old  house  in  this  line  is  that 
of  J.  Q.  Bryer  &  Co.,  founded  in  1851,  by  the  present 
.senior  member,  and  carried  on  by  him  alone  until 
1887,  "when  Francis  E.  Jackson  was  admitted  to  part- 
nership. The  mill  is  a  one  hundred  and  fifty  by  forty 
foot  building  on  Tatnall  Street,  below  the  railroad. 
The  products  embrace  almost  everything  in  the 
wood-workers*  line  which  enters  into  the  builders' 
trade  and  much  fine  work  is  done,  a  specialty  being 
wood-bending.  The  house  has  a  large  Eastern  trade 
in  addition  to  its  home  patronage. 

James  C.  Dillon,  of  1323  West  Fourth  Street,  is 
one  of  those  who  have  begun  in  this  business  com- 
paratively recently.  He  has  an  excellent  mill,  well 
fitted  up  with  all  kinds  of  machinery  known  to  the 
trade  and  is  prepared  to  do  the  best  of  work  in  the 
line  of  sash,  doors  and  blinds. 

Churchman,  Williams  &  Co.  are  extensive  dealers 
in  long  leaf  yellow  pine,  but  their  mills  are  located 
in  Georgia. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


805 


Railroad  and  Bridge-Builders. — The  Edge- 
moor  Iron  Company,  one  of  the  largest  railroad 
and  highway  bridge  manufacturing  establishments 
in  the  country,  and  possessing  an  immense  plant 
near  Wilmington,  was  organized  in  1869,  substan- 
tially as  at  present  constituted,  with  William  Sel- 
lers, of  Philadelphia,  as  president,  and  their  re- 
sources have  undergone  a  constant  development 
since  then.  The  lands  of  the  company  at  Edge- 
moor  are  over  a  square  mile  in  area,  with  a  mile 
frontage  upon  the  Delaware  River.  The  buildings 
devoted  to  manufacture,  with  the  adjacent  yards  for 
storing  and  handling  materials  and  finished  pro- 
ducts, cover  a  large  area,  while  the  houses  of  opera- 
tives, a  good  class  of  structures  provided  by  the 
company,  occupy  as  much  more,  and  a  portion  is 
used  for  agricultural  purposes,  though  this,  too, 
will  doubtless  eventually  be  devoted  to  the  pur- 
poses of  manufacture,  for  the  indications  are  that 
the  plant  will  undergo  a  large  growth.  The 
buildings  containing  the  mechanical  equipment 
are  substantially  built  of  bricks,  with  iron  roofe, 
slate  covered,  and  they  comprise  the  engineering, 
machinery,  blacksmithing,  fitting  and  erecting 
departments. 

The  company,  in  the  prosecution  of  its  business, 
which  consists  of  the  manufacture  of  all  kinds  of 
iron  and  steel  highway  and  railroad  bridges  and 
kindred  structures,  employ  the  best  procurable  ap- 
pliances and  machines,  many  of  them  specially  de- 
signed and  patented,  and  in  use  nowhere  else.  The 
tensile  members,  which  form  a  very  large  and  im- 
portant portion  of  such  structures,  are  made  by 
hydraulic  machinery,  without  welding  or  piling,  and 
thus  the  connecting  portions  of  the  members  are 
made  as  strong  as  the  body.  The  compressive 
members  are  also  manufactured  by  a  plant  which 
is  largely  special,  and  by  the  use  of  which  all  con- 
structional strains  are  avoided.  A  particularly 
notable  portion  of  the  mechanical  plant  is  a  hy- 
draulic upsetting  machine,  which  contains  the  larg- 
est steel  casting  so  far  made  in  America.  Forging 
and  riveting  are  also  performed  by  hydraulic  ma- 
chines. 

Among  some  of  the  most  notable  bridges  built  by 
the  Edgemoor  Iron  Co.  we  will  instance  the  fol- 
lowing: The  entire  suspended  super-structure  of 
the  great  East  River  Bridge,  between  New  York 
and  Brooklyn;  the  Susquehanna  River  Bridge 
near  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  on  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road, which  is  the  longest  double-track  railway 
bridge  in  the  world;  the  Sabula  River  Bridge 
across  the  Mississippi,  constructed  for  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Railroad ;  another  high 
bridge  across  the  same  river  near  Minneapolis ;  the 
Kentucky  River  Bridge,  built  for  the  Cincinnati 
Southern  Railroad,  which  is  the  highest  railway 
bridge  in  the  country ;  and  the  first  cantilever  rail- 
way bridge  hi  the  United  States;  the  Schuylkill 


River  Bridge,  the  elevated  railway  structure  in 
Philadelphia,  built  for  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad ; 
a  bridge  over  the  Nowra  River,  and  a  bridge  over 
the  Shoal  Haven  River,  in  the  colony  of  New 
South  Wales,  Australia;  also  a  swing  bridge  at 
Adelaide,  in  South  Australia,  and  the  first  and,  so 
far,  the  only  iron  railway  viaduct  in  Australia,  and 
an  elevated  railway  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  much 
elevated  railroad  work  in  New  York.  Among  the 
principal  structures  now  engaging  the  energies  of  the 
company  are  a  bridge  over  the  Missouri  River  at  Sib- 
ley, on  the  line  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa 
F^  system  to  Chicago,  which  consists  of  three 
spans  of  four  hundred  feet  each,  three  spans  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  each,  and  a  viaduct  of 
iron  over  two  thousand  feet  in  length  ;  a  bridge 
over  the  Missouri  connecting  the  cities  of  Omaha 
and  Council  Bluflfe,  of  more  than  half  a  mile  in 
length. 

Another  important  branch  of  the  Edgemoor 
Iron  Company's  business  is  the  manufacture  of 
the  Galloway  boiler,  which  is  now  being  introduced 
into  some  of  the  most  important  industrial  establish- 
ments in  the  country,  among  them  the  Crystal 
Plate  Glassworks,  in  St.  Louis ;  the  works  of  the 
Eddy  stone  Manufacturing  Company,  at  .Chester, 
Pa.;  the  Midvale  Steel  Co.,  of  Philadelphia;  the 
establishment  of  Proctor  &  Gamble  at  Ivorydale, 
near  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  the  Diamond  Watch  Com- 
pany, of  Akron,  Ohio ;  the  Pacific  Mills,  of  Law- 
rence, Mass. ;  the  works  of  the  Albany  and  Rens- 
selaer Iron  and  Steel  Company,  of  Troy,  N.  Y. ; 
and  the  United  States  Mint,  at  Philadelphia. 

In  May,  1886,  the  company  met  with  an  irrep- 
arable loss  in  the  death  of  its  secretary  and 
treasurer,  Mr.  Eli  Garrett. 

The  present  ofiScers  of  the  company  are :  Presi- 
dent, William  Sellers ;  Vice-President,  John  Sel- 
lers, Jr.;  Manager,  Henry  G.  Morse;  General 
Superintendent,  George  H.  Sellers;  Treasurer, 
William  F.  Sellers ;  Secretary,  William  H.  Con- 
nell. 

When  the  buildings  now  in  process  of  erection, 
are  completed,  as  they  doubtless  will  be  in  1888, 
the  entire  system  will  be  the  most  extensive  of  its 
kind  in  the  country.  The  number  of  employees  at 
the  works  varies  from  five  to  eight  hundred,  and 
there  are  about  a  third  as  many  constantly  at  work 
in  the  field  erecting  bridges  and  other  structures. 

Those  of  the  employees  who  are  married  have 
the  privilege  of  renting,  at  low  rates,  excellent 
cottages,  built  by  the  company,  who  have  also 
erected  a  convenient  and  commodious  school-house, 
in  which  they  maintain  a  school  for  the  benefit 
of  the  children  of  operatives  residing  there. 

Building  Operations. — The  town  of  Wilmington 
contained  thirty-five  houses  in  1735.  This  number 
was  nearly  doubled  by  the  year  1739,  when  a  borough 
charter  was  obtained.  Its  growth  was  slow  and  steady 


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806 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


for  the  next  thirty -six  years,  as  in  1775,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  War  of  the  Revolution  it  had  three  hundred 
and  thirty-four  dwelling-houses.  The  population  of 
the  town  in  1820  was  five  thousand  two  hundred  and 
sixty -eight.  There  were  then  eight  hundred  and 
ninety-four  dwelling-houses  in  it,  only  two  hundred 
and  ninety  more  than  were  built  in  the  city  during 
the  year  1881,  when  the  highest  number  was  erected. 
In  1832,  when  the  town  was  incorporated  into  a  city, 
the  houses  numbered  twelve  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  and  the  population  seven  thousand  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight.  The  first  record  of  the  number 
of  buildings  put  up  in  anyone  year  was  in  1836,  when 
"  two  entire  blocks  were  erected,  besides  several  found- 
ries and  machine-shops,  fifty-two  buildings  in  all." 

In  1845  Wilmington  received  a  new  impetus  to  its 
growth  and  prosperity,  which  was  the  result  of  the 
erection  of  a  large  number  of  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments. These  employed  many  workmen,  and 
caused  a  rapid  emigration  to  the  city.  The  popula- 
tion in  1845  (though  only  about  one-fifth  of  what  it  is 
in  1888)  was  twelve  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
two,  an  increase  of  one  thou-<and  eight  hundred  and 
ninety-three  in  two  years.  The  Delaware  Journal^  in 
its  issue  of  September  9,  1845,  says  : 

"The  present  year  is,  beyond  comparison,  the  most 
prosperous  in  the  annals  of  our  city.  Two  hundred 
and  fifty  dwell ing-hoiiBes  were  erected.  The  popula- 
tion increased  one  thousand.  The  most  gratifying 
circumstances  in  connection  with  the  improvement 
is  that  they  proceed  from  no  speculative  fever.  The 
increasing  business  of  the  city  fully  justifies  the 
movement.  Every  branch  of  the  manufacturing  in- 
terest to  which  our  people  have  directed  their  capital 
and  energies  has  increased  beyond  precedent,  and  the 
fiiture  is  as  promising  as  the  past  has  been  successful. 
If  not  interrupted,  Wilmington  will  soon  attain  a 
commercial  and  manufacturing  consequence  which 
was  never  dreamed  of  by  her  early  citizens." 

The  Philadelphia  News^  in  iis  issue  of  October  27, 
1847,  says :  "  Wilmington  is  prospering.  We  doubt  if 
any  city  in  the  Union  has  made  such  rapid  strides  in 
improvements  during  the  past  few  years.  In  1840 
we  spent  a  few  days  in  that  city.  It  then  contained 
a  population  of  eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty- 
two.  By  an  enumeration,  recently  taken,  the  popu- 
lation is  now  nearly  thirteen  thousand,  having  in- 
creased sixty-five  per  cent,  in  less  than  seven  years. 
New  buildings  have  been  erected  on  every  side, 
new  streets  have  been  laid  out,  many  factories  es- 
tablished and  every  branch  of  business  is  enjoying 
the  highest  degree  of  prosperity. 

"The  first  continuous  row  of  houses  in  Wilmington 
was  built  in  1822,  on  Shipley  Street,  near  Tenth,  by 
James  Canby.  The  large  majority  of  the  houses,  at 
that  time,  and  since,  were  put  up  by  the  owners  of 
them.  Of  the  two  hundred  and  fifty  building!*  erected 
in  1845  nearly  all  were  situated  east  of  Walnut  Street. 
It  was  in  that  year  that  the  city  began  to  extend  east- 
ward, toward  the  Delaware  River.    The  artisans,  me- 


chanics and  other  employees  in  the  newly -built  man- 
factories  took  up  their  abode  in  that  section.  Seventh 
Street,  for  a  century  or  more  known  as  Church  Lane, 
in  1846  was  extended  and  paved  eastward  to  the  Old 
Swedfs*  Church.  Long  rows  of  houses  were  put  up 
in  that  vicinity  this  year.  In  1846  there  were  nine 
millions  of  bricks  made  and  sold  in  Wilmington. 
This  was  increased  to  thirteen  millions  in  1848,  when 
three  hundred  and  forty-two  buildings  were  put  up^ 
more  than  in  any  previous  year.  It  was  in  1848  that 
an  ordinance  was  passed  forbidding  the  erection  of 
frame  houses  in  the  city's  limits.  A  number  of  haod- 
some  dwellings  were  built  on  Quaker  Hill  in  1847 
and  1848,  and  also  on  the  northern  part  of  Market 
Street,  beyond  Seventh.  The  present  plan  of  num- 
berinfif  houses  was  ordered  in  1848.  David  C.  Wilson, 
in  1845,  erected  a  large  mercantile  building,  four 
stories  high,  at  the  corner  of  Market  and  Fifth  Streets. 
He  also  owned  large  tracts  of  land  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  city.  Pusey,  Marr  &  Scott,  at  the  same  time, 
put  up  a  large  building  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
Third  and  Tatnall  Streets.  Previous  to  1845  nearly 
all  the  retailers  of  merchandise  did  business  on  Mar- 
ket Street.  Stores  were  afterwards  opened  in  every 
part  of  the  ciiy." 

Some  of  the  early  contractors  and  builders  of  Wil- 
mington were  Elisha  Huxley,  Philip  Jones,  James 
and  Thomas  Dixon,  Joseph  C.  Seeds,  H.  F.  Dure, 
Pas<imore  Mitchell,  Philemma  Chandler  and  others. 

The  builders  and  contractors  of  Wilmington  have 
done  much  by  their  energy  and  enterprise  to  make 
the  city  its  present  size,  and  with  the  aid  of  the 
Loan  Associations  have  made  Wilmington  as  dis- 
tinctively a  "city  of  homes"  as  is  the  "City  of 
Brotherly  Love."  A  feature  of  Wilmington  is  that 
probably  one-half  of  the  mechanics,  employed  in 
the  many  industrial  interests,  own  their  own  homes. 
The  work  of  the  builders  has  been  so  appreciated  by 
the  Wilmington  people  that  not  a  single  contract  for 
a  prominent  private  improvement  of  public  work 
has  been  awarded  to  outside  contractors,  with  the  pos- 
sible exception  of  the  city  reservoir,  and  even  parts 
of  this  work  were  sublet  to  Wilming^u  men.  On 
the  other  hand,  large  contracts  from  other  cities  ha?e 
been  awarded  Wilmington  firms.  Notably  among 
the  latter  are  two  of  the  five  main  Centennial  build- 
ings of  1876,  the  iron  piers  at  Coney  Island  and 
large  works  of  the  Reading  Railroad  Company. 

Among  the  prominent  builders  may  be  mentioned 
William  McMenamin,  Henry  F.  Dure,  Peter  J. 
Ford,  James  Mitchell,  Thomas  Ford,  Milton  Lackey, 
William  T.  Straughn,  A.  S.  Reed,  B.  F.Perkins, John 
B.  Johnson,  Patrick  Dillon,  J.  R.  D.  Seeds  &  Sons, 
Joseph  Hyde,  William  H.  Foulk,  Henry  Evans, 
Robert  McCaulley,  G.  W.  McCaulley  &  Brother, 
Canby  Cox,  Cardwell  &  Wall,  Lenderman  &  Brother, 
P.  Carberry,  Patrick  Dillin,  Patrick  Fahey,  T.  B. 
Hezar  &  Son,  Martin  F.  Keogh,  Harry  Zape,  James 
F.  McBride,  Tindall  &  Brother,  William  R.  Beatty, 
J.  Frank  Ruth,  P.  Chandler,  Harry  S.   ^hristy,  Lew- 


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806  ..     jauaiQBJi- OF  I2ELAWARE. 


ward,  toward  the  Delaware  Kiver.     ine  artisans,  me-     j.  rrauK  rwuin,  i .  ouauuiei,  xj^tuiy  kt,  y^*'*'v> 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY.  807 


.f     '  ', .       '   ( 


.ui.,1  Z:.^nCf  K*i  i'itiiaucipiim,     ub  iie  cuuiu  gei.     vYorKing  tlius  lor  a  short  time,  he 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


807 


is  T.  Grubb,  John  G.  Haddock,  Edwin  W.  Jackson, 
Thomas  McCorkle,  Jr.,  P.  F.  Martin,  Paris  M.  Mit- 
chell, William  G.  Pierce,  Thomas  Samworth,  Edward 
T.  Stroud,  Francis  D.  Talley,  Jacob  Z.  Webb  and 
Jacob  D.  Winslow. 

One  of  the  prominent  builders  of  the  city  was 
Charles  McCloskey,  who  was  born  in  county  Derry, 
Ireland,  in  1826,  and  came  to  this  country  with  his 
widowed  mother  in  1842,  locating  in  Wilmington. 
He  served  an  apprenticeship  at  house-carpentering 
in  Philadelphia,  and  subsequently  went  to  New 
York,  but  returned  to  Wilmington  in  1853  and 
organized  the  firm  of  McCloskey  Brothers,  contractors 
and  builders.  His  brothers,  Francis  and  Daniel, 
like  himself,  were  carpenters.  John  and  Peter  A. 
were  bricklayers,  and  Joseph  A.  was  a  painter,  and 
they  thus  united  the  most  important  trades  necessary  in 
building  operations.  The  firm  existed  until  the  death 
of  Charles,  October  11,  1885.  They  built  St.  Mary's, 
St.  Paul's  and  the  Sacred  Heart  Churches,  besides 
other  large  buildings  and  hundreds  of  dwellings. 
Charles  was  also  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Mc- 
Closkey &  McMenamin,  also  extensive  builders. 
His  wife  was  Ellen,  daughter  of  Matthew  Durney. 
There  were  nine  brothers  in  all,  and  six  are  still 
living,  five  of  whom  are  in  Wilmington  and  Richard 
A.  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  served  fifteen  years  as 
an  alderman.  James,  the  eldest  brother,  died « in 
New  Orleans  some  years  ago,  and  Michael,  who  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Eleventh  United  States  Infantry, 
was  killed  at  the  City  of  Mexico  during  the  Mexican 
War.  Francis  McCloskey  had  a  brilliant  career  as  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  serving  a  large  portion  of 
the  time  as  a  captain,  and  being  breveted  colonel, 
and  after  returning  to  Wilmington  and  resuming  the 
building  business  being  repeatedly  elected  street 
commissioner.  John  McCloskey  also  became  a 
popular  and  influential  citizen,  as  did  also  his  broth- 
ers, Peter  A.  and  Joseph,  the  latter  of  whom,  like 
Francis,  was  a  brave  soldier  in  the  late  war.  Daniel, 
with  his  brothers,  John  and  Peter,  was  employed 
during  the  war  in  the  United  States  Engineers'  De- 
partment at  Fort  Delaware.  All  six  of  the  surviv- 
ing brothers  are  useful  citizens,  enjoying  high  re- 
pute. 

Philip  Quigley,  contractor  and  bridge-builder,  was 
born  in  New  Egypt,  New  Jersey,  September  28, 1816. 
He  was  a  son  of  John  Quigley  and  his  wife,  Ann 
Van  Horn.  At  sixteen  he  commenced  his  trade  as  a 
millwright  with  his  father.  In  1841  he  removed  to 
Wilmington,  and  worked  there  and  in  the  vicinity  as 
a  millwrif^ht.  In  18^3  he  married  Eliza,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Groves,  of  Wilmington,  by  whom 
he  had  five  children.  About  this  time  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Balti- 
more Bailroad.Company,  as  a  journey  man  in  their  car- 
shops,  and  later  had  charge  of  the  bridges  on  the 
road.  Upon  leaving  the  employ  of  the  railroad  com- 
pany, he  formed  a  partnership  with  I.  R.  Trimble,  of 
Baltimore,  Md.,  and  Daniel  Stone,  of  Philadelphia, 


and  carried  on  the  business  of  bridge-building  for 
some  years,  under  the  firm  name  of  Stone,  Quigley  & 
Co.  Before  the  Civil  War  Mr.  Trimble  retired  from 
the  firm,  and  the  business  was  continued  under  a 
new  partnership  formed  by  Messrs.  Stone,  Quigley  & 
!^urton,  which  continued  until  1864,  when  it  was  dis- 
solved. After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Quigley  re- 
built the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad,  and  the 
aqueduct  over  the  Potomac  at  Georgetown,  and  the 
Georgetown  and  Alexandria  Canal.  In  1875  he  built 
Machinery  and  Agricultural  Halls,  of  the  Centennial 
buildings,  Philadelphia,  and  was  the  general  manager 
of  the  Centennial  Terminal  Agency,  (Li  mi  ted),  which 
had  charge  of  the  handling  of  all  the  exhibits  of  the 
occasion,  receiving,  placing  and  returning  all  exhibits 
entrusted  to  their  care. 

In  1877  he  retired  from  active  business  and  died  in 
Wilmington,  October  4,  1884.  Mr.  Quigley  was  a 
man  of  unusual  activity,  energy  and  enterprise,  and 
many  works  of  skill  and  durability  remain  to  attest 
his  fidelity  and  ability  as  a  master  mechanic. 

Joseph  C.  Seeds,  a  retired  carpenter  and  builder^ 
was  born  near  Chichester,  Pennsylvania.  July  4,  1801. 
His  grandparents,  Adam  and  Alice  Seeds,  formerly 
resided  in  New  Castle,  Delaware.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rachel  Carpenter,  who  lived 
about  a  mile  above  what  is  now  known  as  Claymont 
Station,  on  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Balti- 
more Railroad.  Samuel  Carpenter  wa<»  a  tanner  in 
the  village  of  Chichester,  Pa.  He  had  ten  children — 
five  boys  and  five  girls.  Aided  by  the  boys,  he  culti- 
vated a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres  near  by,  that  he 
had  purchased  in  1783  from  Susan  Doane.  The  house 
in  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  stood 
close  to  the  line  which  divides  Delaware  from  Penn- 
sylvania. Soon  after  the  birth  of  Joseph  Carpenter 
(their  eldest  child,  of  whom  we  write)  his  parents, 
William  and  Hannah  Seeds,  removed  to  New  Castle, 
and  temained  there  until  1812,  when  they  moved 
to  Baltimore.  When  the  War  of  Independence 
began,  his  father,  William,  enlisted  in  the  Colo- 
nial army,  and  left  Baltimore  with  his  comrades 
en  route  for  Washington.  Since  his  departure  from 
Baltimore  at  that  time  his  family  had  no  tidings 
from  or  of  him.  Afttr  weary,  anxious,  but  fruitless 
waiting,  Joseph's  mother,  with  him  and  her  three 
other  children,  returned  to  her  father's  home,  where 
she  endeavored  to  raise  her  little  family  for  useful- 
ness. Joseph  was  put  to  work  in  the  tannery  and  on 
the  farm  under  his  grandfather's  supervision,  and 
continued  to  be  so  employed  until  1817,  when  he 
came  to  Wilmington  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter, 
with  Abel  Saunders,  whom  Mr.  Seeds  remembers  and 
speak:*  of  as  **  a  nice,  clever  man."  Mr.  Saunders  had 
one  shop  on  part  of  the  ground  where  the  Clayton 
House  was  subsequently  built,  and  another  on  ground 
which  the  opera-house  now  covers.  After  reaching 
his  twenty-first  year,  having  remained  five  years  with 
Mr.  Saunders,  Mr.  Seeds  did  such  jobs  of  piece-work 
as  he  could  get.     Working  thus  for  a  short  time,  he 


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obtained  larger  contracts  and  gave  satisfaction  to  em- 
ployers to  an  extent  that  established  him  as  a  com- 
plete architect  and  builder. 

Continuing  to  prosper,  he  was  married,  May  6, 1824, 
to  Mary  Jane  Milligan,  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Lydia  Milligan,  of  Philadelphia,  She  died  January 
1, 1842,  leaving  him  three  children, — William  Henry, 
Anna  E.  and  Joseph  M.  The  last-named  died  April 
24,  1851.  He  then  married  Mariana  Wilson,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Wilson,  of  Wilmington. 
James  Wilson  was  a  leading  newspaper  and  book- 
printer  and  binder  of  that  day.  Copies  of  The  Watch- 
man  and  The  ATtrror,  printed  by  him,  are  among  the 
archives  of  the  AVilmington  Historical  Society.  Of 
the  three  children  which  are  the  fruit  of  his  second 
marriage,  two  survive,  Mrs.  Emily  T.,  wife  of  Robert 
fl.  Young,  superintendent  of  printing  in  the  office  of 
the  Wilmington  Every  Evening  ;  and  Mrs.  Mary  W., 
wife  of  John  B.  Bare,  a  dealer  in  agricultural  imple- 
ments in  Baltimore. 

William  H.,  his  oldest  child,  married,  first,  Miss 
Paxson,  of  Philadelphia.  This  lady  died  January, 
1877,  leaving  three  children.  In  1880  Mr.  Seeds  mar- 
ried Mrs.  E.  A.  Babcock,  of  Manchester,  Iowa,  where 
he  now  lives.  He  is,  and  for  twenty  years  has  been, 
cashier  of  the  Delaware  County  Bank  of  Manchester. 
Anna  E.  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Jeanes,  a  photographer, 
of  Chester,  Pa. 

For  years  after  fairly  entering  upon  his  career  as  a 
builder,  Mr.  Seeds  conducted  the  Star  Planing- 
Mill,  which  his  growing  business  compelled  him  to 
erect  on  Front  Street,  near  Justison  Street,  Wil- 
mington. Here  he  made  his  business  headquarters 
until  the  spring  of  1853,  when  he  sold  the  building  to 
Messrs.  Craig  &  Tatnall.  It  was  used  subsequently 
as  a  market-house  and  still  remains  on  the  original 
site.  After  a  somewhat  trying  contest  with  the  tur- 
bulent waters  of  the  Christiana,  which  seemed  bent 
on  preventing  the  secure  establishment  of  a  founda- 
tion, he  came  out  victorious  and  built  the  lighthouse 
at  the  mouth  of  that  stream.  He  also  built  the  first 
passenger  station  for  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington 
and  Baltimore  Railroad  Company  in  Wilmington. 

In  1829  he  built  the  well-known  St.  Andrew's  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church,  of  Wilmington.  Bishop  Lee, 
late  Protestant  Episcopal  Bishop  of  Delaware,  says, 
in  the  sermon  that  he  preached  in  1879,  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  semi-centennial  of  that  church,  that  "  the 
building  of  the  church  was  commenced  in  May,  1829, 
and  so  energetically  was  the  work  carried  on  that  it 
was  completed  and  ready  for  consecration  on  the  1st 
of  October  following." 

In  1839  Mr.  Seeds  was  engaged  to  put  a  spire  on 
the  building  and  make  other  improvements.  This 
work  he  finished  by  Christmas  of  that  year.  One 
month  afterwards  the  whole  structure  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  Again  summoning  Mr.  Seeds  to  build,  he 
completed  for  the  congregation  a  new  and  larger 
church  by  October  15th  following.  This  edifice 
proving  too  small  for  the  congregation  after  a  few 


years,  in  1854  Mr.  Seeds  was  yet  again  engaged  to 
enlarge  it  by  adding  one-third  to  its  capacity,  at  an 
expense  of  four  thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Seeds'  energy 
and  skill  were  thus  recognized  three  times  by  the  in- 
fluential church  and  congregation,  of  which  he  has 
been  an  esteemed  member  almost  from  its  organiza- 
tion. For  over  forty  years  he  never  missed  attending 
a  service.  * 

Originally  he  was  connected  with  the  Old  Swedes' 
Church,  receiving  the  rite  of  confirmation  from  the 
venerable  Bishop  White,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  June, 
1820,  but,  on  account  of  the  more  convenient  location 
of  St.  Andrew's  with  respect  to  his  re>»idence,  he  united 
with  the  latter  organization,  and  has  ever  remained 
with  it. 

In  person,  Mr.  Seeds  is  below  middle  stature,  but 
compactly  built,  and  has  always  enjoyed  good  health. 
He  has  been  but  once  in  his  long  life  seriously  ill. 
In  the  spring  of  1872,  while  building  a  house  for 
himself,  in  which  he  now  resides,  at  Scott  and  Thir- 
teenth Streets,  he  >contracted  pneumonia,  and  recov- 
ered slowly.  After  some  months  of  suffering  from 
it,  he  finally  regained  his  accustomed  health. 

The  advantages  of  education  in  his  early  life  were 
not  among  his  youthful  privileges.  He  enjoyed  but 
eighteen  months  of  schooling,  and  one-half  of  that 
was  in  a  night-school,  taOght  by  Samuel  Ford,  on 
SUipley  Street,  in  Wilmington,  after  coming  to  the 
city  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  Mr.  Seeds  has 
been  throughout  his  long  life  prudently  abstemious 
in  his  habits.  He  has  always  lived  a  regular,  tem- 
perate life,  and  has  never  been  addicted  to  vicious 
indulgences  of  any  kind.  To  this,  in  great  measure, 
he  attributes  his  health  and  longevity.  He  also  rev- 
erently acknowledges  his  indebtedness  to  his  Creator. 
Modest,  upright  and  of  a  retiring  disposition,  he  has 
not  been  conspicuous  in  municipal.  State  or  national 
controversies.  Before  the  Civil  War  a  Democrat  in 
politics,  he  voted  his  sentiments  unostentatiously  when 
the  time  came  to  vote.  During  and  since  the  war  he 
has  held  Republican  views.  In  a  ripe  old  age,  but 
retaining  much  of  the  freshness  of  earlier  years,  he 
lives  (1887)  quietly  with  his  family  in  their  pleasant 
home  on  Scott  Street,  in  Wilmington. 

The  extension  of  the  limits  to  the  west  and  north- 
west is  more  recent.  It  is  this  section  now  that  con- 
tains the  well-designed  and  beautiful  residences, 
which  lend  a  charm  and  attractiveness  to  the  enter- 
prising and  prosperous  metropolis  of  the  State  of 
Delaware. 

The  following  table  is  of  interest,  showing,  as  it 
does,  the  number  of  buildings  erected  in  Wilmington 
each  year  since  1843  : 


1843 

90 

1852 „.. 

1853 «... 

...u..-.n9 

Ig45        

.256 

.114 

1846 

254 

1854 

114 

1847 

.321 

1855 

1856 

146 

1848 

.342 

149 

1849 

.292 

1857 

110 

1850    

126 

1858 

1859 

)yG0C 

^180 

1851         

100 

..JOI 

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808  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


and  so  t. 
was  comt 
of  Octobe 
In  183f^ 
the  build ' 
work  Y         I 
month  *.        •    t 
by  fire.    A^      < 
completed  fo. 
church  by    O 
proving  too  y 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


809 


IMO 

1881 

„.136 

41 

1863 

^2 

18«3 

83 

1864. 

68 

1866 

66 

1866 

189 

1867 

300 

1871 „ 

423 

1872 

430 

1873 

437 

1874 

^ J801 

1876 

137 

1876..^ 152 

1877 .249 

1878 322 

1879 .269 

1880 491 

1881 604 

1882 -622 

1883 000 

1884 332 

1885 ^75 

1886 292 

1887 .432 


The  Department  of  EngineeriDg  and  Surveying,  of 
this  city,  now  marks  the  lines  for  the  sites  of  new 
buildings,  and  the  figures  given  above  for  the  last  few 
years  indicate  the  number  of  sites  around  which 
lines  were  marked. 

The  entire  number  of  dwelling-houses  in  the  city 
during  the  year  1887  were  distributed  as  follows : 


Wlnt  Ward 

,^ 647 

SarenUi  Ward 

Eighth  Ward «... 

Ninth  Ward 

....1066 

SacoDd  Ward. 

Thixd  Ward 

^ 871 

800 

.-.777 

„1050 

1002 

490 

Toorth  Ward 

T«Dth  Ward 

736 

Flflh  Ward 

Total 

Sixth  Ward 

846 

.« 8279 

The  loan  aasociations  of  Wilmington  haTe  been 
important  factors  in  promoting  the  growth  of  Wil- 
mington. They  have  assisted  many  worthy  citizens 
to  the  ownership  of  homes.  The  moneys  handled  by 
them  have  counted  into  millions  of  dollars. 

A  building  association  was  organized  in  1848.  It 
was  the  first  one  in  the  city ;  David  C.  Wilson  was 
its  president.  The  Wilmington  Loan  Association  was 
organized  in  1856 ;  James  Bradford  was  president,  and 
Joshua  Maris  secretary.  The  original  associations 
were  formed  on  the  terminal  plan,  with  one  series, 
continuing  about  ten  years.  Then  legislation  was 
secured,  with  the  privilege  of  making  them  perpetual 
and  enabling  the  association  to  issue  stock  in  series, 
and  by  the  laws  of  each  association  regulating  the 
number  of  series  and  shares  in  each  series,  not  exceed- 
ing five  hundred  shares  in  each  series. 

Wiliam  Bright,  a  leading  builder  and  capitalist 
of  Wilmington,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  April 
11, 1814. 

He  was  the  son  of  Capt.  Wm.  Bright,  who  for  years 
commanded  the  "  Oood  Friend,"  a  vessel  owned  by 
Stephen  Girard.  His  mother  was  Miss  Sarah  Pratt, 
a  native  of  Philadelphia,  who  is  remembered  as  an 
estimable  woman  of  rare  attainments  and  beauty.  On 
account  of  her  death,  when  her  son  William  was  but 
eight  years  old,  he  was  deprived  of  many  home  advan- 
tages. At  ten  years  of  age  he  was  placed  on  a  farm 
under  a  severe  taskmaster.  Although  promised,  while 
in  this  situation,  that  he  should  enjoy  six  weeks  of 
schooling  annually,  he  rarely  obtained  more  than 
three  weeks  in  any  year.  After  reaching  manhood 
he  sought  the  instruction  he  needed  and  desired,  at 
night-school ;  and  adding  to  what  he  received  there 
his  personal,  private  studies,  he  accumulated  stores  of 
valuable  information  for  use  in  after-life. 

In  1829,  when  in  his  sixteenth  year,  he  became  an 
52 


apprentice  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter,  with  Wm. 
Weaver,  of  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  re- 
mained five  years  with  Mr.  Weaver,  and  thoroughly 
won  the  esteem  and  generous  aid  of  his  master.  To- 
wards the  close  of  his  term  of  service  here  he  met  with 
an  accident  which  disabled  him  for  a  time.  Mr. 
Weaver  gave  to  his  young  apprentice  a  home  until 
he  recovered.  As  soon  as  he  could,  after  his  recovery, 
he  came  to  New  Castle  County,  Delaware.  For  five 
weeks  he  worked  as  a  journeyman,  but  soon  secured 
a  contract  on  his  own  account.  He  ofiered  to  build  a 
double  house  for  Harman  Tally,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Delaware,  residing  in  Brandy  wine  Hundred.  By 
the  terms  of  the  agreement,  Wm.  Tally  was  to  furnish 
the  material  complete,  and  give  Mr.  Bright  his  board- 
ing and  lodging  and  one  hundred  dollars.  This  con- 
tract Mr.  Bright  filled  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  Mr. 
Tally,  who  was  so  thoroughly  well-pleased  with  the 
workmanship  that  he  advised  Mr.  Bright  to  give  his 
attention  exclusively  to  building.  To  do  this  work  the 
young  architect  had  given  his  best  skill  and  energy, 
often  wading  through  snow  up  to  his  knees,  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  to  get  to  breakfast  and  to  his 
work.  Having  completed  this  engagement  with  so 
much  credit  to  himself,  he  b^an  business  fully,  as  a 
builder,  and  in  a  short  time  had  all  the  work  that  he 
could  do,  even  with  the  aid  of  apprentices  and  journey- 
men. He  continued  to  be  thus  employed  until  1889, 
when  he  bought  a  farm  in  the  neighborhood — the 
farm  on  which  his  wife  was  born — and  for  ten  years 
gave  his  attention  successfully  to  agriculture. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1849  he  bought  a 
grocery  store  of  Messrs.  John  &  Jacob  Rice,  of 
Wilmington,  but  impaired  health  induced  him  to 
retire  from  this  business  after  three  years  of  success- 
ful experience  in  it.  In  1852,  Mr.  Bright  turned  his 
energies  to  transactions  in  real  estate.  In  this  business 
he  had  such  success  that  he  was  able  to  retire  from 
its  active  pursuit  in  1876,  and  has  not  since  resumed 
it.  For  eighteen  years  he  was  a  director  of  the 
Farmers'  Bank  of  Wilmington.  In  1875  he  was 
chosen  president  of  the  Behoboth  Beach  Association, 
but  resigned  the  office  in  1878.  In  July,  1881,  he 
was  re-elected  and  still  retains  the  position.  The 
design  of  this  association  is  to  provide  an  attractive 
summer  resort  on  the  Delaware  coast  below  the 
Capes.  The  enterprise  grows  into  larger  proportions 
and  favor  with  each  succeeding  year.  Mr.  Bright 
has  erected  a  commodious  house  at  the  beach,  which 
guests  and  acquaintances  insisted  ought  to  bear  his 
name.  It  is  known,  therefore,  as  the  Bright  House. 
That  he  is  a  citizen  of  public  spirit  is  well  attested 
in  many  ways.  The  Wesleyan  Female  College,  of 
Wilmington,  was  purchased  by  him  in  order  that  it 
might  be  saved  for  the  work  for  which  it  was  intended. 
He  has  served  the  city  as  an  efficient  member  of  the 
City  Council,  of  which,  in  1867,  h'e  was  chosen 
president.  In  1874,  his  name  was  prominent  as  a 
candidate  for  nomination  as  Governor  of  the  State. 
But  while  interested  in  public  affiiirs  he  has  not  been 


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ambitious  to  appear  as  a  politician.  He  has  sought 
to  be  useful  in  other  lines  of  active  enterprise,  and 
by  his  promptness,  energy  and  uprightness,  combined 
with  excellent  judgment  and  general  capacity  for 
business,  he  has  been  successful.  When  a  boy  he 
united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  has 
seryed  it  with  zeal  and  efficiency  both  as  an  officer 
and  private  member.  He  has  held  official  position 
in  that  church  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  In 
February,  1837,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah, 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Sarah  Rodman,  of  Brandywine 
Hundred.  His  married  life  has  been  very  happy. 
Thirteen  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bright,  of  whom  three  died  in  infancy.  A 
daughter,  Victorine,died  July  13, 1867,  in  the  twenty- 
first  year  of  her  age.  Mrs.  Sarah  Jennie,  wife  of  J. 
W.  Burney,  died  in  March,  1878,  leaving  three 
children.  Mrs.  Anna  P.,  wife  of  Thomas  H.  Rile,  of 
Wilmington,  is  also  deceased. 

Other  children  survive  as  follows,  Mrs.  Hannah  E., 
widow  of  Henry  Talley,  late  of  the  Farmers'  Bank 
of  Wilmington ;  G^rge  W.,  real  estate  broker ;  and 
Mrs.  Laura  A.,  wife  of  John  A.  Myers,  all  of  Wil- 
mington. Mrs.  Ella  D.  is  the  wife  of  William  H. 
Bowers,  of  Wilmington.  Mrs.  Lillie  E.,  wife  of  John 
C.  Yeager,  district  superintendent  of  New  York  Cen- 
tral Sleeping  Car  Company,  resides  with  her  hus- 
band in  New  York. 

Paul  Bright  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Union  Pacific 
Tea  Company,  in  Wilmington.  O.  Percy,  after 
graduating  with  honor  at  Yale  College,  entered  upon 
the  study  of  law  in  Philadelphia,  and  is  now,  1887,  in 
the  closing  year  of  the  law  course. 

Mr.  Bright  has  thus  reared  a  large  family  of 
children,  most  of  whom  survive  to  cheer  his  latest 
years.  He  has  a  delightful  home  on  Eleventh  Street 
(No..  10),  in  a  house  designed  and  built  by  himself. 
His  career  has  been  eminently  successful  and  has 
been  steadily  progressive.  Starting  in  adversity  and 
under  hard  conditions,  he  has  attained  competency, 
comfort  and  reputation,  and  feels,  in  the  evening  of 
life,  a  serene  satisfaction  as  he  recalls  his  toils  and 
enjoys  their  reward. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

WILMINGTON— ( a(mtinued). 
IXXS   AND  HOTELS. 

The  Foul  Anchor  Inn,  built  in  1740,  on  Water 
Street  **  by  the  banks  of  the  Christeen,"  was  the  first 
house  of  public  entertainment  in  Wilmington.  It 
was  torn  down  more  than  half  a  century  ago  to  give 
place  for  the  extension  of  King  Street  through  to  the 
creek.  Mr.  Charles  Moore,  the  oldest  ship-carpenter 
in  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  who  has  lived  eighty 


years  in  his  native  place,  has  a  vivid  recollection 
of  this  once  popular  resort  He  describes  it  as  a  one 
and  a  half-story  building  with  a  front  on  Water  Street 
of  thirty  feet,  and  a  beautiful  lawn  in  the  rear.  The 
painted  sign  swinging  on  a  post  in  front  of  it,  was  an 
anchor  hanging  foul  with  a  cable  wound  spirally 
around  it. 

The  Foul  Anchor  was  a  place  of  rendezvous  for 
sailors  in  the  palmy  days  of  Wilmington's  importance 
as  a  commercial  town.  The  seamen  who  manned  the 
vessels  for  trade  with  Ireland  and  the  West  Indies  a 
century  or  more  ago,  made  it  their  abode  after  re- 
turning from  a  long  voyage,  until  they  set  sail  on 
another.  About  1825  when  foreign  commerce  from 
this  port  was  discontinued,  the  popularity  and  the 
prosperity  of  this  famous  tavern  was  ended,  and  it 
was  soon  thereafter  removed. 

The  Sign  of  the  Ship,  later  the  Happy  Retreat, 
and  still  later  the  Lafayette,  is  remembered  by  only 
a  few  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  Wilmington,  for  it 
ceased  to  be  a  public  inn  in  1835.  It  stood  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  Third  and  Market  Streets,  where 
a  part  of  the  building  remains,  though  not  the  origi- 
nal one.  John  Marshall,  a  typical  publican  of  the 
colonial  period,  kept  this  tavern  during  the  War  of 
the  Revolution,  while  some  of  the  American  officers 
made  it  their  headquarters.  When  the  British  occu- 
pied Philadelphia,  several  naval  engagements  took 
place  on  the  Delaware  River  and  Bay.  In  one  of 
them  the  American  sloop-of-war  ^'  Randolph "  was 
victorious.  A  traveling  artist  who  gained  a  pre- 
carious living  by  painting  tavern  signs  was  then  in 
Wilmington  and  painted  on  John  Marshall's  tavern 
sign,  a  picture  of  the  American  sloop  annihilating 
two  British  three-deckers  in  the  most  imposing  man- 
ner. Says  an  early  chronicler,  '*  When  the  English 
fleet  lay  opposite  this  town,  the  sailors  passing  to  and 
fro  were  much  annoyed  by  the  sign  and  always  made 
some  harsh  remarks.  One  day  two  sailors  dressed  in 
petticoat  trouserj*  carrying  a  bag  up  Market  Street, 
arrested  the  attention  of  a  young  girl  who  was  a  great 
observer  of  daily  events.  They  stopped  at  the  foot  of 
the  post,  emptied  their  budget,  took  out  an  axe  and 
other  tools,  climbed  up  the  post  and  drew  down  the 
sign  and  split  it  to  atoms.  They  then  hewed  down 
the  post,  leaving  not  a  vestige  of  its  former  glory." 
Standing  upon  the  porch  of  the  tavern,  John  Mar- 
shall watched  them,  not  daring  to  interfere. 

"  *  Tis  a  vast  pity"  said  he, — pointing  to  the  wreck 
of  the  sign  as  he  spoke — *  tb  a  vast  pity  you  did  not 
have  pluck  enough  to  beat  the  little  Randolph^  for 
then  I  would  not  have  had  a  handsome  sign  hacked 
to  pieces  in  that  way.'* 

Many  incidents  of  the  Revolution  related  else- 
where occurred  at  this  tavern.  George  Ross  kept  it 
for  a  few  years.  Patrick  O'Flinn  succeeded  in  1789. 
Tradition  says  he  was  the  most  polite  man  in  the 
town,  and  an  ideal  inn-keeper  of  his  time.  He  had 
an  honorable  record  as  a  captain  of  a  company 
of  soldiers  in    the  war  of  the  Revolution.      The 


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811 


earliest  stages  stopped  at  the  "  Happy  Retreat/'  as 
that  is  what  it  was  called  under  Patrick  OTlinn.  It 
was  a  popular  resort  for  the  gentry  of  the  town  and 
country  round  about.  Here  political  matters  were 
discussed  and  the  news  of  the  times  received,  for 
newspapers  were  few  then  and  the  arrival  of  a  stage 
was  an  important  event.  It  was  in  1797  that  Captain 
Patrick  O'Flinn.  lately  an  oflScer  in  the  Revolution, 
asked  for  a  renewal  of  his  license,  after  having 
"  favored  the  public  for  many  years."  The  request 
was  freely  granted,  as  no  reproach  was  ever  cast 
upon  the  management  of  the  "Happy  Retreat"  under 
its  courteous  proprietor,  for  he  was  a  ruling  elder  in 
the  First  Presbyterian  church.  Washington  was  once 
his  guest,  and  slept  in  "the  best  room,"  on  the 
second  story  of  the  building.  Thomas  Jefferson, 
then  Vice-President  of  the  United  States,  stopped 
over  night,  May  12,  1797,  on  his  way  to  Philadelphia, 
then  the  national  capital.  Louis  Philippe,  the  Duke 
of  Orleans,  when  an  exile  in  America,  dined 
here  thirty  or  more  years  before  he  became  King  of 
France,  as  did  President  John  Adams  and  his  in- 
telligent wife  in  1801,  on  a  trip  to  Washington,  then 
the  national  capital.  Aaron  Burr  arrived  in  his  own 
handsome  chaise  and  gaily  caparisoned  horses,  Jan- 
uary 10,  1803,  and  was  glad  to  enjoy  the  hospitalities 
of  the  host  of  the  "  Happy  Retreat."  A  deep  snow 
had  fallen  and  as  the  government  at  Washington 
would  run  without  the  Vice-President  if  Jefferson 
was  at  the  helm,  he  remained  here  three  days.  Com- 
modore Perry,  the  hero  of  Lake  Erie,  in  "  a  private 
four-in-hand,"  drove  up  to  the  doorway  February  4, 
1814,  and  slept  during  the  night  in  the  same  best 
room  that  years  before  had  been  the  resting  place  of 
the  "  father  of  our  country."  It  was  soon  after  his 
great  victory  over  the  British,  and  the  next  day, 
when  he  arrived  in  Baltimore,  there  was  a  great 
demonstration  in  his  honor.  Patrick  O'Flinn  was 
delighted  to  entertain  such  guests,  as  anyone  else 
would  be.  He  loved  to  talk  about  them  and  their 
personal  traits  to  the  day  of  his  death,  July  7,  1818, 
at  the  age  of  three-score  and  ten  years.  Two 
days  later  his  remains  were  interred  close  by  the 
side  of  the  old  Presbyterian  church,  and  a  neat 
monument  placed  over  them.  Alexander  Reynolds, 
his  grandson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  13  years,  in 
1822,  was  his  last  descendant. 

General  James  Wolfe  was  next  proprietor,  and 
as  he  had  the  honor  to  prepare  the  banquet  to  Lafay- 
ette in  City  Hall,  when  he  visited  Wilmington  in  1824, 
he  afterwards  named  it  the  Lafayette,  and  placed 
the  portrait  of  the  distinguished  patriot  in  his  swing- 
ing sign.  "  General  "  was  not  a  title  but  Wolfe's  first 
name.  He  was  a  militia  captain  but  aspired  to  no 
higher  position.  Andrew  Oliver,  proprietor  of  Indian 
King  tavern,  Philadelphia,  and  G.  J.  Wolfe,  in  1825, 
bought  the  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia  stage  line, 
and  reduced  the  fare  to  one  dollar  per  trip.  Robert 
Eaken  began  to  keep  this  tavern  June  20, 1828,  and 
Harriet  Dickenson  took  charge  in  1833.  Jesse  Sharpe 


was  the  last  to  preside  over  it  as  a  house  of  public 
entertainment.  In  1835  the  building  was  purchased 
of  William  Seal  by  Edward  Moore  and  William 
Morrow.  John  H.  Moore's  clothing  store  and  the 
building  above  occupy  the  site. 

One  of  the  first  circuses  in  Wilmington  exhibited 
in  a  yard  to  the  rear  of  the  building  on  June  27, 
1817. 

The  Washington  House,  stood  on  the  site  of 
Mealy*s  liquor  store,  a  short  distance  above  the  Bank 
of  Brandy  wine.  In  1785,  it  was  known  as  the  "White 
Hart,"  a  beautiful  white  deer  being  painted  on  the 
sign  in  front  of  it.  William  Creery  then  kept  it. 
Next  to  the  "  Sign  of  the  Ship"  it  was  the  leading 
hostelry  in  town  a  century  ago.  In  1797,  John  West, 
obtained  a  license  to  keep  it.  His  petition  was  signed 
by  Gunning  Bedford,  Jr.,  Eli  Mendenhall,  William 
Hemphill,  David  Kirkpatrick,  Thomas  Kean  and 
others.  The  Philadelphia  and  Dover  stages  run  by 
Julius  Jackson  and  B.  Roe,  stopped  here  then. 
£dward  Thomas,  became  keeper  of  it  in  1805,  and 
about  that  time  the  picture  of  Washington  was  placed 
on  the  sign,  and  the  name  "  Washington  Inn,''  was 
given  it.  His  widow  conducted  the  business  for  a 
few  years  after  his  death.  Joseph  Gilpin,  succeeded 
until  February  8,  1825,  when  James  G.  Jefferies  took 
charge,  and  James  Plumly  followed  until  1829.  In 
the  Spring  of  1830,  D.  J.  Thomas,  advertised  it  for 
rent,  stating  that  "  for  more  than  forty  years  it  had 
been  a  tavern,"  and  then  Samuel  Miller,  took  it. 
Benjamin  Bracken,  a  loquacious  individual,  was  the 
next  lessee.  He  claimed  to  have  shot  Gen.  Packen- 
ham,  at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  but  people  never 
believed  that  he  was  ever  at  New  Orleans.  John 
Foster,  was  proprietor  from  1841  to  1850,  when  it  was 
owned  by  Washington  Rice.  Samuel  Miller,  was 
next  to  keep  it. 

The  Indian  King  Tavern,  for  sixty  years  or 
more  stood  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Fourth  and 
Market  Street,  on  the  site  of  Sharp's  dry  good  store. 
George  Taylor,  was  owner  and  proprietor  in  1790,  and 
David  Brinton,  succeeded  him  in  1805.  For  seventeen 
years,  until  his  death,  he  presided  over  it  and  made 
it  a  very  popular  public  inn.  In  1806,  on  a  swinging 
sign  at  the  top  of  a  twelve  foot  pole,  he  had  painted 
the  picture  of  a  large  Indian  chief  with  tomahawk  in 
his  uplifted  right  hand,  and  a  bundle  of  arrows  and  a 
bow  on  his  back.  Tradition  says  he  was  a  fierce- look- 
ing fellow,  with  a  haughty  bearing  and  an  angry  look. 
William  Penn,  nor  any  of  his  followers  could  ever 
have  entered  into  a  treaty  of  peace  with  him.  Many 
times  was  he  gazed  upon  by  the  school-boys  of  half 
a  century  ago,  whose  books  made  them  believe  all 
Indians  were  as  fierce  as  he.  One  beautiful  afternoon 
in  June,  thirty-two  years  afler  he  was  placed  in 
position  all  faded  so  as  scarcely  to  be  recognized,  he 
was  taken  down  and  consigned  to  the  wood-pile. 

David  Brinton's  tavern  was  the  stage  office  for 
many  years.  In  1802,  William  Kerlin  and  George 
Pearce,  ran  a  line  of  stages,  from  Wilmington  to  Phila* 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


delphia  connecting  with  the  line  to  Dover  and  Nor- 
folk. In  1812,  Brinton  &  Anderson,  started  a  line  of 
stages,  which  left  Indian  King,  at  7  a.  m.,  arrived  at 
Philadelphia,  at  11  A.  m.,  left  Philadelphia,  3  P.  M. 
and  arrived  here  at  7  P.  M.  They  were  run  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  "  Ve.sta,"  which  that  year  was  the  first 
steamboat  to  run  between  the  two  cities. 

David  Brinton  at  the  same  time  ran  the  mail  stages 
from  the  Red  Lion  tavern  on  Market  Street,  Phila- 
delphia, through  Wilmington  to  Dover.  They  left 
Philadelphia  at  5  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  arrived 
at  Dover  in  the  evening.  The  fare  for  passage  was 
$4.50.  When  the  great  mail  route  extending  from 
Maine  to  Georgia,  was  surveyed  and  opened  in  1812, 
the  United  States  mail  coaches  all  stopped  at 
Brinton's  for  dinner.  They  were  open  wagons  and 
were  drawn  with  great  speed,  by  relays  of  horses  at 
the  end  of  every  tenth  mile.  One  of  the  exchange 
stables  was  to  the  rear  of  the  Indian  King.  The 
driver  was  accompanied  by  a  guard,  who  sat  on  an 
elevated  seat  with  him  and  was  armed  with  a  huge 
double-barrelled  blunderbuss,  to  protect  the  mail  if 
attacked.by  robbers.  In  winter  these  men  were  heavily 
clothed  with  skins  and  fiirs.  The  through  passenger 
stages  also  stopped  at  the  tavern  for  meals,  but  did 
not  take  on  passengers.  David  Brinton,  who  was 
nearly  blind  for  several  years,  died  in  1822,  and  in 
September  of  that  year  John  M.  Smith  leased  the 
tavern  of  his  heirs.  He  came  to  town  from  St. 
George's  Hundred.  He  told  the  public  in  the  news- 
papers that  he  had  ''  frequently  put  up  at  this  hotel, 
and  found  it  a  good  one,  and  he  hoped  to  continue  it 
of  the  first  respect  ability. '*  He  owned  a  line  of  stages 
to  Philadelphia  for  a  few  years,  and  on  March  26, 
1833,  removed  to  the  Indian  Queen.  Alexander 
Porter  was  proprietor  for  one  year.  Collins  Denny 
succeeded  him  March  1, 1834.  Captain  Henry  Read, 
who  commanded  the  steamboat  "Wilmington"  to 
Philadelphia,  took  charge  of  Indian  King  Hotel  April 
1, 1836,  and  died  there  January  2, 1837.  Jesse  Sharpe 
was  the  next  and  last  person  who  kept  it.  In  1841, 
it  was  bought  of  the  Brintonfheirs,  by  James  Canby 
and  Edward  Tatnall,  and  the  following  year  H.  B. 
Pennington  &  Son,  opened  a  dry  goods  store  in  it. 

The  name  Indian  King  was  then  given  to  a  hotel 
on  the  west  side  of  Market  above  Front,  where  Quigly 
&  Mullin's  wholesale  grocery  store  is.  It  was  kept  by 
James  A.  Serverson,  Jacob  De  Haven,  John  Foster, 
Jacob  Hopple,  Thomas  Gibson  and  last  by  Alexander 
Porter.  It  was  a  rendezvous  for  soldiers  for  a  time 
during  the  civil  war. 

The  Indian  Queen  within  the  recollection  of  the 
present  generation  was  the  leading  hotel  in  Wilming- 
ton. And  it  sustained  that  reputation  for  many 
years.  It  stood  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Market 
and  Fifth  Street  until  its  removal,  in  1872,  to  give 
place  to  the  Clayton  House.  On  the  site  originally 
stood  the  residence  of  Job  Harvey,  the  merchant 
trader.  The  earliest  record  of  it  is  in  1789,  the  year 
of  Washington's  first   inauguration,    when    Enoch 


Welsh,  the  first  deputy  postmaster,  was  proprietor. 
On  the  4th  of  July,  1797,  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Wilmington  partook  of  a  rich  banquet  at  this  house, 
in  celebration  of  the  twenty-first  anniversary  of 
American  independence.  It  was  called  the  Queen 
of  Otaheite  Tavern.  About  this  time  an  occasional 
whaling  vessel  was  sent  from  Wilmington.  One  of 
them  spent  some  time  in  the  port  of  Otaheite,  the 
largest  and  most  interesting  of  the  Society  Islands  in 
the  South  Pacific.  This  island  has  always  been  fa- 
mous for  its  beauty  and  fertility,  and  when  discov- 
ered by  the  Spanish  Quiros,  in  1606,  was  the  centre 
of  a  native  sovereignty  with  an  intelligent  Queen  as 
ruler.  When  a  vessel  returned  to  Wilmington,  with  a 
fair  cargo  of  whale  oil  and  bone,  the  crew,  as  was  the 
custom  *^ chaired"  their  captain.  They  placed 
him  on  a  large  chair,  in  the  centre  of  two  poles,  and 
four  men  carried  him  up  Market  Street  as  far  as 
Enoch  Welsh's  Tavern,  while  the  others  of  the  crew 
cheered  them  on  their  way.  Their  glowing  accounts 
of  the  island  and  its  fabled  ruler  induced  Enoch 
Welsh  to  call  his  tavern  the  Queen  of  Otaheite,  and 
by  that  name  it  was  known  nearly  to  the  time  the 
French  captured  the  island,  in  1846,  and  called  it 
Tahiti. 

The  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore 
Stage  Line,  run  by  Kerlin  &  Odenheimer,  in  1797, 
stepped  here.  Enoch  Welsh  and  James  McCul- 
lough  at  the  same  time  ran  stages  from  Wilmington 
down  the  Peninsula  and  to  Norfolk.  David  Brin- 
ton kept  this  tavern  from  1800  to  1803.  Charles 
Hamilton,  in  1803,  advertised  that  he  had  "lately 
come  to  this  tavern,  and  provided  the  larder  with  all 
that  the  epicurious  would  want,  and  had  also  wines 
and  spirits  of  the  best  quality."  Eli  Lambom 
moved  from  the  Delaware  House  to  the  Queen  of 
Otaheite,  and  continued  there  until  1825,  when 
James  Plumly  succeeded  him.  For  three  years  Lam- 
bom then  ran  the  Wilmington  Stage  from  his  tavern 
to  the  sign  of  the  Conestoga  Wagon,  on  Market 
Street,  Philadelphia. 

Alexander  Porter,  afterwards  mayor  of  the  city, 
became  proprietor  April  1,  1828,  and  with  Jesse 
Sharpe,  owned  the  stage  line  from  Philadelphia  to 
Newark.  In  1829  Martin  Van  Buren  attended  a 
banquet  in  it  given  to  Louis  McLane,  before  he  went 
to  Europe.  Porter  moved  to  the  American  Hotel, 
and  on  March  23,  1833,  John  M.  Smith  announced 
that  he  had  moved  from  "  the  Indian  King  to  the 
Indian  Queen,  one  square  iiuther  up  Market  Street, 
for  the  genteel  accommodation  of  his  friends."  He 
remained  for  several  years,  then  bought  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  land  on  Bohemia  Manor,  and  turned 
his  attention  to  farming.  John  Hall  was  the  proprietor 
in  1846,  and  the  next  year  the  building  was  en- 
larged to  "double  its  former  capacity."  It  was 
made  three-stories  high.  He  came  to  Wilmington 
from  Christiana  Bridge,  and  became  known  as  a  good 
hotel  keeper.  John  Foster  succeeded  him  in  1850. 
He  was  an  Englishman,  and  when  he  first  came 


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813 


to  this  country  was  a  hostler,  at  Brandywine 
Springs. 

Charles  M.  AUmond,  late  of  the  Eagle  Hotel, 
Philadelphia,  came  to  the  Indian  Queen  in  1855.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Samuel  Miller  and  Marshall 
Harland. 

The  Clayton  House,  the  leading  hotel  in  Wil- 
mington and  the  State  of  Delaware,  stands  upon  the 
site  of  the  historic  old  Indian  Queen,  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Market  and  Fifth  Streets,  extending  through 
to  King  Street.  The  property  was  purchased  March 
25, 1871,  by  the  Artisans'  Bank  and  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Wilmington  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a 
large  and  commodious  banking  building  to  accomo- 
date both  institutions.  Feeling  the  need  of  a  first- 
class  hot€l  in  Wilmington,  containing  all  the  modern 
improvements,  the  new  owners  of  the  site  decided  to 
erect  a  large  and  commodious  hotel.  The  building 
committee  were  William  Tatnall,  George  S.  Capelle, 


THE  CLAYTON  HOUSE. 

William  S.  Hilles,  Edward  Betts  and  George  W. 
Bush.  The  hotel,  which  is  five  stories  high,  con- 
taining several  large  sitting-rooms  and  parlors,  and 
one  hundred  and  five  bed-rooms,  was  completed  in 
1873  at  a  cost  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  It 
was  opened  in  February  of  that  year,  with  Colonel 
H.  W.  Sawyer  as  proprietor.  Isaac  C.  Pyle  succeeded 
him  from  1876  to  1880.  George  W.  Ortlip  from  1880 
to  1885.  Since  1885  Mr.  Isaac  C.  Pyle  has  been  the 
proprietor,  and  has  had  a  large  and  constantly 
increasing  patronage.  The  ofiSces  of  the  two  banks 
are  in  the  front  part  of  the  building. 

The  Banking  House  Corporation,  the  present  owner 
of  the  Clayton  House,  was  incorporated  February  21, 
1873,  with  a  capital  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
On  the  24th  of  the  same  month  Edward  Betts, 
William  S.  Hilles,  George  W.  Bush,  Clement  B. 
Smyth,  George  S.  Capelle,  Joshua  T.  Heald  and 
William  H.  Swift  were  chosen  directors.  They 
organized  March  8,  1873,  by  electing  George  W. 
Bush    president  and  Edward   T.  Taylor  secretary. 


George  8.  Capelle  was  elected  president  of  the  asso- 
ciation in  1880.  The  directors  in  1888  are  George  S. 
Capelle,  George  W.  Bush,  Edward  Betts,  Henry  F. 
Dure,  Joseph  L.  Carpenter,  Jr.,  C.  B.  Smyth  and 
Lewis  C.  Vandegrift. 

The  Buck  Tavern,  later  known  as  Sharpens  Hotel, 
stands  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Market  and  Front 
Streets.  Thomas  Willing  in  1731  made  a  plan  for  a 
town  on  the  Christiana,  and  in  1732  on  the  site  ot 
this  hotel  the  firot  house  within  the  original  limits  of 
Wilmington  was  built.  It  was  constructed  of  brick, 
and  the  date  of  its  erection  and  the  initials  J.  W.  S. 
were  cut  in  the  marble  tablet  in  the  gable  wall.  The 
plan  for  Willingtown  made  narrow  streets,  and  the 
front  walls  of  this  house  stood  eight  feet  further  oat 
on  Market  Street  than  the  present  one.  It  was  a 
tavern  during  the  Revolution,  and  Eli  Taylor  kept 
it.  He  died  of  yellow  fever,  and  Eli  Sharpe 
was  the  next  landlord.  He  owned  the  building,  and 
in  1825  built  the  one  there,  placing  the  original  mar- 
ble tablet  in  the  gable  end  of  his  new  house  where  it 
may  still  be  seen.  Eli  Sharpe,  who  had  only  one  leg, 
kept  this  tavern  until  his  death.  His  widow,  Phoebe 
Sharpe,  who  as  early  as  1845  conducted  it,  is  still 
living  over  ninety  years  old.  Eli  Sharpe.  in  his 
early  days  was  a  farmer,  and  came  to  Wilmington 
from  Pennsylvania,  His  son  George  was  the  first  to 
be  interred  in  Wilmington  and  Brandywine  Ceme- 
tery. Jesse  Sharpe,  another  son,  who  was  proprietor 
for  a  time,  became  a  prominent  citizen  of  Wilming- 
ton. He  kept  this  tavern  after  he  left  the  Lafayette. 
The  old  stone  barn  in  the  rear  of  this  hotel  is  nearly 
a  century  and  a  half  old.  The  hotel  is  owned  by  the 
heirs  of  Eli  Sharpe,  and  has  been  kept  since  1877  by 
Manuel  Richenberger. 

The  Delaware  House,  or  rather  the  building 
above  it,  was  built  by  Abijah  Dawes  immediately 
after  the  Revolution.  Charles  Springer  was  probably 
its  first  host,  for  he  was  there  in  1797.  Eli  Lambom 
was  proprietor  for  a  dozen  years.  By  permission  he 
named  it  the  Bayard  Hotel.  On  the  swinging  sign 
in  front  of  it  was  a  large  portrait  of  James  A.  Bayard, 
the  elder.  Eli  Lambom  was  a  man  of  affairs  in  the 
town,  and  for  a  time  kept  the  Queen  of  Otaheite 
and  the  Swan.  His  brother  Cyrus  kept  a  store  im- 
mediately below  Clark's  jewelry  store,  and  lived  to 
the  age  of  a  hundred  years.  Late  in  life  he  moved  to 
Lancaster  County,  from  whence  they  both  came. 
Many  of  the  Pennsylvania  farmers  who  brought  their 
grain  to  the  Brandywine  Mills  stopped  at  Lamborn's 
tavern,  and  were  well  entertained.  From  1820  to 
1825,  the  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia  post  coaches 
drawn  by  four  horses  were  run  by  Lambom ;  one  left 
his  tavern  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  at  the 
same  time  another  left  the  Indian  King,  on  Fourth 
Street,  Philadelphia.  It  was  a  popular  line,  and  the 
fare  was  one  dollar.  He  also  ran  a  line  of  stages  to 
Elkton  and  Chestertown,  Maryland.  Henry  Steele 
succeeded  Lambom  in  1825  as  tavern  keeper,  and 
Gibbons  Perry  was  next,  coming  in  1828  and  leaving 


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in  1830.  George  Winslow  then  owned  the  building. 
Brooke  T.  Turner,  an  Englishman,  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  or  more  waa  the  owner  and  proprietor.  He 
started  first  on  Shipley  Street,  and  in  1844  built  the 
present  house.  He  was  a  soldier  under  the  Duke  of 
Wellington  in  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  and  it  was  that 
event  that  he  most  loved  to  talk  about,  even  to  the 
time  of  his  death  on  April  6,  1867,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  His  career  in  that  memorable  en- 
gagement with  the  French  was  very  good.  There  were 
other  subjects,  however,  that  interested  Brooke  Turner. 
He  was  a  noted  caterer.  He  changed  the  name  of 
his  tavern  to  the  Delaware  House,  and  under  his 
management  it  was  known  far  and  near.  For  his 
table  he  bought  the  best  game,  the  choicest  steaks, 
.  finest  vegetables  and  the  most  luscious  fruits  the  mar- 
ket afforded.  Daniel  Webster  dined  here  after  he 
made  his  great  speech  in  Wilmington  during  the 
"  Log  cabin,"  "  hard  cider,"  "  two  dollars  a  day  and 
roast  beef"  campaign  of  1840.  David  Paul  Brown, 
the  noted  orator  and  eminent  lawyer  of  Philadelphia, 
when  attending  court  at  New  Castle  came  to  the 
Delaware  House  for  his  dinner. 

The  Delaware  House  was  famed  throughout  the 
State  as  the  headquarters  of  the  Whigs  when  their 
party  triumphed  in  the  State  and  National  elections 
in  1840.  The  mottoes  "  Old  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler 
Too,"  and  "  Rough  and  Ready,"  and  "  General  Taylor 
never  surrenders,"  in  1848  were  inscribed  on  banners 
and  streamers  that  floated  in  great  numbers  from  the 
roof  and  balconies  pf  this  noted  hostelry.  "  Charley  " 
Brown,  a  good-natured  colored  man,  was  Turner's 
man  Friday.  He  was  the  politest  and  most  popular 
man  of  his  race  in  "  the  town  by  the  Christeen."  He 
learned  to  be  a  gentleman  years  before,  when  he  was 
employed  in  a  similar  position  by  Patrick  OTlinn  at 
the  Happy  Retreat,  who  was  himself  *'  the  most  cour- 
teous man  in  town."  Charley  Brown  was  a  great 
whistler,  and  was  bugler  for  a  local  military  company 
for  seven  years.  He  was  an  enthusiastic  Whig,  and 
when  Harrison  was  elected  President  in  1840,  he 
spent  two  whole  days  traveling  through  Wilmington 
announcing  the  event  to  every  one  he  saw.  In  the 
meantime  he  rang  a  bell,  whistled  his  favorite  cam- 
paign tunes,  and  blew  his  bugle.  He  was  a  weather 
prophet  with  as  good  a  reputation  in  that  line  as  "  old 
Probs "  is  to-day,  and  "  what  Charley  Brown  didn't 
know  about  hunting  in  New  Castle  County,  was  not 
worth  knowing "  was  a  familiar  expression.  It  was 
said  of  him  that  he  never  lost  his  temper,  and  was 
always  happy  even  to  the  day  of  his  death,  March 
28, 1848. 

The  Delaware  House  was  bought  of  the  Turner 
heirs,  and  has  since  been  owned  by  Catharine  Mc- 
Grena  and  her  brother. 

The  Gibson  House  on  the  south  side  of  West 
Fourth  Street  near  Shipley,  was  for  seventy  years  or 
more  known  as  the  Swan  Tavern.  John  Hadden 
kept  it  before  1800  and  on  June  21, 1805,  was  succeed- 
ed by  Isaac  Anderson  who  then  started  a  new  line  of 


stages  from  his  tavern  in  Wilmington,  to  the  White 
Hoi-se  Inn,  Philadelphia,  fare  $1.50.  Isaac  Anderson 
moved  to  Philadelphia,  conducted  a  hotel  on  Chest- 
nut Street  but  afterwards  returned  to  Brandywine 
Hundred  and  finally  died  in  the  County  Almshouse. 
Eli  Lambom  kept  the  Swan  for  several  years,  moving 
there  from  the  Indian  Queen  in  1825.  The  same  year 
he  became  proprietor  of  the  United  States  post  coaches* 
but  died  September  20,  1825.  In  1840  Samuel  Hopper 
went  there  and  in  1852  Allen  J.  Lemon.  Thomas  D. 
Gibson  bought  it  in  1856  and  is  now  (1888)  the  owner. 
He  kept  it  from  1857  to  1878  with  the  exception  of 
four  years  when  it  was  leased.  The  proprietors  since 
have  been  John  Dunn,  John  Dougherty  and  James 
Willis. 

The  Monumental  Inn  stood  in  from  the  street 
nearly  opposite  the  present  site  of  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  on  Market  Street  It  had  in  front  of 
it  a  large  display  sign  on  which  was  painted  a  monu- 
ment in  varigated  colors,  but  no  one  can  now  tell  what 
this  monument  was  to  commemorate.  It  was  built 
before  1800  and  removed  in  1842  or  thereabouts. 
Farmers  from  the  north  of  town  and  market  people 
from  the  same  section  patronized  it.  For  a  time  it 
was  known  as  the  Spread  Eagle,  with  that  bird  as 
symbol  of  patriotism,  or  something  else,  painted  on 
the  sign  with  spreading  wings.  Some  of  the  early 
circuses  were  held  in  the  yard  around  it.  Later  they 
were  held  at  the  Cross  Keys.  Jabez  Bailey  and  Caleb 
Clayton  were  among  its  proprietors. 

The  Lafayette  Hotel,  formerly  on  the  site  of  the 
proposed  new  post-office  building,  was  opened  in  1823 
under  the  name  of  the  Black  Bear  Tavern.  Among  the 
early  keepers  were  Joseph  Pierson  and  West,  his  son. 
In  1845  James  Bradley  erected  a  large  building  on  the 
site  and  when  Jacob  Hopple,  Jr.,  became  proprietor 
it  was  named  the  Lafayette.  Edmund  Conard  took 
charge  in  1852. 

This  was  a  very  popular  stopping  place  for  farmers 
and  market  people  having  long  rows  of  sheds  around 
it. 

The  White  Horse,  at  Second  and  Tatnall,  was 
kept  in  1841,  by  Richard  K.  Jones,  as  a  temperance 
house.  The  better  class  of  the  fanners  round  about 
were  his  patrons  for  many  years,  and  he  continued 
in  the  business  until  1862.  John  Lemon  then  be- 
came the  lessee  for  three  years,  and  in  1865,  the 
heirs  of  Theophilus  Jones  sold  it  to  Caleb  Miller, 
who  had  been  for  many  years  a  prosperous  butcher, 
and  a  regular  attendant  at  the  city  markets.  He 
lived  at  the  hotel  and  was  its  proprietor  for  seven- 
teen years.  He  then  retired  to  private  life  and  has 
since  leased  it. 

Cross  Keys  Tavern,  which  stood  at  the  junction 
of  Old  King's  Road  and  the  Kennett  turnpike,  near 
what  is  now  southwest  corner  of  Brandywine  Ceme- 
tery, was  a  somewhat  noted  hostelry.  Two  immense 
wooden  keys  painted  yellow  and  made  in  the  form  of 
a  cross  was  the  sign  of  the  tavern,  but  within  the  re- 
collection of  some  persons,  the  keys  had  changed 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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their  color.  John  WashiDgton  kept  it  in  1805,  and  a 
dozen  years  later,  Peter  Vandever  succeeded  in  1818, 
and  while  keeping  the  tavern  was  elected  sheriff  of 
New  Castle  County.  He  was  a  butcher  by  trade  and 
a  descendant  of  Jacob  Vandever,  one  of  the  earliest 
Dutch  settlers.  By  him  the  Cross  Keys  was  many 
years  well  kept,  and  for  a  time  it  was  the  political 
head-quarters.  John  Schofield,  a  large  fat  English- 
man and  a  spindle  maker  in  the  old  barley  mill  on 
the  Brandywine,  was  next  in  charge  of  this  public 
house  until  his  death,  when  his  widow  continued  the 
business.  It  is  said  by  some  epicures  that  the  best 
ale  in  New  Castle  County  was  tapped  at  this  hostelry. 
A  jurist  of  ability  testified  to  that  &ct  on  more  than 
one  occasion. 

The  hand  of  time  worked  hard  upon  ''The  old 
Cross  Keys''  as  it  was  familiarly  known  for  more 
than  half  a  century,  and  the  march  of  improvement 
found  that  it  incumbered  the  ground  and  it  was 
removed  in  1863  or  thereabout ;  afterwards  the  pro- 
perty came  into  ihe  possession  of  Joshua  T.  Heald. 

The  Black  Hor8E  was  the  stopping  place  for 
farmers  coming  from  the  west  and  northwest  in  early 
days.  It  stood  on  the.  site  of  Kent's  lumber  yard. 
Thomas  Plumly,  Jacob  Hopple,  Joseph  Gilbert  and 
Patrick  Mellon,  each  for  several  years  kept  it. 

The  Sign  of  the  Steamboat,  at  the  corner  of 
Market  and  Water  Streets,  was  owned  by  Thomas  C. 
Rodgers  in  1829.  The  Delevan  Temperance  House 
was  opened  on  Third  Street  1848,  by  John  C.  Price. 
Thomas  Rodgers  in  1882,  kept  the  tavern  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  King  Streets,  which 
was  named  "  Queen  of  Otaheite." 

One  of  the  first  taverns  in  Wilmington,  owned  by 
Johan  Wilhelm,  a  Swede,  stood  on  Market  Street,  be- 
tween Fourth  and  Fifth,  afterwards  the  site  of  Joseph 
Scott's  bookstore.  Craig  &  Reynolds  started  the  first 
hardware  store  close  by  it. 

The  European  Hotel,  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  Front  and  French  Streets,  was  started  by  T.  B- 
Merritt,  who  previously  had  conducted  hoteU  in  the 
lower  part  of  Delaware.  He  soon  made  the  Wil- 
mington Hotel  popular,  not  only  among  the  citizens 
of  his  town,  but  also  with  the  traveling  public  gen- 
erally. 

The  Opera  House  Hotel,  on  Market  Street,  op- 
posite the  Masonic  Temple,  is  a  large  and  commo- 
dious hotel  building,  owned  and  conducted  by  J.  A. 
Boers. 

The  United  States,  at  the  corner  of  Water  and 
French  Streets,  was  formerly  kept  by  John  J.  Dough- 
erty. 

The  Bird  in  Hand,  on  Front  Street,  between 
Market  and  King  Streets,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
taverns  in  the  town.  Rachel  Montgomery  kept  it  in 
1790;  Peter  Hordon,  in  1797;  Peter  Mercier,  in 
1803 ;  Joseph  K.  Robinett,  in  1837  ;  and  David  Shaw 
1845.  Before  1850  it  was  discontinued  as  a  public- 
house. 
Some  of  the  other  early  taverns  were  the  Sign  of 


the  Drover,  kept  by  Jacob  Broom,  in  1795;  the 
Sheaf  of  Wheat,  by  Jamen  Plunkett;  the  City  Hotel, 
on  Front,  between  Shipley  and  Orange,  by  George 
Hoskins,  in  1845,  and  by  Oliver  Widdoes,  in  1853  ; 
the  Sorrel  Horde,  by  Patrick  Christy,  in  1845 ;  the 
Railroad  Hotel,  by  J.  J.  Thurlow,  in  1845,  and  by 
Dorcas  Wasson,  in  1853 ;  the  Steamboat,  on  Water 
between  King  and  French,  in  1845. 

The  New  Jersey  Inn,  at  French  and  Front 
Streets,  was  opened  by  William  Holton  in  1829. 

Joshua  Baker  opened  a  hotel  on  Water  Street  near 
French,  in  1849,  for  the  accommodation  of  Jersey 
people.  Brandywine  Village  Hotel,  previously  kept 
by  Jacob  Hooten,  was  bought,  April  1, 1849,  by  Wil- 
liam S.  Coyle. 

The  Green  Tree  Inn,  in  the  village  of  Brandy- 
wine, stood  on  the  site  of  St.  John's  Church.  In 
1797  Peter  Vandever,  the  owner,  announced  that  it 
had  been  a  tavern  for  many  years.  John  McLean 
then  became  its  lessee. 

The  Grand  Union,  at  the  northeast  corner  of 
Front  and  French  Streets,  is  owned  and  conducted 
by  Henry  Blouth,  who  came  to  Wilmington  from 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  soon  thereafter  erected  the  elegant 
hotel  building,  which  is  an  ornament  to  that  section 
of  the  city. 


CHAPTER     XXXVII. 
WI LM I NGTON— ( Continued). 
EARLY  MILITARY    ORGANIZATIONS. 

'*  The  Old  Arsenal,"  as  it  was  familiarly  called, 
was  built  by  order  of  the  United  States  government  in 
an  open  field  west  of  Wilmington  about  1797.  Major 
Cass,  with  a  detachment  of  the  regular  army,  had 
charge  of  it  in  1800.  The  site  of  the  arsenal  is  now 
the  square  west  of  Washington  Street,  between  Eighth 
and  Ninth,  and  is  now  occupied  by  handsome  dwell- 
ing-houses. The  entire  area  of  land  owned  by  the 
government  was  one  acre,  and  the  arsenal  was  a  long 
one-story  brick  building.  During  the  War  of  1812  it 
was  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  the  volunteer  military 
companies  of  the  town  and  the  United  States  regu- 
lars when  stationed  there.  For  thirty-eight  years 
after  this  event  it  continued  to  be  used  for  storing 
rifles,  cannon  and  ammunition  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment. In  1846  Secretary  of  War  William  L.  Marcy, 
ordered  the  entire  property  to  be  sold  if  it  brought 
fifteen  hundred  dollars.  It  was  offered  for  sale  and 
withdrawn.  In  1850,  by  order  of  George  W.  Craw- 
ford, Secretary  of  War,  it  was  sold  to  William  Lea 
for  twenty-four  hundred  dollars.  The  building  was 
torn  down  soon  thereafter  and  dwelling-houses 
erected. 

The  Republican  Blues,  of  the  Third  Delaware 
Regiment,  and  the  Second  Troop,  of  the  Light  Dra- 


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goons,  gave  a  farewell  dinner  at  Cantweirs  Bridge 
on  Saturday,  November  20, 1802,  and  then  disbanded. 
Most  of  the  members  of  these  companies  were  Revo- 
lutionary patriots. 

Veteran  Corps  (composed  of  soldiers  of  the  Revo- 
lution).— Captain,  Allen  McLane ;  First  Lieutenant, 
Edward  Roche;  Second  Lieutenant  George  Monro; 
Third  Lieutenant,  David  Kirkpatrick. 

Wilmington  Troop  of  Horse.— Captain,  John 
Warner ;  First  Lieutenant,  Joseph  Stidham ;  Second 
Lieutenant,  James  Gardner;  Cornet,  N.  G.  Wil- 
liamson ;  privates,  forty-three. 

Wilmington  Light  Infantry. — Captain,  Fred- 
erick Leonard ;  First  Lieutenant,  Samuel  Carnahan ; 
Second  Lieutenant,  Alexander  Porter;  privates,  fifty - 
two. 

First  Artillery.— Captain,  C.  A.  Rodney ;  First 
Lieutenant,  Archibald  Hamilton ;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Allan  Thomson ;  rank  and  file,  eighty-eight. 

Second  Artillery.— Captain,  David  C.  Wilson ; 
First  Lieutenant,  Benjamin  H.  Springer;  Second 
Lieutenant,  John  W.  Robinson ;  privates,  fifty. 

Militia  (two  companies). — Captain,  William  Ship- 
ley; First  Lieutenant,  G.  James  Wolfe;  Ensign, 
Solomon  Beckly;  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates,  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

Captain,  Perry  Sheward;  First  Lieutenant,  Benja- 
min Bracken ;  Ensign,  Abraham  Til  ton  ;  non-com- 
missioned officers  and  privates,  two  hundred. 

During  the  War  of  1812  the  military  spirit  was 
very  high  in  Wilmington.  Within  a  few  weeks  after 
the  declaration  of  war  seven  companies  were  formed 
in  Wilmington. 

The  First  Legion  of  Delaware  Volunteers 
was  organized  in  1822,  and  commanded  by  Stephen 
Bauduy,  and  afterwards  by  Col.  Davis.  The  Lafayette 
Guards  was  a  company  formed  in  1824,  a  few  days  be- 
fore Gen.  Lafayette's  visit  to  Wilmington. 

A  new  militia  law  was  enacted  in  1827.  The  dress 
required  by  officers,  under  the  law,  was  as  follows :  Ma- 
jor-general, blue  coat,  single-breasted,  standing  col- 
lars, one  row  of  yellow  gilt  bullet-buttons,  ten  in 
number  on  breast,  eight  behind,  two  gold  epaulets . 
brigadier,  same  coat  with  one  silver  star  on  each  strap  ; 
infantry  coat  blue  or  gray,  standing  collar  and  fiat  or 
bullet-buttons,  white  pantaloons  and  vest,  black 
cockade  hat  or  cap  with  yellow  or  white  pompon 
plume;  captain  to  wear  silver  epaulets  on  right 
shoulder. 

The  field  officers  of  Delaware  Militia  for  New  Cas- 
tle County,  appointed  under  the  law  of  1827,  were  : 
Major-Gen eral,  William  Cooch;  Brigadier-General, 
Richard  Mansfield;  Majors,  James  N.  Sutton  and 
Benjamin  Whitely;  Quartermaster-General,  Joshua 
Clayton. 

The  officers    of  First   Regiment  were:    Colonel, 

Thomas  Robinson  ;  Major,  G.  J.  Wolfe ;  Major,  John 

Morris;    Adjutant,   W.  McClung ;    Surgeon,   Allen 

McLane,  M.D. 

Second  Regiment :   Colonel,  Henry  Whitely  ;  Ma- 


jor, Evan  Thomas ;  Adjutant,  P.  S.  Ogle;   Surgeon, 
Dr.  Washington  Russel. 

Third  Regiment :  Colonel,  John  Higgins ;  Major, 
Alexander  Crawford  ;  Adjutant,  William  Kennedy ; 
Surgeon,  Dr.  E.  S.  Green. 

The  militia  of  the  county  was  organized  at  Red 
Lion  April  14, 1827.  There  were  five  regiments  in 
the  State. 

In  1829  the  militia  law  wag  repealed  "  because  the 
system  aa  enforced  farnbhed  only  the  caricature  of  an 
army.  The  meetings  were  periodical  nuisances  and 
brought  into  contempt  the  military  art,  and  did  not 
bring  the  least  particle  of  benefit  to  the  State." 

The  State  Fencibles  was  a  volunteer  company 
organized  in  City  Hall,  Wilmington,  in  1827,  and  the 
Jackson  Guards  in  1829,  with  Jacob  B.  Robinson 
as  captain. 

The  Washington  Grays,  a  volunteer  company 
of  infantry,  was  organized  February  27,  1827,  with 
seventy-three  members.  The  first  officers  were  John 
MoClung,  captain;  John  Adams,  first  lieutenant; 
Archibald  Robertson,  second  lieutenant;  Samuel 
Barker,  James  A.  Sparks,  J.  Draper  and  William 
Kennard,  sergeants;  J.  T.  JRobinson,  William  W. 
Rice,  Peter  Horn  and  J.  McKee,  corporals. 

The  Wilmington  Rifle  Corps,  fifty  men,  was 
commanded  by  William  Hemphill  Jones  in  1841. 

The  Rifle  Corps  was  organized  in  1842  with 
Spencer  D.  Eves,  captain  ;  Z.  B.  Glazier  and  William 
Grifien,  lieutenants ;  William  A.  Bird,  ensign  ;  Wil- 
liam S.  Pink,  sergeant;  and  A.  S.  Clark,  corporal. 

The  First  Troop  op  Delaware  Dragoons  was 
formed  in  1844  with  the  following  officers:  Captain, 
Richard  H.  Bayard ;  First  Lieutenant,  John  W.  An-  * 
drews ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Richard  B.  Gilpin ;  Sur- 
geon, James  W.  Thomson,  M.D.;  Assistant  Surgeon, 
J.  T.  Cardeza,  M.D.  This  was  an  excellent  military 
organization.  John  W.  Andrews  became  captain  in 
1845. 

The  Keokuk  Rifle  Company,  Captain  Marshall, 
was  organized  in  1846  with  forty-six  men.  Their 
uniform  was  like  that  of  a  Western  hunter,  with  a 
loose  hlouse  and  turhan.  The  cap  had  three  large 
ostrich  feathers. 

Captain  Chaytor,  in  1846,  organized  a  company 
which  went  to  the  Mexican  War ;  its  history  is  given 
el«ewhere. 

The  Independent  Light  Guards,  a  volunteer 
company,  in  May,  1846,  elected  as  its  first  oflScers  the 
following :  Captain,  William  Edwards ;  First  Lieu- 
tenant, James  L.  Devon ;  Second  Lieutenant,  Wm. 
H.  Griffin;  Third  Lieutenant,  William  R.Penning- 
ton ;  Sergeant,  T.  J.  Allison ;  Quartermaster,  Richard 
Triggs. 

The  Delaware  Life  Guards  organized  ahout 
the  same  time,  with  the  following  officers :  Captain, 
O.  S.  Tenney;  First  Lieutenant,  M.  G.  Lofland ; 
Second  Lieutenant,  John  Haddock ;  Third  Lieuten- 
ant, Thomas  H.  Robinson  ;  First  Sergeant,  Lewis  H. 
Kane;  Second  Sergeant,  James  Speakman ;    Third 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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Sergeant,    John    Dixon;    Qaartermaster,    Bernard 
Bradley. 

Artillery  Company  A,  with  sixty  men,  was 
formed  by  the  Washington  Band  in  July,  1846. 

First  Regiment  Delaware  Artillerists  in 
1846  was  commanded  by  Captain  William  R.  Scllars, 
with  Greorge  Read  Riddle  as  first  lieutenant  and 
Henry  G.  Banning  second  lieutenant. 

The  Delaware  Light  Dragoons  in  1846  had 
the  following  officers :  Captain,  James  L.  Miles ;  First 
Lieutenant,  (George  Holtzpecker ;  Second  Lieutenant, 
Nathan  T.  Boulden ;  Sergeant,  Thomas  J.  Moore ! 
Ensign,  Alex.  B.  Crawford;  Surgeon,  Thomas  F. 
Cullen. 

In  1846  New  Castle  County  was  divided  into  eight 
regiments  and  sixteen  battalion  districts,  under  the 
new  militia  system.  Gk)yernor  Maull  appointed  Na- 
thaniel Young  major-general,  Richard  H.  Bayard 
brigadier-general,  William  R.  Sellars  colonel  of  the 
First  Regiment,  John  W.  Andrews  colonel  of  the 
Second  Regiment,  Samuel  Canby,  M.  B.  Ocheltree, 
James  L.  Miles  and  James  N.  Sutton  majors  of  bat- 
talions, David  C.  Wilson  brigade  inspector.  Dr.  A.  H. 
Grimshaw  surgeon. 

Capt.  Riddle,  in  1846,  commanded  Artillery  Com- 
pany A,  of  Wilmington,  and  Col.  Chaytor  Company 
B.    Both  were  volunteer  companies. 

The  Columbia  Rifle  Company  in  1859  was  com- 
posed of  sixty  men,  and  the  following  officers :  Cap- 
tain, J.  M.  Barr;  lieutenants,  William  £.  Hyland 
and  John  F.  Bogia.  Armory  was  in  Central  Hall, 
comer  Fourth  and  King  Streets.  ♦ 

The  Taylor  Guards,  Capt.  Thatcher,  was  a  mili- 
tary company  formed  in  1848,  and  named  in  honor  of 
Genera]  Zachary  Taylor. 

The  National  Guards,  a  company  of  volunteers, 
was  commanded  by  R.  B.  Gilpin,  captain;  with 
Thomas  A  Smyth  first  lieutenant,  and  Frank  Mc- 
Cluskey  second  lieutenant. 

Fort  Delaware  was  destroyed  by  fire  during  the 
night  of  February  10, 1881.  The  river  was  full  of  float- 
ing ice  at  the  time,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
the  one  hundred  and  fifty  officers  and  men  garrisoned 
there  escaped  with  their  lives.  The  flames  spread 
rapidly,  and  they  lost  all  their  clothing  and  other 
property.  The  entire  loss  was  one  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  It  was  rebuilt  soon  afier.  In  1844  the  gov- 
€mment  appropriated  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  re- 
build it.  In  1848  fifty-six  thousand  dollars  more  were 
appropriated. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

WILMINGTON--(Co7i<t»tt«d). 
SECRET  SOCIETIES. 

Free  Masonry.'— Among  the  early  English  set- 
tlers of  Delaware  there  were  many  members  of  the  Ma- 

1 0ontribatod  by  Dr.  G.  W.  Marshall,  of  Milford,  Del. 


sonic  order,  and  as  time  passed  on  they  and  their  suc- 
cessors transferred  their  membership  from  the  parent 
organizations  in  the  old  country  to  the  new  organ- 
izations on  American  soil.  The  close  political  con- 
nection of  the  Delaware  colony  with  Pennsylvania 
had,  as  one  of  its  features,  the  merging  of  the  Dela- 
ware Masons  in  the  lodges  and  chapters  of  Phila- 
delphia. In  the  pre-Revolutionary  and  Revolutionary 
era  the  Delaware  brethren  were  attached  to  the 
Philadelphia  organizations,  and  it  was  not  until  the 
nineteenth  century  had  become  six  years  old  that 
they  thought  of  setting  up  for  themselves.  It  is  not 
known  with  entire  historical  accuracy  when,  where 
or  under  what  circumstances  the  Free  Masons, 
undoubtedly  the  most  ancient  of  all  secular  associa- 
tions, was  first  Instituted. 

Written  records  and  traditions  unite  in  support 
of  the  assertion  that  it  has  existed  for  many  cen- 
turies. 

There  are,  however,  evidences  of  the  existence  of 
societies  of  Masons,  who  were  such  by  trade  and 
occupation,  long  before  and  in  the  early  centuries  ot 
the  Christian  era  in  Egypt,  in  India,  in  Greece,  in 
Italy  and  in  other  places.  They  were  chartered  and 
patronized  by  Kings  and  Emperors,  and  they  had 
many  privileges  granted  them. 

They  were  free  because  they  were  permitted  to 
govern  themselves,  and,  they  could  go  and  come  as 
they  pleased  in  search  of  work  and  could  demand 
their  own  terms. 

Their  lodges,  or  places  of  meeting,  were  places  for 
instruction  in  science  and  the  polite  arts ;  hence  the 
figures  of  the  school -men,  the  globes,  the  columns, 
the  problems  of  mathematics,  as  well  as  the  working 
tools  of  operative  Masons,  are  the  symbols  of  Free 
Masonry. 

In  the  course  of  time  they  accepted  as  members 
persons  who  were  not  operative  Masons,  and  thus  the 
whole  body  came  to  be  known  as  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons. 

In  Great  Britain  we  find  that  in  the  year  975  all 
the  Masonic  lodges  of  that  country  were  called 
together  in  a  congress  by  King  Athelstan.  A  charter 
or  constitution  was  adopted  by  them.  York  was 
fixed  upon  as  the  seat  of  the  Grand  Master,  and 
Prince  Edwin  was  chosen  Grand  Master. 

From  this  assemblage  arose  the  name  of  Ancient 
York  Masons. 

In  the  year  1666  the  great  fire  in  London  destroyed 
a  large  part  of  that  city.  After  the  rebuilding  of  the 
burned  district,  and  particularly  after  the  completion 
of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  under  Sir  Christopher  Wren, 
the  occupation  of  operative  masons  seems  to  have 
come  almost  to  an  end,  and  the  lodges  were  almost 
deserted ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  favor  with  which 
the  fraternity  was  regarded  by  the  King  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  member- 
ship decreased  to  such  an  extent  that  there  were  only 
four  lodges  in  the  city  of  London. 

In  order  to  increase  its  membership,  the  Lodge  of 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


St  Paul,  in  the  year  1703,  '*  Resolved,  That  the  privi- 
leges of  Masonry  shall  no  longer  be  confined  to  oper- 
ative masons,  but  be  free  to  all  men,  of  all  professions, 
provided  they  are  regularly  approved  and  initiated 
into  the  Fraternity." 

This  resolution  caused  a  great  increase  in  the  mem- 
bership and  improvement  in  the  government  of  the 
society. 

Although  there  was  a  Grand  Master  in  England  at 
a  very  early  day,  there  never  was  a  permanent  Grand 
Lodge  until  1717. 

Occasional  Grand  Lodges  were  held  by  the  Grand 
Master  calling  the  lodges  together,  for  whenever  two 
or  more  lodges  met  together,  that  was  a  Grand  Lodge 
for  the  time.  But  there  never  was  a  continuous  and 
permanent  Grand  Lodge  formed  until  1717. 

This  Grand  Lodge  was  called  the  **  Moderns  "  by 
their  rivals,  who  succeeded  them  in  1753,  assuming 
the  name  of  '^  Ancients,"  under  the  name  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  England,  according  to  the  old  institutions. 

In  1725  a  Grand  Lodge  was  formed  at  York,  called 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  All  England,  and  became  ex- 
tinct about  1792. 

About  1780  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England  South  of 
the  Trent,  which  existed  but  a  short  time,  was  formed. 

In  1813  the  two  Grand  Lodges  of  England, — one 
under  the  Duke  of  Sussex,  Grand  Master,  and  the 
other  under  the  Duke  of  Kent,  Grand  Master, — were 
united  and  have  so  continued  ever  since.  Delaware 
Masons  trace  their  lineage  through  two  of  these  Grand 
bodies,  viz.,  the  "  Ancient ''  and  the  "  Modems." 

We  have  no  specific  date  at  which  Masonry  was 
introduced  into  Pennsylvania,  the  source  from 
whence  Maryland  drew  her  Masonry,  and  Dela- 
ware obtained  hers  both  from  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland,  but  we  do  know  that  the  fraternity  existed 
in  Pennsylvania  as  early  as  May  6,  1731,  for  the 
Pennsylvania  QazetU,  published  by  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin, a  Mason,  says  "  there  are  several  Lodges  of  Free- 
masons erected  in  this  province." 

Although  they  may  have  existed  before  that  year, 
whence  they  derived  their  authority  is  unimportant ; 
but  thereafter  their  authority  was  derived  from  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  England,  through  Col.  Daniel  Coxe, 
Provincial  Grand  Master  of  New  York,  New  Jersey 
and  Pennsylvania,  who  was  appointed  June  5, 1730, 
by  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  Right  Worshipful  Grand 
Master  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  England. 

On  Jivly  10, 1749,  Benjamin  Franklin  was  appointed 
Provincial  Grand  Master,  by  Thomas  Oxnard,  Esq., 
who  held  an  appointment,  as  Provincial  Grand  Mas- 
ter of  all  North  America,  from  the  Grand  Master  of 
England,  under  date  of  September  23, 1743. 

Under  this  warrant,  meetings  were  held  until 
March  13,  1750,  when  Wm,  Allen,  Esq.,  a  former 
Grand  Master,  presented  a  commission  from  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  England,  appointing  him  Provincial 
Grand  Master,  which  was  recognized  by  the  Grand 
Lodge ;  and  Grand  Master  Allen  appointed  Benjamin 
Franklin  Deputy  Grand  Master. 


The  Provincial  Graud  Lodge  continued  to  work 
under  the  warrant  until  1761,  when  Wm.  Ball  obtain- 
ed from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ancient  York  Masons 
of  England,  a  charter  for  the  Provincial  Grand  Lodge 
of  Pennsylvania,  issued  by  Thomas  Erskine,  Grand 
Master,  and  Lawrence  Dermott,  Grand  Secretary, 
July  14,  1761. 

Under  this  warrant  the  Provincial  Grand  Lodge 
of  Pennsylvania  continued  to  hold  Grand  Communi- 
cations and  to  grant  charters  for  subordinate  lodges 
until  the  separation  from  Great  Britain,  on  Septem- 
ber 25,  1786,  when  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania 
was  formed ;  while  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Maryland  was 
formed  at  Easton,  Talbot  County,  June,  1787. 

We  are,  at  this  late  date,  unacquainted  with  any  of 
the  workings  of  the  lodge  during  the  Revolutionary 
War.  But  we  do  know  that  the  tenets  of  the  frater- 
nity were  promulgated  on  the  tented  field,  and  its 
condition  and  situation  in  the  exciting  state  of  affairs 
(the  colonies  having  declared  their  independence  ot 
Great  Britain)  were  considered  in  a  Masonic  Conven- 
tion of  the  army  lodges,  held  at  Morristown,  New 
Jersey,  in  December,  1779,  at  which  Colonel  Otho 
Holland  Williams,  of  the  Maryland  Line,  was  ap- 
pointed a  member  of  the  committee  to  represent  the 
Masons  in  the  military  line  of  the  State  of  Delaware, 
and  we  are  warranted  in  stating  that  men  of  the  Del- 
ware  Line  were  initiated  into  the  mysteries  of  Free- 
masonry in  the  military  lodges  of  the  American 
army ;  and  returning  home  after  the  cessation  of  hos- 
tilities, they  cherished  the  memories  of  dangers  en- 
countered, hardships  endured,  and  fellowship  formed 
and  cemented,  growing  out  of  a  common  danger  and 
a  common  purpose,  for  the  benefit  of  humanity  and 
the  enlargement  of  freedom  and  patriotism ;  they  par- 
ticipated in  the  formation  of  new  lodges,  there  being 
but  three  organized  in  the  State  previous  to  the  Rev- 
olution, and  there  were  five  afterwards  and  before 
the  formation  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware. 

The  lodges  in  Delaware  before  the  formation  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware  June  6,  1865,  were : 

No.  5,  at  Cantweirs  Bridge,  Delaware;  warrant 
granted  June  24,  1765,  by  the  Provincial  Grand  Lodge 
of  Pennsylvania  ;  surrendered  and  renewed  March  5, 
1798;  warrant  surrendered  January  30,  1816,  to  join 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware,  and  is  now  working  as 
Union  Lodge,  No.  5,  at  Middletown. 

No.  14,  Christiana  Ferry,  afterwards  at  Wilming- 
ton, Delaware ;  warrant  granted  December  27,  1769 ; 
surrendered  and  renewed  January  22,  1789,  and  a 
new  warrant  granted  June  6,  1806,  as  Washington, 
No.  1,  of  Wilmington,  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Dela- 
ware. 

No.  18,  Dover,  Kent  County,  Delaware ;  warrant 
granted  August  26, 1775 ;  surrendered  and  renewed  May 
31, 1787.  It  is  now  Union  Lodge,  No.  7,  at  Dover,— the 
original  charter  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware 
having  been  granted  June  27,  1809,  and  revived  June 
27,  1857. 

No.  33,  New  Castle  and  Christiana  Bridge,  one 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


819 


year  at  one  place  and  the  ensuing  year  at  the  other  ; 
warrant  granted  April  3, 1780,  upon  the  warm  recom- 
mendation of  No.  5,  at  Cantwell's  Bridge ;  and  the 
first  officers  were  Joseph  Israel,  Master;  Joseph  Kil- 
kead,  Senior  Warden  ;  John  Clark,  Junior  Warden. 
The  warrant  was  surrendered  and  renewed  March  1, 
1790,  and  on  June  6,  1806,  a  new  warrant  was  granted 
as  St.  John's,  No.  2,  of  New  Castle. 

No.  44,  Duck  Creek  Cross-Boads;  warrant 
granted  June  24,  1785,  to  Daniel  Cummings,  Master ; 
Samuel  Freeman,  Senior  Warden;  James  Berry, 
Junior  Warden ;  surrendered  and  renewed  September 
6,  1790.  For  a  number  of  years  it  ceased  work,  but 
is  now  Harmony  Lodge,  No.  13,  of  Smyrna,  Dela- 
ware. 

No.  63,  Lewistown  ;  warrant  granted  May  28,  1794, 
to  Dayid  Hall,  Master ;  John  Clark,  Senior  Warden  ; 
James  Willey,  Junior  Warden.  The  charter  was  va- 
cated April  7,  1806,  but  now  working  as  Jefferson 
Lodge,  No.  15,  Lewes,  Delaware.  * 

No.  96,  "The  Delaware  Hiram  Lodge,"  Newark, 
Delaware;  warrant  granted  December  6,  1802,  to 
George  Bead,  Master ;  John  Macbeth,  Senior  War- 
den ;  Samuel  Mateer,  Junior  Warden.  A  new  char- 
ter was  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware 
June  6, 1806.  The  charter  was  vacated  after  removing 
to  Glasgow,  but  was  revived  June  27,  1807,  as  Hiram 
Lodge,  No.  25,  of  Newark. 

The  Grand  Lodge  of  Maryland  also  granted  war- 
rants for  lodges  in  Delaware,— No.  10,  Georgetown, 
Sussex  County,  September  18, 1792.  Its  first  officers 
were  Jesse  Green  (of  No.  3,  Washington  Lodge, 
formerly  No.  15,  of  Pennsylvania  Begister,  at  Fell's 
Point),  Master;  Thomas  Laws  (of  No.  18,  Delaware), 
Senior  Warden ;  Henry  Hooper  (formerly  of  No.  15, 
Pennsylvania),  Junior  Warden.  This  lodge  was  sub- 
sequently known  as  St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  10,  of 
Delaware,  by  resolution  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Mary- 
land, May  11,  1794,  and  is  the  first  lodge  mentioned 
aa  having  a  distinctive  title.  The  warrant  was  for- 
feited by  non-attendance  upon  the  communications 
of  the  Grand  Lodge,  but  on  June  23, 1800,  a  new  war- 
rant was  granted  to  Jesse  Green,  Master;  Amos  Laws, 
Senior  Warden ;  Marian  Ball,  Junior  Warden  ;  to  be 
known  as  Hope  Lodge,  No.  31,  at  Laurel  Town,  Sus- 
sex County. 

On  June  6, 1806,  nine  brethren,  the  representatives 
of  four  lodges,  a  majority  of  those  working  at  that 
time, — viz. :  No.  14,  Wilmington ;  No.  33,  New  Castle ; 
No.  96,  Newark ;  and  No.  31,  Laurel  Town, — met  in  the 
town  hall,  in  the  borough  of  Wilmington,  and  resolved 
unanimously,  ''That  the  several  lodges  of  Ancient 
Masons  in  the  State  of  Delaware,  there  represented 
by  deputies  properly  authorized,  consider  it  as  a  mat- 
ter of  right,  for  the  general  benefit  of  Masonry,  that 
they  ought  to  form  a  Grand  Lodge  within  the  said 
State,  and  do  now  proceed  to  form  and  organize 
themselves  into  a  Grand  Lodge  accordingly,  to  be 
known  and  distinguished  by  the  name  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Delaware." 


A  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  prepare  a 
constitution  and  by-laws,  and  to  report  at  nine  o'clock 
next  morning,  when  twelve  brethren  were  present, 
representing  a  constituency  of  about  one  hundred 
brethren  in  the  State,  when  grand  officers  pro  tem, 
were  appointed,  and  "  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware 
was  opened  in  due  form  and  solemnity,  according  to 
the  ancient  usages  of  Masonry." 

Warrants  were  directed  to  be  issued  to  No.  14,  as 
Washington  Lodge,  No.  1,  Wilmington ;  No.  33,  as 
St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  2,  New  Castle;  No.  96,  as 
Hiram  Lodge,  No.  3,  Newark;  No.  31,  as  Hope 
Lodge,  No.  4,  Laurel  Town.  Then  the  members  pres- 
ent proceeded  to  vote  for  permanent  officers  with  the 
following  results:  Hon.  Gunning  Bedford,  M.  W. 
Grand  Master ;  General  Jesse  Green,  B.  W.  Deputy 
Grand  Master ;  Joseph  Israel,  B.  W.  Senior  Grapd 
Warden ;  John  Macbeath,  B.  W.  Junior  Grand  War- 
den ;  Edward  Boche,  B.  W.  Grand  Secretary ;  Hon. 
Thomas  Stockton,  B.  W.  Grand  Treasurer. 

Gunning  Bedford,  the  Grand  Master,  and  Edward 
Boche,  the  Grand  Secretary,  had  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  the  Bevolution — Colonel  Bedford  in  the  field 
of  war — and  they  had  felt  the  quickening  impulse 
which  had  so  powerful  an  effect  among  the  American 
soldiers  connected  with  the  Masonic  order.  That  im- 
pulse was  derived  in  the  first  instance  from  Washing- 
ton, who  was,  as  is  well  known,  a  ^*  bright "  Mason, 
and  had  great  faith  in  the  principles  of  the  order. 
The  establishment  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware 
stimulated  the  Masonic  feeling  throughout  the  State, 
and  to  it  may  be  traced  the  subsequent  spread  of  Ma- 
sonry throughout  Delaware.  Colonel  Bedford  served 
as  Grand  Master  for  three  years,  and  the  Grand  Mas- 
ters who  succeeded  him  have  been  the  following : 

1809,  Jesse  Green;  1812,  Edward  Boche;  1814, 
John  Sellers;  1817,  Willard  Hall;  1819,  James 
Bogers;  1821,  James  Derrickson;  1824,  Joshua  G. 
Brinkle;  1825,  Arnold  Naudain ;  1828,  Josiah  F. 
Clement;  1829,  Archibald  Hamilton;  1830,  John 
McClung;  1833,  E.  S.  Bickards,  M.D.;  1834,  Joseph 
G.  Oliver;  1836,  Geo.  W.  Frame;  1838,  Geo.  Frame ; 
1839,  J.  P.  Lofland,  M.D. ;  1842,  E.  S.  Bickards,  M.D. ; 
1845,  Alex,  Porter;  1848,  Bichard  Clement;  1850,  W. 
T.  Bead  ;  1853,  James  Booth ;  1855,  Alfred  P.  Bobin- 
son ;  1858,  John  B.  McFee ;  1860,  Daniel  C.  Godwin ; 
1862,  Allen  V.  Lesley;  1865,  John  A.  Nicholson; 
1866,  Daniel  McCiintock ;  1868,  Edwin  J.  Horner ; 
1870,  Bev.  John  McCabe ;  1873,  John  P.  Allmond ; 
1875,  George  W.  Chaytor;  1876,  Thos.  N.  Williams; 
1878,  John  Taylor;  1880,  Jos.  W.  H.  Watson;  1882, 
John  F.  Saulsbury ;  1884,  Thomas  Davidson ;  1886, 
George  W.  Marshall,  M.  D. 

Mr.  Boche  was  Grand  Secretary  until  1811,  since 
when  his  successors  have  been  in  the  following  order : 

1811,  Evan  Thomas;  1813,  John  Nielson;  1814, 
James  Booth,  Jr.;  1823,  William  T.  Bead;  1828, 
Samuel  Barker;  1831.  Augustus M.  Schee;  1834,  Wil- 
liam Clark;  1837,  John  McClung;  1843,  T.  Booth 
Boberts;  1847,  Wm.  Hemphill  Jones;  1848,  George 


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^20 


HIST0R7  OF  DELAWARE. 


W.  Chaytor;  1854,  Daniel  R.  Wolfe;  1867,  William 
S.  Hayes;  1862,  BeDJamin  N.  Ogle;  1865,  Henry  F. 

Pickels;  1866,  John  P.  Allmond;  1873,  William  S. 
Hayes. 
The  other  officers  have  been, — 

Date  or  Elbctioit.       Deputt  Grand  Hastee.  Senior  Grand  Warden. 

June,  1800 Jeaae  Greon,  Josepk  Uratl, 

*'  1807 Jesse  Green,  Joseph  IsrRel, 

•*  1808 Jesse  Green,  Evan  Thomas, 

'*  1809 James  Bowth,  John  Patterson, 

"  1810 Thomas  Stockton,  Evan  Thomas, 

"  1811 Thomas  Stockton,  Jehn  Sellers, 

**  1812 Thomas  Stockton,  Cfcsar  A.  Rodney, 

'*  1813 George  Reed,  James  Snow, 

"  1814 James  Rogers,  John  Patterson, 

**  1815 James  Rogers,  John  Patterson, 

**  1816 James  Rogers,  John  Patterson, 

"  1817 John  Idoody,  James  Derrickson, 

"  1818 .' James  Derrickson,  James  Millechop, 

"  1819 James  Derrickson,  Archibald  Hamilton, 

"  1820 James  Derrickson,  Archibald  Hamilton, 

^.  1821 Archibald  Hamilton,  Joshna  O.  Brinkle, 

*'  1822.....^ Archibald  Hamilton,  Joshua  G.  Brinkle, 

^*  1823 Archibald  Hamilton,  Jushna  G.  Brinkle, 

**  1824 Arnold  Nandatn.  Kendall  Battson, 

"  1826 Josiah  F.  Clement,  Joseph  G.  Oliver, 

**  1826„ Josiah  P.  Clement,  John  Mcaung, 

•*  1827 .Josiah  F.  Clement,  James  P.  Lofland, 

"  1828 ...John  McClung,  David  R.  Smith, 

^'  1829 Joseph  G.  Oliver,  William  Nicholls, 

"  18 » Joseph  G.  Oliver,  WlUiam  T.  Read, 

"  ISU Joseph  Q.  Oliver,  William  T.  R«Mi, 

*•  1832 Joseph  G.  Oliver,  E.  S.  Rickards,  M.  D., 

'*  1833 .....John  D.  Wood,  George  Frame, 

--  1834 ^ George  Frame,  William  M.  Godwin, 

"  1835 George  Frnme,  William  M.  Godwin, 

"  1X36 John  D.  Weod,  Blisba  Huxley, 

"  1837 Elisha  Huxley,  Jas.  P.  Lofland,  M.D., 

"  1838 Jam«^  P.  Lofland,  Liston  A.  Houston, 

*'  1839 Liston  A.  Houston,  Alexander  Porter, 

**  1840 Liston  A.  Houston,  Alexander  Porter, 

"  1841 Liston  A.  Houston;  Alexander  Porter, 

"  1842 Alexander  Porter,  W.  Hemphill  Jones, 

"  1843 Alexander  Porter,  John  Goelin, 

"*'  1844 Alexander  Porter,  John  McClung, 

**  1846 Wm.  Burton,  M.D.,  G.  W.  Chaytor,  M.D., 

"  1846 Wm.  Burton,  M.D..  G.  W.  Chaytor,  M.D., 

"  1847 Wm.  Burton,  M.D.,  John  McClung, 

"  1848 E.  S.  Rickards.  M.D.,  Alfred  P.  Robinson. 

**  1849 E.  8.  Rickards,  M  D.,  Alfred  P.  Robinson, 

"  1850 Alfred  P.  Robinson,  Abraham  Boys, 

•*  1861 John  R.  McFee,  Get»rge  Kates, 

**  1862 John  R,  McPee,  William  H.  Jones, 

••  1853 John  R.  McFee,  Edward  D.  West, 

"  1854 John  R,  McFee,  Thomas  J.  Philips, 

"  1855 William  Graves,  Chas.  C.  Stockley,i 

**  1856 William  Graves,  Ellhu  J.  Morris, 

^*  1857 Edwin  J.  Homer,  Daniel  C.  Godwin, 

"  1858 Geo.  W.  Chaytor,  James  P.  Wild, 

"  1869 Geo.  W.  Chaytw,  Jacob  Moore. 

**  1860 Allen  V.  Lesley,  William  Marshall, 

*'  1861 James  Ponder,  Daniel  Mcaintock, 

"  1862 James  Ponder,  Paynter  Frame, 

"  186;J Wm.  N.  W.  Doreey,  Pay  nter  Frame, 

"  1864 Wm.  N.  W.  DorBey,  John  A.  Nicholson, 

**  1865 Daniel  McCllntock,  Willis  Holden, 

••  1866 Paynter  Frame,  J.L.Evans, 

"  1867 Jacob  Moore,  Rev.  H.  C.  Fries,* 

"  1868 J.  P.  H.  Shipley,  Petor  8.  Cooper, 

*•  1869 Hiram  T.  Downing,  John  W.  Causey, 

"  IWO „ Wm.  F.  Godwin,  J.  W.  Philips, 

"  1871 Wm.  F.  Godwin,  Isaac  C.  Pyle, 

"  1872 Cornelius  J.  Hall,  John  T.  Dent, 

Oct»  1873 Thos,  N.  Williams,  Charles  C.  King, 

"  1874 Joseph  E.  Lank,  John  B.  Roberts, 

*•  1875 G.  Troup  Maxwell,  B.  F.  Shakespeare, 

"  1876 Wm.  W.  Lobdell,  Charles  Jones, 

"  1877 Swithin  Chandler,  Wm.  J.  Stewart, 

"  1878 Robert  T.  Watson,  Charles  C.  Helsler, 

"  1879 W.  L.  G.  T'lll,  John  A .  Cranston, 

"  IS-W Geo.  W.  Blarshall,  Andrew  L.  Johnson, 

"  1881 Jehn  F.  Saulsbury,  Alfred  G.  Cox, 

1  Not  Installed.  <  Expelled. 

•  Time  of  meeting  of  the  Grand  Lodge  changed  from  June  to  October, 
«ld  offlcers  holding  over  fh)m  June  to  October. 


Oct  1882 WInfleld  8.  Qnlgley,  Ronton  V.  Weldon, 

**     1883 Geo.  A.  Maxwell,  WilUam  C.  Baggerly, 

••     1884 H.  F.  Porter,  EUas  H.  Johnson, 

'*     1886 Lewis  H.  Jackson,  Thoa.  H.  Melvin, 

*'     1886 F.  0.  Bibeivtein,  Geo.  L.  Stradley,  Jr., 

"     1887 F.  Bellvllle,  M.D.,  E.  Clark. 

The  Grand  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons  was  in- 
stituted in  1818,  but  having  suspended  labor  for 
many  years,  a  new  organization  was  established  by 
the  General  Grand  High  Priest  of  the  United  States 
in  1869. 

Boyal  Arch  Masom. — A  convention  of  Royal  Arch 
Masons  met  at  Dover  January  20,  1869,  when  the 
Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Delaware  was  consti- 
tuted, and  the  following  officers  were  elected : 

Daniel  C.  Godwin,  Grand  High  Priest;  Willis 
Holden,  Deputy  Grand  High  Priest ;  Geo.  W.  Stone, 
Grand  King;  Jacob  Moore,  Grand  Scribe;  S.  A. 
Hodgman,  Grand  Treasurer;  A.  T.  A.  Torbert, 
Grand  Secretary. 

The  officers  for  the  year  1887  were  Wm.  C.  Bag- 
gerly, Grand  High  Priest;  Wm.  H.  Cook,  Deputy 
Grand  High  Priest;  Frank  Hoopes,  Grand  King; 
J.  E.  Palmatory,  Grand  Scribe;  F.  W.  Carswell, 
Grand  Treasurer ;  James  H.  Price,  Grand  Secretary. 

Long  previous  to  the  in»titution  of  the  Grand 
Chapter,  however,  the  Royal  Arch  Masons  had  an 
existence  in  Delaware.  Washington  Chapter,  No.  1, 
of  Wilmington,  was  constituted  on  January  24, 1809, 
with  these  companions, — Charles  Marieguty,  John 
Sellars,  Dr.  George  Monro,  Evan  Thomas,  Dr.  James 
Jefferis  and  Edward  Roche.  David  Robinson  was 
then  admitted  as  a  companion,  and  John  Sellars  was 
chosen  High  Priest;  Evan  Thomas,  Grand  Com- 
mander ;  Dr.  George  Monro,  Scribe. 

Lafayette  Chapter,  No.  6,  was  instituted  August 
81,  1826,  with  Willard  Hall  as  High  Priest;  R. 
Clement,  Grand  King;  M.  G.  Williamson,  Grand 
Scribe.  This  chapter,  on  February  6,  1832,  united 
with  Washington  Chapter,  and  the  combination  was 
christened  the  Washington  and  Lafayette  Chapter. 
At  the  first  election  of  the  new  chapter  Richard 
Clement  was  chosen  High  Priest;  William  Reeves, 
King;  and  Wm.  S.  Boulden,  Scribe.  The  chapter 
had  in  1887  fifky-five  members,  and  its  officers  were 
Wm.  H.  Cook,  High  Priest;  Geo.  T.  Aulfrey,  King; 
F.  W.  Carswell,  Scribe ;  Hugh  Johnston,  Captain  of 
the  Host;  David  R.  Hayes,  Principal  Sojourner; 
John  B.  Fisher,  Royal  Arch  Captain ;  R.  B.  Birnie, 
Master  8d  Vail;  S.  W.  Cloud,  Master  2d  Vail; 
Alphonso  Barton,  Master  1st  Vail ;  John  Taylor, 
Treasurer;  T.  J.  Lawson,  Secretary  ;  Geo.  K.  Yates, 
Sentinel. 

St.  John's  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  14,  obtained 
its  charter  January  20,  1869.  The  first  officers  were 
George  W.  Stone,  High  Priest;  Wm.  H.  Lee,  King; 
Alfred  Gawthrop,  Scribe ;  Isaac  C.  Pyle,  Treasurer ; 
George  W.  Moore,  Secretary ;  and  George  K.  Yates, 
Sentinel.  The  charter  members  were  Geo.  W.  Stone, 
Wm.  H.  Lee,  Alfred  Gawthrop,  Arthur  McCleary, 
Jacob  F.  Mynich,  Wm.  Q.  Moore,  Samuel  Barkley, 
T.  Benton  Craig,  Charles  C.  Hagner,  Geo.  W.  Moore, 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


821 


James  M.  Jonee,  W.  H.  Todd,  Abe  Kennan,  Wm. 
Miller,  Isaac  C.  Pyle,  Wm.  H.  Thompson,  Wm.  T. 
Springer,  Geo.  C.  Justison,  I.  B.  Porter,  Jr. 

The  officers  for  1887  were  Dr.  H.  H.  Herbst,  High 
Priest ;  Jesse  K.  Hanby,  King ;  Enoch  Moore,Scribe ; 
Isaac  C.  Pyle,Treasurer ;  William  Mar8hall,Secretary ; 
Charles  G.  Grant,  C.  of  H. ;  Thomas  Davidson,  Pr. 
Soj. ;  Allan  W.  Harting,  R.  A.  C. ;  Samuel  H.  Carter, 
M.  8d  V. ;  James  H.  Yates,  M.  2d  V. ;  Jacob  A. 
MeWlo,  M.  1st  V.  The  total  membership  is  one 
hundred  and  seventy. 

Delta  Royal  Arch  Chapter  obtained  on  January  17, 
1873,  a  dispensation  for  its  organization.  The  dis- 
pensation named  James  H.  Cameron,  High  Priest ; 
William  T.  Springer,  King ;  and  Colin  M.  Home, 
Scribe.  The  chapter  was  orgauized  January  22, 1873, 
with  forty-five  members.  John  W.  Lawson  was 
chosen  secretary  and  S.  A.  Hodgman  treasurer.  The 
other  officers  were  W.  H.  Jamar,  C.  of  H. ;  Alfred 
D.  Warner,  P.  S. ;  G.  A.  Le  Maistre,  R.  A.  C. ;  S.  H. 
Kemp,  M.  3d  Vail;  L.  T.  Windle,  M.  2d  Vail; 
Frank  T.  Webb,  M.  Ist  Vail ;  Rev.  Fielder  Israel, 
Chaplain ;  G^rge  K.  Yates,  Sentinel. 

The  membership  for  the  year  1887  was  eighty. 
The  officers  then  were  James  H.  Price,  High  Priest ; 
James  S.  Dobb,  King ;  J.  Edward  Palmatory,  Scribe ; 
Winfield  S.  Quigley,  Captain  of  the  Host ;  J.  Paul 
Lakens,  M.  D.,  Principal  Sojourner :  J.  Parke  Pottles, 
Royal  Arch  Captain ;  R.  Harry  Young,  Grand  Master 
8d  Vail ;  Isaac  S.  Bullock,  Grand  Master  2d  Vail ; 
Mark  L.  Garrett,  Grand  Master  1st  Vail ;  A.  Gilbert 
Robinson,  Treasurer;  Wilmer  Palmer,  Secretary; 
George  K.  Yates,  Sentinel. 

The  Past  High  Priests  of  this  chapter  since  its 
organization  have  been  James  H.  Cameron,  William 
T.  Springer,  George  W.  Stone,  E.  Arthur  Nield, 
John  W.  Lawson,  Winfield  S.  Quigley,  Joseph  A. 
Bond,  Henry  Van  Gasken,  James  H.  Price. 

The  Secretaries  have  been  John  W.  Lawson  and 
Wilmer  Palmer. 

Knights  Templar, — St.  John's  Commandery,  No.  1, 
Knights  Templar,  was  instituted  in  1868,  with  S.  A. 
Hodgman  as  Eminent  Commander,  and  George  W. 
Moore  as  Recorder.  In  1871,  Mr.  Moore  was  suc- 
ceeded by  J.  K.  Bay  lis,  who  served  until  1887,  and 
was  then  followed  by  James  H.  Price.  The  officers  in 
that  year  were :  Eminent  Commander,  W.  S.  Quigley ; 
General,  James  S.  Dobbs ;  Captain-General,  Samuel 
M.  Knox ;  Treasurer,  A.  Gilbert  Robinson ;  Recorder, 
James  H.  Price.  There  are  one  hundred  and  eighty 
members  of  the  Commandery. 

Temple  Lodge,  No.  11,  was  organized  on  the 
12th  of  September,  1816,  with  Archibald  Hamil- 
ton, W.  M. ;  John  Springer,  S.  W. ;  Benjamin  H. 
Springer,  J.  W. ;  Thomas  A.  Sterrett,  S.  D. ;  William 
Clarke,  J.  D. ;  Joseph  Day,  Tyler ;  Samuel  Harker, 
Secretary;  John  Mountain,  Treasurer;  and  held 
meetings  uuder  a  dispensation  from  the  Grand  Lodge 
until  February  22, 1817,  when  it  was  duly  constituted 
by  John  Sellars,  Grand  Master,  under  a  charter  dated 


January  20,  1817.  It  has  now  one  hundred  and  four 
members,  and  its  present  officers  are  George  A. 
Hoopes,  W.  M. ;  Lewis  B.  Morrow,  S.  W. ;  Samuel 
M.  Knox,  J.  W. ;  W.  Stewart  Almond,  S.  D. ;  Garrett 
J.  Hart,  J.  D. ;  James  McComb,  S.  S. ;  Grant  S.  Rupp, 
J.  S. ;  Owen  W.  Errett,  Secretary ;  Isaac  C.  Pyle, 
Treasurer. 

Washington  Lodge,  No.  1,  A.  F.  A.  Af.,  at  Wilming- 
ton, was  established  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1789  as  Lodge  No.  14,  and  was  re-chartered 
by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware,  as  Washington 
Lodge,  No.  1.    Among  its  earliest  members  were, — 

John  Sellars,  John  Patterson,  James  Tilton,  Wm. 
W.  Clark,  Abiah  Sharpe,  Frederick  Leonard,  Archi- 
bald Hamilton,  Thomas  Stockton,  Jared  Chesnut, 
Wm.  Piuright,  Wm.  McClarey,  Christopher  T.  Ben- 
nett, John  Hedrick,  Wm.  Clark,  Edward  Roche, 
Joseph  Dutton,  J.  W.  Ball,  David  Bush,  Jacob  Der- 
rickson,  D.  Walker,  David  Roe,  E.  H.  Till,  John 
Elliott,  C.  A.  Rodney,  Peter  Jaquett,  Isaac  Stephen- 
son. A.  Moris,  John  Willy,  Robert  Tarleton,  Wm.  W. 
Harvey,  Wm.  Milner. 

The  first  officers  under  the  charter  obtained  in 
1806,  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware,  were  : 
Thomas  Stockton,  Worthy  Master ;  John  Hedrick, 
Senior  Warden  ;  Archibald  Hamilton,  Junior  War- 
den ;  William  Clark,  Senior  Deacon ;  Jared  Chesnut, 
Junior  Deacon  ;  William  Piuright,  Secretary  ;  David 
Robinett,  Tyler. 

The  officers  for  1888  are :  John  P.  Edwards,  Jr., 
Worthy  Master  ;  Wm.  C.  Walters,  Senior  Warden  ; 
Wm.  J.  Quigley,  Junior  Warden  ;  Benjamin  F.  Tay- 
lor, Senior  Deacon  ;  Charles  F.  Morford,  Junior 
Deacon  ;  John  Otto,  Jr.,  Treasurer  ;  Henry  McNeal, 
Secretary ;  George  K.  Yates,  Tyler.  Jesse  K.  Baylis 
was  secretary  of  this  lodge  from  1866  to  1886.  The 
present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  fifteen. 

Lc^ayeite  Lodge,  No.  14,  was  constituted  January  17, 
1825,  and  was  named  in  honor  of  the  eminent  French- 
man, who,  on  his  second  visit  to  America,  spent  a  few 
days  in  Wilmington  and  affixed  his  signature  to  the 
lodge  charter.  Some  of  the  early  members  were 
Victor  du  Pont,  Willard  Hall,  John  Gordon,  Nicholas 
G.  Williamson,  James  Tilton,  William  Huffington, 
Gideon  Jaques,  Allen  McLane,  Irvin  Shubrick, 
James  Wolf,  James  Latimer,  Thomas  M.  Rod- 
ney and  Louis  McLane.  The  officers  for  1887  were 
Jesse  K.  Hanby,  Master ;  Benjamin  F.  Bartram,  S. 
W.;  J.  H.  Yates,  J.  W.;  Thomas  Davidson,  Treas- 
urer; W.  A.  Reynolds,  Secretary;  Enoch  Moore, 
S.  D.;  M.  Taylor,  J.  D.;  George  W.  King,  S.  S. ; 
Elmer  F.  Green,  J.  S.  The  membership  of  the  lodge 
amounts  to  two  hundred  and  ninety. 

Corinthian  Lodge,  No.  20,  was  organized  June  27, 
1861,  with  the  following  charter  members :  Joseph 
Teas,  Martin  Johnston,  Josiah  Sibley,  David  Wool- 
man,  George  Stearns,  William  Stearns,  A.  J.  Barrett, 
Frederick  Bowker,  G^rge  W.  Houseman,  Joseph 
Hyde,  Alexander  Kelley  and  N.  R.  Benson.  It  has 
now  one  hundred  and  ten  members  and  its  officers 


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822 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


elected  in  1887  were  Jno.  B.  Book,  W.  M.;  F.  W. 
Fahlgren,  S.  W.;  George  W.  Beatty,  J.  W.;  William 
L.Cro88an,  Treasurer ;  and  William  Marshall  Secretary. 

Oriental  Lodge  was  instituted  in  1871  with  H.  B. 
Mclntyre  as  Worshipful  Master;  Senior  Warden, 
William  Miller;  Junior  Warden,  Jacob  F.  Meyers. 
The  officers  in  1887  were  :  W.  M.,  William  K.  John- 
eon  ;  S.  W.,  George  F.  Gill ;  J.  W.,  Francis  L.  Car- 
penter; Treasurer,  D.  P.  Curlett;  Secretary,  James 
H.  Price.  The  membership  was  one  hundred  and 
fifteen. 

Eureka  Lodge^  No,  23,  was  chartered  June  27, 1867. 
The  charter  members  were  William  S.  Hayes,  George 
H.  Walter,  William  H.  Thompson,  Joshua  Maris,  J. 
B.  Porter,  Jr.,  Solomon  Townsend,  J.  R.  Tantum,  L. 
Kittinger,  William  D.  Pickels,  Alfred  Gawthrop 
and  William  Q.  Moore.  The  first  officers  were  Wil- 
liam S.  Hayes,  W.  M.;  George  H.  Walter,  S.  W.; 
William  H.  Thompson,  J.  W.;  Alfred  Gawthrop, 
Treasurer ;  J.  B.  Porter,  Jr.,  Secretary.  Officers  for 
1888  are  Robert  A.  Justice,  W.  M.;  J.  Paul  Lukens, 
S.  W.;  J.  Edwin  Palmatary,  J.  W.;  Mark  L.  Garrett, 
Treasurer;  R.  Henry  Young,  Secretary.  Present 
membership,  one  hundred  and  forty-eight. 

The  Odd  Fellows.— The  Grand  Lodge  of  Dela- 
ware of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  was 
instituted  June  27,  1831,  P.  G.  Johu  Scott  being 
elected  Grand  Master.  In  less  than  three  months 
the  charter  was  forfeited  by  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  the  United  States  because  the  memberdhip  had 
been  reduced  below  a  quorum,  but  on  March  4,  1833, 
the  latter  body  was  petitioned  for  a  restoration  of  the 
charter.  On  June  6th,  in  the  building  at  309  Mar- 
ket Street,  Grand  Sire  Wildey  reinstitnied  the  Grand 
L<»dge  of  Delaware  with  these  officers :  James  S. 
White,  Grand  Master ;  Joseph  S.  Hedges,  Deputy 
Grand  Master  ;  Jacob  K.  Higgins,  Grand  Secretary ; 
Thomas  Hill,  Grand  Treasurer ;  Jacob  M.  Garretson, 
Grand  Warden  ;  and  Simon  Robinson,  Grand  Repre- 
sentative. In  1843  the  Grand  Lodge  moved  to  Tem- 
perance Hall,  Fourth  Street,  between  Market  and 
King  Streets,  and,  in  1849,  to  Odd  Fellows'  Hall. 
During  the  first  year  of  its  existence  charters  were 
granted  for  three  new  lodges,  making  five  in  all,  but, 
at  the  end  of  ten  years,  the  five  lodges  then  existing 
had  but  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  members,  and 
an  annual  income  of  nine  hundred  dollars.  The 
second  decade  is  marked  as  the  mo^t  prosperous  that 
the  Grand  Lodge  ever  experienced.  The  report  for 
the  year  ending  1853  gave  twenty-three  lodges, 
nineteen  hundred  and  seventy-five  members,  with  an 
annual  income  of  seven  thousand  one  hundred  and 
ninety-five  dollars.  At  the  end  of  the  third  decade 
four  lodges  had  been  added  to  the  roil,  with  a 
membership  of  sixteen  hundred  and  eighty-two. 
The  fourth  decade  witnessed  another  increase,  the 
lodges  numbering  thirty-two,  and  the  membership, 
twenty -six  hundred  and  seventy-six.  This  seems  to 
have  been  the  zenith  of  prosperity.  The  fifth  decade, 
ending  in  1888,  showed  a  slight  decrease  in  member- 


ship, the  number  of  lodges  being  the  same,  with  a 
membership  of  twenty-five  hundred  and  forty-eight, 
There  is  scarcely  a  village  or  hamlet  in  this  jurisdic- 
tion without  an  Odd  Fellows'  lodge. 

During  the  fifty  odd  years  embraced  in  the 
existence  of  Odd  Fellow:»hip  in  Delaware,  ten 
thousand  persons  have  been  made  acquainted  with 
the  mysteries  of  the  initiatory  degree,  and  there  has 
been  expended  for  sick  benefits  and  donations  the 
sum  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
In  the  ten  years  ending  with  1883  the  relief 
committees  of  the  jurisdiction  bad  charge  of  3100 
bick  brothers  and  475  widowed  families  received 
pecuniary  relief;  $87,220  were  paid  for  sick  benefits, 
$31,293  for  funerals,  $5042  for  relief  of  widowed 
families,  and  $2000  for  other  purposes,  the  total  out- 
lay being  $125,555.  Nearly  every  lodge  in  the 
jurisdiction  owns  the  building  in  which  it  meets,  and 
the  invested  capital  of  all  the  lodges  is  estimated  at 
$126,000.  The  semi-centennial  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
was  celebrated  in  1884,  when  Isaac  W.  Hallam 
prepared  and  read  a  history  of  the  order,  from  which 
the  information  given  is  obtained.  The  officers  in 
1887  were :  G.  M.,  Samuel  T.  Smith  ;  D.  G.  M.,  John 
M.  Whitford ;  G.  W.,  George  W.  Hughes ;  G.  S., 
Isaac  W.  Hallam;  G.  T.,  A.  G.  Robinson;  G.  R.,  G. 
L.  Alexander. 

The  Right  Worthy  Grand  Encampment  was  insti- 
tuted August  12,  1848.  Most  Worthy  Grand  Sire 
Home  B.  Kneass  presided  on  that  occasion,  when  the 
following  officers  of  the  Grand  Encampment  were 
elected  and  installed :  M.  W.  G.  P.,  Henry  F.  Askew ; 
M.  E.  G.  H.  P.,  Robert  B.  McDonnell ;  R.  W.  G.  S. 
W.,  F.  H.  Reynolds ;  R.  W.  G.  J.  W.,  William  M. 
Sink  ;  R.  W.  G.  S.,  John  A.  Wijlard ;  R.  W.  G.  T., 
Joseph  String;  W.  G.  I.  S..  Edward  Mclntire ;  W. 
G.  O.  S.,  George  Gill. 

On  August  12,  1858,  the  tenth  anniversary  of  the 
institution  of  the  Grand  Encampment,  it  had  so  far 
failed  to  support  it  that  it  appealed  to  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  United  States  for  financial  assistance. 
At  ihat  time  measures  were  pending  in  the  latter 
body  for  the  merging  of  the  Patriarchal  with  the 
other  branch  of  the  order,  and  upon  the  defeat  of 
these  measures  the  Delaware  Grand  Encampment 
surrendered  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States 
its  charter  and  properties.  The  charter  was  restored 
on  March  22,  18C5,  in  consequence  of  the  petition  of 
several  of  the  subordinate  encampments  of  Delaware. 
Under  this  reorganization  J.  J.  Foulk  was  elected 
Most  Worthy  Grand  Patriarch  of  the  Revived  Grand 
Encampment  of  Delaware,  the  officers  of  which,  in 
1887,  were;  M.  W.  G.  P.,  Isaac  J.  Wootten ;  M.  E.  G. 
H.  P.,  Wm,  Quigley ;  R.  G.  S.  W.,  R.  E.  Lyons;  R. 
W.  G.  S.  W.,  Edgar  C.  Pierce;  R.  W.  G.  S.,  Edwin 
Hirst;  R.  W.  G.  T.,  E.  H.  Spencer;  R.  W.  G.  R., 
Edwin  Hirst. 

Delaware  Encampmenty  No.  1,  was  instituted  June 
20,  1831,  with  Johu  Scott,  C.  P.;  James S.  White,  H. 
P. ;    Simon  Robinson,  S.  W. ;  and  Jamee  McNeal, 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


823 


Scribe.  The  other  early  members  were  Joseph  H. 
Hedges,  William  Ford,  Zen  as  B.  Glazier,  Dr.  Henry 
F.  Askew,  Bryan  Blest,  Jacob  M.  Oarretson,  Robert 
McOonnell,  Frederick  M.  Rice  and  Gideon  Tindall. 
The  original  meeting-place  was  in  the  old  academy 
on  Market  Street.  This  encampment  was  reorganized 
November  1, 1843.  It  celebrated  its  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary in  June,  1881,  with  interesting  exercises. 

Reynolds  Encampment^  No.  3,  was  instituted  June 
26,  1847.  On  June  8th  of  the  same  year,  cards  of 
withdrawal  had  been  granted  by  Delaware  Encamp- 
ment, No.  1,  to  William  M.  Sink,  Levi  H.  Springer, 
Curtis  Roberts.  Charles  F.  Grant,  William  H.  Lear, 
Oliver  S.  Williams,  Enos  H.  Jefferson,  Lewis  Mason, 
Jacob  Hopple  and  William  Stamm,  who  became  the 
former  encampment's  charter-members.  The  officers 
in  1887  were,— C.  P.,  T.  J.  Jones;  S.  W.,  George  C. 
Guthrie;  H.  P.,  J.  M.  Collins;  J.  W.,  William  G.  H. 
Scott ;  S.  W.,  H.  Foulk ;  Treas.,  Edward  H.  Spencer. 

Canton  Delaware,  No.  1  (Patriarchs  Militant),  was 
instituted  February  15, 1886,  under  a  warrant  granted 
by  John  C.  Underwood,  and  was  mustered  into  ser- 
vice by  Lieutenant  John  J.  Gallagher,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter-members :  C,  B.  F.  Shakespeare ;  L., 
J.  M.  Whitford;  E.,  A.  R.  Fell;  C,  Alexauder 
Guthrie;  A.,  Edwin  Morrow,  David  Downs,  J.  A. 
Cloud,  J.  C.  Mastey,  L.  W.  Palmer,  W.  B.  Cole,  H. 
A.  Roop,  E.  C.  Moore,  George  Turner,  R.  Burton,  Jr., 
O.  C.  Nailor,  J.  P.  Wiley,  J.  H.  Seal,  Thomas  Mit- 
chell, D.  S.  Truitt,  J.  C.  Brisin,  William  Murphy, 
J.  M.  Collins,  H.  G.  Robinson,  W.  D.  Taylor,  H.  S. 
Christy,  J.  B.  Sanguay,  P.  J.  Isaac,  G.  C.  Morton. 
The  officers  in  1887  were,— Captain,  Benjamin  F. 
Shakespeare;  Lieutenant,  John  M.  Whitford;  En- 
aign,  Alonzo  R.  Fell. 

Delaware  Lodge,  No.  1,  is  the  oldest  in  the  State, 
having  been  instituted  May  27,  1830.  The  charter 
members  were  George  McFarlan,  James  McNeale, 
Thomas  Hill,  Simon  Robinson,  John  Scott,  Joseph 
Smith,  James  Piatt,  Nelson  Ball,  I.  Manchester. 
John  Scott  is  Past  Grand  Master  of  Grand  Lodge 
of  Delaware.  The  officers  in  1887  were,— N.  G.,  W. 
G.  Winner;  V.  G.,  Lewis  W.  Lenderman;  R.  S., 
John  B.  Ritchie;  P.  S.,  G.  W.  Duffield;  Treas., 
Pejrton  G.  West.  One  hundred  and  fifty-six  mem- 
bers are  enrolled. 

Jefferson  Lodge,  No.  2,  received  its  charter  from  the 
Bight  Worthy  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States, 
September  6,  1831,  the  members  being  John  W.  Pat- 
terson, J.  S.  Hedges,  Zenas  B.  Glazier,  James  S. 
White,  Jacob  M.  Garretson,  William  Ford,  Jesse 
Sharp.  The  officers  in  1887  were,— N.  G.,  G.  K. 
Greenwood;  V.  G.,  George  Gilling;  R.  S.,  Daniel  R. 
Dallas;  P.  S.,  James  F.  Price;  Treas.,  John  G.  Yates. 
David  Downs,  of  this  lodge,  is  P.  G.  P.  of  the 
State  of  Delaware,  and  P.  G.  R.  of  the  Sovereign 
Lodge.    The  Jefferson  has  ninety-eight  members. 

Mechanics'  Lodge,  No.  4,  was  instituted  July  31, 
1833,  by  charter  members, — ^Thomas  Hill,  John  Scott, 
James  Piatt,  John  B.  Monckton,  William  Wilson. 


Officers  for  1887 :  N.  G.,  Duffiis  Wright ;  V.  G.,  Wil- 
liam D.  Barnett;  R.  S.,  A.  D.  Pyle;  P.  S.,  Edward 
Mclntire ;  Treas.,  David  Ireland.  Edward  Mclntire 
is  now  the  oldest  living  Past  Grand  Master  in  the 
State.  Ninety-four  members  are  enrolled.  James 
Wilkins,  the  oldest  living  Odd-Fellow  in  Delaware, 
was  initiated  into  this  lodge  January  3, 1835. 

Fairfax  Lodge,  No.  8,  was  instituted  January  8, 1846, 
with  the  following  charter  members :  Jacob  Barr, 
Charles  McCall,  Charles  Devon,  John  Simms,  Abra- 
ham Boys,  Simon  Devon,  John  Stidham.  These  are 
the  officers  for  1887  :  N,  G.,  John  C.  Whitehouse;  V. 
G.,  Winter  D.  Taylor;  R.  S.,  G.  C.  Guthrie ;  P.  S.,  A. 
R.  Lewis ;  Treas.,  E.  C.  Pierre.  Membership,  one 
hundred  and  thirty-nine. 

Hope  Lodge,  No.  21,  instituted  May  14,  1849,  has  a 
membership  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-five.  The 
charter  members  were  Joseph  Richardson,  Jr.,  Wm. 
J.  Gallagher,  Jacob  Richardson,  Talbot  Turner,  Fred. 
Watson,  John  P.  Springer,  James  Scott,  John  Tag- 
gart,  Samuel  Murphy,  Robert  McFarlin,  James  Stroud, 
Peter  Turner,  James  McGill,  Milton  Lackey.  Officers 
for  1887  :  N.  G.,  Wm.  H.  Gorman  ;  V.  G.,  W.  S.  H. 
Scott ;  R.  S.,  F.  R.  Lear ;  P.  S.,  Hubert  A.  Roop ; 
Treas.,  J.  D.  Patton. 

Asylum  Lodge,  No.  23,  was  instituted  March  12, 
1850,  by  M.  W.  Grand  Master  Dr.  Henry  Ford  Askew, 
assisted  by  the  grand  officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Delaware.  The  following  were  the  first  officers  : 
John  McCluDg,  N.  G. ;  Joshua  S.  Valentine,  V.  G.; 
George  Kates,  R.,  S. ;  Elbridge  Sibley,  P.  S. ;  James  P. 
Hayes,  Treas.  John  Appleby,  P.  G.,  aged  seventy-six 
years  was  initiated  into  this  lodge  April  ^,  1850.  He  was 
elected  permanent  secretary  December  26,  1854  and 
continued  in  that  office  until  December  26, 1871,  since 
which  time  James  H.  Appleby  has  held  the  office. 
Officers  for  1887 :  John  Palfrey,  N.  G. ;  Harry  E. 
Williams,  V.  G. ;  Alexander  Hudson,  R.  S. ;  James 
H.  Appleby,  P.  S. ;  Charles  P.  Marony,  Treas. 

Columbia  Lodge,  No.  26,  was  instituted  January 
18,  1856,  the  charter  mnmbers  being  Henry  Eckel, 
William  B.  Wiggins,  John  H.  Britton,  Samuel  W. 
Hollings worth,  William  Hare.  In  1887  the  officers 
were :  N.  G.,  M.  E.  Jester ;  V.  G.,  John  Higgins ; 
R.  S.,  W.  D.  Sedgwick;  P.  S.,  William  K.  Johnson; 
treasurer,  John  M.  Clarnan.  Membership,  forty- 
four. 

Herrmann  Lodge,  No.  29  (German),  was  instituted 
June  6,  1859,  the  charter  members  being  John 
Greiner,  William  Gatta,  Jacob  Keinley,  Charles 
Somers,  Christian  Krouch,  Andrew  Dettling,  Gotlieb 
Rehfuss  and  Henry  Pretzschner.  Officers,  1887  :  N. 
G.,  Charles  Shuster;  V.  G.,  Charles  Ihchan;  R.  S., 
Henry  Roesch;  P.  S.,  Christian  Spoerl;  treasurer, 
Martin  Schneider.    Membership,  112. 

Eden  Lodge,  No.  34,  was  instituted  in  1867.  The 
first  officers  were:  N.  G.,  Richard  H.  Ewbanks;  V. 
G.,  William  H.  Cloward ;  R.  S.,  A.  B.  Gillespie;  P. 
S.,  William  H.  Cornbrooks ;  treasurer,  A.  G.  Robin- 
son.   The  officers  in  1887  were :  N.  G.,  Edward  W. 


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824 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Pyle;  V.  G.,  Dr.  J.  Paul  Lukens;  R.  S.,  William  G. 
Hagee;  P.  S.,  John  M.  Whitford ;  treasurer,  A.  Gil- 
bert Robinson. 

Naomi  Lodge^  No.  3,  Daughters  of  Rebekah,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  was  instituted  in  Wilmington*  December  9, 
1884,  by  Grand  Master  Joseph  H.  Seal,  accompanied 
by  the  Grand  Officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Dela- 
ware. There  were  twenty-five  charter  members, 
fifteen  of  whom  were  females  and  ten  males.  The 
first  officers  were:  N.  G.,  L  P.  Naylor ;  V.  G.,  Sarah 
J.  Bennett ;  R.  S.,  Rosanna  M.  Burton ;  F.  S.,  Ara- 
bella M.Wright;  treasurer,  Tamer  E.  Allott.  Offi- 
cers for  1887  were  :  N.  G,,  Georgiana  Worth ;  V.  G., 
Mary  E.  Hofiecker;  R.  S.,  Rosanna  M.  Burton;  F. 
S.,  Arabella  M.  Wright ;  treasurer,  Mary  A.  Pierce. 
Sisters  Sarah  J.  Bennett  and  Georgiana  Worth  are 
the  first  and  only  female  Past  Noble  Grands  of  the 
Degree  of  Rebekah  in  the  State. 

The  Improved  Obder  of  Red  Men. — The  Oreat 
Council  of  the  United  States, — Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men,  was  founded  in  Baltimore,  in  March,  1847,  and 
the  first  report  of  Grand  Chief  of  Records  submitted 
April,  1848.  The  order  was  introduced  into  Delaware 
at  Wilmington,  December  81,  1847,  by  the  institution 
of  Delaware  Tribe,  No.  1,  with  the  following  chiefs : 
Sachem,  Edward  Mclntire ;  Senior  Sagamore,  William 
H.  G^ear;  Junior  Sagamore,  Curiis  Roberts;  Chief 
of  Records,  Henry  Mitchell;  Keeper  of  Wampum, 
Joshua  Chandler.  The  other  charter  members  were 
Wm.  M.  Sink,  James  G.  File,  Jacob  Karsch,  Jacob 
Hippie,  Jr.,  John  A.  Willard,  William  D.  Chestnut, 
Oliver  S.  Williams,  James  Elliott,  Robert  S.  Harris 
and  Lewis  Mason.  The  chiefs  in  1887  were :  P.,  Ber- 
nard Rau ;  S.,  Hermann  Fredrich ;  S.  S.,  Andrew  Wil- 
helm ;  J.  S.,  Frederick  Bryner ;  C.  of  R.,  Christian 
Spoerl ;  K.  of  W.,  Andrew  Dettling. 

Keokuk  IHbe,  No.  8,  was  instituted  November  15, 
1853,  by  Past  Sachem  W.  H.  Gear,  and  Incorporated 
January  26, 1875.  The  charter  members  were  Jos. 
W.  Pyle,  S.  S.  Hazel,  Aaron  S.  Hntton,  Samuel  L. 
Rodgers,Wm.  McGlaughlin,  Geo.  Wright,  Wm.  W. 
Wallace,  Richard  Bicking  (who  died  in  Andersonville 
prison  during  the  late  war),  Chas.  Evans,  Samuel 
Barkley,  Isaac  Stephens.  Among  the  present  mem- 
bers are  P.  G.  Incohenee  Joseph  Pyle,  P.  G.  Sachems 
Sylvester  Rianhard,  Edwin  Hirst  and  Geo.  K.  Yates. 

The  chiefe  for  1887  were :  P.,  S.  N.  Smeltz ;  Sachem, 
a  A.  Zebley ;  S.  S.,  Andrew  Dixon ;  Jr.  S.,  John  T. 
Young;  C.  of  R.,  Edwin  Hirst ;  K.  of  W.,  Robert  H. 
Hanna.  In  1863  the  erder  in  Delaware  had  decreased 
to  five  active  members,  all  of  whom  belonged  to  this 
tribe,  and  four  of  them  favored  the  surrender  of 
the  charter.  Edwin  Hirst,  the  fifth  man,  persistently 
refused  to  acquiesce,  and  a  revival  soon  took  place 
and  the  membership  rapidly  increased.  Stephen 
Burgess,  the  oldest  living  Red  Man  in  the  United 
States,  is  under  the  care  of  this  tribe,  having  been  in- 
itiated as  a  member  of  Logan  Tribe,  of  Baltimore. 

Cherokee  Tribe,  No,  4,  was  instituted  November  15, 
1855,  the  charter  officers  being :  W.  S.,  W.  L.  Coun- 


tiss ;  S.  S.,  Israel  Tomlinson ;  J.  S.,  John  B.  John- 
son ;  C.  of  R.,  Chas.  T.  Moore ;  K.  of  W.,  Leonard 

C.  Fuller;  P.,  Robt.  J.Donalson.  This  tribe  worked 
with  success  for  four  years,  when  its  council  fire  be- 
came extinct.  A  number  of  the  members  united 
with  Keokuk  Tribe,  but  subsequently  applied  to  the 
Great  Council  for  the  restoration  of  their  charter, 
which  was  granted,  and  under  which  they  again  or- 
ganized. The  chiefs  in  1857  were:  P.,  W.  E.  Dud- 
ley; S.,  W.  H.  Taylor;  S.  S.,  Chas.  Derr;  J.  S., 
John  B.  Bratton ;  C.  of  R.,  Wm.  L.  Countiss ;  K.  of 
W.,  Augustus  Hilger.    It  has  forty-five  members. 

The  Oreat  Council  of  Delaware,  L  0.  R.  M,,  was  in- 
stituted December  19,  1856,  its  charter  being  granted 
by  the  G.  C.  of  U.  S.— Joseph  Pyle,  V.  G.  Incohonee 
presiding — to  Past   Sachems  Dan  W.  Carter,  S.  N. 

D.  Ford,  John  Taylor,  Samuel  L.  Rodgers,  John  W. 
Carter,  Joseph  Pyle,  Leonard  C.  Fuller,  Levi  H. 
Springer  and  John  L.  Chifiens.  The  first  officers 
were  :  G.  S.,  Daniel  W.  Carter ;  S.  S.,  Joseph  Pyle ;  J. 
8.,  Leonard  C.  Fuller;  P.,  Chas.  T.  Moore;  C.  of 
R.,  Edward  Mclntire;  K.  of  W.,  Wm.  H.  Gear. 
The  following  are  the  present  chiefs :  G.  P.,  Joseph 
Pyle;  G.  S.,  Wm.  A.  Moore;  G.  S.  8.,  Wm.  H. 
Boyce;  G.  J.  S.,  B.  F.  Sheppard ;  G.  C.  of  R.,  T.  H. 
Messinger ;  G.  K.  of  W.,  Jas.  S.  Moore;  G.  G.  of  W. 
John  Palmer,  Jr. 

Ltnape  Tribe,  No,  6. — ^The  fagots  of  the  first  coun- 
cil fire  of  Lenape  Tribe,  No.  6,  were  kindled  March 
21, 1868,  when  a  petition  was  forwarded  to  the  Great 
Council  of  the  order,  requesting  that  a  charter  be 
granted  the  newly-organized  tribe.  At  Red  Men 'a 
Hall,  Twenty-eighth  Sleep,  Worm  Moon,  the  council 
fire  was  kindled  in  due  form  by  the  W.  G.  Chiefs  of 
Delaware,  the  charter  members  being :  P.,  G^.  Walter ; 
W.  S.,  Geo.  C.  Maris;  S.  S.,  Ferdinand  F.  Borgia;  J. 
S.,  Edwin  A.  Van  Trump;  C.  of  R.,  David  E. 
Spear;  K.  of  W.,  Joseph  E.  Booth;  G.  of  W.,  Geo. 
Thompson,  John  B.  Porter,  James  J.  Wyatt  The 
chiefs  in  1887  were:  P.,  R.  B.  Armstrong;  S.,  Web- 
ster Richardson  ;  S.  S.,  C  A.  Frismuth ;  J.  8.,  P.  8. 
Johnson ;  C.  of  R.,  E.  A.  Van  Trump ;  A.  C.  of  R., 
G.  G.  Byron ;  K.  of  W.,  W.  H.  Kramer.  The  tribe 
has  on  its  roll  one  hundred  and  forty-nine  members. 

Mnqua  Tribe,  No.  8,  instituted  May  6,  1871,  had 
twenty-seven  applicants  at  the  first  meeting.  The 
charter  members  were:  S.>  Wm.  Kelly,  Jr. ;  S.  S., 
Thomas  Scott ;  J.  8.,  Chas.  Stevenbank  ;  C.  of  R., 
John  F.  Taylor;  K.  of  W.,  Daniel  W.  Carter;  P., 
James  G.  Meredith.  Chiefs  for  1887 :  P.,  Joseph  Dun- 
ham ;  8.,  J.  H.  Moyer ;  8.  8.,  R  F.  Bromwell ;  J.  S., 

E.  D.  Richards ;  C.  of  R.,  H.  T.  Sergeant ;  K.  of  W., 
Samuel  Johnson,  Jr.  This  tribe  has  two  hundred 
and  one  members. 

Hbpoekohaeking  Tribe  was  instituted  May  1, 1879, 
with  fourteen  applicants,  the  first  chiefs  being:  S., 
Wm.  Woodward  ;  8.  8.,  Thomas  Hildebrand  ;  J.  S., 
James  Clayton  ;  P.,  F.  E.  Gallagher ;  C.  of  R.,  H.  T. 
Martin ;  K.  of  W.,  Thomas  Dorsey.  The  chiefs  for 
1887  were :  P.,  D.  H.  Steele ;  8.,  C.  M.  Graff;  8. 8.,  G. 


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A.  Brooks;  J.  S.,  Wm.  Ward;  C.  of  R,.  J.  H.  W. 
Follansbee ;  K.  of  W.,  W.  W.  McElroy.  Its  members 
number  fifky-three. 

ManUau  Tribe,  No.  18,  was  iDstituted  April  13, 1883, 
with  the  following  chiefs :  P.,  Wm.  P.  Young ;  S., 
W.  A.  Williams;  S.  S.,  W.  C.  R.  Colquhoun  ;  J.  S., 
John  M.  Bogte  ;  C.  of  R.,  Dr.  John  Palmer;  K.  of 
W.,  R.  H.  McCartney.  The  chiefs  for  1887  were :  P.. 
Alfred  Lewis ;  S.,  Wm.  Yates ;  S.  S.,  John  A.  Smith  ; 
J.  8.,  Thomas  Stoddard ;  C.  of  R.,  Josiah  Berry ;  K. 
of  W.,  John  S.  Benson.  The  number  of  members  is 
forty-seven. 

MaUnhoon  Tribe,  No,  11,  was  instituted  August  12, 
1872,  there  being  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  ap- 
plicants. The  first  chiefs  were :  S.,  Wm.  Yonkers ; 
S.  a,  Eiias  Chambers;  J.  S.,  Geo.  Ellis;  C.  of  R., 
Alexander  Mason ;  E.  of  W.,  C.  R.  Ellis ;  P.,  Isaiah  H. 
Thomas.  The  chiefs  for  1887,  were :  P.,  John  Wil- 
liams ;  S.,  Samuel  Gait ;  S.  S.,  J.  M.  Boozer ;  J.  S., 
John  Lain  ;  C.  of  R.,  T.  H.  H.  Messinger,  Jr. ;  K.  of 
W.,  Thomas  Munn. 

Knights  of  Pythias.— The  order  of  Knights  of 
Pythias  was  organized  during  the  Civil  War  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  February  19,  1864.  Justis  H.  Rath- 
bone,  who  prepared  the  ritual  at  his  home  in  Egg 
Harbor,  Mich.,  is  the  founder  and  first  Worthy  Chan- 
cellor of  the  order.  It  was  introduced  into  Delaware 
by  the  organization  of  Washington  Lodge,  No.  1, 
January  13, 1868.  A  preliminary  meeting  had  been 
held  December  20, 1867,  of  thirty-six  persons,  thirty 
of  whom  were  members  of  Keokuk  Tribe  of  Red 
Men,  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  organization 
of  a  lodge  of  the  new  order.  Edwin  Hirst  was 
delegated  by  this  meeting  to  go  to  Philadelphia  to 
make  application  for  a  charter.  At  the  next  meeting, 
held  at  504  Market  Street,  January  6,  1868,  he  ex- 
plained the  nature  and  objects  of  the  order.  On 
January  13,  1868,  at  an  election  conducted  by  the 
grand  officers  of  the  Provisional  Supreme  Lodge, 
who  were  present,  the  following  were  chosen  officers 
of  Washington  Lodge:  Venerable  Patriarch,  Lewb 
Zebley ;  Worthy  Chancellor,  Edwin  Hirst ;  Vice- 
Chancellor,  Samuel  Shepherd;  Recording  Scribe, 
William  H,  Brady ;  Financial  Scribe,  Ralph  Rigby ; 
Treasurer,  Ferdinand  F.  Bogia;  Guide,  E.  C.  Alexan^ 
der;  Inside  Sentinel,  William  C.Scott;  and  Outside 
8entinel,  Frederick  W.  Taylor.  At  this  meeting 
eighty-one  members  were  initiated,  and  the  new  order 
started  with  the  most  favorable  prospects.  Edwin 
Hirst  was  appointed  Deputy  Grand  Chancellor  of 
Delaware,  obtaining  his  commission  February  13, 
1868. 

Ofl^cers  for  1887 :  P.  C.  Walter  T.  Simmons;  C.  C, 
Frederick  Keiser ;  V.  C,  Allan  L.  Sharp ;  P.,  How- 
ard O.  Moore;  K.  of  R.,  Titus  P.  M.  Griffith  ;  M.  F., 
W.  G.  Baugh ;  M.  C,  Lewis  Zebley.  Ninety  mem- 
bers are  enrolled  in  this  lodge. 

Lafayette  Lodge,  No,  2,  was  instituted  February  15, 
1868,  by  D.  G.  C.  Edwin  Hirst,  assisted  by  officers  of 
Washington,  Lodge,  No.  1,  and  the  following  were 
52J 


chosen  the  first  officers  of  this  new  lodge :  V.  P.,  J.  E. 
Reynolds ;  W.  C,  John  Wright ;  V.  C,  Robert  White; 
R.  S.,  A.  Nebeker;  F.  S.,  S.  K.  Cloud;  W.  B.,  A.  P. 
Baily;  W.  S.  G.,  H.  M.  Lewis;  L  S.,  Jerome  B. 
Clark;  O.  S.,  Ferdinand  Chairs. 

This  lodge  reported  in  1887  a  membership  of  one 
hundred  and  two.  The  officers  then  were :  P.  C, 
H.  H.  Campbell;  C.  C,  John  Dunbar;  V.  C,  John 
Call;  P.,  H.  T.  Finney;  M.  of  E.,  W.H.Everett; 
M.  of  F.,  J.  L.  Morrison  ;  K.  of  R.  S.,  William  J. 
Hume. 

Lincoln  Lodge,  No,  3,  was  instituted  by  D.  G.  0. 
Edwin  Hirst,  assisted  by  officers  of  Washington 
Lodge,  February  11,  1868.  The  first  officers  were  : 
V.  P.,  Thomas  H.  Challenger ;  W.  C,  Frank  A. 
Taylor;  B.  C, S.  S.  Southard;  R.  S.,  A.  M.  Keithler; 
F.  S.,  Andrew  Carey ;  W.  B.,  R.  E.  Hayes;  W.  G.. 
J.  M.  Dunn;  L  S.,  William  Green;  O.  S.,  William 
Forrest.  The  officers  for  1887:  P.  C,  Thomas 
Taylor;  C.  C,  Robert  Davis;  V.  C,  H.  Bothum; 
P.,  Samuel  Johnson,  Jr. ;  M.  of  E.,  John  B.  Martin ; 
M.  of  F.,  A.  J.Shrack;  K.  of  R.  S.,  William  K. 
Johnson.  This  lodge  has  a  membership  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty -six. 

Clayton  Lodge,  No.  4. — ^The  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  in  Wilmington  encouraged 
the  organization  of  a  third  lodge  within  the  space  of 
three  months  from  the  time  of  the  introduction  of 
the  order  in  the  State.  On  the  2d  of  April,  1868, 
Clayton  Lodge  was  instituted  by  D.  G.  C.  Edwin 
Hirst,  assisted  by  the  officers  and  members  of  the 
three  lodges  already  established  in  Wilmington. 
The  first  officers  were:  V.  P.,  R.  P.  Garey;  W. 
C,  E.  L.  Seely;  V.  C,  H.  S.  Truitt;  R.  S.,  R.  G. 
Moody;  F.  S.,  D.  Whitsill;  W.  B.,  J.  Mancill;  G., 
H.  R.  Davis ;  I.  S.,  A.  Chairs ;  O,  S.,  R.  F.  Stewart. 
The  officers  for  1887  were :  P.  C,  William  T.  Lincoln ; 
C.  C,  Calvin  Hazel;  V.  C,  James  Yates;  P.,  D. 
Montgomery;  M.  of  E.,  William  H.Shull;  M.  of  F., 
George  8.  White ;  K.  of  R.  S.,  John  C.  Jones.  One 
hundred  and  forty-six  members  are  enrolled. 

Champion  Lodge,  No.  6,  was  instituted  September 
2,  1868,  by  G.  C.  James  P.  Hayes,  who  installed  the 
following  officers  :  V.  P.,  Wm.  H.  Crow ;  W.  C,  H. 
C.  Snitcher;  V.  C,  J.  A.  Rusling;  R.  S.,  J.  F.  Cas- 
person ;  F.  S.,  E.  C.  Stotsenburg.  The  officers  for 
1887  were:  P.  C,  Benjamin  H.  Ennis ;  C.  C,  Wm.  O. 
Connor ;  V.  C,  M.  F.  Hutton  ;  P.,  Thomas  M.  Moore ; 
K.  of  R.  S.,  Mark  L.  Garrett;  M.  of  E.,  James  D. 
Carter. 

Excelsior  Lodge,  No,  7,  was  instituted  September  4, 
1868,  by  G.  C.  James  P.  Hayes.  There  were  forty- 
three  applicants  for  the  charter,  the  fir^t  officers 
being:  P.  C,  R.  P.  Greenleaf,  M.D.;  W.  C,  Samuel 
Curry;  V.  C,  Gilpin  B.  Underwood;  R.  S.,  Frank 
B.  Danby;  F.  S.,  Thomas  R.  McAllister;  W.  B., 
Estrange  Gould;  W.  G.,  Hiram  D.  Cloud.  The 
officers  in  1887  were:  P.  C,  H.  T.  Clark;  C.  C,  John 
Vanwinkle;  V.  C,  Fred.  R.  Banks;  L.  P..  George 
B.  Thompson ;  M.  of  T.,  William  J.  Moreland ;  M, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


of  E.,  Charles  Paxson  ;  K.  of  R.  S.,  Charles  Zeb- 
ley. 

Oriental  Lodge,  No.  13,  was  organized  October  18, 
1871.  The  charter  members  were  Harry  S,  Truitt, 
John  M.  Miller,  C.  L.  Stevenbrooks,  H.  Ovenshine, 
Isaac  S.  Short,  James  Quinn,  Sr.,  George  W.  Hep- 
born,  Wm.  Harrison,  Wm.  H.  Peeney. 

The  first  officers  were :  Ven.  P.,  J.  H.  Miller ;  W. 
p.,  Harry  S.  Truitt;  V.  C,  C.  L.  Stevenbrooks;  R. 
S.,  H.  Ovenshine ;  F.  S.,  Isaac  S.  Short ;  B.,  James 
Quinn  ;  G.,  George  W.  Hepborn  ;  I.  S.,  Wm.  Harri- 
son, O.  S.,  Wm.  H.  Peeney. 

The  membership  is  sixty -seven,  of  whom  twenty- 
one  are  Past  Chancellors.  The  officers  for  1887  are : 
P.  C,  Robert  Erricson;  C.  C,  Abram  Pierce.;  V.  C, 
Wm.  R.  Milliken;  P.,  John  P.  Edwards ;  K.  ofR. 
and  S.,  Wm.  T.  Whitworth ;  M.  of  V.  S.,  Thomas 
Marine ;  M.  of  E.,  John  E.  Grubb ;  M.  at  A.,  Anton 
Benson ;  I.  G.,  William  Whitehead;  O.  G.,  Thomas 
McBride. 

Wilmington  Division  Uniform  Rank,  was  or- 
ganized May  9, 1878,  with  twenty  charter  members, 
officered  as  follows:  C,  Joseph  C.  Jones;  1st  L., 
Samuel  L.  Rodgers ;  2d  L.,  Wm.  F.  Thompson ;  S., 
A.  R.  Hollingsworth ;  Treasurer,  Jacob  De  Wolfe. 
This  branch  of  Pythian  Knighthood  is  relative  to  that 
held  by  Knights  Templar  in  Freemasonry. 

The  Uniform  Rank  was  adopted  and  promulgated 
September  16,  1879.  Previous  to  this  date  it  held  the 
title  of  Uniform  Degree  Lodge. 

September  22, 1879,  by  virtue  of  Supreme  author- 
ity of  the  order,  it  was  re-organized  under  the  first 
named  title,  with  twenty-eight  members,  officered  as 
follows :  S.  K.  C,  W.  J.  Jeffries;  S.  K.  L.,  J.  H.  R. 
Morris ;  H.,  Williams  Simmons ;  S.,  George  K.  Lar- 
ison  ;  G.,  John  Keinle ;  S.,  W.  T.  Lincoln. 

The  officers  of  Wilmington  Division  for  1887, 
wererS.  K.  C,  Samuel  M.  Wood;  L.  K.,  William 
Simmons;  H.,  Thomas  Mulliu,  Jr. 

The  Royal  Arcanum  is  a  beneficiary  order  organ- 
ized in  Massachusetts,  June  23, 1877.  Its  object  is  to 
extend  all  moral  and  material  aid,  in  its  power,  to  its 
members  and  those  dependent  upon  them.  There 
are  now  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  one  thous- 
and and  forty-eight  councils  of  this  order,  whose  ag- 
gregate membership  is  sixteen  thousand  five  hundred 
and  fifty-seven. 

Christiana  Council,  No.  664,  was  instituted  in  Wil- 
mington, March  30, 1882,  by  Deputy  Supreme  Regent 
F.  F.  Cummings  and  Past  Regent  Edward  F.  Cum- 
mings,  both  of  Polaris  Council,  No.  617,  New  York 
City.  The  following  were  ita  charter  members :  Dr. 
Smith  Cooper,  Dr.  J.  M.  Curtis,  Joseph  H.  Jones,  P. 
T.  E.  Smith,  Rev.  A.  N.  Keigwin,  E.  F.  James,  Geo. 
C.  Maris,  W.  E.  Hawkins,  C.  A.  Lippincott,  W.  A. 
Reynolds,  Henry  Baird,  H.  H.  Ward,  Chas.  H.Smith, 
R.  H.  Ewbanks,  Joshua  Maris,  T.  F.  Quigley,  James 
Eglinton,  Jr.,  S.  T.  Ford,  H.  C.  Conrad,  W.  D. 
Pyle,  M.  F.  Davis,  Melville  Gambrill,  J.  F.  Wood. 
The  officers  for  1887  were :  Regent,  J.  M.  Winner, 


D.D. ;  V.  Regent,  Millard  F.  Davis ;  O.,  Henry  C. 
Conrad;  P.  R.,  C.  A.  Lippincott;  S.,  H.  H.  Ward; 
C,  Chas.  H.Smith;  T.,  Henry  C.  Taylor ;  Chaplain, 
Wm.  A.  Smith. 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

WILMINGTON— (C%m/tntt«i). 

BENEFICIAL  SOCIETIES  AND  BENEVOLENT    INSTITU- 
TIONS. 

The  Female  Benevolent  Society  was  organ- 
ized for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  on  the  6ch  of  February, 
1800,  at  the  home  of  Rebecca  Martin.  It  is  still  in 
existence,  being  the  oldest  charitable  society  in  Del- 
aware. The  persons  present  at  the  first  meeting  were 
Rebecca  Martin,  Ann  Ferris,  Hannah  Martin,  Ann. 
White,  Jr.,  Gertrude  Gilpin,  Orpha  Hewes,  Rachel 
Wood,  Mary  Jones,  Ann  Spackman,  Ann  Sipple, 
Rachel  Hayes,  Jr.,  Margaret  Canby,  Fanny  Canby, 
Mary  Canby,  Edith  Ferris,  Jr.,  Deborah  Bringhur6t. 
Although  the  founders  of  the  society  have  long  since 
passed  away,  their  children  and  grandchildren  have 
labored  in  its  service,  and  the  descendants  of  some 
are  still  among  its  members.  Deborah  Bringhurst 
was  the  first  secretary,  and  Ann  Ferris  treasurer. 

The  object  of  the  society  waa  not  only  for  the  relief 
but  the  employment  of  the  poor,  of  any  race  or  color, 
and  promote  industry  by  furnishing  employment  to 
such  as  may  be  able  to  work. 

Flax  was  purchased,  hackled  and  prepared  for 
spinning,  and,  when  this  was  done,  weighed  and  dis- 
tributed to  the  spinners,  and  when  returned  by  them 
it  was  '^  sorted,  counted  and  valued,"  and  paid  for  in 
produce,  provided  for  the  purpose.  The  revenue  of 
the  society  in  1801  was  $30,814,  and  the  expenditures, 
$137.66 ;  in  1804  the  sales  of  yarn  and  manufactured 
goods  amounted  to  $688.19 ;  the  sum  paid  for  flax  was 
$305.  Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  society  it 
received  as  a  bequest  from  Ebenezer  Cresson,  through 
one  of  its  members,  quoted  as  follows :  ''  I  do  give  and 
bequeath  to  my  friend  Margaret  Canby  (daughter  of 
Samuel)  200  Spanish  milled  silver  dollars,  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  the  poor,  according  to  her  judgment,*' 
The  Board  of  Health  in  the  winter  of  1800  gave  the 
society  six  cords  of  wood  .to  distribute,  and  the  next 
season  sent  fifty  dollars  for  its  use.  Dr.  John 
Vaughan  offered  his  professional  services  gratuitously 
to  visit  the  sick.  A  bequest  of  six  hundred  and  eighty 
dollars  from '  Jacob  Broome  induced  the  members  to 
procure  an  act  of  incorporation.  The  interest^on  it 
was  first  paid  in  1813,  but  the  bequest  was  not  secured 
until  1827. 

The  Humane  Society  of  Wilmington  was  organ- 
ized in  1812,  the  object  of  which  was  "  the  recovering 
from  apparent  death  by  drowning,  suffocation  by 
burning  charcoal  or  other  noxious  vapors,  drinking 
cold  water,  strokes  of  the  sun,  damps  of  wells,  light- 


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ning  or  other  similar  caflualties."  Ten  dollars  reward 
was  offered  to  any  one  who  would  take  out  of  the 
water  the  body  of  a  drowned  person ;  and  two  dollars 
to  any  one  who  received  into  his  house  the  body  of  a 
drowned  person.  The  first  officers  of  this  society 
were  John  Reynolds,  president ;  Evan  Lewis,  secre- 
tary; Joseph  Qrubb,  treasurer;  John  Dixon,  John 
Jones,  Edward  Tatnall  and  Merrit  Can  by,  inspectors ; 
and  Drs.  George  Monro,  William  Gibbons  and  Allen 
McLane,  medical  assistants. 

The  Mechanical  Beneficial  Society,  of  Wil- 
mington, was  organized  in  Town  Hall,  January  81, 
1814,  through  the  efforts  of  George  Jones,  David 
French,  Esau  Cox,  John  Springer,  James  Wilson, 
Samuel  Askew,  George  Whitelock,  David  C.  Wilson, 
Samuel  WoUaston  and  Carson  Wilson.  Many  of  the 
persons  named  and  others  interested  in  this  society 
employed  a  number  of  workmen,  for  whose  benefit  it 
was  formed. 

The  Dobcas  Society,  composed  of  thirty  fe- 
males of  different  churches,  was  formed  in  1850.  It 
continued  several  years,  and  met  in  an  upper  room 
of  the  Academy  on  'Saturday  afternoons,  where  the 
members  made  garments,  which  were  distributed 
gratuitously  among  the  poor  of  the  town  and  neigh- 
borhood. 

A  society  was  formed,  in  1829,  in  the  interest  of 
civil  and  religious  liberty  in  Ireland.  The  officers 
elected  were  Allen  McLane,  M.D.,  president ;  James 
S.  White  and  John  McClung,  vice-presidents ;  John 
McLear,  secretary;  and  James  .Gardiner,  treasurer. 
The  society  had  an  active  existence  for  ten  years. 

In  1829  an  association  which  advocated  the  discon- 
tinuance of  carrying  and  opening  mails  was  formed  in 
Wilmington.  The  members  were  William  Seal, 
Henry  F.  Askew,  M.D.,  Samuel  S.  Grubb,  Samuel 
Harker,  Henry  Wilson,  Joshua  Harlan,  Wilson 
Pierson,  W.  W.  Baker,  M.D.,  William  McCaulley, 
William  P.  Richards;  John  F.  Gilpin,  Benjamin 
Webb  and  Edward  W.  Gilpin. 

The  Sons  op  Washington,  the  only  beneficial 
association  of  the  same  name  in  the  Union,  was 
formed  in  Wilmington,  in  1849,  with  seven  members* 
The  next  year  it  had  one  hundred  members. 

Delaware  Abolition  Society.—A  public  de- 
bate on  the  abolition  of  slavery  took  place  in  Wil- 
mington January  10,  1802,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Wilmington  Lyceum,  with  William  Darlington, 
president,  and  W.  B.  Shields,  secretary.  The  Aboli- 
tion Society  of  the  State  of  Delaware  was  organized 
in  Wilmington  on  January  15th  following,  at  Samuel 
Ford's  school-house,  on  Shipley  Street  above  Seventh. 
B«v.  Francis  A.  Latta  was  chosen  president,  John 
Reynolds  vice-president,  Zachariah  Jess  secretary, 
Edward  Gilpin  treasurer,  Eli  Mendenhall,  John 
Dixon,  David  Chandler,  Hezekiah  Niles,  Edward 
Gilpin  and  Francis  O'Daniel  executive  committee. 
This  Aociety  did  some  aggressive  work  the  first  year 
of  its  history.  Colonel  Allen  McLane,  then  collector 
of  the  district  of  Delaware,  was  president  in  1803. 


It  existed  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  during  which 
time  many  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Wil- 
mington were  its  supporters.  In  1827  the  society 
was  reorganized  and  the  following  officers  and  direc- 
tors chosen :  President,  John  Wales ;  Vice-President, 
Edward  Worrell;  Secretary,  Samuel  Hilles;  Treas- 
urer, William  Seal ;  Thomas  Garrett,  William  Chand- 
ler, Rev.  E.  W.  Gilbert,  Benjamin  Webb  and  Samuel 
Grubb.  The  first  delegates  from  Delaware  to  the 
National  Convention  of  Abolitionists  were  John 
Wales  and  Thomas  Garrett  in  1827.  The  Delaware 
Abolitionitt  was  the  title  of  an  anti-slavery  paper 
started  in  Wilmington  December  12,  1847,  under  the 
management  of  James  H.  Brook. 

The  Colonization  Society.— The  American  Col- 
onization Society  was  organized  in  Washington  in 
1817,  soon  after  the  accession  of  James  Monroe  to 
the  Presidency,  who  advocated  the  colonization  of 
freed  slaves.  Through  the  efibrts  of  this  society  and 
its  auxiliaries  the  Republic  of  Liberia  was  founded 
by  the  United  States  government  on  the  west  coast 
of  Africa  in  1819.  It  capital  was  named  Monrovia  in 
honor  of  the  President.  Liberia  was  intended  as  a 
colony  '*for  any  free  persons  of  color  who  may 
choose  to  go  there."  Thomas  Jefierson,  in  a  letter 
to  Colonel  Allen  McLane  in  1820,  said,  *'Free  col- 
ored people  going  from  a  nation  like  ours,  with  all 
the  useful  arts,  might  be  the  means  of  transplanting 
them  among  the  inhabitant h  of  Africa  and  thus  carry 
back  to  the  country  of  their  origin  the  seeds  of 
civilization.''  Daniel  Webster  advocated  the  cause 
of  this  society  and  Henry  Clay  was  its  president  for 
several  years. 

The  Wilmington  Union  Colonization  Society, 
an  fiuxiliary  tothe  American  Colonization  Society,  was 
formed  in  the  Episcopal  Church  September  30, 1823. 
The  officers  elected  were  Rev.  Ralph  Williston  presi- 
dent. Colonel  Allen  McLane  and  John  Potts  vice- 
presidents,  James  Sparks  secretary,  and  Edward 
Worrell  treasurer.  The  managers  were  John  Patter- 
son, Dr.  John  R.  Brinckle,  Joseph  Scott,  Dr.  Robert 
Porter,  George  Jones  and  Thomas  Young.  Willard 
Hall  was  president  of  the  society  in  1828,  Colonel 
Allen  McLane  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Coyt  vice-presidents, 
James  Sparks  secretary  and  Allan  Thompson  treas- 
urer. The  managers  were  John  Patterson,  George 
Jones,  Thomas  Young,  Rev.  E.  W.  Gilbert  and  Albert 
Wilson.  Willard  Hall  was  one  of  the  vice-presidents 
of  the  American  Colonization  Society  in  1842. 

Hon.  J.  B.  Pinney,  Governor  of  Liberia,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1847,  delivered  two  lectures  in  Hanover  Street 
Presbyterian  Church  on  the  colonization  of  blacks  in 
Africa. 

The  State  Colonization  Society  was  formed 
May  29, 1843,  in  Hanover  Street  Church.  The  officers 
elected  were.  President,  Willard  Hall ;  Vice-Presidents 
Moses  Bradford,  Martin  W.  Bates,  8.  M.  Harrington, 
J.  B.  Spottswood,  David  Hazzard  and  Dr.  H.  F.  Hall ; 
Secretary,  Rev.  S.  B.  Wynkoop ;  Treasurer,  George 
Jones ;  Managers,  Rev.  M.  J.  Reese,  Dr.  L.  P.  Bush, 


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828 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


J.  B.  Lewis,  George  W.  Sparks,  Ed.  G.  Bradford,  Rev. 
S.  Prettyman,  Dr.  A.  Naudain,  Dr.  James  Couper  and 
Dr.  Worrell. 

The  Wilmington  society  had  the  following  officers 
and  managers  in  1850 :  Willard  Hall,  president ;  J. 
C.  Howe,  secretary ;  Moses  Bradford,  Kensey  Johns, 
Rev.  J.  C.  Rockwell,  Hon.  M.  W.  Bates,  Samuel 
Hilles,  Rev.  S.  R.  Wynkoop,  George  C.  Jones,  David 
C.  Wilson,  J.  B.  Lewis,  L.  P.  Bush,  M.D.,  Samuel 
Bates,  James  Rice,  Thomas  0.  Alrichs,  Thomas 
Young,  R.  R.  Porter,  M.D.,  Matthew  Kean  and 
Charles  I.  Du  Pont,  managers. 

The  colonization  societies  of  Delaware  contributed 
liberally  to  the  colonization  of  free  negroes  in  Libe- 
ria through  the  parent  society  in  Washington. 

Temperance  Societies.— The  cause  of  temper- 
ance has  had  earnest  advocates  in  Wilmington  from 
the  date  of  the  founding  of  the  town  to  the  present 
Some  of  the  societies  organized  had  but  a  brief  exis- 
tence, and  little  is  known  of  them. 

The  Temperance  Society  of  Wilmington  was  organ- 
ized December  8, 1827,  with  John  Bullock  as  pres- 
ident ;  Robert  Porter,  secretary.  The  other  directors 
were  Willard  Hall,  Benjamin  Webb,  Dell  Noblit, 
Robert  Porter,  Andrew  Taylor,  Eli  Hilles,  J.  F. 
Vaughan,  John  Sebo,  T.  C.  Alrichs  and  Dr.  W.  W. 
Baker. 

The  New  Castle  County  Temperance  Society  and 
the  Wilmington  Society  were  active  and  efficient  or- 
ganizations for  nearly  thirty  years. 

The  Jefferwn  Temperance  Society^  in  1842,  was  an 
efficient  organization  with  Samuel  Allen,  president ; 
John  Johnson,  vice-president ;  Jonas  Pnsey,  treasur- 
er; James  B.  Morrison,  secretary.  The  executive 
committee  were  James  Smith,  Dr.  Joseph  R.  Hayes, 
Lewis  Wilson,  John  E.  Smith,  Joshua  L.  Pusey,  Ab- 
raham Shrader,  Jacob  M.  Garretson.  The  society 
had  a  reading-room  in  Temperance  Hall. 

The  Sons  of  Temperance  had  several  societies  in 
Wilmington  between  the  years  1840  and  1880. 

The  Wilmington  Female  Temperance  Society  was 
organized  in  1843,  with  Mrs.  R.  McClung  president ; 
E.  Pusey,  secretary,  and  twenty- six  charter  members. 
Six  hundred  citizens  of  Wilmington  signed  the  tem- 
perance pledge  of  total  abstenence  from  intoxicating 
liquorF.  The  society  existed  for  many  years  and  ex- 
erted a  great  influence  in  the  cause  of  temperance. 
The  Temperance  Standard  was  established  in  Wil- 
mington June,  1844,  by  Dr.  Henrv  Gibbons.  In  1845, 
under  the  name  of  the  Temperance  Herald,  it  was 
owned  by  Washington  Lowe,  and  two  years  later  by 
H.  W.  Gwinner.    It  was  ably  edited. 

The  Temperance  Hall  Company  was  chartered  in  1842. 
The  following  were  the  original  directors:  Jonas 
Pusey,  Asa  Poinsett,  Samuel  McCauUey,  James  Hol- 
lingsworth,  Jacob  M.  Garretson,  George  Lobdell, 
Thomas  Baynes,  Robert  McDowell,  Join  Johnson, 
David  Pinkerton,  Joseph  Willis  and  Thomas  McCal- 
lister.  As  a  stock  company  they  erected  Temperance 
Hall  on  the  south  side  of  Fourth  Street,  near  Market 


Street.  It  was  dedicated  December  9,  1842,  when 
addresses  were  made  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Gerry  and 
Hogarth  and  Dr.  Gibbons. 

In  1844  the  officers  were  Jacob  M.  Garretson,  presi- 
dent ;  J.  S.  Valentine,  secretary  ;  Daniel  C.  Wilson, 
treasurer;  John  A.  Duncan,  Jonas  Pusey,  Greorge 
Craig,  Lewis  Curlett,  Thomas  Allen,  William  Sim- 
mons, Thomas  Dixon,  Samuel  Allen,  directors.  In 
1848  the  following  new  directors  were  chosen :  Joseph 
C.  Seeds,  Robert  McDowell,  John  A.  Brown,  John  C. 
Brison,  Edward  P.  Robinson  and  John  Morrow. 

A  number  of  later  societies  have  done  effective 
work  in  the  cause  of  Temperance. 

The  Delawabe  Bible  Society  was  organized 
in  Wilmington  November  22,  1813,  by  members  of 
different  religious  denominations,  "  for  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  Holy  Scriptures  among  the  destitute  of 
the  State." 

Its  original  members  were  residents  of  New  Cas- 
tle County.  At  the  preliminary  meeting,  Rev. 
John  E.  Latta  was  chairman,  and  John  Rumsey 
secretary.  Revs.  Samuel  Dodge,  William  Pryce, 
John  E.  Latta,  Samuel  Henderson,  Samuel  Hilles, 
Robert  Porter  and  Mathew  Kean  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution  and  an  addrens 
to  the  public.  Revs.  Dr.  Thomas  Read,  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Pryce,  Daniel  Dodge,  John  E.  Latta,  James  C. 
Couper,  Dr.  George  Monro  and  Robert  Porter  were 
appointed  a  committee  on  publication.  An  adjourned 
meeting  was  held  December  21,  1813.  Among  the 
new  members  wer»  Dr.  William  McKee,  Richard 
Bassett,  John  Hagany,  James  M.  Broom,  Gideon 
Farrell,  Alexander  Draper,  Hugh  Gemmill,  Samuel 
Taylor,  Jared  Chestnut,  Andrew  K.  Russell,  Samuel 
Bell,  David  Sebo  and  Leonard  Vandegrift.  Rev. 
John  E.  Latta  was  elected  the  first  president, 
and  John  Rumsey  secretary.  December  13,  1813, 
this  society  was  presented  with  twenty-five  English 
Bibles  and  the  same  number  of  Testaments,  by  the 
Bible  Society  of  Philadelphia.  At  the  same  time 
the  society  ordered  fifty  copies  of  the  Bible  and 
New  Testament  from  the  stereotyped  impressions  of 
the  Philadelphia  society.  On  January  31,  1814, 
friendly  greetings  were  received  from  the  New  York 
Bible  Society,  which  proposed  to  print  the  Bible  in 
French,  for  the  French  people  in  Louisiana.  This 
society  contributed  one  hundred  dollars  towards  the 
work. 

Twenty-five  Bibles  and  the  same  number  of  Testa- 
ments were  presented  to  a  new  Bible  society  at  Snow 
Hill,  in  Maryland,  and  twelve  Bibles  to  a  local  so- 
ciety at  Georgetown.  Official  communication  was 
opened  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Society,  **  which, 
February  24,  1815,  tendered  its  friendly  congratula- 
tion and  grateful  acknowledgments,''  and  further 
sent  a  contribution  of  one  hundred  pounds  sterling. 
When  the  American  Bible  Society  was  formed,  in 
1815,  the  Delaware  society  donated  to  it  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars.  Among  the  new  members 
in  1816  were  Nicholas  Van  Dyke,  Dr.  David  Stew- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


art,  Eensey  Johns,  Jr.,  and  Dr.  James  Couper.  In 
1818,  R^v.  E,  W.  Gilbert,  pastor  of  Hanover  Street 
Presbjteri&n  Church,  became  a  member.  He  served 
as  secretary  of  this  society  for  twenty  years.  By 
October,  1819,  according  to  the  minutes,  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  and  sixty  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments had  been  distributed  by  this  society  in  the 
State. 

In  1828  the  society  determined  to  distribute  copies 
of  the  Bible  among  all  the  destitute  of  the  State. 
In  1829  auxiliary  societies  were  formed  in  White 
Clay  Creek,  Lower  Brandywine,  Pencader,  St.  Geor- 
ge's and  Newark,  and  the  work  greatly  encouraged. 
In  1830  this  society  gave  three  hundred  dollars  to 
the  American  Bible  Society  in  its  effort  to  distrib- 
ute the  Bible  to  all  the  poor  in  the  United  States 
within  the  succeeding  two  years.  In  1835,  Richard 
H.  Merriken,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  xiistributed  in  the  State,  within  ten  months, 
eight  hundred  Bibles  and  nine  hundred  and  seven- 
teen Testaments.  In  1842,  Revs.  Wyncoop  and 
Hogarth  and  Judge  Willard  Hall  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  prepare  a  circular,  which  was  sent  to 
all  pastors  in  the  State,  to  revive  an  interest  in  the 
work  of  the  society.  In  1844,  Rev.  J.  P.  Knox,  one 
of  the  agents  of  the  American  Bible  Society,  visited 
all  the  churches  of  the  State  for  the  Delaware  State 
Society.  He  received  at  this  time  several  encourag- 
ing contributions.  Joseph  Gregg  was  employed  in 
1845  to  make  the  second  distribution  of  Bibles  in 
New  Castle  and  Kent  Counties,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Mustard 
in  Sussex;  they  all  did  efficient  work.  Rev.  T.  P. 
McColley,  of  Sussex,  for  many  years  rendered  valu- 
able services  to  the  cause. 

At  the  annual  meeting  held  at  Dover  in  1859,  the 
State  Society  recommended  that  County  Societies  be 
formed,  and  Hon.  C.  L.  Lay  ton  from  Sussex,  Rev. 
Dr.  Cook  from  Kent,  and  Rev.  George  F.  Wiswell 
from  New  Castle,  were  appointed  to  take  measures  for 
their  organization.  Within  a  year^ent  and  Sussex 
each  formed  a  County  Society.  In  1860  the  third 
distribution  of  Bibles  was  made  by  the  State  Society 
in  New  Castle  County. 

In  1861  the  soldiers  of  Delaware  in  the  Civil  War 
were  supplied  with  copies  of  the  New  Testament.  In 
1869-70  the  fourth  distribution  was  made  in  New 
Castle  County.  In  1879  and  1880  Miss  Eunice  Holt 
distributed  in  New  Castle  County  one  hundred  and 
sixty-eight  Bibles  and  three  hundred  and  twenty-six 
Testaments.  She  found  sixty-five  white  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-five  colored  families  without  Bibles 
in  the  county.  Distribution  was  made  in  1882  by 
Bev.  J.  F.  McLaughlin,  and  in  1885  by  John  and  Wil- 
liam L.  White.  In  1884  this  society  sent  one  hun- 
dred dollars  to  the  American  Bible  Society  and  two 
hundred  dollars  in  1887. 

Dr.  L.  P.  Bush  has  been  president  for  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  Edward  T.  Taylor  was  treasurer  from 
1847  to  1878,  when  Charles  W.  Howland  was  elected. 
Bev.  Thomas  F.  Plummer  and  George  W.  Sparks 


each  filled  the  office  of  secretary.  Rev.  H.  D.  Lind- 
say now  holds  the  office. 

The  pastors  of  all  the  Protestant  Churches  in  the 
State  are  members  of  the  society,  with  the  following 
citizens :  W.  P.  Lodge,  Hon.  C.  S.  Layton,  Peter  F. 
Causey,  Solomon  M.  Curtis,  Dr.  William  T.  Collins, 
A.  G.  Cox,  J.  F.  Williamson,  D.  L.  Dunning,  Charles 
W.  Howland,  Alex.  Kelly,  Hon.  N.  B.  Smithers, 
Robert  L.  Houston,  D.  C.  Ridgway,  E.  T.  Taylor, 
John  R.  McFee,  Dr.  I.  P.  Jump,  George  H.  Bates,  J. 
Taylor  Gause,  Dr.  William  Cummins,  William  D. 
Waples,  L.  V.  Aspril,  Thomas  P.  Belville,  E.  G. 
Challenger  and  Edwin  R.  Paynter. 

The  Female  Bible  Society,  of  Wilmington,  was 
organized  at  the  residence  of  Miss  Margaret  Johnson, 
December  22, 1839,  as  an  auxiliary  to  the  American 
Bible  Society.  Reverend  Richard  D.  Hall,  represent- 
ing the  last-named  society,  made  an  address  to  a 
number  of  ladies  present  at  the  first  meeting.  The 
first  officers  and  managers  elected  were  the  following : 
president,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Ellbert ;  vice-presidents,  Mrs. 
L.  M.  Gilbert  and  Mrs.  E.  Bently;  corresponding 
secretary,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Macmullan ;  recording  secretary, 
M.  Rumsey ;  treasurer,  M.  Johnson.  Directors :  Mrs. 
Bannard,  Miss  J.  Black,  Miss  E.  Brinton,  Miss  E. 
Brobson,  Mrs.  E.  Bryan,  Miss  J.  Cochran,  Mrs.  R. 
Green,  Mrs.  M.  Harris,  Miss  M.  Hamilton,  Miss  A. 
Hamilton,  Miss  L.  Harbeson,  Mrs.  J.  Hedrich,  Miss 
M.  A.  Hendrickson,  Mrs.  E.  Jaquett,  Miss  S.  Mc- 
Allister, Miss  R.  McClung,  Mrs.  C.  A.  McLane,  Mrs. 
C.  M.  McLane,  Miss  McNeal,  Miss  A.  Mofiett,  Miss 
E.  Montgomery,  Miss  E.  Moore,  Miss  E.  Physick, 
Miss  M.  C.  Smith,  Miss  H,  Y.  Warren,  Miss  A.  B. 
Warrington,  Mrs.  S.  Robinson,  Mrs.  E.  Simpson,  Mrs. 
A.  Talley,  Mrs.  E.  Walker. 

The  society  began  work  with  one  hundred  and  ten 
members.  Every  member  is  required  to  pay  one  dollar 
a  year.  A  contribution  of  ten  dollars  entitles  the 
person  to  life  membership.  Miss  S.  H.  Adams,  in 
1839,  was  the  first  life  member.  The  surplus  funds  of 
this  society  are  sent  to  the  American  Bible  Society. 
Under  the  management  of  this  society  the  city  was 
divided  into  districts,  and  each  member,  at  intervals 
of  two  years,  makes  a  careful  canvass  of  the  district 
assigned.  The  poor  who  do  not  have  Bibles  are  pro- 
vided with  them.  The  same  practice  is  still  continued, 
and  in  addition  the  society  employed  Miss  Margaretta 
Barr  for  &ye  years  as  a  Bible-reader.  She  went  from 
house  to  house  and  visited  such  as  needed  attention, 
read  the  Bible  to  them  and  supplied  them  if  they  were 
without  it.  During  the  past  three  years  two  Bible- 
readers  are  employed  ten  months  of  each  year.  They 
are  Mrs.  Annie  Irwin  and  Miss  M.  C.  Meteer.  These 
ladies,  by  means  of  their  zealous  interest  and  well- 
directed  eflbrts,  have  accomplished  much  good.  A 
charter  of  incorporation  was  obtained  by  the  society 
in  1855,  which  was  renewed  in  1875.  Anne  Brinckle, 
who  served  for  many  years  as  president  of  the  society, 
died  in  1887.  The  other  officers  and  managers  are : 
vice-president,  Miss  A.  Semple ;  recording  secretary. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Mm.  R.  p.  Johnson;  corresponding  secretary,  Mrs. 
H. C.  Jones ;  treasurer,  Mrs. T.  Darlington.  Managers : 
Mrs.  G.  Chandler,  Mrs.  T.  C.  Alrich,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Gause, 
Miss  L.  M.  Clark,  Miss  Liouisa  Gordon,  Miss  Maria 
Capelle,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Adams,  Mrs.  Ed.  Moore,  Mrs.  B. 
Elliott,  Mrs.  James  Morrow,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Howland, 
Mrs.  H.  B.  Seidel,  Miss  C.  Broome,  Mrs.  Sarah  Bring- 
hurst,  Mrs.  L.  C.  Bootes,  Mrs.  S.  W.  McCaulley,  Mrs. 
M.  E.  Stroud,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Nixon,  Mrs.  P.  Quigley, 
Mrs.  Wm.  Gause,  Mrs.  C.  Bisrjell,  Mrs.  McNamee, 
Mrs.  S.  Sherman,  Mrs.  G.  S.  Capelle,  Mrs.  H.  F. 
Pickels,  Miss  Anna  Porter,  Miss  C.  Bradford,  Miss  M. 
S.  Hilles,  Miss  S.  C.  Bowman,  Miss  I.  Warner,  Miss 
H.  Hayes,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Murray,  Mrs.  E.  Cronham,  Mrs. 
A.  E.  Perkins,  Mrs.  J.  Taggart,  Miss  Susan  Brinckle, 
Mrs.  G.  Lincoln,  Mrs.  J.  Bellah,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Pierson, 
Miss  S.  Howland,  Miss  L.  McCorkle,  Miss  L.  Taylor, 
Miss  M.  Barr,  Mrs.  Van  Kleeck,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Curtis. 

The  Wilmington  Fountain  Society.— On  the 
19th  of  May,  1870,  upon  the  invitation  of  Ferris 
Bringhurst,  a  few  persons  met  at  his  residence,  No. 
808  West  Street,  to  confer  upon  the  feasibility  of  form- 
ing a  Fountain  Society,  ''similar  to  those  which 
proved  so  ireful  in  some  other  cities  to  man  and  the 
dumb  animals."  At  a  meeting  held  on  the  24th  of  May 
succeeding,  the  following  officers  were  elected :  Presi- 
dent, Ferris  Bringhurst;  Vice-President,  Rev. George 
A.  Latimer ;  Secretary,  William  M.  Canby ;  Treasurer, 
Samuel  Floyd ;  Managers,  Philip  Garrett,  Edward 
Bringhurst,  William  Y.  Warner,  William  Canby, 
Charles  W.  Howland,  Dr.  L.  P.  Bush,  Mrs.  Samuel 
Canby,  Miss  Hannah  Shipley,  Miss  Anne  Semple, 
Mrs.  Charles  W.  Howland,  Mrs.  William  Canby,  Mrs. 
Gilbert  Robinson. 

The  society  was  authorized  by  the  City  Council  to 
erect  public  drinking  fountains  at  its  own  expense. 
The  number  of  managers  was  increased  by  the  selec- 
tion of  the  following :  Samuel  Hilles,  Margaret  H. 
Hilles,  Edward  Bringhurst,  Sarah  Bringhurst,  James 
Bradford,  Rev.  Greorge  A.  Latimer,  Mrs.  George  A. 
Latimer,  Hannah  Shipley,  Sarah  Shipley,  Thomas  B. 
Smith,  Rev.  T.  G.  Littell,  Charles  W.  Howland, 
GuUelma  M.  Howland,  Mrs.  Agnes  C.  Norris,  Wm. 
Canby,  Ferris  Bringhurst,  Mary  W.  Bringhurst,  Wm. 
Y.  Warner,  Howard  M.  Jenkins,  Wm.  M.  Canby,  Dr. 
L.  P.  Bush,  Hetty  Ann  Bellah,  Anna  T.  Canby, 
Samuel  Floyd,  Mrs.  Samuel  Floyd,  Philip  Garrett, 
Samuel  Canby,  Miss  Anne  Semple,  J.  Taylor  Gause, 
Mrs.  J.  T.  Gause,  Elizabeth  B.  Hilles. 

In  1870  six  fountains  were  erected,  one  at  each  of 
the  places  named :  In  front  of  City  Hall,  the  giil  of 
Sarah  and  Hannah  Shipley  ;  on  French  Street  above 
Water,  the  gift  of  Edward  Bringhurst,  Sr. ;  on  Dela- 
ware Avenue  near  West  Street,  the  gift  of  E.  Bring- 
hurst &  Co.;  on  Second  Street  in  front  of  the 
Second  Street  market,  by  the  society ;  a  trough  foun- 
tain on  Church  Street  above  Seventh,  by  the  society  ; 
and  a  trough  fountain  on  Madison  Street  below  Third, 
by  the  society.  The  water  was  turned  into  these 
fountains  March  8,  1871. 


On  February  19,  1871,  a  charter  of  incorporation 
was  obtained  as  **  a  public  act  free  of  expense.*' 

The  president  of  the  society,  Ferris  Bringhurst,  on 
the  nth  of  March,  was  injured  by  the  explosion  of  an 
iron  retort  while  preparing  oxygen  gas  to  illustrate  a 
lecture  to  be  delivered  before  the  Workingmen's  In- 
stitute. He  died  from  the  results  of  this  accident,  on 
the  16th  of  the  same  month,  and  Edward  Bringhurst, 
Sr.,  was  elected  to  succeed  him  as  president. 

On  June  5,  1871,  Dr.  L.  P.  Bush  was  chosen  second 
vice-president,  and  Edward  Betts,  T.  D.  Webb,  Thos. 
B.  Smith,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Yaughan  and  Mrs.  George  A. 
Latimer  were  elected  managers. 

In  1871  a  fountain  was  erected  at  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  Ninth  and  Walnut  Streets,  the  gift  of  Samuel 


MEMORIAL  FOUNTAIN. 

Hilles ;  another,  an  "  H  "  fountain  with  three  basins, 
on  King  Street  nea^  Seventeenth,  the  gift  of  Miss 
Elizabeth  B.  Hilles;  a  trough  fountain,  the  gift  of 
Samuel  Hilles,  on  French  Street  north  of  Eleventh. 

In  1872,  a  fountain  was  erected  at  the  foot  of 
Market  Street,  at  a  cost  of  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars,  mainly  by  E.  Tatnall  Warner  and 
Charles  Warner  &  Co.,  since  removed  to  Middle 
Depot  and  one  on  Front  Street  near  West,  supplied 
with  spring  water.  J.  Taylor  Gause  and  wife  pre- 
sented a  deed  for  the  site  of  a  memorial  fountain 
dedicated  to  the  first  president  of  the  society,  Ferris 
Bringhurst,  at  Delaware  and  Pennsylvania  Avenues. 
It  was  placed  in  position  in  June,  and  on  July  1, 
1872,   the    water    was  for  the  first  time  turned  on. 


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This  beautiful  tribute  of  the  society  to  Ferris  Bring- 
hurst,  has  a  base  of  gray  granite,  column  of  red 
Aberdeen  granite  polished.  Capitol  of  gray  granite 
surmounted  by  an  urn  of  red  polished  Aberdeen 
granite. 

Fountains  have  since  been  erected  by  the  society 
at  Front  and  Madison  Streets,  at  Twenty-second  and 
Market,  and  a  trough  fountain  at  the  foot  of  Fourth 
Street. 

Heald's  Htgeian  Home  was  planned  by  Dr. 
Pusey  Heald  and  built  under  his  direction,  and 
opened  with  one  patient  January  1,  1871,  under  the 
direction  of  Dr.  P.  and  M.  H.  Heald.  The  home 
was  rapidly  filled  with  invalids  and  during  the  fifteen 
years  of  its  continuance  there  were  over  seven  thou- 
sand patients  treated,  representing  all  the  States  in 
the  Union  except  two;  and  from  South  America, 
Canada  and  Europe. 

Wilmington  Hospital. —An  account  of  the 
Soldiers'  Hospital  in  the  city  during  the  Civil  War, 
is  given  elsewhere  in  this  work.  A  charter  was  ob* 
tained  February  22, 1871,  to  found  the  Wilmington 
Hospital,  with  the  following  named  corporators : 

Lewis  P.  Bush,  M.D.,  William  G.  Gibbons,  M.D., 
Henry  F.  Askew,  M.D.,  George  W.  Bush,  William 
H.  Swift,  John  K.  Kane,  M.D.,  John  P.  McLear, 
William  B.  Bullock,  M.D.,  Jesse  Sharpe,  D.  W. 
MauU,  M.D.,  William  S.  Hilles,  John  P.  Wales,  M. 
D.,  C.  P.  Johnson,  J.  A.  Draper,  M.D.,  William  P. 
Porter,  H.  B.  Seidel  and  R.  R.  Porter,  M.D. 

The  object  of  this  charter  was  never  carried  into 
effect  owing  to  the  passage  of  another  act  author- 
izing the  City  Council  to  appropriate  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  for  the  purchase  of  a  building  on  Frank- 
lin Street.  It  was  used  for  a  hospital  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  sold  for  seven  thousand  dollars. 

HoM(£OPATHic  Hospital. — Efforts  were  made  in 
Wilmington  during  the  last  few  years  to  establish  a 
free  hospital,  but  with  poor  success,  until  the  liberal 
offer  of  J.  Taylor  Gause,  in  November,  1887,  made  it 
possible. 

An  organization  composed  of  ladies  favoring  the 
homoeopathic  practice,  was  perfected,  aiid  to  the  lady 
managers  on  the  26th  of  November,  1887,  Mr.  Gause 
offered  the  use  of  the  property  at  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Shallcross  Avenue  and  Van  Buren  Street, 
known  as  "Heald's  Hygeian  Home  "  for  hospital  pur- 
poses. The  offer  was  accepted  and  by  slight  effort 
subscriptions  to  a  considerable  amount  were  obtained, 
and  on  the  26th  of  November,  the  lady  managers 
elected  Dr.  A.  N^endank  as  medical  director,  Dr. 
Leonard  Eittenger,  physician  in  charge  of  the  ma- 
ternity department,  and  Dr.  J.  M.  Curtis  as  surgeon. 

The  building  is  of  brick,  three  stories  high,  and 
contains  twenty-three  rooms,  all  of  which  are  heated 
by  steam. 

The  Home  for  Aged  Women,  at  the  comer  of 
Oilpin  and  Harrison  Streets,  is  an  excellent,  benevo- 
lent and  useful  institiution.  It  was  founded  under 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  January  30, 1855,  as 


the  "  Female  Society  of  Wilmington  for  the  Belief 
and  Employment  of  the  Poor." 

The  incorporators  were :  Hannah  £.  Gilpin,  Sarah 
Bringhurst,  Rebecca  Gibbons,  Eliza  T.  Canby,  Mary 
Betts,  Sarah  R.  Mendenhall,  Martha  Cochran,  Eliza- 
beth Kean,  Mary  Latimer,  Sarah  T.  Seal,  Lydia  Webb, 
Elizabeth  P.  Grubb,  Hannah  Bailey,  Maria  Chandler, 
Martha  Jones,  Fanny  E.  Askew,  Maria  Busby,  Eliza- 
beth Clark,  Olivia  Cannon,  Henrietta  O.  Jones  and 
Mary  Jack.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Gibbons,  who  took  an 
active  interest  in  the  organization  of  the  society,  was 
elected  its  first  president.  A  building  at  No.  509 
Shipley  Street  was  purchased  for  two  thousand  dollars, 
and  in  it  the  society  furnished  worthy  poor  women 
with  employment  and  compensated  them  for  their 
work.  Those  who  desired  the  clothing  they  made 
were  furnished  it  at  cost.  The  other  clothing  made 
was  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  society.  Food  was 
also  supplied  to  the  helpless.  The  society,  after  con- 
tinuing its  work  ten  years,  decided  to  change  its 
name,  and,  in  1864,  made  it  a  "  Home  for  Aged  Wo- 
men," and  the  year  following  an  adjoining  building 
was  bought  for  thirty-five  hundred  dollars.  A  char- 
ter of  incorporation,  under  the  present  name,  was 
obtained  on  January  31,  1866.  The  officers  then 
were:  Mrs.  Sarah  R.  Mendenhall,  President;  Mrs. 
Gregg  Chandler,  Vice-President;  Mrs.  Emily  G. 
Woliaston,  Secretary,  and  Miss  Anne  Semple,  Treas- 
urer. The  object  of  the  Heme  is  to  protect  and  care 
for  women  who  have  reached  the  age  of  sixty  years, 
and  who  have  been  two  years  a  resident  of  New  Cas- 
tle County.  Inmates,  upon  entering  the  Home,  are 
required  lo  pay  one  hundred  dollars.  The  first  in- 
mate, in  1864,  was  Elizabeth  Kemp,  and  she  is  still 
there.  In  1869  the  society  bought  a  lot  of  James 
Bradford  for  twenty-four  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars,  and  in  1872  erected  the  handsome  three-story 
brick  building  now  owned,  at  a  cost  of  sixteen 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty-five  dollars.  This 
worthy  institution  is  supported  entirely  by  private 
contribution  and  interests  on  investments  made  by 
the  managers  of  certain  bequests  left  by  philanthropic 
individuals.  The  late  Sarah  Shipley^  loaned  three 
thousand  dollars  to  the  society  when  the  present 
building  was  being  erected,  and  the  succeeding  year 
generously  cancelled  the  mortgage.  A  number  of 
other  individuals  have  bequeathed  amounts  from 
one  hundred  to  five  thousand  dollars.  This  excellent 
institution  is  at  present  and  has  always  been  man- 
aged entirely  by  ladies.  Dr.  Henry  F.  Askew,  Dr. 
C.  Harlan  and  D.  Eittinger  have  given  their  services 
to  the  society  free  of  charge. 

The  Board  of  Managers  in  1887  were  Mrs.  M.  L. 
Chandler,  president;  Mrs.  Emily  Moore,  vice-presi- 
dent; Miss  E.  A.  Stroud,  secretary ;  Miss  Anne  Sem- 
ple, treasurer.  Mrs.  M.  L.  Chandler, Miss  A.Phillips, 
Miss  A.  E.  Stroud,  Mrs.  A.  Lobdell,  Mrs.  A. 
K.  Pusey,  Mrs.  B.  Thomas,  Mrs.  M.  Grant,  Mrs. 
S.  P.  Moore,  Mrs.  S.  Hilles,  Mrs.  C.  W.  Masters,  Mrs. 
E    Kittenger,  Mrs.  L.  Woliaston,  Mrs.  A.  Runiford, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Mrs.  M.  A.  Adams,  Mis3  A.  Porter,  Miss  A.  Semple, 
Mrs.  C.  McOlary,  Mrs.  E.  Moore,  Mrs.  H.  B.  Brown, 
Miss  T.  Richardson,  Mrs.  S.  C.  Jackson,  Mrs.  M.  L. 
Spruance,  Mrs.  G.  Howland,  Mrs.  L.  Poole  and  Mrs. 
H.  Phillips. 

The  Home  for  Friendless  and  Destitute 
Children  was  originated  as  a  private  charity  by  Mrs. 
J.  Taylor  Gause  soon  after  the  opening  of  the  civil 
war.  There  was  then  a  number  of  children  in  the 
city  whose  fathers  had  entered  the  army  and  whose 
mothers  were  left  without  sufficient  means  for  their 
support.  This  induced  the  founder  of  this  institution 
to  take  under  her  care  and  direction  some  who  most 
needed  assistance  and  protection.  Her  philanthropic 
efforts  resulted  in  great  good.  The  institution  was 
opened  in  a  dwelling-house  at  412  King  Street,  and 
within  a  few  months  fifty  children  were  under  its 
fostering  care.  The  need  of  such  an  institution  soon 
became  apparent  and  other  citizens  joined  her  in  the 
benevolent  work.  A  charter  of  incorporation  was 
obtained  March  5,  1868.  It  provides  for  the  election 
of  twelve  male  trustees  to  serve  three  years  and  these 
elect  annually  a  Board  of  Managers  composed  of 
not  less  than  thirty  ladies  who  look  after  the  inter- 
ests of  the  children,  provide  for4heir  wants  and  see 
that  they  are  educated  and  trained  to  work.  The 
trustees  manage  the  finances  of  the  institution  and 
superintend  the  buildings.  Children  under  fourteen 
years  of  age  can  be  admitted,  if  voluntarily  surren- 
dered by  their  parents,  or  those  having  them  in  cus- 
tody, or  committed  by  the  judge  of  any  court  in  the 
State  or  by  the  mayor  of  Wilmington,  on  the  ground 
of  vagrancy,  exposure,  neglect  or  abandonment.  They 
are  allowed  to  remain  in  the  Home  during  their  mi- 
nority. Some,  after  being  trained  and  educated,  are 
bound  to  trustworthy  persons,  though,  while  under 
age,  are  looked  after  by  the  managers.  Some  learn 
trades  or  are  otherwise  profitably  employed.  The 
institution  is  supported  by  voluntary  contributions 
from  interests  accruing  from  bequests  made  at  various 
times  by  philanthropic  individuals.  During  1887  the 
income  from  the  first  source  was  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  doUjirs  and  from  the  second  three  thousand 
nine  hundred  dollars,  all  of  which,  together  with  the 
appropriation  annually  of  five  hundred  dollars  by  the 
Levy  Court,  is  needed  in  the  management  of  the 
Home.  In  1877  the  Liegistature  exempted  the  build- 
ing from  taxation  and  in  1883  the  charter  was  renewed. 

The  first  annual  report  made  in  1864,  states  that  up 
to  that  date  eighty-five  children  had  been  admitted  and 
forty-eight  were  then  in  the  Home,  forty -two  of  whom 
were  the  children  of  soldiers  and  sailors.  Up  to  1887, 
about  eight  hundred  have  been  trained  and  educated, 
and  the  average  number  is  sixty.  The  good  work  of 
the  Associated  Charities  of  late  years  has  diminished 
the  annual  number  of  admissions  to  this  Home. 

The  building  on  King  Street  was  used  until  March, 
1865,  when  the  trustees  bought  of  Rev.  T.  M.  Cann,  a 
building  at  Adams  and  Ninth  Streets,  erected  a  few 
years  before  as  a  boarding-school  for  girls.  The  price 


paid  was  $21,000,  of  which  $1000  was  contributed  by 
the  previous  owner.  The  amount  of  $15,000  was  at 
once  raised  by  subscription.  Within  the  year  1887,  a 
site  for  a  new  and  more  commodious  building  was 
purchased  by  the  trustees,  opposite  Riverview  Ceme- 
tery. 

The  following  were  the  incorporators  and  the  first 
board  of  trustees :  J.  Taylor  Clause,  president ;  William 
S.  Hilles,  secretary ;  Merrit  Canby,  William  Aikman, 
Charles  B.  Lore,  Charles  Warner,  Daniel  M.  Bates, 
Samuel  Harlan,  Jr.,  Mahlon  Betts,  James  S.  Dicker- 
son,  William  Tatnall,  George  W.  Bush.  Wm.*  H. 
Billany,  was  chosen  first  treasurer;  John  N.  Carswell, 
is  now  treasurer. 

The  first  managers  were :  Mrs.  J.  Taylor  Gause,  presi- 
dent; Mrs.  William  Aikman,  vice-president;  Miss 
Anna  M.  Ferris,  secretary ;  Mrs.  John  W.  Tatum, 
Mrs.  E.  S.  R.  Butler,  Mrs.  Israel  Pu^ey,  Mrs.  John  T. 
Robinson,  Mrs.  Gilbert  Robinson,  Mrs.  Mahlon  Betts, 
Miss  Martha  Jones,  Miss  Eliza  Lea,  Mrs.  Susan 
Woolston,  Mrs.  Philip  Quigley,  Mrs.  Daniel  M.  Bates, 
Mrs.  Thomas  Darlington,  Mrs.  Thomas  B.  Rice,  Miss 
Eliza  Duncan,  Mrs.  S.  Harlan,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Samuel  Can- 
by,  Mrs.  Tamar  McCaulley,  Miss  Edith  Newlin,  Miss 
Lucy  Smyth,  Mrs.  William  Tatnall,  Mrs.  William 
Canby,  Mrs.  Elijah  Hollingsworth,  Mrs.  George  D. 
Armstrong,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Porter. 

The  trustees  at  present  are :  Thomas  McClary,  presi- 
dent ;  J.  A.  Richardson,  secretary  j  J.  T.  Gause,  G^. 
W.  Bush,  Charles  B.  Lore,  William  Canby,  Edward 
Betts,  George  S.  Capelle,  Washington  Hastings.  EM- 
ward  Bringhurst,  Jr.,  Alfred  D.  Warner,  A.  G.  Robin . 
son. 

The  managers  are :  Mrs.  J.  Taylor  Gause,  president ; 
Miss  Edith  Newlin,  vice-president;  Miss  Anna  Ferris, 
secretary ;  Mrs.  Mahlon  Betts,  Mrs.  Tamar  McCaulley, 
Mrs.  William  Canby,  Mrs.  Israel  Pusey,  Mrs.  Thomas 
Darlington,  Mrs.  Horace  A.  Conant,  Mrs.  Samuel 
Floyd,  Mrs.  Samuel  N.  Pusey,  Mrs.  N.  R.  Benson, 
Mrs.  Benj.  Nields,  Mrs.  C.  B.  Smyth,  Mrs.  H.  B. 
Seidel,  Mrs.  Geo.  S.  Capelle,  Mrs.  William  H.  Morris, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Middleton,  Mrs.  C.  N.  Trump,  Mrs. 
Ferris  Bringhurst,  Mrs*  J.  R.  Philips,  Miss  Lucy 
Smyth,  Miss  Martha  Jones,  Miss  Mary  Dixon,  Miss 
R.  J.  Warner,  Miss  Rosalie  P.  Bye,  Miss  Edith  N. 
Gkiwthrop,  Miss  Sarah  C.  Spruance. 

Associated  Charities.— Those  of  the  citizens  of 
Wilmington,  who  had  long  been  interested  in  benevo- 
lent work,  seeing  the  failure  of  the  indiscriminate 
methods  of  almsgiving,  determined  to  organize  the 
charities  of  the  city  after  the  manner  of  similar  organi- 
zations in  other  cities.  Accordingly,  after  a  number  of 
preliminary  meetings  addressed  by  Mr.  Charles  G. 
Ames  and  Dr.  Jas.  W.  Walk  of  the  Philadelphia  So- 
ciety for  Organizing  Charity,  and  others,  a  general 
committee  was  designated  to  further  the  enter- 
prise. At  a  public  meeting  held  October  20,  1884 
a  special  committee  composed  of  J.  N.  Bennan,  D.  W, 
Taylor,  Mrs.  Kate  Hastings,  Mrs.  Sarah  W.  Smith, 
Mrs.  Gertrude  W.  Nields  and  Mrs.  A.  D.  Warner,  was 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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appointed  to  prepare  a  plan  of  operation.  Their  re- 
port was  sabsequently  presented  and  adopted.  At  a 
meeting  held  November  17,  1884,  the  following  ladies 
were  appointed  as  representatives  from  the  various 
wards  or  districts,  according  to  the  proposed  plan  : 
Mrs.  Joseph  Bellah,  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Pyle,  Mrs.  H.  R. 
Bringhurst,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Holcomb,  Mrs.  Margaret  C. 
Pyle,  Mrs.  Dr.  H.  Herbst,  Miss  Mary  D.  Sisson,  Miss 
Margaret  S.  Hilles,  Miss  Maggie  Barr  and  Miss  R.  J. 
Warner.  These,  with  the  following  gentlemen  elected 
by  them,  constituted  the  central  board  of  managers : 
John  H.  Adams,  J.  Taylor  Gause,  William  G.  Gib- 
bons, G^eo.  W.  Bush,  Geo.  S.  Capelle,  A.  D.  Warner, 
Jas.  Bradford,  L.  C.  Vandegrift,  T.  Allen  Hilles, 
Daniel  W.  Taylor  and  Edward  Betts.  A  permanent 
organization  was  effected  December  1, 1884,  at  which 
the  following  officers  were  elected :  President,  John 
H.  Adams ;  vice-president,  Mrs.  A.  D.  Warner ;  secre- 
tary, Daniel  W.  Taylor ;  treasurer,  Edward  Betts. 

Having  secured  rooms  at  Seventh  and  Market 
Streets  and  elected  a  superintendent,  the  office  was 
opened  for  the  reception  of  applicants  December  22, 
1884.  The  associatied  charities  of  Wilmington  be- 
came a  chartered  institution  March  19, 1885. 

It  has  been  in  successful  operation  ever  since  and 
has  very  materially  reduced  vagrancy  and  pauperism 
within  the  city.  The  officers  for  1888  are :  President, 
William  M.  Canby ;  vice-president,  Mrs.  A.  D.  War- 
ner ;  secretary  and  treasurer,  D.  W.  Taylor ;  superin- 
tendent, John  Massey. 

The  Delaware  Society  for  the  Prevention 
OF  CrtjELTY  to  Animals  was  organized  by  act  of 
the  State  Legislature,  in  1878,  and  has  been  in  active 
operation  fourteen  years. 

It  is  governed,  under  its  charter  and  by-laws,  by  a 
Board  of  Managers  consisting  of  twenty  members, 
elected  at  the  annual  meeting  held  in  January  of  each 
year. 

The  president  and  secretary  of  the  society  are,  ex- 
officio,  president  and  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers, who  meet  quarterly,  and  to  them  is  entrusted 
the  powers  and  duties  of  carrying  out  the  purpose  of 
the  organization. 

The  headquarters  are  in  Wilmington,  where  they 
occupy  an  office  and  employ  an  agent. 

The  late  Edward  Bringhurst  was  elected  the  first 
president,  which  office  he  held  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

The  officers  elected  for  1888  were :  President,  William 
Canby;  Secretary,  Willard  Hall  Porter;  Treasurer, 
Anne  Semple;  Attorney,  Walter  H.  Hayes. 

Granb  Army  of  the  Republic— Gen.  Thomas 
A.  Smyth,  Post  No.  1,  was  organized  at  the  office  of 
Col.  A.  G.  Grimshaw,  M.D.,  in  Wilmington,  Februa- 
ry 11,  1866,  with  the  following  officers :  Post  Com- 
mander, James  Lewis ;  Senior  Vice-Commander,  D. 
H.  Kent;  Junior  Vice-Commander,  E.  C.  Jeffries; 
Adjutant,  F.  A.  Taylor ;  Quartermaster,  R.  E.  Hayes  ; 
Surgeon,  A.  D.  O.  Meara;  Chaplain,  Joseph  E. 
Booth.  The  post  went  under  the  name  of  Encamp- 
53 


ment  No.  1,  until  July  19,  1869,  when  the  present 
name  was  adopted.  It  started  with  good  prospects, 
and  its  membership  gradually  increased  until  1871, 
and  then  for  several  years  no  regular  meetings  were 
held. 

A  meeting  of  veterans  who  had  served  in  the  late 
war  was  held  in  Wilmington,  in  November,  1879, 
when  it  was  determined  to  reorganize  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  in  Delaware.  This  work  was  delega- 
ted to  General  Louis  Wagner,  Department  Com- 
mander of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in  Penn- 
sylvania. He  performed  this  duty  on  January  14, 
1880.  Gen.  Thomas  A.  Smyth  Post  was  immediately 
reorganized,  and  has  since  had  a  prosperous  exist- 
ence. The  membership  is  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
seven. 

The  officers  for  1888  are  P.  C,  Samuel  Lewis; 
S.  v.,  Jacob  B.  Sliflfer ;  J.  V.,  John  Spencer ;  Surgeon, 
Thomas  Heap ;  Chaplain,  Joseph  E.  R.  Montgomery ; 
Q.-M.,  James  D.  Grimes;  O.  of  D.,  Amos  Arthur; 

0.  of  G.,  Ferdinand  Chairs ;  Adj.,  Sylvester  Solomon. 
The  Post  meets  every    Monday    evening,  at  the 

comer  of  Third  and  King  Streets. 

Soon  after  the  reorganization  of  the  G.  A.  R.  in 
Delaware,  W.  S.  McNair  was  chosen  Department 
Commander  for  the  State. 

/SI  F,  Du  Font  Post,  No,  2,  atWilmington,  obtained  its 
charter,  and  was  mustered  in  on  Saturday  evening,  Feb- 
ruary 14, 1880,  in  the  McClary  Building,  by  W.  Scott 
Post,  No.  114,  of  Philadelphia,  of  which  Dr.  Joseph 
Furgeson  was  commander.  It  was  an  interesting  oc- 
casion to  the  veterans  present,  who  were,  that  even- 
ing, formed  into  a  Post  with  the  following  list  of 
officers:  P.  C,  J.  P.  Wales,  M.D.;  S,  V.  C,  8.  R. 
Smith;  J.  V.  C,  C.  E.  Evans;  Adj.,  S.  S.  John- 
son ;  Q.-M.,  E.  H.  Gregg ;  Surgeon,  Linton  Smith, 
M.D.;  Chaplain,  John  W.  Luke;  O.  of  D.,  William 
McCrea;  O.  of  G.,  William  O'Conner;  Sergt-M., 
James  L.  Hawkins;  Q.-M.  S.,  John   R.  Gallagher; 

1.  S.,  William  J.  Blackburn;  O.  S.,  George  H. 
Conner. 

Chas,  Sumner  Fost,  No.  4,  (7.  A.  J?.,  composed  of 
colored  veterans,  was  instituted  October  11,  1880. 
The  first  officers  were:  Com.,  L.  F.  Fisher;  S.  V., 
Simeon  Hood ;  J.  V.,  Nero  Backus ;  Sergt,  John  W. 
Wiggins;  Chaplain,  Thomas  Chambers ;  Q.-M.,  Ed- 
ward Hogans;  O.  D.,  Philip  H.  Burton  ;  O.  G.,  Wil- 
liam E.  Rain ;  A.  J.  T.,  P.  H.  Boyd ;  S.  M.,  Raymond 
Trusty;  Q.-M.  S.,  Samuel  Dill.  The  officers  for 
1888  are:  Com.,  William  G.  Hays;  S.  V.  C,  Theo- 
dore Anderson;  J.  V.  C,  Isaac  Wilson;  Surgeon, 
William  Myers ;  O.  D.,  Allen  H.  Anderson ;  O.  G., 
William  Banks;  Q.-M.,  L.  J.  Dale;  A.  J.  T.,  P.  H. 
Burton;  S.  M.,  Simeon  Hood;  Q.-M.  S.,  L.  F. 
Fisher;  Chaplain,  Elijah  Williams;  Trustees,  Si- 
meon Hood,  David  Murray,  James  Harman.  The 
membership  one  hundred  and  three. 

Place  of  meeting,  G.  A.  R.  Hall,  Tenth  and 
Shipley  Streets.  Time  of  meeting,  every  Monday 
evening. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Sumner  Circle,  No,  16,  Ladies  O,  A.  i?.,  connected 
with  Sumner  Post,  was  instituted  September  16«  1888. 
First  officers — President,  Sarah  Bostic  ;  S.  V.  P.  In- 
dia Boyd ;  J.  V.  P.,  Julia  Craig ;  Treas.,  Susan  Murray ; 
Con.,  Araminta  Dumpson  ;  Chap.,  Mary  Leonard  ; 
Sec.,  Araminta  Hays;  Guard,  Margaret  Grinly  ;  Pre- 
sent officers  :  Pres.,  India  Boyd  ;  S.  V.  P.,  Araminta 
Dumpson  ;  J.  V.  P.,  Elizabeth  Elbert  ;  Chap.,  Hen- 
rietta Fisher  ;  Con.,  Mary  E,  Fisher  ;  Guard,  Ella 
Price  ;  Treas.,  Susan  Murray  ;  Sec,  Araminta  Hays  ; 
place  of  meeting,  G.  A.  R.  Hall,  Tenth  and  Shipley 
Streets ;  time  of  meeting,  every  Thursday  even- 
ing- 

Oen.  U.  S,  Grant,  Post  No.  13,  Department  of  Del- 
aware, G.  A.  R.  Nineteen  comrades  withdrew  from  S. 
F.  Du  Pont  Post,  No.  2,  and  organized  Gen.  U.  S- 
Grant  Post,  which  was  chartered  and  installed 
October  22,  1885,  with  the  following  officers  :  Post 
Commander,  Dr.  A.  H.  Grimshaw  ;  Senior  Vice,  Pat" 
rick  Neary ;  Junior  Vice,  W.  J.  Farra ;  Adjutant' 
Francis  McClosky,  who  served  to  January,  1886' 
when  the  following  were  elected  :  P.  J.  Donnelly 
Post  Commander ;  Patrick  Neary,  Senior  Vice  ;  H.  P. 
Simpson,  Junior  Vice ;  F.  McClosky,  Adjutanti 
who  served  until  January,  1887,  when  the  following 
were  elected  and  served  until  January,  1888 :  Wm. 
O'Connor,  Post  Commander ;  H.  J.  Simpson,  Junior 
Vice.  The  present  officers  are  :  Commander,  Jas. 
Brown ;  Senior  Vice,  E.  L.  Smith ;  Junior  Vice,  Jos. 
Bair.    Present  membership,  ninety. 


CHAPTER    XL. 

LITERARY  AND  MUSICAL   SOCIETIES. 

WILMINGTON— ( Continued). 

The  Library  Company  of  Wilmington — ^The 
initiatory  steps  toward  the  estahlishment  of  a  library 
in  the  borough  of  Wilmington,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
public,  was  taken  in  1787.  On  the  12th  of  December 
of  that  year,  a  notice  appeared  in  the  Delaware 
Gazette  calling  for  a  public  meeting  in  the  Town 
Hall.  At  this  meeting  held  December  15,  Charles  H. 
Wharton,  Nicholas  Way,  Jacob  Broom,  James  Lea, 
Jr.,  and  Thomas  Lea,  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
prepare  a  plan  for  the  contemplated  association.  Their 
report  which  also  presented  a  constitution  was  read 
and  adopted  at  the  meeting  held  on  January  5,  1788. 
The  name  selected  was  '*  The  Library  Company  of 
Wilmington."  The  constitution  provided  that  each 
member  should  pay  forty  shillings  current  money  in  the 
State  of  Delaware,  and  afterwards  one  dollar  per  an- 
num. On  January  9th  the  directors  chosen  were: 
Patrick  Murdock,  Peter  Brynberg,  William  Poole, 
James  Robinson,  Jr.,  William  Hemphill,  Joseph 
Warner,  John  Hayes,  John  Ferris  and  James  Lea,  Jr. 
Jacob  Broom  was  elected  treasurer.  Books  to  the 
value  of  £29  14«  and  Id  were  bought  March  25th. 


The  library  was  located  in  the  Town  Hall,  and  on 
April  14th,  opened  for  the  use  of  members,  and 
regularly  thereafter  on  Saturdays  from  3  to  5  P.  M., 
in  summer,  and  5  to  7  P.  M.,  in  winter. 

A  charter  was  obtained  June  11, 1788,  and  under  it 
the  first  election  for  officers  was  held  on  the  first 
Monday  of  December  following,  when  John  Hayes 
was  chosen  president;  Jacob  Broom, treasurer ;  Isaac 
Stanton,  Patrick  Murdock,  Joseph  Capelle,  William 
Poole,  George  Clark,  Isaac  Henderson,  Peter  Bryn- 
berg and  Joseph  Warner,  directors.  In  1790  Robert 
Coram  was  appointed  librarian,  and  the  library  re- 
moved to  his  school-house,  on  Fourth  Street,  between 
Market  and  King. 

In  1793  the  number  of  books  was  eight  hundred 
and  ninety -one,  and  there  were  fifty- four  members  of 
the  association.  In  1797  a  present  of  twenty-eight 
pounds  was  made  by  a  society  called  the  Friends  of 
Justice.  In  1808  William  Poole,  in  behalf  of  the 
"  Amicable  Society,  lately  abandoned,''  presented  the 
library  with  $8.50,  and  in  1805  Governor  John  Dick- 
inson gave  it  five  shares  of  Spring- Water  Company 
stock. 

On  March  23,  1816,  the  library  was  returned  to  a 
room  in  the  Town  Hall  by  permission  of  the  Council. 
An  attempt  was  made  in  1817  to  sell  Rees'  "  Cyclo- 
paedia "  from  the  library  to  liquidate  a  debt,  but  the 
Monthly  Meeting  of  the  Society  of  Friends  advanced 
a  loan  of  two  hundred  dollars,  which  was  not  paid 
until  some  time  after. 

In  1822  Carey  &  Lea,  of  Philadelphia,  took  the 
"  Cyclopsedia  "  in  exchange  for  other  books. 

The  Franklin  Lyceum,  in  1846,  was  merged  into 
the  Libra»"y  Company,  and  the  books,  valued  at  ^ve 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  philosophical  appara- 
tus, costing  four  hundred  dollars,  were  transferred  to 
the  Library  Company,  with  the  understanding  that 
each  member  of  the  Lyceum  should  receive  a  share 
of  stock  in  the  Library  Company. 

In  1851  the  library  was  removed  from  the  room 
occupied  since  1816,  in  the  City  Hall,  to  the  building 
owned  by  the  Athenaeum  Company,  over  the  market- 
house  at  Fourth  and  Market  Streets.  The  amount 
of  one  thousand  dollars  was  borrowed  to  pay  off  all 
debts.  It  was  then  decided  to  have  the  library  open 
every  evening  from  seven  to  ten  o'clock. 

In  1853  the  books  of  the  Botanical  and  Horticul- 
tural Societies  were  placed  in  the  Wilmington  Libra- 
ry. In  1855  it  was  decided  to  allow  any  one  the  use 
of  the  library  by  paying  two  dollars  a  year. 

The  first  attempt  to  unite  the  Wilmington  Library 
Company  and  the  Young  Men's  Association  for 
Mutual  Impi-ovement  was  made  in  1856  and  completed 
December  15, 1857. 

The  Young  Men's  Association  for  Mutual 
Improvement  was  instituted  September  22,  1855, 
and  incorporated  February  10, 1857,  and  occupied 
rooms  in  a  building  on  Third  Street  a  few  doors  west 
of  Market. 

It  was  the  oflspring  of  a  literary  society,  organized 


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in  1847.  Any  pereon  could  become  a  member  by  the 
payment  of  one  dollar  admission  fee  and  three  dol- 
lars annually.  Its  membership  increased  very  rapid- 
ly, soon  numbering  three  hundred  and  fifty,  and  dur- 
ing a  short  independent  existence  displayed  great 
vigor  and  energy.  It  had  a  reading-room  in  which 
were  placed  the  leading  magazines  and  newspapers 
of  America  and  England ;  had  regular  courses  of  lec- 
tures, given  by  distinguished  Americans,  and  obtained 
the  privilege  of  using  the  Wilmington  Library.  In 
1867,  under  the  presidency  of  T.  Clarkson  Taylor,  an 
attempt  was  made  to  form  a  stock  company  to  build  a 
large  public  hall.  John  Wales,  C/  W.  Howland,  J. 
R.  Latimer,  D.  M.  Bates,  Joseph  Shipley  and  W.  Tat- 
nall  were  appointed  a  committee  to  present  a  plan  for 
a  hall.  About  this  time  negotiations  were  entered  into 
which  resulted  in  a  union  with  the  Wilmington 
Library  Company,  dnder  the  name  of  the  Wilmington 
Library  and  Young  Men's  Association.  This  associa- 
tion agreed  to  pay  and  cancel  the  bond  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars  against  the  Library  Company.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  combined  associations  of  four  hundred 
and  fifty  members  have  equal  privileges  in  the  library 
of  four  thousand  five  hundred  volumes. 

Wilmington  Institute.— The  Wilmington  Li- 
brary and  Young  Men's  Association,  formed  in  1857 
by  the  union  of  the  two  associations,  was  changed  to 
the  Wilmington  Institute,  the  name  which  it  now  bears, 
under  an  act  passed  by  the  Legislature,  and  approved 
January  27, 1859.  The  title,  cho&en  at  the  time  of  the 
union  and  embodying  the  names  of  both  the  organi- 
zations out  of  which  it  was  formed,  was  declared  to  be 
too  long  and  cumbersome.  At  the  same  time  a  seal 
was  procui'ed  containing  the  date  of  incorporation 
and  the  design  ot  a  lighted  torch  presented  by  one 
hand  to  another  extended  to  recieve  it,  with  the 
legend  "  Per  Manus  Lampus  Traditur."  Misses  Mary 
and  Sarah  Hamilton,  Hon.  James  A.  Bayard,  Hon. 
William  G.  Whitely  and  the  heirs  of  James  Canby 
each  presented  to  the  library  a  valuable  collection  of 
books  in  1859,  and  the  same  year  nine  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  new  volumes  were  purchased.  The  en- 
tire library  then  had  over  five  thousand  volumes. 

The  first  officers  of  the  Wilmington  Institute  were 
as  follows  :  President,  Joshua  T.  Heald ;  Vice-Presi- 
dents, William  S.  Hilles  and  George  W.  Bush ;  Re- 
cording Secretary,  William  D.  Dowe ;  Con-esponding 
Secretary,  Edward  T.  Taylor ;  Treasurer,  William  H. 
Billany;  Directors;  Harris  Stewart,  Charles  W. 
Howland,  Hanson  Harman,  Alexander  Eelley,  Dr.  A. 
H.  Grimshaw,  Joshua  L.  Pusey,  William  Canby,  T. 
Clarkson  Taylor,  John  P.  McLear  and  Dr.  Wm.  R. 
Bullock. 

A  definite  move  was  now  set  on  foot  to  procure  an 
eligible  site  and  upon  it  erect  a  large  building.  A 
committee,  of  which  William  Canby  was  chairman, 
purchased  the  property  on  the  comer  of  Eighth  and 
Market  Streets,  for  thirteen  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
corner-stone  of  Institute  Hall  was  laid  on  Tuesday, 
July  24, 1860. 


The  members  of  the  building  committee,  who  sup- 
erintended the  erection  of  Institute  Hall,  were  Wil- 
liam Tatnall,  William  S.  Hilles,  Charles  W.  Howland, 
George  W.  Bush,  William  Canby  and  James  Brad- 
ford. 

It  is  eighty-seven  and  one-quarter  feet  front  on 
Market  Street,  one  hundred  and  eighteen  feet  on 
Eighth  Street  to  Shipley.  The  original  library-room 
was  thirty-six  by  fifty  feet,  and  adjoining  it  on  the 
same  floor  was  a  scientific  lecture-room,  now  part  of 
the  library-room.  The  main  audience-room  up-stairs 
is  seventy -three  by  seventy-eight  feet  and  thirty-one 
and  one-half  feet  high,  with  seating  capacity  for 
twelve  hundred  persons.  The  entire  cost  of  site  and 
the  erection  of  the  hall  was  fifty  thousand  dollars ;  of 
this,  seventeen  thousand  dollars  was  raised  by  volun- 
tary subscription.  S.  D.  Button,  of  Philadelphia, 
was  the  architect,  and  Henry  F.  Dure,  carpenter. 
There  were  at  this  time  six  hundred  members,  and 
the  certificate  of  membership  was  fixed  at  forty  dol- 
lars each. 

The  hall  was  dedicated  January  81, 1861.  Samuel 
Biddle,  the  president,  made  the  opening  speech ;  Rev. 
G.  F.  Wiswell.  of  Central  Presbyterian  Church, 
delivered  an  address;  and  was  followed  by  Daniel 
M.  Bates.  The  Amateur  Glee  Club  furnished  the 
music  for  the  occasion. 

A  course  of  lectures  was  given  the  next  winter  by 
Bayard  Taylor,  Wendell  Phillips,  John  B.  Gough, 
John  S.  C.  Abbott,  Schuyler  Colfax  and  E.  L.  You- 
mans. 

In  1860  the  circulation  of  books  of  this  library  was 
18,000;  in  1870,26,904;  1880,  28,640;  1886,30,410; 
and  in  1887,  32,331.  The  total  number  of  members 
is  six  hundred  and  twenty-four. 

Thomas  K.  Porter  is  corresponding  secretary;  Mark 
M.  Cleaver,  recording  secretary ;  J.  A.  Richardson, 
treasurer ;  Mrs.  M.  A.  Resag,  acting  librarian ;  and 
Miss  Lucy  Barnes,  assistant. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  who  have  been 
president : 

1859.  Joshua  T.  Heald. 

1860.  William  Cauby. 

1861.  Samuel  Btddle. 
ISBi.  William  S.  Hilles. 
1663.  George  W.  Bush. 
1864.  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Bullock. 
1866.  Dr.  J.  F.  Vaughao. 

1866.  John  H.  Adams. 

1867.  John  P.  McLear. 

1868.  S.  M.  Harrington. 

1869.  Daniel  W.  Taylor. 

1870.  William  H.  Swift. 

1871.  Anthony  Higgins. 

1872.  WilUam  M.  Canby. 

1873.  George  H.  Bates. 

The  Franklin  Lyceum.— The  Young  Men's  Li- 
brary and  Debating  Society  was  founded  by  enter- 
prising young  men  of  Wilmington  in  1834.  The 
name  was  subsequently  changed  to  the  Franklin 
Lyceum.  It  was  an  organization  which  prospered 
for  many  years.  At  one  time  it  had  a  library  of  eight 
hundred  volumes  and  philosophical  apparatus  which 


1874.  Mahlon  M.  Cbild. 
1876.  Rev.  T.  Gardner  Litt«U. 

1876.  Howard  M.  Jenkini. 

1877.  William  S.  Aachindov. 

1878.  John  0.  Cole. 

1879.  Samuel  A.  Macalllster. 

1880.  Henry  0.  Conrad. 

1881.  Frederic  H.  Robinaon. 

1882.  DaTid  W.  Harhm. 

1883.  Stansbury  J.  Willey. 

1884.  George  A.  Elliott. 
1886.  T.  Allen  Hillee. 

1886.  Dr.  Cbariee  R.  Jefferii. 

1887.  Isaac  T.  Johnson. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


cost  four  hundred  dollars.  Interest  in  the  association 
ceased,  some  of  the  books  were  lost,  and  in  1846  a 
union  was  formed  with  the  Wilmington  Library 
Company,  to  which  organization  all  the  books  and 
apparatus  were  transferred,  with  the  proviso  that 
each  member  of  the  Lyceum  be  granted  a  certificate 
of  stock  in  the  library  company. 

The  Historical  Society  of  Delaware  was 
organized  May  31,  1864.  The  executive  committee 
of  Wilmington  Institute  took  the  initiative  step  by 
calling  a  meeting  of  prominent  persons  for  organizcC- 
tion  and  inviting  the  attendance  of  a  committee  from 
the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania.  At  this 
meeting  Hon.  Willard  Hall  was  chosen  chairman 
and  W.  D.  Do  we,  secretary.  A  committee  composed 
of  Hon.  John  M.  Read,  LL.D.,  Hon.  Oswald  Thomp- 
son, LL.D.,  Colonel  J.  Ross  Snowden  and  Horatio 
Oates  Jones  was  appointed  by  the  Pennsylvania  His- 
torical Society  to  be  present  at  the  organization  of 
the  Delaware  society,  and  to  express  the  interest  of 
the  society  they  represented  in  its  institution.  *  These 
gentlemen,  except  Mr.  Thompson,  were  present. 
Hon.  John  M.  Ri',ad  spoke  in  behalf  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania society  and  Colonel  Snowden  delivered  an 
address  on  the  history  of  Pennsylvania  and  Dela- 
ware. 

The  society  organized  by  electing  Hon.  Willard 
Hall,  president ;  W.  T.  Read,  of  New  Castle,  Hon. 
Samuel  M.  Harrington,  of  Dover,  and  Governor  Wil- 
liam Cannon,  of  Sussex  County,  vice-presidents; 
Rev.  Leighton  Coleman,  corresponding  secretary; 
W.  D.  Dowe,  recording  secretary;  J.  Franklin 
Yaughan,  M.D.,  librarian  ;  W.  S.  Hilles,  treasurer ; 
Henry  F.  Askew,  M.D.,  Wilmington,  Rev.  George 
Foot,  Glasgow,  Major  John  Jones,  Middletown, 
Hon.  J.  W.  Houston,  Milford,  Charles  M.  Cullen, 
Esq.,  Greorgetown,  directors.  The  original  members 
of  this  society  were  Hon.  Willard  Hall,  Daniel  M. 
Bates,  Rev.  Charles  Breck,  Right  Rev.  Alfred  Lee, 
Rev.  Leighton  Coleman,  Rev.  William  Aikman,  Rev. 
George  Foot,  Major  John  Jones,  Jacob  B.  Vandever, 
Dr.  Henry  F.  Askew,  William  D.  Dowe,  Esq.,  Dr.  J. 
F.  Wilson,  Samuel  Biddle,  William  T.  Read,  Esq., 
Samuel  E.  Thompson,  Daniel  Lammot,  John  C.  Cole, 
Francis  Vincent,  John  P.  McLear,  Alfred  Nones, 
Dr.  William  R.  Bullock,  Charles  B.  Lore,  Esq., 
H.  Robert  Penington,  Governor  William  Cannon, 
Chancellor  Samuel  M.  Harrington,  Hon.  John  W. 
Houston,  Charles  M.  Cullen,  Esq.,  and  William  L. 
Hilles.  The  society  now  owns  and,  through  the 
work  of  the  present  librarian,  carefully  arranged  in 
the  rooms  of  the  old  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wil- 
mington, a  very  valuable  collection  of  historical  ma- 
terial. It  is  composed  of  rare  books,  newspaper  files, 
manuscripts,  documents,  portraits,  relics,  etc.,  of  great 
historical  interest. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  oflBcers:  President, 
Leonard  E.  Wales;  Vice-Presidents,  Thomas  F.  Bay- 
ard, Charles  C.  Stockley  and  Chief  Justice  Comegys ; 
Corresponding  Secretary,  Dr.  L.  P.  Bush ;  Recording 


Secretary,  George  W.  Bush,  Jr.;  Treasurer,  Henry 
R.  Bringhurst ;  Librarian,  Dr.  R.  P.  Johnson ;  His- 
toriographer, Dr.  Horace  Burr;  Directors,  Christian 
Febiger,  John  P.  Wales,  M.D.,  Willard  Hall  Porter, 
George  H.  Bates,  Esq.,  and  William  A.  La  Motte. 

The  Female  Harmony  Society  was  organized  in 
1814  in  the  Hanover  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  "for 
mutual  instruction  and  Christian  labor."  This  so- 
ciety in  the  same  year  started  the  first  Sunday-school 
in  Wilmington  in  the  old  Stone  Church,  corner  ot 
Fifth  and  Walnut  Streets.  The  first  superintendent 
was  Miss  Anna  M.  MacMullan  (afterwards  Mrs. 
George  Jones).  *  She  was  succeeded  by  Mit«s  Mary 
Harbison.  A  charter  was  obtained  from  the  State 
Legislature  January  28,  1817,  for  the  establishment 
of  Sunday-schools  and  charity  school.  The  persons 
named  in  the  act  were  Mary  Read,  Ann  Porter,  Ma- 
ria Smith  and  Lydia  Monro.  The  operations  of  this 
society  originated  the  State  law  of  1822,  appropriat- 
ing money  to  Sunday-schools  and  for  the  teaching  ot 
poor  children.  In  1818  this  society  erected  a  build- 
ing for  Sabbath-school  purposes  on  Fifth  Street  ad- 
joining the  old  church. 

The  Harmonic  Society,  which  had  for  its  object 
the  study  of  sacred  music,  wa-^  organized  in  1814  in  the 
old  academy  on  Market  Street,  where  an  upper  room 
was  fitted  up  with  platform  and  raised  benches.  So 
successful  was  thi^  society  that  in  1816  it  was  com- 
posed of  four  hundred  members  of  the  town  and  vi- 
cinity. Each  member  paid  fifty  cents  a  quarter  of 
twelve  weeks.  Several  teachers  were  employed. 
Monthly  concerts  were  given  and  large  audiences 
were  in  attendance.  Instrumental  music  was  intro- 
duced into  the  town  largely  through  the  influence  of 
this  society.  There  were  a  few  pianos  in  the  town  as 
early  as  1800. 

The  Female  Hospitable  Society  was  organized 
in  1885  to  furnish  food  and  clothing  and  secure  em- 
ployment for  the  worthy  poor  of  the  city.  Among  its 
members  then  were  Mrs.  John  McLear,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Jones,  Mrs.  Willard  Hall,  Mrs.  George  Jones  and 
Miss  Jane  Cochran.  For  many  years  it  was  instru- 
mental in  accomplishing  much  good. 

The  Athen^um  was  a  building  erected  over  the 
east  end  of  the  Fourth  Street  Market  in  the  year 
1830  by  a  literary  society  of  the  same  name, 
organized  in  1828  in  a  two-story  brick  building 
on  Shipley  Street,  east  side,  above  Fifth.  The 
officers  and  directors  by  whom  it  was  built  were 
Charles  T.  Grubb,  president;  John  A.  Duncan, 
secretary;  D.  A.  Upham,  Edwin  A.  Wilson,  Dr. 
Henry  Gibbons,  John  B.  Porter,  Dr.  Henry  F.  Askew 
and  John  L.  Hadden.  The  Wilmipgton  Library  for 
several  years  was  kept  in  one  of  its  rooms,  and  many 
public  meetings  and  exercises  of  Literary  societies 
were  held  in  it.  From  a  balcony  at  the  east  end  of 
it  some  eminent  speakers  addressed  political  meetings, 
among  whom  were  Henry  Clay  and  Abraham  Lincoln, 
the  latter  when  a  member  of  Congress  in  1848.  The 
Franklin  Lyceum  held  its  meetings  at  this  place  in 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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1S42,  and  took  charge  of  the  building.  It  was 
removed  with  the  market-house  in  1843. 

A  BoTAincAL  Society  was  organized  January 
16,  1842,  with  Samuel  Hilles,  president;  Edward 
Tatnall,  vice-president;  J.  H.  Barkley,  secretary; 
Edward  Bringhurst,  treasurer ;  Edward  Tatnall,  Jr., 
W.  S.  Hilles  and  Dubre  Knight,  curators.  The 
object  of  this  society  was  **  to  arouse  and  sustain  an 
interest  in  the  study  of  botany,  the  most  pleasant  of 
all  the  natural  sciences.''  It  had  an  active  existence 
for  nine  years. 

The  Ciceronian  Literary  Society,  organized 
in  1840,  for  many  years  held  its  meetings  in  a  build- 
ing on  Orange  Street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh. 
Colonel  H.  S.  McComb,  Edward  Betts,  Pennock 
Pusey,  Carson  H.  Adams,  Hanson  Harmon,  George 
W.  Bush  and  William  Silver  were  some  of  its  early 
members.  **  AbaUibooz  abangan  arribonean  Mokuna" 
was  the  name  of  a  literary  society,  organized  in  1847, 
by  a  number  of  intelligent  young  men.  Any  person 
who  could  'pronounce  the  name  correctly  was  entitled 
to  membership.  In  1849  it  is  said  an  applicant 
choked  in  the  attempt,  which  caused  the  society  to 
disband. 

The  Wilmington  Sacred  Music  Society  gave 
its  first  concert  in  St.  Paul's  M.  £.  Church,  on  Thurs- 
day evening  February  28, 1849.  It  was  composed  of 
members  of  several  churches.  This  societ}'  enter- 
tained an  audience  composed  of  the  ''beauty  and 
fashion  of  the  city,"  Thanksgiving  day,  1849.  Mr. 
Marsh  was  its  leader. 

Shields'  Library  Association,  in  the  city  of 
Wilmington,  was  founded  by  eight  young  men,  on 
May  4, 1863.  It  is  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  James  A. 
Shields,  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  war  with 
Mexico,  and  of  the  Civil  War.  The  names  of  the 
founders  are  Robert  Elliot,  James  Sweeny,  M.  H. 
Ryan,  J.  Kane,  John  Kelley,  John  McElweeand  Wil- 
liam McMonagle.  They  organized  by  electing  James 
Sweeny,  president ;  J.  Kane,  secretary ;  Robert  Elliot, 
librarian.  The  first  place  of  meeting,  and  where  the 
library  was  kept,  was  in  the  Mount  Vernon  House, 
308  King  Street  Better  quarters  were  next  secured 
in  the  large  building,  southeast  corner  of  Fifth  and 
Market  Streets.  In  this  place  the  association  regularly 
met  until  December  18,  1881,  when  the  building,  in- 
cluding the  books,  furniture  and  pictures  of  the  library, 
amounting  to  nine  hundred  dollars,  were  destroyed 
by  fire.  The  association  then  met  by  invitation  in 
the  engine-house  of  the  Water  Witch  Fire  Company, 
until  the  present^beautiful  and  commodious  hall  was 
obtained  in  the  Saville  building,  southeast  corner  of 
Sixth  and  Market  Streets.  A  charter  was  obtained 
January  25, 1869,  and  renewed  February,  1885.  The 
library  has  a  collection  of  six  hundred  and  fifty  well 
selected  books.  A  large  number  of  the  standard  daily 
and  weekly  newspapers  and  monthly  perodicals  are 
regularly  received.  The  membership  is  three  hundred 
and  fifty  seven,  each  of  whom  pay  five  cents  a  week 
membership  fee.    The  officers  for  1887  were  Frank 


P.  Phalen«  president;  M.  F.  Keogh,  {vice-president; 
John  A.  Carberry,  secretary  ;  and  Thomas  J.  King, 
treasurer. 

The  German  Library  Association  was  organ- 
ized March  12,  1873,  by  Henry  Miller,  Frederick  V. 
iTourdon,  Andrew  Wilhelm,  Sebastian  Burkhardt» 
Anthony  Hauber,  and  Kasaimer  Abberger.  The 
library  was  first  kept  in  the  house  of  Andrew  Wil- 
helm, at  411  Shipley  Street,  and  continued  there  until 
1880,  when  a  charter  of  incorporation  was  obtained, 
and  the  library  removed  to  Hertman's  building,  on 
Fourth  Street,  below  Market  Street.  In  1884  the 
Grerman  Library  Association,  in  connection  with  the 
Delaware  Saengerbund,  purchased  the  large  hall 
which  they  now  (1888)  own,  on  East  Sixth  Street, 
between  Washington  and  French  Streets,  formerly 
the  Wesleyan  Female  College.  The  library  has  since 
been  in  that  building.  It  contains  eleven  hundred 
well-selected  volumes  printed  in  the  Grerman  lan- 
guage, and  five  hundred  in  English.  The  officers  for 
1887  were :  President,  William  Cloos ;  Secretary,  Dr. 
Emil  Hertel ;  Treasurer,  Frederick  Bourdon. 

The  Young  Men's  Republican  Club,  whose 
handsome  headquarters  are  at  No.  810  King  Street, 
Wilmington,  was  organized  on  July  9,  1880,  in  the 
Garfield  campaign.  Its  membership  soon  increased 
to  eight  hundred  of  the  leading  young  Republicans 
in  the  city.  Six  hundred  of  its  members,  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Samuel  M.  Wood,  First  Regi- 
ment, Delaware  National  Guards,  were  in  uniform, 
and  marched  with  the  precision  of  veterans.  The 
organization  was  formed  by  the  election  of  Frederick 
E.  Bach,  president;  David  C.  Chalfant,  vice-president; 
George  F.  Smith,  secretary;  Elwood  C.  Jackson, 
treasurer ;  and  Samuel  M.  Wood,  marshal. 

In  December,  1880,  the  club  was  reorganized  and 
placed  upon  a  permanent  basis.  The  officers  were 
re-elected,  and,  in  December,  1881,  were  again  re- 
elected. In  the  mean  time  the  organization  had 
established  itself  in  commodious  quarters.  In 
December,  1882,  Thomas  W.  Heisler  was  elected 
president,  and  Nathaniel  R.  Benson,  Jr.,  sec- 
retary. During  the  following  spring  the  club 
obtained  a  charter,  the  members  named  therein 
being  Francis  W.  Heisler,  Nathaniel  R.  Benson,  Jr., 
Henry  C.  Conrad,  Francis  H.  McCaulley,  Jacob 
Eldridge  Pierce  and  Frederick  E.  Bach.  The  charter 
brought  renewed  prosperity  to  the  club.  Secretary 
Benson  was  elevated  to  the  presidency  in  the  following 
December,  and  T.  Jackson  Shaw  was  chosen  secretary. 
In  the  campaign  of  1884  the  club  took  an  active  part 
in  the  election  of  delegates  to  the  National  Conven- 
tion. Later  in  the  canvass,  General  Logan,  the 
candidate  for  Vice-President,  visited  the  city  as  the 
guest  of  the  club,  which  gave  him  a  brilliant  recep- 
tion in  the  Opera-House.  In  December  of  that  year 
Captain  Edmund  Mitchell,  Company  A,  Delaware 
National  Guards,  was  unanimously  elected  president 
and  Harry  F.  Triggs,  secretary.  In  the  spring  of 
1885  the    club  purchased   the    building   on    King 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Street,  Wilmington,  which  it  now  occupies.    El  wood 

C.  Jackson  was  chosen  president  in  December  of 
that  year,  and  Mr.  Triggs  was  re-elected  secretary. 
The  club  has  two  hundred  active  members.  The 
officers  elected  for  1888  are  Edward  Mitchell^ 
president ;  Samuel  M.  Knox,  vice-president ;  Harry 
F.  Triggs,  recording  secretary ;  Henry  C.  Pickels, 
corresponding  secretary ;  Lewis  B.  Morrow,  financial 
secretary;  J.  Eldridge  Pierce,  treasurer;  and  Thomas 
Holt,  marshal. 

The  Washington  Cornet  Band,  one  of  the  first 
mnsical  organizations  of  its  kind  in  Wilmington, was 
formed  at  the  Washington  Hotel,  September  2,  1834. 
It  flourished  for  nearly  twenty  years.  In  1846  it 
joined  artillery  Company  A,  of  the  city.  The  Inde- 
pendent Band  was  formed  in  1847,  and  the  Wilming- 
ton String  Band  soon  afterward. 

Delaware  Saengerbund  dates  its  origin  back  to 
March  17, 1853,  and  has  since  had  a  prosperous  and 
active  existence.  The  first  members  were  G.  Huber, 
L.  Roeder,  L.  Grieb,  John  Henry  Mulhausen,  John 
Fehrenbach,  Solomon  Brill,  C.  Keiser,  Andrew  Witz, 
Beinhart  Reinhold,  Henry  Baker,  A.  Hilger,  John  O. 
Krauch,  Jacob  Stuck,  Valentine  Walter,  John  Boad- 
hog  and  A.  Hiller. 

It  organized  with  G.  Anton,  musical  director ;  Wil- 
liam Bopameyer,  president ;  J.  H.  Mulhausen,  secre- 
tary ;  H.  Bleyer,  treasurer ;  and  J.  Fehrenbach, 
librarian.  The  object  of  this  society  was  the  study  of 
the  musical  productions  of  the  best  Gkrman  com- 
posers. 

The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  twenty. 
Daniel  Maier  is  president;  Henry  Zimmerman, 
treasurer ;  Henry  Koehler,  financial  secretary ;  and 
Albert  Ampriester,secretary.  George  B.  Metzner  was 
secretary  for  several  years.  The  Saengerbund  and 
the  German  Library  Association  conjointly,  about 
1888,  purchased  a  large  building,  formerly  part  of 
Wesleyan  College,  on  Sixth  Street  between  French 
and  Tatnall,  for  $7500  and  expended  $4000  in  im- 
provements. In  this  commodious  building  the  Saen- 
gerbund and  the  German  literary  and  beneficial  so- 
cieties hold  their  meetings. 

The  Millard  Club  was  organized  January  16, 
1875.  The  original  twelve  members  were  Dr.  How- 
ard Ogle,  J.  H.  Lewis,  W.  W.  Lobdell,  C.  B.  Rhoads, 
George  W.  Stone,  W.  D.  Kavanagh,  Dr.  A.  B. 
Mitchell,  W.  D.  Pickels,  J.  H.  Cameron,  Henry 
Baird,  Julius  Hess  and  Bradley  James.  Mr.  Rhoads 
was  chosen  musical  director.  The  club  met  for 
practice  on  Monday  evenings  at  the  homes  of  mem- 
bers, and  gave  the  first  concert  in  West  Presbyterian 
Church  June  17,  1875.  By  July  of  that  year  the 
membership  was  increased  to  twenty-one  by  the 
election  of  L.  Curran,  B.  Q.  Saville,  John  W.  Todd, 

D.  McClosky,  J.  Kavanagh,  F.  Fullmer,  M.  A.  Kel- 
ley,  William  Hamilton  and  Huxley  Harvey.  George 
W.  Stone  was  president.  The  centennial  rehearsal 
was  given  June  27, 1876.  On  "  Delaware  Day  "  the 
club  visited  the  Centennial  Exhibition    and  sung 


"Comrade  in  Arms  "  in  front  of  the  Delaware  build- 
ing, to  an  immense  concourse  of  people.  W.  W. 
Lobdell  was  elected  president  in  1877.  In  March, 
1878,  the  club  gave  a  concert  in  the  new  court-room 
at  Dover.  May  Slst,  of  same  year,  it  gave  the  first 
"Floral  Concert;"  the  Mendelsohn  Quintette,  of 
Boston,  rendered  the  music,  assisted  by  Miss  Ella 
Lewis.  On  September  23, 1878,  a  concert' was  given 
for  the  benefit  of  the  yellow-fever  sufferers  in  Louis- 
iana and  seven  hundred  and  ten  dollars  was  sent  for 
that  purpose  by  this  club.  Harrison  Millard  and 
Miss  Beese,  of  New  York,  were  present  and  sung  on 
this  occasion.  In  1879  George  W.  Stone  was  presi- 
dent; an  executive  committee  was  then  elected,  com- 
posed of  Dr.  J.  M.  Curtis,  W.  W.  Lobdell,  C.  B.  Rhoads, 
George  Stone ,  and  Dr.  Howard  Ogle.  It  was  then 
decided  to  admit  ladies  to  membership  and  the  name 
was  changed  to  the 

Philharmonic  Society,  which  was  formed  with 
the  following  fifty-six  members:  Sopranos,  Mrs.  J. 
P.  Wales,  Mr^.  J.  N.  Cooling,  Mrs.  S.  A.  McAllister, 
Mrs.  M.  A.  Taylor,  Miss  Addie  Connor,  Miss  Eva 
Crouch,  Miss  M.  Monaghan,  Miss  Etta  Springer, 
Miss  M.  Horn,  Miss  Louisa  Schmidt,  Miss  Eva  Zeb- 
ley,  Miss  Sallie  Lowry,  Miss  Mary  Connor,  Miss  Eva 
Cooling.  Altos — Miss  Virginia  Connor,  Miss  Agnes 
Ogle,  Miss  Mamie  Connor,  Miss  Alice  Lobdell,  Miss 
R.  Gallagher,  Miss  Agnes  Monaghan,  Miss  Ida  Cars- 
well,  Miss  Julia  Huffington,  Miss  Rose  Megary.  Tenors 
— W.  W.  Lobdell,  S.  Curran,  J.  L.  Robeson,  Thomas 
Tucker,  Joseph  Coley,  H.  P.  Rumford,  Samuel  McC. 
Barber,  S.  F.  Odbourn,  James  H.  Cameron,  J.  Hess, 
T.  Allen,  W.  H.  Sincock,  N.  B.  Danforth,  John  Can- 
non, J.  M.  Curtis,  T.  D.  Gambrill,  E.  H.  Booth. 
Bassos— A.  B.  Mitchell,  F.  Fullmer,  George  W. 
Stone,  C.  T.  Howell,  H.  Baird,  Howard  Ogle,  J.  H. 
Lewis,  Joseph  H.  Jone<,  John  Ripperger,  J.  H.  Blyer, 
W.  J.  Fisher,  W.  D.  Pickels,  Fred  Weyl,  W.  A. 
Blyer,  Alexander  Nurick.  C.  B.  Rhoads  was  musical 
director.  The  new  society,  after  singing  other  music 
for  a  time,  took  up  "Trial  by  Jury  "  and  presented  it 
to  the  public  with  the  following  caste :  Judge,  George 
W.  Stone;  Plaintiff,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Taylor;  Counsel, 
James  H.  Cameron  ;  Defendant,  W.  W.  Lobdell ; 
Usher,  C.  T.  Howell ;  Foreman,  J.  H.  Jones ;  Direc- 
tor, C.  B.  Rhoads;  Pianist,  F.  Fullmer;  Stage  Man- 
ager, Dr.  J.  M.  Curtis.  It  was  repeated  before  an 
audience  of  fifteen  hundred  people. 

Nov. ^8, 1879,  "Pinafore"  was  rendered  with  this 
cast  of  characters :  Sir  Joseph  Porter,  K.  C.  B.,  C.  T. 
Howell ;  Captain  Corcoran,  George  W.  Stone ;  Ralph 
Rakestraw,  W.  W.  Lobdell ;  Dick  Deadeye,  W.  J. 
Fisher;  Boatswain,  N.  R.  Benson,  Jr.;  Josephine, 
Miss  Clara  J.  Rau ;  Buttercup,  Miss  Eva  Crouch ; 
Hebe,  Miss  Ida  Carswell.  The  Philharmonic  So- 
ciety continued  an  organization  for  several  years  and 
was  composed  of  members  who  i^MsesBed  rare  musical 
talent. 

The  Tuesday  Club,  composed  of  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen, is  the  most  proficient  musical  organization 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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that  WilmiQfi^ton  has  yet  produced.  Its  members 
come  from  the  higher  circles  of  society  in  the  city, 
and  many  of  them  are  trained  musicians.  This  club 
since  its  organization  has  exerted  an  elevating  and 
ennobling  influence  in  the  community,  and  is  a  happy 
illustration  of  what  can  be  done  when  the  best  musi- 
cal talent  of  a  community  in  which  there  is  intelli- 
gence and  refinement  associate  themselves  together, 
for  further  improvement  in  the  highest  of  all  the  fine 
arts — music.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1884  that  Charles 
T.  Howell,  organist  and  leader  of  the  choir  in  Grace 
Church,  himself  a  skilled  musician,  began  to  train  his 
choir  of  a  dozen  members  on  Tuesday  evenings  to 
sing  a  variety  of  sacred  music  of  classic  selection,  and 
daring  the  succeeding  winter  gave  three  public  re- 
hearsals or  praise  services  in  the  audience-room  of 
Grace  Church.  The  next  year  the  membership  in- 
creased and  they  b^an,  then,  to  hold  their  Tuesday 
evening  meetings  for  practice  in  Baynard's  music- 
room,  comer  Fifth  and  Market  Streets.  In  June, 
1886,  Mr.  Howell  removed  from  Wilmington,  and,  of 
necessity,  severed  his  connection  with  his  society,  at 
that  time  composed  of  forty  members.  It  was  then 
decided  to  form  a  permanent  organization.  The 
members  elected  N.  B.  Benson,  Jr.,  president,  with 
power  to  choose  other  persons,  who,  with  himself, 
constituted  a  committee  to  formulate  rules  for  the 
government  of  the  body  and  to  select  a  musical  direc- 
tor. As  a  permanent  name, "  Tuesday  Club  "  was  then 
decided  upon  and  N.  B.  Benson,  Jr.,  was  elected  presi- 
dent; James  H.  OBm«fon,  vice-president;  Henry 
Baird,  secretary;  W.  N.  Hamilton,  Jr.,  treasurer;  J. 
T.  Clymer,  librarian;  and  John  T.  Craig,  pianist. 
The  first  meeting  of  the  club  under  its  present  name 
was  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  October,  1886,  and  the 
membership  soon  thereafter  increased  from  forty  to 
one  hundred.  D.  H.  Morrison,  of  Philadelphia,  was 
chosen  the  musical  director,  whose  knowledge  of 
classical  music  and  ability  as  a  leader  won  the  confi- 
dence of  the  members  of  this  club  and  exerted  a 
beneficial  influence  in  increasing  the  popularity  of 
the  organization.  The  oratorio  of  "The  Creation" 
was  taken  up  and  rendered  with  a  chorus  of  eighty- 
four  voices  before  a  large  audience  in  the  opera-house 
January  12, 1887.  The  success  of  this  presentation 
established  the  reputation  of  the  Tuesday  Club.  In 
May,  1887,  this  club  repeated  "The  Creation  "  with 
the  Memorial  Choral  Society,  of  Philadelphia,  in  the 
Memorial  Baptist  Church  of  that  city,  and  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  same  month  gave  a  very  successful 
concert  of  miscellaneous  music  in  the  Wilmington 
Opera- House.  In  October,  1887,  the  Tuesday  Club 
began  to  hold  its  meetings  in  the  Unitarian  Church, 
on  West  Street,  and  took  up  the  oratorio  of  "  Elijah." 
The  officers  for  1888  are, — President,  N.  B.  Benson, 
Jr. ;  Vice-President,  Henry  Baird ;  Secretary,  H.  R. 
Triggs ;  Treasurer,  W.  N.  Hamilton,  Jr. ;  Librarian, 
James  H.  Cameron ;  John  T.  Craig  is  pianist. 

The  Choral  Club,  an  active  and  progressive 
musical  society,  was  organized  with  sixty-five  mem- 


bers'in  the  month  of  April,  1887.  Its  membership 
has  since  increased  to  ninety.  The  first  board  of 
directors  were  W.  J.  Fisher,  president ;  N.  D.  Clow- 
ard,  secretary ;  Fred.  Weil,  treasurer ;  Frank  Kane, 
John  Braunstein,  William  Gibbons,  Samuel  McAdams. 
Mayor  C.  B.  Bhoads,  who  has  for  many  years  been 
an  able  and  popular  instructor  in  music,  and  musical 
director  in  Wilmington,  is  the  leader  of  the  Choral 
Club,  which  first  learned  the  cantata,  "Joseph's 
Bondage,"  and  made  two  public  presentations  of  it  in 
the  Opera-House  before  a  large  audience  during  the 
summer  of  1887.  The  club  next  took  up  the  "  Chimes 
of  Normandy,"  under  the  same  musical  director.  T. 
Lesley  Carpenter  is  the  accompanist,  and  J.  M.  Clay- 
ton stage  manager,  and  John  M.  Braunstein  chorus 
master. 

The  Choral  Club  is  a  co-operative  organization, 
and  divides  the  proceeds  of  its  public  entertainments 
equally  among  its  members.  It  is  doing  an  excellent 
work  in  stimulating  young  people  who  possess  good 
voices  to  improve  themselves  in  the  art  and  science 
of  music  without  cost. 

The  officers  for  1888  are,— President,  Frank  Kane  ; 
Secretary,  N.  D.  Cloward ;  Treasurer,  Fred.  Weil. 

Shipley  Street  Theatre. — A  theatrical  troupe 
appeared  in  Wilmington  in  1833,  and  presented  sev- 
eral plays  in  a  large  room  of  the  Bayard  Hotel.  An  ad- 
mission of  fifty  cents  was  charged.  A  few  months 
later  a  hall  was  fitted  up  at  the  corner  of  Front  and 
Orange  Streets,  and  a  number  of  Shakespeare's  best 
plays  was  presented  to  enthusiastic  audiences.  Great 
interest  was  taken  in  the  histrionic  art  about  this  time 
in  the  newly  incorporated  city. 

The  Wilmington  Theatre  Company  obtained  a 
charter  in  1834,  and  the  same  year  erected  a  building 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  Sixth  and  Shipley  Streets, 
seventy-eight  by  forty-three  feet,  twenty-six  feet  to 
the  dome,  with  an  audience-room  to  seat  six  hun- 
dred persons.  The  architect  was  John  Wisdom,  of 
Philadelphia.  The  scenery  and  decorations  were 
executed  by  James  Carr.  The  opening  performance 
was  given  December  22,  1834,  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Barnes,  with  good  support,  by  the  presentation  of  a 
comedy,  "The  Soldier's  Daughter."  Admission  to 
"  boxes  75  cents,  pit  37}  cents,  gallery  25  cents.  The 
performance  began  at  seven  o'clock  sharp."  This 
company  played  one  week  "  to  houses  of  the  best 
kind  with  unbounded  applause."  It  was  invited  to 
remain  two  weeks  longer.  A  large  number  of  the 
citizens  of  Wilmington  shook  their  heads  in  dismay, 
and  said  the  whole  town  was  destined  to  go  to  ruin 
if  so  many  of  their  friends  and  neighbors  patronized 
"so  wicked  a  thing  as  a  theatre."  It  brought  forth 
some  lively  newspaper  correspondence.  The  character 
of  the  performances  at  this  little  theatre  seems  to  have 
been  good,  and  it  continued  to  prosper  the  first  sea- 
son. In  1835  James  B.  Hall  became  manager,  and 
secured  good  talent  for  that  year.  F.  C.  Wemyiss 
leased  it  in  1837.  The  building  was  used  as  a  theatre 
until  1839 ;  in  the  mean  time  its  ownership  passed 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


from  the  hands  of  a  company,  and  was  bought  by 
William  W.  Baker,  M.D. 

Odd  Fellows'  Hall  was  erected  by  a  company 
chartered  by  the  General  Assembly,  February  10, 
1847,  with  a  capital  stock  of  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
in  two  thousand  shares  of  ten  dollars  each.  The 
company  elected  its  first  officers  January  24,  1848, 
when  Jesse  Sharpe  was  chosen  president;  Edward 
Mclnall,  secretary;  William  Campbell,  treasurer; 
and  William  R.  Sellars,  Henry  C.  Banning,  William 
Morrow,  James  Elliott,  J.  Fleming  Smith,  Zenas  B. 
Glazier,  William  Thatcher,  John  H.  Stidham,  Dela- 
plaine  McDaniel  and  Jacob  Barr  as  curators. 
Ck)nsiderable  feeling  arose  in  regard  to  the 
location  of  the  building ;  one  faction  advocated 
the  purchase  of  a  lot  at  the  northwest  corner 
of  Seventh  and  Market  Streets,  and  the  other 
the  lot  on  which  the  hall  now  stands,  at  the 
northwest  corner  of  Third  and  King  Streets. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  with  the  usual 
ceremonies  and  a  fine  display  of  the  order. 
Among  the  distinguished  guests  present  were 
Home  R.  Kneass,  Grand  Sire  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  United  States,  and  Prof.  Patterson, 
of  Philadelphia. 

The  interesting  ceremonies  of  dedication  took 
place  May  28, 1849.  It  was  a  public  holiday 
in  the  city,  and  thousands  of  people  were  on 
the  streets  to  witness  the  display  of  the  order 
with  its  glittering  regalia  and  gorgeous  banners. 
Hon.  H.  M.  Ridgely  on  this  occasion  delivered 
an  eloquent  oration  in  Asbury  Church.  Odd 
Fellows'  Hall  was  then  the  largest  building  in 
the  State. 

The  lecture-room  was  opened  by  the  Ger- 
mania  Society,  a  musical  organization  from 
Prussia.  David  Paul  Brown,  the  great  Phila- 
delphia orator,  lectured  in  this  hall  in  1849. 
J.  R.  Scott,  an  American  tragedian,  followed 
in  "  Othello";  and  an  Italian  opera  company 
also  appeared  in  it  soon  afterwards. 

This  room  was  refitted  in  1865,  and  in  1878 
it  was  thoroughly  remodeled  at  a  cost  of  two 
thousand  dollars.  Other  improvements  have 
since  been  made.  The  officers  of  the  company 
since  its  organization,  in  addition  to  a  board 
of  nine  curators,  have  been  :  Presidents — Jesse 
Sharpe,  twenty-six  years;  Dr.  Henry  F.  Askew,  two 
years ;  Daniel  Farra,  four  years ;  John  G.  Yates,  seven 
years.  Secretaries — Edward  Mclnall,  one  year;  Wm. 
Hemphill  Jones,  four  years;  C.  P.  Johnson,  nine  years. 
Treasurers — William  Campbell,  John  McClung,  Wil- 
liam Graves,  Robert  R.  Robinson,  James  L.  Morrow, 
Wm.  H.  Talley  and  Joshua  Maris,  served  respectively 
from  one  year  to  six  years,  until  the  year  1868,  when 
the  office  of  treasurer  was  merged  with  that  of  the 
secretary,  since  which  time  the  present  incumbent, 
Henry  Eckel,  has  been  continued  in  the  office, 
making  his  term  of  service  as  secretary  and  treas- 
urer cover  a  period  of  twenty-six  years.    Mr.  Eckel 


is  the  oldest  living  officer  now  remaining  in  the  ser- 
vice. 

The  assets  of  the  company  are  forty  thousand  three 
hundred  dollars;  liabilities,  twenty-eight  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty  dollars. 

The  Masonic  Temple  and  Opera-House.— Ef- 
forts had  been  made  at  various  times  to  secure  the 
erection  of  an  appropriate  building  in  which  the 
Masonic  lodges  could  hold  their  meetings.  In  1867  a 
committee,  with  representatives  from  each  of  the  lodges 
in  the  city,  was  appointed,  and  on  January  28, 1869, 
the  Masonic  Hall  Company  was  chartered  with  a 


MASONIC  TEMPLE  AND  OPERA  HOUSE. 


five 


capital  ot   one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in 
thousand  shares  of  twenty  dollars  each. 

On  March  22d  of  that  year  the  following  officers 
were  elected :  George  G.  Lobdell,  president ;  James 
Scott,  vice-president;  John  P.  Allmond,  secretary. 
The  other  directors  were  Jesse  Sharpe,  Sr.,  James  H. 
Rcggs,  T.  M.  Ogle,  Phi  lemma  Chandler,  John  Taylor, 
William  G.  Gibbons,  J.  H.  Simms,  Joseph  E.  Miller, 
Henry  English,  Dr.  Jacob  Derrickson,  William  S. 
Hayes  and  David  Woolman. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1870,  the  company  pur- 
chased the  lot,  ninety-two  by  two  hundred  and  twelve 
feet,  upon  which  the  Masonic  Temple  and  Opera-House 


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841 


now  stand,  from  the  heirs  of  John  Gtordon  for  thirty- 
six  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars,  and  the  same 
year  the  erection  of  the  building  was  begun.  The 
corner-stone  was  laid  with  imposing  ceremonies  April 
20,  1871,  A.L.  5871,  Most  Worshipful  Master  Rev. 
J.  Collins  McCabe,  D.D.,  officiating.  Representatives 
from  the  Grand  Lodges  of  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey, 
Maryland  and  Delaware  and  the  Governor  of  the 
State  were  in  attendance.  Thomas  M.  Ogle  was  chief 
marshal  of  the  procession. 

The  Building  Committee  were  James  H.  Beggs,  J. 
P.  Allmond  and  Thomas  M.  Ogle ;  and  the  Finance 
Committee  were  Jesse  Sbarpe,  Sr.,  James  Scott,  John 
Taylor,  William  Gibbons  and  George  G.  Lobdell. 
Thomas  Dixon,  of  Baltimore,  was  the  architect.  The 
ceremonies  of  dedication  were  held  April  18, 1872, 
in  the  presence  of  a  vast  assemblage  of  people,  in- 
cluding a  number  of  prominent  persons. 

The  building  is  ninety-two  by  two  hundred  and 
eleven  feet,  four  stories  high,  surmounted  by  a  man- 
sard roof.  The  entire  front  is  iron.  The  front  rooms 
are  used  for  stores.  The  building  is  faced  with  iron 
painted  white,  and  very  rich  in  mouldings  and  orna- 
ments. The  auditorium,  on  the  first  floor  back,  is 
praised  for  its  acoustic  properties.  It  has  dress-circle, 
parquet-circle  and  gallery.  In  all  there  are  fourteen 
hundred  and  four  chairs  ahd  four  proscenium  boxes. 
It  was  opened  December  25,  1871,  by  the  Caroline 
Bichings  Bernard  Company,  with  a  drama  entitled 
**  Daisy  Farm  "  in  matinee,  and  "  Rob  Roy  "  at  the 
evening  performance.  During  the  same  season 
Madame  Parepa  Rosa  sang  in  concert.  E.  A.  Soth- 
ern  (the  comedian),  Edwin  Booth,  Charlotte  Cush- 
man,  John  B.  Gough,  E.  L.  Davenport,  Lucille  West- 
em,  Barney  Williams,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  J.  Flor- 
ence, Edwin  Forrest  and  the  American  Opera  Com- 
pany have  since  appeared  in  this  opera-house.  Jesse 
K.  Baylis  has  been  manager  of  it  since  1874. 

The  Masonic  fraternity,  who  own  the  building, 
have  elegantly-furnished  apartments  in  it. 

The  officers  for  1888  are  George  G.  Lobdell,  presi- 
dent; James  Scott,  vice-president;  Isaac  C.  Pyle 
W.  S.  Quigley,  Joseph  Gould,  James  Parke,  James 
H.  Beggs,  J.  D.  Winslow,  H.  S.  Hodgman,  William 
Baxter  and  J.  Win  field  Scott,  directors. 

Academy  of  Music— In  1884  James  H.  Shoe- 
maker and  Lewis  P.  Buck  purchased  a  lot,  and  the 
same  year  erected  on  it  the  Academy  of  Music,  at  a 
cost  of  thirty  thousand  dollars.  The  building  has  a 
frontage  of  fifty  feet  on  Delaware  Avenue  and  extends 
back  one  hundred  and  twelve  feet.  It  was  completed 
January  1,  1885,  and  on  the  11th  of  that  month  was 
opened  by  the  Boston  Ideal  Opera  Company,  which 
played  one  week.  The  proscenium  arch  is  twenty- 
eight  by  twenty-eight  feet  and  the  stage  thirty-five  feet 
deep  by  forty-six  feet  wide  and  fifty  feet  high.  The 
drapery  is  made  of  silk  velvet  plush  and  the  chairs 
are  covered  with  mohair  cloth.  Turcoman  and  silk 
velvet  plush  is  used  throughout  the  room.  The  ceil- 
ing has  been  frtecoed.     The  entire  seating  capacity 


of  parquet,  balcony  and  gallery  is  thirteen  hundred 
persons.  This  place  of  amusement  was  managed 
with  varied  success  from  the  time  it  was  built  until 
March,  1887,  when  it  was  leased  to  F.  F.  Proctor, 
who  is  the  lessee  of  several  other  similar  buildings 
throughout  the  country.  He  has  completed  his  ar- 
rangements to  have  performances  twice  every  day  for 
forty  weeks  of  the  year. 


CHAPTER    XLL 

WILMINGTON— ( Omiinited). 
CEMETERIES. 

Old  Swedes'  Burial-Ground. — As  the  earli- 
est settlers  upon  the  Delaware  brought  with  them 
the  animosities  and  contentions  of  their  native 
lands,  and  besides  fighting  out  in  their  new  homes 
the  ancient  grudges  of  England,  Holland  and 
Sweden,  often  shouldered  arms  to  save  themselves 
from  being  driven  into  the  sea  by  the  Indians,  the 
establishment  of  cemeteries,  an  attendant  of  peace 
and  civilization,  was  not  a  primary  object  with 
them.  But  when  the  Swedes  set  up  their  church 
at  Crane  Hook,  south  of  the  mouth  of  the  Chris- 
tiana Creek,  they  had  a  burial-place  attached  to 
it,  and  upon  the  erection  of  Old  Swedes'  (now 
Trinity)  Church,  in  1698,  they  laid  out  a  plot  of 
surrounding  earth  to  receive  the  bodies  of  their 
dead.  It  was  then  far-distant  from  any  settlements, 
and  interments  must  have  been  attended  with  the 
expenditure  of  much  time  and  trouble.  The 
earliest  graves  in  this  cemetery  are  unmarked. 
The  following  are  the  inscriptions  on  some  of  the 
oldest  tombs  and  monuments:  William  Vande- 
vere,  born  1656,  died  Nov.  1719 ;  Breta  Cock,  died 
1726  ;  Catharine,  her  sister,  two  days  later.  Alice, 
wife  of  Samuel  Kirk,  died  1732,  aged  63  years. 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Timothy  Stidham,  1737,  aged 
42  years.  Peter,  son  of  Hance  and  Mary  Smith, 
1747,  aged  27  years.  John,  son  of  Israel  and 
Susannah  Stalcup,  1747,  aged  26  years.  Ingeborg 
Stidham,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Ingeborg  Jaquet, 
born  1690,  married  Lucy  Stidham  1715;  died 
1748. 

Mary  Smidt,  bom  1697,  went  to  Sweden   1714, 
returned  1721 ;  died  Nov.  19,  1750. 

Casparus,  son  of  Cornelius  and  Mary  Jaquet, 
died  1755,  aged  thirty-five  years. 

Jesper  Poulsen,  died  1763,  aged  seventy-three 
years. 

Henry  Colesbury,  died   1760,  aged  fifty-eight 
years. 

Peter  Hendrickson,  died    1761,  aged   fifty-five 
years. 

William  Hedges,  died  1765,  aged  thirty-eight 
years. 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


Morton  Justis,  died  1765,  aged  seventy-seven 
years. 

William  Derickson,  died  June  1,  1766,  aged 
sixty-two  years. 

John  Linam,  died  1768,  aged  forty-six  years. 

Ingebar  Robinson,  died  1768,  aged  sixty-four 
years. 

William  Tussey,  died  1771,  aged  sixty-six 
years. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Colesbury,  died  1771, 
aged  sixty-two  years. 

Lydia,  wife  of  Thomas  Gilpin,  daughter  of  Evan 
Rice,  died  1775,  aged  twenty-eight  years. 

(xabriel  Springer,  died  1781,  aged  thirty-one 
years. 

Ann  Justis,  died  1781,  aged  thirty-one  years. 

Anna  Maria  Tussey,  died  1786,  aged  seventy- 
eight  years. 

Mary  Justis,  wife  of  Swen  Justis,  died  1785, 
aged^  fifty-four  years. 

Swen  Justis  died  Jan.  19, 1792,  aged  sixty-six 
years. 

Peter  Abraham  Girelius,  died  Sept.  18,  1786, 
aged  nineteen  days.  This  was  the  son  of  Law- 
rance  Girelius,  the  last  Swedish  minister  of  the 
Old  Church. 

Elizabeth  Justis,  wife  of  John  Justis,  died 
1795,  aged  forty  years. 

John  Justis,  died  1805,  aged  fifty-five  years. 

Major  Peter  Jaquett,  an  officer  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, bom  April  6, 1755,  died  at  Long  Hook  Farm, 
near  Wilmington,  September  18, 1834.  Elizabeth 
P.  Jaquett,  his  wife,  born  November  25,  1769, 
died  May  5,  1834. 

Brooke  T.  Turner,  bom  in  Manchester,  England, 
1792,  died  1867.  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  1802,  died  1884. 

Jonathan  Saville,  died  1849,  aged  seventy-eight 
years;  Harriet,  his  wife,  1859,  aged  eighty-six 
years. 

Captain  John  Gallagher,  (U.  S.  Navy),  died 
1842,  aged  fifty-eight  years. 

Rebecca  B.  Justice,  bom  1789,  died  1867. 

Th.  Jenifer  Adams,  bora  1796,  died  1865 ;  Isa- 
bella, his  wife,  died  1857,  aged  fifty-five  years. 

Cornelius  Derrickson,  born  1812,  died  1881. 

John  A.  Banning,  died  1854,  aged  sixty-four 
years;  Elizabeth,  his  wife,  died  1861,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years. 

Cloud  Elliot,  died  1824,  aged  thirty-seven 
years ;  Eliza,  his  wife,  died  1872,  aged  eighty-four 
years. 

Benjamin  Elliot,  died  1854,  aged  seventy-six 
years ;  Mary,  his  wife,  died  1836,  aged  sixty-two 
years. 

John  Paulson,  Esq.,  died  1838,  aged  sixty-four 
years. 

Dr.  Richard  Colegate  Dale,  died  1818,  aged 
forty-seven  years. 


James  Ashton  Bayard,  bom  1799,  died  1880 ; 
Anna  Francis,  wife  of  James  A.  Bayard,  bom 
1802,  died  1864. 

Thomas  R.  Brinckle,  M.D.,  bom  in  Kent 
County,  1804,  died  in  Philadelphia,  1853.  These 
words  are  inscribed  on  the  tall  granite  shaft: 
"  In  memory  of  one  whose  blameless  life  was 
passed  in  the  constant  practice  of  good  deeds.  A 
man  eminently  just,  upright  and  sincere  in  pur- 
pose and  action,  loyal,  devoted,  faithful,  unselfish 
and  generous  in  all  his  relations.  This  monument 
is  erected  by  his  friends." 

Jacob  Derickson,  died  1840,  aged  sixty-nine 
years ;  Sarah,  his  wife,  died  1847,  aged  seventy- 
six  years. 

Jacob  Derrickson,  born  1781,  died  1851,  aged 
seventy  years. 

Perrine  Victore  Virginie  Canchois,  a  native  of 
St.  Domingo,  died  1828,  aged  thirty  eight  years. 

Florengio  Andre  Verrier,  born  in  St.  Domingo, 
1799,  died  at  Eden  Park,  Wilmington,  1860; 
E.  M.  Garesch^,  his  wife,  bora  1814,  died  1858. 

William  Hamon,  of  St.  Domingo,  bom  in 
France,  died  in  Philadelphia,  1816,  aged  sixty 
years. 

Cora  Margaret  Garesch^,  bom  1820,  died 
1838. 

Helen  Cmon  Bauduy,  wife  of  J.  B,  Bauduy,  of 
St.  Domingo,  died  1815,  aged  sixty-five  years. 

Ferdinand  Bauduy,  died  1814,  aged  twenty- 
five  years. 

Maria  Francisca  Regina  Joubert,  wife  of  Col. 
Louis  Tousard,  one  of  the  Society  of  Cincinnati, 
died  July  20,  1794. 

J.  Garesch^  du  Rocher,  born  in  St.  Domingo, 
1740,  died  in  Wilmington,  1801. 

Elizabeth  Garesch^,  died  1803,  aged  forty-three 
years. 

Alfred  Francis,  died  at  Philadelphia,  1842, 
aged  twenty-seven  years. 

John  James  Ullmann,  bom  1754,  in  Strasburg, 
France,  died  1811. 

John  Pay  on,  born  in  Jamaica,  died  1799,  aged 
forty-four  years. 

William  H.  Keating,  born  in  Wilmington,  1799, 
died  in  London,  1840. 

Isaac  Stidham,  Esq.,  died  1824,  aged  sixty 
years. 

John  Stidham,  born  1760,  died  1839. 

David  Stidham,  died  1838,  aged  sixty-nine 
years. 

William  Gay  ley,  died  1848,  aged  seventy-eight 
years;  Stena,  his  wife,  1849,  aged  eighty-one 
years. 

John  Elliot,  died  1849,  aged  eighty-two  years. 

John  Hedges,  bom  1776,  died  1865. 

Urban  D.  Hedges,  M.D.,  bom  1809,  died  1865. 

Solomon  Sharp  (surgeon  in  United  States 
Navy),  born  1806,  died  1870. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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Greorge  Stevenson,  died  1829,  aged  sixty-nine 
years. 

John  Baptist  Bretton  Deschapelle,  born  in 
Leogane,  in  the  Island  of  St.  Domingo,  died  in 
Wilmington,  January  19,  1795,  aged  thirty-six 
years;  his  daughter,  Elulalia  Keating,  died  1805, 
aged  twenty  nine  years;  John  Keating,  died  in 
Philadelphia,  1824,  aged  twenty-five  years. 

Elizabeth  Parlin,  daughter  of  Rev.  Peter  Tran- 
berg  and  wife  of  Rev.  Olove  Parlin,  died  1802, 
aged  seventy-two  years. 

John  Grordon,  died  1847,  aged  sixty-four  years, 
Ann,  his  wife,  born  1787,  died  1869. 

John  Armond  Monges  died  at  Matagorda,  Tex 
as,  1840,  aged  fifty-nine  years. 

Francis  O'Daniel,  bom  1768,  died  1827.  Isa- 
bella, his  wife,  bom  1777,  died  1812. 

William  F.  O'Daniel,  bom  1807,  died  1862, 
Sarah,  his  wife,  born  1810,  died  1862. 

Timothy  Jackson,  died  1812,  aged  sixty-two 
years. 

Henrietta  M.  Allmond,  died  1844,  aged  thirty- 
two  years. 

Ann  Maria  GriflSn,  wife  of  Greorge  Griffin,  died 
1824,  aged  twenty-four  years. 

John  Allmond,  died  1832,  aged  seventy-one 
years.     Beulah,  his  wife,  died  1852. 

John  G.  Allmond,  born  1796,  died  1830.  Jane, 
his  wife,  bora  1803,  died  1881. 

Solomon  Higgins,  M.D.,  born  1839,  died  1881. 

William  Derickson,  died  1766,  aged  sixty-two 
years. 

Captain  Hugh  Montgomery, "  associated  with  the 
Continental  Congress  to  import  arms  and  ammu- 
nition, sailed  from  Wilmington  on  the  perilous  en- 
terprise, and  in  the  harbor  of  St.  Thomas  hoisted 
the  first  flag  of  Independence."  He  died  1780, 
aged  thirty  years. 

Rachel  Montgomery,  died  1825,  aged  seventy- 
five  years. 

Elizabeth  Montgomery,  died  February  25, 1 863, 
aged  eighty-four  years.  She  was  the  author  of 
the  "  Reminiscences  of  Wilmington." 

John  Elliott,  1849,  aged  eighty  two.  Rebecca, 
his  wife,  1836,  aged  sixty-two  years. 

William  Derrickson,  died  1 766,  aged  sixty-six 
years. 

Rev.  Charles  Ewbank  Mcllvaine,  bom  1839, 
died  1876. 

Rev.  C.  A.  Spooner.  born  1798,  died  1883. 
Mary  Collins,  his  wife,  bom  1816,  died  1882. 

Julia  White,  wife  of  Alfred  Lee,  bom  1811, 
died  1868. 

William  Kirk,  died  1811,  aged  forty-seven 
years.  Susannah,  his  wife,  died  1837,  aged  sixty- 
eight  years. 

William  Donman,born  1789,  died  1828. 

William  Hedges,  died  1765,  aged  thirty-eight 
years. 


Mary  James,  died  1833,  aged  eighty  years. 

Harry  Sharpley,  bom  1846,  died  1886. 

Dr.  William  Horsey,  died  1807,  aged  twenty- 
four  years. 

Samuel  White,  Esq.,  died  1809,  aged  thirty- four 
years. 

Margaret  S.  Barker,  wife  of  Joseph  Barker, 
daughter  of  Judge  John  Laws,  of  Sussex  County, 
died  1819,  aged  forty-three  years. 

Joseph  Eugene  Capelle,  M.D.,  died  1796,  aged 
twenty-nine  years. 

Ann  Magdaline,  wife  of  Rev.  Ralph  Williston, 
died  1825. 

Joanna,  widow  of  Rev.  Arthur  Hamilton,  died 
1807,  aged  sixty-seven  years. 

Joseph  Springer,  1832,  aged  ninety-two.  Anna, 
his  wife,  1824,  aged  seventy-seven. 

James  Grimshaw,  M.D.,  died  1853. 

William  Peach,  died  November,  1880,  aged 
eighty  years.  John  Peach,  September,  1860,  in 
his  eighty  ninth  year. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas  Niell,  died  May, 
1779,  aged  twenty-three  years. 

Marcia  Patterson,  died  1786,  aged  forty-five 
years. 

Jane  Morris,  died  December,  1794. 

Samuel  Little  died  1814,  aged  sixty-four 
years. 

Christopher  Tennant,  died  1840,  in  his  sixty- 
fifth  year. 

The  Presbyterian  Cemetery,  at  the  comer 
of  Market  and  Tenth  Streets,  dates  back  to  the 
erection  of  the  old  church  on  that  site  in  1740. 
There  is  a  large  number  of  handsome  monuments 
and  other  mortuary  memorials.  The  following  are 
among  the  names  and  inscriptions  : 

Gunning  Bedford,  born  in  Philadelphia,  1747, 
graduated  at  Nassau  Hall,  New  Jersey,  1771  ; 
Attorney-General  of  Delaware ;  one  of  her  Dele- 
gates to  Convention  that  framed  the  Constitution 
*  of  the  United  States;  first  Judge  of  District  Court 
of  the  United  States,  in  the  district  of  Delaware. 

Jane  Ballareau,  wife  of  Gunning  Bedford. 

Samuel  Erwin,  Sr.,  died  of  yellow  fever,  August 
30,  1798,  aged  forty-six  years. 

John  Erwin,  May  30, 1797,  aged  seventy  years. 

Allan  Thomson,  born  1788,  died  1884. 

William  Hemphill,  bom  1743,  died  1823. 

John  Boyd,  died  December  8,  1837,  in  his 
seventieth  year. 

William  S.  Boyd,  born  1805,  died  1886. 

John  McKinley,  M.D.,  born  in  Ireland,  1721, 
died  in  Wilmington,  1796.  He  settled  in  this  coun- 
try early  in  life  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine. He  was  the  first  President  of  the  State  of 
Delaware  under  its  first  Constitution,  and  after  the 
Declaration  of  Independence. 

Susan,  wife  of  Csesar  A.  Rodney,  and  daughter 
of  Captain  John  Hunn,  bom  1775,  died  1839. 

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844  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 

Captain  John  Hunn,  died  April  22,  1810,  aged  gospel  for  over  fifty  years,  and  the  first  Presby- 

sixty-four  years.  terian  missionary  in  Southern  Delaware.   His  wife 

Captain  Henry  Geddes,  died  1833,  aged  eighty-  died  at  eighty-five. 

four  years.     He  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution.  Thomas  Wallack,   December    17,   1786,   aged 

His  wife,  M.  Latimer,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-  seventy-seven  years. 

five.  Samuel  Stewart,  born  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland, 

James  Latimer,  died  1807,  aged  eighty-seven  died  in  Brandywine  Hundred,  1773,  aged  sixty-six, 

years.  Margaret,  his  wife,  died  at  eighty-two. 

Henry  Latimer,  M.D.,  born  1762,  died  1819.  John  Brown,  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland, 

Robert  White,  a  native  of  Ireland,  died  1820,  died  1857,  aged  seventy-seven. 

aged  sixty.  James  Brown,  died  1864,  aged  eighty-two  years. 

James  Gardner,  a  native  of  Ireland,  1844,  aged  Valentine  McNeal,    native  of  Ireland,    1834, 

sixty-eight  aged  seventy-five.     Margaret,  his  wife,  1845,  aged 

John   Hyndman,  March   1, 1850,  aged  eighty  eighty-two. 

years.  Greorge  Cleland,  native  of  Ireland,  1827,  aged 

Benjamin  Chandler,  born  1781,  died  1856.  forty-four  years. 

Alexander  H.  Hamilton,  died  1838,  aged  thirty-  John  Cleland,  born  in  Ireland,  1787,  died  1852. 

four  years.  Mark  Elliott,  died   1788,  aged    seventy-eight 

Archibald    Hamilton,  Esq.,  October  4,  1841.  years. 

aged  fifty-nine  years.  Ebenezer  A.  Smith,  M.D..  died  May  5,  1815, 

Lydia  Monro  Gilbert,  daughter  of  Dr.  George  S,  aged  sixty-one  years. 

Monro,  and  wife  of  Rev.  E.  W.  Gilbert,  President  Robert  S.  Smith,  M.D.,  hb  son,    1825,  aged 

of  Delaware  College.  thirty-six. 

George  Monro,  M.D.,  born  1760,  died  1819.  Captain  Patrick  OTlinn,  died  July  7,  1818,  in 

Jemima  Monro,  daughter  of  Colonel   Haslet,  his  seventieth  year. 

who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Princeton,  and  wife  of  Andrew  McKee,  died  aged  seventy-seven  years. 

Dr.  Monro,  died  July  19,  1824.  and  Mary,  his  wife,  aged  seventy-two  years. 

Robert  Frame,  born  1800,  died  March  19, 1847.  Andrew  McKee,  died  October  3,   1793,   aged 

Jennette  M,  Clayton,  wife  of  Robert  Frame,  seventy-five  years,  and  his  wife,  Isabella,  June  24, 

bom  1805,  died  1848.  1781,  aged  sixty-one  years. 

Samuel   Harrison,   a  native  of  Ireland,   died  Baptist  Cemetery. — The  names,  dates  of  death 

1831,  aged  eighty-four.  and  age  of  persons  interred  in  this  cemetery  noted 

John   Fleming,  died   1827,  aged  seventy-four  are: 

years.  Rev.  Thomas  Ainger,  died  1797,  in  his  forty- 
Joseph  Hamilton,  July  25,  1850,  aged  sixty-six  third  year. 

years.  Abigail,  his  wife,  February  28,  1793,  aged  fifty- 
John  Long,  October  15,  1813,  aged  sixty-three  five. 

years.  Thomas  McKim,  Esq.,  1784,  aged  seventy-four. 
Isabella  Wigton,  died  1850,  aged  seventy-eight  Rachel,  wife  of  Henry  Hewitt,  1795,  aged  thirty- 
years,  seven. 

Colonel  Thomas  Kean,  died   of  yellow   fever,  ,      Henry  Hewitt,  August  28, 1796,  aged  fifty-one. 

1802,  aged  fifty-five.  Jane,  wife  of  John  N.  Harker,  1839,  aged  twen- 

Mary  Kean,  wife  ot  Thomas  Kean,  died  1817.  ty-five. 

Theophilus  Jones,  1864,  in  his  eighty-fifth  year.  Mrs.  Allmond  Dennison,  1842,  aged  eighty. 

John  H.  Barr,  born  December  25,  1801,  died  Captain  Henry  Read,  January  2,  1837,  aged 

1879.  forty-seven. 
John  B.  Dauphin,  died  December  26,  1810.  Ann,  wife  of  Charles  Yates,  1815,  aged  twenty- 
Joseph  Thomas,  M.D.,  died  November  28, 1835,  three. 

aged  thirty-one  years.  Job  Robinson,  October  1,  1797,  aged  fifty-five. 

John  Simpson,  July  21,  1816,  aged  sixty- three  Sarah  Giffen,  1811,  aged  seventy-one. 

years.  Jane,  wife  of  Paul  McGinn,  1842,  aged  eighty- 
Joseph  Miller,  Esq.,  1798,  of  yellow  fever,  aged  four. 

thirty-three.  Samuel  Riley,  April  30,  1836,  aged  fifty. 

Rev.  John  Martin  Council,  a  victim  of  the  rail-  Jared  Chestnut,  1837,  aged  sixty-three. 

road  tragedy  at  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  August  William  Baldwin,  August  13,  1845,  aged  seven- 

29,  1855,  born  in  1819.                             "  ty-five. 

Rev.  Thomas  Read,  D.D.,  pastor  of  First  Pres-  Thomas  Crozer,  1830,  aged  fifty-one. 

byterian  Church  of  Wilmington,  died  1823,  aged  Jonathan  Zebley,    November  19,    1849,    aged 

seventy-eight  years.     He  was   a  minister  of  the  seventy-four. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


846 


HaoDah,  his  wife,  December  20,  1839,  aged 
sixty-two. 

Captain  Augustus  Scout,  January'  14, 1845,  aged 
fifty-eight. 

Ann,  his  wife,  January  6, 1830,  aged  forty-nine. 

Richard  Poole,  1828,  aged  forty-six. 

AsBURY  Church  Cemetery  was  laid  out  about 
the  time  the  church  was  founded,  in  1785.  Among 
those  interred  in  this  burying-ground  are  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Rev.  Robert  Gerry,  twice  pastor  of  Asbury 
Church,  born  Jan.  30*  1799,  died  May  9,  1856. 

Rev.  Solomon  Prettyman,  first  president  of  Wes- 
leyan  Female  College  in  Wilmington,  bom  in  Sus- 
sex County,  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  May  9, 
1856. 

Dr.  Allen  McLanedied  February  14, 1845,  aged 
fifty- five. 

Samuel  McLane,  died  1831,  aged  twenty -seven. 

George  Read  McLane,  M.D.,  died  in  Wisconsin, 
1855,  aged  thirty-four. 

John  Hagany,  for  many  years  a  zealous  and 
useful  local  preacher,  died  May  25,  1845,  aged 
sixty- eight. 

Rev.  Samuel  Wood,  1851,  aged  eighty-two. 

John  D.  Moore,  1858,  aged  sixty-five. 

Allen  McLane,  "distinguished  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  fi-om  its  commencement  to  its  close,  as 
a  gallant  officer  and  a  devoted  patriot.  He  was 
for  many  years  an  officer  in  the  State  and  National 
Grovernment,"  born  in  Philadelphia  August,  1746 ; 
died  in  Wilmington,  May  29,  1829,  in  his  eighty- 
third  year. 

Allen  McLane,  bom  in  Kent  County,  1750,  died 
in  Wilmington,  1807,  "  a  devout  Christian  uniform- 
ly exemplary  in  the  performance  of  his  duty." 

Benjamin  M.  Barron  died  July  25, 1859,  aged 
fifty-six  years  For  thirty-five  years  he  was  a  pilot 
on  the  Delaware  River  for  the  "  Pilot,"  '*  Robert 
Morris,"  "  Ohio  "  and  other  steamboats. 

Rev.  Thomas  Lamplugh,  a  local  preacher,  born 
1813,  died  1877. 

Philip  Chapelle  died  October  19,  1795,  aged 
sixty. 

Enoch  Moore,  the  ship-builder,  died  October  12, 
1822,  aged  fifty-three. 

John  Moore  died  August  22,  1832. 

William  Jones,  tomb  covered  by  marble  slab 
with  inscription  erased. 

James  L.  Hawkins  died  May  17, 1858 ;  Susan- 
nah, his  wife,  April  21,  1846. 

George  W.  Johnson,  bom  1809.  For  thirty  years 
was  sexton  of  church. 

Rebecca,  wife  of  Dr.  Edward  Worrell,  born  1780, 
died  1851. 

M.  Dawson,  died  February  18,  1812,  aged  sev- 
enty-one. Sarah  Dawson,  his  wife,  1823,  aged 
seventy-seven. 

Rev.  John  Jarrell  died  May  22, 1796,  aged  forty. 


Isaac  Solomon  died  September  1,  1842,  aged 
eighty. 

Anna  M.  Simmons  died  June  1 4, 1844,  aged  forty. 

Thomas  Titus,  bom  1808,  died  1870 ;  was  many 
years  a  prominent  member  of  Asbury  Church. 

John  Williams,  bom  1775,  died  1847. 

John  Hardy  died  February  27,  1853 ;  aged 
fifty  eight. 

Wilmington  and  Brandywine  Cemetery. — 
In  1843  Samuel  Wollaston  began  to  lay  off  a  tract 
of  land  of  ten  acres  and  fifty -nine  perches  on  Dela- 
ware Avenue  into  lots  for  a  cemetery.  The  project 
met  with  public  favor  and  February  14, 1842,  a 
meeting  of  citizens  was  held  in  Gty  Hall,  where 
it  was  determined  to  form  a  cemetery  company, 
so  that  each  lot- holder  would  be  a  proprietor. 
Wollaston  had  already  disposed  of  two  hundred 
lots.  On  March  12,  1844,  the  Wilmington  and 
Brandywine  Cemetery  Company  was  organized 
with  the  following  officers :  Willard  Hall,  presi- 
dent ;  Jonas  Pusey,  secretary  ;  John  A.  Duncan, 
treasurer;  David  C.  Wilson,  Samuel  Wollaston, 
William  Lea,  George  Craig,  Henry  F.  Askew, 
M.D.,  James  Canby,  Richard  H.  Bayard,  Miller 
Dunott,  directors.  A  charter  of  incorporation 
was  obtained  February  6,  1845.  The  grounds 
then  included  the  Wollaston  tract,  lying  on  the 
north  of  Delaware  Avenue,  and  east  of  old  King's 
Road,  and  an  additional  tract  of  five  acres  and 
one  hundred  and  nine  and  a  half  rods  on  the 
north,  bought  of  James  Canby.  The  company 
afterwards  bought  adjoining  lands  of  Bishop  Lee, 
of  the  estate  of  Dr.  Gibbons,  and  of  Isaac  Cham- 
berlain, making  the  present  area  of  the  cemetery 
twenty-three  acres,  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  and 
one-half  rods,  George  Read  Riddle  was  employed 
to  make  a  draft  or  plan  of  the  cemetery,  which 
was  adopted  May  7,  1844.  The  remains  of  George 
Sharpe  were  the  first  to  be  interred  in  the  grounds 
on  August  12, 1844.  The  entire  number  of  inter- 
ments to  September  27,  1887,  was  nine  thousand 
six  hundred  and  nine.  Miller  Dunott,  one  of  the 
first  directors,  was  buried  here  May  9,  1845. 

At  the  time  of  the  decease  of  Samuel  Wollaston 
the  board  placed  the  following  on  record  in  the 
minute-book :  "  Our  esteemed  townsman,  Samuel 
Wollaston,  deceased  October  15,  1875,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-nine  years.  With  him 
originated  in  1844  the  plan,  and  through  his 
efforts  was  mainly  achieved  the  establishment  of 
the  Wilmington  and  Brandywine  Cemetery.  At 
first  conceived  and  entered  upon  by  him  individu- 
ally, he  was  eventually  joined  in  the  project  by 
many  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Thus  at  that  early 
day  did  his  wise  foresight  anticipate  a  require- 
ment in  this  city  which  later  experience  has  caused 
to  be  adopted  throughout  the  country.  Through 
the  long  period  since  the  organization  of  the 
company,  he  continued  to  take  an  active  interest. 


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846 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


and  was  a  valuable  member  of  this  Board,  rarely 
being  absent  from  its  meetings.  He  was  an  active, 
useful  and  upright  citizen.  We  record  this  short 
memorial  as  a  testimony  of  the  respect  and  rever- 
ence entertained  by  us  for  him." 

Samuel  Wollaston,  ihe  only  son  of  Joshua 
Wollaston  and  Catharine  Kirk,  his  wife,  was  born  at 
Wilmington,  Del.,  May  25, 1786,  and  in  1811  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Esther  Fussell. 

He  was  an  active,  exemplary  member  of  the  relig- 
ious Society  of  Friends  at  Fourth  and  West  Streets, 
Wilmington,  Del.,  and  for  many  years  he  occupied  a 
prominent  position  in  that  body. 

In  1838  and  1839  he  devoted  much  time  and  thought 
and  was  greatly  interested  in  the  culture  of  silk,  and 
in  the  growing  of  moras  muUicaulU  trees  for  feeding 
the  silk- worm,  and  he  built  upon  his  own  place  a  co- 
coonery with  racks,  etc.,  for  the  purpose. 

Mr.  Wollaston,  like  a  long  line  of  ancestors,  was  a 
farmer. 

His  farm  was  known  as  Windsor  Farm,  upon  which 
a  largo  part  of  the  western  part  of  Wilmington  now 
stands,  and  also  a  portion  of  that  occupied  by  the  Wil- 
mington and  Brandy  wine  Cemetery. 

Mr.  Wollaston,  in  1844,  planned  and  originated  the 
Wilmington  and  Brandy  wine  Cemetery,  individually 
conducting  and  managing  the  same  for  some  time. 
Afterwards  he  was  joined  by  many  of  his  most  promi- 
nent fellow-citizens. 

At  that  time  few  similar  institutions  existed  in  this 
country,  and  in  the  then  small  community  did  his 
wise  forethought  anticipate  a  requirement  which  later 
experience  has  caused  to  be  adopted  throughout  the 
land. 

The  enterprise  proved  a  success,  and  during  the 
long  period  of  his  life  he  was  an  active  and  valuable 
member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  that  corporation. 

To  other  sterling  qualities  of  head  and  heart  were 
added  the  tender  ties  of  family  and  home. 

He  was  always  regular,  methodical  and  very  abste- 
mious, to  which,  no  doubt,  he  owed  his  long  life  and 
good  health. 

He  loved  his  friends,  was  cheerful,  indulgent  to  his 
children,  kind  to  those  who  served  him  and  hospit- 
able to  strangers. 

He  was  dignified  in  manner,  modest  and  retiring  in 
disposition. 

As  the  evening  of  his  life  drew  on,  he  became  gentle 
and  lovely  as  a  child,  yet  to  within  a  few  hours  of  his 
death  he  retained  his  mind  clear  and  faculties  bright, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  nearly  ninety  years,  honored 
and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

He  died  October  15,  1875,  at  his  place,  613  Wash- 
ington Street,  Wilmington,  Del. 

Samuel  Wollaston  was  the  son  of  Joshua  Wollaston 
and  Catharine  Kirk,  his  wife. 

Joshua  Wollaston  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Wollaston 
and  Hannah  Johnson,  his  wife. 

Thomas  Wollaston  was  the  son  of  Jeremiah  Wollas- 
ton and  Catharine  Robinson,  his  wife. 


Jeremiah  Wollaston  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Wollas- 
ton and  Martha,  his  wife,  who  came  to  Delaware  and 
settled,  purchasing  in  1667,  '68,  '69  land  in  New 
Castle  County,  White  Clay  and  Mill  Creek  Hundreds, 
Delaware. 

The  cemetery  company  are  constantly  improv- 
ing and  making  more  attractive  their  beautifol 
burying-place,  and  a  large  number  of  imposing 
and  costly  monuments  have  been  erected.  It  is 
systematically  laid  off  into  plats  and  drives,  and 
distributed  through  the  grounds  are  fifteen  artisti- 
cally planned  flower-beds,  as  well  as  trees  of  many 
kinds  and  varieties,  the  latter  furnishing  delight- 
^1  shade. 

Judge  Willard  Hall  was  president  of  the 
cemetery  company  from  1844  to  1875,  when 
William  Canby  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 

Jonas  Pusey  served  as  secretary  from  1 844  to 
1847.  On  June  27,  1847,  Albert  W.  Smith  was 
elected  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  served  in  that 
position  to  December  12,  1881,  at  which  date 
Arthur  H.  Smith  was  elected. 

The  present  board  of  directors  are  :  William 
Canby,  president;  Jacob  F.  Sharp,  John  Jones, 
Ellwood  Garrett,  Albert  W.  Smith,  Edward  Tat- 
nall,  George  W.  Bush,  W.  R.  Bullock,  William 
M.  Canby.  Samuel  C.  Penrose  is  superintendent 
of  the  cemetery. 

It  has  been  the  aim  and  purpose  of  the  directors 
to  create  a  fund  from  year  to  year,  increasing  the 
same  (after  making  all  needful  improvements  and 
managing  and  conducting  the  afiTairs  of  wages  and 
expenses),  so  that  by  the  time  all  the  lots  shall  be 
sold,  the  fund  will  be  large  enough  to  keep  the 
cemetery  in  good  order,  without  taxing  the  lot- 
holders.  The  directors  have  every  reason  to  think 
that  they  will  be  able  to  accomplbh  this,  as  the 
fund  now  amounts  to  forty  thousand  dollars. 

Among  the  beautiful  monuments  in  the  ceme- 
tery are  those  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Commodore  Jacob  JoDea,  U.  S.  N.,  born  in  Smjma,  Del.,  1768 ;  dled^ 
186U.  H«  was  in  the  navy  52  yean,  relin«iuished  the  practice  of  medi* 
cine,  entered  the  navy  at  thirty  years  of  age.  His  remains  were  remov- 
ed to  the  cemetery  by  act  of  Legislatnre. 

John  Ferris,  born  Ninth  Month  2,  1801 :  died  Ninth  Month  2,  1882. 

James  Tilton,  M.O.,  born  1745,  graduated  Doctor  of  Medicine  in  the 
first  medical  school  in  this  country ;  settled  in  Dover  in  177G  ;  entered 
the  Revolutionary  War  as  surgeon  in  1777,  and  remained  in  the  service 
until  its  close ;  member  of  Congress  in  1782 ;  first  president  of  the 
Delaware  Medical  Society  ;  died  August  U,  1822. 

Joseph  Scott,  bom  in  England,  1796 ;  died  in  Wilmington,  1856. 

Captain  Anthony  Christy,  died  September  17,  1862,  aged  106  years. 

Felix  Gustave  Gwinczwski,  an  exile  fhim  Poland,  died  Oct  9. 1819. 

John  Roes,  chief  of  the  Cherokee  nation,  was  first  interred  in  this  cems> 
tery,  and  his  renuiins  were  afterwards  removed  to  his  own  people. 
Mary  B.  Stapler,  wife  of  John  Ross,  born  in  Wilmington,  1825 ;  died  io 
Philadelphia,  1865.    Her  remains  lie  here. 

Samuel  HarUn,  Jr.,  born  March  6,  1807  ;  died  Feb.  6,  1883.  Susan 
P.,  hU  wife,  born  April  5,  1816  ;  died  Deo.  3,  1877. 

Thomas  A.  Smyth,  Brigadier-General  United  States  Volunteers,  bora 
Sept.  9,  1832  ;  died  April  9,  1865,  from  wounds  received  at  Farmville. 

Enoch  Moore,  the  ship-builder,  born  Aug.  12,  1803;  died  Sept.  16, 
1884. 

Henry  Lea,  son  of  James  and  Elisabeth  Gibson  Lea,  born  Sept.  16, 
18U3  ;  died  Jan.  5, 1881. 

Edward  Bringhurst,  bora  Fifth  Month  22,  1809  ;  died  Swsond  Month 
8,  1884. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


847 


William  Lea,  died  Dec.  28,  1876,  aged  72  yean. 

Commodore  John  P.  Oillia,  United  States  Savj,  bora  130)  ;  died  1873. 

James  Canby,  born  Jan.  30, 1781 ;  died  May  24,  1858. 

Oaptain  Darid  H.  Porter,  nephevr  of  Commodore  Porter,  born  In  New 
Castle  County,  Feb.  9, 1805,  entered  the  naval  service  of  the  Mexican 
Government ;  when  In  command  of  the  brig  of  war  "  Guerro,"  Feb.  28, 
1^8,  was  attacked  by  a  Spanish  brig,  "  Lealpad,**  and  Icilled  by  a  grape- 
shot  while  in  the  effort  of  raising  the  colors  after  having  been  shot 
away. 

Charles  Bush,  Aug.  2,  1805 ;  died  Oct.  4, 1855. 

George  Bush,  June  27,  1797  ;  died  Sept.  22,  1863. 

Captain  Henry  B.  Nones,  U.  S.  K.  M.,  born  1804 ;  died  Aug.  25, 1868. 
He  did  valiant  service  in  the  Mexican  War. 

Washington  H.  Nones,  U.  S.  N.,  born  18i7,  died  1853. 

Lieutenant  John  H.  Nones,  U.  S.  R.  M.,  born  1834,  died  1859. 

Colonel  Henry  Simpson  McComb,  born  June  28,  1825;  died  Dec.  30, 
1881. 

J.  Norris  Bobinson,  born  Jan.  8,  1831. 

Daniel  Lamotte,  May  10, 1753  ;  died  May  2,  1872. 

CharlM  Eugene  Lamotte,  Colonel  Sixth  United  States  Veteran  Volun- 
teers;  Brevet  Brigadier-General,  Aug.  20, 1839;  died  May  24.  1887. 

T.  Clarkeson  Taylor,  a  prominent  teacher,  born  Sixth  Month  24, 1825; 
died  Tenth  Month  25,  1871. 

James  Hemphill  Jones,  Colonel  United  States  Marine  Corps,  born 
May  6,  1821 ;  died  at  Boston,  Mass.,  April  17, 1880,  was  in  the  service 
forty  years. 

Samuel  Wolhiston,  born  Fifth  Month  25,  1786;  died  Tenth  Month 
15,  1825. 

John  Wales,  born  1783  ;  died  Dec.  3,  1863. 

Edward  W.  Gilpin,  bom  July  13,  1803 ;  died  Aug.  29, 1876. 

Colonel  a  B.  Davis,  bom  at  Lewes,  Delaware,  Dec.  25,  1765 ;  died  at 
Delamore  Place,  Sept.  6,  1854. 

William  S.  McCaulley,  born  Jan.  17, 1777  ;  died  Sept.  22,  1883. 

RiVERViEW  Cemetery  is  situated  on  the  Phila- 
delphia pike,  in  Brandy  wine  Hundred,  near  the 
city  limits.  It  comprises  twenty  acres,  in  the 
form  of  a  quadrangle,  systematically  laid  out  into 
lots,  and  ornamented  with  trees,  shrubs  and  flower- 
beds. It  originated  with  the  orders  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  Knights  of  Pythias.  All  religious  denomina- 
tions are  permitted  to  inter  their  dead  therein. 
The  first  officers  of  the  company,  elected  February 
12,  1872,  were  John  G.  Baker,  president ;  Benja- 
min Murgatroyd,  vice-president ;  Joshua  Maris, 
secretary  and  treasurer.  Philemma  Chandler  held 
the  property,  as  trustee,  until  February  19,  1873, 
when  the  charter  was  obtained  Under  it  the 
following  representatives  from  various  lodges  of 
the  orders  named  were  made  trustees :  Abner  P. 
Bailey,  John  G.  Baker,  Robert  Cars  well,  Philemma 
Chandler,  Richard  H.  Ewbanks,  Henry  Grebe, 
William  B.  Hyland,  A.  Newlin  Keithler,  Joseph 
C.  Jones,  Joshua  Maris,  Charles  P.  Maroney,  Henry 
McNeal,  Thomas  Mitchell,  Beujamin  Murgatroyd, 
Uriel  Pierce,  Samuel  Marshall,  Jeremiah  Mahoney 
and  Thomas  Vance.  John  Thompson  was  ap- 
pointed first  superintendent  of  the  grounds,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Samuel  C.  Penrose.  The  first  inter- 
ment were  the  remains  of  Elizabeth  Warren,  on 
July  5, 1872.  Since  that  date  to  September  24, 
1887,  there  have  been  issued  two  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  thirteen  permits  for  interments.  In 
1876  Edwin  C.  Moore  was  elected  vice-president. 
Jeremiah  Mahoney  wafi  chosen  president  to  suc- 
ceed John  G.  Baker,  February  3,  1879 ;  John  J. 
Gallagher,  February  2,  1880;  and  Charles  P. 
Mahoney,  February  7,  1887.' 

Daniel  T.  Hawkins  was  elected  secretary  July 
5, 1876,  upon  the  resignation  of  Joshua  Maris,  and 


William  E.  Hawkins  on  July  9, 1881,  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Daniel  T-  Hawkins. 

Cathedral  Cemetery  was  opened  by  the 
Catholic  Churches  of  Wilmington  in  June,  1876. 
It  is  situated  one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Market 
Street,  on  the  Lancaster  pike,  just  without  the  city 
limits.  Its  area  is  forty  acres,  ten  of  which  are 
inclosed.  To  October  15,  1887,  there  were  two 
thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty  interments,  not 
including  a  number  of  removals  from  other  burial- 
places. 

MoNTEFiORE  Cemetery,  a  burial-place  for 
persons  of  the  Jewish  faith,  is  situated  at  Silver 
Brook.  An  act  of  incorporation  was  obtained 
February  2, 1883,  by  Manuel  Richenberger,  Bern- 
hard  Wolfsom,  Jacob  De  Wolf,  Julius  Cobe, 
Max  Ephraim,  George  Jacobs,  Louis  Fellheimer, 
Kaufman  Sondheimer,  Max  Fellheimer,  Charles 
Itale  and  Meyer  Meyers.  The  officers  of  the 
cemetery  company  are  Nathan  Lieberman,  presi- 
dent; Morris  Faber,  secretary;  and  Louis  Fell- 
heimer, treasurer. 


supplementary  to  manufacturing  chapter. 

Printing.— The  firm  of  H.  &  E.  F.  James,  com- 
posed of  Hickman  and  Edward  F.  James,  was  estab- 
lished in  1867,  at  the  present  location  of  the  Delaware 
Printing  Company.  After  a  few  years  Hickman 
James  retired  and  Frank  T.  Webb  took  his  place,  the 
firm  becoming  James  &  Webb.  The  James  &  Webb 
Printing  and  Stationery  Company,  incorporated  in 
1883,  purchased  the  plant  and  continued  the  business 
until  October  5,  1888,  when  the  present  concern,  the 
Delaware  Printing  Company,  became  the  proprietors. 
The  ofl5cer8  are,  President,  E.  F.  James;  Secretary 
and  Treasurer,  Warren  H.  Farra. 

The  firm  occupy  the  large  five-story  building,  224 
Market  Street,  and  extending  through  to  Webb  Street. 
In  this  busy  hive  every  branch  of  the  job-printing  and 
book-binding  business  is  conducted*  The  concern  has 
an  established  reputation  for  the  excellence  of  their 
work,  and  at  present  turn  out  more  work  than  any 
other  one  establishment  in  the  city.  In  connection 
with  the  other  branches  of  the  business,  a  complete 
staiionery-store  is  annexed.  Employment  is  given  to 
forty  hands. 

The  other  printing  houses  in  Wilmington  are 
Mercantile  Printing  Company,  W.  H.  Kramer,  Hubert 
A.  Roop,  S.  A.  Booth,  Thomas  Rossiter  and  Arthur  K. 
Taylor  &  Company,  and  the  Republican  Printing  and 
Publishing  Company. 

John  J.  Gibson  &  Co. — This  firm  was  started  by 
John  J.  Gibson  and  his  sons  John  and  J^mes,  in 
October,  1883.  In  addition  to  these  gentlemen,  the 
only  workmen  at  that  time  were  three  other  sons  of 
John  J.  Gibson.  The  building  is  located  at  225 
Adams  Street,  and  originally  was  seventy-nine  by 
ninety  feet.  An  addition  of  forty-eight  by  ninety 
feet  has  been  added.    Thus  the  business  from  a  very 


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848 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


moderate  beginDing  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  lead- 
ing concerns  of  the  city.  Thirty  men  are  employed, 
and  Dongola  and  all  the  various  varieties  of  morocco 
are  manufactured. 

Alexander  Kelley  &  Company.— The  old 
building  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Third  and  Orange 
Streets  was,  until  its  purchase  by  Frank  T.  Clymer, 
the  site  of  the  first  soap  manufactory  in  Wilmington. 

The  building  was  established  by Hicks,  in  the 

early  part  of  the  present  century.  He  was  succeeded 
by  George  W.  Spangler,  and  later  by  the  firm  of 
Moore  &  Company.  The  last-named  firm  continued 
until  the  purchase  by  Alexander  Kelley  &  Company, 
in  1881.  This  latter  firm  had  succeeded  John  M. 
Kelley,  who  had  in  1879  started  the  manufacture  of 
fiue  laundry  soaps,  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Third 
Street  and  Railroad  Avenue.  In  1881,  Alexander 
Kelley  and  George  W.  Pierson  formed  the  present 
co-partnership  and  purchased  the  plant  of  John  M. 
Kelley,  continuing  the  manufacture  at  the  old  stand 
and  vL'iing  the  ofiSceof  the  old  soap-works  as  the  office 
of  the  firm.  The  latter  was  shortly  afterwards  re- 
moved to  the  factory. 

The  firm  manufacture  a  fine  line  of  laundry  soaps, 
in  a  large  building  which  has  a  capacity  for  turning 
out  fifty- five  thousand  pounds  of  soap  monthly.  An 
excellent  article  of  Borax  Linen  Soap  is  the  specialty 
of  the  business.  Employment  is  given  to  seven  hands. 
G.  Krautter  has,  for  a  number  of  years,  conducted  a 
soap-works  on  West  Front  Street,  near  Madison.  Fine 
bath  and  laundry  soaps  are  manufactured. 

Wilmington  Basket  and  Crate  Company. — 
Wilmington  had  never  engaged  in  this  industry 
to  any  extent  until  the  formation  of  this  company, 
July  11,  1887.  J.  H.  Hoff'ecker,  Jr.,  Alfred  S.  Elliott, 
Daniel  W.  Taylor,  Franklin  B.  Colton  and  Nathan 
Fitch  obtained  a  charter  on  the  date  mentioned  and 
seeured  the  large  building  on  the  south  side  of  Market 
Street  Bridge,  formerly  occupied  by  S.  D.  Paschall 
for  the  manufacture  of  carriages.  Work  was  com- 
menced on  the  15th  of  October,  the  company  having 
previously  organized  with  Samuel  Canby,  president; 
vice-president,  Nathan  T.  Fitch;  secretary,  William 
Ferrle,  Jr. ;  directors.  Major  Samuel  Canby,  Frederic 
H.  Robinson,  Jacob  S.  Beetem,  J.  H.  Hoffecker  and 
Nathan  T.  Fitch. 

The  plant  embraces  two  large  buildings,  two  stories 
in  height,  the  front  building  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  by  sixty  feet,  and  the  rear  building  thirty-five  by 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  feet.  The  baskets  are 
manufactured  by  the  Huey  patents,  which  greatly 
facilitate  the  production  and  cheapen  the  cost.  Two 
engines  of  forty-five  and  twenty-five  horse-power,  by 
which  six  thousand  baskets  per  day  are  manufactured. 
Employment  is  given  to  fifty  men.  The  firm  also 
manufactures,  in  large  quantities,  barrels  and  kegs. 

Jesse  Sharpe,  for  half  a  century  a  prominent  and 
influential  citizen  of  Wilmington,  was  born  May  20, 
1809,  and  died  December  29,  1873.  He  was  a  lineal 
descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  of  John  Sharpe, 


a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  who  emigrat<Mi  to 
America  and  settled  in  the  territory  now  embraced  in 
Chester  County,  before  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania 
was  conveyed  to  William  Penn.  John  Sharpe  origi- 
nally was  a  member  of  the  Church  of  England,  bat 
became  a  convert  of  the  Quaker  faith  in  his  native 
country  through  the  teachings  of  George  Fox.  Upon 
the  arrival  of  Penn  in  America,  John  Sharpe  ob- 
tained from  him  a  title  for  a  large  tract  of  land  in 
London  Grove  township,  Chester  County.  It  was 
afterwards  divided  and  subdivided  among  successive 
generations  of  his  descendants,  the  old  homestead 
with  all  its  hallowed  associations  being  still  in  pos- 
session of  members  of  the  Sharpe  family.  The  entire 
tract,  at  the  death  of  John  Sharpe,  was  inherited  hj 
his  son  Joseph,  who  accompanied  him  to  America. 

Joseph  Sharpe  married  Mary  Pyle,  by  whom  he 
had  five  children, — Joseph,  Abigail,  Benjamin,  Eliza- 
beth and  Samuel.  Joseph,  the  eldest  of  these  chil- 
dren, married  and  in  1754  emigrated  to  Iredell  County, 
South  Carolina,  where  his  descendants  now  live, 
Abigail  married  a  Palmer  and  they  settled  upon  a 
tract  of  land  near  the  present  limits  of  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Elizabeth  married  a  Jennings  and  moved  to  Hills- 
boro'.  North  Carolina. 

Samuel  married  Mary  Flowers,  widow  of  Isaac 
Starr,  and  succeeded  his  father  in  the  ownership  of 
the  homestead  and  the  lands  taken  up  by  his  first 
American  ancestor,  John  Sharpe,  in  Chester  County. 
By  this  marriage  were  born  six  children,  four  of  whom 
grew  to  advanced  ages.  Abigail  the  eldest,  married 
James  Jones  and  moved  to  Harford  County,  Mary- 
land. Isaac  married  Margaret  Bennett  Johnson,  of 
Wilmington,  Delaware.  By  this  marriage  twelve 
children  were  born.  Mary  died  unmarried.  Joseph, 
the  youngest  of  these  children,  became  very  profi- 
cient in  mathematics,  a  talent  for  which  science 
nearly  all  of  the  Sharpe  family  inherited.  He  was  a 
very  skillful  surveyor  and  assisted  in  running  the 
boundary  line  between  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  He 
died  unmarried. 

Samuel  Sharpe  was  a  man  of  mark  in  his  day  and 
was  chosen  one  of  the  delegates  to  represent  Chester 
County  in  the  Continental  Congress.  A  number  of 
inter^ting  and  valuable  relics  and  documents,  pro- 
cured by  Samuel  Sharpe  while  a  member  of  Congress, 
are  now  in  the  possession  of  his  lineal  descendant, 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Sharpe,  of  Wilmington. 

Benjamin  Sharpe,  the  second  son  and  third  child  of 
Joseph  Sharpe  and  his  wife,  Mary  Pyle,  was  an  intel- 
ligent and  progressive  farmer  of  Chester  County. 
His  son,  George  Sharpe,  married  a  Nichol?*,  and  re- 
sided in  what  is  now  New  Grarden  Township,  Chester 
County,  on  a  part  of  the  original  Sharpe  tract.  They 
had  two  children,  Samuel  and  Thomas.  A  few  yean 
after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  George  Sharpe  mar- 
ried Sarah  Chambers,  widow  of  George  Gregg.  The 
children  of  his  Kecoijd  marriage  wero  Abiah,  Jesse 
and  Eli,  the  last  two  being  twins. 

Abiah  Sharpe,  the  eldest  son  of  George  Sharpe  aud 


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848  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


848  a 


Sarah  Chambers,  his  wife,  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
went  to  sea  on  one  of  the  vessels  of  his  ancestors,  who 
were  prominent  shipping  merchants  at  Wilmington. 
Later,  he  engaged  in  trade  on  an  extensive  scale. 
He  prospered  in  the  business,  became  one  of  the  most 
famous  sea  captains  of  his  day,  and  moved  to  the 
City  of  Philadelphia.  He  was  then  half-owner  of  the 
"Pacific,"  one  of  the  largest  ships  engaged  in  the  East 
India  trade.  He  subsequently  visited  every  open  port 
in  the  world  at  that  time,  and  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
five  years  retired  from  a  seafaring  life,  having  amassed 
a  fortune.  He  continued  to  own  his  ships.  Captain 
Abiah  Sharpe  married  Ann  Taylor,  daughter  of 
George  Taylor,  of  Wilmington.  Her  grandfather  was 
a  farmer,  owning  lands  in  Brandywine  Hundred.  The 
children  of  this  mamage  were  George,  Edward,  Cath- 
arine, Williams,  Lawrence,  Ann  and  Charles  Abiah. 
The  five  eldest  died  unmarried. 

Of  Abiah  Sharpe's  family,  George,  the  eldest  son, 
finished  his  scholastic  course  at  an  early  age,  acquir- 
ing three  or  four  languages,  in  which  he  was  so  pro- 
ficient that  he  could  talk  as  fluently  as  a  native.  An 
intimate  friend  of  his  father,  a  French  gentleman, 
desired  to  place  his  son  in  a  position  to  acquire  a  com- 
petency. So  they  leased  a  silver  mine,  within  a  three 
days*  journey  from  the  city  of  Mexico,  and  established 
their  sons  in  it.  George  remained  until  he  was  re- 
quired to  return  home  after  his  faiher*s  death,  between 
1833-34,  to  allow  a  settlement  of  the  estate;  his 
brother  Lawrence  having  gone  to  Mexico  sometime 
previous  to  assume  his  interest  in  the  mine,  during  his 
brother's  absence.  Before  his  return  a  general  revolu- 
tion occurred,  which  made  it  dangerous  for  foreigners 
to  remain  in  the  country.  Lawrence  embarked  for 
home  from  Vera  Cruz,  was  stricken  with  yellow  fever, 
and  died  when  he  was  within  one  day's  sail  of  the  port 
of  New  Orleans,  his  body  being  interred  in  the  waters 
of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  George  died  unmarried  in  1856, 
William,  another  son  of  Abiah,  was  a  talented  and 
prosperous  physician,  having  studied  under  Dr.  Mc- 
Clellan,  and  he  died  unmarried  in  1868.  Their  sister 
Catherine,  a  most  estimable  and  generous  woman, 
after  her  mother's  decease,  spent  the  greater  part  of 
her  time  abroad  with  a  younger  sister,  Ann,  who  had 
married,  early  in  life,  Samuel  Stockton  Horner,  of 
New  Jersey,  and  resided  twenty-two  years  in  Paris. 
After  her  husband's  death  in  Paris  they  both  returned 
home,  Catherine  dying  in  1876.  Charles  Abiah  was 
the  youngest  and  only  married  son,  and  died  in  1868, 
he  having  previously  married  Marianna  Shreve,  of 
New  Jersey.  There  are  two  surviving  children,  Annie 
and  Mary,  who  reside  in  Philadelphia. 

Jesse,  the  second  son  of  George  and  Sarah  Chambers 
Sharpe,  married  Phoebe  Walter,  of  Chester  County, 
Pa.  They  had  four  children — Sarah,  Louisa,  George 
and  Eber  Worthiogton, — three  of  whom  married  and 
settled  within  a  few  miles  of  the  homestead,  which 
the  youngest  son,  Eber,  inherited  by  will,  and  was 
occupied  by  him  until  his  death  in  1872.  George 
still  lives  in  New  Garden.    Jesse  served  a  term  as 


sherifi*  of  Chester  County,  and  for  many  years,  until 
his  death,  was  an  associate  judge  of  the  county  courts. 

Eli  Sharpe,  the  youngest  son  of  George  Sharpe  and 
Sarah  Chambers,  was  born  in  New  Garden  Township, 
Chester  County.  Early  in  life  his  brother  Jesse  and 
he  owned  a  transportation  line  between  Kennett  Square 
and  Frenchtown.  About  1814  he  purchased  and  took 
charge  of  the  historic  old  tavern- stand  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  Front  and  Market  Streets,  Wilmington. 
It  was  the  first  house  built  within  the  present  limits 
of  the  city,  and  stood  eight  feet  farther  out  on  Market 
Street  than  the  present  row  of  buildings  on  the  west 
side  of  that  street.  In  1825  he  erected  the  present 
Sharpe*s  Hotel  at  the  same  comer.  He  was  a  popu- 
lar man  and  very  widely  known  in  Delaware,  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland.  He  was  genial  and  afiable 
in  his  nature  and  refined  in  his  manners,  inheriting 
the  strong  traits  of  his  ancestors. 

Eli  Sharpe  was  married  to  his  cousin,  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Margaret  Johnson  Sharpe,  of 
Wilmington,  and  granddaughter  of  Robert  Johnson, 
yeoman,  and  Catherine  Hadley.  Robert  Johnson 
built  the  first  grist-mill  on  the  Brandywine.  It  stood 
immediately  above  the  Brandywine  bridge,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  stream.  Elizabeth  Sharpe  was  also 
the  granddaughter  of  Joseph  Bennett,  one  of  the 
early  shipping  merchants  of  Wilmington,  whose  wife 
was  a  sister  of  Daniel  Boone,  of  Kentucky  fame. 

The  children  of  Eli  and  Elizabeth  Shirpe  were 
George,  Jesse,  Thomas,  Sybilla  and  Joseph.  George, 
the  eldest,  was  given  every  opportunity  of  acquiring 
large  success  in  the  clothing  bu^ness,  in  which  he 
was  established  at  an  early  age  by  his  father.  He 
died  in  August,  1844,  leaving  a  widow  and  three 
children,  all  of  whom  have  since  died.  Thomas 
learned  brick-laying  and  was  engaged  in  building  the 
greater  part  of  his  life.  He  died  in  1876,  leaving  a 
widow  and  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  now 
living.  Sybilla  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen.  Joseph, 
the  youngest  son,  was  of  a  retiring  disposition  and 
most  excellent  character.  He  possessed  a  mathe- 
matical education,  and  never  engaged  in  any  business 
enterprise.  He  resided  in  Wilmington,  with  his 
aunt,  who  was  his  step-mother,  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Oct.  29, 1886.  Several  years  after  the  death 
of  his  first  wife,  Eli  Sharpe  married  her  sister,  Phoebe 
Sharpe,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Sarah  E.  Sharpe, 
who,  with  her  aged  mother,  now  in  her  ninety-first 
year,  in  the  full  possession  of  all  her  mental  faculties 
resides  in  Wilmington. 

Jesse  Sharpe,  the  second  son  of  Eli  and  Elizabeth 
Sharpe.  first  attended  the  Rankin  Academy,  on  King 
Street,  Wilmington,  and  finished  his  educatou,as  did 
also  his  brothers,  at  the  well-known  school  conducted 
by  John  Bullock  in  the  same  city,  where  he  was  a  dili- 
gent student,  and  excelled  all  of  his  schoolmates  in 
the  study  of  mathematics.  When  quite  a  young  man 
he  received  from  the  government  the  contract  to  run 
the  line  of  mail-coaches  from  Wilmington  down  the 
Peninsula.     He  next  became  the  proprietor  of  the 


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Lafayette  Hotel,  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Third  and 
Market  Streets,  Wilmington.  He  remained  there  a 
few  years,  and  then  took  charge  of  the  Indian  King 
Tavern,  at  southeast  corner  of  Fourth  and  Market 
Streets.  He  subsequently  kept  a  hotel  on  the  west 
side  of  Market  Street,  between  Front  and  Second 
Streets. 

Later  in  life  Jesse  Sharpe  became  possessed  of  large 
means,  which  he  increased  by  investments  in  pro- 
ductive farms  and  valuable  property  in  Wilmington. 
He  was  a  man  of  good  judgment,  and  was  very  active 
and  energetic  in  the  performance  of  any  duty  de- 
volving upon  him.  He  was  Democratic  in  politics. 
On  March  24,  1853,  President  Pierce  appointed  him 
collector  of  the  district  of  Delaware,  and  he  held 
that  position  until  May  14,  1861.  He  was  president 
of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  Company  from  the  time  of 
its  organization  until  his  death,  a  period  of  twenty- 
six  years.  For  twenty  years  he  was  president  of  the 
Farmers'  Fire  Insurance  Company.  He  was  one  of 
the  members  of  the  first  Board  of  Education  in 
Wilmington,  in  1852,  when  the  present  public  school 
system  was  put  into  force,  and  he  was  also  a  director 
of  the  Masonic  Hall  Company  when  the  Masonic 
Temple  was  built  on  Market  Street,  Wilmington. 
His  name  was  frequently  mentioned  as  a  candidate 
for  the  office  of  Governor. 

Jesse  Sharpe  was  married  and  had  a  family  of  six 
children,  five  of  whom  survive — Jesse,  Jr.,  Elizabeth, 
Annie,  Virginia  and  Joseph. 

The  late  Ziba  Ferris,  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  the  city,  an  authority  upon  its  history,  and  a 
fond  preserver  of  its  traditions  and  fame, — cheery, 
genial,  gentle,  kind,  despite  great  sufiering,  which 
would  long  before  have  made  misanthropic  or  have 
killed  a  less  brave  man — died  February  15,  1888. 
He  was  a  descendant  of  the  Ferris  family,  who  were 
among  the  founders  of  the  New  Haven  Colony,  but 
was  a  native  of  Delaware,  having  been  born  in  the 
city  on  September  28, 1828. 

He  was  the  son  of  Ziba  Ferris,  who  was  for  many 
years  engaged  in  the  watch  and  clock- making  busi- 
ness at  the  southwest  corner  of  Fourth  and  Market 
Streets,  and,  learning  the  trade,  succeeded  him  in 
business.  About  1867  he  relinquished  the  business 
at  Fourth  and  Market  Streets  and  became  connected 
with  the  firm  of  The  William  Lea  &  Sons  Company, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  employed  at  the  old 
city  mill,  north  of  the  Braudy  wine  Creek.  An  injury 
of  the  face,  received  many  years  ago,  developed  into 
an  abnormal  growth  of  one  cheek  and  the  side  of  his 
neck,  causing  him  great  suffering.  Several  surgical 
operations  were  resorted  to  to  cure  the  disease,  but 
failed.  The  development  of  this  injury  caused  septi- 
cemia, from  which  he  died.  He  left  a  wife  and  two 
children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  His  wife  was  the 
daughter  of  the  late  William  Lea.  His  son  William 
Lea  Ferris  is  vice-president  of  The  William  Lea  & 
Sons  Company,  and  the  daughter  is  Mrs.  William  S. 
Heger. 


CHAPTER   XLIL 


NEW  CA8TLE  HUNDRED. 


This  political  sub-division  of  the  county  lies  south 
and  east  of  Christiana  Creek,  extending  along  the 
Delaware  to  the  Red  Lion  Creek,  thus  forming  a  long 
narrow  strip  of  land  whose  general  characteristics 
are  those  of  a  low  plain.  In  the  northern  part  the 
surface  is  pleasantly  undulated  and  small  elevations 
are  also  found  near  Red  Lion  Creek.  Much  of  the 
marshy  land  has  been  brought  under  cultivation  and 
the  soil  generally  is  very  fertile,  giving  the  system- 
atic farmer  bounteous  returns.  Qood  roads  and  rail- 
roads have  aided  in  developing  and  enhancing  the 
value  of  these  lands. 

The  fattt  lands  in  the  territory  embraced  within  the 
present  limits  of  New  Castle  Hundred  were  warranted 
soon  after  the  settlement  of  the  country  to  the  adven- 
turous Swedish  and  Dutch  pioneers,  whose  ambition 
appeared  to  be  a  desire  to  own  baronial  estates.  The 
difficulty  to  hold  and  improve  such  large  tracts  of  land 
in  a  new  and  sparsely-settled  country,  whose  status 
was  not  yet  determined  by  any  line  of  governmental 
policy,  caused  many  changes  of  ownership  and  also 
retarded  the  progress  of  the  country  in  general.  Like 
the  early  holdings  in  the  neighboring  hundreds,  these 
first  tracts  of  land  were  designated  by  local  terms 
which  have  almost  become  obsolete.  After  the  long 
interval  of  years  since  they  were  used,  it  is  difficult 
to  locate  definitely  all  the  tracts,  but  in  the  main  they 
were,  passing  up  the  river  from  New  Castle,  Swan- 
wyck,  Craine  Hook  and  Alrich's.  Along  the  Christi- 
ana Creek  were  Long  Hook,  Jacquett's,  Swart  Nut- 
ten's  Island  and  Lewden's  Island.  The  Commons, 
Tom's  Lands,  Alrich's,  and  the  Pigeon  Run  Lands, 
occupied  the  lower  part  of  the  hundred. 

Swanwyck  was  on  the  Delaware  about  one  mile 
above  New  Castle,  and  its  history  is  closely  blended 
with  that  place.  On  the  20th  of  August,  1684,  Der- 
rick Fransen  transferred  his  plantation  at  that  place 
to  Ambrose  Baker.  It  had  a  river  front  of  forty 
rods  and  extended  back  four  hundred  rods. 

On  Craine  Hook,  the  next  fast  land  above,  the 
Royal  Surveyor  of  Sweden,  Magnus  Kling,  built  his 
dwelling,  facing  the  river,  as  early  as  1640,  but 
returned  to  Sweden  soon  afterward.  Other  Swedes 
settled  here  and  a  church  was  established,  the  pre- 
decessor of  the  Old  Swedes'  at  Wilmington.  Title  to 
property  was  also  vested  in  it,  and  after  its  decline 
this  matter  was  a  cause  of  prolific  confusion.  Other 
titles  were  in  frequent  dispute  after  the  accession  of 
the  English,  as  may  be  learned  from  the  following 
extracts  from  the  court  records  December  3,  1679: 
*•  Hendrick  Lemmens,  of  Craine  Hook,  petitions  that 
formerly  the  Magistrates  granted  him  100  acres, 
lying  near  ye  more  next  to  Crainehook  from  ye  Bad- 
stone  point,  up  along  ye  more,  and  which  is  not  on 
record,  and  asked  confirmation  granted,  provided  it 
does  not  interfere  with  others  granted."      To   this 


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NEW  OASTLE  COUNTY. 


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protest  was  made  next  court,  January  16, 1680,  by 
inhabitants  of  Cranehook,  William  Jans,  Jean  Mat- 
son,  Tyman  Jansen,  Eshell  Ambrose  and  Hendrick 
Andries,  claiming  the  lands  as  common,  and  the 
granting  would  be  the  "  utter  Ruine  "  of  the  peti- 
tioners, they  having  no  other  place  to  "  fetch  wood 
from."  The  court  decided  "it  shall  remain  in 
common  to  cut  wood  from  until  the  lands  are  here- 
after shared  and  divided." 

The  ensuing  year  the  court  ordered  a  warrant  to 
issue,  authorizing  a  survey  of  lands  at  Craine  Hook, 
and  November  2, 1681,  Ephraim  Herman,  surveyor, 
reported  as  follows:  "Laid  out  for  Hendrick 
Andriessen,  William  Jansen  and  Tyman  Jansen, 
inhabitants  of  Grain©  Hook,  their  land  called  Craine 
Hooke,  it  being  formerly  begun  by  ye  surveyor, 
Walter  Wharton,  but  not  completed.  The  said  land 
being  situated  on  ye  west  syde  of  Delaware  River, 
and  on  ye  Lower  syde  of  ye  mouth  of  Christina 
Creeke,  784  acres  adjoining  swamp  divides  it  from 
Mouns  Poulsen's  Island — ^Pieter  Claessen's  land. 

"  The  above-named  persons  having  further  aforesaid, 
each  their  different  shears  and  proportions  in  ye 
above  said  tract  of  Land  and  Lykeways,  their  Home 
Lotts  apart,  each  different  from  ye  other,  wch  being 
Layed  out  are  as  followeth,  viz., — Hendrick  Andri- 
essen, in  breadth  68  perches;  William  Jansen,  36 
perches,  4  ft. ;  Hendrick  Lemmens,  18  perches,  2  ft., 
and  another  lot  18  perch^  and  2  ft. ;  Eskell  Andri- 
essen, 18  perches,  2  ft ;  Jean  Matson,  36  perches, 
4  ft. ;  Tyman  Jansen,  86  perches."  All  lots  as  given 
fronted  on  the  river,  and  ran  back  into  the  woods. 

In  September,  1683,  Hendrick  Everts  owned  lands 
on  Craine  Hook,  previously  owned  by  Hendrick 
Lemmens,  Tyman  Jansen  and  Evert  Hendricks,  and 
the  same  year,  at  the  court,  September  4th,  the  old 
troubles  between  Hendrick  Lemmens  and  the  rest  of 
the  inhabitants  broke  out  again  in  reference  to  the 
commons.  The  court  then  divided  the  commons  and 
gave  to  Hendrick  Everts  six  shares  and  the  other 
eight  shares-^Hendrick  Andries,  three;  Catharine 
Jansen,  two;  Eskell  Andries,  one;  John  Matson, 
two.  The  commons  having  been  allotted  to  the 
inhabitants,  the  grave-yard  was  next  made  the 
subject  for  dispute  between  Lemmens  and  his  neigh- 
bors, resulting  in  an  action  of  trespass  October  17, 
1683,  Hendrick  Lemmens  against  Hendrick  Andri- 
essen, defendant.  "  Witness  saw  Andriessen  take  up 
fence  at  church-yard  about  the  breadth  of  3  pieces." 
"  Defl.  alleges  that  he  could  prove  ye  former  owner 
of  Land  had  given  sufficient  power  for  enlarging  ye 
Church-yard,  and  asked  suspension  till  next  court, 
when  he  can  bring  proof." 

December  4,  1683,  the  case  came  up.  Defendant 
says,  "Land  in  controversy  belongs  to  ye  church, 
being  given  by  ye  first  owner.  Samuel  Peters  says 
he  gave  30  feet  to  ye  church.  Richard  Noble  sur- 
veyed it." 

All  these  lands  passed  into  other  hands,  some  of 
them  two  centuries  ago,  and  Craine  Hook  ceased  to 
54 


have  even  local  importance,  after  the  church  went 
down,  in  1698.  On  November  1, 1699,  Peter  Moun- 
son,  of  Brandy  wine  Hundred,  bought  the  Crane 
Hook  Church  property,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
acres. 

Peter  Alrich,  who  held  office  under  the  Dutch 
until  1674,  and  who  was  a  magistrate  under  the 
English,  between  1676  and  1683,  reclaimed,  in  1677, 
a  tract  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Christiana  Creek, 
which  had  been  purchased  of  the  Indians,  and  which 
was  confiscated  in  1663,  while  belonging  to  him. 
This  was  improved  by  him  and  his  descendants. 
One  of  them,  Peter  Sigfredus  Alrich,  lived  in  a 
house  which  is  still  standing.  He  died  1764,  having 
willed  his  property  to  two  sons,  Lucas  and  Sigfredus, 
who  divided  it,  April  27,  1780.  Lucas  had  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  on  Christiana  Creek  and 
Delaware  River;  Sigfredus  seventy-seven  acres,  of 
which  forty-three  were  in  the  homestead,  where,  in 
1785,  he  built  the  brick  part  of  the  house.  The  old 
part,  of  wood,  is  said  to  be  over  a  hundred  years 
older.  His  son,  Peter  S.  Alrich,  succeeded  him,  and 
died  in  1861.  His  property  was  retained  for  twenty 
years,  when  it  ^was  sold  by  his  executors,  Lucas 
Alrich  and  Richard  Jackson. 

On  July  28,  1881,  one  hundred  and  twenty-one 
acres  were  transferred  to  the  Lobdell  Car  Wheel 
Company,  of  Wilmington.  Thus  passed  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  family  a  property  which  had  been 
occupied  by  it  for  more  than  two  hundred  years. 

Peter  Alrich  owned  also  the  land  now  called 
Cherry  Island  Marsh,  in  Brandywine  Hundred,  and 
a  marshy  island  called  Apen  Island,  lying  at  the 
miouth  of  Red  Lion  Creek,  opposite  New  Castle 
Hundred.  It  was  one  of  those  islands  formed  by 
marshes  on  the  inland  side. 

It  was  confiscated  in  1663,  and  June  20,  1665,  was 
granted  to  William  Tom.* 

Gov.  Richard  Nicolls,  in  granting  this  land  to 
William  Tom,  says:  **I  have  thought  fitt  to  give  and 
grant,  and  by  these  presents  do  give  and  Ratifye, 
confirm  and  grant,  unto  the  said  William  Tom,  his 
heirs  and  Assigns,  a  certain  island,  with  a  plantation 
thereupon,  heretofore  belonging  to  Peter  Alrich^s, 
lying  about  seven  miles  below  New  Castle,  toward 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  the  said  island  standing  con- 
fiscated." 

The  lands  on  Long  Hook  were  surveyed  by  Eph- 
raim Herman  on  a  warrant  bearing  date  March  30, 
1681,  and  were  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  ex- 
tent. They  adjoined  the  plantation  of  Jean  Paul 
Jacquett.  The  latter  had  two  hundred  and  ninety 
acres  of  land,  and  lived  on  it  in  1684. 

Between  Fire  Hook  and  Swart  Nutten  Island  was  a 
tract  of  five  hundred  acres,  which  was  granted  by 
Governor  Nichols  January  5, 1667,  to  John  Erskin, 
Thomas  Brown  and  Martin  Grarrettson,  and  was  to 

*  WniUm  Tom,  In  1672,  became  the  clerk  of  the  court*  of  New  Cw 
Ue  and  Upland,  and  remained  clerk  until  1676,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Ephraim  Herman.  He  was  also  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  died 
about  1679,  and  was  buried  in  St.  Geoiye's  Cemetery. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


be  equally  divided  among  them.  In  1681  this  tract 
of  land  was  sold  to  John  Watkins  and  Charles  Rum- 
sey. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  1669,  eight  patents  for  land 
were  issued  for  a  tract  of  land  on  Fire  Hook  or  Firme 
Hook,  and  Christiana  Kill,  or  Creek,  to  John  Erick- 
son,  Peter  Meser,  Paul  Pusen,  Mattys  Jansen,  Olle 
Laersen,  Hendrick  Claesen,  Paul  Laursen  and 
Jurien  Jansen  for  each  a  piece  of  land  twenty  rods 
on  the  creek  or  kill,  and  six  hundred  rods  into  the 
woods.  At  the  same  time  the  waste  land  was  to  be 
used  in  common.  This  tract  was  on  Christiana  Kill, 
southeast  side.  Arnoldus  De  Lagrange  bought  in 
later  years  six  of  the  patents,  and  received  a  warrant 
from  William  Penn,  dated  February  21,  1683,  which 
was  surveyed  by  Thomas  Pierson  May  20,  1684,  and 
returned  as  six  hundred  acres  on  the  south  side  of 
Christiana  Creek,  within  Fire  Hook.  It  was  sold  to 
William  Bedford  in  trust  for  the  heirs  of  Sarah  Wil- 
liams Neering,  formerly  Sarah  De  Haes,  daughter  of 
Johannes  De  Haes. 

A  tract  of  land  called  Bank  Lots  was  warranted  by 
Richard  Nichols  January  1,  1667,  as  follows: 
"Whereas  there  is  a  certaine  parcel  of  Land  and 
meadow  ground  or  valley,  situate,  lying  and  being  on 
Delaware  River,  on  Christina  Creek  or  Kill,  between 
Swart  Nutten  Island,  the  Fyern  Hooke,  which  is 
upon  the  said  Kill,  containing  by  estimation  600 
acres,  bounded  on  the  north  with  Christina  Kill,  on 
west  with  Swart  Nutten  Island,  on  south  with  a  little 
spring  called  Bossier,  on  the  east  with  the  said  Fyern 
Hooke."  This  land  was  confirmed  to  John  Erskine, 
Thomas  Browne  and  Marten  Gkirrittsen. 

Swart  Nutten  Island,  after  belonging  to  Vice-Di- 
rector Hiniyossa,  in  1667  passed  to  Gerard  Otto, 
Thomas  Wollaston  and  James  Crawford,  but  soon 
after  became  the  property  of  John  Ogle,  who  resided 
there  some  time. 

The  latter,  on  June  3,  1678,  for  fourteen  thousand 
pounds  of  tobacco  and  cash,  conveyed  to  John 
Darby,  of  Maryland,  "  all  that  certain  Island  or  par- 
cel of  land  lying  on  south  side  of  Christina  Creek, 
commonly  called  by  ye  name  of  *Swarte  Nutten 
Island,'  together  with  parcel  of  land  on  the  main." 

On  the  1st  of  October,  1669,  a  patent  was  issued 
"  to  Thomas  Wollaston  for  a  parcel  of  land,  lying  and 
being  on  ye  south  syde  of  Swarte  Nutten  Island, 
bounded  by  Sergeant  A  skew's  land  on  ye  east  and 
on  ye  west  by  James  Crawford's,  containing  about 
one  hundred  acres  of  woodland.  It  being  a  hook  of 
land  commonly  called  by  the  name  of  Bellye,  wch 
said  parcell  of  land  lyes  unplanted  and  unmanned, 
having  no  particular  owner,"  and  it  was  confirmed 
unto  **  Sergeant  Thomas  Wollaston,  who  came  over 
into  these  partes  in  his  Maj"**  service." 

In  August  and  September,  1729,  Edward  Blake  and 
Jonathan  Houston  owned  the  island  and  **  Bellye," 
and  sold  to  John  Lewden.  The  latter  brought  prop- 
erty in  the  hundred  as  early  as  1695,  but  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  in  1744,  **  dwelt  on  his  plantation  on  the 


Island."  By  will  he  left  five  hundred  acres  of  land  to 
his  sons  John  and  Josiah,  the  tract  including  the 
'^ Fishing  Place"  on  Christiana  Creek.  John  had 
the  southeast  part  of  the  estate  and  Josiah  the  rest. 
The  former  built  a  large  brick  house  in  1770  on  his 
land,  opposite  Christiana  Bridge,  where  he  lived  un- 
til his  death.  Here  later  lived  Jeremiah  Lewden, 
his  son,  who  died  in  1840,  and  the  homestead  since 
that  time  has  been  occupied  by  his  sons,  Josiah  and 
John.  About  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  the 
original  estate  remain  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 
In  the  old  mansion,  which  was  enlarged  in  1815,  is 
some  very  ancient  and  antique  furniture.  There  are 
chairs  and  tables  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  old,  and  a  clock  two  hundred  and  fifty  years 
old,  which  was  made  at  Nottingham  by  B.  Chandler. 
The  elder  Josiah  Lewden  lived  opposite  Newport, 
where  he  built  a  large  hip-roof  house,  which  is  still 
standing.  This  is  one  of  the  very  few  tracts  of  land 
in  the  hundred  in  which  there  has  been  a  family 
succession  since  the  seventeenth  century. 

Among  other  lands  located  in  this  section  were 
those  of  John  Ogle,  November  2, 1681,  who  received 
an  order  from  the  court  of  New  Castle  for  right  to 
take  up  for  his  two  sons,  Thomas  and  John,  each  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  and  December  27,  1681,  Sur- 
veyor Ephraim  Herman,  on  above  warrant,  located 
four  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres,  "  called  the  fish- 
ing-place," on  the  southeast  side  of  the  south  main 
branch  of  Christiana  Creek. 

In  August,  1682,  two  hundred  acres  more  were 
surveyed,  bounded  on  the  south  by  main  branch  of 
Christiana  Creek,  the  tract  being  called  North- 
ampton. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1782,  John  Lewden,  Jr., 
purchased  of  John  Watson  a  third  interest  in  the 
tract  called  "Fish  Point"  (two  hundred  and  five 
acres),  on  a  small  branch  of  Red  Lion  Run.  On  the 
north  side  of  this  stream  was  the  large  tract  called 
"  Hamburg,"  a  part  of  which  was  conveyed  to 
Charles  Conner  February  18,  1767. 

Nearer  New  Castle,  and  on  the  Delaware,  a  large 
tract  of  land  was  disposed  of  by  a  Dutch  patent  as 
follows :  "  Alexander  D.  Hiniyossa,  in  behalf  of  the 
Right  Lord  Burgomaster  of  the  city  of  Amsterdam, 
Gov.  of  Del.  River,  together  with  the  Council,  Ac., 
grant  unto  Garrett  Von  Sweringer  a  piece  of  land 
consisting  of  meadow,  valley  and  woodland,  lying 
and  being  on  the  other  side  of  the  first  Marsh,  on  the 
south  of  this  fort  of  New  Amstel,  consisting  in  breadth 
along  the  Strand  1600  rods,  and  in  length  stretching 
S.  E.  &  N.  W.  2000  rods,  upon  condition  to  improve, 
fence,  &c.,  and  hold  fealty  to  Lord  Burgomaster  of 
Amsterdam."  "Signed  by  Hiniyossa  at  the  forte 
Nieu  Amstell,  3rd  July,  1664." 

This  tract  subsequently  became  the  property  of 
John  Carr,  and  was  sold  at  public  outcry  March  5, 
1679,  and  was  described  as  lying  "  On  south  syde  of 
town  between  Great  Kill  Creek  and  Mr.  Tom's 
Creek,  extending  along  the  River  1600  rods  and 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


851 


reaching  back  into  the  woods  one  mile  and  no  more/' 
The  land  was  pat  up  in  four  parts.  **  No.  1,  the  first 
quarter  seated  and  improved  by  Anthony  Bryant, 
who  bought  itt.  No.  2,  bought  by  Mr.  Peter  Alrich 
for  270  gilders.  No.  3,  Peter  Alrich,  310  gilders. 
No.  4,  the  lower  quarter,  Peter  Alrich's,  640  gilders." 

In  1683  Peter  Alrich  had  a  tract  of  land  containing 
one  thousand  four  hundred  and  seventy-three  acres, 
bounded  southwest  by  Tom's  Run,  and  northwest  by 
the  King's  Road,  warranted  to  him,  thus  increasing 
his  estate  in  that  part  of  the  hundred. 

In  December,  1680,  Tom's  land,  including  the 
island,  was  sold  at  public  outcry  by  the  administra- 
tor of  the  estate,  John  Williams  being  the  purchaser. 
In  1702  a  re-survey  was  made  of  a  tract  of  the  Alrich 
land  lying  between  the  mouth  of  the  Red  Lion 
Creek  and  Tom's  Run,  there  being  in  all  nine  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres.  **  It  adjoined  the  178  acre 
tract  of  Jacobus  Alrich,  lying  on  the  Maryland 
road,  &c." 

In  February,  1701,  a  tract  of  one  thousand  three 
hundred  and  seventy-seven  acres  below  the  town  of 
New  Castle  was  re-surveyed  for  Jasper  Yeates,  of 
Chester.  One  end  of  the  land  touched  the  Delaware 
River,  and  followed  up  the  main  branch  of  the  Great 
Marsh.  This  was  subsequently  sold  to  other  parties. 
In  1705  the  lands  on  Pigeon  Run  and  Red  Lion 
Creek,  one  thousand  one  hundred  acres  in  extent, 
were  re-surveyed  by  George  Deakayne. 

In  1789  William  Rhodes  was  the  owner  of  a  tract 
of  land  on  Pigeon  Run,  called  Poplar  Neck,  being  at 
the  confluence  of  the  run  with  the  Red  Lion  Creek. 
In  1760  John  Elliott  became  the  owner  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  of  this  tract,  excepting  half  an 
acre  thereof,  /'  on  which  now  stands  an  old  meeting- 
house." On  this  tract  was  a  grist-mill.  It  after- 
wards passed  to  Dr.  James  Couper,  of  New  Castle, 
whose  descendants  still  own  it.  Near  here  was  the 
original  Red  Lion  Inn,  which  was  mentioned  in  1765 
in  a  transfer  of  property  from  Rhodes  to  Rhodes. 
This  family  became  extinct  many  years  ago,  and  part 
of  their  former  estate  now  belongs  to  Samuel  Silver. 
On  this  fann  is  an  Indian  mound  which  is  about  one 
acre  in  extent  In  shape  it  is  a  parallelogram,  and 
rises  to  a  considerable  height.  Trees  and  verdure 
cover  its  surface,  giving  the  mound  the  appearance 
of  being  a  huge  emerald.  Near  by  is  a  mineral 
spring  of  good  quality.  Indian  relics  have  been 
found  in  great  abundance  in  this  locality,  and  Sam- 
uel Silver  has  made  a  collection  numbering  several 
thousand  specimens. 

On  the  old  Lieutenant  Porter  farm,  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, is  a  brick  house  built  in  1746,  which  is  in 
good  condition.  It  was  at  one  time  a  part  of  an 
estate  embracing  eight  farms,  and,  after  Porter's  ac- 
cidental death,  became  the  property  of  General 
Foreman,  of  Maryland,  through  the  marriage  of  the 
widow,  and  still  later  passed  to  G^rge  B.  Rodney, 
of  New  Castle.  Many  changes  in  the  ownership  ot 
the  valuable  lands  of  this  part  of  the  hundred  have 


taken  place;  but  the  family  of  William  Silver  has 
been  one  of  the  largest  holders  of  real  estate  since 
1820. 

John  Read,  the  ancestor  of  the  Read  family,  be- 
came possessed  of  a  large  estate  in  the  hundred,  and 
resided  here  part  of  the  time.  A  portion  of  the 
estate  was  a  farih  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
adjacent  to  Christiana  Bridge,  upon  which  was  a 
large  brick  house,  a  store-house,  wharf  and  landing, 
from  which  an  extensive  business  was  carried  on 
with  Philadelphia. 

The  Hon.  George  Read,  before  1766,  was  in  posses- 
sion of  a  tract  of  land  called  **Stonum,"  which 
fronted  on  the  Delaware  and  extended  nearly  to  the 
southwestern  boundary  of  the  hundred.  Along  the 
river  was  an  extensive  marsh,  upon  which  he  ex- 
pended large  sums  of  money  in  embankments,  which 
were  broken  and  washed  away.  After  the  second 
freshet,  which  occurred  in  1789,  he  sold  the  place. 

A  list  of  the  taxable  inhabitants  and  estates  in  New 
Castle  Hundred  returned  to  Joseph  Tatlow,  assessor 
for  the  said  hundred,  11th  of  November,  1787, — 


Aiken,  Robt. 
Aikeu,  Wm. 
Aiken,  Wni. 
Alricba,  Locae. 
Alexander,  Archibald. 
Aiken,  Thoa. 
Aahley,  Richard. 
Bedford,  Gunning. 
Bryon,  Robt,  Jr. 
Barr,  Samuel. 
Booth,  Jamea. 
Booth,  John,  Jr. 
Booth,  Robt. 
Bedford,  Wm. 
Bole,  Geo. 
Belvlle,  Abraham. 
Blankford,  John. 
Betrow,  Stephen. 
Ooleeberry,  Jacob. 
Goleeberry,  Henry. 
Cannon,  Abraham. 
Croxall,  Gharlea. 
Clark,  Thos. 
Cloe,  Jacob. 
Cbiy,  Thofl. 
Colter,  Wm. 
Crow,  John. 
Creighton,  Wm. 
Champion,  Jas.,  eat 
Carter,  Jaa. 
Cannon,  Wm. 
Devoe,  Frederick. 
Dyatt,  Adam. 
Denniaton,  Thoa. 
Devoe,  laaac. 
Duncan,  Alexander. 
Dickson,  John. 
Duke,  Matthew. 
Doran,  Laurence. 
Devlin,  Jaa. 
Darby,  Henry. 
Erea,  Jaa. 
Enos,  John. 
Enof,  Jos. 
Evans,  John. 
Ewen,  John. 
Finney,  David. 
Fisher,  Samuel. 
Farren,  Edward. 


Fumeeler,  Alex. 

Femance,  DanieL 

Grantham,  Isaac. 

Griffith,  Isaac 

Goff,  Samuel. 

Gilbert,  Stephen. 

Gormley,  David. 

Garretson,  Jas. 

Gilliei,  Duncan. 

HUl,  Frederick. 

Hinsey,  John. 

Higgina,  Jesse. 

Haalett,  Wm. 

Harp,  David. 

Hatnee,  Isaac. 

Hannah,  SamueL 

Harris,  Samuel. 

Hazlee,  Jas. 

Hall,  Chambers. 

Harvey,  Alex. 

HaU.Alex. 

Harris,  Jas. 

Irwin,  David. 

Irwin,  David  (weaver). 

Jacquet,  Peter. 

Jacquet,  Hans. 

Jacquet,  John. 

Janvier,  Francis. 

Janvier,  Thos. 

Janvier,  Richard. 

Jameson,  Alex. 

Johns,  iCinsey. 

Jacquet,  Peter. 

Jacquet,  John  (Swan  Hook). 

Jones,  Thos. 

Kean,  Thos. 

Kish,  Jo^n. 

Kinnear,  James. 

Kerr,  Robt. 

King,  Geo. 

King.  Andrew. 

Kern,  Dr.  John. 

Kish,  Wm. 

Kean,  John. 

Lewden,  John. 

Lewden,  John  (tanner). 

Lyon,  John  (Innkeepar). 

Lewis,  Joseph. 


Lewis,  Josiah, 

Digitized  by 


Google 


852 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


L«a,  Wm. 

Morton,  MortoD. 

Morton,  Thos. 

Moore,  Thos. 

Merton,  Matthew. 

Montgomery,  Alex. 

McCullongh,  Jas.  (weaver). 

Montgomery,  Alex'. 

Morton,  Andrew. 

Montooth,  Henry. 

Mc€k>rmick,  Patrick. 

McGalden,  Chas. 

MiUigan,  Jas. 

McGanrey,  Wm, 

Mann,  Wm. 

Mann,  Wm.,  Jr. 

McKee,  John. 

McOee,  Thos. 

Morton,  Kbeneser. 

MoLamey,  Wm. 

McGinn,  Wm. 

Minor,  Thoa. 

McCullough,  Jas.  (weaver). 

MoGuyer,  Dennis. 

Muagrore,  Job. 

McClay,  Barney. 

Nesbitt,  Thoe. 

Porter,  Alex. 

Pierce,  Matthew. 

Partridge,  Jaa. 

Patten,  Alex. 

Penton,  Reynier. 

Port,  Iiaac. 

Potlersun,  Bobt. 

Poole,  Daniel. 

Price,  John. 

Patten,  David. 

Porter,  Chas. 

Pasmore,  John. 

Bead,  George. 

Bead,  George,  Jr. 

Ruth,  Samuel. 

Bhoada,  Joseph. 

Bead,  John. 

Reynolds,  John. 

The  following  is  a  list 
Hundred  in  the  year  1788 : 

Alrich,  SigfMdus. 
Aiken,  Bev.  Samuel. 
Bryon,  Bobt. 
Brlnghurst,  Jas. 
Blackburn,  Wm. 
Baker,  Jacob. 
Bedford,  Gunning. 
Clay,  SUtor. 
Cooch,  Thos. 
Clark,  John. 
Davis,  Col. 
Eves,  Jas. 
Finney,  Dr.  John. 
FumesB,  Bobt. 
Qarrettson,  Eliakln. 
Guiar,  Adam. 
Hun,  Capt. 
Israel,  Israel. 
Jaoquet,  Peter. 
King,  John. 
Land,  Wm. 
Mc Williams,  Bobt. 
Miller,  David. 


Riddle,  Jas. 
Buth,  John. 
Besoe,  Bei^. 
Rboads,  Thos. 
Bead,  Alex. 
SUdham,  Isaac. 
Stidham,  Wm. 
Stidham,  Lucas. 
Shields,  Bobt. 
Short,  Abraham. 
Silsbee,  John. 
Sankey,  Abraham. 
Scott,  Wm. 
Stoop,  Ephraim. 
Smith,  Gosper. 
Shannon,  Wm. 
Stoup,  Morgan. 
Stockton,  John. 
Sutton,  Thos. 
Smith,  Andrew. 
Smith,  Sampson. 
Sellinger,  Wm. 
Stoup,  BenJ. 
Sterritt,  Alex. 
Stidham,  Peter. 
Springer,  John. 
Spotswood,  Wm. 
Stoggen,  Jas. 
Smith,  John. 
Tatlow,  Joe. 
Turner,  Thos. 
Thompson,  Bobt 
Toland,  Jas. 
Tweedy,  David. 
Yansant,  Geo. 
Y.  Leuvanigh,  Zachariah. 
Y.  Lenvanigh,  Israel. 
Wetherell,  John. 
WUey,  Bobt 
Wist,  Geo. 
Webb,  Jacob. 
Welch,  Jacob. 
Wilson,  Hugh. 
Yeates,  John. 

of  estates  in  New  Castle 


McLouens,  Agnes. 
McKean,  Thos. 
Meredith,  Bice. 
Mackey,  Esther. 
Mackey,  John. 
McGay,  John. 
Maxwell,  Solomon. 
Mean,  Bobt 
Pierce,  Bobt. 
Porter,  David. 
Bezoe,  Jas. 
Stuart,  John. 
Stidham,  Peter. 
Slator,  Widow. 
Semple,  Wm. 
Stalcop,  Peter. 
Simonton,  John. 
Sankey,  George. 
Shields,  Thos. 
Walls,  Nicholas. 
Wharton,  Chas. 
WUliams,  Maurice. 
Yeates,  Donaldson. 


McKinley,John. 
McMahon,  Wm. 
Monro,  Geo. 
Pratt,  Geo. 


Patterson,  Andrew. 
Beynolds,  Geo. 
Thompson,  John. 
Thompson,  Dr.  David. 


E-ttates  in  New  Castle  hundreds  belonging  to  per- 
sons residing  within  the  county, — 


Amor,  Wm. 
Dnshane,  Anthony. 
Gilpin,  Yincent. 


Hannah,  John. 
Harvey,  Job. 
Lewis,  Joel. 


Estates  in  other  hundreds  belonging  to  persons  re- 
siding in  New  Castle, — 

Lewden,  John,  in  Red  Lion  Hundred. 
McWilliam,  Bicbard,  In  Appoquinimiuk  Hundred. 
Porter,  Alexander,  in  Red  Lion  Hundred 
Shields,  Bobert,  in  Pencader  Hundred. 

Outside  of  the  pursuits  connected  with  agri- 
culture, there  are  but  few  interests  which  engage  the 
attention  of  the  people  of  New  Castle  Hundred.  Nor 
is  its  farming  history  as  distinct  or  characterized  by 
the  same  individuality  as  that  of  other  localities  in 
the  county.  Many  large  tracts  of  land  are  held  by 
non-residents  and  are  occupied  bj  a  class  of  citizens, 
whose  tenure  being  uncertain,  they  do  not  become 
deeply  interested  in  the  affairs  of  their  transient 
homes.  The  relation  of  Wilmington,  New  Castle 
City,  Newport  and  other  towns  outside  of  the  bounds 
of  the  hundred  has  prevented  the  founding  of  other 
villages,  with  their  separate  business  hbtories. 
Nevertheless,  there  are  a  few  points  of  local  distinc- 
tion which  deserve  mention.  Hare's  Comers  (so 
called  from  an  early  settler  at  that  point),  a  few  miles 
from  New  Castle,  at  the  interaection  of  two  import- 
ant highways,  is  the  oldest  continuous  tavern-stand  in 
the  hundred.  In  1820  the  place  was  known  as 
Quinn's  Hotel,  but  soon  after  a  new  sijcn  was  sup- 
plied with  a  green  tree  painted  on  it  and  thereafter  it 
was  called  the  "  Green  Tree  Inn,"  though  the  locality 
was  still  known  as  Hare's  Corners.  After  a  post-office 
with  this  name  was  established  it  became  applicable 
to  all  interests.  The  tavern,  originally  a  two-story 
brick  building,  has  been  enlarged  and  improved  by 
the  addition  of  another  story.  The  place  has  lately 
become  popular  as  a  mart  for  the  sale  of  cattle. 
Northeast,  three  miles  fi'om  Wilmington,  where  the 
railroad  crosses  the  main  highway,  a  railway  station, 
bearing  the  name  of  Hare's  Corner  was  opened  to 
the  public  May  15, 1886.  It  is  a  neat  brick  building 
in  an  attractive  country.  At  this  place  are  the  fine 
County  Alms-house  and  Insane  Hospital,  elsewhere 
described.  And  on  the  highway,  nearer  the  city  of 
Wilmington,  is  the  '*  Great  Northern  and  Southern 
Garden  and  Nursery,*'  established  by  Randolph 
Peters.  This  enterprising  horticulturist  first  engaged 
in  the  culture  of  fruit,  especially  the  pear,  at  Newark 
in  1857,  but  in  1861  located  a  small  garden  two  miles 
south  of  Wilmington,  in  New  Castle  Hundred.  Find- 
ing the  soil  favorable  forsuch  operations,  he  extended 
the  business,  from  year  to  year,  until  it  had  assumed 
large  proportions,  successfully  carrying  it  on  until 
his  death,  December  12, 1885.  Since  that  time  his 
family  has  retained  control,  with  John  S.  Barnhart 
as  general  manager,  in  1887.  At  this  time  the  grounds 
embraced  two  hundred  and  forty-four  acres,  a  large 
portion  of  it  being  set  in  nursery  plants.  All  kinds 
of  fruit  trees  are  grown,  but  a  specialty  is  made  of 
the  peach,  and  several  valuable  varieties  have  been 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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originated  here.  Green-house  and  bedding  plants  are 
also  extensively  grown.  The  business  gives  employ- 
ment to  twenty-five  men.  Southeast  from  this  place 
are  the  old  Lander's  Nurseries,  which  are  not  carried 
on  as  large  a  scale  as  in  former  years.  Market 
gardening  has  engaged  the  attention  of  a  number  of 
persons  in  the  hundred,  and,  although  a  profitable 
occupation,  the  acreage  devoted  to  this  purpose  is 
still  limited. 

Bear  Station,  on  the  Frenchtown  Railroad,  nearly 
twelve  miles  from  New  Castle,  is  in  a  rich  section  of 
country  and  has  proven  a  great  accommodation  for 
the  people  of  that  part  of  the  county.  It  is  a  neat 
and  well-arranged  structure  and  was  built  in  August, 
1882.  Lewis  Fisher  was  appointed  the  first  agent, 
and  Henry  W.  Vandever  at  present  serves  in  that 
postion.  In  this  locality  was  the  old  Bear  Tavern,  on 
the  Couper  estate,  which  has  been  discontinued.  It 
was  kept  in  a  frame  building  eighty  years  ago  and 
before  the  building  of  the  railroad,  in  1831,  was  much 
patronized.    The  house  was  torn  down  about  1845. 

One  and  a  half  miles  south  from  Bear  Station  is 
the  hamlet  of  Red  Lion.  It  is  a  post-office  and 
country  trading  point,  having  a  church,  stores,  shops 
and  half  a  dozen  residences.  The  place  took  its 
name  from  the  old  Red  Lion  Inn,  which  was  kept  in 
this  locality  as  early  as  the  colonial  times.  It  was 
on  Pigeon  Run,  near  the  old  Presbyterian  meeting- 
house, and  it  is  supposed  that  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  Another  public-house  was  next  opened  in  the 
present  hamlet  some  time  after  the  Revolution,  which 
was  kept  by  a  French  Huguenot  lady  named  Elisse 
Rouasie.  This  building  was  of  brick  and  wood,  and 
the  sign  which  advertised  its  hospitality  to  the  public 
bore  the  image  of  a  rampant  red  lion.  It  is  still 
preserved  by  the  Silver  family,  into  whose  possession 
the  property,  through  marriage,  passed  some  time 
after  1800.  This  famous  hostelry  was  rebuilt  in  1823 
and  was  closed  as  a  public  inn  about  1837,  the  railroad 
having  diverted  the  patronage  it  formerly  enjoyed. 
Some  time  before  1828  William  Silver  erected  a  store 
building  in  which  he  traded  several  years.  Later  he 
sold  goods  in  the  tavern  building,  which  he  also  used 
as  a  residence.  Since  that  time  his  sons — William, 
Samuel,  Albert  and  Henry  M. — have  here  merchan- 
dised, and  William  F.,  a  grandson,  is  at  present  in 
trade.  The  above  were  also  the  postmasters  of  the 
Red  Lion  office,  kept  in  this  store.  Another  trading- 
place  was  opened  in  1848  by  Richard  Groves, which  is 
now  occupied  by  Richard  Maloney.  Mechanic  shops 
were  built  by  William  Silver,  and,  during  the  Mexi- 
can War,  government  shoes  were  made  in  one  of  them 
by  James  McNamee. 

On  Pigeon  Run,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Red  Lion, 
is  an  old  mill-site  which  was  abandoned  more  than 
sixty  years  ago,  but  traces  of  the  raceway  may  still 
be  seen.  In  1769  John  Elliot  owned  a  tract  of  land 
near  this  stream  of  water,  and  purposing  to  build  a 
mill,  he  petitioned,  on  December  11th,  for  condemna- 
tion of  mill-land,  and  the  court  granted  that  he 


might  have  six  acres  upon  which  to  build  a  good 
**  water  grist-mill.''  William  and  Robert  Polk  were 
owners  of  this  property  at  a  later  period.  The  mill 
had  but  a  small  capacity.  Five  hundred  yards  below 
was  a  small  saw-mill  more  than  a  century  ago,  which 
was  at  the  head  of  tide-water  navigation,  and  sloops 
sometimes  loaded  there.  Since  the  country  has  been 
cleared  up  all  these  conditions  have  been  changed 
and  the  run  is  now  a  very  small  stream. 

Not  far  from  1848,  Dr.  Robert  Sutherland,  a  Scotch- 
man, located  at  Red  Lion,  and  in  addition  to  practic- 
ing medicine  also  taught  school.  In  the  latter  avoca- 
tion he  was  very  successful,  and  introduced  many 
new  methods.  He  was  instrumental  in  having  the 
fine  grove  of  trees  around  the  school-house  at  Red 
Lion  planted,  and  lived  near  the  scene  of  his  labors 
until  his  death,  in  September,  1886.  The  first  school- 
house  in  this  locality  was  near  th3  Indian  Mound,  on 
the  Samuel  Silver  farm,  but  in  1835,  the  school-house 
at  the  hamlet  was  built.  It  was  used  until  the  pres- 
ent house  took  its  place  in  1882.  The  latter  is  an 
attractive  building. 

Opposite  Christiana  Bridge,  in  New  Castle  Hundred, 
a  few  interests  of  a  business  nature  existed  in  former 
years.  John  Lewden  had  a  tan-yard  about  the  time 
of  the  Revolution,  which  he  carried  on  until  his  death, 
when  his  son  Jeremiah  engaged  in  the  same  business 
until  it  was  abandoned. 

During  the  embargo  of  the  War  of  1812,  Joseph 
Barr  merchandised  a  short  time  in  the  Lewden  man- 
sion ;  and  John  Allen  had  a  store  for  ten  or  fifteen 
years,  nearly  half  a  century  ago,  occupying  a  frame 
building.  Later  Charles  Allen  had  a  tavern  at  that 
place.  Opposite  stood  a  red  house,  which  was  also 
an  inn,  and  when  kept  by  Solomon  Maxwell  became 
a  favorite  resort  for  fox-hunters.  This  building  has 
been  removed,  and  for  many  years  business  has  been 
wholly  confined  to  Christiana  Village  proper. 

In  the  northern  part  of  New  Castle  Hundred  a 
number  of  industrial  establishments  have  been  built 
up,  but  they  have  lately  been  taken,  within  the  bounds 
of  Wilmington.  In  this  locality  was  the  powder-mill 
of  M.  Garesche,  which  blew  up  at  eleven  o'clock,  on 
June  30,  1822,  killing  seven  men.  The  manufacture 
of  powder  at  this  place  has  long  since  been  discon- 
tinued, though  carried  on  some  years  after  that  catas- 
trophe. 

The  Religious  Interests  of  the  hundred  have 
ever  been  closely  associated  with  those  of  contiguous 
towns,  and  some  of  the  early  churches  were  altogether 
absorbed  by  societies  afterwards  organized  at  Wilming- 
ton and  New  Castle.  The  Craine  Hook  Church  thus 
passed  out  of  existence  in  the  seventeenth  century, 
and  the  Bethel  Baptist  Church,  and  the  Presbyterian 
Church  on  Pigeon  Run,  in  more  recent  periods.  The 
exact  time  when  the  latter  was  founded  is  indeter- 
minate, but  it  must  have  been  before  1730.  It  does 
not  appear  that  a  congregation  was  organized,  but  the 
building  erected  seems  to  have  been  a  ''  chapel  of 
ease "  for  the  members  of  the  New  Castle  Presby- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


terian  Church,  who  rettided  in  this  locality.  The 
frame  building  erected  is  ^spoken  of  in  1760  as  an 
**  old  church/'  but  may  have  given  greater  evidence 
of  age  than  it  possessed,  on  account  of  its  neglected 
condition^  It  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  no  building 
was  put  up  in  its  place,  since  all  those  who  formerly 
attended  had  removed  or  connected  themselves  with 
the  church  at  Glasgow.  But  the  grave-yard  in  which 
the  church  stood  has  been  preserved  to  the  present 
time.  In  it  are  interred  members  of  the  Bryan  family 
(one  stone  bearing  date  1738),  the  Aiken,  Stewart, 
Ferris,  Rhodes  and  Couper  families.  The  latter's 
representatives  keep  the  old  cemetery  in  good  condi- 
tion, but  it  is  now  seldom  used. 

The  Bethel  Baptist  Church  was  also  begun  as  an  out- 
station  to  another  church,  sustaining  that  relation  to 
the  Welsh  Tract  Baptist  Church,  which  was  nine 
miles  west  from  the  site  of  this  meeting-house.  Pub- 
lic services  in  this  section  were  first  held  by  a  Mr. 
Boggs  at  the  house  of  David  Morton,  some  time  before 
1786.  On  one  of  these  occasions  the  congregation, 
being  too  large  for  the  building,  was  dispersed  by  a 
storm,  which  led  Alexander  Porter  and  John  Lewden, 
two  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  the  hundred,  who 
were  present,  to  conceive  the  idea  of  building  a  house 
of  worship  in  that  neighborhood  which  would  accom- 
modate all  who  might  attend.  Half  an  acre  of  land 
was  secured  from  Ebenezer  and  Andrew  Morton,  the 
deed  bearing  date  February  8, 1788;  but  the  building 
may  have  been  begun  a  short  time  earlier.  The  struc. 
ture  was  thirty -eight  by  thirty-two  feet,  and  was  in 
use  until  the  house  was  abandoned.  The  congrega- 
tion worshipping  in  it  became  an  independent  organ- 
ization in  1839,  sixteen  persons  entering  into  mem- 
bership. The  church  became  connected  with  the 
Delaware  Association,  from  whose  minutes  it  disap- 
pears in  1871,  and  it  soon  after  became  extinct. 

The  Lebanon  M.  E,  Church,— In  1819,  Mrs.  William 
Silver  set  aside  one  acre  of  land  near  the  hamlet  of 
Red  Lion,  upon  which  was  built  that  year  a  Method- 
ist Church  with  the  above  name.  It  was  a  plain 
structure  of  brick,  thirty  by  forty  feet,  and  had  a  gal- 
lery at  the  end  for  colored  people.  This  house  was 
used  until  1853,  when  the  present  edifice  at  Red  Lion 
took  its  place,  the  old  church  lot  being  used  for 
burial  purposes  only.  The  n^w  church  was  erected 
through  the  efforts  of  O.  D.  Jester,  John  L.  Deputy 
Mahlon  Foster,  Richard  Graves,  Obadiah  Clark,  Dr! 
Roderick  Sullivan  and  others. 

It  is  a  two-story  brick,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  and  is 
valued  at  five  thousand  dollars.  Repairs  in  1886  have 
given  the  church  a  modern  appearance.  In  1887  the 
property  was  in  charge  of  Trustees  Peter  Cleaver^ 
Ephraim  Sterling,  John  Hastings,  John  M.  Collins, 
William  F.  Silver  and  H.  M.  Silver. 

The  church  has  a  membership  of  sixty-five,  and 
the  Rev.  William  A.  Wise  was  the  pastor  since  1886. 
His  predecessors,  since  being  set  off  to  Glasgow  as 
an  independent  charge,  have  been  the  Revs.  L.  C. 
Andrews,  Julius  Dodd  and  William  R  Sears.    Prior 


to  1880  the  ministerial  service  was  in  connection  with 
other  churches  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county. 

The  Union  American  Methodist  Church  {Colored)  is 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Christiana  Bridge.  It  was 
built  on  half  an  acre  of  land  received  firom  the  estate 
of  Jeremiah  Lewden,  and  the  first  structure  was  a 
small  frame,  put  up  in  1819.  In  1850  the  present 
house  was  built,  a  plain  brick,  thirty  by  forty  feet 
with  galleries  on  three  sides,  in  which  meetings  have 
since  been  statedly  held.  The  congregations  are 
usually  large,  those  attending  coming  from  a  large 
scope  of  country  outside  of  the  hundred.  A  part  of 
the  church  lot  is  devoted  to  burial  purposes,  and 
among  those  there  interred  was  the  Rev.  William 
Williams,  who  died  February  19, 1878. 


CHAPTER    XLIII. 

THE  CITY  OF  NEW  CASTLE. 

A  PERIOD  of  nearly  fifty  years  elapsed  from  the 
time  Hendrick  Hudson  discovered  the  Delaware  Bay 
and  River,  in  1609,  before  a  town  was  regularly  built. 
At  various  times  prior  to  1655  small  military  posts 
were  established  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware, 
around  which  clustered  a  few  habitations.  The  set- 
tlement at  Fort  Christina  began  to  assume  a  regular 
form,  when  it  was  almost  destroyed  at  the  time  of  its 
capture,  September  25, 1655.  The  Dutch  soon  after 
rebuilt  it  more  systematically.  Under  the  Swedes 
this  settlement  was  called  Christinaham,  but  under 
the  Dutch  settlement  to  April  25, 1657,  it  became 
known  as  Fort  Altena,  and  was  known  by  this  title 
until  its  abandonment,  which  was  soon  after  the  terri- 
tory passed  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  in  1664. 

Early  explorers  were  quick  to  recognize  the  ad- 
vantages of  this  locality  as  the  site  for  a  town,  and 
took  measures  to  obtain  possession  of  the  same.  On 
July  19, 1651,  Governor  Petrus  Stuyvesant  purchased 
from  the  Indians,  in  the  name  of  the  West  India 
Company,  all  the  land  lying  between  the  Minquas 
Creek  (now  Christiana  Creek)  and  Bomties  Hoeck 
(now  Bombay  Hook),  or  to  tha  mouth  of  Duck  Creek. 
About  one  Dutch  mile,  or  four  English  miles,  below 
the  mouth  of  Minquas  Creek  was  a  promontory  of 
fast  land,  jutting  out  into  the  Delaware.  This  point, 
known  as  Sand  Hoeck,  and  commanding  an  exten- 
sive view  up  and  down  the  Delaware,  was  used  by 
Governor  Stuyvesant  as  a  site  for  Fort  Casimir,  all 
traces  of  which  have  since  been  washed  away.  The 
fort  is  believed  to  have  been  between  Harmony  and 
Chestnut  Streets,  below  Front,  in  the  present  town 
of  New  Castle. 

The  erection  of  this  fort  so  near  the  Swedish  settle- 
ment created  dissatisfaction,  which  culminated  in  the 
conquest  of  the  Swedes,  September  16, 1655,  when  all 
this  territory  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Dutch. 
When  the  fort  capitulated,  thirty  Swedes  took  the 


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oath  of  allegiance,  together  with  a  number  who  had 
settled  near  the  fort. 

On  November  29, 1666,  Jean  Paul  Jacqnett,^  who 
had  been  in  the  service  of  the  West  India  Company, 
was  appointed  Vice- Director  on  the  Delaware  Bay  and 
Biver,  with  full  civil  and  military  powers,  and  became 
the  founder  and  first  ruler  of  New  Castle. 

Vice-Director  Jacquett  took  the  oath  of  office  De- 
cember 8, 1666,  and  soon  appointed  a  Council,  consist- 
ing of  Andreas  Hudde,'  Elmerhuysen  Cleyn  and  two 
sergeants,  Qysbert  Bracy  and  Hans  Hopman,  who,  in 
addition  to  their  military  duties,  governed  the  town. 

Among  the  instructions  given  to  the  Vice-Director, 
concerning  the  settlements,  were  the  following: 

'*  In  diitribnting  land  he  most,  abore  all,  take  care  that  tilllages  be 
formed  of  at  least  10  or  20  families  together,  and  in  order  lo  prevent  the 
Immoderate  deeire  for  land,  he  shall,  in  place  of  tithes,  exact  from  each 
morgan  of  land,  provisionally,  twelve  stivers  <  annually. 

'*  He  shall  not  grant  building  or  farm  lots  on  the  edge  of  the  valley  of 
Fort  OuBimir,  to  wit:  between  the  Kill  and  the  aforesaid  Fort,  nor  be- 
hind, but  he  shall  reserve  the  land  for  reinforcements  and  outworks  of 
the  Fort ;  likewise,  in  order  to  favor  more  the  concentrated  settlements 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Fort,  he  shall  upon  occasion  clear  a  good  street 
behind  the  houses  already  built,  and  lay  out  the  same  in  convenient 
order  and  lots  of  about  forty  to  fifty  feet  in  width,  and  one  hundred  feet 
in  length,  the  street  to  be  at  least  four  or  five  rods  wide/' 

On  December  28, 1666,  the  Council  gave  a  hearing 
to  several  Indian  sachems  in  the  presence  of  the  Hon- 
orable Vice-Director,  Andries  Hudde,  Gysbert  Bracy, 
Elmerhuysen  Cleyn,  Sanders  Boyer  and  several  others. 
The  Indians  presented  the  following  propositions : 

"  Ffni.  That  some  promises  had  been  made  to  them  by  the  former 
Commander,  Dirck  Smith,  in  regard  to  the  trade,  that  the  prices  should 
be  raised. 

**8tc<m±  They  demanded,  with  great  circumstantiality  and  ample 
Tolnbility,  changes  in  the  trikde,  asking  a  piece  of  cloth  for  2  deer  and 
so  forth  of  other  merchandise  in  proportion. 

*'  Third.  They  requested  that  whereas  it  had  rather  been  customary 
to  make  some  presents  to  the  Chief,  it  weuld  be  proper  now  in  confirma- 
tion of  the  treaty.*' 

To  these  propositions  the  Council  replied  with 
pledges  of  friendship ;  giving  the  purchasers  of  In- 
dian game  the  right  to  buy  where  they  chose,  and 
promising  the  presents  in  a  few  days.  The  following 
day  the  residents  of  Fort  Casimir  ''assented  wil- 
lingly to  the  propositions  '*  of  the  Indians  and  signed 
the  appended  subscription  "with  the  exception  of 

1  A  letter  fh>m  the  Directors  of  the  West  India  Oompany,  dated 
Stockholm,  Nov.  25, 1664,  to  Petrus  Stuyvesant,  Director  at  New  Am- 
sterdam—now New  York— says :  "On  the  ship  *De  grote  Christoffel' 
goes  orer  as  a  firee  man,  Jan  Paule  Jacquet,  with  his  family,  and  as  he 
is  unacquainted  in  that  country  and  intends  to  devote  himself  there  to 
fanning,  we  have  not  been  able  to  refuse  him  the  desired  recommenda- 
tion, the  more  so  because  he  has  served  the  company  in  Brazil  for 
many  years ;  therefore  we  recommend  your  Honor  to  aasist  him  as 
much  as  possible,  without  disadvautage  to  the  Company,  and  after 
having  indicated  some  suitable  place,  to  allot,  under  the  customary 
conditions  as  much  land  to  him  as  he  may  be  able  to  cultivate."  Jac- 
quette  served  the  company  in  various  capacities  on  the  Delaware. 
Aft^r  the  capture  by  the  English,  in  1664,  he  became  a  subject  of  Great 
Britain,  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  served  until  the 
delivery  of  the  territory  to  Wm.  Penn,  in  October,  1682.  He  took  up 
a  tract  of  laud  containing  two  hundred  and  ninety  acres  on  the  south 
side  of  Christiana  Creek,  the  warrant  for  which  was  granted  "  22nd  of 
12th  mo.,  1684,^*  and  lived  here  many  years.  The  tract  was  known  as 
Long  Hook,  lay  south  from  Wilmington  and  was  owned,  until  about  the 
middle  of  the  present  century,  by  his  descendants,  of  whom  Mi^jor  Peter 
Jacquett  and  Capt.  Peter  Jacquett  wore  well  known  in  the  Revolution. 

*  Andreas  Hudde,  was  chosen  secretary  of  the  Council  aud  surveyor. 
He  owned  land  on  the  South  River,  where  he  was  appointed  eommisHary 
October  12, 1645,  and  in  1649  resided  at  Fort  Nassau,  about  a  mile  below 
the  present  ci^  of  Gloucester,  New  Jersey.  He  served  the  company 
Bumy  years  and  died  at  Appoqnlnimink,  April  9, 1663. 

s  A  ftlTtr  is  twenty-foor  oants.^ 


Isaac  Israel  and  Isaac  Cordosa,  who  refused  to  give 
their  consent  and  prepared  to  leave  the  river  and  give 
up  their  trade  rather  than  assist,  with  other  good  in- 
habitants, in  maintaining  the  peace  of  the  highway." 
The  subsidy  was  as  follows : 


'  By  the  Honorable  Comp..  4—50 

Mr.  Jacquet 14—10 

Andries  Hudde lO-lO 

Martin  Jacob 13 

Elmerhuysen  Cleyn 14—10 

Thomas  Bruyn 9 

William  MauriU 9 

JanEckhoft. 9 


Cornelius  Mauritz 13 

San  dert  Boeyer „... 9 

Harmon  Jansen 9 

Jan  Flammen 18 

Jan  Schaggen » 9 

OlolTSteun 6 

Laurens  Bors 6 

Mons  Andries. 4* 


On  February  9,  1656,  a  plantation  was  granted  to 
Jacobus  Crabbe,  on  and  near  Steenbacker*s  Hoeck, 
(Brickmaker's  Hook),  below  and  adjacent  to  Fort 
Casimir.  On  February  12, 1656,  the  Council  ordered 
"That  by  the  middle  of  March  every  one  shall  have 
enclosed  his  plantation  and  lot  under  a  penalty  of  six 
guilders,  for  all  those  who  shall  be  found  having 
acted  against  this  order.'' 

On  February  23,  1656,  Constantinas  Eronenborch 
was  granted  possession  of  the  "  lot  of  Claes  Jans,  the 
carpenter,  next  to  the  let  of  Reynier  Dominicus,  on 
the  north  side,  before  the  first  row,"  and  Elias  Gul- 
dengreis,  was  granted  a  piece  of  land  under  the  fort 
where  he  could  erect  a  house  and  gain  a  living. 

On  November  8, 1656,  the  whole  community  was 
called  together  at  the  fort,  and  informed  that  it  was 
necessary  to  appoint  two  inspectors  of  tobacco.  The 
meeting  elected  Moens  Andriessen  and  William 
Mauritz.  At  the  same  time  the  people  were  informed 
that  a  bridge  was  necessary  over  the  kill,  running  by 
the  fort,  and  the  following  Monday  was  set  apart  to 
build  it.  It  was  decided  that  each  inbabitant  should 
fence  his  fields,  and  Herman  Jansen^  and  Jno.  Eck- 
hofl  were  elected  overseers  and  surveyors  of  fences. 

On  January  10,  1657,  the  community  was  assembled 
at  Fort  Casimir,  and  informed  by  the  Council  that 
"  some  people  do  not  hesitate  to  ruin  the  trade  with 
the  Indians,  by  running  up  the  price  of  deer-skins  by 
more  than  one-third  their  value  to  the  great  and 
excessive  disadvantage  of  the  poor  community  here." 

The  community  fixed  upon  a  scale  of  prices,  and 
also  decided  that  for  the  first  violation  of  them,  the 
person  was  to  be  deprived  of  trading  for  one  year  ; 
for  the  second  offense,  punished  according  to  orders ; 
and  for  the  third  to  be  expelled  altogether  from  the 
river,  which  the  Council  agreed  to  have  promptly 
executed.  The  prices  established  were,  "For  a 
merchantable  beaver  two  strings  of  wampum  ;  for  a 
good  bear  skin,  worth  a  beaver,  two  strings  of  wam- 
pum ;  for  an  elk  skin,  worth  a  beaver,  two  strings  of 
wampum  ;  otters  accordingly.  For  a  deer  skin,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  wampum,  foxes,  catamounts, 
raccoons  and  others  to  be  valued  in  proportion.     The 

4  The  Herman  Jansen  mentioned  here  was  one  of  the  wttnessM  of  an 
Indian  deed,  dated  April  9, 1649,  which  conveyed  to  the  Dutch  all  the 
land  between  Rancocas  Kill  and  what  is  now  Burlington,  N.  J.  Alex- 
ander Boyer  and  Cornelius  Mauritsen  were  parties  to  the  deed,  and 
Thomas  Broen  (Bruyn),  Jan  Andriessen,  Antony  Petersen  were  witnesses, 
and  were  all  later  identified  with  the  settlamafit  of  Ne^  Oastla.       j 


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scale  and  agreement  was  signed  by  Jan  Paul  Jacquett, 
Andries  Hudde,  Isaac  Allerton,  Zenen  William 
Mauritsen,  Alexander  Boyer,  Thomas  Broen,  Gabriel 
De  Haes,  Jacob  Crabbe,  Herman  Jansen,  Cornelius 
Mauri tz,  Heyndrich  Egbert,  Jan  Harmon,  Con- 
stantinus  Gronenborch,  Isaack  Mesa,  Abraham  Quyn, 
Jan  Tibout,  Herman  Hendry cks,  Lawrens  Peters, 
Leandert  Olasen,  Jan  Eckhuft,  Lyman  Stiddens, 
William  Classen,  Jan  Schaggen,  Luycas  Pieters, 
Moens  Andries,  Die  Toersen,  Matterson  Laers  Boers, 
Hendryck  Vryman,  Jurian  Jaesen,  Cornelius  Teunis- 
sen,  Elmerhuysen  Cleyn. 

The  patents  granted  to  settlers  at  Fort  Casimir  dur- 
ing the  administration  of  Vice-Director  Jacquett 
were  as  follows : 

Thomas  Broen  (Bruyn),  April  12, 1656,  a  plantation 
containing  two  thousand  and  forty-six  rods,  east  of 
Cornelius  Teunissen's  land. 

Jacob  de  Hinse,  August  25,  1656,  one  lot  on  the 
first  row  No.  18,  sixty -two  by  three  hundred  feet ; 
and  one  on  the  second  row,  No.  67,  fifty-six  by  three 
hundred  feet. 

John  Picolet,  September  1,  1656,  a  tract  of  land 
containing  three  morgens  and  eighty-five  rods.  A 
parcel  of  land  south  of  Fort  Casimir,  near  the  Brick- 
maker's  Point,  along  the  strand  between  the  planta- 
tions of  Philip  Jansen  and  Jacob  Crabbe,  and 
bounded  on  the  northwest  by  the  public  road. 

Philip  Jansen  Ringo,  September  12,  1656,  a  lot  for 
a  house  and  garden  above  the  Briekmaker's  Point, 
south  of  Cornelius  Mauritson,  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
six  feet  along  the  strand  and  on  the  public  road. 

Constantinus  Groenenborcli,  September  18,  1656, 
No.  20,  bounded  south  by  lot  of  Cornelius  Mauriteen 
and  north  by  lot  of  Reynier  Dominicus,  sixty-three 
by  three  hundred  and  eight  feet. 

Hans  Albertson,  September  18,  1656,  lot  for 
house  and  garden  in  second  row  behind  Claes  de 
Smith  and  west  and  north  by  the  lot  of  Roeloff  de 
Haes  fifty-six  by  three  hundred  feet. 

Jan  Hendricksen  Von  Struckhausen,  September 
22, 1656,  lot  No.  85  in  second  row,  fifty-six  by  three 
hundred  feet,  bounded  north  by  lot  of  Garret  Jansen 
and  south  by  lot  of  Sander  (Stet)  Boyer. 

Widow  of  Roeloff  de  Haes,*  October  28,  1656, 
plantation  near  Fort  Casimir,  on  north  side  of  public 
road,  behind  the  lot  of  Jan  Gerrittsen,  sevep  rods  by 
thirty-one  rods ;  also,  a  lot  in  the  first  row  north  of 
the  public  road,  sixty-two  by  three  hundred  feet, 
bounded  south  by  Claes  Petersen. 

Andreas  Hudde,  secretary  of  the  Council,  Novem- 
ber 80,  1656,  lot  No.  15,  bounded  north  by  lot  of 
Jan  Andersen,  south  by  Sander  Fenix,  sixty-three  by 
three  hundred  feet. 

Alexander  Boyer,  Nevember  80,  1656,  plantation 
containing  twenty-four  morgens  north  of  Fort  Casi- 

1  The  widow  wu  "  authorized  to  ent«r  legally  into  matrimony  "  with 
Jacob  Orabbe,  of  Brickmaker's  Point  Angoct  5,  1056.  She  bad  three 
children,— Joannee  de  Haei,  10  years  ;  Marrietze,  9  years ;  and  Annetze, 
3  yean.  Joannes  de  Haee  became,  in  later  year*,  a  leading  man  in  the 
oonnty. 


mir,  on  the  hook  between  the  first  and  second  valley 
at  south  end  of  Frans  Smith's  land. 

Lucas  Dircksen,  February  10,  1657,  lot  in  first 
row  contiguous  to  lots  of  Reyer  Mol  and  Claes  Peter- 
sen  Smith. 

Ryer  Lammersen  Mol,  February  20,  1657,  lot 
sixty-four  by  three  hundred  feet,  between  lots  of  Jon 
Eckhoff  and  Pieter  Caurensen. 

Claes  Petersen,  April  11,  1657,  lot  on  the  strand 
between  lots  of  Roeloff  de  Haes  and  John  Schutt, 
sixty-two  by  three  hundred  feet. 

Barent  Jansen  Van  Swal,  February  20,  1657,  lot 
behind  the  first  row  of  lots  between  lots  of  Elias  En- 
mens  and  Martin  Rosemont,  fifty-four  by  three  hun- 
dred feet. 

Pieter  Hermens,  February  24,  1657,  plantation 
containing  two  thousand  and  twenty  rods  below  Fort 
Casimir,  east  of  Pieter  Laurensen  and  west  of  Rosier 
Schot;  also  a  lot  sixty-two  by  three  hundred  feet  be- 
tween lots  of  Harmen  Jausen  and  Reynier  Domini- 
cus. 

Cornelius  Steenwyck,  February  80,  1657,  lot  sixty- 
two  by  three  hundred  feet,  between  lots  of  Arien 
Jacobs  and  Harmen  Petersen,  in  partnership,  and 
Ryer  Mol. 

Jan  Gerritsen,  February  30, 1657,  lot  in  second  row, 
sixty-two  by. three  hundred  feet,  on  the  highway  and 
behind  the  lot  of  Roeloff  de  Haes. 

Pieter  Laurensen,  February  28,  1657,  plantation 
containing  two  thousand  and  thirty  rods,  adjoining 
land  of  Cornelius  Teunissen  on  north  and  Pieter 
Harmen *8  on  the  west. 

Reynier  Dominicus,'  February  80,  1657,  lot  sixty- 
four  by  three  hundred  feet,  between  lotsof  Claea  Janseo 
and  Pieter  Harmens. 

Pieter  Ebel,  February  80,  1657,  plantation  contain- 
ing four  morgens  between  the  lot  of  Jan  Ikikhoft  on 
the  south  and  the  fort  on  the  north. 

Jacob  Crabbe,  February  30, 1657,  a  plantation  below 
Fort  Casimir,  between  the  first  valley  and  the  land  of 
Jan  Picolet,  along  the  strand  to  the  last  hook,  called 
the  Brickmaker's  Hook,  thence  to  the  hook  of  the 
valleys,  extending  northwest  and  southeast  by  south, 
containing  four  morgens,  one  hundred  and  thirty  rods 
of  valley  land  adjoining  and  southerly.  Plantation 
adjoining  land  of  Retrect  Schot  and  Picolet,  twelve 
morgens  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  rods  of  firm 
lands. 

Sander  Leendertsen,  March  1,  1657,  lot  fifly-six  by 
three  hundred  feet,  between  lots  of  William  De  Het 
and  Jan  Andriesen. 

William  Tailler,  March  1,  1657,  lot  in  first  row, 
filly-six  by  three  hundred  feet,  between  lots  of  Thomas 
Broen  and  Sander  Leendertsen. 

Jan  Eckhoft,  June  17, 1657,  lot  No.  88  in  the  second 
row,  fifty-six  by  three  hundred  feet,  behind  the  lot  of 
Jan  Andriessen. 

Jan  Andriessen,  June  17,  1657,  lot  No.  15  in  first 

*  Dominiciie  came  to  the  Delaware  Kiver  ae  a  carpenter  November 
16,  1649. 


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row,  sixty- two  by  three  hundred  feet,  between  lota  of 
Andries  Hadde  and  Symon  Laen. 

Jan  Schaggeu,  June  20,  1657,  parcel  of  land  above 
Fort  Casimir,  on  the  first  hook,  containing  about 
forty  morgens. 

Peter  Laurensen,  September  3, 1657,  lot  northeast 
of  the  public  road,  being  lot  No.  4  from  the  fort,  sixty- 
two  by  three  hundred  feet. 

On  December  19, 1656,  the  directors  of  the  West 
India  Company  transferred  by  deed  to  the  burgomas- 
ter of  the  city  of  Amsterdam  all  the  land  from  Chris- 
tina Creek  to  Bompties  Hook  (Bombay  Hook).  The 
account  of  this  transaction  was  sent  to  Peter  Stuy- 
▼esant,  who  wrote  to  the  authorities  of  Fort  Casimir, 
by  letter  dated  April  12, 1657,  that  the  new  colony 
was  to  be  called  "  New  Amstel,"  and  Jacob  Alrichs 
was  appointed  the  representative  of  the  city.  By 
this  change,  Christinabam  became  the  fort  of  the 
West  India  Company,  its  name  being  changed  to 
Fort  Altena,  and  William  Beekman  was  appointed 
commissary  October  8, 1668. 

On  March  20,  1657,  Jan  Schaggen,  one  of  the 
settlers  at  the  fort,  made  a  complaint  to  Director- 
General  Stuyvesant  against  the  Vice-Director  Jac- 
quett,  charging  him  with  driving  him  off  from  land 
where  he  lived  with  consent  of  Stuyvesant  and  of 
Nicholas  Stille,  Fiscal  Schout,  of  New  Amsterdam, 
thereby  causing  the  loss  of  one  thousand  pounds  of 
tobacco.  A  similar  complaint  was  also  made  by 
others,  and  on  April  20, 1657,  Jacquett  was  removed 
firom  the  office  of  Vice- Director  by  Stuyvesant  and 
ordered  to  transfer  and  deliver  the  property  of  the 
company  to  Andreas  Hudde,  Jan  Juriansen  and  Ser- 
geant Paulus  Jansen,  who  were  to  remain  in  com- 
mand until  relieved.  Jacquett  was  placed  under 
arrest  and  ordered  to  prepare  his  accounts  for  exam- 
ination and  his  case  for  trial.  After  his  deposition  he 
continued  to  reside  at  New  Amstel  several  years. 

Under  the  directorship  of  Jacquett,  the  little  vil- 
lage at  Fort  Casimir  had  grown  to  consitlerable  im- 
portance as  the  shipping  point  for  South  or  Delaware 
River.  Wharves  and  store-houses  had  been  built, 
streets  laid  out  and  many  houses  erected.  Tobacco 
was  the  staple  product,  its  manufacture  the  most  ex- 
tensive industry  of  the  settlers,  and  it  was  largely 
used  as  currency.  Drying  and  packing- houses  were 
erected  in  the  village,  and  there  were  inspectors  to 
examine  all  tobacco  and  see  that  it  was  properly 
cured,  packed  and  weighed. 

The  prosperity  of  the  community  attracted  the 
attention  of  persons  interested  in  emigration,  and 
various  schemes  for  its  settlement  were  devised  and 
encouraged  by  governmental  support.  Among  others, 
a  company  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  Hol- 
landers, under  the  auspices  of  the  city  of  Amsterdam, 
organized  a  colony  to  settle  in  Delaware  under  the 
direction  of  Jacob  Alrichs.  An  agreement  was  made 
between  the  burgomaster  of  Amsterdam  and  the 
colonists,  whereby  they  were  to  be  transported  with 
their  families  and  furniture  to  Delaware,  where  a  for- 
55 


tified  city  or  town  was  to  be  laid  out  on  the  river, 
with  streets,  lots  and  a  market-place.  A  schoolmaster 
was  also  to  be  provided.  The  city  was  to  make 
provision  for  one  year's  clothing,  food  and  garden 
seeds  and  build  a  large  store-house.  Three  burgo- 
masters were  to  be  chosen  from  the  people  and  five 
or  seven  schepens,  whom  the  Director  was  to  select* 
When  the  town  had  two  hundred  families  or  more, 
they  were  to  choose  a  Common  Council,  consisting  of 
twenty-one  persons,  who  were  to  act  with  the  burgo- 
masters and  schepens  in  the  government  of  the  town« 
A  schout  or  high  sheriff  was  also  to  be  appointed. 
The  city  agreed  to  divide  the  lands  about  the  town 
into  fields  for  plowing,  meadow  and  pasture,  every 
fanner  to  have  as  many  morgens  of  land  as  he  could 
improve  and  use  for  grazing.  A  failure  to  accomplish 
this  was  to  result  in  the  forfeiture  of  the  land.  Ships 
firom  Holland  were  to  bring  over  com,  merchandise^ 
etc. 

The  colonists  were  to  have  the  privilege  of  charter- 
ing private  ships,  but  their  cargoes  were  to  be  con- 
signed to  the  city  of  Amsterdam,  which  was  to 
provide  storehouses,  sell  the  goods  and  return  the 
proceeds,  deducting  therefrom  two  per  cent.  The 
colonists  were  also  allowed  to  cut  firom  the  forests, 
not  granted  to  settlers,  any  wood  they  might  require 
for  building  purposes  and  to  hunt  and  fish  fireely  in 
the  woods  and  waters.  After  the  directors  of  the 
West  India  Company  had  sold  to  the  city  of  Amster- 
dam the  land  below  the  mouth  of  Christiana  Creek, 
they  wrote  on  the  19th  of  December,  1656,  to  Petrus 
Stuyvesant,  concerning  the  "  Prins  Maurits''  and  the 
other  vessels  of  the  colony,  that  were  intending  to 
sail,  "  That  you  not  only  assist  herein  the  Director  of 
said  Colony,  but  also  help  him  in  everything,  with 
advice  and  deed.  As  we  have  heard  that  there  lives 
on  the  Bowery  of  the  late  Mr.  Markham  a  certain 
party^  as  being  well  versed  in  engineering  and  sur- 
veying, who  consequently  might  be  of  service  to  the 
New  Colony  as  well  as  laying  out  the  lots  chosen  for 
the  dwelling-bouses  of  the  Colonists  as  in  other  waysy 
Therefore  your  Honors  will  upon  request,  persuade 
the  engineer  thereto  and  let  him  make  a  good  begin- 
ning and  location  there." 

About  the  1st  of  March,  1657,  the  colony  embarked 
for  New  Amsterdam  as  follows:  In  the  ship 
"  Prins  Maurits,"  about  one  hundred  and  twelve 
persons,  including  sixteen  officers  and  sailors.  On 
the  ship  "  De  Beer,"  thirty-three  persons,  on  the 
"  Bever,*'  eleven  persons,  and  some  on  the  "  Geldrose 
Blow."  The  "Prins  Maurits,"  with  Vice-Director 
Alrichs,  on  board,  was  stranded  off  Long  Island  and 
delayed  for  some  time,  but  subsequently  reached  New 
Amstel,  and  Jacob  Alrichs  as  Vice-Director  assumed 
command  about  the  1st  of  May,  the  same  year.  On 
August  10,  1657,  he  appointed  Andreas  Hudde 
secretary  and  surveyor.  On  May  8,  1657,  Alrichs 
reports  to  Stuyvesant  the  condition  of  the  colony  and 

1  Jacques  Cortelyou,  who  was  appnsnied  Sunreyor-Oeneral  about  that 
time.    He  later  ettabUshed  the  village  of  New  Utrecht  in  Long  Island. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


says  they  are  very  much  in  need  of  oicen  and  horses. 
"  As  to  cows  there  are  but  two  which  give  milk  and 
little  at  that/'    Pigs  were  few  in  number  and  wild. 

Soon  after  the  colonists  had  located,  the  ship  "  De 
Waegh"  and  the  galliot  "  New  Amstel"  began  mak- 
ing trips  from  Amsterdam  to  New  Amstel,  with 
merchandise  and  returning  with  tobacco.  Alrich, 
in  a  letter  to  Stuyvesant,  dated  September  16,  1657, 
says :  "  As  to  sending  the  galliot  to  Fort  Orange 
(now  Albany,  N.  Y.),  it  would  be  very  useful  and 
necessary,  for  we  need  bricks  here  very  much  at  least 
for  the  chimneys,  and  otherwise,  and  some  boards  to 
make  the  houses  tight,  and  I  have  no  objection  that 
she  were  loaded  with  bricks  and  boards,  to  wit,  as 
many  thousand  bricks  as  she  can  conveniently  take 
in  with  three  or  four  hundred  boards."  The  "  New 
Amstel"  went  to  Fort  Orange  and  returned  to  the 
colony  of  New  Amstel  on  the  7th  of  November,  the 
same  year,  laden  with  bricks  in  addition  to  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  boards.  About  eight  thousand  of  the 
bricks  were  given  to  the  commandant  of  Fort  Altena 
to  use  in  building  the  fort.  On  October  4,  1657, 
Vice-Director  Alrichq  wrote  that  he  has  purchased 
thirty  cows ;  and  November  14th,  says :  **  For  the 
present  I  need  8  or  10  barrels  of  bacon,  4000  lbs.  of 
flour,  30  schepels  of  gray  peas,  20  sch.  of  barley,  also 
100  schepels  of  good  oats  for  the  horses,  as  I  am 
scantily  supplied  with  forage  for  the  animals  dur- 
ing the  winter  and  have  received  about  70  head  of 
cattle  from  Virginia."  At  this  time  he  was  negotiat- 
ing for  a  "  Horse  Mill,"  as  they  were  "  unable  to  grind 
corn  and  other  grains." 

The  winter  of  1657  and  1658  was  passed  in  build- 
ing a  store-house,  dwelling  for  the  Commissary 
Gerrit  Von  Sweeringen  (who  was  supercargo  of  the 
''  Prins  Maurits"  at  the  time  she  was  stranded,  and 
later  sheriff  of  the  territory),  and  adding  another 
story  to  the  house  where  he  lived,  in  the  fort,  and 
in  building  a  new  guard-house. 

On  March  30,  1658,  Vice-Director  Alrichs  wrote 
that  the  farm  lots  were  given  by  lottery  in  charge  of 
Hudde  and  Fabryh  Spelen,  and  June  26,  1658,  says : 
''  In  regard  to  the  distribution  of  lots,  first  at  the  time 
of  my  arrival,  about  eight  days  or  more  passed  before 
I  could  make  progress  in  it,  because  there  was  scarcely 
one  lot  which  could  be  disposed  of,  as  one  or  the  other 
or  more  laid  claim  to  it,  and  henceforth  they  were 
distributed  by  drawing  lot?*.  Andreas  Hudde,in  June 
last,  surveyed  for  all  and  every  one,  colonists,  soldiers 
and  officers,  as  much  as  each  has  asked  and  signed 
for.  And  now  the  men  who  wanted  one  hundred 
morgens,  they  were  granted  without  the  least  ob- 
jection. " 

On  September  5, 1658,  Vice-Director  Alrichs  called 
for  another  order  of  Fort  Orange  brick  and  says :  "  I 
have  given  them  out  mostly  to  the  inhabitants  to 
make  chimneys,  also  between  seven  and  eight 
thousand  for  the  building  or  the  masonry  in  Fort 
Altena. " 

October  7,  1658,  he  says :  "  Jan  Jouriens,  the  Com- 


missary, at  Fort  Altena,  has  again,  de  novo,  demanded 
eight  thousand  bricks  for  necessary  buildings  there, 
which  I  have  partly  delivered  to  him. " 

The  ship  **  De  Meulin  "  was  then  at  the  wharf  dis- 
charging freight,  a  part  of  which  was  brick.  But  the 
following  spring  Comelis  Herperts  De  Jager  estab- 
lished a  brick  kiln  near  New  Amstel,  in  which  four 
men  were  employed. 

On  M  ay  14,  1659,  Vice- Director  Alrichs  explained 
to  the  Governor  that  the  cause  of  the  backwardness 
of  the  settlement  was  failure  of  the  harvest,  scarcity 
of  food  and  great  mortality.  He  said,  *'  I  have  found 
that  of  all  the  free  Netherlanders  who  were  settled 
here  upon  our  arrival,  have  as  yet,  in  our  time,  not 
gathered  one  schepel  of  grain.  Those  who  came  with 
and  after  us  have  not  done  much  more,  nor  could 
they  contribute  anything,  as  the  time  in  the  first  year 
was  consumed  with  the  erection  of  their  houses  and 
making  gardens,  as  well  as  with  the  building  and 
hauling  together  the  materials,  that  the  summer 
passed  without  bringing  much  seed  into  the  ground." 

He  appealed  to  the  Directors  at  Amsterdam  for 
a8si8tance,and  in  the  course  of  time  vessels  arrived 
with  the  necessaries  for  which  they  suffered. 

On  September  4,  1659,  Director  Stuyvesant  wrote  to 
the  Directors  at  Amsterdam,  in  Holland :  **  The  city's 
affairs  on  the  South  River  are  in  a  very  deplorable 
and  low  state.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  if  no  other  and 
better  order  is  introduced  it  will  be  ruined  altogether. 
It  is  certainly  true  that  the  people  begin  to  run  away 
in  numbers,  as,  for  instance,  while  I  write  this  there 
arrived  from  there  an  English  Ketch  which  went 
there  with  some  provisions  from  Boston  three  weeks 
ago;  the  skipper  of  it,  a  well-known  and  trustworthy 
man,  says,  that  during  his  stay  of  fourteen  days  at  the 
South  River,  about  fifty  persons,  among  them  whole 
families,  ran  away  from  there  to  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land. "  This  **  running  away"  on  the  part  of  the 
people  was  caused  by  the  *'  too  great  preciseness  of 
Mr.  Alrichs,  who  refuses  passports  to  these  places  to 
the  people,  who  offer  to  pay  their  passage. " 

An  earlier  letter  of  Vice-Director  Alrich  to  Gov- 
ernor Stuyvesant  represented  matters  in  the  colony 
as  being  in  a  still  more  serious  way,  and  spoke  of  a 
panic,  to  which  Stuyvesant  did  not  even  allude.  He 
said :  **  We  have  heard  here  that  Mr.  Feudal,  who  is 
now  in  behalf  of  Lord  Balthus  Moor  (residing  in  Old 
England),  Governor  of  Maryland,  has  strict  orders  to 
make  a  close  inquiry  and  investigation  concerning  the 
limits  and  jurisdiction  in  his  district  in  these 
latitudes,  and  in  case  they  are  in  some  body's  posses- 
sion, to  notify  the  same  of  it,  summon  to  surrender  it 
and  do  his  further  duties  according  to  his  power,  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  case.  This  now  having  be- 
come public  has  caused  such  fright  and  disturbance 
among  most  of  the  inhabitants,  that  thereby  all  work 
has  been  stopped  and  every  one  endeavors  to  fly,  to 
remove  and  look  out,  for  getting  away  in  safety."  He 
mentions  three  or  four  persons,  carpenters,  who  ask 
for  passports  to  Manhattan,  pretending  that  they 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


869 


wish  to  purchase  proyisions,  but  who  return  to  the 
**  Fatherland,"  and  requests  that  they  be  sent  back, 
in  the  galliot,  "to  prevent  damage  and  detriment 
which,  through  bad  seasons,  death  and  coniinuous 
sickness  and  pining,  have  pressed  us  here  hard 
enough." 

The  Directors  in  Holland  wrote  to  Btuy vesant  in 
reply  and  urged  him  to  endeavor  to  modify  his  '*  too 
great  preciseness."  The  effort  caused  Vice- Director 
Alrichs  tu  write  to  the  Directors  a  long  and  detailed 
letter,  reciting  the  affairs  of  the  colony,  which  seemed 
to  be  satisfactory  to  the  Directors,  but  not  so  to  Stuy  ves- 
ant, who  continued  to  write  against  Alrichs.  A  long 
correspondence  ensued  between  Stuy  vesant  and  the  Di- 
rectors in  Holland,  on  one  part,  and  Alrich  on  the 
other,  in  which  each  attempted  to  evade  the  responsi- 
bility attaching  to  this  sttvte  of  affairs,  but  which 
failed  to  reconcile  the  matter  before  the  death  of  Vice- 
Director  Alrichs,  December  30, 1659,  put  an  end  to 
the  controversy. 

Vice-Director  Alrichs  was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant 
Alex.  De  Hinijossa,  who  summoned  a  new  Council, 
John  Crato  becoming  counsellor  and  Gerriit  Von 
Sweeringen  secretary,  with  others  to  act  in  extraor- 
dinary cases. 

Under  the  directorship  of  Alex.  Hinijossa,  differ- 
ences arose  between  him  and  the  people,  and  also  with 
William  Beekman,  the  commissary  of  the  West  India 
Company  at  Fort  Altena.  Complaints  against  him 
were  made  to  the  proper  authorities.  A  hor^e  mill 
for  grinding  grain  had  been  brought  here  by  Director 
Alrichs,  and  the  testimony  in  the  trial  on  the  com- 
plaints held  June  8,  1662,  at  Fort  Altena,  by  Com- 
missary Beekman,  brought  out  the  fact  that  the  ship 
**  De  Purmerlander  Kerck,"  which  arrived  a  few 
months  previous,  brought  from  the  city  of  Amster- 
dam to  the  colony  mill-stones,  a  brass  kettle,  etc., 
and  that  Hinijossa  had  sold  these  and  other  property 
of  the  company  to  some  Englishmen  from  Maryland 
for  one  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco.  The  witnesses 
in  this  case  were  all  residents  of  New  Amstel,  and 
were  in  business  there, — Francis  Creger,  Cornells 
Martensen,  factors;  William  Cornelisen  Ryckvryer, 
merchant ;  Hendrick  Kyp,  brewer ;  and  Fopp  Jansen 
Outhout,  tavern  keeper.  The  complaints  against 
Vice-Director  Hinijossa  continued,  and  he  was  re- 
called to  Amsterdam,  April  11, 1663,  but  returned  and 
remained  Vice-Director  until  the  surrender  to  the 
English  the  next  year. 

In  1662,  Jean  Willems,  Peter  Peterson,  Harder 
and  Joos  de  La  Grange  were  members  of  the  Council 
of  New  Amstel,  and  Jacob  de  Commer  was  surgeon  of 
the  colony. 

On  September  27, 1662,  Commissary  Beekman,  of 
Fort  Altena,  writes  that  some  Englishmen  went  to 
Horekill  for  one  Turck,  who  was  then  in  the  service 
of  Peter  Alrichs — at  that  time  commissary  at  Hore- 
kill— who  had  run  away,  or  was  captured  by  the 
savages  and  bought  of  them  by  Peter  Alrichs.  The 
Englishmen  carried  him  to  New   Amstel,  and  on 


the  way  Turck  attacked  them  and  wounded  two  of 
them.  He  was  placed  in  prison  at  New  Amstel,  and 
Vice- Director  Hinijossa  refused  to  deliver  him  to  the 
Englishmen,  on  the  ground  that  he  had  committed 
a  crime  in  the  colony,  and  ordered  that  he  be  hung, 
his  head  cut  off*  and  placed  upon  a  post  or  stake  in 
the  Horekill.  But  it  does  not  appear  that  his  sentence 
was  carried  out.  During  the  administration  of  De 
Hinijossa,  several  new  industries  were  established 
which  extended  the  business  of  New  Amstel.  Prior 
to  1662  he  erected  a  brewery  in  the  fort,  and  a  ware- 
house and  store-house  were  also  built,  which  induced 
vessels  to  unload  their  goods  at  this  point. 

On  July  28,  1663,  "Skipper  Peter  Luckassen 
touched  here,  and  landed  about  sixty  farm  laborers 
and  girls,  with  a  quantity  of  ammunition  and  other 
commodities." 

In  the  early  part  of  1663  De  Hinijossa  sold  his 
house,  where  the  schoolmaster,  Arent  Everson,  lived, 
to  Jan  Webber;  and  other  important  transfers  of 
property  were  made. 

After  the  capitulation  of  the  Dutch,  in  1664,  New 
Amstel  became  the  seat  of  government  of  the  Eng- 
lish.  Sir  Robert  Carr  was  placed  in  command  for  a 
short  time,  and  was  succeeded,  October  24, 1664,  by 
Col.  Richard  Nichols.  Sir  Robert  Carr,  in  his  in- 
structions, dated  September  3, 1664,  was  commanded : 
'*  That  for  six  months  next  ensuing,  the  same  magis- 
trates shall  continue  in  their  office,  provided  they 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  majesty." 

Col.  Richard  Nichols,  April  10,  1666,  in  a  letter  to 
the  Secretary  of  State,  England,  asked,  in  considera- 
tion of  the  services  of  Sir  Robert  Carr,  Capt.  John 
Carr  and  Ensign  Arthur  Stock,  that  the  ''Houses 
and  lands  of  the  principal  Dutch  officers  "  be  con- 
ferred upon  them  as  follows:  "Gov.  Hinijossa's 
Island  to  Sir  Robert  Carr;  High  Sheriff  Garret  Von 
Sweeringen*s  Houses  and  Lands,  to  Capt.  John 
Carr ;  and  the  land  of  Dutch  Ensign  Peter  Alrichs 
to  Ensign  Arthur  Stock,*'  which  was  granted.  Under 
English  rule  the  courts  were  organized  according  to 
the  instructions  given  for  the  settlement  of  the 
government  on  the  Delaware  River,  dated  April  21, 
1668,  which  designated  as  magistrates  Hans  Block, 
Israel  Helme,  Peter  Rambo,  Peter  Cocke  and  Peter 
Alrichs,  who,  with  the  schout,*  or  high  sheriff,  were 
empowered  to  hear  and  determine  all  cases. 

On  October  5,  1670,  Capt.  John  Carr,  the  com- 
mandant of  the  fort  at  New  Castle,  the  names  of 
both  Fort  Altena  and  New  Amstel  having  been 
changed  by  the  English,  made  a  proposal  to  the 
Council  regarding  fortifications,  markets,  etc.,  in  re- 
sponse to  which  it  was 

"  Resolved^  That  the  market-place  where  the  bell 
hangs  was  the  most  convenient  site  on  which  to 
erect  a  block-house." 

In  June,  1671,  the  government,  the  town  and 
country  around  New  Castle  received  the  attention  of 

1  The  ofl9c«  of  schoot  was  changed  to  high  iheriff  by  a  council  held 
At  Fort  Jamee,  N.  Y. 


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the  Council  at  Fort  James,  N.  Y.,  and  several  propo- 
sitioDs  were  submitted  by  Capt.  Carr.  The  Council 
was  asked  to  protect  the  trade  on  the  river ;  to  regu- 
late the  distillation  of  liquor  and  supervise  the 
"Victuallers  or  Tappers  of  Strong  Drink;"  to  em- 
power the  authorities  to  appoint  a  "Corne  Meter, 
*  who  may  not  only  ye  come  duly  measure,  but  pre- 
vent sending  it  thereof  abroad  foul,  by  ordering  it  to 
be  well  cleaned ;  and,  also,  that  ye  officer  have  an 
inspection,  to  View  the  Beef  and  Pork,  that  it  be 
well  packed  and  merchantable."  These  propositions 
were  granted. 

On  June  14, 1671,  it  was  ordered  that  "No  vessel 
shall  be  permitted  to  go  up  y*  river  above  New 
Castle  to  Traffic,"  which  prohibition  was  continued 
nearly  two  years,  being  removed  January  27,  1673, 
Distillers  were  to  give  their  names  to  the  officers  of 
New  Castle,  and  to  [pay  one  guilder  per  can  for  all 
strong  liquor,  to  be  applied  to  the  building  of  a  new 
block-house.  A  highway  was  to  be  cleared  between 
New  Castle  and  Augustus  Hermanns  plantation,  Bo- 
hemia Manor,  "provided  Maryland  would  do  her 
part." 

The  only  road  from  New  Castle,  prior  to  this  time, 
of  which  any  mention  has  been  made,  was  the  one 
leading  up  to  Tinicum.  The  first  determined  move- 
ment under  English  rule  toward  establishing  high- 
ways, building  bridges  and  creating  ferries  began  at 
a  special  court,  held  by  Governor  Andross,  at  New 
Castle,  May  13-14, 1676.  The  minutes  of  that  session 
show  that  "  Capt.  Carr's  meadow  at  the  north  end  of 
the  Towne  being  represented  to  the  Court  to  be  a 
general  nuisance  to  the  place  and  the  country  as  it 
now  is,  there  being  neither  bridge  nor  fitting  way  to 
passe  by  or  through  it,  and  that  the  Towne  is  in  great 
straight  for  want  of  it,  as  they  might  improve  it,  it 
is  ordered  that  the  said  meadow  ground  shall  be  ap- 
prized by  indifferent  persons  and  the  Town  to  have 
the  refusal ;  but  whoever  shall  enjoy  it  shall  be 
obliged  to  maintain  sufficient  bridges  and  ways 
through  the  limits  thereof  with  a  cartway ;  the  ap- 
prizers  to  be  two  persons  appointed  by  the  magistrates 
of  the  place  and  two  more  by  the  Court  of  Upland 
and  the  apprizement  to  be  returned  in  to  the  next 
court  held  in  this  Towne." 

At  the  same  court  it  was  ordered  "That  these 
orders  about  highways  and  bridges  be  put  in  execution 
by  the  Magistrates  within  the  space  of  three  months 
after  ye  date  hereof,  or  else  the  Sheriff  shall  have 
power  to  have  it  done  and  the  Country  to  pay  double 
the  charge." 

A  ferry  was  also  needed  and  it  was  ordered  that  "  a 
Ferry  Boate  be  maintayned  at  the  Falls  on  ye  west 
tide.  A  horse  and  man  to  pay  29  guilders,  a  man 
without  a  horse  10  stivers." 

The  town  dike  of  New  Castle  was  authorized  to  be 
built  by  the  magistrates  of  the  town  June  4, 1675. 
But  prior  to  this  the  small  "  Mistress  Block's  Dike  " 
had  been  dug,  but  does  not  seem  to  have  been  kept 
in  good  repair.    The  order  for  the  construction  of  the 


poure,  or  town  dike,  along  the  marshy  lands  was  as 
follows : 

"Whrkkas,  Oovr  Bdm'd  AndroM,  Lieutonant-General  of  all  th« 
Duke'B  of  York  domlDioDs  in  America,  has  ordered  that  the  marsh  land 
on  the  north  side  of  New  Castle,  on  the  Delaware  RiTor,  belonging  to 
Capt.  John  Carr,  should  be  appraised  by  four  Impartial  men  to  be  ap- 
pointed bj  the  Magistrates,  therefore  they  have  unanimously  chosen  8* 
Peter  Alrichs,  8'  Johannes  De  Uaee,  S^  Peter  Cocke  and  S'  Lars  Andries- 
ssn,  who  after  inspection  Judged  the  marsh  Und  to  be  of  no  Talus. 
Thereupon  the  aforesaid  Magistrates  have  assembled  to-day  and  consid- 
ered that  the  Ooremor's  order  regarding  the  construction  of  a  highway 
could  not  be  carried  out  unless  an  outside  dike,  with  sluices,  was  first 
made  along  the  water  and  they  commanded,  therefore,  herewith  that  all 
and  every  male  inhabitant  of  the  district  of  New  Castle  shall  go  to  uoHe 
next  Monday  and  assist  In  making  snid  dike  and  continue  with  his  woric 
until  the  aforesaid  outside  Dyke  has  been  completed  ;  and  the  men  who 
do  more  than  their  share  of  the  work  shall  be  paid  for  their  overwork  by 
those  who  do  not  work  themselves  and  hire  no  laborers;  the  inhabitants 
of  New  Castle  shall  do  as  much  work  pro  mio,  oountlng  every  head,  as 
the  country  people  work  or  pay  for. 

**  It  is  further  ordered  that  Martin  Gerretsen,  Pieter  De  Wit  and 
Hendrick  Sybratsen  shall  by  turns  be  officers  and  have  charge  of  this 
work  and  construct  the  aforesaid  dike  ten  feet  wide  at  the  bottom,  five 
feet  high  and  three  feet  wide  on  top,  providing  it  witii  well  made  and 
strong  floodgates,  and  the  country  people  shall  thereafter  not  be  obliged 
to  do  any  work  on  this  outside  dike  or  floodgates  without  being  paid  for 
it ;  while,  on  the  other  side,  the  inhabitants  of^New  Csstle  shall  be  held 
to  make  necessar}-  repairs  on  this  dike  and  the  floodgates  fhun  time  to 
time  under  condition  that  they  shall  also  derive  the  profits  from  the 
aforesaid  marsh  land  and  have  it  as  their  own. 

'*  The  Magistrates  have  also  considered  it  highly  necessary  for  every- 
body that  the  outer  dike,  running  along  Mr.  Hans  Block's  Marsh  should 
be  repaired  and  strengthened ;  they  order,  therefore,  that  this  dike.  Ilka 
the  other,  should  for  this  time  be  repaired  and  strengthened  by  all  and 
every  male  inhabitant  of  the  district  of  New  Castle,  but  that  hereafter 
the  Mdd  dike  and  flood  gates  shall  be  repaired  from  time  to  time  and 
taken  care  of  by  the  aforesaid  Hans  Block  or  his  heirs. 

**The  working  people  shall  be  divided  into  three  parties  by  the  afora* 
said  three  officers,  and  each  party  shall  be  under  command  of  its  officer, 
and  work  for  two  days  at  the  dike,  and  whoever  shall  r^bse  to  come  to 
work  in  his  turn,  or  to  send  a  laborer  in  his  place  shall  be  held  to  pay 
to  the  said  officer  for  each  day  which  he  loses  the  sum  of  ten  K^ilders  In 
wampum. 

**  The  aforesaid  work  must  be  done  and  completed  within  the  time  of 
six  weeks  under  penalty  of  threefold  payment,  in  defsult  whereof  they 
are  to  remain  under  bail  bonds  for  its  payment. 
*'  This  done  and  published  in  New  Castle  the  4th  June,  1075. 

"  Ed.  Cantwkll. 
"  H.  Block. 
'*  John  Moll, 
**DlEICE  Albkbtsxm.** 

Against  this  order  the  country  people  protested  to 
Oov.  Andross  accepting  the  construction  of  the  town 
dike, — 

"  But  not  any  way  willing  to  repair  the  dike  which  belongs  to  the  flye 
of  Hans  Block  without  the  privilege  thereof,  it  being  the  said  Hans  his 
owne,  and,  therefore,  belonging  to  him  to  make  good  the  dike  the  whole 
Company  of  y*  inhabitants  or  y*  most  part  making  the  parties  named, 
John  Ogle  and  Dominie  Fabricius  their  speakers,  that  they  were  willing 
to  repair  the  Kings  Highway  through  the  flye  as  also  to  make  and 
secure  the  Dike  for  a  foot  passage  over  the  river  side  with  sufficient 
sluices  to  drains  the  water  out  of  the  flye,  but  not  to  be  slaves  to  Hans 
Block's  particular  interest,  for  which  cause  not  only.one  but  all  in  whose 
behalf  these  whoee  names  are  underwritten  oomplayne.  The  flye  being 
by  yor  Hon'  apprizera  accounted  of  no  value,  yett  according  to  yo* 
Honon  orders  in  New  Castle,  we  humbly  accept  yc  hon«*  pleasure 
therein,  and  are  willlog  to  maintain  both  ways,  so  y*  we  may  have  the 
privilege  of  ye  Commonage. 

(Signed)  *'  Capt.  Evertt  Hendbicksbn  Eak, 

**  For  the  whole  company  of  Crane  Hooke. 
"  Lkftknamt  Tho.  Jaoobskn. 
'*  Jacob  Johnson,  Ensign. 

*<  Both  for  the  whole  company  of  Cristlna  Creek.** 

The  inhabitants  of  New  Castle  also  remonstrated 
and  declared  their  unwillingness  to  improve  private 
property.  The  order  caused  much  bad  feeling  in  the 
community  and  acts  of  violence  were  attempted.  The 
condition  of  affairs  is  set  forth  by  Willam  Tom,  clerk 
of  the  court,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Andross, 
June  8,  1675.  After  speaking  of  the  necessity  for 
the  dikes  and  the  causes  which  led  to  the  order,  he 


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says  **  That  all  the  inhabitants  as  above  should  meet 
in  the  Towne,  the  fourth  of  June,  there  to  hear  read  o* 
determination  w*^  was  accordingly  done  in  the  Church, 
but  after  the  reading  and  being  opposed  (wee  return- 
ing from  the  Church)  by  some  of  this  Towne  and  a 
number  of  the  inhabitants  w%ut  in  such  a  mutinous 
and  tumultuous  manner,  being  led  on  by  Fabricus, 
the  priester,  Jacob  Vande  Vere,  John  Ogle,  Bernard 
Egge,  Thomas  Jacobson,  Juryan  Bratesman,  Mat- 
thew Smyth,  Evert  Hendricksen  and  several  others, 
some  having  swords,  some  pistols  others  clubbs  w*^ 
them  w*^  such  despiteful  language,  saying  they  wont 
make  neither  the  one  nor  the  other,  that  they  could 
not  longer  be  forborne  in  so  much  that  Capt.  Cant- 
well,  High  Sheriff,  by  our  consent,  calling  for  the  Con- 
stable, layd  hold  of  the  priester  and  Ogle,  and  sent 
them  on  board  of  the  Sloope,  w^  intention  for  New 
Yorke,  to  y**  Honor,  but  the  tumult  thereupon  aris- 
ing, upon  their  going  on  board,  cursing  and  some 
crying  "  fatt  them  on  fatt  them  on  "  ^  being  most 
drunk  and  wee  not  knowing  w^  height  it  might  come, 
they  being  in  such  a  humor,  still  crying  and  all  wee 
were  inforced  to  send  for  them  from  on  board  and 
discharge  them,  w''''  said  mutinous  way  of  proceed- 
ings, we  hope  yo'  bono'  will  not  allow  it  and  impossi- 
ble for  us  to  get  justice  according  to  the  best  of  o' 
knowledge,  when  all  of  o'  accouns  shall  be  ;disputed 
by  a  plebeian  faction  w**^  will  not  only  force  us  to 
leave  the  bench,  but  will  expose  the  country  to  great 
charges  when  upon  every  occasion  their  frenzical 
braynes  pleases/' 

He  further  stated  that  Mr.  De  Haes  would  wait 
upon  his  honor  in  a  few  days  and  would  transmit  his 
answer  and  order  in  the  matter,  and  suggested  the 
propriety  of  sending  two  files  of  soldiers  to  the  river 
to  "  keep  the  people  in  awe  and  us  in  security." 

The  magistrates  gave  to  the  Oovernor  the  follow- 
ing reasons  for  their  orders  about  the  dykes  : 

*'  F%nl^  To  ob«7  tbe  Hon^  G«nerars  order  concerning  roadf  to  be 
made  from  one  village  to  the  other.  No  wagon  or  cart  roads  could 
be  made  unleee  the  aforesaid  dlkee  and  flood>gates  had  been  con- 
■tmctod  to  keep  out  the  water. 

** Second.  There  are  only  a  few  here,  who  have  a  knowledge  of  anch 
work,  eepedally  among  the  people  of  New  Oastle,  and  they  hare  been 
compelled  to  pay  their  workmen  fh)m  30  to  40  gullden  a  day  for  sach 
work,  so  that  the  people  who  wanted  te  labor  have  earned  much  and 
nobody  would  have  lost  more  than  five  or  six  hours  work  on  the 
publ'c  dike  and  three  or  four  hours  on  Hans  Block's  dike. 

**  TUrd.  All  inhabitants,  country  people  and  strangers,  would  have 
been  compelled  to  go  five  or  six  English  miles  through  tbe  woods  te 
rmch  Sweenewyck,  which  is  not  more  than  one  English  mile  from 
here.  Kew  that  Mr.  Hans  Block's  dike  has  been  made,  although  he 
could  make  his  hay  without  repairing  his  dike,  as  it  can  l>e  made  on 
other  manhes  without  dikes,  he  has  nevertheless  made  sixteen  parts 
of  his  dike  at  his  own  expense,  besides  one-fourth  of  the  dike  which 
had  already  been  made,  and  has  also  paid  the  expenses  of  making  a 
flood-gate  and  everything  needed  thereto ;  so  that  the  mutineers  had 
not  the  least  reason  or  cause  to  make  reflections  about  It  or  to  vent 
their  foul  language. 

**  Frmrth.  In  case  of  a  war  with  the  savages  or  other  enemies, 
especially  during  winter,  when  the  river  is  closed,  it  would  be  very 
dangerous  for  us  and  for  our  nearest  neighbors  to  go  5  or  6  English 
miles  through  the  woods  in  order  to  assist  each  other,  we  need  each 
other  in  diverse  emergencies  every  day.  We  request  the  Houi>i*  Oen- 
erml  to  consider  the  foregoing  reply  while  we  rely  on  your   Honor's 


1  Take  hold  of  them. 


sound  Judgment  to  decide  whether  wd  have  given  the  least  lawful 
reason  to  the  community  to  resist  our  order  and  to  mutiny. 

"  H.  Block, 
••G.  Moll. 
**  DiBOK  Albertsui.'* 

The  Council  at  New  York  June  23, 1675,  ordered 
"  That  some  person  be  sent  thither  about  it.  The 
Grovernor  will  think  of  some  fitting  person.  That 
with  y*  person  to  be  sent  to  Delaware  two  fyles  of 
soldiers  or  some  other  force  will  be  sent  likewise." 

On  the  following  day  the  Council  ordered  that  war- 
rants be  sent  to  Delaware  for  "  Jacobus  Fabricius  and 
John  Ogle  as  Ringleaders  to  make  their  appearance 
here  to  answer  y*  misdemeanor  objected  agst.  them, 
touching  y*  late  disturbance."  The  warrants  were 
dated  June  26th  and  forwarded ;  and  on  September 
26, 1675,  it  was  ordered  "  That  y*  said  Magister  Fab- 
ricus,  in  regard  of  his  being  guilty  of  what  is  layd  to 
his  charge  and  his  former  irregular  life  and  conver- 
sation be  suspended  from  exercising  his  functions  as 
a  Minister  or  preaching  any  more  within  this  govern- 
ment, either  in  publique  or  private." 

The  magistrates  of  New  Castle,  not  in  the  least  in- 
timidated by  the  rebellion  against  their  order,  directed 
the  people  to  obey  it  and,  in  case  of  refusal,  the  high 
sheriff  was  to  execute  the  work  at  the  double  amount 
of  their  expenses.  It  was  delayed,  however,  for  some 
time,  and  the  order  of  the  magistrates  was  confirmed 
by  the  Governorand  the  Council,  September  15, 1675. 

The  dikes  were  built  soon  after  and  in  November 
of  the  same  year  Walter  Wharton  was  appointed  to 
survey  the  same.  He  made  report  December  5, 1676, 
"  of  the  length  of  the  Town  Dike  and  Mistress  Block's 
Dike,  it  being  the  new  worke  "  as  follows:  **  Martin 
Grarretson's  part,  three  hudred  and  six  feet ;  Hendrick 
Johnson's  part,  three  hundred  and  eighteen  feet ;  Peter 
De  Witt's  part,  five  hundred  and  nineteen  feet." 

"  The  whole  length  of  Town  Dike,  allowing  twelve 
feet  for  the  sluice,  is  eleven  hundred  and  forty-three 
feet ;  Mistress  Block's  Dike  eight  hundred  and  fifty- 
two  feet." 

Ten  years  later  the  dikes  were  repaired  at  the  ex- 
pense of  those  having  a  proprietary  interest  in  the 
commonage,  as  the  former  meadow  of  Captain  Carr 
was  then  called,  and  the  commonage  was  subsequently 
divided  by  lot,  with  the  understanding  that  the  dikes 
were  to  be  kept  in  repair  by  those  holding  an  interest 
in  it. 

In  1676  all  vessels  going  up  and  down  the  river 
were  required  to  load  and  discharge  their  cargoes  at 
New  Castle. 

In  the  fall  of  1681,  James  Pierson,  bookmaker  and 
bricklayer,  was  given  a  double  lot  for  a  brick-yard. 

On  November  9, 1682,  the  establishment  of  a  weekly 
public  market '  was  ordered  by  the  court.    The  old 

s  This  market  was  at  a  place  known  as  "Market  Plaine,*'  and  occa> 
pied  part  of  the  square  which  has  ever  since  been  used  by  the  public 
of  New  Castle.  At  the  upper  end,  about  where  the  Imnutnuel  Church 
now  stands,  was  the  fort  and  improvements  perUtinlng  thereto.  In 
1689,  the  proprietor,  through  William  Markham,  ordered  the  boumls  of 
the  square  to  be  established,  and  five  years  later  titles  to  the  lot  on 
which  the  furt  stood  were  given  to  Robert  French  and  later  to  Colonel 
Wm.  Markham,  who  subsequently  transferred  it  to  Jasper  Teates,  ftxMn 
whom  title  has  descended. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


market-place  at  the  fort  was  adopted  as  the  site  and 
each  Saturday  from  10  a.m.  to  4  p.m.  as  the  hours. 

In  1726  leave  was  granted  to  Wessel  Alrichs  by 
Governor  William  Keith  to  establish  a  ferry  from  New 
Castle  to  Salem,  in  New  Jersey,  which  increased  the 
trade  of  the  town  to  a  considerable  extent. 

In  1729  another  market  ^  was  established,  with 
Philip  Van  Leuvenigh  as  clerk,  and  Wednesday  and 
Saturday  were  appointed  market  days.  Every  baker 
was  required  to  mark,  letter  name  or  brand  every 
loaf  of  bread  he  baked,  each  one  to  be  of  certain 
weight,  or  liable  to  seizure.  The  clerk  was  authorized 
to  erect  stalls,  or  booths,  and  to  rent  the  same  to 
those  wishing  them. 

On  April  5,  1748,  the  justices  of  the  court  at  New 
Castle  directed  a  letter  to  Richard  Peters,  one  of  the 
Council  of  the  proprietors,  stating  that  French  and 
Spanish  privateers  were  cruising  about  in  Delaware 
Bay,  and  as  New  Castle  was  exposed  to  their  attacks, 
and  the  records  were  in  danger,  they  asked  that 
John  Mackey,  prothonotary  recorder,  etc.,  be  per- 
mitted and  instructed  to  remove  all  the  papers  and 
books  of  the  county  to  some  safe  and  commodious 
house  in  Christiana  Bridge.  To  this  Richard  Peters 
replied,  April  14th,  that  if,  in  their  ji^dgment,  it  was 
best,  to  let  it  be  done. 

New  Castle  Incorporated. — ^The  authorities  at 
Fort  James  gave  New  Castle  its  original  independent 
local  government  on  May  17, 1672,  in  the  following 
order: 

"  That  for  ye  better  government  of  ye  Towne  of 
New  Castle,  for  the  future,  the  said  Towne  shall  be 
erected  into  a  Corporacon  by  the  name  of  a  Baly  wick. 
That  is  to  say,  it  shall  be  governed  by  a  Bayley  and 
six  assistants,  to  be  at  first  nominated  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  at  ye  expiration  of  a  year  foure  of  the  six 
to  go  out  and  four  others  to  be  chosen  in  their  places, 
the  Bayley  to  continue  for  a  year,  and  then  two  to  be 
named  to  succeed,  out  of  whom  the  Governor  will 
elect  one.  Hee  U  to  preside  in  all  of  ye  corts  of  the 
Towne,  and  have  a  double  vote.  A  Constable  is 
likewiiie  to  be  chosen  by  ye  Bench.  The  Towne 
Court  shall  have  power  to  try  all  causes  of  debt  or 
damage,  to  the  value  of  ten  pounds,  without  appeal. 
That  ye  English  Lawes,  according  to  the  desire  of 
the  inhabitants,  bee  established,  both  in  ye  Towne 
and  all  Plantations  upon  Delaware  River." 

Captain  John  Carr  was  chosen  bailiff  and  high- 
sheriff;  William  Tom  was  one  of  the  assistants. 
Nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  the  Dutch 
again  came  into  possession,  from  the  middle  of  1673 
to  the  middle  of  1674 ;  then  those  who  were  in  office 
when  the  Dutch  were  in  power  resumed  authority 
until  the  recapture  the  following  year,  when  the  late 
English  officials  were  restored.  Subsequently  the 
courts  again  controlled  its  affairs  until  June  3,  1797, 
when  an  act  was  passed  establishing  the  boundaries 
of  the  town  of  New  Castle,  and  its  local  history  be- 
came more  distinct.    Five  commissioners  were  ap- 

1  The  old  market  had  evidently  been  abandoned. 


pointed  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act.  They 
were  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  John  Crow,  John 
Bird,  Nicholas  Van  Dyke  and  George  Bead,  the 
younger,  who  held  their  first  meeting  July  14, 1799, 
and  apppointed  Daniel  Blaney  surveyor.  A  map 
was  made  and  the  plat  ordered  placed  in  the  re- 
corder's office  at  New  Castle. 

The  citizens  living  within  the  limits  fixed  by  these 
commissioners  were  assessed,  June  12, 1798,  the  entire 
levy  being  $800.09  on  a  valuation  of  $107,105. 

The  following  citizens  owned  more  than  four  hun- 
dred dollars'  worth  of  property  each  : 


Alexander,  Dr.  Archibald. 

Avell,  Gapt  John. 

Avell.  Wni. 

Adams,  John  (printer). 

Bird,  John  (merchant). 

Booth,  Jas.,  Esq. 

Bellville,  John  (carpenter). 

Baker,  Jacob  (est.). 

Boldin,  Joeeph  (eat.). 

Betaon,  John. 

Butcher,  Joe.  (wheelwright). 

Bowman,  Jere.  (carpenter). 

Barr,  Adam. 

Busli,  Dr.  David. 

Bond,  Thos.  (merchant). 

Clay,  Rev.  Bobt 

Ooleberrjr,  Dr.  Henry. 

Crow,  John. 

Canon,  John. 

Caldwell,  Jas.  (e«t.). 

Clark,  Thos.  N. 

Clark,  Wm. 

Canon,  John  (carpenter). 

Claik,  Hugh  (carpenter). 

Curlet,  Lewis. 

Darrafrh,  John. 

Duncan,  Alex. 

Darby,  Jaa. 

Darnley,  Samuel. 

Dunlap,  Francis. 

Davis,  Samuel  (negro). 

Ewlng,  John  (est). 

Fumver,  Robt.  (est). 

Foster,  Samuel. 

Olaasford,  Abel,  Esq. 

Golden,  Philip. 

Howell,  Beivj. 

Harvey,  Alex. 

Hawghey,  Wm. 

Johns,  Kinsey,  Esq. 

Janvier,  Frencis. 

Janvier,  John. 


Janvier,  Thos. 
Jaqnet,  John  PauL 
King,  Michael 
Kelly,  Mathias,  Esq. 
Lanchister,  Mosea. 
Lelony,  Nave. 
Liblam,  Jres. 
McCahnont,  Jas.,  Esq. 
McCullongh,  Jas. 
Mundall,  John. 
Monroe,  Jas. 

McWilliam,  Richard  (eat.). 
McWIlliam,  Beb«xa. 
Megens,  Thos. 
Moore,  Thos. 
Miller,  Ann. 
Penton,  Bevier  (est.). 
Fassmora,  Wm. 
Pearce,  George. 
Read,  Geo.  Sr.,  Esq. 
Read,  Geo.,  Jr.,  Esq. 
Riddles,  Jas. 
RobinioD,  Wm.  (eat). 
Rowen,  SamueL. 
Rowen,  Henry. 
Ruth,  Jas.  (shoemaker). 
Rowen,  Robt  (chairmaker). 
Stockton,  John  (est). 
Sawyer,  Robt 
Tatlow,  Joseph,  Esq. 
Thompson,  Mary  (eet). 
Toland,  Jas. 

Van  Dyke,  Nicholas,  Esq. 
Tanleuvenigh,  Wm. 
Vanleuvenigh,  Geo. 
Willy,  John.  Esq. 
Wal  raven,  Lucas. 
Wairaven,  Conrad. 
Webb,  Jacob  (est). 
Williams,  Hardin. 
Wharton,  Sarah  (eat). 
Zimmerman,  John. 


New  Castle  was  incorporated  as  a  city  under  an  act 
of  the  General  Assembly,  February  25, 1 876,  and  the 
first  election  was  held  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  April, 
1875,  when  Edward  Challenger,  Mark  M.  Cleaver  and 
William  H.  Jefferson  were  commissioners.  T.  Giffin 
was  elected  mayor ;  Samuel  Eckles,  president  of  the 
Council ;  and  Geo.  A.  Maxwell,  clerk.  Thomas  Giffin 
continued  as  mayor  until  1880,  and  William  Herbert 
was  president  of  the  Council  from  1877  until  1886. 
Since  that  time  George  W.  Dickerson  has  filled  that 
office.  William  F.  Lane  has  been  treasurer  since 
1878.  L.  E.  Eliason,  H.  R.  Borie,  Frank  E.  Herbert 
and  James  L.  Rice  have  served  as  clerks.  From  1880 
to  1886,  Samuel  H.  Black  was  mayor,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  present  incumbent,  Julian  D.  Janvier. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


863 


The  municipal  office  is  in  the  old  Court-House,  and 
the  new  form  of  goyernment  has  resulted  in  many 
public  improvements.  The  streets  have  been  gradu- 
ally improved,  and  the  police  regulations  have 
elevated  the  order  and  moral  tone  of  the  community. 

The  Ukion  Fire  Company  was  organized  in 
March,  1796,  as  a  volunteer  association  with  twenty- 
nine  members.  A  fund  of  four  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  dollars  was  subscribed,  twenty  leather  buckets 
were  bought,  and  Archibald  Alexander  and  John 
Bird  were  appointed  a  committee  to  purchase  an  en- 
gine, which  they  secured  for  four  hundred  dollars. 
Among  the  early  officers  were :  President,  James 
Boot)i  ;  Secretary,  David  Morrison ;  Treasurer, 
Thomas  Bond  ;  Engineers,  (George  Pierce  and  Thomas 
Turner.  In  1806  the  membership  included  Nicholas 
Vandyke,  M.  King,  T.  Walraven,  J.  McCalmont,  W.  C. 
Frazer,  J.  Bowman,  M.  Kennedy,  John  Bird,  James 
Riddle,  Evan  Thomas,  C.  P.  Bennett,  Kensey  Johns, 
Henry  Colesberry,  Thomas  Bond,  Wm.  Armstrong, 
Charles  Thomas,  John  Janvier,  Thomas  Magens, 
John  Crow,  Hugh  W.  Ritchie,  Jacob  Bellville,  John 
Panton,  Christopher  Weaver  and  Alexander  Duncan. 

On  January  23, 1804,  the  company  became  an  incor- 
porated body.  At  different  times  the  Levy  Court 
appropriated  money,  and  in  1823  contributed  toward 
the  erection  of  an  engine-house.  The  Union  Fire 
Company  disbanded  about  1840.  Subsequently  to 
1820  an  opposition  company,  called  the  Penn,  was 
formed,  and  a  spirited  rivalry  existed  for  several 
years  between  the  two  organizations. 

On  April  25,  1824,  New  Castle  was  visited  by  the 
most  disastrous  fire  in  its  history,  resulting  in  a  \w% 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  conflagration 
originated  in  the  house  of  James  Riddle,  and  before  it 
was  controlled,  the  residences  and  stores  of  James 
Riddle,  J.  Bowman,  Thomas  Janvier,  H.  W.  Ritchie, 
J.  A.  E.  McCullough,  .Dr.  McCalmont,  George  Read, 
A.  Barneby,  Joseph  Raynow,  Richard  Sexton  and  John 
Janvier  were  totally  destroyed.  This  disaster  aroused 
general  sympathy,  and  among  the  subscriptions  re- 
ceived to  repair  the  loss  was  one  from  Boston,  where  an 
appeal  was  made  to  the  Council  of  that  city  by  the  Hon. 
Nicholas  Van  Dyke,  member  of  Congress  and  a  native 
of  New  Castle,  and  it  was  urged  that  the  opportunity 
was  now  ofiered  to  reciprocate  the  fi iendship  of  New 
Castle  for  Boston,  as  practically  demonstrated  in 
1774.*  Boston  responded  liberally  to  the  appeal,  and 
with  the  fbnds  received  from  other  sources,  aided  by 
the  native  energy  of  the  people,  the  majority  of  the 
burned  buildings  were  soon  restored. 

Later  the  "  Good  Will "  engine  was  purchased  and 
was  in  its  day  a  powerful  "  machine."  Thirty  men 
were  required  to  man  it,  and  it  had  a  capacity  for 
throwing  a  stream  fifteen  feet  higher  than  the  tallast 
spire  in  the  village.  This  engine  was  used  until  the 
modem  steamers  were  procured. 

1  DQilog  the  enforcement  of  the  odione  Port  Bill,  in  1774,  Nicholas 
Van  Dyke,  father  of  Nicholas  Van  Dyke,  the  Congrenman,  and  George 
Bead,  collected  nine  hundred  dollars  and  forwarded  it  to  Boston  for  the 
r  of  the  vktims  of  the  Port  Bill. 


The  first  steam  fire-engine  was  the  "Humane," 
purchased  by  the  trustees  of  the  Common  in  1885.  At 
the  same  time  they  bought  a  good  hook-and-ladder 
outfit  from  the  Moyamensing  Company  of  Philadel- 
phia.   A  portion  of  this  apparatus  is  still  in  use. 

On  May  1, 1887,  the  New  Castle  authorities  were 
authorized  by  act  of  General  Assembly  to  borrow  five 
thousand  dollars,  and  issue  bonds  for  the  payment  of 
the  same.  With  the  fund  thus  realized  a  fine  Silsby 
No.  4  steam-engine  was  bought  for  three  thousand 
four  hundred  dollars,  and  placed  in  charge  of  Chief 
Engineer  Jacob  Sanders,  with  a  volunteer  company  to 
assist  him.  The  department  now  has  all  necessary 
apparatus  for  efficient  services,  and  is  well  housed  in 
the  hall  of  the  Red  Men,  in  th^  westeim  section  of  the 
city. 

The  New  Castle  Gas  Company  was  chartered 
February  19, 1867,  and  organized  September  10, 1867, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  shares 
of  ten  dollars.  The  incorporators  were  Thomas  T. 
Tasker,  Sr.,  Howard  J.  Terry,  James  Couper,  John 
Janvier,  James  Crippen  and  Peter  B.  Vandever.  Mr. 
Tasker  was  elected  president,  an  office  still  held  by 
him.    Mr.  Vandever  was  made  secretary. 

In  1887  the  officers  were  T.  T.  Tasker,  President ; 
Wm.  H.  Clark,  Secretary  and  Treasurer;  William 
Herbert,  James  G.  Shaw,  Elmer  W.  Clark  and  Samuel 
M.  Couper,  directors.  Under  the  supervision  of  Mr. 
Tasker  works  were  built,  mains  laid  and  gas  intro- 
duced in  1857.  The  plant  of  the  company  has  a 
capacity  of  forty-five  thousand  feet  per  day.  There 
are  five  miles  of  mains  and  forty-one  street-lamps, 
some  of  which  have  been  in  use  since  1857. 

The  New  Castle  Water  Works  Company  was 
incorporated  April  1, 1869,  by  Thomas  T.  Tasker,  Sr., 
William  Herbert,  Joseph  H.  Rogers,  John  Janvier, 
Allen  V.  Lesley,  James  G.  Shaw,  Peter  B.  Vandever, 
Andrew  C.  Gray  and  William  C.  Spruance.  The 
capital  stock  was  fixed  at  fifty  thousand  dollars,  with 
privilege  of  increase  to  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
James  G.  Shaw  was  chosen  president,  and  is  still  the 
executive  of  the  company ;  Wm.  H.  Clark,  secretary 
and  treasurer;  Thomas  T.  Tasker,  Stephen  P.  M. 
Tasker,  William  Herbert,  Dr.  John  J.  Black,  A.  M. 
Hizar,  Ed.  Challenger  and  E.  W.  Clark  are  the  other 
directors.  Water  was  introduced  by  the  company  in 
the  spring  of  1873,  the  supply  being  brought  from 
None  Such  Creek,  three  miles  from  New  Castle.  The 
water  is  pumped  into  a  reservoir  of  one  million  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  gallons  capacity,  situated 
one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  city,  at  an  elevation  of 
eighty-seven  feet.  Five  miles  of  mains  have  been 
laid  in  the  streets  of  New  Castle,  and  forty-five  water- 
plugs  erected.  Thirty-seven  are  designed  for  the  use 
of  the  Fire  Department. 

Manufacturing  Interests. — In  the  minutes  of 
the  Council  of  New  Amstel,  under  Vice-Director 
Jean  Paul  Jacquet,  August  14,  1656,  it  is  noted  that 
"  regarding  the  mill,  it  is  left  to  the  choice  of  deputy 
sheriff  and  commissioners  to  put  it  up." 


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864 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


On  October  29, 1667,  Vice-Director  Alrichs  writes  to 
Director  Stay  vesant  from  New  Castle :  "  I  further  learn 
that  a  horse-mill  is  ready  there,  which  it  was  decided 
to  bring  here,  if  the  owner  of  it  had  not  died ;  and 
whereas  we  are  without  sufficient  breadstufis,  also 
unable  to  grind  com  and  other  grains,  beside  doing 
many  more  things  which  necessarily  must  be  done,  I 
therefore  would  wish  that  your  Honor  be  pleased  and 
take  the  trouble  to  ascertain  at  once  the  lowest  price, 
and  if  it  is  any  way  reasonable  to  inform  me  of  it." 

On  October  5, 1658,  he  writes  again :  "  The  arrival 
of  the  skipper  Jacob,  with  the  galiot,  is  earnestly 
desired,  since  the  horse-mill  not  having  been  finished, 
on  account  of  Christian  Barent's  death,  we  are  very 
much  embarrassed  he%8  for  breadstuff  or  flour.'* 

Concerning  the  mill  of  the  widow  Barents,  Alrichs 
wrote  later :  "  I  only  advised  or  proposed  to  her  that 
it  would  be  for  her  best  interests  to  remain  in  posses- 
sion ;  she  would]  be  assisted  in  completing  the  mills, 
with  the  income  of  which,  through  the  grist,  she 
would  be  able  to  diminish  the  expenses  and  live  de- 
cently and  abundantly  with  her  children  on  the 
surplus ;  but  she  would  not  listen  to  advice.'' 

A  horse-mill  was  soon  obtained  and  on  December 
8, 1659,  William  Beekman,  then  in  New  Amstel,  in  a 
letter  toDirector  Stuy vesant,  said,  "  As  to  my  horse- 
mill,  I  have  no  more  the  disposal  of  it,  as  I  sold  the 
same  to  Mr.  Hinijossa  last  August."  The  latter  was 
at  the  time  lieutentant  at  New  Amstel.  Mr.  Beek- 
man also  writes,  May  12,  1662,  of  the  "  Company's 
Horse  Mill"  at  New  Amstel. 

In  November,  1681,  Arnoldus  De  Lagrange  peti- 
tioned and  had  granted  to  him  a  vacant  piece  of  land 
"  Lying  towards  ye  north  end  of  the  Towne  of  New 
Castle,"  also  a  small  piece  of  marsh  land  adjoining, 
on  condition  that  he,  "  according  to  his  owne  proffer, 
shall  build  on  ye  said  land  a  good  wind-mill  for  ye 
common  good  of  ye  inhabitants,  and  to  have  for  toal 
of  grinding  noe  more  than  one  Tenth  part ;  and  that 
hee  draynes  ye  marsh  and  all  this  to  bee  done  within 
12  months  after  date  hereof,  otherways  and  in  deflect 
thereof  he  to  forfeit  what  is  now  granted." 

Of  modern  mills,  the  one  erected  a  number  of  years 
ago  by  Thomas  T.  Tasker  and,  since  1872,  owned  by 
William  Lea  and  Sons  Company,  is  the  most  promi- 
nent. In  1887  the  plant  consisted  of  a  three-story 
brick  building,  forty  by  fifty  feet,  with  a  two-story 
wing,  thirty-two  by  forty-two  feet ;  a  one-story  ware- 
house, thirty-five  by  seventy  feet;  a  brick  engine- 
house,  twenty-five  by  thirty -five  feet ;  and  an  elevator, 
thirty-five  by  eighty  feet,  with  a  fifty-five  feet  tower, 
having  a  capacity  for  fifty  thousand  bushels  of  grain. 
In  1879  the  mill  was  improved  and,  since  1882,  has 
been  a  full  roller-mill.  There  are  fourteen  sets  of 
rolls  and  two  runs  of  stones,  the  motive-power 
being  furnished  by  a  one-hundred  horse-power  engine- 
The  mill  now  has  a  capacity  for  three  hundred  and  fifty 
barrels  per  day  and  gives  employment  to  twenty-five 
men.  It  is  operated  in  connection  with  the  Brandy- 
wine  Mills,  of  Wilmington,  also  owned  by  William 


Lea  and  Sons  Company — S.  A.  Stewart,  superintend- 
ent. 

The  Triton  Spinning-Mills,  owned  and  operated 
by  James  G.  Shaw,  were  erected  by  him  in  1860-61,  and 
sold  under  contract  to  a  manufacturing  firm  in  Boston. 
This  firm  contracted  for  the  most  improved  machines 
to  be  made  in  Biddeford,  Maine,  to  fit  out  the  mills. 
The  Civil  War  began,  however,  before  the  machinery 
was  completed,  and  the  Boston  firm  then  gave  up  its 
project  of  engaging  in  the  manufacturing  business  at 
New  Castle. 

James  G.  Shaw,  who  then  owned  the  mills,  in  1863, 
secured  the  machinery  contracted  for  by  the  Boston 
firm,  and  placed  it  in  the  Triton  Mills.  He  associated 
with  him  James  G.  Knowles,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  cotton -yam.  In  1871  the  partnership 
was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Shaw  has  since  been  the  sole 
proprietor.  The  main  building,  as  originally  erected, 
was  50  by  500  feet.  It  has  been  enlarged  70  by 
500  feet.  These  mills  have  been  twice  refitted  and  are 
supplied  with  the  best  machinery  of  American  manu- 
facture. The  mills  contain  fourteen  thousand  spindles, 
and  consume  three  thousand  bales  of  cotton  a  year. 
The  number  of  employees  ranges  from  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

James  G.  Shaw,  the  proprietor  of  the  Triton 
Mills,  was  born  in  Chester,  ,county  of  Delaware, 
Pennsylvania,  October  21,1828.  He  is  a  son  of  the 
late  Samuel  Shaw  and  Mary  Ann  Eyre,  and  comes  of 
the  old  Sharpless  stock  that  came  over  with  William 
Penn,  and  settled  in  Delaware  County.  After  being 
educated  in  his  native  town  he  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits.  In  1857  he  removed  to  New  Castle,  where 
he  purchased  the  Chancellor  Johns  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy-four  acres  and  laid  it  out  as  an 
addition  to  the  town.  This  led  to  the  building  of  his 
mills,  which  he  has  since  operated  successfully.  About 
1864  he  sold  the  land  he  had  purchased  to  Thomas  T 
Tasker,  and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  his  manu- 
facturing interests.  He  has  been  an  enterprising 
citizen  and  an  active  promoter  and  advocate  of  all 
public  improvements  in  the  town.  He  was  married, 
April  28,  1869,  to  Miss  Virginia,  daughter  of  Major 
Joseph  Carr,  of  Brandy  wine  Hundred,  and  they  have 
two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter. 

The  New  Castle  Manufacturing  Company  was  in- 
corporated January  25, 1833,  for  the  manufacture  of 
cotton,  woolen  and  metal  goods,  by  Thomas  Janvier, 
James  Couper,  Jr.,  James  Rogers,  James  Smith  and 
Charles  I.  du  Pont. 

In  1834  a  foundry  was  built  and  shops  erected  to  make 
locomotives.  The  shops  were  a  long  time  in  charge  of 
Wm.  H.  Dobbs,  and  locomotives  for  use  on  the  New 
Castle  and  Frenchtown  Railroad  were  built  there. 
Andrew  C.  Gray  was  one  of  the  most  active  of  the 
company.  Subsequently  the  Hicks  Engine  Company 
occupied  these  shops,  which  was  afterwards  used  by 
the  Morris-Tasker  Iron  Works. 

The  Morris-Tasker  Iron  Works  were  established  at 
Philadelphia,  in    1821,    by    Henry  G.  Morris  and 


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aiMl  soon  had  a  better  factory  than  the  one  destroyed.     He  has  the  reputation  of  treating  his  employees  witn 
In  1886  he  built  a  large  addition,  put  in  four  more     a  kindness  and  liberality  which  have  won  their  warm 


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866 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


regard,  and  "labor  troubles"  have  been  very  rare  at 
his  mills. 

While  keeping  a  watchful  eye  on  all  departments 
of  the  factory  and  upon  his  business  generally,  his 
energies  are  not  confined  to  it,  and  he  has  interests 
in  other  industries  in  Wilmington  (which  city  he  has 
recently  made  his  home)  and  elsewhere.  But  Mr. 
Knowles  does  not  allow  business  to  monopolize 
his  time  or  talents,  believing  that  there  are  other  ob- 
jects in  life  than  mere  money -getting  and  money- 
hoarding.  He  is  a  man  who  finds  great  pleasure  to 
be  derived  from  books,  -in  mental  culture  generally, 
— in  the  beautiful  things  in  nature  and  in  art,  in 
happy  social  environment  and,  above  all,  in  the 
domestic  circle,  being  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  his 
fietmily. 

He  was  married  in  1864  to  Miss  Ella  M.,  daughter 
of  Rev.  William  Urie,  a  prominent  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  they  have  two  children — 
Martha  and  George. 

Qeneral  Business  Interests. — In  the  early  histo- 
ry of  New  Castle,  all  vessels  passing  up  the  river  were 
required  for  several  years  to  land  at  the  town.  Later  on, 
the  commercial  ascendency  of  Philadelphia  and 
other  cities  higher  up  the  Delaware  and  the  railroad 
interests  ruined  the  shipping  interests  of  the  town. 
The  harbor  has  been  much  improved  by  the  govern- 
ment, which  erected  a  number  of  very  substantial 
ice  breakers ;  yet  few  vessels  touch  at  this  place,  and 
Wilmington  has  been  made  the  port  of  entry.  Prior 
to  the  change  New  Castle  had  its  collector,  health 
officer  and  other  port  officials.  Jehu  Curtis  was 
collector  in  1744,  and  William  Till,  who  died  in  office 
in  1764,  was  also  a  collector. 

In  1784  an  act  was  passed  by  the  Assembly  author- 
izing John  Stockton,  William  Lea,  James  Riddle, 
Eensey  John-",  Isaac  Grantham,  Archibald  Alexan- 
der and  CJeorge  Read,  to  raise  twelve  thousand  dollars, 
to  improve  the  harbor,  at  New  Castle,  by  erecting 
piers,  etc.  This  work  was  undertaken,  although  only 
about  four  thousand  dollars  were  realized,  and  was 
completed  some  time  about  1802.  In  1803  Dr.  James 
McCalmont  was  oppointed  health  officer  of  the  port, 
by  the  Governor  of  Delaware,  to  succeed  Dr.  Coles- 
berry.  In  later  years  New  Castle  had  a  naval  inspec- 
tor, and  among  those  who  filled  the  office  were :  Cap- 
tains Montgomery,  Geddes,  Sawyer  andDeLaney. 
Similar  duties  were  performed  afterwards  by  Thomas 
Stockton,  James  Rogers  and  George  Piatt.  The 
office  is  now  in  charge  of  Samuel  H.  Black,  as  deputy 
collector. 

On  April  12,  1775,  Joseph  Tatlow  and  ThomHs 
Henderson  announced  that  they  had  "established  a 
stage  line  for  the  term  of  seven  years  to  carry  on 
business  between  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  via 
New  Castle  and  Frenchtown."  Tatlow  had  packet 
boats  from  Philadelphia  to  New  Castle,  and  Hender- 
son ran  a  similar  line  from  Frenchtown  to  Baltimore* 

The  stages  were  run  between  New  Castle  and 
Frenchtown.      The  New   Castle    and    Frenchtown 


Railroad  succeeded  the  stages  in  1881.  The  first 
attempt  to  run  a  train  by  steam  was  not  successful, 
the  engine  built  by  Colonel  Long  failing  to  work 
satisfactorily.  An  English  locomotive,  the  "DeUiware," 
was  brought  over  and  put  together  at  New  Castle, 
and,  in  1833,  the  work  of  building  engines  at  New 
Castle  was  resumed,  the  mechanics  adopting  the  best 
features  of  the  imported  engine. 

In  1822,  John  and  Thomas  Janvier  began  t<>  run  a 
four-horse  coach,  leaving  the  ''  Union  Line  Hotel  " 
every  morning  at  nine  o'clock.  The  steamboat  line 
to  Philadelphia  was  started  April  20,  1828»  and  the 
^  Union  Line  "  of  the  Janviers,  in  connectioQ  with 
their  stages,  and  later  the  railroad,  waa  a  famous 
enterprise  a  half-century  ago.  The  southweBtern 
part  of  the  line  was  operated  by  the  Henderaons. 
The  Janviers  had  a  steamboat  built  for  this  line, 
which  they  called  the  "  Delaware,'^  Captain  Wilmer 
Whildin,  commander.  The  Janviers  were  very 
successful  in  the  transportation  business. 

Prior  to  1837  New  Castle  was  on  the  main  line  ot 
travel  between  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  and 
many  celebrities  of  national  repute  passed  through 
the  town.  General  Lafayette  stopped  in  New  Cas- 
tle, October  6,  1826,  en  route  to  Baltimore,  via 
Frenchtown.  President  Jackson  arrived  at  New 
Castle  Saturday,  June  8,  1833,  on  the  steamboat 
"  Ohio,"  of  the  "  People's  Line,"  and  was  met  by 
Governor  Bennett,  of  Delaware,  and  "  a  vast  con- 
course of  people."  When  the  boat  anchored,  a  salate 
was  fired  by  the  revenue  cutter  lying  in  the  harbor, 
and  there  were  other  demonstrations  of  welcome.  A 
public  arch  bore  the  inscription,  ^'The  Union,  it  must 
be  preserved."  After  spending  a  short  time  on  shore 
the  party  returned  to  the  boat  .and  proceeded  to 
Phi iadelphia.  General  Jackson  again  passed  through 
New  Castle,  on  his  return  from  Boston,  July  3,  1833. 
On  June  10,  1833,  Black  Hawk,  the  celebrated  Indian 
chief,  was  taken  through  New  Castle,  in  custody  of 
Major  Garland. 

In  1845  Samuel  L.  Hall  was  granted  the  use  of  a 
wharf  for  ship-building. 

Among  those  actively  in  trade  in  more  recent 
years  were  Thomas  Hyatt,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Ferris  drug-store.  Samuel  Couper  was  one  of  his 
business  contemporaries.  Joseph  Sawyer  traded  in 
the  Nowland  stand.  Captain  James  McCullougb 
was  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  David  Bouldei. 
Henry  and  Thomas  Frazier  occupied  a  stand  which 
William  B.  Janvier  used  successfully.  Piatt  A  El- 
kinton  were  at  the  George  W.  Turner  store.  James 
Riddle  and  John  Bird  were  enterprising  merchants 
on  the  corner,  where  Elihu  Jefferson  afterwards  con- 
ducted an  extensive  business  as  merchant  and  grain 
dealer.  Jeremiah  Bowman  was  a  lumber  deaicr  on 
the  wharf,  and  later  Charles  Lambson  had  a  yard  at 
the  gas  works.  In  1887  J.  T.  &  L.  E.  Eliason  were 
extensively  engaged  in  the  coal,  lumber  and  machin- 
ery trade,  and  other  merchants  fully  represented 
every  branch  of  business.    Hugh  W.  Ritchie  opened 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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the  first  drag  store  after  1820,  and  Robert  G.  Algeo 
was  io  this  business  in  1845.  Jo  1849  John  0.  Chal- 
lenger established  a  pharmacy,  which  has  been  car- 
ried on  by  Edward  Challenger  since  1858.  Charles 
Ferris  subsequently  opened  a  drag  store,  and  it  has 
been  continued  by  bis  son,  William  J.  Ferris. 

A  branch  of  the  Delaware  Farmers*  Bank  has  long 
been  in  operation  at  New  Cistle,  hnt  in  an  old 
building  on  Water  Street,  and  since  1851  in  the 
present  banking-house.  Eensey  Johns  was  the  first 
president,  and  his  successors  were  James  R.  Black, 
James  Booth,  Thomas  Janvier,  Andrew  C.  Gray  and 
John  J.  Black.  The  cashiers  of  the  branch  at  New 
Castle  have  been  Francis  L.  Couch,  James  Couper, 
Howell  J.  Terry,  Charles  Kimmey  and  Richard  G. 
Cooper.    W.  F.  Lane  is  the  present  teller. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  bank  as  made 
in  January,  1888,  followed  by  a  list  of  the  directors 
of  the  branch  bank  at  New  Castle. 

A88KT8. 

Bflftl  estate f 07,9"^7.96 

Bilk  and  ootes  dieconnted  and  other  Inveatments. 85J88.68 

Carrent  expeneee  and  taxes  paid 2,816.53 

Ouh  and  cadi  items „ 8,233  47 

Due  from  banks  and  bankers 30,181.23 


$233,076.88 

UABILITIKS. 

Ospltal  Stock .$100,000.00 

Uodiridwl  profits. 4,680.64 

Individual  deposits 120,2:<0.48 

Dne  to  banks  and  bankers. 47.76 


$233,976.88 


Directors  of  the  Branch  Bank  at  New  Castle, 


Mordscai  McKinney.  June  0,  1807 

George  Bend June  9, 1807-36 

Allen  McLane Jane  0, 1807   | 

Joseph  Israel June  9,  1807 

John  Janrier Jane  9,  1807   | 

Samuel  Barr ....June  9, 1807-10 

Kensej  Johns. 1806-17   ] 

John  Bird 1808  | 

James  McCalmont 1809-25 

Thomas  Jan  Tier 1810-14 

John  Janrier. « 1811-15 

James  Bodgen 1811-34 

James  B.  Black 1812-32 

Thomas  JaoTier 1812-16 

Thomas  BIddle 1813-32 

Jasses  Booth 1816-18 

Nicholas  Van  Dyke 1816-17 

Samuel  McCalmont 1817 

John  Crow 1819-26 

Thomas  Janrier 1822-37 

John  Moody 1826-37 

Samuel  Meteer 1828 

Beqjamin  Watson 1829 

PRK8IDKNT8. 

Kensey  Johns July  7, 1807 

James  B.  Black 

James  Booth 

Thomas  Janrier 

Andrew  C.  Gray Jan.,  1849 

Dr.  John  J.  Black Jan.,  1886 


John  Janrier. 1831-37 

James  Booth 1833-37 

Gomelius  D.  Blaney „ 1836 

Andrew  C.  Gray 18871 

Andrew  C.  Gray 1861-85 

Elihu  Jefferson 1861-70 

William  T.  Bead 1861-73 

Samuel  Guthrie 1861-71 

George  B.  Bodney 1861-77 

Edward  Williams 1861-66 

DanaO.  Nlrin. 1867-82 

Allen  V.  Lesley 1872-81 

Thomas  Holcomb 1872-87 

John  Janvier 1874 

Bichard  G.  Cooper 1875-81 

John  H.  Bodney 1876 

Geo.  B.  Bodney 1882 

C.  A.  Rodney 18M2 

John  H.  Rodney 1883-87 

John  J.  BUck 1883-87 

A.  B.  Cooper 1883-87 

George  W.  Turner 1873-87 

Francis  N.  Buck.. 1888-87 

CASHIERS. 

Francis  L.  Cooch Jan.  9, 1807 

James  Couper....... Jan.  9,  1807 

Howell  J.  Terry Jan.,  1861 

Charles  Kimmey Jan.,  187L 

Richard  0.  Cooper. Jan.,  1881 


State  Directors  appointed  for  New  Castle  Branch. 

1807,  Kensey  Johns,  John  Bird,  Darld  Nevin. 
January  12, 1824.  Samuel  Meteer,  Leri  Boulden,  John  Crow. 
January  25, 1825.  Samuel  Meteer,  James  Rogen,  Levi  Boulden. 
January  31,1826.  Levi  Boulden,  Samuel  Meteer,  John  Moody. 

1  Note.— The  records  of  the  bank  from  1837  to  1861  are  lost 


January  31«  1837.  Samuel  Meteer,  Levi  Boulden,  Augustine  H.  Pen- 
nington. 

January  9, 1829.  John  Moody,  Samuel  Meteer,  Thomas  Stockton. 

January  8, 1830.  Thomas  Stockton,  Samuel  Meteer,  Beojamin  Watson. 

January  6,  1831.  John  Moody,  Thomas  Stockton,  Samuel  Meteer. 

January  4, 1832.  Thomas  Stockton,  John  Janrier,  George  Piatt. 

Januaiy  23, 1833.  Thomas  Stockton,  George  B.  B^ney,  George  Piatt 

January  12,  1835.  Same. 

January  11, 1841.  Same. 

January  19,  1843.  Thomas  Stockton,  Geerge  Piatt,  Nathaniel  Toung. 

February  8,  1845.  Nathaniel  Young,  Charles  H.  Black,  Thomas  Stock- 
ton. 

January  16, 1847.  Nathaniel  Toung,  Charles  H.  Black,  Philip  Rey- 
bold. 

January  20, 1851.  Elihu  Jefferson,  Nathaniel  Toung,  William  D. 
Ocheltree. 

March  2, 1853.  Same. 

January  23, 1865.  Nathaniel  Young,  William  Couper,  Elihu  JeffiirsoB. 

January  28,  1867.  Elihu  Jefferson,  William  T.  Reed,  James  Crippen. 

February  3,  1859.  Elihu  Jefferson,  Daniel  R.  Wolfe,  James  Crippen. 

February  7, 1861.  Nathaniel  Toung,  James  Trun,  Charles  Goodlpg. 

February  12,  1863.  James  Truss,  Dr.  John  Merritt,  A.  G.  Nowland. 

February  13,  1867.  James  Truss,  Allen  V.  Lesley,  Samuel  Townsend. 

February  17, 1869.  James  Truss,  Allen  V.  Lesley,  John  Merritt 

January,  10, 1871.  Allen  V.  Lesley,  John  Merritt,  Bankson  T.  Holcomb. 

February  3, 1873.  John  J.  Black,  John  Johns,  Banksuu  T.  Holcomb. 

February  2,  1876.  Same. 

February  21,  1877.  Same. 

March  25,  1879.    John  J.  Black,  Thomas  Giffln,  JamM  T.  ElUson. 

April  6, 1881.  James  T.  Eliason,  David  Boulden,  A.  H.  Sllrer. 

February  21, 1883.  Same. 

January  28,  1886.  James  T.  Eliason,  Darid  Boulden,  Eugene  Sogers. 

March  8,  1887.  Same. 

Professional  Men. — As  early  as  tbe  fall  of  1677 
there  was  a  Doctor  Tyman  Stiddea  at  New  Castle, 
and  James  Crawford  is  mentioned  as  a  physician  in 
1678.  In  March,  1678,  there  was  also  a  Doctor  Daniel 
Wells,  who  presented  an  "  account  of  Phisik  "  in  court 
against  Henry  Stonebrake,  deceased.  Dr.  John 
Finney  was  a  practitioner  in  1754  and  later.  Dr. 
Henry  Colesberry  was  a  prominent  practitioner,  con- 
tinuing until  about  1830,  when  Dr.  C.  B.  Ferguson 
succeeded  him.  Dr.  J.  H.  Handy  located  for  prac- 
tice three  years  later.  Subsequent  practitioners  of 
note  were  Doctors  James  McCalmont,  W.  H.  Hamil- 
ton, Charles  H.  Black,  David  Stewart,  James  Cou- 
per, Jr.,  John  H.  Black  and  David  Stewart,  the  last 
two  at  present  in  practice. 

The  attorneys  living  at  New  Castle  since  1800  have 
been  Judge  James  Booth,  Kensey  Johns,  Kenney 
Johns,  Jr.,  James  Booth,  Jr.,  Thomas  Clayton,  John 
M.  Clayton,  James  Rogers,  Simon  Guthrie,  Judge 
J.  R.  Black,  W.  H.  Rogers.  George  B.  Rodney, 
Andrew  C.  Gray,  George  Gray,  John  H.  Rodney, 
A.  B.  Cooper  and  James  R.  Booth.  Some  of  the 
latter  still  practice  at  Wilmington  and  New  Castle. 

In  1803  the  post-office  at  New  Castle  was  ''  kept  '* 
by  a  Mr.  Haughey.  Hugh  W.  Ritchie  was  the  post- 
master prior  to  the  great  fire  of  1824,  and  R.  Ritchie 
succeeded  him  after  his  death,  in  1832.  The  post- 
masters since  have  been  John  Riddle,  John  Challen- 
ger, EMward  Challenger,  Reuben  Janvier  and  John 
Manlove,  the  present  incumbent.  The  office ,  is  in 
the  old  court-house. 

Inns  and  Hotels. — In  the  early  history  of  New 
Castle  the  inns,  ordinaries  or  public-houses  were 
prominent  factors  in  the  social  and  business  life  of 
the  community.  It  was  at  such  places  that  important 
public  gatherings,  including  even  religious  meetings, 
were  held,  and  the  best  citizens  of  the  town  met  there 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


for  social  con  venation  and  to  hear  and  discuss  the 
news  received  from  travelers.  The  keeper  was 
frequently  a  man  of  marked  characteristics,  prominent 
in  the  affairs  of  the  place,  and  one  whose  opinions  were 
usually  courted.  Occasionally,  however,  an  inn-keeper 
would  be  found  who  did  not  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  age,  and  his  hostelry  soon  declined. 

Fopp  Jansen  Outhout,  who  was  a  magistrate  from 
1676-83,  was  an  inn-keeper  in  New  Amstel  in  1662,  as 
is  mentioned  in  a  trial  of  that  date  in  which  he  is 
mentioned  as  one  of  the  witnesses. 

Ralph  Hutchinson  was  an  ordinary  keeper  at  New 
Castle  as  early  as  1677,  and  was  probably  one  of  the 
first  in  that  vocation.  His  place  was  afterwards  kept 
by  his  brother,  Robberd,  who,  unfortunately,  was 
charged  with  dishonest  practices,  and,  as  he  was  also 
a  constable,  his  case  became  an  object  of  public 
consideration.  On  June  3, 1679,  a  letter  containing 
the  following  facts  was  sent  to  the  €k)vernor  asking 
his  advice : 

"  One  Adam  Wolles,  a  mariner,  come  to  this  place 
from  Maryland  with  his  chest,  and  stopped  at  the 
house  of  Robberd  Hutchinson.  Ailer  he  had  been 
there  a  day  or  two  he  found  that  the  chest  had 
been  opened,  things  taken  out,  and  again  locked. 
He  made  the  theft  known  and  gave  a  list  of 
articles  be  had  in  the  chest.  Suspicion  was  attached 
to  Hutchinson,  who,  when  closely  examined,  owned 
up,  and  the  most  of  the  articles  were  found.  After 
other  witnesses  were  examined  he  again  disclosed 
more,  and  threw  himself  upon  the  court.  He  was 
put  in  prison." 

The  Governor  in  reply  commented  at  length  upon, 
the  enormity  of  the  offense,  but  left  the  punishment 
to  the  court.  Hutchinson  was  dismissed  from  the 
'* constablewick,*'  and  the  court  "doe  order  and 
sentence  that  hee,  the  sd  Robberd  Hutchinson,  for 
example  to  others,  bee  brought  to  the  forte  gate  and 
there  publicquely  whipt  thirty  and  nine  strokes  or 
lashes ;  that  hee  pay  unto  Adam  Wolles  the  remainder 
of  ye  goods  stolen  out  of  ye  chest  not  yet  found, 
together  w"»  all  the  charges  and  fees  of  this  action, 
and  doe  futher  forever  bannish  ye  sd  Robberd  Hutch- 
inson out  of  this  River  of  Delaware  and  partes  adja- 
cent, hee  to  depart  w'^'in  three  days  now  next  ensuing, 
w"*  leave  to  chose  and  appoint  any  person  as  his 
attorney  to  receive  and  pay  his  debts.  God  save  the 
King."  This  above  sd  sentence  was  put  in  execution 
And  Robberd  Hutchinson  publicquely  whipt  ye  same 
day  in  New  Castle,  etc." 

Hutchinson  was  succeeded  June  4,  1679,  by  John 
Darby.  The  property  was  described  as  *'  bounded  on 
the  east  by  the  strand,  or  river ;  south,  by  the  house  of 
John  Hendrickson,  drover;  west,  by  the  moat;  and 
north,  by  the  house  and  lot  of  Isaac  Tayne."  Darby's 
license  was  granted  with  the  proviso  that  "  hee  per- 
forms what  he  now  promises  w***  is  viz. :  That  hee  will 
keep  a  good  and  orderly  house;  that  hee  will  now 
begin  w***  six  beds  and  w"'in  twelve  months  procure 
six  beds  more;  to  have  only  privilege  to  sell  drink  by 


retayle.  In  case  none  other  be  admitted  more  by  the 
Court." 

Prior  to  1709  John  Brewster  was  an  "Innholder" 
at  New  Castle,  and  on  February  28,  1709,  he  and 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  sold  to  "Richard  Halliwell,  of 
New  Castle,  merchant,  the  lot  fifty  by  two  hundred 
and  fifty  feet,  bounded  southwesterly  with  Thomas 
Janvier's  lot;  northeasterly  with  burying-ground ; 
northwesterly  with  Presbyterian  meeting-house  and 
southeasterly  with  ye  street.  He  also  gave  to  Richard 
Halliwell  one  silver  quart  tankard  and  seven  silver 
spoons." 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  Robert 
Fumess  was  the  keeper  of  an  ordinary  at  New  Castle, 
and  it  was  at  his  house  that  the  first  Methodist  meet- 
ings in  New  Castle  were  held.  He  was  a  man  ot 
determined  purpose  and  great  force  of  character. 

In  1802  Captain  Caleb  P.  Bennett  was  an  inn-keeper, 
and  at  his  place  the  county  elections  were  held.  In 
1803  he  bought  "  the  late  residence  of  Qeorge  Read, 
Esq.,  comer  Front  and  Delaware  Streets,  and  then 
used  it  as  a  tavern,  calling  it  the  'Delaware  Hotel.'" 
In  1824  the  hotels  on  Water  Street  were  burned  down, 
and  one  of  them,  after  being  re-built  and  carried  as 
the  "Stockton  House,"  was  again  burned  in  1870. 
For  many  years  it  was  the  ofllce  of  stage  lines  passing 
out  of  New  Castle.  In  the  re  ir  of  this  building  there 
was  a  steamboat  landing  which  has  long  since  been 
abandoned.  In  1828  Henry  Steele  was  the  keeper  of 
the  "Spread  Eagle  Hotel,"  and  James  Steele  was  a 
landlord  later.  This  place  is  still  kept  as  a  hostelry 
under  another  name.  John  Crow  was  for  many  years 
a  keeper  of  the  "  Delaware  House."  The  present 
"  Jefferson  House  "  was  originally  the  store  and  resi- 
dence of  Elihu  Jefferson,  and  was  re-modeled  for  hotel 
purposes.    It  is  the  property  of  William  Herbert. 

The  Gilpin  House,  located  opposite  the  old  court- 
house, is  now  the  oldest  hotel  in  continuous  use  in 
the  town.  It  took  its  present  name  from  the  late  Chief 
Justice  Gilpin,  and  for  years  was  the  stopping-place 
of  the  judges  and  attorneys  of  the  court. 

Old  Buildings. — Few  very  old  buildings  remain 
in  New  Castle.  It  is  believed  that  the  back  building 
of  the  present  Gilpin  House  is  as  ancient  as  any  struc- 
ture in  the  place,  and  that  it  was  the  meeting-place 
of  the  first  courts.  It  was  also  one  of  the  first  places  of 
public  entertainment.  Near  by  is  a  brick  building, 
erected  in  1681,  where  William  Penn  was  entertained 
by  his  host  Lagrange,  when  he  visited  the  town  in  1682. 
It  had  originally  a  hip-roof,  but,  in  1858,  was  remodeled 
by  the  present  owner,  George  W.  Turner.  The  fam- 
ous old  tile  house  was  built  in  1687,  but  by  whom,  or 
for  what  purpose,  is  not  known.  It  was  three  stories 
high  and  its  roof  was  very  steep  and  covered  with  tile 
brought  Irom  Holland.  The  rafters  were  made  like 
the  knees  of  a  vessel,  all  cut  out  of  crooked  timber. 
The  brick  in  its  walls  were  of  smalt  size  and  made  of 
"  whitish  earth."  The  building  was  used  for  a  num- 
ber of  purposes,  and  became  very  dilapidated  before 
it  was  demolished  in  1884. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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The  John  Bird  house  was  also  built  before  1700 
and  is  still  standing.  It  was  long  the  property  of 
Major  John  Moody.  The  house  of  George  Read, 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was  on 
Water  Street,  and  was  removed  many  years  ago.  For 
a  short  time  it  was  used  as  «  bank  building.  George 
Read,  the  second,  built  the  house  now  occupied  by 
the  family  of  Samuel  Couper.  The  building,  occu- 
pied in  part  by  M.  C.  Rogers  as  a  tobacco  shop,  ante- 
dates the  struggle  for  independence  many  years.  In 
the  time  of  the  Revolution  it  was  occupied  by  a  Dr. 
Finney. 

A  part  of  the  old  Court- House,  used  as  a  State 
building  in  William  Penn's  time,  was  erected  prior 
to  1680.  Two  years  later  Penn  met  the  court  in 
this  building.  The  building  has  been  enlarged  and 
the  interior  changed.  Some  very  large  timbers  have 
been  used  in  its  construction,  the  main  girder  consist- 
ing of  a  single  piece  of  timber  resting  on  two  pillars 
opposite  the  doors.  On  these  pillars  it  was  customary 
in  olden  times  to  place  tbe  hands  of  criminals  who 
had  committed  manslaughter,  T^ile  they  were  brand- 
ed with  the  letters  M.  S.  A.  The  red-hot  iron  was 
applied  until  the  room  was  filled  with  fumes  from  the 
burning  flesh.  The  last  person  so  branded  was  a 
colored  man  by  the  name  of  Jacob  Battle,  appre- 
hended for  the  killing  of  one  Clark. 

Market  Square— New  Castle  Commons. — This 
market-house  was  built  by  the  trustees  of  New  Castle 
Common, [has  not  been  much  used  for  market  purposes 
in  recent  years.  The  lot  on  which  it  stands  is  part  of  a 
tract  of  land  reserved  for  public  uses  as  early  as  the 
seventeenth  century.  It  has  been  controlled  by  vari- 
ous authorities,  generally  by  trustees  for  the  people 
of  New  Castle.  This  office,  in  the  course  of  years, 
was  neglected,  and  with  a  view  of  placing  the  property 
in  the  care  of  a  perpetual  board  of  trustees,  the  As- 
sembly on  Jane  13, 1 772,  appointed  a  board  of  Market 
Square  trustees,  consisting  of  David  Finney,  John 
Thompson,  Qeorge  Read,  Thomas  McKean  and 
George  Munro.  The  surviving  trustee  was  empow- 
ered to  name  his  successors.  This  was  first  done  by 
Thomas  McKean  in  August,  1809,  when  he  appointed 
James  R.  Black,  Kensey  Johns,  James  Rogers,  James 
Riddle,  William  C.  Frazier,  George  Read  and  George 
Munro.  On  March  13,  1851,  James  Rogers,  the 
surviving  trustee,  named  Wm.  T.  Read,  John  Janvier, 
Wm.  Couper,  Charles  H.  Black  and  James  Mansfield. 
On  April  30, 1877,  John  Janvier,  survivor,  by  deed 
appointed  (Jeorge  Gray,  John  H.  Rodney,  Richard  G. 
Cooper,  Joseph  H.  Rogers  and  Julian  D.  Janvier. 

On  February  20, 1883,  the  Assembly  enlarged  the 
powers  of  the  trustees  and  authorized  them  to  hold 
the  property  for  the  city  of  New  Castle,  the  rights 
of  the  county  to  the  buildings,  if  it  should  want  to 
ose  them  for  the  purposes  originally  intended,  being 
reserved^  Under  this  act  the  square  and  its  im- 
provements have  since  been  controlled. 

The  citizens  of  New  Castle  have  also  been  much 
benefited  by  the  income  arising  from  the  common 


lands,  which,  in  the  last  forty  years  especially,  has 
aided  materially  in  supporting  the  schools  and  in  im- 
proving the  city.  Ever  since  the  settlement  of  New 
Castle  the  lands  lying  north  of  the  town  have  been 
regarded  as  the  common  property  of  the  citizens,  and 
for  nearly  a  century  and  a  half  have  been  held  in 
trust  for  their  common  good.  Under  Swedish  and 
Dutch  rule  individual  rights  to  the  wood  and  pas- 
ture on  these  lands  were  exercised,  and  it  has  only 
been  within  a  comparatively  recent  period  that  a 
systematic  efiort  was  made  to  improve  the  lands  with 
a  view  to  making  them  more  productive.  The  limits 
of  these  common  lands  were  not  defined  prior  to 
the  eighteenth  century,  but  on  October  31,  1701, 
William  Penn,  as  proprietor,  "directed  Edward 
Peniugton,  Surveyor-General  of  the  Province  of 
Pennsylvania  and  Territories,  by  a  warrant,  to  sur- 
vey one  thousand  acres  of  land  for  a  common  for  the 
use  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  New  Castle. 
On  April  10,  1704,  George  Deakyne,  surveyor,  made 
a  return  of  the  survey,  which  included  one  thousand 
and  sixty-eight  acres  north  of  New  Castle." 

The  acreage  of  the  common  lands  having  been 
fixed  and  the  location  established,  "  nothing  further 
of  importance  seems  to  have  been  done  in  the  matter 
until  November  17, 1764,  when  Thomas  and  Richard 
Penn,  sons  of  William  Penn,  and  'true  and  absolute 
proprietaries  and  governors  in  chief  of  the  counties 
of  New  Castle,  Kent  and  Sussex,  in  Delaware,  and 
Province  of  Pennsylvania,*  recorded  a  charter  incor- 
porating, '  in  pursuance  of  a  warrant  from  our  late 
father,  William  Penn,  Esquire,*  the  trustees  of  the 
common.  The  inhabitants  of  New  Castle  had  com- 
plained that  persons  having  property  contiguous  to 
the  common  were  encroaching  upon  the  town's  tract, 
wasting  the  timber,  etc.,  and  they  urged  Thomas  and 
Richard  Penn  to  'incorporate  a  certain  number  oi 
them,  the  said  inhabitants  of  New  Castle,  and  give 
them  perpetual  succession,  and  to  confirm  to  them 
the  said  tract  of  land  in  common  for  the  use  and 
behoof  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town.' 

'*The  request  was  favored,  and  John  Finney,  Rich- 
ard McWilliams,  David  Finney,  Thomas  McKean, 
George  Read  and  George  Munro,  Esquires,  and  John 
Van  Gezell,  Zachariah  Van  Leuvenigh,  Slator  Clay, 
John  Yeates,  Nathaniel  Silsbee,  Daniel  McLonen, 
Robert  Morrison,  gentlemen,  were  named  as  trustees, 
and  they  and  their  successors,  forever  after,  were  to 
be  *  one  body  corporate  and  politic,  in  deed,  by  the 
name  of  the  Trustees  of  New  Castle  Common.* 
The  tract  was  deeded  to  the  trustees  for  *  the  use  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  New  Castle.*  The 
deed,  made  by  the  two  Penns,  declared  that  the 
property  was  *  to  be  holden  of  us,  our  heirs  and  suc- 
cesssors,  proprietaries  of  the  said  counties  of  New 
C&stle,  Kent  and  Sussex,  in  Delaware,  as  of  our 
manor  of  Rockland,  in  free  and  common  socage,  by 
fealty  only  in  lieu  of  all  other  services.  Yielding 
and  paying,  therefor,  yearly  and  every  year,  unto  us, 
our  heirs  and  successors,  at  the  town  of  New  Castle, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


aforesaid,  the  rent  of  one  ear  of  Indian  corn,  if  de- 
manded.' 

'^  Ttie  trustees  were  endowed  with  all  the  powers  of 
corporation — to  sue  and  be  sued,  and  to  establish 
such  by-laws,  ordinances,  etc.,  deemed  just  and  neces- 
sary, provided  they  were  not '  repugnant  to  the  laws 
of  England  or  to  the  government  of  the  counties  afore- 
said.' When  a  trustee  died,  removed  from  New 
Castle,  or  was  removed  from  office  for  misbehavior, 
an  election  was  to  be  held,  within  ten  days,  for  a 
successor,  by  such  persons  as  had  a  freehold  interest 
of  forty  shillings  in  New  Castle,  or  who  paid  a  yearly 
rental  of  that  amount.  The  trustees  were  not  to 
hold,  as  a  body  politic,  by  their  letters  patent,  any 
Other  lands  or  tenements  except  the  Common,  and  they 
had  no  power  to  sell  any  part  of  the  Common,  which 
were  for  no  other  use  whatever  except  for  the  inhabi- 
tants of  New  Castle.  If  the  trustees  failed  to  obey 
the  provisions,  the  property  was  to  revert  to  Thomas 
and  Richard  Penn,  their  heirs  and  assigns. 

"On  July  8,  1791  (upon  solicitation  of  the  Trustees 
of  the  Common,  who  claimed  that  the  restrictive 
termn  of  the  grant  of  Thomas  and  Richard  Penn  pre- 
vented the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  New  Castle 
from  deriving  all  those  benefits  and  advantages  which 
would  result  from  a  free  and  absolute  grant  thereof), 
'John  Penn  of  Stoke  Pogis,  in  the  county  of  Bucks, 
Esquire,  and  John  Penn.  late  of  Wimpole  Street,  in 
the  parish  of  Saint  Marylebone,  but  now  of  Dover 
Street,  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  Esquire  (late  Pro- 
prietaries of  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Amer- 
ica), formally  deeded  the  Common  to  Isaac  Grant- 
ham, Esquire,  the  Rev.  Robert  Clay,  clerk,  and 
William  Lees,  merchant,  all  of  the  hundred  and  coun- 
ty of  New  Castle,  then  successors  and  heirs,  in  trust 
nevertheless,  to  and  for  the  use,  benefit  and  behoof  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  New  Castle,'  to  be 
transferred  or  conveyed,  by  legal  means,  to  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Commons.  The  deed  was  executed  in 
London  and  the  seal  of  that  city  and  of  the  Lord 
Mayor  were  affixed. 

"  In  1792  the  General  Assembly  of  Delaware  passed 
an  act  to  enlarge  the  corporate  powers  of  the  Trustees 
of  the  Common.  It  made  the  trustees  a  corporate 
body  in  deed  and  in  law,  with  perpetual  succession, 
vacancies  to  be  provided  for  as  in  the  former  charter 
of  incorporation ;  it  gave  them  power  to  rent  or  lease, 
but  not  for  a  longer  term  than  thirty  years  from  the 
commencement  of  a  lease  or  contract,  and  it  provided 
that  seven  trustees  were  to  make  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business,  and  that  they  must  elect  a 
president  once  a  year. 

"  On  July  13, 1792,  Isaac  Grantham,  Robert  Clay 
and  William  Lees  formally  deeded  the  Common  to 
the  trustees  as  per  the  deed  to  them  by  the  two  John 
Penns.  The  witnesses  to  the  deed  were  John  Bird, 
Jno.  Willv,  Sen.,  and  Mary  Grantham."  From  this 
time  the  title  of  New  Castle  in  the  lands  was  absolute. 

In  1860  Dr.  Charles  H.  Black  and  his  co-tiustees 
had  the  commons  divided  into  farms,  and  by  1864, 


the  annual  revenue  had  increased  to  $7000,  and  the 
accumulation  enabled  the  trustees  to  pay  an  old  debt 
of  $20,000  due  the  Farmers'  Bank  for  money  borrowed 
to  build  the  town  hall  and  market-house,  and  for 
paving  streets.  During  this  period  the  schools  had 
been  supported,  the  town  taxes  were  very  light  and 
Common  farms  free  irom  debt.  Since  that  time 
extensive  improvements  have  caused  a  small  indebt- 
edness. In  1887  the  Common  consisted  of  nine  farms 
and  two  lots,  north  of  the  city  of  New  Castle,  pro- 
ducing a  revenue  of  more  than  eight  thousand  dollars, 
which  was  disbursed  by  the  trustees  for  the  benefit  of 
the  city  of  New  Castle.  Among  the  annual  appro- 
priations is  one  item  of  three  thousand  dollars,  guar- 
antee interest  at  six  per  cent.,  to  the  New  Castle 
Waterworks  Company;  and  liberal  appropriations 
are  also  made  to  the  Fire  Department. 
In  1887  the  Common  trustees  were  the  following: 

John  Janrier Elecred  June  31, 1847 

Ferdinand  Leckler Elected  May  26,  1856 

William  Herbert,  treasurer Elected  fiiay  14,  1859 

John  White Elected  June  23,  1866 

John  Hahoney Elected  April  3, 1869 

James  G.  Shaw Elected  May  8, 1869 

John  J.  Black,  M.D.,  president Elected  December  30,  1871 

John  H.  Bodney Elected  January  9,  1875 

William  F.  Lane,  secretary Elected  December  3,  1878 

Elmer  W.  Clark Elected  January  10,  1882 

William  J.  Ferris ^ Elected  May  29,  1S83 

George  A.  Maxwell Elected  January  24,  1885 

Edward  Challenger Elected  June  20,  1885 

Prominent  Families. — Among  the  old  and  hon- 
ored families  which  resided  at  New  Castle  that  of 
George  Read,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, wa-i  one  of  the  most  prominent.  He  was  attor- 
ney-general under  the  British  crown.  His  son, 
George,  was  also  an  attorney  as  were  also  his  grand- 
sons, George  and  William  T.,  all  deceased.  Two 
granddaughter.-*,  Mrs.  Anna  Reeves  and  Miss  Emily 
Read,  reside  at  New  Castle.  Nicholas  Van  Dyke 
was  another  official  and  local  celebrity,  who  died 
here.  John  Stockton  held  office  under  English  rule 
and  his  son,  Major  Thomas  Stockton,  was  an  officer 
in  the  army.  The  latter  had  sons  named  Thomas, 
William  and  James.  Several  daughters  reside  at 
New  Castle.  Judge  James  Booth  lived  here  and 
reared  a  large  family.  A  daughter  married  Attorney- 
General  James  Rogers.  His  son,  James  Booth,  was 
also  an  attorney  and  chief  justice;  and  William 
Booth  was  an  adjacent  farmer.  The  former  was  ^e 
father  of  James  R.  Booth,  attorney,  and  Thomas 
Booth,  civil  engineer.  James  Rogers  was  a  son  of 
G<5vernor  Daniel  Rogers,  of  Milford,  and  was  the 
father  of  William  H.  Rogers,  attorney,  and  other 
sons,  James,  Eugene,  Joseph  H.,  Julian,  Robert  C. 
and  Daniel,  nearly  all  of  whom  were  professional 
men.  A  daughter  married  J.  Nicholas  Barney,  of 
the  United  States  navy.  Chancellor  Kensey  Johns 
was  an  honored  citizen  and  father  of  Kensey  Johns, 
Jr.,  who  was  also  a  chancellor.  His  brothers  were 
Bishop  John  Johns  and  Henry  Johns.  John  Johns, 
son  of  Kensey,  Jr.,  resides  in  New  Castle  Hundred. 
An  older  brother,  James,  was  an  attorney.    John 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


871 


Bird,  merchant,  was  prominent  at  the  same  period. 
Of  his  sons,  R.  M.,  was  a  physician,  journalist,  novel- 
ist and  dramatist ;  John,  Jr.,  became  a  bauker ;  and 
Henry  was  a  civil  engineer.  John  M.  and  Thomas 
Clayton  lived  a  short  time  at  New  Castle.  Geo. 
Bead  Riddle  was  a  native  of  this  place,  but  re- 
moved to  Wilmington.  Another  native  of  the  town 
was  James  Booth  Roberts,  son  of  Joseph  Roberts, 
who  was  a  celebrated  play-writer  and  author. 
Judge  James  R.  Black  lived  in  the  residence  now 
occupied  by  Dr.  David  Stewart,  where  he  died,  leav- 
ing daughters  who  married  Dr.  James  Couper,  John 
C.  Groome  and  William  Young.  A  later  prominent 
citizen  of  the  same  name,  but  not  of  the  same  family, 
was  Dr.  Charles  H.  Black,  father  of  Dr.  John 
J.  and  Samuel  H.  Black.  Dr.  James  Couper  came 
here  from  Christiana  Bridge,  and  for  many  years 
was  the  cashier  of  the  Fanners'  Bank.  He  was 
the  father  of  Dr.  James  M.,  William,  Samuel 
and  John  Couper,  all  deceased.  Another  prominent 
citizen  of  New  Castle,  whose  residence  was  of  more 
recent  date,  was  George  B.  Rodney,  attorney,  and  father 
of  John  H.  Rodney,  also  an  attorney,  and  Major 
George  Rodney,  of  the  United  States  army.  John 
and  Thomas  Janvier,  brothers,  were  very  active  in 
the  affairs  of  New  Castle.  The  former  was  the  grand- 
&ther  of  the  present  mayor,  Julian  D.  Janvier.  Wm. 
Janvier,  a  cousin  of  John  and  Thomas,  was  a  promi- 
nent merchant  at  the  old  Frazier  stand;  and  this 
family  is  one  of  the  few  whose  residence. here  has 
been  continued  for  more  than  a  century. 

Secret  Orders. — The  first  organization  of  a  secret 
character  in  New  Castle,  of  which  any  account  has 
been  preserved,  was  a  Masonic  Lodge,  chartered  by 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania,  under  authority  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Great  Britain,  April  3,  1781. 
The  meetings  were  alternately  held  at  New  Castle 
and  Christiana  Bridge,  and  the  principal  officers 
were ;  Joseph  Israel,  Master ;  Joseph  Kilkead,  Senior 
Warden ;  and  John  Clark,  Junior  Warden. 

Si.  John* 8,  No.  2,A.F.  and  A.  M.,  was  chartered  June 
27,  1848.  It  has  over  eighty  members.  The  follow- 
ing are  Past-Masters :  Hiram  R.  Borie,  Edward  Dal- 
by,  George  W.  Ellicott,  Gardner  L.  Jemison,  W.  Wood 
Lesley,  P.  G.  T.,  John  B.  Lefevre,  Robert  S.  Martin, 
George  A.  Maxwell,  P.  D.  G.  M.,  Thomas  M.  Ogle, 
P.  G.  T. 

For  many  years  the  meetings  were  held  in  the  old 
City  Hall,  but,  since  the  fall  of  1880,  a  handsome 
lodge-room  has  been  occupied  in  the  Masonic  and 
Odd  Fellows'  Block.  This  building  was  erected  under 
the  direction  of  a  joint  committee,  consisting  of  Wil- 
liam Herbert,  M.  N.  Wier  and  Ira  Lunt,  Masons,  and 
Jacob  Herman,  B.  B.  Groves  and  George  F.  Deakyne, 
Odd-Fellows.  The  comer-stone  was  laid  in  1879,  and 
the  dedicatory  ceremonies  were  held  September  13, 
1880.  The  building  is  an  imposing  three-story  edi- 
fice, fifty  by  one  hundred  feet ;  the  lower  floors  are 
businesa-rooms ;  the  second  story  contains  the  grand 
opera-house,  and  the  third  story  two  lodge-rooms  for 


the  Masons  and  the  Odd-Fellows  respectively,  having 
separate  entrances  and  ante-rooms.  The  total  cost 
was  $30,731.10.  In  1887  the  trustees  of  the  Masons 
were,  William  Herbert,  John  W.  Coffman  and*  John 
Walls. 

Washington  Lodge,  No.  5,  /.  0.  0.  F,,  was  instituted 
at  New  Castle,  October  16, 1833,  the  charter  having 
been  granted  to  Lucien  M.  Chase,  William  D.  Chest- 
nt!it,  David  L.  Moody,  William  H.  Stayton  and  John 
Mclntire.  The  meetings  were  held  in  a  small  brick 
house  on  Harmony  Street  until  1846,  when  a  room 
was  secured  in  the  City  Hall  until  September,  1880, 
when  the  lodge  occupied  its  present  quarters  in  the 
Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows'  Building. 

In  the  first  fifty  years  there  were  admitted  four 
hundred  and  ten  members,  and  sixty-three  died. 
The  reliefof  sick  and  disabled  members  cost  $1491.50. 
In  1887  it  had  a  membership  of  ninety,  and  the 
trustees  were  Louis  R.  Hushebeck,  B.  F.  Lancaster 
and  George  W.  Eckles.  Since  1856  the  secretary  ot 
the  lodge  has  been  William  Herbert,  and  his  only 
predecessor  was  Lucien  M.  Chase,  whose  services  ex- 
tended from  1833.  Many  of  the  members  have  held 
important  offices  in  the  higher  councils  of  the  order. 

Seminole  TribeyNo,  7,  Improved  Order  of  Bed  Men, 
was  instituted  February  25,  1869,  with  the  following 
charter  members:  Robert  H.  Palmer,  Squire  Isher- 
wood,  Alonzo  R.  Wright,  John  B.  Vining,- Travis 
Taylor,James  Darling,Richard  Bond,  Joshua  Greaves, 
Edward  Lever,  William  H.  McAllister,  Robert  Con- 
way, William  L.  Point,  John  Haywood,  William  T. 
Sutton,  and  the  officers  elected  were:  Prophet, Robert 
H.  Palmer ;  Sachem,  Richard  Bond ;  Sr.  Sag.  Travis 
Taylor;  Jr.  Sag.,  John  B.  Vining, Jr. ;  C.  ofR.,W.H. 
McAllister ;  K.  of  W.,  James  Darling.  The  tribe 
met  originally  in  the  old  court-house,  and  afterwards 
in  the  lodge-room  occupied  by  the  Masons  and  Odd 
Fellows,  when,  finding  the  room  too  small  for  their 
membership,  they,  in  May,  1881,  built  a  wigwam 
corner  of  Union  and  South  Streets,  on  a  lot  of  land 
forty  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet,  which  was 
donated  to  them  by  William  Herbert.  Gard- 
ner L.  Jemison  was  the  builder,  and  Gra- 
ham &  Son,  Wilmington,  were  the  architects. 
The  building  committee  were  George  E.  Temple, 
James  H.  Whitelock,  Samuel  T.  Lanca8ter,£dward  S. 
Monkton,  David  M.  Castlow,  William  H.  Perry  and 
James  B.  Lancaster.  The  wigwam  cost  $8400,  and 
was  dedicated  May  1, 1882,  by  the  Grand  Council  of 
Delaware. 

The  first  story  of  the  building  is  occupied  by  the 
city  as  an  engine-house,  the  second  story  is  a  public 
hall  and  the  third  is  the  lodge-room,  occupied  also  by 
other  societies  as  tenants  of  Seminole  Tribe.  In  1885 
the  tribe  was  incorporated  by  act  of  Assembly.  The 
trustees  are  George  W.  Cline,  W.  G.  Wright  and 
George  £.  Temple.  Thomas  T.  Tasker  is  the  Prophet 
of  the  tribe,  which  has  a  membership  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three. 

Harmony  Castle,  No.  6,  K.  oj   O.  B.,  was  instituted 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


in  May,  1883,  with  forty  membera,  and  has  now  about 
seventy-five  members.  The  meetings  are  held  in 
the  old  Odd  Fellows*  Hall,  and  the  board  of  trustees 
is  composed  of  Frank  Pattou,  George  Williams  and 
Frank  H.  Pinkerton.  The  Past  Chief  is  Delaney 
Williams. 

Adelphi  Lodge,  No,  8,  K.  of  P.,  instituted  October 
15, 1868,  has  about  sixty  members.  Its  meetings  are 
held  in  a  hall  comer  of  Delaware  and  Union  Streets, 
in  a  three-story  building  erected  by  the  lodge,  at  a 
cost  of  $12,000,  and  dedicated  May  1,  1885.  This 
block  was  subsequently  sold,  a  lease  of  the  lodge- 
room  only  being  retained.  In  this  building  also  meet 
Division  No.  3,  Ancient  Order  of  HibemianSj  which 
has  a  growing  membership,  and  Eiverview  Assembly, 
No,  6146,  Knights  of  Labor,  which  was  instituted  in 
March,  1886,  and  newly  chartered  in  August,  of  the 
same  year.  The  latter  body  has  several  hundred 
members. 

Captain  Evan  S,  Watson  Post,  No,  5,  O,  A,  R,  was 
chartered,December20,l  881, with  twenty-five  members, 
James  A.  Price,Commander,and  Joseph  E.  Robertson, 
Adjutant  Until  July,  1887,  seventy- three  members 
had  been  mustered,  and  at  that  date  the  post  had 
thirty-five  members,  with  William  M.  Walls,  Com- 
mander, and  Edward  McDonough,  Adjutant.  The 
post  meets  in  City  Hall.  The  trustees  are  Robert  S. 
Martin,  Oeorge  M.  Riley  and  Edward  McDonough. 

General  David  B,  Bimey  Post,  No,  12.  O,  A,  R,  was 
mustered  in  September,  1888,  with  twenty-eight 
members,  John  J.  Gk)rmley ,  Commander ;  Joseph  E. 
Yantine,  A(y  utant.  Since  that  time  eight  new  mem- 
bers have  been  received,  and  thirteen  have  died  or 
resigned.  In  July,  1887,  there  were  twenty-three 
members,  with  Joseph  E.  Yantine,  Commander. 
The  post  meets  in  Herman's  Hall. 

Religious  and  Educational. — ^The  majority  of 
the  early  Swedish  settlers  were  imbued  with  a  respect 
for  Divine  worship,  and  this  piety  led  them  to  estab- 
lish places  of  worship,  soon  after  their  own  homes 
were  erected,'!  n  which  accredited  ministers  expounded 
the  Grospel.  Among  the  first  to  serve  in  this  connection 
was  Rev.  John  Campanius,  who  came  over  with  Gover- 
nor Printz,  in  1642.  He  preached  in  the  settlements 
along  Christiana  Creek  and  the  Delaware  River.  The 
tenure  of  the  Swedes  being  so  uncertain,  but  few 
churches  were  built  under  their  occupancy.  Under 
the  Dutch  more  places  of  worship  were  established. 
Coming  in  colonies,  it  was  invariably  arranged 
that  one  of  their  number  should  be  a  man  of  piety, 
in  full  communion  with  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
to  teach  school  and  assist  in  public  worship,  often 
discharging  the  duties  which  pertain  to  the  minister's 
office  when  there  was  no  regular  minister.  About 
1657  a  regular  Dutch  Church  was  organized  at  New 
Amstel  by  Rev.  John  Polhemus,  who  stopped  here 
on  his  way  from  Brazil  to  New  Amsterdam,  where  he 
settled  and  died.  This  interest  was  placed  in  the  care 
of  Schoolmaster  Evert  Peterson ;  but  the  following 
year  Rev.  Evardus  Welius  came  from  Amsterdam 


as  the  first  ordained  settled  minister  of  the  town.  He 
died  in  1659.  Again  schoolmaster  Peterson,  who  was 
also  distinguished  for  his  piety,  assumed  the  ministerial 
functions.  In  1662,  Rev.  Warnerus  Hadson  was 
sent  from  Holland  to  take  his  place,  but  died  on  the 
voyage.  In  1678,  Rev.  Petrus  Tasschemakers  settled 
here  and  was  pastor  for  several  years,  being  probably 
the  successor  of  the  unruly  Dominie  Fabricius,  who 
was  deposed  from  the  ministry.  The  meetings  were 
held  in  a  small  wooden  church,  which  stood  between 
the  market  square  and  the  river,  and  near  the  site  of 
the  old  fort.  By  some  it  is  supposed  that  the  present 
Presbyterian  Church  occupies  a  part  of  the  site  of  the 
old  Dutch  Cburch,  and  which  appears  to  have  been 
abandoned  before  1700.  Notwithstanding  a  number 
of  Huguenots  had  settled  at  New  Amstel,  and  a 
French  clergyman  died  her^  in  1684,  who  may  have 
been  the  minister,  the  church  was  not  prospering  and 
in  the  year  last  named  the  Classis  of  Amsterdam  sent 
a  pastoral  letter  in  which  the  dissensions  which  had 
arisen  are  deplored  and  the  congregation  was  exhorted 
to  promote  the  Qospel  and  to  secure  a  minister.  The 
people  were  then  under  English  rule,  and  althongh  it 
had  been  expressly  stipulated  *'  that  the  people  be 
left  free  as  to  the  liberty  of  conscience  in  church  as 
formerly,"  afler  having  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  British  crown  in  civil  matters,  there  was  such  a 
lack  of  harmony  that  the  church  appears  to  have  lost 
all  its  influence.  The  people  continued  to  worship  in 
the  old  church  as  an  independent  congregation,  but 
with  diminished  numbers,  and  there  was  a  laxity  of 
public  morals,  consequently,  inconsistent  with  former 
practices.  Through  the  influence  of  the  Quaker  ele- 
ment there  was  a  demand  upon  the  public  authorities 
for  the  better  observance  of  those  laws  which  pertained 
to  the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath.  In  the  court  records 
of  September  6,  1680,  appears  this  minute: 

*'  Whereas  the  frequent  shooting  of  Partridges  w^in  this  Towne  of  New 
Castle,  on  ye  Sabbath  or  Lord's  day,  doth  mutch  tend  to  ye  Propbaning 
of  ye  8^  Lord's  day.  Itt  is  therefore  this  day,  by  the  Oourt,  ordered 
that  for  ye  future  noe  p*rson  Inhabiting  w^^in  this  towne  of  New  Oastle 
shall  presume  on  ye  Lord's  day  to  goe  on  hunting  or  riiooting  after  any 
Partridges  as  well  w^bout  as  m^\n  this  Towne;  or  any  other  game  upon 
a  penalty  of  fyne  of  10  Gilders  for  ye  first  time,  20  gilders  fur  ye  second 
and  ye  loss  of  ye  Oun  for  ye  3^  ofTens,  of  which  all  persons  to  take  no- 
tice." 

Soon  after  the  proprietorship  of  William  Penn, 
steps  were  taken  to  establish  a  Friends'  Meeting. 
This  purpose  was  fully  carried  out,  in  1684,  by  the 
Quarterly  Meeting  of  Philadelphia,  under  whose 
direction  the  meeting  at  New  Oastle  became  per- 
manent. The  Friends  constituting  it  were  few  in 
numbers,  and  for  a  number  of  years  they  assembled 
at  the  houses  of  the  various  members,  the  first  church 
being  built  in  1705.  Fifteen  years  later  a  board  of 
trustees  is  mentioned,  and  in  October,  1720,  they  ob- 
tained title  to  a  lot  of  ground,  one  hundred  and 
twenty  by  three  hundred  feet,  on  Beaver  and  Otter 
Streets,  the  conveyance  being  fram  George  Hogg,  Sr., 
cordwainer,  to  John  Richardson,  Mahala  Meers, 
George  Hogg,  Jr.,  and  Edward  Gibbs.  In  1752,  John 
Richardson  deeded  the  property  to  another  board  of 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


873 


trustees,  consisting  of  Benjamin  Scott,  John  Leuden, 
Joseph  Leaden,  Eliakim  Grarrettson  and  Joseph 
Botheram.  In  1758  the  Meeting  was  **  raised''  finally 
and  the  members  thereafter  attended  at  Wilmington, 
the  property  ultimately  passing  into  the  possession  of 
that  Meeting,  which  sold  it.  What  was  known  in 
later  years  as  the  Quaker  meeting-house  stood  on  the 
corner  of  Pine  and  Railroad  Streets,  and  the  ground 
extending  to  Union  Street  was  set  aside  for  burial 
purposes.  This  small  plain  brick  building,  antedating 
the  Revolution,  was  demolished  in  1886.  Many  years 
previously  it  stood  unused,  after  having  been  occupied 
first  by  a  white  congregation  and  later  by  colored  peo- 
ple. 

About  the  time  the  Friends'  Meeting  was  established 
it  became  apparent  that  the  Dutch  Church  could  only 
maintain  its  existence  by  adapting  its  services  to  the 
new  class  of  settlers  in  New  Castle.  The  English 
language  was  accordingly  substituted,  in  most  of  the 
services,  and  continued  to  be  used  until  the  church 
ceased  to  be  known  as  a  Reformed  Dutch  body.  Many 
of  the  new  arrivals  were  from  Scotland  and  the  North 
of  Ireland,  where  they  had  been  nurtured  in  the 
doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  transi- 
tion from  one  to  the  other  was  very  easy. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  New  Castle  is  probably 
the  successor  of  the  old  Dutch  Church.  Rev.  John 
Wilson,  a  Presbyterian,  preached  here  prior  to  1708, 
as  in  the  year  named  he  is  spoken  of  as  having  been 
gone  half  a  year.  He  preached  in  the  court-house, 
and  after  his  departure  there  was  a  desire  for  his  re- 
turn, and  an  expectation  that  a  congregation  could 
be  permanently  organized.  He  did  return  and  com- 
menced to  make  preparations  for  erecting  a  house  of 
worship  on  lots  purchased  from  John  Brewster  and 
Thomas  Janvier.  These  deeds  bear  date  August  15, 
1707,  and  were  executed  "  to  Roeloffe  De  Haes,  Syl- 
vester Garland  and  Thomas  Janvier,  merchants  and 
undertakers,  or  agents  for  erecting  and  building  a 
Presbyterian  Church  or  house  of  worship  in  the  town 
of  New  Castle."  The  house  built  proved  too  small  to 
accommodate  the  growing  congregation,  and  in  1712 
eighteen  feet  of  ground  adjoining  was  bought  of  John 
Brewster  in  order  to  enlarge  it.  Soon  after  the  min- 
ister, Mr.  Wilson,  died,  leaving  a  wife  who  received 
the  generous  support  of  the  church  during  her  life. 
His  field  of  labor  extended  to  White  Clay  Creek  and 
to  Appoquinimink.  A  short  time  before  his  death 
White  Clay  Creek  sent  a  petition  to  the  Presbytery 
to  have  the  ordinances  of  the  (jk)spel  administered 
with  more  convenience  and  nearness  to  the  place  of 
their  abode,  promising  withal  due  encouragement  to 
the  minister  that  shall  be  appointed  to  supply  them. 
To  this  proposition  New  Castle  objected,  alleging  that 
it  jirould  prevent  a  number  of  persons  from  attending 
the  meetings  in  their  town  to  worship,  and  would 
thus  weaken  their  congregation.  The  statement 
made  such  an  impression  on  the  minds  of  the  Pres- 
bytery that  it  decided  not  to  grant  the  petition  for 
separation ;  but  immediately  after  Mr.  Wilson's  death 
55* 


the  field  was  divided  into  three,  and  Rev.  James  An- 
derson became  the  pastor  of  the  New  Castle  Church. 
One  of  the  most  important  events  of  Mr.  Anderson's 
ministry  was  the  division,  September  19, 1716,  of  the 
Philadelphia  Presbytery  into  three  separate  Presby- 
teries, of  which  one  was  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle. 
This  embraced  the  churches  of  New  Castle,  Christiana 
Creek,  Welsh  Tract,  Appoquinimink,  Petuxen  and 
Patapsco.  The  first  session  was  held  in  the  church 
at  New  Castle  March  13, 1717,  and  the  home  church 
was  represented  by  Elder  David  Miller,  who  served 
with  the  Huguenot,  Thomas  Janvier,  in  that  office, 
the  latter  being  the  first  elder.  The  same  year  the 
pastoral  relation  of  Mr.  Anderson  was  terminated  by 
his  removal  to  New  York. 

The  third  pastor  of  the  congregation  was  Rev. 
Robert  Cross,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was  ordained 
and  installed  September  19, 1719.  This  was  the  first 
service  of  the  kind  in  the  church,  and  the  first  of  the 
New  Castle  Presbytery.  Thomas  Janvier  was  the 
representative  elder. 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Cross  continued  until  the  fall 
of  1722,  when  he  became  the  pastor  of  the  Jamaica 
(L.  I.)  Church,  and  later  of  t^e  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Philadelphia. 

In  1727  some  of  ^e  members  of  the  congregation 
residing  in  the  country,  below  New  Castle,  sent 
commissioners  to  the  Presbytery  to  request  its  con- 
currence in  the  building  of  a  meeting-house  in  the 
centre  of  their  neighborhood.  This  privilege  was 
granted  them,  on  their  promise  to  continue  members 
of  the  New  Castle  congregation,  and  a  house  was 
erected  on  Pigeon  Run,  near  Red  Lion.  For  many 
years  *'  it  was  used  as  it  was  designed  to  be,  a  chapel 
of  ease  to  the  church  at  New  Castle." 

The  congregation  at  New  Castle  was  served  many 
years  in  connection  with  White  Clay  Creek,  but, 
after  1756,  a  union  was  formed  with  Christiana 
Bridge,  which  was  long  continued,  and,  in  1769,  Rev. 
Joseph  Montgomery  became  the  pastor.  A  distin- 
guishing feature  of  his  ministry  was  a  plan  for 
educating  pious  young  men  for  the  ministry,  whereby 
a  fund  was  to  be  raised  by  the  joint  efforts  of  pastors 
and  members.  The  first  student  educated  by  this 
means  was  James  Wilson,  who  was  taken  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery,  in  1773.  The  labors  ot  Mr. 
Montgomery  were  much  disturbed  by  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  and,  in  October,  1777,  he  resigned  to 
become  a  chaplain  in  the  American  army.  From 
this  time  until  the  settlement  of  Rev.  Samuel  Barr, 
in  1791,  the  pulpit  was  vacant,  although  occupied 
occasionally  by  supplies  sent  by  the  Presbytery. 

In  August,  1800,  Rev.  John  E.  Latta  was  installed 
as  pastor  and  remained  for  twenty-four  years.  On 
February  3,  1808,  the  church  through  his  efforts, 
became  an  incorporated  body. 

In  1842,  Rev.  John  B.  Spotswood*  became  the 

1  Dr.  John  Boawell  Spottswood,  from  whoM  excellent  dlsooune  on  the 
htitory  of  this  chnrcb  mach  of  the  matter  In  this  sketch  bM  been  ob- 
tained, wu  bom  February  8, 1808,  in  Dinwiddle  County,  Va.  He  was 
a  lineal  deeoendant  of  Sir  Alexander  Spottswood,  Colonial  Qorernor  of 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


pastor  and  continued  until  1883.  His  ministry  was 
one  of  the  most  important  in  the  history  of  the 
congr^ation,  as  it  embraced  the  building  of  the 
present  fine  church  edifice,  which  was  begun 
in  1851,  but  was  not  dedicated  until  1854.  The 
material  is  brown  sand -stone,  arranged  in  Gothic 
architecture,  and  cost  about  twenty  thousand  dollars. 
It  was  erected  under  the  direction  of  Charles  M. 
Black,  Andrew  C.  Gray  and  Dr.  James  Couper,  who 
comprised  the  building  committee.  In  the  fall  of 
1884  Samuel  M.  Couper  presented  the  old  Black 
homestead  to  the  congregation  for  a  church  manse, 
and  two  years  later  the  cemetery  and  church 
property  were  improved  at  an  outlay  of  five  thousand 
dollars.  The  entire  church  property  is  valued  at 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  the  trustees  are  J.  I.  Tag- 
gart,  J.  D.  Janvier,  W.  J.  Ferris,  G.  W.  Turner,  J.  J. 
Black,  M.  D.,  William  McCoy  and  Henry  Holschu- 
maker. 

The  congregation  had  an  active  membership  of 
over  one  hundred  and  the  Sabbath -school  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  members. 

Since  its  organization  the  pastors  and  supplies  of 
the  church  have  been  the  following : 

Ray.  John  Wilaon 1700-12 

IUt.  Jiunes  And«rion 1713-17 

Ray.  Robert  Croes 1710-28 


Rey.  Gilbert  Tennent,  8.8..  1726-27 

R«y.  Hugh  SteyensoD 1727-28 

PresbTterial  lupplieB 1728-46 

Rey.  John  Dick 1746-48 

R«y.  Daniel  Thane 1757-63 

Rey.  Mr.  Biagaw,  8.  8 1763-64 

Rey.  Joeeph  Montgonier7..1 765-77 


Preebyterial  sapplieM — 1791 

Rey.  Samuel  Barr 1791-96 

Rey.  John  B.  Latta 1800-24 

Rev.  Joshua  N.  Danrorth...l826-28 
Rey.  Wm.  P.  Alrioha,  8.8...182ft-30 

Rey.  John  H.  Dickey 1830-32 

Rey.  Jamei  Knox 1832-34 

Rey.  John  Decker 1835-42 

Rey.  John  B.  Spotswood.... 1842-83 
Rey.  Wm.  P.  Patteraan 1884 — 


The  ruling  elders,  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained,  have 
been: 


ThonuM  Janyier r 1709 

Dayld  MiUer 1717 

Sjlyarter  Garland 1719 

Thomaa  Moore 1770 

WilUam  Scett 1796 

Robert  Bryan 1796 

Samuel  Barr 1796 

William  Aiken 1796 

Samuel  Ruth 1796 

Alexander  Duncan 1796 

William  Ruth 1800 

Jamea  Couper— G.  Bridge 1800 

Riohanl  Hambly— C.  Brldgo...l800 
James  Caldwell— C.  Bridge.....  1800 
Dr.  R.  L.  Smith— C.  Bridge...l800 
George  Pratt— 0.  Bridge 1800 


Robert  Barr 1802 

Charles  Thomas 1802 

Jacob  Belyllle 1802 

Hugh  Gemmill 1806 

Dr.  James  Couper 1816 

Kenaey  Johns,  Jr 1816 

JohnBelyille 1816 

Nicholas  Van  Dyke 1815 

Matthew  Kean 1826 

James  McCullougb 1830 

James  Smith 1830 

ElUah  Start 1889 

John  Gordon 1839 

William  F.  Lane 1857 

Dayid  Stewart,  Jr.,  M.D 1886 

Wm.  D.  Greer 1885 


Although  the  history  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  New  Castle  properly  begins  with  the  year 
1703,  when  the  movement  was  successfully  inaugu- 
rated which  afterward  resulted  in  the  founding  of  the 
Emanuel  congregation,  it  appears  that  a  quarter-cen- 

Virginia,  from  1710  to  1723,  and  John  Spottswood,  Lord  Chancellor  of 
Scotland.  After  graduating  Trom  Amherst  College,  In  1828,  and  Prince- 
ton, ia  1832,  ha  entered  upon  the  actiye  work  of  the  ministry,  being 
licensed  as  an  eyangelist  October  21, 1832.  Three  yean  later  he  was 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  Sussex  Church,  in  Virginia,  and  Noyember  9, 
1842,  he  became  the  pastor  of  the  New  (Wie  Church,  and  continued  for 
forty-one  years.  His  failing  health  compelled  his  resignation,  in  1883, 
and  he  died  on  February  17, 1885.  His  remains  were  interred  at  New 
Castle,  where  his  family  still  resides.  He  was  also  actiye  In  promoting 
yarious  educational  prqjects,  senring  as  trustee  of  Lincoln  University  and 
lAfayette  College,  of  Easton,  Pa. 


tury  earlier  a  congregation  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land existed  in  New  Castle  for  a  few  years.  With 
regard  to  this  particular  religious  element  the  records 
are  not  full,  and  as  there  was  not  any  mention  of  it 
at  the  organization  of  Emanuel  Church,  the  presump- 
tion is  that  it  was  disbanded  some  years  prior  to  the 
beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  that  it  nsed 
the  old  New  Castle  Church  as  a  place  of  worship.  On 
April  4, 1677,  the  court  "  further  conciedering  that 
the  Late  and  Church  Warden,  Marten  Bosemond, 
being  deceased,  some  fitt  pesons  ought  to  be  appoint- 
ed to  supply  and  administer  the  said  place  of  s' 
Church  Warden  in  this  Town  of  New  Castle.  Have 
therefore  thought  fitt  to  appoint  Mr.  Hendrick  Wil- 
liams and  Mr.  John  Harmens  to  bee  s**  Church  Ward- 
ens In  the  Roome  of  the  deceased  for  and  during  the 
space  of  one  yeare  now  next  ensuing  this  date." 
On  March  7, 1678,  the  court  records  state  that 

"  Mr.  John  Yeo,  minister,  being  lately  come  out  of  Maryland  this  day, 
appearing  in  Court,  did  exhibit  A  produce  his  Letters  of  orden  and 
License  to  Read  divine  tonrice,  administer  the  Holy  Sacraments  Apnarh 
ye  word  of  God  according  to  ye  Lawee  A  Constitution  of  die  Chudi  of 
England.  The  Co^  have  accepted  of  y«  a'  John  Teo,  upon  ye  apfiroba- 
tion  of  his  Honor,  the  Governo',  hee  to  bee  mayntay  ned  by  the  Gifts  of  t« 
free  willing  Givers,  wherew«»  the  sd  John  Yeo  declared  to  be  coa- 
tented.** 

Also,  on  June  4,  1678, 

**  The  Conrt  referred  the  Settling  and  RegnUting  of  y  Ctaorrb  Af- 
faires of  this  place  unto  Mr.  John  Moll  A  Mr.  Peter  Alrichs,  They  to 
make  up  ye  acct  wt^  y«  Reader  and  Wardens,  and  to  make  soch  forthsr 
orders  A  Regulations  as  shall  bee  found  most  necessary.*' 

That  the  Rev.  Yeo  did  not  devote  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  New  Castle  charge  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  a  petition  was  adopted  July  17,  1678, — 

**  To  deyise  and  humbly  Request  his  honor,  the  Ooveraor,  to  grant  m 
Leave  and  permission  to  obtayne  and  have  an  Orthodox  minister,  to  bw 
mayntayned  by  the  gifts  of  y«  free  willing  Givers.'* 

On  November  6,  1678,  the  court 

**  Re$olved  (In  regard  the  Church  doth  mutch  need  Reparation),  that 
Mr.  John  Moll  A  Mr.  Peter  Alrichs  teke  care  and  order  abont  the  Mine 
The  charge  A  costo  to  bee  found  and  Rayaed  by  a  Tax,  if  no  money  bw 
more  due  upon  the  former  list  of  ye  Reader.** 

On  December  3, 1678, 

**  Itt  was  this  di^  by  the  Court  Resolved  and  ordered  that  500  to  600 
acres  of  Land  bee  Layed  out  fer  Glebb  Land  for  a  Minister  w<ktn  this 
Court's  Jurisdiction,  w*  a  fitt  proportion  of  Marrish,  To  bee  In  the  mM 
Convenient  place,  where  Laud  not  taken  up  can  be  found,  as  also  that  a 
Lott  of  120  foot  broad  A  300  foot  long  bee  Layed  out  in  Towne  for  to 
build  a  house  for  y*  Minister  to  live  on,  and  that  another  lot  of  60  foot 
broad  bee  liayed  out  for  a  scoole,  as  also  a  place  appointed  for  the  build- 
ing of  Church  and  a  new  Church-yard  in  the  meet  fittest  plaos  ss  shall 
bee  thought  convenient  and  best." 

The  same  day 

**  A  nomination  for  Elders  and  Wardens  being  this  day  delivered  ia 
Court  this  day  made  the  following 

**  Mr.  John  Moll,  )  . 

"Mr.  Jbam  p.  Jacqubt,  j 

"JOUNiSMITH, 

"  KlfOKLBKRT  LOTT, 

**  Benjamin  GnfNRT, 
**  Samckl  Bbrckbr, 

"  Will  Prntoh, 

J 

In  court,  on  January  7, 1679, 

•*  Mr.  Thomas  Harwod  declared  to  have  given  as  a  free  gift  towanto 
the  Repayring  of  the  old,  or  the  building  of  a  new,  church  within  this 
Towne  of  New  OasUe.** 

On  March  4,  1679,  John  Yeo  preferred  a  petition 
to  the  court  showing  that  he  came  to  New  Castle  De- 
cember, 1677,  "  and  was  received   as  Minister  to  bee 


^Eldars. 


for  Church  Waidena" 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


875 


paid  by  yoluntary  subscription  of  y*  Inhabitants 
and  that  he  continued  until  denied  by  Capt.  Billop, 
then  Commander,  without  any  proof  of  any  crime  do- 
8er?ing  such  suspension/'  The  petitioner  desired  of 
the  court  "  an  order  for  a  quantum  Mereuit  propor- 
tionable te  the  Tyme  of  his  Preaching  to  the  People 
of  this  place,  being  one-third  part  of  the  subscription; 
and  also  for  other  perquisites  due  to  him,  Baptising 
of  children,  Marriages,  Burrialls,  Slc" 

To  this  petition  the  court  answered  "  that  since  the 
Petititioner,  Mr.  Yeo,  after  he  had  been  some  time 
here,  did  then  in  open  congregation  in  y*  church  vol- 
untarily out  of  his  own  accord  throw  up  y*  Paper  of 
y*  People*s  subscription,  he  saying  and  openly  then 
declaring  freely  to  discharge  them.  The  Court  can 
therefore  not  charge  them  again  since  the  Petition' 
himselfesopublickly  discharged  them  and  if  Capt.  Bil- 
lop  (as  w"*out  any  order  hee  did)  has  given  y*  Peti- 
tion' that  subscription  bake,  the  Court  are  of  opinion 
that  therefore  the  Petition'  may  have  Remedy  against 
him  the  s'^  Capt  Billop,  &c.,  but  as  for  the  perquisites 
of  Marriadges,  Baptisms  &  Burrialls,  the  Petition' 
ought  to  bee  for  y"  same  what  is  just  and  equitable.'* 

The  Rev.  John  Yeo  purchased  an  interest  in  eight 
hundred  acres  of  land  of  John  Edmunds,  November 
30, 1677,  which  lay  on  White  Clay  Creek,  near  Chris- 
tiana Creek.  This  he  sold  April  30, 1678,  and  he 
probably  returned  soon  after  to  Maryland,  as  his  name 
is  not  found  in  records  later. 

The  Emanuel  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  New 
Castle  was  founded  early  in  the  eighteenth  century. 
On  August  11, 1703,  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  New 
Castle  petitioned  the  Bishop  of  London  ''to  take 
compassion  on  their  deplorable  condition  and  to  sup- 
ply preaching  by  a  person  in  holy  orders."  Having 
received  a  favorable  answer,  measures  were  taken  to 
build  a  house  of  worship.  This  purpose  led  to  the 
establishment  of  the  church  in  1704,  about  twenty 
families  being  friendly  to  the  movement.  Through 
the  assistance  of  citizens  of  Philadelphia  and  the 
Presbyterians  of  New  Castle,  the  church  was  opened 
in  1706,  with  solemn  services,  Rev.  Charles  Rudman, 
Swedish  minister  at  Oxford,  Pa.,  preaching  the  ser- 
mon. At  this  time  the  church  was  described  by  the 
Rev.  Evan  Evans,  of  Philadelphia,  as  ''  a  large  and 
fair  structure." 

In  1705,  Rev.  George  Roes  came  as  the  first  minis- 
ter, being  sent  by  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parte.  Three  years  later  the 
congregation  was  much  diminished  by  deaths  result- 
ing from  an  epidemic,  which  discouraged  Mr.  Ross, 
and  led  to  his  removal  to  Chester,  in  1709.  For  this 
action  he  was  recalled  by  the  society,  and  order- 
ed to  return  to  England.  While  on  his  way  to 
that  country  he  was  captured  by  a  French  cruiser 
February  9,  1711,  carried  to  Brest,  stripped  of  his 
clothes  and  treated  in  an  inhuman  manner.  On  be- 
ing released  he  returned  to  Chester  and  again  re- 
sumed his  missionary  labors  at  New  Castle.  During 
his  absence  Revs.  Robert  Sinclair  and  Jacob  Hen- 


derson occasionally  preached.  Mr.  Rosa  remained 
with  the  congregation  until  his  death,  in  1754.  The 
next  three  years  Rev.  Aaron  Cleveland,  a  friend  of 
Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin,  was  the  minister,  and  died 
at  his  house  August  11, 1757.  Rev.  ^neas  Ross,  a 
son  of  the  first  minister,  now  assumed  the  duties  of  a 
rector,  serving  the  parish  from  1757  to  1782. 

After  a  short  interval  Rev.  Charles  Henry  Wharton 
began  a  ministry  which  extended  from  1784  to  1788. 
His  successor  was  the  Rev.  Robert  Clay,  who  became 
the  rector  in  1788,  and  continued  until  1833.  The 
successive  rectors  were  Rev.  Stephen  Wilson  Prest- 
man,  1888;  Rev.  George  W.  Freeman,  1843;  Rev. 
Benjamin  Franklin,  1856  ;  Rev.  Richard  Wittingham, 
1864;  Rev.  Charles  Sidney  Spencer,  1867;  Rev.  P.  B. 
Lightner,  1886. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  1716,  Richard  Halliwell, 
one  of  the  members  of  the  church,  devised  by  will  a 
glebe  of  sixty-seven  acres,  which  has  ever  since  been 
used  for  the  benefit  of  the  church.  A  later  benefac- 
tor was  John  Janvier,  who  bequeathed  the  income 
of  $5850.10  for  the  good  of  the  Episcopal  and  Presby- 
terian Churches  and  Sabbath-schools.  The  instru- 
ment bears  date  March  23,  1846,  and  the  fund  he  left 
was  placed  in  charge  of  trustees. 

In  1724  a  gallery  was  built  in  the  church  to  accom- 
modate the  growing  congregation.  Four  years  later 
the  pew-holders  were  Richard  Halliwell's  family, 
Joseph  Wood,  John  Strand,  Samuel  Kirk,  Thomas 
Dakeyne,  John  Land,  Peter  Jaquett,  Cornelius  Ket- 
tle, Richard  Grafton,  William  Read,  Samuel  Lowman, 
Yeates  &  Custis,  Zophar  Eaton,  John  Wallace,  Thos. 
Gassel,  Richard  Reynolds,  Peter  Hance,  James  Sykes, 
John  Cann. 

In  1802  money  was  subscribed  to  repair  the  church, 
but  it  was  not  until  1818  that  extensive  repairs  were 
actually  begun,  and  completed  in  1822.  The  citizens 
united  in  purchasing  a  town  clock,  which  was  placed 
in  the  tower,  in  charge  of  the  Common's  trustees. 
They  retained  control  and  kept  it  in  order  until 
June,  1887,  when  it  was  transferred  to  the  trustees 
of  Emanuel  Church. 

About  this  time  the  congregation  notably  increased 
in  numbers.  On  October  28,  1822,  the  pew-holders 
of  the  church  were  the  following : 


JesM  Moore. 
George  Pierce. 
John  Ciordon. 
JohD  Stockton. 
John  Wiley. 
Jamee  Frazier. 
John  Springer. 
William  Guthrie. 
David  Paynter. 
Samuel  Carpenter. 
Gomeliui  D.  Blaney. 
Isaac  Grantham. 
Capt.  Lemuel  Hawley. 
Kensey  Johns,  Jr. 
John  Wiley,  Sr. 
Nicholas  Van  Dyke. 
Thomas  Janvier. 
John  Janvier. 
Rev.  Bohert  Clay. 


Evan  Thomas. 
Joseph  Roberts. 
Jeremiah  Bowman. 
Dr.  Henry  Colesberry. 
Richard  Lex  ton. 
James  Rogers. 
Wm.  T.  Read. 
James  Booth,  Jr. 
Ge«rge  R«*ad,  Jr. 
James  R.  Black. 
George  Read. 
James  Booth. 
Kensey  Johns. 
Kensey .).  Van  Dyke. 
Charles  Thomas. 
Thomas  W.  Rogers. 
John  D.  Eves. 
John  Riddle. 
Isaac  G.  Israel. 


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876 


HISTORT  OF  DBLAWARE. 


Junes  McOalmont.  Blchard  B.  Smith. 

John  Duncan.  MorcU  O.  Ross. 

James  Gopeor.  John  Ocheltree. 

John  Duncan.  James  Thompson. 

James  McCullongh.  James  Le  Fevre. 

Wm.  T.  Israel.  Jacob  Welsh. 

Hugh  W.  Ritchie.  John  BellTiUe. 

In  the  spring  of  1848  a  fine  cross,  six  feet  high 
and  covered  with  copper,  was  raised  on  the  spire  of 
the  church,  and  two  years  later  the  chancel  was  beau- 
tified. In  the  summer  of  1860  the  church  was  en- 
larged and  improved,  and  other  repairs  were  again 
made  in  1880. 

In  1869  a  frame  chapel  was  built  in  the  northern 
part  of  New  Castle,  at  a  cost  of  $2166.86.  In  the 
spring  of  1887  a  very  fine  rectory  was  completed,  at 
a  cost  of  six  thousand  dollars.  In  1887  the  vestry 
was  composed  of  Alfred  C.  Nowland  and  John  Mc- 
Farlin,  wardens;  John  H.  Rodney,  Thomas  Hol- 
comb,  Eugene  Rogers,  Benj.  R.  Ustick,  Michael 
King,  J.  E.  V.  Piatt  and  Lewis  E.  Eliason,  vestry- 
men. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  wardens  of  the  church 
and  the  years  of  their  election  : 


Blchard  Halliwell  and  James 

Robinson 1710 

John  Land,  Edward  Jennings 

and  John  Karl 1715 

James  Sykes. 1718 

WUliam  Bead 1720 

James  Herriwether 1721 

Blchard  Grafton 1722 

James  Sykesand  James  Herri- 
wether  1729 

Jehu  Curtis 1730 

William   Read   and   Richard 

Grafton.. 1731 

Henry  Gonnill 1734 

Nicholas  Jaquett 1739 

John  Vangexell 1746 

Jehu  Chirtis  and  John  Stoop...  1762 
Richard  McWUliams  and  Ja- 
cob Grantham 1763 

William  TUl 1759 

Joseph  Enos 1762 


William  Stubey 1766 

Alexander  Hanrey 1767 

John  Stockton 1784 

Joseph  TaUow 1785 

Thomas    Aiken   and    John 

Wetherel 1786 

WUliam  Clay 1797 

Thomas  Bond 1798 

Michael  King 1800 

Kensey  Johns 1802 

Michael  King 1803 

Thomas  Bond 1806 

Henry  Colesberry 1808 

William  T.  Read 1820 

James  Booth 1824 

Bran  H.  Thomas 1833 

William  T.  Bead 1834 

Geo.  B.  Bodney 1866 

James  B.  Booth 1867 

AlflredC.  Nowland 1873 

John  McFariln, 1884 


Nazareth  M.  E,  Church, — As  early  as  1769,  Captain 
Thomas  Webb,  a  pensioned  officer  of  the  British  army, 
came  to  New  Castle  and  preached  as  a  Methodist  min- 
ister. His  teachings  were  received  with  so  little  favor 
that  the  doors  of  the  Court-House  were  closed  against 
him,  though  open  to  various  forms  of  frivolity.  Under 
these  circumstances,  Robert  Furness,  a  tavern-keeper, 
opened  his  house  for  preaching,  notwithstanding  he 
was  fully  aware  that  he  would  lose  much  of  his  cus- 
tom. Later  he  joined  the  Methodists,  and  preaching 
continued  to  be  held  at  his  place.  In  1780,  while 
Benjamin  Abbott  was  the  minister,  and  was  preaching 
in  the  public-room  of  the  house,  *'  a  pack  of  ruffians 
attempted  to  take  possession,  and  one  stood  with  a 
bottle  in  his  hand,  swearing  that  he  would  throw  it 
at  the  minister's  head.  But  Furness  placed  himself 
at  the  door  and  prevented  such  an  act,  while  Mr. 
Abbott  continued  to  proclaim  the  truths  of  the 
Gospel." 

About  this  time  a  Methodist  Society  was  formed 


in  New  Castle,  but  did  not  last  long.  A  second  was 
also  disbanded  after  an  experience  of  a  few  years, 
and  after  having  promised  to  be  more  permanent  than 
like  societies  organized  in  neighboring  towns.  They 
declined  because  New  Castle  had,  at  that  period,  no 
increase  of  population,  and  most  of  the  old  inhab- 
itants had  their  church  preferences  well  fixed  in  their 
minds.  Neither  were  the  meetings  held  with  any 
great  regularity  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  minis- 
ters. Those  occasionally  preaching  were  Revs.  John 
King,  Robert  Williams,  Richard  Boardman,  Joseph 
Pennor,  Richard  Wright  and  Francis  Asbury,  whose 
itinerancy  extended  over  a  large  area  of  country. 

The  present  society  was  formed  in  1820,  and  was 
composed  of  twenty-one  members,  with  Thomas  Chal- 
lenger as  leader  of  the  class.  The  same  year  a  small 
church  was  built  in  the  grave-yard  now  used  by  the 
society,  at  New  Castle,  and  was  dedicated  in  the 
spring  of  1821.  Tbomaa  Challenger,  Noah  Morris, 
Samuel  Wood  and  John  Hays  were  the  first  trustees. 
In  1863  a  new  house  of  worship  was  erected  upon  the 
same  lot,  which  was  enlarged  in  1876  by  the  addition 
of  the  chapel  in  the  rear,  used  for  class-rooms  and  a 
church  parlor.  The  church  is  valued  at  seventeen 
thousand  dollars.  In  1883  a  parsonage  worth  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars' was  builton  the  opposite 
side  of  the  street,  and  in  1887  both  were  controlled  by 
a  board  of  trustees,  composed  of  S.  Atwood  Steward, 
John  B.  Manlove,  Henry  W.  Frazier,  James  E.  Biggs, 
Robert  C.  Gordon,  George  Williams,  Elwood  L.  Wil- 
son, Isaac  Sutton  and  George  W.  Vandegrift. 

After  being  successfully  established,  the  church 
entered  upon  a  career  of  prosperity.  The  member- 
ship is  about  two  hundred  and  seventy,  in  addition 
to  a  Sabbath-school  of  four  hundred  and  fifly  mem- 
bers. 

In  1820  the  church  was  supplied,  in  connection 
with  Newport,  by  Revs.  Joseph  Rusling,  E^kiel 
Cooper  and  James  Smith.  In  1822  the  service  was  , 
with  Asbury  Church,  Wilmington,  and  the  ministers 
were  Revs.  Lawrence  Lawrenson  and  John  Henry ; 
1823,  with  Newport,  Rev.  Henry  G.  King;  1825,  with 
Cecil  Circuit,  Revs.  John  Goforth  and  Edward  Page. 

In  1837  the  church  became  a  station.  The  minis- 
ters have  been  : 


BeT.  Pennell  Ooombe 1837 

Bev.  James  H.  McFarland 1839 

Bev.  John  D.  Long 1841 

Ber.  J.  L.  Taft 1843 

Rev.  Nicholas  Bldgjely 1844 

Bev.  Samuel  6.  Hare 1846 

Bev.  Arthur  W.  MUby 1846 

Bev.  Thomas  Miller 1847 

Bev.  Peter  Halliwell 1848 

Bev.  Andrew  Mandilp 1849 

Bev.  J.  H.  Wytbee..., 1860 

Bev.  Wm.  B.  Walton... 1862 

Bev.  J.  N.  King 1854 

Bev.  J.  8.  Lane 1856 

Bev.  Wm.  J.  Pazton 1866 

Bev.  John  O'Nell 1868 


Bev.  John  W.  Pierson- 1869 

Bev.  Thomas  Montgomery  ...„1861 

Bev.  M.  H.  Sisty 1863 

Bev.  8.  N.  Chew 1866 

Bev.  Daniel  George 1867 

Bev.  Leonidas  Bobson.. 1868 

Bev.  Wm.  B.  Wharton 1870 

Bev.  H.  H.  Golclazer 1873 

Bev.  J.  B.  Mann 1874 

Bev.  Geo.B.  Brlstor. 1877 

Bev.  David  0.  Bidgeway 1879 

Bev.  Madison  A.  Bichards 1880 

Bev.  Oeo.  B.  Brlstor 1881 

Bev.  Nicholas  M.  Brown 1882 

Bev.  Thomas  B.  Terry ..1885 

Bev.  Edward  L.  Hubbanl 1887 


The  New  Castle  Baptist  Church  was  organized  at  a 
meeting  held  in  the  court-house  September  30, 1876, 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


877 


when  fourteen  persons  united  in  church  fellowship  as 
follows:  Mrs.  Margaret  Davis,  Sallie  M.  George, 
Susan  Harrington,  Caroline  La  Boub,  Edward  Dalby, 
J.  C.  La  Boub,  Joseph  Pyle,  J.  N.  Taylor,  Joseph  H. 
Whitsell.  Sillie  Q.  McMullin,  Anna  Whitsell,  Mattie 
V.  Pedrick,  Alice  Pyle  and  Ellen  Pyle. 

The  meetings,  which  resulted  in  this  organization, 
were  held  by  Bevs.  W.  H.  Young  and  B.  MacMackin, 
students  of  Crozer  Theological  Seminary  at  Chester, 
and  the  latter  afterward  served  as  the  first  regular 
pastor.  He  remained  until  May,  1885,  when  Rev.  J. 
Miller  was  called  and  preached  until  October.  Rev. 
W.  W.  Ferris  next  served  from  the  early  part  of  1886 
until  Mirch,  1887.  At  thin  time  there  were  forty-six 
members,  and  Edward  Dalby  and  William  Sutton 
were  deacons ;  W.  H.  Volk,  •clerk.  Other  clerks  have 
been  Taeo.  White,  C.  F.  Lancaster,  Joha  P.  Garber 
and  J.  H.  George. 

In  Juae,  1877,  a  board  of  trustees  was  elected, 
consistiag  of  Edward  Dalby,  Nehemiah  Davis,  J.  C. 
La  Boub  and  S.  Pederick,  and  measures  were  taken 
to  build  a  chapel,  which  was  completed  December  19, 
1879.  It  is  a  very  neat  brick  structure,  valued  at  six 
thousand  dollars. 

SL  Peter's  Church.  Roman  Catholic. — Catholic  ser- 
vices were  held  at  New  Castle  as  early  as  1804,  by 
yisicing  priests  from  Wilmington ;  and  the  church 
founded  soon  after  stood  in  the  relation  of  a  preach- 
ing-station to  that  city  for  many  years.  In  1807  an 
effort  was  made  to  erect  a  small  brick  church,  but 
several  years  elapsed  before  it  was  completed,  when, 
through  the  efforts  of  B.  Murphy  and  others,  it  was 
finished.  To  assist  in  this  work,  au  act  was  passed  by 
the  Legislature,  February  3, 1808,  to  enable  John  Bird, 
John  Janvier,  Samuel  Barr,  James  McCalmont  and 
Evan  Thomas,  as  managers,  to  raise  a  sum  of  money 
not  exceeding  two  thousand  dollars  by  lottery ;  but 
it  does  not  appear  that  this  means  was  successfully 
employed.  The  old  church  was  used  more  than  sixty 
years,  and  until  1828  Father  P.  Eenney  was  the  prin- 
cipal priest.  Fathers  George  A.  Correll  and  P.  Eeilly 
were  later  ministers. 

In  1854  Father  Cobbin  came  to  New  Castle  as  the 
resident  priest,  and  served  a  parish  which  embraced 
all  the  other  Catholic  Churches  on  the  Peninsula.  In 
1868  the  church  ceased  to  belong  to  the  diocese  of 
Philadelphia,  and  became  a  part  of  the  new  diocese 
of  Wilmington,  with  parish  bounds  much  restricted. 
Still  later  all  other  churches  were  separated  from  it 
excepting  Delaware  City,  which  is  still  connected  as 
a  mission. 

Father*  Cobbin  was  pastor  until  1864,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Father  Cajetan  Sorrentina,  who  con- 
tinued until  1866.  The  same  year  Father  B.  A. 
Baumeister  was  pastor  for  four  months,  and  was  suc- 
ceeeded  by  Father  George  Borneman,  whose  ministry 
extended  over  a  period  of  eighteen  months.  Father 
£.  A.  Connelly  was  the  pastor  for  nearly  a  year.  In 
the  new  diocese  Father  John  Daily  was  the  first 
priest,  remaining  until  his  death,  September  5, 1374, 


and  his  remains  were  buried  under  the  church.  It 
was  he  who  began  the  present  edifice  in  1870,  and 
who  labored  unceasingly  to  complete  it.  The  church 
was  consecrated  May  27,  1876,  when  the  present 
cardinal  of  Baltimore  ofiiciated.  The  following  year 
the  fine  pastoral  residence  adjoining  was  erected. 
Bath  buildings  are  of  brick.  The  property  is  worth 
thirty-five  thousand  dollars. 

The  successor  of  Father  Daily  was  Father  Benja- 
min J.  Keiley,  who  remained  until  1880,  when  Father 
Francis  J.  Bebman.was  pastor  until  September,  1884. 
Since  the  latter  period  the  priest  of  the  parish  has 
been  Father  Edward  L.  Brady.  The  church  has  one 
hundred  and  fifty  families  in  communion.  Of  the 
several  societies  connected  with  the  church,  St.  Peter's 
Beneficial  Society  is  one  of  the  most  important.  It 
was  organized  in  1867. 

The  Union  American  Church  is  a  plain  brick  build- 
ing, having  a  seating  capacity  for  several  hundred 
persons,  and  was  erected  in  1863.  The  society  occu- 
pying it  is  an  offshoot  of  Mt.  Salem  African  M.  E. 
Church  and  was  organized  in  1836.  The  same  year 
eighteen  persons  withdrew  from  the  membership  and 
established  worship  of  their  own,  meeting  for  a  time 
in  the  old  Quaker  meeting-house.  In  1839  they  built 
a  small  frame  church  which  was  used  until  the  pres- 
ent building  took  its  place.  It  is  worth  several  thou- 
sand dollars  and  the  trustees  are  William  Butler, 
Joshua  Ayers  and  Edward  Handy.  The  membership 
of  the  church  wa*  fifty-six  in  June,  1887,  and  Asbury 
Smith  was  the  pastor  in  charge. 

ML  Salem  M,  E.  Church  {Colored)  is  a  brick  edifice 
costing  $2000,  and  was  erected  in  1878.  The  society 
first  worshipped  in  various  parts  of  the  town  and  after 
1857  in  a  small  frame  building  of  its  own.  Isaac 
Young,  a  local  preacher,  was  pastor.  In  1857  it  had 
a  membership  of  fifty  persons  with  the  following  of- 
ficers: Trustees,  Parker  Balon,  Nelson  Murray,  Benj. 
H.  Harrison,  Alexander  Terry,  Jesse  H.  Guy,  Noah 
Townsend  and  Douglas  Black.  In  the  new  church 
the  regular  ministers  were  Bevs.  I.  H.  White,  Thomas 
M.  Hubbard,  James  H.  Scott,  Wm.  Taylor,  James  K. 
Adams  and  James  H.  Scott. 

The  New  Castle  Y.  M.  C  A.  was  organized  in  1883 
and  at  one  time  had  forty  members.  D.  C.  Spafford  and 
Dr.  David  Stewart  were  presidents.  A  reading-room 
was  opened  and  much  benevolent  work  was  under- 
taken, but  a  declining  interest  and  removals  caused 
the  organization  to  disband. 

An  auxiliary  branch  of  the  Women's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  was  organized  at  New  Castle  in  1880 
by  Frances  Willard  and  others.  Twelve  ladies  be- 
came active  members  and  ten  sustained  an  honorary 
relation.  Mrs.  Mary  P.  Challenger  was  the  first  presi- 
dent, but  since  1882  Mrs.  A.  E.  Davidson  has  filled 
that  position.  The  society  has  disseminated  a  great 
deal  of  temperance  literature  and  accomplished  much 
missionary  work.  Since  1884  it  has  been  active  in 
religious,  prison  and  charitable  work. 

Schools. — Evert  Petersen  is  spoken  of  as  "the 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


schoolmaster"  as  early  as  1658,  and  a  lot  was  to  be 
set  aside  for  a  school-house.  Later  Abelius  Zets- 
cooren  was  the  schoolmaster.  In  November,  1663, 
the  people  at  Upland  desired  his  services ;  but  the 
New  Amstel  authorities  would  not  give  him  up.  On 
June  13, 1772,  an  act  was  passed  ''  setting  aside  a 
part  of  the  State-house  lot  of  land  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  grave-yard  of  Emanuel  Church,  on 
which  to  erect  a  school-house,  the  inhabitants  at 
that  time  intending  to  build  thereon.  David  Finney, 
John  Thompson,  George  Read,  Thomas  McKean  and 
George  Monro  were  appointed  trustees  for  erecting 
the  school-house — to  be  for  that  use  forever."  On 
this  lot  a  house  was  built  in  1800,  which  was  incor- 
porated January  30,  1801,  as  lollows:  "Whereas 
inhabitants  of  New  Castle  and  vicinity  have,  by 
voluntary  contribution,  erected  an  academy  in  the 
town  upon  a  lot  of  ground  in  the  public  square, 
which  lot  was  vested  in  trustees  for  school  purposes, 
as  above."  This  act  of  January  30, 1801,  provides  as 
"Trustees  of  the  New  Castle  Academy,"  Kensey 
Johns,  James  Booth,  George  Read,  Archibald  Alex- 
ander, James  Riddle,  James  Caldwell,  Nicholas 
Van  Dyke,  James  McCalmont  and  John  Bird.  The 
former  trustees  were  empowered  to  convey  the  lot  to 
the  trustees  here  mentioned ;  and  on  the  6th  of  June, 
1808,  Thomas  McEean,  the  surviving  trustee,  made 
such  a  conveyance  "for  one  cent,  lawful  money." 
The  schools  taught  in  this  building  were  generally 
under  individual  control,  the  trustees  having  charge 
of  the  house  only.  Samuel  Jacquett  was  thus  a 
teacher  many  years,  as  were  also  Samuel  Hood, 
James  Riddle  and  others.  Later  the  school  was 
known  as  the  New  Castle  Institute,  and  A.  B.  Wig- 
gins was  the  principal.  William  F.  Lane  held  the 
same  position  subsequently,  also  being  the  head  of 
the  public  schools  after  the  Free  School  System  was 
adopted.  He  was  a  thorough  instructor,  and  pre- 
pared young  men  for  college. 

The  old  academy  is  still  used.  The  other  school- 
house  in  the  same  locality  was  erected  as  a  United 
States  arsenal,  but,  after  1831,  was  a  garrison  for  the 
troops  stationed  at  Fort  Delaware,  pending  improve- 
ments. It  has  been  occupied  for  school  purposes 
many  years. 

In  1887  there  were  nine  schools  in  New  Castle, 
which  had  an  enrolment  of  four  hundred  and  ninety- 
five  pupils,  and  J.  E.  George  as  principal.  The 
board  of  directors  at  the  same  time  were, — William 
Herbert,  president ;  E.  L.  Wilson,  secretary ;  J.  D. 
Janvier,  L.  E.  Eliason,  George  W.  Eckles,  William 
J.  Ferris,  James  Rice,  W.  Worthington  and  S.  A. 
Stewart. 

William  Herbert,  president  of  the  School  Board  of 
New  Castle  and  State  treasurer  of  Delaware,  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July  9, 1829.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Eliza  Herbert  and  removed  with  them  to 
New  Castle  in  early  childhood.  There  his  father, 
who  was  by  trade  a  cooper,  engaged  in  fishing  and 
was  drowned  while   plying   his  occupation   on  the 


Delaware,  June  1,  1840.  The  widow  was  left  with 
two  daughters  and  two  sons,  William  being  the 
youngest  and  less  than  eleven  years  of  age.  Although 
so  young,  the  little  fellow  manfully  resolved  to 
help  his  mother,  borrowed  twenty-five  cents  and 
began  his  career  as  a  newspaper  boy,  being  the  first 
that  ever  sold  a  newspaper  on  the  streets  of  New 
Castle  as  the  agent  of  the  Philadelphia  Ledger.  He 
also  engaged  in  other  enterprises  and  left  no  stone 
unturned  to  earn  an  honest  penny.  Soon  after  his 
father's  death  he  even  aecomplished  the  feat  of  driv- 
ing a  drove  of  cattle  to  Philadelphia,  being  compelled, 
on  account  of  the  sickness  of  his  assistant,  to  make 
the  latter  part  of  the  drive  alone. 

The  attention  of  the  late  John  M.  Clayton  was 
called  to  the  boy  and  tbe  eminent  lawyer  proposed 
to  educate  him  for  the  law.  Although  ambitious,  the 
lad  proudly  declined  the  offer  and  determined  to 
stand  by  his  mother,  and  educate  his  sister.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen  he  apprenticed  himself  to  the  New 
Castle  Manufacturing  Company,  of  which  the  late 
Andrew  C.  Gray  was  president,  to  learn  the  trade  of 
a  machinist.  Then  he  borrowed  money  and  bought 
his  mother  a  home,  which  he  had  paid  for  at  the  ex- 
piration of  his  apprenticeship.  Meanwhile  he  studied 
hard  and  became  an  expert  mechanic.  It  was  he 
who  put  the  engine  in  the  first  hoop  boat  built  for 
the  California  trade.  So  pleased  was  the  captain  of 
the  steamer  that  he  offered  young  Herbert  the  posi- 
tion of  engineer  of  the  vessel.  Some  months  of  his 
apprenticeship  were  still  due,  and  Mr.  Gray  declin- 
ing to  release  him,  the  proposition  could  not  be  ac- 
cepted. 

Soon  after  attaining  his  majority  he  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business,  and  entered  upon  a  prosperous 
business  career,  which  he  continued  until  1866,  when 
he  was  elected  the  first  Democratic  sheriff  that  New 
Castle  County  had  had  for  ten  years,  defeating 
Samuel  Allen,  a  very  popular  Republican  candidate. 
As  sheriff  he  made  himself  popular  with  all  good 
citizens  and  was  vigilant  and  fearle&s  in  the  dis- 
charge of  all  his  duties.  Among  the  many  notable 
instances  of  his  nerve  and  energy  was  his  prevention 
of  the  famous  Collyer-Kelly  prize-fight  on  Delaware 
soil  in  1867.  A  ring  had  already  been  pitched  about 
a  mile  from  Newark,  and  everything  was  ready  for 
the  fray,  when  the  plucky  little  sheriff  stepped  into 
the  ring  and,  despite  the  threats  of  the  sluggers  and 
ruffians  that  had  thronged  to  see  the  mill,  compelled 
them  to  pull  up  their  stakes  and  leave.  That  the 
fight  shortly  afterwards  took  place  over  the  line  in 
Pennsylvania  was  no  fault  of  his,  for  it  was  beyond 
his  jurisdiction.  Of  the  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
seven  prisoners  entrusted  to  his  care  during  his  term 
not  a  single  one  escaped,  though  the  New  Castle 
jail  has  been  a  very  leaky  institution  at  various 
periods.  So  valuable  were  his  services  that  he  was 
induced  to  remain  as  deputy  under  his  successor, 
Jacob  Richardson. 

From  his  early  boyhood  Mr.  Herbert  has  taken  an 


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1.     K.  . 


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■E^.K-:f  5>:.^.  ." 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


879 


active  iDterest  in  political  affairs  and  has  partici- 
pated in  every  campaign,  wielding  probably  a  greater 
influence  than  any  man  in  his  section.  His  first 
official  position  was  that  of  collector  of  taxes  for 
New  Castle  Hundred.  For  thirty  years  he  has  been 
a  member  of  City  Council  and  many  years  its  presi- 
dent. At  present  he  is  president  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  of  which  he  has  been  many  years  a  mem- 
ber. On  May  14,  1869,  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of 
the  New  Castle  Commons,  and  has  been  treasurer 
twenty  years.  In  1875  he  was  elected  county  treas- 
urer by  the  Levy  Court,  and  served  by  successive  re- 
election until  after  his  election  as  State  treasurer,  by 
the  State  Legislature,  January  20,  1887.  In  these 
capacities  he  has  been  a  r^ular  "  watch- dog"  of  the 
treasury. 

For  at  least  thirty-five  years  he  has  attended 
every  Democratic  County  and  State  Convention  and 
also  attended  the  National  Democratic  Convention  of 
1880,  at  Cincinnati  and  1884,  at  Chicago,  in  the  in- 
terest of  Thomas  F.  Bayard  for  the  Presidential  nomi- 
nation. Mr.  Herbert  was  prominently  pushed  for- 
ward by  his  friends  as  a  candidate  for  the  Democratic 
nomination  for  Governor  in  1886,  and  received 
seventy  votes  against  one  hundred  for  Benjamin  T. 
Biggs,  his  successful  competitor  in  the  State  Con- 
vention. 

In  civil  life  he  has  been  just  as  active,  and  no  man 
in  New  Castle  has  done  more  to  promote  the  interests 
of  the  city  than  he.  Every  public  improvement  has 
found  in  him  an  active  promoter.  To  his  efforts,  in 
great  measure,  are  due  the  building  of  the  Grand 
Opera-House,  of  which  he  is  president  of  the  board 
of  trustees ;  the  establishment  of  the  New  Castle  water 
works,  of  which  he  is  a  director ;  and  the  formation  of 
the  New  Castle  Fire  Company,  of  which  he  is  a  member. 
Mr.  Herbert  donated  the  ground  for  the  erection  of 
the  Red  Men's  Hall,  saved  the  colored  M.  E.  Church 
of  New  Castle  from  the  hands  of  the  sheriff,  and  has 
done  much  to  assist  worthy  men  in  their  business 
relations.  He  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  Tasker 
Loan  Association  and  is  treasurer  of  the  New  Castle 
Loan  Association.  For  about  thirty-five  years  he  has 
been  a  member  of  Washington  Lodge,  No.  5, 1. 0. 0.  F., 
and  its  secretary  for  thirty-one  of  the  fifly-four  years 
of  its  existence,  during  which  it  has  had  but  two 
permanent  secretaries.  He  has  been  a  representative 
to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware,  and  has  attended 
the  Sovereign  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United  States.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  No.  2,  A.  F. 
A.  M.,  of  which  he  is  the  treasurer. 

Mr.  Herbert  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  E.  Crow, 
of  New  Castle,  June  4,  1852,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed in  the  Town  Hall,  in  the  presence  6f  a  large 
concourse  of  people.  Of  this  union  there  have  been 
born  eleven  children,  as  follows:  William  Black 
Herbert,  marshal  at  the  Consular  Court  of  the  United 
States  at  Kanagawa,  Japan ;  Frank  Edwin  Herbert, 
notary  public,  conveyancer  and  accountant  at  New 
Castle,  and  assistant  to  the  State  treasurer;  Edwin 


Mandeville  Herbert,  a  farmer  of  New  Castle  Hundred ; 
Allen  Lee  Herbert,  who  died  in  infancy,  about  twenty 
years  ago ;  Evan  Bayard  Herbert,  who  died  October 
6, 1885,  in  his  nineteenth  year ;  Harry  Warne  Her- 
bert, an  apprentice  clerk  in  the  United  States  Fish 
Commission;  Annie  Virginia,  wife  of  Edward  F. 
Kemp,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Kate  May,  Agnes  John- 
son,. Carrie  Vandever  and  Bessie  Lechler,  all  single 
and  living  at  home. 

The  New  Castle  Female  Benevolent  Society 
was  incorporated  January  28,  1817,  with  Ann  Johns, 
Anna  McCalmont,  Sally  McCalmont  and  Mary  Riddle 
as  trustees,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  charity- 
school.  The  project  was  not  successful.  A  number 
of  private  schools  have  been  opened,  but  few  were 
continued  more  than  a  few  years. 

Public  Library. — An  effort  was  made  soon  after 
1800  to  establish  a  library  at  New  Castle,  and  in 
January,  1812,  the  New  Castle  Library  Company  was 
chartered  by  James  Rogers,  James  R.  Black,  James 
Couper,  Jr.,  George  Strawbridge,  Thomas  Stockton, 
Alexander  Reynolds  and  George  Read,  Jr.  There 
was  additional  legislation  January  24, 1832,  whereby 
the  company  was  empowered  to  hold  books,  papers, 
etc.,  not  to  exceed  eight  thousand  dollars  in  value. 
The  original  president  was  James  Couper,  and  Wm. 
B.  Janvier  was  secretary,  November  30,  1819,  when  a 
catalogue  was  issued  embracing  nineteen  classes  of 
standard  books,  carefully  selected.  The  library  was 
placed  in  the  academy  building,  where  it  has  since 
remained.  An  effort  was  made  to  build  a  library  hall. 
An  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  in  1812,  ''for 
raising  by  lottery  a  sum  not  exceeding  eight  thousand 
dollars,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  building  for  the 
accommodation  of  St.  John's  Masonic  Lodge  and  the 
New  Castle  Library  Company."  James  Rogers, 
Thomas  Stockton,  George  Read,  James  Couper,  Jr., 
and  Evan  Thomas  were  named  as  managers.  The 
first  floor  of  the  building,  when  completed,  was  to  be 
used  by  the  library  company  and  the  second  floor  by 
the  Masons  for  the  meetings  of  St.  John's  Lodge,  No. 
2.  Nothing  ever  resulted  from  this  movement.  The 
organization  of  the  company  has  been  kept  up  con- 
tinuously, and  the  yearly  subscriptions  have  not  only 
been  sufficient  to  secure  the  current  standard  books 
for  a  library  of  this  nature,  but  have  contributed  to  a 
building  fund,  which  will  mak^  the  erection  of  a 
library  hall  possible  in  the  near  future. 

In  1887  the  library  contained  five  thousand  vol- 
umes, which  were  accessible  to  the  public  twice  per 
week.  Since  1877  W.  J.  Ferris  has  been  librarian. 
Alexander  Cooper  held  the  same  position  many 
years.  The  officers  and  trustees  of  the  company  at 
the  same  time  were  Samuel  Guthrie,  president ;  R, 
G.  Cooper,  secretary  and  treasurer;  John  H.  Rod- 
ney, George  F.  Tybout,  John  T.  Black  and  Samuel 
M.  Couper,  directors.  The  library  has  been  one  of 
the  most  valuable  educational  institutions  of  the 
town. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 


CHRISTIANA  HUNDRED. 


This  division  borders  on  the  Pennsylvania  line, 
and  extends  to  the  Christiana  Creek,  comprising  that 
part  of  the  county  which  lies  between  Brandywine 
and  Red  Clay  Creeks.  It  thus  embraces  the  hilln 
which  border  those  precipitous  streams,  causing  its 
general  surface  to  be  elevated  and  broken,  excepting 
along  the  Christiana,  where  it  expands  into  low 
lands,  a  small  portion  being  of  a  marshy  nature. 
The  soil  is  generally  fertile,  and  many  excellent 
farms  abound,  some  having  costly  buildings.  There 
are  also  a  number  of  country  homes,  with  extensive 
grounds  and  other  improvements,  to  enhance  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  naturally  attractive  country,  making 
this  one  of  the  most  pleasant  sections. 

On  account  of  their  situation,  much  of  the  history 
of  the  hundred  is  blended  with  that  of  Newport  and 
Wilmington,  but  separate  interests  are  detailed  in  the 
following  pages. 

A  number  of  land  grants  were  made  in  the  terri- 
tory now  comprised  in  Christiana  Hundred  soon 
after  the  English  obtained  possession  of  the  country. 
A  large  tract  of  land  lying  between  Christiana  and 
Mill  Creeks,  extending  from  the  mouth  of  the  latter 
nearly  to  where  Newport  now  is,  and  north  to  Mill 
Creek,  containing  about  one  thousand  two  hundred 
acres,  was  granted  by  Governor  Francis  Lovelace, 


OLD  RICHARDSON  HOUSE,  (NOW  OWNED  BY  H.  C.   CONRAD.) 


September  1,  1669,  to  Andries  Andersen,  Seneca 
Broor  and  Gysbert  Walraven.  Not  long  after  this 
Andersen  died,  leaving  his  property  to  his  widow  and 
five  children.  The  other  two-thirds  soon  after  passed 
to  Arnoldus  De  Lagrange  and  others.  In  1688  the 
whole  tract  was  owned  by  De  Lagrange,  Walraven 
and  Broor  Sinnexsen,  who  had  married  the  widow  of 
Andersen.  In  April  of  that  year  this  tract  was  di- 
vided, but  they  kept  in  common  a  tract  of  eighteen 
acres  of  mill  land,  on  which,  before  1687,  they  built 


a  mill,  as  shown  in  the  agreement  following :  "  This 
may  certifie  that,  according  to  agreement  of  Arnoldus 
De  Lagrange,  Broor  Sinnexsen  and  Gysbert  Wal- 
raven, there  is  layd  out  for  a  mill  a  certain  tract  of 
land,  situate,  lying  and  being  on  ye  south  side  of  a 
branch  of  Christiana  Creek,  commonly  called  Little 
Falls  Creek,"  eighteen  acres  surveyed  7th  of  Second 
Month,  1684.  Thislmill  was  bought  of  the  diflferent 
owners,  in  1723  and  1726,  by  John  Richardson,  who 
had  b^un  buying  lands  soon  after  the  division  in 
1683.  In  August,  1687,  he  purchased  the  Walraven 
tract  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres,  and  in 
1723  the  Bichardsons  built  a  large  stone  house  on  it. 
Later,  another  large  stone  house  was  built  on  the 
same  tract,  nearer  the  mill.  It  was  erected  by  Rich- 
ard Richardson  in  1765,  and  is  located  on  the  New- 
port turnpike,  about  one-half  mile  from  the  present 
limits  of  the  city  of  Wilmington.  The  land  on  which 
it  stands  was  part  of  the  "  old  mill  tract,"  granted  to 
three  of  the  original  Swedish  settlers,  named  Broor 
SinnexBon,  Gysbert  Walraven  and  Arnoldus  De  La- 
grange, in  the  year  1683.  The  whole  of  the  mill  tract, 
comprising  about  eighteen  acres,  together  with  the 
adjoining  property  on  the  south,  was  owned  by  John 
Richardson  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  the  year  1755; 
and  he  by  will  devised  "  the  mill  lands  and  mill,  and 
the  house  and  improvements  which  is  thereupon," 
to  his  son,  Richard  Richardson,  who  at  that  time 
was  a  bachelor  of  thirty-five  years.  Ten  years 
after,  in  1765,  he  built  the  house,  as  shown 
above,  and  the  year  following  was  married 
to  Sarah  Tatnall,  daughter  of  Edward 
Tatnall,  a  prosperous  miller  on  the  Bran- 
dywine. The  house  is  built  of  stone 
quarried  presumably  on  the  premises,  or 
taken  from  the  bed  of  Mill  Creek,  a  few 
hundred  yards  away.  The  wood  used  in 
its  construction  w^s  doubtless  found  near 
at  hand,  as  the  adjoining  farm  land  was 
for  many  years  afterward  covered  with 
the  best  quality  of  timber.  At  the  time 
it  was  built  no  house  in  the  neighborhood 
equaled  it  in  size  or  pretensions.  It  is 
related  that  the  residents  of  Newport,  at 
that  time  a  village  of  more  importance 
than  Wilmington,  would  come  on  foot  to 
see  the  *^  big  house  on  the  hill,"  deeming 
it  a  wonderful  production  of  the  artisan's 
skill.  The  interior  of  the  house  is  marked 
by  a  spacious  hallway,  high  ceilings,  open 
fire-places  in  every  room,  and  chimneys  that  are  mar- 
vels of  strength.  The  exterior  is  the  same  as  when  built, 
and  for  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  years  no  change 
has  marred  its  original  construction  either  on  the  exte- 
rior or  interior.  R.  Richardson  died  in  1797,  and  be- 
queathed the  property  to  his  son  Joseph,  the  oldest  of 
his  seven  children.  Joseph  Richardson  owned  and 
occupied  it  during  his  life-time,  and  at  his  death,  in 
1833,  it  descended  to  his  seven  children,  he  having 
made  no  will.    In  1837  Joseph's  heirs  joined  in  a  deed 


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of  the  property  to  Samuel  Richardson,  the  oldest  son 
of  Joseph,  and  Samuel  owned  and  occupied  it  until 
his  death,  when  by  will  it  was  devised  to  Jo- 
seph 8.  Richardson,  the  only  son  of  Samuel  Richard- 
son. In  1887  the  house,  with  fourteen  acres  of  land, 
was  purchased  by  Henry  C.  Conrad,  Esq.,  of  Wil- 
mington, who  is  now  making  some  additions  and 
improvements  in  the  property,  with  a  view  of  making 
it  his  home  in  the  near  future.  As  far  as  known,  the 
place  has  never  had  a  local  name,  but  Mr.  Conrad 
has  recently  christened  it  **  Glynrich." 

The  descendants  of  John  Richardson  continued  to  live 
here,  and  in  1785  rebuilt  the  mill,  which  is  still  stand-' 
ing.  Much  of  the  land  acquired  in  the  last  century 
is  still  owned  by  the  Richardson  family,  but  part  of 
the  mill  tract  became  the  property  of  Henry  C.  Conrad. 

In  the  division  of  the  above  tract,  in  1683,  De 
Lagrange  Walraven  took  one  hundred  and  eighty-one 
acres,  lying  on  the  west  side  of  the  tract,  adjoining 
lands  of  Conrad  Constantine,  on  which  Newport  was 
later  built.  He  also  had  a  tract  lying  near  the 
mouth  of  Mill  Creek. 

Guysbert  Walraven  had  his  home  lot  on  the  creek, 
containing  twenty-nine  acres,  east  of  De  Lagrange, 
now  owned  by  the  Latimers,  and  on  which  the  old 
Walraven  house  still  stands.  He  also  had  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-five  acres  of  land  lying  on  Mill  Creek, 
above  Sinnexsen  and  south  of  the  mill  lands,  which 
were  in  a  neck ;  and  also  thirty  acres  of  marsh  land, 
at  the  junction  of  the  two  creeks. 

Broor  Sinnexsen,  who  married  the  widow  of  Andries 
Andersen,  was  instructed  by  the  court  that  he  should 
enjoy  the  third  part  of  the  estate,  educate  the  minors 
and  when  they  were  of  age  should  pay  each  five 
hundred  guilders. 

These  minors  were  Christian,  Andreas,  James, 
Evart  and  Peter,  all  of  whom  attained  their  majority 
before  1796. 

Sinnexsen  bequeathed  part  of  his  property  to  his  son, 
James,  and  after  his  death,  in  1708,  the  remainder  of 
the  estate  passed  to  his  wife,  Sophia,  for  life,  and  after 
her  death  to  his  sons,  Broor,  John  and  James. 

The  Sinnexsen  lands  are  mostly  owned,  at  present, 
by  the  Lynam  family.  The  last  of  the  name  Sinnex- 
sen died  a  few  years  ago,  and  was  known  as  Sinnex. 

Conrad  Constantine,  in  1683,  was  in  possession  of 
a  tract  of  land  containing  six  hundred  and  thirty 
acres,  lying  on  Christiana  Creek,  west  of  the  large 
tract  of  De  Lagrange,  Walraven  and  Sinnexsen.  One 
hundred  acres  of  it  passed  to  Henry  Parker,  who,  April 
26,  1731,  sold  it  to  John  Justis,  it  being  on  the  east 
side  of  Rainbow  Run.  The  rest  of  the  tract  remained 
in  the  hands  of  the  Constant! nes  until  after  1740. 

Arnoldus  De  Lagrange  had  surveyed  to  him,  in  1684, 
on  the  north  side  of  Christiana  Creek,  and  adjoining 
the  lands  of  Sinnexsen,  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
and  on  a  warrant  bearing  date  2l8t  of  Twelfth  Mouth, 
1682,  four  hundred  acres  on  Christiana  Creek. 

July  29, 1685,  on  a  warrant,  there  was  "  layd  out  for 
Neal  Laerson's  friend "  a  tract  of  land  of  eight  hun- 
56 


dred  acres,  on  the  north  side  of  Red  Clay  Creek,  called 
"  Oak  Hill ; "  and  for  Neils  Laerson.  March  12, 1684, 
nine  hundred  and  thirty -six  acres. 

January  4, 1702,  there  wa^  laid  out  for  Jacob  and 
Hendrick  Hendrickson  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres, 
called  **  Jacob's  Possession,"  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Brandy  wine,  bounded  south  by  Adam  Stidman's  land, 
called  "  Adam's  Garden ; "  north  by  land  of  Mathias 
Defosse's  and  by  Squirrel  Creek,  which  had  been 
taken  up  March  12,  1684. 

On  the  Brandy  wine,  between  Rattlesnake  Run  and 
Stony  Run,  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
acres  was  resurveyed,  on  a  warrant,  April  19,  1744, 
for  Andrew  Hendrickson,  Sr.,  and  Andrew  Hendrick- 
son, Jr. 

The  upper  part  of  the  hundred  was  included  in  the 
manors  of  the  Penns,  and  patents  were  granted  for 
lands  lying  therein  after  1684. 

Among  the  principal  ones  were  the  following  :  In 
Rockland  Manor,  William  Gregg  was  granted  a  war- 
rant, January  26,  1684,  for  four  hundred  acres  ef  land, 
which  was  surveyed  May  11, 1685,  and  April  23,  1692, 
was  divided  by  Henry  Hollingsworth  between  John 
and  Richard  Gregg,  sons  of  William.  It  was  adjoining 
lands  of  Matthias  Defosse,  on  Squirrel  Creek.  Richard 
Gregg  had  in  the  division  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres. 
John  Gregg  had  a  warrant  dated  August  13,  1734,  for 
a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  at  the 
mouth  of  Squirrel  Creek,  a  branch  of  the  Brand  wine. 

Thomas  Hollingsworth  received  warrants  for  several 
tracts  of  land  as  follows :  February  4,  1701,  eight 
hundred  and  eighteen  acres ;  May  20,  1703,  two  hun- 
dred acres  ;  Samuel  Hollingsworth,  January  27,  1685, 
three  hundred  acres.  The  last-mentioned  tract  was 
released  to  Thomas  Hollingsworth  and  was  confirmed 
by  patent  May  7,  1705. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1685,  a  warrant  was  granted 
to  John  Gregg  for  two  hundred  acres  and  confirmed 
by  patent  February  18,  1693.  Gregg  sold  the  tract 
to  Samuel  Underwood,  Sr.,  who,  by  will,  June  11, 
1722,  conveyed  fifty  acres  on  the  east  end  to  his  son 
Samuel.  The  executor  sold  part  to  John  Gregg, 
who,  February  18,  1733,  sold  to  Jonathan  Strange 
fifty  acres,  who,  April  26,  1744,  received  warrant  for 
fifty-one  acres  adjoining  his  own  land  and  land  of 
Samuel  and  John  Dennis,  which  was  patented  May 
3,  1744.  Upon  this  land,  lying  on  the  Brandjrwine 
and  a  small  run,  he  erected  a  fulling-mill,  grist-mill, 
saw-mill  and  other  buildings.  January  29,  1738, 
Strange  sold  to  John  Smith  three  acres  of  the  land, 
which  was  known  as  "ye  sawmill  lands,"  together 
with  "  ye  grist-mill,  saw-mills,  bolting-mills,  mill- 
races,  dams,  ponds,  wheels,  flood-gates,  waste-gates, 
dkches,  etc.,  together  with  right  to  make  dam  above 
Jonathan  Strangers  fulling-mills  as  they  now  stand." 

At  a  later  period  John  Smith  owned  considerable 
land  in  that  part  of  the  hundred.  The  greater  por- 
tion of  the  manor  lands  along  the  Brandy  wine  have 
passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Du  Pouts,  and  have 
been  brought  into  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 


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HISTOKY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Anthony  Burgess  took  out  a  warrant  April  15, 
1686,  for  three  hundred  acres,  which  was  called 
"  Cole  Harbour,"  in  the  vicinity  of  Newport. 

On  the  8th  of  May,  1678,  a  warrant  was  issued  to 
Tyman  Stidham  for  one  hundred  acres,  for  which  a 
warrant  for  resurvey  was  granted  April  19,  1744, 
when  the  tract  by  divers  conveyances  had  been  in- 
creased to  two  hundred  and  sixty- eight  acres.  Among 
the  later  warrants  was  one  granted  by  the  proprietor, 
March  25,  1755,  to  Richard  Baker,  for  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  on  the  road  which,  in  1811,  became  the 
Wilmington  and  Kennett  Turnpike.  William  Kil- 
len,  the  deputy  surveyor,  made  the  following  note 
concerning  the  property :  "  It  lies  on  the  great  road 
leading  from  Wilmington  to  Kennett,  8  miles  dis- 
tant, from  said  towne,  and  is  generally  poor  stony 
ground ;  better  than  one-half  is  cleared,  with  a  good 
stone  house,  two-story  high  thereon.  Joshua  Baker, 
father  of  the  aforesaid  Richard,  died  possessed  of  the 
premises,  leaving  issue  nine  children,  all  of  whom 
except  three,  that  are  absent,  claim  a  right  in  the 
same." 

The  Hollingsworth  family  owned  a  large  tract  of 
land  near  the  Pennsylvahia  line,  and  near  Hollings- 
worth Ford  one  of  the  members,  Joseph,  built  a 
small  mill  to  turn  out  bowls  and  wooden-ware  and  to 
spin  wire.  The  power  was  abandoned  before  1800, 
and  forty  years  later  a  poplar  tree  two  and  a  half  feet 
in  diameter  was  growing  on  the  site  of  the  mill. 
Joseph  Hollingsworth  divided  his  land  among  three 
sons — ^Thomas,  Amor  and  Isaac.  The  latter  built  a 
house  in  1769  of  yellow  poplar  plank,  four  inches  in 
thickness,  which  is  still  standing,  as  the  homestead 
of  Henry  Swayne.  It  became  the  property  of  Joel 
Swayne  in  1821,  and  was  one  of  the  first  Hollings- 
worth tracts  that  passed  out  of  the  family ;  but  since 
that  time  all  their  lands  have  been  sold  and  none  of 
that  name  remain.  The  old  Gregg  lands  have  also 
passed  to  other  ownerships.  A  mansion  built  in 
1749  of  stone,  with  walls  two  feet  in  thickness,  was 
retained  by  the  family  many  years,  but  the  place  has 
become  one  of  the  Du  Pont  farms,  and  but  one  direct 
descendant  remains  near  the  place  of  nativity. 

Greorge  Chandler  emigrated  to  America  in  1687  and 
settled  on  a  tract  of  land,  which  has  remained  in 
possession  of  the  family  ever  since  it  was  deeded  to 
it.  In  1887  the  old  homestead  was  owned  by  Jesse 
Chandler,  a  descendant  of  a  later  generation,  and 
many  others  of  the  same  lineage  were  honored  citi- 
zens of  the  hundred.  The  J.  Poulson  Chandler  farm 
has  also  passed  through  the  hands  of  several  genera- 
tions. The  fine  brick  mansion  on  it  was  built  in 
1805,  by  Joseph  and  Benjamin  Chandler,  and  is  not 
as  near  the  highway  as  was  the  old  house,  which  has 
been  removed.  Above  this  tract  of  land  waa  the 
home  of  Alphonso  Kirk,  the  grandfather  of  Caleb 
Kirk,  the  manufacturer.  The  former  owns  the  land 
on  which  stands  the  Friends'  Meeting-house,  near 
Centerville.  One  of  his  sons,  William,  became  a 
citizen  of  Chester  County,  Pa.,  and  from  his  family 


have  descended  many  of  the  prominent  people  of 
that  section.  The  name  is  not  perpetuated  in  Chris- 
tiana Hundred. 

South  of  Centerville,  William  Dixon  made  notable 
improvements,  soon  afler  the  settlement  of  the  Chand- 
lers, and  his  descendants  later  built  a  mill  in  that 
section,  which  is  till  standing.  Alexander  H.  Dixon 
(a  son  of  William  of  a  later  generation,  born  in  1804), 
is  a  resident  of  Centerville.  The  homestead  haa  be- 
come the  property  of  others.  But  very  little  of  the 
foregoing  lands  can  be  traced  to  the  original  pro- 
prietors in  an  unbroken  succession  of  family  owner- 
bhip.  Nearer  the  Christiana  Creek  the  Crans,  Arm-, 
strong  and  Cranston  families  have  for  many  years 
been  amongst  the  most  prominent  and  useful  citizens 
of  the  hundred. 

The  following  is  ''A  List  of  the  Taxable  Persons 
and  Estates  in  Christiana  Hundred,  taken  by  Robert 
Hamilton,  Col'r  of  S*d  Hundred,  September  28, 
1787 : "  * 


Adams,  James  (printer). 
ADdenon,  Arthur. 
AndersoD,  Jacob. 
AnderBon,  John. 
Anderson,  Jacobus. 
Anderson,  Wm.,  est. 
Allison,  Sarah,  est 
Armor,  Wm. 
Armstrong,  Ann,  est. 
Armstrong,  John. 
Armstrong,  John,  Jr. 
Alrich,  Benj. 
Augusta,  John. 
Ashbumhnm,  Joseph. 
Adams,  James,  Jr. 
Ashton,  Wm. 
Adams,  Daniel  J. 
Ackroyds,  John,  est. 
Armstrong,  Archibald. 
Armstrong,  Bobert. 
Armstrong,  John,  est. 
Ainger,  Thomas. 
Adams,  James,  est. 
Alrichs,  Susana,  est. 
Alderdlce,  Abram. 
Alrich,  Joseph. 
Anderson,  Geon^e. 
Alexander,  James. 
Armstrong,  James. 
Anderson,  Samuel. 
Anderson,  Joseph. 
Alrich,  Jonas. 
Anderson,  Jacobus,  Jr. 
Able,  John. 
Anderson,  Josiah. 
Adams,  John. 
Armstrong,  Smith,  est. 
Allison,  Margaret,  est. 
Alcens,  Wm.,  est. 
Annis,  Edward. 

Anderson^ . 

Amor,  Thomas. 
Alford,  John. 
Burrows,  Thomas. 
Brooks,  Thomas. 
Bowman,  Paul. 
Barnett,  Samson. 
Bryan,  Thomas. 
Bush,  Samuel. 


Bowman,  John. 

Brjran,  James. 

Backhouse,  Strauge. 

Baldwin,  John. 

Brynberg,  Peter. 

fieaty,  John. 

Binnett,  Joseph. 

Bartram,  John,  est 

Beesons,  Thomas,  est 

Bonsall,  Vincent 

Bryans,  Thomas. 

Brobson,  James. 

Bonsall,  Philip. 

Blackford,  Garrett,  Jr. 

Braden,  James. 

Brindley,  James. 

Brinton,  David. 

Broom,  James. 

Broom,  Jacob. 

Brown,  Abram. 

Brown,  Israel. 

Brynberg,  Smith. 

Buckingham,  James  and  Son. 

Baldwin,  Levi. 

Bush,  David. 

Bush,  John. 

Brynee,  Daniel,  eat 

Betson,  John. 

Bist,  Henry. 

Bentley,  Bazel. 

Benson,  John. 

Barnett.  Jacob. 

Brattona,  Robert,  est 

Baldwin,  Wm.,  est 

Brynberg,  John. 

Barkers,  Samuel,  est. 

Bedford,  Gunning. 

Boyd,  Bobert 

Brown,  Daniel. 

Boyd,  Matthew. 

Barret,  Charles. 

Bush,  George. 

Balls,  Wm.,  est. 

Bryan,  John. 

Bowles,  John. 

Byars,  James. 

Blackford,  Garret,  Sr. 

Bush,  David,  Jr. 

Byars,  Samuel. 


1  It  will  be  remembered  that  Wilmington  and  Newport  was  at  that 
time  within  the  limits  of  the  Hundred. 


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Blackford,  John. 
Banoroft,  Doeter. 
Byrius,  Samuel. 
Brown,  Elisha. 
Borrows,  David. 
Bradford,  John. 
Bostwick,  John. 
Braden,  Jamee,  Jr. 
BcAdBt  Thomas. 
Burrill,  Bei\}. 
Booth,  James. 

Bayard,  Jamee  A.  (attorney). 
Olaik,  John, 
aond,  Daniel,  est. 
Crosby,  Joseph. 
Chandler,  Joseph. 
Chambers,  John. 
Charley,  Samoel. 
Crampton,  John. 
OMh,  Edward. 
Qampbell,  Samael. 
Oanby,  Bei^. 
Ckrions,  Elchanl,  est. 
Canby,  Jonas. 
Chandler,  Caleb,  est. 
Chandler,  Jesse,  est. 
Clenney,  Wm. 
dark,  Thomas. 
Clark,  John. 
CUog,  Jacob. 
Cload,  John. 
Coleman,  Joseph. 
Crampton,  Watkins. 
Crips,  Matthew. 
Crow,  Thomas. 
Creary,  Wm. 
Cooke,  Wm. 
Catherwood,  Andrew. 
Clark,  George. 
Craig,  Frederick. 
Cummins,  Wm.,  est 
Cameys,  Thomas,  est. 
Oanby,  Wm. 
Chandler,  Thomaa. 
Otfky,  Robert 
Crow,  George,  est. 
Cooch,  Thomas,  est. 
Chandler,  Bei\J.,  est. 
Cox,  Thomas. 
Oanby,  Samael. 
Oochrans^  Daniel,  est. 
Oappell,  Daniel. 
Cnmmons,  Joeepb. 
Chandler,  Ann,  est. 
Campbell,  James. 
CrosBsn,  John. 
Collins,  Stephen,  est. 
Oanady,  Nathaniel. 
Clark,  Samnel. 
CUytou,  John. 
Clark,  David. 
Chandler,  John. 
Crawford,  Isaac. 
Cooke,  Peter. 
Croven,  Archibald. 
Clark,  Daniel. 
Caldwell,  John. 
Clark,  Wm. 

Clayton, (cooper). 

Crips,  Andrew. 
Coshow,  Jacob. 
Charly,  Charles. 
Craig,  Captain. 
Clyne,  Jacob. 
Caldwell,  Thomas. 
Gbsky,  Samael. 
Crozen,  Wm. 
Carter,  Charles. 


Cooke,  Bei\J. 
Celso,  John. 
Coxshoot,  John,  Jr. 
Coxshoot,  John,8r. 
Oarson,  John,  est. 
Chandler,  David. 
Crips,  Jonas. 
Chandler,  Christa. 
Carney,  Peter,  est. 
Chandler,  Joseph. 
Crawford,  John. 
Davison,  Alex. 
Daws,  John,  est. 
Delaplain,  Nehemiah. 
Derrickson,  Wm. 
Derrickson,  Jacob. 
Derrickson,  Peter. 
Derrickson,  Cornelias. 
Dinger,  Obadiah. 
Dinger,  Jacob,  est. 
Davis,  Thomas. 
Duff;  Thomas. 
Dixson,  Samael. 
Deans,  Joseph,  est 
Delaplain,  Samnel. 
Dixson,  Wm.,  Jr. 
DowdIe^  Eliaabeth,  est 
Donaldson,  David. 
Dixson,  Thomas. 
Dawson,  John. 
Daws,  Mnmford,  est. 
Dixson,  Isaac 
Derrickson,  Zachariah. 
Derrickson,  Joseph. 
Davy,  Peter. 
Dickey,  Archibald. 
Davidson,  David. 
Dickinson,  John. 
Dean,  Samuel. 
Dixon,  John. 
Dutton,  Thomas. 
Devitmom,  Peter,  est. 
Deli^  John. 
Donaldson,  James. 
Davis,  Capt.  Thomas,  est. 
Dixson,  Daniel. 
Derrick,  Richard. 
Debarger,  Henry. 
Derrickson,  David. 
Donnall,  John. 
Davison,  Hezekiah,  est. 
Demsey,  Wm. 
Delaplain,  James. 
Duncan  Patrick. 
DowUn,  John. 
Erwin,  John. 
Evans,  Charles. 
Erwin,  Samuel. 
Evans,  Jonathan. 
Evans,  Theodore. 
Evans,  John,  est 
Bocles,  Wm. 
Evans,  Oliver,  est. 
Evans,  Joseph. 
ElUott,  John. 
Eccles,  Bobert  est 
Erwin,  Wm. 
Eutricans,  George,  est. 
England,  Michael. 
Ferrifls,  John. 
Fussell,  Solomon. 
Frisbys,  Sarah,  etc. 
Ferris,  Zachariah. 
Ferris,  Ziba. 
Ford,  Abraham. 
Fuswll,  Jacob. 
Foot,  Wm. 
Fllnn,  John. 


Usher,  James. 
Farson,  Jean,  est 
Fondery,  John. 
Fox,  Wm. 
Freger,  Wm. 
Flemmin,  John. 
Fondery,  Samuel. 
File,  Joseph. 
Fortt,  Th<»nas. 
Fauss,  Nicholas,  est 
Freese,  Henry. 
Fletcher,  John. 
Foot  James. 
Finley,  Charles. 
Giddes,  Wm.,  est 
Giddes,  Hency. 
Gibbons,  James. 
Graves,  Samuel. 
Garrett,  John. 
Garretson,  Henry. 
Cramble,  Janes. 
Galbreath,  Bobert 
Gilplns,  Thomas,  est 
Gilpin  A  Fisher's  est 
Gilpin,  Ann,  est 
Garrett  John,  Jr. 
Gilmer,  James. 
Gilpin,  Joseph. 
Gilpin,  Vincent 
Graves,  David. 
Giffln,  Thomas,  est. 
Graves,  Jacob. 
Gregg,  Joseph,  est 
Gregg,  Samael. 
Gilpin,  Joseph,  Jr. 
GoM,  Strange. 
Gregg,  Isaac. 
Gibson,  Thomas. 
Gilpin,  Edward. 
Garrotsoo,  Eli. 
Glenn,  Thomas. 
Gregg,  Thomas. 
Grainer,  George. 
Glasgow,  James,  sst 
Garrand,  Thomas. 
^reSK*  John. 
Gilmer,  George. 
Griffin,  Robert 
Gcssett  John. 
Gregg,  Silas. 
Gregg,  Harmon,  est 
Galbreath,  SamueL 
Griffin,  John. 
Glllis,  Margaret,  est 
Giffin,  John. 
Gunn,  Thomas. 
Given,  James. 
Gallaway,  William. 
Gryms,  Richard. 
Gibbons,  Samuel , 
Green,  Robert,  est 
Gregg,  Isaac,  est 
Goldan,  PhilUp. 
Gunn,  Henry. 
Garretson,  Juseph. 
Chirdner,  Zachariah. 
Hemphill,  William. 
Hanson,  Timothy. 
Harvy,  Job. 
Harvy,  Mary,  est 
Hays,  John. 
Hedges,  Joseph. 
Hendrickson,  John. 
Hendrickson,  David. 
Hendrickson,  Peter. 
Hendrlcksou ,  Isaac. 
Hollingsworth,  Isaac. 
Hollingsworth  Christopher. 


Homer,  Samuel. 
Ueald,  Samuel. 
Hyland,  Henry,  est. 
Hughs  David. 
Harkley,  Bei\J.  and  mother. 
Hughs,  Robert. 
Harrisi,  Bamet. 
Hill,  John. 
Hamilton,  Thomas. 
Heald,  Jacob. 
Hains,  Cornelias. 
Hogg,  Samael. 
Hollingsworth,  Thomas. 
Hollingsworth,  Amor. 
Hollingsworth,  Samuel. 
Hogg,  Andrew. 
Hanson,  Elizabeth,  est 
Hamilton,  Robert 
Harper,  John. 
Hughs,  Edward. 
Hollingsworth,  John. 
Hollingsworth,  Thomas. 
Hutchinson,  Wm. 
Howran,  Edward,  est 
Hollowell,  Joshua. 
Hollingsworth,  Jehu 
Hogg,  Samuel,  Jr. 
HoflTman,  Daniel. 
Harrlss,  Joseph. 
Harrias,  Jesse. 
Husband,  James. 
Hill,  James. 
Home,  John. 
Harvy,  Jonathan. 
Hays,  Stephen. 
Harvy,  Isaac. 
Hains,  John. 
Hill,  John  (tailor) 
Hunter,  Charles. 
Hushey,  Hency. 
Hood,  James,  est 
Harrison,  Joshua. 
Horseinger,  Peter. 
Henderson,  David. 
Harney,  James. 
Hodge,  Andrew,  est 
Hays,  Stephen,  Jr. 
Israel,  Lawrance. 
Jaquet,  Peter,  est. 
Justis,  Jonas. 
Jordan,  James. 
Jones,  John,  est 
Jaraett  Mathias 
Jones,  Phillips. 
Jones,  Wm. 
Johnson,  Simon,  est. 
Justice,  John. 
Jordan,  James. 
Jackson,  Eliz.  (Gab's  wife). 
Jones,  Wm. 
Jackson,  Timothy. 
Johnson,  Humphrey. 
Jackson,  Joshua. 
Justice,  Peter. 
Justice,  Swain,  est 
Johns,  Heth,  est 
Jordan,  Griffith,  est 
Justice,  John,  est. 
Johnson,  Joseph, 
Johnson,  CMharine,  est. 
JeffHes,  James  (captain) 
Jeffries,  James,  Jr. 
Jackson,  James. 
Jackson,  Isaac. 
Jeffries,  John. 
Jeffries,  James. 
Johnson,  John. 
Johnson,  Daniel. 


Digitized  by 


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884 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Johnson,  Wm.,  eat, 

Jones,  Thomas. 

Jones,  John. 

Ke&n,  Thomas,  est 

Kean,  John. 

Kindall,  John. 

Kirk,  Caleb. 

Kean,  James. 

Kirk,  Caleb,  Jr. 

Kirk,  Jonathan. 

Kirk,  Jonathan,  est. 

Kirkpatrick,  Wm.,  est 

Kirk,  Kirk. 

Kirk,  Thomas. 

Kirk,  Wm. 

Kinsman,  Henry. 

Kindali,  John,  Jr. 

Kirk,  John. 

Kindall,  Isaac. 

Keneday,  James,  est. 

King,  Edward. 

Kirkpatrick,  John. 

Latimer,  James. 

Latimer,  Henry. 

Langley,  John. 

Lawson,  Joseph. 

Lea,  James. 

Lea,  John. 

Lightbody,  MikU. 

Little,  Archibald,  est. 

Little,  Thomas,  est 

Lobb,  Joseph. 

Little,  Thomas. 

Lynam,  John. 

Lynam,  Phillip. 

Lightfoot,  Wm.,  ast 

Little,  Robert 

Lyttle,  SamueL 

Langley,  Thomas. 

Leaforge,  Bei^. 

Lea,  James,  Jr. 

Lewis,  Samnel,  est 

Lawrence,  Isaac. 

Lewdin,  John,  est. 

Ltghtfoot,  Thomas. 

Lock,  Andrew. 

Lowens,  George. 

Lea,  Mark. 

Lyon,  Andrew. 

Leary,  John. 

Lambs,  Wm.,  est. 

Lous,  James. 

Little,  Heniy. 

Lynam,  John. 

Lownes,  Hugh. 

Lownes,  Sarah  and  Mary,  est. 

McKinly,  John. 

McGarrah,  Robert. 

Means,  Hugh. 

McHicken,  John. 

McCahnont,  John,  est. 

McGalmont,  David. 

McDowells,  Sarah,  est. 

Marshall,  John. 

Miers,  Jacob. 

Marshall,  James,  est 

Means,  Samnel,  est. 

Morris,  Joseph,  est. 

Metts^  Henry. 

Mendinghall,  Bei\j. 

Millar,  Alex.,  est 

Milener,  John. 

Milener,  Nathan. 

Minshall.  Qrifflth. 

McCollough,  James,  est. 

Moore,  William. 

Morton,  Samuel,  est. 

Moorkell,  James,  est 


Matson,  Jonas. 
Marshall,  Wm.,  est 
Murdock,  Patrick. 
McKeyer,  Wm. 
McCalla,  Robert 
McKever,  Hngh. 
Meredith,  Walter. 
McConnell,  John. 
Moore,  Samnel  P. 
McGinnis,  Casparus,  est. 
MUlar,  Wm. 
Martin,  John. 
May,  Thomas. 
McLean,  Bei^. 
Meredith,  Josei>fa. 
McGellans,  James,  est. 
Marshall,  James,  est 
Moore,  John. 
Mendinghall,  £11. 
Mason,  John. 
McMeal,  Valentine. 
Mendinghall,  Thomas. 
McCowne,  Edward, 
McCloud,  John. 
Moore,  Richard,  est 
Morriss,  Job. 
Merriott,  Joseph. 
Moorhead,  Samuel,  est. 
Milener,  Samnel. 
McCloud,  Richard. 
Morton,  Robert,  est 

Meredith, ,  est 

Mason,  John,  est 
McNight,  Robert 
Miller,  Thomas. 
Miller,  John. 
Morriss,  Andrew. 
Mason,  Thomas,  est. 
McCalmont,  Janie& 

McCloud, ,  est. 

Murray,  Daniel,  est. 
McColUun,  James. 
McConnell,  John. 
Mason,  Thos.,  est 
McKnight,  James. 
McBride,  Samuel,  est. 
Moore,  Thomas. 
McKee,  William. 
McLane,  Charles. 
Merriott,  Thomasi 
McKim,  Wm. 
McCord,  Richard. 
McCollough,  James. 
McIWane,  John. 
Morland,  Richard. 
Mitchell,  Jacob. 
Matson,  Moses. 
Montgomery,  James. 

McGlashin, . 

McClogg,  Samuel. 
Mason,  Captain,  est 
Minshall,  Ann,  est. 
MsNeeley,  Francis. 
McCrackin,  Alex. 
McBrlde,  Samnel,  est. 
McCollone,  James. 
McConnelly,  John. 
McClelands,  James,  est. 
McKennan,  James. 
Moore,  James. 
Naff,  Henry. 
Naff,  Hance,  Sr. 
Naff,  Hance,  Jr. 
Neill.  Wm. 
Nilson,  David. 
Nickles,  Thomas. 
Nickles,  Samnel. 
NUes,  Hexekiah. 


Nigle,  Wm. 
Nibmar,  John. 
Norrid,  Daniel. 
Neil,  John. 
Kewling.  Ellis. 
Nox,  Gilbert. 
Nickles,  Amor. 
Newlin,  Cyma, 
Nox,  Gill«. 
Nilson,  George,  est 
OTlinn,  Patrick. 
Osbom,  Samuel,  est 
Ogle,  Thomas,  est 
Osbum,  Peter,  est 
Obford,  John. 
Otler,  Abner. 
Osburn,  James. 
Ogle,  Charles. 
Pierce,  Rebert,  8r. 
Perreys,  John,  est 
Paulson,  John,  est 
Paulson,  Peter. 
Paulson,  Charles. 
Paulson,  Jacob. 
Pierce,  Robert,  Jr. 
Pain,  John. 
Porter,  John. 
Peterman,  Bei^. 
Phillips,  John. 
Porter,  Alex. 
Phillips,  Robert 
Peech,  Wm. 
Peterson,  Peter. 
PlurJght  Wm. 
Pennock,  Lewis,  est 
Painter,  Samuel. 
Phillips,  Nathl. 
Park,  David. 
Petermwi,  George. 
Paschall,  Henry. 
Poole,  Wm. 
Preston,  Wm. 
Phillips,  Samuel. 
Phillips,  Wm. 
Parker,  James. 
Poole,  Joseph. 
Park,  Robert. 
Pritchett  Jesse. 
Park,  Captain. 
Pyle,  Jonathan. 
Pyle,  Joseph. 
Paulson,  Levi. 
Patterson,  Thomas. 
Quentance,  Joseph. 
Quentance,  John. 
Quain,  Thomas. 
Reece,  John,  est. 
Reynolds,  Henry. 
Richardson,  Richard. 
Richardson,  John. 
Robertson,  Robert,  est. 
Robertson,  Wm. 
Robertson,  Nicholas. 
Robinson,  James,  est. 
Robinson,  Francis. 
Robinson,  Jacob. 
Robinson,  Jonathan. 
Robinson,  John. 
Rumford,  Jonathan. 
Robinson,  Thomas. 
Reynolds,  Joseph. 
Russell,  James. 
Rodgers,  John. 
Richardson,  Sarah,  est 
Robinson,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Rothwell,  Bei^.,  est 
Robinson,  James.  Jr. 
Richards,  Nathl. 


Ray,  Moses. 

Robinson,  Wm.  (skinner). 
Reynolds,  James. 
Read,  Timothy. 
Ray,  John. 
Ray,  Joseph 
Richardson,  Captain. 
Robinson,  Robert 
Reynolds,  Thomas. 
Robinson,  Job. 
Robinet,  John. 
Rodgers,  John. 
Richards,  Thomas. 
Reynolds,  Abram. 
Rambo,  Andrew. 
Rambo,  John. 
Rambo,  Daniel. 
Richardson,  Ann,  eat 
Reece.  Thomas. 
Robinson,  Frank. 
Stidham,  Jonas,  Sr. 
Seal,  Caleb. 
Stroud,  Thomas. 
Speakman,  George. 
Shipley,  Wm. 
Shipley,  Thomas. 
Shipley,  Joseph. 
Shipley,  Samuel. 
Sinnex,  Henry, 
Sharplees,  Caleb. 
Seathom,  John. 
Shallcroas,  Joseph. 
Sperrey,  John. 
Springer,  Joseph. 
Springer,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Springer,  Jacob,  est 
Smith,  Thomas. 
Springer,  Slator. 
Springer,  Charles  and  son. 
Springer,  John. 
Sballcross,  Peter,  est. 
Stapler,  John. 
Stidham,  Joseph. 
Stidham,  Jonas,  Jr. 
Stidham,  Cornelius. 
Stameast,  Hance. 
Stitley,  John. 
Stow,  John. 
Sbewards.  QUeb,  est. 
Starr,  Isaac. 
Stone,  Lewis. 
Starr,  Wm. 
Smith,  James  (miller). 
Seal,  Joshua. 
Sumerell,  Joseph. 
Simmonds,  Wm. 
Stem,  George. 
Smith,  Wm.,  est. 
Serrell,  John. 
Sellars,  Nicholas. 
Spragg,  John. 
Stitley,  John,. Jr. 
Sballcross,  James. 
Sbeward,  James. 
Smith,  Ebenezer. 
Scott,  Absalom. 
Starret,  Robert 
Stilley,  Andrew. 
Sandham,  Richard. 
Springer,  Gaber'l,  est 
Springer,  Charles  and  son. 
SUver,  Phillip. 
Sinnex,  John,  est. 
Stidham,  John. 
Smith,  George. 
Shallcro«,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Scothron,  Isaac 
Stinson,  James. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


885 


Starr,  Itoac,  Jr. 
Stfdham,  Jodm. 
Sharp,  Wm. 
Simmon^  John. 
Sloan,  Jamet. 
Stroad,  Abel. 
Smith,  Francifl,  flit. 
Smith,  Bichard. 
Smith,  Jamflaw 
Shii^ey,  Joseph. 
Springer,  Jamet. 
Sellara,  George. 
Sellan,  Jacob. 
Sel  Ian,  John. 
Springer,  Wm, 
Springer,  John. 
Shocker,  Charlee. 
Sharplees,  Thomas,  «tt 
Spencer,  John. 
Smith,  Wm. 
Simoeon,  Wm. 
Stow,  Thomas. 
Staymaker,  Matthias. 
Shaw,  Archibald. 
Tomlinson,  John,  est. 
Taylor,  Wm. 
Townsend,  Joseph. 
Thompson,  Hugh. 
TnBBey8,Wm. 
Tbelwell,  John. 
Troth,  Heniy. 
Tatnalls,  Joseph,  est. 
Trip,  John. 
Todd,  Joshna. 
Thomas,  Joseph,  est. 
Taylor,  Robert. 
Temple,  Wm. 
Temple,  Thomas. 
Tomlinsen,  Joseph. 
Todd,  Thomas. 
Taylor,  John. 
Thomson,  NathL 
Thomson,  Samoel. 
Thomas,  Arthur. 
Twedey,  Simon. 
Taylor,  Ambros. 
Tapley,  Robert. 
Tomlinson,  James. 
Taylor,  George. 
Tryon,  David,  est 

Thompson,  John. 

Toye,  John. 

Thompson,  William. 

Tanyard,  John. 

Thomas,  Hugh. 

Underwood,  William. 

Underwood,  Isaac 

Yaneman,  William,  Est. 

Vertt,  Frederick. 

Tanport,  James. 

Yaneman,  Andrew. 

Ylckery, . 

Yaloeman,  John,  est 

Yaneman,  John. 

YInIng,  John. 

Way,  John. 

Weems,  John. 

Wallace,  Thomas,  est. 

Wilson,  George. 

Watt,  John. 

Walker,  Ralph. 

Whitelock,  Isaac,  est. 

Woodcock.  Bancroft. 

WalraTsn,  WalraTsn. 

White,  Peter. 

Williamson,  Geoi^e. 


Williamson,  Walter. 
Williams,  James. 
Wallace,  Thomas. 
Walraven,  Jnsta. 
Walters,  William. 
Walraven,  Lucas. 
Walker,  Andrew. 
Warner, 'Joseph. 
Way,  Francis. 
Way,  Joseph,  est. 
Way.  Nicholas. 
Websler,  John. 
West,  Joseph. 
Wilson,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Wilson,  Thomas. 
Wilson,  William, 
Wilson,  Christopher,  est. 
Wood,  Nathaniel. 
Woodcock,  William,  est 
Woodward,  Mordica. 
Windle,  David,  est 
Williamson,  Adam. 
Wilson,  Wm.  (shop-keeper).  _; 
White,  John. 
Warner,  James. 
Whitzell,  George. 
Webster,  John. 
Waggon,  Joseph,  est 
Weaver,  Henry. 
Walraven,  Peter. 
Way,  Galeb. 
Watson,  Thomas. 
Walraven,  Jesse. 
Woodcock,  William. 
WUUam,  Thomas,  est 
Wood,  John. 
Walraven,  Levi. 
Welsh,  Margaret,  est 
Wlngate,  Daniel. 
Wilson,  Stephen. 
White,  William. 
Woodcock,  Isaac. 
Way,  John,  est 
Wilson,  Carson. 
Webb,  Joshua. 
Wollaaton,  Jeremiah. 
Wilson,  Thomas. 
Wilson,  SxekieL 
White,  John. 
WoIIaston,  Joshua. 
Wilkinson,  William. 
Whaler,  James. 
Wallace,  John. 
Wallace,  Samuel. 
Wolfe,  Michael,  Jr. 
Wolfe,  Michael,  Sr. 
Wood,  WllUam. 
Watinougb,  James. 
Webb,  Joshua,  Jr. 
Whitelock,  Charles,  est. 
Wilkinson,  DanleL 
Wade,  Thomas. 
Wormsley,  Thomas,  est. 
Wildan,  James. 
Wisly,  William. 
Woodcock,  SamueL 
Tamall,  John. 
Yeatman,  Andrew. 
Tamall,Ellzabeth  and  Esther, 
est 

Young, . 

Tarnall,  Benjamin. 
Yearsley,  Thomas. 
Teates,  John. 
Zane,  JoeL. 


The  hundred  is  well  supplied  with  highways  and 


railroads,  some  of  the  former  dating  from  the  settle- 
ment of  the  country,  though  somewhat  modified  as  to 
their  course  in  later  years.  In  1783  the  road  from 
Garrett's  to  the  Hockessin  meeting-house  was  laid 
out,  and  the  road  from  the  Brandy  wine  to  intersect 
this  was  located  in  1795.  Prior  to  this  time  the  roadu 
which  afterwards  hecame  turnpikes  were  located,  ex- 
cepting the  modification  of  their  course  when  they 
became  improved  highways  The  Kennett  pike  was 
built  in  1812,  and  the  Lancaster  pike  at  a  later  pe- 
riod, both  being  excellent  roads  before  railways 
removed  the  necessity  for  their  use  for  other  than 
local  travel.  In  1887  they  were  practically  common 
highways,  many  of  the  toll-gates  having  been  re- 
moved. 

The  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Rail- 
road was  built  through  the  hundred  in  1831,  and 
later,  the  Wilmington  and  Northern,  in  1869  and 
1870,  the  Wilmington  and  Western  in  1872,  and  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  in  1886.  The  last  two  roads 
are  operated  as  one  system,  thus  afibrdiog  ex- 
tended facilities  for  the  many  industrial  estab- 
Ibhments  which  have  been  located  in  the  hundred 
on  the  opposite  banks  of  the  Brandywine  and  Bed 
Clay  Creeks.  Both  streams  have  been  well  spanned 
by  bridges,  the  most  important  ones  having  been 
built  on  the  Brandywine,  at  Smith's  Ford,  in  1816 ; 
at  Young  &  Kirk's  Ford,  in  1818 ;  Manufacturers 
Bridge,  in  1832 ;  on  the  Red  Clay,  at  PhUip's  Mill, 
after  1802 ;  and  at  other  points  on  the  same  stream 
at  later  periods.  Some  of  these  were  replaced  by 
very  substantial  structures  and  are  more  fully  noted 
elsewhere. 

Manufacturing  Interests.—Iu  1804  the  fol- 
lowing iudustries  were  reported  in  the  hundred,  in- 
cluding those  of  Newport  as  well  as  some  at  Wilming- 
ton : 

Jonali  Anderson •* hatter-shop 

Jacob  Anderson large  apple-orchard 

James  Bryan wharf  and  store 

BobertBratten smith-shop 

Samuel  and  David  Bush wharf  and  store 

Hadden  A  Chandler tavern 

Samuel  Oanby two  grist-mills 

Morton  Canby barley-mill 

William  Dixon stone  grist-mill 

Bumford  Dawes .grist  and  saw-miU 

E.  I.  du  Pont powder-works 

Vincent  Otipin stone  mill 

Fisher,  Gilpin  &  Co stone  paper-mill 

Samuel  Qraves saw-miU 

Capt.  Henry  Geddes brick  still-house 

Levi  Garrett ^ snuff-mill 

H.  G.Garrett paper-miU 

John  Hedge „ rope-walk 

William  Hemphill wharf  and  stores 

Job  Harvey grist-mill 

Capt  James  Jeffries grist-mill 

William  Kirk brick-kiln 

Caleb  Kirk „...„ grist,  saw  and  fulling  mills 

James  Latimer  &  Co wharf  and  store 

Joshua  Lobb grist-mill 

John  Morton two  grist-mills 

Thomas  Meredith tan-yard 

David  McCalmont wharf  and  store 

James  Philips oldgrls^mill  and  saw-mill 

Phoebe  Pemberton grist  and  saw-mill 

John  Richardson » grist  and  saw-mill 

John  Smith tan-yard 

Jonas  H.  Starr tan-yard 

Thomas  Springer tavern 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Jo06ph  Shipley grist-mill 

William  Seal tan-yard 

Joseph  Wilkinson tan-yard 

Francis  Way malt-bouse 

John  Worthington tavern 

George  Wetzel wharf  and  shops 

John  Warner wharf  and  store 

William  Wilson saw-mill 

Many  of  these  properties  chaDged  ownership  in  the 
course  of  the  next  two  decades  and  others  fell  into 
disuse.  In  1822  the  principal  interests  in  the  hun- 
dred were  owned  by  the  following : 

Joseph  Bringhurst cotton  factory 

Brandy  wine  Mill  Seat  Company. 

Caleb  Baldwin's  Est air  fnmace 

David  Bush wharf,  store  and  lumber-yard 

John  Cummings*  Est grist-mill 

Samuel  Canby grist-mill 

John  DixoD*s  Est wharf  and  store 

Deleplaine,  McCall  &  Co cotton  factory 

E.  L  du  Pont. powder-mills 

John  Qregg warehouse 

Joshua  and  Thomas  Gilpin paper  fitctory 

Job  Harvey's  Est wharf  and  store 

George  Hodgson's  Est mill  seat 

Edward  Hamilton's  Est tavern 

Caleb  Harlan's  Est .\..old  "White  Horse  Tavern  " 

Caleb  Kirk grist  and  barley-mills 

Thomas  Lea,  Jr grist-mill 

Thomas  Lea's  Est cotton  factory 

Evan  Lewis tan-yard 

Joshua  Lobb grist  and  saw-mills 

John  Morton's  Est » grist-mill 

Morton,  Canby  &  Co barley-mills 

John  McCalmont's  Est wharf  and  store 

McLane  &  Milligan cotton  factory 

Thomas  and  William  Morrison malt-house 

McLane  &  Herscy tan-yard 

Charles  Plumley tavern 

James  Philips grist  and  saw-mill 

Joseph  Richardson grist-mill 

Jonathan  J.  Robinson wharf  and  store 

Samuel  and  Joseph  Shipley grist-mill 

Thomas  Seal tan-yard 

Caleb  Sherward brew-house 

Joshua  Strand piaster-mill 

Thomas  Springer tavern 

William  Twaddle tavern 

Edward  Worrell wharf  and  store 

Jameq  Webb tun-yard 

Benjamin  Wade tan-yard 

After  a  lapse  of  more  than  thirty  years  a  great  many 
of  the  foregoing  industries  had  ceased  to  exist,  and 
others  had  passed  under  new  management.  But  if 
the  number  of  the  establishments  was  less,  the  pro- 
duct and  value  were  far  greater  on  account  of  the  im- 
proved machinery  and  better  methods  employed.  The 
manufacturing  interests  became  the  most  important 
factors  in  the  industrial  history  of  the  community 
and  have  ever  since  so  continued. 

In  1854  the  most  important  industries  were  : 

Alexander  H.  Adams grist-mill 

Joseph  Bancroft Rockford  Cotton  Mill,  28  Tenements 

Cbas.  L  du  Pont  Est Rokeby  Factory 

E.  I.  du  Pont  A  Co..  Upper  Powder  Mills,  25  Tenements ;  Hag- 
ley  Powder  Mill,  28  Tenements ;  Henry  Clay  Factory ; 
barley  mill ;  Squirrel  Run  Mill. 

Wm.  E.  Garrett two  snuff-mills 

Samuel  Richardson grist  and  saw-mills 

Riddle  &  Lawrence cotton  factory,  52  Tenements 

Most  of  these  are  now  classed  as  industries  on 
"  Brandy  wine  Bank,"  and  are  elsewhere  specially 
mentioned. 

At  Rockland,  Caleb  Kirk  began  his  improvements 
about  1795,  building  the  large  stone  mansion  near  the 
grist- mill  in  1797.    The  fulling-mill  on  Wilson's  Run 


had  been  built  by  Thomas  Hollingsworth  at  an  earlier 
period.  The  saw-mill  was  on  the  sit«  of  the  present 
Le  Carpentier  grist-mill.  In  the  course  of  years  the 
Kirk  grist-mill  was  sold  to  the  Young  family  who 
operated  it  in  connection  with  their  interests  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Brandy  wine  a  number  of  years, 
but  finally  turned  it  to  other  uses.  About  1812  Caleb 
Kirk  put  up  a  cotton  factory,  higher  up  on  Wilson's 
Run,  and  operated  the  same  eight  or  ten  years.  Sub- 
sequently this  stone  building  was  used  as  a  tin-smith 
shop,  large  quanti.ies  of  ware  being  there  made.  It 
is  still  standing  on  the  Le  Carpentier  place,  serving 
as  a  farm  building.  This  was  one  of  the  first  cotton 
factories  in  the  State,  but  was  unfavorably  located  for 
extensive  business. 

William  Wilson's  old  saw-mill,  built  in  the  last 
century,  was  more  than  a  mile  up  the  Run.  About 
1885  Jesse  Chandler  put  up  a  new  mill  which  was 
soon  after  burned  down,  In  1854  Alexander  H. 
Adams  had  a  grist-mill  at  thb  site,  which  is  still 
standing,  as  the  property  of  the  du  Pont  family.  The 
water  power  being  weak,  it  has  a  small  capacity. 

For  its  volume  Red  Clay  Creek  affords  a  number  o  f 
excellent  powers,  which  were  improved  and  utilized 
soon  after  the  settlement  of  that  section  of  the  hun- 
dred. One  of  the  oldest  sites  in  Christiana  is  that 
which  has  so  long  been  the  property  of  the  Garrett 
family.  As  early  as  1749  John  Garrett,  Jr.,  was 
granted  title  to  some  of  this  land,  by  the  will  of  his 
father,  while  another  son,  Thomas,  in  the  same  way, 
became  the  owner  of  property  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred. 
In  1771  this  mill  is  spoken  of  as  being  near  John 
Garrett's,  on  the  Okesson  Road."  Since  1782  the  for- 
mer has  been  employed  to  operate  snuff  mills,  and 
from  a  small  beginning,  on  the  site  of  the  old  mill, 
have  grown  the  extensive  works,  operated  in  1887,  as 
the  business  of  Wm.  E.  Garrett  &  Sons.  The  pro- 
perty extends  half  a  mile  along  the  creek,  from  York- 
lyn  Station  down  the  stream,  and  the  buildings  were 
erected  as  business  increased.  In  1846,  No.  1  mill 
was  built  of  stone  three  stories  high,  but  has  been  re- 
modeled and  much  improved  since  that  time.  What 
is  now  known  as  Mill  No.  4,  on  the  lower  site,  a  four- 
story  stone  building  was  erected  in  1849,  the  brick 
addition  being  built  at  a  later  day.  No.  2  mill  was 
put  up  in  1874,  and  No.  4  in  1884.  Both  are  four 
stories  high,  the  latter  being  of  brick.  Nos.  1,  2  and 
3  are  all  connected,  and,  since  1874,  the  water  power 
has  been  supplemented  by  steam.  In  1872  shipping 
facilities  were  offered  at  Yorklyn,  by  the  Western 
Railroad,  (completed  that  year)  and,  since  1884, 
goods  have  been  loaded  at  the  warehouse  at  the  mills, 
from  which  a  siding  was  built  to  the  main  track. 
Like  facilities  are  afforded  at  the  lower  mill.  Since 
January,  1857,  the  manager  of  the  upper  mill  has  been 
Israel  Durham,  and  J.  L.  Press,  manager  of  the  lower 
mills,  having  succeeded  William  Press.  The  mills 
are  supplied  with  improved  machinery  for  manufac- 
turing cut  snuff,  which  has  a  high  reputation  in  the 
home  and  foreign  markets.    The  plant  also  embraces 


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several  mansioiiB  and  tenements  and  the  property  is 
kept  in  excellent  order. 

Above  Garrett's  is  a  manufaoturing  site  called  Au- 
burn, and  also  formerly  known  as  Pusey's  Mills,  foe 
spinning  cotton.  After  the  late  war  the  property 
passed  into  the  hands  of  William  Clark,  who  operated 
the  mill  on  woolen  yams,  working  in  connection  with 
Henry  Clark's  mills,  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred.  In 
1869  the  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  has  not  been 
rebuilt.  The  plant  also  included  a  number  of  substan- 
tial tenements. 

At  Ashland  Station,  below  Garrett's,  is  a  grist-mill, 
which  includes  a  part  of  a  building  put  up  in  1715. 
A  stone  mansion  near  by,  it  is  believed,  was  built  the 
same  year,  while  the  brick  house  on  the  hill  was 
erected  by  W.  &  M.  Gregg  in  1737.  At  that  time 
they  also  owned  the  mill.  Later  owners  were  B. 
Philips  and  John  C.  Philips,  but  since  1862  the 
property  has  belonged  to  A.  &  J.  D.  Sharpless.  In 
1883  the  mill  was  supplied  with  roller  machinery. 

Lower  down  the  creek,  and  at  the  lowest  seat  on 
the  stream,  on  the  Christiana  side,  is  the  old  grist- 
mill of  Joshua  Lobb,  which  was  also  long  owned  by 
the  Speakman  family.  James  Wilson  is  the  present 
owner.  The  mill  has  been  enlarged,  but  is  confined 
to  custom  work.  A  machine-shop  formerly  carried 
on  at  this  place  has  been  abandoned. 

Near  the  mouth  of  Burris  Bun  Hayes  Graves  is 
the  owner  of  a  saw -mill,  which  occupies  an  old  site ; 
and  higher  up  the  same  stream,  near  the  Pennsylva- 
nia line,  W.  Passmore  has  built  a  grist-mill  within 
recent  years.  A  site  still  higher  up  has  been  va- 
cated. 

The  old  Dixon  Mill,  on  Dixon's  Bun,  a  very  aged 
structure,  is  still  used  in  a  small  way  as  the  property 
of  the  Edwin  Griffith  estate ;  and  on  Mill  Creek  re- 
mains the  time-honored  laud-mark  of  Bichardson's 
Mill,  for  more  than  a  century  the  property  of  that 
family.    Its  capacity  is  also  small. 

The  business  interests  of  the  hundred,  outside  of 
Newport,  and  what  is  now  comprised  within  the 
limits  of  Wilmington,  are  confined  to  a  few  small 
villages,  of  which 

CentrevtUe  is  the  most  important.  It  has  a  very 
pleasant  location,  on  the  Kennett  Pike,  seven  miles 
from  Wilmington,  on  a  tract  of  land  said  to  be  the 
highest  in  the  State.  There  are  a  number  of  fine 
residences,  a  good  public  hall,  several  stores  and  an 
inn.  In  the  locality  are  houses  of  worship  belonging 
to  the  Friends  and  the  Presbyterians,  and  some  old 
mansions,  on  highly  improved  farms,  this  being  one 
of  the  richest  sections  of  the  hundred. 

Centreville  was  an  active  business  point  sixty  years 
ago,  and  had  in  1821  a  good  store,  kept  by  James 
Delaplaine,  who  prospered  there  as  a  merchant. 
William  Todd  and  Ezekiel  Bailey  each  had  good 
inns;  and  there  were  mechanics  of  all  kinds,  among 
them  being  John  McCullough,  blacksmith;  Benjamin 
HoUingsworth  and  Bernard  Dalton,  carpenters; 
Joseph  HoUingsworth,  wheelwright;  John  Kitchen, 


stone  mason ;  Levi  Walker  and  Henry  Jefiers, 
farmers;  and  George  Matson,  drover. 

The  inns  were  taxed  to  their  uttermost  to  accommo- 
date all  the  guests,  as  many  as  fifty  teams  stopping  in 
one  night.  Liquor  was  freely  used,  and  also  sold  at 
the  store  to  the  extent  of  a  wagon-load  per  week. 
The  Bailey  stand  has  been  discontinued,  but  where 
William  and  (later)  Bebecca  Todd  entertained  the 
public,  stands  a  hotel  remodeled  and  enlarged  by 
James  Lancaster.  An  early  innkeeper  at  this  place 
was  a  member  of  the  Twaddle  family.  Near  the 
State  line  Charles  Twaddle  was  the  keeper  of  a  pub- 
lic house,  which  has  long  since  been  closed,  but  was 
a  long  time  famous  as  the  "  Delaware  and  Pennsyl- 
vania Inn." 

At  the  Delaplaine  stand  Thomas  Dalton  engaged 
in  trade  in  1846,  and  continued  until  1877,  when  he 
removed  to  his  present  place  of  business,  in  Odd  Fel- 
lows' Hall.  He  is  now  (1888)  one  of  the  oldest  mer- 
chants in  the  county,  and  is  also  the  postmaster  of  the 
Centreville  office. 

In  1887  W.  C.  B.  Colquhoun  was  the  druggist  of 
the  village  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Chandler  the  resident  phy- 
sician. His  predecessors  in  this  profession  were 
Doctors  J.  P.  Chandler,  George  Hamilton  and  a 
number  of  others  for  short  periods,  some  of  them  also 
eminent  practitioners. 

On  the  Kennett  Pike,  below  Centreville,  was  the 
"  Blue  Ball  Inn,"  a  well-known  hostelry  in  the  early 
part  of  the  century,  which  was  long  kept  by  the 
Hamilton  family.  It  was  removed,  after  the  era  of 
travel  on  the  turnpike,  and  a  farm-house  marks  its 
site.  The  '*Buck  Tavern,"  lower  down  the  road, 
where  Peter  Hendrickson  long  dispensed  hospitality, 
has  also  passed  away ;  and  the  '*  Columbus  Inn,"  on 
the  same  road,  is  within  the  present  limits  of  Wil- 
mington. 

At  Du  Pout's  Works  goods  have  been  sold  by  An- 
drew Fontaine,  Jonathan  Shipley,  James  Brattenand 
Victor  Sterling.  Since  1866  merchandising  in  con- 
nection with  his  business  at  the  old  hotel  and  store- 
stand  of  William  S.  Fleming,  where  he  has  traded 
since  1875.  This  old  building  is  a  landmark,  and 
was  enlarged  to  its  present  size  in  1820.  Lower  down 
the  creek,  and  near  Wilmington,  is  Rising  Sun,  a 
locality  which  took  its  name  from  the  old  public- 
house  of  Patrick  Higgins,  long  kept  at  that  point. 
It  was  converted  into  a  residence  and  a  more  preten- 
tious inn  opened,  which  is  known  as  the  '' Jefierson 
House,"  and  having  Thomas  Toy  as  the  proprietor. 
In  this  manufacturing  village  several  stores  are  main- 
tained, and  mail  facilities  are  afibrded  by  the  Henry 
Clay  post-office,  which  was  established  at  the  factory 
of  that  name.  It  was  long  kept  at  the  drug-store 
of  John  Wood,  but  since  1886  Timothy  McCarthy 
has  been  the  postmaster,  keeping  the  office  at  his 
place  of  business.  Nearer  the  city  is  the  suburbs  of 
Highlands,  on  a  commanding  tract  of  land,  platted 
into  town  lots  by  the  Brinckle  family.  The  first 
residence  was  here  put  up  in  1873  by  John  S.  Miller. 


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HISTOKY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Above  the  clustering  hamleta  along  the  Brandy- 
wine  is  Greenville,  a  post-office  and  station  on  the 
W.  and  N.  R.  R.,  where  it  crosses  the  Kennett  Pike. 
The  office  was  established  in  1871  with  W.  R. 
Brinckle  as  postmaster,  who  also  engaged  in  business 
at  this  point  as  a  coal  and  lumber  dealer.  In  1887 
Charles  Green  was  associated  with  him  in  carrying  on 
this  trade.  A  similar  business  at  Silver  Brook  has 
been  carried  on  since  1882  by  C.  F.  White  &  Bros. 

On  the  Western  Railroad  post-offices  are  main- 
tained at  Ashland,  J.  D.  Sharpless,  postmaster,  and 
at  Yorklyn,  at  the  store  of  E.  H.  Dennison,  who  suc- 
ceeded James  W.  Robinson  in  trade  at  Auburn  Mills. 
Other  parties  had  merchandized  at  this  place ;  and  in 
other  localities  of  the  hundred  small  places  of  busi- 
ness have  been  established  which  have  not  attained 
the  character  of  a  hamlet. 

CentervUle  Lodge,  No,  37,  /.  0,  0,  /!— This  society 
received  its  charter  December  10,  1874,  and  was 
formally  instituted  June,  13,  1875,  with  the  following 
principal  officers  :  N.  G.,  Francis  Green  ;  V.  G., 
Joseph  Pyle ;  R.  S.,  George  W.  Ely  ;  F.  S.,  Dr. 
Joseph  H.    Chandler :  Treas.,  Wm.  Carpenter. 

At  the  first  meeting  six  persons  applied  for  member- 
ship, and  five  months  later  the  number  belonging  had 
been  increased  to  sixty-one  pe]:sons.  The  lodge  has 
had  a  flourishing  existence  reporting  one  hundred  and 
thirteen  members  in  1886,  when  the  aggregate 
belonging  has  reached  one  hundred  and  sixty-two. 
Its  finances  have  always  been  on  a  good  basis,  more 
than  four  thousand  dollars  being  invested  for  the 
good  of  the  order,  and  about  three  thousand  dollars 
have  been  paid  for  sick  benefits.  The  principal  offi- 
cers are  :  Dr.  J.  Harvey  Day,  Noble  Grand ;  Benard 
Dalton,  F.  8. ;  Dr.  Chandler  and  A.  B.  Entriken, 
trustees. 

The  meetings  are  held  in  the  third-story  of  Center- 
ville  Hall,  a  brick  edifice  twenty-eight  by  forty-five 
feet,  erected  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars, by  an  association  formed  for  this  purpose.  The 
second-story  of  this  building  forms  a  public  hall,  and 
the  lower  floor  is  used  for  business  purposes.  The 
directing  members  of  the  Association  in  1887,  were 
Joseph  H.  Chandler,  J.  Paulson  Chandler,  A.  B.  En- 
triken, Wm.  L.  Dilworth,  James  L.  Carpenter  and 
James  Dilworth. 

Washington  Conclave,  I,  0,  of  H,,  was  insti- 
tuted in  the  above  hall,  February  22,  1886,  with 
twenty-one  members.  In  1887,  there  were  thirty-five 
persons  belonging,  having  as  officers  :  James  H.  Car- 
penter, A.  W.  Wilson,  W.  S.  Talley,  W.  C.  R.  Colqu- 
houn,  B.  Dalton,  A.  B.  Entriken,  Joseph  H.  Chand- 
ler and  J.  Harvey  Day.  This  order  is  purely  benefi- 
ciary. 

Center  Orange,  No,  11,  P.  of  H.,  was  organized  at 
Centerville,  fifteen  years  ago.  and  has  maintained 
regular  meetings  ever  since.  In  this  period  there 
have  been  seasons  of  growth  and  declining  interest, 
but  in  1887  there  were  thirty  members  and  the  affairs 


were  in  good  condition.  Meetings  were  held  in  Cen- 
terville Hall. 

Eagle  Lodge,  No,  36,  /.  0.  0.  F,,  was  instituted  at 
du  Pout's  Mills,  under  a  charter  granted  December 
15, 1874,  to  the  following  persons  •  William  Allison, 
Jonas  W.  Miller,  James  A.  Stirling,  Robert  Gamble, 
Samuel  Kelley,  Wm.  R.  Wood,  Samuel  J.  Davis,  John 
Ball,  Jr.,  John  Q.  Stirling,  John  Rumer,  Neal 
Conley,  Joseph  Knox. 

In  1887  it  had  a  vigorous  membership,  and  was  on  a 
good  basis  financially.  Thid  Lodge  is  an  offiihoot  of 
Brandt/wine  Lodge,  No.  18,  /.  0.  0.  R,  which  was  in- 
stituted lower  down  the  creek  in  October,  1847.  Its 
meetings  have  been  regularly  maintained  since  that 
period,  and  the  membership  has  generally  been  large. 
In  1887  the  number  reached  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
two,  the  majority  of  whom  were  in  good  standing. 
Since  1871  the  meetings  have  been  held  in  a  spacious, 
well  furnished  lodge-room,  which  is  also  occupied  by 
other  societies.  The  Lodge  has  a  fund  of  three  thous- 
and six  hundred  dollars,  and  has  been  an  important 
social  factor  in  the  community.  The  trustees  in  1887 
were  Sam'l  Moore,  Rob't  Printer  and  Henry  Stewart. 

Here,  also,  was  held  the  meeting  of  Union  Encamp- 
ment, No.  7,  which  yielded  up  its  organization  in  1878, 
although  having  at  that  time  twenty-one  members. 
Its  dissolution  was  caused  by  simple  lack  of  interest 
and  nearness  to  Wilmington. 

Du  Pont  Lodge,  JVo.  29,  A.  F.  &  A,  M,,  was  institu- 
tuted  under  a  warrant  granted  October  4,  1876,  and 
had  as  its  First  Master,  John  Taylor.  Other  Past 
Masters  are  :  James  Fisher,  William  H.  Miller,  John 
S.  Miller,  John  Q.  Stirling  and  B.  F.  Sheppard.  The 
lodge  has  prospered,  and  had  fifty  members  in  1887. 

Wawaset  Tribe,  No.  9,  /.  0.  of  R,  M,,  was  instituted 
July  19,  1871,  with  eighteen  charter  members,  and 
the  following  principal  officers  :  G.  H.  Dugdale,  R. 
0.  Green  leaf,  John  Gardner,  8.  J.  Davis,  James  A. 
Stirling  and  John  Q.  Stirling. 

The  meetings  are  held  in  Odd  Fellows  Hall,  and 
the  Tribe  has  prospered.  In  1887  there  were  sixty 
members. 

Brandytoine  Lodge,  No,  15,  JT.  of  P.,  was  instituted 
in  Brandy  wine  Hall,  July  11,  1872.  For  several 
years  the  Lodge  prospered,  but  a  lack  of  interest  fol- 
lowing the  meetings  were  discontinued,  and  the  char- 
ter surrendered.    There  were  about  thirty  members. 

Religious  Interests, — The  earliest  organized  religious 
eflbrt  was  made  by  the  Friends.  Some  of  the  first 
members  of  the  Newark  Meeting  in  Brandywine  Hun- 
dred, lived  in  Christiana  and  were  regular  attendants 
of  those  meetings  until  1687.  In  that  year  George 
Harlan  and  others  petitioned  to  have  a  meeting  on  the 
west  side  of  the  stream,  in  winter,  on  account  of  the 
**  dangerousness  of  the  ford,"  which  they  would  have 
to  cross.  In  1690  the  Meeting  established  a  short 
time  previously  became  permanent,  and  in  1708  a 
small  wooden  church  was  built  for  its  accommoda- 
tion. Monthly  Meetings  had  also  been  established, 
and  alternated  with  Newark  until  they  were  then 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


889 


abandoned,  when  they  were  held  in  connection  with 
Kennett  Square,  and,  in  later  years,  with  Hockeesin. 
In  1794  the  need  of  a  larger  and  better  meeting-house 
caused  the  members  to  unite  their  subscriptions  to 
build  the  same,  as  follows : 

£    «. 

Bmnford  DawM ^ 6 

JwuM  Phillipg 6 

WUliam  Walter 20 

Emmon  Jeffera 6 

€Ueb  Kirk 30 

Samuel  Gregg 15 

Wmiam  Wilson 6 

Jamee  ArmatroDg 3  16 

Samuel  Nichols 15 

James  Bryan 10 

Cbrlstopher  Holling8worth» 7  10 

Richard  Meredith « ^ 6 

Thomas  Chandler 30 

Amor  Holllngsworth 3 

Jacob  Graves 16 

William  HIcklen „ ^ 16 

Joseph  Pierson „..., I  10 

Stephen  Logne 16 

Thomas  Holllngsworth ....11     6 

Daniel  Nichols „ 7  10 

Thomas  Wilson 7  10 

Jemima  Stanley 16 

8i:x  acres  of  land  were  deeded  by  Alphonso  Elirk 
for  the  use  of  the  Meeting,  upon  part  of  which  was 
built,  in  1796,  a  brick  house,  thirty  by  forty  feet, 
which  is  still  standing,  in  good  condition. 

The  graveyard  was  improved  in  1857,  and  1873,  and 
is  also  in  good  order,  being  enclosed  by  a  very  sub- 
stantial stone  wall.  On  the  eastern  part  of  the 
grounds  a  log  school  building  was  put  up  before  1800, 
which  was  replaced  with  a  stone  structure  in  1818. 
This  was  in  use  until  1854,  when  the  present  school- 
house  was  erected,  being  at  that  time  one  of  the  best 
in  the  Stat-e.  A  generous  Frenchman,  Antonia  Bid- 
derman,  donated  one  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection 
of  this  building,  being  moved  thereto  by  local  pride 
and  his  interest  in  the  cause  of  general  education. 

For  many  years  the  meetings  at  the  Centre  were 
the  occasions  of  much  edification  and  large  atten- 
dance, embracing,  in  1821,  thirty-nine  families.  In 
each  succeeding  year  the  members  became  less  in 
numbers,  owing  to  deaths  and  changes  in  population, 
until,  in  1887,  but  a  few  families  remained.  The 
monthly  meetings  were  permanently  discontinued  in 
1884. 

The  Lower  Brandy  wine  Presbyterian  Church  has  a 
history  as  an  organized  body  which  Lb  antedated  only 
by  that  of  the  Friend's  Centre  Meeting.  Its  origin 
can  be  distinctly  traced  back  to  1720,  when  the  Pres- 
byterian Synod,  assembled  in  Philadelphia,  was  asked 
to  supply  preaching  for  "  some  people  in  and  about 
Birmingham,  upon  the  Brandy  wine,''  and  when  the 
Bev.  Daniel  McGill  was  instructed  to  preach  to  this 
people  as  he  in  "  Christian  prudence  "  should  find 
occasion. 

The  Birmingham  here  spoken  of  is  the  southwest 
township  of  Delaware  County,  Penna.,  where  the  first 
meeting-house  was  built.  For  this  purpose  a  tract  of 
land  was  purchased,  October  15,  1720,  and  a  deed 
therefor  executed  to  ''John  Kirkpatrick,  James 
Houston,  James  Mole,  William  Smith,  Magnus 
57 


Simonson,  Ananias  Higgins,  John  Heath,  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Meeting  in  Birmingham."  The 
house  stood  near  the  foot  of  what  was  formerly  called 
"  Bald  Hill,"  and  was  of  hewed  logs.  Near  by  was  a 
good  spring,  which  may  have  had  something  to  do  in 
the  selection  of  this  spot,  being  a  matter  of  great  con- 
venience for  the  congregation  during  the  noon  hour. 
The  house  stood  until  1773,  and  possibly  later,  the 
exact  time  of  its  removal  being  unknown.  A  part  of 
the  half  acre  lot  was  used  for  burial  purposes,  and  an 
interment  was  made  there  as  late  as  1820.  It  has 
since  become  neglected. 

In  the  course  of  fifty  years  the  church  had  become 
dilapidated  and  too  small  to  accommodate  the  con- 
gregation, many  of  the  members  of  which  lived  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Brandywine,  while  the  meeting- 
house, as  has  been  stated,  was  on  the  east  side  of  the 
stream.  The  question  of  building  a  new  house  being 
agitated,  very  naturally  the  people  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Brandywine,  being  in  the  majority,  desired  to 
have  the  house  erected  in  their  midst  or  at  least  to 
share  honors  with  the  old  site  and  to  have  new  houses 
built  in  each  locality.  Neither  proposition  was  ac- 
cepted by  the  minority  and  the  question  of  building 
was  a  matter  of  controversy  more  than  three  years. 
In  this  period  many  of  the  members  connected  them- 
selves with  the  churches  at  Wilmington.  In  the 
mean  time  the  pastor  left  and  the  church  was  with- 
out a  regular  service  several  years,  which  had  the 
effect  of  still  more  dispersing  the  members,  and  it 
became  apparent  that  if  the  organization  was  to  be 
preserved  a  new  house  of  worship  must  be  provided. 
Accordingly  it  was  determined  to  build  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Brandywine,  and  within  the  bounds  of  the 
State  of  Delaware.  This  purpose  not  being  approved 
by  the  adherents  to  the  old  site,  that  interest  soon 
declined  and  the  old  church  passed  out  of  existence 
as  a  place  of  worship  about  1773. 

In  August,  1774,  the  distinctive  history  of  the 
present  Lower  Brandywine  Church  had  its  beginning. 
On  the  22d  of  August  of  that  year  Jeremiah  Smith 
deeded  not  quite  two  acres  of  land  to  John  Bratteo, 
George  Craghead  and  John  Armstrong,  as  trustees 
for  the  congregation,  and  the  work  of  building  a  new 
house  of  worship  was  begun.  It  was  a  small  log 
building,  but  for  many  years  accommodated  the  con- 
gregation which  cduld  not  have  had  more  than  forty 
members  when  it  was  completed.  There  was  no 
means  of  heating  the  house,  and  those  attending  had 
nothing  but  the  fervor  of  the  minister's  discourse  to 
keep  them  warm.  After  1885  the  chucrh  was  weath- 
erboarded  and  plastered,  thus  being  made  more  com- 
fortable and  inviting.  It  continued  in  use  until  the 
fall  of  1861,  when  the  new  edifice  having  been 
erected  it  was  taken  down  and  used  in  building  horse 
sheds,  but  the  ruins  of  its  foundation  may  still  be 
seen. 

The  movement  to  build  a  new  church  was  begun 
April  15, 1859,  when  a  meeting  to  determine  this  pur- 
pose was  held.    The  project  was  received  with  so 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


much  favor  that  it  was  **  Resolved  that  the  trustees 
be  authorized  to  proceed  immediately  to  have  a  new 
church  erected,  and  that  the  following  persons  be  ap- 
pointed a  building  committee :  John  Brannen,  David 
Martin,  Peter  W.  Gregg,  Samuel  Armstrong,  Reece 
Pyle,  William  Armstrong,  J.  Paulson  Chandler, 
James  L.  Deleplain."  Work  progressed  so  rapidly 
that  the  corner-stone  was  laid  September  1,  1859, 
and  the  dedication  followed  November  8,  1860.  It  is 
a  plain  but  substantial  brick  building,  seating  four 
hundred  people,  and  has  basement  accommodations 
for  Sunday-school  and  lecture  purposes.  The  cost  of 
the  structure  was  five  thousand  dollars  exclusive  of 
the  labor  performed  by  the  congregation,  which  at 
the  time  did  not  number  more  than  twenty  persons. 
The  liberal  donation  of  a  Mrs.  Gamble  aided  much 
to  complete  the  Sabbath-school  rooms  of  the  church, 
a  means  which  has  greatly  promoted  the  welfare  of 
the  congregation,  which  was  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine  members  strong,  in  1887.  The  Sunday-school 
had  a  membership  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-eight 
at  the  same  time. 

At  a  later  period  a  parsonage  was  provided  near 
the  church  on  three  acres  of  land,  and  other  improve- 
ments made.  June  1887,  the  property  was  in  charge 
of  trustees  Frederick  Klair,  George  I.  Fen n,  George 
K.  Woodward,  William  Carpenter,  Henry  Chandler 
and  Milliard  F.Day. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Cathcart  appears  to  have  been 
the  first  pastor  of  the  church,  beginning  his  ministry 
in  November,  1730,  serving  also  the  congregation  at 
Middletown,  and  continued  about  eleven  years.  A 
vacancy  in  the  pulpit  followed,  the  only  preaching 
being  by  supplies  until  April  18,  1769,  when  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Smith  was  ordained  pastor.  But  owing  to  the 
divison  of  the  congregation  on  account  of  the  dis- 
sensions arising  from  the  inability  to  agree  upon  a 
church  site,  this  pastorate  was  continued  only  a  little 
more  than  three  years. 

After  preaching  was  established  in  the  new  church, 
in  Christiana  Hundred,  Mr.  Smith  again  became  the 
pastor  and  continued  until  April,  1778.  A  short 
vacancy  ensued  when  the  Rev.  Wm.  R.  Smith  be- 
came the  pastor  of  the  Lower  Brandywine  and  Wil- 
mington churches,  ministering  to  the  latter  only  afier 
October,  1785.  For  a  number  of  years  there  was  no 
pastor,  and  the  congregation  had  become  so  weak 
that  its  existence  was  with  difficulty  sustained  ;  and 
the  preaching  was  by  supplies,  the  Rev.  Alexander 
Mitchell,  filling  the  pulpit  most  frequently. 

In  September,  1801.  the  Rev.  Thomas  Grier,  en- 
tered upon  a  pastorate  of  the  Lower  Brandywine  and 
Middletown  Churches,  and  was  pastor  and  supply  a 
little  more  than  seven  years.  In  the  fall  of  1809,  the 
Rev.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden,  became  the  stated  sup- 
ply, and  so  ministered  several  years.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  regular  pastor,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hender- 
son, who  was  installed  in  November,  1813.  This 
pastorate  was  terminated  in  less  than  a  year. 

A  period  of  ten  years  now  ensued  in  which  there 


was  no  regular  minister  and,  consequently,  a  dearth 
of  spiritual  matters.  The  Rev.  James  Taylor,  next 
preached,  serving  in  an  independent  connection. 
But  in  December,  1825,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Love  be- 
came the  pastor  of  the  church,  in  connection  with 
the  congregation  in  Red  Clay,  and  entered  upon  a 
ministry  which  was  productive  of  much  good.  Iq 
1828,  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  met  with  the 
church,  and  was  entertained  the  first  time  in  its 
history  without  ardent  spirits.  This  was  a  bold  de- 
parture from  a  long  honored  old  custom,  but  the 
ladies  of  the  church  furnished  an  acceptable  substi- 
tute in  the  tea  which  they  provided,  some  of  the 
presbyters  testifying  that  "  they  never  left  a  meeting 
with  better  ieelings."  From  this  time  on  temperance 
sentiment  had  an  assured  and  steady  growth.  Closely 
connected  with  this  feeling  was  the  revival  of  1831, 
which  augmented  the  membership  of  the  church  to 
more  than  double  its  former  proportions.  In  1832, 
twenty -six  more  persons  were  added  to  the  church. 
Mr.  Love's  pastorate  continued  until  October,  1856, 
and  was  one  of  the  longest  and  most  eventful  in  the 
history  of  the  church. 

For  a  period  of  four  years  the  pulpit  was  supplied, 
but  in  March,  1861,  the  Rev.  David  W.  Moore  be- 
came the  pastor,  beginning  a  ministry  which  added 
many  members  to  the  church,  and  more  firmly  es- 
tablished its  temporal  afiairs.  His  pastoral  relation 
was  dissolved  October  15,  1872,  and  for  several 
months  the  pulpit  was  again  supplied.  In  May,  1878, 
the  Rev.  George  E.  Jones  was  installed  pastor,  and 
acceptably  filled  that  position  until  July,  1877.  After 
an  interval  of  a  few  months  the  Rev.  Robert  Gra- 
ham, became  the  settled  minister,  and  served  Irom 
the  fall  of  1877,  until  October,  1883.  Again  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  a  short  period,  but  since  May, 
1884,  the  pastor  has  been  the  Rev.  T.  R.  McDowell 
under  whose  ministry  the  church  continues  to 
prosper. 

The  Ruling  Elders  of  the  church  have  been  the 
following:  James  Houston,  James  McCorkle,  George 
Creaghead,  John  Augustus,  John  Armstrong,  John 
Boughman,  William  Houston,  John  McMinn,  Peter 
Hendrickson,  Alexander  McMullin,  William  Arm- 
strong, Benjamin  Chandler,  Thomas  Sterling,  John 
Nixon,  James  Delaplain,  J.  Poulson  Chandler,  Peter 
W.  Gregg,  James  M.  Brackin,  William  Bratten, 
James  Leach,  John  B.  Barney,  John  Armstrong, 
George  I.  Fenn,  Jacob  Chandler,  Geo.  K.  Woodward, 
Wm.  Wilson. 

Lower  Brandywine  has  had  many  seasons  of 
growth,  followed  by  corresponding  ones  of  decline, 
but  has  outlived  its  vicissitudes,  and  although  other 
churches  of  like  faith  have  been  established  within 
the  bounds  of  its  original  territory,  it  is  to-day  a 
strong,  vigorous  body,  whose  promise  for  usefulness 
in  the  future  cannot  be  fairly  estimated,  but  whose 
outlook  is  beneficent  in  the  highest  degree. 

Green  Hill  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
under  the  direction  of  the  New  Castle  Presbytery, 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


891 


June  5,  1849.  At  the  same  time  Alexander  Ste- 
phens, John  Wood  and  James  Scanlan  were  elected 
ruling  elders;  and  John  McCartney  and  John 
Keowan  deacons.  Bat  before  this,  Presbyterian 
meetings  had  been  held  in  this  neighborhood  by  l^e 
Rev.  S.  M.  G^yley  and  others.  The  former  became 
the  first  pastor,  serving  in  connection  with  the  Rock- 
land Church,  and  remained  the  minister  until  1851. 
Through  his  efforts  the  church  building  was  begun, 
and  the  comer-stone  laid  November  15, 1848.  But 
the  edifice  was  not  completed  for  several  years,  and 
the  dedication  did  not  take  place  until  September  14, 
1851,  when  the  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by 
the  Rev.  G.  I.  Moore.  The  church  is  a  commodioui 
brick  structure,  and  was  erected  under  the  super- 
vision of  John  Wood,  Alexander  Stephens,  James 
Stephens,  John  Peoples,  Joseph  Hendrickson,  Tay- 
lor Crosby  and  Peler  Gregg,  who  were,  also,  the  first 
trustees  of  the  Green  Hill  Cemetery,  which  became 
an  incorporated  body,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
February  9, 1849.  The  grounds  embrace  three  acres, 
situated  a  short  distance  from  the  Kennett  Pike,  two 
miles  from  Wilmington.  The  church  has  a  central 
location  in  the  cemetery,  which  contains  many  graves. 
Near  by  a  parsonage  was  provided,  at  a  later  day,  and 
the  entire  property  is  valued  at  twenty  thousand 
dollars.  In  1887  it  was  in  charge  of  trustees  J.  Q.  Stir- 
ling, S.  F.  Stirling,  Robert  Printer,  Samuel  Frizzell, 
Wm.  H.  Miller,  Samuel  Moore  and  J.  M.  Smyth. 

The  members  of  the  session  at  the  same  time  were 
W.  H.  Oliver,  J.  Q.  Stirling,  W.  H.  Miller,  Andrew 
Fleming,  John  Moore  and  James  Smyth ;  and  other 
elders  have  been  Hugh  Stirling,  William  Nevin  and 
Robert  Magee.  The  trustees  and  ruling  elders  also 
attend  to  the  affairs  of  the  Rockland  Church,  which 
is  now  practically  a  preaching  station  of  Green  Hill, 
and  for  more  than  thirty  years  has  had  the  same  min- 
isterial service.  In  1851  the  Rev.  S.  M.  Gayley  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  W.  C.  Windle,  who  was  pastor 
three  yeaJs.  In  1855  the  Rev.  A.  Tudehope  supplied 
the  pulpit.  From  1856  to  1863  the  Rev.  James  Ot- 
terson  was  the  pastor.  The  Rev.  H.  B.  Scott  occu- 
pied the  same  relation  from  1864  to  1869.  In  No- 
vember of  the  same  year  the  Rev.  G.  L.  Moore  en- 
tered upon  a  ministry  which  continued  until  1883, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  K.  Walk- 
er, who  was  pastor  eighteen  months.  Since  April, 
1886,  the  pastor  has  been  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Lenhard.  In 
the  fall  of  1884  the  church  was  visited  with  a  revival 
of  unusual  interest,  which  resulted  in  fifty-four  addi- 
tions to  the  church  membership.  In  June,  1887,  the 
members  numbered  one  hundred  and  sixty,  forming  an 
active  progressive  body.  From  the  ranks  of  the 
church  have  gone  as  ministers  the  Revs.  James  Rob- 
erts and  Henry  Rumer,  who  have  rendered  effective 
service  in  other  fields  of  labor. 

Ebenezer  Baptist  Church  was  erected  in  the  south- 
western part  of  the  hundred,  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tury ago.  The  society  which  occupied  it  became 
extinct  many  years  ago,  and  Union  meetings  or  gen- 


eral religious  exercises  were  afterwards  held  in  the 
same  house.  About  thirty  years  later  the  building  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  a  board  of  trustees,  authorized 
for  this  purpose,  who  sold  the  building,  and  it  was 
removed.  The  burial-ground  on  which  it  stood  is 
still  used  by  that  community. 

Mt.  Salem  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  found- 
ed at  Riddle's  Bank^,  on  the  Brandywine,  in  1847, 
and  tl^e  first  meetings  were  held  in  the  old  Lyceum 
building.  James  Riddle  was  one  of  the  early  mem- 
bers and  also  a  local  preacher,  an  office  which  was 
shared  by  Franklin  Supplee.  John  Miller,  Jesse  El- 
liott, William  Henderson,  Samuel  Pierce,  William 
Hart  and  William  Henderson  also  belonged  to  the 
first  classes.  William  Wier  became  connected  soon 
after.  Besides  the  preaching  by  the  local  men  named 
above,  a  shipwright  by  the  name  of  Kirkman,  in 
the  employ  of  Harlan  &  Hollingsworth,  frequently 
preached  and  later  came  the  Rev.  Boswell  and  the 
regular  appointees  by  Conference.  In  1865  the  charge 
became  independent,  and  the  ministers  since  that 
period  have  been  the  following : 


Bev.  W.  8.  Pngh 1865 

Rev.  O.  W.  Landretb 1866 

B6T.  John  D.  Bigg 1868 

B6T.  G«o.  D.  Watson 1871 

BeT.  Jobn  France 1873 


BeT.  John  W.  Wefton* 1875 

BeT.  Charlee  F.  Sheppard 1877 

Bev.  O.  L.  Tomkinson 1880 

Bev.  J.  Edward  Smith ....1888 

Bev.  B.  C.  Jones .....1886 


In  1847  the  congregation  erected  its  first  house  of 
worship,  on  the  beautiful  elevation  overlooking  the 
city  of  Wilmington,  which  appropriately  received  the 
name  of  Mount  Salem.  It  was  a  two-story  stracture 
of  stone  and  stood  until  it  was  taken  down  in  1878, 
when  a  new  edifice  took  its  site,  the  same  year.  The 
latter  was  built  under  the  direction  of  a  committee 
composed  of  John  Macklan,  Levi  Garrett,  William 
Maine  and  Lee  T.  Archer.  It  was  a  very  fine  build- 
ing, but,  unfortunately,  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1879,  three  months  from  the  time  it  was  com- 
pleted. Although  a  loss  of  twelve  thousand  dollars 
was  sustained,  the  work  of  restoration  was  at  once 
begun,  and  June  14,  1879,  the  present  fine  church 
was  dedicated — a  worthy  memorial  to  the  devotion  and 
perseverance  of  the  membership  of  the  congregation, 
who  again  expended  about  thirteen  hundred  dollars. 
In  rebuilding,  the  tower  of  the  old  church  was  used, 
but  the  structure  is  almost  wholly  new  and  is  one  of 
the  most  substantial  edifices  of  the  kind  in  the  county. 
The  interior  is  beautifully  finished  and  very  inviting. 
In  1887  the  property  was  controlled  by  trustees 
William  Buck,  Richard  Brown,  Hiram  H.  Cloud, 
Greorge  Walker,  John  W.  Haley,  John  Benson,  Mor- 
ris Lutton,  John  Larker  and  John  S.  Miller.  These 
serve  as  an  incorporated  body,  under  an  act  of  the 
Legislature,  and  also  control  the  fine  cemetery  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  church.  It  was  opened  for 
burial  purposes  in  the  latter  part  of  1852,  and  the 
first  person  there  interred  was  Ellen  McCartney, 
who  died  January  1, 1853.  Since  that  time  it  has 
become  so  rapidly  filled  that  it  has  been  found  neces- 


1  Died  on  the  charge  and  is  buried  in  the  ohuroh  cemetery. 
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892 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


sary  to  enlarge  it.    On  part  of  this  ground  stands 
a  good  parsonage. 

Connected  with  the  general  work  of  the  church  are 
the  missionary  efforts  at  Riddle  Chapel  and  Centre- 
ville,  giving  it  a  wide  field  of  labor  as  well  as  mak- 
ing the  church  an  important  factor  in  the  religious 
history  of  the  county.  Although  having  had  many 
seasons  of  especial  interest,  the  great  revival  in  the 
fall  of  1848  is  still  remembered  as  being  of  unusual  im- 
portance. Before  its  close,  in  December,  ninety-four 
persons  were  added  to  the  membership  of  the  church, 
and  its  spirituality  was  greatly  promoted.  At  this 
time  the  Rev.  John  Talley  was  the  minister. 

Riddle's  Chapel  was  built  by  the  Rev.  James  Rid-* 
die  for  the  benefit  of  the  people  residing  at  Riddle's 
Banks,  who  could  not  conveniently  attend  worship  at 
Mount  Salem.  Before  his  death  he  endowed  it  with 
a  perpetual  annuity  of  one  hundred  dollkrs  and 
made  a  like  provision  for  Mount  Salem,  making  the 
water  right  of  the  Banks  liable  for  the  payment  of 
the  same.  In  addition  to  the  occasional  preaching  in 
the  chapel,  a  Sunday-school  is  regularly  maintained, 
which  has  had  as  superintendents  Samuel  Pierce  and 
Richard  Brown. 

Christ  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal,  had  its  origin 
in  a  school  established  in  1816  by  E.  I.  du  Pont  and 
bis  daughter,  Mrs.  Bauduy.  A  building  was  put  up 
near  the  powder-mills,  in  which  both  secular  and 
religious  instruction  was  imparted  on  the  Sabbath  to 
the  youth  of  that  community  with  such  satisfactory 
results  that  the  school  was  made  a  legal  body.  On 
the  29th  of  January,  1817,  it  was  incorporated  as  the 
"  Brandy  wine  Manufacturers'  Sunday-school,"  with  a 
board  of  trustees  composed  of  E.  I.  du  Pont,  Robert 
McCall,  John  D.  Carter,  Charles  I.  du  Pont,  Gleorge 
Hodgson,  Peter  Hendrickson  and  William  Huston. 
The  purpose  of  the  incorporation  was  declared  to  be 
"  To  not  only  promote  the  instruction  of  the  youth  in 
manufacturing  establishments  in  the  first  rudiments 
of  learning,  but  that  Sunday-schools  conduced  great- 
ly to  their  good  and  orderly  behavior,  by  preventing 
them  from  spending  the  Sabbath  in  idleness  and 
contracting  habits  of  vice  and  immorality."  Although 
this  school  was  conducted  without  sectarian  bias,  the 
forms  of  the  Episcopal  Church  were  gradually 
adopted;  and  later  regular  church  services  were 
established  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Brinckle,  whose 
home  was  near  Wilmington.  Following  his  preach- 
ing was  the  confirmation.  May  2,  1852,  of  the  first 
class  of  catechumens,  consisting  of  seven  persons,  who 
in  this  manned  became  the  first  members  of  the 
school.  The  ordinance  of  confirmation  was  admin- 
istered by  Bishop  Alfred  Lee.  A  few  years  later  a 
church  edifice  was  erected  on  the  du  Pont  property, 
which  was  opened  for  Divine  service  in  1856.  This 
building  was  repaired  and  very  much  beautified  in 
1876.  A  comfortable  rectory  was  also  provided  by 
the  du  Pont  family,  and  a  regular  parish  created. 
The  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Brinckle  was  the  first  rector, 
preaching  almost  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1863. 


In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  William  A.  Newbold,  whose  rectorship  contin- 
ued until  the  fall  of  1869.  The  following  spring  the 
Rev.  I.  N.  Stanger  became  the  rector,  and  served  in 
that  relation  about  three  years,  being  succeeded,  in 
the  latter  part  of  November,  1873,  by  the  Rev.  Dud- 
ley D.  Smith,  whose  ministry  has  since  been  con- 
tinued. 

In  1887  the  parish  had  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  members,  the  following  sustaining  an  ofiicial 
relation :  A.  L.  Foster  and  James  Conley,  wardens ; 
H.  A.  du  Pont,  William  du  Pont,  John  Conley, 
Neal  Conley,  Henry  Brown,  William  R.  Wood  and 
William  R.  Green,  vestrymen.  A  flourish ingSabbath- 
school  is  still  maintained. 

St.  Joseph's  Church,  Roman  Catholic  The  mis- 
sionary efforts  of  that  zealous  priest,  Father  P.  Ken- 
ney,  extended  to  the  neighborhood  of  Brandywine 
Banks  more  than  sixty  years  ago,  and  in  1828  the 
first  Mass  was  here  said  by  him  at  the  house  of 
Madam  Victor  du  Pont.  Though  Catholic  services 
were  occasionally  thereafter  held  in  that  locality,  a 
number  of  years  elapsed  before  a  church  was  built. 
But,  in  1841,  through  the  efforts  of  P.  N.  Brennan 
and  others,  aided  by  the  generous  donations  of  the 
du  Pont  family,  the  present  church  edifice  was  erect- 
ed ;  and  soon  thereafter  a  school-house  and  pastor's 
residence,  standing  on  either  side  of  the  church,  were 
added  to  the  property.  At  different  periods  the 
church  grounds  have  been  enlarged  until  they  em- 
brace several  acres,  a  part  of  which  was  set  aside  for 
a  residence  for  the  Sisters  who  should  take  charge  of 
the  school.  For  a  number  of  years  this  school  has 
been  well  attended  and  has  been  in  charge  of  the 
Sisters  of  St.  Francis.  It  has  materially  advanced 
the  interests  of  the  parish,  which  had,  in  June,  1887, 
a  membership  of  nearly  one  thousand  persons. 

The  priests  of  the  parish  have  been  the  following : 
1846  till  September  20,  1867,  Father  J.  S.  Walsh; 
1867  till  1869,  Father  J.  Scanlan ;  April,  1869,  till 
March,  1887,  Father  Qeorgius  J.  Kelley ;  since  May, 
1887,  Father  Peter  Donaghy.  The  affairs  of  the 
parish  are  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  The 
church  has  recently  been  placed  in  good  repair  and 
enlarged,  and  the  area  of  the  cemetery  increased  by 
the  addition  of  two  acres. 

St.  Patrick's  Church,  Roman  Catholic,  is  near  Ash- 
land Station,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  hun- 
dred. The  grounds  embrace  seven  acres  of  well- 
located  land,  two  of  which  were  donated  by  Michael 
Mullin  and  Michael  Kane.  A  portion  of  it  has  been 
consecrated  to  the  dead.  The  church  is  a  neat  frame 
building,  thirty-four  by  sixty  feet,  with  basement, 
and  was  dedicated  October  10,  1881.  The  priesfs 
house  adjoining  was  completed  the  same  season.  The 
entire  property  has  a  value  of  eight  thousand  dollars, 
and  its  existence  is  due  to  the  labors  of  Father  Peter 
Donaghy,  who  established  Catholic  services  in  this 
locality  in  1880,  there  being  at  that  time  but  a  few 
families  of  that  faith  in  this  region.    He  served  as 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


priest  of  the  new  parish  (embracing  St.  John's  at 
Hockeaein  and  St.  Patrick's)  until  May,  1887,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  the  present  priest,  Father 
Francis  Farney.  Fifty  families  contributed  to  the 
support  of  the  interests  of  the  parish. 

Tke  Ferris  R^orm  School, — ^This  institution  is 
located  in  a  beautiful  section  of  the  hundred,  four 
miles  from  the  court-house  in  Wilmington.  It  was 
established  through  the  liberality  of  John  Ferris,  of 
that  city,  who  died  September  2,  1882,  leaving  an 
estate  valued  at  nearly  one-fourth  of  a  million  of  dol- 
lars, much  of  which  was  devised  for  benevolent  pur- 
poses. His  benefaction  to  the  Reform  School  was  the 
residue  of  the  estate,  and  was  entrusted  to  Dr. 
Caleb  Harlan,  to  be  applied  at  his  discretion  "  to  aid 
in  establishing  what  is  known  mostly  as  a  House  of 
Refuge,  or  place  for  bettering  wayward  juveniles," 
and  amounted  to  eighty-three  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  twenty-three  dollars.  Realizing  the  importance 
of  the  trust,  which  the  confidence  of  his  friend  had 
placed  in  his  hands,  Dr.  Harlan  wisely  sought  and 
obtained  the  advice  and  co-operation  of  the  follow- 
ing citizens,  to  aid  him  in  carrying  out  the  provisions 
of  the  bequest :  Lewis  Thompson,  Samuel  N.  Pusey, 
Dr.  Lewis  P.  Bush,  Allen  Gawthrop,  David  W.  Har- 
lan, Henry  C.  Robinson  and  Leonard  E.  Wales.  The 
latter  prepared  the  excellent  charter  for  the  school. 
This  committee  held  its  first  meeting  March  27, 1884, 
and  its  work  was  entirely  of  an  advisory  nature. 

In  order  to  place  the  matter  upon  a  more  permanent 
basis,  Dr.  Harlan  had  The  Ferris  Reform  School  in- 
corporated by  legislative  enactment  March  10, 1885, 
fbrty-eight  persons  being  named  as  corporators.  These 
organized  under  the  terms  of  the  charter  April  15th 
the  same  year,  and  selected  the  following  board  of 
oflScers  and  managers : 

President,  Caleb  Harlan,  M.D. ;  Vice-Presidents, 
Leonard  E.  Wales,  J.  Taylor  Clause ;  Treasurer,  Henry 
C.  Robinson;  Secretary,  David  W.  Harlan;  Man- 
agers, Caleb  Harlan,  M.  D.,  Lewis  P.  Bush,  M.D.,  Ed- 
ward Betts,  Thomas  Bird,  Joseph  L.  Carpenter,  Jr., 
Allen  Ghiwthrop,  J.  Taylor  Gause,  (^rge  Gray, 
David  W.  Harlan,  Job  H.  Jackson,  William  C.  Lodge, 
Samuel  N.  Pusey,  William  T.  Porter,  Henry  C.  Rob- 
inson, Lewis  Thompson,  Stransbury  J.  Willey,  Leon- 
ard E.  Wales  and  Alfred  D.  Warner,  the  mayor  of  the 
City  of  Wilmington,  the  judge  of  the  Superior  Court 
resident  in  New  Castle  County,  and  the  president  of 
the  Levy  Court  of  New  Castle  County,  tx-offico. 

By-laws  were  also  adopted  and  provision  made  for 
securing  a  site  for  a  home,  and  to  open  the  same  at  an 
early  day.  Some  difficulty  was  experienced  in  secur- 
ing a  proper  location,  until  **  Woodside,"  the  country- 
seat  of  Philip  Quigley,  was  placed  on  the  market, 
when  it  was  purchased,  and  it  has  been  found  admir- 
ably adapted  for  the  purpose.  The  farm  contains  one 
hundred  and  ninety  a^res  of  choice  land,  on  which 
were  spacious  buildings,  with  accommodations  for 
fifty  inmates.  Appliances  have  since  been  furnished, 
and  new  buildings  erected  to  increase  the  conveniences 


of  the  home,  so  that  it  lacks  but  a  few  things  of 
being  a  first-class  institution  of  that  nature. 

The  home  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  inmates 
January  1, 1886,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  had 
seventeen  inmates,  consisting  of  lads  between  the 
ages  of  nine  and  sixteen  years,  and  of  both  colors. 
Newton  Chandler  was  placed  in  charge  as  superin- 
tendent, and  Mary  E.  Chandler  as  matron ;  and  un- 
der their  supervision  the  school  has  been  admirably 
conducted.  In  the  government  of  the  institution  the 
merit  system  is  successfully  used,  and  has  been  the 
means  of  appealing  to  the  better  purposes  of  the  in- 
mates, whose  connection  with  the  school  has  been 
generally  beneficial.  Instruction  in  the  school-room 
is  imparted  ten  months  in  the  year,  and  light  manual 
labor  is  added  to  give  proper  physical  development. 
The  future  ol  Ferris  Reform  School  promises  to  reflect 
great  honor  upon  the  memory  of  the  generous  foun- 
der, and  to  be  a  source  of  much  benefit  to  the  county 
fortunate  enough  to  have  it  located  in  its  midst  as 
one  of  its  public  institutions. 

Newport. — The  pleasant  borough  of  Newport  is  in 
the  southeastern  part  of  Christiana  Hundred,  on  the 
Christiana  Creek,  which  is  here  navigable  for  vesse'M 
of  light  burden.  It  is  also  a  station  on  the  Phila- 
delphia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad,  a  little 
more  than  three  miles  from  the  city  of  Wilmington, 
which  absorbed  most  of  its  former  business.  There 
are  two  churches,  a  good  school-house,  several  stores, 
a  hotel  and  the  various  interests  detailed  in  the  fol- 
lowing pages. 

Newport  was  laid  out  as  Newport  Ayre  by  John 
Justis,  in  1785,  on  part  of  the  Constantino  tract, 
which  had  been  transferred  to  Henry  Parker,  a  planter 
of  Cecil  County,  Maryland.  On  the  26th  of  April, 
1731,  the  latter  conveyed  a  half-interest  in  this  two- 
hundred-acre  tract  to  John  Justis,  reciting  that 
*'  Whereas  Conrad  Constantine,  by  virtue  of  a  war- 
rant, had  a  tract  of  land  called  *  Cold  Harbour,*  lying 
in  Christiana  Hundred,  on  north  side  of  Christiana 
Creek,  assigned  to  Henry  Parker,  beginning  at  Chris- 
tiana Creek  at  mouth  of  Rainbow  Run,  100  acres.'' 

On  the  17th  of  February,  1735,  Justis  sold  eighteen 
acres  of  the  above  tract  to  Samuel  Marshall,  who  also 
laid  out  village  lots  and  pold  the  same,  among  his 
purchasers  being,  in  the  latter  part  of  1737,  Neil 
McNeil  and  George  Stewart,  mariner,  from  North 
Britain,  who  paid  twenty  pounds  for  two  lots  on  St. 
John  and  St.  James  Streets.  Other  sales  were  made 
to  the  following :  John  Tweggo,  Alex.  Frazen,  Isaac 
Vernon,  Abraham  Marshall,  Geofge  Hutchidson, 
James  Hays,  William  Sutton,  William  Passmore, 
John  Heald,  Samuel  Farra,  John  Ashmead,  Hugh 
Evans,  James  McMullin,  John  Richardson,  Joseph 
Turner,  John  Read,  Owen  Owens,  Hans  Rudolph* 
Thomas  Brown  and  Joseph  Taylor. 

John  Justis  sold  lots  to  the  following:  In  1736, 
Thomas  Anderson,  Thomas  Gray,  Patrick  McKenzie, 
John  Ashmead,  .lohn  Richardson  and  Thomas 
Thompson ;  in  1737,  Morton  Justis,  Thomas  Morgan, 


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894 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Swithin  Juatis,  BeDJamin  Paulson,  Hans  Rudolph, 
Justa  Ju4tis,  James  Steel,  William  Sample  and  Sam- 
uel Farra;  in  1738,  John  Stallcup,  Andrew  Stallcup 
and  Isaac  Vernon ;  1739,  Augustus  Constant  in  e, 
Thomas  Marshall  and  John  Lewis ;  1740,  Eben  Wol- 
laston ;  1741,  John  Marshall ;  1743,  Morton  Justis. 

James  Latimer  first  began  purchasing  lots  in  New- 
port January  10, 1752,  when  he  bought  a  lot  of  Solo- 
mon Hersey,  adjoining  the  home  lot  of  John  Justis, 
the  founder  of  the  town.  January  1,  1753,  he  bought 
an  interest  in  a  lot,  forty  feet  square,  lying  on  Chris- 
tiana Creek  and  Hutchinson's  Run,  on  which  was 
then  the  wharf  of  Joseph  Jones  and  William  Sutton, 
upon  which  they  were  to  erect  a  dwelling  and  a  store- 
house. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  1758,  he  purchased  two  lots  of 
William  Sutton,  and  is  then  mentioned  as  a  store- 
keeper. From  this  time  on  he  was  largely  interested 
in  shipping  grain  and  produce  to  Philadelphia 
and  the  West  Indies.  His  store  was  on  the  present 
Groome  Corner. 

John  Latimer,  one  of  the  sons,  went  to  China, 
where  he  made  a  fortune  in  the  tea  trade.  Henry, 
another  son,  became  a  very  aged  man,  dying  near 
Wilmington.  After  removing  from  Newport,  Latimer 
built  a  fine  mansion  on  a  piece  of  fast  land,  which  is 
still  occupied  by  some  of  his  descendants.  It  is  said 
that  he  here  attempted  to  found  a  city  which  should 
be  a  rival  to  Wilmington,  and,  failing  in  this  purpose, 
the  locality  became  known  as  **  Folly  Woods.**  He 
was  the  most  active  business  man  of  Newport  in  the 
period  he  lived  there. 

Very  many  changes  in  ownership  of  property  took 
place  in  the  early  history  of  Newport  The  place 
began  to  decline  as  soon  as  the  future  of  Wilmington 
was  assured,  and  after  turnpikes  and  other  improve- 
ments directed  trade  towards  the  latter  place,  Newport 
more  fully  lost  its  importance  as  a  commercial  point. 
Before  the  completion  of  the  Lancaster  turnpike  to 
Newport,  large  quaatities  of  grain  were  shipped  from 
Newport,  and  hundreds  of  teams  came  from  the  rich 
farms  of  Pennsylvania  to  unload  their  produce  at  this 
point,  and  returning  were  generally  laden  with  mer- 
chandise. To  accommodate  this  traffic  several 
wharves  and  warehouses  were  built  on  Christiana 
Creek,  at  which  half  a  score  of  sloops  received  their 
freightage.  In  later  years  this  branch  of  business 
%vas  almost  wholly  discontinued.  John  McCalmont 
is  remembered  as  one  of  the  most  active  shippers 
of  that  busy  period.  He  lived  in  the  John  A. 
Cranston  house.  The  names  of  other  traders  and 
shippers  may  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  Christiana 
Hundred.  • 

Lewis  Stone  carried  on  the  tannery  business  very 
extensively,  having  two  bark-mills,  one  on  theTatnall, 
the  other  on  the  present  Cranston  wharf,  where 
Thomas  Seal  also  tanned.  A  line  of  packets  left 
these  wharves  daily  for  Philadelphia,  one  of  the 
regular  boats  being  the  ''  Hannah, ''  having  a  burden 
of  about  forty  tons.     After  she  was  abandoned  she 


was  allowed  to  founder  in  the  creek,  at  Newport, 
where  a  part  of  her  keel  may  still- be  seen.  The 
'*  Elizabeth  "  was  in  the  same  line,  which  was  owned 
by  Captain  Fred  Hilyard  and  others.  Aaron  Paulsen 
was  a  prominent  man,  living  en  a  farm  just  outside  of 
the  village.  Isaac  Flinn  lived  on  the  present  Vincent 
G.  Flinn  place.  Andrew  Justis  was  a  trader  in  the 
village,  and  his  son,  Aaron,  lived  on  the  Dr.  Irons 
place.  Robert  C.  Justis  is  a  lineal  descendant  of 
John  Justis.  Hans  Nebiker  lived  here  before  the 
Revolution,  his  home  being  near  the  spring  on  St. 
John's  Street.  Of  his  seven  sons,  John  has  always 
lived  on  the  place  which  his  father  bought  in  1803  and 
where  he  planted  a  sycamore  tree,  which  is  one  of  the 
landmarks  of  this  locality.  After  1800  a  market- 
house  was  maintained  on  the  south  side  of  Market 
Street,  between  St.  James'  and  Marshall  Streets,  but 
nearly  every  trace  of  this  building  has  disappeared. 
In  1825  Newport  was  in  the  flood-tide  of  its  commer- 
cial activity,  having  five  good  stores  and  half  a  dozen 
inns.  These  grew  less  in  number  each  year,  and  after 
the  completion  of  the  railroad,  in  1837,  but  few  had  a 
flourishing  business. 

Newport  had  good  inns  as  early  as  1788,  as  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  John  Penn's  Journal  of  that  date 
will  show :  "  Newport,  within  a  few  miles  of  Wil- 
mington, has  still  more  houses  than  Newark,  and  a 
good  brick  tavern  which  provided  proper  entertain- 
ment for  horse  and  man.  The  kitchen-door  being  ajar, 
I  was  amused  by  a  war  of  words  between  Perrins  and 
Rapilli us,  two  rustics  completely  drunk,  and  by  de- 
grees becoming  less  intelligible.  Each  seemed  per- 
fectly apprised  of  the  other's,  though  unconscious  of 
his  own  aberration  from  propriety."  In  1797  John 
Miller  was  licensed  to  keep  this  inn.  The  present 
tavern  has  long  been  the  property  of  the  Isaac 
Miller  estate  and  a  part  of  it  was  built  in  the  last 
century.  The  "Yellow  Hotel."  kept  by  Richard 
King,  was  many  years  its  rival  for  business,  but  has 
long  since  been  devoted  to  private  uses.  At  the  former 
hotel  General  Cadwallader  rested  after  his  duel  with 
Dr.  Pattison  of  Baltimore,  April  5,  1823,  and  had  his 
wounds  dressed  so  that  he  could  be  taken  to  his  home 
in  Philadelphia.  The  duel  was  fought  on  the  Peter 
Derrickson  place,  about  a  mile  from  the  village,  and 
the  distance  at  which  the  principals  stood  was  twenty- 
seven  feet.  At  the  word  "  fire, "  Cadwallader's  pistol 
failed  to  go  off,  and  in  the  mean  time  Pattison  flred, 
his  ball  taking  effect  in  the  pistol-arm  of  his  antago- 
nist, which  put  an  end  to  the  combat.  Upon  seeing 
the  result  of  his  shot,  Pattison  thanked  God  that 
Cadwallader  was  only  wounded,  and  a  truce  was  de- 
clared, the  two  men  separating  with  better  feelings 
towards  each  other. 

The  old  Latimer  Corner  is  one  of  the  most  ancient 
store-stands  in  the  village.  The  present  William  Duff* 
stand  was  erected  at  a  more  recent  period  by  James 
Robinson.  The  Kilgore  block  was  erected  in  1882. 
Dr.  M.  A.  Booth  opened  the  first  distinct  ding  store, 
in  which  has  been  kept  the  Newport  Post-Office  since 


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NEW  CASTLK  COUNTY. 


895 


December,  1886,  James  F.  Porter  being  the  post- 
master. 

Among  the  physicians  here  located  was  a  Dr.  John 
Morris,  who  lived  on  the  Robert  Lynam  place  prior 
to  1887.  He  was  a  man  of  generous  impulses,  but 
erratic,  and  committed  suicide  by  shooting  himself. 
His  dying  request  was  that  he  be  burled  in  a  standing 
position,  with  his  face  towards  the  projected  railroad, 
whose  completion  he  opposed.  His  wishes  were 
carried  out,  but  subsequently  his  remains  were  taken 
up  and  elsewhere  properly  re-interred.  I^ater  physi- 
cians here  have  been  Drs.  Alexander  Irons,  Isaiah 
Lukens,  Paul  Lukens,  M.  A.  Booth  and  I.  M.  Flinn, 
the  latter  being  at  present  a  practitioner. 

The  Newport  National  Bank  is  the  successor  in  bus- 
iness of  the  old  Real  Estate  Bank  of  Delaware. 
The  latter  was  chartered  by  an  act  February  22,  1859, 
and  organized  fur  business  May  2d,  the  same  year. 
At  that  time  F.  Q.  Flinn  was  elected  president  and 
served  to  January  1, 1860,  when  the  old  officers  were 
relieved  by  a  new  board.  This  was  composed  of 
Caleb  Marshall,  president;  James  Cranston,  David 
Eastburn,  F.  Q.  Flinn,  Robert  B.  Flinn,  A.  Derrick- 
son,  Samuel  Cranston,  John  Mitchell  and  William  G. 
Phillips.  The  cashier  was  Thomas  W.  Robinson  and 
ft  banking  office  was  established  in  a  building  on  Market 
Street,  west  of  James  Street.  The  capital  stock  consisted 
of  seven  hundred  and  three  shares,  at  one  hundred  dol- 
lars each  per  share,  secured  by  mortgages  on  real  estate. 
Assessments  were  made  until  the  bank  had  a  cash 
capital  of  thirty-seven  thousand  five  hundred  dollars 
and  was  well  equipped  for  business.  October  31, 
1862,  J.  W.  H.  Watson  bec^une  cashier,  and  served 
during  the  existence  of  the  bank  under  its  old  char- 
ter, and  ever  since  being  a  national  bank.  On  the 
5th  of  January,  1864,  Frank  Q.  Flinn  succeeded 
Caleb  Marshall  as  president.  The  old  bank  was 
merged  into  the  present  institution  May  9,  1865.  Its 
organization  had  been  effected  March  25th  of  the 
same  year,  with  a  capital  of  fifty  thousand  dollars 
and  the  following  board  of  officers : 

Frank  Q.  Flinn,  president ;  William  Haylett, 
David  Lynam,  Jacob  Rubencame,  Edward  Menden- 
hall,  William  G.  Phillips,  Robert  B.  Flinn,  David 
Eastburn,  James  Cranston,  directors ;  and  J.  W.  H. 
Watson,  cashier. 

Business  was  transacted  in  the  old  bank  building 
until  January,  1865,  when  the  present  house  was 
occupied.  It  was  erected  the  preceding  year  and 
furnished  with  all  the  appliances  of  the  modern 
bank,  making  it  complete  in  all  its  appointments. 
August  8th,  the  same  year,  the  capital  stock  was 
increased  to  seventy-five  thousand  dollars  and  so 
continues,  giving  the  bank  ample  means  to  transact 
a  large  and  profitable  business. 

In  1887  the  officers  of  the  bank  were  David  East- 
burn,  president;  J.  W.  H.  Watson,  cashier;  James 
Cranston,  John  A.  Cranston,  John  Mitchell,  Reuben 
Satterthwaite  and  Charles  M.  Groome,  directors. 

General  LUereets, — Among  the  later  business  inter- 


ests which  have  given  character  to  Newport  is  that 
carried  on  by  Cranston,  Newbold  &  Co.,  dealers  in 
builders'  supplies  and  machinery.  The  business  was 
established  many  years  ago  by  James  Cranston,  the 
father  of  the  senior  member  of  the  present  firm, 
which  has  expanded  it  to  the  present  fine  propor- 
tions. This  firm  was  constituted  in  1882  of  J.  A. 
Cranston  and  John  M.  Newbold,  G.  W.  McKee  being 
added  in  1887.  In  1883  a  branch  of  the  business  was 
established  in  Wilmington,  which  has  also  been  very 
successful.  At  Newport  the  firm  owns  well-appoint- 
ed yards,  warehouses,  and  posseses  water  and  rail 
privileges  for  shipping  purposes.  Employment  is 
given  to  a  number  of  men  and  the  conduct  of  the 
business  gives  the  place  an  active  appearance. 

Near  by,  well  located  between  the  railroad  and 
the  creek,  are  the  works  of  the  J.  Marshall  Iron 
Company. 

This  enterprise  was  begun  in  1873  by  a  company 
composed  of  Calvin  P.  Marshall,  Joseph  P.  Richard- 
son and  John  Richardson,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
sheet-iron  in  connection  with  the  work  of  the  Mar- 
shallton  Mill.  Steam-power  was  employed  to  operate 
a  pair  of  sheet-rolls  and  there  were  three  furnaces  put 
in  blast  August  16, 1873,  under  the  superintendence 
of  Simeon  S.  Myers.  In  the  spring  of  1874  a  sheet- 
roll  mill,  fifty  two  inches  wide,  was  added  and  the 
manufacture  of  heavy  iron  begun.  Later,  galvaniz- 
ing workn  were  put  up  in  connection  and  operated  by 
George  Danby.  In  1878  the  works  became  the  prop- 
erty of  John  Marshall,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
work  was  suspended.  In  April,  1879,  work  was  re- 
sumed and  carried  on  four  years,  James  Robinson 
being  the  superintendent. 

In  1881  the  present  company  was  formed  by  Ed- 
ward Mendenhail  and  others,  with  the  following  offi- 
cers: Edward  Mendenhail,  president;  John  M.  Men- 
denhail, secretary ;  Joseph  W.  H.  Watson,  treasurer ; 
Francis  T.  Jones,  superintendent. 

The  machinery  operated  in  1887  consisted  of  three 
puddling  furnaces,  one  heating  furnace,  two  anneal- 
ing furnaces,  two  pairs  of  sheet- rolls  and  one  pair  bar- 
rolls.  Sixteen  hundred  tons  of  metal  are  manufac- 
tured into  refined  iron,  afibrding  work  for  seventy-five 
men. 

The  J,  A,  Cranston  Company y  manufacturers  of  super- 
phosphates, etc.,  occupy  a  site  which  had  been  used 
by  a  pressed  brick  manufactory,  carried  on  by  James 
&  Samuel  Cranston,  and  where  later  was  the  wagon- 
spoke  factory  of  Charles  Willard — neither  enterprise 
being  continued  a  long  time.  The  business  now  car- 
ried on  was  established  in  1870,  at  Cbadd's  Ford,  Pa., 
by  the  Whann  Brothers.  In  1879  they  transferred 
their  interests  to  Newport,  associating  themselves 
with  John  A.  Cranston.  In  1885  the  present  com- 
pany was  organized,  with  J.  A.  Cranston  president, 
C.  Whann  vice-president,  J.  E.  Whann  secretary 
and  treasurer.  The  plant  of  the  company  embraces 
five  acres  of  land,  about  half  of  which  is  required  in 
manufacturing  operations. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  main  factory  is  one  hundred  and  twelve  by  one 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  feet,  two  stories  high.  The 
motive-power  is  steam,  driving  a  one  hundred  horse- 
power engine,  and  the  works  are  arranged  to  give  a 
producing  capacity  of  fifteen  thousand  tons  per  year — 
which  is  readily  shipped  by  boat  or  steam -car,  the 
works  having  railroad  sidings  and  an  excellent  dock. 
Fifteen  men  are  employed,  and  the  products  have  a 
high  reputation  in  the  markets. 

Newport  Incorporated. — Corporate  privileges  were 
bestowed  upon  the  village  by  an  act  of  the  Assembly, 
passed  April  7, 1883,  under  which  it  has  since  been 
governed.  A  previous  corporate  organization  was 
but  a  short  time  maintained,  and  was  not  productive 
of  any  marked  results.  Under  the  last  act  the  bounds 
were  established  as  follows:  "Beginning  at  a  point 
on  the  west  side  of  Mary  Street  at  low-water  mark, 
on  the  north  shore  of  Christiana  River,  and  in  a 
northerly  direction  along  the  west  side  of  Mary 
Street,  until  it  intersects  a  continuous  straight  line 
from  the  northern  boundary  of  Joseph  Killgore's 
land ;  then  in  an  easterly  direction  by  the  said  Kill- 
gore's  line  and  lines  of  Alexander  Irons,  M.D.,  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  said  Irons*  land  and  Cherry  Lane; 
thence  in  a  westerly  direction  down  said  Cherry 
Lane  to  the  intersection  of  the  Christiana  and  Wil- 
mington Turnpike ;  thence  eastward  along  said  turn- 
pike to  the  eastern  boundary  of  St.  James'  Church 
lands;  thence  in  a  southerly  direction  on  a  line  paral- 
lel with  Walnut  Street  until  it  intersects  the  Chris- 
tiana River;  thence  with  low-water  mark  on  said 
river  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

The  first  election  was  held  April  11, 1874,  at  which 
time  twenty-nine  votes  were  cast,  and  Joseph  Killgore 
was  elected  alderman,  Robert  C.  Justis,  Lewis  Wel- 
din,  Joseph  W.  H.  Watson,  John  W.  Snitcher  and 
John  W.  Killgore  commissioners,  Alexander  Ir«ns 
assessor,  Daniel  Green  treasurer. 

Robert  C.  Justis  was  the  second  alderman,  being 
elected  to  that  office  in  1884.  The  same  office  was 
filled,  in  1887,  by  J.  W.  R.  Killgore.  Ephraim  Myers 
was  secretary  of  the  commissioners;  J.  El  wood  Con- 
lyn,  treasurer ;  J.  R.  Barrett,  asssessor ;  and  David 
Hims worth,  bailiff. 

Since  the  incorporation  of  Newport  the  streets  have 
been  much  improved  and  the  village  given  a  better 
appearance  generally.  About  $400  is  annually  ex- 
pended in  this  direction,  involving  a  tax  of  fifteen 
cents  on  a  dollar.  In  1887  the  assessment  roll  bore 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  names  and  the  popula- 
tion was  estimated  at  eight  hundred,  more  than  dou- 
ble the  number  when  the  village  became  incorporated. 

Armstrong  Lodge,  No.  26,  A.  F.  and  A.  if.,  was  in- 
stituted at  Newport  under  a  charter  bearing  date 
June  27,  1870,  with  Joseph  W.  H.  Watson,  Master  ; 
Robert  Lewis  Armstrong,  Senior  Warden  ;  Thomas 
Brackin,  Junior  Warden.  Since  that  time  the  meetings 
have  been  statedly  held  in  a  neat  hall  in  the  Killgore 
block,  and  in  1887  there  were  about  sixty  members 
and  the  following  principal  officers :    F.  O.  Biber- 


stien.  Master;  James  H.  Polk,  Senior  Warden ;  John 
E.  Whann,  Junior  Warden  ;  Joseph  W.  H.  Watson, 
Treasurer ;  Alexander  Irons,  Secretary. 

The  Past  Masters  of  the  lodge  have  been  Lewis  R. 
Armstrong,  Thomas  Brackin,  Joseph  H.  Chambers, 
Swithin  Chandler,  John  A.  Cranston,  John  Hoopes, 
Francis  T.  Jones,  Robert  C.  Justis,  John  W.  R  Kill- 
gore, John  M.  Newbold,  Thomas  Pilling,  Joseph 
W.  H.  Watson. 

Andastaka  Tribe,  No.  14,  /.  0.  of  JR.  if— This  body 
was  instituted  September  28, 1874,  and  meets  in  a 
good  hall  in  the  lower  part  of  the  village.  From  the 
beginning  it  has  been  prosperous  and  reported  fifty 
members  in  1887.  The  tribe  was  incorporated  Feb- 
ruary 3, 1886. 

David  L.  Striker  Post,  No.  S,0,  A.  JR.,  was  chartered 
with  twenty-three  members  and  held  its  first  meeting 
in  March,  1883.  The  post  statedly  meets  in  the  Kill- 
gore Hall  and  is  prosperous.  The  membership  has 
been  increased  to  thirty-three  and  Daniel  Green  is 
the  present  Commander. 

Active  Lodge,  No.  U,  A.  0.  of  U.  TF.— The  youngest 
secret  order,  a  lodge  of  United  Workmen,  was  institu- 
ted May  27, 1885.  The  charter  was  granted  to  Charles 
H.  Davis,  John  M.  Newbold,  William  A.  Mullin 
and  a  number  of  others.  In  1887  there  were  thirty- 
three  members,  whose  meetings  were  held  in  Kill- 
gore's  Hall. 

St.  James*  {Protestant  Episcopal)  Church. — The  early 
records  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Newport  have 
been  lost,  but  from  an  old  book  found  in  the  attic  of 
the  court-house  at  Wilmington  we  learn  that  a  lot- 
tery was  held  to  raise  money  for  the  erection  of  St 
James'  Church. 

This  old  book  was  also  used  to  keep  the  accounts 
for  building  material,  labor,  etc.  The  dates  begin  in 
September,  1767,  and  the  accounts  are  for  brick,  lime, 
boards,  scaffold,  poles,  etc. 

The  managers  of  the  lottery  in  August,  1767,  were 
Empson  Bird,  Thomas  Duff,  Thomas  Ogle,  Morton 
Morton  and  John  Reece. 

Contract  was  made  with  Henry  Vining  for  the 
erection  of  the  church.  Nicholas  Sellers  charged  for 
two  hundred  and  eighteen  thousand  nine  hundred 
brick,  which,  however,  the  trustees  could  not  find,  as 
John  Byrne,  who  laid  the  brick,  only  brought  in  an 
account  for  laying  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  thirteen.  The  writer  says:  "I 
discovered  the  error  at  the  time  of  settlement  with 
Sellers  and  Conrad  Grey,  but  the  Committee  was  deaf 
to  all  I  could  say."  The  rafters  and  iron-work  for  the 
roof  were  laid  November  9, 1769. 

August  14, 1771,  cash  paid  James  Adams  for  print- 
ing tickets,  **  when  a  Miss  was  Maid  by  the  Printers." 

Plates  were  put  on  in  October,  1771. 

October  15,  1771,  cash  paid  Mr.  Marshall  for  sun- 
dries "  When  Doct.  Smith  Preacht  at  St.  James'. " 

November  17, 1774,  cash  paid  Henry  Vining  at  a 
settlement.  Capt.  Thomas  Ogle  and  Morton  Morton 
were  present. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


897 


Before  this  building  waa  completed  the  War  of  the 
Revolution  broke  out,  and  in  those  troublous  times  it 
was  used  to  stable  a  troop  of  British  cavalry.  Later, 
meetings  were  here  again  held  in  the  summer  in  con- 
nection with  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Stanton,  the 
work  at  Newport  being  designated  as  the  New  Church. 
In  1787  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to  incor- 
porate theje  churches,  probably  with  a  view  of  secur- 
ing the  completion  of  the  building  at  Newport.  In 
this  house  the  Rev.  William  Price,  rector  of  the 
Old  Swedes'  Church  at  Wilmington,  officiated  from 
1800  to  1802,  but  it  fell  into  disuse  about  1810,  and 
before  this  time  all  Episcopal  meetings  at  this  point 
had  been  abandoned.  In  subsequent  years  occasional 
meetings  only  were  held  by  the  rectors  of  St.  James^ 
of  Stanton,  but  after  the  accession  of  the  Rev.  Wm. 
Marshall;  in  1857,  regular  cervices  were  established 
in  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church.  The  house  was 
refitted  and  made  comfortable  in  other  respects.  The 
church  was  admitted  into  diocesan  relation  the  same 
year,  and  in  1859  the  vestry  were  appointed  trustees 
to  hold  and  manage  the  ecclesiastical  property,  in- 
cluding the  grave-yard  on  the  old  lot.  It  was  deemed 
best  to  dispose  of  the  old  stone  church,  and  after  the 
building  of  the  new  school-house,  in  1886,  meetings 
were  there  held,  the  location  being  more  central. 
But  early  in  1875  measures  were  taken  to  build  a 
chapel,  the  comer-stone  of  which  was  laid  June  17th, 
that  year.  On  the  8d  of  October,  1875,  the  build- 
ing was  so  far  completed  that  lay  services  were  held 
in  it  by  W.  Jenks  Fell,  and  it  was  formally  opened 
on  the  11th  of  November  of  the  same  year.  The 
consecration  did  not  take  place  until  September  5, 
1877,  when  Bishop  Alfred  Lee  performed  that  service. 
It  is  a  frame  building  in  the  Gothic  style  of  architec- 
ture, of  plain  but  not  unattractive  appearance.  The 
lot  is  large  and  very  nicely  located.  The  member- 
ship of  the  church  has  ever  been  small,  and  since 
December  1, 1885,  the  rector  has  been  the  Rev.  Wm. 
A.  Alrich.  Other  rectors  of  this  church,  or  serving 
in  connection  with  St.  James',  of  Stanton,  have  been 
the  following : 

The  Rev.  Robert  Clay,  prior  to  1791 ;  Rev.  Joseph 
Olarkson,  about  17^;  Rev.  Robert  Clay,  1799  to 
1824 ;  Rev.  Stephen  W.  Pustman,  1824 ;  Rev.  W. 
Pardee,  1833-34 ;  Rev.  Hiram  Adams,  1837  ;  Rev.  C. 
C.  Chambers,  1840-43 ;  Rev.  W.  Mansfield.  1850-54; 
Rev.  G.  Sheets,  1854-56;  Rev.  William  Marshall, 
1857-72 ;  Rev.  Charles  E.  Fessenden,  1873-74 ;  Rev. 
Wm.  Dent  Hanson,  1875-85.* 

Peniel  MeihodUt  Episcopal  Church  of  Newport — As 
easly  as  1797  the  Rev.  Ezekiel  Cooper  and  others 
preached  to  a  small  band  of  Methodists  at  Newport, 
holding  services  usually  in  the  afternoon,  after  hav- 
ing preached  at  Wilmington  or  New  Castle  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  same  day.  John  Miller  was  the  only 
male  member  at  this  time,  but  there  were  six  or 
eight  devoted  female  members,  whose  zeal  caused  the 


society  to  become  permanent  in  1803.  Six  years 
later  a  small  frame  meeting-house  was  built  on  a  lot 
of  land  secured  from  Thomas  Latimer,  which  he  for- 
mally conveyed  to  the  trustees,  June  22,  1810.  This 
board  was  composed  of  Joseph  Lynam,  John  Miller, 
Dennis  Dougherty,  Benjamin  Hersey  and  Samuel 
Wood,  and  had  become  an  incorporated  body  May  16, 
1810,  a  week  afler  its  election. 

In  1864  the  old  church  building  was  removed  and  the 
present  brick  structure  erected  in  its  place,  upon  the 
same  lot,  a  part  of  which  is  used  for  burial  purposes. 
The  house  has  sittings  for  several  hundred  people, 
and  is  plain  in  its  appearance.  In  1842  Sybilla  Ann 
Stone  donated  the  brick  house  on  the  adjoining  lot, 
and  an  acre  of  land  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street, 
for  a  parsonage  and  the  support  of  the  church.  A 
part  of  the  old  brick  residence  antedates  the  century, 
but  it  has  been  modernized  within  recent  years,  and 
made  a  comfortable  residence.  The  entire  church 
property  was  valued  at  seven  thousand  dollars  in 
1887  and  was  controlled  by  Trustees  Vincent,  G. 
Flinn,  Wm.  R.  Flinn,  W.  A.  Weldin,  Alexander 
Irons,  Thomas  J.  Hanna,  John  Scarborough, 
G^eorge  W.  Davis,  Daniel  Green  and  Ephraim  Megar- 
gal. 

The  church  has  sustained  many  different  relations 
to  the  Conference  with  which  it  has  been  connected, 
but,  since  1865,  has  been  classed  as  a  station,  and  the 
ministers  since  that  period  have  been  the  Revs.  Wm. 
H.  Fries,  W.  H.  Bodine,  Joshua  Humphries,  John 
Allen,  John  D.  Rigg,  H.  S.  Thompson,  J.  E.  Bryan, 
E.  H.  Nelson  and  John  D.  C.  Hanna.  As  local 
preachers,  Daniel  Green  and  Vincent  G.  Flinn  were 
reported,  both  having  served  in  that  relation  many 
years. 

The  church  has  a  large  membership,  numbering 
about  two  hundred  in  1887,  and  also  maintains  a 
flourishing  Sabbath-school. 

The  Newport  African  Methodist  Church  is  a  small 
stone  building,  north  of  the  village.  Originally  it 
was  erected  by  an  organization  of  white  Methodists, 
which  had  among  its  members  Joseph  L3mam,  Robert 
B.  Flinn  and  others.  This  society  disbanded  thirty 
years  ago.  Later,  Episcopal  services  were  there  held, 
and  subsequently  the  property  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  present  body,  which  has  but  a  small  member- 
ship. 

Near  Newport  John  R.  Phillips  erected  a  house  for 
the  holding  of  religious  meetings,  but  it  was  never 
occupied  by  a  regular  society,  and  in  the  course  of 
years  it  was  torn  down  and  the  material  used  in 
other  buildings.  Phillips  subsequently  became  a 
resident  of  Newport,  and  was  noted  for  the  eccentrici- 
ties of  his  character.  ^ 


1  Died  Jalj  1,  1885. 


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898 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 


BRANDYWIXE   HUNDRED. 


Brandy  WINE  Hundred  is  the  name  applied  to  the 
northeastern  section  of  New  Castle  County,  and  em- 
braces all  that  territory  comprised  south  of  the  Btate 
line  and  on  the  waters  of  the  Delaware  and  Brandy- 
wine,  excepting  what  has  been  joined  to  the  city  of 
Wilmington,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  these  natural 
bounds.  The  surface  partakes  of  the  characteristics 
of  Southern  Pennsylvania  and  is,  in  general,  well  un- 
dulated. Outcroppings  of  rock  appear  in  many 
'  localities,  preventing  a  fertility  of  soil,  while  other 
sections  have  fine  and  highly  improved  farms,  whose 
proximity  to  the  markets  have  made  them  valuable 
property.  Along  the  streams,  whose  descent  to  the 
level  of  the  Delaware  is  precipitous  in  places,  are 
valuable  deposits  of  blue  stone  and  granite,  which 
are  being  profitably  developed.  On  the  hills  are 
groves  of  natural  timber,  giving  the  country  a  pleas- 
ant appearance  and  no  other  section  in  the  State 
excels  this  in  the  variety  and  beauty  of  its  landscape 
scenery. 

The  territory  embraced  within  the  present  bounds 
of  Brandy  wine  Hundred  does  not  appear  m  a  distinct 
division  until  the  year  1687,  when  a  list  of  taxables 
residing  on  the  north  side  of  Brandy  wine  Creek  was 
prepared.^ 

But  at  that  time  the  name  hundred  was  not  applied 
to  the  division,  that  appellation  not  being  adopted 
until  a  much  later  period.  For  many  years  different 
sections  of  the  hundred  were  known  by  the  old  local 
names. 

These  were,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Christiana 
Creek  and  going  northward,  VertrecLt  Hook  Marsh 
(later  Cherry  Island  Marah),  Vertrecht  Hook,  the 
"  Bout"  or  "  Bocht,"  Grubb's  Manor  Lands,  Naaman's 
Creek  Lands  and  west  from  all  of  these,  Rockland 
Manor. 

The  Swedes,  as  has  been  stated  were  the  first  settlers. 
They  located  on  Vertrecht  Hook  (also  called  Trinity 
Hook),  that  being  the  first  desirable  fast  land  on  the 
Delaware  above  Fort  Christina,  which  was  built  in 
1638,  and  which  afforded  them  protection. 

Upon  the  surrender  of  Fort  Christina,  in  1654,  the 
Swedes  were  much  concerned  as  to  their  rights,  as 
one  of  the  terms  of  the  capitulation  was  that  they 
should  leave  their  lands  and  locate  in  villages,  which 
was  distasteful  to  them.  Accordingly,  on  the  19th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1656,  **  There  appears  at  the  meeting  of  Council 
the  free  Swedes  who  live  upon  the  second  point '  above 
Fort  Casimir  and  request  that  they  may  remain  on 
the  land  and  that  they  are  not  willing  to  change 
their  place  of  inhabitation  nor  to  build  in  the  village 
which  is  to  be  established,  but  they  adhere  to  the 
promise  made  to  them  by  the  Hon*'''  Peter  Stuyvesant, 

1  This  list  appears  in  the  General  History  of  this  work. 
*  The  flnt  point  above  New  Castle,  or  Fort   Casimir,  was  Crane  Hook 
and  the  second  was  Vertrecht  Hook. 


that  they  should  resolve  what  to  do  after  the  expiration 
of  a  period  of  one  year  and  six  weeks  granted  to  them 
by  the  capitulation."  This  request  was  presented  to 
the  Governor,  and  on  August  14th  in  that  year  the 
deputy  sent  by  the  Governor  read  the  instructions 
and  conditions  which  were  delivered  to  Oregorius 
Van  Dyck,  sheriff.  The  exact  purport  of  the  condi- 
tions is  not  known,  but  the  greater  portion  still  resided 
on  Vertrecht  Hook,  and  on  May  20,  1657,  forwarded 
a  request  to  the  authorities  to  establbh  villages.  The 
request  was  granted  by  letter,  June  12th  the  same 
year,  and  Gregorius  Van  Dyck,  was  ordered  to  con- 
centrate them  in  villages,  either  at  Upland,  Passa- 
yonck,  Finland,  Kingsessing,  or  on  the  '^  Verdritige 
Hook.''  It  was  at  the  latter  place  that  the  Swedes 
were  then  living  without  title  to  land,  except  the  right 
of  discovery  and  occupation,  as  no  patents  were 
granted  by  Queen  Christina  to  any  one  within  the 
territory  now  embraced  by  the  State  of  Delaware. 
Here  they  located  in  considerable  numbers  with  their 
families,  each  having  a  narrow  river  front  and  run- 
ning back  into  the  woods,  and  using  the  marsh  lands 
in  common  for  wood  and  and  pasture.  Some  of  them 
obtained  titles  under  the  Dutch,  and  which,  in  1664, 
were  renewed  by  the  English.  In  1662  the  place 
was  known  as  the  *'  troublesome  comer ''  and  in  that 
year  Vice- Director  Beekman,  of  Fort  Altena,  in  a 
letter  dated  June  21st,  writes,  ''Sixteen  or  eighteen 
families  mostly  Fins,  residing  in  our  jurisdiction  to 
whom  great  offer •>  have  been  made  by  Mr.  d'Hinijossa, 
intend  to  move  into  the  Colony ;  They  are  to  have 
eighteen  year^'  freedom  of  all  taxes,  with  their  own 
judges  and  decisicms  up  to  100  guilders,  also  free 
exercise  of  their  religion — these  families  intend  never- 
theless to  hold  on  to  their  lands  in  our  jurisdiction 
and  to  sow  grain  on  them,  until  they  have  cleared 
land  in  the  Colony.  In  my  opinion  we  may  seize  the 
deserted  land  and  settle  Dutch  farmers  on  it  if  it  were 
possible  to  get  them.''  These  families  remained  on 
lands  they  had  located,  mostly  on  Vertrecht  Hook 
aud  the  "  Bout ;  "  a  few,  however,  were  at  Tran  Hook 
or  Craine  Hook  and  Swanwyck. '  Only  one  or  two 
in  the  early  days  lived  below  New  Castle,  until  about 
1675-76,  and  then  but  few  more  settled  there. 

The  English  came  into  possession  of  this  territory, 
by  the  surrender  of  the  Dutch,  February  7,  1663,  on 
condition  that  the  inhabitant:^,  principally  Swed  es, 
should  be  protected  in  their  rights.  Their  lands  became 
escheated,  but  were  restored  again  to  them-by  patents 
from  the  Euglish  G>vernor,  Richard  Nicholls.  The 
first  grant  on  the  Delaware,  to  individuals,  after  the 
surrender,  was  given  March  5,  1663,  about  a  month 
after  the  capitulation  of  the  Dutch.  It  was  granted 
to  Niels  Nielson,  Sr.,  Hendrick  Nielsen,  Mathyes 
Nielson  and  Niel  Nielson,  Jr.,  "  for  each  of  them  a 
plantation  with  a  proportion  of  meadow  ground  for 
hay  for  their  cattle  on  a  certaine  piece  of  land  att 
Delware  situate,  lying  and  being  on  the  Trinity  Hook 
or  that  corner  of  land  so  extending  to  the  Stone  Hook 

s  In  New  Castie  Hundred,  above  New  Oastle. 


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899 


and  obliging  them  to  build  their  houses  near  unto 
one  another.*'  This  grant  was  confirmed  June  15, 
1664,  and  reconfirmed,  January  8, 1667.  At  the  time  of 
the  first  grant  Fort  Christina,  although  virtuallysur- 
rendered,  did  not  yield  until  forced  to  do  so  by  the 
presence  of  an  armed  force  under  the  command  of  Sir 
Robert  Carr,  August  27, 1664.  This  grant  wad  probably 
the  first  issued  by  the  English  in  this  section  of  the 
country. 

Fort  Christina  was  near  '*  the  rocks,''  now  in  the 
yard  of  the  McCullough  Iron  Works,  in  Wilmington. 
Opposite,  in  Brandywine  Hundred,  was  a  piece  of 
fast  ground,  which,  in  1643,  was  called  Cooper's 
Island,  by  reason  of  two  Dutchmen  living  there  and 
making  barrels  and  casks.  It  later  became  known  as 
Vandever's  Island,  and  was  the  property  of  Jacob 
Van  de  Yere.  He  first  appears  in  this  country  as  a 
sergeant  in  the  garrison  at  Fort  Altena,  in  1660,  and 
in  that  year  he  asked  that  he  might  be  discharged  in 
the  spring,  "  as  he  desires  to  leave  with  the  first  ves- 
sel after  the  river  was  open."  He  did  not  leave  the 
country,  but  obtained  title  to  property  in  New  Castle 
April  8,  1661,  and  lived  there  a  number  of  years. 
He  probably  took  up  his  land  in  Brandywine  soon 
mfter  the  above  purchase,  but  received  no  patent 
until  March  24, 1668.  Later,  he  had  a  warrant,  dated 
liarch  2,  1682,  fortme  hundred  and  forty-seven  acre», 
the  tract  containing  the  island.  He  also  received 
another  tract  by  warrant  dated  May  18,  1684.  These 
tracts  were  all  re-surveyed  April  6,  1688,  and  con- 
tained five  hundred  and  thirty-two  acres,  including 
nuursh.  The  map  of  survey  shows  the  land  to  be 
bounded  on  the  southeast  by  Shellpot  Creek,  on  the 
northwest  by  Brandywine  Creek,  and  on  the  other 
aides  by  lands  of  Hans  and  Usin  Peterson. 

"  The  Island,"  as  it  was  called,  appears  to  have  been 
the  neck  of  land  where  the  railroad  bridge  now 
crosses,  and  the  house  was  marked  as  being  close  to 
Brandywine  Creek.  The  survey  shows  the  King's 
road  to  have  passed  through  the  upper  end  of  the 
tract.  It  runs  from  Philadelphia,  in  the  rear  of  the 
river  lots,  to  near  the  head  of  the  island  (whose  east- 
em  boundary  was  a  marsh,  rather  than  a  stream),  and 
then  turned  and  ran  nearly  parallel  to  the  creek, 
until  it  reached  the  ''  Falls."  It  was  at  this  place 
that  the  court,  on  May  13, 1675,  ordered  "  a  Ferry  to 
be  maintayned  at  the  Falls  on  ye  west  side."  A 
bridge  was  built  later  by  Jacob  Vandever,  lower 
down,  which  was  called  Vandever's  Bridge,  and  was 
used  until  1764,  when  it  was  ordered  to  be  destroyed 
by  the  act  of  1761,  and  a  new  bridge  built  where  the 
present  Market  Street  bridge  over  the  Brandywine 
now  stands. 

The  Vandever  tract  embraced  Brandywine  Village 
(the  lands  formerly  Edwin  Bellah'a),  the  settlement 
about  Eleventh  Street  Bridge,  on  the  east  side,  and 
where  an  old  Vandever  farm-house  still  stands.  The 
elevations  on  it  have  been  known  as  '*  Timber  Island," 
"  Thatcher *s  Hook,"  etc.  It  was  for  over  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  years  in  the  hands  of  the  Vandevers, 


when  it  was  subdivided,  and  passed  into  the  hands 
of  many  owners. 

A  tract  of  land  lying  below  the  above,  on  Chris- 
tiana Creek,  and  below  Vertrecht's,  or  Trinity  Hook, 
came  into  possession  of  Peter  Alrichs,  nephew  of  Vice- 
Director  Jacob  Alrichs,  and  who  himself  occupied 
many  ofiices  under  both  the  Dutch  and  the  English. 
Upon  the  occupation  by  the  English  AlrichV  property 
was  confiscated,  but  later  he  came  into  favor  with  the 
English  and  was  a  magistrate  many  yeard.  This 
tract  of  land  was  also  confiscated,  and,  with  an  island 
and  plantation  farther  down  the  river,  was  granted  to 
William  Tom  by  Gk)vernor  Richard  Nicolls,  June  20, 
1665,  who,  after  reciting  that  the  land  formerly 
belonged  io  Peter  Alrichs,  describes  it  as  follows  : 

"I  doe  likewise  hereby  give  and  grAut  unto  the 
said  William  Tom  a  certaine  piece  of  meadow -ground, 
or  valley,  lying  at  the  mouth  of  the  said  river  of 
Delaware,  between  Christiana  Creek  or  Kill,  and 
Vertrecht's  Hook,  being  bounded  on  the  Back  Kill, 
conteyneing  by  estimation  five  hundred  acres." 

This  land  Mr.  Tom  held  until  his  death,  when  it 
was  sold  to  Arnoldus  De  La  Orange.  During  the 
occcupacy  of  Mr.  Tom,  and  at  a  special  court  held 
at  New  Castle,  13th  and  14th  of  May,  1675,  the  inhab- 
itants of  Vertrecht's  Hook  complained  that  Mr.  Tom 
"  molests  them  in  enjoyment  of  meadow-ground  next 
to  their  plantations."  The  matter  was  compromised 
by  Mr.  Tom*8  proposal  that  the  inhabitants  and  some 
other  neighbors  who  stood  in  need,  might  have  the 
same  liberty  and  equal  benefit  of  some  of  the  meadow 
next  unto  them ;  he,  Tom,  reserving  freedom  of  com- 
monage for  himself,  and  also  opening  his  own 
meadow-ground,  of  which  they  complained. 

The  latter  tract  was  all  marshy  and  was  rarely 
used.  In  the  course  of  years  it  appears  to  have  lost 
ownership,  but,  September  1,  1748,  it  was  taken  up 
and  resurveyed  in  the  name  of  William  Bedford  for 
the  De  Haes  heirs.  It  is  now  (1888)  known  as  the 
Cherry  Island  Marsh,  and  has  been  redeemed  from 
its  waste  condition  by  an  improvement  company  of 
the  same  name. 

Vertrietege  (or  Vertrecht)  Hook  extended  from  the 
marsh  lands  upward  along  the  Delaware  one  and 
three-fourths  miles.  The  stream  running  through  it 
terminated  at  du  Pout's  Landing.  The  name  signi- 
fies grievous  or  tedious,  owing  to  the  character  of  the 
navigation  in  the  streams  here,  which  were  more 
subject  to  tidal  influences  in  those  days  than  at 
present,  and  permitted  the  entrance  of  sloops.  North 
were  the  lands  of  Charles  Peterson,  below  the 
''Bout,"  northwest  was  Rockland  Manor,  and  west 
was  a  tract  of  land  owned  by  Hans  Peterson.  His 
house  was  northwest  of  the  forks  of  Shellpot  Creek. 
This  tract  of  land  was  resurveyed  on  a  warrant  dated 
May  20,  1688,  and  granted  by  William  Penn  to  Henry 
Tooseu,  John  and  Pieter  Mounsen,  Anneke  Lawsen, 
Jacob  Clementsen  and  John  Neilsen.  The  latter,  it 
will  be  noticed,  was  the  only  one  living  on  the  origi- 
nal grant  in  1663.     Each  of  the  above  five  places  con- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


taiued  165J  acres.  The  lower  tract  belonged  to  John 
Neilsen,  and  was  narrow  on  the  river,  with  a  house 
on  the  first  fast,  land  beyond  and  above  Cherry  Is- 
land Marsh.  His  land  was  wider  in  the  rear,  and  ran 
back  of  part  of  Jacob  Clemen  tsen's  land.  Clementsen 
also  had  a  house  near  the  river  front.  The  next  di- 
vision above  Clementsen  was  Anneke  Lawson,  which 
was  of  equal  width,  as  were  also  the  other  two  above. 
In  Lawsen's  lot  was  a  stream  that  ran  down  through 
it  to  the  river,  and  his  house  was  on  the  southerly 
side  of  the  stream.  The  next  lot  was  John  and 
Pieter  Mounsen,  who  also  had  a  house  by  the  river. 
Pieter  Mounsen,^  November  1, 1609,  bought  the  Crane 
Hook  Church  property,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
acres.  Henry  Toosen  owned  the  upper  lot  and  had 
upon  it  two  houses,  one  on  the  river  front  and  the 
other  near  the  upper  end  and  on  the  lower  side  of  the 
old  King's  road,  which  ran  through  all  the  lots  here 
mentioned. 

Above  the  Vertrecht  Hook  tract  was  a  belt  of  land 
having  a  front  of  one  hundred  rods  along  the  river 
and  extending  back  to  the  Rockland  Manor  Lands. 
It  was  patented  May  28, 1669,  to  Barrent  Egge,  who 
disposed  of  it  to  other  parties  about  five  years  later. 
A  portion  of  it  was  assigned  to  Charles  Petersen. 

The  "  Bout "  or  "  Boght "  was  a  tract  of  land  lying 
on  the  Delaware,  above  Vertrecht  Hook,  extending 
along  the  river  about  two  miles  and  running  back  to 
the  Rockland  Manor  Lands.  It  was  first  occupied 
by  the  Swedes  without  titles  to  their  lands,  but  under 
the  Dutch  they  were  permitted  to  remain,  and  after 
the  English  accession  warrants  were  issued  and 
patents  granted.  One  of  the  first  was  issued  April  16, 
1673,  for  three  hundred  acres,  and  was  granted  to  Olle 
Fransen,  Peter  Mounsen  and  Neil  Neilsen. 

On  the  16th  of  June,  1675,  Governor  Andros 
granted  a  patent  to  the  above  and  Marcus  Lawren- 
sen  for  the  three  hundred  acres  already  patented  and 
four  hundred  acres  additional,  with  a  stipulation 
"that  the  inhabitants  of  Verdritege  or  Vertrecht 
Hook  shall  have  and  enjoy  the  privileges  and  free- 
dom of  Stony  Creek  and  the  mill  which  they  have 
built  on  the  same.'' 

The  mill  on  Stony  Creek  (now  Quarryville  Creek) 
was  owned  by  a  company,  and  was  sold  February  10, 
1688,  by  Hans  Petersen,  Niel  Nielsen  and  Olle  Fran- 
sen  to  Peter  Boynton,  who  then  owned  part  of  the 
Bout  tract.  Boynton  was  a  merchant  at  New  Castle, 
and  July  9, 1684,  bought  of  Olle  or  Woola  Fransen 
one  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres  on  the  lower  side 
of  the  tract,  and  bounded  on  the  upper  side  by  Stony 
Creek.  Subsequently  he  bought  more  land  in  the 
Beut,  and  on  the  14th  of  October,  1693,  he  sold  to 
Ebenezer  Perkins,  *'late  of  New  England,  husband- 
man,*' a  portion  of  this  land ;  and  on  the  same  day 
Joseph  Perkins,  a  brother  of  Ebenezer  and  also  of 
New  England,  bought  of  the  "  Bout "  lands  adjoin- 
ing of  Thomas  Noxon.  The  descendants  of  the  lat- 
ter still  own  and  occupy  part  of  the  same  premises. 

1  He  was  a  deacon  In  Crane  Hook  Church  in  1675. 


The  jurisdiction  of  the  Upland  Court  extended 
down  to  the  south  line  of  the  Bout,  and  September 
13,  1681,  Morgan  Druitt  was  a  juror  at  that  court. 
He  purchased  five  hundred  and  thirty-two  acres  of 
the  Bout  tract,  tor  which,  under  Penn,  he  received  a 
warrant  for  survey  in  1683.  In  the  survey  it  was 
named  '*  Newport."  He  left  the  property  to  his  son, 
William,  who  died  there  and  left  it  to  his  son  John, 
who  lived  at  Salem,  N.  J.,  who,  August  6, 1726,  con- 
veyed the  Newport  tract  of  five  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  acres  to  Reuben  Ford.  "On  the  7th  of  May, 
1737,  he  gave  to  his  son,  Reuben  Ford,  Jr.,  96  acres ; 
to  his  son  Benjamin,  73  acres ;  to  his  son  Joseph,  58 
acres,  and  to  his  son  John,  115  acres.'* 

Of  the  ninety-five  acres  of  land  of  Reuben  Ford, 
Jr.,  Jasper  Justin,  his  executor,  sold  fifty  acres  to 
Samuel  Lodge,  April  10,  1742.  Benjamin  Ford  later 
moved  inland  and  resided  there,  his  descendants 
being  active  in  the  earJy  affairs  of  the  hundred. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  1677,  the  court  at  Upland 
was  petitioned  for  a  warrant  to  Johannes  De  Haes 
for  a  tract  of  "  land  in  the  Boght  between  the  land  of 
Olle  Fransen  and  company  and  ye  creek  called 
Naaman's  Creek,  w**^  sd.  land  was  not  yet  surveighed, 
so  that  the  Petition*'  is  uncertain  of  the  quantity  of 
the  sd.  land,  and  therefore  desired  that  the  court 
would  bee  pleased  to  give  order,  and  withal  a  war- 
rant, for  the  la3ring  out  of  the  sd.  land."  The  court 
granted  the  request,  and  ordered  a  warrant  for  its 
survey. 

De  Haes  had  received  a  patent  for  this  land,  before 
this  period,  from  Governor  Lovelace;  but  being  in 
the  Upland  jurisdiction,  the  survey  had  been  delayed. 
A  portion  of  this  tract  was  later  a  part  of  Rockland 
Manor,  and  that  part  from  the  Bout  to  Stockdale's 
Run  was  divided  into  two  parts,  bearing  the  names 
of  Stockdale's  plantation  and  Mile's  end.  In  1785 
these  tracts  were  owned  by  the  following:  Adam 
Bui kley,  ninety-five  acres ;  Emanuel  Grubb,  ninety- 
five  acres;  John  Grubb,  fifly-six  acres.  On  this 
tract  was  Grubb's  Landing,  and  that  family  long 
owned  the  improvements  connected  therewith. 

Between  Stockdale's  Run  and  Naaman's  Creek  was 
a  tract  of  three  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  in- 
cluded in  the  De  Haes  tract,  but  which  was  resur- 
veyed  January  21, 1721,  and  divided  into  three  parts, 
of  which  John  Bui  kley  was  placed  in  possession  of 
one  hundred  and  fourteen  acres,  north  of  Stockdale's 
Run;  Joseph  Grubb,  next  above,  had  one  hundred 
and  eight  acres,  and  Benjamin  Moulder,  still  above, 
and  on  Naaman's  Run,  had  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
acres.  Benjamin  Moulder  left  his  land  to  his  two 
sons,  Benjamin  and  William,  who  received  patents 
July  12,  1746. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  1676,  there  was  granted  by 
patent  to  Charles  Jansen,011e  Fransen,  Olle  Neilsen, 
Hans  Hopman,  John  Hendrickson  and  Hans  Olleson, 
a  tract  of  land  laid  out  for  one  thousand  acres,  the 
larger  part  of  which  was  in  what  is  now  Delaware 
County,  Pa.,  but  it  embraced  all  that  portion  of  Del- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


901 


aware  north  of  Naaman's  Creek.  Claymont  ia  partly 
on  this  land  and  partly  on  the  land  owned  in  1734  by 
Benjamin  Moulder. 

Hans  Petersen,  who  lived  southwest  of  the  Ver- 
trecht  Hook  settlers  and  on  Shellpot  Creek,  was 
located  before  1668,  as  his  patent  bears  date  Novem- 
ber 14th,  that  year,  and  called  for  one  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  and  one-half  acres.  He  later  owned  more 
property,  and,  in  1677,  had  a  dispute  which  ended  in 
a  suit .  in  court,  over  title  to  land  claimed  by  others. 
He  was  a  member  of  Crane  Hook  Church,  and  one 
of  the  founders  of  "Old  Swedes'"  Trinity  Church. 
He  was,  with  the  most  of  the  Swedes  in  the  vicinity, 
mentioned  as  one  of  the  confederates  of  the  "  Long 
Finn,"  who  was  tried,  in  1675,  at  New  Castle,  for  in- 
surrection and  banished. 

Before  1681  he  had  other  tracts  of  land  warranted 
to  him,  most  of  it  located  along  Shellpot  Creek  and 
on  Chestnut  Hill.  One  tract,  which  had  been  con- 
firmed by  Governor  Lovelace  to  Andreas  Matson, 
November  14, 1668,  was  on  a  stream  described  as  fol- 
lows :  "  Whereas,  there  is  land  situate  at  place  called 
the  '  Indian  or  Wilde  Hook,'  in  the  tenure  and  occu- 
pation of  Andreas  Matson,  a  small  run  of  water 
bounding  on  east,  running  by  Shellpot  Hill  100  rods 
in  breadth,  and  back  into  ye  woods  600  rods." 

A  part  of  the  Hans  Peterson  lands  was  re-surveyed, 
December  1, 1748,  for  Mark  Elliott.  In  this  locality 
Henry  Webster  had  a  re-survey  made  before  1794, 
for  seventy  acres  which  were  bounded  by  the  lands  of 
Mark  Elliott,  John  Houston,  John  Allmond,  Ver- 
trecht  Hook  and  John  Penn.  The  heirs  of  the  latter 
at  that  time  owned  the  Shellpot  Mill.  Webster's  other 
land  lay  farther  northwest,  and  is  still  owned  by  his 
descendants. 

Rockland  Manor  was  set  off  by  William  Penn,  in 

1682,  as  one  of  the  many  manors  in  his  vast  domain. 
It  embraced  all  the  lands  in  Brandywine  Huudred 
except  those  heretofore  mentioned,  including  the  nar- 
row neck  of  land  extending  to  the  Delaware  River, 
between  the  "  Bout'*  andNaaman's  Creek, also  above 
described.  The  first  warrant  for  lands  in  the  manor 
was  made  to  Henry  Hollingsworth,    February  20, 

1683,  and  was  for  two  hundred  acres  lying  on  the 
south  'iside  of  the  head-waters  of  Shellpot  Creek,  and 
adjoined  the  lands  of  Thomas  Hollingsworth,  pur- 
chased about  the  same  time.  The  next  notable  sale 
was  to  the  Pennsylvania  Land  Company,  of  London, 
which  bought  of  William  Penn,  "on  the  17th  of  6th 
mo.,  1699,"  sixty  thousand  acres  of  land,  four  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  which  were  in 
New  Castle  and  two  thousand  acres  in  Rockland 
Manor,  in  Brandywine  Hundred.  It  was  resurveyed  in 
1718  by  Isaac  Taylor,  and  a  few  sales  are  recorded 
after  1721,  all  the  lands  being  closed  out  before  1765. 

Reuben  Ford  bought,  in  1713,  seventy-five  acres  on 
the  head- waters  of  Naaman's  Creek  and  adjoining  the 
land  of  Wm.  Stockdale,  from  whom  Stockdale  Run 
took  its  name.  Wm.  Ford  purchased  lands  in  1722, 
which  were  located  both  in  Delaware  and  Pennsylva- 


AerM. 

William  Wfttion.. 220 

WilUam  RoUDMn 100 

Samuel  Stewart 240 

Joeeph  Shallcro* 76 

WillUm  TaUj IM 

Samael  Tallj 176 

David  Tallj 84 

Daniel  McBride 101 

William  Smith.... 96 

William  Kirkland 82 


nia.  In  1734  Benjamin  Ford,  who  had  formerly  lived 
on  the  *'  Bout "  on  the  Delaware  River,  became  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  two  acres  on  the  Circle,  in 
both  States.  July  10, 1759,  he  and  Samuel  Reynolds, 
of  Chichester,  Delaware  County,  Pennsylvania,  were 
owners  of  three  parcels  of  land,  whereon  they  built  a 
grist-mill,  saw-mill,  and  other  buildings.  These  they 
sold  to  James  Cummins,  of  Nottingham,  Bucks 
County,  Pennsylvania.  They  were  all  on  the  west 
branch  of  Naaman's  Creek,  one  being  at  the  fork  of 
the  creek  with  the  west  branch,  and  adjoining  lands 
of  Edward  and  William  Cloud,  '^  to  contain  as  much 
land  as  was  necessary  to  set  up  a  mill-dam." 

In  1722,  Thomas  Strode  became  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  on  the  Brandywine  and  the 
county  line,  and  the  same  year  Emanuel  Qrubb 
purchased  one  hundred  aeres  more  in  the  interior  of 
the  hundred. 

In  May,  1760,  the  following  purchases  were  made : 

Aeret. 

BichardSandereon 112 

William  Smith M 

WiUiam  Kirkland 82 

Jamee  Stewart. 04 

Caleb  Seal .^    40 

Samnel  McOlintook 329 

Nathaniel  KeDnedj 90 

Thomas  McKim » 81 

John  Bird -  175 

WUliam  Bratton 176 

Samael  Grubb. 100 

In  a  number  of  instances  descendants  of  the  above 
remain  on  the  purchases  made  by  their  ancestors  more 
than  a  century  ago. 

Ekirlier  than  the  above  were  the  conveyance  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  on  Naaman's  Creek,  by  Isaac 
Warner  to  Wm.  Talley,  in  1695 ;  and  Peter  Lester  to 
John  Ford,  one  hundred  acres  on  the  Brandywine,  in 
1796.  The  Talleys  were  nearer  the  Brandywine  than 
the  Qrubbs,  who  were  on  the  road  east  towards  the 
Landing,  living  on  both  sides  of  the  highway,  and 
were  large  land-owners.  Isaac  Qrubb  at  one  time 
possessed  one  thousand  acres.  Samuel  was  the  father 
of  Isaac  and  he  was  a  son  of  John,  who  died  in  1757. 
The  family  first  lived  on  the  Delaware,  below  the 
Landing,  where  Emanuel  Grubb  was  born,  one  of  the 
first  English  natives  in  the  hundred.  The  Grubbs 
and  Buckleys  (Bulkley)  intermarried,  and  the  latter 
were  also  large  land-owners.  A  part  of  their  hold- 
ings now  belong  to  Amor  G.  For  wood.  Some  time 
before  1700,  Daniel  Buckley  built  a  brick  house,  on 
part  of  his  estate,  which  remained  in  a  well-preserved 
condition  until  it  was  rebuilt  by  William  C.  Lodge, 
about  1847.  The  Lodge  family  settled  on  the  Druitt 
tract,  a  part  of  which  is  still  owned  by  William  C 
Lodge.  The  latter  is  a  grandson  of  Samuel  Lodge 
and  son  of  George,  who  died  early  in  1880,  aged 
eighty- three  years.  For  many  years  five  generations 
of  this  family  resided  contemporaneously  in  Brandy- 
wine Hundred. 

The  Forwood  family  has  descended  from  William 
Forwood,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in   1692.    After 


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902 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


emigrating  to  America  he  reared  a  family  of  ten 
children.  Of  these,  William,  born  1723,  died  in  1814, 
was  the  progenitor  of  the  Forwoods  of  Delaware, 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  The  old  homestead 
was  on  the  Marsh  road  and  is  still  owned  by  de- 
scendants. 

Francis  Day  was  also  a  purchaser  of  Rockland 
Manor  lands,  in  1760,  and  made  improvements  on  the 
same,  on  the  present  Concord  pike,  which  have  re- 
mained in  the  family  six  generations.  In  1887  this 
place  was  the  property  of  John  W.  Day. 

List  of  the  taxables  of  Brandy  wine  Hundred  re- 
turned to  William  Cassel,  November  27, 3787  : 


Askew,  John, 
▲skew,  Parker. 
Almond.  John. 
Almond,  Thomas. 
Anderson,  William. 
Beeeon,  DaWd. 
Beesun,  Edward. 
Beeeon,  Joseph. 
Beesou,  Thomas. 
Brown,  Daniel,  est. 
Brown,  John. 
Baldwin,  Eli,  est. 
Bedford,  Oufmins,  est. 
Bahlen,  George. 
Bel  well  George. 
Boss,  Henry. 
Bird,  John. 
Bird,  John,  est. 
Bird,  Thomas. 
Bird,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Bird,  Thomas 
Bratton,  Jacob. 
Bratton,  Robert 
Bell,  John. 
Bufflngton,  Joseph. 
Bonsoll.  PhilUp. 
Boots,  Sarah. 
Babb,  Sampson. 
Babb,  Themas. 
Chandler,  Amor. 
Chandler,  Ann,  est. 
Croxton,  Archibald. 
Cartmell,  George. 
Cartmell,  Thomas. 
Cartmell,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Cloud,  Joseph. 
Cloud,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Cloud,  Nathaniel. 
Cloud,  William. 
Custo,  John. 
Collet,  James. 
Collet,  James. 
Council,  John. 
Cloud,  Joseph. 
Cobum,  Jacob. 
Carr,  James. 
Carpenter,  Samuel. 
Cummins,  William. 
Button,  James 
Button,  Joseph. 
Daris,  Isaac. 
Darls,  Eigah. 
Davis,  Edward. 
Daris,  George,  est. 
Derrickson,  William. 
Derrickson,  Allen. 
Derrickson,  Cornelius. 
Derrickson,  Cornelius,  est. 
Derrickson,  John,  est. 
Dicks,  Alexander. 
Denny,  Arthur. 


Dodd,  Alexander. 

Dodd,  Archibald. 

Day,  Francis. 

Day,  Joseph. 

Enoch,  John. 

Elliott,  Bei\janiin, 

Elliott,  John,  est. 

Elliott,  Jowph,est. 

Elliott,  Hark,  8r. 

Elliott,  Mark,  Jr. 

Elliott,  William.  Sr. 

Elliott,  William,  Jr. 

Forwood,  William. 

Fyle,  John. 

Ford,  David. 

Ford,  James. 

Ford,  Thomas. 

Ford,  WillUm. 

Ford,  William. 

Faulks,  John,  est. 

Faulks,  Stephen. 

Oeddes,  William. 

GilhUian,  James. 

Gibeon,  Joshua,  est 

Gibson,  Thomas,  est. 

Gibson,  Andrew. 

Guest,  Samuel. 

Guest,  Abraham. 

Guest,  Benjamin. 

Guest,  Henry. 

Grubb,  Peter. 
Gmbb,  Amor. 
Grubb,  Adam,  est. 
Grubb,  Bei^amin. 
Gmbb,  Emanuel. 
Grubb,  Edward. 
Grubb,  Henry. 
Grubb,  John. 
Gmbb,  Isaac. 
Gorby,  Joseph. 
Guest,  Christopher. 
Hall,  Alexander. 
Harper,  Benjamin. 
Houston,  David. 
Houston,  Jehn. 
Houston,  James. 
Horton,  ElUah. 
Husband,  John. 
Httsbnnd,  William. 
Hamilton,  James. 
Uanby,  Richard. 
Hollingsworth,  NathanieL 
Hourley,  Robert. 
Hechling,  William. 
Israel,  Joseph. 
Jarris,  Elihu. 
Jarvis,  John. 
James,  John,  est. 
Jackson,  Joseph,  Br. 
Jackson,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Jackson,  Phillip. 


Justison,  Richard. 

Jones,  Thomas. 

Kirks,  Caleb,  est 

Kellam,  John,  est. 

Kellam,  John. 

Kellam,  Richard 

Kellam,  Moses. 

Kennedy,  John. 

Kennedy,  Nathaniel. 

Kean,  Thomas,  est 

Lewis,  Abraham. 

Lewis,  Enos. 

Lanson,  George  Prince. 

Little,  Henry. 

LiUle,  WUliam. 

Long,  John. 

Long,  Wm. 

London,  John. 

Lodge,  Robert. 

Lodge,  Samuel,  Jr. 

Lodge,  Samuel,  Sr. 

Lea.  Thomas. 

Lambert,  Zachariah. 

Mortonson,  Joshua. 

Mortonson,  Mark. 

Mortonson,  Regina. 

Mortonson,  Robert,  eat 

Mortonson,  Ann,  est 

Moore,  Richard. 

Moore,  Nicholas. 

Moore,  WilHam. 

Moore,  Francis. 

Moflatt,  Robert 

McCloskey,  Patrick. 

Milner,  Nathan. 

Miller,  Robert. 
Miller,  David. 

McCltntock,  Samuel. 
McCliutock,  Thomas. 
McClintook,  WUliam. 
McClintock,  James. 
McBride,  Samuel. 
McBride,  Daniel. 
Mines,  Henry,  est 
Mousley,  George. 
Martin,  George. 
Morris,  Robert,  est. 
Manhall,  Samuel,  est 
Marshall,  Joseph,  est 
McKim,  Thomas,  est 
McOure,  Wm. 
McKee,  Wm. 
McKee,  Andrew,  est. 
McKee,  Andrew,  Jr. 
McKee,  John. 
McKeo,  James. 
Morton,  John,  est 
Murphy,  John. 
Murphy,  James. 
McLean,  Joshua. 
Nixon,  James. 
Nichols,  John. 
Newlin,  Cyrus,  est. 
Newlin,  Thomas. 
Owens,  Archibald. 
Owens,  Samuel. 
Parker,  Wm. 
Pritchard  John,  est 
Preston,  Jonas. 
Pyle,  NathL 
Pyle,  Robert;  est 
Peters,  Richard,  est 
Penuell,  Nathan. 
Pike,  Jacob. 
Pike,  Wm. 
Peterman,  John. 
Peterman,  Rudolf. 
Phillips,  Thomas. 


Perkins,  Thomas. 
Pierce,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Pierce,  Levi. 
Pierce,  Richard. 
Pierce,  Samuel. 
Pierce,  Timothy,  8r. 
Pierce,  Timothy,  Jr. 
Pierce,  John,  Jr. 
Pierce,  Henry,  Jr. 
Pierce,  Henry,  Sr. 
Pieroe,  Amos. 
Pierce,  Benj. 
Pierce,  Joseph,  Sr. 
Pierce,  John,  Sr. 
Price,  John,  est 
Prince,  Adam. 
Prince,  George. 
Perkins,  Caleb. 
I>le,  DanieL 
Poulson,  George. 
Pike,  Ham. 
PhilUps,  Henry. 
Rice,  Wm. 
Rice,  Robert. 
Robinson,  Valentine. 
Robinson,  Charles. 
Robinson,  George,  eit 
Robinson,  John. 
Robinson,  Thomas. 
Robinson,  Thomas. 
Reynolds,  Biohard. 
Reynolds,  Bei^^  •t. 
Reynolds,  John. 
Ray,  John. 
Rambo,  Israel. 
Rigfater,  Geoiye. 
Read,  Ellas. 

Robertson,  Abraham,  est 
Sharpley,  Daniel,  Sr. 
Sharpley,  Daniel,  Jr. 
Sharpley,  George. 
Sharpley,  Wm. 
Sharpley,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Sharpley,  Wm.,  Sr. 
Stroud,  Thomas,  est 
Surrey,  Wm. 
Sboups,  Wm. 
Sinnex,  Sinnex. 
Sinex,  Henry. 
Smith,  Wm. 
Smith,  Wm.,  Sr. 
Smith,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Smith,  Thomas,  est 
Smith,  Thomas,  Sr. 
Smith,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Smith,  James. 
Smith,  Jacob. 
Smith,  Joaeph. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,  John  (Wm.*s  son). 
Stevenson,  Isaac. 
Stevenson,  Jacob. 
Stevenson,  James. 
Shelly,  James. 
Saunders,  Samuel. 
'  Sanders,  George,  est 
Sanderson,  Richard,  set 
Stuart,  SamueL 
Stewart,  James,  Sr. 
Stewart,  James,  Jr. 
Smithel,  Joseph. 
Syrll,  James. 
Stidham,  Henry. 
Stidham,  Henry,  est. 
Stidham,  Jacob. 
Taylor,  Frederick. 
Taylor,  Joseph. 
Taylor,  George,  est 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


908 


TatnalU  Joseph. 
T«U0jr,  DftTkl. 
Talley,  Bdwiurd. 
TaUey,  Ellbn. 
Talley,  Joseph. 
Tialley,  Samuel. 
Talley,  Thomu. 
Talley,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Talley,  Wm.,  8r. 
Talley,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Verts,  Frederick,  est 
Yanderer,  John,  Jr. 
YaDderer,  John,  Jr. 
YandeTer,  Peter. 
YandsTsr,  Wm. 
WllUamsun,  Adam,  est. 
Wonler,  BenJ. 
Walbough,  Peter,  est. 


Woods,  Wm. 
Wills,  Thomas. 
Wallace,  James. 
Wilks,  John,  est. 
White,  Thomss. 
White,  Q«>rge,  est. 
Wolf,  Predy. 
Weir,  Joseph. 
Welsh,  Margaret,  est 
Webster,  Thomas. 
Wilson,  Bobert 
Wilson,  James,  est. 
Webeter,  Henry. 
Weldsn,  OeoKye. 
Weldon,  EU. 
Weldon,  Jossph,  est. 
Weldon,  Isaac 
Weldon,  Jacob. 


Estata, 


Ford,  Abraham.  Pierce,  Robert. 

Gilpin,  Ann.  Shallcross,  Joseph. 

Gilpin,  Thomas.  Seal,  Caleb. 

Gilpin,  Yincent.  Stidham,  Jonas. 

Hedges,  Joseph.  Stans,  Isaac  and  Wm« 

Johnston,  Simon.  Stilley,  John. 

Little,  Bobert.  Yancmer,  Wm. 

Lee,  John.  Wilson,  Wm. 

List  of  the  voters  taken  at  the  District  Election,  held 
at  the  house  of  Qeorge  Miller,  in  Brandywine  Hun- 
dred, the  6th  day  of  October,  a.d.  1812. 


Almond,  John. 
Almond,  John,  Jr. 
Adams,  James. 
Anderson,  Wm. 
Aldred,  Wm. 
Askew,  Parker. 
Bedford,  Gunning. 
Bird,  Jossph. 
Bird,  Thomas. 
Bird,  John,  Jr. 
Bird,  John. 
Bird,  Wm. 
Bulet,  Matthew. 
Bella,  John. 
Brattin,  George. 
Brattln,  John. 
Backhouse,  Jacob. 
Beeson,  Jonathan. 
Beeson,  John. 
Beeson,  Sdward. 
Beeson,  Henry. 
Beeson,  Bdward. 
Beesin,  Thomas. 
Babb,  Thomas. 
Bennett,  EsekieL 
Colesberry,  Andrew. 
Chapman,  Samuel. 
Cloud,  NathanieL 
Cloud,  Joseph. 
Cloud,  Isaac 
Carpenter,  Samuel, 
Carpenter,  Jacob. 
Carpenter,  John. 
Chandler,  Amor. 
Chandler,  John. 
Chandler,  Amor,  Jr. 
-Oantwell,  Gsorge. 
Craig,  Jossph. 
Cunningham,  Francis. 
Crips,  Bei^. 
Cariisle,  Wm. 
Caldwell,  George. 
Crow,  Thomas. 
Cook,  Thomas. 
■Clark,  Wm. 


Day,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Day,  Joseph. 
Day,  John. 
Day,  Francis. 
Davis,  George. 
Daria,  Amos. 
Daris,  Edward. 
Denning,  Robert. 
Du  Pont,  Victor. 
Draper,  Alex. 
Elliott,  Thomas. 
Elliott,  Bei\J.,  Jr. 
Elliott,  Mark. 
Elliott,  Wm. 
Elliott,  John. 
Elliott,  Wm. 
Elliott,  Claud. 
Elliott,  Bei\J. 
Bustwick,  John. 
Erans,  IsraeL 
Foulk,  John. 
Foulk,  Moses. 
Ford,  Be^J. 
Ford,  Wm. 
Fold,  Phillip. 
Ford,  Darid. 
Fitzgerald,  James. 
Forwood,  Wm. 
Forwood,  Robert. 
Forwood,  Jehu. 
Grubb,  James. 
Grubb,  Wm. 
Grubb,  Adam. 
Grubb,  Isaac. 
Grubb.  Richard. 
Grubb,  Isaac. 
Grubb,  Amor. 
Gibson,  Joseph. 
Gumbell,  Samuel 
Gorby,  John. 
Gorby,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Gorby,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Grey,  Thomas. 
Guess,  Henry. 
Harries,  Daniel. 


Hanby,  Wm. 
Hanby,  John. 
Hamilton,  Robert. 
Hamilton,  Charles. 
Backet,  Jacob. 
Howel,  Beqj. 
Hathway,  Clement. 
Husband,  Wm. 
Husband,  John. 
Hichlin,  Joshua. 
Hart,  Joseph. 
Hasty,  Samuel. 
Hillman,  George. 
Hardsough,  Thomas. 
Hardsough,  Jacob. 
Harter,  Jeremiah. 
Hawkins,  Thomas. 
HemphiU,  Wm. 
Hortou,  Jacob. 
Huston,  David. 
Justison,  John. 
Jordan,  SamueL 
Jordan,  John. 
Jackson,  Joseph. 
Jackson,  Wm. 
Jackson,  Joseph,  Jr. 
JeflTeris,  Jonathan. 
Jack,  Matthew. 
Lodge,  Samuel,  Jr. 
Lodge,  John. 
Lodge,  Henry. 
Lodge,  Samuel. 
Lenderman,  Bei\J. 
Lenderman,  Christopher. 
Lock,  George. 
LoTe,  Samuel. 
Loyd,  John. 
Long,  George. 
Long,  Wm. 
McGee,  Alex. 
MoKee,  John,  Jr. 
MoKee,  John. 
McKee,  George. 
McKee,  Wm.,  Jr. 
McKee,  Wm. 
McKee,  Samuel. 
McKee,  Andrew,  Jr. 
McKee,  Thomas. 
McKee,  Andrew. 
Miller,  James. 
Miller,  Edward. 
Miller,  George. 
McBride,  Daniel. 
Marks,  John. 
McCUntock,  Samuel,  Jr. 
McClintock,  Samuel. 
McCliDtock,  John. 
McClintock,  James. 
Martin,  Jossph  B. 
Martin,  Wm. 
Martin,  Caleb. 
Murphy,  Wm. 
Murphy,  Wm. 
McKeever,  Alex. 
McLean,  Joshua. 
Norrett,  Daniel. 
Mixon,  George. 
Orr,  Joseph. 
Orx,  Robert. 
Pierce,  Amor. 
Pierce,  Timothy. 
Pierce,  Joseph,  Jr. 
Pierce,  Jossph. 
Pierce,  Silas. 
Pierce,  Wm. 
Pierce,  Amor,  Jr. 
Pierce,  Joseph. 
Pierce,  Jesse. 


Pierce,  Bei^. 
Pierce,  Baily. 
Pierce,  Wm. 
Parker,  Watkin. 
Poulson,  George. 
Ponlson,  Isaac 
Perkins,  Joseph. 
Perkins,  Joshua. 
Perkins,  Caleb. 
Penny,  Wm. 
Penny,  David. 
Pennel,  Edward. 
Prince,  John. 
Preston,  Isaac 
Pyle,  Joseph. 
Pyle,  Isaac. 
Righter,  George,  Sr. 
Righter,  Isaac. 
Robinson,  Joseph. 
Robinson,  John. 
Reynolds,  Wm. 
Reynolds,  Thomas. 
Reynolds,  Wm. 
Rambo,  French. 
Rambo,  Ezekiel. 
RosssU,  Joseph. 
Rossell,  John. 
Rodman,  Philip. 
Rigby,  Jonathan. 
Rice,  Robert. 
Stidham,  Henry. 
Stidham,  Isaac 
Stidham,  John. 
Stidham,  Jacob. 
Stuart,  William. 
Smith,  Isaac 
Smith,  James. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,  Thomas. 
Smith,  Wm. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,  Thomas. 
Smith,  Robert. 
Smith,  Joseph. 
Smith,  Jacob. 
Smith,  SamueL 
Smith,  James. 
Smith,  Thomas. 
Sharpley,  Jacob. 
Sharpley,  Wm. 
Shepperd,  George. 
Stuart,  Samuel,  Jr. 
Stevensen,  David. 
Spence,  James. 
Talley,  Peter. 
Talley,  John. 
Talley,  Caleb. 
Talley,  Joseph. 
Talley,  Harmin« 
Talley,  Elihu. 
Talley,  Amor,  Jr. 
Talley,  Adam. 
Talley,*  Thomas. 
Talley,  Amor,  Jr. 
Talley,  Harmin. 
Talley,  Wm. 
Talley,  Richard. 
Talley,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Tallsy,  Curtis. 
Talley,  Thomas. 
Tatnall,  Joseph. 
Tatnall,  Edward. 
Teas,  James. 
Vandever,  Be^J. 
Vandever,  Thomas. 
Vandever,  Tobias. 
Vandever,  Thomas. 
Vandever,  Peter,  Jr. 


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904 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


YADdever,  Peter.  Wnlkln,  Bei\J. 

Walker,  Samuel.  WillUunflon,  Adam. 

Weldin,  Jacob.  WItherhead,  John. 

Weldio,  John.  Toung,  WiUlam. 

Weldin,  Richard.  Zebley,  Jonathan. 

Weldin.  Jacob.  Zebley,  James. 

WeldlD,  Inac.  Zebley,  Wm. 

WIer,  JoMph.  Zeblej,  Jamee. 

Wler,  Jamee.  Zebley,  John. 
Webctor,  Clark. 

RoADS.—Th©  first  road  in  what  is  now  Brandy- 
wine  Hundred  was  an  Indian  path,  later  used  as  a 
bridle-path,  along  the  river  from  New  Castle  to 
Tinicum.  It  was  probably  not  much  used,  as  the 
communication  between  distant  points  was  mainly 
by  sloops  on  the  river  and  other  streams.  The  second 
well-defined  highway  was  the  King's  BSoad,  inland  a 
mile,  more  or  less,  from  the  river  and  on  the  higher 
lands.  Its  course  was  essentially  the  same  as  that  of 
the  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia  Turnpike.*  "  The 
road  to  ye  ferry  at  Christina  Creek,"  on  the  Van- 
dever  tract,  was  established  1680.  The  roads  in  the 
western  part  of  the  hundred  were  located  at  later 
periods.  The  Concord  Pike  subsequently  took  the 
course  of  the  principal  one  from  Wilmington  to 
Chester  County.  Bearing  off  from  this  is  the  Faulk 
Road,  running  north  into  Delaware  County.  The 
principal  roads  from  the  river  to  the  Brandy  wine  are 
the  Naaman's  Creek  Road,  the  Qrubb's  Landing 
Road  and  the  highway  leading  from  Shellpot  Creek 
to  the  Concord  Pike.  The  latter  was  located  prior 
to  1789,  and  the  othtrs  very  much  earlier,  possibly  in 
the  seventeenth  century. 

A  bridge  was  built  over  Naaman*s  Creek,  before 
1682,  as  the  road  that  passed  over  it  was  the  first  in 
the  State  and  was  used  long  before  that  time,  it  be- 
ing the  road  firom  Fort  Casimir  or  (New  Amstel 
(now  New  Castle)  to  Tinicum.  The  bridge  had  been 
rebuilt  and  repaired  reveral  times,  and  in  1800  the 
Levy  Court  commissioner  appointed  William  Poole 
one  of  their  number  to  contract  for  and  superintend 
the  erection  of  a  stone  arched  bridge  over  the  creek 
at  the  place  now  known  as  Claymont,  which  is  near- 
ly if  not  quite  at  the  place  where  the  old  Indian 
path  and  King's  highway  crossed  the  creek.  Mr. 
Poole  wrote  a  letter  to  Thomas  Robinson,  residing  at 
or  near  the  place,  July  30,  1800,  informing  him  of 
the  fact  and  requesting  him  to  superintend  the 
erection  in  his  absence.  The  contract  was  made 
with  Adam  Williamson  and  the  bridge  was  completed 
in  1802.  Thomas  Rebinson,  June  8, 1802,  made  the 
following  indorsement  on  the  back  of  the  letter  of 
Mr.  Poole : 

"Agreeably  to  the  annexed  Requeet,  I  hare  obeerred  with  aatiafkctlon 
the  attention  of  Mr.  Willlameon  In  Building  the  Bridge  over  Naaman*e 
Creek,  and  *Tii  my  Opinion  that  he  hae  need  every  necenary  care  and 
indnitry  in  the  erection  thereot 

••Thomas  BoBiNsoir. 

**Naaman*i  Ontk,  Jwm  Z,  1802.** 

The  bridge  was  made  a  toll-bridge  by  the  county. 
Toll-gates  and  house  were  erected  and  a  keeper  ap- 
pointed.    It  was  continued  by  the  county  until  the 

1  See  general  chapter  on  Internal  ImproTemente. 


Philadelphia  and  Wilmington  Turkpike  was  opened, 
when  it  was  leased  to  the  Turnpike  Company,  March 
25, 1831,  but  ceased  to  be  a  toll-bridge  in  1832.  The 
bridge  is  still  in  excellent  condition. 

The  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore 
Railroad  and  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
traverse  the  hundred  on  lines  almost  parallel  with 
the  river,  and  about  one  mile  apart. 

Manufacturing  Interests.— The  excellent  water- 
powers  afforded  in  early  days  by  the  Shellpot  and 
Brandywine  Creeks  soon  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  enterprising  Swedish  and  Dutch  settlers,  who 
sought  and  obtained  privileges  to  improve  the  same. 
In  later  years  the  various  industries  established  and 
carried  on  at  these  sites  were  sources  of  great  wealth 
to  the  State,  and  contributed  more  than  any  other 
means  to  augment  the  population  of  Brandywine 
Hundred.  It  is  interesting  to  trace  the  development 
of  these  industries,  and  to  compare  the  mammoth  es- 
tablishments of  to-day  with  the  small  beginnings 
more  than  two  hundred  yeard  ago.  One  of  the  first 
attempts  in  this  direction  was  made  in  the  spring  of 
1658  by  Joost  Andriessen  and  companions,  when  they 
forwarded  to  the  Director-General  of  New  Nether- 
land  the  following  petition : 

**To  the  Noble,  Honorable  Director-Q«neral  of  New  Netfaerlande,  ete. 
Show  with  due  reverence  Jooet  Aadrieaeen  and  companions  that  they 
are  willing  to  erect  a  saw  and  grist-mill  below  the  Turtle's  Falls,  for 
which  the  place  and  some  land  belonging  to  it  has  been  granted  to  them 
by  proTisional  Commissary  ef  the  Hon>>>*  W.  I.  Oompany,  sul^ect  to  yonr 
Honor's  approval,  therefore  the  petitioners  respe<^ally  aA  that  your 
Honor  will  please  to  improve  the  same  and  issae  letters  patent  for  it» 
which  doing,  etc. 

(Signed)  **  JoosT  ANDSixasBH  k,  Go." 


On  May  6, 1658,  "  The  request  is.granted,  provided 
that  they  shall  not  ask  more  for  the  grinding  of 
grain  than  is  paid  at  the  Honor****  Company^s  grist- 
mill." 

The  place  designated  as  Turtle  Falls  was  Shellpot 
Creek  (designated  on  the  map  of  Lindstrom,  the 
Swedish  engineer,  as  '^Skillpaddle  FoUet "  (Swedish), 
and  "  La  Cataracte  des  Tortues  "  (French),  or  Turtle 
Falls),  in  Brandywine  Hundred. 

It  is  evident  from. the  extract  below  given,  from  a 
letter  of  Director  Beekman,  dated  Altena,  May  12, 
1662,  that  although  permiaaion  was  granted  in  1658 
to  certain  persons  to  build  a  grist-mill  on  Turtle 
Falls,  it  was  not  done  at  that  time.    He  writes, — 

"With  your  Hon^w  Wonhip's  approbation,  I  have  granted  last  year 
to  some  inhabitants  the  Turtle  Falls  Kill,  situate  about  half  an  houfs 
way  fh)m  here  to  put  up  a  flouring-mill  there,  which  they  now  wonM 
carry  out,  provided  they  could  get  a  title  deed." 

It  was  granted  to  them  under  the  condition  that 
the  "Hon****  Company  should  have  free  grinding  for 
the  garrison,  which  it  would  do  well  to  insert  in  the 
title  deed.  We  are  very  much  bothered  with  the 
grist ;  very  often  we  have  to  turn  back  disappointed 
from  the  old  Swedish  Mill  (which  lies  about  six 
leagues  from  here),  and  must  take  the  grain  at  great 
expense  for  the  Hon****  Company  to  the  horse-mill  at 
New  Amstel." 

Soon  after  the  "Proprietors  of  the  Grist-Mill  at 
the  Falls  of  the  Turtle  Kill  "—Jan  Stalcop,  who  re- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


905 


sided  at  Altena,  and  owned  land  adjoining  the  fort ; 
Hans  Block,  who  resided  at  Swanwyck,  on  the  river, 
above  New  Amstel ;  and  Lucas  Pietersen — forwarded 
the  following  petition : 

**To  the  NobU  verjf  WonhipftU  GenUemetif  Ou   Honorable  DireotofOm^ 
end  md  High  OmiMfl  uf  New  Netherland: 

**  Show  with  dae  respect  and  humilltj  the  underaigoed  petltlonen, 
Tiz.,  John  Stalcop,  Lucku  Pieterson  and  Hans  Block  that  a*certain 
time  ago  they  erected  a  water  grist-mill  at  the  Falls  of  Turtle-Kill,  for 
thd  accommodation  ef  the  community  here  and  of  thoee  who  might 
need  it,  and  whereas  it  is  neceoary  that  a  person  should  live  near  the 
said  mill  to  take  care  of  the  same,  who  necesarily  must  hare  some  land 
for  cultivation  and  to  secure  the  mill  aforesaid  ;  therefore  the  Petition- 
ers request  the  letter-patent  for  the  aforesaid  land  and  mill  might  be 
grantted  them.*' 

A  Dutch  patent  was  granted  May  16, 1683,  for  land 
lying  near  ''Mill  Oreeke,  that  falls  into  Shellpot 
creek." 

"Shellpot  Mill  Lands''  contains  seventy-eight 
acres  of  fast  land  and  was  re-surveyed  October  23, 
1680,  by  Ephraim  Herman  for  Jan  Stalcop,  Peter 
Dewitt,  Mary  Block,  Hans  Petersen,  Peter  Hendricks 
and  several  other  persons. 

It  was  at  the  head  of  the  Shellpot  Creek  and  on 
both  sides  and  adjoined  Yertrechts  Hook.  They 
were  sold,  June  2,  1685,  by  Mary  Block,  Barbara 
Maislander  and  Christian  Stalcop.  to  Cornelius  £mp- 
son.  On  the  26th  of  May,  1688,  Empson  made  an 
agreement  with  Salif  and  Erasmus  Stidham  "for 
free  grinding  of  com  for  them  and  their  horses  for- 
ever." 

"  Under  Enoush  Authoritt. 

*'A  patent  was  granted  to  Andreas  Andriesnen  &  Oompany  to  erect  a 
mill  on  a  creek  called  Andries  ye  Fynnee  creeke  on  Delaware  Ryrer. 

**  Francis  Lovelace,  Esq.,' etc. :  Whenias,  there  Is  a  certaine  creek  in 
Christina  Kill,  in  Delaware  Byer,  comonly  called  A  knowne  by  ye 
name  of  Andries  ye  Fynnes  Greek,  whereupon  there  is  a  convenient 
place  to  erect  a  mill.  The  w*^  is  recomended  by  ye  officers  there  to  be 
sett  np  by  Andries  Andrienen  &  19  more  in  Oompany,  whose  names  are 
here  nnder  written  for  an  Encoaragem*t  to  ye  said  undertaking,  it  tend- 
ing to  a  publique  good.  Know  yee  that  by  virtue  of  ye  Com«B  A  Author* 
.  ity  under  me  gdiven,  I  have  given  and  granted  A  by  theee  prensent  doe 
give,  ratify,  conflrme  and  grant  unto  ye  said  Andries  Andriessen  A  Oom- 
pany, their  heirs  A  assignee,  liberty  to  erect  a  mill  in  ye  most  convenient 
place  in  ye  Oreeke  afore  menconed.  To  have  and  to  hold,  etc  The  grist 
rent  Is  Bnshnell  Wheat.    The  Patent  dated  ye  1st  of  October,  1669." 

On  the  same  date 

*'A  patent  was  granted  to  Robert  Scott,  John  Marriiall,  John  Oouslns 
A  John  Boyers  for  a  parcell  of  land  in  Delaware  River,  by  Francis  Love- 
laoe.  Whereas,  there  is  a  certaine  parcell  of  Land  in  Delaware  Byver 
lying  A  being  on  the  East  Syde  of  ye  Christina  Kill,  bounded  on  ye  west 
w«^  ye  creek  or  Kill  commonly  called  ye  Hill  Kill  or  Andries  ye  I^nnee 
Kill,  on  ye  east  w^  ye  bounds  of  Ohristlna  Towne  or  John  Stalcop's  land, 
containing  about  four  hundred  acres  be  it  more  or  less,  w«k  said  parcel 
of  land  hath  been  layd  out  by  ye  offlcere  at  Delware  for  four  Soldlen 
...  to  the  end  that  the  said  land  may  be  measured  and  planted.** 

It  is  probable  that  this  tract  of  land  was  below  the 
"  Mill  Tract ''  before  mentioned,  and  that  the  mill 
had  caused  it  to  become  a  desirable  location. 

But  a  little  earlier  than  this  a  patent  was  granted 
to  Peter  Alrichs,  February  16, 1668,  for  two  islands 
in  the  Delaware  River,  the  largest  of  which  was 
called  Matineconek,  the  Indian  of  which  was 
Koomenakanokouck.  Near  the  smaller  island  was 
a  small  creek  "  fitt  to  build  a  mill  thereupon.''  There 
was  granted  *'  the  said  island  and  premises  apper- 
taining, as  also  the  small  creek  aforementioned  neare 
unto  the  lesser  island,  running  up  a  mile  within  land 
to  have  liberty  to  erect  and  build  a  mill  thereupon, 
671 


whereshall  be  found  most  convenient,  as  also  a  conve- 
nient proportion  of  land  on  each  syde  of  the  said  Greek 
for  Egresse  and  Regresse  to  and  from  the  Mill,  and 
for  other  necessary  accommodations  thereunto  be- 
longing." 

It  does  not  appear  that  this  mill  was  erected,  and 
the  locality  even  is  in  dispute,  but  it  shows  the  inter- 
est in  improvements  of  this  nature  and  how  eagerly 
the  sites  were  seized  upon. 

In  May,  1676,  Governor  Andross,  in  a  letter  to  the 
"  three  several  courts  of  Delaware  Bay  and  River, 
recommended  Justices  of  Courts  to,  without  delay, 
examine  all  Mills  and  Banks  to  be  well  fitted  up  and 
repaired,  and  if  they  see  cause  to  have  others  built,  to 
do  so  in  convenient  and  fitting  places.  To  regulate 
Tolls  for  grinding,  and  to  give  encouragement  to 
all  owners  of  Mills,  whether  Public  or  private." 

Two  years  later  he  issued  an  order  in  relation  to  '*  a 
complaint  that  ye  owners  of  a  certain  mill  standing 
on  a  creek  in  Christina  Kill  are  debarred  from  cutting 
wood  for  reparacon  thereof,  by  the  parties  owning  the 
land  on  each  side  the  saide  Creeke.  These  are  to 
give  notice  and  order  that  ye  persons  to  whom  ye 
said  Mill  belongs  bee  no  way  hindered,  butt  are  to  have 
free  liberty  to  cutt  wood  for  said  use,  upon  any  land 
not  in  fence  according  to  law." 

The  country  being  now  settled  more  densely,  new 
mills  were  erected,  and,  in  the  early  part  of  1679,  the 
court  decreed :  **  Upon  the  petition  of  Charles  Peter- 
son desiring  a  grant  for  one  hundred  acres  of  Land 
for  a  new  mill  by  the  Petition*^  and  some  more  p*- 
sons  built  in  the  Run  of  the  Schellpots  Kill  above  the 
old  mill.  The  Court  granted  the  Petitioned  his  Re- 
quest provided  his  hono*^  the  Governo"  orders  and 
regulacons  bee  observed  and  yt  this  new  mill  and 
Land  doth  not  prove  prejuditiall  to  the  old  first  built 
mill ;  alsoe  that  the  Land  bee  not  granted  or  taken  up 
before,  and  that  the  water  bee  not  stopt  up  or  hin- 
dered from  the  lower  mill."  On  the  6th  of  June,  the 
same  year,  Olle  Olleson  petitioned  to  set  up  a  water- 
mill  "  in  ye  run  of  Shellfalls  Creek  above  the  two 
Lower  Mills."  It  is  not  known  whether  this  was 
granted  or  not.  Olle  Olleson  was  one  of  the  patentees 
of  Vertrecht  or  Trinity  Hook  and  the  land  on  which 
he  proposed  to  build  this  mill  was  on  the  rear  of  his 
tract.  The  other  portion  above,  on  the  river,  was 
known  as  Horse  Neck  or  Parde  Hook. 

In  1682,  Wm.  Markham,  the  deputy  of  William 
Penn,  made  the  following  order  relating  to  a  mill  on 
the  Brandy  wine:  "  At  the  request  of  Jacob  Yandever, 
who  is  now  about  building  a  grist-mill  on  his  land  on 
Brandywine  Creek  in  said  county  of  New  Castle, 
that  we  would  grant  him  to  make  use  of  the  water  of 
the  said  creek  on  his  own  land  for  the  service  of  said 
mill.  We  do  hereby  grant  the  same,  he  yielding  and 
paying  yearly  to  the  proprietary,  his  heirs  or  assigns, 
half  a  bushel  of  wheat" 

Many  of  these  old  mill-sites  have  been  abandoned 
so  long  since  that  it  is  difllcult  to  locate  them.  It  is 
believed  that  the  first  mill  on  the  Shellpot  Creek 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


was  at  the  point  called  Herring  Bocks,  a  place 
where  large  quantities  of  that  kind  of  fish  are  caught, 
traces  of  the  race-way  may  still  be  seen.  The  second 
site  was  probably  above  the  turnpike,  below  the  next 
natural  falls,  and  required  a  long  race-way.  Here 
are  the  Webster  Mills,  which,  after  being  burned 
down,  were  rebuilt  and  are  at  present  operated  as  the 
property  of  John  Webster.  The  Allmond  Mill  is  on 
the  power  higher  up  the  stream  and  is  a  very  old 
structure,  having  machinery  of  limited  capacity,  but 
like  the  old  Grubb  mill,  on  the  west  branch  of  Naa- 
man*8  Creek,  proves  an  accommodation  for  the  neigh- 
borhood in  which  it  is  located.  The  latter  mill,  after 
having  been  the  property  of  the  GrubU  family  many 
years,  passed  into  other  hands,  and,  in  1887,  was 
owned  by  Lewis  B.  Harvey. 

On  the  Delaware,  near  the  city  of  Wilmington,  are 
the  extensive  Sellers  Iron  Works,  whose  location  at 
that  point  was  the  means  of  buildinir  up  the  indus> 
trial  village  of  Edgemoor.  A  full  account  of  this 
enterprise  is  elsewhere  given  in  this  work.  A  mile 
higher  up  the  river,  at  Riverside  Station,  on  the 
Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad, 
the  works  of  the  Delaware  Extract  Company  are 
favorably  located,  occupying  buildings  which  had 
been  erected  for  the  manufacture  of  best  sugar.  That 
enterprise  proving  unprofitable,  the  present  business 
was  begun  in  January,  1887,  by  a  company  having 
the  following  management:  William  Pennypacker, 
president ;  Frank  Pyle,  vice-president ;  Frederick 
Pyle,  secretary  and  treasurer ;  and  J.  Henry  Grim, 
superintendent.  The  buildings  have  been  supplied 
with  machinery  capable  of  extracting  forty  thousand 
pounds  of  licorice  per  week,  whose  operation  gives 
employment  to  fifteen  men.  The  motor  is  steam, 
fn»m  a  ninety  horse-power  engine,  and  the  material 
consumed  is  imported  from  Asia  Minor. 

Near  Quarry ville,  Jacquet,  Carr  &  Co.  opened 
large  quarries  of  Brandywine  blue  stone  about  1827, 
shipping  extensively  for  the  Delaware  Breakwater  by 
means  of  sloops  through  a  canal  from  the  quarries  to 
the  river.  Later  the  "  Bellevue  Granite  Quarry  Com- 
pany "  carried  on  operations  at  this  point,  making 
shipments  by  means  of  a  track  to  the  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad.  At  one  time 
as  many  as  two  hundred  men  were  employed,  and  the 
quarries  were  equipped  with  all  modern  appliances. 
Work  was  suspended  in  the  summer  of  1886.  On  the 
Shellpot  Creek,  where  the  Philadelphia  turnpike 
crosses  that  stream,  P.  P.  Tyre  opened  a  quarry  of 
superior  granite  in  1885,  from  which  blocks  of  stone 
four  feet  in  thickness  have  been  taken.  The  quarry- 
ing of  granite  in  the  hundred  is  still  in  its  infancy, 
but  will  prove  an  important  factor  in  adding  employ- 
ment and  wealth  to  many  of  its  citizens. 

Other  industries  not  here  noted  are  given  in  con- 
nection with  the  villages  in  which  they  are  carried  on. 

Hamlets  and  Villages. — Since  Brandywine 
Hundred  sustains  a  suburban  relation  to  Wilmington 
and  Philadelphia,  no  large  towns  have  been  built 


within  its  bounds.  Nevertheless,  the  points  named 
below  are  centres  of  interest  in  the  localities  in  which 
they  are  located,  which  make  them  worthy  of  notice 
in  these  pages. 

Rockland  has  a  picturesque  location  on  the  Brandy- 
wine, five  miles  from  Wilmington,  and  is  situated 
on  both  sides  of  the  stream.  Its  principal  activity  is 
the  paper-mill  of  Jessup  &  Moore,  whose  employees 
constitute  a  large  proportion  of  the  population.  There 
are  about  two  hundred  inhabitants.  Methodist  and 
Presbyterian  Churches  are  maintained.  Alexander 
Colquohoun  is  the  merchant  of  the  village. 

TdlleyvUle  is  a  small  but  pleasantly  located  hamlet 
on  the  Concord  Pike,  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the 
Pennsylvania  line,  and  derived  its  name  from  the 
Talley  family,  early  residents  in  this  locality.  Among 
its  business  interests  was  a  public-house,  called  the 
'*  Spread  Eagle,"  which  has  been  discontinued.  Wil- 
liam Day  had  a  store  and  kept  the  Talleyville  post- 
ofiice  in  a  building  which  has  been  converted  to 
private  uses.  Later  the  office  was  kept  at  the  house 
of  Rev.  John  Talley,  a  local  minister.  After  this  the 
office  was  discontinued**  and  Graceville  post-office  es- 
tablished near  Grace  Church.  Within  the  past  few 
years  Talleyville  post-office  was  re-established  with 
John  McCray  as  postmaster,  and  a  daily  mail  sup- 
plied. Below  this  place  John  Fraim  is  engaged  in 
merchandising.  There  are  also  several  mechanic 
shops  and  a  fine  grange  hall. 

Since  the  spring  of  1886  Dr.  Francis  Harvey  Day, 
who  graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania 
that  year,  has  been  a  medical  practitioner  at  thi« 
place,  having  his  office  on  the  homestead,  which  has 
been  in  the  possession  of  the  family  six  generations. 
Dr.  Williams  and  others  also  practiced  medicine  at 
this  point. 

The  "  Blue  Ball "  inn,  on  the  Concord  Pike,  below 
Talley ville>  was  one  of  the  best  known  public-houses 
in  the  hundred.  Its  history  antedates  the  century, 
but  no  authentic  account  of  the  time  it  was  first 
opened  can  be  given.  In  1809  George  Miller  was  the 
keeper,  and  public  elections  were  there  held.  At 
this  time  it  was  a  fair-sized  stone  house,  whose  capac- 
ity was  taxed  to  accommodate  the  teamsters  going  to 
Brandywine  Mills.  Robert  Galbraith  and  Isaac  An- 
derson were  later  keepers.  Many  years  ago  the 
building  was  enlarged  and  converted  into  a  farm- 
house, thus  removing  this  old  landmark. 

Above  Talleyville,  where  Naaman's  Creek  road 
crosses  Concord  Pike,  James  Dutton  was  the  keeper 
of  a  popular  old-time  inn,  before  1820  and  later.  In 
subsequent  years  this  became  the  property  of  Oliver 
H.  Perry,  who  very  much  enlarged  the  house  and 
preserved  its  popularity  until  his  death.  It  is  still 
kept  for  tavern  purposes,  but  the  former  public-house 
of  Thomas  C.  Smith,  in  the  same  neighborhood,  is 
now  a  oommon  farm  residence.  East  from  this  was 
formerly  Graceville  post-office. 

Beaver  Valley  is  a  hamlet  on  Beaver  Run.  where 
that  stream  crosses  the  Pennsylvania  line.    The  place 


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is  also  locally  known  as  Chandler's  Hollow,  being 
situated  in  a  deep  vale,  through  which  flows  the  run 
to  mingle  its  waters  with  those  of  the  Brandywine,  a 
short  distance  below.  The  improvement  of  the  mill- 
sites  of  this  small  but  precipitous  stream  gave  this 
locality  much  importance  in  former  years,  but  the 
failing  water-power  has  caused  these  interests  to 
decline.  Half  a  century  ago  a  woolen-mill  was  oper- 
ated above  the  hamlet,  which  was  swept  away  by  a 
freshet  August  5,  1843,  and  the  power  has  since  been 
idle.  Daniel  Ferris  and  others  improved  the  next 
lower  power,  which  is  now  in  use  to  operate  the  mauilla 
paper-mill  of  Frank  Tempes.  The  capacity  is  small, 
but  a  good  quality  of  paper  is  produced.  A  small 
woolen-mill  was  on  the  next  power,  but  in  the  course 
of  years  Stephen  Broadbent  there  manufactured 
Turkey  carpets.  The  building  was  next  occupied  as 
a  clover-mill,  but,  about  thirty  years  ago,  was  used  as 
a  plow  factory  by  William  Morrison,  Amor  Jeffries, 
Horace  Mousley  and  others.  The  water-power  was 
made  to  operate  a  trip  hammer  and  other  heavy 
work,  the  plows  being  finished  at  a  co-operating  fac- 
tory in  Pennsylvania.  This  industry  was  discontinued 
about  fifteen  years  ago. 

The  flouring  mills  of  Joseph  Brinton  and  Isaac 
Smith  occupied  the  lower  sites  and  were  well  known 
in  the  early  part  of  the  century.  The  mill  so  long 
owned  by  the  Smith  family  is  now  the  property  of 
William  P.  Talley,  and  though  not  operated  exten- 
sively, is  still  a  public  convenience.  Above  it,  in 
Pennsylvania,  was  TwaddelPs  Forge,  which  was  in 
operation  as  early  as  1780.  Smith's  bridge,  across 
the  Brandywine  at  this  point,  was  built  on  piers  in 
1816.  Six  years  later  a  freshet  swept  it  away.  It  was 
rebuilt  and  again  swept  away  in  1828. 

Amor  ChandUr  had  the  first  store  at  Beaver  Valley. 
In  1835  Charles  and  Martin  Palmer  were  in  trade. 
LfCwis  Talley  followed  later  and  with  some  partners 
manufactured  shoes  in  connection  with  the  store. 
John  Chandler  was  also  in  trade,  and  since  1876,  A. 
H.  Chandler  has  been  a  merchant  here.  These  mer- 
chants have  also  been  postmasters  of  the  Beaver 
Valley  oflice.  The  hamlet  has  about  a  dozen  houses 
and  shops. 

JIanby's  Comers^  on  the  Naaman's  Creek  road,  two 
and  a  half  miles  from  Claymont,  is  a  hamlet  of  six 
or  eight  buildings.  Richard  G.  Hanby  here  made 
the  first  improvements  of  a  business  nature,  building 
mechanic  shops.  Alfred  D.  Hanby  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, but  the  store  was  discontinued  ten  years 
ago,  and  there  is  but  little  to  distinguish  the  place 
from  a  farming  community. 

Orubb's  (hmers  are  a  mile  south  of  the  above  place 
and  not  quite  three  miles  west  from  Grubb's  Landing, 
on  the  Delaware.  In  this  immediate  neighborhood 
are  Grubb's  mills.  At  the  hamlet  are  a  few  houses, 
shops  and  an  Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  In  the  latter  Thomas 
Phillips  has  merchandised  since  1882  and  kept 
Grubb's  post-ofl[ice  since  1884.    The  first  improve- 


ments of  a  business  nature  were  the  mechanic  shops 
of  Samuel  Grubb  and  others  of  that  family. 

Qruhb'B  Landing,  on  the  Delaware,  was  one  of  the 
first  shipping  points  in  the  hundred.  Here  sloops 
touched  and  carried  away  the  produce  of  the  early 
settlers,  bringing  in  the  simple  commodities  at  that 
time  in  use  in  a  sparsely-inhabited  country.  It  was 
originally  the  property  of  John  Grubb,  who  lived  on 
the  banks  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  below,  until 
his  death  in  1757.  In  the  times  of  the  Revolution 
British  sloops  sometimes  landed  here  and  on  one 
occasion  a  cannon-ball  was  fired  from  the  deck  of  a 
sloop  which  passed  through  the  walls  of  the  old 
'* Practical  Farmer"  inn.  For  some  time  a  wharf 
was  maintained  at  the  landing,  but  it  has  long  since 
ceased  to  be  used  by  the  public.  The  property  is 
now  known  as  the  summer  residence  of  Colonel  John 
H.  Taggart,  but  the  name  is  perpetuated  in  the  flag 
station  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Wilmington  Railroad 
here  located.  Near  by  is  Holly  Oak  station,  on  the 
same  railroad,  where  fishing  clubs  have  erected  a 
number  of  buildings  for  the  accommodation  and 
diversion  of  their  members. 

The  "Practical  Farmer"  Inn,  on  the  hill  over- 
looking Grubb's  Landing,  was  a  very  noted  tavern 
one  hundred  years  ago.  It  was  erected  before  the 
middle  of  the  last  century.  From  its  midway  location, 
on  this  turnpike,  it  became  one  of  the  most  popular 
stopping-places  for  stages  and  teams  between  Chester 
and  Wilmington,  and  had  the  patronage  of  many  noted 
travelers  of  that  period.  After  the  steam  packet 
came  in  more  general  use,  the  character  of  the  inn 
changed  somewhat,  becoming  the  centre  of  local 
gatherings,  such  as  horse-races  and  "watermelon 
fairs."  The  latter  were  occasions  of  orgies  and  hilar- 
ities, which  often  continued  several  days,  and  were 
participated  in  by  many  Jerseymen  and  Pennsyl- 
vanians.  The  latter  brought  cattle  to  be  sold  or  ex- 
hibited and  loads  of  whiskey  were  on  hand  to  be 
exchanged  for  the  watermelons  of  the  Jerseymen, 
who  seemed  to  have  had  a  peculiar  fondness  for  the 
distilled  grain  of  the  Keystone  farmers.  The  horse- 
races, on  the  course  in  the  old  Indian  field,  attracted 
thousands  of  people ;  and  here  some  of  the  best  horses 
of  the  country  were  speeded.  The  track  was  one 
and  a  quarter  miles  long  and  cedar  trees  grew  on  the 
outside,  giving  it  an  attractive  appearance.  It  was 
obliterated  nearly  half  a  century  ago. 

In  1803  the  inn  was  the  property  of  a  Mrs.  Trevans, 
the  widow  of  a  refugee  from  the  Island  of  San  Do- 
mingo, who  lived  in  a  mansion  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  road,  but  it  soon  after  passed  into  the  hands 
of  James  Grubb,  Esq.,  who  was  a  popular  landlord. 
In  time  it  became  the  property  of  his  son,  James, 
and  while  owned  by  him  the  old  building  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  July  4,  1872.  The  present  inn  was 
then  erected  by  him,  but  it  possesses  little  of  the  fame 
of  the  old  house.  South  from  the  "  Practical  Farm- 
er" was  the  "Swan  Inn  "of  Charles  Truitt,  by 
occupation  a  piano-maker.      Afler   his   death    his 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


daughter,  Ann,  had  charge  of  this  place,  which  she 
made  popular  by  the  dinners  she  provided.  Henry 
Williamson  was  a  later  landlord.  The  house  has 
long  since  been  used  as  a  residence. 

Glaymont  is  a  hamlet,  post-office  and  station  on  the 
Philadelphia  and  Wilmington  Railroad,  where  the 
turnpike  crosses  Naaman's  Creek.  The  latter  name 
was  applied  to  the  locality  until  1852,  when  the  pres- 
ent title  was  appropriately  selected.  The  soil  here  is 
of  a  clayey  nature  and  the  surrounding  country  is 
beautifully  undulated,  affording  many  fine  sites  for 
suburban  homes,  which  have  been  well-improved  by 
citizens  of  Philadelphia.  The  scenic  beauty  of  the 
Delaware  in  the  Glaymont  neighborhood  is  net  ex- 
celled by  any  other  point  in  the  county.  Much  of 
the  land  below  the  station  was  long  owned  by  Wil- 
liam, John  and  Enoch  Gray,  but  their  fine  farms 
have  been  subdivided  and  the  old  landmarks  can  no 
longer  be  traced.  Near  Naaman's  Creek  are  several 
old  buildings,  antedating  the  period  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, One  is  a  part  of  the  present  Frank  Ford  place 
and  was  long  the  home  of  General  Abraham  Robin- 
son. General  George  Washington  was  a  frequent 
guest  at  this  house,  and,  it  is  said,  that  on  the  occa- 
sion of  one  of  his  visits,  he  was  so  much  pleased  with 
a  new  seedling  pear  that  it  was  named  for  him,  and 
that  thus  originated  the  celebrated  Washington  pear. 
"Mad  Anthony"  Wayne  was  also  a  guest  of  the 
Robinson  family.  About  1800  this  property  and  the 
brick  mansion,  erected  in  1790,  on  the  opposite 
corner,  belonged  to  Colonel  Thomas  Robinson,  and 
were  soon  after  sold  by  him.  The  latter  house  has 
since  been  modernized. 

The  history  of  the  old  mill  at  this  place  dates  from 
the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  as  in  the 
survey  of  the  circle  line  in  1701.  The  grist-mill  and 
house  of  Jasper  Yeates  are  shown  as  being  on  Naa- 
man's  Creek  at  this  place.  A  part  of  the  present 
building  was  put  up  in  1749  by  Samuel  Hendrickson, 
and  appears  to  have  been  originally  a  one-story  stone. 
Later,  and  at  different  periods,  two  stories  of  brick 
were  added.  Before  the  water-power  became  so 
feeble  the  mill  was  extensively  operated.  Large 
quantities  of  grain  were  brought  from  long  distances, 
and  having  been  converted  into  flour,  were  loaded  on 
sloops  lying  on  tide-water  at  the  mill  and  taken  to 
the  Philadelphia  market ;  and  to  facilitate  this  work 
a  brick  warehouse  was  erected  on  the  creek.  From 
1835  on,  Robert  and  George  W.  Churchman  carried 
on  business  extensively,  operating  also  a  large  lum- 
ber mill.  The  latter  has  been  abandoned,  but  the 
grist-mill,  supplied  with  improved  machinery,  is  still 
in  operation.  Among  the  former  industries  of  this 
place  were  the  old  mill  of  the  Robinson  family,  at  a 
point  higher  up  Naaman's  Creek,  where  ruins  of  the 
dam  may  still  be  seen,  and  the  quarrying  and  ship- 
ment of  blue  stone.  The  former  has  long  since 
passed  away,  and  work  on  the  latter  was  also  sus- 
pended many  years  ago. 
George  W.  Churchman,  for  a  third  of  a  century  the 


most  prominent  lumber  merchant  in  the  State  of 
Delaware,  was  born  at  Darby,  Pa.,  May  12, 1811,  and 
died  in  Wilmington,  February  24, 1871.  He  was  of 
the  sixth  generation  in  direct  line  of  descent  from 
John  Churchman,  a  native  of  Saffrin  Waldren,  in 
Sussex,  England,  who,  in  1692,  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  immigrated  to  America  and  settled  in  Penn- 
sylvania under  William  Penn.  The  distinguished 
mathematician  and  philosopher,  John  Churchman, 
born  1753  and  died  in  1805,  was  a  descendant  of  the 
same  John  Churchman.  His  brother,  George  Church- 
man, was  a  noted  minister  among  a  Society  of  Friends, 
and  was  the  first  person  to  make  a  complete  map  of 
the  peninsula  comprising  Delaware  and  the  Eastern 
Shore  of  Maryland. 

George  W.  Churchman,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
grew  to  manhood  at  Darby,  Pa.  He  was  the  second 
son  of  Caleb  and  Martha  Churchman.  Their  other 
children  were:  John  S.,  Frances,  Ann,  Rebecca, 
Henry  L.,  Sally  and  Martha.  Their  faUier  was  a 
farmer  and  cattle  dealer ;  he  also  owned  a  bark-mill 
at  Darby  and  was  a  neighbor  and  intimate  associate 
of  Stephen  Girard. 

George  W.  Churchman  early  in  life  acquired  many 
of  the  excellent  business  methods  of  that  great  finan- 
cier. Afler  leaving  school  he  engaged  in  business  at 
Darby  with  his  father,  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  In  1832  he  purchased  the  historic 
saw  and  grist-mill  property  at  Naaman's  Creek,  now 
the  site  of  Claymont,  and  the  same  year  moved  to 
Delaware  and  took  charge  of  his  mills.  He  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  and  also  bought  in 
much  of  the  grain  from  the  surrounding  country  and 
ground  it  into  flour  for  the  trade.  He  prospered  in 
all  his  business  operations,  aild  soon  enlarged  and  im- 
proved the  entire  mill  property,  making  it  the  most 
complete  industry  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 

In  1838  he  became  interested  in  the  development  of 
the  lumber  interests  of  Central  Pennsylvania.  He 
purchased  large  tracts  of  timber-land  in  Cameron  and 
Clearfield  Counties,  in  that  State,  and  at  once  began 
operations.  He  spent  much  time  in  the  lumber 
region,  superintending  the  work  of  felling  the  trees, 
hewing  the  logs  into  square  timber  and  forming  the 
rails  which  were  conveyed  down  the  Susquehanna. 
He  was  very  successful  in  this  business  and  soon  made 
a  fortune,  all  of  which  was  lost  by  a  freshet  on  the 
Susquehanna,  the  entire  production  of  one  year  having 
floated  down  the  river.  Much  of  his  valuable  timber 
lands  were  yet  uncleared  and  his  credit  was  good. 
He  went  diligently  to  work,  and  within  a  very  few 
years  recovered  from  his  disaster.  He  continued  with 
great  success  in  the  business  and,  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  owned  pine  and  hemlock  timber  lands  in 
Central  Pennsylvania  to  the  value  of  two  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

The  preparation  of  this  timber  for  the  market  was 
an  exceedingly  interesting  and  profitable  business, 
and  in  the  early  years  of  George  W.  Churchman's 
career  was  one  of  the  chief  industries  of  the  great 


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908._..  SSUOSS  im^MKLAMXMXL. 


Oeorge  w.  unurcnraan,  lor  a  third  of  a  century  the     career  was  one  of  the  chief  industries  of  the  great 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


909 


State  of  Pennsylvania.  The  timber  came  oat  of  the 
mountain  districts  down  the  small  streams  in  rafts  to 
Lock  Haven,  then  the  greatest  lumber  market  in  the 
United  States.  From  this  point  they  were  floated  in 
charge  of  pilots,  with  the  current  down  the  Susque- 
hanna to  Marietta,  where  new  pilots  took  charge  and 
safely  steered  them  through  the  dangerous  rapids  of 
the  river  to  Peach  Bottom.  From  thence  other  men 
piloted  them  to  Port  Deposit,  the  place  of  delivery, 
and  the  head  of  tide-water  on  the  Susquehanna. 
From  this  point  the  rafts  were  towed  down  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  up  Elk  River  into  Back  Creek,  where  they 
were  made  into  'dockings''  of  sufficient  size  and 
length  to  readily  pass  through  the  Delaware  and 
Chesapeake  Canal  and  its  locks,  to  Delaware  City  and 
thence  up  the  river.  Nearly  all  rafts  were  sold  by 
their  owners  at  Lock  Haven  or  Marietta,  both  of 
which  were  lively  business  towns,  during  the  rafting 
season  of  the  early  spring  months  of  each  year. 
George  W.  Churchman  prepared  thousands  of  rafts 
on  his  lands  in  Pennsylvania,  and  sold  them  to  the 
trade  in  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and 
elsewhere.  The  rafts  sold  in  New  York  were  towed 
up  the  Delaware  to  Bordentown,  and  from  thence 
taken  through  the  Delaware  and  Karitan  Canal  to 
their  place  of  destination.  A  large  amount  of  his  own 
timber  he  conveyed  in  rafts  to  his  saw-mill  on  Naa- 
man's  Creek,  and  there  manufactured  them  into 
lumber  on  orders  from  nearly  all  of  the  leading  ship- 
builders and  manufacturing  establishments  in  Wil- 
mington and  the  surrounding  country.  He  also  sold 
square  timber  and  lumber  to  the  Philadelphia  and 
Chester  market. 

His  extensive  business  operations  brought  him  into 
close  relation  and  intimacy  with  a  great  many  promi- 
nent business  men  of  Pennsylvania,  Delaware  and 
Maryland,  in  all  of  which  States  he  was  known  as  an 
upright  man  of  the  highest  honor  and  most  sterling 
integrity.  His  indomitable  energy,  rare  tact  and 
comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  lumber  trade  made 
him  one  of  the  most  prominent  business  men  of  his 
day  in  Delaware.  In  1867  he  moved  to  Wilmington, 
though  he  continued  his  interest  in  his  timber  trade 
until  his  death. 

He  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  became  a  director 
of  the  Mechanics'  Bank  of  Wilmington,  and  was  one 
of  the  promoters  in  the  establishment  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Wilmington,  which  institution  he 
lent  his  best  influence,  to  further  its  growth  and 
development 

In  politics  Gleorge  W.  Churchman  was  originally  a 
stanch  Whig,  and  later  was  the  founder  of  the  Know- 
Nothing  party  in  Brandywine  Hundred.  When  the 
Republican  party  was  organized,  he  became  an  earnest 
advocate  of  its  policy  and  principles,  and  continued 
a  member  of  that  party  through  the  remainder  of  his 
life. 

The  lottery  business,  which  bad  long  been  conducted 
in  Delaware,  contained  many  obnoxious  features  to 
the  citizens  of  the  State.    Mr.  Churchman  was  one  of 


the  foremost  in  advocating  the  passage  of  the  law  to 
abolish  it  In  November,  1858,  with  that  object  in 
view,  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature  to 
represent  Brandywine  Hundred,  with  the  avowed  pur- 
pose of  attempting  to  secure  the  passage  of  the  re- 
quired legislation.  A  bill  was  introduced  and  during 
the  same  session  was  passed,  accomplishing  the  object 
desired.  The  efforts  of  Mr.  Churchman  in  this  work 
were  appreciated  by  the  people,  and  in  1860  he  was 
re-elected  to  the  same  office  and  served  as  a  member 
of  the  L^islature  of  Delaware  during  the  first  two 
years  of  the  Civil  War. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and 
inherited  the  strong  traits  and  marked  characteristics 
of  that  religious  people.  With  all  his  neighbors  and 
associates,  of  all  political  parties  or  religious  sects,  he 
was  universally  popular  and  very  highly  esteemed. 
Especially  was  this  the  case  in  Brandywine  Hundred, 
where  he  spent  most  of  his  useful  life.  He  was  in- 
strumental in  securing  the  establishment  of  a  post- 
office  and  railway  station  at  Naaman's  Creek  (now 
Claymont)  and  erected  nearly  all  of  the  first  houses 
in  the  village. 

Creorge  W.  Churchman  was  married  January  31, 
1838,  to  Ann  Eliza  Shull,  of  Delaware  County,  Pa. 
Their  children  were ;  Caleb,  Frederick  A.,  William 
H.,  George,  Maria  S.  and  Charles  (deceased). 

Amos  H.  Slaymaker  and  Benjamin  Hartley  mer- 
chandised many  years  ago  at  this  place.  Joseph  Mc- 
Namee  was  long  successfully  in  trade,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  George  W.  Lodge  and  others.  This  old 
and  well-known  stand  is  now  occupied  by  Robert 
Casey,  Jr.  Claymont  post-office  is  kept  at  the  station 
by  £.  N.  Baldwin,  holding  his  appointment  since 
1885.  The  railroad  through  Claymont  was  completed 
in  1838,  but  a  regular  station  was  not  established  until 
many  years  later. 

Since  1845  Dr.  J.  T.  M.  Cardeza  has  been  a  practic- 
ing physician  in  the  hundred,  and  has  been  located 
at  Claymont  the  past  forty  years.  He  graduated  from 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1842,  as  also  did 
his  son.  Dr.  J.  D.  M.  Cardeza,  in  1877,  and  has  been 
associated  in  practice  with  his  father  since  that  time. 
Since  1850  the  elder  Dr.  Cardeza  has  been  engaged 
in  the  collection  of  geological  and  numismatic 
specimens,  having,  in  1887,  one  of  the  finest  collec- 
tions in  the  State.  He  has  separate  buildings  con- 
taining scores  of  casts  and  thousands  of  specimens, 
whose  value  has  been  placed  at  twelve  thousand 
dollars. 

At  Claymont  were  fought  several  duels  of  historic 
note,  and  which  created  unusual  interest  at  the  time 
of  their  occurrence.  The  most  important  was  fought 
Sunday  morning,  March  21,  1830,  by  William  Miller, 
an  attorney  from  Philadelphia,  and  Midshipman 
Charles  G.  Hunter,  of  the  United  States  navy.  The 
place  was  on  the  present  Ford  farm,  near  the  State 
line.  Miller  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  his  death 
was  greatly  deplored,  since  he  had  been  drawn  into 
the  contest  by  his  friendship  for  one  of  the  principals 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


of  the  quarrel.  Hunter  was  dismiflsed  from  the  navy 
by  order  of  President  Jackson,  but  was  subsequently 
restored  to  his  former  rank,  and  distinguished  him- 
self by  his  service  in  the  Mexican  War.  Neverthe- 
less, his  life  seemed  blasted,  and  he  died  a  dis- 
appointed man.  He  also  acted  in  the  duel  out  of 
friendship's  sake,  and  the  fact  that  he  had  no  enmity 
against  poor  Miller  caused  many  of  the  leading  men 
of  the  country  to  condone  his  offense  and  to  unite  in 
a  petition  for  his  restoration.  Miller  was  at  that 
time  one  of  the  most  promising  young  lawyers  of  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  and  very  respectably  connected. 

The  next  duel  was  fought  near  where  the  turnpike 
crosses  the  State  road,  on  the  4th  of  June,  1843,  by 
General  James  Watson  Webb,  of  New  York  City, 
and  the  Hon.  Thomas  F.  Marshall,  of  Kentucky. 
This  was  brought  about  by  a  political  quarrel  in 
Congress,  and  had  been  anticipated  some  time  before 
it  occurred.  Both  parties  cherished  bitter  and  hostile 
feelings,  and  met  with  a  purpose  to  do  deadly  work. 
Webb  was  wounded  in  such  a  way  that  the  fight 
could  not  be  prolonged  beyond  the  first  fire,  much  to 
the  disgust  of  Marshall,  who  insisted  upon  having 
another  shot.  Through  the  intervention  of  friends 
the  principals  retired  with  their  sense  of  honor  par- 
tially satisfied,  and,  in  time,  the  breach  was  still  farther 
healed. 

Another  duel  was  fought  on  the  State  line,  near  the 
large  beech  tree,  on  June  9,  1845,  by  Washington 
Keith  and  Morris  Meredith,  both  of  Philadelphia.  At 
the  first  fire  each  was  wounded,  though  not  fatally, 
when  a  settlement  was  effected,  and  they  retired 
nominally  friends. 

The  Edgemoor  Buoy  Depot,  of  the  Fourth  District,  is 
on  the  Delaware,  below  du  Font's  wharf.  The  im- 
provements were  b^un  in  1880,  and  completed  two 
years  later,  some  of  them  being  transferred  to  this  point 
from  the  Christiana  light-house.  They  consist  of  a 
wharf  four  hundred  feet  long,  on  which  is  a  fog-bell 
and  light-house  of  the  fifth  order;  a  depot  building  fifty 
by  one  hundred  and  forty  feet ;  and  a  keeper's  residence, 
on  three  acres  of  land.  This  is  occupied  by  W.  W. 
Simmons.  The  buoy  depot  was  opened  in  1881,  and 
placed  in  charge  of  Capt.  N.  L.  Henderson,  who  is 
still  in  control  of  the  interests  connected  with  it 
This  yard  is  the  general  depot  of  the  district,  which 
has  forty-two  lights  within  its  bounds,  placed  from 
Barnegat,  N.  J.,  to  the  Virginia  coast.  About  three 
hundred  buoys  are  kept  in  stock  at  the  depot  of 
Edgemoor,  some  of  them  being  sixty  feet  in  length. 
The  general  supplies  of  oil  and  wood  are  also  here 
kept,  making  it  one  of  the  most  important  stations  of 
the  kind  on  the  coast 

Du  Font's  wharf,  next  above  the  Buoy  Depot,  was 
established  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century. 
But  it  has  been  important  for  a  less  period  of  time  on 
account  of  the  immense  quantities  of  powder  shipped 
from  the  du  Pont  works,  about  five  miles  distant. 
After  1825  several  brick  magazines  were  erected,  from 
which  the  vessels  transporting  the  powder  were  laden. 


These  are  still  in  use,  but  on  account  of  better  ship- 
ping facilities  near  the  works,  most  of  the  transporta- 
tion has  been  diverted  to  those  points. 

Star  of  Bethel  Lodge,  No.  19,  /.  0.  0,  K,  was  insti- 
tuted at  the  house  of  John  Faulk,  on  Naaman*s 
Creek  road,  July  10, 1849.  The  following  were  orig- 
inal members :  John  Faulk,  John  W.  Lodge,  Samuel 
Hanby,  Isaac  N.  Grubb,  Thomas  I.  Clayton,  Benja- 
min F.  Hanby,  Samuel  L.  Qrubb,  John  Smith, 
Samuel  Hewes,  Jr.,  Isaac  Booth  and  John  Freel. 

In  1853  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  was  erected  at  Grubb's 
Corners,  and  the  meetings  of  Bethel  Lodge  have  been 
held  there  ever  since.  It  is  a  three-story  building, 
valued  at  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and  has 
also  been  used  by  other  societies.  Bethel  I^dge  has 
prospered  generally,  and  in  1887  had  forty  mem- 
bers. 

Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  9,  K,  of  F,  was  instituted 
in  the  above  hall  October  20, 1868.  Its  charter  bears 
the  names  of  G^.  K.  Lloyd,  Alexander  Valentine, 
Charles  Williams,  Joseph  Proud,  Jacob  K.  Hanby, 
James  Leach,  William  McKee,  Owen  Zebley,  George 
Phillips,  Albanus  Phillips,  Wm.  Phillips,  Jesse  M. 
Klair,  John  W.  Kruby,  Edward  C.  Pierce,  Joseph  W. 
P.  Casey,  William  S.  Orr,  Uriel  Pierce,  Jacob  Gordy, 
Ezra  Pierce  and  Thomas  Phillips.  Its  organization 
has  since  that  time  been  successfully  maintained,  and 
in  1887  there  were  fifty  members. 

Lodges  of  Bed  Men,  Good  Templars  and  a  Grange 
of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  for  a  time  flourished  in  this 
hall,  but  have  ceased  meeting  and  surrendered  their 
charters. 

West  Brandywine  Orange,  No.  13,  F,  of  J7.— This 
society  was  organized  at  Sharpley's  school-house,  Au- 
gust 9, 1874,  with  fourteen  charter  members,  and  John 
W.  Day,  Master.  From  the  beginning  the  Grange 
succeeded  in  drawing  to  itself  an  aggressive,  vigorous 
membership,  which  numbered  one  hundred  and  hve 
in  June,  1887,  and  comprised  the  best  citizens  of  the 
western  part  of  the  hundred. 

In  1886  a  fine  hall,  thirty-eight  by  forty  feet,  and 
two  stories  high,  was  erected  by  the  Grange,  at  Tal- 
leyville,  which  has  been  occupied  since  its  comple- 
tion. The  committee  having  the  work  of  building  in 
charge  was  composed  of  Thomas  J.  Day,  William  A. 
Talley,  J.  A.  Welden,  John  F.  Sharpley  and  Lewis 
M.  Miller.  The  hall  is  valued  at  fifteen  hundred 
dollars  and  was  controlled  by^Trustees  Clark  Webster, 
J.  Walker  Perkins  and  J.  Atwood  Weldin. 

ReligiouB  Interests. — As  early  as  1682  several  families 
belonging  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  or  Quakers,  set- 
tled within  the  bounds  of  Brandywine  Hundred,  and 
held  their  meetings  at  private  houses.  But  in  1687 
Valentine  Hollingsworth  gave  the  ground  for  a  meet- 
ing-house and  burial-place,  where  was  soon  after  built 
the  Newark  Meeting-house,  a  small  structure  of  pop- 
lar logs,  which  served  its  purpose  about  sixty  years. 
In  this  building  the  Newark  Monthly  Meetings  were 
regularly  held  until  1704,  when  they  alternated  with 
Centre,  in  Christiana   Hundred;    but  in  1707  they 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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were  wholly  abandoned  at  Newark,  though  the  name 
was  long  retained  (until  1760),  when  it  was  changed 
to  Kennett  Monthly  Meeting,  the  meetings  having 
been  held  at  the  latter  place  since  1721. 

Weekly  Meetings  of  Friends  continued  to  be  held 
at  Newark  until  1754,  when  they  were  also  raised, 
most  of  the  members  having  removed  or  deceased. 
The  burial-ground  was  continued,  though  it  fell  into 
neglect  after  the  Revolution ;  but  it  is  believed  that 
the  old  log  church  was  removed  to  near  Centreville, 
in  Christiana  Hundred,  where  it  served  as  an  out- 
building in  later  years. 

Within  the  last  fifty  years  a  movement  was  set  on 
foot  by  the  citizens  of  the  central  part  of  the  hundred 
to  restore  the  former  conditions  of  Newark.  Accord- 
ingly, the  acre  of  ground  was  inclosed  with  a  sub- 
stantial stone  wall,  and  a  Union  Meeting-house  was 
built  adjoining,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  road  leading 
to  the  highway.  Active  in  this  work  were  Thomas 
Babb,  George  W.  Weldin,  John  Beeson,  Henry  Bee- 
son,  Edward  Beeson,  George  Miller,  Thomas  Cart- 
mell  and  others.  The  property,  consieting  of  the 
cemetery  and  a  plain  stone  church,  is  now  controlled 
by  a  board  of  trustees,  consisting  of  Henry  L.  Guest, 
William  L.  Wilson,  Amor  G.  Forwood,  Penn  Lykens, 
Isaiah  Mousley,  John  F.  Sharpley  and  Joseph  Mil- 
ler. Services  have  been  held  in  the  church  by  nearly 
all  the  denominations  worshipping  in  this  part  of  the 
county,  but  no  regular  organization  claims  it  as  its 
exclusive  home.  The  cemetery  is  tenanted  by  the 
dead  of  many  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  central  and 
southern  parts  of  the  hundred,  and  is  fairly  w^U 
kept. 

The  Calvary  Episcopal  Churchy  half  a  mile  north  of 
the  old  Newark  Union  Church,  was  built  on  land 
donated  by  Mrs.  Barbara  Carr.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid  September  25, 1862,  and  the  dedication  took 
place  January  29,  1863.  The  organization  of  the  con- 
gregation was  effected  earlier,  in  1862,  and  before  this 
Episcopal  meetings  were  held  in  the  Union  Church 
for  the  accommodation  of  members  of  the  Grace  and 
Ascension  Churches  residing  in  this  locality.  Later, 
the  rector  of  the  latter  church  preached  to  a  small 
membership,  but  it  has  been  found  impracticable  to 
maintain  regular  worship,  and  for  some  time  the  church 
has  not  been  occupied.  It  is  a  small  but  neat  Gothic 
chapel  of  native  stone,  whose  erection  reflects  credit 
upon  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  stands. 

The  Bethel  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — The  ser- 
vices of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  appear  to 
have  been  established  next  after  those  of  the  Friends, 
and  some  of  the  most  active  members  of  the  new  or- 
ganization were  early  members  of  that  society.  It  is 
stated  that  Isaac  Tussey,  who  lived  on  Shellpot  Hill, 
was  one  of  the  first  Methodists  residing  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  county.  But  that  faith  was  soon  after 
professed  by  Thomas  Webster  and  David  Ford.  The 
latter  was  an  active^  thinking  young  Friend.  In  1768, 
when  but  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  visited  Marcus 
Hook  and  there  listened  to  the  impressive  preaching 


of  Captain  Thomas  Webb,  the  pioneer  expounder  of 
Methodism  in  Delaware.  His  eloquence  was  so  mar- 
velous that  men  of  all  conditions  were  enchanted, 
John  Adams  saying  of  him,  after  hearing  him  preach 
in  1774:  ^^  He  is  one  of  the  most  eloquent,  fluent  men 


CAPTAIN  THOMAS  WEBB. 

I  ever  heard ;  he  reaches  the  imagination  and  touches 
the  passions  well,  and  expresses  himself  with  great 
propriety."  David  Ford  became  a  convert  to  Method- 
ism, and  after  he  was  married,  a  few  years  later,  had 
preaching  held  at  his  house.  Subsequently  his  son 
Jesse  became  a  well-known  Methodist  minister. 

In  1775  a  Methodist  Society  was  formed,  which 
embraced  among  its  members  the  above  and  William 
Cloud,  whose  sons,  R  ibert  and  Adam,  also  became 
Methodist  ministers.  In  1780  a  small  church  was 
built,  on  part  of  the  Cloud  place,  near  the  State  line, 
which  was  long  known  as  Cloud's  Chapel,  but  which, 
in  later  years,  became  Bethel  Church.  The  original 
building  was  enlarged,  in  1799,  until  it  became  quite 
a  spacious  stone  structure,  though  very  plain  in  ap- 
pearance. It  is  still  standing,  though  not  used  as  a 
regular  place  of  worship  since  1873.  That  year  the 
elegant  new  Bethel  Church  was  erected  on  an  adjoin- 
ing lot  at  a  cost  of  nearly  fifteen  thousand  dollars, 
and  has  since  been  occupied.  It  is  a  commodious 
two-story  brick  edifice,  with  a  front  of  serpentine 
green  stone,  and  is  very  attractive  in  its  general  ap- 
pearance. 

But  its  completion  at  a  time  when  the  country  was 
suflering  from  financial  stagnation  was  a  heavy  bur- 
den to  the  membership.  Lying  between  the  two 
churches  is  a  large  and  well-kept  cemetery,  and  in 
the  same  neighborhood  is  a  parsonage,  which  was  com- 
pleted March  1,  1886,  at  a  cost  of  thirteen  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars.    This  property  was  controlled,  in 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Jane,  1887,  by  the  trusteeB,— Thomas  playton,  S.  M. 
Talley,  Thomas  8.  Talley,  Lewis  Talley,  Charles  Tal- 
ley,  J.  L.  Perkins,  Robert  Talley,  Wm.  G.  Galbraith, 
Curtis  Maxwell,  Wm.  H.  Ridgley,  Mills  Forwood, 
Henry  M.  Barlow  and  Edward  T.  Wier. 

In  addition  to  the  early  membership  already  men* 
tioned,  Robert  and  David  Pyle,  Daniel  Clayton, 
Thomas  and  Clark  Webster,  the  Talleys,  Isaac  Grubb, 
Joseph  Wier,  Robert  Johnson,  John  Day  and  Benja- 
min Day  took  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the 
church  in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century.  In 
1887  there  were  one  hundred  and  forty  members, 
some  residing  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
Revs.  Wm.  Miller,  Samuel  Hance,  Mifflin  Fraim  and 
John  Talley  have  served  as  local  preachers. 

One  hundred  years  after  the  formation  of  the  socie- 
ty Bethel  Church  became  a  separate  charge,  and, 
since  1873,  the  ministers  have  been  the  following: 
1874,  Rev.  H.  Sanderson  ;  1875-76,  Rev.  E.  H.  Nel- 
son ;  1877,  Rev.  T.  B.  Hunter ;  1878,  Rev.  T.  B.  Kil- 
lian ;  1879-81,  Rev.  Wm.  B.  Gregg;  1882-84,  Rev.  L. 
W.  Layfield;  1885-86,  Rev.  T.  B.  Hunter;  1887, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Hamersley. 

The  previous  circuit  relations  embraced  connection 
with  churches  in  Pennsylvania  and  other  Methodist 
Churches  in  Brandywine  Hundred,  changes  occur- 
ring with  so  much  frequency  that  they  cannot  be  here 
traced. 

Grace  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal, — The  prelimi- 
minary  meeting  to  organize  this  body  was  held  at 
Talley*8  school-house,  December  30,  1835,  Doctor  A. 
Prince  being  in  the  chair  and  James  A.  B.  Smith 
secretary,  when  the  following  heads  of  &milies  agreed 
to  form  a  church  : 

John  Lodge,  William  Gray,  Isaac  Arment,  Abner 
Vernon,  Joseph  Guest,  James  Dutton,  John  Mc- 
Kever,  Valentine  Forwood,  Dr.  A.  Prince,  James  A. 
B.  Smith,  William  Smith,  Elihu  Talley,  James  Smith, 
Jehu  Talley,  Isaac  Smith,  Thomas  Robinson,  John 
Gray,  George  Williamson,  Nehemiah  Delaplain  and 
William  F.  Grubb. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1836,  the  old  school-house 
near  the  ''corners"  was  purchased  and  fitted  up  for 
a  church,  and,  about  the  same  time,  Isaac  Smith  and 
Dr.  Abner  Prince  were  elected  the  first  wardens.  The 
Rev.  William  J.  Clark  became  the  first  rector  of  the 
new  parish,  serving  in  that  relation  several  years. 
The  subsequent  rectors  of  the  church  have  been  the 
Revs.  Samuel  C.  Shatton,  L.  H.  Mansfield,  J.  B. 
Clemson,  S.  F.  Hotchkin,  C.  M.  Callaway,  William 
H.  Jeffries,  N.  G.  Schon,  Robert  N.  Wright  and, 
since  1886,  L.  H.  Jackson. 

In  the  fall  of  1872  the  parish  decided  to  purchase 
ten  acres  of  land  for  church  purposes,  the  same  being 
finely  located  on  the  Concord  Pike,  north  of  Talley- 
yille.  Here  a  large  tent  was  pitched  September  12, 
1872,  to  celebrate  the  anniversary  of  the  Sabbath- 
school,  and  it  was  an  occasion  of  much  interest,  lead- 
ing to  a  firm  purpose  to  erect  a  fine  house  of  worship 
on  the  grounds  at  an  early  day.    The  work  of  stcur- 


ing  funds  was  begun,  and  on  the  1st  of  October,  1874, 
the  corner-stone  of  the  new  edifice  was  laid  by  Bishop 
Lee,  assisted  by  Rector  Hotchkin.  Henry  M.  Bar- 
low became  the  builder  of  the  church,  which  was 
opened  for  public  worship  July  4, 1875.  The  farewell 
services  in  the  old  church  had  been  held  the  previous 
Sabbath,  and  the  building,  no  longer  used,  has  gone 
to  decay.  In  building  the  new  church,  generous  aid 
was  extended  by  Louis  Smith,  William  P.  Cresson, 
Francis  Tempest  and  the  subscriptions  secured  by 
the  ladies — lAura  Smith,  Mary  Forwood  and  Eliza- 
beth Forwood — helped  much  to  make  it  the  beautiful 
structure  it  is.  The  material  is  native  stone,  in  fine 
Gothic  style,  and,  standing  centrally  in  the  spacious 
grounds,  it  is  a  very  attractive  object.  Its  cost  was 
about  eight  thousand  dollars.  Entering  the  grounds, 
part  of  which  has  been  consecrated  to  the  dead,  on 
the  left-hand  side  is  a  good  sexton's  house,  while  on 
the  right-hand  is  the  spacious  rectory,  completed  in 
1885,  and  presented  to  the  parish  by  Mrs.  Mary  Cres- 
son. Altogether  this  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
church  properties  in  the  county. 

In  June,  1887,  the  church  had  fifty-two  commu- 
nicant members,  and  the  following  vestry  con- 
trolled the  affaird  of  the  parish  :  William  P.  Cresson 
aud  Louis  Smith,  wardens ;  Benjamin  Atwell,  Hugh 
Ramsey,  Christopher  C.  Righter,  Robert  Beatty,  Jr., 
and  Stewart  Ramsey. 

The  Sabbath-school  maintained  in  the  church  is  in 
a  very  flourishing  condition  and  has  more  than  one 
hundred  members. 

Church  of  the  Ascensioui  {Protestant  Episcopal),  at 
Claimant, — The  services  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
were  held  in  this  locatlity  as  early  as  1843,  the  Rev. 
Alfred  Lee,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Delaware,  preaching  at 
the  school-house  at  Naaman's  Creek.  These  meet- 
ings, held  statedly  several  years,  awakened  a  desire 
for  a  consecrated  house  of  worship,  and  early  in 
January,  1851,  this  purpose  had  been  so  far  carried 
out  that  a  building  committee  was  appointed  to  super- 
vise the  work  of  erecting  a  church  which  should 
bear  the  name  of  the  ^'  Ascension.*'  This  committee 
was  composed  of  Thomas  Clyde,  George  Lodge,  Wm. 
Gray,  George  Williamson  and  William  C.  Lodge. 
At  the  same  time  the  Rev.  G.  W.  Ridgely,  was  elect- 
ed rector  of  the  new  parish,  serving  eleven  months, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  L.  W.  P.  Botch, 
whose  rectorate  continued  several  years.  A  lot  of 
land  was  donated  by  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Clemson,  rector  of 
the  church  at  Marcus  Hook,  who  resided  in  this 
neighborhood,  upon  which  the  church  was  built  and 
completed  in  1854,  being  consecrated  September 
14th,  of  that  year,  by  Bishop  Lee.  It  is  a  Gothic 
frame  structure,  of  simple  beauty,  and  has  an  un- 
usually fine  site.  At  this  time  sixteen  communi- 
cants were  transferred  from  the  church  at  Marcus 
Hook,  and  the  parish  now  entered  upon  a  period  of 
its  history  which  proved  remarkably  prosperous.  In 
the  firdt  twenty-five  yean|  of  its  existence  three  hun- 
dred and  fourteen  persons  were  baptized,  one  han- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


913 


dred  and  fifly-nine  confirmed  and  one  hundred  and 
8Cventy-oue  communicants  added  to  the  member- 
ship. More  than  eight  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars were  raised  for  mission  and  charitable  purposes. 
The  rectory  near  the  church  was  remodeled  and  much 
improved  in  1884,  making  it  an  elegant  home  for 
the  rector.  Here  have  resided  the  later  rectors, 
preaching  also  part  of  the  time  at  the  Calvary 
Church,  several  miles  southwest  from  Claymont, 
but  more  recently  the  Church  of  the  Ascension  ha« 
been  a  separate  parish.  Its  membership,  through 
unavoidable  circumstances,  has  been  much  reduced, 
numbering  but  thirty-five  in  June,  1887.  At  that 
period  the  vestry  was  composed  of  the  following  : 

Wm.  C.  Lodge,  Wm.  Cloud,  Thomas  Habbert, 
George  Lloyd,  J.  D.  M.  Cardeza  and  Charles  Groff. 

In  1852  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Clemson  became  the  rector 
of  the  parish  and  served  in  that  relation  twenty-two 
years,  having  the  assistance,  the  last  fourteen  years, 
of  the  Rev.  F.  Hotchkin.  Their  successors  were  the 
following :  Rev.  Chas.  S.  Betticher,  1876-78 ;  Rev.  R. 
Heber  Murphy,  1879-82;  Rev.  P.  B.  Lightner, 
1883-86 ;  and,  since  June,  1886,  the  Rev.  Edward 
Owen. 

CUufmorU  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  located 
about  a  mile  from  the  station,  on  the  Philadelphia 
Turnpike,  on  a  beautiful  tract  of  woodland.  It  is  a 
fine  stone  chapel,  built  in  Gothic  style,  in  the  summer 
of  1866,  largely  through  the  efforts  of  Thomas  Kimber, 
an  energetic  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  whose 
home  was  in  this  neighbornood.  He  had  the  co-op- 
oration  of  John  McKay,  the  Rev.  Thomas  T.  Tasker, 
Wm.  G.  Valentine  and  the  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Dalrymple, 
as  associate  members  on  the  building  committee.  The 
latter  was  the  first  minister  of  the  congregation, 
which  had  been  organized  the  previous  May,  in  a 
small  building,  near  the  mills,  of  persons  connected 
with  the  church  at  Marcus  Hook,  Pa.  Among  the 
most  active  members  were  Wm.  G.  Valentine, 
Enoch  Ayars  and  Abner  Vernon,  and  others  soon 
connecting  themselves  formed  a  growing  and  vigor- 
ous class.  The  Sunday-school  previously  estab)ii>hed 
proved  very  successful  and  aided  in  building  up  the 
church,  which  now  began  to  sustain  circuit  relations 
with  the  neighboring  churches. 

In  1887  it  became  a  separate  charge,  and,  in  June 
of  that  same  year,  reported  a  membership  of  thirty 
persons.  In  1885  the  church  property  was  improved 
by  the  building  of  a  sexton's  house.  The  affairs  of 
the  church  are  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

The  ML  Pleasant  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, — ^This 
old  and  well-known  house  of  worship  is  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Philadelphia  Turnpike,  four  miles  from 
Wilmington.  The  site  is  eligible  and  includes  a 
grave-yard,  where  lie  buried  some  of  the  oldest  set- 
tlers of  this  section  of  the  hundred.  The  building 
is  a  plain  stone  structure  and  was  erected  in  1838,  but 
was  thoroughly  repaired  in  the  summer  of  1883,  and 
reopened  in  October,  that  year,  under  the  direction 
of  the  pastor,  Rev.  W.  B.  Gregg.  The  parsonage,  on 
58 


an  adjoining  lot,  did  not  become  church  property  until 
1878. 

Prior  to  the  building  of  the  church,  worship  was 
maintained  in  this  neighborhood,  among  the  early 
members  being  Jacob  Weldin,  William  Phillips, 
Eliza  J.  Talley  and  their  familie;^,  and  the  ministers 
were  usually  those  of  the  old  Chester  Circuit  In 
1873  the  church  at  Claymont  and  Mt.  Pleasant  became 
a  separate  charge,  having  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Bodine  in 
charge.  The  following  year  the  latter  church  be- 
came a  station  and  has  since  so  continued,  the  church 
at  Edgemoor  being  connected  as  a  preaching-place 
since  the  spring  of  1887.  Since  being  a  station  the 
ministers  of  Mt.  Pleasant  have  been  the  following : 
1874-75,  Rev.  J.  E.  Kidney ;  1876-78,  Rev.  A.  D. 
Davis ;  1879,  Rev.  J.  W.  Pierson ;  1880,  Rev.  G.  W. 
Wilcox  ;  1883-84,  Rev.  W.  B.  Gr^g  ;  1885-86,  Rev. 
J.  W.  Hammersley ;  1887,  Rev.  Julius  Dodd. 

The  members  of  the  church  numbered  sixty-five 
in  June,  1887,  and  constituted  three  classes.  The 
church  property  has  an  estimated  value  of  four  thou- 
sand dollars  and  was  controlled  by  Trustees  Jacob  R. 
Weldin,  John  S.  Beeson,  Geo.  W.  Weldin,  Geo.  W. 
Talley,  J.  Atwood  Weldin,  Joseph  Habbart,  Joseph 
Talley,  Joseph  Miller  and  Isaiah  Mousley. 

A  Sabbath-school  of  seventy-five  members  is  con- 
nected with  the  church. 

The  Edgemoor  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  a 
Gothic  frame  edifice,  thirty-two  by  fifty  feet,  which 
was  dedicated  May  29,  1887.  The  lot  on  which  it 
stands  was  donated  by  the  Edgemoor  Iron  Company, 
and  generous  subscriptions  made  it  possible  to  com- 
plete a  very  attractive  place  of  worship,  at  a  cost  of 
twenty-five  hundred  dollars.  This  was  placed  in 
charge  of  Trustees  John  V.  Bradbury,  Thomas*  Steel, 
Robert  M.  Biddle,  A.  W.  Young,  Wm.  H.  Cook,  R. 
A.  Shipley  and  James  B.  Coleman.  The  church  has 
twenty-five  members  and  the  same  ministerial  service 
as  the  charge  at  Mt.  Pleasant. 

The  Rockland  Presbyterian  Church,--? rior  to  1800 
William  Young,  a  stanch  Presbyterian  and  an  emi- 
nently pious  man,  came  from  Philadelphia  and 
erected  a  paper-mill  at  the  locality  which  has  become 
widely  known  as  Rockland.  Soon  after  he  set  up 
preaching  services,  bringing  a  minister  from  Phila- 
delphia, and  in  1802  a  substantial  stone  church  was 
built  through  his  efforts  on  the  hillside,  above  the 
mills.  The  church  sustained  an  independent  relation 
more  than  a  dozen  years,  but  before  1820  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia.  In  the 
latter  year  the  Rev.  John  Smith  became  the  stated 
supply  and,  after  a  period,  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  S.  W.  Gayley,  who  was  the  minister  many 
years.  Since  1854  the  church  has  been  united  with 
the  Green  Hill  Presbyterian  Church  of  Christiana 
Hundred,  having  the  same  session  of  ruling  elders 
and  the  same  board  of  trustees.  The  church  build- 
ing, though  old,  is  in  a  fair  state  of  repair. 

The  Mt,  Lebanon  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized  at  Rockland  in  1833.    Soon  after  a  lot  of 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


land  was  donated  by  Thomas  J.  Aldred,  upon  which 
was  built,  in  1834,  a  stone  church,  forty  by  sixty  feet, 
by  a  board  of  trustees  comprising  T.  Talley,  Curtis 
Talley,  Casper  Mundew,  John  Fraim  and  Thomas 
Underwood.  This  building  has  been  kept  in  good 
repair  and  is  estimated  worth  three  thousand  dollars. 
In  June,  1887,  the  trustees  were  Thomas  Wilson, 
John  W.  Day,  Robert  Wilson,  James  E.  Hornby, 
Charles  W.  Day,  Evans  Righter  and  James  Davis. 
The  church  has  sustained  a  number  of  circuit  rela- 
tions, and  has  also  had  a  separate  ministry.  The 
membership  is  small. 


CHAPTER    XLVI, 


MILL  CREEK  HUNDRED. 


Mill  Creek  Hundred  is  situated  in  the  north- 
western part  of  New  Castle  County,  and  is  bounded 
on  the  north  and  west  by  the  Circle,  on  the  east  by 
Red  Clay  Creek  and  on  the  south  by  White  Clay 
Creek.  The  hundred  abounds  with  streams  favor- 
able for  manufacturing,  and,  doubtless,  on  this  ac- 
count received  its  name.  The  land  was  early  taken 
up  and  improved,  and  is  in  an  excellent  state  of  cul- 
tivation. The  hundred  is  principally  noted  for  the 
number  of  manufacturing  industries  that  have  ex- 
isted, and  still  exist,  within  its  bounds.  A  branch  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  runs  through  the 
northern  and  eastern  parts,  and  affords  facilities  for 
travel  and  shipping.  The  climate  is  healthful,  and 
the  land  fertile,  producing  wheat,  corn  and  oats  in 
abundance.  The  assessment  list  of  1804  contains  the 
names  of  four  hundred  and  sixty-three  taxables.  At 
that  time  there  were  in  the  hundred  ninety-nine  log 
houses,  forty-eight  stone,  twenty-one  built  of  brick. 

There  are  numerous  small  hills  in  this  hundredi 
the  highest  of  which  is  "Meeting- House  Hill."  On 
this,  in  the  summer  of  1862,  '53  or  *54,  a  corps  of  en- 
gineers encamped,  and  erected  an  observatory  about 
eighty  feet  high,  on  which  their  instruments  were 
mounted.  Their  object  was  to  survey  the  coast 
from  New  York  to  the  mouth  of  Chesapeake  Bay. 
For  this  purpose  signals  were  erected  on  poles,  within 
a  range  of  from  ten  to  a  hundred  miles ;  and  when- 
ever the  view  was  obstructed  by  woods  openings  were 
cut.  The  parly  was  there  three  or  four  months,  and 
had  a  guard  of  United  States  soldiers.  A  few  years 
since  another  corps  of  engineers  erected  an  ob- 
servatory on  "  Drummond's  Hill." 

Charles  Rumsey,  a  native  of  Wales,  emigrated  to 
Charleston,  S.  C,  in  1665.  He  resided  there  and  at 
New  York  for  several  years,  and  finally  became  a 
resident  of  Maryland.  While  there  he  obtained  pat- 
ents for  considerable  land  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred. 
On  the  25th  day  of  March,  1676,  Gov.  Andros  granted 
hve  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land   lying  on  Red 


Clay  and  White  Clay  Creeks  to  Charles  Rumsey, 
Walraven  Jansen  and  others.  On  December  4,  1679, 
Rumsey  sold  two  hundred  acres  of  this  tract  to 
John  Watkins,  who  sold  the  upper  part  of  it  to  John 
Cann,  April  6,  1680.  On  December  3,  1679,  Rumsey 
and  Arient  Jansen  Vanderburgh  petitioned  the  court 
of  New  Castle  for  a  grant  of  land  "  behind  Bread  & 
Cheese  Island."  Rumsey  obtained  two  hundred  acres, 
with  half  of  a  marsh,  and  Vanderburgh  one  hun- 
dred acres,  with  the  other  half  of  the  marsh.  Rum- 
sey sold  one  hundred  acres  on  the  26th  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1680,  to  Samuel  Barker,  who  conveyed  the  same 
tract  to  John  Cann  September  5,  1682.  Rumsey  also 
owned  other  land  in  the  hundred,  and  part  of  it  was 
purchased  from  him  by  William  Guest.  Walraven 
Jansen,  by  his  will  dated  March  1, 1681,  devised  to 
his  son,  Guysbert  Jansen,  one-half  of  his  land,  which 
included  a  portion  of  the  five  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  above-mentioned,  for  the  maintenance  of  his 
wife  and  children.  In  addition  to  the  land  patented 
to  Rumsey,  and  which  afterward^  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  John  Cann,  there  was  surveyed  to  Cann  a 
tract  of  three  hundred  acres  on  White  Clay  Creek. 
Mill  Creek  flowed  through  this  land,  and  made  a 
junction  with  White  Clay  Creek  at  the  terminus  of 
this  tract.  On  September  5, 1682,  he  conveyed  to  Jo- 
seph Barnes  a  tract  of  land  on  the  west  of  land 
owned  by  John  Moll  (late  by  Charles  Rumsey),  ex- 
tending two  hundred  and  sixty  yards  along  White 
Clay  Creek  to  land  of  John  Nommers,  and  thence 
the  same  distance  into  the  woods,  on  which  tract  a 
house  had  been  built  by  Cann.  On  the  same  day 
Barnes  bought  of  John  Nommers  that  portion  of  his 
land  which  lay  on  the  north  side  of  White  Clay 
Creek.  On  October  2, 1677,  Broor  and  Andreas  Sin- 
nexsea  obtained  a  grant  of  six  hundred  acres  called 
'^  Claesburg,"  situated  on  the  north  side  of  White 
Clay  Creek,  near  "Mill  Brook."  On  the^lSth  day  of 
April,  1685,  Broor  Sinnexsen  conveyed  to  Humphrey 
Bert  and  Edward  Green  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  and  to  Christian  Juriansen,  his  son-in-law,  one 
hundred  acres,  both  being  parts  of  a  tract  containing 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  called  Water  Land. 
Humphrey  Bert  and  Edward  Green  sold  half  of 
theirs  to  John  Crampton,  and  Juriansen's  portion 
finally  came  into  the  possession  of  William  Keith. 
On  October  14,  1683,  there  was  surveyed,  for  John 
Ogle,  a  tract  of  four  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  called 
*'  Hop  Yards,''  situated  on  the  north  side  of  a  branch 
of  Christiana  Creek,  called  White  Clay  Creek.  On 
December  11th,  of  the  same  year,  William  Welch 
obtained  a  warrant  for  one  thousand  acres  of  land  on 
the  north  side  of  White  Clay  Creek. 

John  Moll,  who  was  the  president  justice  of  the 
Court  of  New  Castle  County  from  1676  to  1682,  and  of 
whom  a  sketch  will  be  found  in  the  Bench  and  Bar, 
became  a  resident  of  the  hundred.  He  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  of  Charles  Rumsey,  who  soon  after 
died,  and  on  July  2,  17^9,  Catharine,  his  widow,  de- 
clared herself  ready  to  stand  by  the  sale  of  her  hus- 


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NEW  CASTLE.  COUNTY. 


915 


band's  plantation  and  part  of  his  land  at  White 
Clay  ffals  Kill  to  Mr.  John  Moll,  who  was  also  the 
owner  of  one  thousand  acres  in  Red  Lion  Hundred, 
of  which  mention  is  made  in  that  hundred.  He 
lived  upon  the  Mill  Creek  plantation,  except  when 
engaged  in  his  court  duties,  until  about  a  year  after 
his  retirement  from  the  bench,  when  he,  with  Peter 
Bayard,  Peter  Sluyter,  Arnoldus  de  La  Grange  and 
others,  purchased,  August  11,  1684,  three  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  lying  on  the 
waters  of  the  Chesapeake.  This  tract  embraced  the 
four  necks  of  land  east  from  the  first  creek  that 
empties  into  Bohemia  River.  But  little  is  known  of 
his  later  career. 

On  June  9,  1684,  William  Guest  obtained  a  grant 
from  William  Penn  for  a  certain  tract  of  land  in  the 
county  of  New  Castle,  on  the  north  side  of  one  of  the 
branches  of  Christiana  Creek  called  White  Clay 
Creek,  and  on  the  east  side  of  a  branch  of  White  Clay 
Creek,  known  by  the  name  of  "  Millin,**  and  about 
two  miles  from  Bread  and  Cheese  Island.  This  tract, 
known  as  Wedgebury,  contained  seven  hundred 
acres,  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  of  which  Guest 
bought  of  Charles  Rumsey  and  the  remainder  was 
taken  up  on  a  grant.  On  the  20th  of  October,  of 
the  same  year,  he  procured  fifty  acres  more  adjoining 
the  above  tract  on  the  north  side.  On  May  9,  1696, 
articles  of  agreement  were  drawn  up  by  Thomas 
Sawer  and  William  Guest,  whereby  Guest  "  shall 
have  liberty  from  time  to  time  and  all  times  hereafter 
to  dig  upon  a  certain  hill  or  knowle  of  ground  for 
ising  glasse  or  other  metal  whatsoever  he  shall  find 
there  and  carry  away  to  his  own  use,  &c."  The  hill 
here  referred  to  contained  two  or  three  acres.  On 
the  4th  of  November,  1702,  he  obtained  f^ve  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  on  the  western  side  of  Red  Clay 
Creek,  near  Bread  and  Cheese  Island,  and  touching 
White  Clay  Creek.  In  this  connection  mention  is 
made  of  "  a  white  oak  stump  standing  on  a  bank  by 
the  mill." 

Probably  the  earliest  settler  in  what  is  now  Mill 
Creek  Hundred  was  Thomas  Wollaston,  who  settled 
upon  a  tract  in  this  hundred  and  there  resided  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1686.  In  February, 
1666,  Colonel  Richard  Nichols  granted  to  Sergeant 
Thomas  Wollaston,  John  Ogle,  John  Heudrick  and 
Harman  Jansen  a  warrant  for  a  tract  of  land  con- 
taining three  hundred  acres  lying  "  in  White  Clay 
Kill,  near  unto  Christiana  Kill,  bounded  on  the  east 
by  land  of  Hans  Boner,  on  the  south  by  James  Craw- 
ford's land,  on  the  West  by  Fresh  or  Rum  Creek 
(now  Mill  Creek),  and  on  the  north  by  the  waters  at 
the  head  of  Bread  and  Cheese  Island.''  John  Ogle 
resided  at  New  Castle  and  vicinity  until  his  death,  in 
1684.  Jansen  was  a  resident  of  Crane  Hook.  Ser- 
geant Wollaston  took  out  warrants  under  Governor 
Lovelace  at  the  following  times :  In  1668,  for  one 
hundred  and  eighty  acres ;  in  1669,  for  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two  acres ;  in  1675,  Swart  Nutten  Island  ; 
and  in  1680  for  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres. 


He  also  bought  other  adjoining  lands  in  the  same 
hundred.  He  was  one  of  the  signers  for  the  mill-seat 
near  what  is  now  Stanton,  in  October,  1679.  On  Feb- 
ruary 7, 1677,  soon  after  the  reorganization  of  the 
court  at  New  Castle,  he  was  appointed  under-sherifif 
of  New  Castle  and  its  precincts  by  Sheriff  Edward 
Cantwell.  He  was  also  appointed  marshall  and 
crier  of  the  court.  These  positions  he  held  until  1679, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  Land.^  He  was 
foreman  of  the  jury  July  10,  1686,  in  a  suit  between 
Cornelius  Empson  and  Jacob  Vandeveer,  on  title  to 
land  on  north  side  of  Brandywine,  above  the  Vande- 
veer tract.  On  the  same  date  he  sold  two  hundred 
acres  of  his  own  tract  to  John  Crampton,  who  also 
bought  of  Humphrey  Bert  and  Edward  Green  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land — the  half  of  a  tract  of 
two  hundred  and  twenty  acres  lying  in  White  Clay 
Creek  Hundred,  which  they  had  purchased  of  Broor 
Sinnexson.  From  this  transaction  of  Wollaston  with 
Crampton  a  lawsuit  sprang  up,  and  Crampton  obtained 
a  judgment  in  the  court  at  New  Castle,  which  continued 
some  time.  It  was  finally  carried  by  Wollaston  to 
the  higher  courts  or  powers  in  Philadelphia,  where 
the  decision  was  reversed.* 

Thomas  Wollaston  died  in  1686,  and  Martha,  his 
widow  and  administratrix,  and  John  Hendricks, 
August  21,  1705,  conveyed  the  half-interest  in  the 
first  tract  purchased,  including  the  half  of  the  mill 
property  at  the  island,  to  Cornelius  and  Richard 
Empson.  Cornelius  Empson,  by  his  will,  December 
12, 1710,  left  the  mill  on  White  Clay  Creek  (Stan- 
ton) to  his  daughters  Sarah  and  Elizabeth.  Thomas 
Wollaston  left  two  sons — ^Jeremiah  and  Thomas. 
The  latter,  on  February  2,  1730,  conveyed  to  his 
brother  Jeremiah  the  tract  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-four  acres,  warranted  to  their  father  in  1680. 
This  land  was  on  or  near  White  Clay  Creek,  near 
the  old  Presbyterian  meeting-house,  where  Jeremiah 
at  the  time  lived.  Jeremiah  Wollaston  lived  and 
died  on  the  place.  His  son  Joshua  came  to  Wilming- 
ton and  resided  there  all  his  days,  as  did  his  son  Sam- 
uel. Two  daughters  of  Samuel — Catherine  and 
Elizabeth — became  the  wives  respectively  of  Elwood 
Garrett  and  Albert  W.  Smith,  both  of  Wilmington, 
where  they  now  reside. 

On  August  3, 1668,  a  patent  was  granted  by  Gov- 
ernor Nichols  to  01  le  Poulson,  Thomas  Jacobs  and 
Thomas  Snelling  for  the  land  on  Bread  and  Cheese 
Island.  The  origin  of  the  name  for  this  island  has 
not  been  ascertained.  On  the  4th  of  June  1679, 
John  Anderson,  who  had  purchased  a  sixth  interest 
in  the  island,  sold  his  share  to  Olle  Poulson.  At  this 
time  Abram  Mann  was  also  a  part  owner,  and  on 
February  4th,  of  the  following  year,  purchased  from 
Olle  Poulson  all  his  right  and  title  (which  was  a  third 

1  At  the  March  term  of  court  of  that  year  he  showed  that  Laurentlus 
Carolus  Lean,  the  Swedish  minister,  was  "indebted  to  him  for  under- 
sheriff  *b  and  marshali's  fees,  yo  sume  of  55  gilders  as  per  acct.,**  and 
desired  that  an  execution  shoaid  be  issued  for  the  fees  and  costs.  His 
petition  was  granted. 

s  On  September  14, 1682,  he  purchased  a  tract  containing  three  hun- 
dred acres,  which  was  Icuown  as  **  Bishop's  Castle." 


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HISTORY  QF  DELAWARE. 


interest)  in  Bread  and  Cheese  Island.  At  the  same 
time  he  also  bought  of  Olle  Poulson  a  one-sixth  in- 
terest in  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres  of  land. 
-  lying  near  and  adjoining  Bread  and  Cheese  Island. 
This  tract  was  patented  by  Governor  Andros  to  Olle 
Poulson,  Thomas  Jacobs  and  Arient  Jansen  (John- 
son), November  17, 1679,  on  a  warrant  and  survey 
made  for  them  in  1675.  The  Thomas  Jacobs  portion 
of  this  tract  was  inherited  by  his  son,  Olle  Thomas, 
and  by  him  devised  to  his  son,  Peter  Thomas,  who 
died  without  issue.  It  then  passed  into  the  hands  of 
his  brother,  Paul  Thomas,  and  was  by  him  devised  to 
his  daughter  Eleanor, who  was  the  wife  of  John  Twigs. 
The  part  belonging  to  Arient  Jansen  came  into 
the  possession  of  Andrew  Vance.  Twigs  and  Vance 
united,  February  21,  1737,  in  conveying  their  portions 
to  Edward  Robinson,  who,  by  various  conveyances, 
was  also  the  owner  of  Bread  and  Cheese  Island,  which 
hestillheldin  1755. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century 
there  was  a  ship-yard  on  this  island,  managed  by 
Barney  Harris,  William  Woodcock  and  Simon  Craus- 
ton.  During  the  War  of  1812  they  were  driven  from 
home  by  the  British,  and  they  withdrew  to  Jones 
Creek,  Kent  County,  where  they  erected  a  brig.  The 
ship-yard  has  not  been  opened  since  that  time.  The 
island  now  belongs  to  David  R.  and  George  M.  D. 
Lynam,  by  descent  from  their  father,  David  Lynam, 
w  ho  purchased  it  in  1833. 

William  Penn,  wishing  to  suitably  provide  for  his 
two  younger  children,  William  and  Letitia,  directed 
Henry  Hollingsworth,  surveyor,  by  warrant  bearing 
date  February  17, 1699,  to  lay  out  some  land  for  them. 
In  the  following  year  thirty  thousand  acres  were  sur- 
veyed for  them  '  in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  New  Castle  County,  Delaware.  This  entire  tract 
was  known  as  "  Staning  Manor.'*  To  William  Penn, 
Jr., was  granted  fourteen  thousand  five  hundred  acres, 
mostly  in  Chester  County,  and  a  small  part  in  Mill 
Creek  Hundred.  The  remaining  fifteen  thousand 
five  hundred  acres,  described  in  the  patent  as  ''  a 
certain  tract  of  land  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Brandywine  Creek,  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania," 
were  conveyed,  October  23, 1701,  to  Letitia,  who  after- 
wards married  William  Aubrey,  of  London.  The 
lands  of  Letitia  were  named  '*  Letitia  Manor."  Power 
of  attorney  was  granted  to  James  Logan  and  Reese 
Thomas  to  convey  the  property.  The  first  sale  from 
the  tract  was  made  August  17, 1702,  when  John  Gregg 
purchased  two  hundred  acres.  The  land  purchased 
by  Gregg  extended  from  the  circle  eastward  through 
the  hundreds  of  Mill  Creek  and  Christiana  to  Burns' 
Run.  Red  Clay  Creek  passed  through  the  tract  and 
on  the  stream  Gregg  erected  a  grist-mill,  which  he 
conveyed  to  his  son  William,  April  10,  1730.  Wil- 
liam, by  his  will  bearing  date  January  10,  1746,  de- 
vised his  estate  to  his  sons,  Harmon,  William,  Joshua 
and  Jacob,  each  an  interest.  Jacob,  August  20,  1769, 
conveyed  his  interest  to  his  son  Harmon,  a  miller. 
The  mill  is  situated  in  Christiana  Hundred,  and  was 


owned  in  1804  by  John  Phillips  and  later  by  Baldwin 
&  Chandler. 

The  following  persons  were  purchasers  of  the  Stan- 
ing Manor  lands  at  the  dates  given : 

February  8, 1713.— William  Cocks,  300  acres. 

August  2, 1715.— JobD  HougbtoD,  800  acres. 

3Iay  10, 1721.— Casparua  Garrctaon,  200  acres. 

August  2, 1722.— Simon  Hudloy,  03  acres. 

September  13.  1723.— Henry  Dickson,  130  acres. 

May  15, 1725.— Samuel  Gross,  83  acres. 

September  11,  1725.— Thomas  Teatman,  150  acres  (on  the  circle). 

November  8, 1725.— Henry  Dixon,  100  acres. 

November  8, 1725. — Casparus  Garretsou,  80  acres. 

June  2,  1726.— William  McMecheo,  9G1^  acres  (on  the  circle). 

March  2, 1726.— Jeremiah  Locbary,  190  acres. 

February  21, 1726.— William  Emmett.  115  acres. 

March  22,  1726.— John  Garrett,  33  acres. 

February  21, 1727.— William  Cochran,  160  acres. 

April  26, 1734.— John  Withrow,  90  acres. 

February  15, 1734.-^ohn  Baldwin,  159  acres. 

The  land  of  William  McMecheQ,  purchased  June 
2,  1726,  was  in  three  tracts, — one  of  two  hundred  and 
forty-one  and  three-fourths  acres  on  the  circle  adjoin- 
ing lands  of  John  Jordan,  Josiah  Ramage  and  Fran^ 
cis  Bridley.  The  second  tract,  also  on  the  circle,  con- 
tained one  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres,  and  adjoined 
lands  of  John  Jordan,  Thomas  Duke  and  John  Mont- 
gomery. The  third  tract  contained  five  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  and  adjoined  lands  of  Henry  Dixon,  Wil- 
liam Cocks,  Thomas  Hollingsworth  and  Thomas 
Yeatman.  Dr.  William  McMechen  lived  at  Chris- 
tiana Bridge  and  practiced  medicine  in  the  vicinity 
for  many  years.  He  became  the  owner  of  large  tracts 
of  land  in  different  parts  of  the  county,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  his  land  in  Mill  Creek,  above  mentioned,  he 
bought  on  Peck  (Pike)  Creek,  four  hundred  and  two 
acres,  March  21,  1729,  of  Thomas  Craighead,  and 
November  19, 1734,  sold  two  hundred  and  fifty-three 
acres  of  it  to  Andrew  McMechen.  A  tract  of  five 
hundred  and  ninety-three  acres  was  patented  October 
8,  1701,  to  Bryon  McDonald,  who,  by  will  dated  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1707,  devised  to  his  son  William  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  acres,  which  at  his  decease,  May 
20,  1730,  passed  to  William  McMechen. 

One  of  the  families  who  long  resided  in  this  hun- 
dred was  the  Englands,  who  were  represented  by 
John  England,  who  was  a  Friend  and  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  Principio  Furnace,  in  Cecil  County, 
Maryland.  He  came  to  this  country  from  Stafibrd- 
shire,  England,  in  1723,  as  manager  of  the  furnace, 
and  in  1726  purchased  lands  on  White  Clay  Creek,  in 
Mill  Creek  Hundred,  at  the  mouth  of  Muddy  Run. 
He  also  purchased  land  in  Pencader  and  Christiana 
Hundreds.  These  tracts  contained  iron  ore,  and  it 
was  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  furnace  that  they 
were  purchased.  He  resided  part  of  the  time  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Muddy  Run,  on  land  purchased  of 
Toby  Leech,  where  he  soon  afterwards  built  a  dwell- 
ing-house and  a  grist-mill,  which  has  since  been 
known  as  England's  Mill.  John  England  died  in 
May,  1734.  Joseph  England,  a  brother,  came  to  this 
country  the  same  year  that  John  emigrated,  and  pur- 
chased a  large  tract  of  land  in  West  Nottingham, 
Chester  County,    Pennsylvania,  and    settled  there. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


917 


Soon  after  the  death  of  John,  Joseph  took  charge  of 
the  lands  on  White  Clay  Creek,  and  removed  to  that 
place.  On  February  24,  1741,  Allen  and  Joseph 
England,  sons  of  John,  who  had  remained  in  Eng- 
land, conveyed  this  property  to  Joseph  England. 
The  estate  then  contained  four  hundred  acres.  He 
became  a  Friend  in  1730,  and  was  an  active  member 
of  the  West  Nottingham  Meeting.  In  1747  he  built 
the  present  brick  manor-house,  and  the  mill  was  at 
that  time  or  soon  afterwards  rebuilt.  He  died 
August  29,  1748,  and  by  his  will  devised  the  mill 
property  to  his  son  Joseph,  and  the  Nottingham 
property  to  his  son  Samuel.  A  daughter,  Joanna, 
married  John  Townsend,  of  Baltimore,  and  their 
descendants  are  now  living  in  Baltimore  and  Phila- 
delphia. Joseph,  the  second,  resided  at  the  mills  all 
his  life,  and  died  February  5,  1791.  He  devised  the 
farm  to  his  son  Joseph.  Elizabeth,  a  daughter,  mar- 
ried William  Wollaston,  a  descendant  of  an  old  family 
in  the  vicinity.  Another  daughter,  Sarah,  married 
Capt.  Robert  Kirkwood,  and  settled  at  Odessa.  Capt. 
Kirkwood  was  well  and  favorably  known  on  account 
of  valuable  services  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  dur- 
ing which  he  served  in  thirty-two  engagements. 
Joseph  England,  the  third,  to  whom  the  mills  were 
left,  by  his  public  life  was  identified  with  his  county, 
having  served  in  the  Legislature  between  1800  and 
1828.  He  died  April  24th  of  the  latter  year,  while  a 
member  of  the  Senate.  Of  his  family  was  Joseph 
Townsend  England,  who  removed  to  Baltimore  and 
became  an  agent  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Mercantile  Library 
Company  of  that  city.  He  died  in  1876,  leaving  a 
son  Charles,  now  a  merchant  in  Baltimore.  Another 
son,  James  B.  England,  is  an  attorn ey-at-law  residing 
in  Philadelphia. 

**Aiseiament  Lift  of  mil  Creek  Hundred  by  Robt.  Montgomery,  As- 
■e»or  of  nid  Hundred,  for  the  year  1804. 

*'  IntroductioD. 
**  the  Tax  is  a  Lowering, 
the  farmers  is  Glorying, 
The  Cionqueror  €!omes  you  see, 
JefTersoD  and  Liberty.'* 


*  James  Armstrong. 

John  Armstrong  and  Qamuel 
Meteer  A  Company,  1  pa- 
permill,  1  saw-mill. 

John  Abemethy. 

Monis  Adams. 

Samuel  Allen. 

Enoch  Anderson. 

Hargaret  Andenon. 

Negro  Able. 

Joseph  Ashton. 

Abrmham  Ashton. 

Samuel  Brown. 

Mary  Black  (widow). 

Richard  Buckingem. 

Glorer  Buckingham. 

John  Boon. 

George  Butler. 

John  Boyd. 

Jam«s  BelL 

Wm.  Beason. 

John  Boyl. 

Samnal  Butler. 


Moses  B<^. 

Harry  Beason  (black  man). 

Henery  Brackin. 

Serah  Brackin. 

Thomas  Benuerson. 

Joeeph  Bogs. 

Thomas  Best's  est. 

John  Barns. 

Black  Ben. 

Alexander  Brown. 

Wm,  Brekin. 

Bei\jamin  Blackburn. 

John  Barton. 

James  Black's  est,  1  merchant 

mill. 
Wm.  Ball. 
Joseph  Burns. 
John  BaIl,Sr. 
John  Ball,  Jr. 
Amor  Bailey. 
John  Bishop. 
Nicholas  Bishop. 
Elizabeth  Bishop. 


Shederick  Bevings  (black 

man). 
Wm.  Bams. 
John  Brightman. 
James  Ball. 
Henery  Brackin,  1  merchant 

mill,  1  saw-mill. 
Serah  Bally,  log-house,  coop- 

er*shop. 
John  Bryans. 
Wm.  Been. 
Wm.  and  Abraham  Barker, 

1  saw-mill. 
Joseph  Ball. 
Mathew  Bunton. 
John  Bates. 
Doctor  Bines*  est 
Thomas  Boyd. 
Joshua  Burley. 
Wm.  Cloud. 
Thomas  Cloud. 
John  Coswell. 
ARael  Chandler. 
Black  Oieear. 
John  Chestnut 
Wm.  Cain. 
Wm.  Craford. 
Joeeph  Chambers. 
Esther  Chandler. 
Swithln  Chandler. 
John  Charles. 
Wm.  Custilow. 
John  Conaway. 
Thomas  Carpenter. 
Samuel  Crosson  and  Wm. 

Crosson. 
John  Crosson. 
Spencer  Chandler. 
Wm.  Cherry. 

James  Conky  (black  man). 
Samuel  Carlile. 
Bobert  Craford,  Jr. 
Bobert  Craford,  8r. 
Simon  Cranson,  1  store. 
John  Darls. 
Joseph  Daria. 
Thomas  Dixson. 
Samuel  Dawson. 
Alexander  Donnel. 
John  Dorras. 
James  Dixson. 
Thomas  Dixson. 
Isaac  Dixson,  Jr. 
Jess  Dixson. 
Isaac  Dixson. 
John  Dixson. 
Brice  Dunlap. 
John  Dixson. 
John  Dickenson  est. 
James  Dixson's  est. 
Jacob  Dixson. 
Nathan  Dixson. 
Rebt^cab  Dixson. 
John  Dick. 
John  Dunlap. 
Samuel  Evans  est. 
Joeeph  England,  1  merchant 

mill,  1  saw-mill. 
John  Evans  est 
Andrew  Ford. 
John  Foot. 
Wm.  Foulk,  1  merchant  mill, 

1  saw  mill. 
John  Foulk. 
Thomas  Foresee. 
Wm.  Foot's  est     . 
Susannah  Furgison. 
Joshua  Fox. 


Thomas  Furguson. 

Frederick  Ford. 

Wm.  Foot. 

George  Foot 

John  Fitzsimons,  Sr. 

John  Fitzsimons,  Jr. 

Thomas  Finley. 

Charles  Grimes. 

Richard  Grub's  est 

Ephraim  Geers. 

Hannah  Guthroy. 

Andrew  Giffln. 

Jess  Gilbert 

Samuel  Gambel. 

Thomas  Glen. 

Wm.  George. 

George  Grub's  est. 

Horatia  G.  Garrett  est 

Bei^amin  Greg. 

James  Ginn 

Gideon  Garretson. 

Wm.  Gutlirey. 

Robert  Giffln. 

Joseph  Garrett. 

Alexander  Guthrey. 

Joel  Hulet 

Samuel  Hadley  est. 

Wm.  Hannah. 

Edward  Harper  est.  , 

Joseph  Harper. 

Black  Harry. 

John  Hannah,  Sr. 

John  Hannah. 

Daniel  Henery. 

Robert  Hanna. 

Andrew  Hall. 

Samuel  Hannah. 

EUot  Hays.      . 

Mathew  Hopkins. 

Robert  HaU. 

John  Holmes  est. 

Elizabeth  Holmes. 

Iseac  Holmes. 

John  Hugle. 

James  Hamilton. 

James  Hall. 

Caleb  Harlin,  Sr.,  1  merchant- 
mill,  1  saw-mill. 

Caleb  Hsrlin. 

William  Harlin  est 

Jacob  Hersh. 

Isaac  Hersey,  y^  of  merchant- 
mill,  ^  of  saw-mill. 

Bei^amin  Hersey,  V^  of  mer- 
chant-mill, ^  of  saw-mill. 

Jacob  Hannaway 

John  Holc^an's  est 

Samuel  Huston. 

James  Huston. 

Alex.  Huston. 

Andrew  Hendrickson. 

Joseph  Heald  est. 

William  Hickman. 

Levi  Hopper  est 

Robert  Huglns  est 

Samuel  Heald. 

John  Hill. 

Samuel  Johnston. 

Heth  John. 

William  Ingram. 

Theophilus  Jones  est. 

Robert  Johnston,!  ghrist-mill, 
1  saw-mill. 

Joshua  Johnston,  1  fulling- 
mill. 

John  Jermln. 

John  Johnston. 

Andrew  Justice. 


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918 


HISTOBY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Eron  Justice  est. 

ThomHS  Justice. 

Jeremiah  Jenkins. 

William  Jordan,  Sr. 

William  Jordan,  Jr. 

James  Jordan. 

Jacob  Justice  est. 

Joseph  Jordan's  est. 

John  Owen. 

Ephraim  Jackson,  1  8aw*mili. 

David  Johnson. 

Thomas  Jackson. 

James  Jackson. 

Simon  Johnston  est. 

Samuel  KIbler. 

Samuel  Kerns. 

Martha  Kennet 

John  Konnet. 

Thomas  Kitchen's  est 

Benjamin  Kerns. 

Margaret  Kelly. 

Doctor  Kithcart's  est. 

Robinson  Kennj. 

John  Lockard. 

Thomas  Longhead. 

Charles  Larner. 

John  Little. 

Samuel  Little. 

Doctor  Latimor. 

Lewis  Lauibwin. 

Arin  Lewis. 

WUliam  Leg. 

Samuel  Lindsey. 

Wm.  Little,  1  saw-mill. 

Esra  Lewis. 

Thomas  Lock. 
Cyrus  Loper. 
Archibald  McDannel. 
John  McGonigal. 
Jonathan  Moore  est. 

Henery  McSherry. 
Alexander  Morrison. 
John  Momson. 
Thomas  Moore. 
John  McDanual. 
Thomas  Mitchel. 
George  Moore. 
John  Mclntire  est. 
Archy  McDannal. 
Samuel  McDannal. 
William  McKown. 
William  Morgan. 
Hugh  McGregor. 
Daaiel.McGregor. 
James  McGonigal. 
John  Mechin. 
Samuel  Mechin. 
William  Mechin. 
Samuel  Morrison. 
Thomas   McDannal,    1    saw- 
mill. 
Hannah  Moore. 
W  iUiam  Moor. 
Samuel  McEIIve. 
James  McDannal. 
Samuel  Murphey. 
Robert  Miller. 
Rodney  McGilligan. 
Jacob  Morton. 
Eron  MendinghalL 
Abraham  Mendinghall. 
John  MendinghalL 
Richard  Mahau. 
James  McCuIIIm. 
David  Mercer. 
John  McClery. 
Willium    Montgomery    (blue 
Bill). 


James  McSherry. 

John  Henery  Bougelows  Me- 

zerts. 
Patrick  McGilligan. 
Robert  McEIive. 
William  Montgomery  (black- 
man). 
James  McEIroy. 
John  McGntire. 
Elizabeth  Montgomery. 
John  Mullin. 

David  Morrison  est.,  1  saw- 
mill. 
Jessey  Mercer. 
William  McKee. 
Thomas  McDowel. 
Wm.  McDannal. 
Elijah  McClanahan. 
James  McClanahan. 
Thomas  Montgomery. 
William  McFaddon's  est. 
Patrick  McGlade. 
Thomas  McKennan. 
Thomas  Mellon. 
Edward  Marshal. 
Joseph    Marshal,    merchant- 
mills. 
Samuel  Marshal. 
William  Marshal. 
James  McKnight. 
William  Mock. 
William  McEUre. 
Eron  Moslcr. 
Serah  Meeteer. 
George  McCullangh. 
Rev'd  Mullinaxest. 
Moses  Montgomery. 
Samuel  Montgomery. 
Wm.  Mason,  Sr. 
Wm.  Mason,  Jr. 
Peter  Mason. 
David  Moor. 
Mary  McKnight 
Moses  McKnight  est 
Wm.  McKennan. 
John  McKennan. 
John  McBeath. 
James  Mendinghall,  1  ghrist- 

mill,  1  saw-mill. 
David  Neving  est. 
Samuel  Neving  est 
Joseph  Ogle's  est 
John  Ocheltree. 
Paul  Peach's  tst 
John  Peterson. 
John  Phillips. 
John  Pharoah. 
Ann  Poulson. 
Wm.  Phillips. 
Wm.  Paterson. 
John  R.  Phillips. 
Henery  Phillips. 
Wm.  Pasmore. 
Job  Proctor. 
Jacob  Poulson. 
Jacob  Preston. 
Joseph  Phillips. 
John  Phillips,    1   merchant- 
mill. 
Thomas  Phillips. 
James  Phillips'  est. 
Harry  Pile. 
Wm.  Phillips. 
James  Peirce. 
Pompy,  black  man 
Robert  .Phillips  est.,  1  mer- 
chant-mill, 1  saw-mill. 
John  Pylo. 


Peter  Planklngton. 

James  Prevard. 

Wm.  Patten. 

Samuel  Quillin. 

James  Quin. 

John  Robinson  est. 

Esekiel  Reece. 

David  Rob. 

Hugh  Russel. 

James  Robison. 

Joseph  Rankin, 

Thomas  Reeoe. 

George  Right 

Thomas  Reese  est 

Soloman  Reece. 

Wm.  Robison. 

Joseph  Reece. 

Mary  Reece. 

Wm.  Reynols. 

Peter  Ruth. 

Thomas  Reddon. 

George  Robison. 

Charles  Rubinedin. 

Joshua  Reece. 

John  Reece  est.,  I  m«rchant> 
mill,  1  saw  mill. 

Jacob  Robison  est 

John  Robison,  1  grist-mlll. 

Thomas  Rloe. 

James  Rice. 

Henry  Rumer  and  Christian 
Grenewelt 

Joseph  Robison. 

Samuel  Richison,  black  man. 

Andrew  Reynolds^  1  mer- 
chant-mill. 

Wm.  Rusel. 

James  Robison. 

Jeremiah  Reece. 

James  Rooney. 

John  Ross  est 

Joseph  Rummons. 

Serah  Singleton's  est 

Christopher  Springer. 

Jeremiah  Springer. 

Thomas  Springer. 

Isaac  Scottcring. 

Wm.  Stapler. 

Nathan  Sanders. 

James  Stroud. 

Thomas  Stapler,  one-half  of 
a  merchant-mill. 

Peter  Springer. 

Joshua  Stroud's  est,  one-half 
of  a  merchant-mill. 

Uritth  Stroop. 

Jacob  Star. 

John  Strickler. 

James  Sheuedy. 

James  Shelladay. 

Bei^amin  Springer. 

Charles  Springer. 

Enoch  Springer. 

Wm.  Springer. 

Andrew  Smiley. 

George  Springer. 

Elizabeth  Springer. 


Wm.  Smyth. 

David  Sulivan. 

David  Stidham  est 

Eli  Sinnix. 

Sarah  Sharpless. 

Jessey  Tyson's  est 

James  Thompson. 

Daniel  Thompson. 

John  Thompson. 

John  Thompson. 

John  Tibbey. 

John  Tweed's  est 

Andrew  Thompson. 

Crispin  Taylor. 

Joseph  Trusty,  black  man. 

Joseph  Thomas. 

Alexander  Taylor. 

John  Yinsant. 

Nicholas  Yandike. 

John  Vollentine's  est 

Robert  Wilklson. 

Thomas  Wilson's  est 

Samuel  Walker. 

Alexander  Walker. 

Joshua  Wiser. 

Robert  Whitealdes. 

Jacob  Whiteman. 

Jacob  Whiteman,  Jr. 

David  Walker. 

Joshua  WollastoQ  est 

Henry  Whitsun. 

Mingo  Woods,  black  man. 

Henery  Wilson. 

Joseph  WollastoQ. 

Jeremiah  Wolbwton. 

Jacob  Wollaston,  1  grist  mill, 

1  saw- mil  L 
Wm.  Wollaston. 
Mathias  Warner. 
Seth  Wells. 
John  Walker,  Jr. 
Robert  Walker. 
Wm.  Wason. 
Peter  White. 
Wm.  WoodanL 
Hugh  Walhu». 
Charles  Waggoner. 
Henery  Wilkin. 
John  Walker,  Sr. 
Wm.  Walker. 
James  Walker. 
Wm.  Wheley. 
Lenord  Waggoner. 
Samuel  Woudard  est 
Stephen  Wilson. 
James  Wilson. 
Wm.  Woodnot 
George  Wollaston. 
John  Way. 
Joshua  Wilson. 
Arthur  White. 
ThoouA  Tearsly. 
Leah  Toung. 
Jonathan  TameU 
Nathen  Yamel. 
Holton  YameL'* 


Religious  Matters.— The  land  on  which  St 
James'  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  stands  was 
patented  to  Arient  Jansen  Vanderburg  on  July  12, 
1685.  He,  by  his  will  bearing  date  NoYember  20, 
1701,  dcYised  a  portion  of  his  estate  to  Rev.  Eric 
Biorck  and  the  Swedish  Church,  to  be  disposed  of  aa 
they  saw  fit.  On  June  29,  1714,  Rev.  Biorck  and 
Barbara,  widow  of  Vanderburg,  conveyed  the  entire 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


919 


one  hundred  and  ten  acres,  originally  patented,  to 
James  Robinson.  Ten  acres  of  this  tract  Robinson 
deeded  to  the  Honorable  Society  for  the  propagation 
of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  for  the  only  use  of  St. 
James'  Church.  The  deed  bears  no  date  but  1720  and 
recites  that  *' the  land  is  granted  in  consideration  of 
the  dutiful  affection,  love  and  good  will  which  1  have 
and  doe  bear  unto  the  Church  of  England  and  mem- 
bers of  the  said  church, ...  of  which  I  profess  myself 
a  member,  have  to  the  only  proper  benefit  and  behoofe 
of  the  said  church  and  school-house  wherein  youths 
may  be  educated  according  to  the  principles  of  the 
said  church,  to  and  for  the  only  use  and  service  of  my 
well  beloved  brethren  and  neighbors.  The  present 
minister  of  a  certain  part  of  the  said  church,  com- 
monly known  or  distinguished  by  the  name  of  St. 
James*  Church,  at  White  Clay  Creek,  and  their  suc- 
cessors. "  From  this  it  appears  that  St.  Jarnes'  Church 
was  constituted  before  1720.  The  first  building  was  a 
log  structure  which  was  supplanted  by  a  frame  edifice. 
The  present  church  building  is  the  third  one  on  this 
site,  and  was  erected  in  1822.  It  is  a  one-story  stone 
building,  forty  by  forty-five  feet,  with  a  gallery  on 
three  sides.  A  marble  slab  on  the  outside  of  the 
church  bears  the  following  inscription : 

"St.  JaouM  Chnrch, 
Fouuded  1720, 
Rebuilt  1822." 

The  number  of  communicants  at  the  present  time 
is  sixty-two.  The  Sunday-school  is  composed  of  five 
teachers  and  fifteen  scholars.  The  church  is  gov- 
erned by  a  board  of  trustees  instead  of  wardens  and 
vestry,  as  is  usual  in  Episcopal  churches. 

The  following  pereons  compose  the  present  board : 
John  Lewden,  Robert  C.  Justis,  Robert  L.  Armstrong, 
Thomas  W.  Jones,  Alonzo  Newlin,  Thomas  Brackin 
and  J.  Taylor  Pierson. 

The  cemetery  surrounding  the  church  is  filled  with 
the  graves  of  the  early  settlers  in  this  vicinity. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  rectors  since  1799  : 

Rev.  Robert  Claj,  from  1797  until  April  21, 1821. 
R«T.  Kich&rd  H*ll,  installed  Juljr  21, 1821. 
Rer.  Stephen  W.  Preetman,  installed  April  19,  1824. 
Rev.  Mr.  Pardee,  from  April  4,  1833,  until  Decomlier  25, 1834. 
Rev.  Hiram  Adams  from  April,  1835,  until  April  16,  1838. 
Rev.  CJorry  Chambers,  Irom  October  16, 1839,  until  July  30, 1843. 
Rev.  Mr.  Freeman,  from  June  16, 1844,  until  September  22, 1844,  when 
he  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Arkansas. 

Rev.  Walter  £.  Franklin,  from  January  12, 1845,  until  June  6, 1847. 

Rev.  William  Trapnell,  resigned  April  13,  1848. 

Rev.  J.  U.  Mansfield,  from  May  14, 1847,  until  June  29, 1850. 

George  Sheets. 

Rev.  Breed  Batcheller,  until  August  15,  1857. 

Rev.  Wm.  Marshall,  from  August  15,  1857,  until  August  26, 1872. 

Rev.  Charles  Fessenden,  from  March  17, 1873,  until  October  6,  1874. 

Rev.  W.  D.  Hanson,  from  January  16,  1875,  to  July  8, 1885. 

Rev.  Wm.  A.  Alrich,  December  1, 1885. 

White  Clay  Greek  Presbyterian  Chnrch  was  or- 
ganized about  1721.  During  the  first  few  years  the 
church  had  no  regular  pastor,  and  occasional  services 
were  conducted  by  Revs.  Daniel  McGill  and  Robert 
Laing.  The  first  mention  of  a  church  edifice  at  this 
place  is  found  in  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of 
June  5, 1723,  and  is  as  follows :  **  Appointed,  that 
our  next  Presbytery  meet  at  White  Clay  meeting- 


house the  first  Wednesday  of  August  next. "  On 
September  22,  1724,  Rev.  Thomas  Craighead  was 
installed  as  the  first  regular  pastor  of  this  congrega- 
tion. He  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  came  to  this 
country  in  1715.  A  call  was  extended  to  him  by  John 
Montgomery  and  John  Campbell,  representatives  of 
this  church,  which  he  accepted  in  1724,and  continued 
until  1733.  The  land  on  which  the  church  stood  was 
owned  by  him,  and  on  April  10, 1727,  he  granted  one 
acre  to  John  Montgomery,  William  McMechen,  Wil- 
liam Steel,  William  Nevin,  Hugh  Clark  and  .losiah 
Ramage,  trustees,  for  the  consideration  of  "one  pep- 
percorn yearly  if  demanded.  It  was  for  the  use  of 
the  people  called  Presbyterians,  belonging  to  the 
Presbytery  meeting  at  White  Clay  Creek.  " 

The  second  church  was  built  on  a  half-acre  adja- 
cent to  "  the  Old  Presbyterian  Meeting- House  land," 
about  1785.  Tradition  says  that  it  was  a  log  building 
twenty-five  by  forty  feet,  and  was  still  standing  in  1772. 
In  1737,  Rev.  Charles  Tennent  became  paster  of  this 
church.  He  wan  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  came 
to  this  country  in  1716.  He  served  the  church  here 
till  1763.  From  1741  till  1759  a  bitter  dissension 
occurred  in  the  church,  which  was  happily  ended  in 
the  latter  year. 

The  trustees  in  1740  were  James  McMechen,  of 
White  Clay  Creek  Hundred,  and  William  McGaughey , 
William  Nevin,  Alexander  Montgomery,  David  Kev- 
in and  William  Coughran,  of  Mill  Creek  Hundred. 
The  deed  for  the  present  church  site  was  given  May 
25,  1752,  by  Joseph  England  (miller),  to  William 
Steel,  John  Deal,  Wm.  McCrea,  James  McMechen, 
David  English,  Evan  Rice,  William  Gallagher,  Neal 
Morrison,  Willim  McMechin,  Charles  Black,  Robert 
Boggs  and  Hugh  Randalls,  "  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian congregation,  whereof  the  Reverend  Mr.  Charles 
Tennent  is  at  present  pastor."  The  church  then 
erected  was  thirty-six  by  sixty  feet,  contained  sixty- 
nine  pews,  and  stood  one  hundred  and  three  years. 
Rev.  John  McCrery,  the  third  pastor,  was  ordained 
May  10, 1769,  and  continued  till  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred June  18, 1800  (Rev.  McCrery  was  a  graduate 
of  Princeton,  of  the  class  of  1764).  The  stone  wall 
around  the  church  was  built  in  1785.  From  1800  till 
1812  the  church  depended  upon  supplies.  In  1807 
Robert  Crawford  and  Alexander  Guthrie,  each  about 
seventy  years  of  age,  were  elders  of  this  church.  Rev. 
Andrew  K.  Russell  was  installed  pastor  on  April  8, 
1812.  He  was  a  valedictorian  of  the  class  of  1806,  at 
Dickinson  College.  He  ministered  here  until  his  de- 
cease, in  1839.  In  1815  there  were  only  thirty-eight 
communicants  of  this  church.  In  1816  ten  were  added, 
and  in  1833  forty-five  were  received  into  membership. 
During  the  last  thirteen  years  of  his  ministry  the 
ruling  elders  were  Douglas  Morrison,  Dr.  Thomas 
W,  Handy,  Alexander  Guthrie,  Jacob  Whiteman  and 
George  Springer.  Rev.  Wm.  R.  Work  was  installed 
December  3,  1840,  and  continued  until  April  8,  1846. 
Rev.  Joseph  Barr,  the  next  pastor,  was  installed 
June  2, 1846,  and  ministered  here  until  October,  1853. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Rev.  James  Vallandigham,  D.D.,  was  called  to  this 
church  and  the  Head  of  Ohristiaaa  in  October,  1853. 
On  May  31, 1875,  each  church  was  made  a  separate 
station,  and  Dr.  Vallandigham  remained  in  charge  of 
the  Head  of  Christiana. 

Rev.  Wm.  D.  Mackey  acted  as  stated  supply  of  this 
church  until  April  11, 1885,  when  he  resigned. 

Rev.  James  B.  Umberger,  the  present  pastor,  was 
installed  November  5, 1885. 

The  present  two-story  brick  church  building  was 
erected  in  1855.  The  dedicatory  services  were  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  H.  S.  Clarke  on  May  1, 1856. 

The  membership  of  the  church  at  the  present  time 
is  one  hundred  and  eighty. 

A  Sunday-school  of  one  hundred  members  is  under 
the  superintendence  of  J.  H.  Walker. 

The  following  are  the  officers  of  the  church  at 
present :  Pastor,  Rev.  James  B.  Umberger ;  Elders, 
Wm.  Hawthorn,  Thos.  Hawthorn,  Samuel  Lindsay, 
George  D.  Medill,  Samuel  S.  McCoy,  Andrew  Rambo, 
Wm.  J.  Stroud,  James  H.  Walker ;  Trustees,  Samuel 
Lindsay,  Samuel  Morrison,  Chas.  A.  Morrison,  Wm. 
Hawthorn,  Mansell  Tweed,  Milton  Steel,  Robt.  T. 
Rankin. 

Bed  day  Creek  Presbyterian  Church, — Services  were 
held  in  the  vicinity  of  this  church  as  early  as  1713, 
but  no  steps  were  taken  for  the  organization  of  a 
church  till  1722.  In  this  year  the  several  Presby- 
terians in  this  neighborhood  were  constituted  a 
church.  They  depended  upon  supplies  till  December 
17, 1755,  when  Rev.  William  McKennan  was  ordained 
and  installed  as  pastor.  He  filled  this  pulpit  and  a 
portion  of  the  time  preached  at  White  Clay  Creek 
Church  until  his  death,  which  occurred  May  15,  1809. 
The  next  pastor,  Rev.  Samuel  Henderson,  ministered 
to  this  congregation  until  1811.  From  this  year  until 
1823  the  congregation  again  depended  upon  supplies. 
In  the  latter  year  Rev.  Thomas  Love  was  installed 
pastor,  which  position  he  held  until  1862.  He  was 
also  pastor  of  the  Lower  Brandy  wine  Church  until 
1856. 

Rev.  Sterling  M.  Gait  served  this  church  and  the 
one  at  Newark  from  August,  1863,  until  his  death, 
October  24, 1865. 

From  thi;i  date  to  the  present  time  the  pulpit  has 
been  filled  by  Revs.  W.  A.  Rankin,  S.  H.  Higgins, 
A.  C.  Jenkins,  R.  P.  Kennedy  and  Dr.  Porter. 

A  stone  slab  in  the  present  commodious  building 
states  that  it  was  founded  in  1761  and  rebuilt  in  1853. 

The  church  has  a  membership  at  the  present  time 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

The  present  elders  are  George  Klar,  Egbert  Klar, 
Henry  Claran  and  Archibald  Armstrong. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  the 
following  persons:  George  Klar,  Lewis  McElvee, 
John  R.  Crosson,  Dr.  Swithin  Chandler,  Franklin 
Gebhart. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  at  Stanton  was  erected 
and  dedicated  in  1875.  The  dedicatory  services  were 
conducted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Marks.    The  erection  of  the 


church  is  due  to  the  labor  and  influence  of  Rev. 
Robert  Graham,  who  filled  the  pulpit  for  a  year 
after  its  completion.  At  that  time  there  were  seven- 
teen members.  This  number  was  increased  by  addi- 
tions both  by  letter  and  on  probation,  until  it  reached 
thirty  in  1877.  After  the  removal  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Graham,  the  church  was  connected  for  a  short  time 
with  the  Christiana  Church,  and  ministered  to  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Snyder.  With  the  exception  of  these  two 
pastors,  the  church  has  depended  entirely  on  sup- 
plies. The  building  is  a  frame  edifice,  one  story 
high,  thirty  by  forty  feet,  and  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  $2250.  The  membership  has  gradually  decreased 
until  there  are  at  present  but  ten  communicants.  The 
present  officers  are,— Elders,  James  R.  Foote,  B.  W. 
Dickey ;  Trustees,  John  H.  Narvell,  C.  H.  Dickey, 

Ebenezer  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, — Previous  to 
1824  the  Methodists  in  the  central  part  of  Mill  Creek 
Hundred  held  meetings  in  private  houses.  In  that 
year  a  stone  church,  twenty-four  by  twenty-eight 
feet,  with  a  gallery,  was  erected.  In  this  building 
they  worshipped  for  thirty-five  years.  They  then 
removed  the  stone  building,  and  erected  a  one-story 
frame  building,  thirty-five  by  fifty  feet,  which  is  still 
in  use.  The  new  church  cost  about  $2500.  At  pres- 
ent the  membership  is  sixty.  The  present  board  of 
trustees  is  composed  of  the  following  persons :  A.  J. 
Whiteman,  John  W.  Worl,  Joseph  Guthrie,  I.  B. 
Eastburn  and  John  K.  Chambers.  The  class  leader 
is  Joseph  Guthrie.  The  Ebenezer  Church  has  been 
connected  with  the  Newark,  Christiana  and  Hock- 
essin  Circuits,  and  has  been  supplied  by  the  pastors 
in  charge  of  those  circuits. 

Stanton  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, — In  January, 
1877,  members  of  the  Meihodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Newport,  under  the  leadership  of  their  pastor,  Rev. 
H.  S.  Thompson,  commenced  a  series  of  religious 
meetings  in  the  school-house  at  Stanton.  As  a  result 
of  these  meetings,  there  were  many  conversions.  In 
February  an  unoccupied  building  was  rented  and 
fitted  up  for  a  chapel.  The  congregation  imme- 
diately began  to  take  steps  for  the  erection  of  a 
church.  A  lot  was  purchased,  and  the  corner-stone 
of  the  church  was  laid  on  June  12th.  Bishop  L. 
Scott  officiated,  assisted  by  Revs.  W.  J.  Stevenson, 
D.D.,  C.  M.  Pegg,  J.  B.  Quigg,  J.  France,  G.  R. 
Bristor,  L.  E.  Barrett,  G.  W.  Burke  and  "Father 
Pegg."  The  church  was  dedicated  November  Ist  of 
the  same  year.  Appropriate  services  were  conducted 
by  Rev.  R.  L.  Dashiell,  D.D.,  and  others.  The 
church  is  a  frame  building,  Gothic  in  style,  and  its 
dimensions  are  thirty-five  by  fifty-five  feet  It  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $2500.  The  present  membership 
is  fifty.  The  church  has  been  served  by  the  follow- 
ing pastors:  Revs.  H.  S.  Thompson,  J.  D.  Rigg,  J. 
E.  Bryan,  E.  H.  Nelson  and  J.  D.  C.  Hanna.  Pres- 
ent Trustees:  Edwin  Cranston,  Joseph  Derrickson, 
John  Turner,  William  Mullen,  Seth  F.  Whiteley. 

Hockessin  Methodist  Episcopal  GhurcK^ln  April, 
1881,  a  Methodist  meeting  was  held  in  a  wheelwright 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


,  921 


shop,  belonging  to  Mrs.  Brackin,  at  Brackinsville,  by 
Alban  Dalton  and  a  few  others.  A  short  time  after 
this  meeting  a  Sunday-school  called  "  Friendship " 
was  organized,  and  the  meetings  were  held  at  this 
place.  In  the  fall  a  room  in  Odd  Fellows*  Hall  was 
secured  for  holding  divine  service-?,  Eev.  W.  H. 
Hendrickson  at  this  time  conducted  the  meetings.  In 
December  it  was  decided  to  build  a  church,  and  a 
committee  of  eleven  was  appointed  to  solicit  subscrip- 
tions for  its  erection.  A  discussion  arose  at  this  time 
as  to  a  suitable  location,  and  it  was  finally  decided 
that  Hockessin  was  the  more  desirable  place  of  the 
two.  On  the  2l8t  day  of  July,  1882,  the  following 
persons  were  elected  and  incorporated  as  the  trustees 
of  the  church :  Wm.  Howard,  Israel  Durham,  Thos. 
W.  Feree,  Alban  Dalton,  Edwin  Oolding,  Reese  W. 
Chandler,  James  McDowell,  Ellis  F.  Kinsey. 

On  the  21si  of  the  following  month  the  contract  for 
the  erection  of  the  church,  except  the  gallery,  class- 
rooms and  seats,  was  awarded  to  Thomas  M.  Robin- 
son, whose  bid  was  $1727.60.  The  corner-stone  was 
laid  November  5, 1882,  with  appropriate  services  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  J.  E.  Bryan  and  others. 

On  February  18,  1883,  the  church  was  dedicated  to 
the  worship  of  God.  Services  were  conducted  in  the 
morning  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stevens,  in  the  afternoon  by 
Rev.  M.  A.  Richards,  and  at  night  by  Rev.  Adam 
Wallace.  At  the  present  time  there  are  forty-five 
members.  The  following  pastors  have  labored  here : 
Rev.  J.  E.  Bryan,  Rev.  Wm.  R.  Sears,  Rev.  Julius 
Dodd,  Rev.  Joseph  Dare. 

The  present  officers  are :  Pastor,  Joseph  Dare ; 
Class- Leader,  Moses  Gilding ;  Trustees,  Moses  Gold- 
ing,  Jacob  Broomhall,  T.  W.  Feree,  Edwin  Golding, 
A.  L.  West. 

Dnends, — The  earlist  record  of  a  meeting  at  Hock- 
essin is  in  1730,  when  a  week-day  meeting  was  held 
at  the  residence  of  Wm.  Cox,  by  permisbion  of  the 
Newark  Preparative  Meeting. 

In  1737,  Henry  Dixon  and  some  other  Friends 
settled  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred,  and  a  first  and  week- 
day meeting  were  established  among  them.  On  the 
17th  of  Tenth  Month  of  that  year  two  tracts  of  land 
were  deeded  to  John  Baldwin,  Jacob  Hoi  lings  worth, 
Henry  Dixon  and  John  Dixon,  trustees.  The  one 
tract  of  two  roods  and  twenty  eight  perches  was 
granted  by  Wm.  Cox  and  Catharine,  his  wife,  the 
other  of  one  acre  and  forty-six  perches,  by  Thomas 
Dixon  and  Hannah,  his  wife.  In  the  following  year 
a  meeting-house,  which  is  part  of  the  present  meet- 
ing-house, was  erected.  This  was  enlarged  to  its 
present  size,  thirty  by  forty-five  feet,  in  1745.  Meet- 
ings for  worship  were  held  under  the  supervision  of 
Kennett  and,  perhaps,  Newark  Monthly  Meetings, 
until  1808,  when  business  meetings  were  established. 
The  Monthly  Meetings  were  known  as  ^*  Centre 
Monthly  Meetings,"  and  were  held  alternately  at 
Centre  and  Hockessin  until  1787,  when  they  were 
divided  and  each  made  a  separate  meeting-place. 
The  wood-work  on  the  building  has  been  repaired  at 
58i 


various  times  and  out-houses  built  more  recently. 
The  building  is  now  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 
There  are  at  present  about  twenty-five  families  and 
parts  of  twenty  more  families  connected  with  this 
Monthly  Meeting. 

Mill  Greek  MeeHng- House, — In  1838  James  Thomp- 
son and  thirty-two  other  Friends  petitioned  the  New 
Garden  Monthly  Meeting  for  the  privilege  of  holding 
a  meeting  for  the  worship  of  God.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  ascertain  the  advisability  of  establish- 
ing another  meeting  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred.  The 
committee,  composed  of  Sarah  Michener,  Sarah  Wil- 
son, Martha  Hilles,  Jonathan  Lamborn,  Ephraim 
Jackson  and  Benjamin  Ferris,  reported  favorably  and 
permission  was  granted.  Services  were  conducted  in 
the  residence  of  James  Thompson  until  1841,  when  a 
one-story  stone  meeting-house,  thirty  by  forty  feet, 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  eight  hundred 
dollars.  In  this  building  the  services  have  since 
been  held,  and  there  are  at  present  fifty  members. 

White  Clay  Creek  Meeting  was  established  in  1781, 
by  the  consent  of  the  Chester  Quarterly  Meeting.  In 
1784  they  were  allowed  to  hold  preparative  meetings, 
and  in  1803,  at  their  own  request,  the  name  was 
changed  to  Stanton. 

The  first  meeting-house  was  built  many  years  ago 
and  remained  till  1873,  when  the  present  one-story 
brick  building,  thirty  by  forty-two  feet,  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 

There  are  present  about  seven  worshippers. 

Benjamin  Cranston  is  the  clerk  of  the  meeting. 

The  Union  Chapel ^  situated  between  Stanton  and 
Marshallton,  was  erected  in  1886.  It  was  built  par- 
ticularly to  afford  a  suitable  place  for  holding  Sun- 
day-school, which  previous  to  this  was  held  in  the 
district  school-house  under  unfavorable  circumstances. 
Religious  meetings  are  held  in  it  every  Sunday 
night,  consisting  either  of  prayer-meeting  or  preach- 
ing. The  Sunday-school  numbers  over  a  hundred 
attendant^*,  and  is  under  the  superintendence  of  Wil- 
liam Mullen.  The  building  is  a  one-story  frame 
edifice,  thirty  by  sixty  feet,  and  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  two  thousand  one  hundred  dollars. 

St  John's  Roman  Catholic  CAwrcA.— The  first  Cath- 
olic known  to  have  resided  in  Delaware  was  Cornelius 
Hollehan,  a  wealthy  Irish  gentleman,  who  emigrated 
to  this  country  about  1730,  and  settled  in  Mill  Creek 
Hundred,  on  part  of  Staning  Manor.  He  mamed 
his  homestead  *'  Cuba  Rock,"  and  here  he  entertained 
the  early  Catholic  clergy,  and  at  his  house  the  first 
Catholic  services  were  held  in  Delaware.  He  later 
purchased  another  tract,  called  "The  Old  Home- 
stead,"  on  which  the  present  Catholic  church  stands. 
The  growth  of  Wilmington  and  the  establishment  of 
Catholic  churches  there  drew  to  them  the  Catholic 
population  in  the  vicinity,  and  not  until  1882  was 
the  present  church  founded,  and  the  church  edifice 
was  erected  and  completed  in  1883. 

There  was  a  small  log  church  known  as  "  St 
Mary's,"    and  cemetery  at   a  place  called  "Coffee 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Run,"  on  the  turnpike,  about  three  miles  nearer  Wil- 
mington. The  cemetery  dates  back  to  1786.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  Father  Whalen,  who  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1796  by  Rev.  P.  Kenney. 

The  Ashland  church,  at  Ashland  Station,  called 
St.  Patrick's,  with  an  adjoining  parsonage  and  ceme- 
tery, was  commenced  in  1881.  The  Rev.  Peter 
Donaghy  became  the  first  pastor  of  Hockessin  and 
Ashland  churches,  and  resided  in  the  parsonage  at 
Ashland.  He  was  succeeded  in  June,  1887,  by  the 
Rev.  James  Travers  Farley,  the  present  incumbent 

Schools. — The  necessity  of  educating  the  youth 
was  early  felt  by  the  residents  of  Mill  Creek  Hun- 
dred, and  for  this  purpose  private  schools  were 
opened,  affording  educational  advantages  to  such  as 
were  able  to  pay  for  them.  On  January  20, 1808,  an 
act  to  incorporate  a  school  near  St.  James'  Chapel 
was  passed.  Joseph  Ball,  Humphrey  Hill,  Joseph 
Bum,  Wm.  Reynolds,  Andrew  Reynolds,  David  Mor- 
rison, Caleb  Harlin  and  Edward  Marshall  were  ap- 
pointed trustees.  A  building  was  erected,  which  is 
still  standing.  Private  school  was  conducted  here  until 
the  adoption  of  the  common  school  system,  when  the 
building  was  converted  into  a  school  for  the  educa- 
tion of  all  classes,  and  was  so  used  many  years.  The 
names  of  Henry  Hasson,  John  Runk,  Thomas  Stapler, 
Gideon  Wakeman,  Ruth  Bonsall,  Mark  Gibson, 
Evan  Rice  and  James  N.  Williams  are  still  remem- 
bered as  early  teachers  in  this  hundred.  The  old 
stone  school-house  at  Stanton,  which  was  the  first 
used  for  public  school  purposes,  is  still  occupied  for 
those  purposes. 

At  Marshallton  the  schools  are  divided  into  two 
departments  and  occupy  a  commodious  building. 
There  are  at  Marshallton  one  hundred  and  twenty 
pupils.  The  old  and,  in  most  cases,  badly  con- 
structed and  worse  ventilated  school  buildings  have 
been  supplanted  with  neat,  convenient  and  healthful 
structures.  The  system  has  been  improved  at  various 
times  and  better  qualified  teachers  employed. 

Roads  and  Bridges. — The  roads  of  the  present 
day  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred  are  in  a  good  condition, 
and  present  a  striking  contrast  to  tbe  ones  con- 
structed by  the  early  settlers,  both  as  to  convenience 
and  number.  The  earliest  roads,  built  and  known  as 
the  King*s  Highway,  are  treated  in  the  chapter  on 
internal  improvements.  From  time  to  time,  as  the 
wants  of  the  people  have  demanded  them,  roads  have 
been  built.  On  February  26,  1762,  the  viewers  ap- 
pointed to  review  "the  road  formerly  laid  out,  lead- 
ing from  Joseph  England's  to  the  county  line,"  made 
a  favorable  report,  which  was  confirmed. 

In  August,  1768,  a  petition  was  presented  to  the 
Levy  Court  for  the  opening  of  a  road  from  Newark 
to  Cuckoldstown,  adjoining  the  plantation  of  Jere- 
miah Wollaston.  and  extending  to  the  old  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  and  thence  till  it  intersects  the  road  from 
Newark  to  the  Circle,  near  the  school-house  of  Robert 
Boggi*.  In  1771,  John  Reese  and  John  Foulk  built  a 
bridge  over  White  Clay  Creek.      In  the  March  term 


of  Levy  Court,  1813,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
contract  for  the  erection  of  a  bridge  over  Red  Olaj 
Creek  at  William  Foulk's  Mill.  On  March  6,  1816, 
one  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  by  the  Levy 
Court  for  the  erection  of  a  bridge  over  White  Clay 
Creek,  at  Tyson's  Ford,  near  Meteer's  mill.  This  was 
built  during  that  year  at  a  cost  of  $1771.83,  which 
was  paid  February  17th  of  the  following  year.  In 
March,  1823,  two  hundred  and  forty  dollars  were  ap- 
propriated for  repairing  this  bridge.  In  March,  1882, 
one  thousand  dollars  were  appropriated  for  a  bridge 
over  White  Clay  Creek  at  Harmony  Mills.  The 
bridge  was  constructed  and  cost  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  dollars.  At  various  other  times  roads  have 
been  laid  out  and  bridges  constructed  till  the  present 
excellent  state  of  affairs  has  been  attained. 

Industries.— Sir  William  Keith,  Governor  of 
Pennsylvania  from  1712  to  1726,  was  attracted  to 
the  county  of  New  Castle  by  the  iron  in  Iron  Hill 
and  vicinity.  Swedenborg,  writing  in  1734,  says  that 
Sir  William  Keith,  in  1726,  had  a  furnace  on  Christi- 
na Creek.  Bishop  also  says  he  manufactured  iron 
in  New  Castle  County.  An  examination  of  the  rec- 
ords discloses  the  fact  that  on  October  29,  1722,  Sir 
William  Keith  purchased  two  hundred  and  sixteen 
acres  of  land  in  Pencader  Hundred,  on  the  south  side 
of  Iron  Hill,  of  Philip  James,  and  on  July  16,  1724, 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  lying  on  the  north  side 
of  White  Clay  Creek  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred,  of 
"James  Espy,  of  Keithsborough,  of  New  Castle 
County,  merchant."  This  tract  was  part  of  a  larger 
tract  which  was  originally  granted  to  Broor  Sinnexsen, 
and  was  on  both  sides  of  White  Clay  Creek.  The  part 
in  Mill  Creek  Hundred,  which  lay  above  the  mouth  of 
Mill  Creek,  was  deeded  by  Sinnexsen  to  Christian  Juri- 
ansen,  his  step-son,  from  whom  it  passed  to  others, 
and  in  1723  to  James  Espy.  From  papers  of  John 
England,  manager,  and  afterwards  part  owner  of 
Principio  Furnace,  and  at  one  time  the  owner  of 
Keith  lands,  James  M.  Swank,  in  "  Manufacture  of 
Iron  of  All  Ages,"  quotes  the  following  concerning 
the  purchase :  "  Sundry  lands  and  tenements  in  New 
Castle  County,  Delaware,  upon  which  lands  there 
was  a  small  iron  forge,  and  supposed  to  be  a  great 
quantity  of  iron  ore."  Thus  it  will  appear  that  there 
was  a  forge  upon  some  of  the  lands  purchased. 

Keith  also  bought  of  William  Battel,  sheriff,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1725,  four  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of 
laud,  lying  on  both  sides  of  "Christina"  Creek,  and 
November  16th  the  same  year,  two  hundred  acres  on 
the  same  creek.  He  also  purchased  two  lots  con- 
taining respectively  fourteen  and  a  half  acres  and 
ten  and  a  half  acres,  on  one  of  which  was  a  grist- 
mill. On  February  3,  1726,  he  bought  of  Howell 
James  two  hundred  and  fifly  acres  of  land  on  Chris- 
tiana Hundred.  All  of  these  tracts  he  conveyed, 
February  22,  1726,  to  John  England,  who,  Oc- 
tober 6th  following,  bought  of  Toby  Leech  six 
hundred  acres  on  the  north  side  of  White  Clay 
Creek,  resting  also  on  Muddy  Run.   The  six  hundred 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


923 


acres  were  part  of  a  larger  tract  originally  located  by 
John  Guest.  Upon  it,  as  late  as  1820,  a  grist-mill 
was  run  by  Joseph  England,  probably  a  descendant. 
It  was  above  the  James  Espy  tract  and  probably 
joined  it,  separated  only  by  Pipe  Creek. 

It  is  related  in  the  "  Manufacture  of  Iron  in  All 
Ages,"  by  James  M.  Swank,  that  about  1726  one 
John  Ball  was  operating  a  bloomary  on  White  Clay 
Creek  near  St.  James'  Church.  A  John  Ball  was  in 
possession  at  that  time  of  four  hundred  acres  of  land 
called  "  New  Design,"  lying  on  the  west  side  of  Mill 
Creek,  and  in  a  deed  April  29,  1735,  he  is  mentioned  as 
a  blacksmith,  and  conveyed  forty  acres  of  the  tract  to 
his  son  William,  also  a  blacksmith,  and  one  hundred 
acres  of  a  tract  adjoini  ng.  He  had  conveyed  a  part  to  a 
son  James  in  1729,  and  May  17,  1737,  conveyed  to 
John  Ball,  Jr.,  two  hundred  ai\d  two  acres,  and  July 
15, 1738,  one  hundred  and  three  acres  to  his  son  Wil- 
liam. It  is  quite  probable  that  the  father  and  son 
carried  on  a  bloomary  a  few  years  as  ore  could  be 
obtained  from  Iron  Hill.  The  Abbington  Iron  Works 
Company  were  then  operating  at  that  place. 

The  excellent  mill-sites  afforded  by  the  streams  of 
this  hundred  were  conducive  to  the  erection  of  mills 
at  an  early  date.  The  assessment  list  of  1804  con- 
tained the  following  names  as  mill-owners:  Joshua 
Johnson,  fulling-mill;  John  Armstrong  &  Samuel 
Meteer  &  Co.,  paper-mill  and  saw-mill;  James  Black's 
estate,  grist-mill ;  Henry  Brackin,  grist  and  saw- 
mills; Joseph  England,  grist  and  saw-mills;  William 
Foulk,  grist  and  saw-mills ;  Caleb  Harlin,  Sr.,  grist 
and  saw-mills ;  Isaac  &  Benjamin  Hersey,  grist  and 
saw-mills;  Robert  Johnston,  grist  and  saw-milis; 
John  Marshal,  grist-mill;  James  Mendenhall,  grist 
and  saw-mills;  John  Phillips,  grist-mill;  Robert 
Phillips'  estate,  grist  and  saw-mills;  John  Recce's 
estate,  grist  and  saw-mills;  John  Robinson,  grist- 
mill ;  Andrew  Reynolds,  grist-mill ;  Thomas  Stapler 
and  Joshua  Stroud's  estate,  grist-mill  j  Jacob  Wollas- 
ton,  grist  and  saw-mills;  William  &  Abraham  Barker, 
saw-mill ;  Ephraim  Jackson,  saw-mill ;  William  Little, 
saw-mill;  Thomas  McDaniel,  saw-mill;  and  David 
Morrison's  estate,  saw-mill.  Some  of  these  were  built 
at  a  much  earlier  period,  and  mills  are  now  on  the 
sites  occupied  by  them.  Others  have  fallen  into 
decay  and  disuse,  and  a  few  have  been  entirely  for- 
gotten. 

Those  forgotten  are  the  mills  owned  in  1804  by 
James  Black's  estate,  Robert  Johnson,  John  Phillips 
and  John  Robinson.  Of  those  no  longer  in  use  are 
the  mills  of  Joshua  Johnson,  Henry  Brackin,  Andrew 
Reynolds,  William  &  Abraham  Barker,  William 
Little  and  David  Morrison's  estate.  Of  the  mills  in 
use  in  1824,  the  following  have  been  discontinued  : 
Jesse  Trump's  cotton-factory,  afterwards  used  by 
James  Broadbent  as  a  carpet-factory,  and  during  the 
war  operated  as  a  woolen -factory  by  James  Taylor. 
The  old  building  still  stands.  The  William  Stapler 
fulling-mill  at  Stanton,  not  operated  for  many  years ; 
Robert  CraVford's  tanyard  on  Muddy  Run,  after- 


wards converted  into  a  bark-mill,  but  not  operated 
since  1860;  Robert  Squib's  tanyard  at  Stanton,  not 
run  since  1830 ;  Joshua  Johnson's  mill  was  last  oper- 
ated about  1855  by  his  son,  Samuel,  and  was  on  the 
John  Ridgeway  property;  John  Reese's  mill  was 
built  in  1773  on  land  now  owned  by  David  Eastburn, 
and  was  last  operated  about  1816 ;  Henry  Brackin 's 
mill  was  near  Brackin ville;  has  not  been  in  operation 
since  1860.  William  Little  and  David  Morriston 
owned  small  saw-mills  on  Pike  Creek,  and  are  almost 
entirely  forgotten.  Andrew  Reynolds'  mill  was  built 
in  1799,  and  operated  for  a  number  of  years  by  him. 
It  was  next  owned  by  Samuel  Anthony,  by  whom  it 
was  sold  to  Abraham  Cannon.  While  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Cannon,  it  was  last  operated  about  1877  by 
William  Robinson.  It  was  also  used  one  year  for  a 
spice-mill  under  the  management  of  Franklin  Fell. 
It  was  a  three-story  building,  thirty-five  by  forty- 
seven  feet,  and  was  situated  on  Mill  Creek.  It  was 
torn  down  1887  by  R.  Thomas  Lynam,  the  present 
owner  of  the  land.  The  Rooseville  cotton-factory  on 
White  Clay  Creek,  once  an  important  manufactory, 
was  burned  about  twenty  years  ago,  and  has  not 
been  rebuilt. 

The  earliest  mill  in  the  hundred  was  built  at  Stan- 
ton on  an  undivided  tract  of  land  owned  by  Charles 
Rumsey  and  John  Watkins,  planters,  both  of  White 
Clay  Creek.  On  October  14,  1679,  they  made  an 
agreement  for  the  erection  of  a  mill  with  some  of 
their  neighbors. 

A  portion  of  the  agreement  reads  as  follows : 

**  And  there  baing  a  conreDont  place  to  sett  a  mill  and  that  ye  neigh- 
bors dwelling  on  Cheese  and  Bread  Island  doe  desire  to  build  a  mill  there 
wee  doe  of  these  presents  find  ourselres  ...  to  grant  to  these  people 
here  underwritten,  that  certain  place  lett  it  belong  to  either  of  us  when 
that  Land  is  sheared,  and  on  consideration  of  ye  conrenienoes  of  soe 
good  a  thing  for  our  owne  use  as  well  as  those,  wee  doe  by  these 
presents  giro  and  grant  to  either  or  all  of  those  parties  here  setts  their 
hands  free  Liberty  to  build  a  mill  to  them  their  heirs  for  erer,  to  cutt 
timber  at  all  times  for  use  of  ye  sd  Mill  when  wanted  either  to  build 
new  or  to  mend  att  or  neat*e  ye  Mill,  it  being  boath  sydes  or  a  little  Greek 
that  Lyeth  between  Cheese  &  bread  Island  and  sd  Cheele<i  Bumseys 
plantation  Running  luto  White  day  Creek,  as  witness  our  hands  ye  date 
hereof   .    .    . 

*'0HA&U8Rnif8BT. 
"  JOHK  WaTKIWS." 

The  following  is  the  list  of  subscribers : 

**  Wee  that  here  belong  to  ye  Hill  Is  to  hare  all  of  us  a  Lyke  to  bee  att 
a  Equall  Charge  to  ye  making  of  itt,  and  here  setts  our  hands. 

"  John  Shith. 

**TH0.  WOLLASTOS. 

*'  Abraham  Man. 
**  Joseph  Barnbs. 
*'  Abknt  Jans  en. 
**  Oela  Thomason. 
«  Jacob  Jansen. 
«*  John  Nomxxrs. 

*<  HSNRT  GeRBITSSM." 

A  mill  was  built  at  the  place  mentioned  and  later 
a  half-interest  was  purchased  by  Cornelius  and  Rich- 
ard Empson.  The  latter  sold  to  Cornelius,  who,  by 
his  will,  December  12, 1710,  conveyed  his  portion  to 
his  daughters,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth.  It  was  then 
used  as  a  saw-mill,  and  it  was  stipulated  that  three 
thousand  feet  of  boards  should  be  sawed  for  some  per- 
son not  named.  No  further  account  is  obtained  of 
the  mill  property  until  in  1772,  when  it  is  learned  that 


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024 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Stephen  Staples  and  Samuel  Smith  obtained  condem- 
nation of  lands  for  a  grist-mill.  They  had  built  a 
race,  dam  and  corn  or  grist-mill,  and  on  May  18th,  in 
that  year  (1772)  they  made  arrangements  with  John 

,  who   owned    lands  above,  whereby  they  could 

build  their  dam  higher.  At  this  time  they  owned 
two  hundred  and  seventy  acres  on  Bread  and  Cheese 
Island  and  on  White  Clay  and  Red  Clay  Creeks,  and 
also  a  lot  on  the  west  side  of  the  creek  opposite  where 
they  built  a  mill-race.  They  set  thirty  acres  apart  as 
the  mill  property,  and  on  October  10,  1780,  sold  a 
fourth  interest  to  Caleb  Byrnes. 

On  the  16th  of  April,  1795,  Samuel  Smith  and  Jona- 
than and  Daniel  Barnes,  heirs  of  Caleb,  sold  to  Joshua 
Stroud  the  two  equal  undivided  parts  in  the  mill  and 
property.  On  March  3, 1812,  John  Stapler,  grandson 
of  Stephen,  sold  to  Stephen  Stapler,  his  brother,  the 
quarter-interest  held  by  him.  Stephen  Stapler  already 
owned  a  quarter-interest  in  his  own  right.  Joshua 
Stroud  conveyed  his  one-half  interest  to  Jonathan 
and  Daniel  Byrnes,  May  15, 1812,  and  bought  it  back 
in  June  following.  On  January  7, 1813,  he  sold  it  to 
Stephen  Stapler,  who  operated  the  mill  until  it  was 
sold  July  10, 1816,  on  a  judgment  by  Francis  Haughey, 
sheriff,  to  James  Brian.  On  the  10th  of  October,  1820, 
Brian  sold  a  merchant  mill,  saw-mill,  and  all  machin- 
ery, buildings  and  tenements,  and  fifly-four  acres  to 
Samuel  Bailey.  The  mill  was  old  and  built  of  stone. 
A  frame  mill  was  built  by  Mr.  Bailey  and  operated 
by  him  until  1852,  when  Joseph  Tatnall  and  a  Mr. 
Lea  became  the  purchasers.  In  1864  Mr.  Tatnall 
became  the  sole  owner  and  continued  so  until  the 
mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  November,  1885. 

In  October,  1677,  there  was  patented  to  John  An- 
derson alicu  Stalcop,  a  tract  of  land,  on  the  east  side  of 
a  branch  of  Christiana  Creek  called  "  Red  Clay's  Kill," 
containing  six  hundred  acres,  known  as  **  Southern 
Land.''  He  was  also  the  owner  of  the  land  which 
is  now  occupied  by  the  city  of  Wilmington.  A  portion 
of  the  six-hundred-acre  tract  was  conveyed  at  an  early 
date  to  Thomas  Bird,  and  descended  to  his  son  Empson, 
who  sold  to  Robert  Phillips,  May  8, 1773.  On  it  was  an 
old  log  mill  known  as  the  "  Swedes'  Mill,"  which  re- 
mained till  1812,  when  it  was  torn  down,  and  on  part  of 
the  foundation  a  stone  mill  was  erected  to  be  used  as  a 
woolen  manufactory.  In  1790,  in  the  rear  of  the  log 
mill,  the  present  frame  mill,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  three 
stories  high,  was  erected.  The  woolen-mill  was  oper- 
ated but  a  few  years  and  then  connected  with  the 
grist-mill.  In  1828,  the  mill  property  was  purchased 
by  John  C.  Phillips.  It  was  next  owned  and  operated 
by  Isaac  D.  &  William  G.  Phillips  till  1876,  when 
Isaac  D.  Phillips  became  the  sole  owner  and  has 
since  operated  it.  Some  of  the  machinery  was  pur- 
chased of  Oliver  Evans.  The  buildings  have  been 
remodeled  several  times.  The  grinding  is  done  by 
burrs  and  consists  of  merchant  and  custom  work. 
The  mill  is  situated  on  Red  Clay  Creek. 

On  January  12,  1747,  six  acres  of  land  in  Mill 
Creek  Hundred  were  condemned  for  the  use  of  the 


mill,  at  that  time  in  the  possession  of  David  Robinson 
and  Alexander  Montgomery.  The  mill  was  situate 
on  Mill  Creek,  and  in  1804  was  owned  by  Caleb 
Harlin,  Sr.  In  1815  the  old  mill  was  torn  down'and 
the  present  one  erected.  The  mill  is  operated  by 
water-power  and  the  grinding  done  by  burr,  and  is 
mostly  custom  work.  The  mill  is  now  owned  by 
Samuel  Chandler. 

The  mill  owned  by  Thomas  McDaniel  in  1804  was 
situate  on  Pipe  Creek.  In  1827  the  old  mill  was  torn 
down  and  the  present  building  erected  by  John 
McDaniel.  In  1875  it  was  sold  by  his  heirs  to  G.  M. 
D.  Robinson.  Dr.  Swithin  Chandler,  the  next  owner, 
conveyed  the  mill  to  W.  M.  Logan  in  1886.  The 
capacity  is  twenty-five  barrels  per  day.  There  is  a 
saw-mill  in  connection  capable  of  sawing  from  twelve 
hundred  to  fifteen  hundred  feet  of  lumber  daily. 

The  mill  of  Ephraim  Jackson  was  at  Hockessio, 
and  was  sold  by  his  heirs  to  George  Springer,  who 
conveyed  it  to  John  Mitchell  the  present  owner.  The 
mill  is  at  present  seldom  operated.  It  is  leased  to  G.  C. 
Gallagher,  who  has  fitted  up  a  portion  of  the  mill  as 
a  creamery,  in  which  he  manufactures  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  pounds  of  butter  per  day  for  Balti- 
more and  Wilmington  trade. 

John  England,  one  of  the  proprietors  and  the  man- 
ager of  Principio  Furnace,  built  a  grist-mill  before 
1734,  which  passed  by  deed  to  his  brother  Joseph, 
February  24,  1741,  and  was  retained  in  the  family  for 
many  years.  In  March,  1840,  it  was  sold  by  the  heirs 
of  Joseph  England  (3d)  to  David  Eastburn,  who  held 
possession  of  it  till  1872,  when  he  soli  the  mill  to 
Oliver  and  Charles  Allen.  They  operated  it  for  two 
years  and  then  sold  it  to  Edward  Wilson,  who  conveyed 
it  to  Thomas  W.  Jones.  The  old  mill  still  stands 
and  is  situate  on  White  Clay  Creek.  In  1887  it  was 
refitted  with  rollers  and  has  a  capacity  of  forty  barrels 
per  day. 

The  mill  owned  by  Jacob  Wollaston  in  1804  is  still 
standing.  It  U  situated  on  Pipe  Creek,  and  has  been 
operated  for  the  past  few  years  by  James  Ward  as  a 
spoke  factory. 

The  grist  and  saw-mills  owned  by  James  Mendenhall 
in  1804  still  remain  in  the  family.  They  are  situate 
on  Mill  Creek,  and  are  now  operated  by  John  Men- 
denhall, great-grandson  of  the  man  who  erected  them. 
They  have  also  been  operated  by  each  successive 
generation.  The  work  performed  here  is  solely  cus- 
tom work. 

The  grist-mill  at  Mardhallton  was  at  an  early  date 
owned  by  Solomon  Hersey,  and  later  came  to  Isaac 
and  Benjamin  Hersey,  by  whom  they  were  owned 
in  1804.  It  next  came  into  the  possession  of  Jesse 
Trump,  by  whom  it  was  sold  to  James  Buckingham. 
John  Marshall,  who  erected  the  rolling-mills  there, 
became  the  next  owner.  The  present  mill  is  owned 
by  J.  R.  Bringhurst. 

On  July  16, 1782,  Charles  Evans  sold  to  John  Evans, 
Theophilus  Evans  and  Oliver  Evans  four  hundred 
acres  of  land.    On  this  they  soon  erected '^a  stone  grist- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


925 


mill,  a  aaw-miil  and  a  cooper-shop.  The  Evans' were 
of  Welsh  descent,  and  were  born  in  the  vicinity. 
Oliver,  the  most  prominent  of  the  three,  was  bom  in 
the  year  1755.* 

On  May  26,  1792,  the  mills  were  sold  by  Sheriff 
Thomas  Kean  and  purchased  by  David  Nivin.  He 
sold  a  one-third  interest  to  Charles  Anderson,  who, 
March  15,  1795,  sold  it  to  William  Foulk.  The  re- 
maining two-thirds  were  purchased  of  Nivin  by 
Foulk  on  February  24,  1798.  After  his  death  the 
property  descended  to  his  heirs,  and  May  9,  1820,  his 
son  John  purchased  the  interest  of  the  remaining 
heirs.  From  this  family  the  hamlet  received  the 
name  Faulkland.  John  Foulk  retained  possession  till 
May  28, 1828,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Jonathan 
Fell  and  turned  into  a  spice-grinding  establishment. 

Previous  to  this  the  grinding  was  done  in  Philadel- 
phia, but  on  the  purchase  of  this  mill  the  situation  in 
that  city  was  converted  into  a  warehouse.  The  man- 
ufacture of  spices  here  by  this  family  was  continued 
until  March  17, 1874,  when  the  second  mill  was  burned. 
The  old  mill  was  burned  in  1867,  but  was  immediate- 
ly rebuilt. 

The  mill  was  last  operated  by  C.  J.  Fell  &  Brother. 
Their  spices  had  a  world-wide  reputation  and  were 
shipped  to  all  the  principal  cities.  Near  the  old  site 
is  a  grist-mill  owned  by  Franklin  Fell. 

On  May  19, 1762,  John  Reece  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  on  Red  Clay  Creek,  which  was  sold  at  sheriif's 
sale  as  the  property  of  John  Thomas.  In  the  deed 
of  conveyance  no  mention  is  made  of  any  mills,  and 
from  this  the  inference  is  drawn  that  there  was  none 
there  at  that  date.  A  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill  were 
erected  by  John  Reece  and  operated  by  him  until  his 
death,  when  they  became  the  property  of  his  son, 
John  Reece,  Jr.  He  retained  possession  of  the  mills 
until  April  22,  1811,  when  he  conveyed  the  land  and 
mills  to  Mordecai  McKinney,  who,  September  17th  of 
the  following  year,  sold  them  to  Thomas  Lea.  Mr. 
Lea  improved  the  mills  and  in  addition  erected  a 
cotton-factory.  In  February,  1823,  William  Warner, 
Edward  Tatnall  and  James  Price,  assignees  of  Thomas 
Lea,  offered  for  sale  a  cotton-mill  named  "  Endeavor,*' 
with  one  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty-two  spin- 
dles, two  pickers,  four  carding-engines,  also  a  grist- 
mill and  cotton-factory  named  "Auburn,"  on  Red 
Clay  Creek,  with  one  thousand  three  hundred  spin- 
dles. The  sale  of  the  mills  on  Red  Clay  Creek  was 
not  consummated  till  June  30, 1826,  when  they  were 
purchased  by  Joseph  and  Jesse  Mendinhall.  They 
retained  the  mills  twelVe  years,  and  October  4,  1838, 
conveyed  them  to  Thomas  Garret  and  David  Smith. 
They  were  operated  in  partnership  until  September 
23,  1846,  when  Garret's  share  was  purchased  by 
Smith.  He  continued  in  possession  of  the  mills 
until  November  1,  1849,  when  they  came  into  the 
possession  of  Cyrus  Hilbom.  On  April  24,  1858, 
they  were  exposed  at  public  sale  by  the  sheriff  and 

1  For  a  full  acoount  of  Oliver  Eyans  and  his  iuvontions,  rofer  to  VoL 
J,  pagM  274-276. 


purchased  by  Joseph  Mendinhall,  who,  September 
1st,  of  the  same  year,  sold  them  to  James  Cranston. 
On  March  26,  1864,  Cranston  sold  to  John  Wright, 
who,  June  21st,  conveyed  the  mills  to  William  Dean, 
John  Pilling,  Joseph  W.  Bullock,  Benjamin  Bullock 
and  (Jeorge  T.  Jones.  By  them,  on  December  30, 
1864,  the  mills  were  conveyed  to  the  Kiamensi  Woolen 
Company,  which  was  incorporated  October  20,  1864. 
At  some  period  previous  the  saw-mill  had  been 
abandoned  and  the  grist-mill  removed  or  converted 
into  a  portion  of  the  cotton-factory. 

When  the  Kiamensi  Woolen  Company  came  into 
possession  of  the  factory  it  was  operated  partly  on 
cotton  and  partly  on  woolen  goods,  the  woolen 
feature  having  been  introduced  by  Wright.  They 
immediately  removed  all  cotton  machinery  and  con- 
verted the  mill  into  a  manufactory  for  the  exclusive 
manufacture  of  woolen  goods.  Carding  and  spinning 
were  also  done  there  until  the  Independence  Mill,  at 
Stanton,  was  purchased,  but  since  that  time  this  work 
is  performed  at  the  latter  place.  By  annual  additions 
the  factory  has  doubled  its  capacity  since  it  came  into 
the  possession  of  the  present  company.  The  mills  are 
fitted  up  with  improved  machinery  and  have  tele- 
graphic and  telephonic  communications  as  well  as 
automatic  sprinklers.  The  raw  materials  and  the 
manufactured  products  are  conveyed  to  and  from  the 
mills  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  which 
has  a  station  in  close  proximity.  With  ten  sets  of 
cards  in  operation,  one  thousand  two  hundred  dollars' 
worth  of  goods  are  manufactured  per  day.  The  mills 
are  the  chief  means  of  livelihood  for  many  of  the 
residents  of  this  section  of  the  hundred,  employment 
being  given  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  operatives.  The 
capital  stock  is  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  thou- 
sand and  three  hundred  dollars,  which  is  divided  into 
two  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-six  shares,  of 
which  all  but  one  hundred  and  seventy  shares  are 
owned  by  the  Pilling  family.  The  mill  is  the  largest 
and  most  successful  woolen-mill  in  the  State.  Much 
credit  is  due  to  the  president,  Thomas  Pilling,  who 
has  resided  in  the  vicinity  and  had  personal  super- 
vision of  the  factory  since  1864.  The  present  board 
of  directors  is  as  follows :  President,  Thomas  Pill- 
ing; Secretary  and  Treasurer,  John  Pilling;  R.  T. 
Pilling  and  John  Pilling,  Jr.  In  addition  to  the 
mills  the  company  owns  twenty-six  dwellings. 

John  Pilling,  manufacturer,  was  born  at  Chowbent, 
Lancashire,  England,  March  6,  1830.  .He  was  a  son 
of  Richard  and  Susan  Bradshaw  Pilling.  His  father 
being  a  silk  weaver  in  limited  circumstances,  John 
left  school  at  the  age  of  seven  and  a  half  years  and 
served  a  boy's  apprenticeship  at  making  shoe-nails. 
His  daily  task  was  four  thousand  nails  at  six  cents 
per  thousand,  one-half  of  his  wages  going  to  his  em- 
ployer for  the  use  of  the  shop.  When  he  was  but 
eleven  years  of  age  he  came  with  his  parents  to  the 
United  States  and  located  in  Philadelphia,  where 
both  father  and  son  worked  in  cotton  and  woolen- 
mills  until  1842.    Then  they  went  to  Broadbent's 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


carpet-mills  in  Brandywine  Hundred,  Delaware. 
After  six  months  spent  there  they  removed  with 
Broadbent  to  his  new  mills  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred, 
about  four  miles  from  Newark,  and  remained  in  that 
establishment  until  1845.  During  the  next  three 
years  they  worked  in  variou{<  mills,  but  in  1848  they 
entered  the  employ  of  Joseph  Dean  &  Son,  at  New- 
ark. Although  John  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age, 
he  received  but  four  dollars  a  week,  but  he  gradually 
worked  up  to  ten  dollars.  Then  he  resigned  to  ac- 
cept a  position  of  man-of-all-work  at  five  dollars  a 
week,  in  order  that  he  might  learn  all  the  practical 
details  of  the  business.  In  1857  he  became  the  super- 
intendent of  the  mills  of  Robert  Kershaw  in  Phila- 
delphia, which  were  soon  stopped  by  the  panic,  and 
from  1858  to  1860  he  managed  the  mills  of  Shaw  & 
Armstrong,  in  the  same  city.  In  May,  1860,  he  re- 
turned to  the  Dean  Mills.  On  February  1st,  follow- 
ing, Joseph  Dean  retired  and  Mr.  Pilling  formed  a 
copartnership  with  his  son,  William  Dean.  These 
mills  were  the  first  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia 
to  manufacture  army  goods  and  clothed  the  first 
company  that  went  down  over  the  Philadelphia,  Wil- 
mington and  Baltimore  Railroad.  During  the  whole 
war  the  mills  were  largely  engaged  in  government 
contracts,  and  contributed  many  thousands  ot  dollars 
in  money  to  the  cause  of  the  Union.  During  the 
panic  of  1873  the  mills  were  never  stopped  except 
for  repairs.  In  1882  ihe  Dean  Woolen  Company  was 
formed,  with  Mr.  Pilling  as  president  and  manager, 
and  Mr.  Dean  as  secretary  and  treasurer.  In  Janu- 
ary, 1884,  he  resigned  his  dual  office  in  the  Dean 
Woolen  Company,  though  he  was  then  and  is  still, 
next  to  Mr.  Dean,  the  largest  stockholder.  Since 
then  he  has  given  his  undivided  attention  to  the 
mills  of  the  Kiamensi  Woolen  Company,  at  Staulon, 
Delaware,  of  which  he  is  treasurer  and  manager. 
Mr.  Pilling  went  to  Europe  in  1867  to  attend  the 
Paris  Exposition  and  visit  the  mills  of  England, 
France,  Holland  and  Belgium.  Again,  in  1880,  he 
went  to  Europe  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  which 
had  become  impaired  by  close  application  to  business. 

Before  the  war  he  was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  but 
since  that  time  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  Republican  party.  He  has  held  nearly  every 
local  office  in  the  town  of  Newark,  where  he  still 
lives  in  a  handsome  dwelling.  Twice — in  1866  and 
in  1880 — he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature, where  he  became  a  leader,  and  backed  by  the 
trustees  and  friends  of  Delaware  College,  in  1867, 
secured  the  passage  of  a  bill  aiding  that  institution, 
a  charter  for  the  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware  Rail- 
road, and  other  important  measures.  In  1881  he  was 
largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  passage  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  bill.  For  fourteen  years  he  has 
been  a  director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  New- 
ark, and  has  been  connected  with  all  important  pub- 
lic enterprises  in  the  town. 

He  was  married  in  1851  to  Elizabeth  B.  Kelley,  of 
Chester  County,  Pennsylvania.    Of  their  children. 


Kate  died  December  llT,  1872,  while  Isabella,  wife  of 
S.  J.  Wright,  of  Newark,  Susan  Estella  and  John 
Pilling,  Jr.,  are  still  living.  His  wife  died  Decem- 
ber 21,  1873,  and  on  October  4,  1877,  he  was  again 
married  to  Mrs.  Ellen  Glenn,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
Bayne,  of  Newark. 

In  1882,  Gregg  &  Breilly  fitted  up  a  building, 
formerly  used  as  a  wool  en- factory,  with  the  necessary 
machinery  for  spinning  silk  and  yarn.  Two  years 
later    Gregg    was    succeeded    by    Mr.  Smith,    who 

after  one  year's  experience  sold  his  portion  to 

Derrickson.  The  factory  is  now  operated  under  the 
style  Derrickson  &  Breilly.  There  are  eight  hundred 
and  sixty  spindles  in  operation,  with  a  capacity  of 
nine  hundred  pounds  per  week.  The  mill  gives  em- 
ployment to  fourteen  operatives. 

The  factory  of  E.  J.  Cranston,  at  Stanton,  is 
now  operated  by  H.  E.  Holtsizer  &  Brother.  It  is 
fitted  up  with  eight  hundred  spindles  for  spinning 
cotton  and  woolen  yarn,  and  ban  a  capacity  of  six 
hundred  pounds  per  day.  Employment  is  given  to 
twelve  operatives. 

In  1848,  Messrs.  Curtis  &  Brother  purchased  the 
property  near  Newark  known  as  the  Meteer  property, 
and  called  the  **  Millford  Paper-Mills."  This  paper- 
mill  was  owned  in  1804  by  John  Armstrong,  Samuel 
Meteer  &  Company,  and  had  probably  been  built 
some  time  previous.  It  was  operated  until  1841  by  the 
Meteers,  and  then  sold  by  their  administrators  to 
several  parties,  by  whom  it  was  successfully  con- 
ducted, and  when  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
present  owners  was  in  ruins.  It  was  by  them  rebuilt, 
and  has  continued  in  ftiU  operation  until  the  present 
time.  During  the  Rebellion,  and  for  many  years 
previous  and  afterwards,  the  mill  was  run  on  govern- 
ment contracts  almost  exclusively.  Since  1868  the 
principal  business  has  been  the  manufacture  of  envel- 
ope, card  and  fine  colored  paper,  finding  a  market 
in  all  the  principal  cities,  mainly,  however,  in  Phila- 
delphia and  New  York.  In  1884  the  senior  part- 
ner, F.  A.  Curtis,  died,  and  the  surviving  partner,  S. 
M.  Curtis,  having  settled  the  afiairs  of  the  firm,  re- 
tired from  the  business.  The  firm  now  consists  of  the 
two  sons  of  the  deceased  partner,  Alfred  A.  and  F. 
W.  Curtis  and  Walter  C,  son  of  the  retired  partner. 

After  the  long  period  of  thirty -nine  years,  the  old 
mill  was  found  to  be  in  such  a  dilapidated  condition, 
and  so  far  behind  the  needs  of  the  continually  increas- 
ing demands  for  more  and  better,  as  well  as  the 
cheaper  paper,  that  the  new  firm  reluctantly  con- 
cluded to  erect  a  larger  and  more  modern  plant.  On 
April  18, 1887,  the  old  mill  so  long  a  source  of  reve- 
nue to  so  many  worthy  people  of  the  town,  was  taken 
down,  the  old  machinery  sold,  and  at  the  present 
writing  a  new  and  beautiful  as  well  as  modern  struc- 
ture is  being  erected. 

The  capacity  of  the  old  mill  was  only  three  thousand 
pounds  per  day,  while  the  new  one  will  probably  pro- 
duce eight  thousand  pounds. 

The  very  best  machinery  is  being  placed  In  it  by 


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92a.  fllSTOBY  OP  DELAWAEE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


927 


well-known  and  reliable  firms,  and  the  intention  is 
to  manufacture  only  first-class  paper. 

The  rolling-mills  at  Marshallton  were  erected  and 
opened  in  1836  by  John  Marshall,  who  operated  them 
two  years  and  then  associated  with  himself  Caleb 
Marshall  under  the  style  C.  &.  J.  Marshall.  There 
was  then  only  a  single  mill,  with  one  pair  of  rollers, 
giving  employment  to  eleven  men.  The  mill  was  op- 
erated thus  until  1862,  when  Caleb  Marshall  sold  his 
portion  to  Edward  Mendinhall,  who  remained  a 
partner  until  1869,  when  his  share  was  purchased  by 
Calvin  Marshall. 

In  1871  John  Marshall  conveyed  his  interest  in  the 
rolling-mill  to  John  and  Joseph  P.  Richardson.  In 
1874  J.  R.  Bringhurst  purchased  a  one-fourth  interest 
in  the  rolling-mills  from  Calvin  Marshall,  as  the  por- 
tion belonging  to  him,and  in  1877  he  became  sole  own- 
er. In  1880  he  built  a  steam  mill,  and  in  1884  another 
one,  and  at  present  has  three  sheet-iron  mills,  one  bar- 
mill  and  one  puddle-mill.  These  mills  are  fitted  up 
with  three  grate  furnaces,  two  reverberatory  heating 
furnaces,  three  double  puddling  furnaces,  one  box 
annealing  furnace  and  one  English  furnace.  The 
rolling-mills  have  a  capacity  of  2500  tons  of  finished 
sheet-iron  per  year,  and  give  employment  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty -five  persons.  Five  pairs  of  rol- 
lers are  in  use.  The  mills  are  lighted  by  electric 
light.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  runs  to  the 
mills  and  affords  excellent  facilities  for  shipment. 
The  **Star"  and  *' Delaware"  are  the  principal 
brands. 

In  1820  John  Smith  and  Edward  Gilpin  built  a 
rolling-mill  on  Red  Clay  Creek.  Smithes  portion  was 
shorly  afterwards  purchased  by  Gilpin,  who  was  sole 
owner  in  1824.  In  1828  Joseph  Whittaker  commenc- 
ed operating  the  mill,  but  soon  discontinued.  It  was 
then  leased  of  the  Delaware  Bank  by  James  Wood  & 
Son,  and  operated  until  1832.  Dr.  McLane  then 
managed  it  for  several  years.  He  was  succeeded 
by  J.  Wood  &  Brother,  who  were  proprietors  until 
1844,  when  the  mill  was  purchased  by  Allen  Wood, 
who  conducted  it  until  his  death.  His  son  operated 
it  until  1885,  when  a  stock  company  was  formed  and 
incorporated  as  the  "Allen  Wood  Company,"  with 
the  following  officers:  President,  Howard  Wood; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Jonah  R.  Jones ;  Superin- 
tendent, Joseph  Boughman. 

The  mill  is  about  twice  the  size  of  the  original 
building,  and  is  devoted  exclusively  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  sheet-iron.  It  is  fitted  up  with  a  pair  of  rol- 
lers, a  grate  furnace  and  an  annealing  furnace.  It  is 
operated  chiefly  by  water-power.  The  capacity  of 
the  mill  is  four  hundred  tons  per  year.  The  iron  is 
shipped  principally  to  Philadelphia. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Hockessin  there  are  large  depos- 
its of  kaolin,  a  clay  used  in  the  manufacture  of  pot- 
tery. Since  1872  the  digging  and  drying  of  this  sub- 
stance has  become  quite  an  industry.  The  principal 
persons  engaged  in  this  business  are  John  W.  Bor- 
gess  and  Golding  &  Sons  Company.    By  these  two 


parties  twelve  thousand  tons  of  kaolin  are  shipped 
annually  to  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  other  markets.    Em- 
ployment is  given  to  two   hundred  persons  in  the  . 
works. 

A.  L.  West  opened  a  machine-shop  in  Hockessin 
in  1884.  Attention  is  particularly  given  to  engines, 
boilers  and  clay  presses.    Eight  men  are  employed. 

Post-Offices. — ^The  post-office  at  Stanton  was  es- 
tablished in  1825  with  Frederick  Cray  as  the  first  post- 
master. He  was  succeeded  in  1830  by  Abraham  Boys. 
Aquilla  Nebaker,  Springer  McDani el,  Levi  Workman 
and  Joseph  Chambers  have  been  postmasters  here.  Jo- 
seph H.  Kirk,  the  present  incumbent,  was  appointed 
April  22,  1885. 

The  post-office  at  Marshallton  was  established 
February  27, 1878.  J.  R.  Bringhurst  was  the  first 
postmaster  and  continued  until  April,  1886,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  David  Ecow,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  Pleasant  Hill  post-office  was  established  in 
1835,  with  Samuel  Lloyd  as  its  first  postmaster.  The 
position  of  postmaster  has  been  held  successively  by 
Isaiah  B.  Eastburu,  Alvin  Buckingham,  Sr.,  and  Al- 
viu  Buckingham,  Jr. 

On  January  1,  1868,  a  poet-office  was  established  at 
Hockessin.  Miss  Jane  Griffith  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmistress  to  this  office.  She  was  succeed- 
ed by  N.  M.  Palmer.  On  October  1,  1877,  J.  C. 
Way  was  appointed  his  successor.  K.  S.  Chandler, 
the  present  incumbent,  received  his  appointment 
February  20,  1886. 

The  post-office  at  Mermaid  was  established  in  1844 
or  1 845.  Josiah  Walker,  the  first  postmaster,  filled  the 
position  until  1849.  In  that  year  Milton  Steel  was 
appointed  his  successor.  The  present  incumbent,  W. 
H.  Pennock,  was  appointed  in  September,  1882. 

Woodfiale  was  established  a  post-office  in  1873,  and 
Henry  Boughman  appointed  postmaster.  He  was 
succeeded  by  George  M.  Bennett,  Newlyn  Pierson, 
Sarah  Pierce  and  John  Connor,  the  prpent  incum- 
bent. 

Villages. — Stanton  is  the  oldest  village  in  Mill 
Creek  Hundred  and  was  formerly  called  Cuckoldstown. 
When  Stephen  Stanton  became  the  owner  the  name 
was  changed  to  Stanton.  It  is  situated  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  the  hundred,  near  the  junction  of 
White  Clay  and  Red  Clay  Creeks  and  about  a  half- 
mile  distant  from  the  depots  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  and  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore 
Railroads.  It  contains  three  churches,  a  school-house, 
post-office,  hotel,  three  general  stores,  millinery  store 
and  about  four  hundred  inhabitants. 

Marshallton  is  situated  about  a  mile  and  a  half 
north  of  Stanton.  It  was  so  named  in  honor  of  John 
Marshall,  who  started  the  rolling-mills  at  this  place. 
It  has  grown  rapidly  since  the  enlargement  of  the 
mills  by  J.  R.  Bringhurst,  and  some  of  the  residences 
are  lighted  by  electricity.  Two  depots  of  the  Balti 
more  and  Ohio  Railroad  are  within  five  minutes'  walk 
of  the  village.  It  contains  three  general  stores  and 
has  a  population  of  three  hundred  and  fifty. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


JTocJkesain  is  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
hundred,  on  a  portion  of  an  eight-hundred  tract  of 
Letitia  Manor  granted  to  John  Houghton  August  2, 
1715.  The  name  is  an  Indian  word,  said  to  mean 
"  good  bark,"  and  was  so  called  on  account  of  the  ex- 
cellent quality  of  white  oak  found  in  this  locality. 
The  village  has  grown  considerably  since  it  has  rail- 
road facilities.  It  at  present  contains  three  churches, 
five  stores,  a  hotel,  post-oflBce,  school-house,  station 
on  a  branch  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  and 
about  four  hundred  inhabitants. 

Milltown,  Greenbank,  Loveville,  Brackinville,  Mer- 
maid, Corner  Ketch,  and  Pleasant  Hill  are  small 
hamlets  containing  a  few  dwellings. 

John  G.  Jackson,  surveyor,  civil  engineer  and 
astronomer,  was  born  in  New  Castle  County,  Dela- 
ware, September  8,  1818.  He  was  the  second  son  of 
Thomas  and  Jane  Jackson,  who  at  that  time  occu- 
pied one  of  the  oldest  farm  homesteads  in  the  fertile 
valley  of  Hockessin,  an  aboriginal  name  of  uncer- 
tain derivation,  but  said  by  some  to  mean  "  Qood 
Bark  Hill."  Anthony  Jackson,  of  Lancashire,  Eng- 
land, emigrated  to  Ireland  in  1649.  Among  his 
children  was  Isaac  Jackson,  who,  with  his  wife,  Ann 
Evans,  became  the  parents  of  a  large  family  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  1725,  and  settled  at  Har- 
mony Grove,  in  Chester  County,  Pa.,  which  has  con- 
tinued to  be  the  residence  of  descendants  of  the 
family  until  this  day.  To  use  the  Scriptural  phrase, 
Isaac  begat  William,  William  begat  James  and  James 
begat  Thomas,  the  father  of  John  G.,  who  thus 
appears  to  be  the  sixth  generation  from  Anthony 
Jackson,  of  Lancashire,  England.  A  sesqui>cen- 
tennial  of  the  tribe  of  Jackson  was  held  at  Harmony 
Grove,  Eighth  Month  25, 1875,  and  John  G.  Jackson 
had  the  honor  of  presiding.  From  his  address  the 
following  is  an  abstract :  "  Our  worthy  progenitor, 
Isaac  Jackson  the  elder,  whose  notable  advent  with 
his  family  into  this  beautiful  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  we  this  day  join  in 
celebrating,  was  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
called  Quakers,  and  such  his  descendants  have 
largely  been.  It  would  appear  that  not  alone  as 
Quakers  were  the  ancestors  of  the  Jacksons  noted 
as  representative  men,  of  strong  religious  convictions, 
with  firm  individuality  and  independence  of  charac- 
ter—hard to  drive  against  their  consciences — per- 
sistent in  efibrt  The  martyr  blood  of  Ralph  Jackson, 
burned  at  the  stake  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary, 
6th  '  month  27,  '1556,  and  the  boldness  with  which 
his  friend,  John  Jackson,  another  dissenter,  about 
the  same  era,  withstood  priestly  dictation  in  matters 
of  religious  faith,  fully  indicate  the  spirit  of  our  re- 
mote ancestors.  Even  the  armorial  bearings  of 
the  ancient  feudal  Jacksons,  when  warlike  quali- 
ties were  at  a  premium,  'the  greyhound  and  the 
dolphin,'  *  swiftness  by  land  and  sea,'  was  no  mean 
device  as  indicating  their  standing  before  kings  and 
princes." 

Jane  Jackson,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Jackson  and 


mother  of  James  C.  Jackson  and  John  G.  Jackson » 
was  the  daughter  of  John  Grifl5th,  of  Quakertown, 
Bucks  County,  Pa.,  and  was  of  almost  pure  Welsh 
ancestry,  descending  direct  from  Llewellen  Griffith, 
said  to  have  been  one  of  the  last  native  princes  of 
Wales,  and  occupying  a  castle  on  the  coast  of  County 
Cardigan.  They,  too,  are  of  the  Quaker  strain,  and 
members  of  the  Griffiths  as  well  as  of  the  Jacksons 
have  been  prominent  as  preachers  and  leaders  in  the 
Society  of  Friends.  While  John  G.  Jackson  is  not 
now  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  he  is  an 
ardent  admirer  of  the  simplicity  of  their  lives  and 
practical  integrity  of  character.  He  is  proud  of 
their  record  as  delenders  of  individuality  of  thought 
and  true  liberty  of  conscience.  For  himself  he  is 
now  only  ambitious  to  be  known  as  a  member  of  the 
great  human  brotherhood,  and  a  seeker  after  truth  in 
all  its  highest  and  purest  manifestations.  He  says 
that  the  pursuit  of  science  has  revealed  to  modern 
minds  an  infinite  cosmos ;  that  the  more  it  is  studied 
the  more  plainly  does  it  indicate  one  grand  unity  of 
universal  nature  in  the  perfect  co-existence  and  co- 
adaptation  of  the  material,  the  mental,  the  spiritual, 
seemingly  pervaded  by  one  Supreme  Divine  intelli- 
gence that,  **  without  variableness  or  shadow  of  turn- 
ing," controls  the  whole  by,  and  through,  the  main- 
tenance of  laws  above,  and  that  of  these  controlling 
laws,  the  law  of  growth  and  development  is  one  of  the 
most  persistent  and  important.  Being  thus  impress- 
ed,  it  follows  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  should 
join  the  thousands  of  philosophic  minds  who 
lament  the  conservatism  that  clings  to  the  religious 
theories  and  dogmas  of  people  less  developed  by 
growth,  and  possessing  less  knowledge  than  those  of  to- 
day. Instead  of  seeking  salvation  in  the  schemes  and 
inventions  of  men  of  a  more  barbarous  age  than  this,  he 
advocates  the  seeking  of  it  by  acquiring  a  knowledge  of 
and  a  yielding  due  obedience  to  the  Divine  and  inex- 
orable laws  of  our  own  being.  Instead  of  reading  the 
ancient  histories  of  the  peoples  of  the  past  and  re- 
garding them  as  the  "  Word  of  God," — ^histories  that 
scholarship  is  continually  proving  to  be  less  and  less 
authentic,  more  and  more  mythical  and  legendary, — 
he  pleads  for  the  reading  of  the  "  Word  of  God" 
in  the  great  book  of  nature,  the  grand  cosmos  of  co- 
adapted  material,  mental  and  spiritual  being,  and  in 
that  grand,  ever-open  book  the  finding  of  confirma- 
tion of  all  truths  of  the  past  worth  preserving  and 
the  condemnation  of  all  errors  that  should  be  out- 
grown. 

The  early  tuition  of  Mr.  Jackson  in  the  **  three 
R's"  was  received  from  his  parents  at  home  and  in 
the  neighboring  schools  at  Hockessin.  This  was 
supplemented  by  a  library  of  the  neighborhood, 
whose  books  he  read,  and  he  acquired  his  first  taste 
for  the  study  of  astronomy  from  the  works  of  Robert 
Ferguson  found  therein.  His  mother  stated  that 
when  a  small  boy  he  boasted  that  he  would  become 
an  almanac-maker  when  he  became  a  man.  About 
1882  he  was  sent  to  Westtown  Boarding-Scl^ool,  in 


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928  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


929 


Cheater  County,  Pa.,  an  institution  established  in 
1799  by  the  Philadelphia  Yearly  Meeting  of  Friends, 
and  which  is  now  being  rebuilt,  enlarged  and  im- 
proved. There  he  was  under  the  instruction  of  Enoch 
Lewis,  a  noted  mathematician  and  philosopher,  and 
after  remaining  a  few  terms  as  a  scholar  he  be- 
came an  assistant  teacher.  Finally,  about  1838,  he 
was  appointed  teacher  and  lecturer  on  astronomy  and 
other  branches  of  natural  philosophy.  In  1837,  with 
the  aid  of  the  best  tables  of  the  planet  Venus  then 
accessible,  he  made  the  needful  calculations  for  the 
projection  of  the  transit  of  that  planet  across  the  sun's 
dbk  to  occur  in  1882,  forty-five  years  thereafter.  This 
last  phenomena  had  last  been  observed  in  the  United 
States  by  David  Rittenhouse  in  1769, — the  one  that 
occurred  in  1874  was  invisible  here,  and  was  then  and 
is  now,  though  in  somewhat  less  degree,  regarded  as 
very  important,  as  one  of  the  few  means  of  determining 
the  parallax,  and  thence  the  vast  distauce  of  the  sun, 
so  needful  to  be  known  as  the  grand  unit  of  measure 
of  the  solar  system,  and  of  the  immensities  of  the 
stellar  spaces. 

Leaving  Westtown  on  account  of  failing  health, 
Mr.  Jackson  was  compelled  to  enter  upon  an  active 
out-door  life,  and  about  1839  procured  the  needed  out- 
fit and  commenced  the  business  of  a  surveyor  and 
conveyancer,  after  reading  Blackstone  and  serving  a 
brief  apprenticeship  with  Thomas  Williamson,  a 
prominent  conveyancer  of  Philadelphia.  In  the 
autumn  of  1840,  in  company  with  another  young 
man,  he  drove  from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburgh,  re- 
quiring nine  days*  travel,  a  distance  now  requiring 
scarcely  more  than  nine  hours  by  express  train. 
Then  they  took  a  boat  at  Pittsburgh  and  passed  down 
the  Ohio  River  to  Cincinnati  and  spent  the  following 
winter  at  the  United  States  Land  Office  in  that  city, 
in  transcribing  the  field  notes,  and  constructing  maps 
of  government  surveys  in  Northern  Ohio,  then  only 
being  first  surveyed  into  townships  and  sections  for 
location.  In  the  spring  of  1841,  after  having  wit- 
nessed the  departure  of  Qeneral  Harrison  by  steamer 
from  the  levee  at  Cincinnati,  he  joined  with  an  en- 
terprising school-teacher  of  Hamilton  County  in  a 
tour  through  some  of  the  counties  of  Southern  Ohio, 
lecturing  on  philosophical  subjects,  and  hauling 
through  the  deep  spring  mud  a  respectable  set  of 
apparatus  for  illustrative  experiments,  such  as  elec- 
trical machines,  air-pumps,  etc.  They  did  not  make 
a  fortune  on  their  lecturing  tour,  and  in  the  June 
following  Mr.  Jackson  purchased  a  house  in  Cincin- 
nati, and  rode  in  the  saddle  diagonally  across  the 
southeastern  Counties  of  Ohio,  fording  the  river  at 
Wheeling,  and  thence  over  the  mountains  of  Virginia 
and  Pennsylvania  to  his  home  at  Hockessin. 

On  the  Ninth  [Month  15,  1842,  John  G.  Jackson 
was  married  at  the  Friends*  Meeting-house  at  Parkers- 
ville,  Chester  County,  Penna..  to  Elizabeth  Baily, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Parker  Baily,  sister 
of  Judge  John  P.  Baily,  late  of  West  Chester,  and 
formerlv  civil  engineer  in  the  United  States  service, 
59 


and  engaged  on  the  construction  of  what  is  now  the 
great  Pennsylvania  Railroad  system,  and  other 
branch  lines;  sister  also  of  the  late  Hon.  Joseph 
Baily,  of  Perry  County,  formerly  State  treasurer,  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
member  of  Congress  during  the  administration  of  the 
honored  and  lamented  Abraham  Lincoln ;  sister  also 
of  Abraham,  Ephraim,  Jacob,  Jr.,  Mary,  Susan, 
Eleanor  and  Sarah  Baily,  all  persons  of  strong  char- 
acter. Abraham  was  a  contractor  on  the  construction 
of  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading  Railroad,  and  Sarah 
was  for  many  years  a  useful  teacher  in  the  Westtown 
school. 

The  young  couple  located  at  the  old  homestead  at 
Hockessin,  where  he  became  a  surveyor,  writer  and 
farmer,  and  assisted  in  the  opening  and  development 
of  the  limestone  quarries  and  kilns,  which  soon  be- 
came famous,  and  which  furnished  the  Jackson  lime, 
largely  used  for  building  and  manufacturing  purposes 
in  Wilmington  and  other  parts  of  New  Castle  County, 
as  well  as  the  contiguous  counties  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Maryland.  In  1848,  the  old  homestead  having 
become  antiquated,  he  built  a  substantial  stone  house 
on  [the  hill  above  the  mists  of  the  valley,  and  for 
twenty-seven  years  it  was  the  home  of  himself  and 
family. 

In  1856  the  ominous  murmurs  of  political  troubles 
that  culminated  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  and  the 
overthrow  of  American  slavery  grew  louder  and  more 
influential.  Mr.  Jackson  was  one  of  the  three  hun- 
drtd  and  seven  voters  of  Delaware  who  cast  their 
ballots  for  Colonel  John  C.  Fremont  and  William  L. 
Dayton  for  President  and  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States  in  that  year.  It  was  an  era  that  marked 
the  spontaneous  disintegration  of  the  old  Whig  party, 
and  the  equally  spontaneous  growth  of  the  Republi- 
can party.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  be  was 
exempted  from  military  duty  by  age,  and  having  been 
educated  in  the  schools  of  a  sect  whose  standard  tes- 
timony was  against  all  wars,  he  took  no  part  in  the 
contest  beyond  the  furnishing  of  material  needed  in 
the  extended  operations  of  the  government  At  that 
time  he  was  operating  a  large  steam  saw-mill  in  con- 
nection with  his  lime  quarry  and  kilns,  and  he  sup- 
plied large  quantities  of  lumber  for  the  building  of 
cars,  ships,  etc. 

About  1857,  through  the  influence  of  Jesse  Chan- 
dler, a  family  connection  and  a  prominent  Democrat, 
and  a  friend  of  Governor  Peter  F.  Causey,  Mr.  Jack- 
son was  commissioned  a  notary  public.  After  exer- 
cising the  functions  of  this  office  for  a  term  of  seven 
years,  in  connection  with  his  business  as  a  surveyor 
and  conveyancer,  he  was  reappointed  by  Governor 
Cannon,  March  12, 1864,  the  late  Samuel  M.  Har- 
rington, Jr.,  being  then  Secretary  of  State.  Shortly 
afterward  he  was  unexpectedly  nominated  and  elected 
as  a  Republican  to  the  State  Legislature,  and 
consequently  resigned  his  office  as  notary.  After 
attending  the  regular  session  of  1865,  and  the  extra 
session  of  1866,  he  was  elected  State  Senator  for  four 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


years,  and  served  in  that  capacity  in  1867  and  1869. 
Although  in  the  minority  in  both  Houses,  he  was  a 
working  member  and  exercised  considerable  influence 
in  matters  of  legislation,  especially  in  the  line  of 
various  railroad  corporations,  then  incipient,  but 
which  have  since  become  important  factors  in  the 
internal  progress  of  the  State.  Among  these  was  the 
Wilmington  and  Western  Railroad  CJompany,  and 
after  the  expiration  of  his  Senatorial  term  he  actively 
assisted  in  its  organization,  and  was  a  member  of  its 
flrst  board  of  directors,  of  which  the  late  Joshua  T. 
Heald  was  president.  He  was  active  in  this  capacity 
until  elected  chief  engineer  of  the  road,  and  he  held 
that  position  until  it  was  completed  in  1871.  The 
general  financial  depression  that  followed  affected 
railroad  interests  especially,  and  proved  fatal  to  the 
financial  success  of  the  new  road.  It  accordingly 
passed  into  new  hands,  and  was  reorganized  as  the 
Delaware  Western,  and  as  such  was  operated  until 
its  purchase  by  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
Company,  since  which  time  it  has  been  operated  as 
the  Landenberg  Branch  of  the  Baltimore  and  Phila- 
delphia  Railroad.  From  1871  to  1880,  Mr.  Jackson, 
though  financially  embarrassed,  continued  his  lime 
quarries  and  kilns,  and  finally  disposed  of  the  quar- 
ries and  land  adjacent.  In  the  autumn  of  1878  there 
was  an  effort  made  to  organize  a  Greenback  party  in 
Delaware,  and  after  solicitations  by  a  committee  ap- 
pointed for  the  purpose,  and  an  interchange  of  views, 
Mr.  Jackson  consented  to  allow  his  name  to  be  placed 
on  the  Greenback  ticket  as  a  candidate  for  Congress. 
There  being  no  Republican  ticket  in  the  field  that 
year,  he  received  about  one-fourth  of  the  vote  of  the 
State.  This  he  esteemed  a  special  honor,  since  he 
believes  it  was  largely  owing  to  the  confidence  his 
Republican  friends  felt  in  his  integrity  of  intention. 
Had  there  been  an  active  canvass  made  at  that  time, 
his  chances  of  election,  with  other  parts  of  his  ticket, 
would  doubtless  have  been  good.  He  has  no  regrets 
that,  without  expecting  an  election,  he  allowed  his 
name  to  go  upon  that  ticket  and  to  go  down  to  pos- 
terity with  the  many  good  men,  dead  and  living,  whose 
views  corresponded  with  his  own — that  a  limited 
metallic  basis  for  currency  is  not  conducive  to  the 
completest  industrial  health  of  the  world,  and  that 
well-regulated  representative  money,  founded  upon 
the  whole  wealth  of  a  State,  in  quantities  kept  duly 
proportioned  to  population,  is  the  true  medium  of 
exchange  for  civilized,  established  and  enlightened 
people. 

Though  Mr.  Jackson  is  now  in  his  seventieth  year, 
and  has  retired  somewhat  from  life's  activities,  he  is 
still  at  times  actively  engaged  in  the  field  as  a  surveyor 
and  engineer,  in  his  office  as  justice  of  the  peace  and 
notary  public,  or  in  his  observatory  as  an  amateur 
astronomer,  watching  the  sun,  moon,  planets,  comets 
and  stars  unnumbered,  in  the  depths  of  infinitude. 
In  1882  he  accurately  observed  the  transit  of  Venus, 
co-operating  with  other  amateurs,  and  being  encour- 
aged and  assisted    by  Professor  Hark  n ess,    of  the 


Washington  Naval  Observatory,  who  Wto  president  of 
the  Transit  Commission.  He  has  also  figured  to  some 
extent  in  the  field  of  literature.  In  addition  to  several 
poems  that  have  attracted  attention,  he  has  been  a  pun- 
gent prose  writer,  and  a  voluminous  contributor  to 
the  local  newspapers  on  the  current  topics  of  the 
day. 

Recently  he  has  built  for  his  wife  and  himself,  on  a 
small  piece  of  the  old.  Jackson  land,  a  home  which 
they  call  Sunset  Cottage,  appropriately  named  not 
only  on  account  of  its  pleasant  southwestern  exposure 
to  the  setting  sun,  but  also  because  it  will  probably 
be  the  place  that  shall  witness  the  sunset  of  their 
lives  on  earth,  and  in  which  they  are  waiting  until 
"  The  shadows  have  a  little  longer  grown."  He  and 
his  wife  have  been  married  forty-five  years,  and  have 
seen  their  only  two  sons  well  established  in  life. 
William  B.,  the  elder,  owns  the  homestead  erected  in 
1848,  with  the  larger  part  of  the  farm  then  belonging 
to  it,  situated  on  one  of  the  main  frontages  of  the 
Hockessin  Valley.  Thomas,  the  younger,  after  giv- 
ing efficient  assistance  to  his  father  in  the  engineer- 
ing of  the  Wilmington  and  Western  Railroad,  ob- 
tained a  position  in  the  engineering  corps  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Company  in  charge  of  the  Pittsburgh, 
Fort  Wayne  and  Chicago  Railroad.  He  has  con- 
tinued in  that  employ  ever  since.  Having  married 
Anne  R.,  daughter  of  Spencer  Chandler,  of  Hockessin, 
in  1875,  he  and  his  wife  lived  for  a  time  at  New 
Brighton,  Pennsylvania.  Now  they  own  a  fine  resi- 
dence at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  Thomas  is  en- 
gineer of  maintenance  of  way  on  the  western  division 
of  the  road  from  Crestline  to  Chicago,  and  apparently 
enjoys  the  full  confidence  and  respect  of  his  employ- 
ers. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  are  justly  proud  of  their 
four  grandchildren,  worthy  scions  of  the  Jackson  and 
Chandler  name,  that  gather  around  their  fireside. 
One  of  them  is  named  after  the  martyr,  Ralph  Jack- 
son, and  though  the  days  of  martyrdom  are  past,  they 
predict  that  he  will  prove  a  worthy  descendant  of 
the  Jackson  blood. 

Hotels. — At  the  present  time  there  are  only  two 
hotels  in  Mill  Creek  Hundred,  one  at  Stanton 
and  the  other  at  Hockessin.  As  early  as  1797  Peter 
Springer  obtained  a  license  for  a  hotel  at  Stanton. 
The  hotel  was  kept  in  the  stone  house  now  owned  by 
Solomon  Hersey.  The  hotel  was  next  kept  by  Joseph 
Springer,  William  Simpson,  David  Johnson,  Thomas 
Beatty,  Thomas  Pierce,  Levi  Workman  and  William 
Anthony,  and  has  been  abandoned  for  many  years. 
The  present  hotel  was  built  in  1808  by  James  Stroud,  * 
and  opened  as  a  hotel  about  1830  by  Abraham  Boys. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Springer  McDaniel,  John 
Moore  and  Jacob  Hyatt,  the  present  proprietor. 

The  hotel  at  Hockessin  was  opened  about  ten  years 
ago  by  Daniel  Creeden.  After  his  death  the  license 
was  revoked  for  several  years,  but  was  again  granted 
to  his  widow,  who  conducts  the  hotel  at  present 

There  was  also  a  hotel  at  Mount  Pleasant,  which 
was  opened  for  over  a  hundred  years.    Robert  Mont- 


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930  HISTOBT  OF  DELAWARE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


931 


gomery  was  proprietor  ia  1797.  Jacob  Hopple  and 
Samuel  Miller  have  also  been  proprietors.  The  hotel 
was  closed  in  1885.  William  Reese  was  the  last  pro- 
prietor. 

On  "Polly  Drummond's  Hill"  there  was  a  hotel 
kept  for  several  years,  about  1834^  by  Robert  Gra- 
ham. 

The  hotel  at  Mermaid  was  closed  in  1869.  It  was 
opened  about  1830  by  Brackin,  and  was  afterwards 
conducted  by  William  Ball,  John  Chapman,  George 
Walker,  and  was  closed  by  his  widow. 

About  1818  a  hotel  was  opened  at  Brackinville  by 
William  Brackin.  It  was  managed  by  him  until  his 
death,  and  then  was  run  by  his  widow  until  1876, 
when  it  was  closed. 

Bbandtwike  Springs  is  situated  in  the  western 
part  of  the  hundred.  It  is  a  beautiful  summer  resort 
and  picnic-grounds.  The  place  was  first  improved 
and  a  hotel  erected  by  Matthew  Newkirk  about  fifty 
years  ago.  The  old  hotel  was  a  five-story  building, 
capable  of  accommodating  one  thousand  persons. 
It  was  burned  in  the  winter  of  1852,  while  in  use  as 
an  academy  for  military  cadets,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Smith.  Henry  Clay  and  John  Q. 
Adams  were  said  to  have  rusticated  here  for  some 
time.  Nothing  was  done  with  the  property  until 
about  fifteen  years  after  the  conflagration,  when 
the  private  r^idence  of  Matthew  Newkirk  was  en- 
larged and  converted  into  a  boarding- heuse.  The 
present  house  is  a  three-story  building,  forty  by  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet,  and  spacious  enough  to 
accommodate  three  hundred  pereons.  The  grounds 
are  laid  out  in  walks  and  plentifully  supplied  with 
rustic  benches  and  pavilions.  The  three  springs 
contain  sulphur  and  iron,  and  flow  several  hundred 
gallons  per  day.  The  building  was  enlarged  by  James 
Coil.  The  heirs  of  Franklin  Fell  are  the  present 
owners,  R.  W.  Crook  has  been  proprietor  for  the 
past  two  years.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  .Railroad 
have  a  depot  on  the  grounds. 

John  Mitchell,  farmer,  who  lives  near  Brandy  wine 
Springs,  Mill  Creek  Hundred,  was  born  in  the  hun- 
dred where  he  now  lives  in  1818.  He  is  the  son  of 
Joseph  and  Sarah  Harlan  Mitchell.  The  family  is 
of  English  descent  and  are  all  members  of  the  Society 
of  Friends.  John  Mitchell's  grandfather,  Thomas 
Mitchell,  was  born  in  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  Fourth 
Month  7,  1750,  and  on  arriving  at  the  age  of  man- 
hood married  Lucy  Headley,  of  the  same  county. 
They  had  two  children,  Joseph  and  Hannah,  and  in 
1797  they  removed  to  Mill  Creek  Hundred,  New 
Castle  County,  Delaware,  where  he  became  a'  land- 
owner. Hannah  married  William  Chambers,  of 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  while  Joseph,  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  8ketch,married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Stephen 
and  Elizabeth  Harlan,  of  Chester  County,  Pa.  To 
them  were  born  eleven  children  as  follows :  Eliza- 
beth, who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Gawthrop,  of 
Chester  Couply,  Pa. ;  Thomas,  who  married  idarah 
Greenfield,  of  the  same  county ;  Stephen,  who  married 


Elizabeth  Taylor,  of  his  native  hundred ;  Hannah, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Samuel  Cranston,  son  of 
Simon  and  Hannah  Cranston,  of  Stanton,  Delaware  ; 
John,  the  subject,  who  married,  in  succession,  Sarah 
and  Margaret,  daughters  of  David  and  Elizabeth 
Eastburn,  of  New  Castle  County,  Delaware ;  Harlan, 
Joseph  and  Harlan  (2d,)  all  of  whom  died  in 
childhood ;  Abner,  who  married  Jane,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Jane  Thompson,  of  New  Castle  County, 
Delaware ;  Joseph,  who  married  Hannah,  daughter 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  Cloud,  of  Chester  County, 
Pa.  ;  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  Stephen,  s<tn  of 
David  and  Sarah  Wilson,  of  Hockessin,  Delaware. 

Sarah  Mitchell,  the  mother  of  these  eleven  chil- 
dren, died  Fifth  Month  14, 1834.  at  the  age  of  forty- 
two  years.  On  the  17th  of  Third  Month,1836,  Joseph 
Mitchell  was  married  to  his  second  wife,  Martha, 
daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Susan  Jackson,  of  Hockes- 
sin, Delaware.  He  was  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres  of  land  and  lived  to  see  all  five 
of  his  sons  who  reached  the  age  of  manhood  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  on  adjoining  farms.  He 
was  a  consistent  Friend,held  high  offices  in  the  meet- 
ing and  died  Fourth  Month  22,  1876,  in  the  ninety- 
third  year  of  his  age. 

John  Mitchell  married,  Third  Month  17,  1847, 
Sarah,  daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth  E^Mtbum, 
formerly  of  Montgomery  County,  Pa.,  but  now  of  Mill 
Creek  Hundred.  Of  this  union  came  seven  children 
as  follows  :  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  the  fourteenth  - 
year  of  her  age ;  Thomas  C. ;  Stephen  H.,  who  mar- 
ried Mary  T.,  daughter  of  Samuel  P.  and  Mary  Dixon, 
of  Ashland,  Delaware;  William  J. ;  Anna  M.,  wife  of 
Irwin  D.,  son  of  Matthew  and  Susanna  Wood,  of 
Delaware  County,  Pa. ;  Henry  E.,  who  died  in  the 
twenty-sixth  year  of  his  age ;  and  Mary  R.,  who  died 
'  at  the  age  of  three  months.  In  1861  the  wife  and 
mother  was  removed  by  death  and  the  little  flock  of 
children  was  left  to  the  father's  care.  In  1864  he 
married  Margaret  Eastburn,  a  sister  of  his  former 
wife,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, — Sarah  E.,  who 
died  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  her  age;  and  John  C, 
who  is  still  living.  He  has  also  three  grandchildren — 
his  daughter,  AnnaM.  Wood,  has  two,  named  Wilmer 
and  Sarah,  and  his  son,  Stephen  H.  Mitchell,  has  a 
daughter  named  Alice.  All  his  sons  are  farmers, 
making  four  successive  generations  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  No  member  of  the  family  ever 
uses  tobacco  or  intoxicating  drinks. 

The  subject  has  had  an  active  business  career  for  a 
man  who  has  devoted  almost  his  whole  energies  to 
agriculture.  In  1847  he  purchased  the  Mendenhall 
farm,  near  Brandywine  Spring*,  where  he  remodeled 
the  house,  built  a  new  barn  and  made  other  exten- 
sive improvements.  Next  he  bought  a  farm  near  the 
Mecannon  Church,  on  which  he  also  built  a  new 
barn  and  an  addition  to  the  house.  Having  sold  it  he 
bought  the  Dr.  McCabe  farm,  where,  as  usual,  he 
made  many  improvements,  enlar^^ing  his  barn,  etc. 
This  in  turn  he  sold,  and  bought  the  fine  farm  (with 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


a  large  deposit  of  kaolin,  which  is  now  worked)  on 
which  he  now  lives,  near  Hockessin.  Afterwards  he 
bought  the  Jackson  place  at  Hockessin,  where  he 
overhauled  the  house,  built  an  addition  to  the 
mill,  put  in  a  steam-engine  and  started  a  creamery. 
Since  then  he  has  purchased  the  Dixon  farm,  on 
which  he  has  repaired  the  tenant-house  and  made 
other  improvements.  For  twenty  years  past  he  has 
been  a  director  in  the  Newport  National  Bank  and 
has  also  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  besides 
making  the  general  assessment  of  Mill  Creek 
Hundred. 

Friendship  Lodge,  No.  22, 1.  O.  O.  P.,  was  in- 
stituted in  1850,  with  but  three  charter  members. 
Since  that  time  the  membership  has  rapidly  and 
steadily  increased,  until  at  present  there  are  one 
hundred  and  five  members. 

On  June  9, 1887,  their  new  building  at  Hockessin 
was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies  by  Grand 
Master  S.  T.  Smith.  The  new  building  is  of  brick 
fifty  by  fifty-two  feet,  and  is  three  stories  high.  The 
firdt  story  will  be  used  as  a  store-room,  the  second  as 
a  public  hall,  and  the  third  for  lodge  purposes.  The 
building  committee  was  Thomas  J.  Jones,  J.  M. 
Shakespear,  H.  B.  Klair,  T.  A.  Potts,  G.  P.  Lacey, 
H.  E.  Dumall  and  A.  L.  West.  The  following  are 
the  present  officers:  Edward  Duncan,  N.  G.;  A. 
Lincoln  West,  V.G.;  Henry  B.  Klair,  Treasurer; 
Jacob  Hannas,  P.  S. ;  K.  S.  Chandler,  R.  S. 

Branch  No.  469,  of  the  Order  of  the  Iron 
Hall,  was  organized  at  Stanton  April  15,  1887. 
There  is  every  indication  that  the  society  will  be  a 
very  prosperous  one.  At  present  there  are  twenty-six 
members.  The  following  are  the  present  officers :  Dr. 
G.  W.  Boughman,  P.  C.  J. ;  Thomas  J.  Jones,  C.  J.  ; 
Dr.  L.  H.  Ball,  V.  C.  J. ;  J.  H.  Kirk,  Accountant; 
William  Chandler,  Cashier ;  James  McCrosson,  Ad-* 
juster;  Dr.Franci8L.Springer,Prelate;  Lewis  Dickey, 
Herald  J  Frank  Klair,  Watchman;  Frank  Ball, 
Vedette. 

The  Stanton  Social  Club  was  organized  Novem- 
ber^ 25,  1881.  Its  objects  are  the  acquisition  of 
knowledge  and  social  enjoyment.  A  well-selected 
library  is  kept  in  the  club-room  for  the  use  of  the 
members.  During  the  winter  regular  literary  exercises 
are  conducted  by  the  members.  The  membership  at 
its  origin  numbered  twelve,  and  at  the  present  time 
twenty-eight.  The  present  officers  are :  President,  C. 
P.  Dickey;  Secretary,  Lewis  Dickey;  Treasurer, 
John  W.  Bennett. 

Fairview  Lodge,  No.  8,  L  O.  G.  T.,was  instituted 
at  Pleasant  Hill,  in  the  fall  of  1885,  with  a  member- 
ship of  twenty-eight.  Rapid  strides  have  been  made 
by  this  organization,  and  it  now  boasts  of  one  hundred 
and  sixteen  members.  The  lodge  meets  on  Saturday 
evening  in  winter  and  Wednesday  evening  in  summer, 
in  Fairview  School-house. 


CHAPTER    XLVIL 
white  clay  creek  hundred. 

White  Clay  Creek  Hundred  is  bounded  by  White 
Clay  and  Christiana  Creeks,  Pencader  Hundred  and 
the  Circle.  It  derived  its  name  from  White  Clay 
Creek,  which  was  so  called  on  account  of  the  deposits 
of  white  clay  on  the  banks  of  this  stream.  The  ter- 
ritory included  within  these  limits  is  of  an  irregular 
shape  and  comprises  eighteen  thousand  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  ;  the  most  of  which  is  in  a  state  of  cul- 
tivation. The  surface  is  uneven  being  broken  by 
numerous  hills.  The  land  is  well-watered  by  many 
small  streams,  which  rise  and  flow  within  its  bounds. 
The  soil  is  of  a  clay-nature,  and  produces  the  usual 
cereals,  fruits  and  vegetables  in  abundance.  The 
climate  is  wholesome  and  invigorating.  The  Phila- 
delphia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore,  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio,  and  the  Newark  and  Delaware  City 
Railroads  pass  through  this  hundred,  and  afford 
excellent  facilities  for  travel  and  commerce. 

Early  Settlers.— The  first  settlements  in  White 
Clay  Creek  Hundred  were  made  more  than  two  hun- 
dred years  ago  by  the  representatives  of  several  nations 
driven  here  by  the  persecutions  at  home,  or  impelled 
by  the  love  of  adventure.  These  settlements  were 
made  with  the  intention  of  securigag  permanent 
abodes,  and  were  not  merely  of  a  transient  nature, 
T^e  pioneers  were  well-adapted  to  undertake  a  life 
devoid  of  all  comfort  save  that  afforded  by  the 
home. 

About  1672,  Governor  Nichols  granted  a  patent  for 
a  tract  of  eight  hundred  acres,  known  by  the  name  of 
"  Muscle  Cripple,"  to  Thomas  Wollaston,  John  Ogle, 
John  Hendrick  and  Harmon  Jansen  or  Johnson. 
This  tract  was  on  White  CJay  Creek,  near  the  head 
of  Bread  and  Cheese  Island,  and  extended  about  half 
a  mile  up  the  stream.  John  Ogle  assigned  alt  his 
rights  to  this  tract  to  John  Edmonson,  and  the  sale 
was  confirmed  by  patent,  January  15,  1675.  On 
April  30, 1677,  Edmonson  assigned  his  rights  to  John 
Yeo,  an  Episcopal  Minister,  from  Maryland,  and  he 
conveyed  his  estate  to  John  Smith,  in  1678,  for  sixteen 
thousand  pounds  of  tobacco  in  Casques.  Smith  was 
the  owner  in  1702,  JEind  at  that  time  the  tract  included 
one  thousand  and  sixty  acres,  and  reached  from 
White  Clay  Creek  to  Christiana  Creek,  and  the  road 
to  Christiana  Village  ran  through  this  property.  It 
it  probable  that  at  this  time  he  was  the  sole  owner. 
The  property  is  now  owned  by  Henry  L.  Churchman 
and  the  heirs  of  Thomas  Clyde. 

On  April  13, 1676,  a  patent  for  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land,  along  White  Clay  Creek,  was 
granted  to  Peter  Thomason,  a  native  of  England. 

John  Nommers,  or  Nommerson,  a  Swede,  settled 
on  a  tract  of  land  which  he  bought  of  the  Indians, 
and  also  asked  for  a  grant  of  the  land.  On  the  3d 
of  October,  1677,  he  presented  a  petijtion  in  court 
**  showing  that  he  had  bought  of  ye  Indians  a  piece 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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of  land  in  ye  Wittekleys  Valley,  containing  three 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  ye  same  land  was 
since  surveyed  by  Mr.  Wharton,  after  which  he  had 
got  a  Patent  for  ye  same."— (March  25, 1676.)  He 
also  showed  that  he  was  hindered  from  seating  the 
land  by  John  Edmonds,  and  desired  the  Court  to  give 
him  peaceable  possession,  which  was  granted.  He 
also  was  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Mill  Plot.  His 
land  lay  on  both  sides  of  White  Clay  Creek.  On 
September  5, 1682,  he  sold  one-half  of  the  land  on 
the  north  side,  to  Joseph  Barnes,  and  the  other  half 
to  Thomas  WoUaston,  and  reserved  for  himself  the 
land  on  the  south  side,  where  he  resided.  He  re- 
ceived a  warrant  for  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the 
south  side  of  the  White  Clay  Creek,  September  5, 
1682,  which  was  surveyed  to  him,  September  13,  the 
same  year. 

On  August  16,  1682,  '*  Northampton,"  a  tract  of 
two  hundred  acres,  was  surveyed.  This  tract  was 
bounded  on  the  south  by  the  main  run  of  the  Chris- 
tiana Creek.  Also  a  tract  of  seventy-four  acres,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Christiana,  called  "  Eagles 
Point,"  which  was  surveyed  December  8, 1683.  Both 
of  these  tracts  were  owned  by  John  Ogle.  John 
Ogle  settled  in  this  country  about  1667,  and  lived  for 
a  time  at  New  Castle.  He  purchased  large  tracts  of 
land  in  different  parts  of  the  county,  and  for  several 
years  resided  on  "Swart  Neuten  Island,"  later-known 
as  "  Lewden  Island,"  which  is  in  Christiana  Creek 
and  New  Castle  Hundred.  He  also  purchased  other 
land  on  White  Clay  Creek,  lying  in  Mill  Creek 
Hundred,  containing  four  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 
which  were  surveyed  October  14, 1683.  The  property 
of  John  Ogle  was  inherited  by  his  sons,  Thomas  and 
John.  On  July  28,  1739,  Thomas  procured  seven 
hundred  and  ninety  acres,  lying  on  the  northwest 
side  of  Christiana  Creek.  On  October  18, 1739,  he 
took  out  a  warrant  for  a  tract  of  land  containing 
seven  hundred  and  forty  acres,  west  of  the  land  above 
mentioned,  and  extending  nearly  as  far  west  as 
Newark.  He  settled  at  the  place  now  known  as 
Ogletown,  which  place  bore  that  name  before  1667,  as 
in  that  year  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Ogletown  to 
Elk  River.  Thomas  Ogle  made  his  will  January  26, 
1768,  and  died  in  1773,  and  is  buried  in  a  private 
burying-ground,  near  Ogletown.  Several  children 
survived  him,  of  whom  a  daughter,  Mary,  married 
Dr.  William  McMechen.  Dr.  McMechen  resided  at 
Christiana  Bridge,  on  the  Dr.  Reese  Jones  lot,  which 
was  inherited  by  his  wife  from  her  father*s  estate. 
The  grist-mill,  saw-mill  and  appurtenances,  and  all 
land  lying  on  the  fork  of  the  road  leading  from  Ogle- 
town to  Elk  River  and  Newark,  was  devised  to  his 
sons,  Robert,  Joseph,  James  Howard  and  Benjamin, 
and  was  divided  among  them  by  an  Act  of  partition. 
James  Ogle  resided  on  the  homestead,  at  Ogletown, 
and  Joseph  and  Benjamin  near  by,  on  parts  of  the 
&rm  land  apportioned  to  them. 

Thomas  Ogle,  of  Wilmington,  and  Benjamin  N. 
Ogle,  of  Delaware  City,  are  sons  of  Howard,  and 


grandsons  of  Benjamin  Ogle.  Catharine  Ogle, 
another  daughter  of  Thomas  Ogle,  of  Ogletown,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Peter  Lamoyne,  and  inherited  two 
hundred  acres  from  her  father.  This  was  sold  in 
1784,  by  her  and  her  husband,  as  follows  :  Sixty- 
four  acres,  July  8,  to  Wiltiam  McClay,  who,  August 
12,  of  the  same  year,  sold  the  same  to  James  and 
John  Black ;  twenty  acres,  July  28,  to  Solomon  Max- 
well ;  July  23,  ten  acres  to  John  Hall,  tobacconist ; 
ten  acres,  July  28,  to  John  Hannah;  five  acres, 
August  7,  to  James  Couper ;  eleven  acres,  August  19, 
to  Robert  Porter,  merchant ;  ten  acres,  August  19,  to 
George  Wirt,  inn-keeper ;  August  7,  lot  to  James 
Caldwell,  butcher;  and  August  12,  lotto  John  Pal- 
mer, cooper.  This  land  was  probably  in  and  near 
Christiana  Village. 

The  entire  estate  has  passed  out  of  the  hands  of 
the  Ogles.  The  other  son  of  John  Ogle,  also  named 
John,  on  March  16, 1696,  purchased  a  tract  of  seventy- 
five  acres,  at  Christiana  Bridge.  On  the  same  day  he 
sold  three  hundred  acres,  at  White  Clay  Creek,  to 
John  Crawford,  who  on  the  same  date  bought  a 
plantation  on  St.  George's  Creek,  of  Edward  Gibbs, 
High  Sheriff*.  On  August  15,  1699,  Ogle  purchased 
of  Joseph  Clayton,,  four  hundred  and  forty-four 
acres  of  land,  at  White  Clay  Creek.  On  January  10, 
1684,  a  warrant  was  granted  to  Broer  Sinnex  or  Sin- 
nexen,  for  three  hundred  acres  of  land  called 
"  Water  Land"  lying  on  both  sides  of  White  Clay 
Creek,  above  Dividing  Run  Creek.  He  also  owned  a 
tract  called  "  Middleburgh,"  on  north-side  of  Chris- 
tiana Creek,  obtained  on  same  date  as  above.  It  ex- 
tended to  Mill  Creek,  and  contained  sixty  acres  of 
swamp,  and  four  hundred  and  forty-five  acres  of 
forest  land.  This  land  is  probably  part  of  the  terri- 
tory on  which  Christiana  is  located. 

On  December  24, 1684,  a  warrant  was  granted  to 
William  Rakestraw  for  a  tract  of  land  in  White  Clay 
Creek  Hundred,  bounded  on  the  south  by  Christiana 
Creek  and  on  the  west  by  land  of  Thomas  Langshaw, 
containing  five  hundred  acres.  This  land  was  sur- 
veyed March  24,  1686,  and  sold  by  Rakestraw  to 
Colonel  John  French,  September  11, 1716.  This  land 
is  situated  near  Piatt  and  Elkinton's  Mills. 

On  August  11,  1699,  the  Pennsylvania  Land  Com- 
pany purchased  a  tract  of  land  containing  thirteen 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  situated  in  this  hun- 
dred. Of  this  tract  the  following  amounts  were  pur- 
chased in  1762  :  by  David  Evans  four  hundred  and 
seventy-five  acres,  March  27;  by  James  McSparran 
ninety  acres,  February  26 ;  and  one  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-six acres  by  Samuel  Armitage,  May  9. 

On  August  19,  1707,  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land,  the  property  of  Joseph  Moore,  was  sold  by  Colonel 
John  French,  sheriff",  and  purchased  by  John  Steel, 
who  came  from  Ireland  and  settled  at  Philadelphia. 
John  Steel  purchased  other  lands  in  White  Clay  Creek 
Hundred  which,  at  his  death,  passed  into  the  hands 
of  his  son  James.  Most  of  this  land  was  inherited  re- 
spectively by  Alexander,  Allen,  Thomas,  and  is  now 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


owned  by  James  T.  Steel.  Reese  Jones,  sometimes 
mentioned  as  a  tanner  and  at  other  timei  as  a  doctor, 
was  the  owner  of  considerable  property  in  this  hun- 
dred. In  1737  he  owned  a  tract  of  land,  near  Christiana 
Village,  in  the  forks  of  a  road  that  separated  at  the 
end  of  the  village.  One  part  extended  from  the  town 
toward  Conestoga,  and  the  other  towards  Battells 
Mills  (now  Piatt  &  Elkinton)  and  the  Welsh  tract. 
On  November  19,  1739,  he  purchased  a  tract  con- 
taining two  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres  of  patent 
land,  and  forty  Micres  of  warrant  land,  which  had 
been  successively  owned  by  Daniel  James,  Allen 
Dunlap,  Melchior  Rogers,  Reynold  Howell,  and  Ca- 
tharine Leoline.  He  also  purchased  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  acres,  which  was  warranted  to  Alexander 
Fraime,  July  26, 1715,  and  surveyed  December  24, 1739. 
Dr.  Jones  also  owned  other  land  in  this  and  Pencader 
Hundred.  Rev.  George  Gillespie,  pastor  of  head  of 
Christiana  Church,  purchased  from  John  Ogle,  March 
17,  1716,  a  tract  of  land  containing  forty -one  acres, 
which  was  part  of  a  larger  tract  patented  to  Ogle,  Oc- 
tober 26,  1702.  He  also  purchased,  on  the  15th  of 
May  1728,  one  hundred  acres,  which  was  part  of  five 
hundred  acres  surveyed  to  John  Oj^le,  and  by  him 
sold  to  Morgan  Patten,  January  23,  1702.  On  the  2d 
of  August  1710  Patten  sold  to  Geo.  Policy,  who,  on 
August  7,  1713,  conveyed  to  Nicholas  Mears,  from 
whom  Gillespie  purchased.  These  and  other  tracts, 
afterwards  purchased,  were  inherited  by  his  children 
— Samuel,  George,  Elizabeth  and  Agnes.  The  forty- 
one  acre  tract,  above  mentioned,  was  part  of  the  land 
ownedbyJonas  Asken,  who  also  sold  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  called  "Westminster,"  to  John  White, 
clerk  of  the  Court  at  New  Castle.  By  reason  of  a  war- 
rant granted  to  Samuel  Allen,  November  8,  1739, 
there  was  surveyed  to  him  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
ninety-four  acres,  lying  on  both  sides  of  a  road  lead- 
ing from  Welsh  Tract  to  Christiana,  "  including  an 
improvement  which  by  the  best  information  I  could 
get  has  been  settled  eighteen  or  twenty  years.''  On 
October  18, 1739,  a  patent  was  granted  by  the  pro- 
prietaries to  Benjamin  Gibbs  for  a  tract  of  six  hun- 
dred and  sixty-eight  acres,  on  the  northeast  side  of 
Christiana  Creek,  five  hundred  of  which  were  sold  by 
Gibbs,  in  1742,  to  Samuel  Meteer.  On  August  25, 
1767,  four  hundred  and  fifly-fouracres  of  land  in  White 
Clay  Creek  Hundred  was  surveyed  by  John  Stapler, 
deputy  surveyor  of  New  Castle  County.  This  was  di- 
vided among  the  following  persons :  James  Simpson, 
two  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres;  Neil  Morrison, 
fifty  acres;  Allen  Gillespie,  forty-six  acres;  Samuel 
Wilson,  sixteen  acres;  Paul  Jaquets,  one  hundred 
and  seven  acres.  These  tracts  passed  through  various 
hands  until  they  became  vested  in  the  present  owners, 
some  by  descent  which  are  few  and  others  by  pur- 
chase. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  assessment  list  of 
White  Clay  Creek  Hundred  for  the  year  1804 : 


Aaderioiii,  John,  eit. 
Anderson,  John  (tobacconift). 


Aliens,  Charles,  est. 
Anderson,  Thomas. 


Anderson,  James. 
Anderson,  Wm. 
Armstrung,  David. 
Armstrong,  James. 
Armstrong,  Edward. 
Adams,  George,  est 
Armstrong,  Ann,  est. 
Andersons,  Mary,  eat. 
Allen,  Patrick. 
Bonrk,  Edwvrd. 
Baxter,  Wm. 
Bradford,  Jamea. 
Black,  Mary,  est. 
Bradley,  Wnu 
Bailey,  John. 
Black,  John. 
Brannon,  Isaac. 
Bayard,  Tliomas. 
Battin,  Zara. 
Black,  Joseph. 
Boms,  Joseph,  est. 
Barrs,  Robert,  est 
Boyd,  Bei^. 
Booths,  Thomas,  est  ' 
Belcher,  IXeborah. 
Baggs,  James. 
Bines,  Maxwell,  est 
Boyd,  Henry. 
Cannon,  Abraham. 
Chamberlin.  Joseph. 
Couper,  JamM,  Sr. 
Conper,  James,  Jr. 
Conrrender,  Frederic, 
Cowan,  Joseph. 
Oann,  Isaac. 
Chambers,  BeqJ.' 
Chambers,  Samnel. 
Chambers,  Joseph. 
Cochrmns,  Samuel,  eat. 
Chambers,  John,  Sr. 
Chambers,  Richard.' 
Campbel,  John. 
Clements,  Fergus. 
Coochs,  Wm.,  est 
Crawford,  Eaton. 
Clouard,  Wm. 
Chambers,  John,  Jr. 
Crawford,  James. 
Dougherty,  Alice. 
Durgan,  John. 
Dick,  James. 
Dond,  George. 
Doran,  James. 
Dawson,  Mary. 
DufTee,  James. 
Deford,  Mary. 
Douglass,  Gray. 
Dixons,  Wm.,  est 
DeTon,  Jesse. 
Dunlap,  Wm. 
Evans,  Wm. 
Earl,  John. 
Erwins,  David,  est 
Evans,  John  (carpenter). 
Ferguson,  Samuel. 
Ferguson,  John. 
Ferrel,  Hugh. 
Forrester,  Alexander. 
Francis,  John. 
Fulton,  John. 
Forsyth,  George. 
Fisher,  Andrew,  est 
Glenn,  Sarah. 
Glllen,  Phillip. 
Graham,  Charles. 
Gillespie,  George. 
Olasoon,  Robert 
Glackin,  NeU. 


Groves,  Jonathan. 
Glascon,  John. 
Grievee,  Bd%rard. 
Goudy,  John. 
Glaacons,  James,  est. 
Garretson.  Wm. 
Gillespie,  Nathl. 
Qllleapie.  Major,  Sr. 
Holingsworth,     Levi,      est, 

(wharfs  and  store). 
Hershey,  Isaac. 
Hill,  Eleanor. 
Hall,  John,  Jr. 
Hossi  nger,  Joseph. : 
Hawthorne,  Wm.  and  Thos» 

est 
Hanna,  John. 
Holland,  Thomas. 
Hall,  Moses,  Sr. 
Hall,  Moses,  Jr. 
Hall,  Richard. 
Hall,  John,  Sr. 
Hossinger,  Peter. 
Herdman,  John. 
Hutton,  Simon. 
Henderson,  Thomas,  est. 
Hillis,  Alex. 
Hielcimer,  Thomas  W. 
Hill,  Humphrey. 
Hamilton,  Jamts,  est 
Hollingsworth,  Thomas  and 

Samuel  est 
Hiil,  John  (Blickman). 
Hopper,  Samnel. 
Hopper,  Levi. 
Hillis,  Stephen,  est. 
Hull,  Wm.,  est 
Harwood,  Peter. 
Howells,  Richard,  est 
Higffins,  Joseph. 
Janvier,  Joseph. 
Jaquet,  Paul. 
Jones,  Enoch,  est 
Israel.  Lawrence. 
Jackson,  James.' 
Israel,  Joseph,  Esq  (mill,  etc). 
Jones  and  Robinsons,  est. 
Kerr,  Andrew. 
Kerr,  James,  Sr. 
Kerrel,  Ellas. 
Kerr,  Samuel. 
Kagy,  Abraham. 
Kerr,  James,  Jr. 
Lockhart,  Robert 
Lambert,  Robert 
Lewis,  Joel. 
Lewis,  Mary,  est 
Lewis,  Phillip,  Esq. 
Lewden,  John,  Sr ,  est. 
Lotton,  Ralf. 
Lackeys,  James,  est 
Lee,  John. 
Linderman,  John. 
Latimer,  Thos.,  Henry  Gettls 

and  John  Brook,  est. 
Moody,  Sarah. 
McWarrell,  Charles. 
McGuire,  Dennis. 
Murphy,  John. 
McConkey,  David. 
Mclntire,  Thomas. 
McGee,  John. 
Mossgrove,  James. 
McKinley,  John. 
McGregor,  Samuel. 
Montgomery,  Robert 
Morrison,  David,  Robwt  and 
Douglas. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


936 


Mclntlre,  Wm, 
McCrmcken,  James. 
McCoy,  Nath'l  and  Jamea. 
McBeath,  John. 
McGlellan,  Wm. 
Moore,  Archibald. 
McGregor,  Hugh. 
McBeatb,  Alex.,  Esq. 
Moore,  Jamea. 
MooBgroTe,  Wm. 
McDeade,  John. 
Martin,  Alex. 
Maree,  Thomai. 
McCreary,  Thomas. 
Maxwell,  John. 
Manroes,  George,  est 
Marphey,  Robert. 
McManue,  Hugh. 
Mclntires,  Thomas,  est 
Mclntire,  John,  est. 
McOaFmonts,  James,  est. 
Mcaays,  Wm.,  est. 
Maree,  Andrew. 
McDill,  Wm. 
McGallion,  Thomas. 
Montgomery,  Alex. 
Meloy,  Wm. 

Millers,  Bobt  and  Morrow,  est 
McCutchen,  Thomas. 
McAloon,  Andrew. 
Mclntire,  Samuel. 
McDill,  Widow. 
McCreery,  Rev.  John,  est 
Morton,  Wm. 
McKean,  Thou.,  est. 
Mingling,  Frederic. 
Meredith,  Samuel. 
Meteer,  Thomas. 
Mason,  Arthur. 
Millons,  Archibald,  est 
McCartney,  Elinor. 
McGnire,  Esther. 
McMechen,  Wm.,  Esq. 
McGlaughlins,  George,  est 
Maxwell,  Wm. 
Niven,  David. 
Niven,  Samuel. 
Magles,  Mickle,  est 
Nagle,  SamueL 
Ogle,  Bobert 
Ogles,  Joseph,  est 
Ogle,  Priscilla. 
Ogle,  SamueL 
Ogle,  George. 
Ogle,  Bei\J. 
Ogles,  James,  est 
Ochittrees,  John,  est 
Ogle,  Thomas. 
Ochittree,  Elizabeth. 
OllTor,  Andrew. 
0* Daniel,  John. 
O'Daniela,  Francis,  est 
O'Daniel,  Peter,  Jr. 
Pugh,  Alex. 
Patterson,  Susanna. 
Phillips,  Thomas. 
Pratt,  George. 
Price,  John. 
Prichets,  John,  est 
Prichet,  Tobias. 
Pricbet  Jesse. 
Prichet  Wm 
Prichet,  Joeeph. 
Piatt,  Margery. 
Platts,  Samuel,  est 
Plerson,  Thomas,  Fr. 
Pierson,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Patterson,  Bei^  ,  est. 


Price,  James. 
Port«r,  Darid. 
Preston,  Daniel. 
Peeiy,  Mary,  and  Sarah  Haw- 
thorns, est 
Pririns,  James  (blackman). 
Quillan,  Nathan. 
Reynolds,  Rebecca. 
Reynolds,  George,  est 
Rogers,  Robert,  est 
Reece,  Lewis. 
Robinson,  John,  Sr. 
Rnpel,  Geerge. 
Rhoads,  Joeeph. 
Rhoads,  Robert. 
Ringold,  Samuel. 
Robinson,  John,  Jr. 
Robinson,  Wm.,  est 
Rupels,  Oliver,  est 
Reads,  James,  est 
Roes,  James,  sst. 
*Read,  George. 
Reese,  John,  Sr. 
Reese,  John,  Jr. 
Robinson,  Henry. 
Robinson,  John. 
Reece,  David  L. 
Robinson,  Richard. 
Robinson,  Wm.  (carpenter). 
Sterrett,  Joseph. 
Scott,  Wm. 
Slmson,  Wm. 
Stewart,  James. 
Steel,  Allen. 
Steel,  Mary. 
Shannon,  Wm. 
Stanton,  John. 
Stanton,  BenJ. 
Simonton,  John. 
Scott,  Andrew. 
Stroup,  Uriah. 
Smith,  Robert  L. 
Sergeant,  Obadiah. 
Sergeant,  John. 
Shields,  Robert,  est 
Shakspear,  John. 
Smith,  Wm.  T.  and  Samuel 
Richards,  est.  (mills,  etc.). 
Smith,  John. 
Snow,  James. 
Scots,  John,  est 
Sanbum,  John. 
Singletons,  Wm,  est. 
Sergeant,  Wm. 
Thomas,  Richard,  est. 
Tatlows,  Joseph,  est 
Tweedy,  Simon. 
Thompson,  Ell. 
Terrel,  George. 
Taughan,  Dr.  John,  est 
Yantrump,  John. 
Virt,  Philip. 
Wildays,  John,  est 
Woodrows,  Henry,  est 
Welsh,  Thomas. 
Wilson,  James. 
Weir,  Wm. 
Walkers,  John,  est 
Waugh,  John. 
Wilson,  John. 
Whitelock,  James. 
Woods,  George. 
Williamson,  Samuel. 
Wilsons,  Samuel,  est 
Wright  Wm. 
Welsh,  Sylvester  (wharf). 
Wilsons,  James,  est. 
Wilkin,  Stephen.** 


^HOOLS. — Previous  to  the  organization  of  the 
public  school  system,  various  private  schools  were 
held  throughout  the  hundred.  The  names  of  James 
P.  Smith,  Thos.  Barry,  Reese  Stroud,  William  Stap- 
ler, Stephen  Willis  and  William  Medill  afterward 
€k>vernor  of  Ohio,  are  remembered  as  teachers  in  this 
hundred  during  the  early  part  of  this  century.  The 
Newark  Academy  was  also  patronized  by  those  living 
in  the  vicinity  of  Newark.  The  school  divisions  are 
not  confined  to  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred,  but  in 
several  cases  overlap  and  include  part  of  the  adjacent 
hundreds.  By  the  first  division  of  the  hundreds 
into  ftchool  districts  there  were  five — Nos.  40,  41,  42, 
43  and  44 — lying  wholly  within  the  hundred  and  two 
— Nos.  38  and  39 — which  included  portions  of  territory 
of  White  Clay  Creek  and  Mill  Creek  Hundreds.  The 
idea  of  taxing  all  the  inhabitants  for  school  purposes 
was  liked  by  some  and  by  others  disliked.  Some  of 
the  schools  were  well  attended  and  at  others  the 
pupils  were  few.  The  first  public  school  at  McClel- 
landville  was  taught  by  Miss  Martha  Chambers,  and 
on  the  first  day  there  were  but  three  scholars,  Andrew 
McBride,  Mary  J.  Smith  and  John  M.  Singles.  The 
building  was  poorly  constructed,  and  furnished  with- 
out any  attempt  at  comfort  or  convenience.  There 
are  now  several  school  buildings  neatly  constructed 
and  well  furnished  for  school  purposes. 

Roads. — Soon  after  the  first  settlers  came  into  this 
hundred  roads  became  a  necessity  and  were  con- 
structed. The  date  of  the  construction  of  the  earliest 
roads  there  is  no  way  of  ascertaining.  The  records 
show  that  in  1723  a  road  w&s  laid  out  "  from  the  head 
of  Elk  to  New  Castle  and  Christine  Bridge,"  and 
that  previous  to  this  the  New  Munster  Road  had  been 
located,  and  that  it  ran  near  the  present  site  of  New- 
ark. In  May,  1765,  the  report  of  the  commissioners 
appointed  to  view  a  road  from  Newark  towards  Lan- 
caster was  confirmed.  The  return  contains  the  follow- 
ing clause  :  "  We  went  upon  the  sd  road  and  viewed 
it,  and  Layd  out  the  same  by  Course?  and  Distances 
in  a  general  way,  as  the  old  road  now  is  only  staiten- 
ing  several  courses  of  the  same."  That  the  road  from 
Ogletown  to  the  head  of  Elk  River  was  constructed 
previous  to  1774  is  obvious  from  the  fact  that  in  that 
year  a  petition  was  made  to  have  some  parts  of  it 
altered,  which  petition  was  granted. 

On  March  5,  1812,  the  Levy  Court  ordered  a  stone 
arch  bridge  to  be  built  at  Christiana  at  a  cost  of 
$1200.  The  contract  was  awarded  September  1,  of 
the  same  year  to  Thos.  Justis,  of  Mill  Creek  Hundred. 
On  February  1,  1813,  a  Turnpike  Company,  which 
proposed  opening  a  road  from  the  New  Castle  Turn- 
pike to  the  Maryland  line,  through  the  villages  of 
Christiana  and  New  Castle,  was  incorporated.  In 
March  1832,  the  report  of  the  commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  view  a  road  from  Ogletown  to  A.  K.  Rus- 
sel's  meeting-house,  rta.  England's  mill,  was  approved. 
In  February  1834,  the  bridge  over  White  Clay  Creek 
at  Price's  mill,  which  was  commenced  in  1833,  was 
completed  at  a  cost  of  $1642.86.     At  various  o:her 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


times  and  from  other  locations  roads  have  been  con- 
structed and  altered  and  bridges  built,  until  at  the 
present  time  the  roads  are  numerous  and  in  first- 
class  condition,  and  the  streams  spanned  with  neat 
and  durable  bridges. 

Religious  Matters. — Head  of  Christiana  Church, 
— The  organization  of  this  church  was  effected  in 
1708,  by  the  Alexanders  and  other  Scotch-Irish 
settlers,  who  previous  to  this  time  worshipped  at 
New  Castle.  From  this  year  until  1713,  services 
were  conducted  semi-monthly  by  Rev.  John  Wilson, 
pastor  of  the  church  at  New  Castle.  The  first  meet- 
ing-house was  a  log-building  and  stood  in  the  grave- 
yard north  of  the  present  church.  Rev.  George 
Gillespie,  a  native  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  and  graduate 
of  the  University  of  that  city,  came  to  this  country  in 
1712,  and  in  the  following  year  became  the  regular 
pastor  of  this  church. 

In  1732,  James  Steel  made  a  lease  to  Samuel  John- 
son, John  Cross,  Alexander  White,  William  Semple, 
David  Alexander,  Andrew  Wallace  and  their  succes- 
sors, for  a  tract  of  land  containing  two  acres 
"  already  laid  out  for  and  towards  the  Erecting  and 
Building  thereon  a  new  House  for  the  exercise  of 
Divine  Worship  by  those  protestant  Dissenters  com- 
monly called  presbyterians.''  On  this  tract  of  land 
the  church,  in  1750,  was  erected.  It  is  said  that  no 
fire  was  allowed  in  the  old  church  on  account  of  the 
danger  thereby  incurred.  Rev.  Gillespie  faithfully 
labored  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1760. 

In  1735,  he  wrote  '^  A  treatise  against  the  Deists  or 
Free  Thinkers,  Proving  the  Necessity  of  Revealed 
Religion,"  which  was  printed  by  A.  Bradford,  of 
Philadelphia.  November  15,  1749,  the  elders  and 
trustees  released  to  George  Gillespie,  a  tract  of  land, 
a  part  of  two  hundred  acres  patented  to  John  Ogle, 
January  23,  1702,  and  by  him  sold,  August  2,  1710, 
to  George  Pelleg,  who  conveyed  it  to  Nicholas  Mears, 
August  17,  1713,  and  by  him  sold  to  George  Gillespie, 
May  15, 1728,  who,  July  26, 1733,  gave  it  to  the  elders 
and  trustees  of  this  church.  The  land  was  released 
to  Gillespie  upon  condition  **  that  he  would  release  it 
back  again  for  the  pious  use  to  help  build  a  brick 
meeting-house  near  or  close  by  Mr.  Gillespie's  old 
meeting-house,  the  members  being  poor  again.*' 
Andrew  Wallace,  John  Rankin,  Nathaniel  Brier, 
William  Wallace,  Thomas  Weer,  Joseph  Wallace, 
Moses  Scot  and  John  Steel  were  at  this  time  the 
elders  and  trustees  of  the  "  protestant  Presbyterian 
session  of  the  Protestant  Presbyterian  Congregation 
of  Head  of  Christiana  Church."  In  1750  a  new 
brick  building  was  erected  for  holding  services,  which 
was  destroyed  by  fire  on  Sunday  March  14, 1858,  des- 
pite the  efforts  of  the  assembled  congregation  to  save  it. 
Action  was  immediately  taken  towards  the  erection 
of  a  new  building  and  such  progress  was  made  with 
the  work  that  the  church  was  nearly  completed  the 
same  year.  On  September  1, 1787,  the  congregat'on 
of  this  church  elected  Joseph  Wallace,  Thomas 
Rankin,  William  Price,  James  Kerr,  Samuel  Evans, 


William  Thompson  and  George  Gillespie,  trustees. 
On  the  19th  day  of  March,  1859,  the  congregation 
assembled  to  see  the  new  edifice  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  God.  Since  that  time  the  church  has 
moved  along  without  any  drawbacks  or  hindrances. 
Since  its  organization  its  pulpit  has  been  filled  by  only 
six  regular  pastors,  viz.:  Revs.  George  Gillespie, 
John  McCrery,  Andrew  K.  Russell,  Elijah  Wilson, 
Joseph  Barr  and  James  L.  Yallandingham,  who  has 
been  stationed  here  since  1853.  The  cemetery  to  the 
north  of  the  church  dates  as  far  back  as  the  erection 
of  the  first  church.  The  date  of  death  on  the  oldest 
gravestone  is  1758.  Revs.  George  Gillespie,  John 
McCrery,  A.  K.  Russell,  John  Waugh,  Pierce  Cham- 
berlain and  Hugh  Hamill,  are  buried  here. 

The  following  inscription  is  on  the  tomb  of  the  Rev. 
George  Gillespie  in  th^cemetery  of  Head  of  Christi- 
ana Church,  he  being  the  first  ordained  pastor  of  said 
church : 

**  Sacred  to  the  memory  of 
The  Ret.  Ms.  Oeohok  Qillkspu* 
who  wsf  a  sound  Divinei 
An  useful,  practical  Preacher, 
Eminent  for  Piety, 
Zeal  for  the  Honours  of  Christ's  House 
and  erery  social  rirtue ; 
.  A  tender  Husband  and  indulgent  Parent, 
A  good  master,  a  warm  Friend  ; 
Ckiurteous,  Hospitable,  nererdisconteBted. 
With'an  income  narrow  &  vrj  uncertain. 
He  spent  mnch  time  in  Prayer  A  Meditation 
And  longed  to  leave  this  world  A  be  with  Christ. 
He  was  born  and  educated  in  Glasgo, 
There  licensed  to  preach  the  Qospel  in  1712, 
Ordained  Pastor  of  this  church  in  1713, 
Caird  from  his  Warfare  to  his  crown 
January  2«,  1760, 
Anno  ^tas,  77." 

Christiana  Presbyterian  Church, — This  church  was 
organized  at  some  period  between  the  years  17dO  and 
1738.  In  the  latter  year  a  site  for  the  erection  of  a 
church  was  secured,  and  the  building  was  completed, 
in  1745.  Rev.  Charles  Tennent  commenced  his  pas- 
torate here  at  the  organization  of  the  church,  and 
remained  until  1756.  This  church  was  under  one 
pastoral  charge  with  that  of  New  C^istle  from  1757 
until  1823.  Revs.  Daniel  Thom,  Morgan,  Kirkpat- 
rick,  Joseph  Montgomery  and  others  filled  the  pulpit 
until  1777.  From  this  time  to  1791  there  was  no 
minister  in  charge.  Rev.  Samuel  Barr  officiated 
from  that  year  until  1796.  From  1800  to  1828  the 
church  was  served  by  Revs.  John  £.  Latta  and  Joshua 
N.  Dan  forth.  The  union  of  Christiana  and  New 
Castle  churches,  which  had  existed  for  seventy  years, 
was  now  dissolved.  Since  that  time  the  pulpit  has 
been  filled  by  Revs.  Morris  Williamson,  Carpenter, 
Crosby,  Samuel  Bell,  Nicholas  Patterson,  W.  R. 
Work,  J.  Barr,  George  Foote,  J.  Elliott,  V.  D.  Collins, 
W.  A.  Crawford,  J.  H.  Beal,  David  Kennedy,  Wil- 
liam D.  Mackey,  Robert  Graham  and  A.  J.  Sny- 
der. The  present  church  is  a  neat  brick  building, 
60x40,  and  was  erected  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
George  Foote.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  September 
8,  1857,  and  the  hou^e  was  dedicated  June  8, 1858,  by 
Rev.  J.  Jenkins,  at  that  time  pastor  of  Calvary 
Church,  Philadelphia.    During  the  past  three  yeari 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


937 


the  church  has  not  been  in  a  prosperous  condition, 
and  has  had  no  regular  pastor. 

Christiana  M,  E.  Church.—ln  1830  the  Methodists 
in  and  around  Christiana  village  purchased  a  frame 
house  formerly  used  as  a  store,  and  moved  it  to  the 
location  on  which  the  present  church  stands.  This 
was  furnished  and  used  for  divine  worship  until  1857. 
When  the  church  was  organized  there  were  about 
forty  memb'^rs.  To  this  number  were  added  new 
members,  and  in  1855  the  membership  was  doubled. 
In  1857  a  new  brick  church  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$4000.  During  the  past  few  years  many  Methodists 
have  removed,  and  at  present  there  are  thirty-five 
members.  The  following  ministers  have  been  sta- 
tioned here : 


BeT.  Jamee  B.  Ayres. 
Ber.  John  Bayne. 
Bev.  Christopher  Crouch. 
BeT.  Stephen  Towngend. 
Ber.  Michael  E.  Day. 
Rev.  BeiU.  T.  String. 
BeT.  Valentine  Gray. 
Rev.  Joelah  Kidney. 


Bev.  George  W.  Burke. 
Bev.  D.  F.  Waddell. 
BeT.  George  Crozier. 
Bev.  Joseph  Aspril. 
BeT.  William  M.  Green. 
Bev.  Henry  Sanderson. 
BeT.  Joseph  Dare. 
Bev.  Kdward  Davis. 


Previous  to  1853  the  inhabitants  of  the  north-west- 
ern part  of  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred  attended 
divine  services  at  the  Flint  Hill  Church,  situated  near 
Strickersville.  In  that  year  the  church  burned,  and 
the  several  members  could  not  agree  upon  a  site  for 
the  erection  of  a  new  building.  William  Smith* 
William  Kennedy  and  William  McClelland  favored 
the  erection  of  a  church  at  McClellandville.  In  1854 
the  Wesley  M.  E.  Church  was  commenced  and  com- 
pleted at  that  place.  The  edifice  is  a  frame  building, 
one  story  high,  and  cost  $1500.  The  membership  at 
that  time  numbered  twelve.  The  church  was  con- 
nected with  the  Newark  circuit  until  1868,  when  the 
Newark  Church  became  a  separate  charge.  In  1878 
it  was  again  placed  in  charge  of  the  minister  stationed 
at  Newark.  The  church  has  been  steadily  increasing, 
and  now  numbers  forty  members.  The  same  minis- 
ters, mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Newark  M.  £. 
Church  from  1855  to  the  present  time,  have  preached 
to  this  congregation,  with  the  exception  of  the  years 
mentioned  above,  during  which  time  Revs.  John 
France,  G.  W.  Burke  and  Joseph  Dare  ofiiciated. 
Services  are  held  every  Sunday  afternoon.  The 
Trustees  are  J.  F,  Williamson,  William  H.  Smith, 
Robert  Montgomery,  James  P.  Smith  and  William 
Kennedy. 

The  Salem  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  situated  in 
White  Clay  Creek  Hundred  about  two  miles  south  of 
Ogletown.  Previous  to  1807  meetings  were  held  by 
this  denomination  in  the  residence  of  William  Wright 
and Hersey. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  this  Church 
was  held  October  10,  1807.  On  the  fifteenth  of  the 
same  month  and  year  Robert  McFarlin,  Schoolmaster, 
deeded  to  Abram  Heagy,  Richard  Sneath,  William 
Mclntire,  William  Wright,  James  Bradford,  Isaac 
Tyson  and  Neal  McNeal,  Trustees  for  the  Salem 
Meeting  House,  two  lots  adjoining  each  other  on 
59i 


which  they  were  to  build  a  meeting  house  for  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  congregation.  On  the  following 
day  the  trustees  were  incorporated.  The  present  brick 
Church  thirty  by  thirty-six  feet  was  soon  after  erected. 
The  boards  for  the  floor  and  ceiling  were  furnished 
by  Abraham  Heagy.  The  building  was  repaired  in 
1848  and  again  in  1884.  The  Church  was  connected 
with  the  Cecil  County  Circuit  until  1864,  and  in 
1867  formed  part  of  the  Christiana  Circuit  and  was 
supplied  with  ministers  from  these  circuits.  The 
Church  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition  and  has 
fifty  communicants.  A  flourishing  Sunday-School 
of  seventy  pupils  under  the  superintendence  of  John 
W.  Dayett  is  connected  with  the  church. 

The  following  are  the  present  officers  of  Salem 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church : 

Trustees  Jonathan  Groves,  James  A.  Lee,  John  W. 
Dayett,  Benjamin  Lee,  John  Hall,  G.  W.  Groves,  Isaac 
C.  Snitcher,  Paul  Gillis,  Henry  Singers. 

Christiana  Bridge  Meeting  House  (Friends).  In  1772 
a  committee  appointed  to  meet  with  the  Friends  at 
Christiana  Bridge  reported  in  favor  of  a  meeting  being 
established  among  them.  In  pursuance  of  this  report 
it  was  decided  to  allow  meetings  for  worship  to  be 
held  there  on  the  first  and  fourth  days  of  every  week 
at  the  house  of  Hannah  I^ewden. 

Manufactobies. — The  Dean  Woolen  Factory. ^On 
September  11, 1702,  John  Guest  obtained  a  patent  for 
a  tract  of  land  situate  in  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred 
containing  two  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  which 
included  the  site  of  the  Dean  Factory.  On  August 
14, 1704,  Guest  conveyed  this  land  to  Samuel  Lowan 
who  May  19, 1715,  sold  it  to  Samuel  Johnson.  John- 
son by  his  last  will  and  testament  bearing  date  April 
2,  1737  devised  it  to  his  two  sons,  Napthaly  and 
Daniel.  On  October  7, 1738,  a  division  was  made  of 
the  land,  Napthaly  taking  sixty  -three  acres  and  twenty- 
six  perches,  the  mills  and  other  improvements,  and 
Daniel  the  remainder  of  the  estate.  The  exact  date 
of  the  erection  of  the  mills  cannot  be  ascertained,  but 
it  was  some  period  between  1 715  and  1738.  On  Aug- 
ust 18,  1740  Napthaly  conveyed  the  mills  and  his  por- 
tion of  the  estate  to  Rachael  Jones,  a  widow  who 
afterwards  was  married  to  David  Davis.  The  mills 
were  in  her  possession  until  December  8, 1848,  when 
she  and  her  husband  sold  them  to  Edward  Miles  who 
on  April  16,  1759,  conveyed  them  to  John  Smith. 
Smith  was  the  owner  of  the  mills  for  two  years  and 
then  Andrew  Fisher  and  Mordecai  Cloud  purchased 
them.  The  estate  remained  in  their  joint  possession 
until  May  5, 1763,  when  Mordecai  Cloud  sold  his  por- 
tion, which  was  a  two  thirds  interest,  to  Moses  Pyle. 
For  ten  years  there  was  no  change  in  the  ownership. 
At  the  termination  of  that  period  John  Simonton  be- 
came the  owner  and  managed  the  mills  until  1806,  when 
he  sold  them  to  Isaac  Tyson.  Benjamin  Watson  was 
the  next  owner,  and  in  1831.  the  mills  burned  but 
were  rebuilt  by  him.  The  succeeding  owners  were  Dr. 
Palmer  Chamberlin,  James  Kennedy  and  Samuel 
Thomas.    In  1845  Thomas  sold  them  to  Joseph  Dean. 


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In  1840,  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Thomas     pondence  during  his  European  tour,  of  1881,  and  his 


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x<y±v,  u«  uiarnea  Margaret,  daughter  of  Thomas     pondence  during  his  European  tour,  of  1881,  and  hi* 

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En,  <  ty  rB-tK.rAf  rr.  tvl.lv"  NT 


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NEW  CASTLE  OOUNTF. 


939 


frequent  contributions  to  the  local  newspapers  on 
various  public  issues.  Mrs.  Dean  died  March  31, 
1881,  but  two  SODS  and  three  daughters  are  still  living- 
Joseph,  president  of  the  Dean  Woolen  Company, 
lives  in  Newark ;  Sue  is  the  widow  of  the  late  John 
H.  Hill,  of  Newark ;  Thomas  A.,  died  in  infancy,  as 
did  his  brother,  Bobert  Kershaw ;  William  Kershaw 
lives  at  Newark ;  S.  D.  Hill,  Florence  J.,  and  Harriet 
L.,  live  at  the  old  homestead,  at  Deaodale.  Anna 
Bella,  who  married  Joseph  S.  Lawson,  a  solicitor  of 
Leeds,  England,  died  in  November,  1882.  Seven 
grandchildren  also  survive,  of  whom  Joseph  has  three 
boys,  William  Kershaw  has  three  daughters,  while 
Mrs.  Hill  has  one  daughter.  Mr.  Dean's  funeral,  in 
1887,  was  attended  by  a  large  number  of  the  most 
distinguished  men  of  the  state  and  nation.  His  re- 
mains were  interred  in  the  Newark  M.  E.  Cemetery. 

On  November  26,  1706,  Col.  John  French,  then 
sheriff  of  New  Castle  County,  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  containing  four  acres,  the  present  site  of  Buford 
Mills,  and  the  same  year  dug  a  mill-race  and  erected 
a  grist  and  a  bolting-mill.  This  land,  with  some 
other  afterwards  purchased,  he  conveyed  to  Captain 
William  Battel!,  June,  1723.  For  seven  years  Cap- 
tain Battell  conducted  the  mills,  then  known  as 
Batteirs  Mills,  and  November  25,  1725,  desired 
"  WB  "  to  be  recorded  as  his  brand-mark. 

Arthur  Clayton  and  Robert  Chapman,  August  1, 
1730,  purchased  of  Battell  five  hundred  acres  of  land, 
together  with  the  grist  and  bolting-mills  and  other 
improvements.  This  land  is  situated  on  Christiana 
Creek,  between  Rum  Branch  and  the  east  side  of 
Latham's  Run,  now  Leatherman's  Run.  On  March 
19,  1731,  Chapman  sold  his  one-half  interest  to 
Arthur  Clayton,  thus  vesting  in  him  the  whole  title. 
This  tract  was  sold  by  Henry  Newton  Sheriff,  and 
purchased  by  Joseph  Peace,  a  miller,  of  Trenton,  N. 
J.  The  deed  bears  date  May  24, 1738.  On  July  4, 
1741,  Joseph  Peace  received  a  new  warrant  and  re- 
survey  for  five  hundred  acres.  On  September  1,  1742, 
Joseph  Peace  conveyed  this  estate  to  Francis 
Bowers.  At  this  time  a  distillery  had  also  been 
erected.  In  1745,  William  Patterson  purchased  from 
Bowers  all  the  land,  mills,  bolting-mills,  stills,  still- 
houses  and  other  buildings.  William  Patterson  owned 
the  entire  estate  until  July  28,  1780,  when  he  sold 
two  hundred  and  ninety-two  acres,  containing  the 
mills,  etc.,  to  Samuel  Patterson,  his  son,  who  con- 
veyed the  same  to  Joseph  Israel,  of  Philadelphia,  on 
January  31, 1784.  In  1795,  Mr.  Israel  built  the  grist- 
mill which  is  still  used.  The  mill  is  a  three-story 
building,  with  a  basement  and  attic,  and  is  fifty  feet 
by  seventy-five  feet.  The  mill  was  next  owned  by 
William  Inskip  and  by  him  sold  to  William  F.  Smalley. 
In  1883,  Emily  F.  Piatt  became  the  owner.  In  that 
year  it  was  leased  by  Piatt  &  Elkinton,  and  called  the 
Buford  Mills.  It  was  refitted  with  modern  machin- 
ery and  converted  into  a  full  roller-mill.  An  engine 
was  put  in  order  that  steam  might  be  used  when  the 
water  was  deficient.      The    mill   has  a  capacity    of 


fifty  barrels  per  day,  and  is  run  on  full  time.  Four 
men  are  required  to  operate  it.  The  flour  is  manu- 
factured chiefly  for  local  consumption.  The  saw- 
mill is  still  in  existence*  but  seldom  used,  and  then 
only  for  custom  work. 

McLaughlin  AliU, — In  1795,  Thomas  Phillips  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  in  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred,  of 
Mary  Steel.  Between  that  year  and  1798  he  erected 
thereon  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill.  These  were  sold 
at  sheriff's  sale  in  1824,  and  purchased  by  James  Ray. 
He  conveyed  them  to  Wm.  H.  Robinson,  who,  in  1854, 
sold  them  to  Constantino  McLaughlin.  The  scarcity  of 
timber  in  this  neighborhood  rendered  a  saw-mill  no 
longer  necessary,  and  it  was  torn  down  in  this  year. 
McLaughlin  was  owner  and  proprietor  of  the  grist- 
mill until  his  death,  in  1882.  From  that  time  to  the 
present  it  has  been  managed  by  his  heirs.  The  build- 
ing erected  by  Philips,  is  the  one  used  to-day,  with 
but  few  if  any  repairs.  It  is  a  three-story  building, 
two  stories  stone  and  one  story  frame.  Until  1885,  the 
old  machinery  was  also  used,  but  in  that  year  it  was 
refitted  with  modern  machinery  and  is  now  a  full 
roller  mill.  Three  men  are  employed  in  its  operation. 
The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  thirty  barrels  per  day. 

Bother  am  Mill. — In  1739,  Joseph  Rotheram  pur- 
chased at  sheriff's  sale,  a  tract  of  land  on  which  was 
situated  a  saw-mill  and  grist-mill.  In  1775,  this  tract 
by  descent  and  purchase  vested  in  his  son  Joseph, 
who  operated  the  mills  until  his  death.  It  was  sold 
by  his  executors  in  1795  to  Thomas  Latimer,  Joseph 
Israel  and  Henry  Oeddis.  The  mills  in  1802  came 
into  the  possession  of  James  Price,  and  afler  his  death, 
in  1840,  passed  by  devise  to  his  daughter,  Mary  Can  by. 
The  old  saw-mill  fell  into  disuse,  and  about  ten  years 
ago  the  stone  grist-mill  was  burned,  and  has  never 
been  rebuilt.  The  land  is  now  owned  by  William  F. 
Smalley,  and  on  it  is  situated  a  warehouse. 

Tweed  ifi//.— Some  time  previous  to  1798,  Thomas 
and  Joseph  Rankin  erected  a  grist-mill,  a  saw-mill 
and  a  bark-mill  in  the  northwestern  part  of  White 
Clay  Creek  Hundred,  on  the  White  Clay  Creek.  In 
1803,  this  property  passed  into  the  hands  of  James 
Crawford,  who  in  1841  sold  it  to  William  McClelland. 
John  Tweed  in  1855  purchased  the  estate,  and  in 
1869  rebuilt  the  grist  and  saw-mills.  At  the  decease 
of  John  Tweed  in  1875,  the  property  came  into  the 
possession  of  his  son,  Mansell  Tweed.  In  1880  the 
bark-mill  was  converted  into  a  flint-mill.  The  old 
apparatus  still  remains  in  the  grist  and  saw-mills, 
and  nothing  but  custom  work  is  done.  The  capacity 
of  the  flint-millissix  tons  per  day,  and  eight  men  are 
employed  in  operating  it.  The  flint  is  hauled  by 
teams  from  a  quarry  about  three  miles  distant. 

Previous  to  1798  Benjamin  Chambers  erected  a 
saw-mill  on  the  White  Clay  Creek,  in  the  north- 
western part  of  this  hundred.  Afler  his  death  the 
mill  and  property  came  into  the  possession  of  his  son 
Joseph,  who  tore  down  the  mill.  In  1843  this  property 
was  sold  at  Sherifi^'s  sale,  and  purchased  by  Daniel 
Thompson,  who  erected  thereon  a  saw  and  grist-mill. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


In  1860  Lambert  and  Pyle  conducted  the  mills  and 
they  were  succeeded  by  Joseph  Eldridge.  The  mills 
have  not  been  used  since  1881  and  are  partly  fallen. 
They  are  the  property  of  Joel  Thompson  of  Newark. 
On  August  9, 1799,  Maxwell  Bines,  Sheriff  of  New 
Castle  County,  sold  to  Thomas  Henderson  a  small 
tract  of  land  on  White  Clay  Creek.  On  this  land  was 
a  log  dwelling  and  a  fulling  mill.  On  April  3,  1811, 
John  and  Thomas  Glenn,  paper  makers,  purchased 
this  tract  of  Henderson  and  an  adjoining  one  making 
in  all  thirty- three  acres.  The  fulling  mill  was  con- 
verted into  a  paper-mill,  and  shortly  afterwards  sold 
with  the  land  to  James  Falls.  After  the  decease  of 
James  Falls,  the  property  was  vested  in  his  son  John. 
In  1851  Thomas  Gibson  became  the  owner,  and  used 
the  mill  for  manufacturing  cider.  In  1858  Levi 
Hutton  bought  the  property  of  Gibson.  He  pro- 
ceeded to  fit  up  the  mill  for  a  cotton  manufactory. 
The  building  was  not  strong  enough  for  tho  purpose, 
and  the  undertaking  was  abandoned.  The  building 
was  not  used  after  that  and  was  finally  removed. 

About  1800  a  mill  was  erected  near  Stanton  station 
by  Wm.  T.  Smith  and  Sam'l  Richards.  In  1835  it  was 
purchased  by  George  Piatt,  and  by  him  managed  until 
July  16,  1843,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Andrew  C. 
Gray.  While  owned  by  Mr.  Gray,  the  mill  was 
burned.  Shortly  afterwards  the  site  and  land  con- 
nected with  it  were  sold  to  the  Farmer's  Bank  of 
the  State  of  Delaware.  Jesse  Sharp  purchased  the 
tract  from  the  directors  of  the  bank,  July  2, 1861,  and 
conveyed  it  to  William  Dean,  June  16,  1864.  On  18th 
day  of  July  1866  William  Dean  sold  the  land  to  Ash- 
ton  Butterworth  and  John  Pilling,  trustees.  A  cotton- 
factory  was  erected  and  conducted  for  several  years . 
under  the  style  of  A.  Butterworth  &  Company.  The 
building  was  then  refitted  with  machinery  for  the 
manufacture  of  woolen  goods,  and  in  1873  was  made 
a  part  of  the  Kiamensi  Woolen  Mill.  The  main  build- 
ing is  one  hundred  by  sixty  feet,  two  and  a  half  stories 
high,  and  is  built  of  brick.  The  picker-house  is  thirty- 
five  feet  square  and  one  story  high.  It  is  the  last  water 
power  mill  on  the  White  Clay  Creek,  and  is  used  solely 
for  carding  and  spinning.  Thirty-five  operatives  are 
employed. 

In  1832  John  Macbeth  conveyed  to  his  son  Alexan- 
der a  tract  of  land,  on  the  Christiana  Creek,  on  which 
was  a  saw-mill.  In  1834  William  Johnson  became 
the  owner  of  the  mill,  and  while  it  was  in  his  posses- 
sion he  sawed  a  large  quantity  of  timber.  In  1853  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  Jacob  Casho  and  George 
A.  Casho.  The  business  was  extended,  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  saw-mill  they  erected  a  manufactory 
of  farming  implements.  For  three  years  they  con- 
ducted the  business,  and  then  admitted  C.  W.  Blandy 
&  Brother  into  the  partnership.  In  1857  George  A. 
Casho  withdrew,  and  two  years  later  William  Johnson 
sold  his  interest  to  the  remaining  partners.  In  1861 
the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  Jacob  Casho  be- 
came sole  owner.  Two  years  later  a  partnership  was 
formed  between  him  and  Hudson  Steele  which  lasted 


until  1865,  when  William  Reynolds  bought  Mr.  Steele's 
interest.  The  firm  was  then  known  as  Casho  Reynolds 
&  Company.  A  year  later  Walter  E.  Turner  succeeded 
Mr.  Reynolds,  and  the  business  was  conducted  under 
the  style  of  Casho  &  Company  until  1872.  In  that 
year  **  The  Casho  Machine  Company  "  was  incorpo- 
rated. The  first  board  of  directors  was  Frederick  A. 
Curtis,  John  Pilling,  James  H.  Ray,  John  W.  Evans, 
William  Green,  Jacob  Casho  and  Constantine  Mc- 
Laughlin. Mr.  Curtis  was  elected  president  and  served 
until  October,  1 880,  when  he  resigned  and  James  H.  Ray 
was  elected.  Mr.  Ray  resigned  in  July,  1881,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Thomas  S.  Bellah,  the  present  president. 
During  1882  new  buildings  were  erected,  and  a  thirty 
horse-power  engine  procured  to  be  used  in  connection 
with  the  water-power.  The  present  organization  is  as 
follows :  President,  Thomas  S.  Bellah ;  secretary  and 
treasurer,  Charles  T.  Dure ;  directors,  James  Hossin- 
ger,  Samuel  Lindsey,  George  G.  Kerr,  S.  M.  Curtis 
and  Thomas  S.  Bellah ;  superintendent,  F.  A.  Spencer. 
The  company  at  present  occupy  four  buildings  for 
manufacturing,  and  employ  thirty  men.  The  capacity 
of  the  manufactory  is  $75,000  worth  of  machinery  per 
year.  They  manufacture  wagon-axles,  wool-washing 
machinery  and  agricultural  implements. 

William  Chandler  established  a  bone  and  phosphate 
mill  near  Stanton  Station  in  1877.  The  mill  has  been 
operated  by  him  since  that  period.  The  capacity  of 
the  mill  is  twenty  tons  of  phosphate  or  four  tons  of 
bone  per  day.    It  requires  five  men  to  operate  it 

The  bark  mill  located  near  Ogletown  and  run  by 
the  Armstrongs,  in  connection  with  the  tannery  at 
Newark,  was  sold  by  Thomas  B.  Armstrong  in  1833  to 
the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  &  Baltimore  Railroad 
Company,  and  by  them  removed. 

Christiana.— This  village,  formerly  called  Chris- 
tiana Bridge,  is  situated  in  the  eastern  part  of  White 
Clay  Creek  Hundred.  The  excellent  advantages  of 
location,  being  situated  on  Christiana  Creek,  at  the 
head  of  tide- water  navigation,  as  well  as  on  the  main 
road  leading  from  Philadelphia  to  Baltimore,  were 
conducive  to  its  early  settlement.  Warrants  and 
patents  for  land  on  the  site  of  the  present  village 
were  granted  over  two  hundred  years  ago  and  settle- 
ment* made.  The  village  grew  slowly,  and  in  1787 
there  were  ten  dwellings  here.  At  this  time  the 
business  interests  of  the  village  were  awakened,  and 
Christiana  Bridge  was  one  of  the  principal  markets 
for  the  products  not  only  of  the  immediate  vicinity, 
but  also  of  the  northeastern  part  of  Cecil  County, 
Maryland.  The  produce  was  transported  by  boat 
from  here  to  Philadelphia.  The  village  was  the 
meeting  place  of  several  commisdons  previous  to  the 
Revolutionary  War.  The  one  in  1764,  appointed  to 
make  a  new  survey  of  the  twelve-mile  circle,  which 
was  accomplished  shortly  afterwards.  The  other,  in 
1766,  composed  of  commissioners  from  Maryland  and 
Delaware,  who  were  appointed  to  decide  upon  the 
boundary  line  between  these  two  provinces.  The 
commission  agreed,  and  the  line  was  surveyed  and 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


941 


located  at  a  later  period.  Duripg  the  blockade  of  the 
ports  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  provisions  and  other 
merchandise  were  carried  from  Philadelphia  to  Balti- 
more in  the  following  manner :  from  Philadelphia  to 
Christiana  Bridge  bj  boat ;  from  this  place  they  were 
conveyed  overland  to  Elkton,  and  thence  by  packets 
to  Baltimore.  In  1781  General  Lafayette,  with 
twelve  hundred  troops  en  route  from  Trenton  to  Elk- 
ton,  landed  at  Christiana  Bridge,  and  thence  proceeded 
on  foot  to  Elkton.  The  expedition  was  against  Bene- 
dict Arnold,  who  was  devastating  the  land  along  the 
Chesapeake  Bay.  In  1785  Levi,  Henry  and  Jacob 
HoUings worth,  with  several  others,  established  a  line 
of  "  Stage  Boats "  to  ply  between  Philadelphia  and 
Christiana.  By  these,  large  bhipments  of  flour  were 
made,  which  were  brought  to  this  village  for  transpor- 
tation by  the  millers  on  the  White  Clay  and  Christi- 
ana Creeks  and  the  Elk  River.  The  shipping  industry 
thus  commenced,  increased,  and  in  the  early  part  of 
the  present  century  four  packets  ran  semi- weekly  to 
Philadelphia.  The  owners  of  wharves  at  this  time 
were  Levi  Hollingsworih,  Sylvester  Welsh,  Levi  Ad- 
ams and  Solomon  Maxwell.  Considerable  bnstle  and 
confusion  attended  the  loading  and  unloading  of  a 
packet,  and  the  street  by  the  wharves  was  lined  with 
conveyances.  In  1830  the  village  was  in  a  flourishing 
condition,  and  numbered  as  many  inhabitants  as  at 
present.  The  construction  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wil- 
mington and  Baltimore  Railroad,  a  few  miles  distant, 
dealt  a  blow  to  the  shipping  industry  of  Christiana 
and  to  the  village  itself.  Another,  and,  in  many 
caseS)  more  convenient  method  of  transportation,  was 
open  to  the  public,  and  shipping  gradually  declined, 
until  at  present  only  an  occasional  boat  is  floated  by 
the  tide  to  and  from  Philadelphia.  The  Levi  Hol- 
lingsworth  wharf  is  now  owned  by  A.  C.  Weber  & 
Bro.,  and  is  the  only  one  in  use.  Several  efforts  have 
been  made  to  procure  railroad  communications  with 
the  village,  but  in  vain.  Christiana  at  present  con- 
tains two  churches,  a  school-house,  a  post-ofl5ce,  two 
blacksmith  shops,  and  about  four  hundred  inhabitants. 
The  merchants  of  the  town  are  A.  C.  Webber  &  Bro., 
Wier  <&  Marshall,  Benjamin  Peters  and  James  H. 
Smalley. 

Ogletown. — This  village  was  so  named  in  honor  of 
Thomas  Ogle,  who  at  that  tiine  was  the  owner  of  the 
land  on  which  it  stands.  When  it  was  first  named  is 
unknown,  but  it  was  previous  to  1767,  for  it  was  in 
that  year  mentioned  in  an  order  to  lay  out  a  road. 
It  is  a  small  hamlet,  situated  near  the  centre  of  the 
hundred.  Near  it,  in  1684,  George  Talbot,  one  of  the 
Council  of  Maryland,  built  a  fort  on  land  then 
belonging  to  widow  Ogle.  In  relation  to  this  fort, 
Johnston  says,  "it  was  described  by  those  who  had 
seen  it  as  about  thirteen  feet  long,  ten  feet  wide  and 
covered  with  slip  wood." 

The  garrison  consisted  of  "  six  or  seven  men  who 
were  esteemed  Catholics  and  behaved  peaceably 
towards  the  inhabitants,  among  whom  they  frequently 
went."    One  Murray  was  commander  and  Thomas 


Mansfield  press-master.  The  fort  was  held  about 
two  years,  and  till  after  Talbot  went  out  of  power. 
The  following  occurrence  happened  at  a  council  held 
at  Philadelphia,  30th  of  the  Fourth  Month,  1684,  at 
which  time  Samuel  Lands  was  deputy  sheriff: 

**  Samuel  Lands*  letter  was  read  ooncemlag  Coll.  Qeo.  Talbot's  goeing 
w*b  three  musqueten  to  y*  houses  of  Widdow  Ogle,  Jonas  Erakin  and 
Andreis  Tille,  and  tould  them  that  if  they  would  not  forthwith  yield 
Obedience  to  y«  Lord  Baltimore  &  Own  him  to  be  their  Prop*,  and  pay 
rent  to  him,  he  would  Turns  them  out  of  their  houses  and  take  their 
Land  from  them.** 

The  village  at  present  contains  a  store  kept  by  Levi 
Ruth,  a  post-office  and  about  half  a  dozen  residences. 

McClellandville  is  situated  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred.  This  village 
derived  its  name  from  William  McClelland,  one  of 
the  earliest  re^iidents  within  its  bounds.  The  first 
and  only  store  opened  in  this  villiage  was  owned  by 
William  Kennedy,  in  1860.  A  blacksmith-shop  was 
opened  by  the  same  gentleman  in  1851.  The  store  is 
now  owned  by  George  I.  Smith,  and  the  blacksmith- 
shop  by  George  W.  Coils.  In  addition  to  the  store 
and  blacksmith* shop,  the  village  contains  a  post- 
office,  church,  school-house  and  about  ten  dwellings. 

Post-Offices. — It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  the 
exact  date  in  which  the  post-office  at  Christiana  was 
established,  but  it  was  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  ago.  The  following  gentlemen  have  been  post- 
masters from  1803  till  the  present  time:  Joseph 
Janvier,  George  Pratt,  James  A.  Briscoe,  Nathaniel 
Wolfe,  Howard  Ogle,  Frank  Bradley,  Abraham 
Egbert,  Daniel  H.  Egbert,  Dr.  Elijah  Robinson, 
James  K  Vincent,  Thomas  Oliver,  William  H. 
Leavy. 

The  post-office  at  McClellandville  was  established 
in  1850.  William  McClelland  was  the  first  post- 
master. He  was  succeeded  by  William  B.  Mackey, 
the  present  incumbent. 

Ogletown  was  made  a  post  village  in  June,  1886, 
with  James  M.  Dougherty  as  the  first  postmaster. 
Joseph  C.  Mann,  the  present  incumbent,  succeeded 
him  May  9,  1887. 

Hotels. — ^The  only  hotels  in  this  hundred  outside 
of  Newark  are  situated  in  Christiana.  These  are 
managed  in  a  proper  manner,  and  afibrd  excellent 
accommodations.  For  about  seventy-five  years  previ- 
ous to  1870  there  was  also  a  tavern  at  Ogletown,  one 
of  the  first  proprietors  of  which  was  Jehu  Hopper. 
This  was  last  kept  by  a  Mr.  Willey,  in  the  year  above 
mentioned,  when  it  was  converted  into  a  store,  which 
is  now  in  possession  of  Levi  Ruth. 

The  Christiana  Hotel  was  opened  at  an  early  date 
which  cannot  be  definitely  ascertained.  Shortly  after 
1800  the  hotel  was  owned  and  managed  by  David 
Armstrong.  The  tavern  is  a  brick  building,  and  is 
still  standing.  It  has  been  conducted  respectively  by 
Nathaniel  Wolfe,  Joseph  Eccles,  Thomas  Laymond, 
Richard  Wright,  James  Stroup,  Frank  Bradley,  Philip 
Marvel,  Stephen  Stradley,  James  King  and  W.  B. 
Currinder,  the  present  proprietor. 

The  Shannon  Hotel,  so  called,  after  William  Shan- 


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HISTOPY  OF  DELAWARE. 


noD,  a  &mou3  caterer,  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  was  built  previous  to  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  In  this  hotel  tradition  says  that 
General  Washington,  while  on  a  journey  to  Philadel- 
phia, dined  here.  In  1797,  William  Shannon  obtained 
a  license,  and  the  record  of  it  shows  that  he  kept  the 
hotel  previous  to  this  date.  Under  his  management 
the  reputation  of  the  hotel  was  very  good,  and  persons 
traveling  within  tw6nty-five  miles  of  it  would  go  there 
to  take  a  meal  or  spend  the  night  with  him.  It  was 
next  conducted  by  Isaac  Price.  He  was  succeeded 
by  David  Armstrong,  James  Adams,  William  Simp- 
son and  John  Allen,  by  whom  it  was  converted  into 
a  store  in  1855.  The  hotel  was  reopened,  and  is  now 
owned  by  John  Mealy. 

Christiana  Lodge^  No,  9,  /.  0,  O,  T.y  is  located  at 
Christiana.  It  was  organized  in  1885,  and  numbered 
sixteen  members.  Since  its  institution  the  lodge  has 
been  in  a  prosperous  condition  and  constantly  in- 
creasing in  number,  and  at  present  there  are  fifty 
members.  The  officers  at  the  present  time  are  as  fol- 
lows; James  R.  Vincent,  W.  C.  T.;  Alice  Appleby 
V.  T. ;  James  T.  Scott,  P.  W.  C.  T. ;  Mrs.  McCrea| 
Secretary ;  John  Whileman,  R,  S. ;  Jane  Morrison, 
Treasurer;  David  Appleby,  D. ;  Clarence  King,  M. 

NEWARK. 

The  town  of  Newark,  situated  in  the  western  part 
of  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred,  was  settled  more  than 
two  centuries  ago  by  natives  of  England,  Wales  and 
Scotland.  The  name  is  probably  taken  from  the 
Newark  in  the  old  country  mentioned  by  Scott, — 

*•  Where  N«wark*8  stately  tower 
Looks  out  from  Yarrow's  birchen  bower/* 

The  growth  of  the  village  was  slow,  and  nothing  im- 
portant is  known  concerning  it  until  1757,  when  James 
McMechan  and  others  applied  to  William  Denny, 
Acting  Governor  of  the  three  lower  counties  on  the 
Delaware,  for  corporate  privilegt  s.  He  referred  the 
matter  to  King  George  II.,  Sovereign  of  England, 
who,  on  April  13, 1758,  granted  the  following,  which 
may  be  considered  its  first  charter : 

*'  George  the  Second,  by  tA«  Oraoe  of  God  of  Great  Britain,  France  and 
Ireland  King,  Defender  of  the  FiUthy  and  to  forth.  To  all  utUo  whom 
these  preaente  shall  come.  Greeting : 

"  Whbrbas,  our  lorlng  subjects,  James  McMechan,  Reynold  Howell, 
William  McCrea,  Wiliiani  Eynon,  William  Armstrong  and  David  Wilkin, 
of  our  County  of  New  Castle  within  the  government  of  our  counties  of 
New  Castle,  Kent  and  Sussex,  have  been  at  great  expense  in  building 
houses  and  making  improvements  in  a  piece  pf  land  ten  miles  west  of 
New  Castle,  at  the  intersection  of  two  very  public  roads,  the  one  lead- 
ing from  New  Castle  to  the  Cross-roads  in  Chester  County,  and  the  other 
leading  from  Kent  and  Sussex  to  New  Garden  in  order  to  erect  and  make 
a  town  there,  which  is  called  Newark,  in  the  County  of  New  Castle. 
And,  whereas,  the  said  James  McMechan,  Reynold  Howell,  William 
McCrea,  WillUun  Eyuon,  William  Armstrong  and  David  Wilkin,  with 
divers  others,  the  proprietors  of  houses  and  lots  of  ground  in  and  near 
the  said  town,  have  humbly  bewugbt  our  trusty  and  well-beloved  Wil- 
liam Denny,  Ksq.,  with  our  royal  approbation  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
the  counties  aforesaid,  under  the  Uun.  Thomas  Penn  and  Richard  Penn, 
Esquires,  true  and  absolute  proprietors  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania 
and  counties  aforesaid,  for  our  letters  patent  under  the  great  seal  of  the 
government  of  the  said  counties  for  granting  to  the  prei^nt  and  future 
inhabitants  of  the  said  town  or  vilhigc  called  Newark,  the  lowers  und 
privileges  of  having  fairs  yearly,  and  one  weekly  market  there,  for  the 
encouragement  of  trade  and  better  accommodating  and  supplying  the 
inhabitants  thereof  with  provisions  and  other  necessaries.  Therefore, 
know  ye  that  we,  favoring  the  petition  and  good  purposes  of  the  said 


James  McMechan,  Reynold  Howell,  William  McCrea,  William  Eynon, 
William  Armstrong  and  David  W^ilkin,  and  being  willing  to  encourage 
trade  and  industry  amongst  all  our  subjects,  and  to  promote,  as  much  as 
in  us  lies,  their  welfare  and  utility,  have  of  our  special  grace,  certain 
knowledge  and  meer  motion,  granted,  and  do  by  these  presents  for  us, 
our  heirs  and  successors,  grant  and  ordain  that  the  present  and  ftitnre 
inhabitants  of  the  town  aforesaid,  called  Newark,  shall  and  may  from 
henceforth  forever  hereafter  hold  and  keep  two  fairs  yearly  at  the  said 
town  called  Newark,  that  is  to  say,  on  the  third  Thursday  and  Friday  lu 
the  months  of  April  and  October  in  every  year,  for  the  buying  and  sell- 
ing of  neat  cattle,  oxen,  cowes,  horses,  sheep  and  hoggs  and  all  other 
goods,  wares  and  commodities,  and  also  a  weekly  market,  to  wit :  on 
every  Thursday,  together  with  the  free  liberties,  cnstonis,  profits,  privi- 
leges and  emoluments  to  the  aforesaid  fairs  and  markets  belonging  or 
in  anywise  appertaining  forever.  And  we  do  further  grant  for  us,  our 
heirs  aud  successors,  to  the  present  and  future  inliabitants  of  the  said 
town,  and  all  our  liege  subjects,  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for 
them  to  assemble  themselves  together  at  the  said  town  calle<:  Newark, 
for  holding  the  aforesaid  fairs  and  weekly  market  on  the  respective  days 
and  times  hereinbefore  limited  and  appointed  at  such  places  within  the 
said  town  as  the  inhabitants  thereof  from  time  to  time  shall  appoint. 
And  wo  do  hereby  further  grant  and  ordain  that  David  Wiikin,  of  the 
said  town  of  Newark,  shall  be  the  flrst  clerk  of  the  market  who  (and 
all  succeeding  clerks  of  the  market  of  the  said  town>  shall  have  assize  of 
bread,  wine,  beer,  wood  and  other  things,  and  to  execute  and  perform 
all  other  things  belonging  to  the  office  of  clerks  of  thu  market  within 
the  said  town.  In  testimony  whereof  wo  have  caused  these,  our  letters 
patent,  and  the  great  seal  of  our  said  Government  to  be  hereunto 
affixed.  Witness,  William  Denny,  Esq ,  with  our  royal  approbation 
Lieutenant  Governor  and  C-ommander-in-Chief  of  the  province  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  counties  aforesaid,  this  thirteenth  day  of  April,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty-eight,  and  in 
the  thirty  flrst  year  of  our  reign."  This  is  signed  by  William  Denny, 
and  the  great  seal  of  the  province  of  Pennsylvania  hi  carefully  affixed 
by  a  blue  ribbon.  Outside  it  is  endorsed 
"Charter" 
**  William  Dknnt,  Esq.,  Gov'b,  r  For  a  fair  and  market  In 
TO  <   Newark,  in  the  county  of 

James  McMachkn,  et  al.  I  New  Castle. 

"Recording,  Ac.,  5-10, 

'*  Recorded  in  the  Rolls  office  at  New  Castle,  In  Book  8,  p.  357,  et. 
Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  this  eighth  day  of  June.  1758. 

••  R'd  McWilliam,  Recorder  of  Deeds.'* 

In  a  paper  published  in  1770  Newark  is  spoken  of 
as  '*a  suitable  and  healthy  village,  not  too  rich  or 
luxurious,  where  real  learning  might  be  obtained." 
In  1772  au  act  was  pa^ed  establishing  two  market- 
days,  namely,  Tuesday  and  Friday,  and  special  pro- 
visions for  regulating  the  markets.  The  principal 
prohibitions  were  buying  or  selling  provisions  else- 
where than  in  the  markets ;  killing  cattle,  sheep  or 
hogs  in  Academy  Square  or  the  market-house;  sell- 
ing unwholesome  meat;  using  false  weights,  and 
exposing  for  sale  any  flesh-meat  on  Monday  or 
Tuesday  in  each  week,  except  during  June,  July  and 
August.  The  bakers  were  also  required  to  stamp 
their  bread  in  such  a  manner  that  it  could  be  identi- 
fied. In  the  same  act  the  bounddries  of  the  town  are 
thus  given : 

''And  for  preventing  all  uncertainty  and  dispntes  that  may  arise, 
touching  or  concerning  the  limits  of 'the  said  town  of  Newark: 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid.  That  the  lines  and  bunndi 
hereinafter  meotioned  are  and  always  hereafter  shall  be  reported, 
deemed,  allowed  and  taken  to  be  the  bouudaries  and  limits  thereufi 
That  is  to  say.  Beginning  at  the  Junction  of  the  public  roadj.  near 
an  inn  now  known  by  ihe  name  of  Saint  Patrick,  and  extending  thenc« 
along  the  road  leading  to  New  London  township,  in  Chester  county,  to 
a  sniall  stream  or  run  to  the  mouth  thereof,  where  it  empties  into 
White  Clay  creek;  and  from  thence  down  the  said  creek  to  the  most 
easterly  line  of  the  land  now  of  Doctor  Samuel  Piatt;  and  by  the 
lines  of  the  said  Siimuel  Piatt,  and  of  land  now  of  James  Simpson, 
to  include  the  said  lands  within  the  said  town,  to  the  Und  now  of 
David  McMechan,  and  from  the  corner  of  the  said  James  Simpson  and, 
David  McMechan  their  land  to  the  end  of  James  Anderson^s  lane,  and 
thence  by  a  right  line  to  the  place  of  beginning.** 

The  market-house  was  situated  near  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  Academy  yard,  near  the  present  site  of 
the  Washington  Hotel.     In  1788  John  Penn  came 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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from  Lancaster  and  passed  through  this  section  of  the 
country.  In  his  journal  of  that  year  is  the  fol- 
lowing: 

•*  April  17th.  The  country  is  pleasantly  varied  in  the  ride  from  this 
place  to  Wilmington.  At  Newark  is  the  most  conitidorable  collection  of 
bouses  I  had  Bc«fii  since  Lancaster.  The  Ellc  is  crossed  upon  the  road 
and  the  country  is  plentifully  watered  here  by  small  streams." 

In  1811  an  act  was  passed  making  it  lawful  for 
James  Tilton,  George  Russell,  Levi  Boulden,  Andrew 
Gray,  Frederick  H.  Holtzbecker  and  John  Herdman, 
or  their  successors,  as  managers,  to  carry  on  a  lottery 
for  raising  a  sum  not  exceeding  four  thousand  dollars 
clear  of  all  expenses,  to  be  expended  in  turnpiking  or 
paving  the  main  street  in  Newark,  and  for  repairing 
the  English  school -house  and  market-house.  In  1851 
a  new  charter  to  lay  out  the  boundaries  of  the  town 
was  granted  by  the  Legislature  of  Dalaware,  and  John 
W.  Evans,  Isaac  Ferris,  Robert  Ochiltree,  Benjamin 
Caulk  and  John  G.  Turner  were  appointed  commis- 
sioners. The  present  boundaries  of  the  town,  which 
are  the  ones  laid  out  by  the  commissioners,  inclose  a 
nearly  coffin-shaped  tract  of  land  and  are  as  follows  : 

*<  Beginning  at  the  comer  of  hinds  now  of  Rathmell  Wilson  and 
Daniel  Fiel is,  on  the  road  leading  to  Port  Deposit,  thence  by  the  line 
of  the  lands  of  the  said  Daniel  Fields  to  the  center  of  the  road  lead 
log  to  New  London  township,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylrania ;  thence  by 
a  straight  line  to  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  lot  attAched  to  the 
Methodist  church;  thence  to  a  point  in  the  west  line  of  Samuel  C. 
Pinley^s  lands,  four  hundred  feet  north  from  the  centre  of  the  present 
road  leading  through  Newark  to  Wilmington;  thence  in  a  straight  Una 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  lands  of  Elizabeth  Ihompson  and  Albert  0. 
Lewis;  thence  along  said  Lewis'  line  to  the  southwest  comer  of  George 
O.  Evans'  land  on  the  Elktm  road;  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the 
corner  of  land  of  EUza  Holtzbecker  and  John  Whann,  being  in  a  line 
of  land  of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Blaudy,  and  from  thence  to  the  place  of 
t>«ginning.'' 

During  the  Revolutionary  War,  just  previous  to  the 
battle  of  Brandy  wine,  the  whole  British  army  passed 
through  Newark.  When  General  Washington  moved 
southward  toward  York  town,  a  detachment  of  his 
troops  passed  through  this  town.  During  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion  thousands  of  troops  were  conveyed 
by  rail  to  the  South,  and  passed  a  short  distance  from 
Newark.  The  growth  of  this  town,  though  at  no 
time  rapid,  was  gradual  and  certain.  The  business 
increased  from  day  to  day  and  reached  its  greatest 
height  in  1887.  The  destruction  of  the  Dean  Woolen- 
Mill  on  December  25,  1886,  was  a  severe  blow  to  the 
interests  of  the  town.  Numerous  persons  were  thrown 
out  of  employment,  and  compelled  to  move  away. 
X>eApite  this,  the  town  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
On  April  21,  1887,  Newark  was  re- incorporated,  and 
is  presided  over  by  a  Council  of  seven  men  instead 
of  five  commissioners,  as  heretofore.  It  is  impossible 
to  obtain  a  list  of  the  commissioners  previous  to  1866. 
The  following  persons  have  served  as  commissioners 
from  that  year  to  the  present : 


1866.  John  Pilling,  pres. 
John  W.  Evans. 
John  F.  Williams. 
James  Armstrong. 
W.  Boynolda. 

1867.  John  W.  Evans,  prea. 
George  Williams. 
John  Pilling. 
James  Armstrong. 


Wm.  Reynolds. 

1868.  John  Pilling,  pres. 
Samuel  Darlington. 
Samuel  B.  Wright. 
Edwin  Butterworth. 
Goo.  W.  Williams. 

1869.  Geo.  O.  Evans,  prea. 
James  H.  Bay. 
John  Pilling. 


Samuel  B.  Wright 
Walter  E.  Turner. 

1870.  W.  B.  Thomley,  pres.  1880. 
John  PUling. 

L.  R.  Choate. 
Geo.  6.  Evans. 
James  U.  Bay. 

1871.  Wm.  B  Thomley,  prae.  1881. 
George  Rambo. 

Harry  W^arren. 
Benjamin  Caulk. 
John  Pilling. 

1872.  John  W.  Evana,  prae.  1882. 
Bei^amin  Caulk. 

W.  B.  Thornley. 
W.  F.  Walker. 
Geo.  W.  Williams. 

1873.  John  W.  Evans,  praa.  1883. 
George  Rambo. 

James  H.  Ray. 
John  Pilling. 
Geo.  W.  Williams. 

1874.  J.  W.  Evans,  pres.  1884. 
Samuel  Darlington. 

James  U.  Ray. 

John  Pilling. 

Geo.  \V.  Williamv. 
1876.   John  W.  Evans,  pres.  1885. 

James  Springer. 

Jamee  Armstrong. 

Nathan  Sanders. 

Geo.  W.  Williams. 
1876-77.  J.  H.  Armstrong,  pres.  1886. 

John  W.  Evans. 

Jamea  Springer. 

Nathan  Sanders. 

Geo.  W;  Williams. 

1878.  Wm.  Cooch,  pres.  1887. 
Wm.  F.  Griffith.        ^ 

John  Atkinson. 
Nathan  Sanders. 
Geo.  W.  Williams. 

1879.  John  R.  Hill,  pres. 
Wm.  F.  Griffith. 
John  Atkinson. 

The  population  of  Newark 
one  thousand  three  hundred. 

The  business  interests  of  the 
represented  by  the  following : 


Geo.  W,  Williams. 

Wm.  H.  Singles. 

John  H.  Hill,  prss. 

E.  L.  Gilmour. 

Joseph  B.  Lutton. 

D.  W.  Caskey. 

Geo.  W.  Williams. 

John  F.  Williamson,  prea. 

John  R.  Hill. 

James  Hoesinger. 

Joseph  B.  Lutton. 

Geo.  W.  WillUms. 

John  R.  Hill,  pree. 

Theo.  F.  Armstrong. 

John  Rambo. 

James  A.  Wilson. 

Geo.  W.  Wllliami. 

Theo.  F.  Armstrong,  pres. 

Miller  R.  Barton. 

Richard  Pilling. 

James  A.  Wilson. 

Geo.  W.  Williams. 

M.  R.  Barton,  prea. 

John  R.  Hill. 

James  A.  Wilson. 

Wm.  H.  Simpers. 

Geo.  W.  Williams. 

Samuel  M.  Donnell,  pres. 

N.  M.  Motherall. 

A.  J.  Ully. 

Wm.  H.  Simpers. 

Geo.  W.  Williams. 

Wm.  H.  Simpers,  prea. 

Samuel  J.  Wright. 

N.  M.  Motbeimll. 

John  Rambo. 

Geo  W.  Williams. 

Theo.  F.  Armstrong,  prea. 

Samuel  H.  Donnell. 

Joeeph  T.  Willis. 

M.  R.  Barton. 

G.  Fader. 

Joeeph  B.  Lutton. 

Geo.  W.  Williams. 

at   present  is  about 
town  are  at  present 


MtrchaiU$. 
J.  F.  Williamson  ft  Son. 
Wright  &  Son. 
H.  B.  Wright  &  Co. 
David  Stanhope. 
T.  L.  Lilley. 

B.  F.  Tlllum,  supt. 
Miw  Lillian  Gray. 
S.  A.  J.  Wood. 
Mrs.  Kate  O'Brien. 
A.  T.  Dilworth. 
F.  M.  C.  Choate. 

C.  C.  Choate. 

D.  L.  Choate. 

E.  L.  Gilmour. 
M.  R   Barton. 
M.  A  R.  Corbett. 
Wm  McKenzie. 
W.  F.  Griffith. 
L.  Strickland. 
Wm.  M.  Wilson. 
M.  J.  Kennet, 
M.  N.  Motherall. 
J.  W.  Pennington. 
Dr.  A.  Lowber. 

Schools  of  Newark. — ' 


Wm.  H.  Steel. 

S.  E.  Ziegler. 

M.  G.  Colmery. 

J.  Dobson. 

G.  Fader. 

J.  W.  Parrish. 

R.  Anustrung. 

J.  W.  Brown. 

Wesley  B.  Hart 

Edwin  Wilson. 

MiiisM.  Pennington. 

Geo.  Dougherty. 

J.  T.  Fisher. 

Black$mith», 
Jos.  B.  Lutton. 
Pusey  Pemberton. 
Wm.  C.  Dunbar. 

Carriage  Trimmmt, 
Eugene  Ochiltree. 
Richard  Ennls. 

Reed  E»taU. 
8.  M.  Donnell. 

Wheeltcright, 
Wm.  Simpers. 

The  citizens  of  Newark 


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944 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


have  always  taken  deep  interest  in  educational  affairs. 
This  is  evidenced  by  the  support  given  to  the  Newark 
Academy,  the  oldest  institution  of  its  kind  in  the  State, 
and  by  the  fact  that  it  contains  the  only  college  in 
Delaware.  Numerous  private  schools  have  been  pa- 
tronized by  the  citizens  in  the  past,  some  of  the  most 
noticeable  of  which  were  the  seminaries  for  ladifs, 
conducted  by  Rev.  Samuel  Bell  and  Mrs.  Pierce  Cham- 
berlain, and  the  Franklin  Seminary.  The  school  open- 
ed by  Miss  Wilson  in  1869,  and  still  in  existence,  re- 
ceived hearty  support.  In  all  of  these  institutions 
have  been  found  students  not  only  from  all  parts  of 
Delaware,  but  also  from  the  adjoining  States.  On 
October  11,  1830,  the  first  meeting  was  held  to  or- 
ganize a  system  of  public  schools.  In  the  following 
year  a  school-house  was  erected  in  what  was  termed 
District  No.  39,  and  shortly  afterwards  a  school  was 
opened  in  District  No.  41.  Both  districts  are  within 
the  limits  of  the  town.  The  first  annual  meeting  of 
the  School  Board  was  held  on  October  8,  1832.  Both 
schools  were  conducted  separately 'until  1873,  when 
they  were  joined  and  called  United  Districts  No.  39 
and  41.  In  1884  a  new  two-story  brick  building  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  This  building  is  divided 
into  four  rooms,  over  which  four  teachers  preside.  The 
number  of  pupils  at  the  present  time  is  185.  Prof, 
y.  A.  Groves  is  principal  and  his  assistants  are  Misses 
Fannie  Briscoe,  Annie  Waters  and  Sallie  Lumb. 

Newakk  Academy. — This  institution,  so  famous 
for  learning  in  the  latter  half  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
had  its  origin  in  a  school  opened  in  1741  by  Rev.  Fran- 
cis Allison,  pastor  of  the  New  London  Church,  situated 
in  Chester  County,  Pa.  A  few  years  previous  to  this 
Rev.  Allison,  a  native  of  Ireland  and  graduate  of  Glas- 
gow, came  to  this  State  and  entered  the  family  of  Gov. 
John  Dickinson  as  tutor.  In  1741  he  received  a  call 
to  minister  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  New  London 
Church,  puring  this  year  he  received  several  young 
men  into  his  family  as  pupils  and  schoolmates  of  Gov. 
Dickinson's  son,  and  this  formed  the  nucleus  of  the 
present  Academy.  Some  years  previous  to  this  date 
the  Synod  of  Philadelphia,  representimg  at  that  time 
the  Presbyterian  Church  of  America,  was  impressed 
with  the  need  of  a  suitable  school  for  educating  and 
preparing  young  men  for  the  ministry.  In  1739  the 
Synod  determined  to  found  a  seminary,  and  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  proceed  to  England  and  solicit 
funds  for  this  purpose.  The  war  then  waging  between 
England  and  Spain  interrupted  this  project  for  a  time, 
but  it  was  revived  in  1743  and  the  next  year  the  school 
started  by  Rev.  Allison  was  adopted  by  the  Synod  as 
its  own.  The  plan  of  conducting  the  school  adopted 
by  the  Synod  was  as  follows:  '*That  all  persons  who 
please  may  send  their  children  and  have  them  in- 
structed gratis  in  the  languages,  philosophy  and  divin- 
ity. That  the  school  be  supported  for  the  present  by 
yearly  contributions  from  the  congregations  under  the 
Synod's  care.  That  if  any  funds  remain  after  paying 
the  salaries  of  the  master  and  tutor  they  shall  be  ex- 
pended in  the  purchase  of  books  and  other  necessaries 


for  the  school.''  From  this  arrangement  originated 
an  academy,  the  first  of  its  kind  in  this  country,  and 
the  alma  mater  of  many  of  the  leading  men  of  that 
period.  Dr.  Allison  continued  rector  until  1752,  when 
he  was  appointed  vice-provost  and  Professor  of  Moral 
Philosophy  in  the  Philadelphia  Academy,  now  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania.  Dr.  Allison  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Alexander  McDowell,  who  moved  the  school 
to  Elkton,  where  it  remained  for  a  short  time.  In  1767 
the  school  was  located  at  Newark,  where  it  now  is.  In 
1769  Thomas  and  Richard  Penn,  proprietaries  ot  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  "  Lower  Counties,"  granted  a  charter 
to  the  Academy  as  an  institution  of  learning.  In  1773 
Rev.  Dr.  Ewing  and  Dr.  Hugh  Williamson  were  sent 
to  England  and  Scotland  to  secure  funds  for  the  Acad- 
emy. They  were  successful  in  their  undertaking, 
and  the  generous  donations  of  the  Penns  and  others 
enabled  them  to  erect  a  substantial  building,  and  form- 
ed the  basis  of  the  present  endowment.  On  February 
17,1774,  Morgan  Edwards,  of  Newark,  conveyed  to 
the  trustees  of  Newark  Academy  a  lot  of  land,  on  the 
Main  Street  of  the  town,  adjoining  the  lot  of  Rev. 
Thomas  Reed,  containing  seven  acres  and  fifty  perches. 
This  tract  was  sold  by  them  to  Alexander  McBeath, 
March  26,  1777,  for  £259  10*.  The  Academy  was  in 
active  operation  until  the  latter  part  of  1777,  when,  on 
account  of  the  Revolutionary  War  then  raging,  it  was 
closed,  and  so  remained  till  1780.  During  this  period 
the  building  was  used  for  the  manufacturing  of  shoes 
for  the  Continental  army  under  General  Washington. 
The  prevalent  idea  that  the  Academy  was  closed  dur- 
ing the  entire  war  is  dispelled  by  the  fact  that  the 
trustees  approved  and  paid  a  bill  of  John  Bratton's 
for  teaching  in  1776  and  1777,  and  in  1783  granted  a 
gratuity  of  £50  to  William  Thomson  in  consideration 
of  his  meritorious  conduct  in  undertaking  the  employ- 
ment of  teaching  "  for  near  three  years  past  under 
many  discouragements."  Governor  Thomas  McKean, 
in  a  letter  to  General  Washington  dated  Newark,  Del- 
aware, October 8, 1777,  says,  ''On  my  arrival,  I  found 
that  all  the  records  and  public  papers  of  the  county  of 
New  Castle  and  every  shilling  of  the  public  money, 
together  with  the  fund  belonging  to  the  trustees  of 
Newark  Academy,  &c.,  had  been  captured  at  Wil- 
mington." Theminutes  ofthe  trustees  of  the  Academy 
during  and  previous  to  the  Revolutionary  War,  by 
some  misfortune,  were  lost.  The  first  entry  in  the  new 
minute  book  procured  in  1783  is  as  follows: 

*•  WiLMiNOTON,  6  Jane,  1783. 

'*  In  consequence  of  previous  notice  the  Trustees  ofthe  Academy 
of  Newark  met  at  this  place : 

'•Peesekt: 

"Rev.  Dr.  John  Ewin^c,  Rev.  William  McKennan.  Rev.  Thomas 
Read,  Mr.  John  McKinly,  General  Sam'l  Patterson,  Mr.  James 
Mea>e,  Mr.  John  Thomson. 

"Abbbht: 

•*  Rev.  Ma*,.  Wilson,  Rev.  Joneph  Montgomery,  Mr.  Cbas.  Thom- 
son, Hon.  Th09.  McKeau,  Hon.  John  Evans. 

**  Dr.  Ewing  laid  before  the  Board  an  account  of  the  money  be- 
longing to  the  fund  in  his  hands,  which  in  a)*  follows: 
Continental  Ceriificates,    for  $1200,    dated  March        £«.<<. 

27,1777, - 450    0    0 

Continental  Certificates  for  $2000,  dated  8th  Novem- 
ber, 1779,  equal  in  specie, 31    -I    2 

Continental  Certificates  for  |350U,  of  different  dates, 

equal  in  specie  to 36  10    ly^ 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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Dr.  Rash*8  bond,  £200  principal,  about  ten  years*  in- 
terest, about 300  0  0 

I)r.  Warren*B  bond,  £113  principal,  with  interest 200  0  0 

Dr.  Francis  Alison's  bond,  £50  principal,  with  in- 
terest   ^ 80  0  0 

Legacy  from  Samuel  Scott's  estate  (supposed), ^  25  0  0 

Legacy  from  James  Gardner's  estate  (supposed),....  *  100  0  0 
Due  in  part  of  a  house  sold  £1000,  Continental  mo- 
ney, September,  1T79,  equal  to 62  0  0 

£1275    4    3Vi 

*' Ordered  that  the  CertiHcates  be  delivered  to  the  treasurer, 
General  Patterson. 

**  The  business  of  the  academy  havlog  been  interrupted  f>ome 
years  by  the  war.  the  trustees  now  resolve  to  carry  it  on  as  ex- 
tensively  as  their  oircumstanoes  will  admit,  and  therefor,  for  the 
preseni,  agree  to  employ  in  the  capacity  of  their  principal  teacher, 
Mr.  William  Thomson,  till  the  next  meeting.  His  excellency 
N.  Van  Dyke,  the  Reverend  Messrs.  James  Latta  and  John  Mc- 
Creary,  the  Honorable  James  Lattimer  and  Colonel  Richard  Cant- 
well  were  unanimously  elected  Trustees,  and  General  Patterson 
is  requested  to  acquaint  them  with  the  same.  ...  Dr.  Ewing  is 
appointed  to  have  it  published  in  the  Pennsylvania  newspapers, 
that  the  Newark  Academy  is  revlveil,  and  will  be  carried  on  as 
formerly." 

Despite  the  losses  incurred  during  the  war,  in  1785, 
there  were  in  the  treasury  $6700.40.  Mr.  Thomson  con- 
tinued to  he  the  principal  of  the  Academy  until  1794. 
From  this  date  till  1811,  Mr.  Johnston  tilled  the  posi- 
tion. During  his  administration  the  Academy  was 
not  prosperous,  and  was  closed  from  1796  to  1799.  In 
1811  he  was  removed,  and  Rev.  Andrew  K.  Bussell 
appointed  principal.  Under  him,  the  Academy  vastly 
improved,  and  was  in  prosperous  circumstances.  The 
intention  of  organizing  a  college  in  Newark  cul- 
minated in  1834,  and  Newark  Academy  was  merged 
into  Newark  College  (now  Delaware  College).  In 
January,  1847,  a  deed  of  the  buildings,  etc.,  was  made 
by  the  trustees  of  the  Academy  to  the  trustees  of 
Delaware  College.*  The  two  schools  were  united  until 
1869,  when  the  trustees  of  Delaware  College  deeded 
back  to  the  trustees  of  Newark  Academy  the  property 
conveyed  to  them  in  1847.  The  surviving  trustee*, 
Hon.  WUlard  Hall  and  Wm.  T.  Read,  in  1869  elected 
John  W.  Evans,  Rathmel  Wilson,  James  H.  Ray, 
George  G.  Kerr,  W.  E.  Turner,  William  Reynolds, 
Edward  R.  Wilson,  David  J.  Murphey,  George  G. 
Evans  and  Charles  W.  Blaody,  trustees  to  fill  the 
vacancies  in  the  board.  Professor  E.  D.  Porter  was 
appointed  principal,  and  conducted  the  school  with 
varied  success,  generally  having  a  fair  number  of 
students.  In  1873,  Miss  Hannah  Chamberlain  was 
elected  principal,  and  females  were  admitted.  Miss 
Chamberlain  proved  an  efficient  teacher.  8he  was 
succeeded  1877  by  Rev.  J.  L.  Polk,  under  whose  man- 
agement the  Academy  was  very  prosperous.  Prof. 
Albert  N.  Raub,  the  present  principal,  has  met  with 
marked  success  in  his  plan  of  conducting  the  school, 
and  the  Academy  of  Newark  is  in  a  prosperous  con- 
dition, and  ranks  very  high  as  an  institution  of  learn- 
ing. The  influence  exerted  by  this  institution  since 
its  organization  has  been  very  healthy  and  beneficial, 
and  has  been  felt,  not  only  in  Delaware,  but  also  in 
the  adjoining  States.  Among  the  names  of  the  trustees 
of  this  Academy  are  found  men  celebrated  in  their  day 

»  The  history  of  Delaware  College  will  be  found  in  the  article  on 
**  Education,"  on  page  448. 

60 


for  devotion  to  religion,  education  and  the  welfare  of 
the  country.  It  is  estimated  that  five  thousand  per- 
sons have  been  educated  within  the  walls  of  the 
Academy,  most  of  whom  have  become  good  and  use- 
ful citizens.  Among  the  early  students  of  the  Academy 
after  it  was  located  at  Newark  were  George  Duffield, 
D.D.,  associate  chaplain  of  Congress  with  Bishop 
White;  Alexander  McWhorter,  D.D.,  an  eminent 
Presbyterian  clergyman ;  £kiward  Miller,  M.D.,  an 
eminent  physician  and  Professor  of  Practice  of  Physic 
in  the  University  of  New  York.  Among  the  alumni 
of  the  Academy  are  found  such  men  as  Charles 
Thomson,  secretary  of  the  First  Congress ;  Rev.  Dr. 
John  Ewing,  provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania; Thomas  McKean,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  many  others  of  equal  merit  known  throughout 
the  entire  Union. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  principals  from  the 
opening  of  the  school  to  the  present  time :  Rev.  Dr. 
Allison,  Rev.  Alexander  McDowell,  Mr.  William 
Thompson,  Mr.  Johnstone,  Rev.  John  Waugh,  Rev. 
Francis  Hind  man.  Rev.  A.  E.  Russell,  Mr.  Thomas 
Madden,  Mr.  N.  Z.  Graves,  Professor  Wm.  S.  F.  Gra- 
ham, Mr.  W.  W.  Ferris,  Rev.  Matthew  Meiggs,  Mr. 
J.  W.  Weston,  Rev.  Whitman  Peck,  Professor  E.  D. 
Porter,  Miss  Hannah  Chamberlain,  Joseph  L.  Polk 
and  Albert  N.  Raub. 

CorpB  of  Instructors, — Albert  N.  Raub,  Principal ; 
Assistants,  Professor  Edgar  L.  Raub,  Miss  Gertrude 
M.  Bridgman  and  Miss  Martha  Chamberlain ;  Teach- 
ers of  Music,  Miss  Georgia  Benneson  and  Miss  Nora 
A.  Raub. 

Newark  M.  E.  Church.— Previous  to  1812  the 
Methodists  of  Newark  held  their  meetings  in  private 
families,  and  occasionally  in  the  Academy  building. 
In  that  year  an  organization  was  effected  and  a  church 
erected  at  the  present  location  of  the  Methodist 
Cemetery,  on  land  then  the  property  of  Isaac  Tyson. 

On  April  8,  1813,  Samuel  Brumley,  Abraham  8. 
Keagy,  John  Stoops,  William  Silver,  Abraham 
Egbert,  Jacob  Tyson,  Isaac  Tyson  and  Abraham 
Heapy  were  elected  trustees.  On  the  same  day  they 
purchased  of  Isaac  Tyson  a  half-acre  of  land  on  con- 
dition ''that  they  shall  keep  and  maintain,  in  good 
order  and  repair,  the  house  now  erected  and  built  on 
the  same,  and  to  be  finished  for  the  use  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  in  the  United  States  of 
America." 

This  was  used  as  a  house  of  worship  until  1851, 
when,  through  the  efforts  of  John  F.  Williamson,  and  a 
few  other  active  members,  a  new  building  was  erected 
on  Main  Street,  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  dollars.  In 
1861  this  building  was  burned  down,  and  services 
were  then  held  in  the  Village  Presbyterian  Church. 
In  the  spring  of  the  following  year  the  erection  of  the 
present  edifice  was  begun  on  the  same  location,  but 
was  not  completed  until  the  fall  of  1864.  This  is  a 
commodious  two-story  brick  building,  and  cost  ten 
thousand  dollars.  The  dedication  sermon  was 
preached  in  January,  1865,  by  Rev.  Pennell  Combs. 


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946 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  churchy  at  present,  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
The  following  ministers  have  been  stationed  here 
since  1849 :  Rev.  C.  J.  Crouch,  Rev.  8.  Townsend, 
Rev.  James  L.  Houston,  Rev.  James  Flannery,  Rev. 
Benjamin  F.  Price,  Rev.  George  W.  Leibrandt,  Rev. 
Joseph  Aspril,  Rev.  George  Quigley,  Rev.  James  A. 
Brindle,  Rev.  M.  A.  Day,  Rev.  John  Shields,  Rev.  C. 
F.  Sheppard,  Rev.  Benjamin  T.  String,  Rev.  Geo. 
A.  Phoebus,  Rev.  William  H.  Hutchins,  Rev.  John 
France,  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Haynes,  Rev.  Henry  Col- 
clazer  and  Rev.  C.  W.  Prettyman.  Trustees  at  pres- 
ent: W.  S.  Mote,  E.  S.  Gilraor,  William  M.  Gamble, 
W.  A.  Woodrow,  S.  R.  Hoffecker,  John  Pilling  and 
James  Lyle. 

Newark  Presbyterian  CHURCH.—From  1839  to 
1860  there  were  two  Presbyterian  Churches  in  Newark, 
the  one  known  as  the  Village  Church  and  the  other  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Newark.  The  former, 
or  New  School,  was  organized  in  1835,  with  a  member- 
ship of  sixteen.  This  congregation  met  in  the  school- 
room of  Rev.  Samuel  Bell,  who  had  charge  of  a 
female  seminary  at  that  time.  In  1843  it  was  decided 
to  erect  a  church,  the  comer-stone  of  which  was 
laid  on  September  25th,  of  that  year.  The  building 
was  completed  the  following  year,  and  dedicated 
March  28th,  with  appropriate  ceremonies. 

Dr.  Gilbert,  then  president  of  Newark  College,  was 
the  first  pastor.  From  this  date  the  church  enjoyed  a 
season  of  prosperity.  Dr.  Gilbert  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  J.  P.  Wilson  in  October,  1847,  and  he  officiated 
until  the  end  of  1849.  During  this  period  twenty- 
five  persons  were  added  to  the  church-roll.  Dr.  Wilson 
was  followed  in  regular  order  by  Revs.  George  Foote, 
Professor  Graham,  John  W.  Elliott,  Henry  A.  Barnes, 
Nicholas  Patterson,  V.  D.  Collins,  W.  A.  Crawford, 
Ellis  J.  Newlin  and  Mr.  Peck.  In  1860  the  two 
churches  united,  and  have  since  worshipped  together. 
The  church  building  was  sold  to  the  Catholics.  The 
First  Presbyterian,  or  Old  School,  was  organized  in 
August,  1839,  by  a  committee  of  New  Castle  Presby- 
tery. The  congregation,  numbering  nine  members, 
was  composed  of  persons  who  previously  worshipped 
at  White  Clay  Creek  and  Head  of  Christiana 
Churches.  Rev.  Alexander  Heberton  for  a  short 
time  preached  as  stated  supply.  He  was  followed 
by  Rev.  Elijah  Wilson,  who  officiated  from  June, 
1842,  till  1846.  During  his  pastorate  the  church 
building  was  erected.  During  the  following  seven 
years  the  church  was  closed,  with  the  exception  of  an 
occasional  service.  In  December,  1853,  Rev.  James 
L.  Vallandingham  accepted  the  charge,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  churches  at  White  Clay  Creek,  and 
Head  of  Christiana.  He  resigned  in  1860.  In  that 
year  the  two  branches  were  united,  and  Rev.  Sterling 
M.  Gait  was  chosen  pastor.  After  his  death,  in  1865> 
James  Hamilton  ministered  to  the  church  until  1870, 
when  ill  health  compelled  him  to  resign.  During  his 
pastorate  the  old  church  building  was  torn  down,  and 
preparations  made  for  the  erection  of  a  new  edifice. 
For  a  few  months  Rev.    Michael    Burdett  filled  the 


pulpit.  In  1871  Rev.  Greorge  J.  Porter  was  elected 
pastor.  The  new  building  was  completed  and  dedi- 
cated June  13,  1872.  The  church  b  now  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition,  and  numbers  over  a  hundred  mem- 
bers. 

The  Christian  Church  was  organized  in  1884. 
As  yet  they  have  erected  no  church  edifice.  Their  first 
pastor,  Rev.  T.  B.  Knowles,  began  his  ministrations 
in  Newark  in  March,  1887,  and  still  labors  there. 

St.  Patrick  R.  C.  Church.— In  1866  a  Catholic 
Church  was  organized  at  Newark,  and  the  Village 
Church,  erected  by  the  New  School  Presbyterians, 
was  purchased  for  a  meeting-house.  The  church  was 
dedicated  in  that  year  by  Bishop  0*Hara.  The  con- 
gregation at  that  time  numbered  about  three  hundred 
communicants.  The  first  priest  in  charge  was  Father 
Blake.  He  was  succeeded  by  Father  William  Dol- 
lard.  Father  Peter  Donaghy,  Father  John  A.  Lyons. 
During  Father  Lyons'  priesthood  a  new  two-story 
brick  edifice,  sixty  by  eighty  feet,  was  erected,  at 
a  cost  of  twenty  thousand  dollars.  The  successor  of 
Father  Lyons  is  Father  J.  D.  Cary,  the  present  priest 
During  the  past  year  many  members  of  this  church 
have  moved  from  the  town.  There  are  at  present 
about  two  hundred  communicants. 

St.  Thomas'  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was 
erected  in  1843,  and  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Crod, 
on  February  25,  1845,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Alfred  Lee, 
D.  D.,  LL.D.,  bishop  of  the  diocese.  The'  first  services 
were  held  August  1, 1842,  at  which  time  the  congre- 
gation was  organized.  The  vestrymen  were  Thomas 
Blandy,  Benjamin  Gibbs,  William  S.  Wilson,  William 
Cooch  and  James  S.  Martin.  The  church  edifice  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $4000.  Rev.  Walter  E. 
Franklin  was  the  first  rector.  The  parish  has  about 
seventy-five  communicants.  The  present  rector  is 
Rev.  George  M.  Bond. 

St.  John's  A.  U.  M.  P.  Church.— The  first  meeting 
of  the  congregation  of  this  church  was  held  in  1855, 
in  a  log  house  situated  where  the  present  church 
stands.  In  1866  it  was  decided  to  erect  an  edifice, 
which  was  completed  in  1867^  at  a  cost  of  $1100.  The 
number  of.  members  has  increased  from  sixteen  to 
forty-two,  the  present  membership.  The  following 
ministers  have  officiated:  Revs.  Solomon  Benson, 
Daniel  Russell,  John  Morris,  N.  E.  Collins,  Benj. 
Scott,  Moses  Chippey,  Edward  H.  Chippey,  J.  J. 
Broadman. 

The  Foundry. — In  1851  a  foundry  was  built  by 
Dr.  Palmer  Chamberlain,  on  a  site  nearly  opposite 
the  Deer  Park  Hotel.  In  1854  C.  &  H.  P.  R 
Blandy  purchased  the  plant  and  conducted  the  busi- 
ness until  1875,  when  Lewis  L.  Allen  became  the 
proprietor.  Allen  was  the  proprietor  for  eleven  years, 
and  then  Edward  R.  Wilson,  the  present  owner, 
purchased  it.  The  business  was  never  carried  on 
verj  extensively  and  was  unprofitable.  Since  1886 
nothing  at  all  has  been  manufactured  in  the  foundry. 

In  1886,  John  A.  Bedwell  established  a  manu&c- 
tory  in  the  limits  of  Newark,  in  a  building  erected  for 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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a  8 Jish- factory.  Mr.  Bedirell  manafactures  hammocks 
and  gauze  goods  of  every  description.  There  are  ten 
looms  in  the  factory  and  fifteen  employees  are  re- 
quired to  operate  them.  The  factory  has  a  capacity 
of  four  hundred  hammocks  per  day.  The  products 
of  this  manufactory  are  shipped  to  New  York. 

Brick- Yard. — In  1882  the  Newark  Brick  Com- 
pany commenced  manufacturing  bricks  within  the 
boundaries  of  Newark.  Their  annual  production 
amounted  to  one  and  a  half  millions  of  bricks  per 
year.  Twelve  men  were  employed.  Two  years  later 
the  brick-yard  was  purchased  by  A.  J.  Hayland  & 
Co.)  who  ran  it  for  a  year.  Johnson  &  McMichael 
are  the  present  owners  and  proprietors.  They  have 
in  their  employ  six  workmen,  and  manufacture  annu- 
ally five  hundred  thousand  common  bricks.  The 
clay  bank  is  in  close  proximity  to  the  yard. 

In  1885  Jacob  Casho  and  C.  Mendenhall  began  the 
manufacture  of  road-machines.  The  business  was 
carried  on  for  a  year,  during  which  time  twenty -six 
machines  were  made.  The  inability  to  sell  the 
machine  led  to  the  abandonment  of  iU  manufacture. 

In  1831  Robt.  M.  and  William  B.  Armstrong  con- 
veyed to  Thos.  B.  Armstrong  a  tannery  located  in 
Newark.  In  1886  Alexander  Walker  purchased  the 
tannery  and  conducted  the  business  until  1852,  when 
he  failed.    The  tannery  has  since  been  torn  down. 

Hotels. — St.  Patrick, — It  is  impossible  to  ascertain 
the  exact  date  of  the  erection  of  this  hotel,  or  by 
whom  it  was  built.  In  1750  John  Pritchard  was  the 
landlord  and  owner.  When  Mason  and  Dixon,  with 
their  corps  of  assistants,  made  their  surveys  in  1764, 
8t  Patrick's  Inn  was  their  headquarters.  In  describ- 
ing the  boundaries  of  the  town  of  Newark  in  1772, 
the  St.  Patrick's  Inn  is  mentioned.  The  hotel  re- 
mained in  the  Pritchard  family  for  nearly  a  century, 
being  owned  respectively  by  John,  Tobias  and  John, 
and  was  often  called  Pritehard's  Hotel.  In  1848 
James  S.  Martin  purchased  the  property,  and  in  1851 
tore  down  the  building  and  erected  a  four-story  brick 
hotel,  sixty  hy  forty,  and  called  it  the  Deer  Park 
Hotel.  This  hotel  has  been  owned  successively  by 
Jacob  De  Haven,  J.  Marshall  Harlan,  Alexander  A. 
Laws,  Colonel  Joshua  Clayton  and  John  E.  Lewi^ 
the  present  owner.  The  hotel  is  successfully  man- 
aged by  Mr.  Lewis. 

NevHirk  Hotel — The  date  of  the  erection  of  this 
hotel  or  the  names  of  the  earliest  proprietors  cannot 
be  definitely  ascertained.  The  earliest  accurate  in- 
formation in  regard  to  it  is  that  a  license  was  granted 
to  Joseph  HoBsinger  in  May,  1797,  to  keep  a  hotel  in 
Newark,  and  some  of  the  oldest  citizens  remember 
hearing  the  hotel  called  Hossingcr's  Tavern.  The 
hotel  was  successively  owned  by  John  Herdman 
(who  was  proprietor  in  1828),  John  W.  Choate,  and 
in  1880  was  purchased  by  the  Newark  Hall  Company 
and  torn  down.  The  present  Exchange  building 
stands  on  the  site  occupied  by  this  hotel.  Tradition 
says  that  General  Washington  passed  a  night  within 
its  walls  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 


Washington  J7o^/.— This  building  was  erected  about 
1825  by  a  Mr.  Betts.  He  was  proprietor  until  1838, 
when  he  sold  it  to  Mr.  Blandy,  who  built  an  addition 
to  it  and  remodeled  the  part  already  built.  The  next 
and  present  owner  is  James  A.  Wilson. 

Post-Office. — The  post-ofl5ce  at  Newark  was  es- 
tablished at  a  very  early  date,  which  cannot  be  accu- 
rately ascertained.  The  present  office  is  in  the  Ex- 
change building.  The  following  are  the  postmasters 
from  1840  to  the  present  time:  Thomas  Benneson, 
MathewMaclain,  James  L.  Miles,  Jonathan  Dreunen, 
John  Miller,  S.  R.  Choate. 

The  Newark  Building  and  Loan  Association 
was  instituted  in  1867.  The  association  is  conducted 
on  the  serial  plan  and  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condi- 
tion. This  organization  has  been  of  great  assistance 
in  building  up  and  improving  the  town.  The 
present  officers  are :  President,  E.  S.  Gilmour ;  Vice- 
President,  Joseph  Dean ;  Treasurer,  Miller  R.  Barton ; 
Secretary,  George  W.  Williams. 

The  Newark  Library  Association  was  organ- 
ized in  October,  1878.  The  library  now  contains  six 
hundred  volumes  of  choice  books  of  every  description. 
Additions  are  being  constantly  made  of  the  latest 
literary  works  of  merit.  Shortly  after  its  organization 
there  were  eighty  members,  but  at  present  only  fifty 
are  in  good  standing.  The  library  is  kept  in  the 
store-room  of  William  M.  Wilson,  and  is  under  the 
supervision  of  Wilbur  Wilson,  librarian.  The  offi- 
cers are:  President,  Joseph  Dean;  Secretary,  Miss 
Sue  Evans ;  Treasurer,  Dr.  H.  G.  M.  Kollock ;  Libra- 
rian, Wilbur  Wilson. 

Telephone. — W.  A.  Woodrow  in  1882  opened  a 
telephone  office  to  communicate  with  Wilmington. 
Only  one  wire  was  then  in  use.  In  the  following 
year  Miss  Lilian  Gray  took  charge  of  the  office  and 
in  1884  secured  seven  subscribers.  From  that  time 
the  office  has  been  known  as  the  Telephone  Ex- 
change. At  the  present  time  there  are  twelve  wires, 
ten  of  which  are  used  and  by  means  of  which  com- 
munication can  be  held  with  all  parts  of  Wilmington. 
National  Bank  of  Newark. — ^The  Bank  of 
Newark  was  charted  as  a  State  Bank  with  a  capital 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars.  Daniel  Thompson  was  the 
first  president  of  it.  James  L.  Martin,  Frederick  A. 
Curtis,  William  McClelland,  James  L.  Miles,  Benja- 
min Caulk,  John  Miller,  Daniel  Thompson,  Solomon 
Leecheand  Joseph  Hossinger  were  appointed  commis- 
sioners to  open  the  books,  secure  subscriptions  for 
stock  and  to  attend  to  the  general  business  incident 
to  its  opening.  In  1864  it  was  converted  into  a 
National  Bank.  The  capital  stock  is  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  and  the  surplus  twenty-six  thousand  dollars. 
The  present  officers  are:  President,  Joel  Thompson  ; 
Cashier,  George  W.  Lindsey;  Teller,  George  W. 
Williams. 

Red  Men. — A  lodge  of  Red  Men  was  instituted  in 
this  town  in  1885.  The  number  of  members  at  that 
time  was  sixteen.  The  lodge  has  been  prosperous 
and  gradually  increased  in  numbers  till  there  are  now 


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948 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


forty-three.  The  organization  is  known  as  Minne- 
haha Tribe,  No.  23, 1.  O.  R.  M.  The  present  officers 
are:  Sachem,  S.  Raymond  Choate;  Senior  Sachem, 
Greorge  R.  Powell;  Junior  Sachem,  Frank  M.  Smith; 
Keeper  of  Records,  S.  I.  Sweet;  Keeper  of  Wampum, 
J.  W.  Miller;  W.  P.,  T.  A.  Mullen. 

Mabons. — In  the  minutes  of  the  Newark  Academy 
of  1808  mention  is  made  of  a  petition  of  *'  Lodge  No. 
96,  of  Masons,"  for  use  of  the  academy,  which  was  not 
granted.  Nothing  definite  can  be  learned  of  this 
organization.  In  1816  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  3,  was 
Instituted  and  it  continued  till  1825.  In  January, 
1870,  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  26,  A.  F.  A.  M.,  was  organ- 
ized. The  charter  members  were  John  France, 
Walter  E.  Turner,  Edward  D.  .Porter,  John  W.  Evans, 
Charles  C.  King  and  James  H.  Ray.  At  the  close  of 
that  year  there  were  sixteen  members.  The  lodge  is 
in  a  prosperous  condition  and  numbers  fifty- two 
members.  The  officers  at  the  present  time  are:  M., 
E.  8.  Gilmour;  S.  W.,  W.  H.  Simpers;  J.  W.,  Dr. 
Frank  L.  Springer;  Treasurer,  John  0.  Shivler; 
Secretary,  S.  M.  Donnell. 

KNIGHT8  OF  Fytkiaq,— Osceola  Lodge,  No,  5,  K.  of 
P.,  was  organized  on  June  6,  1868.  The  number  of 
members  at  that  time  was  sixteen.  During  this  year 
and  the  following  the  society  was  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition and  numbered  eighty  members.  Since  that 
time  it  has  gradually  diminished  and  now  there  are 
but  eighteen  members.  The  following  are  the  present 
officers :  C.  C,  James  Morris ;  V.  0.,  Oeorge  Ferguson ; 
Prelate,  Isaac  Wainwright,  M.  of  E.,  J.  C.  Shivler;  M. 
of  F.,  Wil  liam  B.  Kearns ;  K.  of  R.  and  S.,  Paul  Gillis; 
M.  at  A.,  Nathan  Davis. 

Oriental  Lodge,  No.  12,  /.  0.  0.  R  was  instituted  at 
Newark  February  11,  1847.  Robert  Fulton,  Robert 
E.  Payne,  A.  C.  Alexander,  John  Hamilton  and 
Hiram  Austin  were  the  charter  members.  At  the  ter- 
mination of  that  year  there  were  twenty  members.  A 
hall  was  built  by  this  order  in  1850  and  is  still  owned 
and  used  for  lodge  purposes.  Since  its  organization 
the  order  has  been  very  prosperous  and  now  numbers 
ninety-two  members.  The  present  officers  are ;  N.  G., 
William  Gamble;  V.  G.,  Clayton  C.  Choate;  R.  S., 
Joseph  T.  Willis;  Treasurer,  William  H.  Simpers;  P. 
S.  George  W.  Williams. 

Good  TEUFhXtts,— Newark  Lodge,  No,  3,  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Grood  Templars  of  Newark,  Delaware, 
was  organized  on  the  8th  day  of  March,  1883,  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  aforesaid  town,  and 
composed  of  twenty-one  members.  Henry  W.  Mor- 
row, of  Wilmington,  Sr.  P.  G.  T.  C,  and  a  Mr.  Har- 
graves,  of  Philadelphia,  instituted  the  lodge.  Dur- 
ing the  four  years  nearly  two  hundred  accessions  have 
been  made.  Present  membership  about  sixty  mem- 
bers. Lodge  meets  on  Saturday  evening  in  Red  Men's 
Hall,  Main  Street. 

Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. — Anchor 
Lodge,  No.  4,  A,  0.  U.  W.  was  organized  and  instituted 
in  September  1881.  The  membership  for  the  first 
year  numbered  twenty-three.    Many  of  this  order 


have  recently  removed  from  the  town.  At  present 
there  are  thirty-five  members.  The  officers  of  the 
society  are :  Master  Workman,  Jas.  A.  Wilson ;  Fore- 
man, William  H.  Stephens ;  Overseer,  William  M. 
Gamble ;  Recorder,  S.  R.  Choate ;  Receiver,  Dr.  H.  G. 
M.  Kollock  ;  Financier,  E.  S.  Gilmour. 

Newark  Orange,  No,  5,  P,  of  H,  was  instituted  April 
6, 1874.  In  that  year  a  store  was  opened  by  this  associa- 
tion in  the  room  now  occupied  by  Dr.  H.  G.  M.  Kol- 
lock. This  was  shortly  afterwards  discontinued  and  a 
co-operative  store  opened,  which  occupies  at  present  a 
portion  of  the  Exchange  building  and  is  under  the 
superintendence  of  B.  F.  Tillum.  The  organization 
has  rapidly  increased  in  numbers  and  there  are  now 
seventy-five  members  as  against  the  original  twelve 
charter  members.  At  present  the  Grange  if>  officered 
by  the  following  persons:  Master,  James  Hossinger; 
Overseer,  Thomas  Brackin;  Steward,  James  R.  Deigh- 
ton ;  Assistant  Steward,  John  McEane ;  Lecturer,  W. 
L.  Skinner;  Chaplain,  John  McEeonan;  Treasurer, 
Samuel  Lindsey ;  Secretary,  J.  H.  Clark ;  Gate  Keeper, 
William  Rankin ;  Ceres,  Mrs.  E.  E.  Steel ;  Pomona, 
Mrs.  A.  P.  Cannon;  Flora,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Walton;  Lady 
Assistant  Steward,  Miss  F.  J.  Dean. 

Colored  Lodges. — Barnes  Lodge,  No,  1682,  O,  U. 
0,  of  0,  F.  was  organized  July  19, 1875,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  forty-one.  The  number  of  members  at 
present  is  forty-two. 

Mt,  Oarmel  Lodge,  No,  14,  A,  F.  A,  Y,  M,  was  insti- 
tuted August  7, 1876.  The  membership  in  that  year 
numbered  forty-two.  The  lodge  now  numbers  thirty- 
five  members. 


CHAPTER    XLVIII. 


PENCADER  HUNDRED. 


This  hundred  is  a  long,  narrow  strip  of  land  on 
the  Maryland  line,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north,  east 
and  south  by  the  hundreds  of  White  Clay  Creek, 
New  Castle,  Red  Lion  and  St.  George's.  It  is  the 
only  division  of  New  Castle  County  that  is  not  con- 
fined within  natural  boundaries.  The  greater  part  of 
the  Welsh  tract  and  a  small  portion  of  what  in  early 
days  was  known  as  St.  Augustine  Manor  comprise 
the  territory  of  Pencader.  The  early  Welsh  families 
settled  in  this  hundred,  principally  around  Iron  Hill. 
This  being  a  hill  of  considerable  elevation,  gave 
rise  to  the  name  Pencader,  which  is  a  Welsh  term 
and  signifies  ''  the  highest  seat.''  The  larger  portion 
of  the  land  is  in  a  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  re- 
mainder, chiefly  in  the  vicinity  of  Iron  and  Chestnut 
Hills,  is  well  wooded.  The  soil  is  a  red  loam  with  a 
clay  sub-soil,  and  yields  well.  The  land  is  watered 
by  several  small  streams  which  flow  through  it  The 
Delaware,  the  Newark  and  Delaware  and  the  Phila- 
delphia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroads  pass 
through  Pencader.  In  1801  surveys  for  the  Chesa- 
peake and  Delaware  Canal  were  made  and  a  route  was 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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selected.  It  passed  near  Glasgow,  where  a  large 
reservoir  covering  one  hundred  acres  of  land  was  com- 
menced, but  discon tinned  in  1803  for  want  of  funds. 
The  feeder  was  from  Big  Elk  Creek  to  the  reservoir, 
and  $100,000  were  spent  upon  its  construction.  Several 
arches  then  built  are  still  standing.  In  1828  a  new 
route  for  the  canal,  passing  through  the  southern 
part  of  the  hundred,  was  selected.  The  bed  of  St. 
George's  Creek  was  used  as  the  channel.  The  canal 
was  completed  in  1829.  Further  information  con- 
cerning it  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  Internal 
Improvements. 

The  southern  part  of  Pencader  is  land  that  in  1671 
was  granted  by  Lord  Baltimore  to  Augustine  Her- 
man, and  was  part  of  what  was  known  as  St.  Augus- 
tine Manor,  and  embraced  land  from  the  Delaware,  be- 
tween Appoquinimink  and  St.  George's  Creek,  west- 
ward to  Bohemia  Manor.  This  land,  however,  was  in 
dispute,  and  Governor  Lovelace  protested  against  the 
usurpation  of  Herman  and  others,  in  taking  up  this 
land.  The  land  west  of  the  Delaware  State  line 
retained  the  name.  Herman,  not  satisfied  with  his 
title  for  the  portion  in  Delaware,  obtained  a  warrant  for 
it  from  the  authorities  at  New  Amsterdam. 

In  1714,  Matthias  Van  Bibber  purchased  a  portion 
of  St.  Augustine  Manor  from  Ephraim  Augustine 
Herman.  Four  sons — ^Jacob,  Adam,  Matthias  and 
Henry— and  two  daughters — Sarah  and  Rebecca — ^sur- 
vived him.  The  portion  of  land  in  St.  Augustine  Manor 
owned  by  him  was  devised  to  his  daughters.  Rebecca 
acquired  the  portion  situated  in  Delaware.    She  was 

married  to Cazier  and  at  her  death  the  property 

descended  tocher  sons — John,  Jacob  and  Matthias.  On 
the  21st  of  March.  1780,  John  sold  his  interest  to 
Matthias  and  Jacob.  In  this  deed  the  property  is 
mentioned  as  a  tract  of  land 

**Comm<ml7  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  St.  An^stlne's  Manor 
all  that  which  laid  in  the  boundar7B  of  Maryland  b^orethe  eetablishmen  t 
of  the  lines  tietween  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania,  containing  in  the 
whole  about  two  thousand  acres,  more  or  less,  wherein  a  certain  Loyed 
Belaney  owns  one-half  and  Beal  Boardley  one-fourth  and  Robert 
Haughey  one-eight's  part,  and  the  heirs  of  Rel>ecca  Caxier  one-eight's 
part  situated  now  a  small  part  in  Pencader  Hundred,  and  the  greatest 
part  iu  St.  George's  Hundred  and  county  of  New  Ostle,  .  .  .  now  a 
chief  part  in  the  tenure  of  R«>bert  Haughey  and  a  small  part  in  the 
tenure  of  Jacob  and  Matthias  Cazier." 

A  large  portion  of  this  land  descended  from  Jacob 
Cazier  to  his  son  Henry,  and  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  Jacob  Benson  Cazier. 

Mr.  Cazier  is  now  a  retired  farmer,  near  Kirkwood, 
New  Castle  County,  and  was  born  on  the  White  Hall 
farm — the  old  homestead  of  his  ancestors  for  several 
generations — December  25,  1833.  He  is  the  son  of 
Henry  Cazier,  whose  wife  was  Sarah  Johnson,  of 
New  York  City.  He  is  the  grandson  of  Jacob  Cazier, 
whose  first  name  he  bears,  who,  in  turn,  was  a  grand- 
son of  Matthias  Van  Bibber,  an  eminent  and  opulent 
man  of  his  day,  who  came  from  near  Philadelphia  (Ger- 
mantown),  and  settled  in  Maryland  in  1702,  and  in  that 
year  and  in  1711,  bought  lands  that  had  formed  part  of 
the  famous  Labadie  tract  on  the  Bohemia  River.  Mat* 
thias  Van  Bibber  was  cotemporary  with  the  Hermans, 


atid  bought  from  Ephraim  Augiistine  Herman  the  St. 
Augustine  Manor,  which  comprised  all  the  lands  east 
of  Bohemia  Manor  to  the  Delaware  River,  and  south 
of  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  Canal  to  Appoquin- 
imink Creek.  At  the  time  of  the  purchase  this  tract 
was  claimed  as  a  part  of  Maryland,  and  an  alienation 
fee  was  paid  on  it  to  the  proprietary  of  Maryland. 
These  lands  were  but  a  part  of  his  large  landed  pos- 
sessions. Mr.  Van  Bibber  was  held  in  high  repute 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  Peninsula,  as  a  man 
of  learning  and  intellectual  ability.  He  was  chief 
justice  of  Cecil  County,  Md.,  when  the  court-house  at 
Court-House  Point,  on  the  Elk  River,  was  built  in 
1717-19,  and  was  presiding  judge  on  the  8th  day  of 
March,  1719,  when  the  court  met  for  the  first  time  at 
that  place.  He  held  this  position  of  honor  and 
responsibility  for  a  long  time.  Many  of  his  descend- 
ants were  noted  for  their  patriotism  during  the  War 
of  the  Revolution  in  1776. 

The  father  of  Matthias  Van  Bibber,  Jacob  Isaacs 
Van  Bibber,  came  to  this  country  from  Holland  after 
the  birth  of  Matthias,  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers 
of  G^rmantown,  Pa.  Henry  Cazier,  the  son  of  a 
grandson  of  Matthias  Bibber,  was  thus  a  worthy 
descendant  of  sturdy  Holland  progenitors  on  his 
father's  side,  and  of  Scotch  Presbyterian  ancestry  on 
his  mother's  side,  his  mother  being  the  widow  of  Rev. 
James  McCoy,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman.  Henry  left 
two  children, — Catharine  Eugenia  and  Jacob  Benson, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  former  bom  February 
26,  1830.  Sarah,  a  daughter,  born  October  8,  1832, 
died  in  infancy.  Catharine  Eugenia  married  Rev. 
Samuel  Dickey,  of  Oxford,  Pa.,  October  8, 1850.  She 
died  March  16, 1862,  leaving  the  following  children  : 
Sallie  Eugenia,  born  Angust  11,  1853;  Mary  Irvine, 
born  AuguH  21,  1857;  and  Henry  Cazier,  born  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1860.    He  died  August  17, 1868. 

Until  his  fourteenth  year  he  attended  the  schools  of 
his  neighborhood,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  Academy 
at  Newark,  then  in  charge  of  Rev.  Matthew  Meigs, 
afterwards  consul  to  Greece.  After  a  thorough  pre- 
paratory course  of  two  and  a  half  years  he  entered 
Delaware  College,  where  he  remained  till  about  the 
middle  of  the  senior  year,  when  he  left  for  the  purpose 
of  making  a  general  tour  of  the  United  States.  He 
spent  about  two  years  in  visiting  the  principal  cities 
and  points  of  interest  in  the  northern,  western  and 
southern  sections  of  the  Union.  Returning  home,  he 
entered  upon  the  active  pursuit  of  agricultural  occu- 
pations on  the  old  homestead  farm.  After  the  death 
of  his  father,  in  1859,  he  retired  from  the  practical 
work  of  farming  and  removed  to  "Mt.  Vernon 
Place,''  his  beautiful  home,  a  cut  of  which  appears  in 
this  volume.  In  this  farm  Mr.  Cazier  has  taken  great 
interest,  and,  with  pardonable  self-satisfaction,  has 
made  it  one  of  the  most  productive  and  valuable  es- 
tates in  the  country.  He  owns  also  the  old  homestead, 
"White  Hall,"  and  in  1873  purchased  the  lands  that 
had  been  devised  by  his  father  to  his  father's  brother, 
John  Cazier.    The  three  tracts  of  land,  being  con- 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


tiguous,  make  one  Bolid  body  of  about  thirteen  hundred 
acres,  bounded  on  the  south  by  the  Chesapeake  and 
Delaware  Canal.  He  has  also  other  farms,  amounting 
to  about  two  thousand  acres  of  improved  and  valuable 
land,  which  he  devotes  principally  to  cereals.  In 
1878  Mr.  Cazier  took  away  all  of  the  old  family  resi- 
dence except  a  portion  of  the  outside  walls,  and  re- 
built in  modern  style,  after  plans  of  his  own,  making 
for  himself  one  of  the  most  commodious,  richly-fin- 
ished and  elegant  mansions  in  the  State.  Mr.  Cazier 
enjoys  a  wide  influence  and  popular  favor.  He  is 
one  of  the  principal  stockholders,  and  a  director  in 
the  Citizens'  National  Bank  of  Middletown,  and  also 
one  of  the  largest  stockholders  in  the  National  Bank 
of  Oxford,  Pa.  He  is  a  large  shareholder  in  the 
Sharon  (Pa.)  Land  Association,  which  holds  very 
valuable  property  on  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington 
and  Baltimore  Railroad,  between  Ridley  Park  and 
Philadelphia.  He  has  large  investments  in  real  estate 
in  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Delaware.  In  politics 
Mr.  Cazier  is  an  Independent  Republican,  and  an 
an  wavering  advocate  of  a  stable  government,  but  he 
has  no  aspirations  for  political  honors.  He  was  mar- 
ried December  18,  1878,  at  Elkton,  Md.,  to  Miss 
Hannah  6.,  daughter  of  William  Magens,  late  of 
Wilmington,  by  Rev.  James  Mclntyre,  who  was  long 
a  pastor  of  the  Glasgow  Presbyterian  Church.  He  is 
an  adherent  and  liberal  supporter  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Glasgow.  He  has  two  children, — Edna, 
born  August  19, 1880,  and  Henry  M.,  bom  December 
21,  1882. 

Mr.  Cazier  is  a  man  of  medium  stature  and  of 
affable  manners.  Neither  spare  nor  corpulent,  he  is 
well-proportioned,  and  very  active  and  energetic. 
Temperate  and  regular  in  his  habits  and  methodical 
in  business,  he  is  an  indefatigable  worker  in  the 
supervision  and  management  of  his  affairs.  His  flour- 
ishing farms  attest  his  almost  ubiquitous  presence 
and  judicious  oversight. 

The  Welsh  tract  is  a  large  tract  of  land,  the  greater 
part  of  which  is  in  Pencader  Hundred,  and  the  re- 
mainder in  Cecil  County,  Maryland.  Settlers  were 
upon  the  land  in  1684,  and  were  driven  off  by  George 
Talbot,  the  Governor  of  Maryland,  who  claimed  the 
land  as  within  his  territory.  The  distinguishing 
feature  of  the  tract  is  Iron  Hill,  which  was  known  by 
that  name  in  1661,  and  is  mentioned  in  a  letter  from 
Vice-Director  Alexander  D.  Hinijossa,  May  15th,  as 
being  the  place  where  four  Englishmen  were  mur- 
dered by  the  Indians  in  April  preceding.  It  is  evir 
dent  that  iron  ore  was  then  known  to  be  at  the  place 
in  considerable  quantity ;  hence  the  name.  A  Welsh 
settlement  had  been  made  in  what  is  now  Delaware, 
Chester  and  Montgomery  Counties,  Pennsylvania,  and 
on  the  13th  of  First  Month,  1684,  William  Penn 
granted  to  the  settlers  40,000  acres  of  land  which 
was  known  as  the  Welsh  tract.  A  number  of  them, 
attracted  in  part  probably  by  the  iron  ore  in  the  Iron 
Hill  and  vicinity,  sought  this  locality  and  petitioned 
Penn  for  a  tract  of  30,000  acres,  which  was  granted 


October  16, 1701,  to  William  Davis,  David  Evans  and 
William  Willis.  The  grant  stated  that  they  were  to 
have  **  thirty  thousand  acres  if  there  be  so  much  va- 
cant in  the  place  hereafter  expressed ;  that  is  to  say, 
behind  the  town  of  New  Castle  westward,  extending 
northward  and  southward,  banning  to  the  westward 
seven  miles  from  the  said  town  of  New  Castle,  and 
extending  upward  and  downward  as  there  shall  be 
found  room  by  regular  strait  lines  as  near  as  may  be." 
A  few  settlers  were  upon  the  tract  at  the  time  of  pur- 
chase and  had  made  some  improvements,  but  without 
any  show  of  title;  they  were  soon  dispossessed  and  the 
Welsh  immediately  after  survey  began  to  locate  upbn 
the  land.  Soon  after  the  survey  was  completed,  John 
Welsh  selected  661  acres,  and  a  little  later  630  acres. 
Of  the  latter,  he  sold  600  acres,  August  17, 1727,  to 
Thomas  Lewis.  Another  part  of  this  land  was  sold 
to  James  Sykes,  and  by  his  executors  281}  acres  was 
conveyed  to  Robert  Faries  on  February  16,  1730. 
Robert  Faries  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  came  to 
this  country  and  purchased  land  in  Red  Lion  Hun- 
dred. After  his  death  in  1749,  the  above-mentioned 
tract  was  inherited  by  his  son  William.  In  the  fol- 
lowing year  William  Faries  purchased  from  Henry 
Whiteside  a  tract  of  land  containing  113  acres.  In 
1760  he  died  intestate,  leaving  two  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter,— Jacob,  Samuel  and  Margaret.  In  1770  Jacob 
purchased  his  sister*8  share,  and  three  years  later  his 
brother's  portion.  He  also  purchased  several  other 
tracts  adjoining  his  land.  He  died  September  1, 18f  8, 
leaving  seven  surviving  children.  The  property  was 
next  owned  by  Jacob,  Jr.,  who  procured  it  by  descent 
and  purchase.  The  next  owner  was  William  W., 
who  obtained  possession  after  the  decease  of  Jacob 
Faries,  Jr.  D.  B.  Ferris  is  the  present  owner  of 
nearly  all  the  land  above  mentioned. 

One  of  the  first  to  choose  was  James  James,  who  se- 
lected Iron  Hill  and  northward  to  the  Christiana 
Creek,  embracing  1244  acres  of  land.  A  deed  was 
granted  by  Davis,  Evans  and  Willis,  June  27, 1702, 
and  confirmed  by  Penn  February  21,  1703.  Thomas 
James  took  up  1260  acres  by  a  deed  dated  October  8, 
1702,  and  David  Price  1060  acres,  deeded  June  6, 
1702.  John  Morgan  took  1030  acres  April  22,  1702, 
and  also  1023  acres  on  the  head- waters  of  Dragon 
Creek  nearly  to  the  boundary  of  Red  Lion  Hundred, 
and  John  Thomas  took  632  acres,  March  16,  1702. 
John  Griffith  took  up  222  acres,  William  Jones  1368 
acres,  and  in  1702, 1379  acres.  Howel  James  took  up 
1040  acres,  and  Philip  James  626  acres  the  same  year. 

Howel  James  by  his  will  bearing  date  August  17, 
1717,  devised  260  acres  to  his  son,  Howel,  and  200 
acres  each  to  his  other  sons,  James  and  Philip.  James 
sold  his  portion  to  his  brother  Philip,  May  12,  1736. 
Philip  conveyed  200  acres  on  which  a  mill  was  lo- 
cated, to  John  Jones,  bolster,  of  Philadelphia,  May  10, 
1737,  and  210  acres  lying  on  the  nofth  side  of  Christi- 
ana Creek  to  Samuel  Allen,  November  8th,  of  the  same 
year.  Among  other  things  devised  by  Howel  Jame», 
Sr.,  to  his  wife  was  an  annuity  of  ten  pounds  to  be 


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950  HISTORY  OP  IJELAWARE, 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


951 


paid  oat  of  his  mills  and  plantation.  Some  difficulty 
arose  concerning  this,  and  Alexander  Hamilton  was 
consulted.    His  opinion  was  as  follows : 

**  I  am  of  oplDioo  that  the  deTise  by  Howell  James  of  ten  Pounde  tohla 
wife  Phebe,  to  be  layed  out  of  his  mills  and  plantation  in  such  proportion 
as  in  the  said  Will  hereunto  annexed  is  directed,  and  to  be  paid  yearly, 
is  a  good  devise  to  Phebe  for  her  life.  But  she  cannot  arrest  the 
posBssBor  of  the  mills  or  Land  for  the  money,  the  same  being  a  clianre 
against  the  Estate  and  not  against  the  person  of  the  heir  or  possessor  of 
the  mills  and  Land. 

*'A.  Hamiltov. 

*"  PhOad^Ma,  March  13,  1726.** 

John  Watkins  and  many  otheis  selected  lands  from 
the  Welsh  tract.  One  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres 
of  the  land  of  John  Watkins  passed  to  David  Wil- 
liams, August  6,  1736 ;  Thomas  Johns,  November  10, 
1729,  bought  1156  acres;  Philip  James  sold  to  Francis 
Land,  January  6,  1729,  400  acres  on  the  southeast 
side  of  Iron  Hill ;  David  Evans,  November  16,  1723,- 
sold  to  John  Edwards  450  acres  in  two  tracts,  and  the 
next  day  300  acres  to  William  Reese.  Before  1786 
David  Evans  removed  to  Cape  Fear,  North  Carolina. 
In  a  deed  to  his  sou  Samuel,  dated  April  10,  1736,  he 
conveyed  to  him  200  acres,  *'  whereon  I  have  lived, 
formerly  of  Pencader,  now  of  Cape  Fear,  North  Caro- 
lina." April  21,  1738,  Solomon  and  David  Evans 
unite  in  conveying  594  acres  of  land  to  Thomas 
Evans,  the  200  acres  formerly  conveyed  to  Solomon 
being  part  of  the  original  tract.  A  part  of  the  James 
James  land  came  to  his  son  Samuel  by  deed  of  gift, 
June 3,  1723,  on  which  soon  after  he  built  a  forge,  and, 
by  his  success  and  the  fact  of  there  being  plenty  of  ore 
near  at  hand,  interested  the  leading  iron-masters  of 
Pennsylvania  to  the  locality  to  such  an  extent  that  on 
October  15, 1725,  an  octopartite  agreement  was  drawn 
up  and  signed  by  Samuel  James,  millwright;  Reese 
Jones,  tanner,  of  Pencader  ;  Samuel  Nutt,  of  Chester 
County,  ironmonger;  Evan  Owen  and  William  Bran- 
son, merchants,  both  of  Philadelphia;  Thomas  and 
John  Rutter,  smiths,  also  of  Philadelphia ;  and  Cas- 
par Wistar,  brass-button  maker,  also  of  the  same 
city.  These  men  formed  a  company,  each  holding  an 
eighth  interest,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  furnace 
to  be  known  as  the  **  Abbington  Furnace/'  and  to  pur- 
chase lands  in  connection  with  it  for  the  use  of  the 
furnace.  They  made  arrangements  for  the  purchase 
of  over  1000  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity,  and  on 
one  acre  and  three-quarters  of  it  on  the  bank  of 
Christiana  Creek,  which  was  purchased  of  Samuel 
James,  and  conveyed  by  deed  to  Evan  Owen  and 
William  Branson,  on  May  28, 1726,  ihey  erected  the 
furnace  and  a  forge,  which  were  called  *' Abbington 
Iron  Works."  At  the  time  the  deed  for  the  furnace  lot 
was  made  out,  the  eighth  parts  had  been  divided  into 
sixteenths,  and  John  Leacock,  William  Fishbourn, 
Edward  Bradley  and  William  Monington  were  part- 
ners in  interest  in  the  Iron  Works  Company.  On 
October  21,  1727,  Gabriel  Gouldney,  of  Bristol,  Eng- 
land, became  the  purchaser  of  one-sixteenth  interest, 
and  from  the  deed  of  conveyance  made  at  that  time, 
the  above-recited  facts  are  obtained.  It  is  not  ascer- 
tained how  long  the  works  were  maintained  by  the 


company,  but  probably  not  for  many  years.  It  was 
continued  by  Samuel  James  until  1734,  when,  upon  a 
judgment  obtained  against  him-  in  the  February  term 
of  court  of  that  year,  his  property  was  ordered  to  be 
seized  and  sold.  The  sale  was  made  by  Henry  New- 
ton, sheriff  of  New  Castle  County,  September  18, 
1735,  to  Abraham  Taylor  and  John  White,  the  owners 
of  the  judgment.  The  property  is  then  mentioned  as 
the  Forge  commonly  called  Samuel  James',  with  all 
the  tools  and  utensils  of  the  same,  a  lot  of  blacksmith 
tools,  and  also  the  one-eighth  interest  in  the  **  furnace 
commonly  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Samael  James  or  the  Abitinton  Iron  Works,"  together 
with  the  eighth  part  of  land,  tenements  and  appur- 
tenances belonging  to  the  furnace.  It  does  not  ap- 
pear that  the  forge  or  furnace  was  continued  by  the 
purchasing  parties,  but  it  is  still  mentioned  as  such 
when  sold  by  the  sheriff  January  4,  1768,  to  Andrew 
Fisher  (Miller).  The  land  on  which  the  furnace  was 
situated  is  now  owned  by  William  McConaughey.  A 
part  of  the  old  wall  and  a  heap  of  cinders  on  land 
now  owned  by  Cooch  Bros,  marks  the  site  of  the  old 
forge. 

A  short  time  after  purchasing  this  property  Fisher 
erected  thereon  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill.  This, 
after  his  death  in  1804,  passed  into  the  hands  of  his 
sons,  John  and  Samuel.  The  mill  property  and  45 
acres  of  land  was  sold  August  19,  1808,  to  Thomas 
Bradley,  and  May  23,  1810,  to  Alexander  Forester. 
In  both  of  these  cases  the  property  came  back  to  the 
grantors,  and  in  1815  vested  solely  in  John  Fisher.  On 
the  11th  of  April  of  the  same  year  he  conveyed  this 
estate  to  Jacob  Tyson.  Since  that  period  the  mills 
have  been  successively  owned  by  William  Shakes- 
peare, Azariah  Smith,  Thomas  Bradley  and  Joel  P. 
Woodward.  In  1863  the  overshot  wheel  was  replaced 
with  iron  wheel  4  and  the  old  saw-mill  torn  down^ 
and  a  department  for  sawing  arranged  in  the  space 
formerly  occupied  by  the  overshot  wheel.  The  grist- 
mill was  a  two-and-a-half-story  building,  forty  by 
sixty  feet,  with  a  capacity  of  twenty-five  barrels  per 
day.  The  capacity  of  the  saw-mill  was  200,000  feet 
of  lumber  per  year.  In  July,  1883,  the  mill  was 
burned  and  it  has  never  been  rebuilt. 

Among  the  settlers  in  Pencader  in  the  vicinity  of 
Iron  Hill,  from  1709  to  1720,  are  found  the  following 
names :  John  Devonalt,  Lewis  Phillips,  Philip  Trueax, 
David  Miles,  Rees  David,  Thomas  Evans,  Thomas 
Edmund,  Arthur  Edward,  John  Phillips,  Thomas 
Morris,  Jenkins  Jones,  John  Boulton,  Richard  Ed- 
ward, John  Griffith,  Hugh  Evan,  David  Lewis,  Samuel 
Evan,  Hugh  David,  Anthony  Mathew,  Simon  Mathew, 
Simon  Butler,  Arthur  Melchoir,  George  Eaton,  Elias 
Thomas,  Thomas  Evan,  Philip  Rees,  John  Bentley, 
David  John,  Richard  Lewis,  Benjamin  Griffith,  Emlin 
David,  John  Miller,  John  Jones,  Richard  Witten, 
Griffith  Thomas,  David  Davis,  Thomas  Richard,  Cor- 
nelius Vansant  and  Richard  Herbert.  These  formed 
the  nucleus  of  the  Welsh  Tract  Baptist  Church,  and 
many  of  them,  after  residing  here  a  few  years,  moved 


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952 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


to  other  places  for  the  purpose  of  founding  new 
churches. 

Rev.  Morgan  Edwards,  author  of  the  "  Materials 
towards  a  history  of  the  Baptists  in  Delaware  State," 
was  born  May  9,  1822,  in  the  parish  of  Trevethin, 
Monmouthshire,  Wales.  He  obtained  his  early  educa- 
tion in  Wales,  and  was  a  student  at  the  Bristol 
Academy,  under  the  celebrated  Dr.  Bernard  Foskett. 
In  1788  he  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
and  nineteen  years  later  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
that  church  in  Ireland,  where  he  remained  for  nine 
years.  Upon  the  recommendation  of  John  Hill,  D.D., 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  Church 
of  Philadelphia,  where  he  arrived  May  23,  1761.  In 
1771  he  resigned,  and  moved  to  Pencader  Hundred, 
Delaware,  near  Newark,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  January  28,  1795. 

In  1684,  Joseph  Bowie,  living  near  Iron  Hill,  was 
disturbed  in  his  possessions  by  Colonel  George  Talbot. 
An  interesting  account  of  his  troubles  can  be  found 
in  the  general  history  on  page  116,  of  this  work. 

In  1736,  Samuel  Kerr  came  from  Scotland,  and 
purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  the  Welsh  tract  from 
Reese  Jones.  He  resided  there  until  his  death,  when 
the  premises  came  into  the  possession  of  his  son 
Andrew,  who  devised  them  to  his  son,  Andrew.  The 
premises,  with  a  few  changes  made  by  purchase  or 
sale,  are  now  owned  by  George  G.  Kerr,  whose  resi- 
dence and  adjoining  property  is  in  White  Clay  Creek 
Hundred. 

Thomas  Cooch  came  from  England,  and,  in  1746, 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  Pencader,  containing  two 
hundred  acres,  being  a  part  of  the  land  warranted  to 
William  James.  He  resided  in  this  hundred,  and 
purchased  other  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  the  tract 
above-mentioned.  On  the  8th  of  July,  1776,  there  was 
resurveyed  to  him  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine  acres 
on  a  warrant  of  resurvey  granted  June  5,  1776.  In 
September  of  the  same  year,  while  the  British  were 
in  this  neighborhood  just  previous  to  the  skirmish, 
they  had  their  headquarters  on  land  of  Thomas 
Cooch,  at  the  present  site  of  J.  Wilkins  Cooch^s  resi- 
dence. During  this  skirmish  the  mill  on  the^e 
premises  was  burned  by  the  British. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1791,  Mr.  Cooch  was 
the  owner  of  eight  hundred  and  fifty  acres  and  one 
hundred  and  forty-two  perches  of  laud  in  the  Welsh 
Tract.  This  property  was  divided  among  his  heirs, 
and  the  larger  part  of  it  has  descended  and  is  now  in 
the  possession  of  William  and  J.  Wilkins  Cooch. 
The  old  forge,  erected  in  connection  with  the  "  Ab- 
bington  Iron  Works,"  is  on  land  owned  by  them. 
Among  the  papers  of  Thomas  Cooch  was  found  an 
assessment  list  of  Pencader  Hundred,  with  the  amount 
of  tax  paid  by  each  person.  The  assessment  was  made 
by  Thos.  James,  and  contained  the  following  names 
and  amounts: 


Kichard  Thoiuaa 22 

John  Wattaon 18 

TbomM  Cooch 22 


Thomas  James. 

JamM  JoDM 

Nftthaniel  Evana... 


£ 
21 
18 


David  John 18 

Daniel  HowelU 12 

David  Rees 8 

David  John  (smith) 8 

John  Williams 12 

Nathaniel  Williams 22 

John  David  (cooper) lo 

Rachel  Griffith  (widow) 8 

John  Elder 10 

John  Porter 10 

James  Kead 12 

William  Moore 8 

David  Davies H 

David  Barr ;J0 

David  Uutton lo 

John  Lattimore 8 

John  Mitchell 12 

James  Pierson 8 

John  Thomas 15 

Enoch  Morgan 10 

Daniel  Oborn 16 

*  John  Steel 14 

John  Griffith 8 

Thomas  Wilson lo 

Thomas  Bees 10 

James  Anderson 20 

Phillip  Grimes 10 

James  Grimes 8 

William  Williams. 10 

Robert  Stewart 10 

John  Hill ; 8 

Jane  David  (widow) 8 

Alexander  Fairis 12 

Rol>ert  Joiwon 8 

Simon  James 22 

Thomas  James,  J  r 8 

Mary  Evans  (widow)... 8 

John  Henderson 10 

Benjamin  Underwood 14 

Alexander  Porter 10 

John  Orafford 8 

William  Fairis,  Jr 15 

Richard  Griffith 2o 

John  Davies 16 

David  Evans 10 

John  McWhorter lo 

John  Fairis 12 

Denis  David  (widow) lo 

Moris  Morgan lo 

Thomas  Williams 20 

David  Thomas 10 

Benjamin  Evans 8 

Joseph  Moore 8 

John  Griffith lo 

Thomas  Lewis 14 

Howel  Williams 14 

John  Miller 14 

Francis  Alexander.' 8 

William  Fairis lo 


WiUiam  Addear 10 

Hugh  Haughey 6 

Joseph  Thomas 18 

Thomas  Thomas Ifi 

John  Evans 8 

^  Henry  Rowland 10 

David  Rowland 8 

David  Howels 14 

James  McSparencc s 

John  Brown  (weaver) 8 

James  BrefTord 8 

Daniel  Griffiths 8 

Thomas  Wattaon 8 

Jaseph  Holland 8 

Joseph  Oborn 8 

Rees  Jones's  estate 12 

Ezekiel  Dcniston 8 

MoiTis  Evans 8 

Thomas  Coleman 8 

David  James ...       8 

James  Fairis. 8 

Jonathan  John 8 

William  Lewellu 8 

Darby  McDade 8 

Mickel  Law 6 

Samuel  Ekins 8 

Edward  Gin 8 

John  Brown 8 

Adam  Barr 8 

Andrew  Boyde 10 

John  Stewart 8 

Hugh  Stewart 8 

TobyasBurk 8 

David  Thomas  (batcliiler)  10 

Dauiel  Jones ..  .  18 

John  Goflforth 8 

Moi-gan  Jones lo 

J enet  Davies  (widow) 8 

John  Ladly 8 

Sidney  Jonson .    8 

John  Stewart 8 

William  Road 8 

Hugh  Stewart 8 

Jeremiah  Ryne .    8 

WillUim  Quigley 8 

Jacob  John 8 

William  McMechan 8 

William  Price 8 

James  Price 8 

John  Ladly 8 

David  Anderson 8 

John  Carney 8 

Alexander  Robinson 8 

William  Wilson 8 

Morris  Williams 10 

David  John 8 

£1091 


The  population  steadily  increased,  and  in  1798  the 
following  names  were  on  the  assessment  list  as  taxa- 
bles: 


•  Matthew  Aiken,  Esq. 
Robert  Armstrong's  est. 
George  Adams. 
Eleanor  Alexander. 
Robert  Allen. 
William  Adair's  est 
James  Alexander. 
Andi-ew  Allison. 
John  Anderson. 
Daniel  J.  Adams  est 
Samuel  Allen. 
James  Austin. 
Nicholas  Ash. 
Sarah  Armitage's  est 


David  Austin. 
Arch.  Abereromble. 
Stephen  Augustus. 
Charles  Allen's  est. 
Jacob  Allen. 
James  Boulden,  Jr. 
Stephen  Biddle. 
Richard  Bouldeu. 
Thos.  Boulden,  Jr. 
Elijah  Boulden'sest 
Jesse  Boulden. 
Jacob  Below 's  est. 
James  Baker. 
Isaac  BaiUj. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


953 


^ 


John  L.  Beard's  ett. 
Jaooes  Beard. 
Jamea  Brady. 
WlUiam  Banker. 
Daniel  Brison. 
Barnabas  Broolu. 
Jonathan  Booth's  est. 
Henry  Banett. 
John  Bowen*s  est 
WilUam  Blacka. 
Bei^atnJn  Boyd. 
Margaret  Black. 
Thomas  Bradley. 
John  Bog(g*8  est. 
Thomas  Bryans. 
Zebolon  Basten. 
Bei^.  Barrard's  est. 
Bonldin  Biddle. 
Benjamin  Bratton. 
Elisha  Boulden. 
Nathan  Boulden. 
James  Boolden*  8r. 
Thomas  Bonlden,  8r.,  est 
Levi  Boulden. 
Nicholas  Belreal. 
Isaac  Brannon. 
Samuel  Bradey. 
Stout  Buckhanan. 
Joseph  Blacke. 
Samuel  Biddle. 
George  Bhuiey. 
Patterson  CantwelL 
John  Crouch's  est 
John  Gruaon. 
Bei\)amin  Oooche. 
Samuel  Cowen. 
John  Cowen. 
Daniel  Oooche. 
John  Conner. 
John  Clark. 
WUllam  Chestnut 
John  Carter. 
Ann  Conn. 
Jared  Chestnut 
Andrew  Garrey. 
Jean  Curlett 
Lewis  Curlett 
James  Curlett 
John  CaTender. 
George  Chapman. 
Patrick  Coulter. 
John  Cuddy. 

WUiam  Cooch,  mills,  ^te. 
William  Curiett 
Edward  Oartey. 
Darid  Cnibertson. 
John  Cnibertson. 
John  Cirgin. 
Kdward  Cordon. 
Alexander  Cavenoor. 
Henry  Clark. 
Joseph  Couthrin. 
John  Crawford. 
Wm.  CambUn. 
James  Cooohe. 
John  Daman's  est. 
John  CambelL 
Jacob  Cazier. 
Michael  CambeU. 
Wm.  Chealy. 
Wm.  Dunlap. 
Ann  Dawson. 
Joseph  DaTid'sett 
Archibald  Donghley's  est 
Mary  Dawson. 
Ellsha  Darid. 
Joshua  Darid. 
Zachariah  Derrickaon. 

m 


Darid  Daries'  est. 
Bei^amin  Daries'  est 
Wm.  Daries. 
Charles  Derin. 
John  Ellis. 
Joel  Evans. 
Francis  L.  Evans. 
Frederick  Elsberry. 
Bei^amin  Elsberry. 
Howell  Evans. 
Bichard  Evans. 
Isaac  Evans'  est 
Jenkln  Evans. 
Elizabeth  Evans. 
John  English. 
Thomas  Evans'  est. 
Peter  Evans'  est 
James  Faries. 
John  Ford. 
Wm.  Faries. 
Jacob  Faries,  Jr. 
John  Fules. 
John  Freeman. 
Jacob  Faries. 
Andrew  Fisher,  mills,  etc. 
George  Glanton. 
John  Quinn. 
Griffith  Griffith's  est 
Bichard  Groves. 
Andrew  Garretson. 
Bichard  Garretson. 
Bei\Jamin  Griffith. 
Robert  Guthrey. 
Samuel  Glenn's  est 
Thomas  Glenn. 
James  Gallaher. 
James  Griffith. 
John  Griffith. 
Richard  Griffith. 
Samuel  Guthrey. 
Richard  Griffith,  Jr. 
David  Higgins'  est 
Benjamin  Hngg. 
John  Homes. 
Wm.  Hickey. 
Wm.  Henderson's  est 
Job  Harvey's  est . 
Joseph  Hagins. 
Samuel  Huggins. 
Thomas  Henderson's  est. 
John  Hutton. 
John  Holland. 
Wm.  W.  HazleU. 
Wm.  Haughey's  est. 
Spencer  Huklll. 
David  Howell's  est. 
Sarah  Howell. 
Oliver  R.  Howell. 
Clam  Harred. 
Wm.  Hamilton. 
Isaac  Hill. 
<}eorge  Homes. 
Peter  Hossinger. 
Isaac  Holland. 
Andrew  Hutton. 
Alexander  Harrison. 
Francis  Haughey's  est 
Robert  Haughey's  est 
Anna  Haughey. 
John  Hyatt  BiQ-.  Mt 
John  Jack. 
Daniel  Jeams*  est. 
Christopher  James. 
James  James*  est. 
John  James. 
Elisha  James. 
William  James'  est 
Be^iamin  D.  Jackson. 


John  T.  Jackson. 
Jacob  Jackson's  est 
Wm.  Johnson. 
Eran  Jones. 
Samuel  James. 
Enoch  Jones'  est 
Shem  James. 
Tamer  James. 
Jacob  Jenkins. 
Morgan,  Jones,  mills,  ^. 
Henry  Kimbto. 
Thos.  Kelicy. 
William  Kelley. 
James  Kinkead. 
Wm.  Kinkead. 
Jesse  Kinkead. 
Benjamin  King's  est 
James  Kaoedy. 
Andrew  Karr's  est 
Andrew  Knox. 
PhiUp  Lerles'  est. 
Moses  Leries'  est 
James  Linley's  est 
Joseph  Lockhart. 
John  Laws. 
Wm.  Linsey. 
Joseph  Lewis. 
John  McCormick. 
Alexander  Moody. 
Wm.  McCombes. 
Bichard  McClurs. 
James  McHellom. 
John  Mason. 
James  McKinsey. 
Samuel  McCombes. 
Elijah  McCreas'  est 
Sweesey  McCandless'  est 

Wm.  McCommens. 

Robert  MoAntier's  est 
George  MoCandless. 

Hance  Miller. 

John  Meginn. 

James  Murry. 

John  Moore's  est 

Alexander  McDaniel's  est 

Neal  McNeil. 

Thomss  Moore. 

Wm.  Morrison. 

John  Mullen. 

Wm.  McMulIen. 

Peter  Mnllett 

Alexander  MoCall. 

Benjamin  Morgaa's  est 

Thos.  Miller. 

Samuel  Miller. 

Wm.  Moore  (farmer). 

John  Mnldroch. 

Wm.  Moore. 

Wm.  Millegan. 

James  McMulIen. 

Robert  McMuUen. 

Thomas  McMulIen. 

Alexander  Moore's  e«t 

Archibald  Morton. 

Darid  McMeckea's  est 

Walter  McClelUnd. 

Edward  Mcaelland. 

Rebecca  Moore. 

Alexander  Megahey. 

Samuel  Mclntire. 

Robert  Moody's  est 

Robert  Middleton. 

Wm.  Millegan,  Sr. 

Thomas  Morrow. 

Wm.  NiehMtt. 

Sarah  Owens. 

Nimrod  Pennington. 

James  Pantoaey. 


John  Pennington's  est 
Robert  Pennington. 
Bei\)amin  Pennington. 
Wm.  Price. 
James  Price. 
Stephen  Price. 
John  Porter,  mills,  etc. 
Jacob  Pritchard. 
John  Pritchett's  est 
Thomas  Pritchett 
James  Primes. 
Joshua  Pensey. 
John  Patton. 
John  Parnall. 
Nathan  Persons'  est 
James  Powell. 
Wm.  Porter. 
Sarah  Price. 
Sarah  Price's  est 
Joseph  Patterson. 
Hugh  Powers. 
William  Price*s  est 
John  Robinson. 
John  Rogers. 
Charles  Relly. 
Hugh  Russell's  est 
James  Reaper. 
William  Robinson. 
John  Robinson  (miller). 
James  Robinson. 
Anthony  Roab. 
John  Reed's  est 
John  Redman. 
William  Ryan. 
Aaron  Ress,  mills,  etc 
Thomas  Recce's  est 

John  Sturgis. 

William  SimontoB's  est 

Francis  Smith. 

William  Smith. 

James  Snow. 

Chud  Sharp. 

Robert  Smith. 

William  See. 

Bei^amin  Stanton. 

Duneran  Spencer. 

Bei^amln  Stewart, 

Nathaniel  Simpes. 

John  Stuart 

Abraham  Short's  est 

Jacob  Stewart 

Hugh  Smith's  est 

Samuel  Sharpe. 

Uriah  Slake. 

Robert  Shields'  est 

Stephen  Stanton. 

James  Smith. 

Charles  Stewart 

John  Shakespear. 

Darid  Sebo. 

Thomas  Smith's  e^ 

John  Simonton's  est 

Isaiah  Johnson. 

Robert  Smith. 

John  Stewart 

Richard  Thompson's  est 

David  Townsend. 

Ephraim  Thompson's  est 

Sarah  Thompson's  est 

Darid  Thomas'  est 

Thomas  Townslay. 

John  Tate. 

John  Tate,  Jr. 

Lattice  Taylor. 

WilUam  Thomas'  est 

Joeeph  Thomas. 

Thomas  Thomas*  est 

Richard  Thomas'  «it 


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951 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


JohD  Thomas*  est 
Jcihn  Taylor. 
Alexander  Thomson. 
DaTid  Tweedy. 
Jean  Thompeon. 
Jamee  Thompeon. 
Qnillea  Thomas*  est. 
William  Taylor's  est. 
Nathan  Underwood. 
Samuel  Underwood's  eet. 
Solomon  Underwood. 
Philip  Yansandt. 
Alexander  Vail. 
John  Vail. 
Thomas  Vail. 
Asa  Yansandt 
Peter  Williams. 
Lewis  Wattson. 


William  Whann. 
William  WatsoB. 
William  Willes. 
John  Watson's  est. 
James  Wamock. 
Roger  Williams. 
James  Wattson. 
Abraham  Willson. 
Joseph  Waggoner. 
David  Wamock, 
Alexander  Walker's  e 
Robert  Wattson. 
Isaac  Williams. 
John  Willson. 
Thomas  Weir. 
Thomas  Williams. 
John  Warner. 
Mathew  Willson." 


Schools. — In  the  early  history  of  Pencader  the 
schools  were  few,  and  these  chiefly  held  in  private 
residences.  As  the  population  increased,  school 
buildings  were  erected,  and  subscription  schools  were 
opened.  Among  the  early  teachers  are  found  the 
names  of  Robert  Porter,  William  Jackson,  Mr.  Dean 
and  Mr.  Pippin.  The  advantages  of  the  scholars  were 
very  limited,  and  their  progress  accordingly.  On 
January  27, 1803,  an  act  was  passed  to  incorporate 
trustees  of  "  Glaj»gow  Grammar  School,  in  the  County 
of  New  Castle."  John  Hyatt,  William  Cooch,  Jacob 
Faris,  Solomon  Underwood  and  Robert  Middleton, 
as  trustees,  were  empowered  to  take  subscriptions. 

The  act  of  Assembly,  passed  in  1829,  worked  a 
revolution  in  educational  matters.  This  hundred 
was  divided  into  five  school  districts,  numbered  suc- 
sessively  from  fifty-four  to  fifty-eight  School  build- 
ings were  erected,  and  the  opportunities  of  acquir- 
ing an  education  were  extended  to  all  classes.  Wil- 
liam Jackson  was  one  of  the  most  widely-known 
school-teachers  in  the  hundred,  and  taught  many 
years  under  the  common-school  system.  Curtis  B. 
Ellison  was  the  first  public  school-teacher  in  the 
southern  part  of  Pencader.  The  building  in  which 
he  taught  was  an  old-fashioned  octagonal  structure, 
and  was  built  of  brick.  The  schools  have  gradually 
improved  in  quality  and  efficiency,  and  are  at  present 
in  excellent  condition. 

Roads. — The  early  ways  of  entrance  and  exit  in 
this  hundred  were  mere  paths.  As  the  number  of 
settlers  increased,  the  roads  were  improved  and  new 
ones  constructed.  The  earliest  roads  in  Pencader  were 
the  ones  extending  from  New  Castle  and  Christiana 
to  the  head  of  Elk  River,  and  were  constructed  as 
State  roads.  The  former  are  mentioned  in  the  chapter 
on  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred,  and  the  latter  in  the 
chapter  on  Internal  Improvements.  In  1806  the 
Levy  Court  ordered  a  review  to  be  made  of  the  road 
from  Glasgow  to  New  Castle,  intersecting  at  Glasgow 
the  road  from  that  place  to  Buck  Tavern.  On  March 
3  1825,  three  hundred  dollars  were  appropriated  for 
ouilding  a  bridge  over  Shive  Run,  near  Glasgow,  and 
in  February,  of  the  next  year,  two  hundred  and 
thirty  nine  dollars  more  were  appropriated  for  closing 
the  account.  In  1832  a  bridge  was  needed  over 
Christiana  Creek,  near  Cooch's  Mill.    The  commis- 


sioners reported  that  a  stone-fording  would  answer 
every  purpose,  and  in  the  following  March  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  were  appropriated  for  this  work. 
The  present  roads ara  kept  in  good  condition. 

Religious  Matters. —  Weish  Tract  BaptUt  Church, 
—In  June,  1701  Thomas  Griffith.  Griffith  Nicholas, 
Evan  Edmond,  John  Edward,  Elisha  Thomas,  Enoch 
Morgan,  Richard  David,  James  David,  Elizabeth 
Griffith,  Lewis  Edmond,  Mary  John,  Mary  Thomas, 
Elizabeth  Griffith,  Jr.,  Jennet  David,  Margaret 
Mathias  and  Jennet  Morris,  having  previously  been 
constituted  a  church,  sailed  from  Milford,  and 
landed  at  Philadelphia,  September  8th.  They  were  ad- 
vised by  their  friends  to  settle  at  Pennepek,  which 
advice  they  followed,  and  there  remained  a  year  and 
a  half,  when  they  procured  land  in  New  Castle 
County,  from  Messrs.  Evans,  Davis  and  Willis,  the 
grantees  of  the  Welsh  Tract.  While  at  Pennepek 
the  following  accessions  were  made :  Rees  Rhyddrach, 
Catherine  Rhyddrach,  Esther  Thomas,  Thomas  Mor- 
ris, Hugh  Morris,  Peter  Chamberlain,  Mary  Cham- 
berlain, Mary  Chamberlain,  Jr.,  Mary  Sorensee,  Mag- 
dalen Morgan,  Henry  David,  Elizabeth  David,  Sam- 
uel Griffith,  Richard  Seree,  Rebecca  Marpole,  John 
Greenwater,  Edward  Edward,  John  James,  Mary 
Thomas,  Thomas  John,  Judith  Griffith  and  Mary 
John.  In  1703  they  removed  to  the  land  purchased 
by  them  in  Pencader  Hundred,  and  built  a  meeting- 
house on  the  site  of  the  present  church.  In  the  same 
year  the  membership  was  increased  by  the  addition 
of  Thomas  John,  and  Rebecca,  from  Wales;  and 
John  Wild,  Thomas  Wild,  James  James,  Sarah 
James,  Jane  Morgan,  Samuel  Wild,  Mary  Nicholas, 
Richard  Bowen,  David  Thomas,  Mary  Bently  and 
Jane  Edwards,  by  profession  of  faith  and  baptism. 

During  the  next  few  years  numerous  accessions 
were  made,  both  by  members  from  the  churches  in 
Wales  and  by  conversions.  In  1736  a  portion  of  this 
church  went  to  South  Carolina,  and  founded  a 
church  there,  on  the  banks  of  the  Pedee  River,  in  a 
portion  of  the  country  now  bearing  the  name  Welsh 
Neck.  In  1746  the  present  church  was  built  on  a 
lot  containing  six  acres,  four  of  which  were  given  by 
James  James,  and  the  other  two  purchased  from 
Abraham  Emmet.  The  edifice  is  a  neat  brick  build- 
ing, thirty  feet  square.  At  various  times  portions  of 
the  congregation  separated  themselves  from  the  main 
church  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  other  bands  of 
worshippers.  It  is  the  mother  church  whence  sprung 
the  Pedee  above  mentioned,  London  Tract,  Duck 
Creek,  Wilmington,  Cowmarsh  and  Mispillion 
Churches,  concerning  which  information  will  be 
found  elsewhere.  "Welsh  Tract  Church  was  the 
principal,  if  not  the  sole  means  of  introducing  sing- 
ing, imposition  of  hands,  ruling  elders  and  church 
covenants  in  the  Middle  States."  An  act  of  Assem- 
bly was  passed  February  3,  1783,  enabling  religious 
denominations  to  be  incorporated.  On  the  9th  day 
of  February,  of  the  following  year,  this  church  was 
incorporated  with  Abel  Davis,  Robert  Shields,  Ebe- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


956 


nezer  Morton,  Andrew  Morton  and  Francis  Gattier 
as  trustees  of  the  Welsh  Tract  Baptist  Church  and 
Congregation,  at  the  foot  of  Iron  Hill.  The  church 
has  steadily  increased  since  its  organization,  and  reg- 
ular services  have  been  held  nearly  the  entire  time. 
The  church  is  at  present  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
The  following  pastors  have  labored  here  since  its  or- 
ganization. 

Bev.  Thomas  Griffith,  the  first  pastor,  was  born  in 
1645  in  parish  of  Lanvernach  and  county  of  Pembroke. 
He  was  one  of  the  constituents  of  the  church  at  its 
organization,  and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  with  his 
.  church  September  8,  1701.  He  died  at  Pennepek.and 
was  there  iiiterred  July  25,  1725. 

Rev.  Elisha  Thomas  was  the  successor  of  Rev. 
Griffith.  He  was  born  in  Carmarthen  County  in 
1674,  and  came  to  Philadelphia  with  the  church  in 
1701.  He  died  November  7, 1730,  and  was  buried  in 
this  graveyard. 

Rev.  Enoch  Morgan  succeeded  Rev.  Thomas.  He 
was  born  at  Allt-goch,  in  the  county  of  Caerdigan,  in 
1676,  and  was  also  one  of  the  constituents  of  this 
church.    He  died  March  25,  1740. 

After  the  decease  of  Rev.  Morgan  the  Rev.  Owen 
Thomas  took  charge  of  the  church.  He  was  born  in 
1676  at  Gwrgodllys,  in  the  county  of  Pembroke,  and 
came  to  America  in  1707.  He  filled  the  pulpit  here 
till  May  27,  1748,  when  he  resigned,  and  moved  to 
Yellow  Springs,  where  he  died  November  12,  1760. 

Rev.  David  Davis  was  the  next  pastor.  He  was 
born  in  the  parish  of  Whitechurch  and  county  of 
Pembroke  in  1708.  In  1710  came  with  his  parents  to 
America;  was  baptized  in  1725,  and  ordained  in 
1734,  when  he  became  pastor  of  the  church.  He 
continued  his  pastorate  until  his  death,  August  19, 
1769. 

Rev.  Mr.  Davis'  successor  was  Rev.  John  Sutton, 
who  labored  from  November  3, 1770,  until  1777,  when 
he  resigned,  for  the  purpose  of  going  to  Virginia. 

Rev.  John  Boggs  was  born  in  East  Nottingham, 
April  9,  1714,  and  was  brought  up  as  a  Presbyterian. 
In  1771  he  became  a  Baptist,  and  at  his  ordination 
December  5,  1781,  he  took  charge  of  this  churcn,  and 
died  there  in  1802. 

The  Rev.  Gideon  Farrell  was  born  in  Talbot 
County,  Md.,  in  1763,  of  Quaker  parents,  but  was 
baptized  in  1770  by  Rev.  Philip  Hughes.  He  was 
ordained  to  the  ministry  at  Churchill  in  1779.  He 
assisted  the  Rev.  John  Boggs  as  pastor  of  the  church 
for  several  years  before  his  death,  and  became  his 
successor,  and  continued  until  his  death,  in  1820  or 
1821.  His  successors  were  as  follows :  Rev.  Stephen 
W.  Woolford,  from  1822  to  1880;  Rev.  Samuel  Trott, 
1831  to  1832 ;  Rev.  William  K.  Robinson,  from  1833 
to  1836,  and  possibly  later;  Rev.  Thomas  Barton, 
1839  until  his  death  in  1869  or  1870  (he  had  spent 
forty-five  years  of  his  ministerial  life  as  pastor  of 
three  of  the  churches  in  the  bounds  of  the  Delaware 
Association);  Rev.  G.  W.  Staton,  1871  to  1872; 
Rev.  William  Grafton  was  pastor  in  1879.    He  was 


succeeded   by  Rev.  Joseph  L.  Staton,  the  present 
minister. 

The  Fencader  Presbyterian  Church,— The  Pres- 
byterians of  the  Welsh  Tract  were  constituted  a 
church  as  early  as  1710.  Rev.  David  Evans,  son  of 
David  Evans,  one  of  the  grantees  of  the  Welsh  Tract, 
was  the  first  pastor.  He  was  licensed  in  1711  and 
ministered  to  the  church  for  a  short  time  and  then  took 
a  course  at  Yale  College  and  was  graduated  in  1713. 
He  returned  to  this  congregation  and  was  ordained 
and  installed  on  November  3,  1714.  He  served  the 
church  as  pastor  until  1720,  and  then  went  to  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey.  He  continued  preaching 
until  his  death  in  1751.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Evans,  a  relative  and  native  of  Wales,  who 
filled  the  pulpit  until  1743.  According  to  tradition, 
he  opened  an  academy  here  which  he  conducted  until 
his  death  in  1743.  On  November^  2, 1742,  Margaret 
Williams,  widow,  of  Roger  Williams,  of  Pencader 
Hundred,  conveyed  to  David  Howel,  Thomas  Thomas, 
Joseph  Thomas,  Thomas  James,  Simon  James,  Nath- 
aniel Evans  and  Nathauiel  Williams,  all  of  Pencader, 
a  lot  of  ground  containing  one  acre  and  thirty-eight 
perches,  on  the  road  from  New  Castle  to  Head  of  Elk. 
This  was  part  of  a  larger  tract  granted  to  Roger 
Williams  by  William  Davis  and  David  Evans. 

It  was  given  for  the  purpose  of  allowing  ''full  and 
peaceable  liberty  to  the  Presbyterian  congregation 
belonging  to  the  meeting-house  that  is  builded  upon 
the  above  sd  tract  of  land  ...  for  the  true  worship 
of  God  in  the  sd  place  according  to  the  presbyterian 
Rule,  Discipline  and  Doctrine  .  .  .  and  will  be  sub- 
missive to  the  rules  and  direction  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Castle  and  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia."  Rev. 
Timothy  Griffith,  the  successor  of  Rev.  Mr.  Evans, 
filled  the  pulpit  from  1743  until  death  put  an  end  to 
his  labors  in  1754.  For  the  following  twelve  years 
the  church  had  no  regular  pastor.  From  1767  to  1773 
the  pulpit  was  filled  by  Rev.  Alexander  McDowell  at 
that  time  principal  of  Newark  Academy.  The  follow- 
ing ministers  have  been  stationed  here  since  that  pe- 
riod :  Rev.  Samuel  Eakin  from  1776  to  1783 ;  Rev. 
Thomas  Smith  from  1783  to  1801 ;  Rev.  John  Burton 
from  1801  to  1808 ;  Rev.  Samuel  Bell  from  1808  to 
1833;  Rev.  Hugh  Hamill  from  1833  to  1837;  Rev. 
James  Mclntire  from  1837  to  1849 ;  Rev.  Horatio  S. 
Howell  from  1849  to  1852;  Rev.  J.  B.  Jervis  from 
1852  to  1857 ;  Rev.  George  Foot  from  1857  to  1866 ; 
Rev.  Edward  Webb  from  1866  to  1871 ;  Rev.  Jason 
Rogers  fix>m  1871  to  1879;  Rev.  George  Rodgers 
from  1880  to  1882.  Rev.  T.  Andersons,  the  present 
pastor,  began  his  labors  here  in  1882.  The  present 
church  is  a  two-story  brick  building,  sixty  by  one 
hundred  feet,  situated  in  the  village  of  Glasgow.  It 
was  erected  in  1852  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  dollars. 
The  church  is  in  a  prosperous  condition  and  has  a 
membership  of  ninety.  The  present  officers  are: 
Elder,  D.  B.  Ferris ;  Trustees,  Samuel  Alrichs,  W. 
T.  Skinner,  M.  D.  F.  Janvier,  J.  W.  Cooch,  John 
Mclntire,  Robert  M  Cann. 


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956 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The>  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Glasgow 
was  a  brick  building  erected  in  1832  and  dedicated  in 
1883.  Rev.  Mathew  Sorin  conducted  the  services. 
The  membership  at  that  time  numbered  thirteen,  of 
whom  Isaiah  Stanton,  Joseph  Roop  and  Abraham 
Eves  were  the  first  officers.  In  1857  the  brick  church 
was  torn  down  and  a  sandstone  one  built  at  a  cost  of 
three  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  This  building 
was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Mr.  Hickman,  of  New  Jersey. 
In  1884  the  present  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  It  is  a  two- story 
frame  building  and  was  dedicated  in  October,  1884,  by 
Rev.  Andrew  Manship.  The  number  of  members  at 
the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  church  building  was 
thirty,  but  recent  additions  have  increased  the  num- 
ber to  seventy-five  communicants-  The  following  is 
a  list  of  the  pastors  who  have  ministered  here : 

Revs.  Jno.  D.  Owens,  A.  Reed,  John  D.  Curtis, 
William  Rider,  William  Thomas,  John  W.  Pierson, 
William  Folks,  Thomas  Miller,  Stephen  Townsend, 
John  Grinerd,  Samuel  Grace,  Thomas  Tibles,  John 
Lednum,  Robert  McNamee,  William  Brisbane,  J. 
McCarter,  James  B.  Ayres,  Alfred  Cookman,  J.  Jones, 
J.  B.  McCullough,  George  Brindell,  T.  Snowden 
Thomas,  John  Thompson,  Thomas  Simpson,  John 
Powers,  J.  Cook,  Samuel  Pancoast,  Alfred  Scott, 
David  McKee,  John  Thusting,  John  E.  Cesler,  Rob- 
ert Todd,  Joseph  Dave,  Joseph  Brown,  S.  R.  Gilling- 
ham,  W.  T.  Tull,  Francis  Harvey,  George  Shafer, 
John  B.  Denison,  John  Heofman,  James  Landreth, 
H.  Sanderson,  A.  J.  Crozier,  J.  E.  Kidney,  H.  P. 
Bodine,  E.  E.  White,  L.  E.  Barrett,  D.  T.  Wadell, 
L.  W.  Layfield,  H.  H.  Colclazer,  E.  C.  Atkins,  J.  T. 
Van  Bnrklow  and  Asbury  Burke.  Trustees ;  Adam 
Dayetr,  John  H.  Thornton,  Thomas  Lindell,  Wilson 
Mahan,  W.  T.  Dayett,  George  Sheldon,  Jno.  R.  David- 
son. Class-Leaders,  W.  T.  Dayett,  Wilson  Mahan, 
Jno.  H.  Thornton. 

Summit  Methodist  fJpiscopal  Church, — Previous  to 
1876  the  Methodists  in  the  southern  portion  of  this 
hundred  held  services  in  Boulden's  Church,  in  St. 
George's  Hundred.  This  was  originally  erected  for 
the  use  of  the  Baptists,  and  it  was  through  their 
kindnetis  that  other  denominations  were  allowed  to 
worship  there.  During  1874  and  1875  the  building 
was  in  need  of  repair,  and  the  Methodists  endeavored 
to  purchase  it,  with  the  intention  of  remodeling  it. 
Their  ofier  was  refused  and  this  led  to  the  erection  of 
the  present  edifice.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  August 
18,  1876,  with  appropriate  ceremonies  conducted  by 
Bishop  Scott.  The  building  wss  completed  in  1876, 
and  dedication  services  were  conducted  in  the  morn- 
ing by  Bishop  Scott,  in  the  afternoon  by  Rev. 
George  R.  Bristor,  and  in  the  evening  by  Rev.  J.  H. 
Caldwell.  It  is  a  one- story  frame  building,  sixty  by 
thirty  feet,  with  a  capacity  for  seating  four  hundred 
persons  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $5000.  The 
membership  at  the  erection  of  the  church  was  one 
hundred,  and  is  now  sixty.  Services  are  held  every 
Sunday  afternoon. 


The  following  ministers  have  officiated  since  the 
organization  of  the  church  in  1867:  Revs.  Wm.  B. 
Walton.  H.  S.  Thompson,  T.  S.  Williams.  C.  F. 
Shepperd,  George  R.  Bristor,  L.  C.  Matlack,  John 
France,  J.  Owen  Sypherd,  G^rge  R.  Phoebus,  F.  J. 
Cochran,  L.  W.  Layfield. 

The  officers  of  the  church  are  as  follows :  Claae- 
LeaderS;  T.  W.  McCracken  and  J.  F.  Kane ;  Trustees, 
T.  W.  McCracken,  Wm.  Cleaver,  P.  B.  Alrich8,L,. 
Catts  and  J.  F.  Kane. 

The  Sunday-school  in  connection  with  the  church 
is  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  S.  T.  Davis. 

Manijfactokies. — On  October  26, 1701,  William 
James  obtained  a  warrant  for  a  tract  of  land  contain- 
ing  1300  acres,  which  were  surveyed  June  3,  1702. 
This  land  was  purchased  from  the  proprietors  of  the 
Welsh  Tract  and  was  part  of  the  30,000  acres  of  land 
granted  to  Davis,  Evans  and  Willis.  In  1707  execu- 
tion was  issued  on  a  judgment  against  William  James, 
and  two  hundred  acres,  on  which  had  been  erected  in 
the  interval  since  his  purchase  a  grist  and  saw-mill, 
were  seized  and  sold  at  public  sale.  Howel  James, 
Sr.,  was  the  purchaser.  He,  by  his  will  bearing  date 
August  17, 1717,  devised  this  tract  to  his  son,  Philip 
James.  The  mills  were  managed  by  Philip  James, 
and  on  the  2d  of  December,  1725,  he  desired  P  I  to 
be  recorded  as  hia  brand  mark.  On  May  10,  1737,  he 
sold  the  mills  and  premises  to  John  Jones,  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  four  days  afterwards  conveyed  them  to 
Joseph  Brown.  Brown  successfully  operated  the 
mills  until  the  20th  of  January,  1746,  when  he  sold  to 
Thomas  Cooch,  a  native  of  England. 

He  made  application  to  the  February  term  of  court 
in  1770  to  have  some  land  viewed  and  condemned 
for  use  of  a  grist-mill.  The  freeholders  made  a  view 
and  condemned  six  acres  adjoining  land  on  which 
Thomas  Cooch's  "  present  mill  stands.*'  In  his  ap- 
plication he  states  that  the  water,  corn  or  grist-mill 
now  wants  rebuilding  or  altering  and  needs  more 
water-rights. 

The  mills  were  operated  until  September,  1776,  at 
which  time  they  were  burned  by  the  British.  In 
1791  this  property  came  into  the  hands  of  his  grand- 
son, William  Cooch,  and  the  following  year  a  new 
grist-mill  was  erected  by  him.  This  mill  was  man- 
aged by  William  Cooch  until  his  decease  in  1838, 
when  the  property  was  inherited  by  his  son,  William 
Cooch,  Jr.  In  this  year  a  new  location  was  selected 
and  the  present  mill  erected  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
old  mill,  which  is  still  standing,  but  no  longer  used. 
In  1870  the  mill  tract  became  vested  in  the  heirs  of 
Levi  G.  Co»»ch,  and  in  the  following  year  they  con- 
veyed it  to  J.  Wilkins  and  William  Cooch.  They 
are  the  present  owners  and  proprietors,  and  trade 
under  the  style  of  Cooch  Bros.  The  mill  is  a  five- 
story  brick  building,  fifty  feet  square.  It  is  situated 
on  the  Christiana  Creek  and  is  run  generally  by  water- 
power.  In  1884  the  building  was  remodeled  and  re- 
fitted with  machinery.  A  boiler  and  engine  were  at- 
tached to  be  used  when  the  water  supply  is  insufficient. 


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It  18  now  a  ftiU  roller-mill  with  a  capacity  of  aeventy- 
five  barrels  per  day.  Four  men  are  required  to 
operate  it.  Some  of  the  flour  is  sold  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, but  the  larger  part  is  shipped  to  Wilmington 
and  other  points. 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1760,  Hugh  Muldrach  sold  to 
Alexander  Porter  a  tract  of  land  in  Pencader.  At 
this  time  there  was  no  mention  of  a  mill  on  this 
tract.  Alexander  Porter,  by  his  will  bearing  date 
December  15, 1769,  devised  this  land  to  his  two  sons, 
David  and  Samuel,  as  well  as  a  grist-mill  thereon 
erected.  The  mill  and  eighty-two  acres  of  land  were 
sold  by  them.  May  3,  1781,  to  Hugh  Bolton,  and 
Jacob  Wirt,  Jr.  On  July  31, 1789,  Bolton  purchased 
the  half-part  belonging  to  Jacob  Wirt,  Jr.,  and  be- 
came sole  owner.  He,  by  his  deed  dated  June  9th,  sold 
this  property  to  Morgan  Jones  and  Robert  Shields. 
After  the  death  of  Shields  his  undivided  one-half 
part  was  sold  by  his  executors,  August  28,  1793,  to 
Isaac  Hersey,  who  conveyed  the  same  to  Morgan 
Jones,  September  11,  1794.  In  1799,  Samuel  Eccles 
purchased  this  property,  and  it  continued  in  his  pos- 
session until  March  21, 1834,  when  it  came  into  the 
possession  of  Joseph  S.  Gilbert,  who,  April  11th  of 
the  same  year,  sold  it  to  Jonathan  Shakespeare. 
On  March  11th  of  the  following  year  Shakespeare 
sold  to  Jesse  Gilbert,  who  retained  possession  until 
April  2,  1845,  when  he  sold  to  William  McNamee. 
He  was  the  owner  until  his  death,  and  then  it  vested 
in  his  heirs,  wKo  conveyed  it  to  Adam  Dayett,  the 
present  owner,  March  24,  1853.  The  building  was 
remodeled  in  1880,  and  again  in  1886,  at  which  time 
it  was  refitted  with  full  roller  machinery.  The  mill 
at  present  is  a  frame  building,  twenty-eight  by 
flfty-four  feet,  and  two  and  a  half  stories  high.  Three 
men  are  required  to  operate  it.  The  capacity  is 
thirty-six  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  Most  of  the  flour 
and  feed  manufactured  by  this  mill  is  consumed  in 
the  immediate  vicinity.  There  is  a  cider-mill  in  con- 
nection with  the  grist-mill  with  a  capacity  of  forty 
barrels  per  day.  On  the  assessment  list  of  1823  men- 
tion is  made  of  a  nail-factory  on  James  Snow's  estate. 
When  the  factory  was  built,  what  its  capacity  was  And 
how  long  it  was  managed  have  not  been  learned. 
Jacob  Casho,  of  Newark,  remembers  fishing  in  the 
pool  above  the  factory  when  a  boy.  The  nail-factory 
has  not  been  in  use  for  the  past  sixty  years. 

The  first  authentic  information  obtained  in  regard 
to  Batten's  Mills  is  contained  in  a  deed  from  John 
Janvier  to  William  B.  and  George  McCrone,  dated 
March  5,  1839.  In  the  recital  of  the  title  of  the  tract 
of  land  containing  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  and 
a  half  acres,  with  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill  thereon, 
it  is  mentioned  as  the  same  premises  and  mills  that 
were  conveyed  by  Kensey  Johns  to  John  and  Thomas 
Janvier,  April  5,  1812,  and  that  afterwards  Thomas 
Janvier  conveyed  his  portion  to  John  Janvier.  These 
latter  conveyances  are  not  recorded.  On  the  assess- 
ment roll  of  1798,  John  Porter  is  mentioned  as  the 
owner  of  a  mill.     On  the  measures  used  in  the  mill 


is  the  brand-mark  J.  P.,  and  as  Kensey  Johns  pur- 
chased land  of  John  Porter  in  1799,  it  is  fair  to  con- 
clude that  the  mills  were  one  and  the  same.  The 
mills  were  next  owned  respectively  by  James  A. 
Kendal,  Edward  Tatnall  and  William  Kyle,  the 
present  owner.  The  mills  derived  their  name  from 
the  Batten  family,  who  have  operated  them  for  many 
years.  The  saw-mill  was  torn  down  in  1865.  The 
grist-mill  is  a  two-story  building,  fifty  by  twenty- 
five  feet.  The  grinding  is  all  done  by  stones  and  no 
flour  is  manufactured. 

Saw-Mill. — A  saw-mill  was  built  on  the  ChriKti- 
mna  Creek  by  William  McConaughey  in  1841.  The 
mill  is  a  frame  building,  eighteen  by  ninety  feet,  with 
a  capacity  of  two  thousand  feet  per  day.  For  many 
years  it  was  a  merchant  mill,  and  shipped  large  quan- 
tities of  lumber.  Eight  men  were  employed  in 
operating  it.  During  the  past  five  years  timber  has 
become  scarce  in  this  neighborhood,  and  the  mill  has 
only  been  used  for  custom-work.  Mr.  McConaughey 
is  yet  the  owner. 

The  Delaware  Wagon-Works  are  located  at  Summit 
Bridge,  and  were  opened  in  1868  by  A.  P.  Carnagy,  the 
present  owner.  In  Edition  to  the  manufacture  of 
wagons,  farming  implements  are  also  made  and  re- 
paired. Four  men  are  employed,  and  the  capacity  is 
a  wagon  per  day,  and  from  five  thousand  to  seven 
thousand  dullars'  worth  of  agricultural  implements 
per  year.  The  products  of  the  manufactory  are  ditt- 
posed  of  in  the  vicinity. 

Ore-Pits. — The  finding  of  iron  ore  on  Iron  Hill 
undoubtedly  attracted  the  early  settlers  to  this  neigh- 
borhood. The  ore  was  mined  in  small  quantities  at  a 
very  early  date,  and  quite  extensively  from  1725  to 
1734,  during  which  time  the  Abbington  Iron-Works 
were  managed.  After  the  discontinuation  of  the  iron- 
works the  ore-pits  came  into  the  possession  of  Abel 
D^vis,  who,  by  his  will,  bearing  date  April  13.  1780, 
devised  them  to  his  heirs.  In  the  course  of  descent 
they  passed  into  the  hands  of  Isaac  Davis,  who  sold 
a  tract  of  land  on  Iron  Hill,  containing  ninety-four 
acres  and  embracing  the  pitn.  to  David  C.  Wood,  an 
iron-ma!»ter  of  Philadelphia,  October  28,  1841.  They 
were  worked  by  him  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1862, 
George  P.  Whittaker,  the  owner  of  Principio  Furnace, 
became  the  possessor  of  this  land.  The  ore  was  mined 
by  him  until  December  25,  1884,  since  which  time 
nothing  has  been  done.  Employment  was  given  to 
about  twenty  men  in  mining  and  washing  the  ore, 
which  was  then  shipped  to  Principio  Furnace,  Mary- 
land. The  property  is  part  of  the  Geo.  P.  Whittaker 
estate,  and  contains  an  abundance  of  ore. 

In  1873,  William  McConaughey  opened  an  ore-pit 
on  Chestnut  Hill.  He  employed  forty  men,  and  had 
an  output  of  twenty -five  tons  per  day.  The  ore  was 
washed  and  shipped  principally  to  the  Montgomery 
Iron- Works,  Pennsylvania,  and  Wright  &  Cook.  Mon- 
tour, Pennsylvania.  The  failure  of  ore  caused  its 
abandonment  in  1884. 

Villages. — Glasgow  is  a  small  hamlet  situated 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


near  the  centre  of  Pencader  Hundred.  It  was  formerly 
known  as  Aikentown,  being  so-called  after  Mathew 
Aiken,  who,  June  14, 1791,  purchased  from  James 
Stewart  a  large  brick  house,  store  house  and  lot  of 
ground  at  this  place  and  kept  a  hotel.  In  1801  a 
feeder  for  the  Delaware  and  Chesapeake  Canal  was 
commenced  near  this  village,  but  discontinued  two 
years  later.  The  village  has  no  railroad  communica- 
tions and  has  increased  slowly.  At  pre:4ent  there  are 
two  churches,  a  school-house,  a  post-office,  two  stores, 
kept  respectively  by  George  Boulden  and  Samuel 
Alrichs,  a  hotel,  a  blacksmith  and  wheelwright-shop, 
and  about  twenty-five  residences. 

Kirkwood  is  a  small  village  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  this  hundred.  A  portion  of  the  hamlet  also  lies 
in  Red  Lion  Hundred.  It  was  originally  called 
Kemp's  Corner  and  afterwards  St.  George's  Station. 
This  name  was  changed  in  1862  and  the  present  one 
given  in  honor  of  Colonel  Robort  Kirkwood.  At 
present  there  are  here  a  passenger  and  freight  depot 
of  the  Delaware  Railroad ;  three  stores,  kept  respect- 
ively by  J.  A.  Benson,  R.  T.  Cann  and  W.  C.  Carnagy, 
a  hotel,  a  school-house,  a  blacksmith  and  wheelwright- 
shop,  and  about  fifteen  dwellings. 

Summit  Bridge  is  situated  in  this  hundred  south  of 
ihe  Delaware  and  Chesapeake  Canal.  It  is  near  the 
boundary  lines  of  Red  Lion,  St.  George's  and  Pencader 
Hundreds.  The  village  was  so  called  on  account  of 
its  proximity  to  the  canal  above  mentioned,  over 
which  was  constructed  a  very  high  bridge  on  the 
road  leading  to  this  place  from  Kirkwood.  It  con- 
tains a  church,  a  post-office,  the  Delaware  Wagon 
Works,  two  blacksmith-shops,  a  hotel,  three  stores, 
the  proprietors  of  which  are  A.  P.  Alrichs  and  Harry 
Salmon,  and  about  fifteen  residences. 

There  are  several  hamlets  in  the  hundred,  at 
which  there  are  post-offices  and  one  or  two  dwell- 
ings, viz.:  Cooch's  Bridge  and  Porter's  Station,  fhe 
former  is  on  land  formerly  owned  by  the  Cooch 
family.  The  latter  is  on  land  purchased  from  Thomas 
Porter  and  also  contains  a  store  managed  by  Brown 
<&  Brother. 

Post-Offices. — ^There  are  only  four  post-offices  in 
this  hundred,  situated  respectively  at  Gla!«gow, 
Cooch's  Bridge,  Porter's  and  Summit  Bridge.  Since 
Kirkwood  has  been  treated  in  this  chapter,  the  post- 
office  at  that  place,  though  in  Red  Lion,  will  also  be 
here  considered.  Information  has  not  been  obtained 
in  regard  to  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the 
offices  at  Glasgow  and  Cooch's  Bridge,  but  the  mails 
have  been  distributed  here  for  many  years.  The 
postmasters  remembered  in  connection  with  these 
officers  are  as  follows:  Glasgow,  Robert  T.  Cann> 
William  Alrichs,  Miss  Margaret  Adair,  Samuel  Al- 
richs and  George  Boulden,  the  present  incumbent; 
Cooch*8  Bridge,  William  Cooch,  J.  Wilkins  Cooch 
and  M.  E.  Cooch.  The  office  at  Porter's  was  estab- 
lished March  10,  1886,  and  W.  S.  Brown  appointed 
po>tmaster,  which  position  he  still  fills. 

The  office  at  Kirkwood  was  established  May  11, 


1861.  J.  A.  Benson  was  appointed  the  first  poet- 
master.  He  was  succeeded  by  Charles  Hares,  Zacha- 
riah  T.  Hares  and  W.  C.  Carnagy,  the  present 
incumbent. 

The  post-office  at  Summit  Bridge  was  established, 
April  20,  1825.  Robert  Keddy  was  the  first  post- 
master. Since  that  time  the  following  persons  have 
served  as  postmasters;  James  Nicholson,  R.  W. 
Mulford,  J.  P.  Eliason,  A.  P.  Alrichs  and  Harry 
Salmon. 

Hotels. — The  earliest  hotel  in  this  hundred  con- 
cerning which  any  information  has  been  ascertained 
is  the  one  located  at  Glasgow.  On  June  14,  1791, 
James  Stewart  sold  to  Mathew  Aiken  a  large  brick 
house,  a  store-house  and  lot  of  ground  known  as 
Aiken  Tavern,  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  road 
leading  from  Newaik  to  Middletown.  This  lot  ad- 
joined the  tract  of  land  occupied  by  the  Pencader 
Presbyterian  Church.  On  May  22,  1797,  a  license 
was  granted  to  Daniel  Cooke  to  keep  an  inn,  but 
whether  he  managed  this  hotel  is  not  positively 
known.  At  a  later  period  the  hotel  was  torn  down, 
and  a  new  one  erected  on  the  other  side  of  the  road, 
nearly  opposite  the  former  site.    This  hotel  has  been 

owned  and  conducted  by Murray,  James  Bates, 

James  Bates,  Jr.,  John  Lemon  and  William  H.  Guthrie, 
the  present  proprietor,  who  purchased  it  in  1867. 

The  hotel  at  Kirkwood  was  opened  in  1861  by  J. 
A.  Benson,  by  whom  a  license  was  procured  in  May 
of  that  year.  He  was  succeeded  '  respectively  by 
William  B.  Ford,  Charles  Shears,  Frank  Richards  and 
William  £.  Smith,  the  present  proprietor.  A  livery 
stable  is  connected  with  the  hotel. 

The  old  "  Buck  "  Tavern  was  situated  in  St  George's 
Hundred,  on  the  upper  King's  Road.  In  1797  Jacob 
Glinn  was  the  proprietor.  Previous  to  this  the  hotel 
was  under  the  management  of  Dr.  James  Snow  Patty 
for  several  years.  The  hotel  was  known  at  a  v^ 
early  date.  The  present  hotel  was  built  some  years 
since.  The  present  proprietor  is  Frederick  Hagmeyer. 
This  hotel  is  situated  in  Red  Lion  Hundred. 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 


RED  LION  HUNDRED. 


This  hundred,  the  smallest  in  the  State,  is  bounded 
on  the  north  by  a  creek  of  the  same  name,  on  the 
south  by  St.  George's  Creek,  on  the  east  by  the  Dela- 
ware River  and  on  the  west  by  Pencader  Hundred. 
The  soil  is  rich  and  productive,  and  some  of  the  finest 
farm-  land  in  the  State  is  to  be  found  within  its  borders. 
In  1831,  it  is  said,  the  first  peach  orchards  in  the  State 
were  introduced  in  this  hundred,  and  they  yielded 
abundantly  for  about  thirty-five  years,  but  since  that 
time  have  been  a  failure,  and  are  no  longer  planted. 
Much  of  the  land  is  marsh,  and  requires  embankments 
to  prevent  the  river  from  overflowing,  and  ditches  to 


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drain  it.  Large  parts  of  it  were  used  in  early  times 
for  grazing  cattle.  The  village  of  St.  George*8  ex- 
tended partly  in  St.  George's  Hundred,  and  to  remedy 
the  inconveniences  thereby  occasioned,  an  act  was 
passed  for  the  extension  of  the  boundaries  of  Bed  Lion 
Hundred,  on  March  1,  1875. 

The  territory  thus  added  to  this  hundred  is  described 
as  follows : 

**  The  said  enlaTgement  or  extension  shall  begin  at  a  point  ou  the  Ches. 
Ai,I>eI.  canal,  at  the  line  dividing  the  lands  of  Jno.  P.  Hudson  ft*oin  the 
lands  of  Jno  Robeon  ;  thence  and  with  said  division  line  in  a  southerly  dl* 
roction  to  the  public  road  leading  Oom  Summit  bridge  to  the  town  of  St. 
6«orge's;  thence  in  a  northeasterlj  direction  with  the  middle  line  of 
•aid  ruad  to  the  road  leading  from  Odessa  totheiaid  town  of  St.  George's; 
thence  crueeing  said  road  to  the  line  of  the  lands  of  Mrs.  Letitia  How, 
being  the  northern  boundary  of  the  road  dividing  the  lands  of  the  said 
L«titla  How  from  the  lands  of  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Osborn  ;  thebce  and 
with  said  line  and  road  to  the  line  dividing  the  lands  of  the  said  M.  A. 
Osborn  from  the  lands  of  Francis  McWhorter  and  Brother  thence  with 
the  line  dividing  said  lands  to  Scott's  run ;  thence  down  said  run  to 
the  Ches.'A  Del.  canal,  and  thence  with  said  canal  and  with  the  origi- 
nal  division  lines  of  said  hundreds  to  the  place  of  beginning.*' 

In  1661  Jacob  Young,  who  was  residing  at  Upland, 
eloped  from  that  place  with  the  wife  of  the  Reverend 
Laurentius  Laern,  and  went  to  Maryland  and  resided 
at  or  near  Bohemia  Manor.  While  there  he  obtained, 
by  warrant  and  purchase,  land  in  Red  Lion  and  St. 
Georges  Hundreds.  On  the  6th  of  November,  1675, 
a  warrant  was  granted  to  him  by  Governor  Edward 
Andros  for  a  tract  of  one  thousand  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  known  as  "  St.  George's  Neck,"  situate  on 
the  north  side  of  St.  George'?  Creek  and  extending  to 
Dragon's  Run.  By  the  death  of  Jacob  Young  the 
land  vested  in  his  two  sons,  Jacob  and  Joseph.  They, 
by  separate  deeds,  dated  November  10,  1700,  granted 
a  portion  of  the  estate  to  Charles  Anderson  and  the 
remainder  to  John  Cocks.  Four  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  acres  of  this  was  sold  by  Anderson  and  Cocks 
on  July  20,  1708,  to  Joseph  Neall.  At  the  decease  of 
John  Cocks  his  land  passed  to  his  sons — Charles,  John 
and  Augustine  Cocks.  By  partition  and  survey,  made 
by  George  Deakayne,  October  20, 1720,  the  estate  was 
divided  among  the  three  sons,  each  receiving  two 
hundred  and  thirty-four  acres.  Augustine's  was  the 
eastern  part,  Charles  the  middle  and  John  the  western 
part.  John  sold  his  two  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres 
June  24,  1729,  to  Francis  Land.  He  died  in  June, 
1731,  and  left  some  other  land,  westward  of  the  above 
tract,  to  his  wife,  Rebecca,  and  his  son,  Gabriel  Cocks. 
This  large  tract  has,  since  the  purchase  of  John  Cocks, 
in  1700,  been  known  as  "  Cocks  Neck,"  a  name  still 
familiar  to  the  residents  of  Red  Lion  Hundred. 
Augustine  Cocks  died  soon  after  his  father,  and  No- 
vember 20,  1730,  his  executors  sold  his  share  to  Jacob 
Gooding. 

Lawrence  Higgins,  an  Ulster  Presbyterian  from 
Belfast,  was  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  America. 
He  emigrated  in  1750,  and  married  a  Miss  Susan  Wil- 
son, of  the  Welsh  emigration.  Her  family  moved  to 
Virginia  shortly  after  her  marriage,  and  further 
knowledge  of  them  is  lost.  He  died  in  1789.  His 
son,  Jesse  Higgins,  was  the  executor  of  his  will.  He 
first  owned  a  farm  near  Port  Penn,  and  afterward  that 
now  owned  by  John  C.  and  Anthony  Higgins,  border- 


ing upon  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  Canal  and 
the  town  of  Delaware  City.  He  is  known  to  have 
been  an  ardent  Whig  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
He  was  resident  agent  for  the  purchase  of  supplies  for 
the  Continental  army,  and  speedily  exhausted  both 
means  and  credit  in  his  zeal  for  the  cause  of  inde- 
pendence. His  surviving  family  were  four  sons — 
Jesse,  Anthony,  Samuel,  David — and  a  daughter  who 
married  one  Armstrong,  and  went  to  Ohio. 

Jesse  first  married  a  niece  of  George  Read,  the 
signer,  a  daughter  of  his  brother.  Their  son,  John 
Read  Higgins,  lived  to  the  age  of  ten.  Jesse  Higgins 
early  became  a  widower,  and  married  Mary  Wither- 
spoon,  daughter  of  Thomas  Witherspoon,  of  Middle- 
town,  who  was  treasurer  of  Drawyers  Presbyterian 
Church  in  1764,  and  upon  the  committee  which  built 
the  present  church,  upon  or  near  the  site  of  an  older 
one.  in  1772.  His  uncle,  David  Witherspoon,  was  a 
member  of  the  Council  of  Delaware  in  1762.  He  was 
a  native  of  Londonderry,  in  Ireland,  and  was  a  trus- 
tee of  Drawyers  Church  in  1746.  He  died  in  1763, 
leaving  his  nephew,  Thomas,  his  heir. 

Susan,  the  wife  of  Thomas  Witherspoon,  was  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Sluyter  Bouchelle,  whose  wife,  Mary 
Ann  Bayard,  was  the  sister  of  Peter,  Samuel  and 
James  Bayaid,  who  were  the  sons  of  Samuel  Bayard, 
who  settled  on  Bohemia  Manor  about  a.d.  1700. 

Samuel  was  the  son  of  Peter  Bayard,  the  son  of 
Nicholas  Bayard,  whose  wife,  Anneke,  was  the  sister  ot 
Governor  Peter  Stuyvesant,  who,  with  her  sons,  ac- 
companied him  from  Holland  to  New  Amsterdam  in 
1647. 

John  M.  0.  Rodney  has  a  French  psalm-book  which 
she  brought  with  her,  and  which  has  descended  in 
seven  generations  to  him. 

Dr.  Sluyter  Bouchelle  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Petrus 
Bouchelle,  who  was  the  son  of  Legede  Bouchelle. 

Dr.  Petrus  Bouchelle  was  the  son-in-law  and  favor- 
ite heir  of  Petrus  Sluyter,  the  leader  of  the  Labadists, 
who  settled  on  Bohemia  Manor  in  1684. 

Jesse  Higgins  lived  at  Damascus,  a  mill-seat  on  the 
Dragon,  one  mile  north  of  St.  George's.  He  was  a 
man  of  intellect  and  deep  research,  a  logical  and  im- 
pressive public  speaker,  and  probably  the  most  influ- 
ential man  of  his  day  of  the  laymen  of  the  Jefferson 
Democrats.  He  was  often  invited  to  become  a  mem- 
ber of  the  bar,  but  in  his  settlement  of  Dr.  Bouchclle's 
estate  he  had  to  bring  and  resist  law-suits,  and  was 
thus  involved  in  litigation.  He  conceived  a  strong 
antagonism  to  the  profession  of  the  law,  believing 
that ''  an  honest  man  could  not  be  a  good  lawyer." 

In  pursuance  of  this  feeling  he  wrote  a  pamphlet 
entitled  "Samson  against  the  Philistines,"  in  which 
he  sought  to  prove  that  arbitration  could  be  properly, 
cheaply  and  effectively  substituted  for  suits  at  law. 
The  edition  was  promptly  bought  by  the  lawyers,  as 
far  as  possible  suppressed,  and  another  was  not  issued. 
Its  publication  in  the  Aurora  gave  it  a  wider  circula- 
tion. William  Duane,  the  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Aurora^  was  also  the  publisher  of  the  pamphlet.     As 


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a  vij^orous  and  sincere  expression  of  views  it  is  not 
without  interest  now  after  the  lapse  of  nearly  a  cen*^ 
tury.  The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Duane  will  better 
describe  Jesse  Higgins  than  any  present  testimony : 

"Washinotow,  Kov.  18U>,  1804. 
*'  lb  itfr.  /mm  Biggins^  St.  Gforgt't^  Delaware  ; 

*'Dkas  Sib  j— My  boh  haa  forwarded  to  rae  youre  of  the  28th  of 
OctoUr. 

**  The  pamphlet,  you  know,  I  propoeed  not  to  pabliffh  before  the  first 
week  or  fortnight  of  the  meeting  of  our  Legialature.  Accordingly,  I 
brought  it  with  me  to  this  place,  where  I  can  under  my  own  eye  aee 
it  printed.  The  thirty-second  page  proof  I  read  this  morning  and  shall 
have  the  whole  ready  m  propoeed.  In  about  ten  days  I  shall  begin  to 
adTertise  it  so  as  to  prepare  the  minds  of  readers  for  its  reception. 

'*  You  will  hare  seen  an  essay  in  the  Aurora  higned  *  M<tre,'  which  I 
wrote  for  the  same  purpoee  to  meet  our  legislators  at  their  own  homes 
before  they  set  out  to  Lancaster. 

*'  The  Lawyers  of  Penn*.  have  agreed  to  run  me  down  I  so  that  it  is 
now,  who  $hall  f  And  tho*  the  force  is /ormidab/e,  you  must  know,  from 
times  past,  that  I  am  nut  easily  dismayed. 

"  I  had  a  conversation  with  your  excellent  Rodney  yesterday.  He 
asked  me  who  was  the  author  of  the  essay  signed  Muref  1  did  not  tell 
him.  He  said  *  there  is  an  extraordinary  man  in  our  state  ;  I  am  told  he 
has  sent  several  things  on  that  subject  to  your  paper  ;  his  name  is  Jesse 
Higgins.  When  you  want  any  discussions  on  that  subject  apply  to  him, 
for,  to  my  knowledge,  he  has  been  more  than  once  more  than  a  match 
for  Bayard.  ...  He  spoke  highly  of  you  as  a  man  of  virtue  and  intel- 
lectual power  and  confessed  that  he  believed  your  going  into  the  legis- 
lature would  produce  a  very  serious  change  in  the  state.*  ...  In  this 
place  we  will  have  nothing  new  beside  what  you  have  seen  in  the  papers 
— the  happy  state  of  things  under  our  general  government — 
*'  I  am,  with  great  esteem,  yours, 

"Wm.    DtANK.*' 

But  whatever  may  have  been  the  "  happy  state  of 
things  "  at  Washington,  the  fight  at  home  between 
Federalist  and  Democrat  was  a  warm  one,  and  from 
the  above  it  appears  that  in  those  heated  political 
controversies  Jesse  Higgins  met  from  time  to  time, 
and  wa^  not  worsted  by,  the  most  brilliant  Federalist 
of  that  era. 

Old  men  described  to  the  generation  just  gone  the 
great  meeting  at  Glasgow,  when  these  men  met  in 
alternate  speeches. 

Jesse  Higgins'  daughter,  Susan,  married  Henry 
Fromberger,  and  their  daughter,  Susan  Maria,  married 
Thomas  M.  Rodney,  son  of  Caesar  A.  Rodney,  and  by 
this  domestic  tie  further  cemented  the  friendship  of 
the  previous  generation. 

A  son  of  Jesse  Higgins  bearing  his  father's  name 
became  a  midshipman  in  the  navy.  He  was  upon  the 
"  Essex  "  with  Commodore  Porter,  and  a  diary  now 
extant  gives  a  history  of  his  expenence  upon  that 
historic  ship. 

The  second  prize  taken  by  the  "  Essex  "  was  an 
English  vessel  from  Liverpool  for  New  Brunswick.  A 
George  Pearce  was  appointed  prize-master,  and  Jesse 
Higgins  his  next  officer.  They  sailed  for  Boston,  but 
were  captured  by  the  English  sloop-of- war  "Atalantis," 
and  sent  to  St.  John's,  N.  B. 

They  were  placed  upon  the  prison-ship  for  a  few 
days  only,  were  paroled,  and  permitted  the  liberty  of 
the  town  within  certain  limits  for  a  few  months,  and 
then  paroled  until  exchanged.  They  were  in  all  re- 
spects kindly  treated  during  their  stay  at  St.  John's 
and  on  August  31, 1812,  left  for  Boston,  in  a  schooner 
which  they  had  purchased  for  four  hundred  pounds. 
Quite  a  large  American  colony  were  included  in  this 
shipload. 


Only  six  weeks  later,  October  2(J,  1812,  Jesse  Hig- 
gins, Jr.,  died  of  pneumonia,  contracted  during  his 
voyages  of  a  few  months. 

Anthony  Higgins,  second  son  of  Lawrence,  suc- 
ceeded his  father  and  became  one  of  the  foremost 
farmers  of  his  time,  leaving  six  hundred  acres  to  his 
children.  He  was  a  man  of  great  mental  and  physi- 
cal energy,  of  iron  will,  yet  genial  and  social  in  dispo- 
sition. He  had  an  unusually  fine  voice  and  mu- 
sical talent.  His  Revolutionary  and  hunting  songs 
were  the  delight  of  his  generation,  and  some  of  them 
have  been  handed  down  to  his  descendants.  He 
delighted  in  the  music  of  hounds  and  made  the  chase 
a  double  factor  in  his  life,  as  it  gave  him  the  exercise 
which  his  tendency  to  corpulency  made  a  necessity. 
His  hospitality  was  largely  extended. 

Anthony  Higgins  was  twice  married, — first  to  a 
Miss  Rankin,  of  which  marriage  there  was  no  issue. 
On  March  22,  1792,  he  married  Martha  Witherspoon, 
the  sister  of  the  wife  of  his  brother  Jesse.  Three  sons 
— John,  Thomas  .Jefferson  and  Anthony  Madison — 
and  a  daughter,  Harriet,  survive  their  parents.  John 
Higgins,  the  oldest,  was  born  in  1794,  and  died  in 
1848.  He  married  Ann  Sawyer,  daughter  of  Capt. 
Joseph  Sawyer,  of  New  Castle.  They  lived  for 
twenty-five  years  at  Fairview,  built  by  his  father  and 
now  occupied  by  his  nephew,  John  C.  Higgins.  He 
was  the  father  of  the  public  schools  of  Delaware  City, 
giving  them  unwearied  attention,  although  himself 
childless.  He  was  a  colonel  of  militia,  member  of  L^- 
islature,  always  a  patriotic  and  public-sprited  citizen, 
and  popular  and  beloved  to  a  rare  degree.  His  brother, 
Thomas  J.  Higgins,  did  not  marry.  He  led  a  quiet, 
thoughtful  life,  was  keenly  alive  to  the  political  situ- 
ation of  State  and  nation,  and  was  the  only  man  who 
voted  for  Fremont  in  Red  Lion  Hundred  in  1856. 
Their  sister  Harriet  was  long  the  relict  of  John  Du- 
shane  Eves. 

David  Higgins,  third  son  of  Lawrence,  left  a  son 
William,  who  married  Elizabeth  Reynolds,  of  Mid- 
dletown,  who  has  long  survived  her  husband  and 
lives  with  her  children  in  Missouri. 

Of  the  names  mentioned  in  this  sketch,  Lawrence 
Higgins,  Dr.  Sluyter  Bouchelle  and  Thomas  Wither- 
spoon are  known  to  have  suffered  pecuniary  loss  in 
the  cause  of  American  Independence.  Dr.  Bouchelle 
was  a  trustee  of  the  Forest  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
Middletown,  upon  its  erection  in  1760.  He  left  a 
large  estate,  principally  in  land,  a  part  of  which  lies 
in  Burke  County,  North  Carolina.  He  removed 
thither  and  died  there  in  1796. 

The  first  land  purchased  by  Lawrence  Higgins,  the 
first  settler,  was  on  the  lowest  point  of  Cocks'  Neck, 
bounded  on  the  south  by  St.  George's  Creek,  and  on 
the  north  by  Dragon  Run,  and  afterwards  the  land  now 
owned  by  John  C.  and  Anthony  Higgins.  On  this 
latter  place  he  built  a  house  which  was  standing  in 
1840  and  bore  the  words  "Our  Grandfather's  Log 
Cabin,  a  Whig  of  '76."    It  was  soon  after  torn  down. 

Jesse  Higgins,  the  eldest  son  of  Lawrence  Higgins, 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


961 


was  born  in  1763.  Soon  after  arriving  at  manhood  he 
purchased  a  farm  adjoining  his  father's,  andbuilt  a  resi- 
dence within  three  hundred  yards  of  an  old  landing  for 
vessels  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  St.  George's 
Creek.  This  landing  was  a  great  convenience  to  the 
people  in  this  vicinity  and  afforded  the  only  outlet 
for  water  conveyance  to  Brandy  wine  Mills  or  Phila- 
delphia for  more  than  one  hundred  years  previous  to 
the  permanent  inclosure  of  St.  George's  Creek. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  1790,  he  purchased  a  grist- 
mill, brick  mansion  and  a  plantation  of  one  hundred 
acres,  which  was  known  as  ''  Damascus,"  and  the 
place  still  retains  the  name.  It  was  situated  one  and 
a  half  miles  north  of  the  town  of  St.  George's  and  was 
sold  by  Sheriff  Thomas  Kean  as  the  property  of  Jacob 
Cannon.  The  Cannons  were  a  prominent  family  who 
came  to  this  hundred  in  1724.  In  November  of  that 
year  Isaac  Cannon  purchased  "  Damascus  "  of  Samuel 
Griffith,  who  purchased  it  October  16,  1719,  when  it 
was  sold  by  Sheriff  Rowland  Fitzgerald  aa  the  prop- 
erty of  Henry  Hanson.  After  the  death  of  Jesse 
Higgins  "  Damascus "  passed  into  the  hands  of  his 
son-in-law,  Henry  Fromberger.  Shortly  afterwards 
the  dam  broke  and  was  never  repaired.  "  Damascus  " 
is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  George  H.  Smith. 

He  subsequently  purchased  the  paternal  estate  and 
devoted  his  time  to  farming  and  grazing,  in  some 
years  selling  as  many  as  sixty  bead  of  ca(tle  to  the 
butchers  of  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore. 
In  1822  he  built  a  brick  house  within  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  place  where  he  was  born,  which,  on  ac- 
count of  its  location,  he  called  **  Fairview."  He  died 
in  1823,  leaving  a  widow  and  six  children — three  sons 
and  three  daughters.  He  devised  legacies  to  his 
daughters  and  his  estate  to  his  sons,  to  be  divided 
when  the  youngest  should  arrive  at  age. 

Anthony  Madison  Higgins,  of  Red  Lion  Hundred, 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Delaware  in  his  day,  was  born 
November  22,  1809,  on  the  place  and  near  the  spot 
where  he  died.  This  place  is  known  as  Fairview. 
His  father,  Anthony  Higgins,  and  grandfather,  Law- 
rence Higgins,  had  cultivated  the  same  farm,  and  it  is 
now  owned  and  tilled  by  John  C.  Higgins,  his  eldest 
living  son.  For  several  generations  the  family  has 
lived  in  Red  Lion  Hundred,  not  far  from  Delaware  City. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  after  preparatory  courses 
of  instruction,  first  with  Rev. Wilson,  of  Middle- 
town,  then  with  the  late  John  Bullock,  of  Wilmington, 
and  subsequently  at  the  Newark  Academy,  entered 
Jefferson  College,  at  Cannonsburg,  Pa.,  in  1829,  and 
received  his  diploma  from  that  institution  in  1831. 
As  a  student  and  as  a  member  of  the  Literary  Society 
of  his  choice,  he  stood  in  the  foremost  rank,  giving 
promise  to  his  friends  by  his  collegiate  achieveinents 
of  future  eminence  in  some  field  of  literature. 

In  those  days  railroads  did  not  exist  among  the 
mountains  of  Pennsylvania,  Living  steeds  were  the 
main  dependence  for  transportation  of  travelers  and 
freight.  Romantic  interest  and  peril,  in  the  more 
sparsely- peopled  places,  would  therefore  attend  a 
61 


journey  at  that  time  on  the  routes  from  Wilmington 
to  Western  Pennsylvania.  In  order  to  enjoy  the 
scenery  along  the  way  and  gratify  his  taste  for  natu- 
ral enjoyments  and  equestrian  exercise,  Mr.  Higgins, 
after  graduating,  in  company  with  four  college  mates 
— ^Messrs.  David  D.  Clark,  of  Cumberland  County, 
Pa.;  Maxwell  Kennedy,  of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.; 
L.  P.  Bush,  M.D.,  of  Wilmington ;  and'  Hon.  Addi- 
son May,  now  of  West  Chester,  Pa.,  of  whom  the  two 
last  named  were  classmates  —  returned  home  on 
horseback.  Each  member  of  the  party  left  his  com- 
panions at  the  point  on  the  route  which  wa4  nearest 
to  his  own  home.  This  agreeable  journey  from  his  alma 
mater  was  remembered  and  mentioned  in  afler-years 
with  genuine  pleasure.  His  standing  and  activities 
in  class  and  society,  while  at  college,  had  led  his 
acquaintances  to  suppose  that  after  graduation  he 
would  devote  himself  to  the  profession  of  the  law,  but 
his  rural  environments  and  tastes  controlled  his 
choice  and  decided  his  career  for  the  farm.  Hence 
college  life  was  to  him  but  a  more  complete  equip- 
ment and  preparation  for  life  as  an  agriculturalist. 
He  gave  his  cultivated  energies,  both  of  mind  and 
body,  to  the  culture  of  his  farm.  He  settled  upon  a 
place  situated  north  and  west  of  the  village  of  St. 
George's,  and  almost  adjoining  his  paternal  estate. 
Here,  for  more  than  thirty  years,  he  pursued  actively 
his  chosen  vocation  with  signal  ability  and  success. 
He  then  withdrew  from  the  active  labors  of  the  farm, 
and  for  twenty  years  enjoyed  the  life  of  a  retired 
country  gentleman,  at  his  home  at  Linden  Hill. 
Much  of  this  time  he  devoted  to  reading,  in  which  he 
took  great  delight.  He  traversed  a  wide  field  of 
literature  with  a  desire  for  knowledge  that  was  ap- 
parently insatiable.  In  this  domain,  bis  acquisitions, 
on  almost  every  subject  of  general  interest,  were 
large.  On  all  matters  of  local  and  domestic  interest 
he  was  an  encyclopedia.  These  two  decades  of  his 
life  were  notably  happy  years,  yielding  memorable 
pleasures  both  to  him  and  his  family  and  his  friends. ' 
In  these  years  the  personal  traits  of  Mr.  Higgins, 
which  pre-eminently  constituted  his  individuality, 
were  freely  developed  and  plainly  seen.  Conspicu- 
ous among  them  was  an  unselfish,  even  self-sacrificing 
fairness  towards  others  with  whom  he  dealt.  To  ob- 
servers he  seemed  to  forget  himself  in  his  scrupulous 
care  for  the  interests  of  others  to  an  extent  which 
made  him  appear  in  a  transaction  as  more  careful  of 
their  welfare  than  of  his  own.  He  was  highly  favored 
in  his  marriage  relations.  His  wife  was  a  woman  of 
rare  courage  and  force  of  character  and  was  a  potent 
factor  in  the  successful  life  of  her  husband.  Her 
death  deprived  him  of  his  most  efficient  coadjutor 
and  left  a  void  that  was  never  fully  filled  and  a  sorrow 
of  no  ordinary  kind.  Although  capable  as  a  writer 
to  an  unusual  degree  when  he  chose  to  use  his  pen, 
Mr.  Higgins  has  left  comparatively  little  to  indicate 
his  skill  in  this  particular.  He  devoted  himself  so 
completely  to  his  agricultural  interests  that  he  had 
but  scant  time  or  inclination  to  put  his  thoughts  upon 


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paper.  The  most  that  he  did  as  a  writer,  upon  sub- 
jects of  general  interest,  was  done  for  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  at  Washington  City,  for  which  he  pre- 
pared, by  request,  several  valuable  communications  on 
topics  relating  to  the  agricultural  resources  and  indus- 
tries of  New  Castle  County.  In  the  last  two  years  of 
hb  life  he  was  overshadowed  by  another  deep  grief, 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  his  eldest  daughter,  to 
whom  he  was  devotedly  attached,  and  who,  after  the 
death  of  her  mother,  had  done  what  she  could  to  sup- 
ply her  place.  Alter  this  bereavement  his  health  and 
comfort  became  so  much  impaired  that  be  abandoned 
Linden  Hill  as  a  home,  and  spent  his  remaining 
days  at  the  homes  of  his  children. 

Mr.  Higgins  was  not  one  of  the  class  of  men  who 
are  content  with  inferior  methods  when  better  may  be 
employed.  He  believed  in  going  forward  to  the  at- 
tainment of  the  best  possible  results.  Hence,  it  is 
not  surprising  that  he  made  the  farm  which  he  tilled 
advance  from  an  inferior  condition  to  the  very  front 
rank  of  handsome  and  productive  rural  estates.  He 
was  devoted  heartily  to  his  calling  and  labored  in  it 
intelligently  and  with  assiduity.  As  an  intelligent 
citizen  he  always  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  public 
welfare.  But  he  did  not  abandon  his  life-work  to  do 
so.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  later  in  life 
he  was  known  as  a  Republican.  He  was  always  in 
earnest  in  whatever  he  did,  having  clear  and  decided 
convictions  upon  all  questions  which  his  duty  required 
him  to  consider.  Twice  he  took  upon  him  the  cares 
and  responsibilities  of  public  official  position — once 
as  a  trustee  of  the  poor  of  New  Castle  County,  and 
once  as  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature. 

The  latter  position  he  held  as  the  choice  of  the 
people  in  the  stormy  period  of  1860,  when  his  name 
was  placed  on  the  Lincoln-Bell  fusion  ticket.  In 
the  Legislature  he  did  much  by  his  consistent, 
intelligent,  conscientious  fidelity  towards  preserv- 
ing his  native  State  in  the  position  which 
she  had  been  the  first  to  take  in  relation  to  the 
National  Constitution.  As  public  offices  were  not 
congenial  to  his  tastes,  he  served  but  one  term  in  any 
official  position,  and  returned  willingly  to  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits  when  public  duty  permitted.  Pos- 
sibly the  conspicuous  candor  and  unsuspecting 
truthfulness  of  his  character  may,  in  part,  explain 
his  reluctance  to  engage  in  the  competitions  of 
political  life.  He  was  married,  in  1833,  to  Sarah  C. 
Corbit,  a  daughter  of  Pennell  Corbit.  His  wife  died 
on  the  28th  of  February,  1871.  Five  children  survived 
their  father, — John  C.  Higgins,  near  Delaware  City ; 
Anthony  Higgins,  attorney-at-law  of  Wilmington ; 
Thomas  Higgins,  a  merchant  of  New  York  City ; 
Pennell  C.  Higgins,  a  journalist  of  the  same  city . 
and  Mary  C,  wife  of  Daniel  Corbit,  of  Odessa.  His 
oldest  daughter,  Martha,  died  in  February,  1886,  at 
Nassau,  New  Providence,  Bahama  Islands,  where  she 
had  been  taken  by  her  father  for  her  health. 

Mr.  Higgins  died  July  29,  1887,  and  was  buried  in 
St.  George's  Cemetery.near  the  centre  of  the  inclosure. 


in  the  family  plot,  and  in  full  view  of  the  beautiful 
home  which  he  had  established  more  than  half  a 
century  before  he  died.  He  was  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church,and  his  obsequies  were  conducted 
according  to  the  ceremonies  of  that  denomination. 
Mrs.  Higgins,  his  wife,  (Sarah  Clark  Corbit,)  was  a 
granddaughter  of  Gk>vernor  John  Clark,  son  of  Captain 
William  Clark,  whose  valor  was  well  proved  at  the 
head  of  his  command  in  the  Revolutionary  Army. 
He  led  into  the  battle  of  Monmouth  a  company  of 
seventy-five  men,  raised  principally  between  Smyrna 
and  Cantwell's  Bridge.  Forty-five  of  these  brave  men 
perished  on  the  field.  In  a  hand-to-hand  conflict 
Captain  Clark  killed  with  his  sword  a  British  officer 
who  had  attacked  him.  The  sword  with  which  he 
had  saved  his  life  and  vanquished  his  antagonist  was 
long  retained  and  highly  valued  among  the  heirlooms 
of  the  family,  but  was  eventually  stolen  by  some 
person  who  was  supposed  to  have  coveted  its  mount- 
ings. 

Mr.  Higgins  is  remembered  as  an  intelligent,  ener- 
getic farmer ;  a  man  of  unswerving  rectitude  and 
purity  ;  a  generous  friend,  a  patriotic  citizen,  an  un- 
usually well-informed  Christian  gentleman,  interested 
in  all  his  active  years  in  every  good  work  that  he 
could  personally  aid,  and  always  a  warm  advocate  of 
every  worthy  enterprise.  Such  men  do  not  die — ^they 
only  pass  tp  other  spheres  beyond. 

"  Tho*  bnman  forms  to  primal  dust  return, 
Their  deeds,  perennial,  live  from  age  to  age.** 

On  February  2, 1788,  during  Jesse  Higgins'  first  term 
in  the  Legislature,  a  supplementary  act  was  passed  for 
stopping  St.  George's  Creek,and  draining  a  quantity 
of  marsh  and  cripple  on  both  sides  of  the  creek,  being 
about  three  thousand  acres,  situate  in  Red  Lion  and 
St.  George's  Hundreds,  and  for  keepimg  the  dykes 
and  drains  in  good  repair. 

Henry  Ward  Pierce  and  Mathew  Pearce  were  the 
owners  of  a  portion  of  this  tract.  On  the  18th  day  of 
April,  1796,  they  conveyed  thirteen  hundred  and 
seventy-eight  acres  to  Solomon  Maxwell,  William 
Guier  and  Adam  Diehl,  wealthy  merchants  of  Phila- 
delphia. In  1799,  Maxwell  sold  his  interest  to  Joseph 
Clark.  While  this  tract  was  in  their  possession  the 
hotel  at  St.  Augustine  Piers  was  erected  and  managed 
by  them  for  more  than  twenty  years.  The  marsh 
was  inclosed  and  ditched  and  converted  into  pasture- 
land,  on  which  numerous  cattle  were  fattened,  and 
found  a  ready  market  in  New  York,  Philadelphia 
and  Baltimore. 

The  tract  was  divided  into  three  portions  or  farms 
and  assigned  by  lot.  Joseph  Clark  became  the  owner 
of  the  farm  in  St.  George's  Hundred ;  Adam  Diehl 
drew  the  middle  farm  ;  and  William  Guier  received 
the  upper  farm,  which  extended  as  far  north  as  the 
present  location  of  the  Delaware  and  Chesapeake 
Canal.  Clark's  property  was  at  a  later  period  pur- 
chased by  John  Barney,  and  is  now  owned  by  Wm. 
S.  Lawrence,  of  New  Jersey.  The  William  Guier 
farm  is  now  owned  by  Arthur  Coleburn,  of  Pliiladel- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


963 


phia.  In  1828,  Adam  Diehl  sold  his  farm  to  Captain 
Greorge  Maxwell,  who,  in  1843,  conveyed  it  to  J.  J. 
Henry.  John  P.  King  was  the  next  owner,  and  he 
sold  it  in  October,  1861,  to  William  Beck,  the  present 
owner,  who  came  from  England  in  1848.  St.  George's 
marsh  now  comprises  some  of  the  finest  farm-land  in 
the  State.  On  this  tract,  in  1831,  the  first  peach 
orchards  in  the  State  were  planted.  The  tidal  wave 
in  1878  swept  away  the  entire  embankment  and  since 
that  time  $37,000  have  been  spent  in  rebuilding  and 
repairing  the  banks  and  ditches  along  this  marsh. 

In  1872,  for  the  better  draining  of  this  land,  there 
was  stationed  on  it  a  thirty-six-inch  pump  with  a 
capacity  of  twenty-five  thousand  gallons  per  minute. 
It  was  operated  by  an  eighty -five  horse-power  engine. 

John  Moll,  of  whom  a  more  complete  history  is 
given  elsewhere  in  the  chapter  on  "  Bench  and  Bar," 
in  1676,  bought  of  William  Currier  and  William 
Goldsmith  a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres,  which  was 
patented  to  them  January  13,  1675.  On  June  27th 
of  that  year  this  land  was  surveyed  to  him,  and  an 
additional  four  hundred  acres  ''which  had  been 
seated  for  several  years  with  good  stock  and  good  im- 
provements thereon."  A  patent  was  granted  to  him 
for  these  one  thousand  acres  on  the  8th  of  August, 
1679. 

This  tract,  known  as  "  The  Exchange,"  was  situated 
on  the  Delaware  River,  south  of  Red  Lion  Creek, 
and  extended  to  Dragon  Swamp.  It  was  adjacent  to 
the  *'  Reeden  Island  "  tract  patented  to  Henry  Ward. 
Articles  of  agreement  for  the  sale  of  "  The  Exchange  " 
were  drawn  up  Sept.  3, 1683,  between  John  Moll  and 
Gabriel  Rappe,  who  was  acting  as  agent  for  Daniel 
Duthy,  a  merchant  of  London.  The  terms  of  the 
contract  were  not  complied  with,  and  the  laod  was 
awarded  to  John  Moll  by  a  board  of  arbitrators.  On 
the  19th  of  March,  John  Moll  sold  this  land  to  Hans 
Hanson,  who,  on  July  7,  1685,  took  out  a  warrant  for 
a  tract  of  land  called  "Lowland,"  situate  on  the 
south  side  of  Red  Lion  Creek,  and  containing  four 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  fast  land  and  marsh* 
Below  "  Lowland  "  was  a  tract  which  at  this  time  was 
owned  by  Lewis  Davis,  and  afterwards  became 
escheated  and  was  granted  to  Joseph  Hanson,  son  of 
Hans.  On  December  25,  1701,  it  was  surveyed  to 
him  in  two  tracts  containing  four  hundred  and  three 
hundred  acres  respectively.  At  his  death,  Hans 
Hanson  devised  all  of  his  property  to  his  two  sons, 
Peter  and  Joseph,  who  then  owned  nearly  the  entire 
northeastern  portion  of  Red  Lion  Hundred.  This 
land  has  passed  through  various  hands  and  is  now 
principally  owned  by  the  Reybolds  and  Clarks. 

A  small  stream  called  "  Cedar  Creek  "  flows  through 
this  tract,  and  in  some  parts  the  land  is  marshy. 
From  an  early  date  a  bank  has  been  necessary  along 
the  Delaware  to  prevent  the  river  from  overflowing 
the  land  in  this  vicinity.  In  1784  the  bank  was  in 
need  of  repair,  and  on  February  5th  of  the  following 
year  an  act  of  Assembly  was  passed  enabling  the 
owners  of  meadow  marsh  and  cripple  on  Cedar  Creek 


in  Red  Lion  Hundred,  and  County  of  New  Castle,  to 
erect  a  new  bank  in  part,  and  to  keep  the  residue  of 
the  old  bank,  dams,  sluices  and  flood-gates  in  repair. 
On  February  5,  1811,  a  supplement  to  the  act  of 
1785  was  passed.  By  it  Francis  Haughey,  Benjamin 
Merrit,  William  Kennedy,  Dr.  David  Stuart  and 
Adam  Deighl  were  appointed  commissioners  to  go  on 
Red  Lion  bank  and  view  the  situation,  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  whether  it  were  advisable  to  repair 
the  old  bank,  or  build  anew  one  on  another  site. 
Andrew  Jamison,  Peter  Hanse  and  Thomas  Marsh 
Foreman  were  appointed  managers  to  superintend  the 
repairing  of  the  old  bank,  or  the  erection  of  a  new  one 
and  the  laying  out  of  sluices. 

The  commissioners  met  at  Red  Lion  Inn  on  April 
30,  1811,  and  made  their  report.  They  recommended 
the  erection  of  a  bank  to  be  five  feet  high,  measur- 
ing from  high- water  mark,  and  sixteen  feet  wide  at 
the  base.  They  advised  the  building  of  a  wharf 
forty  rods  long,  and  parallel  to  the  bank,  for  the  better 
protection  of  eighty  perches  of  the  most  exposed  por- 
tion of  the  bank.  They  also  directed  that  forty  rods 
of  the  bank  be  protected  by  piles  arranged  in  rows  at 
the  base  of  the  bank,  and  that  a  sluice  ten  feet  wide 
and  five  feet  deep,  with  flood-gates,  be  made  where 
the  old  sluice  was. 

The  suggestions  of  the  commissioners  met  with  ap- 
proval, and  the  work  was  performed.  At  frequent 
intervals  since  that  time  the  embankments  have  been 
rebuilt,  and  new  sluices  dug. 

In  1701  Joseph  Hanson  sold  a  portion  of  his  estate 
to  John  Boyer,  who  in  1703  conveyed  it  to  Henry 
Packard  (Piker).  At  hid  death  he  devised  his  estate 
to  his  wife,  with  remainder  to  his  children.  On  May 
27, 1730,  George  Hadley  leased  two  hundred  acres  of 
the  heirs  of  Henry  Packard.  Hadley  came  from 
New  York  City,  at  which  place  h^  owned  considerable 
property.  He  died  at  Dover  while  there  attending  to 
some  business.  He  was  reported  as  being  immensely 
wealthy,  and  rumor  said  he  had  buried  a  large  quan- 
tity of  treasure  before  taking  this  trip.  Numerous  were 
the  requests  made  by  different  persons,  who  claimed 
they  had  dreamed  concerning  this  wealth  and  where 
it  was  located,  for  permission  to  examine  certain 
places  on  the  premises.  According  to  tradition  almost 
the  entire  farm  was  overturned  in  the  search.  It 
was  never  discovered,  or,  if  so,  was  enjoyed  in 
silence.  By  his  will,  bearing  date  December  28, 1732, 
he  devised  his  estate  to  his  wife,  Mary,  who  the  fol- 
lowing year  married  John  Clark.  Clark  was  a  mari- 
ner and  surveyor  and  was  the  son  of  a  captain  of  a 
boat  that  sailed  between  New  Castle  and  New  York. 
He  purchased  other  land  in  this  hundred  and  at  the 
time  of  his  decease  owned  four  hundred  and  ninety- 
one  acres,  valued  at  £1359  2s.  6d.  The  estate  was 
taken  at  the  valuation  by  John,  the  oldest  son,  who 
died  in  1791,  and  by  his  will  devised  one-half  of  his 
real  estate  to  Qeorge,  his  eldest  son,  and  a  life  estate 
in  the  other  half  to  his  wife,  with  remainder  to 
George,  who  was  to  pay  certaia  legacies  to  the  other 


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964 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


children.  William  D.,  Levi  H.  and  James  C.  Claik 
were  sons  of  Major  George  Clark.  He  died  Decem- 
ber 6, 1838,  and  devised  to  his  youngest  son,  Levi  H. 
Clark,  all  of  his  real  estate  subject  to  the  legacies  of 
the  other  children.  Levi  H.  sold  some  of  the  land, 
and  March  28,  1863,  conveyed  the  remainder  to  his 
brother,  John  C.  Clark,  who,  July  28,  1865,  granted 
it  to  his  son,  James  H.  Clark,  the  present  owner.  The 
Clarks  of  Red  Lion  Hundred  are  all  descendants  of 
the  John  Clark  who  married  Mary  Hadley,  and  are 
influential  citizens  of  this  hundred.  The  old  home- 
stead, except  the  kitchen,  on  the  James  H.  Clark 
property  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  St.  Patrick's  day, 
1857.  In  1875  William  D.  Clark  erected  a  granite 
shaft  near  the  old  kitchen  with  the  following  inscrip- 
tion: 

'*  John  Clark. 

Mn.  Mary  Hadley. 

Both  Born  1711. 

Married  1733. 

John  Clark. 

Mary  Adams. 

Married  1766. 

Geo.  Clark 

married 

Bebecca  Curtis 

1793. 

Esther  Bryan 

1806. 

Here  they  liyed  and 
died  and  here  was 
my  mother's  room. 

These  memories  to  me 

are  precious. 

Wm.  D.  Clark. 

1876." 

The  estate  on  which  William  D.  Clark  resided  un- 
til his  death  was  also  a  portion  of  the  John  Moll 
tract.  In  1802  it  was  conveyed  by  Henry  Ward 
Pierce  to  Joseph  Holmes  and  Clayton  Earl.  On 
May  16,  1810,  the  executors  of  Joseph  Holmes  sold 
his  one-half  interest  to  Clayton  Earl,  who,  June  9, 
1819,  conveyed  it  to  Hugh  Exton,  whose  executors 
granted  it  to  William  D.  Clark  March  15,  1837.  The 
estate  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  William  D. 
Clark. 

Peter  Hanson,  who  was  grandson  of  Hans  and  son  of 
Joseph,  and  inherited  half  of  his  father's  estate,  by  will 
dated  April  5,  1729,  devised  his  property  to  his  chil- 
dren, Hans,  Magdalen,  wife  of  Michael  Butcher,  Ra- 
chel, wife  of  Thomas  Tobin,  and  John  Hanson. 
Michael  Butcher  and  Magdalen,  his  wife,  conveyed 
their  portion  to  Hans  and  John,  and  Patrick  Porter 
purchased  the  share  of  Thomas  Tobin  and  Rachel, 
his  wife.  The  land  was  divided  and  the  portion  re- 
ceived by  John  descended  to  his  two  sons  Nathaniel 
and  John.  On  March  28,  1776,  Nathaniel  sold  his 
land  to  Alexander  Porter,  whose  daughter,  Mary,  mar- 
ried Thomas  M.  Foreman,  and  inherited  portion  of 
this  land.  On  January  1,  1820  Philip  Reybold  pur- 
chased six  hundred  acres  of  Thomas  M.  Foreman. 

Major  Philip  Reybold,  of  Delaware  City,  Red  Lion 


Hundred,  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  physical  vigor, 
and  endowed  with  strong  common  sense  and  indom- 
itable energy,  was  descended  from  Dutch  ancestors, 
of  whose  history  no  record  remains.  He  was  bom  in 
Philadelphia,  May  5,  1783.  His  father  dressed  sheep 
for  the  Philadelphia  market,  and  from  his  only  son, 
Philip,  required  and  received,  even  in  his  childhood, 
such  aid  in  his  business  as  proved  him  to  be  a  boy  of 
remarkable  capacity.  Although  but  ten  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  he  had  an  intelligent  under- 
standing of  the  situation  in  which  his  mother,  his 
sister  and  himself  had  been  left.  With  characteristic 
courage,  foresight  and  energy,  he  struggled  with  the 
adversities  that  confronted  him,  aud  managed  to  ob- 
tain favor,  employment  and  some  compensation. 
Some  time  after  his  father's  death,  his  mother  mar- 
ried Dr.  Albertus  Shilack,  a  physician  of  some  means, 
in  Philadelphia.  She  did  not  long  survive  her  second 
marriage  and  left  no  additional  children.  Aided,  no 
doubt,  by  the  step-father,  Philip  continued  to  work 
at  the  business  that  he  had  learned,  in  its  rudiments, 
with  his  father,  and,  in  the  absence  of  better  facil- 
ities, he  wheeled  his  dressed  sheep  to  market  on  a 
hand-cart  or  wheel-barrow,  and  sold  his  meat  to  his 
customers.  Thus  he  continued  to  work  with  increas- 
ing success  until  October  25, 1801,  when,  in  his  nine- 
teenth year,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Dilcart  and 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  home  which  was  afterwards 
blessed  with  surprising  prosperity.  Major  Reybold 
continued  to  acquire  means  by  diligent  attention  to 
his  occupation  in  Philadelphia  until  about  1810.  At 
this  time  his  family  had  been  increased  by  the  birth 
of  his  four  eldest  children.  Having  a  decided  taste 
for  rural  occupations,  stock-raising,  grazing  and  such 
pursuits,  he  thought  about  this  time  that  he  would  do 
well  for  himself  and  his  growing  family  by  removing 
to  the  country  and  engaging  in  agriculture.  Accord- 
ingly, after  inquiry,  he  decided  to  remove  to  a  farm 
in  Red  Lion  Hundred,  Delaware,  which  he  purchased 
on  equal  shares  with  one  Worknot,  from  Clayton 
Earle.  The  tract  thus  bargained  for  contained  over 
one  thousand  acres,  and  included  lands  now  embrac- 
ed in  the  estate  of  the  late  William  D.  Clark,  also  in 
the  property  of  George  F.  Brady,  in  Jefferson  Clark's 
estate,  the  Delaware  City  Cemetery,  and  in  fields 
now  belonging  to  many  others.  Such  a  venture  on 
such  a  scale  gives  some  idea  of  the  courageous  energy 
of  the  man.  To  realize  what  was  invested  and  obtain 
additional  profit  demanded  extraordinary  skill  and 
vigorous  effort — perhaps  more  than  his  experience  at 
that  time  prepared  him  to  exhibit,  though  not  more 
than  he  was  capable  of  displaying  under  favorable 
circumstances.  Fortunately  or  unfortunately,  he  was 
handicapped  by  his  partner,  Worknot.  Whether  the 
name  had  significance  or  not,  his  partner  did  not 
make  his  payments  as  promised,  and  as  the  result, 
the  farm  was  lost  to  Messrs.  Reybold  and  Worknot  by 
a  foreclosure  of  the  mortgage  held  by  Mr.  Earle. 
Not  discouraged,  however,  by  this  event,  Mr.  Reybold 
subsequently    rented  the  same  property   from  Mr. 


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ML  ...      HTSTfttY  ni  TIBIT.AWAffF 


'I 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


965 


Earle,  and,  unembarrassed  by  a  partner,  he  embarked 
in  the  business  of  raising  merino  sheep. 

By  diligence  and  prudence  his  plans  prospered, 
and  Mr.  Reybold  gradually  advanced  in  means  and 
influence.  To  purchase  the  property  that  he  had 
lost,  through  the  failure  of  his  partner,  Mr.  Eeybold 
had  sold  his  half-interest  in  the  estate  of  his  step- 
father, which,  after  the  death  of  his  mother  without 
additional  heirs,  had  been  left  to  him  and  his  sister, 
their  step-father  having  died  previously.  Having 
lost  all  his  own  early  savings  and  his  patrimony,  by 
the  disastrous  termination  of  the  Worknot  partner- 
ship, the  situation  would  have  been  discouraging  to 
a  faint  heart.  But  to  Major  Reybold  it  afforded 
chiefly  an  incentive  to  greater  effort;  for  his  heart 
was  not  of  the  ''faint"  kind.  Bobu6t  energy  that 
knew  not  how  to  fai^t  or  fail  and  was  determined  not 
to  learn  to  do  either,  was,  more  than  in  most  men, 
his  predominant  characteristic.  After  a  profitable 
experience  in  raising  merino  sheep,  Mr.  Beybold 
rented  what  was  known  as  the  Newbold  property,  on 
part  of  which  Delaware  City  now  stands.  On  this 
farm  he  gave  attention  to  raising  and  pressing  castor 
beans  for  oil.  The  making  and  sale  of  castor  oil 
proved  so  profitable  that  from  what  it  and  his  other 
farming  operations  produced,  he  was  able,  in  1819, 
to  purchase  the  Marsh  Mount  property,  upon  which, 
in  1820,  he  finished  building  the  large  and  commo- 
dious mansion,  in  which  he  resided  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  and  which  is  now  occupied  by 
his  son,  William.  After  removal  to  Marsh  Mount 
farm,  of  which  eighty  acres  was  woodland,  he  gave 
the  most  particular  attention  to  the  improvement  of 
it.  Here,  besides  maintaining  all  the  ordinary  work 
of  a  cereal  farm,  he  raised  choice  stock  and  conducted 
the  culture  of  castor  beans  on  a  large  scale.  He  had 
over  four  hundred  acres  under  complete  cultivation, 
of  which  he  devoted  fifty  or  sixty  acres  to  beans  for 
oil.  The  product  of  these  acres  was  exceedingly 
profitable.  Major  Reybold,  so  far  as  is  known,  was 
the  first  castor-oil  producer  who  used  the  cold  pres- 
sure and  put  the  famous  cold-expressed  castor  oil  in 
the  market. 

While  engaged  in  these  industries,  the  Delaware 
and  Chesapeake  Canal  was  projected.  Mr.  Reybold 
and  John  C.  Clark  entered  into  a  contract  with  the 
canal  company  to  build  that  part  of  the  canal  which 
lies  between  Delaware  City  and  St.  Georges.  This 
section  offered  to  contractors  the  greatest  difficulties 
to  be  encountered  along  the  entire  line,  as  so  much 
of  it  lay  through  heavy  marsh  land.  The  company 
had  tried  in  vain  to  obtain  a  suitable  person  to  super- 
vise the  work  on  this  section.  It  required  a  man 
who  could  successfully  control  rough  and  reckless 
workmen,  as  well  as  know  what  they  must  do.  Mr. 
Reybold  had  the  necessary  qualifications.  He  was 
sagacious,  prompt  and  physically  large  and  strong. 
He  exceeded  six  feet  in  height,  and  was  well  propor- 
tioned. He  succeeded  to  that  part  of  the  work  of 
which  John  Randel  had  been  in  charge,  and  re- 


mained on  it  until  the  canal  was  finished.  While 
carrying  on  his  part  of  the  excavation  and  construc- 
tion, he  also  contracted  to  supply  meat  and  bread  to 
the  men  on  the  entire  line,  from  Delaware  City  to 
Chesapeake  City,  and  filled  the  contract  successfully. 
The  magnitude  of  this  undertaking  is  more  easily 
imagined  than  described;  but  the  difficulties  were 
all  surmounted  and  satisfactorily  overcome.  After 
the  completion  of  the  canal,  he  gave  attention  to  the 
manufacture  of  brick,  and  carried  it  on  upon  an  ex- 
tensive scale.  He  supplied,  under  contracts,  the 
brick  for  buildings  erected  by  Qirard  &  Ridgeway, 
of  Philadelphia ;  also  for  the  almshouse  of  that 
county  on  the  west  side  of  the  Schuylkill.  Many 
of  his  brick  were  sent  to  New  York,  as  he  was  able, 
because  of  superior  facilities  for  their  manufacture, 
to  supply  them  at  cheaper  rates.  His  transactions 
in  this  industry  reached  up  in  value  to  millions  of 
dollars.  He  was  also  largely  engaged  in  peach  cul- 
ture, being  personally  interested  and  occupied  in  it, 
more  or  less,  from  1885  to  about  1850.  Although  a 
very  busy  man  through  all  these  years,  he  found 
time  between  1840  and  1845  to  erect  a  new  house  for 
his  residence  at  a  place  about  a  mile  from  Marsh 
Mount.  To  this  new  home  he  gave  the  name  of 
Lexington,  at  the  suggestion  and  in  honor  of  Henry 
Clay,  whom  he  greatly  admired  and  who  visited  him 
here,  in  company  with  Hon.  John  M.  Clayton  and 
other  prominent  public  men.  Mr.  Reybold  had  re- 
moved from  Marsh  Mount  to  the  Lexington  country 
seat  in  December,  1846,  and  his  distinguished  visit- 
ors, just  mentioned,  came  to  see  his  large,  productive 
peach  orchards  in  August,  1847.  Their  visit  gave 
him  great  pleasure. 

Mr.  Reybold  was,  .without  doubt,  a  masterful  man, 
full  of  energy  and  resources.  That  he  was  a  man  of 
no  ordinary  mould  may  be  judged  from  his  portrait, 
as  well  as  from  his  achievements.  His  face  and  fig- 
ure will  suggest  to  an  observer  of  the  oil-painting, 
which  preserves  his  features,  a  by  no  means  remote 
resemblance  to  Washington.  In  enterprise  he  was 
nothing  small.  He  was  gigantic.  It  enlarges  one's 
conceptions  of  things  merely  to  recite  his  under- 
takings and  remember  the  disadvantages  under 
which  he  labored,  both  in  his  individual  deficien- 
cies of  equipment  in  early  life  and  in  the  absence  of 
mechanical  facilities,  which  since  his  day  have  be- 
come so  abundant.  But  as  a  strong  man  who  delights 
to  run  a  race,  those  things  which  might  discourage 
less  energetic  persons  seemed  to  be  stimulating  in- 
centives to  him,  and  he  literally  strode  through  and 
over  stupendous  obstacles  with  a  sort  of  Herculean 
vigor.  There  are  such  men,  and  he  was  one  of  them. 
It  is  willingly  conceded  by  those  who  knew  him, 
that  he  was  the  leading  pioneer  in  improvements  of 
a  practical  kind  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  lived. 
In  these  he  was  equally  fertile  and  skillful  both  on 
the  land  and  the  water.  Canal,  river,  bay,  boats, 
barges,  wagons,  cars,  farms,  fruits,  grains,  herds, 
flocks  and  people  all  felt  the  force  of  his  genius  and 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


the  value  of  his  directing^  skill.  And  the  evidences 
of  his  efficient  labor  remain  and  are  apparent  still, 
both  on  the  land  and  waters  of  the  State  of  Delaware. 
After  removing  from  Marsh  Mount  to  his  new  coun- 
try-seat at  Lexington,  the  infirmities  of  age  began  to 
be  felt,  and  he  withdrew  more  and  more  from  active 
life.  He  felt  a  desire  and  need  for  rest.  He  was 
blessed  with  a  true  wife,  who  was  also  a  faithful 
'mother.  She  was  a  true  and  efficient  helpmeet,  and 
contributed  largely  to  her  husband's  success.  She 
died  in  August,  1852.  B)th  his  wife  and  he  were 
members  of  the  St.  George's  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
which  at  the  time  Rev.  Mr.  Howe  was  pastor.  They 
raised  a  family  of  twelve  children.  Of  these  three 
sons  survive  (1887).  They  are  William  and  Barney 
Reybold,  of  Red  Lion  Hundred,  and  Anthony  Rey- 
bold,  of  Wilmington.  The  Major  died  February  28, 
1854,  leaving  behind  him  the  memory  and  proofs  of 
a  life  that  abounded  with  energy,  skill  and  useful- 
ness. In  the  foregoing  sketch  it  has  been  impossible 
to  do  more  than  give  the  most  condensed  account  of 
this  busy,  enterprising  man.  The  half  has  not  been 
told.  And  he  was  never  concerned  so  much  about 
what  might  be  said  of  him  as  he  was  about  the  work 
that  he  had  in  hand.  To  this  he  gave  himself  with 
unreserved  energy,  preferring  that  his  works  should 
be  his  record  and  his  monument. 

Patrick  Porter  also  purchased  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  sold  by  Sheriff  Duff  as  the  prop- 
erty of  Thomas  Dunn  in  1765.  On  this  property  there 
was  an  old  fulling  mill.  At  his  death,  Patrick  Porter 
devised  his  estate  to  his  son  David,  who  died  without 
issue.  The  property  then  passed  into  the  hands  of 
his  two  sisters,  Mary  and  Janet.  Mary  married 
Whitehead  Jones  and  had  two  children,  John  and 
Mary.  On  this  farm  there  was  a  saw-mill  operated 
for  several  years  by  Whitehead  Jones.  The  land  was 
next  vested  in  Purnel  Veach.  After  passing  through 
several  hands  it  is  now  owned  by  James  Gray.  Sam- 
uel McCall  also  owns  a  portion  of  the  Porter  land. 

Henry  Vanderberg  was  the  owner  of  considerable 
laud  in  Red  Lion  Hundred.  On  October  1683,  a  war- 
rant was  granted  to  him  for  six  hundred  and  fo  ur 
hundred  acre8,called  New  Utrecht,situate  on  the  north 
side  of  main  branch  of  St.  George's  Creek,  "above 
ye  bridge  adjoining  Dragon  Swamp."  A  tract  of 
four  hundred  and  forty  acres  patented  the  30th  of  the 
fiflh  month,  1684,  to  John  Harins  was  assigned  to  him 
by  Harins.  On  June  4,  1696,  he  sold  this  tract  to 
John  Donaldson.  On  November  17  of  the  same  year 
he  sold  four  hundred  acres  at  St.  George's  Creek  to 
Richard  Asken. 

A  list  of  taxables  in  Red  Lion  Hundred  as  returned 
November  27,  1787,  by  John  Thompson,  assessor. 


Jamof  Annfltronfi^. 
James  Armstrong,  Jr. 
Robert  AUeo. 
Thomas  Adams,  Jr. 
John  B«lleby,  est. 
Thomas  Boyer,  est. 
Susannah  Brett,  est. 


Edmund  Beach,  est. 
Daniel  Blaney. 
John  Bradley. 
Isaac  Baily. 
John  Clark. 
William  Carson,  est 
Isaac  Cannon. 


Jacob  Cannon. 
Nathaniel  Carr. 
Charles  Costy. 
Peter  Crout. 
John  Carrigan. 
John  Coulter. 
David  Craven. 
David  Caldwell. 
Anthony  Dnshane. 
Isaac  Durham. 
Abraham  Durham. 
Cornelius  Durham. 
James  Dick. 
Robert  Dougherty. 
John  Dougherty. 
John  Dunbar. 
Robert  Dick. 
Samuel  Eccles. 
Humphrey  Irwin. 
Richard  Evans. 
Walter  ruUum. 
Charles  Gallop. 
Gilbert  Gallop. 
Robert  Glenn. 
John  Oarrettson. 
John  Gibbons. 
Thomas  Gilliii. 
John  Hyatt,  esq. 
Lawrence  Higgins. 
Anthony  Higgins, 
Henry  HoUlogsworth,  est. 
Enos  Howell,  est. 
Peter  Hanson,  est. 
Nathaniel  Hanson. 
Thomas  Hanson. 
House  Hanson. 
William  Bickey. 
Thomas  Hinton. 
Jonas  Harris. 
Whitehead  Jones  A  Co. 
Cornelius  Kettle,  est. 
Samuel  Kirkpatrick,  est. 
William  Kelly. 
William  Kelly  (weaTer) 
Thomas  King. 
Samuel  Long. 
Andrew  Lawrence. 
Nathaniel  Liedser. 
Alexander  Law. 
George  Monro,  est. 
John  McWhorter. 
George  McCooIe. 
Robert  Mercer. 
Thomas  McCoUin. 
Dr.  Mathew  McKinney. 
Michael  McBrlerly. 
Hugh  Morrison. 
Abel  Miles. 
Andrew  Miller. 
John  Murphy. 


Barney  Mc  Bride. 
Andrew  Morce. 
Andrew  Mettall,  est 
David  Nicholson. 
Henry  Ward  Pierce,  est 
David  Porter,  est. 
Robert  Poner. 
James  Porter. 
John  Prior. 
William  Peare. 
James  Porter. 
Thomas  Ree^  est 
Mary  Ross,  est 
Martbew  ReOley. 
William  Robinson. 
Samuel  Sutton. 
Dr.  Nathaniel  Silsbee. 
James  Speer,  estt. 
James  Shankland. 
William  Shannon. 
Andrew  Spangler. 
William  Sutton. 
William  Scott 
John  Thompson,  est 
John  Toppin. 
John  Taylor,  est 
Dr.  David  Thomas. 
Dr.  David  Thompson. 
Stewart  Thompson. 
Samuel  Toi^ln. 
William  ThonipeoD. 
Lewis  Yandegrift. 
Abram  Vandegrift,  «st 
Samuel  Wallace,  est. 
Robert  Watt  «^ 

JEbfofft  in  othtr  flaui  Avdf  htUmgnf 
to  Ptr$on$  rt$idmg  w  thi$  Btrndnd, 

John  Hyatt  ««)• 

Dr.  David  Thomas. 

Isaac  Durham. 

Abram  Durham. 

(In  St  Geoiige's  Hundred). 

John  Thompson,  Esq. 

George  Monro,  Eh). 

Dr.  David  Thompson. 

(In  New  Castie  Hundnd). 

EdaUt  im  Out  Hmtdrtd  htUmgiat 
io  iVrsoM  rt»iding  m  atker  Swm- 
dred*  M  tkU  Oommlg. 
Thomas  Adams. 
George  Clark. 
Joshua  Curt  la. 
John  Gooding. 
Dr.  William  McMahon. 
Alexander  Porter. 
Thomas  WMtberspooo,  or 
Shyter  Bouchells. 
John  Lewden. 
Mary  Lamux. 


Schools. — Among  the  private  schools  in  the  hun- 
dred previous  to  the  adoption  of  the  public-school 
system,  the  Randall  Hall  and  Franklin  schools 
were  well  known.  The  Bandall  Hall  school  was  situa- 
ted about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  Delaware  City,  and 
was  attended  by  pupils  from  that  town.  The  Franklin 
school-house  was  built  in  1820,  by  Major  George 
Clark  and  Major  Philip  Reybold,  of  bricks  manufac- 
tured by  Major  Reybold  on  his  farm.  Frank  Brine 
was  one  of  the  earliest  teachers.  The  adoption  of 
the  free-school  system  was  the  cause  of  consider- 
able complaint  by  some  of  the  citizens.  The  neces- 
sary school  buildings    were  erected,  however,  and 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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school  opened  in  them  for  all  classes.  This  system 
has  gradually  improved  and  is  now  highly  valued. 
At  present  there  are  several  school  houses  in  the 
hundred,  and  instructions  given  to  a  large  number 
of  pupils. 

The  three  schools  for  colored  children  have  enrolled 
one  hundred  and  ninety-nine  pupils,  and  an  average 
attendance  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight. 
-  Industkies. — With  the  exception  of  the  creamery 
and  canning  factory  there  are  no  industries  in  this 
hundred.  On  August  21,  1732,  Samuel  Clements 
purchased  a  lot  in  Red  Lion  Hundred,  on  the  north 
side  of  St.  George's  branch,  containing  one  acre  and 
thirty -two  perches,  also  a  part  of  the  land  on  which 
**  Hugh  Watson  now  dwells,  and  which  may  hereafter 
be  overflowed  by  a  mill-pond,  intended  to  be  made  by 
Clement."  If  there  was  a  mill  erected  it  was  in  exist- 
ence but  a  short  time,  as  no  mention  is  made  of  it  after- 
wards. The  mill  at  St.  George's  was  undoubtedly  the 
first  industry  in  the*  hundred,  and  was  last  conducted 
by  Enoch  Thomas,  in  1825.  On  the  assessment  list 
of  1804  there  are  three  mills,  owned  respectively  by 
Enoch  Thomas,  Jesse  Higgins  and  Whitehead  Jones. 
Jesse  Higgins  owned  the  ^*  Damascus  "  mill  seat,  and 
the  mill  was  run  only  a  short  time  after  his  death* 
The  Whitehead  Jones  saw-mill  was  a  small  aflkir  on 
the  property  now  owned  by  James  Gray,  and  has  not 
been  in  operation  for  many  years.  In  1838  Dr. 
James  M.  Sutton  built  a  mill  which  was  used  as  a 
saw-mill  and  afterwards  converted  into  a  mill 
for  grinding  plaster  and  feed.  It  has  not  been 
in  use  for  some  years.  Smoking- tobacco  was  prepared 
by  Sutton  and  Harvey,  Harvey  and  McWhorter  (suc- 
■  cessors  to  Sutton  and  Harvey),  and  finally  by  John 
P.  Belville,  from  1869  till  1873  in  St.  Georges.  The 
factory  had  a  capacity  of  one  thousand  pounds  per 
day,  and  gave  employment  to  ten  persons.  There 
was  another  grist-mill  in  the  town  of  St.  Georges, 
erected  in  1838  by  William  Hudson,  and  afterwards 
owned  by  George  W.  Townsend.  This  was  operated 
for  a  few  years  and  then  discontinued.  It  is  now 
used  as  a  wheelwright  shop.  Bricks  were  manufac- 
tured by  Major  Philip  Reybold  from  1820  until  1832. 
About  two  and  a  half  million  were  shipped  annually 
to  Philadelphia;  some  were  used  in  building  the 
Blockley  almshouse,  and  others  were  purchased  by 
Stephen  Girard. 

On  April  4, 1887,  a  creamery  was  opened  by  Webb 
Brothers,  about  two  miles  from  Delaware  City,  on  the 
farm  of  Theodore  F.  Clark.  The  Deleval  system  of 
separating  the  cream  from  the  milk  by  centrifugal 
force  was  adopted  and  has  since  been  used.  The 
capacity  of  the  creamery  is  about  one  thousand 
pounds  per  day,  but  only  one  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  are  made,  on  account  of  the  inability  to  get 
milk  for  more.  The  butter  is  all  shipped  to  Phila- 
delphia. 

On  April  4,  1883,  the  St.  George's  Fruit  Packing 
Company  wa-*  incorporated  with  the  following  mem- 
bers :    James  Garraan,  Mark  H.    Pierce,  Geo.    W. 


Simpler,  John  C.  Stuckert,  Joseph  Heisel,  Alfred 
Hudson,  John  P.  Hudson,  Jr.,  Clayton  M.  Riley  and 
W.  S.  Smith.  The  canning  establishment  was  erected 
the  same  year  on  Main  Street,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
canal.  The  main  building  is  forty  by  sixty  feet  and 
the  packing  house  is  a  one-story  frame  forty  by  eighty. 
Tomatoes  are  canned  principally,  and  during  a  sea- 
son 20,000  cases  are  packed.  Employment  is  given 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  persons  for  two 
months  of  the  year.  The  company  manufactures  its 
own  cans  and  employs  ten  men  at  this  work  for  nine 
months  each  year.  Contracts  are  made  this  year  for 
the  tomatoes  grown  on  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres. 
New  York  and  Philadelphia  are  the  markets  for  the 
goods  packed  in  this  locality.  The  present  officers 
are,  president,  Jas.  Garman ;  vice-president,  A.  L. 
Hudson ;  secretary,  Geo.  W.  Simpler ;  treasurer,  J.  C. 
Stuckert. 

Town  op  St  George's. — Quinquenium  is  supposed 
to  be  the  original  name  of  St.  George's  and  of  the  Welsh 
congregation  there.  When  the  first  settlement  was 
made  here  and  how  long  it  was  called  Quinquenium 
is  not  known.  In  1730  the  streets  were  laid  out  as 
they  are  to-day,  and  lots  were  owned  by  John  Gill, 
Thomas  Griffith  (cooper),  Jacob  Van  Bebber  and 
others.  Van  Bebber  purchased  a  lot  eighteen  and 
one-balf  by  thirty-five  feet,  of  William  Parker, 
of  Philadelphia,  on  May  25th  of  the  year  above  men- 
tioned. In  1742  he  inherited  considerable  land  in 
St.  Georges  Hundred  from  his  mother,  Harmonia 
Van  Bebber,  who  was  the  daughter  of  Adam  Peterson. 
In  1735  he  was  the  proprietor  of  the  hotel  in  the 
village,  but  shortly  afterwards  sold  it  to  Gabriel  Cox. 
On  Aug.  17, 1737,  Cox  sold  the  hotel  and  four  acres  of 
land  on  the  main  road  to  John  McCoole.  After  the 
death  of  Gabriel  Cox,  which  occurred  in  a  short  time 
his  relict  Magdalen  Cox  married  John  Gill.  In  April 
1742  she  conveyed  a  lot  of  land  to  the  Presbyterians, 
and  in  May  sold  sixty-one  acres  adjoining  the  meet- 
ing-house lot  to  David  Howell.  The  old  mill-dam 
and  the  mill  in  St.  Georges  was  built  long  before  1730, 
by  whom  it  is  not  known.  It  was  the  nucleus  of  the 
present  town.  In  1749  it  was  owned  by  David  Thomas 
and  afterwards,  by  his  son  Enoch  and  grandson 
Nathan,  of  whom  it  was  purchased  by  the  Chesapeake 
and  Delaware  Canal  and  removed.  The  mill-race  is 
still  in  existence. 

John  Sutton  came  from  England  and  settled  at  St. 
Georges  at  an  early  date.  In  1753  he  married  Jane 
Allen  and  had  six  children.  John,  his  son,  was 
the  father  of  Dr.  James  Sutton  who  was  a  prominent 
physician  and  citizen.  The  family  is  represented  at 
St.  George's  by  A.  N.  Sutton,  the  son  of  James.  The 
house  in  which  he  resides  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
town. 

John  Watson  was  a  burveyor  appointed  by  Penn- 
sylvania to  assist  in  making  a  survey  of  the  state  lines 
between  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Delaware. 
In  a  diary  of  a  trip  from  New  Castle  to  •  Cape 
Heulopen,   made  in   the  year  1763,   is  the  follow- 


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968 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ing  entry:  "Had  occasion  to  spend  a  night  at 
a  tavern  in  St.  Oeorges  and  the  mill-dam  at  that 
place  was  the  resort  of  large  flocks  of  water  fowl." 
In  1762  David  Thomas  sold  to  William  Robinson  a 
lot  in  St.  Georges  which  he  had  purchased  of  Andrew 
Jubart,  Nov.  18, 1759.  In  1762  the  **  King's  Highway  " 
passing  through  St.  Georges  was  laid  out.  The  village 
gradually  increased  in  size  and  February  7, 1825,  it 
was  incorporated  as  a  town.  George  Clark,  Philip 
Reybold,  William  Guier,  John  Randall  and  Jacob 
Vandegrift  were  appointed  commissioners  and  direc- 
ted to  take  with  them  a  skillful  surveyor,  make  a  sur- 
vey of  the  town,  fix  the  limits  and  boundaries  and 
lay  out,  open  and  regulate  the  streets.  The  opening 
of  the  canal  in  1829  has  afforded  the  inhabitants  of 
St.  Georges  facilities  for  shipping  since  that  time.  On 
March  1, 1877,  an  act  was  passed  for  the  re-incorpor- 
ation of  the  town.  James  Garman,  D.  B.  Stewart,  A. 
D.  D.  Taylor,  J.  V.  Clark,  A.  N.  Sutton  and  J.  B. 
How  were  appointed  and  constituted  a  town  council 
and  directed  to  lay  out  the  town.  With  the  assistance 
of  G.  W.  Townsend,  surveyor,  the  town  was  laid  out 
as  follows. 

**  Beginning  at  a  Stone  in  the  centre  of  rood  leading  from  St  Georges 
to  Odeffsa  and^running  thence  through  the  lands  of  the  late  James  C. 
How,  South  854,  S^t  3-S5  chains;  thence  continuing  through  said  How's 
land  to  F.  S.  McWhorter,  North  46i^.  East  19.34  chains  to  a  corner  in  a 
hedge,  a  corner  for  Eii  Biddle  and  F.  S.  McWhorter;  thence  -with  their 
land  North  20>^  Wect  c.70  chains  north  Zi^  West  crossing  the  canal 
14.75  chaios  to  a  ditch  in  the  marsh  of  H.  L.  Peckard,  deo'd ;  thenre  with 
said  ditch  North  28  West  10.81  chains  to  a  stone  wall  at  a  bridge  in  the 
road  leading  from  St  Oeorges  to  Delawaie  City  :  thence  through  lands 
of  S.  B.  Sutton  North  35^  West  20  chains  to  lands  of  A.  M.  Higgins; 
thence  across  the  lands  of  said  Higgins  North  77^  West  6.74  chains  to 
the  side  of  the  rnad  loading  from  St.  Georges  to  the  Red  Lion ;  thence 
crossing  said  road  A  continuing  through  lands  of  said  Higgins  &  cross- 
ing the  road  leading  from  St  Georges  to  Kirkwood  South  64^  West 
17.90  chains  to  a  Locust  tree  at  the  end  of  a  stone  wall  in  a  line  of  W. 
J.  Hurlock,  dec'd ;  thence  through  lands  of  said  Hurlock  St  crossing  the 
canal  South  25  East  45.40  chains  to  a  point  In  the  laads  of  said  How  Sc 
at  the  edge  of  canal ;  thence  through  lands  of  said  How  72^  East  8.90 
chains  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

Since  its  re-incorporation  considerahle  attention 
has  been  paid  to  its  improvement  with  gratifying  re- 
sults. The  town  is  nicely  located  and  has  good  facil- 
ities for  shipping  by  the  canal.  The  railroad  is  two 
miles  distant.  The  population  is  about  five  hundred. 
The  merchants  of  the  town  are  Bentz  &  Stewart, 
Pierce  &  Simpler,  A.  N.  Sutton,  H.  Hamilton,  E.  W. 
Jester,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Smith,  J.  W.  Perkins,  D.  W.  Gush, 
John  H.  Stewart,  D.  Adams,  J.  S.  Stuckert,  D.  B. 
Stewart. 

The  following  are  the  Town  Council  since  the  rein- 
corporation : 

1877.— James  Garman,  D.  B.  Stewart,  A.  N.  Sutton,  J.  V.  Clark,  J.  B. 
How  (president),  A.  D.  D.  Taylor. 

1878. —James  Garman  (president),  D.  B.  Stewart,  B.  D.  Longland,  A. 
D.  D.  Taylor,  I.  V.  Clark,  A.  N.  Sutton. 

1879-8U.-^ames  Garman  (president),  D.  B.  Stewart,  A.  D.  D.  Taylor, 
Charles  H.  McWhorter,  A.  N.  Sutton,  J.  V.  Clark. 

1881,  James  Garman  (president),  J.  V.  Clark,  A.  N.  Sutton,  A.  D.  D. 
Taylor  Joseph  Heisel,  G.  W.  Simpler. 

1882. — James  Garman  (president),  Frank  Shonla,  A.  Reutter,  Joseph 
Heisel,  A.  N.  Sutton,  Dr.  I.  S.  Vallandlgham. 

1883-84.— Dr.  J.  W.  De  Witt  (president),  Joseph  Heisel,  John  J.  Wiser, 
D.  B.  Stewart,  Mark  U.  Pierce,  W.  U.  Boutz. 

In  1885  three  members  of  the  Council  were  elected 
for  two  years  and  three  for  one  year,  and  thereafter, 


the  term  of  the  Council  was  two  years.    The  follow- 
ing were  elected : 

One  year— Dr.  J.  W.  De  Witt  (president),  Joseph  Heisel,  D.  B.  Stewart, 
two  years— W.  H.  Bents,  M.  H.  Pierce,  A.  Beutter. 
1886.— Dr.  J.  W.  De  WiU  (president),  D.  B.  Stewart,  Joseph  HeiseL 
1887.— William  H.  BentK,  George  W.  Townsend,  J.  W.  Perkins. 

School — On  March  24, 1804,  Enoch  Thomas  con- 
veyed to  John  Sutton  and  Jesse  Higgins,  trustees  of 
St.  George's  School,  a  "  lot  of  land  whereon  stands  the 
St.  George's  school-house,  now  under  the  direction  of 
James  Townsend,  preceptor."  This  was  situated  on 
the  road  leading  from  St.  George's  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  school-house  referred  to  was  a  small 
brick  building  built  a  few  years  previous  by  John 
Sutton,  Jesse  Higgins  and  Anthony  Higgins.  On 
the  19th  of  October,  1830,  this  school-house  and  lot 
were  sold  to  John  Higgins,  Elihu  Jefferson  and 
Daniel  Newbold,  public  school  commissioners.  School 
was  opened  on  the  21st  of  the  same  month  by 
Alexander  Cooper.  Wm.  D.  Clark,  LeviH.  Clark  and 
George  Z.  Tybout  were  pupils  at  this  time.  In  1842 
the  present  school-house  was  built  on  same  site  by 
Dr.  Sutton  and  Anthony  M.  Higgins,  who  constituted 
a  building  committee. 

Private  schools  have  also  been  taught  by  Mrs. 
Youngman,  Miss  Belville  and  Mrs.  Tilden.  The 
school  is  divided  into  two  departments,  and  has  two 
teachers.  Miss  Hettie  E.  Wilson  is  principal.  A  new 
building  will  soon  be  erected  at  a  cost  of  two  thous- 
and five  hundred  dollars.  In  the  last  year  there  were 
seventy-seven  pupils  registered. 

Dr.  J.  W.  DeWitt,  John  W.  Carrow,  Sr.,  and  Wm, 
H.  Bentz  are  the  present  school  commissioners. 

Religious. — St,  George's  Presbyterian  Church. — 
The  exact  date  of  the  organization  of  a  Presbyterian  ' 
Church  at  St.  George's  is  a  matter  of  uncertainty.  It 
is  contended  by  the  members  of  the  church  that  it  was 
founded  in  1698,  this  date  being  obtained  from  a 
rafter  in  the  roof  of  the  old  church.  Another  version 
is  that  the  congregation  sprang  from  the  Drawyers 
Church  in  1742.  Dr.  Read  who  was  pastor  of  St 
George's  Church  in  1768,  in  a  history  of  these  churches 
says  "About the  year  1742,  the  Drawyers  Church 
divided.  The  party  that  withdrew,  being  called  the 
New  Side,  were  formed  into  a  society,  and  erected  a 
fheeting-house  about  six  miles  north-east  of  Drawyera 
meeting-house,  and  formed  a  large  and  respectable 
congrecjation,  denominated  St.  George's  congregation, 
and  very  shortly  after  invited  a  Mr.  Robinson  to  be 
their  minister.  Rev.  George  Foot  in  an  address  on 
"  The  Drawyers  congregation  with  all  the  churches 
since  organized  on  its  original  territory,"  delivered 
May  10,  1842,  very  strongly  advocates  the  latter 
opinion.  The  former  is  maintained  by  Rev.  Jas.  C. 
How,  who  was  pastor  from  1831  until  1855,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  carefully  prepared  a  written  history  of 
this  church.  He  states  also  that  Rev.  Henry  Hook 
was  pastor  in  1722,  in  connection  with  the  Appoqui- 
nimink  Church.  But  abandoning  conjectures,  and 
dealing  with  certainties,  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that 
Magdalen  Cox,  widow  of  Gabriel  Cox,  on  the  23d  of 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


969 


April,  1742,  conveyed  to  Isaac  Caanon,  Samuel  Clem- 
ent, James  Craig,  John  Dod,  Peter  Anderson,  Valen- 
tine Dushane,  Isaac  Dushane  and  David  Howell  in 
the  name  of  the  congregation  of  St.  George*s,  and  the 
sabaqribers  towards  the  erection  of  a  meeting-house, 
a  tract  of  ninety-seven  perches,  beginning  on  Kings 
road  at  a  corner  of  land  of  Jam^s  Anderson  and  Jacob 
Van  Bebber.    It  was  granted  to  them,  "  to  the  above 
and  only  use  (as  a  house  of  worship),  of  such  Preabi- 
terian  ministers  as  the  majority  of  said  congregation 
shall  call  as  their  minister  from  time  to  time."    A 
brick  church  was  built  shortly  afterwards  on  this  lot, 
and  in  1743,  Rev.  William  Robinson  was  called  to  this 
charge.    Rev.  Robinson,  was  the  son  of  a  wealthy 
London  Quaker,  and  officiated  here  until  his  death, 
which  occurred   three    years  later.     Rev.    Samuel 
Davies,  who  was  born  in  this  vicinity,  and  at  a  later 
period,  president  of  Princeton  College;  was  the  next 
pastor.    He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Rogers,  who 
was  iLstalled,  March  16,  1749.    At  this  time  it  was 
known  as  the  "  Brick  Meeting  House  of  St.  George's." 
lu  1765  he  was  called  to  be  pastor  of  Wall    Street 
Church  in  New  York  city.    He  was  also  the  moder- 
ator of  the  first  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States.    During  his  ministry 
here  he  built  an  addition  to  the  front  of  the  church. 
His  wife,  the  daughter  of  Col.  Peter  Bayard,  died  in 
1763,  and  her  remains  were  placed  under  a  slab  in  the 
centre  aisle,  in  front  of  the  pulpit.    In  1776,  Rev. 
Elihu  Seucer   was    called,  and  he   remained   four 
years.    He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Thomas  Smyth, 
daring  whose  pastorate,  St.  George's  and  Middletown 
became  separate  charges.    Rev.  Mr.  Smyth  remained 
with  the  Middletown  branch,  and  St.  George's  was 
vacant  until  1781.     Rev.  Daniel  Jones  then  took 
charge  and  ministered  one  year,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Jno.  Burton,  who  continued   until 
1794.    In  1787  the  trustees  were  :  John  Thompson, 
Christopher  Vandergrift,  J.  Monro,    Anthony  Du- 
shane and  John  Hyatt.      Christopher  Vandergrifl, 
William  McKennan,  Charles  Jones,  Nathaniel  Kerr, 
Samuel  Eccles,  Isaac  Cannon,  William  Whan  and 
Joseph  Rhodes,  were  elders  in  1793.    On  May  9, 
1798,  Peter  Hyatt  and  Ebenezer  Roth  well  were  elected 
ciders.    Leonard  Vandergrift  and    William  Stewart 
were  chosen  elders  May  5,  1802.    On  September  1, 
1797,  Rev.  John  Collins  was  installed  as  pastor  of 
this  church.    At  a  meeting  of  the  session  held  Janu- 
ary 9,  1798,  the  following  agreement  was  made : 

"The  Senion  ooniidering  the  wickednew  and  immorality  arising  from 
Uie  use  of  strong  drink  at  Funerals,  and  lamenting  the  preralence  and 
strength  of  this  custom,  do  hereby  agree  and  solemnly  bind  themselveB 
to  each  other  as  a  ChristiaQ  Society  that  they  will,  in  no  case,  use  strong 
drink  at  Tuntrals  in  their  families,  and  further  they  agree  that  they 
will  use  their  influence,  as  far  as  they  prudently  may,  to  dissuade  their 
friends  and  connections  firom  the  use  of  liquors  in  all  such  cases." 

Rev.  Mr.  Collins  oflSciated  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1804.  In  1808  Rev.  Samuel  Bell  was 
elected  pastor,  and  he  continued  until  1830.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  James  C.  How,  who  was  installed 
in  November,  1830.  At  this  time  the  elders  were 
John  Sutton,  John  C.  Clark,  Levi  Clark,  John  Mc- 
62 


Coy  and  Thomas  Bird.  In  1844,  during  the  pastorate 
of  Rev.  Mr.  How,  a  lot  was  procured  in  St.  George's, 
and  the  erection  of  a  church  commenced.  The  neat 
brick  edifice  was  completed,  and  dedicated  July  27, 
1845,  and  since  that  time  services  have  been  conduct- 
ed in  this  building.  John  Sutton,  John  C.  Clark, 
Robert  Ocheltree  'and  John  McWhorter,  were  the 
elders  at  this  time.  Rev.  Mr.  How  was  pastor  until 
his  decease,  August  13,  1855.  Since  that  time  the 
pulpit  has  been  filled  successively  by  Revs.  D.  H. 
Emerson,  David  J.  Beale,  Justus  T.  Umsted,  Henry 
Rumer  and  Chas.  A.Walker.  In  1856*  a  neat  par- 
sonage was  erected,  by  the  side  of  the  church,  at  a 
cost  of  three  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 

The  present  membership  is  one  hundred.  The 
present  officers  are:  Elders,  James  M.  Vandegriffc, 
Theodore  F.  Clark.  Trustees,  J.  F.  Reybold,  A.  D 
D.  Taylor,  Albert  H.  Silver,  F.  S.  McWhorter,  Miles 
Clark,  J.  C.  Stuckert. 

A  Sunday-school  of  sixty  pupils,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Theodore  F.  Clark,  is  held  in  connec- 
tion with  the  church.  The  scholars  have  the  use  of 
a  small,  but  well  selected  library. 

The  Episcopal  Church  at  St,  Oeorgea — ^The  history 
of  this  church  is  shrouded  in  obscurity.  When  the 
church  was  founded,  and  at  what  date  it  was  aban- 
doned as  a  place  of  worship,  are  unknown.  The  con- 
gregation was  Welsh,  and  was  organized  previous  to 
1707.  Rev.  Evan  Evans,  in  a  letter  from  London 
in  that  year,  says :  '*  There  is  a  Welsh  settlement  be- 
tween Apoquinimy  and  New  Castle,'to  which  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Qeorge  Roes  has  preached  frequently  in  the  Eng- 
lish tongue  since  his  arrival ;  but  that  gentleman  not 
understanding  their  native  language,  is  not  so  cap- 
able to  answer  the  end  as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jenkins  would 
be,  who  is  going  missionary  to  Apoquinimy,  who  has 
a  competent  knowledge  of  the  Welsh  tongue.''  The 
church  stood  on  a  spot  afterwards  used  as  a  lime- 
kiln, near  the  locks  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware 
Canal,  and  occupied  a  portion  of  the  twenty-five 
acres  granted  to  the  congregation  by  Penn.  In  the 
memory  of  no  one  living  were  services  held  here.  In 
1829  the  canal  was  dug,  and  it  passed  through  the 
cemetery,  and  several  bodies  were  exhumed.  At 
that  time  there  were  several  tombstones  standing,  but 
they  have  since  been  destroyed,  and  with  them  have 
passed  away  all  traces  of  this  church  and  congrega- 
tion. 

The  St,  George's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
erected  in  1852.  Previous  to  that  time  the  nearest 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  Asbury,  about  four 
miles  distant.  In  1846  an  effort  was  made  to  erect  a 
church  in  St.  Georges,  meetings  being  held  in  the 
mean  time  in  the  school -house.  A  subscription  was 
started  and  land  purchased  in  that  year,  but  nothing 
definite  was  accomplished  until  about  five  years  later, 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Elon  J.  Way  and  James 
Brindle.  Plans  were  prepared  and  a  building  com- 
mittee was  appointed  composed  of  the  following 
persons,  who  were  also  the  first  trustees :    George  W. 


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970 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Townsend,  Samuel  Boggs,  Steven  Lecate^,  It'aac  Mor- 
ris, E.  M.  Richardson  and  J.  H.  Calder.  The  prertent 
brick  structure,  thirty-eight  by  fifty  feet,  was  then 
built  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  dollars.  A  Sunday- 
school  was  at  once  organized  with  J.  H.  Clark  as 
superintendent.  He  retained  the  position  for  two 
years  and  was  succeeded  by  J.  H.  Calder,  who  was 
superintendent  far  twenty  years.  The  present  super- 
intendent is  George  McKee,  and  the  membership  is 
over  a  hundred. 

In  1880  a  large  and  comfortable  parsonage  was 
built  by  the  congregation  of  this  church.  The  church 
building  was  repaired  in  1883  at  a  cost  of  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  dollars. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  one 
hundred.  When  the  church  was  built  there  were  eight 
saloons  and  drinking  places  in  the  town,  now  there 
are  none.  The  last  one,  through  the  vigorous  efforts 
of  the  pastor,  Rev.  Lay  field,  was  closed  in  1885,  and 
since  then  the  town  has  enjoyed  local  option. 

Post-Office. — When  the  first  post-master  was 
appointed  at  St.  Qeorges  has  not  been  learned,  but  it 
was  at  a  very  early  date.  In  1820  the  post-office  was 
in  charge  of  Dr.  James  M.  Sutton.  The  mail  was 
brought  by  the  stage  running  from  Wilmington  to 
Dover.  After  his  decease,  his  widow  took  charge  of 
the  office  for  a  short  time  and  was  succeeded  by 

Webb,  Robert  W.  Tawresy  and  E.  W.  Jester 

were  the  next  post-masters.  A.  N.  Sutton,  the 
present  incumbent,  received  his  appointment  in  1885. 
The  St.  George's  Library  Association  was 
organized  in  the  town  of  St.  George's  on  the  23d 
of  January,  1872.  In  March  of  the  following  year 
it  was  incorporated  in  General  Assembly,  with  An- 
thony M.J  Higgins,  I.  S.  Vallandigham,  M.  D., 
William  H.  Newton,  Albert  G.  Osborne,  Captain 
Charles  Corbit,  Theodore  F.  Clark,  Daniel  B.  Stewart, 
Thomas  J.  Craven,  Eli  Biddle,  James  Garman, 
Andrew  D.  D.  Taylor,  John  P.  Belville,  and  others, 
as  incorporators  of  the  St.  George's  Library  Associ- 
ation, for  the  term  ot  twenty  years,  from  the  passing 
of  this  Act,  and  no  longer." 

The  first  officers  of  the  association  were :  President, 
I.  S.  Vallandigham,  M.D. ;  Vice-President,  Captain 
Charles  Corbit;  Secretary,  William  H.  Newton; 
Treasurer,  D.  B.  Stewart ;  Librarian,  Frank  Belville ; 
Executive  Committee,  J.  P.  Belville,  T.  J.  Craven, 
Captain  Charles  Corbit,  D.  B.  Stewart,  A.  D.  D. 
Taylor,  J.  F.  Reybold,  I.  S.  Vallandigham,  M.D., 
William  H.  Newton,  F.  S.  McWhorter. 

There  are  four  classes  of  members,  viz.;  active, 
life,  perpetual  and  honorary.  In  1874  the  library 
contained  three  hundred  and  nineteen  volumes. 
This  number  has  been  increased  by  the  addition  of 
standard  works,  and  at  present  there  are  one  thousand 
volumes. 

The  present  membership  is  twenty-five.  The 
association  has  been  of  great  value  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town,  and  deserves  a  better  support.    It  is 


officered  at  present  as  follows:  President,  Charles 
Corbit ;  Vice-President,  I.  S.  Vallandigham,  M.D. ; 
Secretary,  J.  F.  Reybold ;  Treasurer  and  Librarian, 
A.  D.  D.  Taylor;  Executive  Committee,  D.  B.  Stew- 
art, I.  C.  Stuckert,  F.  S.  McWhorter,  James  Mc- 
Mullen,  William  H.  Bentz. 

St.  George's  Cemetery  Company. — On  March 
8, 1871,  it  was  enacted  by  the  Legislature  of  Dela- 
ware "  that  William  J.  Hurlock,  Eli  Biddle,  George 
Maxwell,  Curtis  B.  Ellison,  Anthony  M.  Higgins, 
Albert  O.  Newton,  Thomas  W.  Belville,  James  M. 
Vandergrift,  William  Reybold,  Thomas  Clark,  Thomas 
Craven,  George  Z.  Tybout,  William  D.  Clark,  John 
P.  Belville  and  Francis  S.  McWhorter,  and  all  who 
now  are,  or  may  hereafter  become,  owners  or  posses- 
sors of  burial  lots  in  any  ground  that  may  thus  be 
obtained  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  be  and  they  are 
hereby  constituted  a  corporation  by  the  name  of  the 
St.  G^eorge's  Cemetery  Company  of  Red  Lion 
Hundred." 

The  object  of  the  association  was  to  procure  the 
burying-ground  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  join  to  it  additional  land  and  lay  the  whole 
out  in  plots.  In  the  same  year  in  which  they  were 
incorporated  they  obtained  from  the  trustees  of  the 
Presbyteriau  Church  a  grant  for  the  burying-ground. 
They  also  purchased  two  acres  of  William  J.  Hur- 
lock, which  gives  the  present  cemetery  a  contents  of 
five  acres.  The  first  officers  elected  by  the  company 
were  as  follows:  President,  George  Z.  Tybout; 
Secretary  and  Superintendent,  John  P.  Belville; 
Treasurer,  Barney  Reybold;  Directors,  Curtis  B. 
Ellison,  Anthony  M.  Higgins,  James  M.  Vander- 
grift, William  Reybold,  George  Z.  Tybout,  Thomas 
J.  Craven,  George  Clark,  Arthur  Colbum,  William 
D.  Clark. 

The  ground  was  carefully  and  skilfully  laid  out  and 
has  since  been  attended  in  an  excellent  manner. 

The  present  officers  are:  President,  George  Z. 
Tybout;  Secretary  and  Superintendent,  A.  D.  D. 
Taylor ;  Treasurer,  E.  C.  Reybold ;  Directors,  James 
M.  Vandergrift,  Joseph  Cleaver,  William  Reybold, 
Dr.  L.  F.  Ellison,  J.  F.  Reybold,  Barney  Reybold, 
Jno.  C.  Higgins,  Geo.  Z.  Tybout  and  George  W, 
Townsend. 

In  this  cemetery  are  buried  many  of  the  old  settlers 
and  from  the  tombstones  we  have  taken  the  follow- 
ing names. 

Jesse  Higgins  died  June  10, 1810,  aged  forty-nine 
years.  ^'His  usefulness  in  public  life  renders  him  a 
great  loss. 

Elizabeth  Rogers,  wife  of  Rev.  John  Rogers,  died 
January  20,  1762. 

Lieutenant  Richard  Wild,  of  the  Delaware  Line, 
died  August,  1786,  aged  forty  years. 

Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Alrichs,  died  October  27, 
1753,  in  her  twenty-second  year. 

"  Here  and  near  lie  the  Bodies  of  David  Stewart,  hif  Wife,  a  Brother, 
three  Sons  and  a  Grandson  1777/' 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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Isaac  Cannon,  died  March  27,  1762,  aged  sixty- 
seven  years. 

Dr.  David  Thompson,  died  February  22, 1795,  aged 
forty  years. 

Rev.  J.  C.  How  is  buried  where  the  pulpit  of  the 
old  church  stood.    He  died  August  18, 1856. 

Elizabeth  Daniel  Thone,  bom  in  Pembrokshire, 
Wales,  died  October  26,  1760,  in  her  sixty-eighth 
year. 

Christopher  Vandegrift,  Sr.,  died  June  8, 1816,  in 
the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 

Major  Thomas  Booth,  died  March  25,  1804,  aged 
forty-four  years. 

Charles  Cannon,  died  October  9,  1775,  aged  fifty- 
four  years. 

John  Dushane,  died  February  27,  1772,  aged  forty- 
nine  years. 

**  Erected  by  the  engineers  of  the  Cheeapeake  and  Delaware  Oanal  in 
memory  of  Bei^amin  Baymond,  Eaq.,  clril  engineer,  who  departed  this 
life  en  the  26th  Sept,  1824,  aged  49  yn. 

"ObTirtutesdllecto." 

Rachel  wife  of  Samuel  Faries,  died  June  1, 1790» 
aged  fifty -five  years. 

Samuel  Alrichs,  died  December  5, 1764,  aged  thirty- 
seven  years. 

Rev.  John  Collins,  died  April,  1804,  aged  fifty-five 
years. 

Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Cannon,  departed  this  life  Oc- 
tober 23, 1772,  aged  thirty -six  years. 

Hotels. — At  the  present  time  there  is  not  a  hotel 
in  Red  Lion  Hundred  outside  of  Delaware  City.  As 
early  as  1735,  there  was  a  hotel  at  St.  Georges  kept 
by  Jacob  Van  Bebber,  and  a  little  later  period  by 
Gabriel  Cox  and  John  McCoole.  The  Booths  were 
proprietors  of  the  hotel  as  early  as  1800.  In  1830,  a 
hotel  was  opened  by  Dr.  James  M.  Sutton.  Another 
hotel  was  opened  about  ten  years  ago.  These  passed 
through  the  hands  of  several  owners  and  proprietors 
and  were  in  the  possesHion  of  Mrs.  Gam  and  Thomas 
Guessford,  when  the  licenses  were  revoked  in  1885. 
They  then  reftised  to  accommodate  the  public,  and 
since  then  there  have  been  no  hotels  in  the  hundred. 

National  Lodge  No.  32, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  was  insti- 
tuted at  the  town  of  St.  Georges,  on  May  5, 1865. 

The  charter  members  were,  Charles  H.  McWhorter, 
George  H.  Hamlin,  Edward  R.  Wright,  James  T. 
Pont,  Charles  Seiter,  James  N.  Forman,  Sam  uel  R. 
Lawson  and  James  W.  Jester.  In  1875,  a  three-story 
brick  hall  thirty-four  by  fifty-two  feet  was  erected,  at  a 
cost  of  six  thousand  dollars.  The  first  floor  Lb  divided 
into  three  store-rooms,  two  of  which  are  occupied  by 
E.  W.  Jeater  and  I.  W.  Perkins.  The  second  story  is 
used  as  a  public-hall,  and  the  third  for  lodge  purposes. 
The  membership  has  steadily  increased,  and  now 
numbers  ninety-one.  The  lodge  has  been  presided 
over  by  the  following  Past  Grands  : 

James  T.  Pont.  Z.  T.  Harris. 

James  W.  Jester.  W.  C.  S.  Camagy. 

A.  P.  Oamagy.  George  W.  Grimes, 

S.  T.  Stapleford.  Harry  0.  Taylor. 

George  W.  Towosend,  Sr.  Isaac  Holston. 

John  B.  Orosiland.  George  D.  Walker. 


Charles  Seiter. 
I.  H.  Cornelius. 
Wm.  H.  King. 
George  V.  Hastings. 
John  C.  Farran. 
E  W.  Jester. 
John  F.  McWhorter. 
B.  M.  Higby. 
John  D.  LofHand. 
H.  C.  Clark. 
H.  A.  Dennison. 
George  H.  Hamlin. 
J.  B.  Howe. 
John  D.  Sparks. 
W.  H.  Bamett. 


Joseph  Heisel. 
Wm.  H.  Bentz. 
8.  P.  Vail. 
George  W.  Simpler. 
Joseph  G.  Grossland. 
George  F.  Clark. 
John  A.  Cleaver. 
S.  B.  Lawson. 
D.  C.  Vail. 
M.  Beutter. 
James  Hudson. 
W.  P.  Hugglns. 
George  E.  Hopkins. 
A.  N.  Satton. 
James  Bing. 


The  present  officers  are  :  N.  G.,  William  L.  Swan  ; 
V.  G.,  L  W.  Perkins ;  Treas.,  George  W.  Simpler ;  R. 
S.,  L  Harry  Stewart;  P.  S.,  A.  D.  D.  Taylor. 

DELAWABE  CITY. 

On  November  6,  1675,  Governor  Edward  Andros 
granted  a  warrant  to  Henry  Ward  for  a  tract  of  land 
lying  between  Dragon  Creek  and  St.  Greorge's  Creek 
known  as  "  Reeden's  Point."  The  warrant  called  for 
four  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  but  on  survey  there 
were  found  to  be  two  thousand  acres  included  within 
its  boundaries.  Henry  Ward  was  chosen  one  of  the 
justices  of  the  peace  in  September,  1676,  and  he 
served  until  1679.  After  his  decease  the  property 
vested  in  his  son  Henry,  who,  by  his  will  bearing 
date  April  13,  1733,  devised  his  estate  to  his  daughter 
Margaret,  who  married  Benjamin  Pierce.  As  a  re- 
sult of  this  marriage  two  sons,  Henry  Ward  and 
William,  were  bom.  William  died  withoutjssue  and 
the  entire  estate  vested  in  his  brother,  Henry  Ward 
Pierce.  On  September  14, 1789,  he  sold  sixteen  hun- 
dred acres  of  this  tract  to  Mathew  Pearce,  of  Phila- 
delphia. On  March  25,  1801,  Henry  Ward  Pierce 
and  Mathew  Pearce  united  in  conveying  this  tract  of 
land  to  John  and  Barzilla  Newbold,  capitalists  of 
New  Jersey. 

The  portion  of  this  tract  which  is  included  within 
the  present  limits  of  Delaware  City,  by  deed  of  par- 
tition, became  vested  in  John  Newbold.  The  adjoin- 
ing land  on  the  south  side  of  the  canal  became  the 
property  of  Daniel.  The  commencement  of  the 
Delaware  and  Chesapeake  Canal  impressed  upon  the 
Newbolds  the  importance  of  the  location  of  their 
property,  and  suggested  the  laying  out  of  a  town.  In 
1826,  Daniel  and  William,  the  sons  of  John,  each 
drew  a  plan  of  the  town  they  intended  to  found,  and 
which  they  named  "  Delaware  City."  For  a  short 
time  previous  to  this  it  was  known  as  *'  Newbold*s 
Landing "  and  was  so  called  on  account  of  there 
being  a  landing-place  where  the  present  coal  wharf 
stands.  These  plans  differed  somewhat,  but  not  mate- 
rially, the  main  difference  consisting  in  the  naming 
of  the  streets.  Both  plans  included  land  on  both 
sides  of  the  canal  and  the  intention  was  to  found  a 
city  like  Philadelphia.  The  rapidity  of  the  growth 
of  the  town  did  not  equal  the  expectations  of  John 
Newbold,  and  October  8,  1828,  he  sold  to  Manuel 
Eyre  and    Michael    Newbold   three    hundred   and 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ninety-three  acres,  including  the  greater  part  of  Del- 
aware City.  On  November  25th  of  the  same  year 
Michael  Newbold  sold  his  interest  in  the  above  land 
to  Manuel  Eyre,  thus  vesting  in  him  the  entire  title. 
Manuel  Eyre  was  also  the  owner  of  land  in  St. 
George's  Hundred,  as  well  as  a  tract  in  Red  Lion 
Hundred,  on  the  north  side  of  St  George's  Creek  and 
on  the  south  side  of  Surrency's  Gut  or  Creek,  adjoin- 
ing land  formerly  belonging  to  Thomas  Witlierspoon 
and  at  one  time  to  Jesse  Higgins.  In  1827  there 
were  within  the  limits  of  Delaware  City  about  ten 
dwellings  already  erected  or  in  course  of  erection. 
On  July  4th  of  that  year  a  grand  celebration  was 
held  there,  which  wa^  participated  in  by  the  several 
military  companies  in  this  vicinity.  Major  John 
Jones  was  the  originator  and  manager.  A  dinner 
WHS  prepared  by  Thomas  Craven  and  served  on  a 
table  extending  from  Washington  to  Clinton  Street, 
near  the  present  residence  of  Dr.  F.  S.  Dunlap.  Mrs. 
Isaac  Hunter  says  it  was  the  largest  celebration  ever 
held  in  this  city.  A  short  time  after  obtaining  pos- 
session of  this  land  Manuel  Eyre  began  selling  lots. 
Among  the  earliest  that  he  sold  are  the  following: 
On  December  16,  1828,  a  lot  on  the  northwest  side  of 
Clinton  Street,  to  George  W.  Karsner ;  same  date,  a 
'*  two-story  brick  messuage  "  on  west  corner  of  Wash- 
ington and  Second  Streets,  to  John  Jones  (brick- 
layer) ;  same  date,  lot  on  south  corner  of  Clinton  and 
Second  Streets  to  Elihu  Jefferson ;  same  date,  lot  on 
southwest  side  of  Second  Street,  between  Bayard  and 
Hamilton  Streets  to  Isaac  Roach  ;  same  date,  lot  on 
southeast  side  of  Clinton  Street  eighty  feet  northeast 
from  corner  of  Clinton  and  Second  Streets,  to  James 
Fountain ;  same  date,  lot  on  south  corner  of  Clinton 
and  William  Streets  to  John  A;  Hopper ;  February 
27,  1829,  lot  on  northwest  side  of  Clinton  Street  to 
Edward  Evans ;  September  8, 1829,  lot  on  northwest 
side  of  Hamilton  Street  to  Samuel  Van  Amringe ; 
November  4, 1829,  lot  on  east  corner  of  Clinton  and 
Front  Streets  to  the  same;  December  29,  1829,  lot  on 
northeast  side  of  Harbour  Street  (now  Delaware 
Avenue)  to  the  Pennsylvania,  Delaware  and  Mary- 
land Steam  Navigation  Company;  July  6,  1830,  a 
lot  on  northwest  side  of  Adams  Street  to  Jonathan 
P.  Smith ;  April  28,  1831,  lot  on  southeast  side  of 
Clinton  Street  to  the  same ;  same  date,  lot  on  north- 
west side  of  Hamilton  Street  to  John  T.  Hall ;  July 
24,  1830,  lot  on  the  northwest  side  of  Clinton  Street 
to  Thomas  Folwell ;  December  29, 1829,  lot  on  south- 
east side  of  Clinton  Street  to  John  Mclntire;  No- 
vember 1,  1832,  another  lot  on  same  street  to  the 
same  ;  December  20,  1831,  a  lot  on  northwest  side  of 
Clinton  Street,  and  a  lot  on  the  west  corner  of  Clinton 
and  Second  Streets,  to  Robert  Polk.  In  the  following 
years  the  sale  of  lots  on  the  north  side  of  the  canal 
continued  and  by  degrees  streets  were  opened,  Clin- 
ton being  the  first.  The  first  store  was  kept  by  George 
Carson,  who  commenced  business  in  1826.  His  store 
was  on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Second  Streets, 
where  Charles  G.  Ash's  residence  now  stands. 


Dr.  C.  H.  Black  was  the  first  physician  in  Dela- 
ware City  and  had  an  extensive  practice.  On  the  firat 
page  of  a  day-book  opened  by  him  on  August  13, 
1830,  is  found  the  following : 

**  This  book,  like  the  head  of  a  modern  Belle,  contains  a  great  quan- 
tity of  matter,  jet  when  sifted  through  the  screens  of  wisdom  k  reality 
it  will  be  found  nearly  all  chaff. 

-  Blactl" 

By  an  act  of  Assembly,  passed  March  6,  1861,  the 
town  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Town 
of  Delaware  City.  By  the  act  of  incorporation,  John 
D.  Dilworth,  Charles  H.  Black,  John  P.  Cochran, 
Abraham  Vandegrifl  and  Daniel  Corbit  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners,  and  directed  to  take  with 
them  a  skillful  surveyor  and  make  an  accurate  survey 
of  the  town  of  Delaware  City,  aforesaid ;  to  fix  and 
establish  the  boundaries  and  limits  thereof,  but  in  no 
case  to  go  upon  the  south  side  of  the  Chesapeake  and 
Delaware  Canal.  The  surveyor  was  James  Houston. 
The  charter  of  incorporation  being  found  incomplete, 
in  the  following  year  an  attempt  was  made  to  have  a 
supplement  passed,  but  proved  unsuccessfnl.  In 
1853  the  application  was  renewed  by  the  citizens  of 
the  town,  and  a  supplement,  as  prepared  by  them,  was 
passed.  Commissioners  were  appointed  and  author- 
ized to  bound  and  plot  the  town.  They  surveyed  the 
town  and  fixed  the  following  lines  as  the  boundaries 
of  the  town  :  *'  Beginning  at  the  lock  on  the  Dela- 
ware, of  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  Canal,  thence 
running  northwestwardly  up  the  river  to  Clark's  line, 
thence  southwest  ward  ly  to  Fifth  Street  along  said  line, 
thence  southeastwardly  along  said  Fifth  Street  to  said 
canal,  thence  northeastwardly  along  said  canal  to 
said  river  and  place  of  beginning.'*  At  the  first 
town  election,  which  was  held  on  Saturday  May 
3, 1851,  the  following  oflScers  were  elected  : 

Commissioners,  James  B.  Henry,  Isaac  Hunter, 
John  A.  Barr,  M.D. ;  Assessor,  Jesse  Alexander ; 
Treasurer,  George  A.  Davidson. 

The  early  commissioners  devoted  their  time  and 
labor  to  opening  new  streets  and  improving  those  al- 
ready opened.  On  March  12,  1852,  the  first  town 
ordinance  was  passed.  This  prohibited  the  removal 
or  deposit  of  dirt  on  the  streets  or  alleys,  and  the 
driving  of  vehicles  on  the  foot-paths.  In  1852,  Georg« 
A.  Davidson,  town  treasurer,  died,  and  his  adminis- 
trator endeavored  to  collect  the  tax,  but  met  with 
diflScuIty.  A  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  called  and 
the  subject  discussed,  when  it  was  decided  that  the 
commissioners  return  the  money  collected,  and  collect 
no  more. 

The  town  gradually  increased  in  size  and  popula- 
tion, and  on  February  14,  1871,  an  act  of  Assembly 
was  passed  to  extend  the  limits.  By  this  act  it  was 
directed  : 

"  Skction  1.  That  the  commiasioners  of  the  town  of  Delaware  City 
be,  and  are,  hereby,  authorized  and  empowered  to  extend  the  limits  of 
the  town  of  Delaware  City  as  follows,  to  wit :  flrom  its  present  boundaiy 
at  the  intersection  of  Fifth  street  with  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware 
Canal  to  the  cnlrert  (passing  nnder  said  canal ;)  thence  with  the  north- 
east side  of  Main  Drain  to  the  Dragon  creek,  ^enoe  with  the  north'east 
side  of  said  creek  to  the  North  Drain,  thence  with  the  south<«ast  side  of 


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NEW  CASTLB  COUNTY. 


973 


■aid  dnUn  to  the  rtont  bridge  on  the  public  road  lending  tram  Delaware 
City  to  Clark's  Comer,  thence  by  and  with  the  north-east  tide  of  mid  pab- 
lic  road  to  its  intersection  with  the  north-west  boandary  of  William  D. 
GlariL's  land,  thence  with  said  north-west  boundary  of  said  Clark's  land 
to  the  rirer  Delaware,  thence  by  said  river  shore  south-easteriy  to  the 
present  town  boundary,  and  the  said  commissioners  are  farther  author- 
ised and  empowered  to  lay  out  new  streets,  and  to  extend  the  streets  of 
■aid  town,  as  they  are  laid  down  on  existing  plots,  through  the  lands 
hereby  authorized  to  be  included  within  the  limits  of  said  town,  and  to 
regulate  and  to  keep  the  same  in  repair. 

**  BsoTioN  2.  That  the^said  commioionerB  of  the  town  of  Delaware  City 
■ball  have  ftill  power  and  authority,  and  they  are  hereby  empowered  and 
directed,  to  subscribe  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Delaware  and  Pennsyl- 
▼ania  Bailroad  Company,  the  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars,  and  to 
provide  for  the  payment  of  the  same,  they  shall  issue  the  bonds  of  the 
■aid  oommlsslonerB  of  the  town  of  Delaware  City,  the  said  bonds  to  be 
of  such  denomination  as  they  may  deem  beet,  bearing  interest  not  more 
than  six  per  cent,  per  annum,  and  payable  in  a  time  not  less  than  ten 
yean,  and  not  exceeding  twenty  yean  ftrora  the  date  of  their  issue,  and 
to  provide  for  the  payment  of  the  interest  on  said  bonds,  the  said  com- 
mlssionen  shall  have  power  to  raise,  annually,  by  taxation  of  the  per- 
■OD^  and  property  within  the  limits  of  said  town,  according  to  the  pro- 
▼iaious  of  this  act,  and  all  previous  acts,  in  regard  to  the  assessment  and 
collection  of  taxes  within  said  town,  such  sum  as  may  be  necessary  for 
this  parpose.** 

In  accordance  with  this  act  on  July  1,  1871,  sixty 
five  hundred-dollar  bonds,  with  interest  at  six  per 
cent.,  were  issued  and  exchanged  for  stock  in  the 
abov^mentioned  road.  In  this  year  John  T.  Oheairs 
wan  appointed  by  the  town  commissioners  to  attend 
the  meeting  of  the  railroad  and  cast  the  yotes  of  the 
town  for  directors  of  the  railroad.  On  July  1,  1881, 
the  bonds  were  called  in  and  new  ones  issued  to  the 
amount  of  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars,  bearing 
four  and  one-half  per  cent,  interest.  At  the  present 
time  the  indebtedness  is  twenty-seven  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars,  of  which  the  Council  are  prepared 
to  pay  one  thousand  dollars. 

On  March  12, 1875,  Delaware  City  was  incorporated 
as  a  city,  and  placed  under  the  control  of  a  mayor 
and  three  commissioners.  The  boundaries  of  the 
town,  as  laid  out  in  1871,  were  retained  and  the  streets 
opened  according  to  the  original  plan.  On  October 
23, 1878,  Clinton  Street  was  flooded  as  far  as  Front 
by  the  overflowing  of  the  canal  and  river,  caused  by 
a  tidal  wave,  but  no  serious  damage  was  clone.  On 
February  8, 1881,  Francis  8.  Dunlap,  M.D.,  Benjamin 
N.  Ogle  and  Edmund  D.  Cleaver  were  appointed  a 
Board  of  Health,  whose  duties  should  continue  till 
their  successors  were  named.  On  January  7,  1887,  a 
fire  broke  out  on  Clinton  Street,  in  the  business  part 
of  the  city,  and  destroyed  eleven  buildings  before  it 
was  extinguished.  Nine  of  them  were  frame  and  two 
brick  houses.  They  were  composed  of  seven  stores, 
one  hotel  and  three  dwellings  and  belonged  to  Wil- 
liam Beck,  Mrs.  Alice  Clark,  estate  of  W.  C.  Robert- 
eon,  Oeorge  B.  Money,  James  Calvin's  estate,  Wil- 
liam R.  Bright,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Brad  way  and  Philip  Bor- 
ger.  The  loss  was  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
insurance  twelve  thousand  dollars.  Buildings  are  be- 
ing rapidly  erected  by  Ihe  owners  of  this  land. 

From  its  earliest  foundation  to  the  present  time 
Delaware  City  has  gradually  grown  and  improved. 
It  is  located  on  the  Delaware  River,  at  its  junction 
with  the  Delaware  and  Ch^apeake  Canal,  and  is  forty 
miles  south  of  Philadelphia.  It  is  laid  out  with  a 
carefulness  and  precision  seldom  seen  in  places  of  its 
size.    The  shipping  facilities  of  this  city  cannot  be 


excelled.  The  river  is  open  to  navigation  at  all  times, 
even  during  the  most  severe  winter  weather.  A  fine 
river-front,  with  a  suflScient  depth  of  water,  makes  it 
a  safe  and  desirable  port.  The  steamers  "  Reybold" 
and  "Delaware,"  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Salem 
Navigation  Company,  ply  daily  between  Philadelphia 
and  Delaware  City,  and  during  the  summer  the 
"Clyde,"  of  the  same  line,  traverses  this  route.  By 
means  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  Canal,  which 
flows  through  the  southern  part  of  the  city,  the 
Ericsson  line  of  steamers  makes  daily  trips  between 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  and  the  New  York  an4 
Baltimore  Transportation  Line  between  New  York 
and  Baltimore.  Both  lines  stop  at  Delaware  City. 
It  is  also  the  terminus  of  the  Delaware  City  and  New- 
ark branch  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and 
Baltimore  Railroad,  and  eight  trains  are  run  daily. 
Despite  these  advantages,  Delaware  City  has  never 
been  extensively  engaged  in  manufacturing  pursuits. 
With  the  inteniion  of  making  it  an  object  for  manu- 
facturers to  locate  here,  the  following  act  was  passed 
March  17,1887: 

'*  An  act  to  exempt  firom  taxation  certain  property  in  the  city  of  Dela- 
ware City. 

**  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  ReprssentatiTSS  in  General 
Assembly  met : 

**SBcnoM  1.  That  the  real  estate  of  any  person  or  persons  or  body 
corporate  within  the  city  limits  of  the  city  ot  Delaware  City  not  exceed- 
ing five  acres  upon  which  any  manufacturing  or  other  industrial  im- 
proTements  for  the  employment  of  labor  shall  be  erected  after  the  passage 
of  this  act,  or  any  real  estate  upon  which  any  buildings  are  already 
erected  and  which  after  the  passage  of  this  act  shall  be  used  for  any 
mannfkcturing  or  industrial  pursuit  as  aforesaid,  not  before  proeecnted 
or  carried  on  there,  shall  be  exempt  for  a  period  of  ten  yean  alter  th» 
same  shall  be  first  assessable,  fhmi  assessment  or  taxation  for  States 
country  or  municipal  purposes.** 

The  commercial  interests  of  the  city  are  represented 
by  the  following  persons: 


John  T.  Gheairs  Sc  Son. 
H.  A.  CUrk. 
Wm.  Rickey. 
Philip  Borger. 
Wm.  R.  Bright 
Mrs.  Mary  Filon. 
Charles  Wingate. 
Kauftaaan  Manko. 
Miss  Alice  J.  Ubil. 
Mn.  Thomas  Rowan. 
J.  J.  Messlg. 
P.  J.  Mulligan. 
B  H.  Lester. 
Ash  A  Pennington. 
Mrs.  E.  R.  Craig. 
James  E.  Sadler. 
Augustus  Caun. 
James  Pyle. 
R.  Anderson  k  Co. 


Wm.  Morris. 

Miss  Nellie  Morris. 

J.  R.  Pennington. 

Mathew  Bigger. 

W.  A.  Jester. 

John  Armour. 

J.  G.  Aker. 

W.  A.  Darldson. 

N.  G.  Price. 

Wm.  NeeflT. 

M.  Mulligan. 

Wm.  Harlow. 

C.  G.  Alexander. 

George  Borger. 

Mrs.  Janet  Hayes. 

Mrs.  Alex.  Garter. 

Mrs.  Margaret  Hunter. 

Harry  Bigger. 


The  mayors  of  the  city  are  elected  for  the  term  of 
two  years  and  have  served  as  follows : 

187&-80.— Francis  S.  Dunlap,  M.D. 
1680.— Bei\iamin  N.  Ogle. 
1881-86.— Francis  S.  Dunlap,  M.D. 
1885.— James  E.  Sadler. 

The  following  persons  have  been  commissioners 
since  the  incorporation  of  Delaware  City : 

1851-65  —James  B.  Henry,  Isaae  Hunter,  Dr.  John  A.  Barr. 
1856.— Dr.  John  A.  Barr,  Jeese  Alexander.  Reuben  Anderson. 
1866— Reuben  Anderson,  George  B.  Money,  Isaac  Hunter. 
1867. — John  T.  Gheairs,  Aquilla  Thomas,  John  Carson. 
1858.- Charles  G.  Bigger,  John  W.  Patterson,  John  T.  Holt 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


1869.— Isaac  Hunter,  James  B.  Henry,  WillUm  DaYidson. 
1860-62.— Alexander  Daridson,  Isaac  Hunter,  Jesse  Alexander. 
1862.— William  R.  Bright,  William  Davidson,  David  H.  CulUn. 
1863.— John  Shaw,  Michael  Mulligan,  Samuel  Ford. 
1864-66.— Jesse  Alexander,  George  Maxwell,  Edmund  D.  Cleaver. 
1866.— W.  Scratton.  L.  John  Vanhekle,  Felix  O'Neill. 
1867.— G.  C.  Bigger,  William  D.  Mullen,  Jacob  Pennington. 
1868.— Dr.  E.  D.  Worrel,  Michael  Mulligan,  Samuel  T.  Armstrong. 
1869.— Bdmund  D.  Cleaver,  W.  E.  Bright,  Jno.  T.  Chealrs. 
1870.— H.  C.  Stewart,  Wm.  B.  Bright,  Jno.  T.  Cheairs. 
1871.— J.  Thomas  Price,  F.  S.  Dunlap,  M.D.,  Jno.  T.  Cheairs. 
1872. — Jno.  T.  Cheairs.  George  Clark,  Jesse  Alexander. 
1873.— A.  M.  Irving,  F.  S.  Dunlap,  M.D.,  George  A.  Clark. 
1874.— Dr.  F.  S.  Dunlap,  Jno.  T.  Cheairs,  J.  Thomas  Price. 

Previous  to  the  next  election  the  city  charter  went 
into  effect,  which  provided  for  the  election  of  com- 
missioners for  the  term  of  two  years,  two  to  be  elec- 
ted in  one  year  and  one  the  following  year : 

1876.— Edmund  D.  Cleaver,  two  years;  Israel  Helms,  Jno.  T.  Cheairs, 
one  year. 

1876.— Jno.  T.  Cheairs,  Jesse  Alexander. 

1877. — Edmund  D.  Cleaver. 

1878. — Jesse  Alexander,  James  M.  Craig. 

1879.— Mathew  Bigger. 

1880.— James  M.  Craig,  Edmand  D.  Cleaver. 

1881.— Jno.  T.  Cheairs,  two  years;  Jesse  Alexander,  one  year. 

1882.— Jesse  Alexander,  Edmund  D.  Cleaver. 

1883.— Jno.  T.  Cbeaira. 

1884 —Wm.  A.  Jester,  Edmund  D.  Cleaver. 

1885. -Isaac  H.  UbiL 

1886.— E.  D.  Cleaver,  W.  A.  Jester. 

1887.— Isaac  H.  Ubil. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  assessors  of  Delaware 
City  : 


JeMO  Alexander 1851-56 

Amos  E.  Davidson 1855 

John  W.  Patterson 1856 

Q^orgt  W.  Craig. 1857 

EUas  L.  Bateman 1858 

Osorge  W.  Craig 1859-63 

Wilson  Scrafton 1863 

Jofan  W.  Patterson 1864 

John  Wood 1865 


B.  W.  Shaffer 1866-71 

Reuben  Anderson 1871 

F.  McMunn 1872-75 

Joe.  M.  Vanhekle 1875-77 

BenJ.  W.  8haff«r 1877-79 

J.  Thomas  Price 1879-82 

George  W.  Craig 

WlUiam  H.  Price 


The  following  persons  have  served  in  the  capacity 
of  treasurer  in  Delaware  City  : 


George  A.  Davidson 1851-53 

George  B.  Money 1853-55 

Charles  0.  Bigger 1865-57 

Elwood  Bigger 1857-59 

John  Patterson « 1869-61 

Wm.  H.  Alexander 1861 

George  W.  Robinson 1862 

James  Donlevla 1863 

George  B.  Money 1864 


John  W.  Patterson 1866-69 

George  B.  Money 1869-71 

M.  M.  Klrby ^871-78 

8.  B.  Scott «..t873-75 

W.  A.  Price 1875-77 

James  Owen  Bagle 1877-79 

William  J.  Wingate 1879-83 

George  N.  Bright 1883-87 

David  Steelman„ 1887 


First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Delaware 
City. — The  earliest  devotional  services  in  Delaware 
City  were  held  by  the  Presbyterians  under  the  lead  of 
Rev.  Samuel  Bell,  then  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  St.  George's  village.  The  meetings  were 
held  in  private  houses  until  the  erection  of  the  old 
school-house,  when  they  were  continued  there  by  Rev. 
J.  C.  How,  the  successor  of  Rev.  Samuel  Bell. 

Manuel  Eyre  deeded  to  George  Clarke.John  Sutton, 
Levi  Clark,  Philip  Reybold.  William  J.  Hurlock, 
Robert  Rhodes  and  Thomas  J.  Higginn,  trustees  of 
St.  George's  Church,a  tract  of  land  in  Delaware  City, 
to  be  held  "solely  in  trust  for  the  use  and  benefit  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Delaware  City  and  its  neighborhood 
who  are  professors  of  the  Presbyterian  religion,  for 
their  use  only  as  a  place  of  worship  or  religious  in- 


struction and  burial-ground,  and  always  to  be  kept 
and  used  for  those  purposes. 

In  1835  a  one  story  brick  church,thirty-one  by  forty 
feet,  was  erected  by  John  Mclntire.  Rev.  Mr.  How 
administered  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  this  congr^a- 
tion  and  the  one  at  St.  George's  for  ten  years  after  the 
erection  of  the  church.  In  1846  the  two  churches, 
which  to  this  date  had  been  united,  were  separated 
and  formed  into  distinct  organizations.  On  May  11th 
of  that  year,  the  property  was  deeded  to  trustees  of 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Delaware  City.  On  Septem- 
ber 4,  1846,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dela- 
ware City  was  organized,  having  forty-seven  members, 
of  whom  John  Addison,  William  D.  Clark  and  John 
Ezton  were  the  elders.  In  the  same  year  a  frame 
chapel,  twenty -two  by  forty  feet,  was  erected  as  a  con- 
venient and  suitable  place  for  holding  Sunday-school. 
Rev.  William  R.  Dwinett  was  the  pastor  of  this  con- 
gregation from  1847  until  1851,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  T.  R.  Smith,  who  officiated  until  October, 
1858.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  James  Morton,  who 
supplied  the  church  from  1854  until  1859.  From  this 
date  until  1861  there  was  no  pastor  stationed  there 
but  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  J.  Walker  Mac- 
beth, president  of  Delaware  College.  In  1861,  Rev. 
H.  J.  Gay  lord  was  selected  as  pastor  and  he  continued 
until  1867,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  S.  R. 
Schofield,  who  began  his  labors  in  February  of  that 
year  and  continued  until  1875.  In  1872,  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Schofield,  the  church  was  en- 
larged and  remodeled.  The  building  was  extended 
twenty  feet  in  length,  making  the  present  building 
thirty -one  by  sixty  feet.  Rev.  W.  W.  Taylor  b^an 
preaching  in  1875,  and  was  unaaimously  elected  pastor 
in  the  following  March.  He  officiated  until  1881, 
when  he  resigned.  Rev.  George  A.  Paul,  the  present 
pastor,  was  elected  in  1882,  and  since  that  time  has 
faithfully  served  the  church.  At  the  present  time 
there  are  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  communicants. 

A  flourishing  Sunday-school,  containing  one 
hundred  and  fourteen  members,  is  held  in  the  chapel. 
For  nearly  half  a  century  William  D.  Clark  was  the 
able  and  efficient  superintendeqt.  After  the  decease 
of  Mr.  Clark,  on  February  9,  1887,  Edmund  D. 
Cleaver,  the  present  superintendent,  was  elected.  In 
connection  with  the  Sunday-school  is  a  well-selected 
library  of  five  hundred  volumes.  The  present  valua- 
tion of  the  church  property  is  $7000.  In  1886  a 
commodious  parsonage  was  erected  near  the  church, 
on  a  lot  formerly  occupied  by  District  School  No.  76. 
The  lot  and  building  cost  $4300. 

On  the  following  dates  the  several  elders  were 
elected  and  ordained : 

November  2,  18-)1,  Alexander  McConaughey, 
George  B.  Clark,  and  William  Calvert;  September, 
1854,  Jesse  T.  Ash ;  April  3,  1862,  William  W.  Ferris 
and  Edmund  D.  Cleaver;  Jainuary  1,  1886,  John  C. 
Higgins,  Francis  Mclntire  and  John  Thomas  Price. 

The  following  are  the  present  officers  of  the 
church : 


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PaAtor,George  A.  Paul ;  Eldew,  Edmund  D.  Cleaver, 
John  C.  Higgins,  Francis  Mclntire,  John  T.  Price ; 
Trustees,  John  C.  Higgins,  Edmund  D.  Cleaver,  John 
T.  Price,  Francis  Mclntire,  George  B.  Money,  Edward 
L.  Clark,  George  W.  Reybold,  James  E.  Sadler, 
William  A.  Jester. 

Delaware  City  M.  E.  CnuRCH.^The  first  Meth- 
odist meetings  held  in  this  city  were  condacted  by 
Bev.  Benson,  in  the  residences  of  Rev.  I.  Hunter  (now 
Dr.  F.  S.  Dunlap)  and  Elihu  Jefferson  (now  occupied 
by  John  Roberts),  in  1827.  Three  years  after  this  a 
union  Sunday-school  was  opened  by  Isaac  Hunter, 
Samuel  Tindal,  a  Baptist,  and  a  few  Presbyterians. 
The  services  were  held  in  the  district  school -house, 
and  was  shortly  afterwards  converted  into  a  Presby- 
terian organization  by  Rev.  J.  C.  How,  of  St.  George's 
village,  and  considered  an  auxiliary  to  the  Sunday- 
school  at  that  place.  In  1888,  Rev.  Eliphalet  Reed, 
an  itinerant  minister  of  the  Philadelphia  Conference, 
began  holding  services  in  the  ichool-house  regularly 
once  in  four  weeks.  A  little  difficulty  arose  in  regard 
to  the  hour  of  services  between  this  congregation 
and  the  Presbyterians,  who  were  also  worshipping 
here.  Mr.  John  Eagle  kindly  offered  a  portion  of  his 
residence  to  the  Methodists  as  a  place  of  worship,  and 
his  offer  was  accepted.  A  revival  occurred  in  1884, 
in  which  Henry  Hickey  was  the  first  convert.  As  a 
result  of  the  revival,  a  class  was  formed  and  comprised 
the  following  members:  Isaac  Hunter  (leader), 
Henry  Hickey,  John  Hickey  and  wife,  George  Hickey, 
Elias  L.  Bateman  and  wife,  Mrs.  Samuel  Walker, 
Hester  Barnes  (afterwards  wife  of  Henry  Hickey), 

Elizabeth  Craig, McPeat,  Anna  Bo  wen,  Edward 

Handy,  Prudence  Bowen,  Mary  Davidson  and  Jane 
Davidson.  Of  these  there  are  still  living  Henry 
Hickey,  George  Hickey  and  Prudence  Bowen.  In 
the  ftdl  of  that  year  the  erection  of  a  church  was 
commeaeed,  which  was  completed  and  dedicated  two 
years  later.  It  was  a  one-story  brick  building,  thirty- 
two  by  forty  feet,  and  cost  $1458.99}.  It  was 
built  on  a  lot  deeded  by  Manuel  Eyre  to  the  trustees 
of  the  Methodist  Church  of  Delaware  City,  and  was 
situated  on  the  southwest  corner  of  William  and 
Jefferson  Streets,  "being  sixty  feet  on  William  Street, 
thence  running  at  right  angles  with  William  Street, 
adjoining  other  land  of  Manuel  Eyre,  one  hundred 
and  forty-two  feet  six  inches  to  a  Lot  of  Ground 
granted  and  now  occupied  for  a  Presbyterian  church 
and  Burial  Ground,  thence  along  line  of  said  Lot 
South  East,  sixty  feet  to  Jefferson  Street,  thence  along 
Jefferson  Street  North  East,  one  hundred  forty-two 
feet  six  inches  to  the  place  of  beginning.'' 

In  1848,  Isaac  Hunter,  Elias  L.  Bateman,  James 
McMulIen,  Jacob  Gross,  Isaac  Woods  and  P.  H. 
Jones,  trustees,  relinquished  all  the  claims  they  had 
against  the  church.  In  1876  it  was  decided  to  build 
a  new  church.  William  Beck,  Wm.  J.  Robinson, 
Jesse  Alexander,  Henry  Hickey,  Geo.  W.  Craig,  Wm. 
Wingate,  Dr.  J.  M.  F.  Hemp  and  Reuben  Anderson 
were  appointed  a  building  committee.    A  suitable  lot 


was  procured,  and  the  building  was  commenced  in 
August,  1876.  The  comer-stone  was  laid  by  Bishop 
Levi  Scott,  September  2d  of  the  same  year.  The 
church  was  completed  and  dedicated  October  18, 
1878,  by  Rev.  R.  L.  Dashiell.  In  1888,  through  the 
efforts  of  Wm.  Anderson,  a  bell  was  purchased  and 
placed  on  the  building.  Sunday-school  was  held  in 
the  old  church  until  1886,  when  it  was  torn  down  and 
the  material  used  for  the  erection  of  a  chapel  beside 
the  new  church.  This  was  completed  in  November 
of  that  year.  In  1866  a  parsonage  on  Clinton  Street 
was  purchased,  and  has  been  occupied  since  that  time 
by  the  different  pastors.  On  October  12,  1884,  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  the  church  was  commemorated 
with  appropriate  services.  At  present  there  are 
one  hundred  and  seventy-five  members.  Geo.  C. 
Hutchinson  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  which  numbers  one  hundred  and  twenty  mem- 
bers, thirty-five  of  whom  are  over  fifteen  years  of  age. 
The  following  pastors  have  officiated  here : 

lUv.  Shepherd  Drain 1835  Bot.  Jamea  Hand 1860-61 

••    JohnD.  Onins 1836  ••    Elon  J.  Way 1861-63 

"    Wm.  C.Thomae 1837-38  "  Thomae  Montgom«7..1863-66 

«*    Wm.  Ryder 1839  ••    Thoe.  L.  Pouleon 1866-68 

••    Wm.  Wllliami 1840  «    John  Allen 1868-71 

'*    Thot.  B.  TIbblee 1841-4S  **    Joehna  Homphriee 1871 

"    Stephen  Townaend 1843-45  "  D.  R.  Thomae,  M.D...1872-76 

"    John  Lcdnum 1846-47  **    T.  8.  Williams 1875-77 

*•    Robt.  McNamee 1847-49  "    B.  P.  Price 1877-80 

"    Jae.  B,  Ayera. 1849-61  "    W.  F.  Talbot..» 1880-S2 

•*    Elon  J.  Way 1861-63  "    T.  B.  Hunter 1882-85 

"    Thoi.  SumpUon 1853-65  «•    J.  H.  Wllley 1884-87 

"    John  Ruth 1856^7  "  Chaa.  F.  Sheppard,  pr«a- 

•*    B.  F.  Price 1867-69  ent  pastor 1887 

The  present  officers  are :  Pastor,  Rev.  C.  F.  Shep- 
pard ;  Class -Leaders,  Henry  Hickey  and  Geo.  C. 
Hutchinson ;  Trustees,  William  Beck,  W.  J.  Robin- 
son, F.  A.  Pennington,  Geo,  W.  Craig,  Henry  Hickey, 
Reuben  Anderson,  William  Anderson  and  Chas.  G. 
Alexander. 

Christ's  Protestant  Episcx)pal  Church  was  or- 
ganized at  Delaware  City,  in  1848,  by  the  Revs.  Andrew 
Freeman  and  Thos.  F.  Billopp,  of  New  Castle.  Arti- 
cles of  organization  were  drawn  up  and  a  vestry  com- 
posed of  A.  S.  Pennington,  F.S.  Dunlap,  A.  Von  Culin, 
John  A.  Barr  and  James  B.  Henry  was  elected.  On 
February  16,  18^9,  a  tract  of  land,  on  the  comer  of 
Clinton  and  Third  Streets,  two  hundred  and  eight  by 
one  hundred  feet,  was  granted  by  John  Ashurst  to 
the  rector,  wardens  and  vestrymen  of  Christ  Church 
and  their  successors.  The  erection  of  the  church 
building  was  commenced  in  1849.  The  corner-stone 
was  laid  with  appropriate  services  by  the  Rev.  Thos. 
Billopp,  of  New  Castle,  Del.  The  consecration  services 
were  performed  December  13,  1857,  by  theRt.  Rev. 
Alfred  Lee,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Delaware.  A  portion  of 
the  certificate  of  consecration  is  as  follows :  "  Be  it 
known  that  on  this  13th  day  of  December,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty- 
seven,  with  the  rites  and  solemnities  prescribed,  I  have 
consecrated  and  set  apart  the  said  House  of  Worship  ; 
separating  it  henceforth  from  all  unhallowed,  ordi- 
nary and  common  uses ;  and  dedicating  it  to  the  service 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


of  the  Eternal  Crod,  for  reading  his  holy  word,  for  cele- 
brating bis  holy  sacraments,  for  offering  to  his  glori- 
ous majesty  the  sacrifices  of  prayer  and  thanksgiving, 
for  blessing  his  people  in  his  name,  and  for  the  per- 
formance of  all  other  holy  offices,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  our  blessed  Lord  and  Savior,  and  according  to 
the  Rites  and  Worship  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States  of  America."  The  build- 
ing is  a  brick  edifice,  thirty-six  by  sixty-six  feet,  and 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand  dollars.  In  1870 
the  church  was  very  much  improved  and  a  parson- 
age erected,  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand  dollars,  on  a 
lot  on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Third  Streets. 
The  fundd  required  for  the  erection  of  the  rectory 
were  raised  through  the  indefatigable  labors  and  en- 
ergy of  the  ladies  of  the  congregation,  assisted  by 
Revs.  W.  H.  D.  Hatton,  John  P.  Du  Hameland  Elias 
Weil.  An  adjoining  lot  was  also  purchased  by  them, 
for  the  use  of  the  sexton.  The  church  is  in  a  pros- 
perous condition  and  numbers  fifty  communicants. 
A  Sabbath-school  of  forty-five  scholars,  under  the  su- 
perintendence of  W.  W.  Cheairs,  is  held  in  connec- 
tion with  the  church.  The  first  rector  called  to  this 
charge  was  Rev.  Andrew  Freeman,  who  was  installed 
in  1848.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Hiram  R. 
Harrold,  who  was  ordained  November  22,  1849,  and 
continued  until  August,  1853.  The  next  rector  was 
Asa  S.  Cotton,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  H.  D. 
Hatton.  Rev.  Hatton  ministered  here  until  June  26, 
1858,  and  his  successor  was  Rev.  R.  T.  Keeling,  who 
remained  until  1862.  Rev.  John  P.  Du  Hamel  was 
rector  from  1862  until  1869,  in  which  year  Rev.  Elias 
Weil  was  called.  He  took  charge  April  15, 1870,  and 
resigned  the  first  Sunday  in  Advent,  1878.  Since 
that  time  the  following  have  served  as  rectors :  Rev^ 
H.  L.  Phillips,  January,  1880 ;  Rev.  Mr.  Howard, 
July,  1882 ;  and  Rev.  Mr.  Starr,  December,  1886. 

The  present  vestry  is  composed  of  Peter  Kline, 
senior  warden ;  N.  G.  Price,  junior  warden  ;  J.  R. 
Pennington,  Isaac  H.  Ubil,  Chas.  Corbit,  Clement 
Reeves,  W.  W.  Cheairs,  Chas.  G.  Ash. 

Catholic  Church. — For  several  years  previous  to 
1852  the  Catholics  of  Delaware  City  held  their  ser- 
vices in  the  dwelling  of  Mrs.  Ellen  O'Neill,  who  re- 
sided on  Washington  Street,  in  a  building  now  occu- 
pied by  Augustus  T.  Cann.  In  that  year,  through 
the  efforts  of  Father  Cosgrove,  permission  was  given 
by  Bishop  Newman  to  erect  a  church  in  Delaware 
City.  A  lot  of  land  was  obtained  from  John  Ashurst 
and  the  erection  of  an  edifice  begun  in  1852.  Father 
Donahue,  who  came  from  Dublin,  superintended  the 
work.  It  was  completed  and  dedicated  in  1853  by 
Father  Suran,  who  was  at  that  time  acting  bishop. 
The  church  at  that  time  belonged  to  the  Philadelphia 
Diocese.  The  building  is  of  brick,  one  story  high, 
thirty  by  forty  feet,  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2200. 
For  the  first  year  a  priest  came  from  Wilmington  and 
held  services  once  a  month.  Then  Delaware  City 
and  New  Castle  were  formed  into  a  parish  and  a 
priest  assigned  to  them.    This  arrangement  has  been 


in  operation  since  that  time,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  during  Father  Donahue's  priesthood,  when 
Delaware  City  was  made  a  separate  charge.  Since 
the  first  purchase,  several  other  adjoining  lote  have 
been  bought  and  the  grounds  extended.  The  mem- 
bership is  about  the  same  as  when  the  church  was 
organized,  and  numbers  about  one  hundred  and  sixty. 
A  Sunday-school,  with  a  membership  of  seventy, 
holds  meetings  every  Sunday,  under  the  superinten- 
dence of  Michael  Mulligan. 

The  following  priests  have  labored  here :  Father 
Corbin,  Father  Susan tini,  Father  Comeley,  Father 
Dailey,  Father  Donohue,  Father  Boumeman,  Father 
Kieley  and  Father  Brady. 

The  present  trustees  are  Peter  Mulligan,  William 
Morris, .  Edward  O'Neill,  John  Lang  and  Patrick 
Callaghey. 

Schools. — On  February  10,  1829,  Manuel  Eyre 
granted  to  Adam  Diehl,  John  Exton,  John  Higgins, 
John  Jones  and  Daniel  Newbold,  incorporated  as  the 
trustees  of  the  school  in  Delaware  City,  a  tract  of 
land  on  Fifth  Street,  opposite  the  present  residence  of 
B.  M.  Ogle.  On  this  land  a  brick  school-house  was 
soon  erected,  which  was  known  as  "  District  School 
No.  52."  The  territory  from  which  pupils  were 
entitled  to  attend  this  school  was  bounded  as 
follows : 

<*  Beginning  on  the  Delaware  River,  at  the  month  of  Cedar  OreA; 
thence  up  aftid  creek  to  the  interaection  of  the  public  road  leading 
from  Delaware  City  to  BowersvlUe;  thence  along  said  road  to  ReyboId*t 
road  (Clark*8  Corner)  and  down  iaid  road  to  the  Dragon  Creek,  and 
down  said  creek  to  the  DiTiding  Line  between  land  of  (the  late)  John 
8.  Adameand  (the  late)  William  B.  Higgina,  and  mnniug  thence  with 
that  line  to  the  pabKo  road  leading  from  Delaware  Oltj  to  St.  George's; 
thence  down  said  road  to  the  Junction  of  A.  M.  Biddla's  lane,  and 
running  from  thence  down  said  lane  to  St.  Qeorge's  Creek ;  thence 
down  said  creek  to  the  Delaware  Birer,  and  up  said  rirer  to  the  place 
of  beginning/' 

Manuel  Eyre  also  deeded  to  the  ''Trustees  of  the 
School  in  Delaware  City  "  a  tract  of  land  twenty-one 
feet  three  and  a  half  inches  by  one  hundred  and 
sixty-one  feet  eight  and  three-quarters  inches  by  one 
hundred  and  sixty-three  feet  one  and  three-quarters 
inches,  **  To  be  appropriated  forever  hereafter  by  the 
said  Grantees,  their  successors  and  assigns  to  the  use 
and  service  of  a  house  for  religious  service  to  be 
erected  thereon  or  nigh  thereunto  upon  a  lot  adjoin- 
ing the  above  described  and  which  said  lot  is  granted 
or  about  to  be  granted,  by  Daniel  Newbold  to  the 
said  Trustees  of  the  School  in  Delaware  City  ft>r  the 
use  and  service  of  said  House  for  religious  worship 
thereon  to  be  erected  and  to  be  made  free  of  access 
for  the  purpose  of  religious  worship  to  all  denomina- 
tions of  professing  Christians." 

The  house  therein  mentioned  was  never  erected, 
but  the  school-house  was  thrown  open  for  worship, 
and  was  the  place  where  the  Methodists  and  Presby- 
terians both  held  their  iirst  services.  As  the  town 
grew  the  number  of  pupils  increased,  and  in  1850  it 
was  found  necessary  to  divide  the  district.  The  new 
district  was  called  No.  76  and  a  frame  school  building 
was  erected  on  the  location  now  occupied  by  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  at  the  corner  of  Madison  and 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


977 


Second  Streets.  The  dLitricts  remained  separate 
until  March  4,  1875,  when  an  act  of  Assembly  was 
passed  consolidating  the  two  districts.  The  schools 
were  graded  at  this  time  and  the  higher  branches 
taught  at  No.  52.  At  this  time  the  buildings  were 
not  commodious  enough  and  an  effort  was  made  to 
«rect  a  new  school- house.  This  was  so  bitterly 
oppoaed  by  some  of  the  citizens  that  its  accomplish- 
ment was  abandoned  for  the  time  being.  In  1877  it 
was  found  necessary  to  open  a  primary  school  on 
account  of  the  crowded  condition  of  theoth^r  schools. 
A  room  was  procuredan  a  building  belonging  to  the 
estate  of  William  C.  Robertson,  and  Mrs.  Ida  L. 
Bigger  was  elected  teacher.  However,  in  the  spring 
of  1883  an  act  of  Assembly  was  passed,  authorizing 
the  directors  to  purchase  a  lot  and  erect  a  new 
building  at  a  cost  not  to  exceed  six  thousand  dollars. 
In  accordance  with  this  act,  a  lot  on  Clinton  Street 
was  purchased  of  George  B.  Money.  On  the  7th  of 
August,  1883,  the  contract  to  erect  the  building  was 
awarded  to  West  &  Dunlap,  of  Wilmington.  The 
work  was  immediately  commenced,  and  on  January 
21,  1884,  the  contractors  delivered  the  building  to 
the  trustees.  Some  alterations  were  made  and  the 
rooms  furnished  with  desks  and  other  necessary  para- 
phernalia, and  on  the  21st  and  22d  of  February  the 
building  was  open  for  public  inspection,  and  on  the 
latter  day  music  was  furnished  by  the  Delaware  City 
Bind.  On  the  25th  it  was  opened  for  school  pur- 
poses and  to  this  use  has  been  devoted  since  that 
time.  The  building  is  of  brick,  forty-three  by  sixty- 
five  feet,  and  is  two  stories  high.  The  second  story 
has  hitherto  been  used  as  a  public  hail,  but  is  now 
required  for  school  uses.  On  September  1st  the  lots 
occupied  by  schools  No.  52  and  No.  76  were  sold  to 
L.  0.  Justis,  Jr.,  for  nine  hundred  dollars.  On  the  same 
date  six  one-thousand-dollar  bonds  were  issued, 
bearing  six  per  cent,  interest,  payable  semi- 
annually. The  bonds  are  redeeniable  yearly,  the 
first  being  due  September  1, 1885.  Since  the  con- 
solidation the  following  principals  have  served: 
Benjamin  W.  Shaflfer,  L.  F.  Morgan,  Rev.  Henry  L. 
Phillips,  M.  C.  Smith,  E.  W.  Dawson  and  W.  A. 
Storrie.  The  present  number  of  pupils  is  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty- four,  who  are  instructed  by  Principal 
W.  A.  Storrie  and  Assistants  Miss  Georgina  Arnold 
and  Miss  Ella  Cleaver.  The  School  B  >ard  is  com- 
posed of  six  directors,  who  are  elected  for  a  term  of 
two  years.  The  following  persons  have  served  in 
ibis  capacity  since  the  consolidation  of  the  two  dis- 
tricts : 


1881. 


1875.   Fraodt  Mclntire. 

Benjamin  N.  Ogle.  )-2  yn. 


;..! 


1S7C. 


1877. 


Frftncte  8.  Dnnlap.  f 
John  T.  Ohealn. 
Immc  H.  UblL 
Clement  Reevee. 
John  T.  Cheaira. 
iMac  H.  Ubil. 
J.  Thomas  Price. 
F.  S.  Dunlap. 
B.  N.  Ogle. 


W.  E.  Clearer. 
1878.  W.  J.  Bobinaon. 
W.  A.  JMter. 
J.  Thoa.  Price. 
I  year.       1879.  B.N.Ogle. 

Mathew  Bigger. 
E.  D.  Cleaver. 

1880.  W.  J.  Robinaon. 
W.  A.  Jeater. 

J.  Thoa.  Price. 

1881.  John  T.  Cbealra. 


1884. 


E.  D.  Cleaver. 

F.  S.  Dunlap. 
George  A.  Clark. 
J.  E.  Sadler. 

W.  E.  Cleaver. 
Wm.  Morria. 
John  T.  Cheaira. 
F.  S.  Dunlap. 
John  C.  Higginii. 
W.  J.  Robinaon. 
J.  Thomaa  Price. 


W.  A.  Jeetei. 

1885.  B.N.Ogle. 
Jaa.  £.  Sadlpi. 
Alexander  Jarrol. 

1886.  George  B.  Money,  1  yoar. 
J.  Thoa.  Price. 

W.  A.  Jeater. 
John  C.  Higgina. 

1887.  I.  H.  Ubil. 
George  B.  Money. 
J.  £.  Sadler. 


Delaware  Academy.— For  several  years  previous 
to  1856  private  schools  were  taught  and  well  attended 
by  the  pupils  of  Delaware  City.  In  that  year  it  was  de- 
cided by  some  of  the  citizens  to  erect  an  academy.  A 
contract  was  made  for  a  tract  on  Fifth  Street,  between 
Clinton  and  Hamilton  Streets,  with  James  B.  Henry, 
who  deeded  it  to  the  trustees  December  30,  1862. 
The  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  building  was 
awarded  to  L.  E.  Morgan  for  four  thousand  two  hun- 
dred dollars.  On  account  of  some  difficulty,  the 
building  was  not  completed  by  Him,  but  was  finished 
in  1858  by  G.  B.  Money.  A  residence  was  attached 
in  1862,  and  made  the  entire  cost  of  the  property  five 
thousand  dollars.  The  contributors  toward  the  ac- 
complishment of  this  undertaking  were  Jesse  T. 
Ash,  William  Bennett,  William  Beck,  ;Dr.  John  A. 
Barr,  Martin  D.  Ball,  William  R.  Bright,  William  D. 
Clark,  John  C.  Clark,  Thomas  Clark,  Levi  H.  Clark, 
T.  Jefferson  Clark,  John  Carson,  George  G.  Cleaver, 
George  G.  Cleaver,  Jr.,  Edmund  D.  Cleaver,  James 
Colvin,  Amos  E.  Davidson,  John  Exton,  Joseph 
Ellison,  James  B.  Henry,  John  J.  Henry,  Anthony 
M.  Higgins,  John  P.  King,  David  Martin,  James 
McMullen,  George  B.  Money,  George  Maxwell,  M. 
H.  Paxson,  M.  C.  Reybold,  F.  K.  Reybold,  John 
Reybold,  Barney  Reybold,  Anthony  Reybold,  Wil- 
liam Reybold,  Clement  Reeves,  Wm.  C.  Robertson, 
George  Z.  Tybout  and  L.  J.  Vanhekle.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1859,  the  Delaware  City  Academy  was  char- 
tered as  an  institution  of  learning.  The  school  was 
opened  in  October,  1858,  with  J.  W.  Macbeth  as 
principal.  He  was  succeeded  respectively  by  J.  E. 
Scott,  Rev.  D.  G.  Mallery,  L.  R.  Bangher,  Joseph 
Nelson,  B.  Gould,  A.  E.  Warner  and  A.  S.  Minor. 

S.  J.  Clark  was  the  first  president  of  the  board, 
and  was  succeeded  in  1863  by  Wm.  D.  Clark,  who 
served  till  the  closing  of  the  academy.  Jesse  T. 
Ash,  the  first  secretary  and  treasurer,  was  succeeded 
in  1867  by  George  B.  Money.  The  school  was  a 
first-class  institution,  and  numbers  some  of  the  most 
prominent  citizens  of  Delaware  City  and  vicinity 
among  its  graduates.  The  largest  number  of  pupils 
enrolled  during  any  term  was  eighty. 

In  1876  the  school  was  closed  and  the  building  sold 
by  the  trustees  to  T.  Jefferson  Clark,  whose  heirs  are 
the  present  owners.  A  private  school  has  been 
taught  in  this  building  during  the  past  few  years  by 
Miss  Harlow. 

Banking  Interests.— On  February  3,  1849,  an 
act  of  Assembly  was  passed  at  Dover  "To  Incor- 
porate a  Bank  in  Delaware  City  under  the  name  of 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


*  The  Delaware  City  Bank.' "  Joseph  Cleaver,  George 
Maxwell,  Philip  Reybold,  George  G.  Cleaver,  Cephas 
G.  Childs,  Robert  Polk,  A.  Von  Culin,  Robert  Ochel- 
tree,  F.  8.  Dunlap,  John  C.  Clark  and  John  McCalla 
were  appointed  commissioners  to  procure  and  open 
suitable  books  for  registering  the  subscriptions  for 
stock,  and  to  perform  the  other  duties  preparatory  to 
opening  the  bank.  One  thousand  shares  of  stock, 
each  valued  at  fifty  dollars,  were  issued,  making  the 
capital  stock  fifty  thousand  dollars.  A  short  time 
afterwards  the  bank  was  opened  for  business,  and 
was  officered  as  follows :  President,  George  Maxwell ; 
Directors,  Philip  Reybold,  George  G.  Cleaver,  John 
C.  Clark,  Joseph  Cleaver,  John  M.  Kennedy,  Alex- 
ander J.  Derbyshire ;  Cashier,  John  P.  King ;  Teller, 
W.  W.  Ferris. 

The  parlor  of  a  residence  on  Clinton  Street,  then 
occupied  by  John  Carson,  was  fitted  up  and  used  for 
banking  purposes  until  the  present  bank  building  on 
the  corner  of  Washington  and  Williams  Streets  was 
completed.  In  October,  1856,  Cashier  John  P.  King 
died,  and  Teller  W.  W.  Ferris  was  chosen  his  suc- 
cessor. Edmund  D.  Cleaver  was  elected  teller,  which 
position  he  held  until  July,  1862,  when  he  resigned, 
and  Francis  Mclntire  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
George  Maxwell  was  president  from  the  organization 
of  the  bank  until  its  close.  In  1865  it  was  decided  to 
discontinue  the  business  of  the  bank,  with  a  view  of 
organizing  a  national  bank.  The  National  Bank  was 
organized,  and  on  July  3, 1865,  the  following  resolu- 
tion was  adopted  by  the  directors :  "  Reiolvedy  that  the 
Cashier  be  and  is  hereby  directed  to  give  public  no- 
tice that  this  bank,  with  a  view  to  the  early  liquida- 
tion of  its  affairs,  will,  ader  the  31st  inst.,  cease  to 
receive  deposits  or  discount  new  loans,  and  that  the 
notes  of  the  Bank  will  after  that  date  be  redeemed  on 
presentation  at  the  counter  of  the  Delaware  City 
National  Bank.''  The  officers  at  this  time  were, — 
President,  George  Maxwell ;  Cashier,  W.  W.  Ferris ; 
Teller,  Francis  Mclntire ;  Directors,  John  C.  Clark, 
William  Reybold,  Wm.  J.  Hurlock,  Wm.  D.  Clark, 
Wm.  M.  Kennedy. 

The  Delaware  City  National  Bank  was  authorized 
"  to  commence  the  business  of  Banking  "  by  Freeman 
Clark,  comptroller  of  the  currency.  The  certificate 
of  incorporation  bears  date  June  23, 1865,  but  there  is 
evidently  a  mistake  in  the  month,  May  being  in- 
tended instead  of  June.  From  the  opening  of  the 
Delaware  City  National  Bank,  May  30, 1865,  until  the 
closing  of  the  Delaware  City  Bank,  July  31,  1865, 
both  banks  occupied  one  room,  and  had  the  same 
president,  cashier  and  teller.  This  is  shown  by  the 
facts  that  the  bank  was  opened  May  30, 1865,  and  when 
another  certificate  was  applied  for  in  1885  the  comp- 
troller said  that  the  former  certificate  expired  in  May 
instead  of  June. 

The  capital  stock  at  the  opening  of  the  bank 
was  eighty  thousand  dollars,  and  was  owned  by  John 
C.  Clark,  William  J.  Hurlock,  Baraey  Reybold, 
Wm.  A.  Tatem,  Anthony  M.  Higgins,  Edmund  D. 


Cleaver,  George  B.  Money,  Samuel  B.  Cleaver,  Geo. 
Maxwell,  Wm.  D.  Clark,  James  B.  Henry,  John  C. 
Clark,  Jr.  Wm.  W.  Ferris,  John  M.  Kennedy,  An- 
thony Reybold,  Geo.  W.  Bennett,  Wm,  Reybold. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  tor  the  first 
officers  :  President,  George  Maxwell ;  Cashier,  Wm. 
W.  Ferris ;  Teller,  Francis  Mclntire ;  Directors,  John 
M.  Kennedy,  John  C.  Clark,  Wm.  J.  Hurlock,  Wm. 
Reybold,  Win.  D.  Clark,  Geo.  W.  Bennet,  Edmund  D. 
Cleaver  and  William  W.  Ferris.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  William  J.  Hurlock,  who  was  succeeded  in 
1868  by  Barney  Reybold,  the  same  officers  continued 
until  1870.  In  that  year  there  was  a  change  in 
several  of  the  directors.  The  new  board  was  composed 
of  Geo.  Maxwell,  Wm.  Reybold,  Wm.  D.  Clark,  Ed- 
mund D.  Cleaver,  Barney  Reybold,  John  C.  Higgins, 
John  M.  Kennedy,  George  Clark,  W.  W.  Ferris  and 
continued  unchanged  until  1873.  At  the  election  of 
directors  held  in  January,  1873,  the  following  persons 
were  elected :  George  Maxwell,  William  Reybold, 
William  D.  Clark,  Barney  Reybold,  Arthur  Cole- 
burn,  Clement  Reeves,  Henry  Cleaver,  William  M. 
Kennedy,  William  W.  Ferris. 

On  March  4th,  of  this  year,  Francis  Mclntire  was 
elected  cashier  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  William  W.  Ferris.  This  position  has  been  held 
by  Mr.  Mclntire  since  that  date.  On  the  18th  of 
March  Edmund  D.  Cleaver  was  chosen  teller,  which 
position  he  still  holds. 

In  1874  the  number  of  directors  was  reduced  to 
seven  and  were  the  same  as  those  of  the  preceding 
year  with  the  exception  of  William  M.  Kennedy  and 
William  W.  Ferris.  They  also  served  during  1875. 
On  December  11,  1875,  President  George  Maxwell 
died  and  Vice-President  William  D.  Clark  performed 
the  duties  of  president  until  the  January  election » 
when  he  was  chosen  president  and  continued  so  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  February  9, 1887.  Charles 
G.  Ash,  the  present  president,  was  elected  February 
14,  1887. 

William  D.  Clark,  farmer  and  banker,  was  bom  in 
Red  Lion  Hundred,  New  Castle  County,  September 
9, 1812.  He  was  the  youngest  child  but  one  of 
George  and  Esther  (Bryan)  Clark.  The  sterling 
qualities  of  a  long  line  of  honored  ancestry  had 
descended  to  him,  as  the  foundation  of  a  character 
and  life  in  which  the  most  positive  elements  were 
happily  blended  witji  a  striking  modesty  and  an  un- 
afiected  gentleness. 

Until  he  became  of  age  he  united  to  the  studies  of 
his  youth  the  practical  duties  of  a  farmer's  life.  With 
his  father  and  brothers  at  the  paternal  homestead,  hs 
devoted  his  intelligence  and  energy  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  fine  estate,  which  had  been  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  family  for  generations.  The  habits  of  in- 
dustry thus  early  and  efiectually  formed,  and  the 
thorough  knowledge  acquired,  together  with  the  more 
general  culture  of  an  inquiring  and  energetic  mind, 
laid  the  solid  basis  of  an  active  and  most  useful  life, 
whose  interests,  while  never   detached  from  their 


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978 

'The  Del 

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Wm.  A.  Tatem,  Anthony  M.  Higgins,  Edmund  D.     whose  interests,  while  never   detached  from  th^ 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


97d 


original  ehaDoehi,  broadened  out  into  a  much  wider 
sphere. 

For  a  time,  however,  Mr.  Clark  had  ardently  cher- 
iished  a  different  purpose.  His  studious  disposition 
and  earnest  piety  had  led  him  to  think  seriously  of 
the  high  office  of  the  Christian  ministry.  With  the 
consent  of  his  parents,  and  expressly  with  the  warm 
sympathy  and  encouragement  of  an  excellent  mother, 
to  whom  he  opened  his  heart  most  freely,  he  entered 
duly  upon  a  course  of  study.  In  May,  1834,  he  be- 
came a  student  in  the  preparatory  department  of 
Lafayette  College,  at  Easton,  Pa.  Remaining  there 
but  a  single  term,  he  transferred  his  relations  to  a 
more  convenient  institution,  Delaware  College,  at 
Newark,  which  had  recently  been  organized,  and 
whose  preparatory  department  he  entered  in  the 
autumn  of  the  same  year,  combining  with  the  regu- 
lar course  some  of  the  studies  of  the  college 
proper.  The  labors  of  two  studious  years,  however, 
told  severely  upon  a  constitution  which  was  ener- 
getic, but  never  robust.  On  his  reaching  the  fresh- 
man cla»s  in  the  fall  of  1836,  it  became  evident  that 
he  could  not  continue  his  exacting  mental  work  with- 
out serious  risk  to  his  health  and  even  to  life  itself. 
He  consulted  anxiously  with  skillful  physicians  and 
judicious  friends,  and  as  a  result  he  felt  himself  con- 
strained, with  sorrowful  reluctance,  to  abandon  his 
dearly  cherished  project,  and  return  to  the  active 
duties  of  his  original  vocation. 

In^l837  he  purchased  the  beautiful  farm,  near  Del- 
aware City,  which  continued  to  be  his  home  until  his 
death,  and  which  he  not  only  enriched  by  the  science 
of  a  trained  agriculturist,  but  adorned  with  the 
attractions  of  a  refined  and  happy  domestic  life. 

In  February,  1844,  Mr.  Clark  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mary  Frances  Hurlock,  the  daughter  of 
Mr.  Wm.  J.  and  Mrs.  Wilhelmina  fc?tuart  Hurlock, 
with  whom  he  lived  a  life  of  enviable  happiness, 
until  her  lamented  death,  May  29, 1886.  His  house- 
hold was  a  reproduction  of  the  delightful  experience 
of  his  youthful  home.  The  finest  family  affection, 
combined  with  a  munificent  and  warm-hearted  hos- 
pitality, distinguLBhed  both  alike,  and  rendered  these 
homes  a  perpetual  charm  to  the  inmates,  and  an  un- 
ceasing attraction  to  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  Mr. 
Clark's  cup  of  domestic  happiness  was  full.  The 
peace  of  God,  waiting  upon  and  sanctifying  the  natural 
affection  of  a  united  and  devoted  family  beautified  and 
blessed  the  lives  of  all.  A  sincere,  but  unaffected 
and  unostentatious  piety  was  a  marked  feature  of  Mr. 
Clark's  character.  Beyond  the  limits  of  his  private 
life  this  was  especially  marked  in  his  untiring  conse- 
cration to  the  interests  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Delaware  City,  in  which,  for  half  a  century,  he 
was  a  ruling  elder  and  the  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school. 

Li  1853  Mr.  Clark  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Levy  Court  of  New  Castle  County,  in  which  he 
served  for  twelve  years,  acting  as  its  president  during 
the  greater  part  of  this  period.      It  was  owing  to  his 


own  wish  alone  that  he  relinquished  the  duties  of  the 
position. 

In  politics  he  was  originally  a  Whig,  and  subse- 
quently a  Republican,  cherishing  a  reverent  regard 
for  the  principles  of  the  national  constitution  and  a 
loyal  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  his  country.  Yet 
with  a  broad  and  deep  interest  in  public  questions, 
and  a  high  sense  of  his  duties  as  a  citizen,  he  had 
no  ambition  for  office,  and  declined  to  hold  any  offi- 
cial trusts  beyond  those  of  a  local  character. 

In  1873  he  was  elected  vice-president  of  the  Bank 
of  Delaware  City,  of  which  he  became  the  president 
in  1876,  on  the  death  of  his  predecessor  and  beloved 
friend.  Captain  George  Maxwell.  It  is  needless  to 
say  that  his  wise  administration  contributed  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  institution.  The  bank,  the  well- 
cultivated  farm,  the  hospitable  home,  the  interests  of 
the  town  near  which  he  lived,  and  the  county  of  which 
he  was  a  citizen,  the  church  he  lov^  so  dearly  and 
for  which  he  labored  with  so  untiring  a  perseverance, 
furnish  abiding  monuments  to  his  sagacity,  his  enter- 
prise, and  self-sacrificing  devotion.  While  he  courted 
no  publicity,  his  life  in  reality  was  one  of  generous 
breadth,  with  a  wide  comprehensiveness  of  important 
interests,  and  it  has  left  behind  it  enduring  marks  of 
a  cultivated  and  well-rounded  character. 

In  person,  Mr.  CUul'k  was  tall  and  slightly  built,  with 
a  physique  never  vigorous,  yet  singularly  capable  of  en- 
durance, and  always  prepared  to  respond  to  the  claims 
of  duty.  His  face  rightly  indicated  great  strength  of 
character,  while  his  gentle  temper  saved  his  strong 
convictions  and  resolute  purposes  from  any  appear- 
ance of  arbitrariness  and  severity.  He  was  one  to  be 
respected  for  his  manliness,  and  loved  for  his  winning 
graces. 

Two  children.  Miss  Emma  Clark  and  Miss  Julia 
Newton  Clark,  survive  their  fnther,  and  continue  to 
reside  at  Greenlea,  the  home  which  he  made  so  lovely 
both  in  outward  embellishment  and  in  the  spirit 
which  prevailed  beneath  its  roof.  A  beloved  son, 
Wm.  Hurlock  Clark,  passed  away  in  early  life,  July 
18.  1856. 

Mr.  Clark  died  at  his  home  February  9,  1887, 
leaving  a  name,  whose  honors  are  the  richest  heritage 
of  his  children,  and  the  pride  of  the  community 
which  loved  him  in  life,  and  tenderly  lamented  his 
death.  '*  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." 

In  January,  1876,  the  number  of  directors  was  in- 
creased to  eight.  The  board  was  as  follows :  Wil- 
liam D.  Clark,  William  Reybold,  Barney  Beybold, 
Clement  Reeves,  Arthur  Coleburn,  Henry  Cleaver, 
George  F.  Brady,  Charles  G.  Ash.  With  a  few  exr 
ception8,these  directors  were  continued  to  the  present 
time.  In  1878  the  number  was  increased  to  nine, 
and  the  additional  seat  filled  by  John  P.  Hudson. 
In  1881,  Barney  Reybold  was  succeeded  by  Charles 
Corbit.  In  1883  the  number  was  again  reduced  to 
eight,  and  the  seat  of  John  P.  Hudson  vacated. 

On  November  1, 1883,  the  capital  stock  was  re- 
duced from  $80,000  to  $60,000.  The  surplus  is  $16,000. 


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980 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Present  officers :  President,  Charles  G.  Ash ; 
Cashier,  Francis  Mclntire;  Teller,  Edmund  D. 
Cleaver;  Directors,  William  Reybold,  Clement 
Reeves,  Arthur  Colebum,  Henry  Cleaver,  George  F. 
Brady,  Charles  Corbit  and  John  C.  Higgins. 

Industries. — ^The  manufacture  of  mince-meat  was 
begun  in  this  city  by  G.  W.  Craig  in  1878.  The  busi- 
ness was  conducted  by  him  at  this  place  until  1881. 
In  that  year  Allen  M.  Craig,  his  son,  purchased  a 
butcher-shop  in  Wilmington  and  the  mince-meat 
factory  was  moved  to  that  place  and  conducted  under 
the  style  of  Craig  &  Co.  In  the  following  year  Wil- 
liam Beck  purchased  the  mince-meat  factory  of  Allen 
M.  Craig  and  it  was  brought  back  to  Delaware  City. 
A  suitable  building,  twenty  by  sixty  feet,  with  an  L 
twenty  by  thirty  feet,  was  erected  and  fitted  up  with 
the  apparatus  necessary  for  this  work.  The  factory  is 
run  by  steam-power  and  has  a  capacity  of  five  thou- 
sand pounds  per  day.  It  is  in  operation  only  during 
five  months  of  the  year.  The  meat  is  prepared  from 
cattle  killed  at  the  factory  and  the  entire  beef  is  used. 
There  are  ten  employees  during  the  season,  superin- 
tended by  G.  W.  Craig.  Three  brands  are  manufac- 
tured, viz.:  Craig's  Choice  Family,  Craig's  Diamond 
State  and  Craig's  Star.  The  meat  is  packed  in  eigh- 
teen, thirty-six  and  seventy  pound  pails,  also  in  bar- 
rels, halves  and  quarters  and  shipped  principally  to 
Boston,  Baltimore,  Philadelphia  and  Wilmington. 
The  business  has  increased  from  five  hundred  pounds 
manufactured  in  1878  to  two  hundred  thousand 
pounds  made  during  the  last  season. 

In  1828  John  A.  Hopper  came  to  Delaware  City 
and  a  short  time  afterwards  opened  a  shop  for  hoavy 
wagon  work  and  blacksmithing.  This  shop  was 
situated  on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  William 
Streets  and  was  purchased  in  1889  by  Joseph  Brewer. 
In  1854  the  old  shop  was  removed  and  the  present 
one  erected.  In  1878  R.  A.  Moody  purchased  the 
shop  and  conducted  it  till  March  1,  1886,  when  a  co- 
partnership was  formed  between  R.  A.  Moody  and 
George  N.  Bright,  who  have  since  traded  under  the 
name  and  style  of  R.  A.  Moody  &  Co.  On  the  same 
date  they  purchased  of  C.  G.  Alexander  &  Co.  a 
carriage  factory  on  the  corner  of  Washington  and 
Front  Streets.  This  factory  was  started  in  1840  by 
Jesse-  Alexander.  It  was  next  owned  by  his  son, 
Richard  G.  Alexander,  of  whom  Charles  G.  Alexan- 
der and  H.  H.  Clark,  trading  as  C.  G.  Alexander  & 
Co.,  purchased.  Although  the  two  factories  are  owned 
by  the  same  firm,  yet  each  is  distinct  and  complete  in 
itself.  By  this  firm  there  are  manufactured  annually 
fifty  carriages  and  forty  heavy  wagons,  and  in  addi- 
tion a  large  amount  of  repairing  is  done.  In  the  two 
departments  eleven  men  are  employed. 

In  1865  a  building  was  erected  on  the  corner  of 
Clinton  and  Fifth  Streets,  by  Higgins,  Marchand  & 
Co.,  to  be  used  as  a  manufactory  for  stamped  tin  and 
sheet  iron  ware.  The  business  was  continued  by  this 
firm  and  Higgins,  Reybold  <&  Co.  for  a  space  of  three 
years,  when  it  was  purchased  by  the  Lalance    & 


Grosjean  Manufacturing  Company,  of  New  York,  and 
discontinued.  The  building  was  used  for  the  mana- 
facture  of  fertilizers,  but  ,on  account  of  its  location 
was  abandoned  at  the  end  of  a  year.  Since  that  time 
it  has  been  used  as  a  canning  factory,  and  has  been 
conducted  respectively  by  William  G.  Enowles, 
Sleeper  Wells,  Aldridgeand  William  E.  Cleaver.  The 
Anderson  Preserving  Company,  of  Camden,  New- 
Jersey,  has  leased  it  for  this  year  and  will  can  toma- 
toes. The  "Boston  Market"  and  "Pennsylvania" 
are  the  brands  canned  by  this  company.  During  the 
two  months  during  which  the  canning  is  done,  eighty 
women,  twenty  men  and  fifteen  boys  are  employed. 
Thomas  C.  Horner  is  the  superintendent. .  The  goods 
are  shipped  principally  to  New  York.  The  main 
building  is  a  two-story  brick,  one  hundred  by  forty 
feet  with  a  one  story  L,  fifty  by  thirty  feet.  A  peeling- 
room,  thirty-six  by  forty  feet,  has  just  been  erected. 

The  three-story  frame  grist-mill  on  Second  Street, 
now  dwned  by  George  Reybold,  was  built  in  1859  by 
W.  C.  Robertson  and  Henry  Price.  It  was  conduc- 
ted by  them  a  few  years  and  then  sold  to  Ray  Jami- 
son. George  Cleaver  was  the  next  owner  and  he  sold 
in  a  few  years  to  George  and  Eugene  Reybold. 
Eugene  Reybold  shortly  afterwards  conveyed  his 
interest  to  George,  who  is  now  sole  owner.  The  mill 
is  fitted  up  with  a  twenty-five  horse-power  engine  and 
forty  horse-power  boiler,  and  was  run  entirely  by  steani. 
The  grinding  is  done  with  two  burrs.  The  capacity 
of  the  mill  is  one  and  a  half  barrels  of  flour  and 
forty  bushels  of  feed  per  hour.  Both  custom  and 
merchant  work  were  done  here.  The  mill  has  not 
been  operated  during  the  past  four  years. 

Hotels. — ^The  first  hotel  in  this  city  was  opened  in 
1826  by Scattergood,  in  the  building  now  occu- 
pied by  John  Roberts,  on  the  corner  of  Washington 
and  Second  Street*.  This  was  the  first  house  erected 
within  the  present  limits  of  Delaware  City,  and  was 
known  as  the  "  farm-house.'*  In  1 827  Thomas  Craven 
was  the  proprietor.  He  was  succeeded  by  Elihu 
Jefierson,  who  was  the  last  man  that  used  it  for  hotel 
purposes.  In  1828  the  Delaware  City  Hotel  was  built 
by  Manuel  Eyre,  and  Elihu  Jefferson  moved  into  this 
building  as  tenant.  It  is  situated  on  the  corner  of 
Clinton  Street  and  Delaware  Avenue.  John  Albert- 
son  was  the  next  landlord.  Francis  D.  Dunlap  pur- 
chased the  property  of  Manuel  Eyre,  and  after  his 
death  it  was  purchased  by  Dr.  Francis  S.  Dunlap,  the 
present  owner.  Since  John  Albertson  conducted  it 
the  hotel  has  been  managed  by  Francis  D.  Dunlap, 
Joseph  S.  Mathews,  Martin  D.  Ball,  Francis  S.  Dun- 
lap, M.D.,  Hugh  Horner,  Thomas  Bradway,  Joseph 
A.  Kidd  and  E.  A.  Stout,  the  present  landlord. 

On  July  24,  1830,  Thomas  Folwell  purchased  of 
Manuel  Eyre  a  lot  of  land  on  the  northwest  side  of 
Clinton  Street.  On  this  lot  Folwell  had  already 
erected  a  dining-room,  and  it  is  eo  stated  in  the  deed. 
This  was  the  origin  of  the  Delaware  City  House,  after- 
wards known  as  the  "  Robinson  House."  This  hotel 
was  successively  owned  by  Jacob  Robinson,  Jonathan 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


981 


Draper,  John  T.  Cheairs,  Charles  ClementB,  Frank 
Bradwaj  and  Thomas  D.  Bradway.  After  the  decease 
of  Thomas  D.  Bradway  the  property  vested  in  his 
widow,  to  whom  it  belonged  when  it  was  consumed  by 
fire,  January  6, 1887. 

The  Delawabe  City  Volunteer  Fire  Com- 
pany was  organized  March  17, 1887,  and  has  a  mem- 
bership of  sixty.  The  officers  are :  President,  James 
E.  Sadler;  Vice-President,  Charles  Q.  Ash;  Secre- 
tary, W.  W.  Cheairs ;  Treasurer,  Dr.  F.  Bellville ; 
Chief,  George  N.  Bright.  Shortly  after  organization 
a  Kumsey  hand-engine  and  five  hundred  feet  of  hose 
was  purchased  by  the  town  commissioners  and  pre- 
sented to  the  company.  The  Farmers'  Mutual  Insur- 
ance Company  of  New  Castle  County  donated  to  the 
organization  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars.  Meetings  are 
held  on  the  first  Thursday  night  of  each  month. 

Post-Office. — ^A  post-office  was  established  in 
Delaware  City  in  the  year  1826.  At  this  time  a  mail- 
route  was  established  between  St.  George's  village  and 
Port  Penn,  passing  through  Delaware  City.  The  mail 
contract  was  awarded  to  Ebenezer  Eliason,  and  the 
rider  was  William  Cooper.  There  was  at  this  time 
only  one  mail  a  week.  G^rge  Cleaver  was  the  first 
postmaster,  and  continued  until  1858,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  Edward  Foster,  who  held  the  position 
until  1857.  In  that  year  John  T.  Cheairs  received 
the  appointment.  He  was  followed  in  1862  by  Dar- 
rach  Cleaver,  who  continued  until  1866,  when  Ed- 
mund D.  Cleaver  became  postmaster.  Joseph  Pen- 
nington obtained  the  office  in  the  spring  of  1869,  and 
held  it  until  1881,  when  George  A.  Clark  was  ap- 
pointed. Clark  was  succeeded  by  William  A.  Price, 
August  1, 1882,  and  Price  by  H.  F.  Mullen,  November 
9, 1885.  Woodward  W.  Cheairs,  the  present  incum- 
bent, was  appointed  postmaster  September  1, 1886. 

Jackson  Lodge,  No.  19,  A.  F.  A.  M.,  was  insti- 
tuted June  27,  1857.  The  charter  members  were 
John  Homan,  Master;  A.  M.  Biddle,  S.  W.;  and 
Adam  Von  Culin,  J.  W.  The  organization  has  grad- 
ually increased  in  membership  and  now  numbers 
thirty-eight  members.  The  meetings  are  held  on  the 
first  Tuesday  night  of  each  month,  except  July  and 
August.  The  lodge-room  is  the  third  story  of  a  brick 
building  on  Clinton  Street.  The  following  are  the 
Past  Masters  : 

Charles  G.  Ash,  Mathew  Bigger,  James  Colvin,  F. 
8.  Dunlap,  B.  N.  Ogle,  Joseph  B.  Pennington,  George 
W.  lUybold,  D.  B.  Stewart,  Isaac  H.  Ubil. 

The  present  officers  are,  Mathew  Bigger,  M. ;  Frank 
Belville,  S.  W. ;  Vinton  B.  Asher,  J.  W. ;  Joseph  R. 
Pennington,  Treas.;  Isaac  H.  Ubil,  Sec'y;  Joseph 
N.  Warren,  S.  D. ;  George  F.  Shuster,  J.  D. ;  Charles 
G.  Ash,  S.  S.;  D.  B.  Stewart,  J.  S.;  James  Colvin, 
Tyler. 

Patrick  Henby  Lodge,  No.  11, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  was 
instituted  February  22,  1847.  The  charter  members 
were  James  B.  Henry,  Charles  C.  Bigger,  Francis  D. 
Dunlap,  Henry  L.  Packard,  Leonard  J.  Yanhekle 
and  William  B.  Bright    The  first  officers  of  the  or- 


ganization were  James  B.  Henry,  N.  G, ;  Francis  D. 
Dunlap,  V.  G. ;  Charles  C.  Bigger,  R.  S. ;  Henry  L. 
Peckard,  Treas. 

Since  its  organization  the  lodge  has  enrolled  two 
hundred  and  forty-five  members,  of  which  there  are 
twenty-seven  at  present.  In  March,  1887,  they  pur- 
chased the  building  in  which  they  hold  their  meet- 
ings. The  lodge  is  now  officered  as  follows :  W.  C, 
Bright,  N.  G. ;  Samuel  R.  Hines,  V.  G. ;  Frank  L. 
Cleaver,  R.  S.;  William  R.  Bright,  Treas.;  M. 
Kirby,  P.  S. 

Diamond  State  Lodge,  ifo.  15, 1.  O.  G.  T.,  was 
instituted  April  14, 1886,  with  a  membership  of  four- 
teen. The  first  officers  were  as  follows :  Rev.  J.  H, 
Willey,  W.  C.  T. ;  Mrs.  R.  Hutchinson,  V.  T. ;  Wil- 
liam Anderson,  R.  Sec'y ;  H.  Heal,  F.  Sec'y ;  John 
H.  Roberts,  Sr.,  Treas. ;  George  Hutchinson,  Chap- 
lain. 

The  lodge  attained  its  highest  membership  in  June, 
1886,  when  forty-five  names  were  enrolled.  The  order 
is  still  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  numbers  twenty- 
five  members.  The  following  are  the  officers  at  the 
present  time :  George  Hutchinson,  W.  C.  T. ;  Mrs. 
Jane  Cairns,  V.  T. ;  Samuel  R.  Hines,  Jr.,  R.  Sec'y ; 
Miss  Florence  E.  Hutchinson,  F.  Sec'y ;  William  J. 
Robinson,  Chaplain ;  John  Roberts,  Treas. 

The  Delaware  City  Cemetery  Association 
was  organized  in  August,  1865,  and  incorporated  Jan. 
26, 1866.  The  incorporators  were  George  B.  Money, 
William  Beck,  Amos  £.  Davidson.  George  H.  Rue^ 
William  P.  Householder,  Joseph  Brewer  and  Elon  J. 
Way.  The  capital  stock  of  five  thousand  dollars  was 
divided  into  one  thousand  five-dollar  shares.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  four  acres  of  land  were  purchased  of 
Elon  J.  Way.  At  that  time  it  lay  on  the  outside  of 
the  town,  but,  by  the  extension  of  the  town  in  1871,  it 
was  brought  within  the  present  city  limits.  It  waa 
carefully  arranged  and  laid  out  for  a  burying-ground* 
Amos  E.  Davidson,  the  first  president  of  the  organi- 
zation, was  succeeded  in  August,  1877,  by  William 
Wingate,  the  present  president.  George  B.  Money, 
the  first  secretary,  still  serves  in  that  capacity.  The 
board  of  managers  are  William  Wingate,  William 
Beck,  Amos  E.  Davidson,  George  B.  Money  and  Wil- 
liam P.  Householder. 


CHAPTER    L. 


ST.  GEORGE'S  HUNDRED. 


St.  George's,  the  largest  hundred  in  New  Castle 
County,  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  St.  George's 
Creek,  on  the  east  by  the  Delaware  River,  on  the 
south  by  Appoquinimink  Creek  and  on  the  west  by 
Maryland.  With  the  exception  of  a  small  quantity 
of  marsh  on  the  river's  edge,  the  land  is  all  in  a  state 
of  cultivation  and  yields  abundantly.  At  one  time 
a  large  portion  of  the  hundred  was  devoted  to  peach- 


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982 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


growing.  This  enterprise  has  to  a  great  extent  been 
abandoned  and  the  chief  products  of  the  soil  are 
wheat,  corn  and  oats.  Numereus  small  streams  flowing 
throufi^h  the  hundred  render  the  grounds  very  fertile. 
Facilities  for  shipping  merchandise  by  boat  are 
afforded  to  those  living  in  the  northern,  eastern 
and  southern  parts  of  the  hundred.  Those  in  the 
central  and  western  portions  have  railroad  accommoda- 
tions. The  climate  is  healthful  and  all  that  can  be 
desired.  The  population  has  largely  increased  from 
fifty  taxables,  representing  perhaps  two  hundred  and 
fifty  inhabitants  in  1683. 

The  first  settlers  in  this  vicinity  were  chiefly  of  four 
nationalities — Swedes,  Dutch,  French  Huguenots  and 
English.  Of  the  first  class  were  the  Petersons  and 
the  Andersons ;  of  the  second  class,  the  Alrichs,  Han- 
sons, Vandykes,  Vandegrifts  and  Vances;  of  the 
third,  the  Dushanes,  Naudains  of  Appoquinimink, 
Bayards  and  the  Seays ;  of  the  last,  the  Crawfords  and 
the  Taylors.  Before  1683  fifty  taxable  citizens  had 
taken  up  their  residence  within  the  bounds  of  this 
hundred.  Among  these  were  Henry  Walraven,  John 
Foster,  John  Taylor,  John  Peterson,  Hans  Hanson, 
Adam  Peterson,  Elias  Humphreys,  Judith  Crawford, 
widow  of  James  Crawford,  and  Peter  Alrichs.  The 
descendants  of  some  of  these  early  settlers  still  reside 
within  the  hundred,  but  the  names  of  some  have  en- 
tirely disappeared  from  the  neighborhood. 

Probably  the  first  grant  of  land  in  the  lower  part 
of  New  Castle  County  was  that  made  in  1646  by 
William  Kieft,  then  a  Dutch  Governor,  to  Abraham 
Planck,  Simon  Root,  John  Andriesen  and  Peter 
Harmensen.  Each  were  granted  two  hundred  acres 
of  land  on  South  River  (Delaware),  near  Bird  Island 
(Reedy),  on  condition  of  settlement  within  one  year, 
with  the  promise  of  more  land  on  the  condition  that 
they  build  houses  and  reside  upon  the  land.  They 
evidently  did  not  settle  here  or  even  make  a  pretense 
of  so  doing,  as  they  did  not  hold  the  land  nor  claim 
any  title  to  it,  and  with  the  exception  of  John 
Andriesen,  the  names  are  not  found  in  this  hundred. 
They,  however,  settled  on  the  Schuylkill  River  and 
farther  south  in  the  State  of  Delaware.  The  land 
thus  offered  to  them  at  a  later  date  came  to  Peter 
Alrichs  and  Casparus  Herman.  Peter  Alrichs  was  a 
nephew  of  Vice-Director  Jacob  Alrichs,  who  succeeded 
Jean  Paul  Jacquet  in  1657,  and  died  at  New  Castle 
in  1659.  Peter  came  to  this  country  with  his  uncle,  and 
at  once  entered  into  public  affairs  and  continued  dur- 
ing his  life  a  prominent  man  in  the  affairs  of  the 
colony,  both  ucder  the  Dutch  and  the  English,  acting 
as  commander  at  the  Whorekill  and  as  a  magistrate  for 
many  years.  He  located  land  under  the  Dutch,  which 
was  confiscated,  and  afterwards  obtained  land  from 
the  English,  some  of  which  is  still  held  by  the 
family.  He  took  up  a  large  tract  of  land  in  what  is 
now  St.  George's  Hundred,  extending  from  St.  Au- 
gustine Creek  to  St.  George's  Creek,  and  from  the  Dela- 
ware River  westward  to  the  King's  Road.  He  also 
obtained  a  large  tract  in  the  northern  part  of  New 


Castle  Hundred,  on  the  river  and  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Christiana,  where  he  lived  and  died.  Some  of  his 
sons  settled  at  the  latter  place,  and  their  descendants 
held  portions  of  the  property  till  1880,  when  they  sold 
to  the  Lobdell  Car- Wheel  Company.  The  tract  in 
St.  George's  was  resurveyed  to  his  sons  as  follows :  to 
Hermanns  Alrichs,  February  22,  1682,  1027  acres  on 
Delaware  River  between  Great  Creek  (a  small  stream 
emptying  into  the  Delaware)  and  St.  Augustine  Creek, 
the  latter  being  the  southern  boundary ;  to  Sigfriedos, 
Wessels  and  Jacobus  Alrichs,  September  24,  1702, 
2048  acres  from  the  Delaware  to  the  King's  Road, 
between  St.  George's  and  Great  Creeks.  On  Decem- 
ber 81, 1733,  Peter  Alrichs  was  in  possession  of  127 
acres  opposite  Reedy  Island,  and  embracing  Port 
Penn  and  St.  Augustine  Landing.  A  portion  of  this 
land,  six  hundred  feet  on  the  river  and  six  hundred 
feet  inland,  including  what  is  commonly  called  the 
"  Row-ground  "  and  lying  north  of  **  Alrich's  landing- 
place"  was  conveyed  April  16,  1774,  by  Peter  and 
John  Alrichs,  to  Luke  Morris,  Robert  White  and  Wil- 
liam Morrell,  wardens  of  the  port  of  Philadelphia. 
They  were  appointed  under  an  act  of  Assembly  of 
Pennsylvania  to  erect  piers  upon  the  premises  for  the 
use  of  ships  traversing  the  river.  The  piers  remained 
until  1884,  when  they  were  removed.  The  Alrichs  in 
the  State  of  Delaware  are  descendants  of  Peter 
Alrichs. 

A  portion  of  the  territory  originally  owned  by 
Alrichs  was  covered  with  a  swamp,  extending  from 
St.  George's  Creek  and  known  as  Doctor's  Swamp. 
In  this  vicinity,  before  the  land  was  re-surveyed  to 
Alrichs,  certain  other  persons  settled  and  took 
up  land.  On  May  28,  1675,  there  was  surveyed  for 
Dr.  Thomas  Spry  (who  was  also  a  lawyer,  and  the 
first  one  admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  ISew 
Castle),  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  It 
was  known  as  "  Doctor's  Commons,"  and  was  on  a 
creek  called  "  Doctor's  Run,"  now  entirely  dried  up 
and  forgotten.  On  February  2,  1680,  he  sold  it  to 
Henry  Vanderburg,  who  conveyed  it,  March  11, 
1688,  to  Robert  Ashton,  who  had  lived  on  it  for  some 
time.  On  the  24th  of  December,  1703,  he  received  a 
warrant  for  nine  hundred  acres,  lying  between 
Little  St.  George's  and  St.  George's  Creeks,  with 
Doctor's  Run  and  Doctor's  Swamp  in  the  rear 
This  land  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Wil- 
liam S.  Lawrence,  Z.  A.  Pool,  Z.  P.  Longland, 
the  heirs  of  William  Kennedy,  the  heirs  of  James  T. 
Carpenter  and  the  heirs  of  Wilson  Greene.  On 
October  15, 1675,  Edmund  Cantwell  surveyed  for  Pat- 
rick Carr  two  hundred  acres  of  land  on  a  neck  be- 
tween St.  George's  and  Arenty*s  Creeks  (St.  Augustine). 
This  land  adjoined  Doctor's  Swamp,  and  was  con- 
veyed by  Carr  and  Oalla  Janson,  March  23,  1679. 
The  tract  passed  through  several  hands,  and  June 
11, 1792,  was  purchased  by  Robert  Crow,  a  surveyor. 
By  him  it  was  conveyed,  October  27, 1797,  to  William 
Hill,  the  grandfather  of  John  D.  Dilworth,  the 
present  owner. 


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M2  .     ,.  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


983 


The  house  was  built  at  a  very  early  date,  and  from 
its  construction  plainly  shows  that  it  was  built  at  a 
time  when  protection  from  the  Indians  was  a  neces- 
sity. The  original  windows,  two  of  which  remain 
unaltered,  are  no  larger  than  loopholes.  In  the 
basement  there  is  a  vault,  and  from  it  proceeds  a 
secret  passage  in  the  direction  of  the  river ;  where  it 
leads  to  is  unknown,  as  it  has  been  walled  Up  many 
years.  A  short  distance  away,  on  a  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  Edward  Pleasanton,  are  peculiarly  shaped 
holes,  which  suggest  that  they  were  constructed  by 
the  Indians  as  a  rendezvous,  hiding-place  and  winter- 
quarters. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Delaware  Dil worths  went  to 
Ireland  with  Cromwell,  and  in  the  North  of  Ireland 
Captain  John  Dilworth  was  born  about  1750;  he 
came  to  America  when  quite  a  young  man,  and  soon 
after  married  Hannah  Alrichs,  a  descendant  of  Peter 
Alrichs,  above  mentioned. 

Being  a  loyal  English  officer.  Captain  Dilworth 
commanded  the  ship  which  led  the  British  fleet  to 
Philadelphia  in  1779.  In  passing  Fort  Mifflin  his 
vessel  was  severely  riddled  by  cannon-balls,  and  he 
received  a  bad  wound  in  the  leg.  Knowing  the  need  of 
his  presence,  he  declined  to  obey  the  surgeon's  orders 
to  "  go  below"  till  the  fleet  was  safely  moored  at 
Philadelphia,  when  he  was  carried  ashore  and  was 
ill  some  time.  Captain  Dilworth's  wife  died  young 
leaving  an  infant  son ;  he  soon  after  went  to  Florida 
and  married  again ;  many  descendants  of  this  mar- 
riage are  now  living  in  that  State. 

John  Alrichs  Dilworth,  was  born  near  Macdonough 
Delaware,  in  1778,  and  at  his  mother's  death  was 
adopted  by  her  sister,  a  Mrs.  Stockton.  He  was 
twice  married, — first  to  Elizabeth  Hill,of  Smyrna,who 
left  one  son;  secondly,  to  the  widow  Jeff*eries,  by 
whom  he  had  one  daughter.  *  He  was  a  gentleman  of 
the  old  school,  and  noted  for  his  genial  hospitality. 
He  died  when  about  forty  years  of  age. 

John  Ducha  Dilworth  was  born  November,  1799, 
near  Macdonough.  Like  his  father,  he  lost  his  mother 
in  infancy .  Her  family  having  bought  the  property 
now  known  as  the  Dilworth  farm,  near  Port  Penn, 
he  was  reared  there  by  his  maternal  grandmother,  re- 
ceiving his  education  first  at  the  village  school,  after- 
wards under  private  tutors,  and  has  spent  the  greater 
portion  of  his  active  life  as  a  farmer.  He  married,  in 
1823,  Eliza  Francis  Gordon,  of  Philadelphia,  who 
died  in  1878.  They  had  fourteen  children,  eleven  liv. 
ing  to  mature  age.  Eight  sons  were  married,  of  whom 
six  are  still  living.  Rebecca,  one  of  the  three  daugh- 
ters, married  Rev.  I.  W.  K.  Handy ;  is  now  a  widow, 
living  with  her  son  in  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

John  D.  Dilworth  was  elected  to  the  State  Legisla- 
ture in  1830,  and  served  till  1839^ — four  years  in  each 
House, — was  nominated  to  Congress  in  1846,  but  de- 
feated by  a  small  majority  by  the  present  Judge  John 
W.  Houston.  In  1848  he  was  nominated  Presidential 
elector  as  the  friend  of  General  Cass  ;  in  1850  he  was 
appointed  clerk  of  the  court  of  New  Castle  County, 


which  office  he  held  five  years.  In  1860,  having  pur- 
chased land  in  Sussex  County,  Del.,  he  removed 
thither;  and  in  1873  moved  again  to  Worcester  Coun- 
ty, Md.,  where  he  still  resides,  in  his  eighty-ninth 
year,  enjoying  good  health  and  retaining  all  his  fac- 
ulties. 

Thomas  F.  Dilworth,  fifth  son  of  John  D.  Dil- 
worth, and  only  member  of  the  family  now  residing 
in  Delaware,  was  born  January  16,  1835,  in  the  fam- 
ily homestead,  in  which  he  has  always  lived.  Attend- 
ing the  public  schools  during  the  winter  mouths 
constituted  his  education  till  his  eighteenth  year ;  the 
three  winters  following  he  attended  New  Castle  In- 
stitute, spending  a  part  of  his  time  during  the  third 
year  in  the  office  of  his  father,  then  clerk  of  the  peace 
for  New  Castle  County. 

Mr.  Dilworth  had  in  very  early  life  taken  part  in 
the  farm-work,  and,  after  assisting  his  father  till  the 
end  of  his  term,  he  took  entire  charge  of  the  proper- 
ty, and  has  devoted  his  whole  energy  since  to  the 
business  of  farming.  The  homestead  farm  had  run 
down  till  it  scarcely  produced  bread  for  the  family, 
but  under  his  management  it  compares  well  with  the 
best  in  the  neighborhood.  He  early  began  investi- 
gating the  values  of  and  using  artificial  manures ; 
engaging  in  large  and  small  fruit  cultivation,  espe- 
cially in  peach-growing.  Of  this  fruit  he  obtained 
good  crops  for  a  number  of  years. 

In  1876  Mr.  Dilworth  bought  the  land  of  Dr.  D. 
Stewart,  extending  from  the  Dilworth  farm  to  the 
river,  and  also  set  in  peaches,  making  about  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  that  fruit;  since  then  he  has  been 
farming  the  whole  tract,  about  five  hundred  acres,  as 
one  farm ;  has  erected  dairy  buildings,  stabling  for 
fifty  cows  and  all  necessary  appliances  of  a  first-class 
dairy,  including  the  wholesale  manufacture  of  ice 
cream  in  summer;  ice-houses  and  ice-pond  being 
needful  adjuncts. 

Raising  vegetables  on  a  large  scale,  poor  markets 
resulted  in  the  erection  of  a  canning  factory,  whose 
capacity  he  extended  to  ofler  his  neighbors  a  market 
for  their  stock.  Several  hundred  thousand  cans  are 
packed  each  year,  and  the  business  is  growing.  His 
idea  is  to  connect  with  farming  everything  properly 
belonging  with  it. 

Mr.  Dilworth  uses  machinery  where  it  is  practica- 
ble ;  as  grinding  food  for  stock,  sawing  wood,  rails, 
posts,  boxes  for  the  factory,  etc.,  and  buys,  as  well  as 
sells,  by  wholesale,  often  furnishing  his  laborers  with 
supplies  at  a  small  advance. 

He  has  never  held  other  than  local  public  offices, 
not  caring  to  enter  at  all  into  political  life.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  for  many 
years.  Mr.  Dilworth  married,  in  1864,  Henrietta 
Maria  Stewart,  daughter  of  Dr.  D.  Stewart  and  grand- 
daughter of  Judge  Earle,  of  the  Superior  Court  of 
Maryland.  They  have  had  three  children — Eliza 
Margaret  (who  died  young),  Henrietta  Tilghman  and 
Rebecca  Francis. 

The  tract  "Chelsey,"  on  the  south  side  of  St. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


George's  Creek,  being  the  first  firm  neck  of  land,  was 
granted  November  5,  1675,  to  Ann  Whale,  widow  of 
Greorge  Whale.  The  tract  embraced  three  hundred 
acres,  and  was  adjoining  the  land  granted  to  Doctor 
Spry.  The  tract  was  sold  by  George  Moore,  son  of 
Ann  Whale,  to  John  Ogle,  who  sold  to  John  Test. 
The  property  was  next  owned  by  Marmaduke  Ran- 
dall. On  the  6th  of  January,  1681,  Roeloff  Andries 
and  Jacob  Aertsen  petitioned  the  court  to  grant  them 
this  tract,  showing  that  it  was  forfeited  by  reason  of 
non-compliance  with  the  regulations,  which  require 
that  the  property  be  seated  and  improved  within  ^ve 
years.  The  petition  was  granted  and  warrant  prom- 
ised if  they  complied  with  the  regulations. 

On  November  5, 1676,  "  Hampton,"  a  tract  of  three 
hundred  acres,  was  patented  to  John  Ogle  by  Gov- 
ernor Andros.  It  was  on  the  south  side  of  St. 
George's  Creek  and  adjoined  land  of  Ann  Whale. 
This  was  conveyed  September  15,  1691,  to  Edward 
Gibbs,  and  in  1723  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  acres 
of  it  was  sold  to  John  Elliott.  The  present  owner  is 
William  McMullen. 

In  1676  George  Ashton  surveyed  a  part  of  the 
ferm  now  belonging  to  the  heirs  of  Christopher  Van- 
degriil.    It  extended  northward  to  Doctor's  Swamp. 

Andrew  Eliason  is  a  retired  farmer  of  St.  Greorge's 
Hundred.  His  grandparents,  Andrew  and  Lydia 
Eliason,  came  to  this  country  from  England,  before 
the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  settled  in  Delaware. 
Seven  children  were  born  to  them,  viz. :  Susannah, 
Joshua,  William,  Dorington,  Rachel,  Andrew  and 
Esther.  William,  the  f&ther  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketh,  was  born  October  7, 1780.  He  was  married  four 
times, — first  to  a  Miss  Bunker,  who  died  soon  after  her 
marriage  without  leaving  issue;  second  to  Ann  Evans, 
by  whom  he  bad  three  children,  viz. :  Joshua,  Mary 
Ann  and  Andrew,  the  subject  of  this  sketch ;  third 
to  Sarah  Douglass,  the  mother  of  John  D.  and  James 
J.  Eliason,  and  fourth  to  Ann  Williams,  the  mother 
of  his  youngest  child,  Charles  T.  Eliason.  He  was  a 
quiet,  industrious  farmer,  respected  and  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  died  suddenly  January  7, 1827, 
at  the  early  age  of  forty-six. 

In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  had  incurred  heavy 
losses  in  consequence  of  having  become  surety  for  his 
friends,  and  upon  his  death  his  administrator,  under 
the  then  existing  laws,  sold  all  of  his  property,  in- 
cluding even  his  personal  effects  for  the  payment  of 
the  same.  Packed  in  an  old  leather-covered  trunk, 
his  wardrobe  was  ofiered  at  public  sale,  and  Andrew, 
then  a  lad  of  sixteen  years,  became  the  purchaser. 

This  trunk  is  still  in  his  possession,  a  cherished 
memento  of  a  revered  father  and  of  the  disastrous 
period  in  which  he  closed  a  life  of  honorable  en- 
deavor. 

This  time  of  hardship  and  trial,  which  attended  the 
close  of  the  father's  life,  was  the  beginning  of  a  career 
of  signal  prosperity  for  the  son. 

Andrew  Eliason,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  April  80, 1810,  in  St.  George's  Hundred,  not  far 


from  Mt.  Pleasant.  His  mother,  Ann  Evans,  died 
while  he  was  an  infant.  Left  a  penniless  orphan  at 
the  early  age  of  sixteen,  and  thrown  at  once  upon  his 
own  resourcess,  with  no  liberal  educational  advan- 
tages, and  nothing  to  rely  upon  but  himself,  his  pros- 
perous and  useful  life  is  a  living  illustration  of  what 
courage  and  self-reliance  can  accomplish,  when 
joined  with  integrity  and  honesty  of  purpose. 

Andrew's  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives.  Before  his  father's  death  he  worked  on 
the  farm  and  helped  attend  to  the  stock  in  the  winter. 
Very  little  attention  seems  to  have  been  paid  to  his 
education  at  this  period,  for  he  has  often  been  heard 
to  remark  that  until  after  his  father's  death  he  had 
hardly  been  the  inside  of  a  school-house. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1827,  Andrew  found 
a  good  friend  in  Mr.  James  T.  Bird,  by  whom  he  was 
employed  to  drive  teams  upon  the  Chesapeake  and 
Delaware  Canal,  then  in  course  of  completion.  He 
went  to  live  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bird  in  1827,  and  con- 
tinued with  them  two  years,  driving  teams  upon  the 
canal  for  ten  months  in  the  year,  working  early  and 
late.  The  other  two  mouths  of  the  year  he  spent  in 
school,  for  he  seems  thus  early  to  have  realized  the 
necessity  and  advantage  of  an  education.  He  often 
speaks  in  terms  of  afiection  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bird^ 
who  were  to  him  indeed  a  foster  father  and  mother. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  two  years  Mr.  Bird  found 
his  services  so  valuable  that  he  employed  him  to 
manage  and  take  charge  of  his  farm,  from  which  he 
then  removed.  By  ^carefully  saving  his  money  the 
young  farmer  and  manager  was  able,  by  March  1^ 
1833,  to  purchase  the  stock  and  farming  implements 
belonging  to  his  employer,  and  continued  on  as  the 
tenant.  On  the  21st  of  the  same  month  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lydia  Ann  Cann,  daughter  of  William 
Cann,  of  Glasgow,  Pencader  Hundred.  This  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  wisest  steps  of  his  life,  for  in  her  he 
gained  a  prudent,  faithful,  self-dmymg  companion 
and  helper,  to  whose  assistance  and  counsel  not  a 
little  of  his  success  in  life  is  due. 

In  1838  Mr.  Eliason  purchased;  of  his  two  half- 
brothers,  John  D.  and  James  J.  Eliason,  the  heirs  of 
their  mother,  Sarah  Douglass,  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  lives,  and  on  which  he  has  lived  continuously 
since  he  purchased  it. 

He  has  been,  all  his  life,  engaged  in  fanning,  to 
the  practical  details  of  which  he  has  given  the  closest 
attention.  Every  step  of  his  life  shows  evidence  of 
sound  judgment  and  strong  common  sense.  Com- 
mencing life  as  a  driver  of  teams  on  the  canal,  he 
has  advanced  steadily  forward,  and,  by  the  exercise  of 
the  sterling  virtues  of  industry  and  frugality,  has  be- 
come the  owner  of  four  unencumbered  farms,  em- 
bracing nearly  nine  hundred  acres,  in  St.  George's 
and  Pencader  Hundreds. 

The  old  dwelling,  purchased  with  his  farm  in  1838, 
and  to  which  he  took  his  young  family,  was  ex- 
changed in  1856  for  the  commodious  mansion  in 
which  he  now  makes  his  home.] 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


985 


In  politics  Mr.  Eliason  was  a  strong  Democrat  un- 
til the  opening  of  the  Civil  War,  his  last  vote  for  a 
Democratic  President  being  cast  for  John  C.  Breck- 
inridge. During  the  war  he  was  a  pronounced  Union 
man,  and  since  that  time  he  has  been  an  ardent  Re- 
publican and  sincere  advocate  of  a  protective  tariff. 
He  has  been  three  times  elected  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Delaware — 
first  in  1864,  again  in  1866  and  again  in  1880.  While 
there  he  was  distinguished  for  his  sound  views  of  the 
real  needs  of  the  people  and  his  good  judgment  upon 
all  public  measures.  The  above  is  well  illustrated  by 
a  little  incident  of  the  session  of  1867  :  A  promi- 
nent member  of  the  House  came  in  one  morning  just 
as  the  ayes  and  nays  were  being  called  upon  an  im- 
portant bill.  As  he  entered  the  room  he  heard  his 
name  called,  and  not  knowing  what  the  bill  under 
consideration  was,  he  quickly  turned  to  Mr.  Eliason, 
who  was  standing  near,  with  the  question:  ''How 
did  you  vote,  Andrew?  You  are  cUwaya  right." 
Being  told  "  aye/'  he,  without  hesitation,  cried  out : 
'•  Mr.  Speaker,  I  vote  '  aye.'  "  In  the  session  of  1867 
Mr.  Eliason  originated  and  introduced  into  the 
House  of  Representatives  the  first  bill  securing 
property  rights  to  married  women  in  Delaware  (see 
Hottse  Journal  1867,  p.  353),  and  to  his  efforts  is 
chiefly  due  the  credit  of  so  moulding  public  opin- 
ion as  to  secure  the  final  passage  of  the  act.  On  its 
introduction  the  bill  met  with  considerable  opposi- 
tion, particularly  in  the  Senate.  It  was  urged  that  if 
the  old  fiction  that  husband  and  wife  were  one  person 
in  law  were  destroyed,  and  the  common  law  right  of 
the  husband  to  the  property  of  the  wife  were  invad- 
ed, it  would  produce  such  discord  in  the  family  that 
it  would  thenceforth  be  impossible  for  husband  and 
wife  to  live  together.  Against  this  Mr.  Eliason  plead- 
ed the  hardship  and  injustice  of  a  law  that  took  from 
feeble  woman  all  rights  of  property  upon  marriage, 
and  so  often  gave  it  to  a  worthless  or  improvident 
husband.  Upon  his  motion  three  hundred  copies  of 
the  bill  were  ordered  to  be  piftnted.  These,  by  his 
direction,  were  distributed  all  over  the  State.  The 
bill  finally  passed  the  House,  but  was  killed  in  the 
Senate.  The  distribution  of  the  copies  of  the  bill 
throughout  the  State,  however,  created  such  a  public 
sentiment  in  its  favor  that  at  the  next  session  of  the 
Legislature  the  bill  became  a  law.  To  his  efforts 
while  in  the  Legislature  are  also  in  great  measure 
due  the  passage  of  the  law  that  prohibits  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors  in  Delaware  on  election  day — one 
of  the  best  laws  on  the  statute-books. 

Mr.  Eliason  is  a  man  of  strong  religious  convic- 
tions, having  been,  from  early  manhood,  a  stanch 
Presbyterian.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  Forest  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Middletown  from  its  organization,  in  1850,  and  is  the 
only  living  link  connecting  the  present  Presbyt^ian 
Church  organization  at  Middletown  with  the  old 
Forest  Church  congregation.  He  was  elected  a 
trustee  of  the  eld  Forest  Church  in  1840,  and  is  the 
62i 


only  surviving  member  of  the  board  of  trustees 
then  chosen. 

He  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  People's  National 
Bank  of  Middletown,  and  has  been  since  its  organiza- 
tion. 

He  is  a  man  of  quiet  demeanor,  modest  and  ap- 
proachable. In  person  tall  and  erect,  though  past 
three-score  and  ten  years.  He  has  eight  children 
and  has  lived  to  see  seventeen  grandchildren. 

His  children  are  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Sanborn,  widow  of 
the  late  Dr.  Albert  H.  Sanborn,  of  Leipsic,  Delaware ; 
Mrs.  Sallie  E.  Houston,  wife  of  William  H.  Hous- 
ton, Esq.,  a  retired  farmer  of  Middletown,  Dela- 
ware ;  Mrs.  Lydia  E.  Roth  well,  wife  of  John  M. 
Rothwell,  a  feirmer  near  Middletown  ;  Mrs.  Catherine 
Naudain,  wife  of  George  W.  W.  Naudain,  a  mer- 
chant of  Middletown ;  Andrew  S.  Eliason,  a  farmer 
near  Summit  Bridge,  Delaware ;  James  T.  and  Lewis 
£.  Eliason,  lumber  and  coal  merchants,  at  New 
Castle,  Delaware;  and  John  Franklin  Eliason,  who 
is  a  dealer  in  merchandise  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Dela- 
ware, and  takes  the  active  oversight  of  his  father's 
home  farm.  Of  the  grandchildren,  two  young  men 
have  reached  their  majority  and  are  in  business. 
One,  Andrew  E.  Sanborn  Esq.,  is  an  attorney  at  Wil- 
mington, associated  with  Levi  C.  Bird,  Esq.,  a  son  of 
Mr.  Eliason's  early  patron  and  employer.  The 
other,  William  Rothwell,  is  in  the  employ  of  James 
T.  Eliason  &  Brother,  at  New  Castle,  Delaware. 

In  his  home  circle  Mr.  Eliason  is  seen  at  his  best, 
for  there  the  virtues  of  his  private  character  most 
conspicuously  shine.  Blest  still  with  the  companion- 
ship of  the  wife  of  his  youth,  (with  whom  he  has 
recently  celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his 
marriage),  he  has  lived  to  see  his  large  family  grow 
up,  successfully  start  in  business,  marry,  and  settle 
within  a  radius  of  fifteen  miles  from  his  fireside. 
Viewing  with  complacency  the  mountains  of  diffi- 
culty over  which  he  has  successfully  climbed,  he,  in 
quiet  retirement,  on  his  own  broad  acres,  is  now  en- 
joying the  peaceful  fruits  of  a  virtuous  and  well-spent 
life.  His  character  may  be  summed  up  in  few  words, 
as  one  of  the  best  types  of  a  self  made  man,  with 
the  courage  of  his  convictions,  of  the  strictest  integ- 
rity and  honesty  of  purpose,  a  good  citizen,  a  faith- 
ful friend,  and  an  affectionate  husband  and  father. 

The  territory  embraced  in  this  hundred  was  all 
taken  up  by  Augustine  Herman,  of  Bohemia  Manor, 
in  1671,  under  a  claim  of  title  fi'om  Lord  Baltimore, 
and  extended  from  the  Delaware  River,  between  St. 
George's  and  Appoquinimink  Creeks,  westward  to  the 
eastern  bounds  of  Bohemia  Manor.  This  large  tract 
was  called  "  St.  Augustine  Manor."  The  title  was 
not  valid  and  was  soon  after  abandoned,  at  least  as 
far  as  the  disputed  territory  was  concerned.  He 
then  made  application  to  the  authorities  at  New 
York  for  several  hundred  acres  of  land  lying  on  the 
Delaware  on  the  north  side  of  Appoquinimink  Creek, 
and  south  of  St  Augustine's  Creek.  His  rights  in 
this  warrant  he  transferred  to  his  sons,  Ephraim  and 


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986 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Oaaparas.  The  land  was  surveyed  by  Captain 
Cantwell,  December  I,  1675,  and  contained  four 
hundred  acres.  This  tract  had  been  granted  by 
Commander  John  Carr  to  the  Hermans  in  1673,  but 
the  Dutch  soon  after  seized  the  territory.  The  grant, 
however,  was  renewed  by  Commander  Peter  Alrichs, 
February  6, 1674,  and  a  patent  granted  by  Governor 
Anthony  Colve,  February  16th  of  the  same  year. 
This  tract  descended  to  Ephraim  Augustine  Herman, 
who,  on  August  12, 1713,  sold  it  to  Hans  Hanson, 
Bernard  Jooston,  Johannes  Vanheklin,  William 
Hanson,  John  Hanson,  Isaac  Qooding  and  Johannes 
Swart.  It  remained  joint  property  until  February 
17,  1717,  when  they  released  to  each  other.  Hans 
Hanson  received  a  tract  called  **  Long  Neck,"  which 
by  his  will,  bearing  date  January  25,  1753,  he  devised 
to  his  son  Philip  together  with  his  dwelling  and  two 
other  tracts  of  fast  land  and  some  marsh  land.  Philip 
Hanson  sold  his  tract  to  Cornelius  Carty,  October 
30,  1756.  Cornelius  Carty  also  purchased  the  portion 
of  John  GK>oding  which  was  sold  by  the  sheriff 
November  13,  1766.  He  also  purchased  a  large 
quantity  of  land  in  this  vicinity  which  he  sold  at 
different  times.  In  1762  to  Gertrude  Rothwell ;  1764 
to  John  Jones  and  John  Hanson;  1767  to  William 
Hanson  and  Isaac  Gooding,  and  November  18,  1766, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  near  Silver  Run  to 
Lawrence  Higgins,  who,  February  15, 1775,  conveyed 
the  tract  to  Samuel  Smith.  The  four  hundred  acre 
grant  of  Herman's  is  now  prt)bably  owned  by  E.  R. 
Norny,  Edward  Bringhurst  and  John  Bailey.  On 
E.  R.  Norny's  property  is  a  fishery  which  has  been 
there  for  at  least  one  hundred  years. 

A  warrant  dated  23d  of  February,  1682,  was 
granted  to  Casparus  Herman  for  a  resurvey  of  his 
land  and  plantation  near  Reeden  Island,  according  to 
the  bounds  of  the  English  and  Dutch  patents.  It 
was  resurveyed  June  24, 1686,  and  was  bounded  east- 
ward with  the  Delaware  River,  westward  by  the 
King's  Road,  which  leads  to  Appoquinimink,  north 
by  St.  Augustine's  Creek,  south  by  the  main  stream 
of  Appoquinimink,  with  a  branch  called  Skunk  Kill, 
containing  in  all  three  thousand  two  hundred  and 
nine  acres.  Also  a  tract  above  the  plantation  called 
"  Poplar's  Neck,"  eight  hundred  and  fifty-eight  acres 
on  the  south  side  of  Arrent's  Creek  or  Kill  (St. 
Augustine). 

Ephraim,  the  eldest  son  of  Augustine  Herman,  of 
Bohemia  Manor,  held  various  offices  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  New  Castle  County  Court.  He  was 
clerk  of  the  court,  receiver  of  quit  rents,  surveyor  and 
vendue  master  from  1673  until  1684,  when  upon  the 
*death  of  his  father  he  succeeded  to  the  estates.  He 
moved  to  Bohemia  Manor,  where  he  died  about  1690. 
Casparus,  the  second  son,  then  living  on  his  planta- 
tion in  St.  George's  Hundred,  at  the  decease  of  his 
brother  moved  to  Cecil  County,  whence  he  was  sent 
to  represent  his  district  in  the  Assembly  in  1694. 
The  property  of  Ephraim  Herman  was  sold  to  differ- 
ent persons,  part  to  Griffith  Jones  in  1685.     In  1691 


the  widow  of  Ephraim  Herman  received  a  deed  from 
the  administrator  for  three  lots  in  New  Castle  and 
the  interest  on  a  four  hundred  acre  tract  held  with 
Johannes  De  Haes  and  an  eighteen  hundred  acre 
tract  on  Duck  Creek.  Casparus  Herman  held  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  with  Captain  Edward  Cantwell 
under  warrant  of  March  2,  1681,  situated  on  both 
sides  of  Drawyer's  Creek,  one  hundred  acres  on  each 
side,  '^Itt  being  for  ye  use  of  a  water-mill  which  said 
Cantwell  and  herman  intered  to  erect  on  ye  sd  branch 
for  ye  public  good  of  ye  Inhabitants."  Whether  the 
mill  was  built  or  not  is  unknown.  If  so  every  trace 
or  record  of  it  or  its  site  have  passed  into  oblivion. 
The  common  opinion  that  the  mill  owned  by  William 
H.  Yoshall  &  Bro.  is  the  one  referred  to,  as  that  was 
built  at  a  later  day  by  John  Vance.  He  also  in- 
herited his  father's  and  brother*s  estates.  In  1679  he 
sold  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land  on  north  side 
of  "Arent's  Kill "  to  John  Biske,  who.  May  3, 1680, 
sold  to  Huybert  Laurensen,  of  '*  Swanwyck,"  (above 
New  Castle.)  This  was  part  of  a  tract  of  three  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  which  he  took  up  March  25, 1676, 
and  was  called  "  ye  good  neighborhood."  It  was  on 
the  northeast  side  of  Appoquinimink  Creek. 

A  large  part  of  the  land  lying  on  the  Delaware  and 
along  the  Appoquinimink  about  1707-'08  came  into 
the  possession  of  Samuel  Vance,  who  settled  upon  it, 
and  from  him  the  place  known  for  many  years  as 
Vance's  Neck  takes  its  name.  The  principal  owners 
of  the  land  in  Vance's  Neck  at  the  present  time  are : 
Z.  A.  Pool,  James  M.  Vandegrift,  James  Gordon  and 
Greorge  Burgess.  Reedy  Island  Neck  north  of  Vance's 
Neck,  and  extending  from  Macdonough  to  the  Dela- 
ware River  between  St.  Augustine  Creek  and  Silver 
Run,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Z.  A.  Pool,  Leonard 
G.  Vandegrift,  Jr.,  C.  J.  Vandegrift,  Richard  Eaton, 
Wilson  E.  Vandegrift,  Leonard  G.  Vandegrift,  Sr., 
and  Harry  Walter.  Samuel  Vance  also  became  the 
owner  of  lands  farther  up  the  stream.  He  conveyed 
one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  to  his  son  John,  May 
30, 1733.  John  also-purchased.  May  30, 1738,  a  tract 
of  land  known  as  "  Lackford  Hall,"  of  Garrett  and 
Anthony  Dushane,  and  received  a  patent  for  it  March 
24, 1740.  This  was  a  portion  of  six  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  patented  to  John  Taylor,  March 
26,  1684,  and  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Drawyer's 
Creek,  between  Taylor's  Branch  and  Snowding's 
Branch,  and  was  known  as  **  Taylor's  Neck."  Ad- 
joining on  the  west,  and  overlapping  this  tract,  were 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  patented  to  Walter 
Rowle,  1st  of  Tenth  Month,  1684,  known  as '' Rowle's 
Sepulchre."  A  triangular  piece  of  land  called  the 
Trap,  containing  sixty-one  acres  of  land,  adjoins 
'*  Lackford  Hall,"  and  is  on  both  sides  of  the  King's 
road.  It  is  not  ascertained  by  whom  it  was  originally 
taken  up,  but  it  was  re-surveyed  to  Anthony  Dushane 
on  warrant  of  September  17,  1740,  and  again  August 
30, 1750,  to  James  Macdonough,  to  whom  it  was  con- 
veyed by  Dushane,  November  15, 1748,  as  part  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres.    On  it  was  a  **  new 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


987 


tavern  house/'  which  after  the  Bevolation  was  known 
as  the  "  Qeneral  Knox,"  and  is  still  standing  and  now 
in  occupancy  of  William  H.  Lofland.  James  Mac- 
donough  came  from  Ireland  about  1725.  He  married 
Lydia  Laroux  and  had  five  sons  and  a  daughter.  One 
son  was  Commodore  Thomas  Macdonough  who  made 
himself  famous  on  Lake  Champlain  in  1814.  He  was 
born  at  the  "Trap"  or  Macdonough  as  it  is  now 
known.  This  tract  of  land  is  now  owned  by  Z.  A. 
Pool.  On  it  is  the  private  burying-ground  of  the 
Macdonoughs.  Tomb-stones  mark  the  last  resting- 
place  of  James  Macdonough,  who  died  January  18, 
1792,  aged  eighty  years ;  Lydia,  his  wife,  who  departed 
this  life  August  21,  1764,  aged  thirty-five  years; 
Thomas  Macdonough,  who  died  November  30, 1793, 
aged  forty-eight  years ;  Mary  M.,  his  wife,  whose  death 
occurred  November  1, 1792,  aged  forty-one  years  and 
Bridget  Macdonough,  who  departed  this  life  August 
4, 1773,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four. 

A  large  tract  of  land  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
hundred,  west  of  the  river  lands,  was  originally  occu- 
pied by  Swedes  who  were  there  in  1675.  Their  names 
were  Dirck  Williamson,  Dirck  Laurensen  and  Claes 
Karsson.  For  some  reason  they  were  dispossessed, 
and  on  the  8d  of  May,  1686,  Edward  Green  took  up  a 
tract  for  two  thousand  five  hundred  acres,  which  upon 
survey,  a  few  days  later,  proved  to  be  two  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  forty-two  acres.  This  land  he 
retained  until  August  21,  1691,  when  he  sold  it  to 
John  Scott,  from  whom  Scott's  Run  takes  its  name. 
It  was  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Herman  and  Alrichs 
lands,  and  on  the  north  by  St.  Gorge's  Creek.  John 
Scott  died,  leaving  an  only  son  and  child,  Walter 
Scott,  who.  May  16, 1707,  conveyed  the  entire  tract  to 
Matthias  Van  Bebber,  who,  the  same  day,  transferred 
it  to  Andrew  Hamilton  in  the  interest  of  himself, 
GeQrge  Yeates  and  David  French.  He  died  before 
the  division  was  made,  and  the  transfers  were  made 
by  his  son,  James  Hamilton,  who,  at  the  request  of 
C^rge  Yeates,  conveyed  a  one-third  interest  to  John 
Inglis,  July  4, 1745,  and  December  4, 1746,  conveyed 
the  one-third  interest  of  David  French  to  John  Mo- 
land.  The  three — Hamilton,  Moland  and  Inglis — 
united,  November  16, 1750,  in  conveying  the  greater 
part  of  the  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty-two 
acres  to  David  Thomas,  who  also  bought  of  the  Sheriff 
William  Golden,  February  16,  1753,  thirteen  and  a 
quarter  acres  of  land  on  which  was  a  fulling-mill.  The 
thirteen  acres  were  patented  December  12,  1744,  to 
Isaac  Dushane  who  sold  the  tract  May  14, 1750  to  Alex- 
ander Mc  Alpine.  The  quarter  acre,  also  on  Scott's  run 
was  sold  March  12,  1716,  by  Qnin  Anderson  to  John 
Stewart  with  liberty  **  to  build  or  cause  to  be  erected  or 
bnilt  a  Fulling  mill  and  to  dig  a  race  for  the  use  of  the  s^ 
mill,  and  to  drown  as  much  Land  as  shall  be  need  full 
and  required,"  which  liberty  he  took.  This  also  came 
to  McAlpine,  who  became  involved  financially  and 
was  closed  out  by  the  sheriff.  This  mill  was  near 
Fiddlers  Bridge,  and  descended  to  David  W.  Thomas, 
by  whom  it  was  sold  to  Jacob  Vandegrift,  on  the  3d 


of  April,  1817.  On  March  15,  1813,  Curtis  Bowman 
became  the  owner.  The  land  on  which  the  mill 
stood  is  now  owned  by  G^rge  W.  Townsend.  It  was 
last  successfully  operated  during  the  ownership  of 
McDowell. 

David  Thomas  in  1761,  owned  a  mill  seat  in  St. 
(Georges,  which  was  owned  by  the  family  until  the 
Delaware  and  Chesapeake  Canal  was  constructed 
when  the  property  was  bought  by  the  Company. 

On  April  1, 1749,  six  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres 
of  Green's  Forest  were  sold  by  some  of  the  proprie- 
tors to  Abraham  Evans.  David  Thomas,  who  owned 
the  greater  part  of  the  land  warranted  to  Edward 
Green,  had  two  sons,  Enoch  and  David.  The  former 
studied  medicine  and  was  heir  to  the  large  posses- 
sions of  his  father.  After  his  death  the  property 
passed  to  his  son  Nathan,  who  called  the  place  '*  the 
Plains."  A  portion  of  it,  now  known  as  the  *'  Idalia 
Manor,"  is  owned  by  Mrs.  John  W.  Osborne,  who  was 
a  daughter  of  Nathan  Thomas.  In  1865  a  portion  of 
the  tract  was  sold  to  Francis  S.,  William  A.  and  John 
McWhorter,  by  whom  it  was  conveyed  to  Bichard  T. 
Cann,  the  present  owner. 

In  1671  Gov.  Francis  Lovelace  patented  to  Jau  Sieriks 
three  hundred  acres  of  upland  and  some  adjacent 
marsh.  This  tract  was  known  as  "  High  Hook,*'  and 
during  the  Bevolutionary  War  belonged  to  John  Y. 
Hyatt,  who  was  taken  prisoner  from  here  by  the 
British.  It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  James  M. 
Vandegrift. 

On  April  17, 1667,  there  was  patented  to  Garret 
Otto  two  hundred  and  seventy -two  acres  of  land  be- 
tween two  of  the  branches  of  Drawyer's  Creek. 
This  farm  is  now  owned  by  William  Polk,  who  in- 
herited from  his  grandfather,  William  Polk. 

In  1685  there  was  surveyed  for  Daniel  Smith  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Isaac  Woods,  known  as  "  Straw- 
berry Hill." 

In  1684  Amos  Nichols  surveyed  three  hundred 
acres,  which  included  a  portion  of  the  farm  now 
owned  by  G^eorge  Houston.  It  was  at  one  time 
owned  by  Thomas  Hyatt,  and  at  a  later  period  by 
James  Wilson.  The  portion  of  Bohemia  Manor  in 
the  State  of  Delaware,  originally  owned  by  the  Her- 
mans, is  now  principally  in  the  possession  of  John 
P.  Cochran,  George  S.  Brady  and  Manlove  D.  Wil- 
son. 

The  Vandykes  came  to  St.  George's  Hundred  about 
1715,  and  shortly  afterwards  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
in  Dutch  Neck,  known  as  "Berwick."  They  also 
purchased,  in  1719,  two  hundred  acres  of  land  on 
Doctor's  Swamp,  at  that  time  in  the  possession  of 
John  Vanhekle.  This  land  was  patented  November 
5,  1675,  to  Ann  Whale,  whose  son,  George  Moore,  sold 
it  to  James  Crawford.  In  thb  portion  of  St.  George's 
Nicholas  Vandyke  was  born  in  1740.  "Berwick" 
remained  for  many  years  in  the  possession  of  this 
family,  the  several  members  of  which  were  prominent 
in  the  history  of  this  hundred.  It  is  nx)w  the  prop- 
erty ef  Arthur  Colebum. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  Yandegriils,  an  extensive  and  prominent  fam- 
ily in  this  hundred,  came  here  about  1708.  Leonard 
Vandegrift,  an  elder  in  Drawyer's  Church  in  1711, 
was,  doubtless,  the  ancestor  of  the  Vandegrifts  in  this 
neighborhood.  Leonard  and  Christopher  are  family 
names.  The  homestead  of  the  Vandegrifts  is  now 
owned  by  Eli  Biddle. 

James  M.  Vand^riffc,  a  farmer  of  Macdonougb, 
New  Castle  County,  was  born  June  15, 1813,  near  the 
place  where  he  now  resides.  His  father  was  Jacob 
Vandegrift,  who  was  also  a  farmer  of  the  same  county, 
a  man  of  great  integrity,  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  a  trusted  representative  of  his  fel- 
low-citizens for  years  in  the  State  Legislature.  He 
died,  very  highly  respected,  February  1,  1845,  in  the 
eighty  second  year  of  his  age.  The  Vandegrifts  were 
originally  from  Holland,  and  came  to  this  country 
among  the  earliest  settlers.  The  grandfather  was 
Christopher  Vandegrift,  a  farmer  of  St  George's  Hun- 
dred, and  his  ancestors  were  owners  of  land  from  their 
earliest  history  in  America.  His  mother  was  Jane 
McWhorter,  of  New  Castle  County.  She  was  a  de- 
voted Christian  and  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  She  died  November  20, 1829,  leaving  ^ve 
surviving  children.  Mr.  Vandegrift  received  his 
education  at  Wilmington  and  Middletown,  having  the 
benefit  of  a  select  school  first  at  Middletown,  taught 
by  Rev.  Joseph  Wilson,  and  aftierwards  under  the  tu- 
torship of  Professor  Belknap,  for  two  sessions  in  Wil- 
mington. At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  returned  home 
and  engaged  in  farming  for  two  years,  with  his  father 
on  the  home  place. 

He  then  began  agricultural  life  on  his  own  account 
at  the  paternal  homestead  known  as  "  Retirement," 
a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  near  Macdonough. 
He  followed,  quite  successfully,  the  business  of  farm- 
ing until  1857,  when  he  removed  to  the  town  of 
Odessa. 

In  1860  Mr.  Vandegrift  removed  to  "  Elm  Grange," 
an  estate  containing  two  hundred  acres  near  Macdon- 
ough. He  rebuil  the  house  and  completed  a  beauti- 
ful and  substantial  residence  for  his  family.  He  has 
devoted  his  energies  chiefly  to  the  raising  of  cereals 
and  stock,  but  has  given  some  attention  to  fruit  cul- 
ture. He  owns  some  of  the  best  improved  lands  in 
New  Castle  County,  and  is  the  owner  of  large  amounts 
of  real  estate.  Mr.  Vandegrift  has  never  aspired  to 
political  position,  and,  although  holding  well  defined 
opinions,  is  not  a  partisan.  He  joined  the  Presby- 
terian Church  at  St.  George's  in  1842,  under  the  pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Jas.  C.  Howe.  He  has  been  for  many 
years  an  elder  in  that  church,  and  sustains  that  rela- 
tion at  this  time,  January,  1888.  He  served  as  a 
trustee  of  the  same  church  for  many  years.  Mr. 
Vandegrift  was  married  August  21,  1844,  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  E.,  daughter  of  John  Cochran,  of  Middle- 
town.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  from  early  life,  and  a  devoutly  pious  woman. 
She  died  December  14, 1868,  in  the  forty-seventh  year 
of  her  age,  leaving  the  following  children :  Olivia  C, 


wife  of  George  W.  Dennison,  a  merchant  in  Little 
Rock,  Arkansas;  Lina,  now  the  wife  of  Col.  B.  S. 
Johnston,  of  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  who  is  asso- 
ciated with  a  partner,  Mr.  Dodge,  counsellor  for  the 
Iron  Mountain  Railroad ;  and  Margaret  P.,  now  wife 
of  William  P.  Mifflin,  Esq.,  a  citizen  of  Middletown, 
Delaware.  Mr.  Vandegrift  was  married  a  second 
time,  October  31,  1872,  to  Miss  Angeline  C  ,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Joseph  Cleaver,  a  prominent  merchant  of  Port 
Penn,  and  sister  of  Mr.  Henry  Cleaver,  who  succeeds 
his  father  in  business,  and  of  Mr.  Joseph  Cleaver, 
who  is  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  near  Port 
Penn. 

Leonard  G.  Vandegrift  is  the  son  of  Christopher 
and  Lydia  Vandegrift,  and  was  born  February  9, 
1813,  near  Port  Penn,  in  St.  George's  Hundred,  New 
Castle  County,  Delaware,  and  has  always  lived  in 
sight  of  his  birth-place.  Aft;er  getting  what  educa- 
tion the  common  schools  afforded,  he  went  to  the 
Middletown  Academy,  which  at  that  day,  under  the 
management  of  Rev.  Joseph  Wilson,  was  an  educa- 
tional institution  of  considerable  strength  and  stand- 
ing. 

He  commenced  farming  within  a  year  or  two  after 
leaving  the  Middletown  Academy,  and  was  engaged 
in  that  business  until  his  youngest  son  attained  his 
majority,  when  he  gave  up  the  original  homestead 
'*Rushley"  and  most  of  the  land  belonging  to -the 
present  homestead  "  G^raldville,"  to  him. 

Mr.  Vandegrift  has  been  three  times  married. 
HLb  first  wife  was  a  Janvier,  of  which  marriage  two 
children  survive,  a  daughter  and  a  son  ;  his  second 
wife  was  a  Dilworth  of  which  marriage,  three  sons  sur- 
vive ;  and  his  third  and  present  wife  was  a  daughter 
of  hia  uncle,  Abram  Vandegrift.  There  are  no  issue 
of  the  last  marriage. 

The  Vand^rift  family  was  one  of  the  earliest 
families  to  settle  in  St  George's  Hundred,  being  un- 
doubtedly of  Dutch  descent  and  so  referred  to  by 
local  historians. 

The  earliest  account  of  their  connection  with  Dela- 
ware is  probably  that  in  Hazard's  Annals  of  Delaware 
and  Pennsylvania,  page  304,  where  it  is  stated  that 
Director  Stuy  vesant  of  New  Amsterdam,  now  New 
York,  appointed  certain  men,  among  them  one, 
Paulus  Lindert  Van  De  Graft,  old  burgomaster  of 
Amsterdam,  to  go  to  New  Amstel,  now  New  Castle, 
to  inquire  into  the  murder  of  certain  savages  on  the 
South,  now  Delaware  River.  This  was  in  the  spring 
of  1660. 

The  earliest  land  record  which  is  accessible,  reaches 
back  only  to  1708.  By  a  patent  from  Thomas  Penn 
and  William  Penn  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
acres  to  Leonard  Vandegrift,  it  is  recited  that  six 
hundred  acres  in  St  George's  were,  on  the  16th  day 
of  March,  1708.  granted  by  the  Commissioners  of 
Property  of  William  Penn  to  Jacob  Vandegrift, 
Daniel  Cormick  and  Albertus  Vanzant. 

This  grant  was  in  all  probability  in  pursuance  of  an 
order  made  by  Governor  Lovelace,  after  the  dispos- 


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^  1  .^  ;>  •• 
t.      !    ■   ,   ...- 


"*^f  low  land  lying  in  the 
^^^nn,  which,  in  1749, 
v>cree  and  one 
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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


session  of  the  Datch  settlement  by  the  English,  to  the 
effect  that  those  settlers  "  on  the  Delaware,  as  well  as 
elsewhere,  who  held  the  lands  by  patent  or  ground 
brief  of  Dutch  tenure,  and  those  who  have  none 
shall,  with  all  convenient  speed  apply  with  or  for 
them,  or  be  liable  to  penalty  by  law." 

An  examination  of  the  old  records  at  Harisburg 
and  Albany,  especially  the  latter,  would  undoubtedly 
furnish  a  valuable  history  of  the  Vandegrift  family. 

There  is  a  will  on  file  in  the  ofSce  of  the  register  of 
wills  for  New  Castle  County,  made  April  12,  1758,  by 
one,  Jacob  Vand^rift,  who  speaks  of  himself  as  an 
'*  old  "  man,  and  this  is  probably  the  original  patentee 
above  referred  to.  He  had  two  sons,  Leonard  and 
Jacob,  to  whom,  inf^  aHa,  he  bequeathed  his  "  silver 
buttons  to  be  equally  divided  between  them,''  and  1o 
one  of  his  daughters,  Christiana  Atkinson,  "  as  much 
striped  holland  as  would  make  her  a  complete  gown." 

It  is  hard  to  say  whether  the  Leonard  Vandegrift  to 
whom  the  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine  acres  were 
patented  was  a  brother  or  a  son  of  Jacob,  because  the 
county  records  show  two  Leonard  Vandegrifts  in  ex- 
istence at  this  time  and  also  a  Christopher  Vande- 
grift. 

Leonard,  the  patentee,  died  four  years  before  Jacob, 
in  1760,  and  those  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
acres,  now  known  as  the  Biddle's  Corner  farm,  were 
devised  to  Christopher,  and  have  remained  in  the 
Vandegrift  family  ever  since,  being  now  owned  by 
Thomas  J.  Craven  whose  mother  was  a  Vandegrift. 

Leonard  Vandegrift  was  one  of  the  substantial  men 
of  his  day  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  Legislature 
of  1808  and  1809.  His  son,  Christopher,  above 
referred  to,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  lived  to  be  eighty-five  years  old  and  died 
June  8th,  1816. 

The  femily  have  always  been  closely  identified  with 
the  welfare  and  management  of  Drawyer's  Presbyte- 
rian Church  and  with  the  St.  George's  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  have  also  always  taken  an  active  interest 
in  the  politics  of  their  State  and  County,  often  filling 
important  places  of  trust  and  honor. 

None  of  them,  however,  will  leave  behind  a  better 
record  for  uprightness  and  integrity  than  the  one  of 
whose  life  this  is,  in  part,  a  short  account.  The  pub- 
lic records  bear  witness  to  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
ple among  whom  he  has  spent  his  life  and  their 
election  of  him,  at  various  times,  to  oflSces  of  trust 
and  honor,  is  a  further  manifestation  of  their  belief 
in  his  sound  judgment  and  integrity.  He  has  always 
been  a  Democrat  and  as  such,  was  elected  State  Sena- 
tor in  1871  and  1873,  which  was  probably  the  most 
important  public  office  he  ever  filled. 

During  the  leisure  time  which  has  so  deservedly 
come  to  him  within  the  past  few  years,  he  has  been 
much  of  a  traveller,  and  has  visited  most  of  the 
States  of  the  Union.  He  is  now,  in  all  probability, 
the  oldest  member  of  his  family,  but  a  careful  and 
temperate  life  have  caused  the  years  to  rest  most 
lightly  upon  him. 


Reedy  Island  is  a  tract  of  low  land  lying  in  the 
Delaware  River  opposite  Port  Penn,  which,  in  1749, 
contained  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty -eight  perches.  This  was  war- 
ranted October  25, 1749,  to  Jonathan  Woodland  and 
surveyed  for  him  the  following  October.  On  Febru- 
ary 17,  1756,  he  sold  it  to  Charles  McKay.  The 
island  is  now  owned  partly  by  the  State  of  Delaware 
and  partly  by  the  United  States,  and  is  only  used  for 
state  and  goverment  purposes. 

On  June  22,  1676,  Joseph  Chew  conveyed  to 
Johannes  De  Haes  four  hundred  acres  of  land  on 
Appoquinimink  Creek.  This  was  the  **  Walnut 
Landing  "  tract  and  was  afterwards  owned  by  Henry 
and  John  Vauleuvinigh  by  whom  it  was  sold  to 
Thomas  Noxen.  It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mer- 
ritt  N.  Willits  and  Horatio  W.  Pharo. 

On  August  8, 1684,  there  was  warranted  to  Oeorge 
Geady  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  on  St.  George's 
Creek  between  Joy  and  Crystal  Runs.  This  land  is 
now  owned  by  Mrs.  L.  G.  Clark. 

In  1684,  there  was  patented  to  John  Walker  and 
Joseph  More  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  called  "  Mill 
Neck,"  on  whtch  there  was  a  mill  on  Drawyer's 
Creek.  No  ftirther  record  of  this  tract  has  been 
found. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  taxablesof  St.  George's 
Hundred  in  the  year  1804.  Those  marked  with  a 
star  {*)  own  a  home  and  lot. 

Joseph  AdaoM.  William  Bndj. 

John  Adair  *  Jamet  Borden. 

Wenel  Aldrichs.  Jamet  Burchell.* 

James  Anderson.  John  Bowing,  Sr. 

John  Aiken.  John  Boots. 

Mary  Aspril  est  Peregrine  Boots. 

Joseph  Aspril*s  est  Jacob  Boggs. 

John  Alston.  Frederick  BerkenbaiL 

Hugh  Aiken.  Samnel  Biddle. 

John  Ashpow.*  James  Blaney. 

Cornelias  Armi^rong.  Thomas  Bonldan. 

James  Aiken.  Bei^.  Boulden. 

John  Ahichs.  Sarah  Bantam*s  children. 

Peter  Alrichs*  est  Samuel  Bantam. 

Jshn  Alton.  John  Bratton,  Sr. 

Hogh  Aiken,  Jr.  John  Bennett. 

Isaac  Allman.  Thomas  Bird. 

John  AJlman.  Susan  and  Mary  Bird. 

Bei^.  Aterge.  Susan  Ballard. 

Samuel  Allen.  Boac  Boys. 

Moses  Archy.  Alex.  Briseoe. 

John  Armstrong.  John  Brown. 

Joseph  Alexander's  *  est  John  Bonsel. 

John  Alston^s  est  John  Belvllle  *  est 

Abner  Alston's  est  Nesbet  Bradley. 

Thomas  Butcher's  heirs.  Esekiel  Britton. 

Peter  Burgess.  Joseph  Barclay. 

Richard  Burchell.  John  Blackston. 

Darid  Burchard.  Jeremiah  Beaston  grist-mill. 

Andrew  Beston.  Henry  Borin. 

Oeorge  Beston.  Thomas  Black. 

Gilbert  Burchard.  J*«n«  Brown. 

William  Banks.  Heniy  Boyer. 

John  Bates.*  8«rf  *  Brown. 

Joshua  Bowring.*  Daniel  Blaney,  Esq. 

Ezekiel  Bowring.  Ber.  John  Barton. 

John  Burchard  est  James  A.  Bayard,  Esq. 

Wihner  Biddle.  Richard  Barret 

William  BiitL  Joseph  Burke.* 

Andrew  Biddle.  Levi  Bucklee. 


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HISTORY  OP  DBLAWARB. 


John  BlMkatos. 
Koah  BrmdshAW. 
Bolden  Biddl*. 
ChariM  Beaton. 
ThoniM  Booth.* 
MazweU  Bltt«t  Mt 
Eliat  and  Margaret  Booth. 
Samuel  Bowera. 
Prince  Brinkley. 
Inao  Bnrohard. 
Morinae  Burchard. 
Samnel  Burchard. 
Lawrence  Boyoe. 
Nathaniel  Oorington. 
John  Oann. 
John  Oarrol. 
William  Ckrrol. 
Hannibal  Ohambera. 
Peter  Chambera. 
John  Oampble. 
Be^J.  Gnlbertion. 
Thomai  Gulberison. 
Henry  Canary. 
Cornelius  Garty. 
James  Carpenter  est 
Thomas  Graren. 
Angnstus  Cann. 
Oaq>er  Goz. 
John  Oanlk. 
William  Oann. 
Bobert  Cannes  est 
Jacob  Oann. 
Michael  Conner. 
Bichard  GarpenUr. 
John  Cox.* 
Mary  Calhoan. 
James  Congo. 
Thomas  Comely. 
Thomas  Chestarmaii. 
Qeorge  Craig. 
Ber.  John  Collins  est 
Azariah  Clarke. 
William  Corbet*  tanyard. 
Pennel  Corbet. 
Jesse  Corse. 
Timothy  Clarice.* 
Darid  Cnstolow. 
Jasper  Carrey. 
John  Custslow. 
EUGole. 
Robert  Cann. 
Joshna  L.  Canby. 
Qeorge  Cox. 
BcaJ.  Canby. 
Bschel  Clayton. 
Bichard  Clayton. 
James  S.  Clayton. 
Mary  Gorbloy. 
Bichard  OnuUck. 
James  Clark. 
John  Connelly  * 
Joel  Cunout. 
Peter  Clerer. 
William  Clever.* 
John  OleaTer. 
John  Cochran. 
Francis  Oamthers. 
John  Caruthers. 
Mary  Chattous*  est 
Bobert  Grow. 
Dr.  William  Qupenter. 
William  Carpenter,  Jr. 
William  Garty. 
William  Clark. 
Alexander  Clark. 
Bobert  Cort>ley. 
John  A.  DUworth.* 
Jamas  DowsL 


Shadrach  Dorrit 
Abraham  DaTls. 
Aaron  Daniel  est 
Jamee^  Dler. 
Jediah  Derrickson. 
BeqJ.  Daris,  Sr. 
BeiU.  DaTis,  Jr. 
Gayer  Delhi  A  Co. 
Sharp  Delanoey  est 
Lake  Derrickson. 
James  Darragh's  sst 
Timothy  Darragfa. 
Thomas  Diers. 
Pierce  Derham. 
Pttter  B.  Dalaney. 
Stephen  Daris. 
Elisha  David. 
Morten  Dabbs. 
John  Dickinson,  Esq.,  est 
Archibald  Douglas  eat 
Jacob  Evertaon. 
Bverst  Brertaon  eat. 
John  Kliaaon. 
Andrew  Eliaaon. 
William  Eliaaon. 
Jacob  Egbertaon. 
Michael  Sbbert 
Mary  Erana. 
Cieaar  Evana.* 
LydUI 
John] 
Thomaa  FitigerakL* 
WUUamFhtfer. 
Henry  Fox. 
Michael  Handy. 
Samuel  Freman. 
Jonathan  Forman. 
Jamea  Frayer. 
George  Frayer. 
Thomaa  Farmer,  Sr. 
Thomaa  Fumer,  Jr. 
Sarah  FleMa. 
Aaariab  Falea. 
Edmund  Floyd. 
Archd.  Foater. 
Eneaa  Foatar. 
Jacob  Faaaon.* 
Samuel  Floyd. 
Jamea  Ferret*a  eat 
Samuel  Fraier. 
John  Ford,  Sr. 
Andrew  Ford. 
John  Ford,  Jr. 
John  Golden'a  eat 
Philip  Grove. 
Bichard  Garretaon, 
Heniy  Garrataon. 
Andrew  Garretaon. 
William  Gallagher. 
Abraham  Gooding. 
BeqJ.  Gibaon. 
John  Gordon. 
John  Glakhen. 
Jamea  Gibaon,  merchant 
BeiU.Green*a*eat 
John  Gold. 
Thomaa  Glauder. 
Darid  Glauder. 
John  C.  Girfaart 
Bichard  Gale. 
laaacGibba. 
Jodah  Green. 
Abraham  Green. 
Joaaph  Halnea. 
Thomaa  Hlnton. 
William  Hlnton. 
Jamea  Hanaon. 
PMer  Hyatt^a.aat 


Hanxy  Hook. 
Samuel  Herny. 
Joaeph  Hall,  merchant 
Joaq>h  Hickman 
Eliabeth  Horlen. 
Daniel  Hainea. 
Wflliam  Hanaon. 
Adam  Horn. 
Michael  HackeCt 
John  Hyatt 
Francia  Hyatt 
Nidiolaa  Hanaon. 
Andrew  Harman. 
Peter  ELanaon.* 
John  N.  Hyatt 
G«orgeHart 
John  Hamilton. 
John  Hanaon'a  eat 
Peter  HukilL 
Jacob  Hanghey. 
JesM  Holton. 
John  Hunt 
J(dm  Hanaon. 
John  Hutchinaon. 
Jacob  Harman. 
George  Harria.* 
William  Hurt 
Uaao  Hackett 
William  HilPa  eat 
Brther  HUl. 
John  Hyatt,  Eaq. 
Bichard  Hombly*a  eat 
Anthony  Higgina  eat 
Jeaae  Higgins*  eat 
Mary  Houaton. 
Jamea  Houaton. 
Jacob  Houaton. 
Jamea  Haughey. 
Charlea  Haughey. 
Francia  Haughey. 
Samuel  Hutchinaon. 
John  Hiland. 
Thomaa  Jamiaon. 
PMer  Jetton*a  eat 
Ann  Jetton. 
Samuel  Jonea. 
William  Johnaon. 
Thomaa  Jonea. 
Philip  Janvier. 
John  Janvier's*  est 
John  Janrier. 
Peregrine  Janvier. 
John  James. 
John  Jones,  Sr. 
John  Jones,  Jr. 
William  Jones. 
Moses  Jones. 
Arthur  E.  Jones. 
Joseph  Ireland,  merchant 
William  James  est 
James  Irwin. 
Kensey  Johns,  Esq.,  est 
Peter  King. 
Maurice  Kean. 
Thomas  Kirkley. 
William  Kirkman. 
Jacob  King. 
John  Kelley. 
John  Kithcart. 
Beuben  Klrby. 
John  Knotta. 
David  Kennedy*!  est 
John  L.  Knight's  sst 
John  King,  Jr.,  sst 
David  Lord. 
Jonathan  Lord.* 
James  Lord. 
Samuel  Lonnon. 


Digitized  by 


William  Liston. 

Arch.  LalTerty. 

Owen  Loyd. 

Alex.  Lee. 

John  Listoo. 

Joseph  Lobar. 

Thomas  Lyon. 

John  Laflbr^. 

Bichard  Lancaster. 

Bice  Lewis. 

Lydia  Lewis. 

William  Unsey. 

Patrick  Lyons  eat^ 

William  Lambert*  eat 

laaaoLum. 

Patrick  McCuidy. 

David  McWharter. 

John  McCool*a  eat 

Patrick  McMulUn. 

Charlea  McNamee, 

Darid  MoCbrrical. 

Wm.  McOonanghy,  i 

P.  MoConangfay,  merdiant 

Bobert  McGinnia. 

Edward  McOlelland. 

Joaaph  McLaughlin. 

William  McGM»e. 

JohnMcGiU. 

Percilla  McGilBn. 

Alex.  McMurphy,  griil«yiL 

Bobert  McMurphy  eat 

MaryMcMeen.* 

Patrick  McDonongh. 

Sarah  MoDcmough. 

David  MitcheU. 

John  Morten. 

William  Mountain. 

Joaeph  Mountain. 

Bobert  MiUigao,  St. 

Sarah  Murch. 

Mathew  Murch.* 

Gomeliua  Morfrad,*  Jr. 

Cornelius  Morford,  Br. 

JtfmMoiTia. 

William  Murphy. 

Jamea  Morten. 

John  Moody. 

Thomaa  Muaain. 

Bobert  Moore,  8r. 

Bobert  Moore,  Jr. 

John  Moita. 

Thomas  Bfathew. 

Bobert  MaxweU.* 

Mary  Max  welL* 

William  Meredeth.* 

MurkManlove. 

Mathew  Maaun. 

JohnMalater. 

Arch.  Murray. 

Francea  Moore*a  eat. 

Mary  Moore. 

laaao  Moody 'a*  eet 

Alex.  Moody. 

Bei^.  MarahaU  *  eat 

Abel  Milea  eat 

Dr.  BeiU.  Merritt 

Hugh  MathewB  eat 

William  Mathewa  eat 

Chariea  Moore. 

Areh.MelkML 

Sarah  ManaflehL 

Jamea  New^ 

Be^f.  Noxon. 

Jamea  Kicholaon. 

Andrew  Naodain  •  eat 

Arnold  Naodain*  eat 

Thomaa  Newlin*  eat 

Binea  Nevin. 

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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


991 


Bftntol  Owen. 
Peter  Ontnge. 
Bobert  Osbarn's  eft 
Jacob  Oder. 
Idward  Oldham  eft. 
Jofeph  Pool. 
LevlD  Phllllpf. 
Martha  Pennington. 
John  Pierce. 
Jonathan  Panl. 
John  Perry. 
William  Pwry. 
Bobert  Pierce. 
BeqJ.  Pierce. 
Jeremiah  Piereon. 
Samnel  Pierce. 
Abraham  Pierce  eft. 
P«ter  PefeiBon  eft 
Henry  Peterson,  Eeq.,*  fft 
Dr.  Henry  Petereon  eet 
Spencer  Price  eft 
Richard  Price,  Jr. 
Andrew  Price. 
William  Price,  tailor. 
Thomaf  Price. 
William  Price,  8r. 
WUliam  Porter. 
Samuel  Pennington,  8r. 
Samuel  Pennington,  Jr. 
Atkey  Pennington  eet 
John  A.  Pennington. 
Jamef  Pennington. 
William  Palmer. 
William  Palmer,  carpenter. 
Jamef  Palmer. 
Alrichs  Parker. 
George  Parker*f  eft 
John  P.  Pacft  eft 
John  Parker's  eit 
Ranier  Penton  •  eft 
WUliam  Pollard.* 
Nathan  Primus. 
John  Rodgers. 
WUliam  Richaidflon.* 
Isaac  Richardson. 
John  Rake. 
Rebecca  Read.* 
Morten  Read. 
Rev.  Thomaf  Read. 
William  Read. 
John  Robertf,  Jr. 
^  AlUn  Robertf. 
Jamef  Roberts. 
Ebenexer  Roberts. 
John  Rock. 

Thomas  Rogers,  merchant 
George  Ruth. 
WilUam  Rice. 
John  Reynolds,  Esq. 
Jeremiah  Reynolds  est. 
Jeremiah  Reynolds,  Jr. 
Ann  Reynolds. 
Thomas  Reynolds. 
PhiUp  Reading. 
DaTidS.Reeoe. 
Thomas  Rothwell. 
Joseph  Rothwell. 
William  Rnmsey  est. 
John  Reed. 
James  Riddle  est 
John  Redgrove. 
Ohariee  Rider. 
Ebeneeer  Rothwell. 
WUUam  Scott 
Bei^.  Shattan. 
William  Stuart. 
John  Smith. 
Charief  Smith. 


Robert  Smith. 

Samuel  Smith. 

Gershon  Sazton. 

John  Snagg. 

Dr.  David  Stewart.* 

Mary  Stewart* 

Margaret  Stewart* 

Ann  Stewart 

Jamef  Stewart 

Alex.  Stewart*f  eft 

John  Stewart 

Aaron  Stewart 

John  Sullivan. 

Samuel  Swing. 

Patrick  Shieldf. 

Thomaf  Shieldf. 

David  Snider. 

Ifsao  Scott 

MarySooU.* 

John  Starr.* 

Thoroaf  Starr. 

Ephraim  Starling. 

WUUam  Starling. 

Samuel  Skeer. 

Timothy  Scott 

Jacob  Skeer. 

Jordan  Stigeit. 

Jacob  Streeta.* 

WiUiam  Streetf. 

Oomeliuf  Schee. 

Nathan  Sohofleld,  Beq.,  eft 

WUUam  SUdham. 

William  See*f  eft 

Peter  See*f  eft 

Reuben  Segar  eft 

George  Spuncy. 

David  Sebo. 

William  Sutton. 

John  Sutton.* 

Jaquef  Swane. 

Gamaliel  Turner. 

Jofeph  Taylor. 

Richard  Taylor. 

William  Trible.* 

John  Tomkinf. 

Joshua  Toland. 

Savory  Toy. 

Elijah  Town. 

James  Townsend. 

Simon  Tuffery. 

William  Thomas  est.* 

Joseph  Tilman. 

Joseph  TatnaU. 

Samuel  Thomas.* 

Jamef  Thomas  est. 

David  Thomas. 

Bnooh  Thomas. 

Jacob  Yanlusen. 

WUliam  Vance. 

John  Vails  est 

John  Vails. 

Abraham  W.  Vansant 

Chrisn.  Vandegrift,  Sr. 

Chrisn.  Vandegrift,  Jr. 

Lewis  Vandegrift,  Sr. 

Lewis  Vandegrift,  Jr. 

WiUiam  Vandegrift,  grist-miU. 

Leonard  Vandegrift. 

Jacob  Vandegrift. 

Thomas  H.  Vangoyle. 

Jacob  Van  Horn  est 

WUUam  Veazey  est 

Joseph  Vance  est 

Isaac  Vandyke  est 

Henry  Vanbebberest 

Mary  Wilson. 

Hiram  Webb. 

John  Wheeler.* 


Ben.  Woodruff. 
John  Wright. 
Alexander  Wright 
Henry  Wright 
Mary  Wynkoop.* 
Ellas  Walraven  est. 
Jacob  Welsh. 
Adam  Wingber. 
William  Wagner. 
Peter  Wilkinson. 
David  Wilson.* 
Andrew  Wilson. 
John  Wilson. 
WUliam  WaUcer  est. 
John  Walker. 


Isaac  Wood. 
David  Witherspoon.* 
Thomas  Witherspoon* 
Christ  Weaver*  est. 
WiUiam  Workman. 
Maurice  Williams. 
Thomas  WUliams. 
Spencer  Williams. 
George  Whiner. 
Abraham  Williams. 
Samuel  WUliams. 
Bei^.  Welsh. 
Peter  Teocum  est 
Enoch  YH)Oum. 
Robert  Teocum. 


Roads.— The  earliest  road  in  St.  Oeorge's  Hundred 
was  laid  out  in  1660  and  was  known  as  "  Herman's 
cart  road.'*  It  extended  from  Bohemia  Manor  to  the 
Appoquinimink  Creek,  near  the  present  site  of 
Odessa.  The  next  roads  of  importance  were  the 
upper  and  lower  ^*  King's  Boads/'  laid  out  in  1762 
and  still  in  use,  the  one  passing  through  Odessa,  and 
the  other  Middletown. 

In  1785  a  petition  was  made  to  the  Levy  Court  for 
a  road  review  from  Port  Penn  and  Augustine  Landing 
to  the  county  line.  The  road  from  Port  Penn  was  to 
extend  westward,  passed  the  Quaker  meeting-house 
at  Hickory  Grove,  and  at  "  Rockwell's  House  "  it  met 
the  road  from  Augustine  Landing,  which  passed 
through  Macdonough,  which  at  that  time  contained 
five  houses,  one  of  which  was  a  hotel  kept  hy  James 
Macdonough.  After  the  two  roads  united  they  ex- 
tended past  Mount  Pleasant  and  crossed  the  Choptank 
road  to  the  Maryland  line.  The  Choptank  was  a 
very  old  road  which  formed  the  eastern  boundary  of 
Bohemia  Manor. 

Other  roads  have  been  constructed  at  various  times, 
and  at  present  it  is  impossible  to  find  more  conve- 
nient and  excellent  highways  than  are  afforded  by  this 
hundred. 

Industries.— In  1788  John  Vance  purchased  a 
tract  of  land,  which  he  conveyed  to  his  fiither,  Sam- 
uel, September  21, 1759,  and  on  which,  at  the  latter 
date,  was  erected  a  grist-mill.  On  May  19,  1766, 
John  Jones  purchased  the  mill  of  Samuel  Vance.  On 
May  1, 1799,  it  was  purchased  by  Ebenezer  Rothwell 
of  Sheriff  Bines,  who  sold  it  as  the  property  of  John 
Burgess.  On  March  25, 1800,  it  was  sold  by  Rothwell 
to  William  Vandegrift,  who  erected  a  new  mill. 
It  was  next  owned  by  John  Cannon,  who  sold  to  Van- 
dergrifl  and  Eccles  about  1845.  They  operated  the 
mill  until  1860,  when  they  conveyed  it  to  Charles  F. 
Smith,  by  whom  it  was  sold  to  William  H.  Voshall  & 
Brother,  in  December,  1886.  It  was  enlarged  by  them 
and  fitted  up  with  a  complete  set  of  rollers.  It  is 
now  a  three-and-a-half-story  building,  thirty  by  forty 
feet  It  has  a  capacity  of  forty  barrels  in  twenty-four 
hours.  They  are  now  prepared  to  do  both  merchant 
and  custom  work.  * 

On  May  13, 1769,  Jonas  Preston  petitions  the  court 
for  a  condemnation  of  mill  land.  He  says  in  his  peti- 
tion that  he  has  a  tract  of  land  on  the  north  side  of 
the  main  branch  of  Drawyer's  Creek  and  adjoining  the 


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992 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


same,  whereon  he  doth  intend  to  erect  and  build  a 
''  water  grist-mill/'  and  cannot  secure  sufficient  water- 
rights  without  condemnation.  A  'condemnation  of 
six  acres  on  the  stream,  at  the  place  desired,  was 
granted.  The  mill  was  erected  by  him,  and  at  his 
death  devised  to  his  wife,  Ann,  who  afterwards  mar- 
ried Isaac  Eyre.  By  them  it  was  conveyed  to  Robert 
McMurphy,  August  1,  1776.  On  August  29,  1811, 
Samuel  Thomas  became  the  owner,  and,  after  his 
death,  it  descended  to  his  son,  Samuel,  and  afterwards 
to  David  W.  Thomas,  who  sold  the  mill  to  Israel 
Townsend.  In  1844  it  was  operated  by  Cyrus  Tat- 
nam,  who  also  conducted  it  for  some  time  afterwards. 
On  May  26, 1868,  it  was  sold  by  Sheriff  Herbert  as  the 
property  of  Jno.  B.  Lewis,  and  purchased  by  James 
A.  Barton.  Barton,  in  October,  1873,  sold  the  proper- 
ty to  J.  B.  Deakyne,  who  conveyed  it  to  J.  Fletcher 
Deakyne,  the  present  owner,  in  February,  1882.  It  is 
a  two-story  brick  building,  with  basement  and  attic. 
The  capacity  is  twenty-five  barrels  of  flour  and  two 
hundred  bushels  of  feed  per  day  of  twenty-four  hours. 
A  twenty-five  horse-power  engine  is  attached  with 
which  to  run  the  mill  when  the  water  is  low.  The 
grinding  is  done  by  burr,  and  the  products  are  mostly 
consumed  in  the  vicinity. 

In  1882  Parvis  &  Biggs  commenced  manufacturing 
phosphates  near  the  depot.  In  the  following  year 
they  erected  a  building,  thirty-six  by  seventy  feet, 
about  a  mile  north  of  Middletown.  In  1884  Nathaniel 
J.  Williams  purchased  Biggs'  share,  and  the  business 
has  since  been  conducted  by  Parvis  &  Williams. 
Several  additions  have  been  made  and  the  present 
building  is  one  hundred  and  thirty  by  one  hundred 
and  seventy  feet.  The  present  capacity  of  the  man- 
ufactory is  ten  tons  per  day.  Employment  is  given  to 
eight  men.  The  principal  brands  are  '*  Delaware 
Wheat  Grower,"  "Globe  Guano,"  "Soluble  Bone  and 
Potash"  and  "  Delaware  Soluble  Bone."  They  ship 
throughout  Delaware  and  the  adjoining  States. 

The  brick-yard  at  Armstrong's  Corner  has  been 
conducted  for  the  past  ten  years  by  Benjamin  Arm- 
strong, who  first  opened  it.  Employment  is  given  to 
three  men  for  seven  months  per  year.  The  average 
number  manufactured  during  this  time  is  100,000,  all 
of  which  find  a  home  market. 

Churches. — Formerly  there  was  a  church  on 
Pearce's  Run,  on  the  road  leading  from  Odessa  to  St. 
George's,  known  as  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal 
Chapel.  In  it  both  white  and  colored  people  wor- 
shipped until  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches  were 
built  in  Port  Penn  and  St.  George's,  when  it  was 
abandoned.  The  records  of  the  church  have  been 
lost. 

About  1822,  Benjamin  Boulden  erected  a  building 
in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  hundred,  to  be  used 
for  church  and  school  purposes.  The  eastern  end  of 
the  building  was  for  the  school,  and  the  remainder 
for  the  church.  It  was  intended  as  a  place  of  wor- 
ship for  all  denominations.  At  his  death  he  devised 
it  to  the  trustees  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  of 


Wilmington.  The  devise  being  void  on  account  of 
its  being  made  too  short  a  time  previous  to  his  death, 
it  vested  in  his  heirs,  when  his  sister,  Mrs.  Davis, 
knowing  his  wish,  conveyed  it  to  the  trustees.  Oc- 
casional services  have  been  held  in  this  building  by 
the  Baptbts,  and  previous  to  the  erection  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Summit  Bridge  reg- 
ular services  were  held  in  it  by  the  Methodists. 

At  the  present  time  no  religious  organization  wor- 
ships in  the  building.  School  is  held  in  the  portion 
set  aside  for  that  purpose. 

On  April  23,  1871,  a  few  of  the  active  members  of 
Forest  Church  opened  a  Sunday-school  in  a  private 
room  at  Armstrong's  Corner.  The  number  of  attend- 
ants, few  at  first,  soon  increased  and  gave  encourage- 
ment to  the  work.  The  people  in  the  vicinity  be- 
came interested,  and  on  July  22d  of  that  year  D.  L. 
Dunning  presented  to  the  board  of  trustees  the  deed 
of  Benjamin  Armstrong  and  wife  for  a  lot  of  land 
eighty  feet  square  at  Armstrong's  Corner,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  a  building  for  a  Sabbath-school.  The 
corner-stone  of  the  building  was  laid  August  24th, 
and  the  house  dedicated  September  17,  1871.  The 
prosperity  of  the  Sunday-school  led  to  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  church  on  May  30,  1877.  It  was  known  aa 
"  Forest  Second,"  but  as  it  never  had  other  than  a 
feeble  existence,  it  was  abolished  as  a  separate  church 
in  April,  1886.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  conduct- 
ed as  a  mission  school  of  the  Forest  Church. 

D.  L.  Dunning  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day-school, with  a  membership  of  fifty-five. 

Schools.— The  residents  of  St  George's  Hundred 
were  not  behind  the  inhabitants  of  the  other  hun- 
dreds in  the  establishment  of  schools.  The  advan- 
tages of  a  good  education  were  as  well  known  and 
highly  appreciated  by  them  as  any  other  class  of  peo- 
ple Long  before  the  public  school  system  went  into 
effect,  private  schools  were  held  in  private  residences 
and  improvised  school-rooms.  The  names  of  William 
Jackson,  James  Nowland,  John  Dilworth,  Mr.  Dean 
and  Mr.  Pippin  are  remembered  among  the  pioneer 
school-teachers  of  this  hundred.  Curtis  B.  Ellison 
is  also  known  to  have  been  one  of  the  first  teachers 
under  the  public-school  system.  Shortly  after  the 
passage  of  the  act  of  1829  new  school-houses  were 
erected,  and  old  ones  that  had  been  used  for  private 
school  purposes  were  converted  into  common  schools, 
where  whoever  desired  it  might  obtain  knowledge 
without  respect  to  their  pecuniary  condition.  As  a 
general  rule,  the  law  was  received  with  favor  by  the 
inhabitants  of  this  hundred.  The  old  school-houses 
have  in  all  cases  been  replaced  with  new  ones,  better 
adapted  for  imparting  instruction.  All  advancements 
in  school  work  have  been  recognized,  and  to-day  an 
excellent  education  can  be  obtained  in  the  common 
schools.  As  the  necessity  of  the  case  has  demanded 
it,  the  districts  have  been  divided  and  extra  schools 
created  until  at  present  there  is  no  cause  for  com- 
plaint either  as  to  the  convenience  of  location  or  the 
advantages  of  the  schools. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


993 


Villages. — ^The  land  on  which  Mount  Pleasant  is 
situated  was  owned  in  1705  by  John  Davids.  It  was 
owned  during  the  Revolutionary  War  by  William 
Bird,  and  descended  to  his  daughters,  Mrs.  Buchanan 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Scott.  At  an  early  date  there  was  a 
hotel  here  kept  by  Zachariah  Jones,  but  it  has  not 
been  used  its  such  for  sixty  years.  The  land  on  which 
the  village  is  located  is  a  water- shed,  the  waters  west 
flowing  into  the  Chesapeake,  and  the  streams  east 
into  the  Delaware.  In  1845  there  were  four  houses, 
all  of  which  are  now  torn  down.  At  present  there  is 
a  railroad  station,  a  post-office,  two  stores  (kept  re- 
spectively by  J.  F.  Eliason  and  Mrs.  Eliza  Devereaux), 
a  blacksmith  and  wheelwright-shop  and  thirteen  resi- 
dences. It  is  situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
hundred,  on  the  line  of  the  Delaware  Railroad,  from 
Wilmington  to  Middletown. 

Armstrong's  Corner  is  a  small  village  situated  be- 
tween Middletown  and  Mount  Pleasant.  It  contains 
a  store  kept  by  W.  H.  Science,  a  brick-yard,  a  Pres- 
byterian Chapel,  a  wheelwright  and  blacksmith-shop 
and  about  twenty  dwellings. 

Macdonough,  formerly  called  the  "Trap,"  is  a 
hamlet  near  the  centre  of  the  hundred.  It  occupies 
a  portion  of  the  **  Trap "  farm.  It  was  so  named 
in  honor  of  Commodore  Macdonough,  who  lived 
here.  At  one  time  there  were  three  hotels  here. 
The  most  famous  one  was  kept  by  William  and 
Patrick  McConaughey,  but  has  not  been  in  existence 
for  the  past  thirty  year**.  The  village  now  contains  a 
post-office,  a  store  (kept  by  Harrison  Vandegrift),  a 
wheelwright  and  blacksmith-shop,  a  school-house  and 
about  eight  residences. 

St.  Augustine  Piers  is  a  famous  summer  resort  and 
picnic-grounds.  The  hotel  was  first  built  in  1814  by 
Grier  &  Aiken,  and  operated  for  some  years  and  then 
abandoned.  It  is  a  three-story  brick  building,  forty 
by  sixty  feet.  In  1868  Simeon  Lord  purchased  the 
property.  Since  it  has  been  in  his  possession  a  new 
dining-room,  dancing  pavilion,  bar-room,  wharf  and 
one  hundred  bath-houses  have  been  erected  and  the 
premises  improved  generally.  It  is  conducted  as  a 
hotel,  and  has  a  good  summer  patronage.  The 
steamer  "  Thomas  Clyde ''  makes  a  daily  trip  between 
here  and  Philadelphia.  Port  Penn  is  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  distant. 

The  post' office  at  Mount  Pleasant  was  established 
about  1867.  Harrison  Vandegrift,  the  first  post-mas- 
ter, was  succeeded  April  8, 1880,  by  J.  Frank  Eliason^ 
the  present  incumbent.  The  office  occupies  a  portion 
of  his  store-room. 

PoBT  Penn  Grange,  No.  9,  P.  of  H.  was  organ- 
ized in  the  Hickory  Grove  School-house  April  21, 
1876,  with  a  membership  of  thirty-one.  The  first 
officers  of  the  society  were :  Master,  Thomas  F.  Dil- 
worth;  Overseer,  Joseph  Cleaver;  Lecturer,  T.  J. 
Graven-, Chaplain,  H.  Price;  Steward,  A.  O.  Osborne; 
Assistant  Steward,  John  McMuUen  ;  Treasurer,  L.  G. 
Vandegrift ;  Secretary,  James  McMullen. 

The  society  met  in  the  school-room  for  about  a  year, 
63 


and  then  in  a  room  in  the  house  of  George  Cleaver, 
whence  they  moved  to  Port  Penn  in  1881.  In  1884 
they  erected  a  half  near  the  residence  of  James  Mc- 
Mullen, about  four  miles  from  Port  Penn.  It  is  a 
two-story  frame  building,  twenty-eight  by  forty  feet, 
and  cost  twelve  hundred  dollars.  The  lodge  is  now 
in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  numbers  fifty  members. 
It  is  officered  at  present  as  follows :  Master,  D.  W. 
Corbit ;  Overseer,  James  McMullen ;  Secretary,  Mrs. 
E.  M.  Dilworth ;  Treasurer,  H.  Price ;  Steward,  D.  C. 
Vail ;  Chaplain,  G.  W.  Townsend. 

MIDDLETOWN. 

The  land  on  which  Middletown  is  situated,  and 
the  tract  immediately  to  the  north  were  taken  up 
by  Adam  Peterson  in  1678,  who,  on  the  14th  of 
March,  1686,  also  took  out  a  warrant  for  two  hun- 
dred acres  on  a  neck  called  New  Wells,  between 
the  branches  of  the  head-waters  of  Drawyer^s  Creek, 
Upon  his  death  the  property  appears  not  to  have  been 
divided,  but  was  mainly  in  possession  of  Andrew 
Peterson,  who  died  in  January,  1741 ;  and  on  March 
29, 1742,  Thomas  Noxon,  Jehu  Curtis,  John  Finney, 
John  Goodin  and  John  McCoole  were  appointed  to  di- 
vide the  property.  Adam  Peterson  left  two  sons,  An- 
drew and  Adam,  and  a  daughter,  Hermania,  who  mar- 
ried   Von  Bebber  and  died  comparatively  young, 

leaving  as  children  Jacob,  Garrett,  Andrew,  Adam, 
Elinor  and  Elizabeth.  In  this  division  of  1742  these 
heirs  of  Hermania  Von  Bebber  received  one-fifth  of 
the  estate.  Andrew  Peterson  died  in  January,  1741, 
leaving  a  widow  (his  third  wife),  Hester,  who  subse- 
quently became  the  wife  of  David  Witherspoon,  and 
who,  in  1742,  was  appointed  the  guardian  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Andrew,  who  were  Henry,  Andrew,  Catalina, 
Jacob,  Ester  and  Mary.  The  remaining  portion  of  the 
Adam  Peterson  lands  was  divided  between  Adam,  the 
son  of  Adam,  and  the  children  of  Andrew.  Mary 
Peterson,  the  youngest  daughter  of  Andrew,  received 
in  the  division  No.  7,  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  five 
acres,  three  acres  of  which  were  sold  August  19,  1790, 
to  Kev.  Philip  Reading.  Henry  Peterson,  son  of 
Andrew,  became  a  physician  and,  June  13,  1790,  sold 
part  of  his  portion  of  his  father's  estate  to  Jesse 
Higgins,  of  Damascus  Mills. 

David  Witherspoon,  who  married  the  widow  of 
Andrew  Peterson,  settled  upon  the  King's  Road  at  the 
place  now  known  as  Middletown,  where,  in  1761,  he 
built  the  old  Middletown  tavern  and  kept  it  until  his 
death,  two  years  later.  The  following  petition  to  the 
court  of  New  Castle  in  1761  is  interesting  as  coming 
from  the  people  of  the  vicinity  : 

"Whereas  there  hath  not  heretofore  been  any  publick  Road  from  the 
Lower^King'B  Road  to  Samuel  Vance*B  Mill  for  the  Inhabitants  residing 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  above  said  hundred  (St.  George's)  and  below  the 
said  King's  Road,  nor  from  the  upper  King's  Road  to  said  Mill  for  such 
of  the  Inhabitants  who  reside  that  way;  But  only  such  by-paths  as  has 
from  time  to  time  been  made  use  of,  which  is  a  very  great  Inconveni- 
ency  for  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  do  frequent  the  said  Mill  to  get 
their  own  grain  ground  or  to  transport  their  wheat  thither  for  sale." 

The  petitioner  asked  for  a  road  "  from  the  lower 
King's  road  which  shall  pass  between  the  improved 


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994 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


lands  of  William  Golden  and  James  Macdonough  to 
the  said  mill  and  from  thence  to  the  upper  Kings 
road  near  to  the  new  meeting-housie  or  upper  part  of 
David  Witherspoon's  plantation."  The  signers  were 
William  Whittet,  William  Price,  William  Hannoway, 
Daniel  McConnell,  F.  V.  Bebber,  David  Wither- 
spoon,  George  Van  Yott,  James  Bryan,  Charles 
Bryan,  William  Golden,  Isaac  Vandike,  Jacob  Pet- 
erson, Archibald  Fowler,  Thomas  McGraw,  James 
Piper,  Jos.  Macdonough,  William  Hanson,  Richard 
Cantwell,  John  Hanson,  Francis  Thornton,  Andrew 
Vance,  Henry  Van  Bebber,  John  McCoole,  Jr., 
Leonard  King,  Francis  King,  Samuel  Smith,  David 
Thomas,  John  Cruzan,  David  Stewart. 

These  names  probably  include  all  the  leading  land- 
owners in  the  vicinity  at  that  time.  The  road  was 
allowed  and  laid  out.  It  began  at  the  *'  Trap" 
(Macdonough)  and  passed  Vance's  mill  at  the  foot  of 
the  pond  on  Drawyer's  Creek  and  to  David  Wither- 
spoon's plantation  at  Middletown.  Richard  Cant- 
well  lived  at  Cantweirs  Bridge  (Odessa),  and  Henry 
Van  Bebber  at  Kirkwood,  where  was  an  old  tannery 
occupied  many  years  previous  as  well  as  later  by  the 
Van  Bebbers.  The  mill  owned  by  Samuel  Vance  in 
1761  ,wa8  originally  the  property  of  his  son  John,  who 
built  it  after  1733,  when  he  came  into  possession  of 
the  land.  He  sold  it  to  his  father  September  21,  1759, 
who,  on  May  19,  1766,  sold  it  to  John  Jones.  About 
1800  it  passed  to  William  Vandegrift  and  is  now 
owned  by  William  H.  Voshall  &  Bro. 

Middletown  is  mentioned  in  official  records  as  early 
as  1771,  in  August  of  which  year  Jonas  Preston 
owned  the  old  Noxon  grist-mill,  on  one  of  the 
branches  of  Appoquinimink  Creek,  and  asked  for 
the  reopening  of  a  road  towards  the  place  "  now 
known  by  the  name  of  Middletown,"  which  road 
Benjamin  Noxon  had  fenced  up. 

After  the  death  of  David  Witherspoon  his  estate 
passed  to  his  nephew,  Thomas,  who  conducted  the  old 
Peterson  tannery.  Thomas  married  Susanna,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Sluyter  Bouchell,  who  was  also  a  resident  of 
Middletown.  A  large  portion  of  the  neighboring  land 
became  vested  in  Dr.  Bouchell,  who,  November  5, 
1790,  sold  to  Jesse  Higgins,  of  Damascus,  the  tract 
formerly  belonging  to  Thomas  Witherspoon.  In  1816 
there  were  only  a  few  houses  at  the  intersection  of 
Main  and  Broad  Streets  within  the  present  limits  of 
the  town,  but  the  village  began  to  grow,  and  in  1850 
there  were  three  hundred  and  sixty-eight  inhabitants. 
Previous  to  the  construction  of  the  railroad  the  town 
was  growing  toward  Odessa,  principally  on  Main 
Street,  but  since  that  time  it  has  extended  to  the  rail- 
road, and  has  spread  itself  on  other  streets  than  Main. 
One  of  the  men  most  prominent  in  advancing  local 
interests  was  Robert  A.  Cochran,  who  came  to  Mid- 
dletown in  1837,  and  purcha-ied  the  Middletown  Hotel. 
This  he  improved  and  purchased  other  property,  on 
which  he  erected  buildings.  The  growth  of  the  town 
since  1855  has  been  quite  rapid,  and  in  1860  there 
were  five  hundred  and  twenty-three  inhabitants.    On 


February  12, 1861,  Middletown  was  incorporated  and 
granted  municipal  privileges.  The  board  of  control 
was  vested  in  five  commissioners  who  were  given 
authority  to  improva  the  old  streets  and  open  new 
ones.  The  town  as  laid  out  by  the  commissioners 
is  a  rectangle,  and  extends  half  a  mile  each  way  on 
Main  Street,  east  and  west  of  Broad  Street,  and  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  each  way  on  Broad  Street,  north  and 
south  of  Main  Street.  With  the  exception  of  a  fire 
which  occurred  May  2,  1882,  and  the  storm  of  August 
29,  1873,  Middletown  has  sufi*ered  no  considerable  in- 
jury. This  fire  began  in  the  carriage  works  of  J.  M. 
Cox  &  Brother,  and  destroyed  that  place  and  ten 
other  buildings,  among  which  was  the  new  St.  Anne's 
P.  E.  Church.  Fire  companies  from  Wilmington 
came  and  rendered  much  assistance  in  extinguishing 
the  flames.  The  storm  of  August  20,  1873,  flooded  the 
streets,  washed  away  the  bridges  in  the  vicinity,  and 
made  travel  dangerous  and  difficult,  besides  doing 
considerable  damage  in  other  ways. 

Col.  Joshua  Clayton,  a  retired  farmer,  was  the  son 
of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Clayton,  formerly  a  United 
States  Senator  and  a  chief  justice  of  Delaware,  and 
was  born  at  Dover  August  2,  1802.  When  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  was  a  pupil  in  the  classical  school  of 
Rev.  Francis  Hindman,  at  Newark,  Del.,  and  attend- 
ed that  school  for  three  years.  In  1818  he  entered 
Princeton  College.  In  the  first  half  of  his  third 
year  here  his  health  became  so  much  impaired  that 
he  was  obliged  to  leave  college.  But  in  the  same 
year,  1821,  he  became  a  student  of  law  in  his  father's 
office,  applying  himself  to  his  studies  as  his  health 
would  permit.  In  1822  he  went  to  spend  a  year  in 
the  law-office  of  Judge  Alex.  L.  Hayes,  a  well-known 
jurist  of  Reading,  Pa.  In  the  following  year,  1823, 
he  accompanied  Hon.  Caesar  A.  Rodney,  United 
States  minister,  as  private  secretary,  to  the  Argentine 
Republic.  The  journey  thither  was  made  on  the 
old  frigate  "  Congress,"  by  way  of  Spain,  the  coast  of 
Africa  and  Rio  Janeiro,  to  Buenos  Ayres. 

Three  months  after  arriving  at  their  destination 
Minii*ter  Rodney's  health  failed,  and  Mr.  Clayton  was 
sent  home  with  dispatches  for  the  government.  Mr. 
Rodney's  death,  soon  afterwards,  made  it  necessary 
to  reorganize  the  legation,  and  Col.  Clayton  remained 
at  home. 

Col,  Clayton  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Dover  in 
1825,  and  practiced  law  there  until  1830,  when, 
yielding  to  the  force  of  natural  inclinations,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  set- 
tled at  "Choptank  on  the  Hill,"  in  Bohemia  Manor. 
At  the  beginning  of  his  operations  here  he  was  com- 
pelled to  incur  liabilities  to  the  extent  of  three  hun- 
dred dollars,  which,  at  the  time,  appeared  to  be  a 
greater  undertaking  than  it  would  have  seemed  later. 
He  soon  liquidated  this  debt,  however,  and  pressed 
on  to  greater  accomplishments.  For  fifty-seven  years 
Mr.  Clayton  left  forensic  competitions  and  juridical 
honors  to  oihers,  **  while,''  as  he  expressed  it,  **  he 
wrestled  with  the  clods,"  and  with  "  ploughs  which. 


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17th  of  that  year  by  sixty  ten-candle-power  electric     father's  farm,  the  place  where  his  father  was  born,  in 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


995 


in  those  days,  never  had  a  share  to  please  him,  being 
badly  shaped  and  often  made  of  wood" — very  inferior 
to  the  implements  of  the  present  day.  Using  su- 
perior judgment  in  the  drainage  and  culture  of  his 
then  unpromising  land,  by  the  judicious  use  of  lime 
and  ditches  and  sub-soil  ploughing,  the  place  was 
made  both  productive  and  healthful,  and  has  re- 
mained so.  His  methods  were  approved  and  followed 
by  neighbors  and  acquaintances,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  his  long-time  friend.  Gov.  B.  T.  Biggs, 
The  result  has  been  the  great  improvement  of  the 
lands  and  a  remarkable  elimination  of  malarial  influ- 
ences. Col.  Clayton  at  one  time  owned  over  three 
thousand  five  hundred  acres  of  land.  Of  this  he 
gave  two  thousand  four  hundred  acres  to  his  ten  chil- 
dren. 

Before  his  death  he  reflected  with  sincere  satisfac- 
tion upon  the  happy  outcome  of  his  unaided  efforts. 
Four  times  he  was  commissioned  colonel — first  by 
Gov.  Hazlet,  then  by  Gov.  Thos.  Stockton,  again  by 
Gt)v.  Wm.  Temple,  and  lastly,  when  war  was  antici- 
pated with  England  on  account  of  the  dispute  over 
the  boundary  of  Oregon.  Col.  Clayton  was  married, 
in  1833,  to  his  cousin.  Miss  Lydia,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Clayton.  She  died  in  January,  1849,  and  left 
him  three  children, — ^Thomas,  Henry  and  Richard^ 
On  the  22d  of  February,  1850,  he  married  Miss 
Martha  E.,  daughter  of  Richard  Lockwood,  a  well- 
known  merchant  of  Middlttown.  She  died  in  March, 
1887,  a  few  months  before  the  untimely  death  ot  their 
youngest  son,  Eugene,  who  fell  a  victim  to  the  pois- 
onous drugs  used  by  him  in  his  skillful  art  as  a  taxi- 
dermist. This  young  man  of  rare  taste  and  skill  in 
the  work  to  which  he  was  passionately — too  ardently 
—devoted,  has  left  a  large  collection  of  birds  and  ani- 
mals prepared  with  artistic  excellence  as  proofs  of 
his  dexterity  in  his  art,  and  as  precious  mementos  of 
his  brief  life.  He  died  in  September,  1887,  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-seven.  By  his  second  marriage 
eight  children  were  added  to  Col.  Clayton's  family. 
Of  these  six  survive,  viz.:  Adelaide  Young,  McComb, 
Mary  W.,  Joshua,  Elizabeth  and  Frances.  Colonel 
Clayton  was  always  an  adherent  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.  He  died  suddenly  on  February 
13,  1888,  at  his  beautiful  suburban  villa,  close  to 
Middletown. 

Middletown  has  at  present  about  sixteen  hundred 
inhabitants.  Excellent  facilities  for  travel  and  trans- 
portation are  afforded  by  the  Delaware  Division  of  the 
Philadelphia  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad. 
Although  almost  destitute  of  manufactories  of  any 
Bort,  the  town  is  gradually  growing  and  improving. 
Situated  in  the  midst  of  an  excellent  farming 
region,  employment  is  given  to  many  of  its  citizens 
at  tilling  the  soil.  The  business  interests  of  the 
town  are  also  affected  by  the  sale  and  exchange  of 
the  abundant  products  of  the  farms  in  the  vicinity. 
It  has  always  been  well  lighted, — first  by  lamps 
till  1880,  then  by  gas  till  1886  and  since  Aujrust 
17th  of  that  year  by  sixty  ten-candle-power  electric 


Ijghls.  Preparations  are  now  being  made  to  supply 
the  town  with  water  from  drive  wells,  which  will 
doubtless  prove  an  excellent  safeguard  against  fires. 
The  following  have  been  the  town  commissioners 
since  the  incorporation : 

1861.— Levi  Ryan,  Wm.  L.  Bucke,  £.  T.  Evaiu,  John  K.  Smith,  Ghas. 
Tatnian,  Jr. 

1862.— Henry  D.  Huwoll,  John  K.  Smith,  R.  H.  Foster,  Martiti  E. 
Walker,  Chas.  TMtnmn,  Jr. 

1863-64.— Henry  D.  Howell,  Samuel  Peniogton,  R.  H.  Foster,  Martin 
E.  Walker,  Chas.  Tatman,  Jr. 

1865.— Zucharinb  Jones,  William  L.  Bucke,  Samuel  Penington,  Chas. 
Tatman,  Jr.,  James  Cuibertson. 

186G.— H.  D.  Howell.  Samuel  Penington,  Chas  Tatman,  Jr.,  Richard 
E.  Smith,  Clayton  Wildk 

1837.— David  McKee,  Chas.  Tatman,  Jr.,  H.  D.  Howell,  John  B. 
Deakyne,  Nlrarod  French. 

18r)8.— Robert  \.  Cochran,  Zacharlah  Jones,  J.  Tliomas  Budd. 

1869.— Martin  E.  Walker,  John  Morrison,  Charles  Tatman,  Jr.,  Thos. 
Massey. 

1870.— R.  H.  Foster,  Thos.  Massey,  Samuel  W.  Roberts,  G.  G.  Cham, 
berlain,  Chas.  Tatman,  Jr. 

1871.— R.  H.  Foster,  Thos.  Massey,  G.  G.  Chamberhiin,  Thos.  W. 
Bucke,  Thos.  E.  Hum. 

1872.— R.  H.  Foster,  Thos.  E.  Hum,  Chas.  Tatman,  Jr.,  Jas.  B.  Clark- 
son,  Wm.  H.  Cann. 

1873.— Thomas  E.  Hum,  James  H.  Scowdrick,  Samuel  B.  Stephens, 
John  B.  Roberts,  Thomas  Massey. 

1874.— Thomas  E.  Hum,  James  H.  Scowdrick,  J.  F.  Eliason,  L.  G. 
Vandegrlft,  J.  R.  Hall. 

1875.— K.  W.  Lockwood,  Louis  P.  McDowell,  J.  R.  Hall,  Jo«)ph  H, 
Walker,  L.  G.  Vandegrift. 

1876.  -Thos.  E.  Hum,  Geo.  W.  Wilson,  W.  W.  Wilson,  Thomas  Mau- 
sey,  James  H.  Scowdrick. 

1877.— K.  H.  Foster,  John  R.  Hall,  S.  S.  Holten,  Joseph  W.  Geary. 

1878.— B.  W.  Lockwuod,  two  years;  Thomas  Massey,  Jr.,  one  year  ; 
Joseph  Hauson,  two  years ;  George  Eckeuhofer,  one  year  ;  B.  H.  Elia- 
son,  one  year. 

1879.— Thomas  W.  Bucke,  on«  year;  R.f H.  Eliason,  W.  Scott  Way, 
George  Eckenbofer,  two  years. 

1880.— Thos.  W.  Bucke,  Joseph  Hanson. 

1881.— R.  Henry  Eliasou,  Wm.  H.  Moore,  JeOersonB.  Foard. 

1882.— Joseph  Hanson,  John  C.  Stuart. 

1883.— Wm.  P.  Biggs,  Chas.  H.  Howell,  Thos.  W.  Bucke. 

1884.— Joseph  Hanson,  S.  S.  Holten. 

1886.— Thos.  W.  Bucko,  Wm.  P.  Biggs,  John  S.  Crouch. 

1886.— Geo.  Eckeuhofer,  Thos.  Massey,  two  years ;  Jacob  M.  Foster, 
John  H.  Panris,  Wm  K.  Lockwood,  one  year. 

1887.-Geo.  S.  Hopltins,  Harry  Davis,  r^.  J.  Willhims. 

Sereck  F.  Shallcross,  a  farmer,  was  born  March  29, 
1816,  in  Oxford  township,  Philadelphia  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. His  parents,  Jacob  Shallcross  and  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Sereck  Fox,  were  also  born  in  the  same 
township,  and  had  a  family  of  eight  children,  of 
which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest.  H  is 
brothers  and  sisters  were  Ann  Eliza,  Mary,  Catharine, 
Sarah,  William,  Thomas  and  Fanny.  At  his  father's 
home  place  during  his  early  years  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  and  continued  this  occupation  in  his  native 
township  until  1842,  when  he  came  to  Delaware  and 
settled  near  Odessa,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1843, 
Mr.  Shallcross  was  married  to  Ann  Fenton,  of  Abing- 
ton  township,  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania. 
They  have  had  five  children,  viz. :  Jacob,  James, 
Anna,  Sereck  and  William.  Jacob  married  Thirza 
Shallcross,  daughter  of  William  Shallcross,  of  Kent 
County,  Maryland.  James  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Wilson  E.  Vandegrifl,  of  St.  George's  Hundred. 
Anna,  who  died  June  18,  1887,  was  married  to  Israel 
Williams,  of  Montgomery  County,  Pennsylvania. 
Sereck  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Elias  Moore,  of 
Appoquinimink  Hundred.  William  resides  on  his 
father's  farm,  the  place  where  his  father  was  born,  in 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Philadelphia  County.  William  is  married  to  Miss 
Betty  Deakyne,  of  Blackbird  Hundred.  Mr.  Shall- 
cross  is  still  living  on  the  same  place  to  which  he 
came  in  1842..  He  has  been  elected  five  times  as  a 
county  commissioner  from  Bt.  George^s  Hundred, 
each  term  being  for  four  years.  He  is  now  a  com- 
missioner serving  his  fifth  term  in  the  Levy  Court. 
Mr.  Shallcross  is  a  man  of  vigorous  constitution  and 
bears  his  years  and  labors  well. 

Old  Buildings.— Perhaps  the  oldest  building  in 
Middletown  is  the  frame  house  owned  by  the  Mid- 
dletown  Academy  and  occupied  by  Jacob  Heintz  as 
a  residence.  It  is  the  first  west  of  the  Town  Hall 
and  the  only  hip-roofed  house  in  town.  The  house 
occupied  by  J.  Thomas  Budd  is  also  very  old  and  was 
built  by  a  man  named  Lloyd  from  Maryland.  The 
dwelling-house  connected  with  the  People's  Bank  is 
an  old  building  and  was  for  many  years  used  as  a 
store-room.  In  1884  a  venerable  structure  known  as 
the  "  Wren's  Nest"  was  torn  down.  It  stood  on  East 
Main  Street,  near  Broad.  An  old  log  building,  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Church  Streets,  was  torn 
down  in  1887.  It  was  owned  by  Mrs.  Devereaux  and 
was  probably  one  of  the  fir8t  houses  in  the  town. 
The  Crawford  farm-house  on  Broad  Street,  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  John  A.  Reynolds,  dates  back  to  the 
early  days  of  Middletown. 

Schools. — At  the  division  of  the  State  into  school 
districts,  the  territory  in  and  around  Middletown 
was  embraced  in  District  No.  60.  A  small  school- 
house  was  erected  about  1830,  on  a  street  known  as 
"School-House  Lane,"  near  the  present  residence  of 
Josiah  Black  ley.  At  a  later  period  the  district  was 
divided  and  No.  94  was  formed.  No  school-house 
was  erected  for  this  district,  but  the  school  was  held 
in  private  houses.  In  1876  an  agreement  was  made 
with  the  trustees  of  the  academy  for  the  use  of  the 
academy  for  public-school  purposes,  and  by  the  act 
of  Assembly  of  January  29,  1877,  Districts  60  and 
94  were  consolidated  under  the  name  of  the  Middle- 
town  schools.  Since  the  consolidation  the  board  of 
control  is  vested  in  nine  directors,  six  elected  by  the 
people  and  three  appointed  by  the  trustees  of  the 
academy.  The  schools  are  in  an  excellent  condition, 
and  during  the  winter  of  1886-87  there  were  enrolled 
two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  resident  and  fifteen 
non-resident  pupils.  Five  teachers  preside  over  the 
five  departments.  Mr.  A.  S.  Wright  served  as  prin- 
cipal from  the  consolidation  of  the  schools  until  June 
24,  1887.  The  first  board  of  directors  of  the  con- 
solidated districts  was:  Edward  W.  Lockwood,  Wil- 
liam Green,  Alfred  G.  Cox,  John  W.  Jolls,  Nathaniel 
Williams,  Samuel  Penington,  D.  L.  Dunning,  John 
R.  Hall  and  Merritt  N.  Willits.  With  the  exceptions 
of  Edward  W.  Lockwood,  Merritt  N.  Willits  and 
John  R.  Hall,  the  board  remains  unchanged  at  the 
present.  Their  places  are  filled  by  W.  P.  Biggs, 
Thomas  Cavender  and  Henry  Clayton. 

Middletown  Academy. — This  institution  was 
erected  from  the  proceeds  of  a  lottery  authorized  by 


an  act  of  Assembly  of  January  3,  1824.  The  act 
named  Richard  Mansfield,  Arnold  Naudain,  Outten 
Davis,  William  H.  Crawford  and  Richard  E.  Cochran 
as  managers  and  empowered  ihem  to  "institute, 
carry  on  and  draw  a  lottery,  in  one  or  more  classes, 
for  raising  a  sum  of  money  not  exceeding  six  thou- 
sand dollars  clear  of  all  expenses,"  and  to  apply  this 
sum  to  *'  the  erection  of  a  building  sufiSciently  large 
to  contain  rooms  for  an  academy  and  elementary 
school,  and  also  a  room  for  public  worship,  with  such 
other  rooms  as  they  might  deem  proper  and  neces- 
sary, the  room  for  public  worship  to  be  free  for  all 
denominations  of  Churches."  Richard  Mansfield, 
Arnold  Naudain,  Outten  Davis  and  William  H. 
Crawford  met  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Haines  on 
December  13, 1824,  and  organized.  John  Ginn  was 
elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  board  caused  by  the 
removal  of  Richard  E.  Cochran  from  the  neighbor- 
hood. Richard  MansBeld  was  elected  chairman  and 
William  H.  Crawford  secretary.    On    February   9, 

1825,  a  supplementary  act  was  passed  for  raising  four 
thousand  dollars  to  be  invested  as  an  endowment 
fund.  In  March  of  the  same  year  Outten  Davis 
resigned  and  John  Eddows  was  elected  his  successor. 
The  lottery  scheme  was  sold  May  10, 1825,  to  John 
B.  Yeates,  of  New  York,  Archibald  Mclntire,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  Thomas  and  James  Skeldig,  of 
New  York,  for  ten  thousand  dollars. 

On  November  19,  1825,  six  acres  of  land  and  a 
building  thereon  was  purchased  by  the  trustees  from 
Outten  Davis  for  one  thousand  dollars.  It  was  that 
portion  of  Middletown  fronting  on  Main  Street  from 
the  west  line  of  the  Town  Hall  property  to  Scott 
Street  and  extending  back  to  the  present  lineof  Lake 
Street  at  the  northwest  corner  and  to  the  present 
academy  lot  on  the  northeast  corner.  On  January 
21,  1826,  an  act  was  passed  incorporating  Richard 
Mansfield,  John  Eddows,  John  Ginn,  William  H. 
Crawford  and  Arnold  Naudain  and  their  successors 
as  "  the  trustees  of  the  Middletown  Academy."  At 
a  meeting  of  the  trustees  in  February,  1826,  the 
chairman  was  instructed  to  advertise  for  proposals 
for  '^  building  an  Academy  two  stories  high,  with  two 
rooms  on  each  floor,  and  a  hall  ten  feet  wide  in  the 
centre,  with  cellar  underneath  the  whole ;  to  be  built 
of  the  best  materials  and  in  a  plain  but  substantial 
manner."  The  contract  was  awarded  to  Henry  Lit- 
tle for  five  thousand  dollars. 

Andrew  Garretson,  the  tenant  on  the  six  acres 
purchased  of  Outten  Davis,  refused  to  surrender  pos- 
session. In  this  emergency  William  H.  Crawford 
donated  two  acres  of  adjoining  land,  and  on  this  the 
building  was  erected.    His  deed  bears  date  May  13, 

1826.  The  corner-stone  of  the  new  building  was 
laid  August  24,  1826.  In  March  of  the  following 
year  William  H.  Crawford  was  requested  to  go  to 
Philadelphia  and  examine  the  different  kinds  of 
rough-casting.  He  advised  the  imitation  of  marble 
and  his  suggestion  was  adopted.  In  June,  Arnold 
Naudain  was  instructed  to  purchase  a  bell  not  ex- 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


997 


ceediDg  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  in  weight.  At 
a  meeting  in  August  of  that  year  Richafld  Mansfield 
wa-*  re-elected  president  and  John  Eddows  was  chcsen 
secretary  and  Arnold  Naudain  treasurer.  Chairman 
Crawford  was  appointed  to  contract  for  twenty-five 
desks.  In  September  Rev.  Joseph  Wilson  was  en- 
gaged to  take  charge  of  the  school  and  open  it  on 
October  15,  1827.  Miss  Isabella  Anderson  was  en- 
gaged to  open  a  female  school  in  December.  In 
1829  the  Legislature  empowered  the  board  to  elect 
two  additional  trustees,  and  Joseph  B.  Ginn  and  Rich- 
ard Lockwood  were  chosen  on  March  27th  of  that  year. 
In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Wilson  resigned  and  Samuel  G. 
Appleton  was  elected  principal.  He  resigned  in 
December  and  the  school  was  closed  until  1832  when 
Henry  L.  Davis  became  principal,  which  position  he 
held  until  1834,  when  Mr.  Smith  succeeded  him.  lu 
1838  William  Harris  was  elected  principal,  and  in 
April,  1840,  he  reported  that  there  were  thirty-three 
pupils  in  attendance  and  the  tuition  fees  amounted  to 
fojar  hundred  and  thirty  dollars.  Joseph  A.  White 
succeeded  Harris  in  1841  and  was  in  turn  succeeded 
by  him  the  following  year.  Rev.  I.  H.  Tyng  was 
principal  from  1842  until  1844,  when  the  academy  was 
rented  by  Payson  Williams,  of  Germantown.  From 
1844  to  1876  the  principals  were  Thomas  D.  Maddin, 
H.  C.  Fries,  George  F.  Hitchcock,  Theodore  E. 
Primrose,  James  B.  McDowell,  Rufus  Sanders,  Rev. 
I.  W.  Macbeth,  Charles  H.  Halloway,  J.  E.  Newman, 
Hicks, Wood,  S.  B.  Jones  and  Sumner  Stev- 
ens. In  1876  an  agreement  was  made  by  the  school 
commissioners  of  Districts  Nos.  60  and  94  and  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Academy,  and  the  Academy  leased  for  pub- 
lic school  purposes  for  a  year.  Since  that  time  public 
school  has  been  held  in  the  Academy.  One  of  the 
terms  of  the  contract  was  that  a  free  school  of  not 
less  than  three  grades  and  also  a  classical  or  high 
school  should  be  kept  open  in  the  Academy  for  not 
less  than  nine  months  in  the  year.  Since  1876  the 
academy  and  free  school  have  a  common  history. 
The  present  trustees  are  John  P.  Cochran,  Henry 
Davis,  Nathaniel  Williams,  R.  T.  Cochran,  H.  A. 
Nowland,  William  Green  and  Samuel  Pcnington. 

The  Presbyterian  Church. — Previous  to  1742 
the  inhabitants  of  Middletown  and  vicinity  worship- 
ped at  Drawyer*s  Church.  In  that  year  occurred  the 
great  division  of  the  Old  and  New  Schools  of  the 
Presbyterian  faith,  and  the  adherents  of  the  New 
School  witl^drew  from  Drawyer's  Church  and  estab- 
lished the  congregations  of  St.  George's  and  Forest. 
The  site  on  which  the  original  Forest  Church  was 
erected  was  granted  by  Robert  Alexander  to  Peter 
Bayard,  James  Bayard,  Sluyter  Bouchell,  Benjamin 
Sluyter,  William  Moore,  John  Moody,  James  Shaw, 
Thomas  Rothwell  and  John  Vandyke,  trustees  of 
the  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Bohemia,  in  Mary- 
land, and  Appoquinimy  in  New  Castle  County,  under 
the  care  of  the  Synod  of  New  York.  The  deed 
bears  date  June  6,  1750,  and  is  for  123  perches  of 
land  surveyed  and  laid  out  for  the  erection  of  a 


Presbyterian  Church.  The  churches  of  St.  George's 
and  Forest  united  under  one  pastorate,  and  were 
served  for  sixteen  years  by  Rev.  John  Rodgers.  who 
was  installed  March  16,  1749.  Dr.  Rodgers  was  very 
popular  and  drew  largely  from  the  other  congrega- 
tions. He  was  called  to  Wall  Street  Church,  New 
York,  in  1765.  He  was  moderator  of  the  First  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States.  During  the  Revolutionary  War  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  struggle  and  was  appointed 
chaplain  of  Heath's  brigade.  The  next  pastor  was 
Rev.  Elihu  Spencer, who  served  until  October,  1771,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Thomas  Smith,  during  whose 
pastorate  the  two  congregations  separated.  Mr. 
Smith  continued  with  the  Forest  Church  until  his 
death,  in  1792.  Rev.  Mr.  Oheally,  his  successor,  was 
at  first  very  popular,  but  scandals  affected  his  char- 
acter, his  congregation  fell  away,  the  glebe  was  lost 
and  the  church  verged  on  obliteration.  It  was  next 
supplied  by  Rev.  Messrs.  Burton  and  Wilson,  of 
Drawyer's.  The  old  edifice  standing  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  present  cemetery  fell  into  decay, 
and  was  finally  sold  and  removed  about  1840.  No 
services  had  been  held  in  it  after  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Wilson,  and  the  church  became  extinct  as  a  separate 
organization.  After  the  abandonment  a  number  of 
the  people  worshipped  at  Drawyers'  Church.  In 
June,  1851,  through  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Handy, 
the  present  organization  was  effected.  A  lot  of  land, 
120  feet  front  and  150  in  depth,  on  Main  Street, 
was  purchased  from  R.  A.  Cochran.  The  contract 
for  erecting  the  present  church  edifice  was  awarded 
to  David  Maxwell.  The  building  was  dedicated  on 
the  last  Sunday  of  October,  1851,  with  ceremonies 
conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Brainerd  and  John  Patton. 
The  newly  constituted  church  was  composed  of  four- 
teen members— Joseph  West  (elder),  Francis  West, 
Sarah  West,  Thomas  Murphey,  Susan  Murphey,  Eliza 
P.  Cochran,  Lydia  R.  Rothwell,  Elizabeth  Price, 
Sarah  Merritt,  Lydia  Jones,  Mary  Penington,  Eliza 
Massey,  James  Burnham  and  Elizabeth  A.  Burn- 
ham. 

The  enterprise  of  erecting  a  building  was  carried  on 
by  individual  effort,  as  the  church  was  not  organized, 
the  session  was  not  constituted,  and  no  board  of  trus- 
tees was  elected  till  the  edifice  was  nearly  completed. 
The  first  board  of  trustees  of  this  organization  was 
elected  August  24,  1851,  and  was  composed  of  Dr. 
Martin  Barr,  Dr.  John  Merritt,  Major  John  Jones, 
Major  William  Rothwell,  Robert  T.  Cochran,  Robert 
A.  Cochran,  Samuel  Penington,  James  H.  Burnham, 
Joseph  West,  Thomas  Murphey,  Andrew  Eliason  and 
William  C.  Parker.  In  August,  1857,  a  lot  adjoining 
the  church  was  purchased  as  a  site  for  a  parsonage, 
which  was  soon  completed.  During  the  pastorate  of 
Rev.  W.  C.  Alexander  the  church  has  been  enlarged 
and  beautified  at  an  outlay  of  nearly  eight  thousand 
dollars.  It  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  has 
a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight.  A 
Sunday-school  with  a  membership  of  one  hundred 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


and  twenty-five,  under  Superintendent  Edward  Rey- 
nolds, is  connected  with  the  church. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  is  Andrew  Eliaaon, 
Samuel  Penington,  H.  D.  Howell,  R.  T.  Cochran, 
D.  L.  Dunning,  J.  M.  Rothwell,  A.  P.  Crockett,  G. 
W.  W.  Naudain,  T.  C.  Murphey,  S.  M.  Reynolds  and 
G.  D.  Kelley. 

The  following  pastors  have  officiated  since  the 
church  was  erected  in  the  town  : 

Rev.  Dr.  Handy,  from  June,  1851,  until  October  1«,  1853. 

Rev.  Mr.  Atkintion,  from  September,  1853,  until  November,  1853. 

Rev.  Thomas  Forster,  from  October  2.5,  1851,  until  October  3, 1851. 

Kev.  W.  A.  Ranltln,  from  June  4,  1857,  until  18fil. 

Rev.  Isaac  Riley,  from  March  5,  1862,  until  September  27, 1861. 

Rev.  John  Patton.  D.D  ,  October,  18(i5,  until  April,  188  ». 

Rev.  W.  C.  Alexander,  from  December,  1880,  until  the  present. 

The  lot  on  which  the  former  church  stood  is  still  in 
the  possession  of  thi'i  congregation  and  is  used  as  a 
burying-ground.  The  present  church  stands  on  the 
site  of  the  Peterson  family  cemetery,  and  in  front  of 
the  church  are  four  tombs  with  the  following  in- 
scriptions ; 

"  Here  lieth  the  Body  of  David  Withcmpoon,  Bom  In  Ireland, 
Ck)unty  of  London  Derry.  Departed  thid  life  April  7,  1763.  Aged  58 
years. 

"In  memory  of  Jacob  Peterson,  Esqr.,  Who  died  January  7, 
1774.  Aged  40  years.  His  abilitietias  a  Physician,  and  his  usefulness 
in  Public  and  Domestic  Life  Render  his  Death  a  real  Loss  to  all  con- 
cerned in  it." 

"  In  memory  of  Andrbw  Peterson,  Esq^,  Who  departed  this  Life 
in  January,  1741.    Aged  68  years. 

•'Also  of  his  Relict,  Late  Mrs.  Hester  Witherspoon,  Who  de- 
parted this  life  on  the  18th  Day  of  September,  1772.    Aged  68  years. 

"  In  memory  of  Miss  Peterson,  Daughter  of  Doer'  Peterson,  Who 
departed  thb  Life  June  5, 1784. 

•*  This  small  Tribute  paid, 
"  To  merit  unspeakable.'' 

Bethesda  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Mid- 
dletown,  Delaware,  was  organized  in  the  year  1822, 
by  the  election  of  Azariah  Foster,  Andrew  Dill, 
Thomas  Merritt,  John  Hays  and  Thomas  Low  as 
trustees  to  acquire  and  hold  property  in  its  name. 
During  the  sameyear  a  humble  structure  costing  about 
nine  hundred  dollars  was  erected  for  the  religious 
meetings  of  this  people.  Since  it  has  been  twice  re- 
built,— in  1842  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  B.  F. 
Price,  and  in  1880,  under  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev. 
T.  E.  Martindale.  The  present  building  is  handsomely 
cushioned,  carpeted  and  frescoed,  and  is  more  than 
ordinarily  attractive  in  all  of  its  apartments.  The  con- 
gregations are  the  largest  in  the  community,  number- 
ing, in  actual  communicants,  about  three  hundred, 
among  whom  are  a  number  of  the  representative  busi- 
ness men  of  the  town,  including  the  Hon.  B.  T. 
Biggs,  the  present  Governor  of  the  State.  It  has 
been  blessed  with  several  remarkable  revivals,  the 
largest  of  them  occurring  under  the  ministry  of  the 
Rev.  L.  C.  Matlack,  D.D.,  T.  E.  Martindale  and  the 
present  pastor.  Rev.  R.  H.  Adams.  The  Sunday- 
school  connected  with  the  congregation  is  one  of  the 
most  thoroughly  organized  and  best  disciplined  in  the 
State.  Its  superintendent,  A.  G.  Cox,  was  chosen  at 
the  Conference,  of  1834  as  a  lay  delegate  to  that  great 
law-making  body,  the  General  Conference  of  the 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  benevolent  con- 
tributions are  large  and  annually  increasing,  ranking 
with  the  most  prosperous  churches  of  the  Wilmington 
Conference.  The  Wilmington  Conference  held  its 
annual  session  here  in  1881,  and  wa^  presided  over  by 
Bishop  J.  T.  Hurst,  D.D.,  LL.D.  The  entertainment 
furnished  the  ministry  was  of  the  most  generous  and 
cordial  character.  Among  the  ministers  who  have 
served  this  congregation  are  James  Cunningham, 
Edwin  L.  Janes,  Benj.  F.  Price,  Thomas  B.  Tibbies, 
Ignatius  T.  Cooper,  John  B.  Hagany,  James  Cunning- 
ham, John  Henry,  James  R.  Anderson,  Joseph 
Aspril,  Robert  H.  Patterson,  John  B.  Maddux,  James 
B.  Merritt,  George  Heacock,  Thomas  W.  Simpers, 
Alfred  T.  Scott,  William  H.  Urie,  Henry  Colclazer, 
Vaughn  Smith,  Lucius  C.  Matlack,  Thomas  C.  Mar- 
tindale, W.  L.  S.  Murray,  Adam  Stengle  and  R.  H. 
Adams. 

St.  Joseph's  Roman  Catholic  Church.— Previ- 
ous to  1875  the  Catholics  of  Middletown  and  Odessa 
formed  a  part  of  the  Bohemia  congregation,  and  were 
only  visited  on  week-days  by  stations  in  private 
houses.  In  that  year  Sunday  services  began  to  be  held 
in  private  houses  and  later  in  the  Town  Hall.  The 
inconvenience  attending  these  meetings  led  to  a 
desire  to  have  a  church  property  devoted  exclusively 
to  their  use  and  service.  A  lot  fifty  by  one  hundred 
feet  was  purchased  in  1883,  of  E.  R.  Cochran,  and  the 
corner-stone  was  laid  November  18th,  with  servicis 
conducted  by  Rev.  Father  Murphy,  of  Washington.  On 
October  15,  1884,  the  church  was  dedicated  by  Bt. 
Rev.  Bishop  Becker.  The  church  is  a  neat  frame 
structure,  Gothic  in  style,  sixty-two  by  thirty-two  feet, 
with  spire  and  bell,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  for 
three  hundred  persons.  The  cost  was  about  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  Its  erection  was  due 
to  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Father  John  D.  Gaffney,  S.  J. 
Regular  services  are  held  three  times  a  month.  The 
church  is  under  the  management  of  the  Jesuit 
Fathers.  At  present  there  are  about  two  hundred 
communicants.  A  Sunday-school  of  about  twenty- 
five  scholars  is  connected  with  the  church.  The 
priests  now  in  charge  are  Rev.  J.  M.  Giraud,  pastor. 
Rev.  J.  B.  Archambaud,  assistant. 

Industries. — The  earliest  industry  in  Middletown 
of  which  there  is  any  record  was  the  old  Peterson 
tannery.  In  1761  it  was  owned  by  David  Wither- 
spoon, who  had  purchased  it  of  the  heirs  of  Adam 
Peterson.  After  the  death  of  David  Witherspoon  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  his  nephew,  Thomas  Wither- 
spoon, who  operated  it  for  some  years.  At  a  later 
period  it  became  the  property  of  Philip  Reading,  a 
son  of  the  last  missionary  sent  by  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  to  St. 
Anne's  Church.  Philip  Reading,  Jr.,  married  a  Miss 
Peterson,  and  was  the  last  one  to  operate  the  tannery. 
The  old  brick  building,  now  used  by  William  Green 
for  a  barn,  was  the  bark-house  of  the  tannery. 

There  was  also  an  old  brewery  in  operation  for  a 
few  years  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  town 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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about  1825,  but  all  traces  of  its  owners  and  affairs 
have  entirely  disappeared 

Wm.  L.  Bucke  &  Co.  opened  a  foundry  and  machine- 
shop  in  March,  1856.  Their  first  place  of  business 
wan  on  the  location  now  occupied  by  the  residences 
of  M.  D.  Wilson  and  E.  B.  Rice.  In  1875  the  build- 
ing now  occupied  by  them  was  erected.  It  is  a  one- 
story  brick  structure,  forty  by  eighty  feet.  They 
moved  into  it  January  1,  1876,  and  have  since  con- 
ducted business  there. 

Garrett  Cox  began  the  manufacture  of  wagons  and 
carriages  in  Middletown  about  fifty  years  ago.  Shortly 
afterwards  he  associated  with  himself  his  son,  James 
M.,  and  conducted  business  as  Cox  &  Son.  In  1857 
the  firm  of  J.  M.  Cox  &  Bro.  was  established  and 
have  since  operated  the  carriage  factory.  On  May  2, 
1882,  their  works  were  destroyed  by  fire,  and  in  a  short 
time  the  present  building  was  erected. 

In  1882  W.  P.  Biggs,  Henry  Clayton,  Charles  S.  El- 
lison and  Joshua  Clayton  formed  a  co-partnership 
for  ihe  purpose  of  canning  fruits  and  vegetables,  under 
the  name  of  Biggs,  Clayton  &  Co.  The  necessary 
buildings  were  erected  on  the  corner  of  Scott  and 
Lake  Streets,  where  the  business  was  conducted  for 
two  seasons,  of  four  months  each,  and  then  abandoned. 
Employment  was  given  to  about  one  hundred  and 
twenty  persons.  The  buildings  have  been  unoccupied 
since  1884. 

The  Delmarvia  Manufacturing  Company  was  in- 
corporated March  18,  1873,  with  a  capital  stock  .of 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  Two  acres  of  land  were 
purchased  on  the  corner  of  Cochran  and  Reading 
Streets,  and  the  buildings  were  completed  in  August, 
fitted  up  with  four  evaporators,  and  had  a  capacity  of 
eight  hundred  baskets  of  peaches,  forty-eight  thou- 
sand ears  of  corn  and  three  thousand  five  hundred 
buckets  of  berries  per  day.  The  first  officers  were : 
President,  C.  C.  Sellers ;  Vice-President,  James  C. 
Jackson  ;  Secretary,  James  P.  Meade ;  Treasurer,  H. 
N.  Willits ;  Superintendent,  J.  William  Cox ;  Direc- 
tors, R.  A.  Cochran,  Jos.  Roberts,  E.  C.  Fenimore 
and  John  Cochran. 

On  September  8,  1887,  Mr.  Sellers  resigned  as 
president  and  R.  A.  Cochran  was  elected.  On  Janu- 
ary 10, 1874,  Jos.  Rogers  succeeded  H.  N.  Willits  as 
treasurer,  and  on  July  5th  Mr.  Roberts  was  also 
elected  eecretary  to  succeed  James  P.  Meade.  The 
factory  was  operated  by  the  company  until  November 
5,  1876,  when  it  was  discontinued.  In  March,  1877, 
the  property  was  sold  by  the  sheriff  and  purchased 
by  R.  A.Cochran.  It  burned  down  September  8, 1887, 
and  at  that  time  was  operated  by  Williams  &  Marvel, 
of  Wilmington. 

About  the  year  1570,  John  Cochran  crossed  over 
from  Paisley,  in  Scotland,  to  the  North  of  Ireland. 
He  was  a  clansman  of  the  powerful  house  of  Dun- 
donald,  and  of  kin  with  its  noble  head.  For  several 
generations  his  descendants  were  born,  tilled  the  laud, 
married  and  died  in  the  home  of  their  adoption. 
Many  were  of  the  gentry,  most  were  yeomen,  but  all 


led  sober,  upright,  righteous  lives,  feared  God  and 
kept  His  commandments.  The  family  names  were 
carefully  perpetuated.  James,  the  son  of  John,  was 
succeeded  by  John,  who,  in  turn,  was  father  of  another 
James.  Then  came  Robert,  called  "  honest,  '*  to  dis- 
tinguish him  from  others  of  the  same  name.  His 
sons  were  James,  Stephen  and  David,  and  these  latter 
crossed  the  sea  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
unmolested  they  might  continue  to  worship  in  the 
faith  of  their  fathers. 

James  married  his  kinswoman, Isabella,the  daughter 
of  "  deaf"  Robert.  Their  children  were  Ann, Robert, 
James,  John,  Stephen,  Jane  and  George.  Ann  mar- 
ried the  Rev.  John  Roan,  or  Rohan,  as  it  was  indiflfer- 
ently  spelled ;  Jane  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Mitchell ;  Robert  died,  leaving  a  daughter 
Isabella;  James  died  in  April,  1768,  preceded  in  his 
departure  out  of  this  world  by  his  father,  James,  who 
died  in  the  autumn  of  1766. 

This  is  the  race  of  the  Cochrans  from  the  period 
when  they  quitted  their  home  in  Scotland  to  the  time 
when  their  bones  were  first  laid  in  the  New  World, 
James,  Stephen  and  David  settled  in  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  laid  out  their  farms  near  the  rip- 
pling currents  of  Octorara.  As  appears  from  the 
records,  James  first  resided  in  Sadsbury,  in  the  same 
county  and  State.  In  1742  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  acres  additional  in  the  same  township, 
but  it  was  not  until  the  year  1745  that  a  large  tract  in 
Fallowfield,  owned  in  common  by  the  three  brothers, 
was  divided,  and  a  patent  issued  by  John,  Thomas 
and  Richard  Penn  to  James,  for  three  contiguous  lots, 
aggregating  four  hundred  and  thirty  acres. 

•This  tract  lay  to  the  south  of  Stephen's  and  David's 
shares.  Through  the  northern  portion,  and  near  to 
the  northwestern  boundary,  dividing  it  from  the  land 
of  Stephen,  ran  the  New  Castle  road,  to-day  called  the 
Gap  and  Newport  turnpike.  There  the  little  village 
of  Cochranville,by  its  name  perpetuates  the  traditions 
of  the  clan,  whose  pibroch  and  whose  slogan  have 
long  ceased  to  sound  on  Scottish  hills.  These  facts 
may  be  found  in  an  article  contributed  by  Walter  L. 
C.  Biddle  to  the  Pennsylvania  Magazine  of  HUtory 
and  Biography,  Yol.llL,  No.  3,  1879,  pp.  241,  242, 
and  also  in  Judge  J.  Smith  Futhey's  "  History  of 
Chester  County."  One  of  the  scions  of  the  original 
Cochran  stock  settled  in  New  Castle  County, Delaware, 
near  Summit  Bridge,  and  had  a  son  James,  who  also 
lived  there  and  had  the  following  children,  viz.:  Wil- 
liam, who  still  survives,  (February,  1888) ;  Francis, 
Robert  A.,  and  James. 

Robert  A.  Cochran,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  Nov.  11,  1805,  on  what  is  known  as  the  Levels, 
about  three  miles  southwest  of  Middletown,  New 
Castle  County,  Delaware,  on  the  farm  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Joseph  Roberts.  Soon  after  his  birth 
his  father,  James  Cochran,  who  was  born  near  Summit 
Bridge,  New  Castle  County,  bought  and  removed  to  a 
farm  on  Bohemia  Manor,  Cecil  County,  Maryland, 
near  what  is  now  Murphy *s  Mill,  about  five  miles 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


from  Middletown.  Up  to  about  the  time  he  was 
sixteen  years  of  age,  he  worked  hard  on  the  farm  for 
nine  months  in  the  year,  and  during  a  part  of  the 
winter  months  he  attended  a  poor  public  school  in 
Middletown,  many  times  walking  the  five  miles  each 
way  morning  and  night. 

When  about  sixteen  years  old  he  went  to  Turner's 
Creek,  in  Kent  County,  Md.,  to  clerk  in  a  store, 
where  he  stayed  about  two  years.  He  then  went  on 
horseback  to  Alabama  with  an  uncle,  who  was  a 
large  cotton-plaiiter,  to  superintend  for  him  a  por- 
tion of  his  business.  Being  very  frugal,  he  had 
saved  a  little  money  during  this  time,  and  when 
about  twenty  years  of  age  he  paid  his  own  way 
for  tuition  at  a  seminary  for  about  a  year,  shortly 
after  which  he  enlisted  in  General  Scott's  army  to 
fight  the  Indians  in  Florida,  in  what  is  known  as  the 
Seminole  War.  He  stayed  until  the  war  was  over,  and 
thrilling  indeed  it  was  to  hear  him  relate  the  many 
hair-breadth  escapes  he  made  from  the  savages  and 
from  the  dreadful  fevers  that  prevailed  in  the  swamps 
of  that  wild  region  around  Tampa  Bay  and  the  Ever- 
glades. After  the  war  he  spent  several  years  more 
in  different  parts  of  the  South,  chiefly  in  Alabama 
and  Georgia,  during  which  time  he  managed  to  save 
a  few  thousand  dollars.  Meanwhile  he  made  several 
trips  to  his  old  home  in  Maryland  on  horseback,  and 
finally  concluded  to  leave  the  South  and  settle  per- 
manently near  his  old  home.  On  his  way  back  he 
stopped  to  rest  at  Joppa  Croas-Roads,  in  Harford 
County,  Md.,  which  lies  immediately  on  the  turnpike 
then  known  as  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  turn- 
pike and  stage-route,  and  where  now  stands  a  station 
on  the  new  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  Railroad, 
called  Joppa.  Sojourning  with  his  friends  and  rela- 
tives, John  Rouse  and  family,  he  there  and  then  first 
met  the  bright  and  beautiful  girl,  Mary  L.  Rouse, 
then  seventeen  years  of  age,  whom  he  afterwards 
married,  in  little  over  a  year.  Sarah  Rouse,  the 
mother  of  Mary  L.,  whose  maiden -name  was  Sarah 
Cochran,  had  removed  from  Delaware  to  Harford 
County  some  years  before,  and  was  a  relative  of 
Robert  A.  Cochran,  and  closely  connected  with  the 
numerous  Cochran  family  of  Baltimore  City  and 
Harford  County,  Md. 

The  marriage  took  place  at  Joppa  September  21, 
1837.  ^he  bride  and  groom  went  very  soon  there- 
after to  Middletown,  Del.,  and  spent  the  following 
winter  with  ex- Governor  John  P.  and  R.  T.  Cochran. 
In  the  spring  following  they  took  board  at  the  Mid- 
dletown Hotel,  and  Mr.  Cochran  engaged  in  the  lum- 
ber business.  In  about  a  year  afterwards  he  bought 
the  hotel  and  about  seventy  acres  of  land,  lying  con- 
tiguous thereto,  on  which  a  good  part  of  the  town 
now  stands. 

In  1844  he  bought,  on  the  levels  near  Middletown, 
a  farm,  lying  adjacent  to  the  one  on  which  he  was 
born,  which  he  proceeded  to  improve  in  a  vigorous 
manner.  In  1849  he  built  a  large  brick  house  and 
commodious  out-buildiugs  upon    it,    and    removed 


thereto  in  the  summer  of  1850,  and  by  his  antiring 
industry  and  good  management  in  a  few  years  convert- 
ed it  from  a  barren  common  to  a  rich  and  fertile  farm. 

In  1861  Mr.  Cochran  was  elected  ©n  the  Democratic 
ticket  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  served  through 
the  regular  term.  He  also  served  in  the  extra  session 
of  1862.  Before  the  war  he  had  acted  with  the  old 
Whig  party. 

In  1866  he  left  the  farm  and  removed  to  Middle- 
town  again,  and  devoted  himself  to  building  up  the 
town  and  the  management  of  his  seven  farms,  all  of 
which  he  had,  by  his  industry,  economy  and  good 
management,  succeeded  in  buying  and  paying  for  in 
a  few  years  entirely  by  his  own  exertion  and  unaided 
by  any  one  to  the  extent  of  five  hundred  dollars.  He 
had  often  been  heard  to  say  that  when  he  started 
South  he  had  just  ten  cents  in  his  pocket,  and  he 
never  received  a  cent  from  his  father's  small  estate. 

There  never  lived  a  more  industrious  and  econom- 
ical and  honest  man  than  Robert  A.  Cochran.  Many 
people  say  that  the  town  of  Middletown  would  never 
have  been  what  it  is  to-day  had  it  not  been  for  him, 
and  the  many  buildings  he  erected  there  stand  as 
monuments  to  commemorate  his  enterprise,  quite  as 
significant  as  the  granite  shaft  that  marks  his  tomb 
in  the  Forest  Hill  Presbyterian  Church  Cemetery. 

He  died  November  2, 1882,  being  within  nine  days 
of  seventy-seven  years  of  age.  His  wife  had  died  Janu- 
ary 24,  1877.  He  left  an  estate  valued  at  two  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  The  children  born  to  Robert 
A.  and  Mary  L.  Cochran  were  as  follows :  Edwin  R., 
now  clerk  of  the  peace  for  New  Castle  County,  and 
married  to  Ada  C,  daughter  of  Charles  Beasten,  of 
Odessa,  Del.  (his  home  is  near  Middletown,  in  a  com- 
modious dwelling,  built  by  his  father  in  1865;  he  has 
three  children — Edwin  R,  Jr.,  Blanche  B.  and  Ada 
L.  Cochran) ;  two  sons  bore  the  name  of  William  H, 
Cochran  (the  first  was  born  June  16,  1840,  the  second 
August  20,  1841 ;  both  are  now  dead) ;  James  F.,  bom 
August  22,  1843 ;  Sarah  O.,  born  May  17,  1845 ;  R. 
Alvin,  born  February  24,  1849  ;  Christopher  C,  born 
April  27,  1851;  Mary  L.,  born  April  17,  1853;  Flor- 
ence E.,  born  March  30,  1861 ;  and  Amanda  S.,  born 
April  16,  1855,  are  all  deceased,  and,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  R.  Alvin,  died  before  their  father.  Frances 
E.,  born  May  10,  1847,  is  the  wife  of  William  A. 
Comegys,  a  relative  of  Chief  Justice  Com^ys.  He 
is  deputy  collector  of  Internal  Revenue,  and  resides 
at  Middletown.  Josephine  R.,  born  November  30, 
1857,  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Frank  Conrey,  of  Chesa- 
peake City. 

Mr.  Cochran  was  an  adherent  and  one  of  the  found- 
ers, and  from  its  foundation  until  his  death  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  Forest  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Middletown. 

Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mrs.  Wm.  A. 
Comegys,  viz. :  Robert  A.  and  Joseph  P.  Robert  A. 
Cochran  (now  deceased)  left  three  children,  viz. : 
Evelyn,  Bertie  and  Louise.  Mrs.  J.  R.  Conrey  has 
one  son,  Frank. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


1001 


In  1874  J.  B.  Feoimore  built  a  new  machine  works 
near  the  Del  mar  via  fruit  factory.  Thia  was  occupied 
for  about  three  years  by  D.  Woodall  &  Co.  as  a 
foundry  and  machine-shop.  In  1877  it  was  fitted  up 
by  Wm.  R.  Rothwell  &  Co.,  for  a  basket  factory,  but 
never  operated.  It  was  next  used  for  one  season 
by  Parvis  &  Biggs  as  a  phosphate  manufactory.  In 
1886  H.  L.  Arthur  leased  the  property  and  fitted  it 
up  with  machinery  for  canning  tomatoes  and  peaches. 
During  the  season  of  two  months  per  year  he  gives 
employment  to  seventy  persons.  He  cans  tomatoes 
principally  and  has  a  capacity  for  fifteen  thousand 
eases  per  season.  His  principal  shipments  are  to  New 
York  and  Toledo. 

In  1887  J.  B.  Maxwell  erected  a  canning  factory, 
the  main  building  of  which  is  two  stories  high  and 
forty-eight  by  sixty -four  feet.  In  the  rear  of  this  is  a 
one-story  building,  thirty  by  eighty-eight  feet.  The 
establishment  will  be  used  during  the  canning  season 
for  putting  up  the  "  Lion  "  brand  of  tomatoes,  and  for 
about  six  months  more  of  the  year  for  manufacturing 
mince-meat  and  will  give  employment  to  fifty  persons. 
The  capacity  for  this  year  is  one  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  cans,  which  will  be  shipped  principally  to 
Philadelphia. 

In  1885  G.  W.  Stephens  opened  a  brick -yard  within 
the  limits  of  Middletown.  Employment  is  given  to 
ten  men  for  seven  months  each  year.  Five  grades 
are  manufactured  which  aggregate  six  hundred  thou- 
sand bricks  per  year.  The  majority  of  these  are  used 
in  the  vicinity. 

Banking  Institutions. — On  February  25,  1859, 
the  "Citizens'  Bank  of  the  State  of  Delaware,"  at 
Middletown,  was  chartered.  The  capital  stock  was 
fifty  thousand  dollars,  which  was  divided  into  one 
thousand  shares  at  fifty  dollars  each.  The  bank  was 
opened  for  business  January  23,  1860,  in  a  building 
on  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Main  Streets,  where  G.  W. 
W.  Naudain's  store  now  stands.  The  officers  at  that 
time  were, — President,  George  Derricksou;  Cashier, 
James  McDowell ;  Teller,  John  Z.  Crouch ;  Direc- 
tors, John  Eliason,  Benjamin  Gibbs,  Richard  Lock- 
wood,  Thomas  Murphy,  Richard  Seamans,  Albert 
Penington,  William  C.  Eliason,  Robert  A.  Cochran. 

In  1861  John  Z.  Crouch  resigned  the  position  of 
teller  and  John  R.  Hall  wan  chosen  his  successor.  At 
the  decease  of  Cashier  James  McDowell  in  1862,  John 
B.  Hall  was  elected  to  succeed  him,  and  Joseph 
L.  Gibson  was  chosen  teller.  In  1865  it  was  decided 
to  convert  the  bank  into  a  national  bank,  and  increase 
the  capital  stock  to  eighty  thousand  dollars.  It  was 
officered  then  as  follows :  President,  George  Derrick- 
son  ;  Cashier,  John  R.  Hall;  Teller,  Joseph  L.  Gib- 
son ;  Directors,  Thomas  Murphy,  Richard  Seamans, 
Benjamin  Gibbs,  Wm.  C.  Eliason,  C.  B.  Ellison,  Jas. 
M.  Cox,  Dr.  J.  V.  Crawford,  James  Garman. 

In  1867  Joseph  L.  Gibson  resigned  his  position  and 
accepted  the  cashiership  of  the  New  Castle  County 
Bank,  at  Odessa.  J.  B.  Clarkson  was  elected  his  suc- 
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cesser  and  was  teller  till  1874,  when  he  resigned  and 
John  S.  Crouch  was  chosen. 

In  1868  Wm.  C.  Eliason  was  succeeded  as  director 
by  Jesse  Lake,  who,  with  Richard  Seamans,  was  suc- 
ceeded in  the  following  year  by  William  Green  and 
William  B.  Thomas.  Henry  Clayton  was  elected  in 
1870  as  the  successor  to  Wm.  B.  Thomas.  During 
this  year  a  lot  on  Broad  Street  was  purchased  of 
Robert  A.  Cochran  by  the  bank.  In  the  fall  the 
erection  of  a  commodious  brick  building  was  begun. 
It  was  completed  the  following  year  at  a  cost  of 
twelve  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars. 

Since  that  time  the  building  has  been  used  for 
banking  purposes.  In  January,  1871,  George  Derrick- 
son  resigned  his  position  as  president,  and  Dr.  J.  V. 
Crawford  was  elected  his  successor.  He  filled  the 
position  until  1874,  when  he  resigned  and  Henry  Clay- 
ton, the  present  president,  was  chosen.  The  officers 
in  this  year  were :  President,  Henry  Clayton ;  Cash- 
ier, John  R.  Hall ;  Teller,  John  S.  Crouch ;  Directors, 
Benjamin  Gibbs,  Benjamin  T.  Biggs,  John  A.  Rey- 
nolds, James  Culbertson,  Jacob  B.  Cazier,  Edward  C. 
Fenimore,  Martin  E.  Walker  and  Joseph  Biggs.  There 
was  no  change  in  the  board  until  1882,  when  Andrew 
Woodall  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
death  of  Benjamin  Gibbs.  In  the  following  year  the 
decease  of  Martin  E.  Walker  caused  a  vacancy 
which  was  filled  by  the  election  of  Colonel  Joshua 
Clayton. 

In  June,  1884,  John  S.  Crouch  was  elected  to  suc- 
ceed John  R.  Hall  as  cashier,  and  Leonidas  Darling- 
ton was  chosen  teller.  On  May  11, 1885,  the  corporate 
existence  of  the  bank  was  extended  for  a  period  of 
twenty  years.  The  bank  is  well  managed  and  at  the 
present  time  has  a  surplus  of  sixteen  thousand  dollars. 
The  officers  are :  President,  Henry  Clayton ;  Cashier, 
John  S.  Crouch ;  Teller,  Leonidas  Darlington  ;  As- 
sistant Teller,  R.  T.  Clayton ;  Directors,  John  A.  Rey- 
nolds, B.  T.  Biggs,  J.  B.  Cazier,  Andrew  Woodall, 
James  Culbertson,  Thomas  Cavender,  Joseph  Biggs 
and  Joshua  Clayton,  of  Thomas^ 

The  Peoples  National  Bank  of  Middletown  was  au- 
thorized to  begin  the  bubiness  of  banking  on  July  31, 
1883.  The  first  meeting  was  held  May  1,  1883,  and 
Dr.  J.  V.  Crawford,  Andrew  Eliason,  William  Green, 
Samuel  Mallalieu  and  G.  W.  W.  Naudain  reported 
the  following  persons  for  the  Managing  Committee : 
T.  C.  Cruikshank,  William  K.  Lockwood,  Andrew 
Eliason,  John  Diehl,  Samuel  Mallalieu,  B.  F.  H. 
Caulk,  Dr.  J.  V.  Crawford,  H.  H.  Appleton,  J.  A. 
Pool,  James  M.  Vandegrift,  William  Green,  Charles 
Derrickson^  G.  E.  Hukill,  W.  R.  Cochran,  Thomas 
Cavender,  G.  W.  W.  Naudain,  E.  R.  Cochran  and 
James  R.  Hoffecker.  The  disposition  of  the  stock 
was  left  to  this  committee,  with  instructions  to  sell  to 
no  person  more  than  thirty  shares.  On  May  29th 
they  reported  the  stock  all  taken,  and  notice  was  sent 
to  each  subscriber  to  pay  in  ten  per  cent,  of  the 
amount  subscribed.  On  June  2d  a  meeting  of  the 
stockholders  was  called  and  an  organization  effected. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


It  was  decided  to  elect  nine  directors  from  Delaware 
and  three  from  Maryland.  The  following  received 
the  highest  number  of  votes  and  were  declared  elec- 
ted: Dr.  J.  V.  Crawford,  G.  W.  W.  Naudain,  Wil- 
liam Cochran,  Z.  A.  Pool,  G.  E.  Hukill,  T.  C.  Cruik- 
shank,  Andrew  Eliason,  William  Green,  George  L. 
Townsend,  H.  A.  Nowland,  Samuel  Mallalieu  and  I. 
G.  Griffith. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  directors  held  June  9th,  Dr.  J* 
V.  Crawford  was  chosen  president ;  William  R.  Coch- 
ran, vice-president ;  and  G.  W.  W.  Naudain,  secretary. 
Mr.  Naudain  resigned  his  position  as  secretary  on 
June  30th,  and  George  L.  Townsend  was  elected  his 
successor.  On  the  same  day  the  corporation  rented 
from  Colonel  Joshua  Clayton  a  room  on  the  corner  of 
Broad  and  Main  Streets,  and  proceeded  to  fit  it  up 
for  a  banking-room.  George  D.  Kelley  was  elected 
cashier  on  the  21st  day  of  July  and  has  served  in 
that  capacity  to  the  present  time.  On  July  28th 
William  A.  Comegys  was  elected  teller,  which  position 
he  held  until  November  29, 1884,  when  he  resigned 
and  Sewell  Green,  the  present  teller,  was  chosen. 
The  bank  was  opened  for  business  on  August  15, 
1883.  In  January,  1884,  Messrs.  Hukill,  Naudain  and 
Eliason  were  appointed  a  committee  to  select  a  suit- 
able bank  property,  and  on  February  16th  they  were 
instructed  to  purchase  a  house  of  L.  P.  McDowell 
and  an  adjoining  lot  of  Miss  M.  A.  C.  Roberts,  both 
on  Main  Street.  The  house  was  remodeled  and  fitted 
up  as  a  residence  for  the  cashier.  On  June  21,  1884, 
the  contract  for  the  erection  of  the  present  bank 
building  was  awarded  to  C.  N.  Dodd.  The  new  build- 
ing was  completed  and  opened  in  December,  1884. 
On  November  3,  1883,  William  Green  resigned  his 
position  as  director  and  George  W.  Polk  was  elected. 
In  January,  1885,  B.  F.  H.  Caulk  was  elected  the 
successor  of  Samuel  Mallalieu.  On  April  3,  1886, 1. 
G.  Griffith  resigned  and  G.  F.  Brady  was  elected.  On 
May  7,  1887,  George  M.  D.  Hart  was  elected  to  fill 
the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  George  W. 
Polk.  The  capital  stock  is  eighty  thousand  dollars 
and  is  divided  into  eight  hundred  shares  of  one  hun- 
dred dollars  each.  The  surplus  is  two  thousand  three 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  present  officers  are  : 
President,  J.  V.  Crawford,  M.D.;  Cashier,  George  D. 
Kelley ;  Teller,  Sewell  Green  ;  Directors,  G.  W.  W. 
Naudain,  William  Cochran,  Z.  A.  Pool,G.  E.  Hukill, 
Andrew  Eliason,  George  M.  D.  Hart,  George  L. 
Townsend,  H.  A.  Nowland,  B.  F.  H.  Caulk,  T.  C. 
Cruikshank  and  G.  F.  Brady. 

James  V.  Crawford,  M.D.,  the  president  of  the 
People's  National  Bank,  was  born  in  Baltimore  in 
1824,  in  which  city  he  was  educated,  and  where  he 
lived  until  1846,  when  he  became  a  resident  of  Dela- 
ware. 

He  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  James  Crawford,  a 
Scotch,  or  Scotch-Irish  gentleman  of  some  means  and 
good  position,  who  came  with  Sir  Robert  Carr,  as  a 
volunteer  on  the  military  expedition  sent  by  the 
British  government,  in  1664,  to  drive  out  the  Dutch, 


who  had  taken  possession  of  the  Delaware  colony 
This  expedition  was  organized  in  the  vicinity  of 
Windsor,  England,  and  was  composed,  as  military 
expeditions  generally  were  at  that  time,  of  younger 
sons  of  good  families,  eager  for  any  stirring  adventure 
in  western  wilds.  As  Windsor  at  that  time  was  the 
country  residence  of  the  Stuart  Kings,  who  were 
Scotch,  many  of  their  countrymen  would  naturally 
resort  to  that  place  as  applicants  for  place  or  favors. 
This  accounts  for  some  of  the  Scotch  names  in  the 
regiment.  Though  there  was  difierence  in  military 
rank  among  them,  there  appears  to  have  been  little  or 
none  in  their  social  position. 

After  the  successful  result  of  this  expedition,  James 
Crawford  concluded  to  cast  his  lot  with  the  hardy 
pioneers  of  the  English  colony,  and  remained  at  or 
near  the  New  Castle  settlement  Several  tracts  of 
land  and  a  house  at  New  Castle  were  bestowed  upon 
him,  as  the  records  say,  in  1667,  for  meritorious  mili- 
tary service.  He  afterwards,  in  1675  and  in  1682,  ob- 
tained by  two  separate  deeds  eight  hundred  acres  of 
land  from  the  English  Grovernor  Nichols,  and  from 
Edmuod  Andross,  Deputy  Governor  of  the  New  York 
province,  before  the  Delaware  settlement  was  sold  to 
William  Penn.  These  tracts  were  improved  and  left 
to  his  heirs  at  his  death  in  1683.  His  widow,  Judith 
Crawford,  married  Edward  Gibbs,  by  whom  she  had 
two  children,  Edward  and  Benjamin.  John  Crawford, 
a  son  of  the  pioneer  James  Crawford,  became  an 
Episcopal  clergyman,  and  went  to  England.  George, 
a  great-grandson,  went  South  about  1747,  and  Elea- 
nora,  a  sister  of  George,  married  a  Porter,  the  ancestor 
of  the  former  Commodore  Porter  of  the  United  States 
navy.  Most  of  the  descendants  of  James  Crawford 
have  resided  as  landed  proprietors  in  what  i8  now  the 
county  of  New  Castle.  Among  the  living  male  de- 
scendants are  Theodore  F.  Crawford,  of  Wilmington, 
and  the  Rev.  John  Crawford,  formerly  of  Wilming- 
ton. 

The  particular  care  given  to  education  and  the 
advancement  of  family  interests,  which  distinguishes 
the  Scotch-Irish  people,  has  been  characteristic  of  the 
Craw  fords.  Hence  they  have  been  found  more  atten- 
tive to  the  interests  and  duties  of  private  life  than 
solicitous  of  public  honors.  Many  of  them  lie  buried 
in  the  cemetery  attached  to  Drawyer's  Church,  near 
Odessa,  and  their  names  are  prominent  in  the  annals 
of  that  old  church.  The  grandfather  of  Dr.  Crawford, 
whose  name  was  also  James,  lost  the  bulk  of  a  good 
hereditary  estate  by  becoming  surety  for  friends,  and 
left  his  property  in  a  tangled  and  critical  condition, 
which  was  afterwards  recovered  by  his  grandson. 
His  son  Jacob,  the  father  of  Dr.  Crawford,  was  of  a 
delicate  constitution,  and  died  at  the  early  age  of  thir- 
ty-eight. He  had  gone  to  ^Baltimore  to  engage  in 
mercantile  affairs,  and  there  married  a  Miss  Duchemin, 
of  that  city,  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and 
who  also  died  at  an  early  age.  On  the  maternal  side 
Dr.  Crawford  is  connected  with  two  notable  historical 
events.    One  was  the  slave  insurrection  of  St  Do- 


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mingo,  in  1793,  on  account  of  which  his  maternal 
grandfather,  Francis  A.  Duchemin,  was  obliged  to 
flee  from  that  island.  This  he  was  barely  successful 
in  accomplishing,  by  the  aid  of  two  faithful  slaves, 
who  refused  to  leave  him,  and  went  with  him  to  Bal- 
timore. Francis  A.  Duchemin  had  emigrated  from 
France  to  St.  Domingo.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual 
ability,  and  had  built  up  an  extensive  shipping  busi- 
ness and  a  large  fortune,  the  former  of  which  was,  of 
course,  destroyed  by  the  insurrection.  Of  his  fortune, 
though  his  losses  were  heavy,  he  was  fortunate  enough 
to  save  a  handsome  competence,  from  remittances 
from  consignees  in  foreign  ports,  for  valuable  cargoes 
previously  shipped. 

The  expulsion  of  the  French  settlers  from  Acadia, 
or  Nova  Scotia,  is  the  second  event  above  alluded  to, 
which  was  carried  out  by  the  British  forces  with  great 
cruelty,  and  who  scattered  those  once  happy  people 
to  so  many  different  quarters  of  the  world.  The  story 
is  told  by  Longfellow  with  great  effect,  in  the  poem 
of  "Evangeline.'*  The  exile  from  St.  Domingo,  Mr. 
Duchemin,  married  in  Baltimore  the  daughter  of 
one  of  those  Acadian  exiles,  and  from  this  union  the 
mother  of  Dr.  Crawford  was  one  of  the  offspring. 
Mr.  Duchemin  was  one  of  the  volunteer  defenders  of 
Baltimore  during  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain, 
when  his  adopted  city  was  in  danger. 

Dr.  Crawford  was  educated  at  St.  Mary's  College, 
in  Baltimore,  and  having  chosen  the  profession  of 
medicine,  graduated  from  the  University  of  Maryland 
in  1845.  Before  proceeding  to  practice  fnedicine  in 
the  city,  he  felt  bound  to  devote  himself  to  a  diligent 
effort  to  recover  the  estate  in  Delaware  that  had  be- 
longed to  his  grandfather  Crawford,  above  alluded  to. 
After  several  years  of  wearisome  delays,  disappoint- 
ments, risks  and  much  expense,  hi^  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. He  was  also  fortunate  in  selling,  just  before 
the  Civil  War  (at  an  advance),  a  tract  of  land  which 
he  had  bought  in  Virginia. 

Thus  placed  in  advantageous  circumstances,  and 
finding  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the  country  too 
laborious  for  his  health,  which  was  of  hereditary 
delicacy,  he  concluded  to  devote  himself  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  the  improvement  of  his  land. 
This  occupation  was  not  entirely  congenial  to  him, 
yet  circumstances  seemed  to  bind  him  to  its  continu- 
ance for  many  years,  and  he  has  been  successful  in 
its  prosecution.  But  his  main  predilection  is  for 
science  and  literature,  which  he  has  always  cultivated 
with  unfailing  pleasure. 

In  1864  he  was  chosen  director  in  the  Citizens' 
National  Bank  of  Middletown,  and  was  afterwards 
elected  president  of  the  bank,  serving  three  years  in 
the  latter  capacity  until  he  resigned  this  position  in 
1874. 

In  religion  Dr.  Crawford  belongs  to  the  Catholic 
Church.  In  politics,  though  raised  a  Whig,  he  has 
for  many  years  acted  with  the  Democratic  party. 
During  the  late  war  he  followed  the  lead  of  Mr.  Doug- 
las, and  was  a  strenuous  supporter  of  the  War  for  the 


Union.  He  was  also  in  accord  with  the  administra- 
tion of  Andrew  Johnson  in  the  efforts  made  by  him 
to  re-establish  friendly  relations  between  North  and 
South.  Dr.  Crawford  attended  the  National  Union 
Convention  of  1866,  as  one  of  the  delegates  from  Del- 
aware. In  1880  he  accepted  the  Democratic  nomina- 
tion for  the  State  Legislature,  but  the  entire  county 
ticket  was  defeated.  In  1882  he  again  received  the 
nomination  of  his  party  for  the  same  position,  and 
was  elected.  His  course  in  the  Legislature  gave  sat- 
isfaction to  his  constituents,  and  as  *^  Chairman  of  the 
Judiciary  Committee  "  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives he  obtained  the  approval  of  both  parties.  Upon 
the  establishment  of  the  People's  National  Bank  of 
Middletown,  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  bank  at 
the  first  election,  which  was  held  in  January,  1884, 
and  he  still  at  this  date,  December  29,  1887,  holds  the 
same  position.  He  finds  pleasure  in  the  fact  that 
though  the  new  bank  has  encountered  opposition,  yet 
it  has  enjoyed  continued  prosperity,  and  its  stock  now 
sells  at  a  premium. 

Dr.  Crawford  is  unmarried,  but  has  the  company 
of  two  sisters  who  share  the  comforts  of  his  household. 
In  person  Dr.  Crawford  is  spare  and  not  above 
medium  height.  His  features  and  manner  indicate 
that  he  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and  that 
he  would  persevere  resolutely  in  whatever  course  he 
believed  to  be  right. 

Societies.— t^ion  Lodge^  No,  5,  A.  F.  A.  M,,  was 
instituted  at  Odessa  in  17G5,  and  is  the  oldest  lodge 
of  Masons  in  the  State.  The  original  charter  was 
granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania,  there 
being  no  Grand  Lodge  in  Delaware  previous  to  1806. 
On  January  24,  1816,  the  lodge  was  reorganized  and 
chartered  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  this  State  under 
the  same  name  and  number  under  which  it  was  or- 
iginally organized. 

The  names  of  the  first  officers  under  the  new  or- 
ganization were, — W.  M.,  Leonard  Vandegrift;  S. 
W.,  Thomas  Belville;  J.  W.,  William  Streets;  Treas., 
Arnold  S.  Naudain ;  Sec,  John  Moody ;  S.  D.,  Jon- 
athan Allston ;  J.  D.,  John  Stuart ;  Tyler,  Joshua 
Bowen. 

The  place  of  meeting  was  afterwards  changed  to 
Middletown,  where  the  lodge  now  meets  in  the  town 
hall  on  the  first  Tuesday  night  of  every  month. 

The  present  membership  is  forty-nine,  and  the 
officers  are,— W.  M.,  J.  B.  Roberts;  S.  W.,  Dr.  B.  B. 
McKee;  J.  W.,  John  W.  Jolls;  Treas.,  J.  L.  Gibson; 
Sec,  W.  H.  Johnson;  S.  D.,  T.  W.  Bucke;  J.  D.,  J. 
B.  Deakyne. 

Irving  Lyceum  was  a  literary  association  formed 
in  Middletown  during  February,  1881.  Rev.  W.  C. 
Alexander  was  its  first  president,  and  was  ably 
sustained  by  the  leading  citizens  of  the  place.  Its 
membership  at  one  time  was  over  a  hundred.  And 
several  public  entertainments  were  given  by  the 
members  in  the  course  of  its  existence.  It  had  a 
good  hall,  well  equipped,  with  a  library  and  a  piano; 


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1004 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


but  after  a  little  over  four  years  of  good  and  efficient 
work,  it  disbanded. 

The  Mutual  Loan  Association  of  Middlelown,  Del., 
was  organized  February  15,  1873.  The  first  officers 
were.—Pres.,  James  H.  Scowdrick;  Vice-Pres.,  H. 
A.  Nowland;  Sec,  A.  G.  Cox;  Treas.,  J.  B.  Clark- 
son  ;  Directors,  J.  M.  Cox,  J.  H.  Gilpin,  T.  W.  Bucke, 
John  B.  Roberts,  G.  E.  Hukill,  James  R.  Hoffecker, 
John  Morrison,  E.  B.  Rice,  R.  H.  Eliason. 

Series  of  stock  are  issued  yearly,  and  continue  till 
each  share  is  worth  $200.  Fifteen  series  have  been 
issued,  of  which  five  have  matured.  In  March,  1878, 
G.  E.  Hukill  succeeded  James  H.  Scowdrick  as  pres- 
ident. Hukill  was  succeeded  in  1883  by  H.  A.  Now- 
land, the  present  incumbent.  In  1883  G.  E.  Hukill 
succeeded  H.  A.  Nowland  as  vice-president.  In 
March,  1876,  A.  G.  Cox  succeeded  J.  B.  Clarkson  as 
treasurer.  The  receipts  for  the  year  ending  February 
15,  1887,  were  $31,797.31.  The  cash  in  the  treasury 
at  that  time  was  $1785.44. 

The  officers  at  the  present  time  are, — Pres.,  H.  A. 
Nowland;  Vice-Pres.,  G.  E.  Hukill;  Sec.  and  Treas., 

A.  G.  Cox ;  Directors,  Joseph  Gary,  W.  H.  Moore, 
Joseph  Hanson,  Dr.  T.  H.  Gilpin,  J.  B.  Foard,  John 
W.  Jolls,  James  M.  Cox,  D.  L.  Dunning. 

The  Feninmlar  Agricultural  and  Pomological  Asso- 
ciation was  organized  at  Middletowu,  January  31, 
1874.  At  this  meeting  the  first  officers  of  the  asso- 
ciation were  elected  and  were  as  follows :  President, 
Charles  Beasten ;  Treasurer,  Edward  Reynolds ;  Sec- 
retary, J.  Thomas  Budd. 

A  tract  of  land  near  the  town  limits  was  leased  of 
William  Brady  and  buildings  erected  and  a  race-track 
constructed.  For  the  first  few  years  the  fairs  were  a 
success  both  financially  and  as  to  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  exhibits.  Gradually  they  became  un- 
popular, and  in  1883  it  was  decided  to  abandon  them. 
In  the  following  February  the  buildings  and  privi- 
leges of  the  association  were  exposed  to  public  sale, 
and  sold  on  the  21st  of  that  month.  In  August,  1875, 
Charles  Beasten  was  succeeded  by  Wm.  R.  Cochran, 
who  continued  to  serve  as  president  until  its  abandon- 
ment.   J.  Thos.  Budd  was  succeeded  in  1876  by  J. 

B.  Clarkson,  whom  J.  B.  Naudain  succeeded  the  same 
year.  In  1880  W.  S.  Way  was  elected  to  succeed 
Naudain.  Way  was  secretary  and  Edward  Reynolds 
treasurer  until  the  dissolution  of  the  association. 

MiDDLETOWN  TowN  Hall. — The  Middletown 
Town  Hall  Company  was  incorporated  February  25, 
1867.  On  March  2d  a  meeting  was  called  for  the 
purpose  of  selecting  a  committee  to  open  the  books 
and  secure  subscriptions  for  the  stock.  W.  H.  Barr, 
James  M.  Cox,  J.  B.  Fenimore,  H.  N.  Willits  and  J. 
Thomas  Budd  were  appointed  as  the  committee.  On 
March  16,  1868,  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers  was 
called  and  seven  directors  were  elected  to  serve  for 
one  year.  They  were  James  M.  Cox,  Robert  A. 
Cochran,  Samuel  Penington,  W.  H.  Barr,  J.  Thomas 
Budd,  John  R.  Hall  and  Thomas  Massey.  A  meet- 
ing of  the  dirctors  was  immediately  called,  when 


James  M.  Cox  was  chosen  president ;  J.  T.  Budd,  sec- 
retary ;  and  John  R.  Hall,  treasurer.  A  lot  of  land 
on  Main  Street  was  purchased  of  Samuel  Penington 
and  the  erection  of  a  building  was  commenced  in 
June.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  July  27,  1868,  with 
appropriate  services  conducted  by  the  Union  Lodge, 
No.  5,  A.  F.  A.  M.  The  oration  was  delivered  by  J. 
C.  McCabe,  D.D.  The  building  was  completed  in 
January  of  the  following  year  and  is  a  three-story 
brick  structure,  sixty-eight  by  seventy  feet,  and  cost 
thirty-six  thousand  dollars.  The  first  fioor  is  divided 
into  three  store-rooms.  The  second  story  is  the  audi- 
torium and  on  the  third  floor  are  three  lodge-rooms. 
The  store-rooms  and  two  of  the  lodge  rooms  are  occu- 
pied. The  auditorium  affords  a  suitable  place  lor 
entertainments  and  public  assemblies*.  The  present 
officers  are :  President,  James  M.  Cox  ;  Treasurer,  J. 
B.  Deakyne;  Secretary,  Samuel  Penington ;  Directors, 
Wm.  H.  Moore,  James  Culbertson,  D.  L.  Dunning, 
W.  W.  Wilson. 

Watee-Woeks. — Fires  at  various  times  called  Uie 
attention  of  the  citizens  of  Middletown  to  the  ne- 
cessity of  a  protection  of  some  kind.  On  June  8, 
1871,  a  committee  on  water  was  instructed  by  the  com- 
missioners to  dig  a  well,  build  a  tower  with  a  tank  on 
it  and  fit  it  up  with  a  pump  and  wind-mill.  The 
tank  was  not  to  hold  less  than  seven  thousand  gal- 
lons. The  well  was  dug,  but  the  supply  of  water  was 
found  insufficient  to  supply  the  demands  and  the  un- 
dertaking was  abandoned.  In  March,  1884,  the  ques. 
tion  of  drivfe  wells  was  agitated,  but  without  success. 
On  February  10,  1887,  an  act  was  passed  by  the 
Legislature  empowering  the  town  commissioners  to 
borrow  fifteen  thousand  dollars  to  be  expended  in 
securing  a  water  supply.  Henry  Clayton,  G.  W.  W. 
Naudain,  Martin  B.  Burris,  John  H.  Parvis  and 
Gideon  £.  Hukill  were  appointed  to  superintend  the 
construction  of  the  works,  and  when  completed  to 
surrender  the  management  to  the  town  commission- 
ers. G.  £.  Hukill  resigned  and  Nathaniel  Williams 
was  appointed  in  his  stead.  The  commissioners  de- 
cided to  sink  twenty  drive  wells  at  intervals  of  fifty 
feet  and  to  erect  a  standpipe  one  hundred  feet  high 
and  eight  feet  in  diameter,  with  a  capacity  of  thirty- 
seven  thousand  gallons.  All  the  pumps  connect  with 
a  main  pipe,  which  flows  into  the  standpipe.  The 
apparatus  is  to  be  so  arranged  that  in  case  of  fire  the 
main  pipe  can  be  disconnected  from  the  standpipe 
and  the  water  pumped  direct  from  the  wells.  About 
two  miles  of  pipe  will  be  laid  through  the  town,  with 
fire-plugs  at  convenient  places  to  cover  the  entire 
town.  The  work  is  being  rapidly  pushed  to  comple- 
tion and  will  prove  a  decided  advantage  to  the  town. 

Hotels — ^The  Middletown  Hotel  was  built  in  1761 
by  David  Witherspoon,  and  managed  by  him  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  two  years  later,  when  it  was  in- 
herited by  his  nephew,  Thomas  Witherspoon,  who 
leased  it  to  difierent  parties.  It  afterwards  vested  in 
his  son  David,  who  was  owner  and  proprietor  for 
many  years.    While  under  his  nuiuagement,  James 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


1005 


Knight,  a  noted  character  and  duelist,  was  killed  in 
the  bar-room  by  him.  Knight  came  in  drunk  and 
being  refused  liquor  by  Witherspoon,  pulled  his  pistol 
and  made  scTeral  attempts  to  kill  him.  The  weapon 
missed  fire  both  times  and  then,  to  save  himself, 
Witherspoon  reached  above  the  bar  and  took  down  a 
horse-pistol,  with  which  he  shot  Knight.  Jesse  Hig- 
gins,  the  next  owner,  by  his  will  bearing  date  June 
13, 1810,  devised  the  tavern  and  four  other  tenements 
to  his  daughters,  Susan  and  Maria.  In  1885  the  hotel 
was  purchased  by  William  H.  Crawford,  who  sold  it 
March  25, 1844,  to  Robert  A.  Cochran.  While  in  his 
possession  the  house  was  several  times  remodeled  and 
was  enlarged  to  its  present  size  and  capacity.  After 
his  decease,  in  1882,  the  hotel  property  became  vested 
in  his  daughter,  Mrs.  W.  A.  Comegys.  Since  its  erec- 
tion the  hotel  has  had  many  proprietors,  and  is  now 
ably  managed  by  Messrs.  Armstrong  &  Sparks,  who 
took  possession  on  September  1,  1884. 

The  National  Hotel  was  built  in  1862  by  a  joint 
stock  company,  and  by  them  leased  till  1878.  John 
C.  Lippincott  was  the  first  proprietor.  In  1878, 
Alexander  Maxwell,  the  present  proprietor,  purchssed 
the  property  and  has  since  successfully  managed  it. 

Odessa. — ^The  land  on  which  Odessa  is  now  located 
was  taken  up  by  Alexander  De  Hinijossa,  who  was 
Vice-Director  at  New  Amstel  (New  Castle),  from 
1659  to  1663.  Upon  his  retirement  from  the  position 
he  obtained  possession  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  at 
Appoquinimin  (Odessa),  where  he  signified  his  inten- 
tion to  reside  and  engage  in  trading.  He  was  settled 
at  his  plantation  but  a  few  months  when  a  change  in 
affairs  gave  the  territory  to  the  British,  and  his  estate 
was  confiscated  and  granted  to  Captain  Edmund  Cant- 
well  in  about  1676.  Captain  Edmund  Cantwell  was 
the  first  sheriff  of  New  Castle  County  under  the  gov- 
ernment of  William  Peun.  He  was  also  high  sheriff 
under  Sir  Edniund  Andros  in  1676.  He  died  in  1698, 
and  his  estate  passed  to  his  son  Kichard.  In  1781 
permission  was  granted  to  him  to  erect  a  toll-bridge 
over  the  Appoquinimink  Creek.  The  place  then  be- 
came known  as  Cantwell's  Bridge,  and  was  well 
known  as  a  stopping-place  for  persons  traveling  from 
the  Delaware  to  the  Chesapeake.  In  1765  a  tract  of 
land  near  the  Appoquinimink  was  purchased  by  Wil- 
liam Corbit,  and  a  tan-yard  opened.  The  house  now 
occupied  by  Daniel  W.  Corbit,  and  the  adjoining  one, 
were  built,  respectively,  in  1773  by  William  Corbit 
and  in  1772  by  David  Wilson.  The  Corbit  house  was 
built  by  Robert  May  &  Co.,  of  England.  In  1804 
Samuel  Thomas  and  James  Gibson  were  merchants 
in  this  town.  In  1817,  when  Charles  Tatman,  lately 
deceased,  came  to  this  town,  there  were  about  thirty 
residences,  all  of  which  were  situated  on  the  south 
side  of  Main  Street.  Dr.  John  Smith  was  practicing 
medicine  at  that  time.  A  Scotchman  by  the  name  of 
Osborne  owned  nearly  all  of  the  land  extending 
northward  from  Main  Street.  He  removed  from  the 
place  and  made  no  disposition  of  his  property.  The 
land  escheated  to  the  State,  and,  under  an  act  passed 


February  2,1821,  John  Merritt,  Outten  Davis,  Jacob 
Vandegrift,  John  Reynolds  and  John  Clark  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners  to  lay  out  the  land  into  lots, 
with  streets  and  lanes.  The  services  of  Jonas  C. 
Fairlamb,  surveyor,  were  secured,  and  the  town  was 
plotted.  Tht  plan  of  the  town  was  accepted  by  John 
Lowber,  escheator  of  New  Castle  County.  Lowber, 
by  the  authority  given  him  in  the  act,  exposed  the 
lots  for  sale  at  public  auction,  and  four  of  them  were 
purchased  by  Outten  Davis.  In  1829  lot  No.  5  was 
owned  by  John  Grim,  lot  No.  7  by  Samuel  Thomas, 
and  on  lot  No.  6  there  was  a  two-story  brick  dwell- 
ing and  store,  occupied  by  William  Thomas. 

In  1825  CantwelPs  Bridge  was  a  place  of  consider- 
able importance.  Charles  Tatman  and  Manlove 
Hayes  were  merchants  at  that  time.  The  hotel  was 
conducted  by  Ford  Mansfield.  David  Wilson  and 
William  Polk  were  dealing  largely  in  grain.  At  this 
time  CantwelPs  Bridge  was  the  principal  grain  mar- 
ket for  the  surrounding  country.  Grain  was  conveyed 
here  for  shipment  from  all  points  within  a  radius  of 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles.  Six  large  granaries,  holding 
about  thirty  thousand  bushels,  standing  on  the  bank 
of  the  Appoquinimink,  were  often  completely  filled, 
which  delayed  the  purchase  of  grain  until  some  of  it 
was  shipped  to  Philadelphia.  From  1820  until  1840 
there  were  shipped  from  this  town  four  hundred 
thousand  bushels  of  grain  annually. 

John  Janvier,  the  undertaker,  at  this  time  owned 
a  two-wheeled  hearse,  which  was  used  whenever  any 
one  of  wealth  or  high  social  standing  was  buried. 
On  other  occasions  an  ordinary  wagon  was  used.  The 
coffin  was  placed  on  the  axle  and  held  in  position  by 
wooden  screws.  This  was  used  until  1840.  John  As- 
pril  was  the  blacksmith  and  wheelwright,  and  the 
tannery  was  managed  by  Daniel  Corbit. 

As  early  as  1880  agricultural  fairs  were  held  at 
CantwelPs  Bridge,  and  were  largely  attended  by  peo- 
ple from  Delaware,  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland. 

The  grain  at  a  later  time  was  handled  principally 
by  Charles  Tatman,  John  Grim,  John  Cullin,  Crouch 
&  Davis  and  Polk  &  Beasten,  who  were  succeeded  by 
Beasten  &  Watkins.  During  the  busiest  seasons,  six 
sloops  made  weekly  trips  to  Philadelphia,  and  three 
coasting  schooners  went  to  Boston  and  the  East,  be- 
sides a  large  number  of  transient  vessels. 

In  1855  it  was  thought  advisable  to  change  the 
name  of  the  village,  and  "  Odessa  "  was  adopted.  It 
was  named  after  Odessa,  Russia,  a  large  grain  port  on 
the  Black  Sea.  The  construction  of  the  Delaware 
Railroad  opened  a  now  avenue  for  grain  shipment 
and  was  a  decided  injury  to  the  business  interests  of 
the  village.  The  grain  shipments  were  confined  to 
the  immediate  vicinity,  and  decreased  in  a  wonderful 
manner,  and  at  present  there  is  but  one  grain  boat, 
owned  by  Columbus  Watkins,  plying  between  this 
town  and  Philadelphia.  On  July  23,  1856,  there  was 
a  fire  here  which  destroyed  the  cabinet-shop  of  Thos. 
Enoe,  a  dwelling  of  M.  Doughten,  a  dwelling  and 
stable  of   Misses  Catharine  Arthur  and    Elizabeth 


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1006 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Hart,  milliners,  the  wheelwright  and  blacksmith 
shops  of  L.  y.  Aspril  and  the  dwelling  of  John 
Eaton. 

In  1873,  Odessa  was  incorporated  a  town  and  en- 
dowed with  corporate  privileges.  The  town  is  nicely 
laid  out  and  is  on  a  slight  elevation.  Its  nearest 
railroad  facilities  are  at  Middletown,  which  is  three 
miles  distant.  The  steamer  "  Clio,"  Captain  W.  S. 
Perry,  makes  two  trips  per  week  to  Philadelphia,  and 
carries  both  passengers  and  freight. 

The  business  interests  of  the  town  are  represented 
by  the  following  merchants :  F.  Duggan,  W.  A. 
Rhodes,  Jr.,  Davis  &  Bro.,  F.  B.  Watkins,  Mrs.  Mary 
Baker,  Hyatt  &  Co.,  T.  T.  Enos,  J.  G.  Armstrong,  F. 
H.  Davis,  M.  Kempel,  Miss  E.  A.  Baker,  Harry 
Rose,  John  Heldinger,  George  Hahn,  Miss  Virginia 
Lord,  Christian  Griffenberg. 

With  the  exception  of  the  first  year  the  town  com- 
missioners were  elected  for  a  term  of  two  years.  The 
following  persons  have  served  in  this  capacity : 

Two  Yean.        1873.       One  Tear. 
Wm.  Polk.  Wm.  AsbcrafI, 

Joseph  L.  Gibson.  D.  A.  Ckirbit 

C.  Watkins. 


1874. 


T.  W.  Bose. 


Joseph  G.  Brown. 


1875. 


F.  A.  Hyatt.  Wm.  8.  Yandjke. 

Joseph  L.  Gibson. 

1876. 
T.  W.  Rose.  R.  L.  Mailly. 

1877. 
W.  W.  Walker.  J.  L.  Gibson. 

1878. 

E.  Heller.  R.  L.  Maillj. 

187». 
W.  W.  Walker.  J.  L.  Gibson. 

1880. 
T.  W.  Rose.  R.  L.  Mailiy. 

1881. 

F.  A.  Hyatt  Wm.  Polk. 
Wm.  A.  Rhsads.           J.  F.  Croft. 

J.  Panelin. 
1H82. 
Alfred  Hemick.  F.  A.  Hyatt. 

1883. 

T.  T.  Knos.  D.  W.  Corbit. 

Dr.  W.  V.  Woods. 

1884. 

G.  W.  Polk.  K.  C.  Mailly. 

1885. 

T.  W.  Rose.  F.  B.  Watkins. 

J.  L.  Gibson. 

1886. 

L.  y.  Aspril.  Joseph  A.  Rhoads. 

1887. 
T.  W.  Rose.  J.  L.  Gibson. 

F.  B.  Watlcins. 

On  the  13th  of  Eleventh  Month,  1703,  there  was 
warranted  to  Joseph  England,  William  Horn  and 
others,  by  the  commissioners  of  property,  ten  acres  of 
land  "  enclosing  their  meeting-house  for  a  burying 
place.'*  It  was  for  the  use  of  the  people  called 
"  Quakers."  On  this  was  the  "  George's  Creek  Meet- 
ing-House." It  was  situated  near  the  road  leading 


from  Port  Penn  to  the  State  road,  on  the  site  of  the 
Friends'  burying-ground,  now  known  as  Hickory 
Grove. 

Monthly  Meetings  were  held  alternately  at  this 
place  and  Duck  Creek. 

At  a  Monthly  Meeting  held  at  Duck  Creek,  23d  of 
Sixth  Month,  1781,  the  meeting  was  informed  that 
the  ''  Friends  of  George's  Creek  request  the  indul- 
gence of  this  meeting  to  remove  their  present  place 
of  meeting  to  Appoquinimink  Bridge  (Odessa), 
as  being  much  more  convenient  to  those  who  at- 
tend." The  records  of  the  Monthly  Meeting  held  at 
Duck  Creek,  Sixth  Month  20, 1783,  states  that  the 
**  Friends  of  George's  Creek  Meeting  having  now 
erected  a  House  near  Appoquinimink  Bridge  suitable 
to  their  situation  and  accommodation  wherein  they 
now  meet  agreeable  to  the  indulgence  of  the  meet- 
ing." In  1828  there  was  a  division  in  the  church, 
and  the  property  was  held  by  the  Hicksite  branch. 
The  church  never  prospered  from  this  time  and  was 
abandoned  about  seven  years  ago.  The  Allstons  were 
the  last  family  to  worship  here. 

Methodism  in  Odessa} — Methodist  services  were  first 
held  in  Odessa,  (then  Cantweirs  Bridge)  in  1831.  At 
that  time,  as  nearly  as  can  be  learned,  there  were  but 
two  Methodists,  Wessel  Aldrichs  and  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Rebecca  Pogue,  then  living  in  Odessa ;  these  were 
both  members  at  Union,  on  Smyrna  Circuit. 

Presbyterian  services  were  held  at  old  *'  Drawyer's" 
and  a  few  families  met  from  time  to  time  in  the 
Friends'  meeting-house,  but  many  of  the  people  did 
not  attend  any  religious  service. 

In  1830,  at  a  meeting  held  in  Fieldsboro',  severdl 
young  men  were  converted,  among  them  Benjamin 
Fields,  Nelson  Naudain,  Elias  Naudain,  Thomas 
Scott  and  J.  Y.  Moore  (the  last-named  yet  lives). 
These  persons  determined  to  make  an  effort  to  have 
Methodist  services  in  Cantwell's  Bridge.  They  ob- 
tained from  the  trustees  the  use  of  the  school-house. 
Rev.  Richard  Greenbank,  preacher  in  charge  of 
Smyrna  Circuit,  was  consulted,  and  entered  at  once 
into  the  plan  and  some  time  in  1831  the  first  services 
were  held  and  Methodism  planted  in  Odessa.  Services 
were  held  in  the  school -house  for  two  years,  when 
the  house  was  sold  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  new 
school-house.  The  purchaser  being  unable  to  re- 
move it  to  the  place  desired,  it  was  resold  and  still 
remains  near  the  Zoar  M.  £.  Church.  Among  those 
converted  in  the  meetings  held  in  the  school-house 
was  one  Joseph  C.  Griffith,  who  donated  to  the  little 
society  of  Methodists  the  ground  on  which  the  pres- 
ent church  stands.  He  also  labored  as  carpenter  in 
building  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  erected. 

Though  the  preacher  in  charge  of  Smyrna  Circuit, 
Rev.  Solomon  Sharp,  did  not  view  the  new  appoint- 
ment with  much  favor,  yet  the  little  band  of  scarcely 
more  than  a  dozen  thought  the  time  had  come  to 
"  rise  up  and  build ;"  hence  two  committees  were  ap- 
pointed.    The  committee  on  materials  consisted  of 

1  Contributed  by  Ber.  T.  R.  CreaoMr. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


1007 


Philip  D.  Riley,  Benjamin  Fields,  John  Hayes  and 
J.  v.  Moore ;  the  committee  to  raise  funds,  Jesse 
Lake,  P.  D.  Riley,  Joseph  C.  GriflSth,  Nathaniel 
Beauchamp  and  J.  V.  Moore. 

The  committee  on  materials  purchased  for  one  hun- 
dred dollars  an  old  brick  house  standing  on  the  farm 
of  Abram  Staats,  near  Fieldsboro*.  Notice  was  given 
for  the  people  to  meet  and  tear  it  down,  and  clean  the 
bricks.  At  the  time  appointed  a  crowd  of  people  with 
numerous  teams  were  on  hand,  and  the  work  was 
quickly  done.  As  this  did  not  furnish  bricks  enough, 
another  burnt-out  brick  house,  standing  on  the  farm 
of  Samuel  Rogers,  near  Odessa,  was  donated.  Charles 
Tatman  gave  the  shingles.  The  carpenttr  was  i,  C. 
GrifSth  and  the  mason,  Samuel  Floyd.  The  building 
was  thirty  by  forty  feet,  one  story  and  whitewashed. 
During  its  building,  plank  seats  were  arranged,  and 
Rev.  R.  Green  bank  preached  standing  on  the  carpen- 
ter's bench. 

The  house  was  finished  and  dedicated  free  of  debt. 
Rev.  Matthew  Sorin,  presiding  elder,  had  charge  of 
the  services,  and  Rev.  Solomon  Sharp  preached  to  an 
overflow  meeting  in  the  school-house.  This  was  about 
1883. 

The  present  commodious  and  handsome  church 
building  was  dedicated  October  28,  1852,  during  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  Joseph  Aspril.  It  is  of  brick,  two- 
story,  having  Sunday-school  and  class-rooms  on  the 
lower  floor,  and  audience-room  above.  It  is  hand- 
somely furnished,  having  cushioned  pews  and  carpet 
and  a  large  and  beautiful  pipe-organ. 

Odessa,  which  had  thus  far  been  connected  with 
Middletown,  became  a  separate  station  in  1859,  with 
Rev.  J.  S.  Willis  as  pastor.  The  pastors  since  1881 
have  been  as  follows  :  Richard  Greenbank,  1831-38  ; 
William  Connelly,*  1881;  James  Nichols/  1882; 
Solomon  Sharp,  1838-85 ;  Robert  Anderson*  and  Jos- 
eph Osbom.*  1838;  Benjamin  Benson,*  1834;  Elipha- 
let  Reed,  1885-37;  Z.  Gaskill,*  1885;  William  Allen,* 
1836;  J.  Cunningham,  1887-89;  Edwin  L.  Janes, 
1 839-41 ;  B.  F.  Price,  1841-48 ;  T.  B.  Tibbies,  1843-44 ; 
J.  T.  Cooper,  1844-45 ;  J.  B.  Hagany,  1845-47  ;  James 
Cunningham,  1847-48 ;  John  Henry,  1848-50 ;  J.  R. 
Anderson,  1850-52;  Joseph  Aspril,  1852-54;  R.  H. 
Pattison,  1854-56;  J.  B.  Maddux,  1856-57;  J.  B. 
Merritt,  1857-59 ;  J.  S.  Willis,  1859-60 ;  C.  F.  Turner, 
1860-61;  J.  S.Cook,  1861-63;  W.  H.  Elliott,  1 863- 
65;  W.  E.  England,  1865-67;  George  A.  Phoebus, 
1867-70 ;  W.  Kenney,  1870-73  ;  J.  E.  Bryan,  1878-76 ; 
J.  B.  Merritt,  1876-79;  W.  H.  Hutchin,  1879-82; 
J.  P.  Otis,  1882;  T.  R.  Creamer,  1885-88. 

The  present  membership  of  the  church  is  two  hun- 
dred. 

The  present  oflScers  of  the  church  are :  Pastor,  Rev. 
T.  R.  Creamer ;  Board  of  Trustees,  John  Appleton, 
L.  V.  Aspril,  J.  K.  Williams,  T.  T.  Enos,  George  W. 
Naudain ;  Stewards,  John  Appleton,  L.  V.  Aspril, 
T.  T.  Enos,  J.  K.  Williams,  E.  N.  Moore,  J.  A. 
Rhodes,  Geo.  L.  Townsend,  W.  H.  Eccles,  George  W. 

1  Juniur  preachers. 


Naudain,  W.  H.  Voshall,  W.  E.  Appleton,  S.  F 
Shallcross,  Jr.,  W.  G.  Tyson. 

Sunday-School  Superintendent,  Geo. L. Townsend; 
Superintendent  of  Primary  Department,  Mrs.  Lucre- 
tia  S.  Enos. 

The  congregations  at  the  present  time  are  large ;  the 
Sunday-school  is  first-class  in  all  respects.  The 
church  has  lost  from  deaths  and  removals  from  time 
to  time,  but  others  would  take  their  places,  and  the 
church  to-day  is  alive  to  every  interest  of  Christian 
effort. 

Industries, — The  first  industry  at  Odessa  was  the 
tan  yard  opened  by  William  Corbit  in  1765.  It  was 
situated  near  the  Appoquinimink  Creek  and  was 
operated  by  him  until  1810.'  During  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  a  lieutenant  and  a  squad  of  soldiers 
from  General  Washington's  army  came  here  after 
some  leather.  Mr.  Corbit  refused  to  negotiate  with 
them,  but  they  demanded  the  leather  and  when  it  was 
not  forthcoming  they  proceeded  to  search  for  it.  The 
leather  was  stored  in  the  cellar  of  the  house  occupied 
now  by  Dan'l.  W.  Corbit.  The  soldiers  found  it  and 
took  it  away  with  them,  leaving  Continental  currency 
to  the  amount  of  the  supposed  valuation  of  the  lea- 
ther. This  is  still  in  possession  of  D.  W.  Corbit,  of 
Odessa.  In  1810  Pennel  Corbit  took  possession  of  the 
tannery  and  managed  it  until  his  death,  in  December, 
1819.  It  was  then  purchased  of  his  heirs  by  Daniel 
Corbit,  who  operated  it  until  1854,  when  the  scarcity 
of  bark  led  to  its  abandonment.  All  kinds  of  leather 
were  manufactured  quite  extensively.  The  tannery 
has  since  been  converted  into  dwellings  still  standing. 

The  manufacture  of  fertilizers  at  Odessa,  by  Lord 
&  Polk,  was  begun  in  1878  in  a  small  building  rented 
for  that  purpose.  The  goods  manufactured  by  this 
firm  found  ready  sale  and  in  1880  a  two-story  frame 
building,  seventy-two  by  fifty  feet,  was  erected  for  man- 
ufacturing purposes.  The  demand  for  the  fertilizers 
steadily  increased,  causing  additions  to  be  made  at 
frequent  intervals,  until  the  building  has  attained  its 
present  size,  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  by  one 
hundred  and  forty-four  feet.  In  April,  1887,  a  stock 
company  was  organized  and  incorporated  as  the 
**Lord  &  Polk  Chemical  Company,"  under  which 
style  the  business  has  since  been  conducted.  Twenty 
thousand  tons  offertilizers  are  manufactured  annually 
and  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  country.  The  princi- 
pal brands  manufactured  by  this  company  are  the 
following :  *'  Diamond  State  Super-phosphate,  **  Dia- 
mond State  Soluble.  Bone,"  "  Champion  Fertilizer  " 
and  "Truxillo  Guano." 

The  company  has  also  erected  a  building  for  the 
manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid,  which  is  extensively 
Used  in  manufacturing  fertilizers.  A  part  of  this 
building  is  three  stories  high  and  sixty  by  seventy 
feet,  and  the  remainder  two  stories  high  and  forty  by 
two  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet.  The  capacity  is 
five  thousand  tons  per  year. 

The  manufacturing  is  under  the  superintendence  of 
John  Whaun  and  gives  employment  to  forty  men. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  officers  are  as  follows :  Pres.,  Victor  Lord ; 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Qeo,  W.  Polk ;  Incorporators, 
William  R.  Polk,  Victor  Lord.  George  W.  Polk,  J. 
B.  Forad,  Columbus  Watkins. 

The  Watkins  Packing  Company  commenced  the 
business  of  canning  fruits  and  vegetables  in  1881.  In 
that  year  the  factory  was  built,  the  main  building  of 
which  is  a  frame  structure  two  stories  high  and  forty 
by  sixty  feet,  and  the  packing-room  one  story, 
forty  by  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  feet.  Prepa- 
rations are  now  being  made  to  enlarge  the  factory  by 
making  the  main  building  forty  by  one  hundred  feet, 
and  the  packing-room  forty  by  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
two  feet.  The  establishment  is  in  operation  about  four 
months  of  each  year.  During  a  season  there  is  packed 
here  on  an  average  800  cases  of  peas,  3500  cases  of 
berries  and  20,000  cases  of  tomatoes.  During  the  pea 
and  berry  season  employment  is  given  to  sixty  per- 
sons. To  pack  the  tomatoes  about  seventy  women 
and  thirty  men  and  boys  are  required.  From  the  1st 
of  March  till  the  15th  of  August  fifteen  men  are  em- 
ployed in  the  factory  manufacturing  cans.  The  "  Owl " 
brand  of  tomatoes  is  packed  here  and  shipped  to  cities 
in  the  North  and  E^t. 

In  1867  Polk  &  Hyatt  planted,  near  Odessa,  a  nur- 
sery covering  about  five  acres.  The  enterprise  proved 
a  success  and  the  increased  demand  for  trees  of  their 
production  required  the  enlargement  of  the  nursery 
from  year  to  year.  The  two  nurseries  owned  by  this 
firm  now  cover  fifky-fiveacres  and  contain  all  varieties 
of  fruit,  shade  and  ornamental  trees  and  shrubbery. 
Trees  are  shipped  from  here  to  all  parts  of  this  and 
adjoining  States.  The  annual  sales  amount  to  about 
100,000  trees.  In  addition  to  this,  large  quantities  of 
fruit  are  gathered  and  shipped  every  year,  giving  em- 
ployment to  about  seventy-five  persons. 

John  Aspril  came  to  Odessa  in  1817  and  opened  a 
blacksmith  shop  near  the  site  of  the  Town  Hall.  He 
moved  his  shop  several  times  and  in  1833  rented  of 
Joseph  C.  Griffith  a  shop  where  the  present  carriage 
works  stand.  He  was  succeeded  in  1842  by  his  son, 
Leonard  V.  Aspril,  who  purchased  the  property  in 
1845.  The  shop  was  burned  in  1856,  and  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  the  present  building  was  erected. 
The  main  building  is  three  stories  high,  thirty  by  fifty 
feet,  with  a  one-story  building,  twenty-five  by  thirty 
feet,  in  the  rear.  In  1876  Leonard  V.  Aspril  was 
granted  an  interest  in  the  business,  which  has  since 
been  conducted  under  the  firm-name  of  L.  V.  Aspril 
&  Son.  Employment  is  given  to  eight  men,  who,  in 
addition  to  the  repair  work,  manufacture  about  twenty 
wagons  per  year. 

In  1882  William  M.  Vandegrifl  began  to  evaporate 
fruit  in  an  evaporator  which  he  erected  in  a  stable 
at  Odessa.  In  the  following  year  he  erected  a  two- 
story  frame  building,  twenty  by  forty  feet,  near  the 
Appoquinimink  Creek,  and  placed  in  it  two  evapor- 
ators. By  means  of  these  three  hundred  baskets  of 
fruit  could  be  evaporated  in  a  day.  Peaches,  apples 
and  raspberries  were  evaporated  here  and  shipped  to 


Piiiladdlphia.  Daring  the  season  employment  was 
given  to  fifteen  persons.  In  March,  1885,  the  build- 
ing was  burned  and  has  never  been  rebuilt. 

In  1878  Thomas  F.  Dilworth  and  T.  D.  Stewart 
erected  temporary  buildings  and  began  to  can  fruits 
and  vegetables  at  Port  Penn.  Their  undertaking  was 
successful,  and  enlarged  and  permanent  buildings 
were  erected.  These  have  been  extended,  and  now 
cover  about  a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  land.  They  can 
tomatoes  principally,  and  are  the  manufacturers  of  the 
"  Delaware  Tomatoes,"  "Stirling  Farm  "  and  "  Extras  " 
brands.  During  the  canning  season  employment  is 
given  to  about  one  hundred  persons.  The  capacity  of 
the  factory  is  twenty  thousand  cases.  Philadelphia 
and  New  York  are  the  principal  markets  to  which 
these  goods  are  shipped. 

Post- Office, — When  the  post-office  was  established  ai 
Odessa  has  not  been  ascertained.  In  1817  John 
Moody  was  the  postmaster.  The  mall-stage  running 
from  Wilmington  to  Dover  stopped  here  and  left  the 
mail.  Since  the  discontinuance  of  that  stage-route, 
the  mail  is  carried  by  stage  from  Middletown.  Wil- 
liam F.  Corbit  was  appointed  postmaster  in  1818. 
Since  then  the  following  postmasters  have  served: 
Daniel  Corbit,  Charles  Tatman,  Benjamin  Field,  John 
Whitby,  Joseph  W.  Vandegrifl,  Josiah  Bidgewaj, 
Joseph  A.  Lord,  Henry  Bigger  and  Kate  Bigger. 
Lawrence  R.  Davis,  the  present  incumbent,  took 
charge  of  the  post-office  August  23,  1886.  The  office 
occupies  a  portion  of  the  store-room  of  Davis  &  Bro. 

The  earliest  postmaster  at  Port  Penn,  in  the  mem- 
ory of  the  inhabitants  of  that  vicinity,  was  Joseph 
Cleaver.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Thomas 
Cleaver.  Samuel  B.  Cleaver,  the  present  incumbent, 
received  his  appointment  on  November  9, 1872.  The 
mail  is  carried  by  stage  from  Delaware  City. 

Banking, — Previous  to  1854  the  banking  business 
of  St.  George's  Hundred  was  done  at  New  Castle  and 
Smyrna.  In  March,  1853,  the  "  New  Castle  County 
Bank  "  was  incorporated  as  a  State  bank.  All  the 
preparatory  arrangements  having  been  completed,  the 
bank  was  opened  for  business  April  26, 1854,  in  the 
office  of  Charles  Tatman,  on  the  corner  of  Third  aod 
Main  Streets.  It  was  shortly  afterwards  removed  to 
the  building  now  occupied  as  a  store  by  Davis  &  Bro. 
The  officers  elected  at  the  organization  and  who 
served  at  the  opening  of  the  bank  were :  President, 
Charles  Tatman ;  Cashier,  Dr.  B.  F.  Chatham ;  Teller, 
John  Zelefro;  Directors,  Charles  Tatman,  Cyrus  Polk, 
Charles  Beasten,  Henry  Davis,  John  Appleton,  Garrei 
Cox,  David  J.  Cummins,  George  W.  Karsner,  Richard 
Seamans. 

A  lot  of  land  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Second 
Streets  was  purchased  and  the  erection  of  a  building 
commenced.  This  was  completed  in  1865,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  used  for  banking  purposes.  John 
Zelefro  retained  the  position  of  teller  for  only  a  few 
months,  and  was  succeeded  by  John  Janvier.  The 
capital  stock  of  the  bank  was  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
which   was  divided   into  one  thousand  shares.    In 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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June,  1865,  it  was  converted  into  a  national  bank  and 
the  capital  stock  increased  to  seventy-five  thousand 
dollars.  The  name  of  the  bank  was  changed  to  the 
New  Castle  County  National  Bank. 

The  first  officers  of  the  national  bank  were  as  follows :. 
President,  Chas.  Tatman ;  Cashier,  Dr.  B.  F.  Chatham ; 
Teller,  John  Janvier;  Directors,  Charles  Tatman, 
John  Appleton,  Horatio  N.  Willits,  Charles  Beasten, 
William  Polk,  Henry  Davis,  Samuel  Penington, 
George  W.  Karsner,  David  J.  Cummins. 

In  1866  John  Janvier  resigned  the  position  of  teller, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Eugene  L.  Ellison,  who  filled 
the  position  for  a  year.  Joseph  G.  Brown,  the  pres- 
ent teller,  was  elected  in  1867. 

In  January,  1867,  Cashier  Chatham  resigned,  and 
Joseph  L.  Gibson,  the  present  cashier,  was  elected.     , 

Charles  Tatmao  served  as  president  firom  the  organ- 
ization of  the  bank  until  his  death. 

With  the  exception  of  George  W.  Karsner,  David 
J.  Cummins  and  Charles  Beasten,  the  board  of  direc- 
tors remains  unchanged  since  1865.  Sereck  F.  Shall- 
cross  succeeded  George  W.  Karsner  in  January,  1866. 
David  J.  Cummins  resigned  in  May,  1874,  and  John 
C.  Corbit  was  elected  his  successor  in  October  of  the 
same  year.  Charles  Beasten  was  succeeded  by  Colum- 
bus Watkins  January  5, 1876. 

Charles  Tatman,  John  Appleton  and  Henry  Davis 
served  as  directors  from  the  organization  as  a  State 
bank  in  1854.  The  surplus  fund  of  thirty-four 
thousand  dollars  attests  that  the  bank  has  been  skill- 
fully managed  by  trustworthy  and  competent  officers. 

The  officers  of  the  bank  in  1887  were:  Pres- 
ident, Charles  Tatman ;  Vice-President,  John  C.  Cor- 
bit ;  Cashier,  Joseph  L.  Gibson ;  Teller,  Joseph  G. 
Brown ;  Directors,  Charles  Tatman,  John  Appleton, 
John  C.  Corbit,  Sereck  F.  Shallcross,  William  Polk, 
Henry  Davis,  Horatio  N.  Willits,  Samuel  Penington, 
Columbus  Watkins. 

Charles  Tatman,  late  president  of  the  New  Castle 
County  National  Bank  of  Odessa,  was  born  near 
Greenwood  Station,  Sussex  County,  May  5,  1792. 
He  was  a  son  of  Purnell  Tatman,  a  farmer  of  superior 
intelligence  and  character,  who  was  born  July  1. 
1766,  on  the  farm  on  which  he  spent  his  life,  and 
where  he  died  September  1,  1826.  The  mother  of 
Charles  Tatman  was  Bathsheba,  a  daughter  of  John 
Griffith,  of  Sussex  County.  Purnell  Tatman  had 
nine  children,  six  of  whom — Cyrus,  Eliza,  Charles, 
Purnell,  Bathsheba  and  Eunice — lived  to  have  fami- 
lies of  their  own. 

The  grandfather  of  Charles  Tatman,  Mitchell  Tat- 
man, was  also  a  farmer,  and  passed  his  days  on  the 
old  homestead,  which  had  probably  been  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  family  from  early  colonial  times.  His 
wife  was  Mary,  daughter  of  John  Collins,  of  Sussex 
County,  and  cousin  of  Governor  Collins,  of  Delaware. 
Charles  Tatman  at  five  years  of  age  was  sent  to  a 
pay-school  kept  in  a  neighboring  dwelling,  but  the 
greater  part  of  his  school  education  was  obtained  in 
a  school-house  in  the  neighborhood  which  had  neither 
64 


floor,  windows  nor  chimney.  Mr.  Tatman  in  later 
life  told  how  the  children  suffered  on  winter  days, 
when  the  ground,  even  in  the  school-house,  ^ould  be 
soaked  with  water,  and  was  often  frozen  solid  in  the 
morning.  To  protect  their  feet  from  the  ice,  the  chil- 
dren brought  in  pieces  of  wood  or  anything  con- 
venient for  a  foot-rest  The  fire  of  logs  was  built  at 
one  end  of  the  room  on  the  ground,  and  the  smoke 
escaped  through  a  hole  in  the  roof.  At  fifteen  he 
left  school  to  work  on  the  farm,  doing  what  he  could 
for  the  family  support  until  he  was  twenty-four  years 
old.  He  then  became  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  William 
Polk,  the  husband  of  his  eldest  sister,  at  Cantwell's 
Bridge.  Here  he  made  his  home  through  three  or 
four  years  of  faithful  service  to  his  brother-in-law, 
after  which  he  engaged  in  mercantile  business  with 
Mr.  Manlove  Hayes,  of  that  town,  under  the  firm-name 
of  Tatman  &  Hayes.  This  partnership  continued 
until  1825,  when  the  partners  separated  and  divided 
their  goods.  During  the  next  five  years  Mr.  Tatman 
conducted  business  by  himself,  enjoying  an  unusual 
degree  of  prosperity.  About  1827  he  enlarged  his 
business  operations  and  began  to  purchase  grain, 
wood,  staves  and  every  kind  of  country  produce, 
shipping  his  goods  in  his  own  vessels  to  Philadelphia, 
New  York  and  elsewhere.  In  all  his  efforts  he  dis- 
played uncommon  zeal,  enterprise  and  judgment,  and 
in  1834  his  business  had  attained  such  proportions 
that  he  found  it  necessary  to  take  a  partner,  and  was 
happily  associated  with  Daniel  B.  McKee  for  nine 
years,  after  which  the  firm  was  dissolved,  and  Mr. 
Tatman  retired  from  active  business.  He  was  then 
but  fifty-one  years  of  age,  but  had  accumulated  a 
fortune  sufficient  to  insure  him  comfort  and  abun- 
dance for  the  remainder  of  his  life.  For  several 
years  following  he  was  largely  interested  in  real- 
estate,  and  owned  considerable  property  in  Odessa, 
besides  numerous  farms  in  the  vicinity.  He  long 
since  disposed  of  these  farms.  He  kept  all  his  busi- 
ness afiairs  in  perfect  order. 

From  1851  to  1877  Mr.  Tatman  was  secretary  of 
the  Farmers'  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company;  in 
1854,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  directors,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  New  Castle  County  Bank  of 
Odessa,  just  incorporated.  This  office  he  held  until 
his  death. 

In  political  life  he  was  originally  a  Federalist,  after- 
wards a  Whig,  and  on  that  ticket  was  a  candidate  for 
the  State  L^^lature  in  1842,  but  was  not  elected.  In 
1861  he  took  strong  ground  for  the  Union,  and  used 
his  means  and  influence  freely  to  sustain  the  govern- 
ment throughout  the  war.  Although  never  seeking 
political  preferments,  he  was  always  an  efficient  and 
disinterested  worker  for  the  welfare  of  his  country 
and  State.  From  the  time  of  its  organization  he  was 
an  active  and  useful  member  of  the  Republican  party. 
For  a  hundred  yeara  his  family  has  been  conspicuous 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  united  with 
it  as  a  member  in  1867,  and  was  long  a  trustee.  Mr. 
Tatman  was  married,  March  80,  1847,  tp  Mrs.  Harriet 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


BriDton  Corbit,  widow  of  John  0.  Corbit,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Trimble,  late  of  Concord,  Pa.,  all  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  She  had  no  children,  and  died 
March  23,  1873,  aged  seventy-one.  Mr.  Tatman  re- 
tained his  sight  and  hearing  to  a  remarkable  d^^ree. 
After  he  had  reached  ninety  years  he  appeared  to  be 
a  man  of  much  fewer  years.  The  weight  of  nearly  a 
century  of  life  did  not  prevent  his  attendance  upon 
his  duties  at  the  bank.  He  retained  his  interest  in 
the  young,  and  to  such  his  home  was  always  attrac- 
tive. For  the  last  forty  years  he  resided  in  the  simple, 
unostentatious  dwelling  in  Odessa,  where  he  died.  He 
lived  under  the  administration  of  the  Presidents  from 
Washington  to  Cleveland,  inclusive.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 21,  1887,  leaving  behind  him  an  untarnished 
name.  He  will  always  be  thought  of  as  one  of  the  most 
upright  and  useful  citizens  of  the  country.  His 
funeral  was  largely  attended,  and  his  remains  lie 
buried  in  the  same  grave  with  those  of  his  mother  in 
the  cemetery  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Odessa.  In  person,  Mr.  Tatman  was  considerably 
above  the  average  in  both  height  and  weight  He 
measured  about  six  feet  in  stature,  and  his  average 
weight  was  about  two  hundred  pounds.  He  was 
regular  and  temperate  in  his  habits,  and  indulged  in 
no  vicious  practices.  To  this  prudence  is  largely  due 
his  long  and  healthAil  life. 

Oorbii  Library. — James  Corbit,  M.D.,  by  will  bear- 
ing date  June  15,  1856,  bequeathed  certain  loans, 
amounting  in  all  to  nine  hundred  and  fifty  dollars, 
to  the  School  Commissioners  of  School  District  No. 
61.  He  directed  that  three  hundred  dollars  be  ex- 
pended in  the  purchase  of  a  library  for  the  use  of 
the  public  school,  and  that  the  interest  of  the  re- 
maining six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  be  applied  to 
making  annual  additions.  By  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion passed  February  27, 1857,  it  was  made  the  duty 
of  the  Commissioners  of  School  District  No.  61  to 
take  under  their  special  chaige  the  library  in  said 
district.  This  library,  from  the  name  of  its  generous 
founder,  was  called  Corbit  Library.  It  has  also  been 
endowed  by  the  late  Daniel  Corbit,  of  Odessa,  and 
his  son,  the  late  Dr.  Wm.  B.  Corbit,  of  Washington, 
D.  C.  The  former  contributed  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  the  latter  four  hundred  volumesof  well-selected  lit- 
erature. He  also  made  provisions  in  his  will  that 
after  the  death  of  his  wife  the  library  should  re- 
ceive ten  thousand  dollars.  The  library  now  com- 
prises two  thousand  three  hundred  volumes  of  choice 
literature,  and  occupies  a  portion  of  the  public 
school  building.  New  books  are  constantly  being 
added.  The  library  is  open  for  three  hours  every 
Saturday,  at  which  time  the  inhabitants  of  the  dis- 
trict are  allowed  to  take  out  books  subject  to  the 
rules  adopted  by  the  conunissioners  for  governing 
the  same. 

The  librarian  is  Miss  Ida  Rose. 

Public  ffalL— The  Odessa  Hall  Company  was  or- 
ganized in  November,  1875,  and  incorporated  in  1877. 
In  the  former  year  a  lot  of  land  on  Main  Street  was 


purchased  of  Mrs.  Martha  George,  and  the  erection 
of  a  building  begun.  This  was  completed  in  1876, 
and  was  a  two-story  frame  structure,  thirty-six  by 
seventy  feet.  Four  hundred  shares  of  stock,  each 
valued  at  five  dollars,  were  issued  and  found  a  ready 
sale.  Much  interest  was  manifested  in  the  erection 
of  the  hall,  and  those  unable  to  contribute  money 
performed  manual  labor.  The  first  officers  were : 
President,  Joseph  L.  Gibson ;  Secretary,  G.  W. 
Polk ;  Treasurer,  J.  G.  Brown.  The  second  floor  is 
used  as  a  hall,  and  although  it  has  not  proved  a 
financial  success,  yet  on  account  of  its  conven- 
ience as  a  place  tor  assembling  and  holding  public 
meetings,  it  has  proved  a  decided  advantage  to  the 
town.  The  officers  at  present  are  as  follows :  Presi- 
dent, Joseph  L.  Gibson ;  Secretary,  W.  S.  Van  Dyke ; 
Treasurer,  J.  G.  Brown. 

77^  Odessa  Loan  Jssociation  was  incorporated  Feb- 
ruary 1 9, 1885.  The  incorporators  were  George  W. 
Polk,  Samuel  B.  Warren,  William  Polk,  James  T. 
Shallcross,  Turpin  W.  Rose,  Victor  Lord,  Daniel  W, 
Corbit,  Columbus  Watkins,  Joseph  G.  Brown,  Leon 
ard  V.  Aspril,  Eugene  C.  Mailly,  William  M.  Van 
degrift  and  Cyrus  Polk.  The  association  was  im 
mediately  organized,  and  the  following  officers  elect- 
ed; President,  William  Polk;  Vice-President, 
Victor  Lord ;  Secretary,  Wm.  M.  Vandegrifl ;  Treas- 
ures, Cyrus  Polk;  Directors,  Samuel  R.  Warren, 
Turpin  W.  Rose,  Daniel  W.  C/orbit,  Columbus  Wat- 
kins,  James  T.  Shallcross,  Joseph  G.  Brown,  Leon- 
ard V.  Aspril,  Eugene  C.  Mailly,  Elias  N.  Moore. 

In  July,  1887,  Joseph  G.  Brown  succeeded  Cyrus 
Polk  as  treasurer.  In  February  of  the  same  year 
Henry  L.  Davis  was  elected  a  director,  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Columbus  Watkins. 

Three  series  have  already  been  issued,  the  first  of 
which  was  issued  February  28,  1885.  The  whole 
number  of  shares  at  any  one  time  cannot  exceed  two 
thousand. 

With  the  exception  of  the  change  above  mentioned, 
the  officers  are  the  same  as  when  the  organization 
was  effected. 

Cd,  John  W.  Andrews  Pbst,  No.  14,  G.  A.  £.,  was 
instituted  May  28, 1886.  The  charter  members  were 
W.  N.  Hamilton,  M.D.,  Wm.  H.  Eccles,  M.  Grem- 
minger,  M.  Kantz,  Joseph  Shetzler,  John  W.  Denny, 
C.  F.  Griffenberg,  W.  P.  Rhein,  Samuel  Saxton, 
Joseph  H.  Enos,  I.  F.  Croft,  S.  M.  Enos,  M.  Kumpel, 
Edward  S.Stevens  and  Wm.  A.  Rhodes.  The  follow- 
ing members  were  elected  as  the  first  officers :  P.  C, 
Dr.  W.  N.  Hamilton ;  S.  V.  C,  M.  Gremminger;  J. 
V.  C.  Jos.  H.  Enos;  Q.  M.,  J.  W.  Denny ;  Adjc,  Wm. 
A.  Rhodes;  Chap.,  C.  F.  Griffenberg ;  Surg.,  Samuel 
Saxton. 

The  membership  has  increased  to  fifty -five.  Meet- 
ings are  held  every  Wednesday  night.  The  post- 
room  contains  the  fiags  of  the  Red  Lion  Mounted 
Guards,  probably  the  first  company  organized  in 
Delaware,  which  was  presented  by  Capt  Chas.  Cor- 
bit, and  the  flag  of  the  ship  "  Constitation,"  corn- 


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1010  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARB. 


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NEW  CASTLB  COUNTY. 


1011 


msBded  in  the  War  of  1812  by  Commodore  Hull. 
The  present  officers  are  :  P.  C,  M.  Gremminger ;  S. 
V.  C,  T.  W.  Bucke ;  J.  V.  C,  I.  F.  Croft ;  Q.  M.,  D. 
W.  Corbit;  Adjt,  Wm.  A.  Rhodes;  Chap.,  Jos.  A. 
Rhodes. 

Appoquinindnk  THbe^No.  24,  /.  0.  B,  M,^  was  in- 
stituted at  Odessa  on  the  14th  of  February,  1887. 
The  charter  members  were  Irvin  Rose,  John  £.  Jen- 
kins, Samuel  R.  Rupp,  Robert  Pinharlow,  W.  F. 
Tucker,  Wm.  W.  Rose,  Wm.  W.  Thomas,  John  Held- 
myer,  Jas.  A.  Parker,  C.  W.  Lloyd,  Everett  Rose, 
Geo.  W.  Rose,  Wm.  Johnson,  Lewis  Walker,  Arthur 
Thomas  and  Wm.  Ryan.  Meetings  are  held  every 
Tuesday  night  in  the  G.  A.  R.  Post  room.  The 
present'  number  of  members  is  thirty.  The 
first  and  present  officers,  with  the  exception  of  Sam- 
uel R.  Rupp  as  S.  S.,  are  :  Sachem,  Irvin  Rose ;  S. 
S.,  Robert  Pinharlow;  J.  S.,  W.  F.  Tucker;  C.  of  R., 
Wm.  W.  Thomas ;  K.  of  W.,  John  Heldmyer ;  W.  P., 
John  E.  Jenkins. 

77ie  Farmert^  MiUuai  Itre  Inmirance  Company ^  of 
St.*G^rge's  and  Appoquinimink  Hundreds,  was  or- 
ganized at  Odessa,  July,  1849,  by  electing  the  follow- 
ing officers :  President,  John  Janvier,  Jr. ;  Secretary, 
Charles  Tatman ;  Treasurer,  John  Whitby ;  Directors, 
John  Janvier,  Jr.,  Joseph  Cleaver,  Daniel  Corbit, 
James  V.  Moore,  John  Townsend,  Wm.  Wilson,  Jno. 
P.Cochran. 

John  Janvier,  Jr.,  remained  president  until  1851, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Charles  Beasten,  whom 
Charles  T.  Polk  followed  in  1854.  Daniel  Corbit  be- 
came president  in  1868,  and  continued  until  1871, 
when  John  C.  Corbit,  the  present  incumbent,  was 
elected. 

Charles  Tatman,  the  first  secretary,  held  that  office 
until  1876,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  C.  Brown, 
the  present  officer,  who  was  also  elected  treasurer  in 
1870,  vice  John  Whitby.  The  changes  in  the  board 
of  directors  have  been  as  follows : 

1861.  CharlM  Beaaten,  JiunM  KaDoly  and  John  McCrone,  Jr.,  Wm 
John  Townaend,  WillUm  Wilson  and  John  P.  Cochran. 

1853.  Henry  Davis,  John  Whitby,  Edward  ThonuM  and  Robert  A. 
Cochran,  tio9  Jamee  Kitnely,  John  McCrone,  Jr.,  Joseph  Cleaver  and 
James  V.  Moore. 

1864.  C.  T.  Polk,  James  V.  Moore  and  H.  N.  Willits,  rio«  Edward  Thom- 
as, Bobert  A.  Cochran  and  Charles  Beasten. 

1865.  Joshna  B.  Fenniroore,  vtc«  James  V.  Moore. 

1866.  Eli  Biddle  and  Joseph  West,  Wm  John  Janvier,  Jr.,  and  Joshua 
B.  Fenimore. 

1863.  William  PoUc,  Wee  C.  T.  Polk. 

1871.  Columbus  Watklns  and  John  C.  Corbit,  Wee  Ell  Biddle  and  John 
Whitt)y. 
1873.  Colen  Ferguson,  Wm  Joseph  West. 

1876.  Charles  Tatman,  vies  Daniel  Corbit. 

1877.  Thomas  J.  Craven,  Wee  Chas.  Tatman. 
1880.  Joseph  Roberts,  Woe  T.  J.  Craven. 
1885.  Nathaniel  WiUiams,  Wee  Henry  Davis. 

Botels, — The  first  hotel  in  Odessa  stood  on  the  brink 
of  the  hill  near  the  residence  of  Shoemaker.  It  was 
a  one-story  frame  building  with  a  hip  roof,  and  was 
about  forty  feet  square.  It  was  last  used  as  a  hotel 
in  1825,  and  was  torn  down  about  twenty  years  ago. 
In  1797  a  license  for  an  inn  in  the  village  of  Cant- 
well's  Bridge  was  granted  to  Mary  Calhoun,  who  had 
kept  the  hotel  for  some  time.    Some  of  the  early 


proprietors  were  Morton  Hutchinson,  Capt.  Wm. 
Brady  in  1815,  Wm.  P.  Cochran,  Amelia  Cooke, 
Daniel  Hains  and  James  Henry,  the  last  proprietor. 
The  hoose  was  owned  by  Morton  Hutchinson  till 
1820,  when  he  sold  it  to  Wm.  Polk. 

The  hotel  on  the  comer  of  Main  and  Second  Streets 
was  built  in  1822  by  William  Polk,  and  opened  in 
1824  by  Ford  Mansfield.  The  mechanics  employed 
were  Samuel  Lloyd  and  George  Metcalf.  The  build- 
ing was  intended  for  a  dwelling  and  store,  but  before 
it  was  completed  was  changed  to  a  hotel.  It  is  a 
three-story  brick  building,  and  is  owned  by  William 
Polk,  the  grandson  of  the  builder.  For  the  past  two 
years  Charles  W.  Lloyd  has  been  the  proprietor. 

The  other  hotel  in  Odessa  was  built  about  twenty- 
five  years  ago  by  Caleb  C.  Foster  for  a  carriage  fac- 
tory. Shortly  afterward  Qeorge  Kilkoph  opened  a 
hotel  in  it,  which  he  conducted  until  his  death,  when 
his  widow  became  the  proprietor.  John  Wies  was 
the  next  landlord,  and  his  license  was  revoked  in  1876. 
In  1882  the  hotel  was  reopened  by  Calvin  Stidham, 
the  present  proprietor. 

At  Port  Penn  in  1822  there  were  five  hotels.  One 
was  where  Dr.  David  Stewart  now  resides,  another 
where  Conrad  Zacheis  lives,  and  a  third  on  lot  now 
owned  by  Samuel  Kershaw.  The  only  hotel  now  in 
the  place,  of  which  Thomas  Beard  is  proprietor,  was 
kept  in  1797  and  previous  to  that  time  by  Rebecca 
Reed. 

Beliffious  Matters} — ^When  the  congregation  of 
Drawyer*s  Church  was  organized  is  not  definitely 
known.  In  1708  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  was 
petitioned  by  persons  residing  in  the  vicinity  of 
Odessa  for  regular  ministrations  of  the  Oospel  here. 
Rev.  John  Wilson,  of  New  Castle,  was  accordingly 
ordered  to  hold  services  in  this  neighborhood  ''  once 
a  month  on  a  week  day.''  In  the  following  year  he 
was  ordered  ''  to  preach  at  Apoqninimy  once  a  month 
till  the  next  meeting,  and  one  Sabbath  a  quarter  until 
the  aforesaid  meeting,  provided  always  that  the  Sab- 
bath day's  sermon  be  taken  from  the  White  Clay 
Creek  their  time."  On  May  10,  1711,  a  site  was 
located  and  obtained  from  John  Peterson.  The  erec- 
tion of  a  church  was  immediately  commenced,  and 
soon  afterwards  completed.  Among  the  elders  pre- 
vious to  1775  are  found  the  names  of  the  following 
early  settlers:  1711,  Leonard  Vandegrift;  1712,  Isaac 
Piper ;  1714,  Hans  Hanson  ;  1714,  Segfridus  Alrichs ; 
1717,  Elias  Naudain;  1721,  Johnnes  Vandegrift; 
1724,  Abraham  Golden,  Sr. ;  1725,  Thomas  Hyatt ; 
1727,  Jacob  King;  1731,  Francis  King;  1732,  Moses 
McKinley  and  Charles  Robinson;  1746,  Garrett 
Dushane,  David  Witherspoon,  James  McCoomb, 
Gkurett  Rothwell,  Cornelius  King,  Joseph  Hill,  James 
Anderson  and  James  Vance. 

In  1769,  the  church  being  ''unfit  to  answer  the 
purposes  of  a  house  of  worship,"  a  subscription  was 
raised  for  the  purpose  of   erecting  a  new  edifice. 


1  By  B«v.  H.  A.  MoLane. 


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1012 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Peter  Alrichs,  John  Hanson,  John  Hyatt,  ^r.,  James 
Moore,  William  Bradford,  Duncan  Beard,  Henry 
Packard,  Jr.,  and  Andrew  Brown  were  appointed  a 
bnilding  committee.  In  1773  a  two-story  brick  church) 
forty- four  by  fifty-six  feet,  was  erected  by  Robt  May 
A  Co.,  of  London.  The  bricks  were  burned  on  the 
farm  of  Robert  Meldrum,  afterwards  owned  by  Samuel 
Penington.  In  1807  there  were  only  thirty-nine  mem- 
bers in  communion,  eight  of  whom  were  colored  per- 
sons. In  1811  a  new  roof  was  put  on  the  church,  and 
in  1838  the  pulpit  and  seats  were  remodeled  and  the 
interior  of  the  building  improved.  The  whole  sum 
raised  by  subscription  for  the  erection  of  the  church 
was  £1105  and  13«.,  which  was  donated  by  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty-eight  individuals.  The  church  is 
still  standing,  although  no  longer  used  r^;ularly  for 
public  worship.  On  the  inside  of  the  building,  en- 
graved on  marble  slabs,  are  the  following  inscrip- 
tions: 

•*  THE  GHUBGH  OF  THE  TIB8T  PBESBTTEBIAN 

SOOIETY  IN  THIS  HUNDRED 

BUILT  AJ).  1T78. 

BEY.  THOMAS  BEAD,  A.M., 

PASTOR. 

THIS  STONE,  THE  GIFT  OF  MRS.  MART  HILL. 

Sbrvx  the  Lobd  with  OLADimS. 

P»  loo,  2d." 

**  THIS  SITE  PURCHASED,  MAT  10,  1711. 

THE  FIRST  OHUROH  BUILT  1711. 

REV.  JOHN  WILSON,  PASTOR,  1708. 

*TouR  Fathebs,  whers  are  thet?*" 

Eev.  John  Wilson,  the  first  pastor,  was  one  of  the 
original  members  of  the  first  Presbjrtery  organized  in 
the  United  States,  and  died  in  1712. 

Bev.  Robert  Witherspoon,  the  second  minister,  was 
ordained  at  Drawyer's  Church  May  13, 1714,  and  con- 
tinued its  pastor  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
May,  1718.  Bev.  Mr.  Young  next  ministered  here, 
either  as  a  supply  or  as  a  pastor,  from  1718  until  his 
death  in  1721. 

Rev.  Henry  Hook  took  charge  of  the  congregation 
in  1722,  and  remained  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1741. 

Rev.  John  Dick  was  ordained  November  12, 1746, 
and  served  this  congregation  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  the  following  year. 

Rev.  Hector  Allison  was  pastor  from  1758  until 
1768,  when  he  removed. 

Rev.  Thomas  Read,  the  next  pastor,  began  in  1768, 
as  stated  supply,  and  from  1772  until  1796  was  r^ular 
pastor. 

Rev.  John  Burton  commenced  his  labors  here  in 
May,  1804,  and  continued  as  stated  supply  until  1822. 
He  died  in  1825,  and  is  buried  at  St.  (George's. 

Rev.  Joseph  Wilson,  from  Nottingham,  Pennsylva- 
nia, was  installed  as  pastor  over  Drawyer's,  Smyrna 
and  Forest  Churches  in  1822,  and  remained  until  1830. 

On  July  1, 1832,  Rev.  Nicholas  Patterson  com- 
menced preaching  as  stated  supply,  and  continued 
until  November. 

The  church  since  that  time  has  been  served  by  the 


following  pastors:  1832,  Rev.  David  De  Forest; 
1833-35,  Rev.  Warren  G.  Jones;  1836-39,  Rev. 
Charles  Brown ;  1839,  Rev.  George  Foot. 

The  Rev.  Geo.  Foot  began  his  labors  with  this 
church  September  8, 1839,  and  was  installed  pastor 
of  this  and  the  Port  Penn  Church  November  19, 1839. 

The  Rev.  Isaac  W.  E.  Handy  began  to  supply  the 
church  June  15, 1848,  and  continued  as  supply  and 
pastor  until  1853.  He  served  this  church  in  connection 
with  the  Port  Penn  Church  two  years,  when,  by 
Presbytery,  the  relation  between  these  churches  was 
dissolved,  and  Mr.  Handy  became  pastor  of  the  Forest 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Middletown,  in  connection 
with  Drawyer's.  In  1853  the  relation  between  these 
churches  was  dissolved,  and  reunion  with  the  Port 
Penn  Church  was  effected.  This  relation  continued 
till  1854,  since  which  time  Drawyer's  Church  has  stood 
alone. 

The  Rev.  David  McClure  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  the  united  churches  of  Drawyer's  and 
Port  Penn  November  9,  1853,  and  continued  pastor 
until  October,  1854. 

April  1, 1855,  the  Drawyer's  Church  called  the  Rev. 
H.  J.  Gkiylord,  who  continued  pastor  until  April,  1861. 

The  Rev.  F.  Hendricks  supplied  the  church  until 
1862.  The  new  church  edifice  erected  at  Odef«a  by 
the  Drawyer's  congregation  was  dedicated  May  9, 
1861.  It  is  a  large  and  handsome  brick  building,  and 
cost  eleven  thousand  dollars. 

In  1886  the  audience- room  was  frescoed  and  re- 
carpeted,  the  wood-work  repainted,  and  new  pulpit 
furniture  put  in,  which  makes  it  one  of  the  most  com- 
fortable and  beautiful  audience-rooms  on  the  Penin- 
sula. 

From  1863  until  1867  the  church  was  supplied  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Burdett,  the  Bev.  Mr.  Howard  and 
others. 

The  Bev.  John  Crowell,  D.D.,  was  installed  August 
1, 1867,  and  continued  his  pastorate  until  1879. 

The  pastorate  of  the  Bev.  W.  V.  Louderbough 
extended  from  September  24,  1879,  to  February  27, 
1882. 

The  Bev.  James  Conway  was  installed  May  30, 
1882,  and  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation  was 
effected  November  27, 1882. 

The  Bev.  H.  A.  McLean,  the  present  pastor,  sup- 
plied the  church  from  May,  1883,  until  October  2, 
1884,  when  he  was  installed. 

During  all  these  years  (from  1842)  the  church  has 
been  served  by  many  able  and  feiithful  elders.  Nota- 
ble among  these  were  John  M.  Woods,  A.  Snow 
Naudain,  John  Aspril,  Jesse  Higgins,  H.  G.  Wbit- 
tock  and  John  Janvier.  John  Janvier  and  H.  G- 
Whittoek  were  both  ordained  to  the  office  of  ruling 
elder  on  the  same  day,  October  12, 1856.  The  former 
served  until  his  removal  to  Oxford,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1866,  and  the  latter  until  his  death,  in  1884,  a  period 
of  twenty-eight  years. 

The  present  elders  are  Dr.  W.  N.  Hamilton,  James 
J.  Janvier  and  F.  Theodore  Perry.    They  were  all 


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toitL..- _. -BiaiQRr  OF  PBLAWAKE. 


•  i  •  -         I 


until  November.  aai*.  ^^ak^^^^  o*.*i^*i  u-r^  D*..  \\  ,  1..  ^ 

The  church  since  that  time  has  been  served  by  the     J.  Janvier  and  F.  Theodore  Perry.    They  were  all 


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NEW  fJASTLE  COUNTY. 


1013 


ordained  and  installed  on  Sabbath  morning,  March 
10, 1878,  and  are  still  one  in  the  support  and  spread 
of  the  CkMpel. 

The  Sabbath-School,  organized  July  21,  1861,  has 
never  been  large.  Elder  James  J.  Janvier  has  just 
closed  his  four  years'  superintendency,  in  which  he 
has  shown  extraordinary  fidelity  in  the  work,  and  the 
school  is  now  quite  as  prosperous  as  it  has  been  for 
some  years. 

SehooU. — The  first  school-house  in  Odessa  was 
erected  at  an  early  date  by  the  Friends  and  was 
under  their  control.  It  was  a  frame  building  and 
stood  in  the  lot  near  the  Friends'  meeting-house.  It 
was  not  used  much  for  school  purposes  after  1817,  and 
at  a  later  period  was  removed  and  converted  into  a 
dwelling.  It  is  now  in  the  rear  of  the  Zoar  M.  E. 
Church  and  is  the  residence  of  the  pastor  of  this  con- 
gregation. 

Another  frame  school-house  was  erected,  about 
1810,  near  the  site  of  the  present  school-house.  James 
Latimus,  a  half-brother  of  Bishop  Scott,  and  Joseph 
Stewart  are  remembered  as  teachers  of  this  school. 
It  was  used  for  school  purposes  until  1838,  when  it 
was  moved  away  and  was  converted  into  a  dwelling 
and  has  been  used  as  such  since  that  time. 

The  free  school  law  of  1829  was  unpopular  with 
many  in  this  neighborhood.  The  frame  school-house 
was  used  for  public  school  purposes  for  a  short  time, 
and  in  1833  a  new  school-house  was  built  This  was 
burned  in  1843,  and  in  the  following  year  the  present 
two-story  brick  building  was  erected.  In  1856  the 
school  was  endowed  with  the  Corbit  Library.  The 
report  of  the  school  for  1886  shows  the  following  state 
of  afiairs:  Value  of  property,  eighteen  hundred  dol- 
lars ;  number  of  pupils  registered,  one  hundred  and 
eighteen ;  number  of  rooms,  two ;  number  of  teachers, 
two ;  average  attendance,  seventy ;  number  of  months 
school  was  held,  ten  and  a  half. 

Elwood  R.  Norny  was  bom  in  Montgomery  County, 
Pa.,  near  Norristown  in  1824,  on  the  homestead  farm 
of  his  grandfather,  General  Andrew  Norny,  who  was 
a  soldier  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  one  of 
those  patriots  who  endured  the  severities  of  that 
memorable  winter  in  the  camp  on  the  hills  of  Valley 
Forge.  General  Norny  was  the  neighbor  and  com- 
panion of  Generals  Knox  and  St.  Clair,  the  three 
soldiers  owning  farms  within  a  few  miles  of  each 
other.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  brigader-general  by  the  Gh)vernor  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Mr.  E.  R.  Norny's  father  always  followed 
the  vocation  of  farming,  and  died  at  a  comparatively 
early  age.  His  mother  was  one  of  the  descendants 
of  the  old  Pastorius  family,  who,  contemporaneous 
with  William  Penn,  were  among  the  first  settlers 
and  founders  of  Philadelphia  and  Germantown.  At 
the  age  of  twenty,  Mr.  Norny  began  to  study  law  at 
Norristown  with  the  Hon.  John  B.  Sterigere,  an  ex- 
member  of  Congress.  About  two  years  later  he 
abandoned  the  law  for  the  more  active  pursuits  of 
business,  and,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  consti- 


tuted a  firm  which  carried  on  the  largest  business  in 
the  making  and  sale  of  lime  in  the  Schuylkill  Val- 
ley. In  this  business,  which  grew  to  large  propor- 
tions and  included  traffic  in  brick,  sand  and  hair 
for  buildings,  he  continued  for  several  years,  during 
which  the  firm  traded  extensively  in  Philadelphia 
and  New  York.  Large  quantities  of  their  lime  were 
sold  to  customers  in  New  Jersey,  Delaware  and 
Maryland  for  agricultural  purposes,  before  the  era  of 
commercial  fertilizers.  In  1852  he  married  Cynthia 
J.  Acufi*,  a  daughter  of  David  Acuff,  an  extensive 
farmer  of  Gwynedd,  Montgomery  County,  Pa.  In 
the  spring  of  1859,  on  account  of  the  greatly  impaired 
health  of  his  wife,  he  sold  out  his  business  to  Charles 
Earnest,  of  Norristown,  and  located  on  a  farm  on  the 
banks  of  the  Delaware,  in  St.  George's  Hundred, 
New  Castle  County.  Here  he  took  a  deep  interest 
in  the  propagation  and  preservation  of  the  valuable 
food-fish  of  the  Delaware,  and  was  one  of  the  early 
correspondents  and  aids  of  the  United  States  Fish 
Commission,  being  the  first  to  discover  the  food  on 
which  the  shad  feed  while  off  our  coast  before  enter- 
ing the  fresh  water.  Later  he  took  an  active  interest 
in  the  protection  of  fish  industries  of  the  State,  and 
was  largely  instrumental  in  the  passage  of  our  fish 
laws,  as  well  as  in  their  execution  on  the  waters  of 
the  Delaware.  This  brought  him  to  the  notice  of 
the  people,  who  elected  him  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Sute  in  the  fall  of  1886.  In  this 
position  he  took  an  active  part  in  all  important  legis- 
lation, and  materially  aided  in  the  revision  and  con- 
densation of  the  numerous  oyster  laws  on  the  statute 
books  of  the  State.  Immediately  after  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  General  Assembly  In  April,  1887,  he  was 
appointed  by  Gh)vemor  Biggs  State  Fish  Commis- 
sioner, the  office  which  he  now  holds.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Norny  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and  took  an 
active  part,  for  a  young  man,  in  the  election  of  James 
Buchanan  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States  in 
1856.  So  active  was  he  ih  that  campaign  that  His 
Honor  Judge  Sharswood,  then  of  the  District  Court 
of  Philadelphia,  and  subsequently  chief  justice  of  the 
State,  held  for  him  alone  a  special  court  at  eight 
o'clock  A.M.,  on  the  day  of  the  election,  to  enable 
him  to  bring  into  the  city  a  large  number  of  Demo- 
crats from  the  adjoining  county  of  Montgomery  to 
be  naturalized  in  time  to  get  back  to  their  respective 
places  of  voting.  While  residing  in  Philadelphia, 
from  1852  to  1859,  he  was  offered  several  positions  of 
political  preferment,  among  which  was  the  nomina- 
tion to  Congress  in  the  Fourth  District.  This  honor, 
because  of  pressing  business  engagements,  he  was 
compelled  to  decline  in  favor  of  the  Hon.  Henry  M. 
Phillips,  who  was  elected  by  a  majority  over  both 
the  Old-Line  Whig  and  Enow-Nothing  candidates. 
During  the  long  period  of  his  residence  in  New  Cas- 
tle County  he  took  no  active  part  in  infiuendng  or 
shaping  political  nominations  until  the  summer  of 
1886,  when  he  was  elected,  in  an  exciting  contest,  a 
delegate   to  the  Democratic   State  Convention,  in 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


which  he  made  the  nominating  speech  in  favor  of 
the  Hon.  Benjamin  T.  Biggs  for  Governor. 
Port  Penn. — According  to  tradition,  William  Penn, 
while  on  a  voyage  to  Philadelphia,  landed  near  the 
present  location  of  Port^Penn  for  a  supply  of  water. 
In  honor  of  this  brief  visit  the  village  received  its 
name.  The  land  on  which  it  stands  was  originally 
granted  to  Abraham  Planck,  Simon  Boot,  Jan  An- 
driesen  and  Peter  Harmensen  in  1646.  The  condi- 
tion of  the  grant,  that  they  settle  upon  the  land,  was 
not  complied  with  and  their  title  was  forfeited.  Peter 
Alrichs  was  the  next  owner  and  at  a  later  period  it 
passed  to  David  Stewart  Stewart  came  from  Scot- 
land about  1700,  and  at  first  settled  at  St.  George's, 
and  afterwards  at  Port  Penn.  The  village  was  laid 
out  in  lots  previous  to  1795,  for  in  that  year  Daniel 
Blaney,  had  a  store  there  and  also  rented  and  sold 
building  lots.  Thomas  Craven,  David  Wild,  Robert 
Wild  and  Mary  Stewart  were  owners  of  land  in  Port 
Penn  at  this  time.  In  1822  the  village  was  a  grain 
market,  and  also  a  port  of  entry.  In  consequence  of 
this,  it  was  generally  thronged  with  sailors  and  was 
very  immoral.  Although  at  that  time  containing 
but  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants,  there 
were  five  inns  or  taverns,  and  these  were  generally 
filled  with  transient  guests.  A  custom-house  was  here 
until  about  twenty  years  ago,  and  was  last  under  the 
supervision  of  John  Jones.  A  barrack  was  also 
located  where  the  residence  of  William  S.  Ekiton  now 
stands.  Until  the  erection  of  the  landing  at  the 
Breakwater,  Port  Penn  was  the  best  port  on  the  Dela- 
ware shore.  There  are  several  very  old  houses  in  the 
village.  The  one  occupied  by  Miss  Mary  Stewart  is 
a  frame  hip -roofed  house  with  a  fire-back  in  the  open 
hearth  bearing  the  date  1728.  The  residence  of  Dr. 
Stewart  is  of  brick  and  has  a  very  old  appearance. 
The  iron  fire-back  bears  the  date  1750,  and  on  a  pane 
of  glass  is  inscribed  "  William  Montgomery,  1750.'' 
It  is  said  that  the  chimney  of  this  house  was  struck  by 
a  cannon-ball  fired  by  a  ship  in  the  War  of  1812.  A 
frame  house  now  owned  and  occupied  as  a  residence 
by  William  H.  MuUer  was  also  struck  by  a  cannon- 
ball  during  the  same  war.  The  house  occupied  by 
James  M.  Webb  was  built  and  used  as  a  residence  by 
Count  Pulaski.  Before  the  erection  of  railroads  Port 
Penn  was  a  centre  for  the  grain  produced  in  the 
northern  part  of  St.  George's  Hundred.  Joseph  Clea- 
ver was  the  principal  grain  merchant  at  this  place. 
He  built  a  wharf  near  by  and  frequently  the  road 
for  half  a  mile  distant  was  crowded  with  teams 
awaiting  their  opportunity  to  unload. 

Port  Penn  is  situated  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
St.George's  Hundred,  about  four  miles  south  of  Dela- 
ware City.  During  the  summer  it  has  steamboat 
communication  with  Philadelphia.  The  population 
of  the  village  is  about  three  hundred.  The  merchants 
at  the  present  time  are  Henry  Cleaver,  T.  D.  Stewart 
and  Conrad  Zacheis. 

Schools.— On  July  15,  1795,  Mr.  Monies  began  to 
keep  a  select  school  at  Port  Penn.    He  was  also  here 


in  1799  and,  perhaps,  kept  at  a  later  date.  About  1810 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Reed  granted  to  Adam  Diehl,  John 
Diehl,  William  Kennedy,  Dr.  David  Stewart  and  Dr. 
William  Carpenter  a  tract  of  land  on  which  to  erect 
a  building  for  school  and  church  purposes.  The 
building  was  erected  and  used  for  subscription  school 
till  1830,  when  it  was  opened  as  a  district  school.  The 
old  building  was  used  till  quite  recently,  when  it  was 
supplanted  by  the  present  neat  structure.  The  old 
building  stood  near  the  present  residence  of  Joshua 
Jefferson.  The  auditor's  report  for  1886  shows  that 
the  school  was  open  for  nine  months  and  thirteen 
days  and  that  there  were  enrolled  fifty-two  pupils. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  in  Port  Penn  was  organ- 
ized July  16, 1837,  with  seventeen  members,  nine  of 
whom  came  from  Drawyer's  and  eight  from  Sr. 
George's.  Mrs.  William  Cleaver,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Mary  C. 
Cleaver,  John  Price,  Mrs.  Susan  Price,  Miss  Ann 
Price,  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Price,  Mrs.  Priscilla  Cleaver, 
Mrs.  Mary  Alrich  and  Mrs.  Mary  Stewart  were  from 
Drawyer's ;  and  Mrs.  Mary  Cox,  Mrs.  Honora  Mat- 
thews, Mrs.  Eliza  F.  Dil worth,  Mrs.  Maria  J.  Hes^y, 
Mrs.  Rachel  Webb,  Mrs.  Margaret  Darracfa,  Miss 
Margaret  L.  Kernahan  and  Miss  Hester  E.  Dilworth 
were  of  the  St.  George's  congregation.  The  first 
church  was  a  frame  building  erected  in  1834,  on  a  lot 
on  the  corner  of  Market  and  Stewart  Streets,  con- 
veyed February  28,  1834,  to  John  M.  Woods,  John 
Cannon  and  John  Price,  trustees,  by  Mrs.  Margaret 
Darrach.  The  building  is  now  used  by  the  Zion  A. 
M.  E.  Church.  In  1856  the  present  two-story  brick 
church,  thirty- two  by  fifty  feet,  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
six  thousand  dollars.  On  March  17th  of  that  year 
additional  land  was  conveyed  by  Mrs.  Darrach  to 
John  Price,  Samuel  Jefferson,  Joseph  Cleaver,  Wm. 
Cleaver,  Jr.,  Jacob  A.  Penington  and  Samuel  B. 
Cleaver,  trustees.  In  1871  a  parsonage  was  purchased 
at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  dollars,  and  remodeled. 
The  present  membership  is  seventy -three.  Ninety 
scholars  are  enrolled  in  the  Sunday-school,  which  ia 
under  the  superin tendency  of  Henry  Price.  The 
present  trustees  are  Henry  Price,  The«.  F.  Dilworth, 
Henry  C.  Walter,  Joseph  Cleaver  and  John  B.  Van- 
degrifl.  The  first  elders  were  Wm.  Cleaver,  Jr.,  and 
Samuel  Jefferson.  John  M.  Woods,  David  Stewart, 
Henry  Walter  and  John  B.  Vandegrifl  have  also 
served  in  that  capacity.  The  following  ministers 
have  served  as  pastors  and  stated  supplies : 

Rer.  N.  S.Moore 1868 

Rev.  Samuel  M.  Gould 186M9 

Rer.  S.  a  Alltoon 1869-71 

R«T.  8.  G.  Boardnum. W\-M 

Rev.  W.  K.  Preston 1884-85 

Rev.  Roland  A.  Sawyer,  Jr.,  prat- 
•nt  paator. 

About  1850  a  revival  was  held  in  a  school-house  in 
Port  Penn  by  a  portion  of  the  Methodist  congrega- 
tion of  Asbury  Chapel.  This  led  to  the  organization 
of  a  church  there,  and  the  erection  of  a  frame  chnrdi 
building,  about  twenty*eight  by  forty  feet  The  church 
flourished  for  a  while  and  then  began  to  decline. 


Rer.  Charles  Brown 1837-39 

Rot.  George  Foot 1830-48 

Rev.  Isaac  W.  K.  HaDd7...1848-61 

Rev.  T.  Ralston  Smith 1851-62 

Rev.  David  McCHure 1853-M 

Rev.  H.  J.  Oayloid. 1866-67 

Rev.  &  R.  Schofleld. 1867-68 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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There  were  at  one  time  about  forty  members.  The 
last  regular  services  were  conducted  in  1881.  Since 
that  time  occasional  meetings  have  been  held. 


CHAPTER  LI. 

APPOQUINIMINK  HUNDRED. 

That  portion  of  New  Castle  County  lying  between 
Appoquinimink  and  Duck  Creeks  was  formerly  de- 
nominated Appoquiuimink  Hundred.  Mention  is 
made  of  this  territory  as  a  hundred  in  a  deed  bearing 
date  January  15, 1708,  from  William  Grant,  of  "  Appo- 
quinimini"  Hundred  to  John  Damarcier.  Appoquini- 
mink m  an  Indian  term  said  to  mean  wounded  duck. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  March  9, 1875, 
this  land  was  divided  info  two  hundreds,  the  northern 
portion  retaining  the  name  Appoquinimink,  and  the 
southern  part  was  termed  Blackbird,  after  the  stream 
which  forms  its  northern  boundary.  The  present 
Appoquinimink  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  St. 
George's  Creek  and  Hundred;  on  the  east  by  the 
same.  Blackbird  Creek  and  Delaware  River;  on  the 
south  by  Blackbird  Creek  and  Hundred  and  on  the 
west  by  Maryland.  The  territory  is  well  watered  and 
very  productive.  The  eastern  portion  consists  mainly 
of  reclaimed  marsh.  The  principal  products  are  com, 
wheat  and  peaches.  Facilities  for  shipping  are 
afforded  by  the  Blackbird  and  Appoquinimink  Creeks 
and  the  Delaware  Division  of  Philadelphia,  Wilming- 
ton and  Baltimore  Railroad.  In  1683  there  were  forty 
taxable  inhabitants  between  Appoquinimink  and 
Duck  Creeks.  The  assessment  list  of  the  same  terri- 
tory for  1751,  as  returned  by  William  Williams,  con- 
tained the  names  of  two  hundred  and  forty-nine  tax- 
ables,  and  a  total  assessment  amounting  to  two  thou- 
sand nine  hundred  and  fifteen  dollars. 

The  land  between  Appoquinimink  and  Duck  Creeks 
seems  to  have  early  attracted  the  attention  of  both 
emigrants  and  residents  of  the  northern  part  of  the 
county.  On  July  1,  1669,  William  Tom  sent  to  Gov- 
ernor  Nichols  a  request  that  **  ye  Finns  or  others  re- 
siding at  or  about  Delaware  may  have  an  enlarge- 
ment of  their  bounds,  for  y*  w**  they  desire  to  take  up 
some  lands  at  Apoquemini,  lying  and  being  w^in  ye 
govermeut."  He  also  requested  "  that  some  families 
from  Maryland  may  have  liberty  to  come  and  settle 
upon  ye  kill  below  Apoquemini."  These  requests 
were  granted  August  2d  of  that  year,  upon  condition 
"  that  in  some  convenient  tyme  a  Draught  be  taken 
of  ye  land  and  a  return  thereof  made  to  the  Governor 
together  with  its  extent,  whereupon  those  who  settle 
there  shall  have  Patents." 

At  a  council  held  in  the  fort  at  New  Castle,  April 
15, 1671,  "Captain  Carr  relates  of  y*  desire  of  many  fam- 
ilyes  to  come  and  settle  below  New  Castle  at  Apoqui- 
miny  and  Bomby's  Hook.  The  most  eminent  among 
these  are  one  Mr.  Jenes,  Mr.  Wharton,  Mr.  Whale« 


A  letter  is  ordered  to  be  written  to  treat  with  some  of 
them  for  a  settlement." 

In  1671  a  patent  was  granted  to  Abraham  Coffin 
for  four  hundred  acres  of  land  called  "  Mountain 
Neck."  It  was  for  some  reason  abandoned,  and  in 
1686  was  resurveyed  for  Johannes  De  Haes  and 
Ephraim  Herman.  De  Haes  was  a  native  of  France 
and  the  maternal  ancestor  of  the  Janvier  family  ;  he 
was  a  prominent  man,  a  magistrate  and  a  member  of 
the  first  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  held  under 
Penn  in  1683.  He  sub^equeutly  became  the  sole 
owner  of  the  above  tract  and  also  acquired  other 
property  in  New  Castle  County.  At  his  death  he  de- 
vised his  estate  to  his  son  Roelef,  who  was  a  member 
of  the  first  Legislative  Assembly  in  Delaware  in  1704. 
This  farm  afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of 
Thomas  Noxon,  the  founder  of  Noxontown.  A  por- 
tion of  it  was  conveyed  in  1742  by  Henry  Petersen  to 
Abraham  Gooding.  In  the  deed  it  is  mentioned  that  it 
is  known  as  "  Lucases  Neck,"  but  in  the  original  grant 
was  called  "Mountain  Neck,"  and  near  it  was 
"  Thomas  Noxon's  new  mill-pond."  Brigadier-Gener- 
al Caesar  Rodney,  with  his  corps  of  Delaware  militia, 
encamped  for  a  season  on  this&rm.  Noxon  purchased 
other  land  in  this  and  St.  George's  Hundreds,  He 
erected  two  grist-mills  in  the  vicinity  of  thi9  tract, 
and  on  their  sites  there  are  now  several  mills.  Accord- 
ing to  tradition,  in  early  times  fairs  were  held  annually 
at  Noxontown  for  several  days,  at  which  were  exhib- 
ited home  products  and  imports  from  England.  It  was 
a  season  of  great  festivity,  and  the  fairs  were  attended 
by  many  persons  from  a  great  distance.  On  Noxon's 
land,  between  the  Appoquinimink  and  a  branch 
called  Sassafras  Branch  (Noxontown  mill-pond),  were 
a  bake-house,  a  brew-house  and  a  malt-house,  and  a 
landing  which  was  used  as  late  as  1855.  An  old 
frame  building,  recently  torn  town,  was  used  for  hotel 
purposes  at  a  very  early  date.  A  brick  house  in  good 
repair,  now  owned  by  William  Evans,  was  built  by 
Noxen,  and  at  one  time  contained  a  stone  with  the 
inscription  "  Thomas  Noxon,  1740."  This  was  torn 
out  by  one  of  the  owners,  and  is  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  M.  N.  Willits.  Thomas  Noxon  died  in  1743 
and  devised  his  mills  to  his  son  Benjamin,  and  his 
other  estate  he  divided  among  his  children.  Descend- 
ants of  Thomas  Noxon  still  reside  in  this  hundred. 
The  land  on  which  he  resided  is  now  owned  by  W.  E. 
Evans.  The  adjoining  land,  formerly  belonging  to 
Noxon,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Edward  Appleton. 

On  June  16, 1671,  Gh>v.  Francis  Lovelace  patented 
to  Robert  Moreton  a  tract  of  five  hundred  acres  and 
marsh  on  west  of  Delaware  River,  "betwixt  Blackbird 
Creek  and  Appaquimime:  Bounded  on  ye  east  w^ 
appaquimimy  creek :  on  ye  south  with  a  branch  w*'^ 
extendeth  it  selfe  westerly  out  of  ye  same  creek  and 
divideth  this  from  ye  land  of  John  Hartop  and  Henry 
Hartop  and  from  ye  land  of  Seneca  Brewer,  w°^  is 
called  Hang-mans  Hooke :  and  on  ye  two  opposite 
sides  w***  ye  Maine  Woods."  On  October  31, 1674, 
Morton  conveyed  one*half  of  this  tract,  "excepting 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


that  part  of  the  same  as  is  already  this  day  cleared/' 
to  William  Grant.  Grant's  portion  was  adjoining 
Appoquinimink  Creek.  Portions  of  this  tract  were  own- 
ed at  varioos  times  by  Thomas  Snelling,  Gustavus 
Anderson,  Edmund  and  Richard  Cantwell,  Abraham 
Mertine,  Joseph  Hill,  Alexander  Crawford,  John 
Hirons,  and  finally  vested  solely  in  Samuel  Thomas, 
who  in  1820  owned  large  tracts  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  hundred.  The  above  tract  was  next  owned 
by  D.  W.  Thomas,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
John  C.  Corbit  and  Samuel  C.  Thomas.  Thomas* 
Landing  is  situated  within  the  boundaries  of  this  grant. 
Hangman's  Hook,  mentioned  in  the  above  recital,  lay 
south  of  the  Merton  tract,  and  was  bounded  on  the 
east  by  Blackbird  Creek  and  on  the  south  by  the  branch 
known  as  Hangman's  Branch.  This  tract  was  patented 
in  1671  to  Seneca  Brewer,  who  was  also  the  owner  of 
land  in  Christiana  Kill.  It  also  forms  a  portion  of  the 
Thomas  land. 

On  March  25, 1676,  Gov.  Andros  warranted  to  Rob- 
ert Tallen  a  tract  of  land  containing  two  hundred 
acres,  known  as  **  Poplar  Hill,"  situate  north  of  Hang- 
man's Neck  and  also  touching  Beaver  Dam.  This  tract 
was  later  owned  by  Samuel  Thomas. 

Gk>v.  Lovelace  patented  to  William  Warner  in  1671 
"  Knowlbush  Haven, "  a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres 
adjoining  Robert  Morton's  land.  This  was  also 
owned  by  Samuel  Thomas  and  is  now  in  the  hands  of 
John  C.  Corbit. 

Capt  Edmund  Cantwell,  who  resided  at  or  near 
Odessa, was  an  extensive  land-holder  in  Appoquinimink 
Hundred.  On  September  5, 1672,  a  tract  of  eight  hun- 
dred acres  on  Appoquinimink  Creek  was  granted  to 
him  by  Gov.  Lovelace.  This  tract  was  granted 
June  17, 1671,  to  William  Sinclair,  who  for  some  rea- 
son forfeited  hi3  right  to  it.  It  was  "  nigh  unto  Appo- 
quinimink Creek,"  being  a  point  or  neck  of  land 
between  two  main  branches  of  the  creek,  north  with 
Main  Branch  and  southeast  with  Sassafras  Branch. 
He  also  obtained  by  grant  or  purchase  a  large  tract 
of  land  between  Hangman's  Branch  and  Blackbird 
Creek,  and  extending  nearly  to  the  present  site  of 
Fieldsboro,  containing  about  two  thousand  two  hun- 
dred acres.  Red  Clift,  a  tract  of  one  thousand  five 
hundred  acres,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Appoquini- 
mink Creek  and  on  the  west  by  Sassairas  Branch,  was 
in  his  possession  at  the  time  of  his  decease  and  con- 
tained many  improvements.  By  hi8  will,  bearing  date 
October  28,  1679,  he  devised  the  lower  plantation, 
which  he  had  purchased  of  Thomas  Snelling,  to  his 
son  Richard,  the  middle  portion  of  his  estate  to  his 
daughter  Joanna  and  the  upper  part  to  his  daughter. 
At  the  death  of  Joanna  her  portion  vested  in  Richard 
and  Elizabeth,  who  was  the  wife  of  Henry  Garretson. 

The  eight-hundred-acre  tract  was  sold  by  the  heirs 
of  Edmund  CantwelF,  August  16,  1707,  to  William 
Dyre,  and  was  afterwards  owned  by  John  Frogg,  Bald- 
win Johnson,  Thomas  Hopkinson  and  John  All  free. 
On  May  13,  1796,  William  Allfree  sold  three  hundred 
acres  of  it  to  Benjamin  Noxon,  son  of  Thomas  Noxon. 


It  is  now  owned  by  R.  T.  Cochran,  R.  L,  Naudain 
and  the  heirs  of  A.  S.  Naudain.  The  tract  between 
Hangman's  Branch  and  Blackbird  Creek  was  at  a  later 
period  owned  by  John  J.  Milligan,  and  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Edward  C.  Fenimore,  John  C.  Corbit, 
D.  W.  Corbit,  the  heirs  of  John  J.  Milligan  and  Mrs. 
Sarah  Polk. 

The  Red  Clift  tract  became  the  property  of  Henry 
Garretson  May  18, 1709,  and  has  passed  through  var- 
ious hands  and  is  now  divided  and  owned  by  Nath- 
aniel Williams,  Man  love  D.  Wilson,  John  F.  Staats, 
Columbus  Watkins,  Isaac  M.  Davis  and  Joseph  C. 
Hutchinson. 

A  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  adjoining  CantweH's 
grant  was  patented  to  Bezaliel  Osbourne  by  William 
Penn,  and  was  assigned  by  his  heirs  to  John  Healy, 
July  13, 1704.  Cornelius  Cooper,  the  next  owner, 
conveyed  thb  land  to  John  Demerst,  October  1, 1716. 
The  tract  next  passed  into  the  hands  of  Charles  Rob- 
inson, who,  at  his  death,  devised  his  estate  to  his  son 
Charles  and  his  daughter  Mary,  who  was  the  wife  of 
Philip  Hanson.  Charles  sold  his  portion  to  Slator 
Clay,  an  innkeeper  of  New  Castle,  February  13, 1759. 
This  portion  is  now  owned  by  John  C.  Corbit. 
Mary's  portion  descended  to  her  son,  William  Han- 
son, who,  in  1773,  conveyed  it  to  James  Moore,  by 
whom  it  was  sold  to  Mrs.  Richard  C.  Dale.  It  is  now 
owned  by  James  V.  Moore,  the  oldest  resident  of  the 
hundred.  The  entire  tract,  while  in  the  possession  of 
Charles  Robinson,  was  known  as  "  New  England 
Man's  Land."  Robinson  was  also  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  four  acres  on  the  south  side  of  Appo- 
quinimink Cfeek  and  adjoining  land  of  Richard 
Cantwell,  which  he  purchased  of  Thomas  Noxon, 
February  18, 1737. 

The  Naudains  of  this  and  adjoining  hundreds  are 
the  descendants  of  Elias  Naudain,  who  was  the  son  of 
Elias,  a  Huguenot,  born  at  Nantes,  France,  in  1655, 
and  driven  from  there  to  England  in  1681,  on  account  of 
his  religious  views.  He  died  in  1686,  and  his  widow, 
whose  maiden -name  was  G^bel  Arnaud,  married 
Jacob  Rattier  and  came  to  America.  Elias  was  bom 
in  London  and  made  a  denizen  in  1703.  His  certifi- 
cate of  denization,  made  out  before  Thomas  Lawrence, 
a  notary  public  of  London,  and  recorded  at  New 
Castle,  June  12,  1720,  says  that  Elias  Naudain,  "  tho 
born  beyond  the  seas,  is  made  her  Majesty's  liege  sub- 
ject," and  is  given  all  the  rights  of  subjects  as  well  as 
the  privilege  of  purchasing  land  in  any  of  her 
dominions.  He  came  to  America  and  settled  in  Ap- 
poquinimink Hundred  early  in  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury. In  1711  he  erected  a  brick  house,  which  is  still 
standing,  and  is  now  owned  by  Daniel  W.  Corbit.  In 
1715  he  was  an  elder  in  Drawyer's  Church.  His 
first  recorded  deed  bears  date  August  23,  1722,  and  is 
for  a  tract  of  land  in  St.  George's  Hundred,  which  he 
purchased  of  Moses  McKinley,  being  one  hundred 
acres  of  a  tract  devised  by  William  Patterson  to  his 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Moses  McKinley,  Janu- 
ary 17, 1699,  and  situated  on  St.  Augustine  Creek.    He 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


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also  purchased  of  Jacob  Bead  a  tract  of  three  hun- 
dred acres,  called  "  Sutton,"  near  St.  George's  Creek. 
"  Spring  Garden,"  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  on  the 
southwest  side  of  Drawyer's  Creek,  was  purchased  by 
him,  June  11,  1723,  of  Jonas  Wright.  On  August 
19,  1734,  he  purchased  two  hundred  acres  more  of  the 
William  Patterson  land  of  the  son,  William.  It  was 
part  of  the  Herman  grant,  which  William  Patterson 
purchased  March  17, 1686,  and  was  on  the  south  side 
of  St.  Augustine  Creek,  and  along  the  King's  road. 
He  also  purchased  a  tract  on  Blackbird  Creek,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  mouth  of  the  creek  of  Johannes 
Jacquett  This  tract  comprised  two  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  acres,  and  was  called  *'  Hartop's  Pasture," 
which  was  owned  in  1671  by  John  and  Henry 
Hartop. 

Daniel  Corbit,  a  Scotch  Quaker,  settled  on  a  tract 
adjoining  land  then  in  the  possession  of  Richard 
Cantwell  and  Elias  Naudain  early  in  the  eighteenth 
century.  In  1765  William  Corbit  built  a  tan-yard 
near  Odessa,  and  the  family  shortly  afterwards  moved 
there  and  have  been  associated  with  its  history  since. 
The  three  manor-houses  and  portions  of  the  land 
owned  by  Cantwell,  Naudain  and  Daniel  Corbit  were, 
at  a  later  period,  owned  by  Daniel  Corbit,  a  great- 
grand'ion  of  the  original  Daniel.  They  are  now 
owned  by  his  heirs,  John  C.  and  Daniel  W.  Corbit,  of 
Odessa,  and  Louisa,  wife  of  Captain  Ctiarle^  Corbit, 
of  Bed  Lion  Hundred. 

In  1683  Lord  Baltimore  granted  to  Peter  Sayer  a 
tract  of  one  thousand  acres  called  "  Worsell  Man- 
nour."  The  larger  portion  of  this  tract  was  situated 
in  Maryland  and  the  remainder  in  this  hundred.  It 
afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  James  Heath, 
who  was  buried  on  the  land.  The  inscription  on  his 
tombstone  is  as  follows : 

**  Here  Iye«  the  body  of  Mr.  James  Heath,  who  was  born  att  Warwick 
on  the  27  day  of  July,  1658,  and  dyed  the  10th  day  of  November,  1731, 
in  the  seventy-foui-th  year  of  his  age. 

**  Reqviescat  in  Piice/" 

It  was  his  de:iire  to  be  buried  in  Maryland,  but  the 
Hue  run  between  the  States  in  1768  places  his  remains 
on  Delaware  soil.  The  farm,  at  a  later  period,  was 
owned  by  William  Wilson  and  is  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Samuel  R.  Warren. 

On  June  9,  1708,  Maurice  Liston  sold  to  Samuel 
Vance  a  tract  of  land  containing  two  hundred  and 
eighty-two  acres  on  the  east  side  of  Heron  Bun  and 
north  of  Blackbird  Creek,  being  the  property  which 
was  sold  by  Sheriff  John  French  on  a  judgment  ob- 
tained against  Isaac  Wholden,  August  14, 1699.  John 
Wright  is  the  present  owner. 

Samuel  Moore,  of  Appoquinimink  Hundred,  ob- 
tained a  grant  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  acres 
in  the  forks  of  Church  Branch,  near  the  head  of  Ap- 
poquinimink Creek.  This  was  near  St.  Ann's  Church, 
and  was  surveyed  January  4,  1737.  It  is  now  owned 
by  ex-Governor  John  P.  Cochran  and  E.  R.  Cochran, 
clerk  of  the  peace.  In  1664  James  Crawford, 
a  physician,  came  with  Sir  Robert  Carr  from  New 
York  to  New  Castle,  where,  in  1667,  he  obtained 
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a  warrant  for  a  tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  New 
Castle  or  vicinity.  He  was  ahio  a  sergeant  in  the 
English  army  which  captured  New  Castle  from  the 
Dutch,  and  received  the  tracts  of  land  "  in  considera- 
tion of  good  service  performed  by  James  Craw- 
ford, a  soldier."  In  1675  he  obtained  from  Governor 
Edmund  Andros  a  warrant  for  a  tract  of  four 
hundred  acres  on  St.  George's  Creek.  He  also 
obtained  another  warrant  in  1682  for  four  hundred 
acres  of  land  on  Duck  Creek.  He  died  in  1683,  leaving  a 
widow, — Judith, — two  sons, — John  and  James, — and  a 
daughter, — Mary, — to  survive  him.  His  widow  shortly 
afterwards  married  Edward  Gibbs,  the  ancestor  of 
the  Gibbs  living  at  the  present  lime  in  St.  George's 
Hundred.  They  reside  on  the  plantation  on  St. 
George's,  which  they  purchased  from  the  other  heirs. 
John,  the  son,  sold  his  estate  to  his  step-father,  went 
to  England  and  became  an  Episcopal  minister.  James 
came  into  possession  of  the  property  on  Duck  Creek, 
where  he  lived  and  died,  Mary  married  Thomas 
Ogle  and  resided  in  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred. 
James,  the  grandson  of  the  original  James,  purchased 
land  in  Appoquinimink  Hundred,  on  the  'Mevels," 
some  of  which  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 

John  Scott  and  Lydia,  his  wife,  came  from  Ireland, 
previous  to  1772,  and  settled  in  Appoquinimink  Hun- 
dred. In  that  year  Rev.  Thomas  Scott  was  born. 
The  family  were  early  connected  with  the  Methodists. 
On  December  22, 1796,  Thomas  married  Mrs.  Anna 
Lattomus,  a  relict  of  John  Lattomus,  who  owned  a 
portion  of  the  farm,  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
George  L.  Townsend.  There  were  two  children  of 
John  Lattomus,  John  and  Diana,  of  whom  the  latter 
died  while  a  child.  John  married  Mary  Hopkins, 
and  was  the  father  of  Levi  W.  Lattomus,  who  became 
a  prominent  man  in  Townsend.  Sarah,  Thomas  and 
Levi  were  the  children  of  Thomas  Scott  and  Ann,  his 
wife.  Thomas  occupied  the  homestead  for  many 
years  after  his  father's  death  and  then  it  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Levi,  who  became  bishop  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  The  house  in  which  the  bishop 
was  born  is  still  standing,  though  no  longer  used  as  a 
dwelling,  and  he  referred  to  it  as  ''  The  dear,  old 
homestead  of  sawed  poplar  logs,  with  its  narrow,  hip 
sheds,  front  and  back,  running  the  whole  length  of 
the  building,  and  throwing  off  the  falling  showers 
from  the  doors."  It  gave  place  in  1846,  though  on  a  dif- 
ferent site,  to  a  more  modern  and  spruce-looking 
white  two-8tory  frame  house. 

William  Wilson,  of  "  the  Levels,"  was  the  youngest 
child  of  Edward  and  Lydia  Roth  well  Wilson.  He  was 
born  at  "  Homestead  Hall,"  near  Middletown,  Sep- 
tember 17, 1810.  His  father  was  an  extensive  land- 
owner and  farmer,  and  well-known  in  his  day.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  about  ten  years  old.  William  Wilson  received  a 
good  English  education  at  the  district  schools  and  the 
Middletown  Academy.  When  he  became  of  age  he 
devoted  himself  to  agriculture,  and  made  it  the  busi- 
ness of  his  life.   He  had  received  a  considerable  quan- 


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1018 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


tity  of  land  from  his  father's  estate,  hut  it  had  heen 
much  impaired  in  value  hy  the  exhausting  methods  of 
farming  which  then  prevailed.  With  wise  sagacity 
and  untiring  energy  he  devoted  himself  to  the  work 
of  recuperating  the  land  and  enlarging  his  domain. 
He  was  'so  successful  that  years  before  his  death  he 
was  the  possessor  of  about  thirty-five  hundred  acres 
of  the  choicest  land  in  the  Peninsula.  His  property 
extended  beyond  the  State  line  into  Maryland.  His 
large  estate  included,  at  first,  the  "  May  field  "  farm, 
the  "  Middlesex,'*  "  Homestead  Hall,"  "  Heath  Man- 
sion,'* "  Brick  Store  Landing,"  and  the  "California" 
farms,  all  in  Delaware;  and  the  "Barnes"  tract,  the 
"Foard"  farm,  "Painter's  Rest"  and  "Oregon"  farms, 
situated  in  Cecil  County,  Maryland.  He  also  owned 
ten  dwellings  in  Warwick,  a  carriage-shop,  machine- 
shop  and  vacat  lots,  valued  at  $13,000.  The  "  Brick 
Store "  farm  had  come  into  Mr.  Wilson's  possession 
through  his  wife,  Rachel  Naudain,  and  had  been  in 
her  family  since  the  original  patents  were  given  to  her 
ancestors  by  William  Penn.  Accordingly,  at  the  death 
of  Mr.  Wilson,  this  farm  became  the  property  of  Wil- 
liam N.  and  John  T.,  sons  of  Mr.  Wilsons  first  wife, 
who  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Arnold  S.  Naudain,  of 
New  Castle.  Mr.  Wilson's  lands  were  chiefly  devoted 
to  the  growing  of  cereals,  but,  when  the  culture  of 
fruit  gave  such  encouraging  promise  as  one  of  the  prof- 
itable industries  of  the  State,  he  became  interested  in 
it,  and,  at  one  time,  had  as  many  as  thirty-five  thou- 
sand peach  trees  in  bearing.  This  interest  was  prof- 
itable from  the  first,  and  continued  so  until  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Wilson,  when  "the yellows"  afftcted  his 
trees  as  unfavorably  as  it  had  other  orchards. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Wilson  was  an  Old-Line  Whig,  and 
in  early  and  middle  life  was  quite  active  in  political 
'matters.  He  was  several  times  prominently  spoken 
of  as  a  suitable  candidate  lor  Governor,  but  his  desire 
for  public  oflBce  was  not  of  a  kind  to  make  him  enter 
the  lists  as  a  competitor.  He  was  first  married  to  Rachel 
Naudain,  April  3,  1832. 

She  died  in  August,  1862,  and  left  three  children, — 
LydiaR.,  William  Naudain  and  John  Thomas.  Lydia 
R.  married  James  P.  Rothwell,  of  New  Castle  County. 
She  had  two  children,  one  of  whom,  Delaware  Wilson 
Rothwell,  is  still  living  at  Newark  with  his  father. 
Mrs.  Rothwell  died  in  1872. 

In  1863  Mr.  Wilson  married  Miss  L.  Annie,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Jacob  V.  Naudain.  He  died  August  21, 1879, 
greatly  regretted  by  the  whole  community.  He  was  a 
man  of  uprightness*,  fidelity  and  kindness,  and  is  kind- 
ly remembered  as  such  by  those  who  knew  him. 

Mrs.  Wilson  and  her  six  children.  Rathe!  R.,  Mollie 
L.,  Edward  V.,  R.  Alexis,  Howard  Groome  and  Bayard 
K. — survived  Mr.  Wilson,  and  now  reside  in  Middle- 
town  in  their  pleasant  home  on  South  Broad  Street. 
Miss  Annie  Jessie  married  Eugene  Clayton,  youngest 
son  of  Colonel  Joshua  Clayton,  who  fell  a  victim  to 
the  poisonous  effects  of  the  drugs  used  in  his  art  as  a 
taxidermist,  in  which  he  was  unusually  skilled.  Since 
the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Clayton  has  resided 


and  now  resides  with  her  father-in-law.  She  bts  odc 
child,  which  bears  its  father*s  name  in  full. 

Since  the  death  of  Mr.  Wilson  the  lands  aboTe 
mentioned  have  been  sold.  Two  of  the  farms  were 
purchased  by  John  T.  Wilson,  and  the  proceeds  of  the 
iale  of  the  others  have  been  invested  for  the  other 
heirs.  Edward  V.  Wilson  has  recently  bought  the 
Etherington  farm  in  Cecil  County,  Maryland,  and 
expects  to  make  it  his  future  home.  Alexis  is,  at 
present,  1887,  attending  school  at  Hackettstowo,  New 
Jersey. 

The  assessment  list  of  the  taxables  of  Appoquini- 
mink  Hundred  for  1787,  which  at  that  time  included 
all  the  territory  between  Appoquinimink  and  Duck 
Creeks,  as  returned  by  Elias  Naudain  November  28th 
of  that  year,  contains  the  following  names : 

"  Wm.  Alfree.  NicholM  Bartow. 

SampeoQ  Atkinson.  Andrew  Burnett. 

Leonard  Atkinaon.  Thomas  Boetick. 

Arthur  Allston  est  Elizabeth  Boadley  est. 

James  Atkinson.  Peter  Borsman. 

James  Atkinson,  Jr.  John  Beck. 

Isaac  Almon.  Abraham  Banjer. 

Jacob  Anderson.  Joseph  Baseeft  est. 

John  Alfree  est.  Nathan  Bostick. 

John  Alfree.  Abraham  Bowyer,  Jr. 

Joseph  Ash.  Perry  Bennett 

Jeremiah  Alfree.  Thomas  Bartlett. 

John  Anderson.  Simon  Barlow. 

Abraham  Anderson.  John  Boots. 

Abraham  Allen.  Samuel  Boetick. 

John  Andrews.  John  Bodyot. 

John  AUston.  Isaac  Bartlett 

Robert  Appelton.  Jeremiah  BeestOD. 

Thomas  Appelton.  Slaytor  Bouchell  est 

John  Appleton.  Cornelius  Belreed. 

John  Allen.  George  Busch. 

Christopher  Armstrong.  Alex.  Beard's  ent. 

Timothy  Bullock.  Bryan  Cavender. 

Charles  Borsman.  John  Crouch. 

Nathaniel  Bowyer's  est.  Peter  Corwlo. 

Abraham  Burcbem.  John  Crawford,  Jr. 

James  Buchanan  est.  James  Chambers. 

Thomas  Bryan.  BeoJ.  Caulk. 

Michael  Bryan.  Richard  Cantwell,  Esq ,  est 

Wm.  Budd.  Ismc  Oayton. 

John  Burgin  est  Jacob  Caulk  est 

Edmond  Brown  est.  Wm.  Oark,  E^.,  est 

George  Brown.  John  Crawford,  Esq. 

Allen  Brown.  Thomas  Cully. 

Jacob  Barlow.  Daniel  Corb»-t. 

Duncan  Beard.  Isrsel  Corbet.  • 

Jacob  Barcolow.  Jacob  Ckrtwrlgfat 

Levi  Biggs.  Morten  Crody.  • 

Jonathan  Biggs.  Wm.  Combs. 

Wm.  Borlich.  Thomas  Oartephlm. 

John  Bassett.  Hugh  Carr. 

Thomas  Budd.  John  Clemmens. 

Thomas  Brown  est  John  Onllehan. 

Joseph  Burch.  Jacob  Clayton. 

Christopher  Burch.  Jesse  Curry. 

James  Bacon.  Wm.  Coke. 

Peter  Byard's  est.  Benedict  Cartwright 

Jonathan  Ballard.  Wm.  Cully. 

Perry  Brown.  John  Clayton. 

Ebenezek*  Bennett  Be^J.  Crunch. 

Joseph  Bilderbach.  Cornelius  Cammel. 

Beivj.  Bonn.  John  Clark. 

Thomas  Bowyer's  est  Thomas  Cox. 

John  Barlow.  Rachel  Caulk  est. 

Peter  Burgess.  John  Caulk. 

Elias  Bassett.  Wm.  Crodock. 

Thomas  BeuneU.  Michael  Cook. 


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1018  HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


1019 


Bridget  Colgate  est. 
Bichard  Oreftdock. 
James  Dary. 
Dennis  Delany  est. 
Thomas  Deakyne  est 
QeoTge  Deakyne. 
Isaac  Doney. 
Joseph  Dickenson. 
John  Dekayue. 
Philemon  Dickenson  est. 
Wm.  Denny  est. 
Joseph  Deakyne  est. 
Jacob  Deakyne. 
Eloazer  David. 
Mathew  Durham. 
Garrett  Dnshane  est. 
Michael  Donnelly. 
Thomas  Darid. 
John  Darragh  est. 
Lewis  DaTis. 
Jeremiah  Dorrel. 
Daniel  Dorrel. 
James  Elliot. 
Alex.  EIUoU  est. 
Wm.  Everett. 
Edmond  Edwards. 
Andrew  Edwards. 
Charles  Everett. 
Andrew  Ecord. 
Gideon  Emmery. 
Bobt.  Everett. 
Thomas  Everett. 
James  Everett 
CSiarles  Everett,  Jr. 
Wm.  Ervin. 
Nathaniel  Fortner. 
John  Francis. 
Abraham  Fields. 
Wm.  Fields  est. 
Allen  Fields. 
Thomas  Fitzgerald  est 
Frederick  Fob. 
Fenwick  Fisher  est. 
James  Fitzgerald. 
Archibald  Finney. 
Edward  Fielding. 
George  Fips. 
Wm.Fips. 
Edward  Floyd. 
BeAj.  Foreter. 
Babel  French. 
Sidney  George  est. 
Joshua  George's  est. 
John  Gallansay. 
Samuel  Griffln. 
MMthew  Griffln. 
David  Griffin  est. 
Isaac  Gibbe*  est. 
Wm.  Gooding. 
Wm.  GilnM>re. 
Isaac  GiUiss. 
Wm.  Ginn. 
Wm.  Grifien  est. 
Stephen  Gibbons. 
Jacob  Green. 
David  Giffee. 
John  Giffee. 
Jomph  Guyler. 
Moses  Ginn. 
Wm.  Grindage  est. 
Wm.  Greenwood. 
Mary  HiU's  est 
Joseph  Harris*  est 
James  Harris. 
Svin  Howell. 
Joseph  HoUeday  est. 
James  Hyatt 
Bichard  HaU  est 


Charles  Hunt. 
Abraham  Harmon  est 
Thomas  Hartup. 
James  Hazel. 
Jonathan  Huff. 
Abraham  Haskett 
Daniel  Charles  Heath. 
John  Hood. 
George  Huggs  eet 
Marinas  Haughey. 
Charles  Heath. 
Charles  Hudson  est 
Nicholas  Hammon  sst 
Joseph  Hawks. 
Benjamin  Hallett 
Henry  Hnllt 
Joseph  Hackett. 
Andrew  Hackett 
Samuel  Hawkins. 
John  Hall. 
William  Hart 
Isaac  Hyatt 
Nicholas  Harrison. 
Garrett  Hart  est 
Thomas  Holllday. 
John  Holliday. 
John  Hanson. 
Edward  Hardin  est 
Joseph  Hutchison. 
Jacob  Harris. 
John  Harwood  est. 
BobertHood. 
James  Haughey  est. 
John  Hawkins. 
Bichard  Jones. 
John  Johns  est 
Bobert  Johnson  est 
Bobert  Johnson. 
Griffith  Jones. 
Bichard  Jones,  Jr. 
Wm.  Jordon  est. 
Solomon  Jones. 
John  Jones,  Esq.,  est. 
Wm.  Johnson,  Jr. 
Thomas  Jones. 
Wm.  Johnson,  Sr. 
Bei\Jamin  Johnson. 
Joseph  Jones. 
Ebenezer  Jones. 
David  Kennedy  est. 
John  King. 
Jacob  King  est. 
Cornelius  King  est. 
Francis  Kane. 
Edward  Knotts. 
Wm.  Lambert 
Benjamin  Lockerman. 
John  Lockerman  est. 
Wm.  Liston. 
Abraham  Liston  est 
Thomas  Liston. 
Andrew  Lockhart. 
James  Latimer  est. 
Abraham  Litman. 
Isaac  Litman. 
Patrick  Lyons. 
James  Lyle. 
Henry  Leonard. 
Patrick  Loby. 
James  Luper. 
Jsremiah  Luper. 
Edward  Lloyd  est. 
John  Litman. 
James  Latherman. 
John  Liston. 
Daniel  Luper. 
Allen  McLane. 
Leonard  McHeay. 


Moses  Marshall. 
John  Martin  est. 
James  Martin  est 
Wm.  Martin  est. 
Bobert  McLaughlin. 
Archibald  McMurphy. 
Arthur  Moore. 
James  Moor. 
John  Moor. 
James  Moor,  Jr. 
Thomas  Marr. 
Trnax  Marsh. 
Edward  Martin. 
David  Martin. 
Wm.  Mercer. 
Elizabeth  Moody  est 
James  McHeay. 
Wm.  McKean  est 
Thomas  McKean  est 
Alex.  Mills. 
Wm.  McLane. 
Charles  Mitchell. 
Hugh  Biathews  est 
Lesley  Mullen. 
Bei^lJamtn  Merritt 
Max  McCloud  est 
Or>M>n  McOay. 
Benjamin  Morrison. 
John  Marreilot. 
Jeremiah  McDarmitt 
George  Martin. 
Benjamin  McBride. 
Benjamin  Maulster. 
George  Moffltt. 
Haley  Moffltt. 
Charles  Moore. 
Benjamin  Noxon  est 
Arnold  Naudain. 
Ellas  Naudain. 
Elias  Naudain,  Jr. 
Curnelius  Naudain. 
Arnold  Naudain,  Jr. 
Andrew  Naudain. 
Jesse  Nash. 
John  Nash. 
James  Nash  est. 
Laurence  Naudain. 
Isaac  Newland. 
Michael  Offley. 
James  Power.    • 
Peter  Perkard. 
John  Parker  est. 
Bichard  Pearson. 
Bichard  Pearson,  Jr. 
William  Pearson. 
John  Pearson. 
Charles  Piper  est 
Henry  Perkard  est 
Jacob  Pennington. 
Jonas  Preston. 
Henry  Prnrce. 
James  Peterson. 
Wm.  Pryor. 
Boger  Pugh  est 
Bei^.  Pearce. 
James  PolL 
Isaac  Penningion. 
John  Pryor. 
John  Pryor,  Jr. 
Abraham  Pennington. 
Abraham  Bye. 
John  Bead. 
Edward  Boberts. 
BeiO.  Bichardson. 
Jesse  Boff. 
John  Boff. 
Thomas  BothwsU. 
Wm.  Bothwell. 


John  Beynolds. 
Abraham  Bothwell  est 
Simon  Bobiuson. 
Ann  Reading  est 
James  Rice. 
BeQj.  Bichardson,  Jr. 
Stephen  Bye. 
Paul  Batrow. 
Isaac  Bitliff. 
Jacob  Byall. 
John  Bye  est 
Jacob  Bothwell. 
Jacob  Beynolds. 
George  Reynolds. 
James  Reynolds  est 
Wm.  BIthardson. 
John  Bichardson  est 
John  Bobertson. 
Wm.  Reynolds. 
Charles  Robertson. 
David  Redman  est. 
John  Roff. 
Philip  Reading. 
Nicholas  Reynolds. 
Wm.  Rogers  est. 
Isaac  Staat  est. 
John  SUat  est 
Jacob  Staat  est. 
Jacob  Staat,  Sr.,  est 
Isaac  Staat. 
Jacob  Staat,  Jr. 
James  dmith. 
BeQj.  Stanley  est 
Wm.  South. 
Abraham  Steriing. 
James  Sterling. 
Bobert  Stanley,  Jr. 
David  Staat. 
Harman  Shoe. 
James  Shee. 
Cornelius  Shee  est 
Hannah  Shee  est 
Joseph  Saunders. 
Charles  Smith. 
John  Saunders. 
Isaac  Simpson. 
Isaac  Staat,  Jr. 
Joseph  Stanford. 
Ashberry  Sutton. 
Ephraim  Staat  est. 
John  Scott  est. 
Andrew  Summers. 
James  Shaw. 
John  Sarin. 

Thomas  Shellington  est 
Abraham  Staat  est. 
Abraham  Staat 
ElUah  Staat. 
Bichard  See. 
Amos  Stidham. 
Bobert  Stanley,  Sr. 
Jonas  Stanley. 
Abraham  Staat  Jr. 
Garrett  Staat 
Jacob  Snell. 
Thomas  Simmons. 
George  Staat 
James  Turner  est. 
Bichard  Taylor. 
John  Turner  eet. 
John  Taylor. 
Abraham  Taylor. 
John  Townsend. 
Andrew  Ty bout's  est. 
Isaac  Thomas. 
Thomas  Test. 
Abraham  Taylor,  Jr. 
James  Truax. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Thomiuipliorp. 
Jacol)  Tost. 
James  Tust 
Richard  Taylor. 
Jiunos  Turner,  Jr. 
Bichard  Taylor,  Jr. 
John  Obadiab  Upton. 
Barnet  Vanhorn.  ^ 
Jacob  Vandyke. 
Jacob  Vandegrlft. 
Nebamiab  Tanzandt. 
Ebenezer  Vandegrlft. 
Benj.  Vandyke. 
Hugh  Verdon. 
John  Vansinkle. 
John  Walker. 
BenJ.  Williams. 
Wm.  Williams. 
Cornelius  Williams. 
Wm.  MTbltall. 
Derrick  Williams. 
Abraham  Williams  est. 
Joseph  Wiatt. 
Abraham  Wynkoop  est. 
James  Wynkoop  est. 
Joseph  Weldon  est 


Abraham  Weldon. 
Evin  Webster. 
Wm.  Weldon. 
Bouth  Weldon. 
Nathanial  Williams. 
George  Wright 
George  Ward. 
Elias  Walraven. 
William  Walraven. 
Nicholas  Walker. 
John  Ward  est 
James  Wilmore.  ■ 
James  Weldon. 
Wm.  Woodell. 
Beuj.  Webber. 
Wm.  Wooderson. 
Joeeph  Ward. 
John  Wright 
Robert  Wiloy  est 
George  Ward,  Jr. 
John  Wiles. 
Jacob  Woodkeeper. 
Wm.  Woodkeeper. 
Hollen  Webb. 
John  Weldon  est.** 


Schools. — Long  before  the  common-school  system 
came  into  operation  the  necessity  of  imparting  a  good 
education  to  the  young  was  felt,  and  for  this  purpose 
pay  or  subscription  schools  were  opened  in  various 
parts  of  the  hundred.  Of  the  teachers  of  thef>e 
select  schools  the  names  of  John  MulhoUand,  Irvill 
and  James  Caulder  are  well-remembered.  In  many 
instances  then  the  children  of  the  needy  poor  were 
looked  after  and  sent  to  school.  The  introduction  of 
the  common-school  system  gave  a  new  impetus  to  the 
work  of  education.  The  convenience  of  attending  on 
account  of  the  increased  number  of  schools,  together 
with  the  liberty  extended  to  all,  was  universally  looked 
upon  as  a  great  blessing.  Lambert  Simmons  figured 
prominently  among  the  pioneer  teachers  under  the 
new  system.  The  earJy  boundaries  of  the  districts  in 
the  hundred  have  been  changed  and  new  districts 
created  as  the  increased  population  demanded  more 
school-houses.  The  methods  of  teaching  have  im- 
proved, and  the  ability  and  capability  of  the  teachers 
is  of  a  much  higher  standard  than  formerly.  The  old 
and  carelessly  built  school-houses  have  in  most  cases 
been  replaced  by  new  and  convenient  ones  erected 
with  Fome  regard  to  the  health  of  the  pupils. 

In  1883  the  school  commissioners  of  Townsend  erect- 
ed a  nice  two-story  frame  building.  The  upper  floor 
is  used  as  a  public  hall  and  for  exhibitions  of  the 
school.  The  lower  story  is  divided  into  two  commo- 
dious rooms  for  school  purposes. 

Samuel  Tyson  serves  in  the  capacity  of  principal. 

St.  Anne's  Church  was  the  earliest  organized  con- 
gregation in  the  southern  portion  of  New  Castle  Coun- 
ty. When  the  church  is  organized  is  not  definitely 
known,  but  it  was  before  1704.  The  following  is  an 
extract  from  a  grant  by  the  commissioners  of  property 
to  Richard  Cantwell  and  William  Dyre,  dated  Ist  of 
Ninth  Month,  1704: 

'*  Whereas,  Richard  Cantwell  and  Wn.  Dyre,  with  several  others,  Inhab- 
ants  upon  and  near  Apoquiniminck  Creek  in  the  County  of  New  Castle, 
ave  requested  us  that  we  would  grant  them  a  convenient  piece  of  ground 


for  erecting  a  chapel  for  thenseand  benefit  of  themselves  and  ofhermeiD* 
bers  of  the  Churrh  of  England  :  These  Hre  to  aatborise  and  rf^oire 
thee  to  survey  and  lay  out  for  the  use  aforemid,  in  the  place  by  tbein 
designed,  for  erecting  the  said  chnpel  on  the  left  hand  of  the  goeeii*s 
Road  below  the  said  Creek,  the  Quantity  of  ten  acres  of  land  that  U 
vacant  and  make  returno  unto  the  General  Surveyor's  Office,  at  PhiJa- 
delphla.** 

The  church  was  built  the  following  year  on  a  mound 
due  east  of  the  present  edifice.  The  church  was  sup- 
plied til]  the  Revolutionary  War  with  ministers  sent 
by  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in 
Foreign  Parts.  Jn  1728  a  disagreement  arose  between 
the  pastor  and  congregation,  and  was  the  cause  of  a 
discontinuance  of  services.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  a  letter  sent  to  him  by  some  of  the  leading  mem- 
bers, and  is  a  matter  of  record  : 

•*  The  unhappy  differences  that  hath  arisen  between  you  kjanx  Par* 
ishioners  hath  given  us  verey  great  concern,  n<>t  only  for  that  you  haie 
declined  (for  some  time  past)  Giving  that  Attendance  at  our  Church 
there  to  discharge  your  duty  According  to  your  appointment,  but  espm- 
ally  because  the  misunderstandings  between  ministers  of  the  Clmrch  of 
England  and  their  Parrishioners  tend  greatly  to  the  Reproach  of  our 
most  Holy  Religion  and  to  bring  us  into  contempt,  and  foreasmuch  •• 
you  have  thought  fit  to  vindicate  your  Reputation  by  a  Prosecution  at 
Law  and  have  recovered  Damages  for  the  words  spoken  of  yon,  we  R». 
quest  you,  as  a  minister  of  the  Church  of  England  and  a  Chriiptjan  to 
lay  a^ide  your  Resentments  and  Betnm  to  the  Care  of  your  parish  where 
you  shall  not  fail  to  meet  with  all  the  Respect  and  Good  usuHge  due  tea 
minister  of  the  Gospel!  and  a  good  man  while  you  continue  to  live 
as  such  amongst  us;  we  aie  in  behalf  of  ourselves  and  the  jianisliiooen 
of  Appoquinimiuk. 

**  I  your  most  Bumb  Servt, 

**  And'w  PETKMOIf, 

"John  Goonixa, 
*'  EnwD  Gabitsev, 
"  R'd.  Caktwiil, 
•*  Jacob  GooDiKQ." 

Among  the  rectors  who  ministered  here  previous  to 
the  Revolution  were  Revs.  Sewell,  Crawford,  Jenkins, 
Biorck,  Club,  Ross  (father  of  Geo.  Ross,  one  of  the 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence),  Merry, 
Campbell,  Hackett,  Pugh  and  Reading.  The  latter 
died  in  1778,  and  is  buried  near  the  church.  The 
present  edifice  was  erected  in  1768.  To  this  church 
Queen  Anne  presented  a  covering  for  the  communion 
table  with  the  initials  of  her  name,  viz.:  "A.  R."  upon 
it  in  silk  embroidery.  This  was  the  only  relic  saved 
from  the  fire  which  destroyed  the  church  in  1882. 

The  old  church,  now  only  used  once  a  year,  stands 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  Middletown,  on 
the  only  ridge  for  miles  around,  and  which  the  Eng- 
lish commissioners  sent  to  examine  the  colonies  de- 
scribed as  a  "  huge  mountain."  It  is  a  well-preserved 
building  surrounded  by  a  grove  of  gigantic  oaks.  The 
ivy  around  it  was  brought  from  England  by  Bishop 
Doane  and  planted  here.  During  the  Revolutionary 
War  it  is  probable  that  there  were  no  services  conduct- 
ed here,  but  in  1791  Rev.  Bissell  was  rector.  From 
that  time  services  were  held  regularly  here  until  1872. 
In  1871  the  building  needed  repairs,  and  it  was  de- 
cided on  account  of  convenience  to  erect  an  edifice  in 
Middletown.  In  that  year  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Green 
and  Church  Streets  was  donated  to  the  church  by  Wil- 
liam Green,  and  theerectionofa  building  commenced. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  August  5th  of  the  same  year, 
by  Dr.  McCabe,  and  the  consecration  ceremonies  were 
performed  on  the  4th  of  April  following.  This  build- 
ing was  destroyed  by  fire  May  2, 1882.    The  present 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


1021 


handsome  structure  was  then  erected  at  a  cost  of  $10,000 
and  opened  for  regular  serviced  on  December  25th  of 
the  Bame  year.  The  present  number  of  communicants 
is  about  eighty.  A  Sunday-school  under  the  super- 
intendence of  the  rector  is  connected  with  the  church. 
In  1883  a  rectory  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $3000.  The 
officers  of  the  church  at  present  are :  Senior  Warden, 
H.  N.  Willits ;  Junior  Warden,  H.  A.  Nowland ;  Vestry, 
Wm.  R.  Cochran,  W.  A.  Comegys,  Joseph  Hanson, 
John  Lockwood,  M.  N.  Willits,  E.  R.  Cochran,  Isaac 
Gibbs. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  rectors  since  1791  and 
the  date  when  they  commenced  the  service : 


Her.  Biaael 1791 

K©Y.  De  Shiel 1794 

R«v.  Reese 1802 

R«T.  H.  Lyon  Davis. 1808 

IUt.  Smith 1822 

Her,  Wilier 1824 

Rev.  Robiniton. 

Rev.  Reese '. 1831 

B«T.  H.  L.  Davis 1831 

R«T.  McKenny 18;J4 

Rev.  John  Ck>leiium 1835 

Rev.  Peck ;. 1836 

Rev.  J.  P.  Bailsman ..1838 


Rev.  J.  H.  Tyng 1842 

Rev.  Thos  J.  Ozzanne 1844 

Rev.  Andrew  Freeman. 1845 

Rev.  H.  R.  Harold 1849 

Rev.  Thee.  Billopp 1856 

Rev.  Lloyd  Goldsborough 1858 

Rev.  John  W.  Brown 1866 

Rev.  J.  C.  McCabe,  D.D 1868 

Rev.  W.  C.  Butler 1873 

Rev.  G.  W.  Lewis 1877 

Rev.  H.  S.  H.  Gallaudet 1884 

Rev.  Joseph  Beers 1885 


The  first  meeting  that  led  to  the  erection  of  Eman- 
uel M.  E.  Church,  at  Townsend,  was  held  June  13, 
1871.  A  ten -days'  notice  had  been  given  by  Archi- 
bald Finley  that  a  meeting  would  be  called  on  this 
date,  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  trustees  to  procure 
Huitable  grounds  and  erect  a  church.  The  trustees 
were  A.  Finley,  Bichard  Townsend,  Israel  P.  Hall, 
Isaac  Passwaiers,  George  M.  D.  Hart,  William  P. 
Forest,  William  Daniels.  David  S.  Lynam  and  Nehe- 
miah  Davis.  Of  these,  Townsend  and  Davis  were  ap- 
pointed to  select  ground.  On  July  5,  1871,  they  pur- 
chased one  acre,  in  the  midst  of  a  grove,  of  Samuel 
B.  Ginn,  The  erection  of  a  frame  church,  twenty- 
four  feet  by  thirty-six  feet,  was  immediately  begun. 
It  was  dedicated  on  August  20th,  of  the  same  year,  by 
Revs.  J.  F.  Clymer,  Vaughn  Smith  and  W.  C.  Pretty- 
man.  The  membership  at  this  time  was  fifteen.  The 
church  was  connected  with  the  Appoquinimink  Circuit 
until  1878,  when  it  was  made  a  separate  station.  Several 
additions  have  been  made  to  the  building  at  various 
times.  The  church  has  been  very  prosperous,  and 
now  has  a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five.  A  flourishing  Sunday«school  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  scholars,  under  the  superintendence  of  D.  B. 
Maloney,  is  connected  with  the  church.  The  scholars 
have  the  use  of  a  well-selected  library.  On  Septem- 
ber 2, 1881,  two  and  a  half  acres  of  land,  about  a  mile 
southwest  of  the  town,  were  purchased  of  James  T. 
Taylor,  and  laid  out  in  burying  lot^,  and  is  under  the 
control  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  this  church. 

The  board  is  at  present  composed  of  the  follDwing 
persons:  Thomas  Maloney,  D.  B.  Maloney,  George 
M.  D.  Hart,  William  Daniels,  A.  L.  Quillen,  James 
T.  Taylor.  H.  A.  Wilson  and  William  A.  Scott. 

Since  Emanuel  Church  has  been  a  separate  station 
it  has  been  served  by  Revs.  J.  Hestin  Willey,  Theo- 


dore E.  Bell,  C.  K.  Morris,  E.  P.  Roberts  and  S.  M. 
Morgan,  the  present  paster. 

The  Independent  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized  in  February,  1883,  with  a  membership  of 
thirty-six.  Meetings  were  held  in  Vandyke's  school- 
house  until  1886,  when  the  present  church  was  erected. 
It  was  situated  three  miles  west  of  Townsend,  on  a 
tract  of  land  one  hundred  by  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  feet,  donated  to  the  congregation  by 
Columbus  Watkins.  The  building  is  a  frame  struc- 
ture, twenty  by  thirty-four  feet,  and  cost  about 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  fir^t  trustees 
were  David  Johnson,  Joshua  Brown,  Thomas  Biddle, 
John  Solway  and  James  T.  Webb.  The  church  has 
been  prosperous ;  but  owing  to  the  fact  that  many 
of  the  congregation  have  removed  from  the  vicinity, 
the  membership  now  numbers  twenty-eight,  A 
flourishing  Sunday-school,  with  a  membership  of 
thirty-eight,  is  conducted  under  the  superintend  en  cy 
of  Mrs.  Sarah  Skeggs.  Services  are  held  every  Sun- 
day aft;ernoon  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Webb,  who  has  minis- 
tered to  the  congregation  since  its  organization. 

William  Moore,  James  T.Webb,  William  Nowland, 
Caleb  Lewis,  Wellington  H.  Townsend  and  Sarah 
Skeggs  compose  the  present  board  of  trustees. 

The  First  Methodist  Church  in  the  hundred 
was  White's  Chapel,  which  stood  between  Townsend 
and  Pine  Tree.  This  was  succeeded  by  Dickerson's 
Chapel,  which  was  near  Dexter's  corner.  On  July 
17,  1789,  Joseph  Dickerson  donated  to  Lewis  Alfree, 
John  Barlow,  Abraham  Frelas,  Elias  Naudain,  Bar- 
nett  Vanhorn,  John  Allen,  Jacob  Alfree,  Thomas 
Skill ington  and  Francis  Kinsley  a  tract  of  land  on 
which  the  first  Union  Church  was  built.  This 
building  remained  until  1844,  when  it  wa«  removed 
and  the  present  building  erected.  During  this  inter- 
val services  were  held  in  Lea's  Chapel,  standing  near 
by.  The  structure,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  one  story 
high,  was  completed  in  1848,  and  cost  three  thousand 
eight  hundred  dollars.  The  bricks  of  which  the 
church  is  built,  were  manufactured  on  church  prop- 
erty in  close  proximity  to  the  site  of  the  building. 
In  1877  the  church  was  closed  for  repairs,  and  was 
reopened  in  November  by  Bishop  Simpson.  The  church 
is  in  a  prosperous  condition  and  has  a  membership  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty.  There  are  forty  members  of 
the  Sunday-school,  which  is  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  Frank  Reems.  The  church  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  same  circuits  as  Friendship  M.  E. 
church,  and  been  served  by  the  same  pastors. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  the 
following  persons :  Jacob  C.  Van  Dyke,  John  Town- 
send,  William  M.  Watts,  Frank  Reems,  John  Ellis, 
Colen  Ferguson,  Benjamin  Money,  J.  C.  Hutchinson, 
Purnell  T.  Jones  and  Andrew  J.  Collins.  Services  are 
held  every  Sunday. 

Bishop  Levi  Scott,  D.D.,  born  October  11, 1802,  at 
sixteen  started  to  learn  the  tanning  business,  but 
served  but  four  months  at  that  trade ;  he  then  went  to 
Georgetown  to  learn  the  carpenter  trade,  which  he 


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found  was  too  severe ;  he  then  went  to  Odessa  to  learn 
cabinet-making  with  John  Janvier.  He  was  con- 
verted October  16, 1821,  preached  as  an  itinerant  in  the 
spring  of  1826,  and  iu  1827  was  junior  preacher  in 
the  Dover  District ;  1828  in  full  connection.  In  1345 
he  was  presiding  elder  of  South  Philadelphia  District. 
In  1848  he  was  assistant  book  agent  for  a  Methodist 
book  concern  in  New  Y6rk.  1852  Methodist  Episco- 
pacy. 

Industries. — The  earliest  record  of  any  industry 
in  Appoquinimink  Hundred  is  relative  to  the  miUs 
in  Noxontown.  When  they  were  built  is  unknown, 
but  in  1736  Thomas  Noxon  purchased  an  acre  of  land 
for  the  use  of  a  new  mill.  The  mill  here  referred  to 
is  the  mill  known  now  as  Drummond's  Mill.  From 
this  it  is  fair  to  infer  that  the  mill  now  owned  and 
operated  by  William  E.  Evans  was  erected  at  an 
earlier  date.  It  is  said  that  the  old  mill  was  used 
solely  for  merchant  work,  and  that  ships  ran  to  it  and 
were  loaded  at  its  door.  The  new  mill  was  erected 
for  custom  work,  which  was  no  small  industry  at  that 
time.  After  the  death  of  Thomas  Noxon,  in  1743,  he 
dtvised  his  mills  to  his  son,  Benjamin,  who  operated 
them  for  some  time.  In  1785  Benjamin  Williams 
was  the  owner  of  these  mills,  and  on  the  assessment 
list  of  1816  they  were  charged  to  the  estate  of  Joseph 
Curry.  The  old  mill  was  afterwards  owned  redpec- 
tivelyby  Samuel  Hand,  Edward  Silcox  and  now  by 
William  E.  Evans.  It  is  a  four-story  frame  building, 
forty  by  thirty  feet  The  grinding  is  done  by  burr, 
and  is  entirely  custom  work.  The  new  mill  was  later 
owned  by  J.  Drummond,  and  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  the  New  Castle  County  Bank.  It  was  refitted 
with  a  complete  roller  system  in  1887,  and  has  a 
capacity  of  a  barrel  and  a  half  per  hour.  It  is  now 
operated  by  Willits  Clothier.  The  earliest  rec- 
ord of  the  mill  now  owned  by  I.  A.  Harmon  is 
found  on  the  assessment  list  of  1816,  when  it  was  the 
property  of  Joseph  &  Whitby,  who  was  a  large  land- 
owner in  the  vicinity  of  the  mill.  At  bis  death  the 
mill  passed  to  his  son,  John,  who  operated  it  for  some 
time,  and  then  sold  it  to  Garret  Ottison.  It  was  after- 
wards owned  by  Hunter,  who  sold  it  to 

McDaniel,  by  whom  it  was  repaired  and  generally 
improved.  The  mill  was  next  owned  respectively  by 
John  Lewis  and  William  Johnson,  by  whom  it  was 
conveyed  to  the  present  owner.  It  was  a  two- story 
frame  building,  situated  a  mile  north  of  Townsend, 
It  is  fitted  up  with  burrt^,  and  grinds  custom  work 
exclusively. 

A  tile-yard  was  operated  by  Matthews  &.  Van  Dyke 
for  a  few  years  in  this  hundred,  about  a  mile  south  of 
Odessa.  It  has  not  been  operated  for  the  past  twenty 
years.  They  had  a  capacity  of  three  hundred  thou- 
sand tiles  per  year. 

In  1872  a  brick-yard  was  opened  a  short  distance 
south  of  Townsend  by  Samuel  R.  Warren.  It  was 
operated  a  year  by  him  and  then  sold  to  D.  B.  Malo- 
ney,  the  present  owner.  Brick  are  manufactured 
here  during  bix  months  of  the  year  and  employment 


is  given  for  that  period  to  £ve  men.  About  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  thousand  are  manufactured  an- 
nul ly  for  home  consumption. 

In  1883  Samuel  R.  Warren  erected  a  saw-mill  on 
his  premises  in  this  hundred.  This  be  operated  until 
1887,  when  he  moved  it  to  Sudlersville.  It  had  a  ca- 
pacity of  two  thousand  five  hundred  feet  per  day  and 
gave  employment  to  thirteen  men.  Merchant  and 
custom  work  were  executed. 

The  brick-yard  on  the  farm  of  Samuel  R.  Warren 
was  opened  by  him  in  1886.  It  gives  employment  to 
six  men  for  six  months  in  the  year.  About  two  hun- 
dred thousand  bricks  are  manufactured  annually. 

Appleton  &  Hart  erected  a  frame  building,  twenty 
four  by  forty  feet,  on  the  corner  of  Commerce  and 
Gray  Streets,  Townsend,  in  1882.  They  fitted  it  up 
with  two  evaporators  and  commenced  evaporating 
peaches.  In  1884  Appleton  sold  his  share  to  Hart, 
who  enlarged  the  size  and  capacity  of  the  manufactory. 
The  present  capacity  is  eight  hundred  baskets  per  day . 
The  evaporating  season  lasts  six  weeks  per  year  and 
during  this  period  G.  M.  D.  Hart  gives  employment 
to  one  hundred  operatives.  The  fruit  is  shipped  prin- 
cipally to  New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

Post-Office.— The  post-oflice  was  established  at 
Townsend  September  1, 1856.  Levi  W.  Lattomus 
was  the  first  postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  by  Jas. 
C.  Wilson  and  John  S.  Wilson.  William  A.  Scott,  the 
present  incumbent,  was  appointed  October  1, 1885. 

The  post-office  at  Fieldsboro'  was  established  in 
1854  with  Edward  Silcox  as  its  first  postmaster.  He 
was  succeeded  in  October  1858  by  William  Doughton. 
Jos.  C.  Hutchinson,  William  W.  Lynam  and  Fred- 
erick H.  Weller  have  also  served  as  postmasters  here. 
Edward  Silcox,  the  first  postmaster  and  pre^nt  in- 
cumbent, took  charge  of  the  office  again  in  1886. 
One  mail  a  day  north  and  south  is  received  here. 
The  stage  line  running  from  Townsend  to  Deakyne- 
ville  carries  the  mail  to  this  point. 

Hotels. — The  first  hotel  in  Townsend  was  erected 
about  1857  by  Abraham  Ingram.  It  was  first  occupied 
by  Joseph  T.  Hill.  The  property  was  afterwards 
owned  by  William  Scott  and  Levi  W.  Lattomus. 
Shortly  after  Mr.  Lattomus'  purchase  it  was  converted 
into  a  dwelling,  in  which  he  resided  until  his  death, 
and  it  is  now  occupied  by  his  family. 

The  present  hotel  was  first  opened  as  a  restaurant 
about  1870  by  James  C.  Townsend.  At  a  later  period 
the  dwelling  was  annexed  by  the  owner,  Samuel 
Townsend.  It  has  been  operated  by  several  proprie- 
tors and  is  owned  and  managed  by  J.  L.  Dickinson. 

The  Mutual  Loan  Association  of  Townsend, 
Delaware,  was  organized  in  February,  1883.  The  first 
officers  of  the  association  were :  President,  John  F. 
Staats;  Vice-President,  William  R.  Martin;  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer,  William  A.  Scott.  Directors: 
John  F.  Staats,  William  R.  Martin,  George  M.  D. 
Hart,  D.  B.  Maloney,  Thomas  Maloney,  George  L. 
Townsend,  S.  R.  Warren,  Dr.  J.  V.  Crawford,  T.  A. 
£nos. 


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NEW  CASTLE  OOUNTY. 


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Series  are  issued  yearly  and  continue  until  each 
share  has  a  value  of  $400.  Its  influence  has  b^en  felt 
in  the  growth  of  the  town. 

The  oflicers  are  the  same  as  above,  with  the  follow- 
ing exceptions : 

George  L.  Townsend  succeeded  William  R.  Martin 
as  vice-president,  and  L.  V.  Aspril,  Jr.,  and  George 
W.  Vandyke  are  directors  vice  William  R.  Martin  and 
Dr.  J.  V.  Crawford. 

Towns  and  Villages.— jFtc/<f«^oro'  is  the  name 
of  a  small  village  in  Appoquinimink  Hundred,  about 
three  miles  northeast  of  Townsend,  on  the  upper 
"  King's  Road."  It  was  so  named  in  honor  of  Wil- 
liam Fields,  who  at  one  time  owned  the  land  on  which 
it  is  situated.  It  contains  a  school-house,  post-office, 
a  wheelwright  and  blacksmith-shop,  two  stores,  kept 
respectively  by  Edward  Silcox  and  James  H.  Grarten, 
and  about  eight  dwellings. 

Tbtmwnd— Previous  to  1860  the  only  buildings 
within  the  present  limits  of  Townsend  were  two  or 
three  huts  occupied  by  negroes.  The  most  noted  of 
these  was  Charles  Lloyd,  afler  whom  the  village  was 
called  Charley  Town.  About  this  period  the  land 
immediately  west  of  the  town  and  a  portion  of  the 
present  town  was  purchased  by  Samuel  Townsend,  a 
man  of  considerable  prominence  in  this  vicinity.  When 
the  railroad  was  constructed  through  this  section  and 
a  station  located  here,  the  question  as  to  what  the 
name  of  the  depot  should  be  caused  considerable  dis- 
putation. Samuel  Townsend  advocated  calling  it 
**  Townsend,"  and  his  opponents  favored  *'  Lancaster,'* 
which  was  said  to  be  the  old  name  for  this  tract. 
Townsend  was  finally  agreed  upon,  and  the  town  has 
since  that  time  borne  this  name.  The  first  store  in 
the  town  was  opened  in  1851  by  Levi  W.  Lattomus, 
whose  sons  are  still  engaged  in  business  in  the  town. 
The  village  grew  quite  rapidly,  and  April  3,  1885,  was 
incorporated  as  a  town.    The  incorporators  were  Eli 

C.  Welsh,  George  M.  D.  Hart,  D.  B.  Maloney,  Albert 
Lynam  and  James  T.  Taylor,  who  were  also  instructed 
to  secure  the  services  of  a  skillful  engineer  and  make 
a  plot  of  the  town  and  lay  out  the  streets,  which  they 
accordingly  did.  The  town  has  a  population  of  three 
hundred  and  fifly,  and  is  situated  near  the  centre  of 
the  hundred,  about  twenty-eight  miles  distant  from 
Wilmington.  It  is  the  terminus  of  the  Queen  Anne 
and  Kent  Railroad,  and  also  has  railroad  facilities  on 
the  Delaware  Division.  From  this  place  large  quan- 
tities of  grain  and  peaches  are  shipped  every  year. 
The  business  of  the  place  is  conducted  by  J.  S.  &  W. 
Lattomus,  William  A.  Scott,  J.  S.  Townsend,  D.  B. 
Maloney,  S.  R.  Warren,  Thomas  Maloney,  L.  B. 
Shockley  and  George  M.  D.  Hart. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  town  commissioners 
since  the  incorporation :  1885^Eli  C.  Welsh,  G.  M. 

D.  Ilart,  D.  B.  Maloney,  Albert  Lynam,  James  T. 
Taylor;  1886  and  1887— David  Wells,  Thomas  Brat- 
ton,  John  W.  Naudain,  John  Townsend,  Eli  C.  Welsh. 


CHAPTER  LII. 

BLACKBIRD  HUNDRED. 

Previous  to  1875,  the  territory  included  within  the 
present  limits  of  this  hundred  formed  a  portion  of 
Appoquinimink  Hundred.  On  March  9  of  that  year, 
an  Act  of  the  Legislature  was  passed,  dividing  Appo- 
quinimink Hundred  by  the  following  line :  **  Beginning 
at  the  mouth  of  Blackbird  Creek,  running  with  said 
creek  and  main  branch  to  a  bridge  in  the  road  leading 
from  the  head  of  Sassafras  to  Smyrna,  thence  westerly 
to  the  centre  of  said  road  to  the  cross-roads  known  as 
Dexter's  Corner;  thence  southwesterly  with  the  road 
leading  by  Garman's  school-house ;  thence  to  Cypress 
Bridge,  and  thence  down  Cypress  branch  to  the  divi- 
ding line  between  Maryland  and  Delaware."  All  the 
territory  in  New  Castle  County  south  of  this  line  was 
declared  to  be  Blackbird  Hundred.  About  twenty-five 
years  ago  the  land  of  this  hundred  was  mostly  covered 
with  timber.  At  the  present  time,  about  one-half  of  the 
hundred  is  in  a  state  of  cultivation,  producing  peaches, 
wheat,  com  and  oats  in  large  quantities.  The  forests 
are  rapidly  disappearing  and  the  marshes  are  being 
reclaimed.  The  population  according  to  the  censu^t 
of  1880  was  1778. 

The  earliest  settlements  made  in  this  hundred  were 
on  the  bank  of  the  Delaware  River  previous  to  Penn's 
ownership.  A  tribe  of  Indians,  of  whom  Mechaeksit 
was  Sachem,  inhabited  Thoroughfare  Neck  and  sold 
the  land  to  the  settlers.  At  an  early  date,  John  Mor- 
gan obtained  a  warrant  for  eight  hundred  acres  and 
John  Denney  for  two  hundred  ucres  adjoining. 
This  land  was  purchased  by  William  Pierce,  to  whom 
a  new  warrant  was  granted  in  March,  1679.  In  the 
meantime,  William  Green  settled  upon  these  tracts, 
and  to  eject  him,  it  was  necessary  for  Pierce  to  resort 
to  law.    The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  proceedings : 

••  Att  a  Co^  held  in  tb«  Towne  of  New  Ca«tl«  by  hia  mttj^  authority 
the  3<»  A  4«»  of  June,  lfi79. 

•*P'8ent:  Mr.  John  Moll,  Mr.  Peter 'Alricha,  Mr.  fopp  Outhout,  Mr. 
Garrett  Otto,  Mr.  Joh'n  D'haes,  Mr.  Abram  Man,  Mr.  Wliliam  Semphill, 
Justicea:  Capt>  Edw.  Cantwell,  Uigh  Sherife. 

**  William  Pierce,  Plf.,   \  In  an  action  of  Tresflpaase  upon  the 
**  William  Oreen,  Deft., )         case. 

**Tbe  PU.  declared  that  this  deft,  without  any  Leave  or  orders  from 
his  bono:  the  Govemo:  this  Court  or  any  other  Lawful  Authority  has 
seated  himself  upon  a  Peece  of  Land  made  orer  unto  him  y*  Pit,  .*  by 
John  Morgen*8  successor :  John  Denny,  and  sence  to  wit  in  ye  month 
of  March  Laest,  a-new  granted  and  confirmed  unto  this  Pit. :  by  this  Couit 
as  by  y*  Records  will  appeare  and  therefore  desires  that  this  deft,  may 
bee  ordered  forthwith  to  quit  &  Leave  y*  Land  to  y*  end  that  hee  may 
not  hinder  this  Pit.  seating  on  ye  same.  The  Debates  of  both  partees  being 
heard  and  the  deft,  not  producing,  any  warrt :  or  order  from  any 
Lawful  authority  for  his  seating  on  ye  Land  the  Oonrt  are  of  opinion, 

"And  do  order  that  the  Pit:  have  y  land  according  to  Pattents  of 
this  court  Grant  and  that  y«  deft  :  quit  y«  same. 

**  This  is  a  true  Coppy  taken  out  of  y*  records  w«i>  wee  attest 

"  Jno.  Moll, 

"  PlETRB  ALRICUB, 

' '  J.  d*haes, 

•'  Will  Sempill." 

Morris  Listen  came  to  this  hundred  previous  to 
1680,  and  purchased  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land 
of  the  Indians.  In  that  year,  Mechaeksit,  an  Indian 
sachem,  granted  to  Ephraim  Herman  the  land  between 
Duck  Creek  and  Cedar  Swamps — commencing  at 
Morris  Liston's  corner.     Liston  came  from  England, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


and  purchased  the  land  above  mentioned,  and  24th 
of  9th  month,  1702,  he  waa  warranted  eight  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  acres  of  land  on  tht  Delaware  River, 
between  Blackbird  Creek  and  the  run  next  south. 
In  1739,  the  two  story  hip-roofed  brick  house  in  which 
Robert  Derrickson  now  resides  was  built  by  Edmund 
Liston.  The  original  Liston  farm  is  now  owned  by 
David  J.  Cummins,  Benjamin  Davids  and  Robert 
Derrickson,  who  is  a  descendant  of  this  family.  The 
Listons  are  now  a  prominent  family  in  Preston 
County,  Virginia. 

Abraham  Staats  came  from  Holland,  and  was  one 
of  the  earliest  settlers  on  Manhattan  Island,  where  he 
resided  until  it  was  invaded  by  the  English,  when  he 
moved  to  Staten  Island,  which  is  said  to  have  received 
its  name  from  him.  When  the  Dutch  conquered  the 
Swedish  settlements  in  Delaware,  the  8taats  family 
moved  to  Thoroughfare  Neck  and  purchased  land  of 
the  Indians.  From  this  ancestor  are  sprung  the 
present  Staats^  family  of  this  and  adjoining  hundreds. 
Abraham  Staats,  a  descendant,  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  and  became  a  captain.  On  his  farm  was 
a  tide-water  mill,  which  was  abandoned  during  that 
war.  A  stream  large  enough  for  sailing  a  vessel  ran 
to  the  mill.  Near  the  mill  a  vessel  one  time  sunk. 
This  is  now  over-run  with  sod  and  grass.  The  home- 
stead is  now  owned  by  Isaac  Staats,  a  grandson  of 
Captain  Abraham  Staats. 

John  Wooters  owned  land  on  the  south  side  of 
Blackbird  Creek  in  1685.  In  a  law-suit  of  October 
20  of  that  year  the  witnesses  of  Wooters,  Casperus 
Herman,  Thomas  Snelling  and  others,  testified  that 
Wooters  had  settled  there  about  twelve  years  before 
at  a  place  he  called  "  Wooters,"  had  erected  a  dwell- 
ing-house and  planted  trees,  and  assisted  by  his 
servants  had  produced  a  crop.  Shortly  afterwards, 
his  house  and  improvements,  which  were  leased  at 
the  time,  together  with  the  corn  and  tobacco  were 
burned. 

On  January  2,  1678,  Peter  Bayard  petitioned  the 
court  for  the  right  to  take  up  on  Duck  Creek  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  and  it  was  granted. 

On  November  25, 1681,  there  was  surveyed  and  laid 
out  for  Thomas  Harris  two  hundred  acres  of  land, 
called  "  Exchange."  A  portion  of  this  land  is  now 
owned  by  John  C.  Stockley,  of  Smyrna. 

In  1747  a  Spanish  privateer  landed  near  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Robert  Derickson  and  plundered  the 
house.  The  following  affidavits  were  made  before 
Thomas  Hopkinson,  of  Philadelphia : 

**  Edmnnd  Liston  of  AppoquiDimiok  H'd.,  In  the  connty  i«f  New 
Castle,  Yeoman,  being  one  of  ttie  people  called  Qualcera,  on  his  solemn 
Affirmation,  declares  and  affirms,  tiiat  on  Sunday,  the  twelfth  day  of 
this  Instant,  July,  about  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  Company  of 
Foreigners,  which  this  affirmant  believes  to  be  Spaniards,  to  the  number 
of  Nineteen,  came  ashore  in  an  open  Boat  from  a  Pilot  Boat  riding  at 
anchor  in  the  River  Delaware,  over  against  this  affirmant's  House  which 
is  Situate  about  four  Miles  above  Bombay  Hook  and  about  half  a  Mile 
from  the  Banks  of  the  stiid  River  Delaware,  and  as  the  Affirmant  was 
afterwards  told  by  his  daughter,  as  soon  as  they  landed  some  of  them 
ran  to  the  Place  where  his  Daughter  and  a  Negro  girl  happened  to  l>e 
gettiug  Crabbs,  seized  the  Negro  Girl,  tyed  her,  and  put  her  into  the 
Boat.  This  Afllrmaut  further  Declares  that  the  said  Foroiguera  came 
Directly  to  him  this  Affirmant  ann'd  witii  Guns,  Cutlasses  &  Pistols,  and 


telling  him  they  belonged  to  a  Spanish  Prirateer  not  fur  off,  they  dc* 
mandod  his  Negroes,  Money  and  the  Keys  of  his  Drawers,  A  having  got 
some  keys  from  him  they  proceeded  to  riffle  &  plunder  his  House  ft  took 
out  of  it  several  Horts  of  wearing  Apparall,  Bedding,  Gloaths  A  Furni- 
ture A  tying  them  In  separate  Bundles  they  carried  them  to  the  Shore  k 
afterwards  put  them  on  board  of  the  open  Boat :  they  likewise  took  a 
Negro  Woman  and  two  little  Negro  children,  one  of  a  sucking  child, 
and  tlien  clapping  their  Pistols  to  this  affirmant's  Breast  they  compelled 
him  to  gs  witli  them  to  the  next  Plantation,  belonging  to  James  Ueart, 
at  the  dLHtance  of  about  half  a  mile. 

his 
*' Edmnnd  £.  L.  Liiton. 
mark. 

"  Af.  27  July  1747 

**  before  me  Thos.  Hopkinson.'* 

*'  James  Hart  of  Appoqainimy  Hd.,  in  the  County  of  New  Castle  on 
Delaware,  being  sworn  on  the  holy  evangelists  of  Almighty  God,  didde* 
pose  and  declare  that  on  Sunday  the  12th  Day  of  this  Instant,  July, 
about  three  of  the  Clock  in  the  Afternosn,  several  People,  who  thii  De* 
ponent  took  to  be  Spaniards,  to  the  number  of  fifteen,  and  one  Man  with 
laced  Hat,  who  this  Deponent  took  to  bo  an  Englishman  (being  much 
fairer  than  the  rest)  came  Arm'd  to  this  Deponent's  House,  Situate  about 
half  a  Mile  from  the  River  side,  together  with  Edmund  Liston,  a  neigh- 
bor of  this  Deponent's,  who  they  had  forced  along  with  them  :  That 
this  Deponent  seeing  them  come  at  some  distance  shut  up  and  bolted 
his  Doors  and  got  his  Gun  in  readiness  lest  they  should  prove  to  be 
Enemies  :  That  they  came  directly  up  and  surrounded  this  Deponent's 
House,  and  some  of  them  pursued  a  Negro  Girl  belonging  to  this  De- 
ponent, which  this  Deponent  perceived  thro'  a  Window,  that  some  of 
the  said  Company  called  out  to  this  Deponent  in  good  English  to  aurren- 
der  or  they  would  set  fire  to  his  Hou^e,  and  several  Bullets  were  fired 
into  the  room,  where  this  Dep.  his  Wife  and  Children  were,  that  one  of 
the  Bullets  wuundcd  this  Dep's  wife  in  the  Hip  &  thatshe  bled  very  much ; 
whereupon  this  Dep.  thought  fit  to  surrender,  and  accordingly  opened 
the  Doors  of  his  House,  thereupon  the  Spauiards  seized  this  Dep.  and 
bound  his  Hands  and  immediately  plundered  the  House  ft  took  away 
the  above  mentioned  Negro,  almost  all  of  this  Dap's  wearing  ap  - 
paiel,a  pair  of  Gold  Buttons  and  several  other  things  to  the  value  of 
about  seventy  pounds.  That  when  tliey  U  iJ  done  pluu  loring  tlil*  Dap  'a 
House  as  aforesaid,  they  forced  this  Dep.  away  with  ihomtoE.L't 
Plantation  about  half  a  mile  from  thiii  Dep's,  where  they  tyed  up  into 
Bundles  the  Plunder  they  had  got  at  this  Dep's  House  aud  the  said  E.  L's 
&  having  carried  it  on  board  the  Boat  they  went  off  to  the  Pilot  Boat 
from  whence  they  came. 

*' James  Heart 

"Sworn  July  27,  1747, 

*'  before  me  Thos.  Hopkinson." 

On  August  17,  1697,  Richard  Bonsall  and  John 
Wood  purchased  of  John  Donaldson  nineteen  hundred 
and  ten  acres  of  land  in  "Thorowfaird  "  Neck.  Thi* 
tract  was  adjoining  land  at  that  time  owned  by  Chris- 
topher Elliott  and  John  Taylor.  It  also  touched 
Cedar  Sv^amp,  and  part  of  the  land  was  on  the  North- 
west branch  where  the  Northeast  branch  springs  from 
it.  Bonsall  purchased  a  three^fourths  interest,  and 
on  24th  of  December,  1702,  one  thousand,  three 
hundred  and  fiily-six  acres  of  fast  land  and  eighty  of 
marsh  were  placed  in  trust  for  his  children  as  his  por- 
tion. At  the  same  time  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
four  acres  of  adjoining  land  were  also  placed  in  trust 
for  them.  On  May  4,  1709,  Jacob  Bonsall,  son  of 
Kichard,  entered  into  an  agreement  with  Matthew 
Walton,  George  Cummins  and  Matthew  Rue  for  the 
sale  of  one  thousand  three  hundred  and  ten  acres  of 
his  land.  The  sale  was  consummated,  and  in  1737 
Walton's  share  was  owned  by  his  son  Matthew  Cum- 
mins sold  his  portion  to  John  Owens,  who  was  the 
owner  in  1737.  Samuel  Fitj^gerald  in  that  year  was 
the  possessor  of  John  Wood's  portion.  On  November 
9,  1709,  Jacob  Bonsall  also  sold  to  Thomas  Ward,  of 
Staten  Island,  a  tract  of  land  adjoining  the  above. 
This  descended  to  his  son  Thomas,  who,  May  12, 
1770,  conveyed  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres  of  it  to 
Thomas  Collins,  whose  descendants  still  own  it. 

Pomfret,  a  tract  of  three  hundred  and  fifteen  acres, 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


1025 


on  the  north  side  of  Duck  Creek,  and  bounded  on  the 
north  and  northwest  by  Ellet's  branch  (Morris's  run) 
was  surveyed  by  Ephraim  Herman  for  William  Grant 
on  November  28,  1681.  It  was  assigned  by  Grant  to 
Aothony  Tompkins,  to  whom  it  was  patented  by 
William  Penn,  July  30, 1684.  It  was  afterward  owned 
by  William  Wilson,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
Alexander  G.  Cummins.  Brick  Store  Landing  is 
situated  on  this  tract.  At  the  Landing  u  a  phosphate 
manufactory  operated  by  the  owner  of  the  land.  An 
old  brick  building,  bearing  the  date  1717,  is  still 
standing  here. 

Shrewsberry,  a  tract  of  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  acres,  on  the  south  side  of  Blackbird  Creek,  was 
warranted  to  Edmund  Cantwell  on  the  15th  of  April, 
1684. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1682,  there  was  war- 
ranted to  Dr.  Gerard  us  Wessels  a  tract  of  three 
hundred  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Duck  Creek.  This 
was  assigned  to  Joseph  Moore,  for  whom  it  was  sur- 
veyed September  1, 1685. 

In  1683  Christopher  Elliot  owned  a  tract  of  land  at 
the  main  branch  of  Duck  Creek,  containing  five 
hundred  acres,  late  in  the  possession  of  Joseph  Hold- 
ing, deceased.  Elliot  died,  seized  of  this  estate  and 
left  no  heirs,  and  on  October  8, 1701,  after  an  inquisi- 
tion tho  farm  land  was  selected  and  confirmed  unto 
Jo^ph  England.  On  May  19, 1701,  there  was  also 
warranted  to  England  eight  hundred  and  eight  acres, 
lyiug  between  two  branches,  of  which  one  was  Mor- 
ris's Run.  This  land  was  owned  by  William  Holton, 
who  at  his  decease  devised  it  to  his  wife,  Elizabeth, 
who  afterwards  married  Philip  England,  and  to  his 
daughter  Rebecca,  who  became  the  wife  of  Joseph 
England,  to  whom  the  whole  was  confirmed  on  date 
above  mentioned.  This  land  is  now  probably  owned 
by  Gideon  E.  Rothwell  and  George  W.  Matiford. 

On  April  25,  1737,  there  was  warranted  to  Abram 
Enos,  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  on  the  south  side 
of  the  North  West  Branch  of  Duck  Creek,  known  as 
Slave  Getters  Hall.  In  1747  the  land-owners  in  this 
vicinity  were  James  Alfree,  Samuel  Moore,  Abram 
Enos,  Thomas  Bennett,  Thomas  Barrett,  John  Barber 
and  William  Holliday. 

On  July  16,  1739,  a  warrant  was  granted  to  Thomas 
Stone,  for  one  hundred  acres  of  clear  land  on  the  road 
from  Duck  Creek  to  New  Castle.  It  was  called 
"Vulcan's  Mount,  including  a  small  improvement 
made  thereon,  the  first  settlement  thereof  being  about 
the  year  1726."  This  is  now  owned  by  Samuel 
Armstrong. 

"Longacre,"  a  tract  of  ninety-five  acres  on  the 
road  from  Duck  Creek  to  Bohemia  Manor,  was  war- 
ranted to  Samuel  Cortwright  on  February  27,  1739. 

A  warrant  was  granted  to  Isaac  Norris,  of  Phila- 
delphia, aad  Isaac  England,  of  New  Castle  County, 
on  September  26,  1754,  for  a  tract  of  one  thousand 
and  eight  acres  of  land  called  "  New  Bristol,'*  situ- 
ate on  the  north  side  of  Duck  Creek.  Nearly  all  of 
the  land  in  the  western  part  of  the  hundred  was 
65 


included  in  a  grant  to  Walter  Dulany,  and  known  as 
**  Dulany's  Manor."  This  land  was  heavily  timbered 
and  while  in  the  possession  of  Grafton  L.  Dulany,  a 
wood  lease  was  granted  to  Bernard,  who  con- 
structed a  wooden  railroad,  from  the  woods  to  Brick 
Store  Landing,  to  be  used  for  conveying  the  timber 
to  a  shipping  point.  It  was  operated  during  1849 
and  1850  and  then  discontinued.  The  cars  were 
drawn  by  horses  over  the  wooden  track.  This  land 
is  now  owned  by  Napoleon  Walton,  Samuel  Beck, 
Barney  Donelly,  David  Lloyd  and Harkman. 

Religious.  On  April  20,  1782,  Robert  Appleton 
conveyed  to  Joseph  Deakyne,  Edward  Martin, 
William  Truax  Marsh,  Abraham  Staats,  Jr.,  John 
Barlow,  Robert  Standlay,  Jacob  Deakyne,  Thomas 
Deakyne  and  John  Collins,  one  acre  of  land  in  trust 
"to  the  intent  and  express  purpose  of  building  a 
preaching-house  or  chapel  for  the  use  of  the  Metho- 
dist preachers."  These  were  the  first  trustees  of 
Friendship  Church,  and  they  at  once  began  the  erec- 
tion of  an  edifice  for  public  worship.  The  building 
then  constructed,  of  cedar  logs  and  about  twenty-four 
feet  square,  was  used  until  1866  when  it  was  torn 
down.  The  present  neat  frame  church  was  dedicated 
January  16,  1867,  with  appropriate  services,  con- 
ducted by  Bishops  Scott  and  Ames,  assisted  by 
Revs.  Urie  and  England. 

The  building  is  thirty-six  by  fifty  feet  with  a 
gallery  and  recess  for  the  pulpit  and  cost  about  five 
thousand  dollars.  Until  1872,  it  formed  a  part  of 
Smyrna  circuit  and  was  served  by  the  pastors  of  that 
circuit,  a  list  of  which  is  to  be  found  under  the 
Asbury  Church  of  Smyrna.  It  now  forms  part  of 
Appoquinimink  circuit  and  has  had  the  following 
ministers. 

C.  W.  Prettymau 1873-74  B.  K.  Stephenaou. 1881-«a 

T.  B.  Kiilim 1875  D.  F.  WeddeU 1883-84 

Jamea  CarroU 1876-77  I.  D.  Johnson 1885 

John  Shilling. 1878-79  G.  8,  Conway ^ 1896 

John  E.  Collins 1880 

In  1828,  Friendship  Church  had  a  membership  of 
twenty-nine.  At  the  present  time  there  are  about 
one  hundred  on  its  rolls.  The  following  are  the 
present  trustees  with  the  dates  of  their  election. 

Isaac  Staata February  28, 1844 

JohnJarr«ll June  15, 1850 

Thomas  Deakyne January  15,  1866 

Alexander  Deakyne June  15, 1870 

Bobert  Derrickson November  26, 1870 

George  C.  Deakyne .Januaiy  12,  1880 

William  Keyser  is  the  superintendent  of  a  Sun- 
day-school of  forty  scholars  connected  with  this 
church. 

The  first  Methodist  meetings  in  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  hundred  were  held  in  a  private  house,  at 
a  place  called  the  **  lime  stone."  The  meetings  in- 
creased in  size,  and  in  1842  it  was  found  necessary  to 
erect  a  church.  At  this  time  there  were  about  fidy 
members,  prominent  among  whom  were  William  Gor- 
don, William  Clayton,  George  Wilson,  Thomas  Sapp, 
Elizabeth  McCay  and  Rebecca  Clark.  In  that  year 
Grafton  L.  Delaney,  of  Baltimore,  donated  to  John 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


EatoD,  Thomas  Meriam,  Robert  Bailey,  Thomas  Lamb 
and  Jesse  Moffitt,  trus^tees,  a  tract  of  land  on  which  a 
log  church,  twenty -four  by  thirty  feet,  was  erected  at 
a  very  little  cost,  other  than  the  labor  which  was  given. 
The  building  is  still  u«ed  for  divine  worship,  and  is 
known  as  "  Dulany's  Chapel.''  The  present  member- 
ship is  thirty.  At  the  present  time  the  board  of  trus- 
tees is  composed  of  the  following  persons:  Jas.  R. 
Pryor,  Eben  Cloak,  Charles  Rhiem,  Samuel  Beck  and 
George  Rhiem. 

It  was  connected  with  Smyrna  circuit  until  1862,  and 
served  by  the  pastors  in  charge  of  that  circuit.  Since 
that  time  the  following  pastors  have  ministered  here: 

Rey.  S4muel  Webb « 1802-C6 

Key.  Dttvid  A.  Price 1865-67 

Rev.  John  M.  Clark 1807 

Kev.  Cbaa,  K.  Morrit 1868-Si>pt  1,  '77 

Rev.  Jno.  M.  Clark Sept.  1.  1877-79 

Bov.  Cha«.  K.  Murri« 1870 

The  Sunday-school  has  twelve  officers  and  teacheri«, 
and  seventy  scholars.  John  Rhiem  is  the  superin- 
tendent. 

SaUm  M.  P.  Church  was  built  about  1842  through 
the  efforts  of  Rev.  W.  Maddon  and  Messrs.  Arnold  S. 
Naudain,  Ezekiel  Wright,  Gideon  E.  Barlow  and  Is- 
rael Hall.  In  1845  there  was  a  great  revival  of  re- 
ligion in  the  church,  and  Ezekiel  Wright  and  wife 
moved  to  the  church  with  bedding  and  provisions,  and 
remained  day  and  night.  In  1857  the  church  was  re- 
paired, and  reopened  May  10.  The  congregation  were 
unable  to  raise  the  indebtedness  thus  incurred,  and 
the  church  was  closed.  It  was  in  this  condition  when 
Rev.  D.  F.  Ewell  was  assigned  to  this  charge.  Through 
his  earnest  and  unwearied  efforts  the  debt  was  paid, 
and  the  building  again  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  the 
Almighty.  Rev.  Ewell  labored  with  this  congregation 
eleven  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  A.  S.  Ever- 
sole,  Rev.  J.  T.  Lassel,  Rev.  J.  S.  Rowe,  Rev.  J.  B. 
Jones,  Rev.  A.  D.  Melvin  and  Rev.  B.  F.  Benson,  the 
present  pastor.  The  membership  at  the  present  time 
is  seventy-five. 

There  are  eighty  members  of  the  Sunday-school  un- 
der the  superintendence  of  George  W.  Thomas. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing pei  sons:  James  Brockson,  Andrew  Webster, 
James  Webster,  Charles  Numbers,  R.  C.  Brockson. 

There  was  a  Presbyterian  church  at  an  early  period 
in  this  hundred,  near  Taylor's  Bridge,  concerning 
which  no  definite  information  has  been  obtained.  Rev. 
George  Foot,  in  a  sermon  delivered  in  Drawyer's 
church,  May  10, 1842,  thus  spoke  of  it :  **The  Presby- 
terian Church,  near  Taylor's  Bridge,  was  probably  or- 
ganized within  this  field.  But  when  it  was  gathered, 
or  who  were  its  ministers,  or  what  is  its  history,  we 
can  probably  never  ascertain.  While  Dr.  Read  was 
pastor  of  this  (Drawyer's)  people,  he  devoted  some  at- 
tention to  that  church.  Its  hou:ie  of  worship  was  stand- 
ing in  a  decayed  condition,  and  Mr.  Burton  preached 
in  it  occasionally,  in  1809.  No  remnant  of  it,  except 
a  few  mounds  in  the  old  cemetery,  now  remains." 
The  land  on  which  it  stood,  is  now  owned  by  Peter 
Johnson. 


Schools. — Previous  to  the  adoption  of  the  common 
school  system  subscription  or  pay  schools  were  in  ex- 
istence in  Blackbird  Hundred.  Among  the  teachers 
of  the  latter  kind  are  remembered  William  Orr, 
David  Price,  William  Welden,  James  Welden.  Isaac 
P.  Walker,  Seth  King  and  Samuel  Anderson. 

The  opening  of  the  public  schools,  with  the  advan- 
tages afforded  to  all,  caused  the  abandonment  of  pri- 
vate schools.    John  Mulholland  and Leonard 

are  remembered  as  pioneer  teachers  of  the  public 
schools.  The  school  in  Thoroughfare  Neck,  which 
was  deeded  for  school  purposes  in  1816  by  Peter 
Staats,  was  converted  into  a  public  school.  Other 
private  schools  were  converted  to  the  same  use.  The 
subdivision  of  the  districts,  the  multiplication  of  the 
schools  and  the  increased  abilities  of  the  teachers, 
have  placed  the  common  schools  in  this  hundred  on  a 
very  high  standard. 

Roads  and  Bridges.— At  the  November  session 
of  the  Levy  Court  of  New  Castle  County,  it  was 
ordered  that  a  road  be  laid  out  from  the  main  road 
leading  from  Smyrna  to  Odessa,  at  a  point  near 
Smyrna,  to  Thoroughfare  Neck.  The  road  was  sur- 
veyed May  7,  1780,  and  passed  through  lands  at  that 
time  owned  by  Dr.  Morris,  Mary  Hudson,  Mrs.  Dially, 
William  Clark,  Charles  Carson,  Isaac  Daney,  Michael 
Offley,  Thomas  Goldsborough,  William  Jordan,  Ed- 
mund Edwards,  Robert  Appleton,  Nicholas  Barlow, 
George  Ward,  William  Hudson,  Arthur  A llston,  John 
Conner,  John  Bassett,  Elijah  Bartlett,  Joseph  Dea- 
kyne  and  Jacob  Deakyne, 

In  February  term  of  the  Levy  Court,  1792,  a  petition 
was  presented  for  the  opening  and  construction  of  a 
road  leading  from  Captain  Abraham  Staats'  tide  mill 
to  Israel  Daney's  smiih  shop,  to  be  nearly  on  line  of 
a  road  that  had  been  used  for  nearly  eight  years. 

In  1827  four  hundred  dollars  were  appropriated  for 
the  construction  of  Long  Bridge  over  the  northwest 
branch  of  Duck  Creek. 

In  April  1825  three  thousand  dollars  were  appro- 
priated by  the  Levy  Court  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
bridge  over  Blackbird  Creek,  "where  old  bridge 
(Taylor's)  now  stands."  In  March  of  the  following 
year  $340  more  were  applied  to  the  same  purpose. 
The  bridge  was  constructed  by  James  Spier,  of  Cant- 
welFs  Bridge. 

In  later  days  new  roads  were  opened  and  the  old 
ones  repaired ;  old  bridges  were  replaced  by  new  and 
more  durable  ones,  and  at  the  present  time  the  roads 
and  bridges  are  in  an  excellent  condition. 

Industries.— The  earliest  indubtries  in  Blackbird 
Hundred  were  several  old  grist-mills  which  have  not 
been  in  use  for  many  years.  Most  prominent  of  these 
were  the  tide-water  mill  of  Captain  Abraham  Staata, 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Isaac  Staats,  and  a  wind- 
mill for  grinding  wheat  and  com  on  the  Liston  farm 
now  owned  by  David  J.  Cummins.  There  was  also 
an  old  mill  on  the  McMurphey  farm,  now  owned  by 
G.  W.  W.  Naudain.  A  mill-race  and  dam  in  good 
condition^  on  the  North  West  Branch,  on  hxm  of 


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NEW  CASTLE  COUNTY. 


1027 


V.  0.  Hill,  give  evidence  that  a  mill  was  once  located 
there.  As  early  as  1746  there  was  a  mill  pond  formed 
by  Ridley  Run,  now  Green  Spring  Branch.  The  mill 
was  situated  on  land  now  owned  by  William  Nailor 
and  has  long  since  passed  away.  A  mill-race  was 
dug  from  the  stream  through  a  field  to  the  mill,  and 
is  still  in  existence. 

In  1780  Ira  E.  Lyons  built  a  mill  on  Blackbird 
Creek,  near  the  village  of  Blackbird.  He  retained 
possession  of  it  for  many  years,  and  finally  sold  it  to 
Auley  Lore.  It  was  subsequently  owned  by  Jonathan 
Hand,  William  E.  Evans,  Jacob  Richardson,  and  is 
now  in  possession  of  Samuel  R.  Warren.  The  present 
grist-mill  is  partially  stone  and  partially  frame,  does 
both  custom  and  merchant  work,  and  has  a  capacity 
of  twenty  barrels  per  day.  The  saw-mill  in  connec- 
tion has  a  capacity  of  fiftien  hundred  feet  per  day. 
The  mills  are  operated  by  steam  and  water-power. 

Alvan  Allen  commenced  manufacturing  tiles  about 
1863,  in  Appoquinimink  Hundred,  near  Smyrna 
Landing.  In  1868  he  associated  with  himself  Will- 
iam .M.  Bell,  and  the  business  was  conducted  in 
partnership  for  several  years.  In  1869  Allen  &  Bell 
were  awarded  a  contract  for  sixty  thousand  drain 
tiles  for  park  purposes,  by  the  commissioners  of 
Fairmount  Park.  After  Mr.  Allen  withdrew  from 
the  firm  the  tile-yard  was  operated  by  Mr.  Bell  alone 
until  October,  1884,  when  he  sold  to  Joshua  T.  Jer- 
man  and  John  CosgriflT,  the  latter  of  whom  had  served 
in  the  capacity  of  superintendent  from  the  com- 
mencement. The  buHiness  is  now  carried  on  under 
the  style  of  Jertnan  &  Cosgriff.  The  clay  pit,  cover- 
ing ten  acres,  is  of  a  superior  quality,  and  the  half 
million  tiles  produced  annually  are  shipped  to  all 
parts  of  the  United  States.  The  tile-yard  is  in  oper- 
ation during  eight  months  of  the  year,  and  eight 
men  are  constantly  employed  in  manufacturing  the 
▼arions  sizes  and  styles  of  tiling.  Steam  is  em- 
ployed to  operate  the  mills. 

A  steam  saw-mill  was  built  on  land  of  Isaac  R. 
Staats,  in  1873,  by  John  B.  Maddox,  of  Maine.  The 
mill  was  operated  by  him  for  a  few  years,  and  then 
sold  to  Isaac  R.  Staats,  who  operated  it  until  March 
21,  1879,  when  it  was  burned.  In  the  same  year 
another  mill  wa^  built,  which  is  still  standing.  The 
mill  has  a  capacity  of  one  thousand  five  hundred 
feet  per  day,  and  both  merchant  and  custom  work  is 
done. 

In  1882  R.  C.  Brockson  erected  a  building  at  Black- 
bird Village,  and  placed  in  it  an  evaporator.  This  is 
in  operation  six  weeks  per  year,  and  during  that  time 
employment  is  given  to  thirty  persons.  Sixteen 
thousand  poundri  of  fruit  are  prepared  each  season, 
and  shipped  principally  to  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia. 

Villages. — Blackbird  is  a  small  village  on  a 
stream  of  the  same  name,  about  equally  distant  from 
Middletown  and  Smyrna.  It  contains  a  hotel,  a  post- 
office,  school-house,  two  stores,  kept  respectively  by 
R.  C.  Brockson  and  C.  B.  Sattertield,  and  about  fifty 


inhabitants.  It  is  an  old  village,  as  is  evidenced  by 
the  ancient  appearance  of  its  residences. 

Bassett  Ferguson,  farmer  of  Blackbird  Hundred, 
died  November,  1853.  Ue  was  one  of  the  first  to 
engage  in  business  in  Blackbird,  and  was  appointed 
first  postmaster  of  the  town  in  1838.  The  post-office 
was  conducted  in  the  hotel  which  he  kept  at  the  same 
time.  Bassett  Ferguson  was  a  man  unassuming  in 
manner,  possessed  of  a  large  amount  of  sound  com- 
mon sense,  and  held  in  the  highest  respect  by  his 
friends  and  neighbors.  In  1849  he  was  elected  one 
of  the  senators  to  represent  his  county  in  the  General 
Assembly.  In  this  position  he  won  the  respect  of  his 
fellow-members  by  his  strict  attention  to  its  duties. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Susan  T.  Weldon,  and  had 
twelve  children,  two  of  whom,  Richard  and  Colen, 
have  represented  their  county  in  the  Qeneral  As- 
sembly. 

Colen  Ferguson  is  a  son  of  Bassett  Ferguson,  and 
is  the  third  in  order  of  twelve  children,  seven  of  whom 
survive.  He  was  born  October  25,  1835,  at  Black- 
bird, Delaware.  His  mother,  who  is  still  living,  Jan- 
uary, 1888,  was  Susan  T.  Weldon,  of  Appoquinimink 
Hundred.  Until  he  was  twenty  years  old  Mr.  Fergu- 
son remained  at  his  father's  house  and  cultivated  the 
home  farm.  During  this  period  he  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood  at  such  times  as  his 
duties  on  the  farm  would  permit.  He  enjoyed  the 
advantages  afforded  by  the  New  Jersey  Confer- 
ence Seminary,  in  1854-1855,  for  one  year.  In  1856, 
in  his  twenty-first  year,  he  went  to  Odessa  as  a  clerk 
for  Messrs.  Crouch  &  Davi?,  general  grain  and  dry- 
goods  merchants,  of  that  place.  Here  he  cast  his 
first  ballot  as  a  citizen  for  James  Buchanan  for  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  After  two  years  of  service 
with  the  above-named  firm,  he  returned  to  the  farm 
near  Blackbird,  which  had  now  become  his  own  by 
purchase  of  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  in  November.  1853.  From  that 
time  until  the  present,  January,  1888,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year  pasiied  in  business  with  Messrs. 
Lord  &  Polk,  dealers  in  Phosphate,  in  Odessa,  Mr. 
Ferguson  has  resided  in  Appoquinimink  Hun- 
dred, near  Blackbird.  On  the  3d  of  June,  1868,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Cordelia,  daughter  of  Joseph  A. 
Lord,  of  Odessa.  They  have  had  six  children,  of 
whom  four  survive.  Mr.  Ferguson  occupies  the 
residence  in  which  his  father  formerly  lived,  and  cul- 
tivates a  farm  of  about  two  hundred  acres.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat.  He  is  one  of 
the  three  Senaters  from  New  Castle  County,  in  the 
State  Legislature,  a  position  to  which  he  was  elected 
without  having  sought  the  honor.  Political  prefer- 
ment has  not  been  with  him  an  object  of  desire.  In 
person  Mr.  Ferguson  is  a  spare  man,  of  medium 
height,  of  dark  complexion  and  active  movement. 
Time  has  dealt  gently  with  him,  and  but  few  indica- 
tions of  his  age  are  apparent.  He  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  the  educational  agencies  of  his  neighborhood, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


and  shows  it  as  one  of  the  directors  of  the  district 
school.  He  is  an  intelligent  observer  of  the  particu- 
lar needs  and  growths  of  crops.  He  has  bestowed 
carefal  attention  upon  his  peach  orchards,  which 
contain  thousands  of  trees,  and  from  which  he  has  in 
successive  years  obtained  his  largest  pecuniary  re- 
wards. 

Hotels.— The  hotel  at  Blackbird  was  erected  by 
Benjamin  Donoho  at  an  early  date.  After  his  decease 
it  descended  to  his  son  William,  who  was  proprietor 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1836.  In  1888 
Bassett  Ferguson  purchased  the  property  and  while 
in  his  possession  it  was  managed  by  Israel  Townsend, 
James  Fountain,  Stephen  Townsend,  William  M. 
Johnson  and  John  Silcox.  In  1841  the  old  hotel, 
which  is  now  used  as  a  residence  by  Benjamin  Loock- 
erman,  was  abandoned  and  the  present  hotel  opened. 
In  1866  it  came  into  the  possession  of  V.  O.  Hill,  who 
rented  it  for  several  years  to  Leonard  Grouse  and 
William  E.  Price.  In  1869  Hill  took  charge  of  the 
house  and  has  since  been  the  proprietor. 

In  1850  the  Hygenia  House  was  built  on  Collins 
Beach  by  George  Collins.  On  account  of  the  excel- 
lent natural  facilities  of  the  place  the  house  and  beach 
became  extensively  known.  In  1878,  however,  the 
tidal  wave  washed  away  a  large  portion  of  the  beach 
and  all  the  buildings  but  the  hotel.  Since  that  time 
the  hotel  has  not  been  opened  continuously  and  is 
now  closed. 

Post-Office. — ^The  post-office  at  Blackbird  was 
established  in  1838  with  Bassett  Ferguson  as  its  fir^t 
postmaster.  He  was  succeeded  about  1847  by  Jacob 
V.  Naudain.  Richard  Ferguson  followed  Naudain 
and  was  succeeded  by  V.  O.  Hill  and  Robert  A. 
Davis.  C.  B.  Satterfield,  the  present  incumbent,  took 
charge  of  the  office  in  May,  1885. 

The  post-office  at  Deakyneville  was  established 
about  thirty  years  ago  with  Thomas  Deakyne  as  post- 
master. He  was  succeeded  by  George  C.  Deakyne, 
the  present  postmaster.  The  mail  is  carried  here 
daily  by  a  stage  running  from  Townsend. 

A  post-office  was  established  at  Taylor's  Bridge  in 
October,  1871,  with  George  W.  Simpler  in  charge. 
The  office  was  discontinued  in  September,  1877,  and 
re-established  December  4th  of  the  s^ime  year  with 
Abraham  Staats,  the  present  incumbent,  as  its  post- 
master. The  stage  running  from  Townsend  to 
Deakyneville  deposits  mail  daily. 

Greene  Springs  post-office  was  establiiihed  in  1874, 
with  George  D.  (yollins  as  tirst  postmaster.  He  was 
succeetled  in  1880  by  Daniel  Wells.  In  November, 
1884,  B.  C.  Collins,  the  present  postmaster,  took  charge 
of  the  office.  Two  mails  north  and  two  south  are  re- 
ceived daily. 

Forest  post-office  was  established  at  Blackbird  in 
1875,  with  William  P.  Reynolds  as  postmaster,  which 
position  he  still  holds. 


CHAPTER   LIII. 

KENT     COUNTY. 

Kent  County,  Delaware>  is  the  middle  county  of 
the  State,  and  has  an  area  of  about  five  hundred 
square  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Delaware 
Bay,  on  the  north  by  New  Castle  County,  on  the  west 
by  the  State  of  Maryland,  and  on  the  south  by  Sussex 
County.  The  soil  of  the  county  is  mostly  fertile,  the 
staple  products  being  corn,  wheat,  oats,  peaches  and 
pork.  The  surface  of  the  country  is  largely  covered 
with  forests.  The  county  is  intersected  by  the  Dela- 
ware Railroad  and  the  Delaware  and  Maryland  Rail- 
road, and  is  drained  by  Duck  Creek,  Little  Creek, 
Old  Duck  Creek,  Jones'  Creek,  Tanner's  Creek,  Mur- 
derkill  Creek,  Mispillion  Creek,  Marshy  Hope  Creek 
and  Choptank  River. 

The  county  contains  nine  hundreds,  as  follows : 
East  Dover,  West  Dover,  Duck  Creek,  Little  Creek, 
Kenton,  North  Murderkill,  South  Murderkill,  Mis- 
pillion  and  Milford.  The  town  of  Dover  is  the  capital 
of  the  State. 

Kent  County,  originally  a  part  of  the  Whore- 
kill,  became  an  independent  territory  under  the  name 
"^of  St.  Jones  County  Mn  1680,  and  until  Dover  was 
laid  out,  in  1717,  there  was  not  a  village  of  any  im- 
portance in  it.  Prior  to  1074  very  little  land  within 
its  borders  was  taken  up,  but  subsequently  settlers 
began  to  come  in  rapidly,  principally  from  Maryland 
and  located  along  the  streams. 

Whorekill  (now  Lewes)  was  the  court  town,  and 
was  only  reached  by  water.  The  inconvenience  of 
this  intercourse  and  the  hardships  attending  visits  to 
the  town  resulted  subsequently  in  the  agitation  for  a 
new  county. 

On  April  15,  3671,  the  Provincial  Council  at  New 
York  considered  a  report  of  Captain  Carr,  which  re- 
lated •*  of  y*  desire  of  many  families  to  come  and 
settle  below  New  Castle  at  Appoquinimy  and  Bom- 
bay's Hook." 

On  June  16,  1671,  Governor  Francis  Lovelace 
granted  a  patent  for  four  hundred  acres  to  Thomas 
Young,  called  Poplar  Neck,  lying  about  two  miles 
above  St.  Jones'  Creek,  on  the  bay.  Adjoining  this 
tract  was  one  granted  about  the  same  time  to  Thomas 
Merritt,  called  "  Mulberry  Swamp." 

In  June,  1671,  George  Whale  received  a  grant  of 
land  in  the  vicinity  of  Bombay  Hook,  but  settled  in 
Appoquenimy  Hundred,  New  Castle  County,  when 
his  property  passed  to  his  wife,  Anna,  and  from  her  to 
her  son,  George  More. 

On  December  1, 1675,  Daniel  Whiteley  was  granted 
three  hundred  acres,  called  "  the  Grove,''  lying  at  the 
head  of  Jones'  Creek. 

1  There  Is  no  record  of  the  chango  of  name  to  Kent  Oonnty,  bat  It 
was  probably  doue  in  1682.  In  November  of  that  jrear  Wm.  Peon  hub- 
nioDed  the  magistrates  of  "St.  Jones'  and  Whorekill "  Coantiesto  meet 
him  In  New  Castle  to  arrange  matters  for  the  guidance  and  good  gov* 
ernment  of  the  territory.  The  following  month  he  addressed  a  com- 
munication  to  the  magistrates  of  Sussex  County,  and  it  Is  probsUe  that 
both  names  were  adopted  at  that  conference. 


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On  March  12, 1676,  Samuel  Stiles  and  Robert  Fra- 
ley  received  a  patent  to  seven  hundred  and  forty-four 
acre^,  called  "Andrew's  Delight,"  lying  on  the  north 
side  of  Misspan  Creek.' 

On  April  13, 1676,  patents  were  issued  to  persons 
residing  within  the  limits  of  Kent  County,  as  follows : 

ACBFS. 

William  8t<»f*n«,  »*Yorke** 600 

William  Ford,  Dncke  Creeke „ 800 

William  Sharp©  '•  600 

John  Morgan  " .300 

William  Simpson.  •'Slmp6on*«   Choico" 400 

John  Briggs,  "Aberdeane** 400 

Peter  Baucom 200 

Thomas  Philip,  Jonei*  Creek 600 

Robert  rrancls,      "  *•     400 

Francis  Neal«s         **  "      400 

John  SteTens,  «  Content  '  Duck  Creek ^ 1200 

J.»hn  Stevens,  London  Little  Creek 1300 

In  September,  1676,  the  court  at  Whorekill  was  au- 
thorized to  issue  land  warrants,  and  the  following 
tracts  were  granted  within  the  limits  of  the  present 
County  of  Kent : 

On  March  5,  1678,  John  Kiphaven  and  Peter  Han- 
son, "  Hopewell,'*  a  tract  of  four  hundred  and  thirteen 
acres  on  north  side  of  Murder  Creek. 

On  February  23,  1678,  John  Briggs,  "Poplar 
Kidge,''  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  above 
Jones'  Creek,  adjoining  Poplar  Neck. 

On  March  11, 1678,  Robert  Hart,  Jr.,*'  PritchardV' 
a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Miss- 
pan  Creek  ;  "  Orphan's  Lot,"  a  tract  of  six  hundred 
acres  near  **  Pritchard's,"  name  of  grantee  not  given  ; 
Cornelius  Verhoofe,  "New  Sevenhaven,'*  a  tract  of 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighteen  acres  on  the 
north  side  of  Misspan  Creek,  by  Indian  Bridge  and 
Beaver  Creek. 

On  March  12,  1678,  Jno.  Briggs  and  Mrs.  Mary 
Phillips,  "  Kingston  upon  Hull,"  a  tract  of  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  "where  they  now  dwell."  This 
land  was  on  the  north  side  of  Jones'  Creek,  and  a 
portion  of  it  was  formerly  taken  by  George  Whale  in 
June,  1671. 

On  September  10,  1679,  Peter  Groenendike,  "  New 
Sevenhaven,"  a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  on  the 
north  side  of  Murderkill  Creek. 

On  February  14,  1680,  Thomas  Garvin,  "  Garvin's," 
a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres  on  St.  Jones'  Creek, 
adjoining  John  Brinkloe;  Thomas  Clifford,  four  hun- 
dred acres  on  St.  Jones'  Creek. 

On  May  10,  1680,  William  Sherritt,  "Sherritfs 
Choyce,"  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  on 
the  south  side  of  Duck  Creek. 

On  February  4,  1680,  the  magistrates  of  New  Castle 
County  suggested  to  the  government  the  expediency 
of  "  the  enlargement  of  ye  county  up  and  downwards 
to  St.  Jones  we  humbly  conceive  would  for  ye  con- 
veniency  of  ye  people  be  necessary,  etc."  About  the 
same  time  the  appended  petition  was  sent  to  Governor 
Androsa : 

**  Wee  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  lirint^  and  ambitious  to 
abide  under  the  sunshine  uf  jij^  Honor*  Oovernm*  Inhabetiogo  in  the 
upland  part  of  the  Whorekil  County ; 


"  In  all  bumble  manner  shew  unto  yc  Honor  the  great  grleTancet, 
Hscards  and  perils  both  by  land  and  water  that  wee  undergoe  in  goeing 
to  the  Whorekill  Court,  not  onely  the  distance  beinge  tu  some  of  us  fiO, 
acme  60  miles,  want  of  Commodacons  of  man  or  l>east  there,  butt  the 
unpas^able,  dangerous  waiee  by  reason  of  perillous  Creeks,  which  many 
tymes  cannot  bee  past  over  by  man  or  besst,  1  he  hazardous  large  Marshes 
and  myreous  and  difficult  bianches  which  are  past  through  to  the  said 
Court,  which  doth  nott  onely  putt  ns  to  greate  straif  s  and  Jeopardy  of 
our  lives,  buit  hath  and  doth  give  great  disconmgement  to  others  in- 
tendinge  to  seate  in  these  upward  parts  from  Maryland,  that  some  have 
deiierled  In  their  denignes  rather  than  in  1  azard  of  theire  lives  togoe 
down  to  the  said  Whorehill  Court;  And  forasmuch  as  the  grievances 
albresnid  are  Insupportable  to  ns,  and  the*e  parts  dayly  increasing 
with  diverse  considerable  fsroilies  with  considerHble  EHtates,  and  more 
intendinge  to  remove  from  Maryland,  that  wee  are  in  ihese  altogether 
yf  not  more  populated  (hnn  the  other  part  of  the  County,  and  nott 
onely  the  Inconveniences  aforesaid  yf  nott  by  honor  remedied,  butt  also 
the  downe  of  Delegare  bc-inge  in  like  manner  Inconvenient  to  thew 
upward  parts.  That  should  the  inhabitant*  hereoff  appeare  att  either 
Court  ytt  would  nott  only  cause  the  p^sent  Seaters  to  withdraw  back 
hence,  and  disencourngoment  to  others  designed  to  seate  here; 

*'The  prniisse  considered  with  all  humble  reverence  wee  leave  the 
discuss  of  the  whole  matter  to  yor  Uonor*  grave  and  wise  consideracon 
And  hfpe  yo'  Hono'  fur  the  Kucouragement  of  us,  the  p^oent  inhab- 
itnnts  and  others  that  are  cominge  to  seate  in  these  parts,  Out  of  your 
wonted  Cleniemy,  Tender  Care  and  Willingness  at  all  fymea  for  en- 
courHgement  of  Seateis  and  IVeserveing  us  under  the  suuKhiae  of  yo* 
happy  Government  Irom  all  danger,  and  reraoveirg  Inconveniences 
and  perils  that  might  ensue,  for  the  ease  and  prosperous  setlement 
of  theM  parts  will  be  graci«)usly  pleased  to  order,  authorize,  constitute 
and  appoint  a  Court  to  be  held  in  some  convenient  place  in  St.  Jones* 
Creeke,  at  such  tymes  and  upon  such  dales  anyor  Uono*  inyo*  wimiome 
shall  thioke  fltt,  and  tliat  all  p'tious  inhabiting  from  the  north  side 
of  Cedar  Creeke  to  the  south  side  of  Blackl>ird  Creeke,  bo  ordered  and 
reqnirt^d  to  appeare,  doe  suite  and  service,  obey  process  in  law  and  bee 
det-mod  and  taken  to  be  within  the  Jurifdlclion  of  the  said  Court,  and 
yield  obedeyance  to  the  authority  thereof,  Nott  doubtinge  butt  yo» 
Honor  msy  make  and  find  persons  capable  in  the  prcincts  thereof  for 
aduiinistration  of  Ju'tice,  and  others  a>»  miniiterial  officers  to  attend  the 
same  Court  and  execute  all  process  and  orders,  and  keepeing  and 
makeing  Records  of  proceedings  and  acts  done  by  authority  thereof. 
And  we,  as  in  duty  bound,  shnll  ever  prny  for  yo^  Hono's'  health, 
and  happiness,  That  age  may  Cr«»wn  your  snowy  haires  with  Cesar's 
Hononand  with  Nestor's  yearis. 


"QiiflT.  Jones. 
John  Glovear. 
Robert  Torter. 
Arthur  Alstune. 
KoLert  Miller. 
Thomas  Mlllen. 
William  Milieu. 
John  R.  Richeson. 
John  II Hard. 
Robert  Pematry. 
A.  Alston. 
i^fVan  Whitwell. 
Pelter  Bancom. 
John  Bagwell. 
Daniel  Arniisttead. 
William  Berry,  June 
Joiin  Loyd. 
John  Rarrett. 
Jolin  Barton. 
Daniel  Jones. 

Wm.  W . 

Eanan  Daure. 
John  Cooely. 
Ed.  Prince. 
John  Dissha. 
Benoni  Bsrues. 
L.  Orema. 

Wm.  . 

Robert  Ffrances. 
Richard  Levicks. 
John  Cortes. 
Thomas  William. 


S.  Pack. 

John  Richardson,  Jr. 
Richard  Griffin. 
Henry  Stevens. 
John  Dawson. 
Henery  Plomer. 
John  Walker. 
Walter  Powell. 
George  Martens. 
Jaftttb  Ooeien. 
Isaac  Balch. 
Thomas  Bolhtiche. 
Simon  Frounsen. 
John  Brigs. 
Alexander  Hnmpbrey. 
John  Brinklo. 
Gabriel  Joiises. 
Christopher  Jeesons. 
David  Morgan. 
Abram  Brate. 
Isack  Wel>e. 
John  Webster. 
Thomas  Ueffer. 
Allesxaiider  Raey. 
William  Spartes. 
Thomas  Cliford. 
John  Qetes. 
Robert  Bedewell. 
Thomas  Groves. 
Thomas  Hill. 
Jno.  ilaye». 
Robert  Johnson. 


1  Mispillion  Creek. 


"The  shipe  goeing  away,  wee  bad  nott  time  to  gitt  ye  rest  of  there 
names,  butt  we  think  there  may  be  about  100  tithabell.^s 

On  May  28,  1687,  the  Governor  appointed  Francis 
Whitwell,'  John  Hiliiard,  Robert  Hart  and  Edward 


«  Taxpayers. 

s  Francis  Whitwell  was,  at  the  time  of  his  appointment,  a  magistrate 
of  the  Horekill  Court,  and  redded  in  what  Is  now  Duck  Creek  Hundred, 
on  LitUe  Duck  (h^k.  His  estate  was  called  *'  Whitehall,"  and  is  still 
known  as  '*  Whitehall  Neok  **    Edward  Pack  lived  on  a  tract  known  as 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Pack  "to  be  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  County  of  St.  Jones,  in  Delaware  Bay 
and  Dependencies,  the  same  to  begin  from  the  south 
side  of  Duck  Creek^  so  to  extend  to  the  north  side 
of  Cedar  Creek." 

Shortly  after  the  formation  of  the  county  Governor 
Andross  ordered  a  census  to  be  taken  which  resulted 
as  follows : 

**  These  are  to  certify  the  Honorab>*  Sir  Bdmond  AndroM,  Kn*  Oonr- 
emo'-Oenerall  of  New  Yorke,  and  all  his  Royal  Ulghnees*  Terrltoryt,  in 
America,  of  ye  Inhabitants  y*  arp  Responsible  house-keepers  &  their 
families  Inhabiting  Oadr  Creek,  Murth(;r  Kill,  St.  Jones  and  Duck 
Creek: 

"/»  Cedar  Ortek. 

"  Robert  Hart 3  in  family. 

Upon  Joseph  CondresB*  plantation 3  *'        ** 

Mr.  Bowman 2  or  3  *'        •* 

George  Collins,  on  Shackerrs  plantation. 

Jno.  Curtis 4  "        " 

Jno.  Richardson „ ~ 6  "        •• 

Thomas  Groses 2  **        " 

Thomas  Heiffer 2  "       *• 

Alexander  Ray 2  '*        '* 

Thomas  Williams  &  John  De  Shaw 2  "        " 

"  8t.  Jtmea'  and  Duck  Creek. 

"  Mr.  ffrancis  Whitwell 6  *•        " 

Mr.  Jones 1  "        " 

Mr.  Joshua  Barksteede 3  •*       •• 

Mr.  Roliert  Bed  well 3  ••        " 

Allex  Humphreys 3  ••        " 

Mr.  Isaack 2  ••        " 

Jn».  Brlnckloo 2  "        " 

Gabriell  Jones 3  "        " 

Richard  Levey 2  "        •* 

Mr.  WsUer  Rlcharson 6  "        " 

Mr.  William  Berry 2"        " 

Jno.  Briggs 6  "        •* 

Jno.  Burton 2  "       •• 

Henry  Stevens 3  "        •• 

Daniel  Jones 2  "       ** 

William  Winsmore 1  "        " 

Jno.  Stevens 3  "       *• 

Thomas  Bostick 2  "        *• 

Bobrt  Beales « 3  "        *• 

John  Hillyard 3  **       •* 

Symon  Irons 4  "        ** 

Thomas  Wlllson 4  *«        " 

Peter  Bayard 2  "        •* 

W»  Greene.- ., 2  "        *• 

Ch.  Ellett « 2  ♦•        " 

W»,  Sherwood > 1  "        •• 

"  Thsse  are  ye  families  from  ye  upper  part  of  Cedar  Crick  to  ye  upper 
part  of  Dutch  crick,  being  99  persons  to  ye  best  of  ye  knowledge  of  him 
who  Remaines  yo'  Hono"  most  humble  sorvent.  John  Brigos." 

In  1680  the  newly-appointed  court  of  St.  Jones' 
County  granted  land  as  follows : 

Acres. 


Acres. 

John  Hill 40 » 

John  Nuell 400 

Foulke  Evens 400 

Thomas  Hodsklns 400 

Alexander  Humphreys 30 ' 

Richard  Wilson 400 

Nicholas  Bartlett 1000 

Ronlof  Jansen  Verkirk 400 

John  Daston 400 

John  Hilllard 600 

Thomas  Skid  more 400 

John  Barnes 1000 

William  Berry 100 

John  Richardson 66 


John  Glover.. 


Court,  ^iw.  17,  1680. 

Richard  Smith 600 

Daniel  Jones. 8^ 

David  Morgan 400 

William  Winsmore 400 

WiUlamTregor 1000 

Thomas  Jarvis 300 

Alex.  Humphrey 60(1 

Thomas  Harris 400 

William  Green 600 

Peter  Bacon^ 1200 

John  Ogle 300 


*'  Towne  Point,"  at  the  mouth  of  Joucs'  Creek.  It  subsequently  came 
into  possession  of  John  Dickinson,  and  is  now  owned  by  his  grandson, 
Algernon  S.  Logan,  Esq.  The  court  of  St.  Jones*  County  met  at  Ed- 
ward Pack's  house  until  16SU  or  1G90. 

1  Duck  Creek  at  that  time  ran  on  the  west  side  of  Bombay  Hook,  leav- 
ing that  territory  in  New  Castle  County,  where  it  remained  until  it  was 
attached  to  Kent  County  by  act  of  Assembly,  February  18,  1841,  when 
the  outlet  called  the  **  Thoroughfare  "  became  the  north  boundary. 

*  According  to  former  grant 


Robert  Bedwell 800 

John  Brinkloe 6  0 

Robert  Porter 400 

John  Walker 600 

James  Wells -  600 

Dee.  21,  1680. 

Aminidab  Richte 400 

Samuel  Shllls 400 

Michael  Simkins 400 

Thomas  Bootstache 400 

John  Richardson 1200 

John  Broadaway 

Susannah  Shacklady... 

George  Morten 400 

John  Richardson \ 

James  Shacklady \^^^ 

John  Rolines 600 

Michael  Borree „ 600 


U200 


Antiiooy  BoUimi 40a 

John  Rolines -  800 

John  Newton «.,  800 

Edward  Newton 500 

John  Steel 400 

John  Borton.. 400 

Japeth  Griffith 600 

William  Wilson 600 

Jane  Bartlett 400 

Robert  Wellin 400 

John  Manlove 400 

Arthur  Alston 40o 

John  Glover % 

Richard  Glover f^^^ 

John  Price „ 1600 

Rlch'd  Williams „..  600 

Robert  Hucheson 600 

Comlin  Verboofs 600 

Griffith  Jones 600 


Acres. 

December  20,  1681 10,000 

February  22, 1682 27,400 

March  21, 1682 16^ 

June  1,  1682 16,100 

Aogost  15. 1683 8,000 

October  17. 1683 11,812 


A  recapitulation  of  the  land  grants  by  the  court 
for  three  year*  shows  the  warrants  were  issued  in 

Acres. 

June,  1680 842 

November  17, 1680 8,900 

December  21,  1680 18.600 

March  16,  1681 14,700 

April  19,  1661 10,100 

September  22,  1681 2,200 

November  5,  168 1 .,    8,800 

On  March  14,  1683,  a  petition  of  the  inhabitants  in 
the  vicinity  of  Duck  Creek,  was  presented  to  the 
Council  at  Philadelphia,  asking  that  a  way  might  be 
cut  through  the  marsh  *  for  vessels  to  pass.  This  was 
referred  "  to  the  County  Court  in  which  the  same 
doth  lye." 

On  September  2,  1775,  the  General  Assembly  de- 
fined the  boundaries  of  the  three  counties  as  follows : 

"  That  flrom  and  after  the  publication  of  this  act  the  line  dividing  the 
counties  of  New  Cattle  and  Kent  continued  fh>m  the  main  branch  of 
Duck  Creek^  nnd  opposite  part  of  Enoch  Jones*  land,  on  the  Kent  side, 
and  Ricliurd  Nash's  land,  on  the  New  Castle  side,  and  running  from 
thence  up  the  said  branch,  on  the  several  courses  thereof,  westward 
602  perches  to  a  white  oak  corner  tree  of  Beqjamin  Hazle  and  Bicbaid 
Hallet's  hinds  at  the  head  of  said  branch,  from  thence  continued  due 
west  1708  perches  till  it  intersects  the  ungent  or  divisional  line  between 
these  counties  and  Maryland,  where  the  same  crosses  the  cjprisB  branch* 
shall  be  deemed  taken  and  held  the  boundary  between  the  said  irountJes 
of  New  Castle  and  Kent ;  and  that  the  line  between  the  counties  of  Kent 
and  Sussex  continued  fh>m  a  fork  of  Mispilllon  Creek  at  the  Junction  of 
Tan-Trough  branch  and  Beaver  Dam  Branch  running  up  the  Tan- 
Trough  branch,  with  the  several  courses  thereof,  8t)8  perches  to  the  bead 
thereof,  thence  south  westwardlj  to  a  small  fork  of  a  small  bnuicfa  of  tbs 
river  Nanticoke,  thence  down  said  branch  to  the  southward  end  of  a 
Beaver  Dam,  on  the  west  side  of  a  Beaver  pond,  the  original  temporary 
division  between  Kent  and  Sussex,  Mar/land,  and  from  thence  due 
west  28G4  to  the  north  and  south  or  tangent  line  aforesaid  shall  be  deemed 
aud  taken  as  the  boundary  line  between  the  counUes  of  Kent  and  Sas* 
sex." 

On  February  3, 1786,an  act  of  Assembly  was  parsed, 
authorizing  the  improving  of  the  navigation  of  main 
Duck  Creek  by  cutting  a  canal  across  three  points  •( 
marsh  adjoining  the  creek  between  Eagle's  Nest 
Landing  and  the  head  of  tide-waters  of  Duck  Creek. 
Thomas  Collins  and  Silas  Snow,  of  Kent  County,  and 

*  llie  territory  of  Bombay  Hook  was  in  New  GasUe  County.  The  date 
of  the  cutting  of  the  outlet  called  Thoroughfare  is  not  known,  but  deeds 
of  1740  riiow  that  it  was  completed  at  that  time. 

*  The  main  branch  of  Duck  Creek  originally  followed  the  coarse  of  old 
Duck  Creek  to  the  west  of  Bombay  Hook  and  Little  Bombay  Hook,  and 
entered  the  bay  at  the  mouth  of  Simon's  or  Dona  Creek,  and  Little  Duck 
Creek,  then  known  as  the  southwest  branch,  emptied  into  the  main 
branch  at  the  point  near  where  it  now  enters  the  bay— the  canal  between 
Bombay  Hook  and  Little  Bombay  Hook  having  been  cut  through  at  a 
Uterday 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1031 


Morinas  Haughey,  of  New  Castle  County,  were  ap- 
pointed commissioners. 

On  January  31, 1811,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act 
dividing  Kent  County  into  five  election  districts,  and 
poiling-placea  were  located  as  follows : 

First  District,  Duck  Creek,  at  the  house  of  David 
Lockwood,  at  Smyrna ;  Second  District,  Little  Creek, 
at  the  house  of  William  Ruth,  at  Port  Landing 
(Leipsic) ;  Third  District,  St.  Jones',  at  Sippie's 
Mill ;  Fourth  District,  Murderkill,  at  the  house  of 
Isaac  Register,  in  Camden;  Fifth  District,  Mispilliou, 
at  the  house  of  George  French. 

In  1812,  **  The  Dovor  Canal  Company, "  composed 
of  Wil lard  Hall,  James  Bykes,  Henry  M.  Ridgely, 
James  Harper,  Jacob  Stout,  Joseph  H.  Raymond  and 
Samuel  White,  with  a  capital  of  $30,000,  was  chartered 
to  straighten  St.  Jones'  Creek  by  cutting  a  canal  from  a 
point  on  the  creek  near  Dover  to  the  tide-waters  of 
Delaware  Bay.  An  uusuccessful  effort  was  made  to 
this  end. 

On  February  9,  1825,  the  Philadelphia,  Dover  and 
Norfolk  Transportation  Company  was  chartered  for 
the  purpose  of  opening  a  ^shorter  passenger  route 
from  Philadelphia  to  Norfolk,  by  steamboat  from 
Philadelphia  to  Dona  Landing,  in  Little  Creek 
Hundred,  thence  by  stage  to  Seaford,  through  Dover, 
Camden,Canterbury,Guineatown  (now  Williamsvilie), 
Teatown  (now  Stay  on  vi  lie),  the  old  village  of  St. 
Johnstown,  and  Bridgeville.  From  Seaford  it  was 
designed  to  utilize  the  Nanticoke  River  steamers  to 
Norfolk.  The  steamer  "  Norfolk"  was  first  put  on 
from  Dover  to  Philadelphia,  and  was  soon  succeeded 
by  the  "  Benjamin  Franklin,"  both  in  charge  of 
Captain  Henry  Manly.  The  "Philadelphia,"  that 
ran  from  Seaford  to  Norfolk,  was  under  Captain 
Daniel  Crocker.  After  operating  three  or  four  years 
the  company  failed,  and  the  route  was  abandoned 
until  1848,  when  a  steamboat,  the  "  Zephyr,"  was  put 
on  from  Philadelphia  to  Dona,  to  connect  with  stages 
to  Dover  and  the  Peninsular  line  of  stages  that  ran 
North  and  South.  This  continued  until  the  railroad 
was  completed.  A  line  of  railroad  was  projected 
over  the  route,  and  partly  graded,  but  never  com- 
pleted. 


CHAPTER    LIV. 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND    CIVIL  LIST. 

On  the  formation  of  St.  Jones,  now  Kent  County, 
in  1680,  the  County  Court  was  established  atTowne 
Point,^  the  residence  of  Edward  Pack,  one  of  the  jus- 
tices, at  the  mouth  of  Jones'  Creek,  where  it  was  held 
until  about  1689  or  1690,  when  it  was  transferred  to 
the  ordinary  or  tavern  of  James  Maxwell.'    In  1683 

1  This  property  was  afterwards  owned  by  William  Darvall,  also  a  Jas- 
tlce. 

t  James  Maxwell,  In  1691,  parcha«ed  one  hnndred  acres  of  William 
Berry,  a  portion  of  Berry's  Bauge,  adjoining  the  tract  afterwards  pur- 
obised  for  a  eoantyseat,  and  now  the  town  of  Dover. 


Wm.  Penn  ordered  that  a  town  be  laid  out  for  the 
Gk)vernor,  to  be  called  Dover,  and  that  the  court- 
house and  prison  be  built  on  the  cross- street  of  the 
said  town.  The  location  of  the  proposed  town  was 
not,  however,  determined  at  that  time.  A  settler 
named  Thomas  Williams  had  located  a  tract  of  four 
hundred  acres  called  Tidbury,  on  the  south  side  of 
Dover  River,  and  a  branch  now  known  as  Tidbury 
Branch,  of  which  one  hundred  acres  were  purchai»ed 
by  Richard  Levick,  who,  in  1684,  with  his  wife, 
donated  it  to  the  county.  The  pro£fer  was  made  by 
Levick  in  open  court  and  Wm.  Clark,  the  county  sur- 
veyor, was  instructed  to  resurvey  the  land  of  Tid- 
bury, together  with  that  of  Abraham  Pratt,  and  what- 
ever cleared  land  was  vacant  "for  the  good  town  of 
Dover."  Although  this  site  was  not  adopted,  it  was 
popularly  regarded  as  the  prospective  county  seat.* 
For  seme  reasons  the  location  proved  unsatisfactory, 
and  on  August  10,  1694,  the  Provincial  Council  at 
Philadelphia  considered  a  communication  from  John 
Brinkloe,  George  Martin  and  Daniel  Jones,  £sqs., 
some  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  county  of 
Kent,  dated  August  4,  1694,  in  which  "  they  signifie  to 
the  L'c  Go'  yt  att  the  time  when  their  Last  Courts  of 
quart'  Sessions  &  commun  pleas  should  have  been 
held  according  to  their  last  ac^'ournment,  the  sd  Geo. 
Martin  and  daniel  Jones  appeared  att  the  place  ap- 
pointed &  wer  willing  to  hold  court,  but  Jn*  Curtes, 
another  of  the  justices,  wold  not  sett,  &  Jn°  Betts, 
another  justice,  sent  word  by  a  Constable  yt  heewold 
never  sitt  ihere,  meaning  at  James  Maxwell's,  att  the 
Head  of  St  Jones's,  wherfor  they  look  on  yo'  com- 
mission void ;  And  there  being  several  actions  of 
moment  depending,  they  request  the  Lt  Gt>^  to  give 
new  commissions."  Of  this  letter  the  "  Lt  Gov'  de- 
sired the  advice  of  the  Council  therein."  The  Coun- 
cil decided  that  "  his  Excellencye's  commissions  are 
in  lorce,  notwithstanding  the  said  Justice's  neglect," 
and  they  were  ordered  to  "  hold  their  courts  accord- 
ingly." It  was  also  ordered  that  the  provincial 
judges  in  their  next  circuit  *'doe  Inspect  and  Inquire 
into  the  disorders  in  the  County  of  Kent,  in  refer- 
ences to  the  time  &  places  of  holding  their  Courts, 
&,  to  see  what  may  be  the  most  proper  place  in  the  sd 
Countie  to  hold  their  Courts  in,  for  the  most  univer- 
sall  care  of  the  sd  Countie,  and  make  report  to  the 
Lt  Gov'  and  Council." 

The  provincial  judges,  Wm.  Clark,  of  Sussex,  and 
Edward  Blake  and  Richard  Hallowell,  of  New  Castle, 
after  consultation  with  the  magistrates,  grand  jury  and 
others  in  Kent  Court,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that 
the  County  Courts  should  be  "  held  on  some  part  of 
ye  land  belonging  to  Wm.  Southerby,  situate  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Head  of  dover  River,  wch  is  next 

» In  a  deed  executed  May  2,  1688,  Saramarke,  an  Indian,  conreyed  to 
Norton  Claypoole  a  tiuct  of  land  **on  this  side  of  DoTer  River  about* 
three  miles  from  the  place  that  Dover  towne  is  Intended  to  be  built/* 
The  part  of  Tidbury  tract  selected  was  in  Murderkill  Hundred,  on  the 
road  Uom  Dover  to  Frederica  and  on  the  high  land  between  Tidbury 
i>ranch  and  Five  Points,  and  is  mid  to  be  the  highest  i)oint  of  land  in  the 
county.  Ct  was  one  and  a  half  miles  from  navigable  waters,  and  a  bet* 
ter  IdcatioD  in  several  respects  than  the  present  si'ie. 


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1032 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


adjoining  unto  david  Morgan*8  land,  And  that  the 
absolute  decree  of  the  sd  Judges  was  accordinglie  & 
that  it  be  as  near  a  Landing  as  may  be,  and  there  the 
same  to  Continue."  Richard  \Vil«jon  and  William 
Morton  were  delegates  to  purchase  the  ground  which 
was  done  on  November  23,  1694.  It  consisted  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  the  tract  called  "Brother's  Portion,"^ 
for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  of  Kent  County,  and 
on  February  4,  1694-95,  it  was  conveyed  to  the  in- 
habitants for  the  sum  of  twenty-five  pounds. 

Thomas  Bedwell  and  William  Rodney  were  wit- 
nesses to  the  deed. 

In  May,  1697,  Richard  Wilson  and  William  Mor- 
ton asked  to  be  relieved  from  further  service  as  a 
building  committee  for  the  court  and  that  some  other 
persons  be  appointed  to  complete  it.  This  was  done, 
and  in  a  petition  of  citizens  May  15,  1699,  reference 
was  made  to  the  recently  purchased  site,  **  whereon 
the  court-house  now  stands."  The  court-house  then 
built  occupied  a  portion  of  a  lot  on  which  the  pres- 
ent court-house  was  erected,  as  the  lot  '*  whereon 
the  old  court-house  now  stands"  was  sold  to  John 
Lindsey,  February  22,  1722,  and  after  the  sale  a 
court-house  was  built  on  the  site  of  the  present 
State-House,  which  is  mentioned  in  a  deed  to  Nicho- 
las Ridgely  in  trust  November  15,  1754,  describing 
the  north  part  of  the  present  county  office  building, 
and  which  is  then  mentioned  as  a  jail  lot. 

Prior  to  1753  Samuel  Dickinson,  John  David, 
John  Vining,  Robert  Wilcocks  and  Benjamin  Chew 
were  appointed  trustees  to  sell  the  jail  and  lot,  and 
to  purchase  a  lot  and  erect  a  new  jail. 

On  April  30,  1772,  Charles  Ridgely,  treasurer  of 
Kent  County,  charged  Caesar  Rodney  and  James 
Sykes  with  "  cash  allowed  to  build  public  offices  * 
and  made  payable  to  them  by  the  Court  of  Appeals, 
the  said  building  being  under  their  direction." 

March  29,  1775,  an  act  was  passed  vesting  the 
lot  of  ground  on  which  the  State- House  now  stands, 
and  lots  twenty-seven  and  thirty-three,  on  which  the 
county  offices  and  jail  now  stand,  in  Ceesar  Rodney, 
Charles  Ridgely,  Samuel  Chew,  William  Killen  and 
Jacob  Stout,  as  trustees.  These  lots  were  described 
as  follows :  "  the  lot  of  land  situate  in  the  court- 
house square  in  the  town  of  Dover,  and  described  in 
a  plot  or  survey  thereof,  recorded  in  the  office  for 
recording  of  deeds  in  the  County  of  Kent,  and 
another  lot  of  land,  divided  from  the  same  by  an 

1  The  tract  purchased  is  descril>ed  as  "situate,  lying  and  being  on  the 
west  side  of  Delaware  Bay  and  on  the  southwest  side  of  a  creek  called 
8t.  Jones*  Creek,  beginning  at  a  marked  white  oak  on  a  point  joyi>ing  to 
David  Morgan's  calfe  pasture ;  from  thence  down  the  said  creek  oue  hun- 
dred perches;  from  thence  west  by  south  three  hundred  and  twenty 
perches;  from  thence  north  and  by  west  one  hundred  perches  to  a 
bounded  comer  tree  on  the  said  tract  of  land,  and  from  thence  east  and 
by  north  by  a  line  of  marked  trees  to  the  first-named  white  oak,  contain- 
ing and  laid  out  for  two  hundred  acres  of  lands.'* 

SThe  old  l>e1I  now  in  the  State  Library  was  hung  in  the  court-house  by 
Thomas  Rodney  in  1770,  and  in  1774  was  employed  to  assemble  •'  the 
freeholders  of  Kent  at  the  court  house  in  the  town  of  Dover,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  acts  of  the  British  Parliament  in  sliutting  up  the 
Port  of  Boston."  When  the  court-house  was  sold  to  the  State,  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  ordered  the  old  bell  put  In  the  State  Library,  *'  to  be  per-" 
petually  preserved  as  a  memorial  of  colonial  times  and  a  relic  of  the  old 
State-Houee." 


alley,  called  the  Court-House  alley,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  said  lot  tirst  mentioned,  have  been  and  now 
are  considered,  taken  and  held  as  ground  belonging 
to  the  public,  and  accordingly  a  court-house  and  a 
building  for  keeping  the  records  of  the  said  County 
of  Kent  have  been  erected  thereon  at  the  charge  of 
the  same  county  ;  .  .  .  another  lot  of  land  lying 
on  the  north  side  of  the  said  lot  last  mentioned,  and 
on  the  east-side  of  Court- House  Square  aforesaid 
and  numbered  in  the  town  plot  of  Dover  twenty- 
seven,  and  contained  within  the  bounds  following, 
to  wit:  beginning  at  a  corner  of  the  office  lot, 
numbered  in  the  aforesaid  town  plot  thirty-three,  and 
running  with  the  line  of  the  said  office  lot,  east  by 
north  ninety-seven  feet;  then  south  by  east  two 
perches  to  the  court-house  alley  ;  then  by  the  said 
alley,  east  by  north  six  perches  ;  then  north  by  east 
three  perches  five  and  a  half  feet  to  the  corner  of  lot 
No.  30  ;  then  with  the  said  lot  west  by  south  eleven 
perches  fourteen  and  a  half  feet  to  the  Court- House 
Square  aforesaid  ;  and  then  therewith  south  by  east 
twenty-two  feet  to  the  place  of  beginning ;  laid  out 
for  twenty -eight  and  a  half  square  perches,  which 
hath  been  purchased  at  the  expense  of  said  County 
of  Kent,  from  a  certain  Jacob  Wells  and  Rebecca 
his  wife,  who  conveyed  the  same  by  their  deed  bear- 
ing date  of  the  30th  day  of  March  last,  to  a  certain 
Jacob  Stout,  in  tru^t  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  said 
County  of  Kent." 

On  December  14,  1776,  Treasurer  Ridgely  charged 
Mr.  Rodney,  as  one  of  the  commissioners  for  building 
the  court-house,  with  eight  hundred  pounds. 

On  February  23,  1779,  John  Bullen  was  paid  five 
hundred  pounds  for  repairs  to  the  court-house  and 
offices. 

The  General  Assembly  met  originally  at  New  Cas- 
tle, but  created  Dover  the  capital  in  1777.  During 
the  interruptions  incident  to  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion the  legislative  sessions  were  held  either 
at  Dover,  Lewes  or  New  Castle.  The  bill  making 
Dover  the  capital  of  the  State  was  passed  May  12, 
1777,  and  its  text  is  as  follows : 

"  Wherea$,  it  Is  Just  that  the  seat  of  GoTemment  should  be  made  as 
central  and  conTenient  to  all  the  Inhabitants  of  the  State  as  poadble  ; 
and 

**  WherwB,  the  holding  of  the  Assembly  in  the  town  of  New  Castle 
has  been  long  found  extremely  bnrthensome  to  the  good  people  of  the 
counties  of  Kent  and  Sussex.    For  remedying  whereof, 

"  Section  2.  B«it  enacted  by  the  Geiwal  At^embly  of  Deloamrs,  and  U 
U  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  sams,  That  from  and  after  this 
present  session,  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State  shall  meet  and  hold 
their  sessions  at  the  town  of  Dover,  in  the  County  of  Kent,  as  well  at 
such  times  as  they  shall  ac^oum  te,  as  at  their  Annual  and  Stated  meet- 
ings to  be  held  on  the  twentieth  day  of  October,  unless  that  day  shall 
happen  to  be  on  a  Sunday,  in  which  case  the  meeUng  shall  be  on  the 
next  day. 

*'  Sbction  3.  Provided^  never^eleee^  That  if  a  foreign  InTaeion  shonkl 
happen  or  any  raging  sicicness  should  prevail  in  the  town  of  Dorer 
aforestiid,  or  any  other  cause  should  make  it  necessary  for  the  AsKmbly 
to  adjourn  to  any  other  place  in  this  State,  they  shall  have  power  to  do 
so. 

■ "  Sbction  4.  And  be  U  /urlher  enacted  by  the  AuthorUy  aforetaid^  That 
so  much  of  any  and  every  of  the  Acts  of  Assembly  of  this  State,  as  re- 
quires the  meeting  and  sitting  of  the  Assembly  at  the  town  of  Mew  Cas- 
tle, is  hereby  rei)euied  and  made  null  and  Void."' 

s  This  act  was  re-enacted  with  amendments  on  Octfber  28,  1779,  be- 
cause the  original  act  had  '*  fallen  Into  the  hands  of  the  Britisb  troops, 
and  hitherto  bath  not,  and  probably  will  not,  be  tqoovwwL" 


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In  1787-88  commissioners  were  appointed  to  preplore 
a  plan  for  a  new  county  court-house,  and  the  General 
Assembly  requested  that  the  projected  improvement 
include  accommodations  for  that  body.  On  May  28, 
1788,  the  commissioners  agreed  to  the  request  of  the 
General  Assembly,  and  asked  for  an  appropriation 
for  the  completion  of  the  building.  This  memorial 
was  referred  to  a  committee  which,  on  June  2,  1788, 
reported  that  "  in  their  opinion  such  is  the  situation 
of  the  treasury,  together  with  loud  complaints  of 
public  creditors  and  their  duty  to  constituents,  that 
the  prayer  of  the  memorial  cannot  be  complied  with 
at  this  time." 

On  June  5,  1788,  all  moneys  arising  from  mar- 
riage and  tavern  licenses  were  appropriated  to  com- 
pleting the  court-house. 

On  July  29,  1791,  a  bill  introduced  by  Kensey 
Johns  was  passed  providing  for  a  lottery  to  raise  one 
thousand  pounds  for  furnishing  the  court-house,  and 
Eleazer  McComb,  James  McClymont,  John  Clayton, 
James  ^ykes,  Jr.,  and  John  Patten  were  appointed 
managers.  The  bill  devoted  the  net  proceeds  to  "  fit- 
ting up  and  preparing  chambers  in  the  new  court- 
house in  the  town  of  Dover  for  the  accommodation 
and  reception  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State, 
and  the  surplusage  of  the  said  sum,  if  any,  shall  be  ap- 
propriated to  the  furnishing  and  completing  the  said 
court-house,"  and  set  apart  in  addition  the  office  in 
the  southeast  comer  of  the  new  building,  also  for 
legislative  purposes.  As  the  building  approached 
completion,  each  of  the  four  corners  were  fitted  up  for 
the  public  offices,  which  were  entered  from  a  side- 
door.  The  register's  office  occupied  the  northwest 
corner,  the  roister  in  chancery  and  clerk  of  the 
Orphans'  Court  the  northeast,  the  prothonotary 
the  southwest,  and  the  recorder  the  southeast  cor- 
ner. The  courts  occupied  the  intervening  space. 
When  the  jail  was  built,  the  clerk  of  the  peace  and 
the  sheriff  had  their  offices  there  until  the  present 
jail  was  finished,  in  1859.  The  legislative  chambers 
were  on  the  second  floor  of  the  court-house. 

On  January  17,  1792,  the  sergeant-at-arms  was 
directed  to  prepare  "  the  office  at  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  8tate-house"  for  the  State  auditor  of 
accounts. 

In  1792  the  Constitutional  Convention  met  at  the 
State  House,  but  the  Legislature  and  the  Levy  Court 
both  being  in  sessioh,  the  convention  adjourned  to 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 

On  May  8,  1792,  it  is  said  that  Sheriff  John  Clay- 
ton, by  order  of  the  Levy  Court,*  entered  the  As- 
sembly rooms  with  drawn  sword,  and  demanded  their 
use  for  the  workmen.  The  General  Assembly  there- 
upon adjourned  to  the  tavern  of  Thos.  Hale,  at 
Duck  Creek  Cross-Roads  (now  Smyrna),  and  contin- 
ued their  session. 

On  May  4, 1792,  the  lower  branch  of  the  General 
Assembly  adopted  the  foil  wing  resolution : 

1  This  action  of  the  Lery  Court  Is  attributed  to  the  failure  of  the  Qen- 
eral  Aaiembly  to  contribute  toward  the  building  of  the  oourt^houoe. 


**  WhtrwUf  John  Clayton,  who  declared  he  qioke  the  eentimenta  of  the 
people  of  Kent  County,  haUi,  as  one  of  the  Commiaaionen  for  completing 
the  Court-IIouse  in  Dover,  Insulted  the  Legislature  of  this  State  by  de- 
nying them  the  use  of  the  chambers  heretofore  occupied  by  the  Qeneral 
Aflsambly  for  holding  their  aeasions,  requiring  them  to  be  delivered  up 
for  the  use  of  workmen  employed  about  the  building,  in  consequences  of 
which  both  houses  have  adjourned  the  seosions  to  Duck  Greek  Croi»> 
Roads;  therefore, 

**Be9olv€d  unanimously,  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  General  Assembly 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  ought  not  to  be  sut]t}ect  to  the  caprice  of  any 
individual  In  the  State,  and  that  it  will  not  be  proper  for  them  to  hold 
their  sessions  in  the  town  of  Dover  until  the  Levy  Court  of  Kent 
County  or  some  other  proper  authority  shall,  by  an  explicit  act,  appropri- 
ate to  their  use  the  Chambers  in  the  mid  Court- House  agreeable  to  the 
intention  heretofore  expressed.* ' 

The  Senate  failed  to  concur  in  the  resolution,  and 
pending  Airther  action  the  difficulty  was  reconciled, 
and  beginning  with  the  next  session,  November,  1792, 
the  General  Assembly  occupied  the  State-House,  and 
have  continued  to  the  present  time. 

On  January  23, 1794,  the  Levy  Court  petitioned  the 
Legislature  to  be  reimbursed  for  expenses  incurred  in 
fitting  up  the  court-house  for  the  use  of  the  General 
Assembly. 

On  February  9, 1795,  the  Legislature  authorized  the 
placing  of  a  copper  roof  on  the  court-house,  the  com- 
pletion of  the  battlements,  the  erection  of  stone  steps 
and  the  painting  of  the  building,  which  was  accom- 
plished at  a  cost  of  $1066.67,  under  the  supervision 
of  special  commissioners  King  Dougall  and  Bobert 
Clark. 

On  January  27,  1835,  Charles  Marim,  Thomas 
Davis  and  Wm.  Herdman  were  appointed  a  legisla- 
tive committee  to  report  on  the  expediency  of  enlarg- 
ing the  Assembly  chambers  and  providing  a  library- 
room,  and  in  1836  a  two-story  and  basement  addition, 
forty  by  fifty  feet,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  about  three 
thousand  dollars.  The  improvements  provided  an 
executive  chamber,  secretary's  office,  and  library  on 
the  lower  floor  and  committee  rooms  on  the  upper 
floor,  in  addition  to  enlarging  the  hall  of  the  house  to 
its  present  capacity. 

The  Legislature  at  the  session  of  1873  appointed  a 
Committee  on  Public  Buildings,  who  reported  their 
conclusion  that  it  was  best  tor  the  interests  of  the 
State  and  of  Kent  County  that  the  title  of  the 
building  should  be  in  the  State,  and  invited  the  Levy 
Court  of  Kent  County  to  inform  them  on  what  terms 
it  could  be  purchased.  The  subject  was  discussed  by 
the  Levy  Court  commissioners,  who  informed  them 
it  could  be  obtained  for  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and 
the  committee  therefore  recommended  to  the  Legisla- 
ture that  it  be  purchased,  and  the  Legislature  passed 
an  act,  April  3,  1873,  the  preamble  of  which  is  as 
follows: 

**  Whkbkas,  the  public  of  Kent  County  is  the  owner  of  a  lot  of  ground 
upon  which  the  court-house  stands,  but  the  building  thereon,  as  it  was 
originally  constructed,  is  the  joint  property  of  the  said  oounty  and  State 
and  the  addition  to  the  building  is  the  property  of  the  State  exclusively 
and  whereas  it  is  deemed  advisable  that  the  State  should  own  the  entire 
premises  aforesaid,  to  the  end  that  the  buildings  thereon  which  are  now 
falling  to  decay  may  be  repaired  and  properly  remodeled  if  necesBary, 
refitted  and  rafnmished  for  the  use  of  the  State  exduaiTely.'* 

The  preamble  further  recites  that  the  title  to  the 
land  on  which  the  State  House  stands  was  vested, 
March  29, 1775,  in  Caesar  Rodney,  Charles  Ridgely, 
Samuel  Chew,  William  Killen  and  Jacob  Stout,  and 


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1034 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


their  suryivon  and  heirs,  and  that  at  the  time  of  thii 
act  the  survivor  of  them  all  being  Jacob  Stoat,  who 
died  in  1855,  and  who  was  theson  of  Jacob,  the  original 
trustee,  leaving  a  son,  Henry,  who  ^Iso  died,  leaving 
th  ree  children  under  age,  all  of  whom  resided  out  of  the 
State  and  jurisdiction,  and  as  Henry  Stout,  the  eldest 
son  of  Henry  Stout,  is  the  heir-at-law,  and  in  whom 
the  title  is  vested,  it  is  enacted 

Sec.  1.  "  That  the  Attorney-General  be  and  U  hereby  directed  to  take 
the  neceeiary  steps  in  the  Court  of  Chancery  of  Kent  County     . 
for  the  appointment  of  a  trustee  in  lieu  of  the  non-resident  heir-at-law 
of  the  said  Henry  Stout  and  ask  the  Court  for  a  decree  at  the  earliest 
period." 

The  Levy  Court,  on  April  10,  1873,  approved 
of  the  action  of  the  Legislature  and  authorized  the 
president,  John  S.  Herri ngton,  to  transact  the  neces- 
sary business.  The  court  aIso  suggested  the  name  of 
Edward  Ridgely  as  trustee  of  the  property,  and  on 
April  30, 1873,  the  chancellor,  Daniel  M.  Bates,  ap- 
pointed Edward  Ridgely  trustee,  in  lieu  of  Henry 
Stout,  non-resident  heir-at-law,  and  on  May  Ist  follow- 
ing Henry  Todd,  as  register  in  Chancery,  conveyed  the 
property  to  Edward  Ridgely  as  trustee,  in  whom  it  is 
now  vested. 

The  act  provided  for  the  payment  of  the  fifteen 
thousand  dollars  to  the  Levy  Court  of  Kent  County, 


DEL  AW  ABE  STATE  CAPITAL. 

which  was  to  be  applied  to  the  erection  of  buildings, 
for  the  use  of  the  courts  of  Kent  Couniy.  Section 
four  provided  the  appropriation  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars  for  the  purchase  and  rearrangement  of  the 
building  convenient  for  State  purposes. 

C.  C.  Stockley,  William  M.  Shakespeare,  Leander 
F.'Riddle,  Lewis  Thompson,  Hugh  Martin  and  John 
Van  Gasken  were  appointed  commissioners  to  super- 
intend the  rearrangement.  The  building  was  re-  - 
modeled  and  repaired  at  a  cost  of  about  eight  thousand 
dollars,  as  it  now  is.  Contract  was  made  with  Man- 
ners, Fisher  &  Co.  for  the  work,  which  was  completed 
in  August,  1874.  The  refurnishing  was  completed 
early  in  December,  1874,  and  on  January  19,  1875, 
Governor  Cochran  was  inaugurated  with  great  cere- 
mony. The  Governor's  room  is  in  the  north  part  of 
the  'main  building,  the  Secretary  of  State's  office  in 


the  south,  and  the  library  in  the  rear,  while  the 
offices  of  the  State  treasurer  and  the  auditor  are  on  the 
right  and  left  of  the  main  entrance. 

The  Levy  Court  of  Kent  County,  on  June  3, 1873, 
soon  after  the  sale  of  the  court-house,  contracted 
with  Curtis  S.  Watson  and  Tobias  B.  Merritt  for  lots 
on  the  corner  of  the  Main  Street  and  the  Public 
Square.  The  deed  of  the  east  lot  from  Mr.  Merritt 
cost  three  thousand  dollars,  bears  date  Oetober  14, 

1873,  and  the  corner  lot  cost  one  thousand  dollars, 
from  Mr.  Watson,  October  28,  1873,  to  Edward 
Ridgely  as  trustee  for  Kent  County.    On    April  30, 

1874,  the  Levy  Court  contracted  with  Fisher  Bookman 
to  build  a  court-house  for  thirty-one  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars.  The  designs  called  for  a  brick 
structure,  sixty  by  eighty  feet,  with  the  first  floor  for 
offices,  second  floor  for  court-room,  grand  jury  and 
witness-rooms,  and  the  third  story  for  a  hall  for  public 
uses.  The  court-room  was  to  be  ready  for  use  by 
October,  1874.  It  was  finished  by  that  time,  but  was 
thought  too  damp  for  use,  and  was  not  occupied  until 
the  next  term,  court  being  held  in  the  Levy  Court 
room  meantime.  Court  was  opened  at  the  next  term 
in  the  new  court-house,  by  Judge  Edward  Gilpin. 

State  Libbaby.^ — It  appears  from  the  records  that 
the  first  intimation  looking  toward  the  formation  of  a 
State  library  was  originated  by  an  act  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  February  2,  1793,  by  which  it  was  made 
the  duty  of  the  secretary  of  State  to  "  cause  not  more 
than  three  hundred  copies,  nor  less  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  of  such  of  them  (laws)  as  are  of  a  public 
nature,  to  be  published  as  soon  as  conveniently  may 
be;''  and  "  when  a  sufficient  number  of  laws  to  form 
a  volume  of  a  convenient  size  have  been  enacted  and 
printed,"  to  have  eighteen  copies  bound  up,  of  which 
he  shall  deliver  "three  to  the  Senate,  and  three  to  the 
House  of  Representatives  of  this  State."  It  was  also 
made  his  duty,  under  like  conditions,  to  transmit 
three  copies  of  the  journals  of  each  House  "  to  the 
Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  for  the  use  of 
the  two  Houses." 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  at 
Dover,  January  27, 1812,  it  was  made  the  duty  of  the 
Governor  ''  to  transmit  to  the  executive  of  each  State 
of  the  United  States,  three  copies  of  the  laws  that 
have  heretofore  been  enacted ;  and  also,  three  copies 
of  all  laws  that  shall  be  hereafter  enacted  annually, 
and  request  alike  interchange  from  them;"  and  that 
"  the  secretary  of  State  cause  such  further  number  of 
copies  of  the  laws  of  this  State  to  be  annually 
printed,  ...  so  as  to  enable  the  Governor  to  comply 
with  this  act." 

On  the  25th  of  January,  two  days  previously,  the 
subject  of  establishing  a  State  library  was  agitated 
before  the  State  Senate  and  a  resolution  offered  in 
that  body  "  that  a  committee  of  three  members  be 
appointed,  on  the  part  of  the  Senate,  to  confer  with 
the  like  number  to  be  appointed  on  the  part  of  the 
House  of   Representatives,   on    the  expediency  of 

1  Ck>ntributed  by  John  C.  Gooden,  State  Librarian. 


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establishing  a  library  for  the  use  of  the  General 
Assembly,  Governor,  secretary  of  State,  attorney- 
general,  treasurer  and  auditor  of  accounts,"  which 
resolution  was  called  up  on  the  28th  and  its  adoption 
**  determined  in  the  negative," 

By  a  joint  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
February  14, 1816,  the  act  of  January  27,  1812,  was 
amended,  and  the  number  of  copies  of  the  laws  was 
Increased  to  nine  for  the  use  of  the  Senate  and 
twenty-one  for  the  House  of  Representatives. 

Thus  the  embryonic  State  library  continued  in  its 
inchoate  state  until  the  session  of  1832,  presumably  in 
charge  of  the  secretary  of  State,  when,  on  the  4th  of 
February  of  that  year,  the  General  Assembly  by  joint 
resolution  appointed  William  Johnson  and  Ignatius 
T.  Ck)oper,  Esq.  (Rev.  I.  T.  Cooper,  D.D.),  "  com- 
missioners to  take  in  charge  and  trust  the  books  and 
papers  in  the  libraries  of  this  Legislature;  and  so 


KENT  COUNTY  COUBT-HOU8E. 

arrange  them  on  the  shelves  and  within  the  archives 
of  the  said  library,  that  they  may  be  readily  referred 
to  as  needed  by  the  members,  <&c." 

They  were  succeeded  by  William  R.  Morris,  Feb- 
ruary 8,  1833 ;  by  James  H.  M.  Clayton,  February  13, 
1835;  by  Hon.  Joseph  P.  Comegys  (now  chief  justice), 
February  22, 1837 ;  by  Henry  Eubanks,  February  5, 
1841,  *'  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  take  charge  of  the 
Library  of  this  State ;  to  arrange  and  put  in  proper 
order  all  the  books  and  papers  deposited  therein." 

By  a  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly,  of  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1843,  "the  State  Library  of  this  State"  was 
**  placed  under  the  control  of  the  judges  of  the  Supe- 
rior Court,"  etc.,  under  which  resolution  the  library, 
for  the  next  four  years,  was  in  charge  of  Joseph  Buck- 
master  as  crier  of  the  court. 

By  resolution  of  General  Assembly  of  February  25, 
1847,  Samuel  C.  Leatherbury  was  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  the  *'  library  room ; "  he  was  succeeded  by 


Samuel  Brown,  March  6, 1851 ;  by  S.  C.  Leatherbury^ 
March  2, 1855 ;  by  Zadoc  L.  Butler,  March  3, 1857 ; 
by  Henry  H.  Flowers,  February  24,  1859;  by  David 
Clayton,  March  7,  1861 ;  of  whom  the  last  four  re- 
ceived a  yearly  compensation  of  fifty  dollars,  with  the 
exception  of  David  Clayton,  who  received  forty-five 
dollars. 

Up  to  this  time  (1863)  the  library  was  kept  in  a  very 
indiffereot,  slip-shod  manner ;  very  little  time  or  atten- 
tion was  paid  to  the  "  safe-keeping  and  preservation 
of  the  books  thereof,  by  reason  whereof  very  many,  if 
not  by  far  the  greater  proportion,  of  the  books  were 
either  lobt  or  appropriated  to  the  use  of  private  indi- 
viduals, to  such  an  extent,  in  fact,  that  a  complete  set 
of  the  elementary  works  or  any  of  the  reports  could 
scarcely  be  found  there ;  the  Library  failed  in  a  great 
measure  to  answer  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  estab- 
livhed,  and  unless  the  missing  books  be  soon  recovered, 
they  must  be  lost  forever,  and  the  Library  remain  in 
an  entirely  useless  condition,  or  be  restored  to  a  credi- 
table and  useful  condition,  by  replacing  the  books  so 
missing  at  an  enormous  cost  to  the  State."  In  con- 
sequence of  the  above-recited  state  of  facts,  the  G^n- 
ejral  Assembly  by  joint  resolution,  adopted  March  13, 
1863,  appointed  Charles  P.  Wetherby  "  Superintend- 
ent of  the  State  Library,"  whom  they  "  authorized 
and  directed  to  search  throughout  the  State  for  any 
and  all  books  missing  from  the  State  Library,  and  to 
take  the  same  wherever  found,  and  place  and  deposit 
them  in  proper  order  on  the  shelves  prepared  for  that 
purpose  in  the  State  Library  Room."  He  was  also 
further  directed  to  catalogue  and  to  label  each  book 
with  the  words  **  Delaware  State  Library,"  and  to 
"  keep  a  list  of  all  books  and  papers  by  him  received 
from  time  to  time  for  deposit  in  the  said  Library,  and 
to  enter  any  and  all  books  so  received  on  the  catalogues 
aforesaid,  and  cause  the  same  to  be  labelled  in  the 
manner  before  provided."  From  that  day  we  date  a 
new  era  in  the  history  of  the  formation,  growth  and 
prosperity  of  the  "  Delaware  -State  Library."  Mr. 
Wetherby  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  G.  O.  Harrington, 
March  21, 1871 ;  by  Hugh  J.  Enright,  April  9, 1873, 
who  was  required  to  catalogue  and  label  the  books  as 
had  been  done  ten  years  previously,  for  which  he  was 
to  receive  a  salary  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars 
per  annum. 

March  25, 1875,  Cecil  C.  Fulton  was  appointed  custo- 
dian of  the  State  Capitol  building  and  State  librarian, 
and  the  salary  increased  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. He  was  succeeded  by  George  O.  Shakespeare, 
March  14, 1877 ;  by  Richard  R.  Kenney  (now  adju- 
tant-general of  the  State)  Februarv  13,  1879,  who 
issued,  in  1881,  the  first  and  only  printed  catalogue  of 
the  State  Library.  These  two  last-named  received  a 
salary  of  only  three  hundred  dollars. 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  at 
Dover,  March  30, 1883,  entitled  ''  An  Act  to  establii<h 
the  State  Library,"  the  library  was  placed  on  a  securer 
basis,  and  the  office  of  the  librarian  made  an  execu- 
tive   instead    of  a    legislative    appointment.     The 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


librarian  is  required  to  "  take  the  oath  of  office  and 
give  a  bond  to  the  State  in  the  sum  of  two  thousand 
dollars,  with  two  sureties,  to  be  approved  by  the 
Gk)yernor,  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of 
his  official  duties."  The  salary  of  the  office  was  in- 
creased to  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  annum.  The 
sum  of  seventy-five  dollars  was  appropriated  annually 
as  a  contingent  fund  for  the  necessary  expenses  of 
the  State  Library,  and  the  further  "  sum  of  three  hun- 
dred dollars  to  be  expended  by  the  librarian,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Court  of  Errors  and  Appeals,  for 
judiciary  reports,  and  not  for  text  books,  preference 
being  given  to  supplying  the  missing  volumes  of  sets 
of  reports  in  the  library." 

Under  this  act  Samuel  D.  Truitt  was  appointed 
State  librarian,  April  7, 1883 ;  he  was  succeeded  by 
John  C.  Gk>oden,  the  present  incumbent,  April  5, 1887. 

From  the  comparatively  insignificant  number  of 
books  in  charge  of  the  secretary  of  State  in  1793,  with 
the  slight  increase  in  1816,  the  **  Delaware  State 
Library,"  by  purchase,  by  inter-State  and  inter- 
national exchange,  has  grown  to  magnificent  propor- 
tions, now  numbering  over  nineteen  thousand 
volumes.  The  library,  devbid  of  novels  and  light 
literature  generally,  is  a  department  of  legal  and 
miscellaneous  reference,  comprising  chiefly  standard 
works  of  history,  biography,  science  and  art,  Con- 
gressional publications,  judiciary  reports,  text-books 
and  State  laws.  The  library  was  kept  in  the  eastern 
wing  of  the  Capitol,  in  the  rear  of  the  old  court- room, 
but,  owing  to  want  of  space,  a  large  part  of  the  valuable 
miscellaneous  works  are  packed  in  boxes  and  stowed 
away  in  the  cellar  and  attic  of  the  State- House.  In 
1873,  the  State  having  obtained  the  sole  title  to  the 
Capitol  building,  and  the  courts  having  vacated  their 
restricted  quarters  for  their  new  and  more  commo- 
dious building,  the  library-room  was  enlarged  to 
three  times  its  former  capacity ;  yet,  notwithstanding 
this  additional  facility  for  shelving,  the  State  Library 
has  outgrown  its  narcow,  contracted  shell,  till  now 
hundreds  of  volumes  of  valuable  miscellaneous- 
works  are  stored  away  in  boxes  and  piled  in  tiers  on 
the  library  floor.  It  is  a  duty  that  the  General 
Assembly  owes  to  the  present  generation  and  to  future 
posterity  to  provide  more  ample  room  for  the  ever 
increasing  voluminous  works  of  man's  intellectual 
achievement,  and  we  doubt  not  that  the  next  General 
Assembly  will  take  proper  measures  to  afibrd  adequate 
space,  and  provide  the  necessary  protection  against 
loss  by  fire  of  invaluable  works  that,  once  lost  or 
destroyed,  could  never  be  restored  nor  supplied. 

The  Office  Building.— This  lot.  No.  33,  was 
set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  county  upon  the  lay- 
ing out,  and  the  title  has  been  in  the  county  since 
1694.  The  old  rough-cast  building  that  was  formerly 
used  for  a  jail  and  office  was  ordered  to  be  torn  down, 
and  a  new  fire-proof  building  erected  on  its  site  by 
the  Levy  Court  of  Kent  County  at  the  March  ses- 
sion, 1868.  George  W.  Cummins,  Wilson  L.  Can- 
non, Henry  Bidgely,    Joseph  P.    Comegys,    Alex. 


Johnson  and  R.  W.  Reynolds  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee "  to  cause  to  be  erected  a  new  fire-proof  county 
building." 

They  at  once  employed  Alonzo  H.  Reynolds,  an 
architect  of  Port  Deposit,  Md.,  to  draw  plans,  which 
were  accepted,  advertised  for  proposals  and  accepted 
one  from  William  Greaves,  of  Wilmington,  with 
whom  they  made  a  contract  for  nine  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars.  Andrew  Smithera, 
of  Dover,  was  chosen  to  superintend  the  work.  On 
the  8th  of  February,  1859,  the  building  was  declared 
completed  by  the  committee,  and  it  was  soon  after 
occupied. 

A  metallic  box  was  placed  in  a  comer-stone  in  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  base  of  the  second  story, 
containing  a  copy  of  all  the  newspapers  of  the  State, 
names  of  the  Levy  Court  commissioners,  names  of 
all  State  and  county  officers,  population  of  Dover 
and  various  other  things. 

Almshouse. — In  1775  an  act  passed  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  three  lower  counties  for  the  relief  of  the 
poor,  authorizing  the  appointment  of  overseers  and 
giving  them  powers  to  bind  out  children  and  to  pro- 
vide means  for  the  support  of  the  poor.  Nothing  of 
any  importance  was  done  in  this  county  under  this 
act.  An  act  passed  the  General  Assembly  of  Dela- 
ware January  29, 1791,  authorizing  the  purchase  of 
land  and  the  erection  of  a  poor-house  in  each  county 
and  the  appointment  of  overseers.  Overseers  were 
appointed  under  this  act  for  each  county,  those  for 
Kent  County  being  James  Morris,  Manlove  Emerson, 
John  Patten,  James  Sykes,  William  Kirkley,  Isaac 
Davis  and  William  Berry.  Section  twenty-eight  of 
the  act  of  1791  declared  that  the  poor  of  each  county 
should  wear  a  badge  of  red  cloth  on  the  left  arm, 
which  had  upon  it,  in  Roman  characters,  the  letters 
P.  N.,  P.  K.  or  P.  S.,  for  the  different  counties. 

The  overseers  above-mentioned,  except  James  Mor- 
ris and  Isaac  Davis,  met  in  the  town  of  Dover  on  the 
8d  of  February,  and  organized  by  the  election  of 
James  Sykes  president.  It  was  ordered  at  this  meet- 
ing that  lists  of  the  poor  of  each  hundred  should  be 
obtained  and  handed  in  at  the  next  meeting.  On 
February  8th  another  meeting  was  held,  and  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  view  houses  near  Camden  to 
keep  the  poor  in ;  and  a  dwelling  in  that  place  was 
rented  on  February  28th,  for  temporluy  use  as  a  poor- 
house.  The  overseers  reported  the  9th  of  February, 
and  advised  the  purchase  of  the  Vashel  house  and 
plantation,  then  owned  by  Jonathan  Hunn,  Jr.  The 
purchase  of  seventy-three  acres  was  made  in  Febru- 
ary, 1791,  for  £424  10«.  This  land  was  part  of  the 
tract  taken  up  by  John  Barnes  before  1700,  and 
called  '*  Barnes'  Chance."  The  title  was  in  some  way 
not  fully  completed,  and  on  January  4,  1804,  Jabei 
Jenkins  and  wife,  in  consideration  of  one  dollar, 
conveyed  the  property  to  the  trustees  of  the  poor. 

On  the  28th  of  February  the  trustees  ordered  the 
Vashel  house  fitted  up  for  the  use  of  the  poor,  and 
it  was  occupied  in  June  of  that  year.    On  October 


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diet  a  log  dwelling-housey  oae  story  high,  sixteen  by 
twenty  feet,  was  ordered  to  be  built  on  the  southeast 
side  of  the  main  building,  for  the  use  of  the  overseer 
and  his  family ;  and  in  the  same  year  a  log  smoke- 
house, sixteen  feet  square,  was  also  erected. 

On  the  80th  of  March,  1792,  twenty-six  acres  of  the 
land  on  the  west  side  was  sold  to  James  McClyment, 
and  in  April,  1799,  a  cook-house,  sixteen  by  eighteen 
feet  was  built.  On  July  7,  1800,  a  wooden  building, 
sixteen  by  twenty-two  feet,  two  stories  high,  was 
ordered  to  be  erected  for  the  use  of  deranged  persons 
and  for  the  use  of  the  poor  negroes.  In  July,  1811, 
arrangements  were  made  for  the  erection  of  the 
building  now  called  the  White  Woman's  House, 
built  of  brick,  three  stories  high,  twenty -four  by 
fifty-two  feet,  which  was  completed  in  1812.  John 
Tucker,  now  (1888)  liying  at  Dover,  when  a  lad,  as- 
sisted in  its  erection.  A  few  years  later  a  frame 
dwelling  was  erected  for  the  overseer  to  the  west  of 
the  log  hut  The  Colored  House  was  built  of  brick 
in  1853,  and  in  1854  the  brick  building,  three  stories 
in  height,  fifty  feet  front,  with  two  wings  twenty- 
four  by  thirty  feet  each,  was  erected  on  the  opposite 
aide  of  the  street  and  is  used  for  males  apd  for  the 
confinement  of  the  insane.  In  1880  the  present 
frame  dwelling,  thirty  by  forty  feet  and  eighteen  by 
twenty-eight  feet,  for  Uie  use  of  the  overseer,  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand  dollars.  Besides 
the  lands  purchased  for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the 
county,  above  mentioned,  one  hundred  acres  addi- 
tional, being  part  of  the  tract  called  Springfield,  was 
purchased  of  Daniel  Mifflin  February  11,  1819. 
Since  then  nineteen  acres  were  purchased  May  1, 
1854,  of  Thomas  H.  England,  ninety  acres  on  April 
11,  1863,  of  Benjamin  Stradley,  one  hundred  and 
thirty-two  acres  on  January  9,  1868,  of  William  H. 
Wallace,  and  thirty  acres  on  November  2, 1870,  of 
James  Kearsey. 

The  overseers  of  the  almshouse  from  the  opening 
have  been  as  follows : 


ThomM  Wnd... Feb.  8, 1791 

DmTid  Pell Feb.  15, 1791 

J«mee  Newman.. Feb.  18, 1792 

TbomM  WUd .Jan.  20, 1794 

Stephen  MlUer .Jan.  20, 1796 

ThonuB  wnd. 1799 

iMac  Lnokwood .Jan.  <(,  1800 

Jamee  8orden.....».....Jan.  6, 1804 

Gideon  Cnlltn 1805 

Thonutf  Pornell... ......March,  1816 

Jamee  Schee Aug.  18,1818 

Oldeon  CnUin July,  1824 


Philip  Raain...» March,  1828 

Alexander  Jackson.. ..March,  1829 

Hughett  aayton March,  1833 

Jamei  S.  Boyer .......July,  1838 

Thomae  Jakes March,  1860 

Thomas  Pumell March,  1850 

William  Dickson March,  1858 

Kli  T.  Layton March,  1872 

Thomas  B.  Lewis March,  1886 

Edward  B.  Smith March,  1886 

Edwin  B.  Downes...March  1,  1887 


The  report  of  the  directors  for  the  year  ending 
March  1, 1887,  shows  that  from  all  sources  $10,641.85 
have  been  received,  and  $2874.83  have  been  expended 
for  salaries  and  miscellaneous  bills.  For  the  expenses 
of  the  poor,  outside  of  the  almshouse,  $1276.20  have 
been  appropriated,  and  $902.18  for  permanent  im- 
provements and  repairs,  $1876.18  for  supplies  pur- 
chased for  the  farm,  $3704.04  for  supplies  for  in- 
mates, family,  farm-hands,  etc., — making  a  total  of 


$10,633.43.     The   produce  of  the  farm  during  the 
year  was  estimated  at  $4688.44. 

The  trustees  of  the  poor  for  1887  were  J.  Henry 
Jefferson,  for  Duck  Creek;  David  L.  Spruance  for 
Kenton ;  John  W.  Fenimore  for  Little  Creek ;  Wm. 
Dyer,  for  East  Dover;  James  Williams,  for  West 
Dover;  John  G.  Graham,  for  North  Murderkill ; 
Abner  Dill,  for  South  Murderkill ;  Joseph  Booth,  for 
Mispillion  ;  William  J.  Townsend,  for  Milford. 

The  officers  of  the  board  are  James  Williams, 
president;  John  W.  Fenimore,  treasurer;  J.  G. 
Graham,  secretary ;  £.  B.  Downes,  overseer. 

Kent  County  Jail. — The  early  deeds  concerning 
the  property  of  this  town  make  repeated  mention  of 
the  jail  lot,  and  on  the  map  made  in  1740  by  Thomas 
Noxon,  it  is  laid  down  as  being  forty  and  a  half  feet 
on  the  public  square  running  east  and  north  to 
North  Street.  It  is  on  this  land  on  the  public  square 
that  the  first  jail  was  erected.  Proof  of  this  is  found 
in  the  deed  from  the  Dover  commissioners,  August  12, 
1729,  to  Charles  Hillyard.  His  lot  begins  ''  at  the 
northwesterly  corner  of  the  prison  in  the  Court- 
House  Square,"  thence  west  by  north  thirty  feet  to  a 
corner  of  Thomas  Tarrant's  lot.  Hillyard's  lot  was 
the  one  on  which  the  printing-office  of  J.  Kirk  &  Son 
now  stands.  At  that  time  lot  33,  ninety-seven  feet 
deep  on  the  square,  and  a  part  of  lot  No.  27  belonged 
to  the  county. 

This  lot  was  sold  by  the  commissioners  to  Nicholas 
Ridgely,  November  15, 1754,  but  no  mention  at  this 
time  is  made  of  the  jail  being  located  upon  it. 

Lot  33  in  the  map  of  1740  is  marked  offices,  and 
as  the  old  rough-cast  brick  building,  about  twenty  by 
thirty-six  feet,  used  for  offices,  stood  upon  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  the  office  building,  and  contained  cells 
which  were  used  for  prisoners  as  late  as  1827-28, 
when  the  jail  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire,  the 
inference  is  that  this  venerable  edifice  was  in  the 
first  instance  both  the  public  offices  and  the  public 
prison.  Some  time  between  1759  and  1763,  when 
James  Hamilton  was  Governor,  Samuel  Dickinson, 
John  David,  John  Vining,  Bobert  Willcocks  and 
Benjamin  Chew  were,  by  act  of  General  Assembly, 
appointed  trustees  to  sell  the  **  Goal  and  lot  in  Dover 
and  to  purchase  another  lot  for  the  building  of  a  new 
Goal."  It  does  not  appear  that  they  sold  the  goal 
and  lot,  but  on  the  13th  of  March,  1775,  lot  27, 
occupied  by  the  present  jail,  was  purchased  of  James 
Wells  by  Jacob  Stout  for  the  use  •f  Kent  County.  A 
brick  jail,  about  forty  by  fifty  feet,  was  erected  upon 
this  lot,  partly  on  the  site  of  the  rear  of  the  present 
stone  part  of  the  jail  building.  In  the  absence  of 
Levy  Court  records  it  is  impossible  to  determine  the 
year  in  which  it  was  built.  Thomas  Fisher  was 
sheriff  from  November,  1824,  to  November,  1828,  and 
on  Saturday  night,  October  27,  1827,  the  jail  was  set 
on  fire  by  William  Greenly,^  an  inmate  of  the  prison, 

1  Greenly  wm  tried  for  anK>ii,  convicted  and  sentenced  to  be  executed. 
A  few  days  before  the  time  appointed  a  pardon  was  procured.  He  was 
not  told  of  It,  but  it  was  thought  best  he  should  be  out  of  the  country. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


confined  for  horse-stealing.  The  prisoners  were 
removed  to  the  old  prison  in  the  rough-cust  building, 
And  there  kept  until  the  jail  was  rebuilt,  the  old  walls 
being  in  good  condition.  It  was  completed  and  used 
until  the  present  one  was  erected  in  1872. 

Agitation  began  for  a  new  jail  about  1870,  and  in 
the  March  session  of  the  Levy  Court  of  1 871  John  Yon 
(Raskin,  Charles  Hillyard  and  William  D.  Fowler  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  mature  plans.  At  the  April 
session  it  was  resolved  that  a  sheriff's  house  should 
be  built  in  connection  with  the  prison,  and  Edmund 
Bailey,  J.  Frank  Denny  and  James  G.  Waples  were 
authorized  to  contract  with  a  competent  architect  for 
plans  and  specifications  for  a  sheriff's  house  and 
prison,  the  cost  not  to  exceed  $30,000.  Plans  were 
drawn  by  Mr.  Sloan,  an  architect,  and  accepted  on 
April  27th.  The  committee  were  authorized  to 
advertise  for  proposals  to  be  handed  in  by  May  22d. 
The  time  was  extended  to  May  27th,  when  ^ve  pro- 
posals were  received,  ranging  from  $34,500  to  $49,467. 
None  were  accepted,  but  on  June  6th  a  contract  was 
made  with  Alonzo  H.  Reynolds  and  Charles  Hillyard 
for  the  construction  of  the  buildings  for  $34,125. 
The  work  was  declared  completed  May  28, 1872,  by 
the  Building  Committee, — John  S.  Harrington,  J. 
Frank  Denny  and  William  H.  Hobson.  Extra  work 
by  contractors  amounted  to  $1116.90,  and  other 
expenses  were  $5000,  making  a  sum  total  of  $40,241.90. 

The  counties  of  New  Castle  and  Sussex  established 
the  stocks  and  whipping-posts  soon  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  their  courts.  The  loss  of  all  early  records  of 
Kent  County,  except  those  of  register  and  recorder, 
reader  it  difficult  to  determine  many  things  that 
were  known  to  exist. 

The  first  county  records  concerning  stocks  and 
whipping-post  is  in  the  account  of  Dr.  Charles 
Bidgely,  treasurer  of  Kent  County. 

It  shows  that  John  Vining  had  contributed  five 
pounds  for  the  erection  of  stocks  and  whipping-post 
and  had  paid  to  Samuel  Johnson  three  pounds  and 
ten  shillings  for  building  the  stocks.  Where  they 
were  located  is  not  known.  In  1793  the  Levy  Court 
had  ordered  the  erection  of  whipping-post  and  pillory 
on  the  public  square  in  front  of  the  court-house,  but 
the  Qeneral  Assembly,  on  the  14th  of  June  in  that 
same  year  by  act  ordered  it  erected  on  the  court-house 
lot,  east  of  the  court-house  or  in  some  place  the  pro- 
thonotary  thought  best. 

Judge  George  P.  Fisher,  who,  as  a  little  boy,  lived 
in  the  jail  with  his  father,  then  sheriff,  says  it  stood 
in  1826  about  where  the  double  gates  are  that  open 
into  the  jail  near  the  office  building. 

CIVIL  LIST  OF  KENT  COUNTY. 
Prothonotartes. 


Jamet  Sykea. March  8, 1777 

Jamea  Sykes March  15, 1782 

James  Sykes April  4, 1787 

JoMph  Hale Oct.  1,  1798 

Jowph  Hale Oct.  1,  1798 

John  Hamin Oct.  3, 1803 

Jonathan  Pollen Jan  9,  1806 

James  Harper.. SepC  2,  1807 

Nathaniel  Smitheri...Dec.  22, 1810 
Nathaniel  Smithen.... Dec 23,  1815 

Joseph  Smithers Dec.  25,  1820 

Joseph  Smithen Sept.  28, 1825 

John  H.  SccIestine...Aiig.  24, 1830 


Wm.  Rodney June  10, 1693 

Boqjamin  Shnrmer 1702 

Hugh  Dorburrow.. Aug.,  1735 

John  Honseman April  7, 1736 


Samuel  Chew 1738 

Nicholas  Ridgely 1743 

John  Vining Feb.  26, 1765 

Samuel  Chew- Nor.  21,  1770 


and  the  cell-door  was  left  unlocked.    He  took  adrantage  of  it  and  fled. 
He  nerer  came  to  this  section  again,  and  never  knew  he  was  pardoned. 


John  H.  Ecc]eatine...Jan.  18, 1831 
John  H.  Ecclestine... Jan.  18,  1837 

Cbariee  Klmmey .Jan.  18, 1843 

Robert  H.  Moore ^ 1846 

Samoel  Biddle Jan.  18, 1847 

Alex.  J.  Taylor Aug.  10,  1861 

Richard  N.  Merriken...0ct.  13, 1856 

Wm.  Sharp ^Oct  14,  1861 

BeiU.  Donobo ^  Oct.  15, 1866 

Wm.  D.  Fowler ....Oct.,  1872 

J.  D.  Burton Oct.  16, 1876 

Joseph  Bnrchenal  -...Oct.  17,  1881 
Joseph  Burchenal Oct  18, 1886 


Recorders, 


Wm.  Rodney  1 .June  10,  1693 

Bei\|amin  Shurmsr ......1702 

Hugh  I>nrburrow-....A-ng.  5, 1736 

John  Houseman April  7,  1736 

John  Vining Dec.  6, 1764 

Theodore  Maurice April  1,  1766 

Cesar  Rodney 1764 

Wm.  Berry 1776 

Simon  W.  Wilson- 1780 

Francis  Many 1790 

Simon  W.  Wilson Not.  1, 1794 

John  Giton May  26, 1802 

John  Caton - Jan.  14, 1806 

Wm.  Russell March  20, 1805 

Masoal  Clark ....Feb.  2, 1811 

Archibald  McOOl June  7, 1813 

John  W.  Boy«r Jan.  28, 1814 

Jtegisteri 

BeiUMnin  Shurmer 1702 

Hugh  Durburrow......Ang.  5,  1736 

John  Houseman Apl.  7, 1736 

Theodore  Maurice....Feb.  26, 1766 

Ciesar  Rodney May  26, 1766  i 

Thomas  Rodney Oct.,  1779  | 

Francis  Many Oct.  4, 1788 

Thomas  White Oct.  18,  17M 

John  Laws -Feb.  26,  1796 

Isaac  Davis .July  26, 1799 

Thomas  Commeford....3ept.,  1804 

N.  Smithers Apr.  9,1806 

James  Harper Dec.  22,  1810 

John  Clark -....Not.  27, 1816 


John  W.  Manny  .-...July  20,  1816 

Charles  Kimmey- Feb.  8,  1823 

Heni7  M.  Ridgely. -March  1,  1833 

Peter  Adams Jan.  18, 1837 

Wm.  H.  Cooper ...Oct  3, 1838 

Wm.  H.  Cooper May  1, 1841 

James  B.  Ralston. May  1,  1846 

Warner  M.  CowgUI...Jaii.  20, 1848 

James  Legg- Aug.  7,  1861 

George  M.  ColIier.....Feb.  28, 1862 

George  E.  Ralston Feb.  29, 186e 

George  B.  Dickson.. ..Feb.  29, 1860 

A,  J.  Wright.^ ....March,  1865 

John  Slay March  9, 1870 

Andrew  J.  Wilson— March  9,  1876 

JohnC.  Gooden. March  9, 1880 

Presley  Spruance..  -March  9, 1886 

of  miu. 

Arthur  Jofans»........JfoT. 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood....Mar. 

Henry  M.  Ridgely... Mar. 
Wm.  H.  I.  Comegys-Mar. 

Charies  Polk Mar. 

John  Roughley -Mar. 

R.  W.  Reynolds. Mar. 

Daniel  0.  Godwin Mar. 

James  L.  HeTttrin...-Mar. 
Moses  Harrington. ...Mar. 
John  C.  PennewiU...Mar. 
John  C.  PennewilI...Mar. 

J.  Frank  Wllds- Mar. 

James  L.  HeTerin-...Jan. 


27.1880 
6,1828 
13,1833 
13,1838 
18,1843 
14,1848 
16,1863 
16»185e 
19,1883 
20,1868 
22,1873 
22,1878 
22,1883 
22,1888 

RegUters  of  Court  of  Chancery  and  Clerks  of  Orphans' 
Court, 


Joseph  Hale Jan.  18,  1794 

Jonathan  Pollen Jan.  4,  1606 

James  Harper Feb.  2,  1807 


James  F.  Allee. -Sept  24, 1842 

John  A.  Moore Mar.,  1848 

John  K.  Jarvis Mar.,  18AS 


Wm.  P.  Russell „.Dec.  22,  1810  ]    James  F.  Allee Oct,  \9S: 


Mascall  Clark Aug.  28, 1811 

Archibald  McCall  ....June  16, 1813 
Nanthl.  8mither^  Jr....Feb.  7, 1816 

Joseph  Harper Feb.  7, 1821 

Joseph  L.  Harpar Feb.  9, 1831 

Foster  Prickett Not.  6,  1836 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood...Sept  24, 1838 


W.  H.J.  Comegys ...Oct,  1862 

W.  R.  Gaboon ....Sept ,  1863 

Alex.  J.  Tkylor Feb.  24, 1868 

Henry  Todd Feb.  2i,  1873 

Henry  Todd......... Feb.  27,  U78 

Wm.  H.  Hob«>n- Feb.  27,  1883 


Sheriffs. 

Peter  Bowcomb< 1680  I   Richard  MitcheU Mar.,  1684 

Peter  Bowcomb* Mar.  10, 1683  '  George  Martin July  28, 1685 

>He  was  appointed  by  GoTemor  BeiU«min  Fletcher,  who  says,  "to 
bee  my  Deputy  In  the  County  of  Kent  and  as  such  to  enroule  and  record 
all  such  deeds  and  other  wrighUngs  that  are  fltt  to  be  recorded  in  th« 
said  county,  as  also  to  bee  my  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Prorinciall  courts  in 
the  said  County.'* 

«  Fmncifl  Whitwell,  one  of  the  magistrates  of  Kent  County,  in  a  let- 
ter to  Governor  Andross,  November  20,  1680,  writes  for  the  appointment 
of  sheriff  as  follows  : 

•*  That  as  your  Exellency  hath  not  commlsslonated  any  person  in  this 
county  to  be  sherefe,  but  hath  Deputed  att  the  present  to  serre  in  that 


s  By  Assembly  at  Philadelphia. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1039 


John  Hill July  6, 16M 

Arthur  Mttton.....^ 1691 

Wm.  Wilton Apr.  20,  1704 

CharlM  Hillyard 172S 

Wm.  Rodney .Oct  3, 1724 

John  Hall 1731 

Daniel  Rodney ..^...1735 

Jonathan  Raymond 1730 

John  Clayton 1763 

Cnar  Rodney Feb.  26, 1756 

Thomas  Parke Oct.  6, 1768 

Wm.  Rhodes Oct.  4,  1760 

Daniel  Robinson Oct.  4, 1763 

Thomas  Collins. .Jan.  26, 1761 

James  Wells „.Oct.  6,  1767 

James  CsldwelL Oct.  6,  IHO 

John  Cook «..Oct.  5, 1772 

Philip  Barralt June  10, 1778 

EMkiel  Andenon .^1780 

Andrew  Bamtt.. 1780 

Xzeklel  Anderson.. 1792 

Risdon  Bishop 1796 

BrinckleRae 1800 

Darid  Lockwood Oct.  6, 180t 

Wm.  Clark Oct.  8, 1807 

Cornelius  BattelL. Oct.  4, 1810 

John  Reed,  Jr. Oct.  11, 1813 

Enoch  Joyce......... Oct.  6, 1816 

Reuben  Andeison Oct.  7, 1819 

Rich'd  M.  Harrington.Feb.  2, 1820 
Rich*d  M.  Harriugton..Oct.  6, 1820 

Thomas  Fisher .Sept.  6, 1821 

Wm.  Saubbnry .Oct.  6,  1821 

Thomas  Fisher Oct  9, 1824 


Neheraiah  Clark Oct.  6,  1827 

Nehemiah  Clark Not.  10, 1828 

Nehemifth  Clark Oct  23, 1829 

Wm.  Burton Oct.  9,  1830 

Wm.  Burton Not.  3, 1832 

Robert  W.  Reynolds.KoT.  14,  18S4 
Thomas  L.  Temple...NoT.  11,  1836 
DaTid  H.  SUyton.....NoT.16, 1838 

Ckleb  Wolcott Not.  14, 1840 

Alexander  Johnson.  .Not.  10, 1842 

Caleb  Smithen JTor.  15, 1844 

Ignatius  Taylor. Not.  17, 1846 

Alex,  Taylor June  11. 1847 

Jamee  Oreen Not.  16, 1848 

John  8.  Kensy. Not.  14, 1860 

Henry  Pratt Not.  16,  1862 

John  Reynolds. Not.,  1864 

John  Oreen Not.  8, 1866 

Wm.  A.  Atkinson Nor.  6. 1858 

Pnmell  Emerson Not.  10,  1860 

John  C.  PnnnewiU Not.  7, 1862 

Wm.  Whitaker Not.  II,  1864 

Pumell  Emerson Not.  14, 1866 

Wm.  Wilds Not.  7,  1868 

Samuel  HarKadine...NoT.  11, 1870 

Chas.  Williamson Not.  12, 1872 

Peter  L.  Cooper Not.  12, 1874 

BenJ.  F.  Blackiston..NoT.  13. 1876 
Francis  M.  Dunn.... .Nut.  13, 1878 

Thomas  T.  Lacy Not.  13, 1880 

John  S.  Herrington..NuT.  21. 1882 
James  C.  Robinson. ..Not.  20, 1884 
Joseph  McDaniel Not.  12,1886 


Clerks  of  the  Peace, 

John  Brinkloe June,  1680    )  Joseph  Smlthers Feb.  23, 1826 


OoronerB, 


Robert  BedweU 1684 

Thomaa  Tarrsnt ^Oct  7,  1736 

Nicholas  Loockermaij .....1746 

WnUam  Wills... Feb.  2^  1766 

Jabes  Jenkins Oct  4, 1760 

John  Gray Oct  4, 1762 

Mathew  MaaloTe .Oct.  6, 1761 

Solomon  Wallace. Oct.  6,  1766 

Jonathan  Sipple Oct  6, 1760 

John  Smithers Oct  6, 1770 

Caleb  Fnrbee Oct  6, 177:1 

Jonathan  OamphilOroT.  17.  1784 

John  Chicken Oct.  6, 1791 

ETan  Morgan .Jan.  19, 1796 

John  WUd Oct  9,  1803 

George  Smith Oct  14, 1806 

Philip  Buddy Oct  6, 1809 

George  ManloTe. ...Oct  9, 1812 

PhlUp  Thomas^ Oct.  6^  1816 

James  Stewart Mar.  3, 1818 

James  Stewart Oct.  9,  1818 

William  Smithers.. Oct.  6, 1821 

G«>rge  Tmitt Oct  9,  1824 

Thomas  Causey Oct.  6, 1827 

John  CoTlngton Oct  7, 1830 

Pomell  HaU Jkpr.  21, 1832 

LoTi  Lister June  4,  1832 

LeTi  Lister Not.  20,  1832 

Armwell  Lockwood..NoT.  16,  1838 
John  B.  Hodge Not.  14,  1840 


Israel  Peterson J^ot.  10, 1842 

DaTid  F.  Smith Not.  16, 1844 

T.  R.  Finsthwait Not.  16, 1846 

Jas.  8.  Richardson....NoT.  16, 1848 

Robert  MoBoyer Not.  14,  1860 

James  L  Williams.... Not.  16, 1862 

William  Arthurs .Not.,  1864 

John  CoTington Oct.  9, 1880 

Pnmell  Hall Apr.  21,1832 

LeTi  Lister May  8,1882 

Denny  SteTenson Not.  14, 1834 

WUliaro  Anderson...NoT.  11,  1836 
Armwell  Lockwood...NoT.  16, 1838 

Edward  Reed Not.  6, 1866 

John  Husbands Not.  8, 1868 

John  Dorothy Not.  16,  1860 

Nathan  B.  FlemingJNoT.  10, 1802 

Jenifer  S.  Taylor Not.,  1864 

Thomas  J.  Oatts. Not.,  1866 

Pumell  Thompson Not.  7,  1868 

James  M.  KiUen Not.  11,  1870 

Stephen  Catts ..Not.  26,  1872 

Peter  Creadick. Not.  12,  1874 

Henry  Ewbanks Not.  13,  1876 

John  Wilcute Not.  13, 1878 

J.  W.  Jackson Not.  13, 1880 

AmosUinsley J9ot.  16,1882 

Zadok  L.  Butler Not.  11,  1884 

Thomas  H.  Wright..NoT.  12,  1886 


ofllas  until  your  Bxellency  pleased  to  depute  whom  yourBxellency  think 
fltt  the  person,  which  now  senre  named  Pettr  Bacom  is  a  person  that 
hath  formerly  ben  in  a  good  flasion,  but  is  follen  to  decay  and  groweth 
anaent  and  too  weak  to  Labor,  if  your  Exellency  will  be  pleased  to 
alow  itt  he  would  kindly  exept  of  it  from  your  Exelency,  and  he  is 
thought  by  the  cort  to  be  the  fittest  penon  that  your  Exelency  could 
make  choyoe  of  wittial.  I  conclude  in  obedience  to  your  Exelency's 
pleasure  whU  I  am 

*'  Fframcis  WnrrwaLL." 


William  Berry Apr.  31, 1686 

Arth.  Meston ...Apr.,  1691 

Wm.  Rodney May  16,  1693 

Bei\J.  Shurmer 1702 

Hugh  DuriNirrow Aug.  6, 1736 

Nicholas  Rldgely.- 1744 

John  Vining Feb.  26, 1765 

Qnaar  Rodney Not.  21,1770 

Samuel  Chew Jan.,  1771 

Jamee  Sykes. Mar.  8,  1777 

Joseph  Harper ....Apr.  11, 1792 

Jonathan  Pollen... Jan.  4,  1805 

James  Harper Jan.  1, 1807 

Bedimus  PotestoHmtu, 


Dr.  John  Adams Feb.  24, 1830 

Thos.  L.  HiUyard Mar.  18, 1833 

George  M.  ManloTe„Mar.  28,  1838 
Liston  N.  Houston. ..Mar.  29,  1843 

Henry  Todd Mar.  30,  1848 

Johns.  BeJl Apr.3,  1858 

Wm.  N.  W.  Dor8ey...8ept.  10, 1862 

Johns.  Jester Sept  U,  1867 

Wm.  A.  Moore Sept  16, 1872 

Robert  Raughley......Sept.  17, 1877 

Comelius  J.  Hall....jBept.  18,  1882 

Alfred  H.  Cahall Sept  19,  1887 


Benjamin  Chew ..Apr.  10, 1756 

John  Vining Apr.  10, 1756 

John  Brinckloe »Apr.  10, 1756 

Andrew  Oildwell Apr.  10, 1766 

John  Gooding Apr.  10, 1756 

Theodore  Maurice.....Apr.  10, 1756 

Cnear  Rodney J^ot.,  1764 

John  Vining Not.,  1764 

Cffioar  Rodney „.Not.  21,  1770 

Csesar  Rodney Oct  24, 1774 

Samuel  Chew. ....Oct  24, 1774 

Charles  Ridgely Apr.  5, 1777 

James  Sykes Apr.  5,  1777 

Richard  Bassett Apr.  6, 1777 

Nicholas  Ridgely. Apr.  4, 1787 

James  Sykes., Apr.  4, 1787 

Richard  Bassett Apr.  4, 1787 

Richard  Bassett Aug.  18, 1702 


George  McOall; Aug.  18, 1702 

Robert  Clark Aug.  18, 1792 

James  Sykes....» Sept  5, 1793 

Nichohis  Ridgely May  31,  1798 

James  Sykes May  31, 1798 

John  Laws. May  31, 1798 

Thomas  Rodney. Feb.  2,  1802 

Jamee  Battoll Feb.  2,  1802 

James  McClyment...Feb.  15,  1«06 

James  Sykes ....Feb.  15,  1806 

Henxy  M.  Ridgely.  ...Feb.  15, 1805 

James  Harper. Feb.  15, 1806 

Willanl  Hall Jan.  15,  1811 

Joseph  Hale Jan.  15,  1811 

ManloTe  Hayee Jan.  15,  1811 

Willard  HaU Feb.  2,  182« 

Cornelius  P.  Comegys.Feb.  2, 1820 
Joseph  Smithen Feb.  2,  1820 


Nicholas  Ridgely Aug.  18,  1792 

Justices  of  the  Peace, — In  the  year  1680  a  fourth 
court  district  was  established,  which  was  called  St. 
Jones',  and  on  the  28th  of  May  in  that  year  justices 
were  appointed  for  these  districts.  After  reciting 
the  commissions  of  New  Castle  and  Upland  justices 
the  following  occurs : 

"  A  commission  of  the  former  date,  to  Mr.  Francis 
Whitwell,  Mr.  John  Hilliard,  Mr.  Robert  Hart  and 
Mr.  Edward  Pack,  to  be  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  the 
Jurisdicon  of  the  County  of  St.  Jones  in  Delaware 
Bay  and  Dependencies,  the  same  to  begin  from  the 
south  side  of  Duck  Creek,  so  to  extend  to  the  north 
side  of  Cedar  Creeke." 

Thee  officers  were  the  last  appointed  under  the 
authority  of  the  Duke  of  York,  as  the  territory  soon 
after  passed  to  Penn. 


Francis  Whitwell May28, 1080 

John  Hillyard May  28, 1680 

Robert  Hart May  iB,  1680 

Edwaid  Pack ..May  28,  1680 

WilUam  Clarke Aug.  5,  1684 

John  Briggs Ang.  5, 1684 

Daniel  Jones Aug.  6,1684 

GerarduB  Wessels......Ang.  5, 1684 

William  Darvall .Aug.  6,  1684 

William  Sonthebee...Feb.  15, 1686 

William  Berry Feb.  15, 1686 

John  Briggs Feb.  15, 1685 

William  WinBmora...Feb.  15, 1685 

Thomas  Hesherd Feb.  15, 1H85 

Michael  Wooton Feb.  16,  1686 

John  Walker Feb.  16,  1685 

Thomas  Wileon„ Feb.  16,  1685 

John  Curtis Feb.  15, 1685 

John  Brinckloe. May  16, 1690 

John  Curtis ..Msy  16, 1690 


George  Martin May  16,  1600 

Daniel  Jones.. May  16, 1690 

John  Walker. ..May  16,  1680 

Mark  ManloTe ...May  16, 1690 

William  Lawrence....May  16,  1600 

William  flfreeland May  16, 1690 

Thomas  Rouse May  16,  1600 

William  ManloTe May  16, 1690 

John  Betts May  16, 1690 

Simon  Hirons May  16, 1680 

John  Brinckloe Jlpr.  20, 1704 

William  Rodney Apr.  20, 1704 

John  Walker Apr.  20,  1704 

Honry  Molleeton Apr.  20, 1704 

William  Morton Apr.  20, 1704 

Thomas  BedweU Apr.  20, 1704 

John  Robeson Apr.  20, 1704 

ETan  Jones..... Apr.  20,  1704 

William  Winsmore...Apr.  20, 1704 
Blark  ManloTe 1727 


Digitized  by 


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1040 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Timothy  Hanson 1727 

Hugh  Durbarrow 1727 

John  HouBeman 1727 

WlUiam  ffarson 1727 

Sand.  Berry 1727 

JametTUton 1727 

James  Robinson 1727 

Stephen  Parrodee 1727 

William  Manlore 1727 

Charles  HiUlard Sept.  13, 1738 

Nicholas  Ridgely Sept.  13,  1738 

John  Houseman Sept.  13,  1738 

John  Holliday Sept.  13,  1738 

Samuel  Dickinson. ....Sept.  13, 1738 

Peter  Galloway Sept.  13,  1738 

Jonathan  Raymond..Sept.  13, 1738 

Abraham  Allen. Sept.  13, 1738 

John  David Sept  13,  1738 

Samuel  Dickinson 1740 

John  Caton Nor.  1, 1764 

Richard  Wells Nov.  1,  1764 

Thomas  Irons Not.  1, 1764 

Theodore  Ifaurice Not.  1, 1764 

Andrew  Caldwell Nor.  1, 1764 

Cteear  Rodney Not.  1, 1764 

Charles  Ridgely Not.  1, 1764 

John  Bams ..Nov.  1, 1764 

James  Morris Not.  1, 1764 

James  Sykee Not.  1, 1764 

William  Rhodes Not.  1, 1764 

William  Rodney ..Not.  1, 1764 

Robert  Holliday Nov.  1, 1764 

Charles  Hilliard Not.  1, 1764 

John  Clark,  Jr Nov.  1, 1764 

Robert  KiUen Julyl,  1766 

Charles  Ridgely June  10, 1770 

Thomas  Irons June  10, 1770 

Andrew  Caldwell June  10, 1770 

James  Sykes » Jnne  10, 1770 

William  Rhodes June  10,  1770 

John  Clark Jnne  10,  1770 

Robert  Klllen June  10, 1770 

Jacob  Stout June  10,  1770 

Fen  wick  Fisher. June  10, 1770 

Thomas  Tllton June  10, 1770 

Thomas  Rodney Jnne  10, 1770 

Warner  Mifflin... June  10, 1770 

James  Boyer June  10, 1770 

Thomas  Hanson June  10,  1770 

Jonathan  Kmmenon. June  10, 1770 
Samuel  Chew.....^..J7ov.  21, 1770 

John  Chew Dec.  6, 1771 

Richard  Smith Dec  6, 1771 

Richard  Lookwood Dec.  6, 1771 

Zadock  Cnpper Dec.  6, 1771 

Charles  Ridgely March  8, 1777 

WUliam  Rhodes. March  8,  1777 

Jacob  Stout March  8, 1777 

James  Boyce March  8, 1777 

Thomas  Hanson March  8, 1777 

Richard  Lookwood...Maix;h  8, 1777 

Edward  White March  8,  1777 

Jehu  Davis March  8, 1777 

William  Cahoon March  8,  1777 

Samuel  West March  8,  1777 

John  Clayton March  8, 1777 

Charles  Marim March  8,  1777 

James  Raymond June  10, 1778 

Isaac  Carty June  10, 1778 

Francis  Many June  10, 1778 

Nehemiah  Tilton June  10, 1778 

Stephen  Lewis .June  10,  1778 

Jenifer  Taylor .June  10, 1778 

John  Cordon. June  10, 1778 

Nathan  Samuel June  10, 1778 

Turbit  Wright .June  10, 1778 

Bei^amin  Caton June  10, 1778 

Bei\|amin  Coombes...  June  10, 1778 


John  Dill June  10, 1778 

Charles  Ridgely June  30, 1783 

Philip  Barratt Jnne  30,  1783 

James  Bellah  June  30, 1783 

Jacob  Stout April  26, 1784 

Edward  White April  26,  1784 

Jehu  Davis April  26, 1784 

Thomas  Rodney April  26,  1784 

William  MoUeston...  April  26, 1784 

Samuel  West Oct  29,  1784 

William  Cahoon Oct.  29,  1784 

Jenifer  Taylor- June  2, 1785 

Isaac  Carty June  2, 1786 

Nehemiah  Tillon June  2,  1785 

John  DilL June  2,  1786 

Bei^.  Coombe„ June  2,  1786 

Stephen  Lewis. June  2, 1785 

John  Revell June  2,1786 

Thomas  Nixon Jnne  2,  1786 

Allen  McLane June  2, 1785 

John  Patlen- June  8, 1786 

George  McCall Jan.  18, 1786 

James  McClements...Jan.  18, 1786 

George  McCall June  7, 1787 

Vincent  Loockerman.  Jnne  7, 1787 

Francis  Many Oct  23,1700 

John  BatteU Oct  23,  1790 

Bdwarti  White Oct.  23,  1790 

Robert  Dixon Oct.  23, 1790 

John  Marim. Jan.  28, 1791 

John  Patten Jan.  28,  1791 

George  McCall Jan.  28,  1791 

John  Gordon Jan.  28, 1791 

George  Manlove,  Sr...  Jan.  28, 1791 

James  Douglas Jan.  28, 1791 

George  McCall April  18, 1792 

George  Kennard April  18, 1792 

Joseph  David April  18,  1792 

William  Berry April  18, 1792 

Joseph  Baker April  18, 1792 

Thomas  ^Vhite Sept  6, 1793 

James  Bellah  .Sept  6, 1798 

Jehu  Davis Sept.  5, 1793 

John  Ralston Sept  5, 1793 

John  Ringgold Sept  6,  1703 

George  McCall Sept  6. 1793 

Richard  Cooper Sept.  5,  1793 

George  Manlove .Sept  6,  1793 

William  Berry Sept  6, 1793 

ElUah  Barratt Sept  6, 1793 

John  Marim Sept  5, 1793 

Zadock  Truitt Jan.  19,  1795 

John  Cole March  15,  1797 

BenJ.  Brady April  25,  1797 

Abraham  Ridgely Feb.  7,  1799 

JohnLowber Jan.  28, 1799 

Abraham  Ridgely .^. 1800 

Jacob  Stout .*. 1800 

Ferdinand  Casson July  8, 1802 

Abraham  Pieree Aug.  26,  1802 

Dr.  Wm.  Adams Aug.  27, 1808 

James  MiUichop Nov.  14, 1803 

Bei\).  Brady May  3. 1804 

James  Whitaker Aug.  26, 1804 

Thomas  Price Jan.  5,  1806 

John  Lowber Jan.  20, 1806 

Abraham  Ridgely Jan.  20, 1806 

Mi^or  Anderson. Mar.  15, 1806 

Matthew  Cox Jnne  28, 1806 

John  Ringgold. Oct.  1, 1807 

Jacob  Stout Nov.  13,  1807 

OuttenLaws. Mar.  4,  1808 

Beo}.  Dill Mar.  4,  1808 

Jenifer  Taylor July  12,  1809 

Bei\|.  Blackiston Oct  11,  1809 

James  Sorden Oct  23,  1810 

Abner  Bell Nov.  16, 1810 

Wm.  Ruth Jan.  2, 1811 


Nathaniel  Smitherv...  Jan.  14, 1811 

James  Kimmey Mar.  15, 1811 

James  Milliobop Apr.  80, 1811 

John  Wilds May  7, 1811 

James  Whitaker. Oct  10,  1811 

Thomas  Price <...Jan.  7, 1812 

Wm.Saulsbury Dec.  31,  1812 

James  Schee Jan.  21,  1813 

Wm.  M.  Satterfleld...Jan.  21, 1813 

Thomas  Deharty- Oct  15,  1813 

Matthew  Coxe Aug.  30,  1814 

EliasShockley Mar.  11, 1815 

John  Lowber.. Mar.  11,  1816 

Bei\|.  Dill Mar.  11,  1815 

Benj.  Blackiston Mar.  17,  1815 

John  Mansfield Sept  23, 1816 

Thomas  Roth weU»... July  16, 1816 

John  M.  Laws Aug.  12,  1816 

Robert  Patterson. Aug.  12, 1816 

Wm,  Ruth Jan  6, 1818 

Wdl  Shockley Jan.  6, 1818 

Nathaniel  8nUtfaers-.Jan.  16, 1818 

Spenoer  WUlard Apr.  29, 1818 

Henry  Carter ....Oct  19,  1818 

William  Layton.. May  18,  1819 

Jacob  Furbee Oct  7,  1819 

James  B.  Ralston. Jan.  7, 1820 

Eaekiel  Anderson Feb.  1, 1820 

Benjamin  Brady March  11, 1820 

Thomas  Doherty Jan.  10,  1821 

Daniel  Green Oct  8,  1821 

Richard  Simon May  16, 1822 

Gideon  Cullin Oct  21, 1822 

John  Wright Sept  16, 1828 

Joshua  Cranor Nov.  9, 1823 

Charies  Kimmey Jan.  19, 1824 

Daniel  Godwin Oct  12, 1824 

William  Ringgold Dec.  21, 1824 

Samuel  Coombes Oct  20, 1826 

Levi  Wolcott Jan.  10, 1826 

John  Robertson. May  12, 18M 

James  B.  Ralston. Jan.  8, 1827 

Joseph  Jenkins March  17, 1827 

Barrett  P.  Connor  .......Apr.  3, 1827 

Molton  Richards July  6, 1827 

Francis  Hover Oct  6, 1827 

Samuel  B.  Cooper.  ....Jan.  10,  1828 

Jaoob  Biddle June  10, 1828 

Outten  Davis Oct  13, 1828 

Nathan  SUnghtar. — Oct  22, 1828 

Henry  Downs .....Oct  27, 1828 

Gideon  CulUn. Jan.  14, 1829 

William  Laws Feb.  2,  1829 

Samuel  Grace March  12,.1829 

Samuel  Price Nov.  23, 1829 

Thomas  Stevenson..March  17, 1830 

David  Onions Apr.  19, 1830 

Eli  Coalscott Nov.  9,  1830 

Joshua  Cranor„ Feb.  8,  1831 

Daniel  God  win Oct  10,1831 

WUllam  A.  Budd ."Dw.  21, 1831 

Otto  Pennington June,  1832 

James  Whitaker Nov.  21,  1832 

Luke  Coverdale. Dec.  21,  1832 

James  D.  Wild Jan.  2, 1833 

Wm.  Ringgold Nov.  31,  1833 

Samuel  Redden Feby'.  13, 1834 

Joseph  Kimmey Mar.  5,  1834 

Peter  Lowber Apr.  17,  1834 

Potter  Griffith July  8,  1834 

Samuel  Thawley Jan  12, 183) 

Abel  Harris June  8, 1836 

John  Orrell .Sept  6, 1836 

John  Green Mar.  12,  1836 

T.  R.  HammersIey...Juue  26,  1836 

John  P.  Coombe June  26, 1836 

Thomas  Stevenson. ..Mar.  17,  1837 
Joseph  Green Apr.  19,  1837 


Waitman  Booth Feb.  2, 1838 

Alex.  Johnson Apr.  20, 1838 

Charies  Jones.- Oct  12, 1838 

Nehemiah  Stockley...Oct.  27, 1838 

Samuel  Grace-  - Nev.  15, 1838 

George  Walton Dec  19, 1838 

Charies  Jones Oct  12, 1838 

Samuel  Grace Nov.  15, 1838 

Nehemiah  Stockley...Oct  22, 1838 

George  Waltton Dec.  19,  1838 

James  McCIyment JaL  3,  1840 

William  R.  Cahoon.  ...Jan.  3,  1840 

Molton  Rickards July  1, 1841 

Samuel  L.  Cooper. ...» Jan.  1,  imt 

Jacob  Boone Feb.  21,  1842 

Henry  Hudson -June  27, 1843 

John  P.  Coombe June  27, 1843 

Thoa.  HammerBly...Aug.  28,  1843 

Henry  Pratt Oct  18, 1843 

David  Taylor. Nov.  21, 1843 

Joseph  L.  Harper....  Jiov.  28, 1843 
Thomas  8tevenson....Mar.  26, 1844 

John  B.  Smitfa ^ug.  9. 1844 

John  HoUia Dec  28, 1844 

Waitman  Booth Feb.  10,  1845 

Lewis  Chamberlain...  July  16, 1846 

Samuel  Hughes -.July  30, 1846 

David  Lockwood Oct  22, 1845 

EUas  Naudaln. Nov.  17, 1846 

Foster  Boon ..Nov.  17, 1846 

Robert  Sarde. ...Marda  9, 1847 

Wm.  Harrington July  14, 1848 

Robert  Sorden Feb.,  1849 

W.  L.  Timmons. Feb.  24, 1849 

Ezekiel  a  Reed- Mar.  28, 1840 

W.  N.  W.  Dorsey  ......June  28, 1860 

John  C.  Reed June  28, 1850 

W.  Hemphill  Jones-Ang.  13, 1860 

Trustin  L.  Davis Nov.  22, 1850 

Joseph  Ward Dec  6, 1850 

Samuel  L.  Jeffenon-Mar.  29, 1852 
Nicholas  0.  Smith  ....July  31,  ISOi 
Chas.  Williamson.. ..iiept  S8, 1862 

Marion  Green- Feb.  86, 1863 

Natbl.  Tucker. Dec  2, 1864 

WUliam  K.  Ti^lor...Mar.  17, 1866 

John  Green Apr.  18, 1866 

Henry  Anderson July  18, 1856 

ThoB.  Finsthwait Jan.  31,  1866 

Thomas  Lockwood....Feb.  86, 1866 

WllUam  H.  Baggs Marl,  1866 

Thoa.  Stevenson Mar  U,  1866 

Eaekiel  W.  Reed June  85, 1866 

David  Faries Mar.  86, 1867 

Samuel  B.  Cooper.  ...June  18, 1867 
John  H.  Ecclestine...  Jone  29, 1867 

John  Eaton Oct  80,  1867 

John  H.  Bateman.»..Nov.  88, 1867 

David  Lockwood Mar.  80, 1858 

Samuel  F.  Hews. Aug.  4^  1868 

Caleb  WolooCt Nov.  19, 1868 

WiUiam  D.  YosheU.-.Mar.  9, 1869 

John  R.  Whitby Aug.  1, 1860 

James  H.  Smith Aug.  8, 1869 

Jaoob  F.  Lewis Oct  18, 1860 

James  B.  Davis. Nov.  16,  1869 

Timothy  C.  Klllen  ...wJan.  84,  1860 

Robert  Sarde. Dec  8, 1861 

Manlove  Hasel -Jan.  16, 1862 

John  Jones Mar.  18, 1868 

Warren  J.  Reed Apr.  17, 1802 

John  H.  Bateman....Apr.  17,  1862 

Wm.  H.  Herring July  21,  1862 

Andrew  J.  WUson....Nov.  13, 1863 

Jonathan  Pratt Dec  10, 1862 

Thomas  R.  Finsthwalt.Feb.  6, 1863 
Thomas  Lockwood...Feb.  86,  1863 
John  A.  Stevenson  ...-June  3, 1863 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1041 


Mathew  Cox. April  27, 18G4 

John  Eaton Maj  28, 1864 

Thomas  Oareon May  30, 1864 

Henry  C.  Carter July  6,  1864 

William  H.  Weldi....Jiily  20, 1864 

John  P.  Coombe ....Jan.  9,  1865 

Allen  Thomas ».May  10,  1865 

Jaa.  O.  HendrickBon..8ept.  28, 1M5 

Caleb  Woloott Koy.  20,  1865 

Joseph  Wood Nor.  23, 1866 

Philip  J.  Smoot Nov,  26,  1866 

ikimund  Stoat Apr.  18, 1867 

Wm.  H.  McBride Sept  17, 1867 

J.  W.  Mariner June  3, 1868 

James  B.  Short.. Ang.  81,  1868 

Blchani  H.  Phelps....  Jan.  19, 1869 
Thomas  D.  Cnbbage.3Iar.  12, 1869 

John  Jones^ March  18, 1869 

Wm.  Meredith April  22, 1869 

Lemuel  Bill »..April  23,  1869 

Jonathan  Pratt„ Dec.  11, 1869 

Thomas  P.  Walls. Jan.  3, 1870 

Alex.  Qoodwin June  6, 1870 

Thomas  J.  CattB......March  9,  1871 

Be^j.  Walker April  28, 1871 

Henry  Q.  Bodd May  81, 1871 

Ben}.  G.  Cabbage July  7, 1871 

Thomas  Young Jan.  16, 1872 

JohvM.  Ei8enburg...May  16,  1872 

John  Hendrickson Oct.  2, 1872 

BeiO.  ¥.  Fleming Sept  1,  1873 

Kobert  J.  Beswick...Mar.  11, 1874 

Edmund  Stoat April  22, 1874 

Jonathan  Oarrow Sept.  29, 1874 

Joseph  T.  George. Jan.  6, 1875 

Llewellyn  Tharp Jan.  14, 187  A 

Joseph  Ward March  12,  1875 

John  Lee Bfarch  24, 1825 


John  D.  Corerdale.... April  1, 1875 

Bsekiel  J.  Qolt June  3, 1875 

George  F.  Hawklns...Oct  18, 1875 
Andrew  J.  Wright...Dec  23, 1875 
Thomas  B.  Cooper.....Feb.  29, 1876 
George  Moore......^.. April  12, 1876 

Adams  Mahood Sept  14,  1876 

Geoige  B.  Diokson....Jan.  11,  1877 

Thomas  P.  Walls Jan.  17, 1877 

Philemon  C.  Thoinaa..Mar.  26, 1877 

Alex.  Goodman Jane  6, 1877 

Peter  C.  Frasber Jan.  21,  1878 

Henry  G.  Budd May  31, 1878 

Lawrence  Pitman Feb.  5, 1879 

Jas.  O.Hendrickson.....Oct.  3, 1879 

Edward  Lord Oct  13, 1879 

Alex.  P.  Sorden Oct  31,  1879 

Andrew  J.  Wright...Mar.  13, 1880 

Peter  Creddick Jan.  25, 1881 

Robert  J.  Be8wick..March  11, 1881 

Edmund  Stoat ApriU2,1881 

John  W.  Jester Sept  26, 1881 

Llewellyn  Tharp Jan.  14, 1882 

Joseph  Ward March  13, 1882 

Esekiel  J.*  Golt June  3, 1882 

John  Brown June  12, 1882 

George  F.  Hawkins...Oot.  24, 1882 

Adams  Mahood Oct  24, 1883 

Thomas  P.  Walls Jan.  21,  1884 

Philemon  0.  Thomas„Apr.  SO,  1884 

Peter  C.  Frasber.. Jan.  7, 1885 

Henry  G.  Budd... May  30,  1885 

John  S.  Allen Oct  5,  1886 

Wm.  H  Sarde ...Oct  13,  1886* 

Wm.  P.  Cullen Nov.  18, 1886 

Henry  N.  Clark Jan.  1, 1887 

Wm.  Whitaker Feb.  28, 1887 

John  B.  Book April  20,  1887 


Notaries  and  Tabelion  Public, 


Cflosar  R.  Wilson Feb,  14, 1807 

Daniel  Simons Sept.  21,  1807 

George  P.  Daris.. June  19, 1812 

James  Stevensoa April  7,  1813 

John  ManloTe Not.  10,  1813 

Samuel  N.  Watson...  June  15, 1816 

HnghMoGee Jan.  20,  1823 

James  P.  WUd... Feb.  6, 1829 

Spencer  WllUams. Feb.  8, 1829 

George  S.  Adkins Nov.  6, 1829 

Alex.  MoClyment Dec.  13, 1836 

Joseph  Kimmey ..Apr.  11, 1837 

Joseph  Green Apr.  11, 1887 

John  Ponder t Apr.  11, 1837 

James  E.  Boyer Apr.  25, 1837 

Wesley  McDowell June  9, 1837 

George  S.  Adkins.. July  4, 1837 

James  P.  Wfld July  4, 1837 

Alex.  McClyment July  4, 1837 

Henry  GowgiU Feb.  22,  1838 

Alex.  Johnson Feb.  22, 1838 

Joshua  Cranor Feb.  22, 1838 

Thomas  Stevenson.  March  10, 1838 

Isaac  Gruwell March  10,  1838 

Jacob  Boone Nor.  14, 1838 

Thos,  R.  Hammerdy.NoT.  14, 1838 

John  E.  Price Jfev.  20, 1*38 

Charles  T.  Fleming Jan.  3, 1839 

William  Ruth Sept  19, 1839 

William  R.  Cahoon...Jan.  29, 1840 
John  D.  Ander8on....March  9,  1840 

Thos.  Simpson.. March  5, 1811 

Joseph  L.  Harper Aug.  11, 1841 

Samuel  L.  Cooper Jan.  18, 1842 

Henry  Hudson..... June  9, 1843 

John  P.  Coombs June  27,  1843 

Thos.  B.  Hammersly  June  27,  1843 
Frederick  Leonard....Sept  11. 1843 


Henry  Pmtt Oct.  18, 1843 

Darid  Taylor Nov.  21, 1843 

Thomas  Stevenson.March  25, 1844 

Alex.  McClyment July  4, 1844 

Geo.  S.  Adkins »..Jaly  19,  1844 

John  B.  Smith Aug.  9,  1844 

James  P.  Wild Oct  2,  1844 

Lewis  Chamberlain. ..July  16,  1845 

Samuel  Hughes July  30, 1845 

David  Lockwood Nov.  3,  1845 

Charles  Marim Dec.  3, 1845 

Charles  T.  Fleming.March  17, 1846 

Charles  Kimmey Oct  14, 1846 

Elias  Nandain...^ Dec.  1,  1846 

Isaac  P.  Gruwell Jan.  8, 1847 

Henry  Todd Jan.  21,  1847 

Joseph  Kimmey Jan.  28, 1847 

Barrett  P.  Connor. ...Sept  18, 1847 

Joshua  Cranor Feb.  2,  1848 

Abraham  Ponlson... .Sept  21,1848 

Enoch  Clark Feb.  7,  1849 

Robert  Sarde Feb.  9,  1849 

John  K.  Jarvis Feb.  15, 1849 

Ezekiel  C.  Reed March  29, 1849 

Robert  Sorden May  16, 1849 

William  M.  Bell March  4,  1850 

W.  N.  W.  Dorsey....March  26, 1850 

John  0.  Reed 1850 

Trusten  L.  Davis Nov.  22, 1850 

William  L.  Jnmp Jan.  6,  1851 

Patrick  McManus July  1,  1853 

Samuel  J.  Jefferson.. .Sept.  1, 1853 

Nicholas  0.  Smith Jan.  9,  1854 

Marion  Green Oct  24, 1854 

John  H.  Denning...„Nov.  19,  1854 
George  S.  Adkins. ...March  6,  1855 
Henry  J.  Anderson.  March  19,1855 
Caleb  Fleming Jan.  83, 1856 


Thos.  R.  Finsthwait...Feb.  4, 1856 

Ezekiel  J.  Gelt May  1, 1856 

Henry  Pratt,  Jr May  5,  1856 

Ezekiel  Reed July  11, 1856 

Nathaniel  Tucker...March  14, 1857 
Thomas  Lockweod.March  14, 1857 
Jene  F.  Hufflngton...Oct  22,  1857 
John  H.  Bateman....Jfov.  28,  1857 

James  H.  Smith Oct  10, 1859 

James  B.  Davis .^ov.  16, 1859 

William  H.  Herring.Jaly  21,  1862 
Andrew  J.  Wil8on....Nov.  13, 1862 
Thos.  R.  Finsthwait...Feb.  5, 1863 

Esekiel  J.  Golt May  1,  1863 

John  A.  Stevenson... ..Juue  3, 1863 

Isaac  Dolby Aug.  8,  1863 

William  H.  Welsh....July  20, 1864 

Heni7  Pratt March  11, 1865 

Willikm  I.  Clarke.....Sept  16,  1865 
WiUiam  H.  Welsh. ...Sept  19, 1865 
Robert  Sarde....... ..Match  28,  1866 

Warren  J.  Reed March  31,  1866 

Themas  T.  Harper....Apr.  12, 1866 

Joseph  Ward May  3, 1866 

John  Jones June  6, 1866 

Henry  Todd Nov.  15,  1866 

PhiUp  J.  Smoot Nov.  26, 1866 

Benjamin  T.  Fleming.Nov.  26,1866 

Edmund  Stout Apr.  18, 1867 

WUliam  H.  McBride..Sept.  2, 1867 

Francis  Dunn Oct  31, 1867 

James  R.  Short Aug.  31, 1868 

George  Moore Apr.  12, 1869 

Thomas  P.  Walls Jan.  3, 1870 

Richard  H.  Phelps Feb.  2, 1870 

John  B.  Smith March  8, 1870 

Andrew  J.  Wright Apr.  1,  1870 

Esekiel  J.  Golt May  10,  1870 

Samuel  T.  Jones May  10, 1870 

Alex  Goodwin June  6, 1870 

Lemuel  Dill .Apr.  10,  1871 

Henry  G.  Budd „Nov.  28, 1871 

James  Hendrickson Oct  2, 1872 

Joseph  Ward May  6, 1873 

Thomas  8.  Harper. ...Sept  10, 1878 
William  Meredith.... Nov.  12,  1873 

Philip  Burnett „Dec.  4, 1873 

Henry  Todd 1873 

Robert  J.  Beswick»March  11,  1874 


Edmund  Stout Apr.  22, 1874 

Jonathan  Oarrow Sept  29, 1874 

Joseph  T.  (j^rge Jan.  5, 1875 

Llewellyn  Tharp Jan.  14, 1875 

John  Lee Maroh  24, 1876 

John  D.  Coverdale....  .Apr.  1, 1875 
Nathaniel  F.  Wilds.... June  1, 1875 
George  F.  Hawkins..„Oct  18, 1876 

David  Green Nov.  13,  1875 

George  Moore. Apr.  12,1876 

Obadiah  B.  VosheU...May  31, 1876 

S.  Gilbert  Wilds .July  19, 1876 

T.  F.  Hammersly Ju^  27, 1876 

Isaac  S.  Truitt. Ang.  16, 1876 

George  B.  Dickson  ....Jan.  11, 1877 

Thomas  P.  Walls Jan.  17,  1877 

Joseph  G.  Brown Mar.  7, 1877 

Samuel  T.  Jones May  10,  1877 

Esekiel  J.  Golt May  25, 1877 

Alex.  Goodwin June  6, 1877 

Peter  C.  Frasher. Jan.  21, 1878 

Obadiah  B.  yo8hell...April4, 1878 

Henry  G.  Budd Nov.  29, 1878 

Lawrence  Pitman Mar.  11, 1879 

James  G.  Hendrickson.Oot  3, 1879 

Edward  Lord....... Oct  13, 1879 

Andrew  J.  Wright...Mar.  13, 1880 

Joseph  Ward May  5, 1880 

PhUip  Burnett Dec.  4, 1880 

Peter  Creddick Jan.*  25, 1881 

Robert  J.  Beswick....Mar.  11, 1881 

Edward  Stout April  22, 1881 

John  8.  Jester Sept  26,  1881 

John  Brown June  12, 1882 

George  F.  Hawkins...Oct  24, 1882 

William  Hobson Feb.  27, 1883 

John  B.  Smith June  16, 1883 

SUas  G.  Wilds. July  20,  1883 

Thomas  P.  Walls Jan.  21, 18d4 

Samuel  T.  Jones. May  10, 1884 

Robert  J.  Betts........Dec.  81, 1884 

Peter  G.  Frasher Jan.  7, 1886 

Henry  C.  Budd Nov.  30, 1885 

William  Collins ..Mar.  19, 1886 

John&  Allen Oct  5, 1886 

William  H.  Sarde — Oct  18, 1886 
William  P.  CuUin....J(ov.  18, 188« 
John  B.  Book April  80, 1887 


Levy  Court  Commissioners, — ^The  act  establishing 
Levy  Courts  was  passed  in  1736  under  George  II. 
Section  3  provided  that  the  justices  of  the  peace  of 
the  respective  counties  shall  meet  yearly  for  the  lay- 
ing of  levies  together  with  eight  grand  jurymen,  and 
the  assessors  or  the  majority  of  them  shall  meet  at 
the  court-house  within  the  county  and  settle  the 
public  debts  and  charges  of  the  county,  and  adjust 
the  sums  of  money  to  be  raised  to  defray  the  expenses 
of  building  and  repairing  court-houses,  prisons  and 
work-houses,  for  destroying  wolves,  crows  and  black- 
birds, with  such  other  uses  as  may  redound  to  the 
public  service  and  with  power  to  make  good  defi- 
ciencies and  to  collect  and  enforce  collections. 

In  1757  a  supplement  to  this  act  was  passed,  au- 
thorizing the  Levy  Court  to  appoint  county  treas- 
urers, and  on  the  14th  of  June,  1793,  the  act  was 
amended,  which  provided  that  the  Levy  Court  and 
Court  of  Appeals  should  be  composed  of  commis- 
sioners to  be  elected  by  the  people.  Nine  were  to  be 
elected  for  Kent  County,  two  from  each  hundred  ot 


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1042 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Duck  Creek  and  Mi«pillion,  and  one  for  each  of  the 
other  hundreds,  Little  Creek  and  St.  Jones. 

An  amendment  February  9,  1796,  provided  that 
every  freeman  over  twenty-one  years  of  age  shall  be 
rated,  in  addition  to  his  amount  of  other  tax. 

An  amendment  January  19,  1797,  authorizes  the 
court  to  raise  money  to  maintain  the  poor  and  build 
poor-houses,  for  laying  out  and  repairing,  amending 
and  erecting  bridges,  causeways  and  public  roads. 

The  Levy  Court  records  of  Kent  County  are  not 
to  be  found  in  continuous  record  until  1851.  A  few 
of  the  members  are  here  given  : 


JohnMarlm .,1798 

John  Pleaaanton ..^1708 

John  Stewart 1798 

Nlmrod  Maxwell 1798 


Bli^or  Anderson. 1798 

Jonathan  Hunn 1798 

CWebSipple 1798 

Beqjamin  Burrows 1798 


The  following  list  is  from  the  Levy  Court  records. 
The  members  in  office  in  1851  were  as  follows  : 


James  Longfellow 1851 

John  Hopkins 1851 

John  Thompson^ 1851 

John  Reynolds 1851 


John  Bell 1851 

William  Collins 1851 

James  Knight 1851 

Samnel  McGonigal 1851 

Daniel  George 1851 

From  this  date  the  names  of  the  members  elected 
every  two  years  are  given. 


Henry  Pratt 186S 

Philemon  0.  Garter 1853 

Thomae  H.  MoUTaine 185S 

Wm.  H.  Powell 1863 

John  B.  Bell 1856 

John  Eaton 1855 

Andrew  N.  Harper. 1865 

Chaa.  M.  Wharton 1866 

Clement  L.  Sharp « 1865 

John  C.  Pennewill 1867 

Ambrose  Broadaway^ 1857 

William  0.  Brown 1857 

Llewellyn  Tharp 18  7 

John  M.  Vosbell 1859 

Thomas  H.  Denny 1859 

John  Slay ~ 1859 

8.  M.  ColUna 1859 

BobertHiU 1861 

Thomas  Pestles 1861 

Wm.  SUy 1861 

Robert  W.  Reynolds.. 1861 

John  Booth ...1861 

Stephen  M.  Collins 1863 

Henry  Pratt 1863 

Wm.  Dnhamel 1863 

John  M.  Voehell 1863 

David  S.  Wilds « 1865 

Wm.  Duhamel.. 1865 

James  D.  Kimmey 1865 

Richaball  Allaband 1866 

Samnel  D.  Roe 1865 

Thomas  Dorman 1865 

PreeWy  Spruance 1867 

John  W.  Fennimore.. 1867 

James  Virdin 1867 

John  S.Herrington 1867 

J.  Frank  Denney 1869 

Jamee  G.  Waplas 1869 

Wm.  Goodin 1869 

Edmund  Bailey 1869 

Robert  H.  Smith 1869 


DaTid  Reese 1871 

Wm.  H.  Hobson 1871 

James  Williams 1871 

John  8.  Herrington 1871 

Charles  H.  Register... 1873 

Wm.  G.  Poetles 1873 

George  H.  GildersleeTe 1873 

James  K.  Bumside 1873 

Wm.  L.  Morten 1873 

Nathaniel  H.  Griffin 1876 

Henry  M.  How 1875 

Philemon  Scotten. 1875 

James  A.  Marlin 1875 

Joseph  Moore 1877 

Kzekiel  C.  Frazier. 1877 

John  Harrington 1877 

Zebolon  Hopkins 1877 

Charles  H.  Register 1877 

Peter  E.  Lowber 1879 

Daniel  V.  Hutchins 1879 

Silas  T.  Jenkins 1879 

Darid  8.  Wilds 1879 

John  Farrell 1881 

George  W.  Collins 1881 

Joseph  8.  Burcheual 1881 

John  P.  Curtis 1881 

Peter  K.  Meredith„ 18«1 

D.  M.  Clouds 1883 

B.  C.  Cubbage « 1883 

J.  W.  Kirby 18«3 

D.  8.  Wilds 1883 

John  Farrell 1885 

Wm.  Fisher 1885 

Peter  K.  Meredith 1885 

Charles  C.  Case 1886 

Ja<x)bS.  Graham 1886 

Thomas  A.  Reen 1887 

DaTid  M.  Clouds 1887 

Heeekiah  Masten 1887 

Charles  C.  Case « 1887 


Joseph  Taylor 1788 

Ebenezer  Blackiston 1797-1800 

Gideon  Cullen...« 1809 

Wm.  Keith 1863 

George  M.  Manlore 1856 

Wm.  Satterfleld 1867 

Wm.  Satterfleld 1869 

Henry  Whitaker 1861 

Martin  Harrington 1863 

Whitely  W.  Meredith 1866 

A.  J.  Wilson 1867 


Treasurers. 


John  David Feb.,  1744 

Wm.  Betts 

Charles  Ridgely 1769-79 


Benj.  Vlning 1774 

Wra.  .fordan 1780 

John  Baning 1784 


John  M.  VoilieU 1869 

Robert  Wilson. „..1871 

Wm.  C.  Brown....» 1873 

Thomas  H.  Dorman ..1875 

Wm  B.  Hall «..1877 

Bei\}.C.  Cubbage 1879 

DaTid  Rees ..1881 

Jamee  R.  Powell ...18^ 

Eben  Hughes 1886 

Wm.  R.  Dickson. 1887 


CHAPTER  LV. 


DOVER. 


The  town  of  Dover  enjoys  the  distinction  of  hav- 
ing been  projected  by  William  Penn,  the  next  year 
after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  although  it  was  not 
laid  out  until  1717.  The  settlements  in  1683  were 
mostly  along  the  streams,  and  "  Towne  Point,"  near 
the  mouth  of  St.  Jones'  Creek,  was  the  place  where  the 
courts  were  held,  but,  as  settlement  in  the  interior 
was  rapidly  increasing,  Penn  conceived  the  idea  of 
creating  a  town  for  a  county-seat  for  St.  Jones' 
Couuty  (Kent)  and  on  the  11th  of  the  Sixth  Month 
(August),  1683,  he  issued  a  warrant;  authorizing  the 
surveyor  to  lay  out,  for  the  Governor,  a  town  to  be 
called  "Dover,*'  a  copy  of  which  is  here  given: 

"  WUUttm  Penn,  Proprietary  <*  Ootem&r  of  ye  Provimee  of  PnmuUpamia  «* 
jfc  TerrUoriet  thoremtto  heUmging. 

"  I  do  hereby  order  thee  to  lay  out,  or  canse  to  be  layd  out,  in  ye  land 
appointed  for  ye  town  of  DoTer,  in  ye  oonnty  of  Kent,  one  high  street 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  wide,  and  two  back  streets  each  dzty-dx  fe<;t 
broad,  to  nin  from  ye  water  side  throughout,  and  one  cross  street  one 
hundred  and  fifty  feet  broad  where  ye  high  road  croeseth  ye  said  Town 
land,  A  to  lay  out  ye  Lotts  in  ye  sd  Town  so  ss  each  may  contain  one 
acre  and  a  half  of  land,  to  grant  to  any  person,  upon  application  to  thee 
for  a  Lott,  one  Lott  in  ye  sd  Town,  they  building  forthw*^  on  ye  sanM 
A  paying  unto  me  as  a  Ground  Rent  yearly  one  bushel  of  good  winter 
wheat  or  four  shillings,  Sk. 

"  I  do  also  order  y*  3'e  Court  House  and  Prison  be  built  in  ye  cro« 
street  of  ye  sd  Town.    Given  at  Philadelphia  ye  11*  of  ye  6«»»  mo.,  1683. 

"Wm.  Pkhx. 
"  To  William  Glabuc, 

**  Surveyor  of  ye  counties  of  Kent  and  Suowx.** 

Endorsed  as  follows, — 

"  The  Govern'  war't  to  lay  out  the  Town  Lotts  and  Streets  In  the  Town 
of  Dover,  Kent  County." 

On  the  same  date  William  Penn  issued  the  follow- 
ing warrant : 

**  These  are  to  will  and  require  thee  forthwith  to  lay  out  or  came  to  t>e 
layd  out  one  of  ye  comers  of  ye  cross  streets  in  ye  towne  of  Dover,  in  ye 
county  of  Kent,  containing  eight  Lotts  for  my  own  use,  and  make  retoms 
thereof  into  my  Secretary's  office." 

In  the  warrants  issued  by  Penn  during  the  years 
1683-84  he  provided  that  the  quit-rents  on  land  in 
this  vicinity  be  paid  at  the  "  town  of  Dover."  It  was 
not  at  once  laid  out,  probably  owing  to  other  business 
of  moment  in  the  province.  The  history  of  the  county 
seat  and  courts  of  Kent  County  contain  an  account 
of  the  trouble  in  locating  the  town,  but  upon  the  de- 
cision of  the  justices  that  it  be  upon  the  land  of  Wil- 
liam Southebee,  all  controversy  ceased.  The  two  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  purchased  in  1694,  was  part  of  a 
larger  tract  called  "  Brothers'  Portion,"  containing 


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eight  hundred  acres,  which  John  and  Richard  Walker 
tM>k  up  under  a  warrant  in  1680.  On  the  20th  of 
February,  1682-83,  they  purchased  the  Indian  right 
of  this  tract  of  Christian,  alias  Petogogue,  owner  of 
all  the  land  between  the  Murther  Kill  and  Duck 
Creek,  for  three  match-coats,  twelve  bottles  of  drink 
and  four  handfuls  of  powder.  On  the  16th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1684,  John  Walker,  then  sole  owner,  sold  the 
whole  tract  to  William  Southebee,  of  Philadelphia. 
It  may  be  well  here  to  state  that  John  Walker  and 
William  Southebee  were  both  members  of  Penn's 
Council  from  Kent  County,  and  after  the  sale  of  all 
this  land  by  Southebee,  he  removed  to  Philadelphia 
and  became  a  member  of  the  Council  from  that 
county. 

Bichard  Wilson  and  William  Morton  were  author- 
ized to  purchase  two  hundred  acres  of  William  Southe- 
bee, which  Wilson  bought  November  23,  1694,  for 
twenty-five  pounds,  and  on  the  4th  of  February  fol- 
lowing, conveyed  it  to  the  county  of  Kent.  It  was  a 
tract  one  hundred  perches  on  Dover  River  by  three 
hundred  and  twenty  perches  westward.  The  court- 
house was  built  about  1697  where  the  present  court- 
house stands.  At  that  time  there  was  no  village  or 
settlement  of  considerable  proportions  in  the  limits  of 
Kent  County,  and  the  inhabitants,  realizing  the  ne- 
cessity of  making  the  place  where  the  courts  were 
held  of  some  importance  and  convenience,  also  for 
the  transaction  of  other  business  than  the  public, 
united  in  the  year  1699  in  a  petition  to  the  Council 
at  Philadelphia,  which  was  read  before  that  body 
May  15th.  John  Curtis  and  Griffith  Jones,  residents 
of  the  county,  were  members  of  the  Council,  and 
John  Walker,  Thomas  Bedwell,  Samni)l  Burberry  and 
John  Bradnhaw,  of  the  Assembly,  were  also  residents 
of  Kent    The  petition  set  forth — 

"Uiat  JVM  [whereM]  there  is  •  certain  peece  of  land  In  ye  sd  Gonnty  of 
two  hondred  acrea,  on  the  loath  ilde  of  dorer  river  neer  the  brldfe  in 
the  King's  Bead,  upon  which  the  court-hoote  now  stands,  wch  ye  sd 
Inhabitants  Latelee  pchassd  from  Wm.  Southebee  for  the  pnblick  nse  of 
the  sd  Ooun^ ;  and  yras  [whersas]  ye  ad  Land  being  oonTeul<«ntly 
aooomodated  in  all  respects  for  ye  good  and  benefit  yrof,  and  it  being 
higfalee  necessary  that  a  township,  with  all  other  pririteges  and  benefltts, 
be  erected  and  established  for  the  good  of  the  said  county,  with  fairs  att 
oonrenient  timet,  Ac,  and  the  sd  Land  being  convenientlie  situated  for 
ye  purpoee  ;  and  y  rfor  Requesting  y  t  ye  sd  Land  may  be  fh>m  henceforth 
erected  into  a  township  and  called  by  the  name  of  Oanterburry,  A  that 
they  have  a  fiur  yrin  [therein]  twice  a  year,  and  that  the  same  may  be 
laid  out  into  Lotto,  a  comon  and  maricet  place,  as  the  county  court  and 
Grand  Jury  shall  order  and  appoint,  with  streets  and  pubUck  Landings, 
A  ye  freeholders  of  the  said  countle  may  have  their  Lotts  proportionable 
to  what  they  have  paid  towards  itt,  and  that  whatsoever  else  may  be 
aecsMsry  and  couTenlent  for  ye  good  and  benefit  yrof  maybe  left  to  the 
court  and  grand  jurie,  fh>m  time  to  time,  as  ye  same  shall  be  needftil  to 
be  done.** 

The  petition  and  all  its  provisions  were  granted 
except  the  name,  which  was  declared  to  be  called 
"  Dover  "  after  the  20th  of  June  next  (1699). 

The  records  of  the  court  of  Kent  County  are  not  to 
be  found ;  therefore  the  action  of  the  grand  jury  or 
the  court  is  not  known.  It  is  evident  that  even  with 
the  approval  of  the  Council,  the  town  was  not  laid 
out  for  several  years  after.  It  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained whether  fairs  were  held.  James  Maxwell's 
tavern,  where  the  courts  were  formerly  held,  was  not 
very  far  away.    John  Walker,  who  originally  owned 


the  land  on  which  Dover  was  laid  out,  also  kept  an 
ordinary  on  his  other  land.  Certainly  no  title  was 
in  any  of  the  two  hundred  acres  bought  for  the  county 
of  Kent.  It  is  evident  that  from  the  time  of  the  an- 
swer to  the  petition,  the  place  became  known  as 
Dover,  for  in  the  act  of  assembly  passed  in  1717, 
before  it  was  yet  laid  out,  the  place  is  mentioned  as 
being  commonly  called  the  town  of  Dover.  Early  in 
the  term  of  Sir  William  Keith  as  Governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  provinces  in  1717,  an  act  passed  the 
Assembly  of  the  three  lower  counties  appointing  per- 
sons to  lay  out  the  land  in  lots  and  streets  adjoining 
to  the  court-house  in  Kent  County,  and  to  sell  the 
lots.    The  preamble  recites : 

"Nothing  being  of  more  consequence  to  a  country  than  the  improve- 
ment  thereof  by  the  addition  of  tradesmen,  and  othuv,  In  such  measure 
as  may  not  be  of  great  expenoo  to  the  new  settlers ;  Therefore  be  it  en- 
acted," etc. 

Section  1  provided 

^  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawfhl,  and  it  U  hereby  made  lawful,  for  Ben- 
jamin Shurmer,  William  Brlnkleeand  Biohard  Blchanlson,  or  any  two  of 
them,  to  survey  and  lay  out  into  lots  a  certain  tract  of  land  in  the  county 
of  Kent,  adjoining  to  the  conrt-houae  of  said  county,  and  purchased  by 
the  people  thereof  and  commonly  called  the  town  of  Dover.  In  sncb 
measures  and  proportions  as  to  them  shall  seem  meat  and  conrenlent,  and 
the  said  lots  so  surveyed  and  laid  out  as  aforesaid,  to  dlspoae  of  and  sell 
to  such  persons  as  are  willing  to  purchase  and  buy.    .    .    . 

'*Sec.  4.  That  the  said  survey  and  allotment  and  laying  out  shall  be 
finished  and  oompleated  at  or  before  the  tanth  day  of  March  next" 

The  commissioners  laid  out  the  town-plot  one  hun- 
dred perches  wide,  the  width  of  the  tract,  and  two 
hundred  perches  westward,  embracing  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres,  leaving  seventy-five  acres  on 
the  west  end  of  the  tract.  The  King's  Road,  leading 
from  Philadelphia  southward  to  Lewes,  passed 
through  the  plot  and  is  the  present  Main  Street. 
At  right  angles  with  this  road  is  another  road  or 
street,  which  is  mentioned  in  early  deeds  as  Long 
Street,  was  located,  extending  from  Dover  River  west- 
ward, passing  in  front  of  the  residence  of  Hon.  John  A. 
Nicholson,  the  court-house,  office  of  the  Delawarean 
and  the  residence  of  Chief  Justice  Comegys. 

At  the  intersection  of  these  two  roads  a  square  was 
laid  out,  twenty -two  perches  on  each  side,  exclusive 
of  the  roads.  Penn  in  his  instructions  directed  that 
the  court-house  be  built  at  the  intersection  of  the 
two  main  streets,  and  the  commissioners,  in  laying 
out  the  town,  laid  the  Long  Street  in  such  a  way  that 
the  court-house  occupied  that  position,  and  it  was  in 
the  southeast  quarter  of  the  Public  Square,  where  the 
present  court-house  now  stands.  Two  other  public 
lots  were  laid  out,  one  called  "  Church  Square,"  the 
other'*  Meeting-House  Square." 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  town-plot  was  to  be  com- 
pleted by  March,  1718,  and  it  evidently  was  at  that  time 
or  soon  after  that  the  plot  was  made  one  hundred  by 
two  hundred  perches,  leaving  about  seventy-five  acres 
to  the  westward  not  laid  out.  On  the  13th  of  May, 
1718,  John  Mifflin  bought  of  the  commissioners  sixty- 
nine  acres  of  this  tract,  which,  after  passing  through 
several  owners,  on  July,  1748,  with  some  other  land 
adjoining,  came  to  Nicholas  Ridgely,  whose  descend- 
ants still  own  it.     It  is  known  as  the  Ridgely  farm. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Ephraim  Emerson  purchased  the  remaining  portion 
of  the  tract  outside  of  the  town-plot  as  laid  out.  On 
August  7,  1718,  Richard  Richardson,  one  of  the  com- 
missioners, purchased  a  lot  *'  beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  a  square  laid  out  by  the  authority 
aforesaid  and  designed  as  a  place  for  a  court-house 
and  other  public  services  for  the  use  of  the  said  County 
of  Kent,  and  running  thence  east  by  north  eleven 
perches  to  the  corner  laid  out  for  a  street,  and  also 
for  the  King's  road ;  thence  north  and  by  west  along 
the  western  side  of  the  same  street  seventeen  and  a 
half  perches  to  a  stake ;  thence  west  and  by  south 
twenty-eight  and  a  half  perches  to  a  stake ;  thence 
south  and  by  east  twenty-eight  and  a  half  perches 
to  a  stake  in  the  line  of  another  space  laid  out  for  a 
street,  proceeding  from  Dover  Creek  through  the 
body  of  the  said  tract ;  thence  down  the  side  of  the 
said  street  east  and  by  north  seventeen  and  a  half 
perches  to  the  western  side  of  the  said  square ;  thence 
north  by  west  eleven  perches  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning." 

In  this  description  the  square  is  mentioned  as  laid  out 
"  and  designed  as  a  place  for  a  Court-House  and  other 
public  services  for  the  use  of  the  said  County  of  Kent,'' 
and  that  the  land  purchased  by  Mr.  Richardson  is 
eleven  perches  on  the  north  and  west  sides  of  the 
square  ;  that  his  south  line  extends  to  "  another  space 
laid  out  for  a  street,  proceeding  from  Dover  Creek 
through  the  body  of  the  tract,"  which  clearly  proves 
that  the  street,  as  originally  designed  in  the  plot,  ran 
from  Dover  Creek  in  front  of  the  present  court-house, 
through  the  tract  westward,  and  on  the  south  side  of 
the  present  Public  Square. 

On  the  day  of  Commissioner  Richardson's  pur- 
chase, Absalom  Cuff,  of  Saulsbury  (now  Duck  Creek), 
bought  a  lot  containing  thirteen  acres  at  '*  the  south- 
em  end  "  of  the  town,  and  on  the  16th  of  August  the 
same  year  Samuel  Greenwood  purchased  thirteen  and 
eight-tenth  acres  of  land  on  the  southern  side  and 
western  end  of  the  town-plot.  The  names  of  John 
Hefflin  and  Ephraim  Emerson  are  mentioned  as  own- 
ing lots  adjoining  Absalom  Cuff,  which  were  probably 
purchased  the  same  day,  but  they  are  not  of  record. 

In  several  deeds  made  to  Benjamin  Shurmer,  May 
20,  1719,  by  which  he  bought  the  lots  of  Absalom 
Cuff,  Samuel  Greenwood,  Ephraim  Emerson,  and  later 
the  sixty-nine  acres  of  John  Mifflin,  mention  is 
made  of  the  land  as  lying  along  Long  Street,  laid 
out  from  Dover  Creek  through  the  body  of  the  town 
land,  the  land  and  lots  all  lying  south  of  Long  Street. 
Mention  is  made  in  several  other  early  deeds  of  Long 
Street,  having  reference  indisputably  to  the  Street 
that  was  abandoned  about  1722  when  the  court-house 
lot  was  sold  to  John  Lindsay. 

No  other  deeds  are  recorded  until  February  12, 
1722,  when  John  Lindsay  purchased  of  the  commis- 
sioners a  lot  of  land  "  whereon  the  old  court-house 
now  stands,"  and  which  at  the  time  of  sale  was  in 
his  possession.  The  lot  is  described  as  *'  beginning 
at  a  stake  at  the  corner  of  the  now  court-house  green. 


and  running  thence  east  by  north  along  the  line  of 
the  said  green  twenty-seven  perches  to  another  cor- 
ner post ;  thence  south  by  east  twelve  perches ;  thence 
west  by  south  twenty-seven  perches  in  a  line  of  the 
east  by  north  side  of  the  chief  street  of  tHe  town 
called  King  Street ;  thence  north  by  west  along  the 
line  of  said  street  to  the  place  of  beginning  "  laid  out 
for  two  acres  of  ground. 

It  is  evident  from  the  sale  of  this  quarter  of  the 
square  that  the  original  idea  of  the  public  square  was 
abandoned,  as  the  sale  of  this  lot  and  an  additional 
perch  on  the  south  side  disposed  of  the  whole  of  it. 
The  square  was  doubtless  intended  to  be  nearly  in 
the  middle  of  the  town,  but  the  change  makes  the 
block  from  the  present  square  to  Water  Street,  nearly 
as  large  again  as  from  the  square  to  North  Street.  The 
street  mentioned  in  the  Richardson  deed  is  found  en- 
tirely closed  a  few  years  later  as  far  as  running  through 
the  town  is  concerned  by  the  sale  of  the  lot,  now 
owned  by  the  State,  by  the  commissioners  south  of  the 
State- House.  It  was  sold  March  12, 1729,  to  Francis 
Richardson,  of  which  more  hereafter. 

The  next  purchaser  after  John  Lindsay  was 
Thomas  Wells,  of  Murtherkill,  who  on  February  10, 
1724,  bought  two  lots;  one  on  the  north  side  of 
Church  Square,  the  other  on  North  Street,  each  con- 
taining one  acre.  On  the  16th  of  February  he  par- 
chased  two  more  lots ;  one  being  No.  32,  on  which 
the  Capital  Hotel  now  stands,  four  perches  on  the 
square  and  extending  along  King  Street  to  North 
Street.  The  other  lot  was  on  North  Street  eight 
perches,  and  on  East  Street  fourteen  perches. 

On  August  12, 1727,  John  Bell  bought  a  lot  on  High 
Street,  fourteen  by  twenty-two  perches  on  the  south- 
east side  ofChurch  (Meeting-House)  Square  rontain- 
ing  two  acres.  February  12,  1729,*  Thomas  Tarrant 
bought  two  lots,  one  of  which  was  No.  31  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Court-house  Square,  adjoining  a  lot 
of  Charles  Hillyard  on  the  east  and  on  the  west,  a  lot 
"  designed  for  Andrew  Hamilton,"  seventy-seven  feet 
by  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  feet,  extending  to 
North  Street.  The  other  lot  was  on  North  and  High 
Streets,  fourteen  by  eighteen  perches. 

On  November  12,  1729,  Francis  Richardson,  of 
Philadelphia,  who  was  a  lai^e  land-owner  in  Kent 
County,  purchased  lot  No.  26,  fronting  on  the  east 
side  of  the  public  square  one  hundred  and  ten  feet, 
and  extending  three  hundred  and  sixty-three  feet 
eastward  to  East  Street.  This  lot  takes  up  the  street 
laid  out  originally  from  Dover  Creek  westward.  The 
south  line  was  irregular  and  joined  the  Linsey  or 
Lindsay  lot,  and  on  the  north  line  was  also  irreg^ular, 
as  lot  34,  ninety-seven  feet  in  depth,  on  which  the 
State-house  now  stands,  was  part  of  the  original  lot 
No.  26.  This  lot  No.  34  was  evidently  in  the  second 
laying  out  of  the  town  reserved  for  the  court-house. 
Lot  33,  on  which  the  office  building  now  stands,  was 

I  The  datM  here  given  are  dates  of  deeds.    It  is  erident  from  them 
that  Articles  of  Agreement  bad  been  made  prior  as  reference  Is  i 
thereto. 


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origiDally  part  of  lot  No.  27,  and  was  also  ninety-seven 
feet  in  depth.  In  the  map  made  hy  Thomas  Noxon 
in  1740,  No.  84  is  marked  as  coart-honse,  and  No.  83 
as  office. 

Francis  Bichardson  on  November  12,  1729,  also 
bought  three  and  one-half  acres  of  land  in  the  Town 
Plot  lying  on  the  east  side  of  East  Street,  opposite 
the  south  corner  of  his  other  purchase;  thence 
along  East  Street  ten  and  one-half  perches ;  thence 
east  by  south  fifty-four  perches  to  the  back  of  Dover 
Biver;  down  the  same  ten  and  one-half  perches; 
thence  west  by  south  to  beginning. 

August  12,  1729,  Waitman  Sipple  and  Joseph 
Booth,  Jr.,  received  a  deed  for  two  lots  on  the  south 
side  of  Water  Street,  forty  perches  by  one  hundred 
and  thirty-two  perches  containing,  two  acres,  called 
"  Elinor's  Dowry." 

The  same  day  Charles  Hillyard  received  deeds 
for  two  lots,  one  of  which  began  "  at  the  north-west- 
erly corner  of  the  prison  in  the  Court-House  Square, 
thence  thirty  feet  west  along  the  square  to  the  lot  of 
Thomas  Tarrant,  No.  81;  thence  north  to  North 
Street,  along  line  of  said  street,  east  by  north  sixty- 
six  feet  to  comer  betwixt  North  and  High  Streets ;  ^ 
thence  along  west  side  of  High  Street,  south  by  east 
forty  feet  to  a  corner  of  prison  lot ;  thence  along 
lower  line,  west  by  south  thirty-six  feet  to  corner  of 
said  lot ;  thence  south  by  east  by  the  line  thereof  to 
beginning." 

The  other  lot  began  on  the  southeasterly  corner  of 
High  Street,  where  it  intersects  the  line  of  South 
Street ;  along  the  line  of  the  street  east  by  north 
twelve  perches  to  corner  on  South  Street ;  thence 
north  by  west  twenty-two  perches  to  corner;  thence* 
west  by  south  twelve  perches  to  corner  on  High 
Street;  along  the  street  twenty-two  perches  to  begin- 
ning line,  and  for  two  hundred  and  sixty-six  square 
perches.  August  16  following  he  also  bought  a  lot 
beginning  at  western  side  of  High  Street  and  the 
northern  »ide  of  the  Church  Square  (Meeting  House 
Square);  along  High  Street  three  perches;  thence 
west  by  south  twelve  perches ;  south  by  east  to  cor- 
ner of  the  square,  three  perches  and  along  the  square 
to  banning,  containing  twenty  square  perches. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  1729,  David  Bees 
bought  a  lot  on  King  Street,  sixty-six  feet  south 
by  east  of  John,  south  of  Bell's  lot,  formerly  the 
Court-House  lot  and  Linsey  lot,  fifty -three  feet  front 
by  twelve  perches  deep.  On  April  10  the  next  year 
he  bought  the  lot  south,  sixty-six  by  one  hundred 
and  twenty-nine  feet  extending  to  Water  Street,  and 
on  the  14th  of  May  following  he  bought  a  lot  nine 
by  fourteen  perches,  containing  one  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  square  perches  lying  on  the  west  side  of 
High  Street  at  the  intersection  of  South  Street.  The 
house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  Thomas  G. 
Murphy  stands  on  the  lot.    The  house  is  solid,  sub- 


1  Thii  difcrepancy  cannot  be  reconciled,  as  by  all  known  plots   High 
Street  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  town. 


stantial,  and   built    many    years  ago.     McKimmey 
Smack  kept  a  tavern  in  this  house  at  one  time. 

On  May  18,  1730,  Bobert  Bohannon  purchased  two 
lots,  one  on  the  west  side  of  King  Street,  adjoining  a 
lot  of  Charles  Hillyard  ;  the  other  west  from  the 
Meeting-House  Square  to  West  Street,  eighty  feet  by 
twenty-seven  perches.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  one  of  the  first  trus- 
tees. Daniel  and  Niel  Books  each  bought  lots,  the 
deeds  bearing  date  May  12,  1780,  lying  on  the  west 
side  of  King  Street. 

The  same  date  Joseph  Booth,  Jr.,  purchased  two 
lots  at  the  corner  of  High  and  Water  Streets,  now 
the  property  of  Thomas  Draper  and  Mrs.  Stuart. 

The  first  lot  was  purchased,  it  will  be  remembered, 
by  Bichard  Bichardson,  one  of  the  Commissioners^ 
but  for  some  reason  that  was  given  up  by  him  and 
was  deeded  by  the  Commissioners  to  several  others. 
The  lot  No.  82,  in  the  corner  of  the  Square,  fronting 
both  on  the  north  and  west  sides,  extended  back  to 
North  Street,  and  was  sold  to  Andrew  Hamilton.  By 
agreement  a  deed  was  not  made  until  May  15,  1760^ 
when  James  Hamilton,  his  son,  represented  to  the 
Commissioners  that  his  father  was  deceased  and  had 
left  the  lot  mentioned  to  him  and  requested  a  deed, 
which  was  given  upon  that  date. 

On  February  4, 1781,  William  Bodney,  grandfath- 
er of  Csesar  Bodney,  and  at  the  time  an  ofKcial  of 
the  County,  purchased  a  lot  fronting  on  the  west  side 
of  the  public  square,  adjoining  the  lot  of  Andrew 
Hamilton,  extending  to  North  Street,  High  Street 
and  Court-House  lane  (now  Bank  lane).  The  same 
day  he  sold  it  to  Thomas  Nixon,  a  tailor,  who  built 
a  house  in  which  he  resided.  Owing  to  some  irreg- 
ularity in  this  deed  it  was  confirmed  by  the  Commis* 
sieners  January  10, 1789. 

Other  sales  were  made  by  the  Commissioners  but 
not  recorded,  and  the  Bodney  deed  was  the  last  one 
issued  by  the  first  commissioners.  Benjamin  Shur- 
mer  was  the  last  survivor,  and  died  in  1786.  By  the 
terms  of  the  original  act,  the  power  of  the  Commis- 
sioners were  not  left  in  trust  to  heirs,  and  accordingly 
about  1787  or  1788,  an  act  of  C^eneral  Assembly  was 
passed,  appointing  John  Halliday,  James  Gower  and 
Thomas  Skidmore,  Jr.,  commissioners  with  power  to 
sell  lots  and  confirm  titles  to  those  already  disposed 
of. 

The  first  deed  recorded  of  the  new  eommissioners^ 
is  the  confirmation  of  Thomas  Nixon's  purchase, 
which  was  the  lot  bought  by  William  Bodney,  but 
the  deed  was  made  from  Benjamin  Shurmer  to- 
Thomas  Nixon. 

On  June  10,  1741,  Bobert  Willcocks  bought  four 
lots,  No.  88,  89,  40,  and  41,  on  Water  Street,  from  the 
Church  Square  to  King  Street,  and  sixteen  perches 
on  King  Street.  August  15th  following  he  also 
bought  lots  east  of  East  Street,  and  west  of  Front 
Street.  August  14th,  the  same  year,  John  House- 
man, who  was  recorder  of  the  county  many  years, 
bought  six  lots,  No.  14,  lying  on  South  Street  fron> 


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1046 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Front  to  East  Street,  and  lots  15  to  20,  fronting  on 
East  Street  from  South  Street  to  the  Church  Square. 
The  same  date  Thomas  Noxon,  then  surveyor  of  the 
county,  and  who  the  year  previous  made  the  plot  now 
preserved  in  the  recorder's  office  bought  lot  93  on 
Water  Street  from  Queen  to  High  Street. 

Cornelius  Empeon,  who  came  from  New  Castle  at 
the  same  time,  bought  three  lots,  Nos.  87,  88,  89,  on 
North  and  Queen  Streets  and  adjoining  the  Meeting- 
House  lot.  On  May  12th,  1742,  Margaret  Caton, 
daughter  of  John  Caton,  one  of  the  magistrates  of 
the  court,  bought  a  lot  on  the  north  side  of  South 
Street,  and  August  14th  Samuel  Dickinson  bought 
lots  on  the  north  side  of  South  Street  and  east  side  of 
King  Street.  In  1747  and  prior  to  that  time,  Corne- 
lius EmpH>n  was  a  merchant  in  Dover  and  kept  store 
on  the  lot  east  of  the  Morris  lot  on  the  public  square, 
which  had  formerly  been  sold  to  Charles  Williams. 
This  lot,  as  the  property  of  Cornelius  Empson,  was 
sold  by  Csesar  Rodney,  sheriff,  March  3, 1768,  to  John 
Clayton,  Jr.,  on  a  mortgage  to  the  Trustees  of  the 
Loan  Office. 

The  Presbyterian  Church  was  erected  on  Meeting- 
House  Square  before  title  to  the  land  was  obtained. 
On  May  12,  1748,  one  acre  and  eighty-five  perches 
was  conveyed  to  Robert  Jamison,  minister;  John 
Caton  and  Robert  Bohannon,  elders,  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian congregation  in  and  about  Dover,  for  the  use  of 
the  congregation,  it  being  "  all  that  lott  or  parcel  1  of 
Ground  within  the  town  of  Dover,  whereon  the  Pres- 
byterian meeting-house  now  stands."  It  is  described 
as  being  en  the  west  side  of  High  Street. 

Mention  is  made  in  the  deed  of  Thomas  Tarrant  of 
the  lot  ''designed  for  Andrew  Hamilton,''  as  adjoining 
his  lot  on  the  west  It  was  not  taken  by  Hamilton, 
but  wan  sold  prior  to  1729  to  Thomas  Parke,  who 
resided  there  in  that  year.  In  the  deed  of  January 
30, 1730,  to  William  Rodney,  he  stated  that  the  deed 
from  the  commissioners  was  never  recorded.  Errors 
were  made  in  the  document,  which  were  corrected  in 
a  deed  of  November  2,  1731.  In  the  mean  time, 
Rodney  sold  it,  August  14, 1731,  to  Thomas  Skidmore, 
innkeeper.  A  portion  of  the  lot  had  been  reserved, 
whereon  the  widow  of  Thomas  Parke  lived  in  1735. 

John  Brinckloe,  on  May  3d,  1735,  by  an  article  of 
agreement,  became  owner  of  this  \6t,  which  was  not 
conveyed  by  deed  during  the  life-time  of  Skidmore. 
Afler  Skidmore's  death.  May  14,  1760,  Daniel  Robin- 
son, as  administrator  of  the  estate,  gave  deed  to  John 
Brinckloe  for  the  property,  who^  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1760,  sold  it  to  Nicholas  Loockerman,  who.  May  23, 
1769,  conveyed  it  to  Charles  Ridgely,  by  whose  descend- 
ants it  is  still  owned.  The  lot  lies  east  of  the  Capital 
Hotel,  and  the  old  house  upon  it,  long  known  as  the 
Ridgely  House,  is  probably  the  oldest  in  Dover.  A 
brick  in  the  building  bears  date  1728.  Thomas  Parke 
owned  the  lot  at  that  time  and  stated  in  1730  that  he 
lived  there  at  that  time.  The  original  house  contained 
but  two  rooms,  and  was  added  to  on  the  west  end  and 
the  rear  to  its  present  size  by  the  Ridgelys. 


About  the  year  1739  an  act  was  passed  establishing 
a  market  at  Dover,  to  be  held  upon  a  market-square 
selected  by  the  magistrates,  until  a  market-house 
should  be  erected.  Markets  were  to  be  held  on  Wed- 
nesdays and  Saturdays.  Bakers  were  required  to 
stamp  every  loaf  of  bread  with  some  mark.  Bread 
was  to  be  of  three  kinds,  white,  middling  or  brown, 
and  the  size  and  weight  of  the  loaves  were  to  be 
regulated  by  the  magistrates. 

Thomas  Nixon  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  market 

No  attention  appears  to  have  been  paid  to  this  act, 
and,  between  1748  and  1754,  another  was  passed  which 
recites  : 

"  Whereas^  the  said  act  hath  been  found  insufficient 
so  far  as  it  concerns  the  town  of  Dover  in  regard  that 
no  place  within  the  said  town  hath  yet  been  laid  out 
and  called  by  the  name  of  a  market-square,  nor  any 
place  yet  allotted  for  building  a  market-house,  or  ap- 
pointed where  provisions  may  be  bought  and  sold  on 
market-days,  until  such  home  shall  be  built;  for 
remedy  whereof"  it  was  enacted  that  Nicholas 
Ridgely,  Esq.,  Andrew  Caldwell  and  Thomas  Alford, 
of  Kent  County,  '^  lay  out  with  all  convenient  speed 
a  square  plot  of  ground  in  or  near  the  middle  of  that 
part  of  Dover  commonly  called  the  Court-House 
Square,  which  said  plot  of  ground  shall  be  called  the 
Market  Square."  They  "shall  also  allot  and  de- 
scribe some  spot  of  ground  within  the  market-square 
for  building  a  market-house  upon,"  and  to  have  the 
oversight  of  the  erection  of  the  building. 

Thomas  Parke  was  by  the  act  appointed  clerk  of 
the  market  and  empowered  to  set  up  stalls  or  booths 
and  rent  them  for  such  an  amount  as  three  of  the 
justices  should  decide  upon  ;  the  clerk  to  have  the 
fees  for  his  compensation. 

No  account  of  the  market  or  market-square  haa 
been  obtained  from  any  records,  and  a  square  prob- 
ablv  was  not  laid  out  or  house  built. 

In  1750  Benjamin  Chew,  James  Gorell  and  Robert 
Willcocks  were  appointed  commissioners  to  sell  lots 
in  the  town,  and  in  1764  CsBsai'  Rodney,  Charles 
Ridgely  and  Thomas  Parke  were  appointed  and  made 
the  last  sale  of  records  by  Dover  commissioners  to 
Simon  W.  Wilson,  December  23,  1783,  (who  was  at 
that  time  recorder  of  the  county.)  The  purchase  was 
two  acres  "  lying  on  the  west  side  of  town  and  with- 
out the  bounds  as  laid  down  by  Thomas  Noxon  in 
plan,  but  within  limits  as  first  directed  to  be  laid  off," 
adjoining  the  lots  of  Absalom  Cuff  and  Samuel  Green- 
wood. 

In  1763,  the  people  of  Dover  and  vicinity  petitioned 
Governor  James  Hamilton,  asking  the  liberty  and 
privilege  of  keeping  a  public  fair  twice  a  year  in  the 
town.  This  was  granted  September  12,  1763.  The 
firat  fair  was  appointed  to  be  held  October  12th,  and 
to  continue  that  day  and  the  next  following,  for  the 
purpose  of  buying  and  selling  horses,  cattle  and  all 
kinds  of  goods  and  merchandise.  The  governor  was 
to  be  paid  yearly,  and  on  the  1st  of  March  forever 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1047 


one  peppercorn  if  demanded.  No  account  of  any 
fairs  under  this  permit  is  found. 

On  November  15,  1754,  Nicholas  Bidgely  bought 
a  lot  of  the  commissioners  that  had  been  known  as 
the  jail  lot  and  is  laid  down  on  the  plan  of  1740.  It 
fronted  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square,  and  ex- 
tended north  to  North  Street  and  is  still  owned  by 
the  Bidgely  family.  That  portion  of  the  lot  on  the 
square  was  without  doubt,  the  location  of  the  first  jail 
of  Kent  County,  as  special  mention  is  made  of  it  in 
the  deed  to  Charles  Hillyard  in  1729.  In  1758, 
trustees  were  appointed  to  sell  the  old  jail  and  jail 
lot,  and  this  lot  was  sold  the  next  year  to  Mr.  Bidgely. 

The  Capital  Hotel  property  passed  August  4, 1731, 
from  Thomas  Wells  to  Timothy  Cummings,  and  in 
1745  James  Byrne  was  an  inn-keeper  and  kept 
tavern  at  the  place.  He  also  kept  store,  and  a  few 
years  later  sold  to  John  Clayton,  who  May  15,  1765, 
conveyed  it  to  Vincent  Loockerman,  who  is  mention- 
ed as  a  merchant.  The  tavern  was  rented  to  French 
Battell,  who  on  March  10, 1774,  became  the  owner 
of  the  property.  He  kept  the  tavern  during  the 
Bevolution  and  died  about  1781,  bequeathing  the 
business  and  real  estate  to  his  widow  Elizabeth.  It 
was  at  this  place  of  public  entertainment  that  in 
June,  1782,  was  held  the  feast  ordered  by  the  General 
Assembly  in  honor  of  the  birth  of  a  Dauphin  of 
France,  the  young  prince  who  disappeared  after  the 
execution  of  Louis  XYI.,  and  whose  fate  is  still  one 
of  the  deepest  mysteries  of  history.  The  tavern  pro- 
perty remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Battell  family 
until  1829,  when  it  was  sold  to  John  Beed.  In  1818, 
the  house  was  kept  by  Joseph  Buckmaster,  and 
when  the  sale  was  made  the  inn-keeper  was  Jacob 
Biddle,  who  removed  to  the  house  where  Benaiah 
Watson  now  resides  and  there  continued  his  business 
until  Beed  erected  a  new  tavern  on  the  Battell 
land.  Biddle  then  became  his  tenant,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded from  1840  to  1852  by  Joseph  McDaniels. 

The  hotel  was  kept  by  many  hosts  from  that  time 
until  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  in  February,  1881,  when 
in  charge  of  William  Fountain.  It  was  rebuilt  at 
once  and  is  now  kept  by  Qeorge  A.  Millington. 

The  Andrew  Hamilton  lot  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  square  was  later  owned  by  Charles  Bidgely, 
who  was  a  merchant  in  Dover,  and  on  December  26, 
1787,  sold  it  to  Nicholas  Bidgely,  his  brother,  who 
was  an  attorney -at-law  and  bad  filled  importaot 
ofiices  of  the  State.  Charles  Bidgely  was  one  of  the 
commissioners  to  build  the  new  court-house,  and  was 
killed  at  the  building  during  its  erection.  The 
property  a  few  years  later  passed  to  Dr.  William 
Winder  Morris  and  remained  in  possession  of  the 
family  until  recently  and  is  now  owned  in  part  by  Dr. 
L.  A.  H.  Bishop. 

The  lot  of  Charles  Hillyard,  now  occupied  by  Kirk 
&  Son's  printing  office,  was  owned  in  1782,  by  Edward 
Tilghman,  who  February  11,  sold  it  to  James  Sykes. 
At  that  time  Hon.  William  Killen  owned  the 
Tarrant's  lot  and  next  north  from  Mr.  Bonseirs^. 


The  property  south  of  the  state-house  on  which 
Hon.  John  M.  Clayton  resided,  now  owned  by  the 
State  but  still  best  known  as  the  Clayton  house,  was 
sold  by  Francis  Bicbardson,  March  26, 1780,  to  Benja- 
min Shurmer  who  died  in  1736,  and  left  it  to 
his  son  William,  from  whom  it  is  thought  to  have 
passed  to .  Samuel  Chew,  as  tradition  sometimes 
calls  it  the  Chew  house.  About  1777,  it  came  into 
possession  of  James  Sykes,  who  was  that  year  elected 
Prothonotary.  He  filled  many  important  positions 
and  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Bepresentatives 
when  he  died  in  1794.  His  son,  James  Sykes,  was 
prominent  as  a  physician  and  surgeon,  and  in  1812, 
built  the  residence  of  Hon.  John  A.  Nicholson,  with 
an  office  in  the  east  part  and  a  dissecting  room  on 
the  second  floor.  His  son  James,  also  a  physician, 
occupied  the  office.  John  M.  Clayton  opened  his 
first  law  office  in  this  place.  The  old  house  remained 
in  possession  of  the  Sykes  family  until  November  5, 
1824,  when  it  was  sold  to  Mr.  Clayton  and  was  his 
residence  until  his  death,  when  it  passed  to  Dr.  Isaac 
Jump,  and  now  belongs  to  the  State.  The  old 
court-house  lot  that  was  sold  to  John  Linsey  in  1722, 
was  conveyed  by  him  April  27,  1724,  to  John  Curtis, 
who  ^  sold  to  John  Bees, '' Innholder,''  soon  after. 
November  17, 1727,  Bees  conveyed  it  to  John  Bell,  in 
whose  family  it  remained  over  a  century.  On  this 
lot  was  the  old-time  tavern  that  had  for  a  sign  a  por- 
trait of  George  III.  After  the  Bevolution  the  portrait 
of  Qeorge  Washington  was  painted  over  it,  and  as 
time  passed  and  colors  faded  both  portraits  could  be 
indistinctly  made  out.  James  Wells  was  landlord  in 
1766,  and  John  Bell  during  the  Bevolution.  The 
latter's  son-in-law,  Jacob  Furbee,  was  his  successor, 
and  was  followed  by  Elizabeth  Cook.  In  1818,  the 
inn  keeper  was  Thomas  Coombs,  and  in  1820,  Marshal 
Grouchy,  who  failed  to  support  Napoleon  at  Waterloo, 
and  was  in  part  the  cause  of  his  defeat,  was  for  some 
time  a  guest  at  the  house,  and  spent  his  time  hunting. 

The  old  hostelry  was  headquarters  for  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  also  the  place  where  for  many  years 
gubernatorial  receptions  were  held.  It  was  used  as  a 
hotel  until  destroyed  by  fire,  Nov.  10, 1863.  Captain 
William  Mullen  became  the  landlord  in  1859  and 
died  July  5th,  preceding  its  destruction.  His  widow 
remained  in  charge  and  lost  much  by  the  fire. 

John  Baning,  saddler,  on  the  10th  of  June,  1766, 
bought  of  the  Dover  commissioners  a  lot  on  £[ing 
Street  to  South  Street  and  east  to  East  Street,  where 
he  built  a  dwelling,  in  which  he  also  kept  a  store 
during  the  Bevolution,  and  June  18th,  purchased  thir- 
teen lots  south  and  east  of  Bev.  Charles  Inglis.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Council  in  1791  and  died  in  that 
year.  His  dwelliug  became  the  Dover  Academy  and 
is  now  the  carriage-shop  of  W.  A.  Beilly. 

In  1818  the  hip-roofed  house  north  of  the  Baning 
house  was  owned  by  the  Loockerman  estate  and 
occupied  by  John  Christfield,  a  tailor.  A  two-story 
house  next  east  was  used  as  a  wheelwright-shop  by 
Benjamin  Gould. 


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1048 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Rev.  Charles  Inglis,  who  wan  rector  of  Christ 
Church  from  1758  to  1764,  bought  a  lot  of  Vincent 
Loockerman,  where  he  resided  during  his  pastorate 
here.  His  wife,  Mary  Vining,  a  step-daughter  of 
Nicholas  Ridgely,  and  a  sister  of  Chief  Justice  John 
Vining,  died  here  and  lies  buried  in  the  churchyard, 
near  where  she  lived.  The  lot  is  on  the. east  side  of 
King  Street  and  extended  eastward  on  Water  Street 
to  the  church  lot.  He  sold  it  to  John  Pryor,  a  mer- 
chant in  Dover,  February  10,  1762.  Mr.  Inglis  also 
owned  thirteen  lots  and  a  messuage  and  tenement 
lying  between  King,  South,  Front  and  Water  Screets, 
which  he  sold  June  18, 1766,  to  John  Baning. 

Hon.  John  Dickinson  owned  land  in  the  southeast 
part  of  the  town  prior  to  1766,  which  passed  to  Hon. 
William  Killen,  who,  August  14th  in  that  year,  sold 
lot  No.  10,  containing  six  acres,  to  Andrew  and  Rich- 
ard Butler,  and  August  16th,  lot  9,  five  acres,  to  James 
Wells,  who  is  mentioned  as  an  innkeeper  of  Dover. 
These  lots  were  on  Water  Street  between  East  and 
Front.  The  Butlers  later  owned  lots  100  and  101,  on 
the  southwest  part  of  the  town  plot. 

A  large  lot  fronting  on  the  west  side  of  King  Street, 
and  extending  along  the  south  side  of  the  Public 
Square  and  through  the  Governor's  Avenue,  at  an 
early  date  not  known,  came  into  possession  of  Richard 
Richardson,  who,  in  1718,  purchased  the  land  on  the 
northwest  of  the  Public  Square.  On  May  2,  1775,  it 
was  divided  into  two  lots,  and  John  Richardson,  son 
of  Richard,  received  the  north  lot  fronting  on  King 
Street  and  the  Square,  and  Ann,  the  wife  of  James 
Townsend,  was  given  the  south  lot,  bounded  south  by 
the  lot  then  owned  by  Hugh  Parke.  In  the  survey 
dwellings  are  shown  on  both  lots  as  fronting  on  King 
Street. 

The  north  lot  was  sold,  November  28, 1783,  by  John 
Richardson  to  Mark  Coudright,  who  erected  the  pres- 
ent office  of  the  JMawarean.  The  land  lying  on  the 
Public  Square,  except  the  comer  lot,  was  seized  in 
1788  by  Ezekiel  Anderson,  sheriff,  who  divided  it  into 
six  lots  and,  February  5th,  sold  lot  No.  1  to  Stephen 
Allston,  Nos.  2  and  3  to  Purnell  Lofland  and  No.  4 
to  Joshua  Fisher.  The  remainder,  through  to  High 
Street,  soon  after  passed  to  Stephen  Allston,  who,  in 
1790,  sold  lots  5  and  6  to  Joshua  Fisher,  who  built  the 
present  residence  of  Chief  Justice  G.  P.  Comegys. 

The  lot  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  James  P. 
Wilds  and  now  by  Miss  Man  love,  was  in  the  Long 
Street  that  was  originally  laid  out  to  run  from  Dover 
Creek  through  the  town  plot.  It  was  originally  bought 
by  Thomas  Nixon,  who  owned  all  the  land  north  of  it 
to  North  Street  in  1780.  He  left  it  to  his  son,  Thomas 
Nixon,  who  was  a  physician  in  practice  in  Dover.  He 
sold  the  west  part  of  it,  now  belonging  to  the  bank, 
August  4,  1783,  to  Richard  Bassett,  then  member  of 
the  Council  and  later  chief  justice  and  President  of 
the  State.  On  November  30, 1787,  Mr.  Bassett  bought 
three  lots  of  Charles  Nixon,  executor  of  the  estate  of 
Dr.  Thomas  Nixon,  lying  west  of  his  residence  and  in 
rear  of  the  bank  lot,  then  owned  by  Fidelio  Rodger- 


son,  to  GU)vernor*8  Avenue,  and  bounded  south  by  the 
lots  of  Eleazer  McComb.  Until  his  departure  from 
the  town  Miers  Corson  owned  the  lot  on  the  Square 
south  of  Bassett's  residence,  which  Mr.  Bassett  bought 
and  owned  in  1790. 

Charles  Kimmey,  in  1806,  opened  a  store  in  thesouth 
part  of  King  Street,  in  the  house  now  occupied  as  the 
parsonage  of  Christ  Church.  The  public  printing 
was  done  in  the  town  for  many  years  by  the  following 
persons:  1806,  Wooten  &  Allen;  1807-12,  John  B. 
Wooten ;  1813-16,  Augustus  H.  Schee  and  again  in, 
1835-36;  1837-52,  Samuel  Kimmey  ;  1853-60,  William 
Sharp;  1863-75,  James  Kirk  Sc  Son,  and  at  the  office 
of  the  Delawarean;  from  1875  to  1883  the  printing 
was  done  at  Wilmington,  but  since  the  latter  year  it 
has  again  been  performed  by  J.  Kirk  &  Son  and  the 
Delatoarean  establishment. 

King  Dougall,  in  1797  and  to  1819,  was  a  merchant 
in  Dover  and  kept  a  store.  His  day-book  is  in  pos- 
session of  Thomas  O.  Culbreath,  and  contains  many 
curious  entries,  some  of  which  are  for  spirits,  rum  and 
wine  furnished  to  Assemblymen  at  Miller's.  Samuel 
Miller,  in  1798,  kept  one  of  the  taverns.  Dr.  Jacob 
Jones,  a  native  of  Smyrna  and  a  student  under  Dr. 
James  Sykes,  whose  sister  he  married,  was  practicing 
medicine  in  Dover  in  that  year,  and  about  that  time 
entered  the  navy  of  the  United  States,  where  he  rose 
to  the  position  of  commodore.  The  State  honored 
him  by  a  portrait  painted  by  Thomas  Sully,  which 
hangs  in  the  chamber  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
At  the  same  time  Dr.  John  Horn  was  in  practice  in 
the  town. 

The  Ridgely  family,  that  for  over  a  century  and  a 
half  have  resided  in  Dover,  were  first  represented  by 
Nicholas  Ridgely,  who  was  born  in  Anne  Arundel 
County,  Maryland,  in  1694,  and  resided  there  in  early 
manhood.  He  came  to  the  town  of  Saulsbury  (now 
Duck  Creek)  about  1732,  where  he  lived  for  a  year 
or  two,  removing  thence  to  Salem,  N.  J.,  where  he 
married  the  widow  of  Benjamin  Vining.  In  1738  he 
settled  in  Dover  and  became  one  of  the  magistrates  of 
the  court,  and  in  1740  one  of  the  provincial  justices 
of  the  Supreme  Court.  July  15, 1748,  he  bought  the 
farm  in  the  original  Dover  tract  still  held  by  the 
family,  and  four  other  lots  of  land  in  the  town  plot  as 
laid  out.  In  1754  he  purchased  the  "jail  lot,"  and 
died  the  next  year,  and  was  interred  in  Christ  Church 
burying-ground.  He  left  one  son,Dr.  Charles  Ridgely, 
and  several  daughters. 

Charles  Ridgely,  in  1769,  purchased  what  is  known 
as  the  Ridgely  House,  on  the  public  square,  where  he 
died  in  1785.  He  left  sons, — Nicholas,  who  was- mem- 
ber of  the  Council  in  1788,  and  filled  other  important 
offices  in  the  Government ;  Abraham ;  Charles,  a 
Dover  merchant,  who  was  killed  during  the  erection 
of  the  present  State-House ;  George  W.,  who  was 
a  midshipman  In  the  navy  and  was  lost  at  sea,  on 
board  the  "  Insurgent, "  off  the  coast  of  Peru  ;  and 
Henry  M.,  an  attorney -at-law,  whose  sons.  Dr.  Henry 
and   Edward,   are   still    residing   in   Dover.      The 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1049 


daughters  of  Dr.  Charles  Bidgely  were  Wilhelmina 
Mary  (wife  of  Dr.  William  Winder  Morris)  and 
Ann. 

The  Loockerman  family,  for  over  a  hundred  years 
prominent  in  the  county,  were  first  represented  by 
Nicholas  Loockerman,  who  settled  on  the  "  Range,  " 
known  in  later  years  as  the  Drew  Farm,  and  was 
married  in  1721.  In  1722,  Vincent  Lioockerman  was 
born,  and  upon  reaching  maturity  he  settled  in  Dover, 
and  purchased,  about  1742,  a  lot  on  the  north  side  of 
King  Street,and  built  the  residence  where  Mrs.  Thomas 
B.  Bradford  now  has  her  home.  He  left  a  son  Vincent 
who  was  born  in  1747,  and  in  1774  he  married, 
Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  John  Pryor,  a  merchant 
in  Dover,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Elizabeth 
and  Nicholas.  He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  three  lower  counties,  and  a 
prominent  Whig  during  the  Revolution.  He  died  at 
his  residence,  on  King  Street,  in  Dover,  August  26, 
1785,  aged  sixty-three  years,  and  with  his  wife, 
Susannah,  is  interred  in  the  family  burial-place,  on 
the  "  Range. "  Vincent,  his  eldest  son,  died  April  5, 
1790,  aged  forty-three  years,  and  is  also  buried  in  the 
family  ground. 

Nicholas,  son  of  Vincent,  born  in  1789,  was  in  1808, 
a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  died 
unmarried  in  1850.  Elizabeth  was  bom  in  1779,  and 
in  1805  married  Thomas  Bradford,  LL.D.,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, counselor-at-law.  Her  father  died  in  1785, 
and  left  her  a  large  estate,  which,  after  her  death,  in 
1842,  was  divided  among  her  five  children, — ^Vincent 
L.,  Elizabeth  L.,  Benjamin  R.,  William  and  Thomas 
B.  Vincent  L.  adopted  the  profession  of  hi:j  father, 
and  became  a  noted  counselor.  He  removed  to 
Michigan  in  1835,  and  in  1837  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate.  He  returned  to  Philadelphia  in  1843,  and 
resumed  practice.  Elizabeth  married  Rev.  William 
T.  Dwight,  D.D.,  of  Portland,  Me.,  son  of  Rev. 
Timothy  Dwight,  former  president  of  Yale  College, 
New  Haven,  Conn. 

Thomas  B.  Bradford  became  a  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter, and  after  the  death  of  his  mother  returned  to  the 
paternal  mansion  in  Dover,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  March  25,  1871.  The  property  in  and 
near  Dover  was  left  to  his  mother  by  will,  March  9, 
1784,  and  by  lease  and  release  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Rev.  Thomas  Bradford,  who,  in  1852,  laid  out 
Bradford  City,  now  the  new  part  of  Dover. 

A  number  of  lots  lying  just  outside  the  town  were 
bought  by  citizens  of  Dover  as  out-lots  for  pasturage 
and  other  purposes.  The  four  hundred  acres  of  the 
"brother's  portion,"  bought  of  William  Southebee 
by  Richard  Wilson  in  1699,  were  later  owned  by  Hon. 
John  Dickinson  and  passed  to  William  Killen.  A 
tract  of  land,  part  of  the  above,  containing  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  acres  lying  south  of  and  close  to  the 
town  plot,  between  St.  Jones'  Creek  and  the  road  that 
leads  from  Dover  to  Lewes,  was  laid  out  by  William 
Killen,  August  13,  1766,  into  lots  long  and  narrow, 
each  having  a  front  on  the  creek  and  on  the  King's 
66i 


Road.  Lot  No.  1,'containing  ten  acres,  next  the  town, 
was  sold  to  John  Pryor,  a  merchant  in  Dover.  At 
the  foot  of  it,  on  the  creek,  near  where  the  tan-house 
ditch  enters  it,  was  a  place  called  William's  Landing, 
now  known  as  the  ship-yard,  where,  in  1831- 32,  James 
Waples  built  two  schooners  and  a  sloop.  No.  2  was 
taken  by  James  Maxwell  and  contained  five  acres ; 
No.  3,  of  five  acres  by  James  Morton ;  No.  4,  of  five 
acres  by  George  Goforth;  No.  5,  of  five  acres  by 
Matthew  Boggs ;  No.  6,  of  ten  acres  by  Caesar  Rod- 
ney ;  No.  7,  of  twenty  acres  by  Samuel  McCall ;  No. 
8,  of  ten  acres  by  Hugh  Parke ;  No.  9,  of  five  acres 
by  James  Wells ;  No.  10,  of  six  acres  by  Richard  and 
Andrew  Butler;  No.  11,  of  twenty-eight  acres 
by  Thomaa  Nixon.  The  lands  are  now  owned  by 
Man  love  Hayes,  James  M.  Kerbin,  George  Parris  and 
James  Slaymaker. 

The  first  addition  made  to  the  town  was  by  the 
selling  of  a  few  lots  north  of  North  Street  and  on  the 
King'd  Road  or  King  Street  This  land  was  part  of 
a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  known  as  '*  Morgan's 
Calf  Pasture,"  and  also  "Lassene,"  which  is  given  as 
the  north  boundary  of  the  town  plot  in  1694.  It  was 
taken  up  by  David  Morgan  in  1679  by  warrant  from 
Whorekill  Court,  and  February  27, 1681-82,  he  bought 
the  Indian  right  of  Christian,  the  Indian  owner  of  all 
the  land  between  the  Murther  Creek  and  Duck  Creek. 
Two  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres  of  it  was  sold  to  Wil- 
liam Annand,  who,  by  his  will  dated  December  26, 
1714,  devised  it  by  the  name  of  **BellyhiH"  to 
Andrew  Hamilton,  who  retained  it  until  August  23, 
1775,when  it  passed  to  Vincent  Loockerman.  In  1777 
he  sold  a  few  lots  along  the  east  side  of  the  King's 
Road  leading  through  Dover  to  John  Bell,  who,  in 
1782,  sold  to  Peter  B.  Fury.  They  passed  to  William 
K.  Boyce,  and,  February  21, 1816,  were  sold  to  James 
Kirbin,  in  whose  family  they  still  remain. 

On  October  21,  1779,  there  was  surveyed  from  part 
of  the  "  calf  pasture"  three  lots  on  the  north  side  of 
North  Street.  The  first  contained  one  acre  on  the 
corner  of  North  Street  and  the  King's  Road,  and  was 
sold  tq  John  Bullin.  In  1783  this  lot  was  divided,  and 
William  Howell  purchased  the  corner,  forty-four  feet 
on  King  Street,  running  along  North  Street.  The  next 
lot  north,  forty-four  feet  front,  was  sold  to  John  Bul- 
lin, Jr.,  also  fronting  on  King  Street,  and  improved 
by  a  house.  The  rest  wa^  the  estate  of  John  Bullin, 
deceased.  North  of  this  was  property  owned  by  John 
White. 

The  second  lot  was  sold  in  1779  to  Rev.  Samuel 
Megaw,  rector  of  Christ  Church.  It  was  west  of  the 
Bullin  lot  on  North  Street  and  contained  one  acre. 
West  of  this  lot  and  on  North  Street  was  four  acres 
bought  by  James  Cookley.  The  north  lines  of  these 
lots  is  now  the  south  line  of  Loockerman  Street. 

These  lots  were  sold  and  built  upon  within  a  few 
years  aft«r  1780.  In  1818  Thomas  L.  Hillyard  and 
Martin  W.  Bates  kept  a  store  on  the  northeast  corner 
of  King  and  North  Streets.  Joseph  Harper,  an  old 
Revolutionary  soldier,  and  clerk  of  the  peace  from 


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1050 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


1792  until  afler  1805,  resided  a  short  distance  above.^ 
Miss  Martha  Allman,  a  widow,  taught  school  several 
years  in  an  old  house  that  stood  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent Methodist  Church.  Chief  Justice  J.  P.  Comegys 
and  William  J.  Clark  learned  their  alphabets  in  the 
old  house,  under  the  teachiog  of  Widow  Allman. 
Widow  Eunice  Biggs  was  her  neighbor  on  the  north, 
and  next  was  a  store-house,  both  on  the  site  of  the 
present  post  office.  The  Kirbin  house  and  black- 
smith-shop were  next  north.  A  school-house  that 
had  formerly  been  kept  by  Stephen  Sykes  was  be- 
tween the  Kirbin  house  and  the  old  Hillyard  house. 
On  the  northeast  corner  of  the  lot  Jacob  Stout  had 
a  large  tannery  in  1818,  and  for  several  years  later.' 

On  the  west  side  of  King  Street,  where  David  Bur- 
ton's drug-store  now  stands,  Jeremiah  McKnott,  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  lived  in  a  two-story  house.^ 

Next  was  the  residence  of  Myers  Casson  The  house, 
now  the  property  of  Edwin  M.  Stevenson,  presents 
about  the  same  appearance  now  that  it  did  in  1820. 
The  parlor  was  occupied  as  the  office  of  the  Secretary 
of  State,  and  the  rest  of  the  house  was  used  by  a 
Frenchman,  who  taught  language  and  drawing.  A 
few  small  dwellings  other  than  these  were  on  King 
Street  and  upper  side  of  North  Street,  and  in  one  of 
them  Mrs.  Betty  Riley  had  a  cake  and  candy  shop  to 
draw  the  pennies  irom  the  children. 

It  was  not  until  some  years  after  the  removal  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  B.  Bradford  to  Dover  that  the  land 
from  the  new  part  of  Dover  was  offered  for  sale. 
Early  in  1852,  Mr.  Bradford  laid  out  "  Bradford  Ciiy  " 
into  lots  and  streets,  set  out  many  trees  along  the 
streets,  and  offered  lots  for  sale,  since  which  time  it 
has  grown  rapidly,  and  at  present  this  new  section  is 
much  larger  than  the  original  town.  Mr.  Bradford 
built  the  houses  on  State  Street  now  occupied  by 
Samuel  W.  Hall  and  J.  A.  Fulton.  He  also  erected 
three  cottages  on  Bradford  Street,  and  moved  two 
houses  from  old  State  Street  to  Loockerman  Street, 
and  made  many  other  improvements.  Samuel  Cul- 
breth  soon  afler  built  the  store  on  the  corner  of  Loock- 

1  Joseph  Harper  died  at  Dover,  June  9, 1824,  aged  sixty-eight  years. 
Ue  was  iu  nine  eogagements  in  the  Revolutioo,  among  which  were  the 
battles  of  Trenton,  Princeton,  White  Plains  and  Long  Island.  Ue  was  a 
resident  of  Dover  forty  years,  and  held  office  under  the  State  and  county 
from  the  close  of  the  Bevolution  until  within  two  years  of  his  death. 

^Governor  Stout  was  running  the  tannery  while  he  was  Governor,  and 
at  one  time,  when  stooping  over  testing  some  liquor  in  a  tan  vat,  a  pet 
ram,  noticing  a  favorable  opportunity  to  exercise  his  propensity,  butted 
His  Excellency  and  landed  him  in  the  vat.  The  Governor,  dripping  with 
the  liquor,  called  out  to  Betty,  the  housekeeper,  to  "look  at  the  impu- 

dence  of  the  d d  ram  to  butt  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Delaware 

into  a  tan  vat.** 

'An  incident  of  the  War  of  1812-U  is  of  interest,  and  is  taken  from  a 
Wilmington  paper  of  the  date  given : 

"At  Dover  on  Sunday,  March  21, 1813,  in  consequence  of  the  move- 
ments of  the  British  up  the  Delaware,  the  drum  beat  to  arms.  The 
whole  population,  of  all  sects  and  persuasions,  religious  and  political, 
capable  of  shouldering  a  musket,  assembled.  Arms  were  distributed, 
and  in  three  hours  three  hundred  and  fifty  men  were  ready  for  service. 
All  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  in  the  neighborhood  were  present. 
Jeremiah  McKnott,  an  old  Revolutioner,  tottering  on  his  staff,  received 
a  musket  and  with  hearty  will  entered  the  ranks.  He  was  a  strict 
Methodist,  and,  Sunday  as  it  was,  immediately  after  the  drill  he  returned 
home  and  set  himfielf  to  work  making  ball  cariridges  and  teaching  the 
boys  how  to  make  them.  The  force  mustered  fluently  afler  with  him 
In  the  lines.** 


erman  and  State  Street,  and  the  dwelling  north. 
David  F.  Barton  and  the  Hon.  Eli  Saulsbury  and 
Geo.  B.  Dickson  each  erected  the  dwellings  where  they 
now  reside.  In  1867  Andrew  Smithers  and  Richard 
M.  Jones  built  the  houses  where  Andrew  Smithers 
and  Edward  Ridgely  now  live,  and  N.  B.  Smithers 
the  residence  now  owned  and  occupied  by  George  V. 
Massey. 

One  of  the  most  thrifty  and  energetic  merchants  of 
Dover  was  John  Reed,  a  native  of  Mispillion  Hun- 
dred. He  descended  from  John  Reed,  who  settled  in 
the  county  about  1700.  John  Reed,  the  merchant, 
came  to  Dover  in  1825,  and  bought  the  two  corners 
of  King  Street  facing  on  the  north  side  of  the  public 
square.  In  1831  he  erected  a  large  brick  store,  now 
occupied  by  the  First  National  Bank,  and  the  same 
year  erected  the  Capital  Hotel.  He  became  the  first 
merchant  in  the  place  and  owned  several  vessels  that 
ran  from  Leipsic.  He  was  also  an  extensive  land- 
holder in  different  parts  of  the  county.  His  wife  was 
Mary,  daughter  of  Judge  Jacob  Stout,  and  grand- 
daughter of  Hon.  William  Killen.  His  daughters 
were  Angelica  K.,  wife  of  John  A.  Nicholson,  and 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel  Cowgill. 

The  town*  of  Dover  grew  but  little  for  many  years ; 
the  powers  of  the  commissioners  were  extended  from 
time  to  time,  and  on  July  16,  1829,  an  act  was  passed 
authorising  them  to  cause  additional  wells  and  pumps 
to  be  put  down  ;  to  provide  buckets,  hooks  and  lad- 
ders for  fire  purposes;  to  lay  pavements  and  gutters; 
and  to  erect  a  market-house  not  to  exceed  the  cost  of 
four  hundred  dollars.  All  previous  efibrts  to  get  a 
market-house  failed  and  so  did  this  one. 

The  town*  of  Dover  was  incorporated  by  act  of 
General  Assembly  February  16,  1829.  It  provided 
for  the  laying  out  of  certain  territory  by  metes  and 
bounds  and  for  the  election  of  town  commissioners 
and  other  officers.  The  officers  were  elected  in  March 
following,  and  the  first  meeting  of  the  town  commis- 
sioners was  held  March  24th,  when  Henry  Todd  was 
chosen  surveyor  to  define  the  boundaries  of  the 
town.  On  the  28th  of  April  in  that  year  contract 
was  made  to  lay  a  pavement  in  front  of  the  State- 
House.  August  3l8t,  John  M.  Clayton  was  ordered  to 
lay  a  pavement  of  brick,  twelve  feet  in  width,  in  front 
of  his  properly  on  the  square  (now  owned  by  the 
State),  and  at  thj  same  time  Nehemiah  Clark  and 
Samuel  M.  Harrington,  tenants  of  Kent  County,  were 
ordered  to  lay  down  a  pavement  of  brick,  twelve  feet 
wide,  "in  front  of  their  offices,"  (or  the  "  old  jail,"  as 
then  commonly  called). 

The  beef-house  of  Daniel  W.  Duhamel  being  de- 
clared a  nuisance,  it  was  ordered  to  be  removed. 

On  September  29,  1829,  it  was  ordered  that  two 
pumps  be  settled  in  the  town,  and  Abel  Harris  was 
appointed  to  superintend  the  work.  The  locations 
w^ere  not  mentioned  at  that  time,  but  one  was  for 

*  The  town  did  not  cover  the  plot  originally  laid  out,  and  for  many 
yeare  remained  the  same.  It  was  not  until  the  agitation  for  a  Failro«d 
through  the  town  that  there  was  any  effort  made  to  extend  its  limits. 


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many  years  in  front  of  Abel  Harris'  house  on  Main 
Street.  On  November  18,  1830,  a  pump  was  ordered 
put  down  near  the  corner  "  now  occupied  by  Thomas 
Stevenson/'  one  near  the  post-office  and  one  opDOsite 
Augustus  H.  Schee*8.  On  November  28,  1830,  it  was 
ordered  that  the  pump  of  Dr.  John  Adams  be 
repaired,  and  that  it  be  no  longer  considered  a  public 
pump.  Dr.  Adams  at  that  time  resided  in  the  old 
dwelling  next  west  of  Edward  Ridgely's  present  law 
office. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  1830,  John  Reed  was  author- 
ized to  purchase  forty  good  fire  buckets,  six  ladders 
and  four  fire  hooks  for  the  use  of  the  town  in  case 
of  fire.  A  ladder-house  was  first  built  in  the  present 
jail  lot,  on  the  site  of  the  dwelling  part,  the  old  jail 
then  being  on  the  rear  of  the  lot. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1834,  a  pair  of  hay  scales,  for 
the  use  of  the  town,  was  ordered  to  be  set  up  in  the 
rear  of  the  State  House.  They  remained  until  1841, 
when  they  were  sold  to  Caleb  H.  Sipple,  who,  by  per- 
mission, erected  them  on  the  west  side  of  Queen 
Street,  now  High  Street,  near  the  corner  of  Bank 
Alley.  It  had  been  moved  from  its  original  site  and 
was  for  a  year  or  two  on  the  west  side  of  Main  Street, 
in  the  middle  of  the  public  square. 

On  March  21,  1836,  a  committee,  previously  ap- 
pointed, presented  to  the  board  a  list  of  the  names 
of  persons  in  the  town  whose  pavements  needed  re- 
pairing. As  this  list  gives  the  names  of  many  of  the 
property-owners  of  the  town  at  that  time,  it  is  here 
reproduced : 


Thomas  Hani*. 
Myers  Casson. 
8.  M.  HarringtOD. 
R.  0.  PeDDewllI. 
G.  M.  ManloTo. 
Corker  heirs. 
S.  Fisher. 
W.  McDowell. 
Prudence  Bossell. 
Charles  Klmmey. 
J.  0.  Waples. 
M.  W.  Bates. 
Milcah  Wirt 
Mrs.  Many. 
John  Burchenal. 
Mrs.  Waterman. 
Mrs.  Alleman. 
W.  K.  Lockwood. 
James  Kerbin. 
W.  W.  Morris. 


Mrs.  Daren  port. 
Abel  Harris. 
John  Beed. 
Town««nd  heirs. 
Corbit  A  Fisher. 
Jacob  F.  Johns. 
Sipple  St  Pennewill. 
McDowell  A  Gibson. 
B.  Bonlden*8  heirs. 
Oeorjre  Glbbs. 
N.  Loockennan. 
Robert  Frame. 
Thomas  Sterenson. 
McMulIen*s  heirs. 
James  H.  Sterenson. 
Elijah  Crouch. 
Henry  Stoat. 
Farmers*  Bank. 
Cooper  property. 


and  chains  to  inclose  the  square,  which  were  soon  atler 
put  up.  In  April,  1849,  contract  was  made  with  Andrew 
Smithers  for  $224  to  build  a  fence  around  the  public 
square  of  white  oak  posts  and  rails  which  was  to  be 
whitewashed.  The  fence  was  built  and  remained 
until  June  6,  1864,  when  it  was  taken  down  and  sold. 
On  December  13,  1837,  it  was  ordered  that  the  cross- 
ings of  the  principal  streets  be  flagged.  July  13, 
1854,  contract  was  made  with  A.  B.  Richardson  &  Co., 
to  place  lamp  posts  and  lamps  in  different  parts  of  the 
town. 

October  7,  1867,  a  petition  signed  by  one  hundred 
and  fifty  persons  was  presented  to  the  commissioners 
asking  the  privilege  of  opening  a  market  at  least  once 
a  week  for  carts  and  wagons  in  some  suitable  place, 
to  be  known  as  the  "  Farmer's  Market."  The  petition 
was  granted,  and  an  ordinance  was  passed.  No  mar- 
ket was  established  at  this  time,  but  a  few  years  later 
one  was  held  for  a  year  or  two. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  oflBcers  of  the  town 
from  its  incorporation : 

Town  Commissioners  of  Dover. — Under  an  act 
passed  February  16,  1829,  for  establishing  the  bound- 
aries of  the  town  of  Dover  and  other  purposes,  it  was 
provided  that  five  persons  be  elected  to  serve  as  town 
commissioners.  Tn  accordance  with  the  act  an  elec- 
tion was  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  March,  1829,  and 
the  following  persons  were  elected :  Henry  M.  Ridgely, 
William  K.  Lockwood,  Thomas  Stevenson,  Abel  Har- 
ris, Caleb  H.  Sipple. 

The  commissioners  met  on  the  24th  of  March  and 
appointed  Joseph  Smithers  clerk  and  Henry  Todd 
surveyor. 

The  commissioners  from  that  time  to  the  present 
were  as  follows: — 

The  Commtssloneni  appointed  James  Kerbin  in  placs  of  George  T 
Fisher,  deceased,  and  Thomas  Sterenson,  in  place  of  Darid  U.  Duhamel, 
removed. 


On  October  18, 1837,  it  was  ordered  that  the  poplar 
tree  in  front  of  the  State-House  be  cut  down.  This 
tree  stood  about  thirty  feet  south  of  the  large  elm 
that  still  stands  in  front  of  the  State- House.  The 
elm  tree  was  planted  March  1, 1801,  by  Joseph  Halci 
who  was  at  the  time  prothonotary  of  Kent  County. 
The  elm  trees  on  the  public  square  were  planted  in 
the  spring  of  1849  by  Francis  B.  Harper,  who  pre- 
sented the  bill  for  the  trees  and  planting  March  14, 
1849.  March  14,  1846,  the  public  square  was  ordered 
plowed,  probably  for  the  purpose  of  grading  and  seed- 
ing, although  it  is  not  mentioned.  At  the  same  meet- 
ing arrangements  were  made  to  purchase  iron  posts 


Dr.  Wra.  W.  Morri8„..March,  1830 

Thomas  Stevenson March,  1830 

John  Reed March,  1830 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood March,  1830 

John  M.  Clayton March,  1830 

Dr.  Wm.  W.  Morris.... March,  1831 

John  M.  Clayton March,  1831 

John  Reed March,  1831 

George  T.  Fisher Marbh,  1831 

KicholasLoockerman..March,  1831 
Wm.  K.  Lockwood....;March,  1832 

George  T.  Fisher March,  1832 

Robert  0.  Ponnewill..March,  1832 
Ignatios  T.  Cooper... ..March,  1832 
Daniel  U.  Dnhamel.... March,  1&32 

No  election  held March,  1833 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood March,  1834 

H.  M.  Ridgely ,March,  1834 

James  Kerbin March,  1834 

W.  H.  Cooper March,  1834 

Jacob  Johns March,  1834 

Charles  Kimmey.„ March,  1836 

Henry  M.  RIdgoly March,  1835 

Martin  W.  Bates March,  1835 

Sam.  M.  Harrington. -March,  1836 

Caleb  H.  Sipple March,  1836 

Charles  Kimmey,  Sr...March,  1837 

John  Caries March,  1837 

Henry  Todd March,  1837 


John  Burchenal March,  1K17 

Joseph  P.  Comegys. ...March,  1837 

MarUn  W.  Bates March,  1838 

George  M.  Manlore March,  1838 

John  Reed March,  1838 

Robert  Frame March,  1838 

James  H.  SteTenson....March,  1838 

Thomas  Stevenson March,  1839 

James  Kerbin March,  1839 

John  McDowell March,  ia39 

Joseph  P.  Comegys March,  1839 

Wesley  McDowell March,  1839 

Charles  Kimmey March,  1841 

Sam.M.  Harrington  ...March,  1841 
Joseph  P.  Comegys....  March,  1841 
Thomas  Stevenson  .....March,  1842 

Charles  Kimmey March,  1842 

Sam.  M.  Harrington  ...March,  1842 

Joseph  P.  Comegys March,  1842 

Thomas  Harris.. March,  1843 

James  F.  Allee March,  1843 

John  McDowell March,  1843 

James  U.  Stevenson 184G 

George  P.  Fisher 1846 

JoMeph  P.  Comegys 1846 

John  McDowell «.1848 

George  P.  Fisher 1848 

James  F.  Alloe 1848 

James  H.  Sterenson 1849 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


jAiufs  L.  Smith 1849 

J«Di(»  F.  All6© 1849 

iMtac  L  Cronch Biarch,  1850 

James  A.  DuDDing...^March,  1852 

David  Clayton „ 1862 

Jame«  F.  AUee 1862 

James  D.  Smith „ 1863 

James  F.  Allee 1853 

John  A.  8t«TeiisoiL. 1863 

James  F.  AI1m>....» 1864 

John  A.  SteTenason „ 1854 

Samuel  Culbreth 1864 

James  L.  Smith ~ 1856 

John  C.  Pennewill „^ 1866 

George  B.  Dickson 1856 

James  L.  Smith ..^.1856 

Henry  Todd. 1858 

Henry  Pratt 1856 

Wm.  Boderfteld 1857 

Caleb  a  Pennewill 1857 

Edwin  M.  SteTenson..... .,..1857 

Henry  Pratt 1868 

John  A.  St«Tenaon 1858 

James  L.  Smith. 1858 

John  C.  Pennewill 1869 

James  L.  Smith. »..^ 1859 

Edwin  M.  Stevenson 1859 

Geo.  P.  Fisher 1860 

John  Green 18C0 

Edwin  M.  Stevenson I860 

John  A.Nicholson. 1861 

Samuel  Culbreth 1861 

Edwin  M.  Stevenson 1861 

Sharp 1861 

William  M.  Jest«r. 1862 

Henry  Todd 1862 

Caleb  S.  Pennewill 1863 

Edwin  M.  Stevenson 1863 


Charles  Brown 1864 

John  Brown 1864 

Robert  B  Jump 1866 

James  L.  Heverin 1866 

Andrew  J.  Wright 1866 

Myers  C.  Conwell „ 1866 

Edwin  M.  Stevenson 1867 

James  W.  Bobbins „ 18«7 

James  F.  Allee 1807 

James  F.  Allee 1868 

James  H.  Kerbin 1868 

James  W.  Bobbins 18H9 

Edwin  M.  Stevenson. 1869 

Joseph  P.  Comegys 1870 

WiUiam  Fisher 1810 

James  W.  Bobbins 1871 

Edwin  Bf.  Stevenson 1871 

David  H.  Bice 1872 

William  Wallace 1872 

J.  H.  Jones 1873 

U.  J.  Enrlght 1873 

James  Kirk....- 1874 

David  Bice 1874 

Wm.  N.  WalUce. 1874 

JobnBackman 1876 

William  Dyer 1876 

John  W.  Smith 1876 

John  C.  Pennewill 18T6 

David  Bice 1876 

John  C.  Pennewill,  president.1877 

James  Kirk 1877 

William  Dyer 1877 

J.  T.  Stuart 1877 

David  Bice 1877 

John  Backman 1877 

J.  W.  Smith 1877 

L.  Gelser 1877 

0.  W.  Morgan 1877 


An  act  was  passed  March  6,  1877,  which  provided 
for  the  division  of  the  town  into  four  districts,  from 
each  of  which  two  persons  were  to  be  elected  to  serve 
two  years.  These  were  to  form  a  town  council  with 
a  president  elected  for  one  year  from  the  town  at 
large. 


John  H.  Jones,  president 1878 

John  Backman 1878 

W.  Denny.  Jr. 1878 

Joseph  H.  Chambers 1878 

Geo.  W.  Morgan 1878 

John  H.  Jones,  president. 1879 

John  A.  Nicholson 1879 

William  Dyer 1879 

William  Fisher 1879 

David  Bice 1879 

Charles  H.  B.  Day,  president..!  880 

E.  Pusey  Millin 1880 

Stephen  Slaughter 1880 

Joseph  M.  Chambenk 1880 

James  M.  Wise 1880 

Charles  H.  B.  Day,  president.!  881 

John  A.  Nicholson 1881 

Henry  A.  Richardson 1881 

James  L.  Wolcott 1881 

David  Bice 1881 

Charles  H.  B.  Day,  president..l882 

Thomas  Draper 1882 

Stephen  Slaughter. 1882 

Hiram  Reedy 1882 

James  W.  Wise ...1882 

Charles  H.  B.  Day,  prosident..l883 


John  E.  Register. 1883 

H.  A.  Richardson 1883 

John  D.  Burton 1883 

Thomas  Foreaker 1883 

Samuel  Wharton Dec.  28,  1883 

CharlM  H.  B.  Day 1884 

ThomasDraper 1884 

Stephen  Slaughter. 1884 

Hiram  Reedy ^ 1884 

William  A.  Reilly 1884 

f  :ha8.  H.  B.  Day  (president).... 1886 

Samuel  Wharton ^ 1886 

Harry  A.  Richardson 1886 

John  D.  Burton 1885 

Robert  H.  Lewis 1886 

Hiram  Reedy  (president) 1886 

James  Kirk „ 1886 

Abram  P.  Nowell 1886 

Eldad  L.  Clarke 1886 

Amos  A.  Watson 1886 

Charles  H.  B.  Day 1887 

Joseph  Hoffecker 1887 

Wm.  G.  Poetles 1887 

Thomas  Foreaker 1887 

Robinson  C.  Walker..  .„«.  ...1887 


Clerks  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  atid  Tovm 
Council, 


Joseph  Smithers. .^..1829 

Joseph  B.  Adams 1830 


John  H.  Eccleetine 1831 

JohnOlark 1833 


David  Clayton 18S6 

Wm.  J.  Roderilekl 1862 

Robert  B.  Jump 1864 

John  F.  Saulsbury 1865 

H.  *l  CoUison 185S 

Samuel  T.  Jonea. _186S 

Jamea  Kirk „_187« 

A.  S.  Kirk _ -.1881 


James  B.  Way 1836 

John  P.  Allee 1837 

Wm.  J.  Clarke 1838 

Peter  Adams 1841 

N.  B.  Smithers 1843 

Wm.  Culbreth 1849 

N.  B.  Smithers 1850 

David  Clayton. 1853 

John  H.  Bateman 1864 

Aldermen. — An  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1841,  authorized  the  town  commissioners  to 
appoint  an  alderman  from  the  justices  of  the  peace, 
who,  ex'offido^  was  a  member  of  the  town  committee. 
The  reincorporation  of  March  6, 1877,  enlarged  the 
(Council  and  the  aldermen  ceased  to  have  a  place  in 
the  Councils. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  aldermen  of  the  town  of 
Dover  : 


Thomas  Stevenson 1842 

Foster  L.  Davis 1852 

Thomas  Stevenson.. 1858 

John  H.  Bateman.. 1860 

Jonathan  Pratt 1864 


A.  J.  Wright „ 1876 

George  B.  Dickson ...18T7 

Alexander  Goodwin .1880 

John  S.  Jester 188S 


TrecL9urers  of  the  town  of  Dover. 

Wm.  J.  aarke ..-1880 

8amu€^l  T.  Jones.  ...1870 

Wm.  Fisher -188D 

Harry  A.  Richardson 1^1 

Wm.  Fisher IBffl 


James  P.  Wild 1829 

Samuel  Wire 1834 

James  P.  Wild. 1837 

John  McDowell 18*7 

Joseph  P.  Oomegys 1818 

John  McDowell 1867 

Christ  Church.*— For  the  early  history  of  the 
church  in  Dover  we  are  indebted  to  the  archives  of 
the  "  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel.*'  The 
venerable  society  was  set  off  from  the  older  "  Chris- 
tain  Knowledge  Society"  in  1701,  and  in  1703  we 
find  the  first  mention  of  Dover.  In  that  year  there 
is  recorded  "A  memorial  to  the  Bishop  of  London, 
•  signed  by  twenty-two  Inhabitants  of  Dover,  repre- 
senting the  increase  of  sin  and  crime  and  the  conse- 
quent great  want  of  a  Minister  of  the  C^pel,  and 
their  willingness  to  contribute  as  far  as  they  are  able 
to  his  maintenance."  This  is  followed  in  1704  by  a 
memorial  stating  that  they  have  subscribed  £55,  17#. 
for  the  minister's  subsistence. 

In  1704  the  glebe  was  given  by  Col.  Robert 
French.  Col.  French  was  a  Scotchman  by  birth,  a 
member  of  the  Church  of  England  and  one  of  the 
founders  of  Immanuel  Church,  New  Castle.  The  glebe 
was  a  tract  of  about  one  hundred  and  ten  acres 
lying  in  the  east  side  of  St.  Jones'  Creek,  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  below  Dover.  The  deed  of  gift  is 
indexed  in  the  clerk's  oflSce  at  Dover,  but  not  re- 
corded,or  at  least  cannot  be  found, — "  Robert  French, 
Curatoribus  Ecclesiee."  The  town  of  Dover  was  not 
laid  out  until  1717,  and  it  appears  that  the  church  of 
which  Mr.  Crawford  speaks  in  his  report  was  built 
on  the  glebe,  and  tradition  has  it  at  the  southwestern 
corner,near  the  creek,  and  beside  the  road  which  then 
ran  along  the  bank  of  the  creek. 

The  next  year,  1705,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Crawford, 
was  sent  over  as  missionary  at  Dover,  and  in  1708 
he  reports :  "  As  to  the  number  of  my  hearers,  I  have 
I  Contributed  by  Bev.  L.  W.  Gibson. 


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sometimes  more,  sometimes  less,  according  to  the 
weather,  from  thirty  upwards,  maybe  two  hundred. 
As  to  communicants,  ordinarily  twenty  or  thirty,  but 
never  forty  in  one  day.  I  preach  in  the  church  and  two 
or  three  other  places  more.  In  my  own  charge  I  have 
baptised  two  hundred  and  twenty  or  two  hundred 
and  thirty.  I  can  say  upon  the  word  of  a  mini'^ter 
that  those  three  years  that  I  have  been  in  this  place 
I  have  not  had  £20,  Pennsylvania  money,  per  annum, 
which  is  but  a  small  benefice,  considering  it  is  paid 
me  not  in  silver,  but  as  people  are  able  in  corn,  etc." 
"  As  for  the  Negroes,  I  have  been  at  pains,  for  I  some- 
times at  the  church  teach  them  the  principles  of 
religion,  though  many  are  very  dull,  and  when  I  am 
not  employed  I  catechise  the  children."  "  Our  church 
is  near  finished.  It  is  all  glazed  and  almost  full  of 
pews.  Only  we  want  a  pulpit  cloth  and  surplice, 
and  we  are  not  able  to  buy  them." 

Mr.  Crawford  married  a  daughter  of  Arthur  Med- 
stone  [Meston],  and  returned  to  En^i^land  in  1711, 
leaving  no  very  good  name  behind  him,  and  appar- 
ently having  done  the  church  no  very  great  good ; 
for  when,  in  1711,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson  arrived 
as  his  successor  there  was  no  disposition  *to  receive 
him.  "  Captain  Rodney,  the  gentleman  who  promoted 
all  manner  of  good  in  the  place,  was  dead,  and  in- 
deed all  manner  of  good  died  with  him," — it  is  in  a 
letter  from  the  Governor  and  several  gentlemen  of 
Philadelphia, — *'*  and  Mr.  Henderson  could  not  get 
any  place  to  lodge  in  but  the  public  Inn  of  the  County, 
noways  proper  or  convenient  for  him."  More- 
over, the  Presbyterian  influence  was  against  him. 
Mr.  Medstone  was  a  Presbyterian  and  was  reputed  as 
saying  that  the  "  land  upon  which  the  church  was 
built  was  given  by  a  Presbyterian  and  the  deed 
drawn  so  that  any  orthodox  minister  may  preach  in 
that  church,  and  the  greatest  number  of  the  people 
being  Presbyterians,  they  may  a^  well  bring  in  a 
Presbyterian  Minister  as  him."  This  Baying  of  Mr. 
Medstone  must  have  been  a  mistake,  for  Col.  French, 
though  a  Scotchman,  was  a  churchman.  But  the 
disposition  did  not  rest  with  getting  rid  of  Mr.  Hen- 
derson, which  apparently  was  soon  accomplished; 
for,  in  1716,  the  missionary  at  New  Castle  is  sad  at 
**  the  desolate  condition  of  ye  church  of  Dover  Hun- 
dred, many  of  ye  church  were  ready  to  revolt  because  of 
the  neglect  of  ye  Honnable  Board.  Indeed,  they  were 
about  settling  a  Presbyterian  Teacher  in  their  Church, 
but  that  design  was  entirely  ruined  by  my  preaching 
among  them  that  very  Sunday  the  Dissenters  were 
to  take  possession  of  one  of  our  pulpits."  Two  years 
later,  in  1717,  the  representative  of  the  clergy  of  the 
province  of  Pennsylvania  and  counties  of  New 
Castle,  Kent  and  Sussex  complains  that  in  Kent  and 
Sussex  the  church  is  in  danger  of  dispersion  by  reason 
of  insidious  Dissenters.  Two  years  later  another  com- 
plains of  the  long  vacancy,  which  has  given  too  great 
opportunities  to  the  adversaries  of  the  church  to 
pervert  and  mislead  many  of  them.  Three  years 
later  still  we  have  a  petition,  dated  ''  Kent  County  super 


Delaware,  in  the  province  of  Pennsylvania,  October 
21, 1722,  and  signed  by  Thomas  French  and  others 
to  the  number  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five,  de- 
siring that  a  sound  orthodox  minister  of  God's  word 
might  be  sent  and  settled  among  us,  we  have  since 
1711  been  wholly  destitute.  A  great  number  of  our 
people  are  by  this  means  gone  over  to  the  Presby- 
terians and  Quakers ;  our  house  built  for  religious 
worship  is  empty ;  meeting-houses  are  full ;  enthu- 
siasts abound  ;  the  Sabbath  is  profaned ;  the  interest 
which  the  Church  of  England  once  had  here  is  in 
great  danger  to  be  entirely  lost,  and  we  have  no  op- 
pertunity  to  worship  God  publicly  in  a  manner  agree- 
able to  the  word  of  God  and  our  own  Consciences." 
And  they  add  a  pledge  to  contribute  to  the  support 
of  a  missionary  according  to  .the  best  of  their  abili- 
ties. Similar  petitions  follow  in  the  following  years, 
but  it  was  not  until  1733,  twenty -two  years  from  the 
time  that  Mr.  Crawford  left  them,  that  another  mis- 
sionary was  sent.  It  was  strange  if,  when  he  did 
come,  he  found  any  fragments  remaining. 

In  1733  the  Rev.  George  Frazier  reports  that  they 
have  begun  a  subscription  to  build  a  new  brick 
church  at  Dover,  and  have  subscribed  about  one  hun- 
dred pounds, — the  former  church  being  an  old  board- 
ed house,  so  ruinous  that  it  is  not  fit  to  be  repaired. 
And  in  1734  the  new  brick  church  at  Dover  is  begun. 
The  walls  are  finished,  and  if  the  undertaker  had  not 
died,  would  have  been  covered  in  before  winter.  But 
the  people  are  generally  very  poor  and  the  payment 
of  any  subscription  is  very  backward,  though  the 
congregation  continues  to  be  greatly  larger — always 
above  one  hundred,  very  often  two  hundred  and  up- 
wards. 

Then  there  is  a  break  of  several  years,  and  in  1740 
the  Rev.  Arthur  Usher  writes  that  at  his  first  arrival 
there  was  a  new  brick  church  begun,  which  is  now  fin- 
ished, and  two  wooden  chapels  begun.  One  of  these 
was  at  Duck  Creek,  the  other  probably  at  Mispillion. 
The  deed  of  the  Duck  Creek  land  is  made  from  Thos. 
Green,  of  York,  to  Nicholas  Ridgely  and  Thomas  Tar- 
rant, Esq.,  church  wardens  of  St.  Jones'  Church  at 
Dover.  This  is,  I  believe,  the  first  time  this  church  is 
publicly  mentioned  by  any  name. 

The  next  year  he  gives  numbers — **In  my  Parish 
there  are  382  adults  pf  the  church,  109  Quakers,  330 
Dissenters  and  16  Papists.  I  have  baptized  this  last 
year  104  children  and  4  adults.  My  communicants 
are  about  32.  I  preach  2  Sundays  in  the  month  at 
Dover,  1  Sunday  in  the  new  chapel  at  Musquillion, 
and  1  Sunday  in  Cedar  Creek  Chapel. 

"  In  1742  the  church  at  Dover  is  not  yet  finished, 
but  I  hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  it  will  be."  The 
next  year  he  gives  numbers  again — "At  Whitsunday 
I  had  twenty  communicants.  Upon  the  justest  cal- 
culation I  can  make,  I  find  there  are  1005  families  in 
the  county,  whereof  608  are  ofthe  Church  of  England* 
392  Presbyterians,  60  Quakers  aud  45  Papists."  In 
1745  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morris  reports  the  Dissenters  hav- 
ing no  teacher  in  either  of  the  counties  of  Kent  and 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Sussex,  are  obliged  to  come  to  church,  and  behave 
regularly  and  decently  while  there. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Bluett  says  in  1746  "  they  talk 
of  finishing  their  church  at  Dover,  out  of  hand."  In 
1748  he  speaks  of  a  "  sickness  which  proves  so  mortal 
here,  and  which  is  a  sort  of  pleurisy  which  follows 
the  measles,  so  that  hardly  a  day  passes  but  we  have 
account  of  deaths,  and  some  days  we  have  buried,  in 
our  church-yard,  two  or  three."  The  year  1748  is  the 
date  of  the  first  death  recorded  on  a  tombstone  in  the 
church-yard.  That  of  "  Capt.  Thomas  Benson,  from 
Whitehaven,  died  Sept.  18th,  1748,  aged  25  years." 
Mr.  Bluett  died  a  few  months  after. 

Two  years  later  the  Rev.  Hugh  Neill  reports 
"  Dover  Church  in  a  miserable  condition.  It  looks 
more  like  a  refuge  for  wild  beasts  than  a  house  dedi- 
cated to  the  service  of  God.  They  have  contributed 
to  the  repairing  of  it,  which  I  hope  will  be  finished 
in  the  spring."  In  1751  he  calculates  the  number  of 
taxables  or  families  within  this  county  '*  to  be  one 
thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty.  Those  who 
profess  themselves  of  the  Church  of  England  make 
almost  an  equal  balance  in  number  with  the  Dissen- 
ters of  all  sorts.  We  have  two  small  Quaker  meet- 
ing-houses, one  Independent  teacher  that  attends  two 
other  places  of  worship,  one  Presbyterian  meeting- 
house, but  no  teacher,  one  Newlight  meeting-house 
without  any  teacher,  and  about  five  or  six  families  of 
Papists,  who  are  attended  once  a  month  from  Maryland 
with  a  priest.  There  are  two  churches  and  one  small 
chapel  within  the  bounds,  but  none  of  them  finished. 
The  number  of  communicants  has  increased  to  about 
forty.  But  what  gives  me  the  greatest  concern  is  my 
poor  negro  flock.  I  have  baptized  within  the  last 
half  year  of  them  36  adults.  Each  of  them  say  the 
Lord's  Prayer  and  the  Ten  Commandments,  with  a 
good  part  of  the  catechism,  although  few  can  read." 

Charles  Inglis  is  the  greatest  name  on  our  list.  He 
was  a  native  of  Ireland,  the  son  of  a  clergyman  of  the 
church,  and  whose  father  and  grandfather  had  been 
clergymen  before  him.  He  had  been  the  teacher  of 
a  school  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  was  ordained  and 
licensed  by  the  bishop  of  London  for  Pennsylvania 
in  1758.  The  S.  P.  G.  immediately  appointed  him 
their  missionary  at  Dover,  at  a  stipend  of  fifty  pounds 
per  annum,  and  after  a  long  and  stormy  passage  he 
reached  his  post  in  the  summer  of  1759.  "  The  mis- 
sion includo't  the  whole  county  of  Kent,  and  I  have  a 
church  at  the  extremity  of  each  end,  besides  Dover. 
There  are  in  this  county  several  hundreds  of  people 
who  inhabit  the  large  forests  which  lie  between  us 
and  Maryland  and  the  vast  marshes  which  stretch 
along  the  River  Delaware,  who  have  never  heard  a 
sermon,  and  do  not  belong  to  any  religious  denomina- 
tion of  Christians.  The  people  in  general  are  very 
loose,  and  the  public  meetings  are  nothing  but  scenes 
of  drunkenness  and  debauchery.  I  must,  however, 
do  them  justice  in  mentioning  a  becoming  zeal  which 
they  discovered  in  repairing  the  church  at  Dover, 
which  lay  io  a  most  shocking  condition  when  I  came 


here.  But  it  is  now  finished  and  ornamented  with  a 
bell,  pulpic  cloth,  etc.,  donations  of  particular  gentle- 
men." 

The  next  year  he  mentions  an  incident  which  he 
says  *'  has  given  him  the  greatest  pleasure,"  and  which 
showd  the  man  and  fully  explains  why  the  friend  of 
Whitefield  gained  the  reputation  of  a  "  Methodist." 
"  The  Dissentions  among  our  people  have  their  source 
in  the  Annual  Election  of  Representatives  and 
sheriffn  by  the  People,  and  the  meetings  held  once  a 
week  for  two  months  before  election  Day,  to  which 
the  Candidates  invited  the  inhabitants  to  treat  them 
with  Liquor,  and  which  were  scenes  of  the  greatest 
debauchery  and  vice.  I  was  determined,  if  possible, 
to  remove  this  evil.  As  soon  as  I  was  informed 
where  a  meeting  was  to  be  held,  I  gave  notice  that  I 
was  to  preach  near  that  place  and  on  that  very  day, 
and  by  this  and  by  persuading  the  candidates  to  stay 
away  and  setting  them  in  that  horrid  light  they  d*^- 
served,  these  riots  dwindled  almost  to  nothing,  and 
it  has  also  been  the  means  of  increasing  my  Communi- 
cants to  above  double  what  they  were  when  I  first 
came  here." 

Success  and  harmony  attended  his  work,  though 
the  lukewarm  continued  to  trouble  him,  and  in  1761 
the  Duck  Creek  congregation  began  to  require  and  to 
"  build  a  new  brick  church  of  large  dimensions."  An 
"addition  has  also  been  made  to  the  church  at  Mis- 
pillion." 

The  whole  county  at  this  time  "  contains,  at  a  mod- 
erate computation,  about  7000  souls.  Of  those  who 
hold  religious  communion  with  any  denomination  of 
Christians,  of  that  number  upwards  of  one-third  are 
members  of  the  Church  of  England.  There  are  three 
Quaker  and  four  Presbyterian  meeting-houses.  Presby- 
terians are  much  more  numerous  than  the  farmer."  In 
1762  he  reports  a  fourth  church  in  building  on  the  bor- 
der of  Mary  land,  which  he  names  St.  PauPs.  The  church 
at  Duck  Creek  he  named  St.  Peter's,  that  at  Mispil- 
lion  is  Christ  Church.  But  it  is  remarkable  that  be 
never  once  names  the  "  church  at  Dover  "  by  any 
other  name.  The  name  of  Christ  Church  we  have 
not  found  before  1767.  But  in  1759  a  deed  is  recorded 
of  land  in  Little  Creek  Hundred  given  by  Richbell 
Mott  to  John  Brinckle,  of  Little  Creek  Hundred,  and 
Richard  Mott,  vestryman  in  the  parish  of  St.  Mary's 
in  Kent  County. 

In  1764  Mr.  Inglis  was  married  '*  to  a  most  amiable 
and  excellent  woman  of  the  first  family  of  the  place," 
Mary  Vining,  daughter  of  Captain  Benjamin  Vining, 
of  New  Jersey,  and  Mary,  his  wife,  who,  after  his 
death,  married  Nicholas  Ridgely,  of  Dover.  Her 
impaired  health  and  his  own  sickness,  brought  on  by 
the  *'  bad  air  of  the  place  and  the  fatigue  of  attending 
four  churches,  three  of  which  are  thirty  miles  apart, 
demanded  a  removal  to  a  more  healthy  mission ;"  and 
while  he  was  corresponding  with  the  society  on  this 
subject,  came  an  unexpected  invitation  to  him  to 
become  assistant  minister  and  catechist  of  Trinity 
Church,  New  York. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1055 


He  had,  in  fact,  accepted  the  invitation  when  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Inglis  changed  the  state  of  his  affairs. 
The  people  seemed  to  fairly  rise  in  rebellion  against 
his  going  away,  and  it  was,  in  fact,  not  till  1766  that 
he  removed  to  New  York.  Nor  would  he  probably 
have  left  the  mission  even  then  if  he  had  not  known 
•  that  two  young  men  who  had  gone,  one  to  England 
for  orders,  had  been  appointed  to  this  mission  to  take 
his  place — Rev.  Samuel  Criles  and  Rev.  Hugh  Wilson. 
But  in  April,  1766,  they  were  both  lost  at  sea  off  the 
American  coast.  It  was  calculated  that  of  those  who 
went  to  England  for  ordination,  two  out  of  every  five 
lost  their  lives  by  shipwreck  or  disease  on  the  jour- 
ney. Is  it  any  wonder  that  Inglis  and  the  rest 
begged  for  a  bishop?  Is  it  any  wonder  that  the 
church  lost  ground?  If  it  had  not  been  God's  Church, 
it  had  perished  utterly. 

With  Mr.  Inglis'  departure  for  New  York,  he 
passes  out  of  the  immediate  range  of  Dover,  though 
he  continued  to  take  the  greatest  interest  in  the  mis- 
sion ;  but  we  may  add  a  word  of  the  later  history  of 
our  one  great  man.  He  became  '^  Assistant  Minister 
of  Trinity  Church,  New  York,  and  Catechist  to  the 
Negroes,*' — but  active  in  every  good  work  of  the 
church,  and  especially  interested  in  missions.  He 
foresaw  the  political  troubles  that  were  coming,  and 
he  dreaded  the  ^^  Independent  Republick  which  would 
be  set  up  under  Independent  and  Presbyterian  in- 
fluences; they  are  inimical  to  monarchy  from  Prin- 
ciple &  consider  the  Church  of  England  as  scarcely 
one  remove  from  Popery ;  they  are  for  an  independ- 
ent Republick,  and  Lord  have  mercy  on  those  who 
live  under  it  and  dissent  in  religious  or  political  prin- 
ciples from  them.  For  my  part,  I  would  rather  live 
under  a  French  or  a  Turkish  Government."  So  he 
writes  in  1774  to  his  friend  and  relative  Dr.  Charles 
Ridgely.  He  saw  what  would  be  the  effect  on  the 
church  in  America,  and  especially  in  its  present 
headless  condition,  if  it  was  once  cut  off  from  Eng- 
land. The  appointment  of  bishops  for  this  country 
i*  ''a  thing  so  equitable  in  itself,  so  essential  to  the 
interest  of  religion  and  our  Church,  that  I  am  lost 
in  astonishment  at  our  being  deprived  of  them  so 
long."  When  the  war  came  he  sided  with  the  mother 
country  and  the  government,  and  suffered  for  his 
principles.  In  1777,  on  the  death  of  the  rector  of 
Trinity,  he  was  elected  rector  and  solemnly  assumed 
the  office  with  his  hand  on  the  ruined  walls  of  old 
Trinity.  In  1783  he  resigned  his  rectorship  and  re- 
turned to  England :  and  in  1787  he  was  sent  out  to 
Nova  Scotia,  the  first  missionary  bishop  ever  sent  out 
by  the  Church  of  England — ^the  first  of  a  long  list, 
whose  present  number  is  some  seventy-five;  and  of 
them  all,  there  is  not  a  nobler  name  than  Charles 
Inglis. 

In  1767  the  Rev.  Samuel  Magaw,  who  had  been 
associated  with  Mr.  IngUs  in  the  school  at  Lancaster, 
took  charge  of  the  mission.  He  speaks  of  the  church 
at  Duck  Creek,  which  Mr.  Inglis  had  begun  and 
named  St.  Peter's,  as  finished  and  used  for  the  first 


time  on  Trinity  Sunday,  1769.  In  two  years,  he  says, 
''  I  have  baptized  six  adults  and  one  hundred  and 
ninety-eight  children,  of  which  five  were  black.  The 
communicants  are  ninety-four." 

The  Bible  which  we  still  use  in  the  church  dates 
from  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Magaw's  mission.  It  is 
'*The  Gift  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Wynkoop,  merchant.  At 
the  City  of  Philadelphia,  To  Christ's  Church,  at 
Dover,  in  Kent  County,  Delaware.  Annoque  Domini, 
1767.''  It  is  notable  as  being  the  first  time,  so  far  as 
I  knoWy  in  which  the  name  of  Christ's  Church  is 
given  to  this  church  in  any  public  document  The 
chalice  and  paten  were  "The  Gift  of  Esther  Wynkoop, 
1766,"  the  mother  of  Benjamin.  They  were  melted 
in  the  fire  at  the  burning  of  the  sexton's  house,  many 
years  ago,  and  restored  in  1867,  by  the  gift  of  Mrs. 
Mary  Ridgely. 

In  1776  he  mentions  the  glebe,  of  which  "the  soil  is 
naturally  fertile,  but  a  good  deal  worn,  and  there  is 
not  enough  of  it  to  merit  any  considerable  improve- 
ments or  to  attract  the  notice  of  a  good  tenant.  There 
is  a  small  parsonage  house  on  it  which  wants  repair- 
ing, and  it  is  let  out  at  £18." 

in  1776,  7th  of  October,  Mr.  Magaw  writes: 
"  Through  the  whole  compass  of  America,  I  do  not 
believe  there  can  be  anywhere  a  stronger  attach 
ment  to  the  parent  country,  or  a  more  warm  regard 
for  that  religion  which  we  jointly  profess,  than  among 
the  greater  number  of  those  among  whom  I  have 
been  appointed  to  minister.  They  ardently  wish  for 
peace,  they  look  for  reconciliation,  safe,  constitutional 
and  permanent."  But  men's  minds  change  with 
changing  times.  Mr.  Magaw  is  described  "as  a 
man  of  great  urbanity  of  manners,  and  apparent 
kindliness  of  spirit."  Whether  he  was  more  politic  or 
more  wise,  and  whether  he  was  more  or  less  patriotic, 
at  any  rate  he  did  not  see  his  duty  in  the  same  light, 
and  did  not  regard  the  Boston  ians  and  the  "  Independ- 
ent Republic  "  with  the  same  dread  as  his  friend  Inglis, 
and  like  William  White  and  soilo  others  of  the 
clergy  of  the  church,  he  took  the  American  side. 
One  of  the  very  few  incidents  on  record  of  this  par- 
ish is  a  sermon  which  he  "  preached  in  Christ  Church, 
Dover,  on  Monday,  December  27,  1779,  being  the  an- 
niversary of  St.  John,  the  Evangelist,  at  the  request 
and  before  the  General  Communication  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  of  the  Delaware  Slate."  We  gather 
from  it  that  he  was  not  a  Mason,  though  it  is  a  very 
good  Masonic  sermon.  But  the  interest  of  it  to  us  is 
in  the  political  allusions.  Besides  several  indirect 
references  to  political  affairs,  the  sermon  is  "  Dedi- 
cated to  his  Excellency,  Caesar  Rodney,  Esq.,  Gover- 
nor, Captain-General  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Delaware  State,  the  friend  of  his  Country  and  the 
Lover  of  all  Social  Virtues,"  and  in  the  course  of  it 
he  names  distinguished  Masons,  "fromJubal  and 
Enoch  down  to  Franklin,"  and  then  closes  with  the 
"  illustrious  Cincinnatus  of  our  age,  a  Washington." 
Mr.  Magaw  was  elected  rector  of  Bt.  Paul's  Church, 
Philadelphia,  in  1779,  but  did  not  accept  until  1781. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


He  was  rector  from  1781  to  1804,  and  from  1782  to 
1791  vice-provo3t  of  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

There  are  no  records  from  this  time  till  1786,  but 
an  old  record  book,  discovered  almost  accidentally 
in  1867,  contains  records  of  that  year.  At  the  first 
general  convention  of  1785  the  name  of  James 
Sykes,  Esq.,  heads  the  list  of  Pelaware  laymen,  and 
at  the  convention  of  June,  1786,  Nicholas  Ridgely, 
Esq.,  is  a  layman  from  Delaware.  In  April,  1786,  a 
meeting  of  the  congregation  was  held,  which  has  all 
the  appearance  of  a  revival  and  the  first  step  of  a 
new  departure.  Two  wardens  and  twelve  vestrymen 
were  elected, — Wardens,  Nicholas  Ridgely,  John 
Pryor;  Vestrymen,  George  Truit,  John  Baning, 
Joseph  Taylor,  Thomas  Rodney,  Joshua  Clayton,  John 
Clayton,  Thomas  Nixon,  Vincent  Loockerman,  John 
Bell,  Jr.,  Charles  Nixon,  William  Brown  and  Charles 
Ridgely.  Benjamin  Crooks  was  appointed  sexton,  at 
an  annual  allowance  of  five  pounds,  and  also  the  sum 
of  fifty  shillings  for  serving  occasionally  as  clerk  to 
this  congregation.  Regulations  were  made  with  re- 
gard to  burial  in  the  church-yard ;  steps  taken  to 
settle  with  James  Sykes,  Esq.,  for  the  glebe,  and  a 
rule  made  with  regard  to  those  ^'travelling  ministers 
who  may  desire  admittance  into  this  church  to  preach 
or  teach."  Soon  afterwards  the  pews  were  rated, — 
three  pounds  annually  for  the  double  pews  and  one. 
pound  ten  for  single  pews. 

After  consultation  with  St.  Peter's  Church  at  Duck 
Creek  Cross-Roads  it  was  determined  to  request  Mr. 
Nicholas  Ridgely,  when  he  attends  the  convention  in 
Philadelphia,  to  inquire  for  "  a  clergyman  of  piety,  re- 
ligion, morality  and  sound  principles,  who  hath  been 
regularly  ordained  and  can  show  proper  testimonials 
of  his  being  a  strict  member  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  on  the  faith  of  this  vestry  to  assure 
him  of  at  least  one  hundred  pound's,  exclusive  of  the 
rent  of  the  glebe."  Such  an  one  they  found  in  the 
person  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Roe,  who  exhibited  cre- 
dentials of  having  been  ordained  by  Bishop  Seabury, 
of  Connecticut.  He  had  "  joined  the  people  called 
Methodists,  but  had  adhered  to  them  as  long  as  they 
attended  strictly  to  the  doctrines  and  principles  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  no  longer." 
After  hearing  him  preach,  and  further  consultation 
with  Rock  Creek  Church,  the  "  good  opportunity " 
was  embraced,  and  it  was  resolved  to  raise  the  sum  of 
three  hundred  pounds  for  one  year's  service  in  the 
said  churches — two  hundred  pounds  by  the  congrega- 
tion of  Christ  Church  and  one  hundred  pounds  by 
the  congregation  of  St.  Peter's.  There  are  a  few 
more  brief  records  of  this  year,  but  none  afterwards 
until  1794.  From  other  documents  we  gather  that  the 
conventions  of  1786  and  the  following  years  were 
held  in  Dover,  but  I  do  not  know  that  Mr.  Roe's 
name  is  mentioned  in  them,  and  it  is  not  certain  that 
his  rectorship  lasted  beyond  the  year.  It  would  seem 
probable  that  at  least  he  remained  here,  for  he  died 
in  1791,  and  was  buried  in  Christ  Church-yard.    The 


inscription  reads:  "To  the  memory  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Roe,  who  departed  thii  life  February  8th, 
1791,  in  the  35th  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  faithful 
pastor,  a  fond  husband  and  an  indulgent  parent." 

To  this  period  of  what  we  suppose  to  have  been 
Mr.  Roe's  rectorship  belongs  a  curious  document, 
which  we  could  perhaps  better  understand  if  we' 
knew  more  about  the  state  of  the  parish.  For  fifty 
years  this  church  had  been  standing  and  this  burial- 
ground  in  use ;  in  1788  we  gather  that  regular  services 
were  held  here.  And  yet  in  that  year  Elizabeth 
Pryor  made  her  will  and  gave  in  trust  to  her  son, 
John  Pryor,  "  one  acre  of  ground,  with  the  house 
thereon  situate,  to  have  and  to  hold  in  trust,  that  is  to 
say  as  soon  as  sufficient  funds  are  provided  and  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  persons  to  form  a  congregation, 
being  members  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
to  erect  and  build  thereon  a  church  and  to  lay  ofi^  the 
said  acre  for  a  graveyard,"  and  lying,  by  the  de- 
scription, on  the  north  side  of  North  Street,  east  of 
State,  and  just  about  where  the  livery  stable  now 
stands,  just  two  short  squares  from  this  church. 
What  does  it  mean  ? 

From  this  period  on  for  seventy  years  the  records 
are  meagre  and  occasional.  In  1791  the  Rev.  Qeorge 
Dashiell  was  in  charge  of  the  congregation,  in  1794 
the  Rev.  Walter  C.  Gardiner.  The  parish  is  men- 
tioned occasionally  in  the  convention  journals — in 
1810,  1816,  1819. 

In  1818  the  Rev.  Henry  R.  Judah  is  minister  of  the 
congregation,  officiating  every  second  Sunday,  at  a 
salary  of  $400  per  year.  In  1822  the  convention  jour- 
nal reports  that  there  are  about  twenty  families 
attached  to  Christ  Church,  Dover,  and  the  parish  could 
support  an  unmarried  clergyman,  especially  if  he 
could  support  himself  by  teaching.  In  1824  the  Rev. 
Christian  F.  Cousi  was  rector  of  the  parish ;  1830  to 
1833,  the  Rev.  Robert  Piggott;  1833,  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Higbee;  1836,  the  Rev.  H.  P.  McCallum.  While  Mr. 
Piggott  was  in  charge  there  are  nine  communicants  re- 
ported, in  1834  only  four,  and  the  congregation  is  "  in 
a  state  of  apathy,"  where  it  remained  for  twenty-five 
years,  only  partially  disturbed  by  the  efforts  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Carpenter,  who,  in  1850,  held  an  afternoon 
service  on  alternate  Sundays  with  encouraging  at- 
tendance. In  1853,  celebrated  the  Lord's  Supper  for 
the  first  time  after  many  years  to  four  communicants. 
The  next  year  is  obliged  to  reduce  the  services  to 
monthly,  and  the  next  year  he  is  gone.  From  his 
consecration,  in  1841,  Bishop  Lee  mentions  and  la- 
ments "  the  forlorn  and  uncomfortable  condition  of 
the  time-worn  Church,  and  the  neglected  state  of  the 
burial-yard,  and  hopes  that  the  aspect  of  dilapidation 
and  neglect  may  be  removed,"  and  on  his  occasional 
visits  to  Dover  preached  in  the  Court- House. 

In  1859,  through  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  C. 
Brinckle,  of  Christ  Church,  Christiana,  and  the  Rev. 
Julius  C.  Grammer,  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Smyrna,  an 
earnest  effort  was  made  to  revive  the  old  parish.  An 
appeal  was  made  in  convention  and   liberally  re- 


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Bponded  to.  The  Rev.  Marshall  Smith  was  called  as 
rector,  and  the  church  was  repaired  and  restored. 
The  glebe  was  sold  and  $1800  of  the  price  was  used 
in  repairing  the  church.  It  was  consecrated  on 
Ascension  Day,  1860,  and  in  the  convention  of  that 
year  the  rector  reports  that  he  found  two  communi- 
cants, and  that  the  present  number  was  five. 

The  alterations  made  in  1859  entirely  changed  the 
internal  appearance  of  the  church,  and  somewhat  the 
external  also.  Becent  alterations  have  changed  it 
still  more.  The  original  entrance  was  on  the  south 
side,  under  a  gallery  which  extended  along  that  side, 
and  was  lighted  by  a  window  in  the  east  end  of  the 
church  and  entered,  as  now,  from  the  northwest  corner. 
The  high  pews  were  in  blocks  and  floored,  but  the 
aisles  were  laid  in  brick.  The  chancel  was  at  the  east 
end,  merely  railed  off;  the  pulpit  and  reading-desk 
and  clerk's  desk  being  high  up  on  the  north  wall, 
while  over  all  hung  the  sounding-board,  suspended  by 
a  heavy  iron  rod.  The  only  fire  originally  provided 
for  was  in  the  vestry-room.  Long  before  1859  the 
original  bell  had  disappeared  and  left  no  trace  of 
sound  behind  it,  nor  is  there  any  record  or  knowl- 
edge of  the  place  in  which,  in  1760,  it  "  ornamented 
the  church."  The  present  bell  is  the  bequest  of  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Worrell,  who  died  in  1876.  The  (Jhancel 
was  added  in  1887. 

From  1859  to  1887  the  rectors  have  been  : 

Rev.  Marehall  B.  Smith 1859-60 

Rot.  John  Crocker  White 1860-62 

R«T.  T.  Gardiner  Llttell l606-67 

Rer.  Lucius  SweeUaud 1867 

Rev.  Edward  H.  True '. 1868-69 

Rev.  JameB  Hoskins 1870-71 

Rev.  Samuel  McEIwee 1871-73 

Rev.  Lewiu  W.  Gibson 1873-87 

Mr.  Neill  built  a  small  parsonage  house  on  the 
glebe  about  1745.  Mr.  Inglis  lived  in  his  own  house 
on  the  comer  opposite  the  present  rectory.  During 
Mr.  True^s  rectorship  a  small  property  was  purchased 
on  South  State  Street,  and  the  $1200  which  remained 
of  the  glebe  was  sunk  in  it, — an  $800  mortgkge  eat- 
ing up  the  $1200  payment  in  about  si±  years.  In  1879 
the  present  rectory  was  purchased. 

The  growth  of  the  parish  has  been  encouraging, 
though  the  location  of  the  church  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  town,  while  the  growth  of  the  town  is 
-entirely  to  the  northwest,  is  very  much  against  it. 
The  number  of  communicants  reported  ia— 1860,  five; 
1862, eight;  1866,  twenty-five;  1869,  fifty-eight;  1871, 
thirty-five:  1873,  forty-two;  1887,  one  hundred  and 
two.  The  present  wardens  are  James  Kirk  and  Thos. 
O.  Calbreth;  Vestrymen,  Dr.  Henry  Ridgely,  Hon. 
Jos.  P.  Comegys,  A.  B.  Richardson,  Edward  Ridgely, 
William  Denney,  T.  K.  Jones,  Dr.  L.  H.  Bishop. 

Presbyterian  Church.*— As  early  as  1711  there 
were  in  Dover  a  goodly  number  of  Presbyterians. 
At  this*  time  Arthur  Medstone,  or  Meston,  claimed 
that  "  the  greater  number  of  the  people'*  here  were 
Presbyterians.     The    Church  of   England's    Vener- 

1  Compiled  from  a  historical  diacoarse  d«liverod,  October  23,  1887,  by 
B«T.  J.  F.  StoQacipb«r»  pastor. 

67 


able  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  For- 
eign Parts  had  sent  a  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson  as  a 
missionary.  Medstone  thought  that  the  greater  num- 
ber being  Presbyterians,  they  might  as  well  bring  in  a 
Presbyterian  minister  as  Mr.  Henderson  ;  and  he  ac- 
cordingly raised  scruples  against  his  credentials. 
This  is  learned  from  the  Venerable  Society's  docu- 
ments. From  the  same  source  it  is  found  that  four 
years  afterwards,  in  1715,  the  Presbyterians  were  on 
the  point  of  practically  dispossessing  their  then  eccle- 
siastical opponents,  the  Episcopalians.  The  Vener- 
able Society's  missionary  at  New  Castle  wrote  that 
the  Episcopal  Church  at  Dover  Hundred  were  "about 
settling  a  Presbyterian  teacher  in  their  church,  but 
that  design  was  entirely  ruined  by  his  preaching 
among  them  that  very  Sunday  the  Dissenters  were  to 
take  possession."  In  1717  complaint  was  again  made 
by  **  the  representation  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  of  the 
Province  of  Pennsylvania  and  counties  of  New  Castle, 
Kent  and  Sussex  ",  that  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Kent, 
and  that  in  Sussex  were  then  in  danger  of  "  dispersion 
by  reason  of  assiduous  Dissenters"  or  Presbyterians. 
The  Presbyterian  element  was  a  strong  and  growing 
one  evidently.  This  the  records  of  their  rivals  of  that 
day  indicate.  And  from  the  records  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,  which  was  then  the  only  Presby- 
tery in  the  church,  it  is  learned  that  in  the  county,  if 
not  in  Dover,  there  were  Presbyterians  enough  to 
command  the  attention  and  care  of  the  Presbytery. 
As  early  as  September  8, 1714,  it  appointed  one  of  its 
members.  Rev.  James  Anderson,  "  to  supply  the  peo- 
ple of  the  county  with  preaching  one  Sabbath  a 
month  until  its  next  meeting,"  a  year  after.  At  the 
expiration  of  the  year,  so  great  were  the  needs  and 
desires  of  the  people  still  for  the  ministrations  of  the 
gospel  after  the  Presbyterian  order,  that  the  Presby- 
tery sent  Mr.  Gelston,  a  licentiate,  to  supply  them. 
The  following  year,  1716,  it  appointed  Revs,  Davis, 
Gillespie,  Witherspoon,  Evans  and  A?iderson  as  sup- 
plies for  them,  and  the  next  year,  1717,  it  appointed 
as  a  supply  Mr.  Robert  Cross,  a  probationer,  who,  ac- 
cording to  Webster's  History,  p.  397,  served  them 
"  monthly  for  several  years." 

The  conditions  for  the  growth  of  Presbyterianism 
could  not  have  been  very  favorable  during  these  years. 
And  yet  it  must  have  been  developing  comparatively 
rapidly,  for  in  1722  a  petition  of  the  Episcopalians  re- 
cites that  a  great  number  of  their  people  had  gone 
over  to  the  Presbyterians  and  Quakers,  leaving  the 
Episcopalian  house  of  worship  empty  and  filling  the 
"  meeting-houses,"  or  Presbyterian  and  Quaker  places 
of  worship.  A  year  later,  May  8,  1723,  the  Presby- 
terians of  the  county  were  strong  enough  to  ask  the 
Presbytery  to  appoint  them  a  minister  who  should 
serve  them  the  whole  of  his  time  instead  of  monthly. 
Had  it  been  possible  for  them  to  secure  the  regular 
services  of  a  worthy  man  they  apparently  would  gladly 
have  done  so.  But  ministers  were  scarce  in  those 
days,  and  though  the  people  continued  to  supplicate 
the  Presbytery  from  time  to  time,  they  had  to  be  coj)- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


tent  with  occasional  supplies  until  in  1726.  On  Sep- 
tember 13th  of  that  year,  however,  the  Presbytery  or- 
dered a  Mr.  Cook,  or  rather  McCook,  a  licentiate,  to 
"supply  tlie  people  of  Kent,  on  Delaware,  for  ordin- 
ary (i.  e,y  regularly)  until  its  next  meeting."  At  its 
neit  meeting,  in  November,  the  same  order  was  re- 
peated in  response  to  a  supplication  from  the  people ; 
and  at  its  next  meeting,  March  28,  1727,  placed  in 
Mr.  McCook's  hands  a  regularly  prepared  call  "  from 
the  people  of  the  Presbyterian  persuasion  in  the 
county  of  Kent,  on  Delaware,"  for  his  services  as 
pastor. 

This  call  Mr.  McCook  at  length  accepted,  and  the 
Presbytery  ordained  and  installed  him  on  the  7th  of 
June  following,  1727.  In  his  ordination  services 
there  was  a  feature  which  seems  to  have  been  common 
in  those  days,  but  which  has  so  long  since  passed  out 
of  use  as  to  be  of  sufficient  interest  to  specially  men- 
tion. When  the  examinations  had  all  been  completed 
and  approved,  and  when  the  time  had  arrived  for  the 
solemn  act  of  ordination,  "  a  proclamation  was  made 
three  times  at  the  door  of  the  meeting-house  that  if 
any  person  had  anything  to  object  against  the  ordain- 
ing of  Mr.  McCook  they  should  then  make  it  known." 
But  no  objection  was  made,  and  he  was  duly  ordained 
and  installed,  June  8,  1727,  the  first  regular  pastor 
the  Presbyterians  of  Kent  County  ever  had. 

From  the  Presbytery's  records  of  this  and  some- 
what earlier  date  it  is  found  that  there  was  a  Presby- 
terian congregation  at  Duck  Creek,  or  Smyrna,  and 
at  a  place  called  St.  Jones'.  From  the  old  deed- 
books  in  the  county  recorder's  office  we  find  (vol- 
ume i.,  H,  p.  225)  that  there  was  a  Presbyterian 
meeting-house  standing  in  Murtherkill  Hundred, 
February  14,  1725,  and  the  church  organization  there 
continued  in  existence  until  1818  or  later.  Of  these 
churches  or  congregations  doubtless  McCook  was 
pastor.  Dover  is  not  mentioned  as  Dover  in  those 
earlier  records.  We  find  no  specific  documentary 
mention  of  the  church  until  1743.  Gillett,  in  his 
"  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,"  says  (foot- 
note, volume  i.,  p.  98) :  "  Dover,  St.  Jones'  and  *  Peo- 
ple of  Kent '  are  all  the  same  congregation — Dover;" 
and  "  this  congregation  is  on  the  records  in  1714." 
Again  he  says  (foot-note,  volume  i.,  p.  42) :  **  St.  Jones' 
is  now  Dove»",  on  Jones',  anciently  St.  Jones'  Creek, 
in  St.  Jones',  now  Kent  County,  Delaware." 

If  he  is  correct  as  to  "St.  Jones' "  being  then  Dover, 
it  is  explicit  written  evidence  of  the  existence  of  Dover 
Church  as  early  as  September  18,  1728,  or  possibly 
March  12,  1722.  But  he  gives  no  reason  for  his 
statements ;  and,  as  far  as  the  St.  Jones'  Church  is 
concerned,  we  think  he  is  mistaken,  for  it  is  men- 
tioned in  the  Presbyterian  records,  in  connection  with 
the  Murtherkill  and  Three  Runs  (or  Milford)  Churches, 
as  constituting  the  pastoral  charge  of  Rev.  Mr. 
McKee  in  1793 — a  time  when  Dover  Church  had  its 
own  individuality  well  established  and  was  often 
mentioned  in  the  same  records.  St.  Jones'  Church 
was  probably  located  some  place  down  the  creek. 


therein  early  days  there  was  a  somewhat  thickly- 
inhabited  s«*ction  of  country,  and  it  ceased  to  exist 
entirely  about  the  close  of  the  last  century.  Never- 
theless, Dover  had  a  Prenbyterian  congregation  in 
Mr.  McCook's  days,  and  probably  in  those  days  when 
the  supplies  were  sent  by  the  Presbytery  to  meet 
the  destitution  of  Kent.  Arthur  Medstone  and  his 
Presbyterian  associates,  constituting  "the  greatest 
number  of  the  people"  in  1711,  would  probably  soon 
after  have  constituted  such  a  church  in  Dover  as 
they  had  in  those  early  days.  There  were  enough  of 
them  to  do  so,  and  he  at  least  seems  to  have  had 
interest  enough  to  urge  them  to  do  so.  But  if  this 
was  not  done  as  early  as  1711,  it  certainly  looks 
very  much  as  if  it  had  been  done  in  1715,  when 
the  Dissenters  or  Presbyterians  came  so  very  near 
taking  possession  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Then, 
moreover,  we  have  this  further  evidence  of  the  prob- 
ability of  such  an  early  formation  of  a  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Dover.  The  town  was  laid  out  in  1717. 
On  the  plot  of  the  town  now  in  the  recorder's  office, 
made  in  1740-41,  which  claims  to  be  a  copy  of  the 
earlier  plot,  there  are  marked  off  two  squares  of 
ground.  One  is  called  **  Church  Square,"  where  the 
Episcopalian  Church  now  stands,  and  the  other 
"Meeting-House  Square,"  where  this  church  now 
stands.  Meeting-houses  were  the  names  given  to 
the  places  where  Presbyterians  worshipped.  If  this 
plot  of  ground  was  thus  set  apart  when  the  town  was 
laid  out,  as  seems  probable,  then  is  not  the  inference 
allowable  that  at  that  time  there  was  a  body  of 
Presbyterians  needing  or  using  it  for  a  house  of  wor- 
ship? It  is  probable  that  the  beginnings  of  the 
church  were  as  far  back  as  1714.  And  this  being  so, 
it  follows  as  a  matter  of  course  that  Rev.  Archibald 
McCook  was  its  pastor,  and,  as  the  first  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterians  in  Kent  County,  its  first  pastor.  He 
had  other  churches  in  the  county  under  his  care,  but 
he  alBO  had  Dover  Church.  But  his  was  not  a  long 
pastorate.  In  a  little  over  two  years  after  his  install- 
ation he  died,  1729.  How  long  it  was  after  his 
death  until  the  churches  had  another  pastor  is  not 
ascertained.  After  having  supplies  for  a  couple  of 
years  they  called  Robert  Cathcart.  but  he  declined 
their  call.  Whether  they  were  any  more  successfiil 
with  others  for  a  long  time  is  unknown,  as  the  Pres- 
byterial  records  from  1730  to  1768  have  been  destroy- 
ed, and  but  little  information  can  now  be  gleaned 
from  other  sources  as  to  most  of  that  period. 

By  1741 ,  however,  they  seem  to  have  had  a  minister ; 
for  in  September  of  that  year  Rev.  Arthur  Usher, 
the  missionary  of  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Prop- 
agation of  the  Gospel,  reports  the  dissenting  min- 
ister as  being  made  uneasy  by  the  attendance  of  his 
people  at  Mr.  Usher's  church,  which  they  constantly 
did  when  their  minister  did  not  preach  in  town. 
Who  that  minister  was  it  can  only  be  conjectured ; 
but  it  i^  not  improbable  that  it  was  Rev.  Robt. 
Jamison,  who  preached  near  Smyrna,  apparently 
from  1734  until  his  death  in  1744,  and  who  is  men- 


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tioned  a8  the  minister  of  this  church  in  1743.  Per- 
haps he  was  the  minister  in  Dover  during  the  whole 
decade  before  his  death.  Perhaps  he  had  charge  of 
all  the  Presbyterian  congregations  in  the  county; 
for  in  the  spring  of  the  year  after  his  death  Rev.  Mr. 
Morris,  the  Episcopalian  minister,  wrote  that  the 
Dissenters  had  "  no  teacher  in  either  Kent  or  Sus- 
sex counties/'  and  were  obliged  to  attend  his  church. 
Certainly,  at  all  events,  Dover  enjoyed  his  ministra- 
tions part  of  the  time  mentioned ;  for  the  deed  for 
the  ground  on  which  the  church  now  stands,  and  on 
which  a  church  then  stood,  given  May  12,1743,  by 
the  town  commissioners,  to  obviate  all  difficulty  as  to 
title,  was  given  to  "Robert  Jamison,  minister,  and 
John  Caton  and  Robert  Bohanan,  elders  of  the  Pres- 
byterian congregation  in  and  about  Dover." 

Robert  Jamison  remained  pastor  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  about  1744.  During  his  charge  the 
division  in  the  church  occurred,  and  the  Old  and 
New  Side  parties  each  had  their  members  in  most  all 
of  the  churches.  It  is  not  positively  known,  but  as 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Jamison  was  a  member  of  the  Old  Side, 
it  is  fair  to  presume  that  the  greater  part  at  least  of 
his  congregation  were  with  him. 

In  about  five  years  after  Jamison's  death  we  find 
the  people  uniting  in  a  call  to  a  man  who  became 
their  pastor,  and  who  served  them  faithfully  and  well 
for  more  than  forty-two  years.  That  man  was  the 
Rev.  Jno.  Miller,  whose  body  lies  in  the  church-yard. 

He  was  a  native  of  Boston  and  educated  there.  In 
May,  1748,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Boston 
Congregational  Association,  and  soon  after  visited 
Maryland  and  Delaware.  The  united  congregations 
of  Dover  and  Smyrna  called  him  March  29,  1749, 
and  on  April  26th  the  association  ordained  him  and 
sent  him  to  Dover  to  become  the  pastor  of  the 
churches.  What  his  salary  was  to  be  we  are  not 
told ;  but  probably  little  was  promised  at  first  and 
really  less  given  afterwards.  Tradition  says  that 
when  urged  to  accept  the  call,  he  put  the  natural 
question  "How  am  I  tq  live?"  and  then  Chancellor 
Killen,  who  was  much  pleased  with  Mr.  Miller  and 
very  desirous  of  his  coming,  presented  him  with  the 
farm  four  miles  north  of  Dover,  on  the  State  road, 
on  which  he  afterwards  lived  during  all  his  minis- 
try, and  then  added  to  his  gift  a  horse,  saddled  and 
bridled.  Had  it  not  been  for  this  he  probably  could  not 
have  lived  and  labored  even  as  he  did ;  for  from  the  Pres- 
bytery's records  in  1766,  it  appears  that  the  churches 
were  not  supporting  him  at  all  adequately.  Two 
years  before  that  he  had  agreed  with  them  on  a  year- 
ly salary  of  £50  ($133.33)  at  Dover  and  £40  ($106.- 
66)  at  Smyrna;  but  even  that  meagre  amount  was 
not  near  all  paid  at  either  place,  and  the  balance  had 
to  be  remitted.  So  shamefully  remiss  were  the 
churches,  indeed,  that  Presbytery  had  to  "  put  them 
in  mind  not  only  of  their  injustice  to  Mr.  Miller,  but 
also  of  their  disregard  of  the  gospel  and  their  want 
of  generosity  and  public  spirit."  Whether  the  Pres- 
bytery's interference  improved  matters  in  this  regard 


is  not  stated.  But  somehow  Mr.  Miller  managed  to 
eke  out  an  existence  for  himself  and  family,  and 
even  to  give  to  all  his  five  sons  who  had  reached 
mature  age  a  liberal  education,  and  to  collect  for 
himself  what  was  in  those  days  a  large  library.  He 
was  a  friend  of  learning,  an  untiring  student  and  a 
fine  scholar.  Owing  to  the  disturbed  condition  of 
the  church  at  large,  when  he  came  to  Dover  he  did 
not  identify  himself  with  either  the  "  Old  Side"  or 
"  New  Side"  party,  until  in  1757,  when  he  became  a 
member  of  the  "  Old  Side  "  Presbytery  of  New  Cas- 
tle ;  but  after  that  he  was  a  punctual  attendant  on 
church  judicatories  as  long  as  he  lived,  and  twice  he 
was  elected  moderator  of  the  old  synod,  then  the 
highest  judicatory  of  the  church,  thus  having  an 
honor  which  it  is  believed  has  been  conferred  in  one 
other  instance  only,  in  the  whole  course  of  the  his- 
tory of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Several  times  he 
was  the  moderator  of  his  Presbytery,  and  in  its 
deliberations  he  took  an  active  part. 

Politically  he  was  a  zealous  and  uncompromising 
Whig  and  an  ardent  defender  of  the  cause  of  the 
American  colonies.  "  Several  days  before  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence,  he  so  far  anticipated  the 
spirit  of  that  decisive  measure  as  to  address  his  people 
from  that  significant  text,  indicative  enough  of  his 
own  views,  *  we  have  no  part  in  David,  nor  any  inheri- 
tance in  the  son  of  Jesse,  to  your  tents,  O  Israel  I  * " 
His  eldest  son,  John,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  American 
army,  and  one  of  his  elders  in  this  church.  To  his 
dying  day  he  was  interested  in  public  affairs,  and 
zealous  for  civil  and  religious  freedom,  and  on  account 
of  his  learning,  ability  and  wisdom,  he  had  great  in- 
fluence in  church  and  State. 

July  22,  1791,  in  the  sixty-ninth  year  of  his  age,  he 
rested  from  his  labors.  During  those  long  years  of 
his  pastorate  perhaps  there  was  much  in  the  church 
that  would  now  greatly  interest  us,  but  unfortunately 
it  has  nearly  all  been  forgotten.  Doubtless  the  good 
man  had  much  besides  poverty  and  sickness,  of  which 
he  had  his  full  share.  In  a  meetiniz:  of  the  Presby- 
tery in  his  own  church,  in  Dover,  February  1,  1763, 
two  of  the  members  of  his  congregation  in  Smyrna 
made  complaint  against  him  for  introducing  and  sing- 
ing Dr.  Watts'  version  of  David's  Psalm*  in  that  con- 
gregation, contrary  to  their  opinion.  But  when  the 
complaint  was  considered,  it  was  not  sustained,  and 
the  complainants  were  complained  against  by  the 
Presbytery  for  an  abusive  insult  to  the  Presbytery, 
which  it  was  thought  proceeded  from  drunkenness. 
But  even  this  did  not  effectually  silence  the  Smyrna 
accusers  of  Mr.  Miller,  for  in  a  little  over  two  years 
afterwards  one  of  them  renewed  his  complaint,  sup- 
porting it  by  a  petition  with  forged  names,  but  of 
course  only  succeeded  in  giving  his  pastor  trouble. 
Watts'  version  of  the  Psalms  continued  to  be  used  in 
Smyrna.  In  Dover  they  still  held  on  to  Rouse's  ver- 
sion as  late  as  May  9, 1770. 

But  doubtlesd,  like  every  other  pastor,  Mr.  Miller 
found  something  all  along  his  course  to  gratify  him. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Especially  gratified  was  he  when  his  Dover  people 
concluded  that  their  old  log  church,  which  Btood  just 
south  of  this  one,  had  served  its  day,  and  they  would 
replace  it  with  a  more  comely  brick  one.  This  ihey 
did  the  year  before  his  death  ;  for  August  16,  1790,  he 
writes,  saying  that  an  express  had  come  for  him  to  go 
immediately  to  Dover,  to  lay  the  corner  brick  of  the 
new  church  erecting  there.  Whether  he  had  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  it  made  ready  for  occupancy  is  not 
known.  But  certainly  he  could  have  worshipped 
within  these  walls  but  few  times,  if,  indeed, at  all.  His 
death  occurred  the  July  following  the  laying  of  the 
corner  brick. 

By  his  death  the  church  again  became  pastorless, 
and  such  was  practically  its  condition  for  over  fifty 
years.  His  son  Samuel,  who  afterwards  became  the 
renowned  Professor  Miller,  of  Princeton  Seminary, 
was  at  the  time  a  student  of  divinity.  October  12th, 
of  that  year  (1791),  the  Presbytery  of  Lewes  licensed 
him  to  preach,  and  appointed  him  to  fiUhis  falher^s 
pulpit  on  the  second  and  third  succeeding  Sabbaths. 
The  following  April  the  church  presented  him  a  regu- 
lar call,  in  the  hope  that  they  might  at  once  secure 
him  as  his  father's  successor. 

In  the  mean  time  the  United  Presbyterian  congre- 
gations in  New  York  had  also  heard  and  called  him 
to  become  their  pastor,  and  after  six  months'  consider- 
ation, during  part  of  which  time  he  supplied  Dover 
and  Smyrna,  he  decided  to  return  the  Dover  call  and 
accept  the  one  from  New  York.  And  soon  after  that 
he  delivered  his  valedictory  to  the  Dover  congrega- 
tion, commending  them  in  it  for  their  active  and  ex- 
emplary zeal  in  erecting  a  church,  diligent  exertions 
to  e8tabli>«h  the  worthip  of  God  regularly,  and  care  to 
revive  the  congregation  and  watch  over  its  various 
interests. 

Thus  they  were  left  again  without  a  minister,  and 
without  any  one  in  prospect.  The  following  April 
(1793),  however,  we  find  them  exerting  themselves  to 
secure  one.  Mr.  Francis  McMullen  Gardner  was  sent 
to  Presbytery  by  them  with  "an  address  and  suppli- 
cation," in  response  to  which  Presbytery  gave  them 
liberty  to  apply  to  any  Presbytery  "they  may  choose 
for  supplies,  or  for  a  young  man  to  preach  with  a  view 
to  st-ttlemen^  and  recommended  it  to  any  member  of 
the  Presbytery  who  can  make  it  convenient  to  preach 
occasionally." 

But  in  October  fallowing  they  were  still  without  a 
pastor,  though  able  with  Smyrna  **  to  maintain  a  min- 
ister," and  they  asked  Presbytery  for  supplies,  es- 
pc-cially  for  Messrs.  McKee  and  Hindman,  both  of 
whom  were  sent  for  a  few  days.  August  14, 1794,  this 
was  still  their  state. 

Some  time  between  that  date  and  March  20,  1798, 
however,  they  came  across  one  Rev.  John  C.  Brush, 
who  had  been  a  member  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church,  and  they  unanimously  called  him.  But,  un- 
fortunately, he  was  not  sound  in  the  faith,  having 
taken  up  the  erroneous  views  of  Dr.  Priestly.  Upon 
his  informing  the  Presbytery  of  this,  they  came  to 


the  conclusion  that  "  neither  he,  nor  any  other  person 
holding  such  sentiments,  should  be  sanctioned  by 
them  to  preach  in  any  of  the  churches  under  their 
care."  Notwithstanding  this,  however,  he  continued 
to  preach  in  these  churches,  and  September  Ist  fol- 
lowing, Presbytery,  finding  him  still  unchanged  in  his 
views  and  purposes,  decided  to  inform  the  churches 
that  it  was  their  opinion  that  they  "ought  not 
to  countenance  the  ministration  of  Mr.  Brush,  or  al- 
low him  to  preach  in  their  churches  unless  he  joins 
the  Presbytery  and  adopt  the  confession  of  Faith  and 
Discipline."  This  action  was  conveyed  to  the  church 
and  "  produced  the  desired  effect,"  t.  c,  resulted  in 
the  removal  of  Mr.  Brush.  After  this  but  little  is 
known  about  the  church  for  at  least  twenty  years,  and 
probably  this  is  so,  because  it  was  practically  extinct 
during  that  period.  In  the  Presbyterial  records  of 
April  6,  1819,  it  is  said  that  "  the  congregation  of 
Dover  and  the  Three  Runs  (or  Milford),  were  for 
some  time  considered  extinct."  And  in  a  memoir  of 
Mrs.  Leah  W.  Morris,  published  December,  1826,  and 
January,  1827,  it  is  said  that  Brush  "  scattered  instead 
of  edifying  the  flock,  and  so  paralyzing  was  his  influ- 
ence upon  the  interest  of  religion  that  many  seriously 
disposed  persons,  who  were  formerly  attached  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  observing  such  a  want  of  piety 
among  the  Presbyterians  of  Dover,  broke  off  their 
connection  with  them  and  united  themselves  with  the 
Methodist  society.  And  by  the  deaths  and  removal 
of  the  members  of  the  church  it  continued  to  dimin- 
ish, until  it  was  finally  extinguished," 

October  24,  1818,  Rev.  Elisha  P.  Swift  came  and 
began  to  labor  for  the  resuscitation  of  the  church. 
He  also  included  in  his  field  Milford.  April  6th  fol- 
lowing he  united  with  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle, 
and  reported  that  he  had  reorganized  these  churches 
as  one  church  with  one  session ;  and  they  were  then 
taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery.  At  that 
meeting  Dover  presented  a  call  for  Mr.  Swift.  This 
he  held  until  the  September  meeting  of  the  Presby- 
tery, when  he  declined  it,  and  was  granted  a  dismissal 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  and  very  soon  after- 
ward he  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  leaving 
Dover  barely  resuscitated.  Probably  it  at  once  re- 
lapsed into  its  former  dead  state.  At  all  events,  the 
memoir  of  Mrs.  Morris  states  that  when  she  came  to 
Dover,  in  1823,  "there  was  no  Presbyterian  Church 
whose  privileges  she  could  enjoy,  and  no  preaching 
by  ministers  of  her  communion  except  once  or 
twice  a  year  when  some  missionary  passed  along." 
This  state  of  things  continued  until  the  spring  of 
1825,  when,  principally  through  Mrs.  Morris*  impor- 
tunity, personal  influence  and  liberal  benefaction,  the 
gospel  was  once  more  preached  statedly  in  the  church. 
For  a  long  time  the  occasional  Presbyterian  service 
had  been  held  in  the  State- House,  but  on  May  15th 
the  church  was  again  opened  and  occupied.  Who 
the  minister  was  at  that  time  we  have  noi  ascertained, 
but  it  was  probably  Rev.  Alexander  Campbell.  He 
certainly  was  a  minister  in  the  early  part  of  1827,  for 


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he  18  well  remembered.  And  his  term  of  service, 
which  appears  to  have  been  somewhat  protracted, 
must  have  been  before  rather  than  after  that  date. 
How  long  Campbell  remained  after  1827  is  not 
known. 

From  November  9,  1831,  until  about  December  2d, 
the  convention  which  framed  the  present  Constitu- 
tion of  Delaware  held  its  sessions  in  this  church. 
For  cleaning  and  fitting  up  the  building  it  allowed 
James  B.  McComb  three  hundred  dollars.  That  the 
church  was  used  for  worship  at  all  at  that  time  seems 
improbable.  About  that  time  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  appointed  Hon.  John  M.  Clayton,  Elias  Nau- 
dain  and  Dr.  W.  W.  Morris  trustees  to  care  for  the 
properly,  inasmuch  as  there  was  no  congregation  to 
do  so.  From  December  1,  1834,  to  December  13, 
1835,  the  now  venerable  Dr.  John  Patton  labored  as 
stated  supply.  He  writes  that  the  church  was  run 
down,  and  he  could  find  only  two  members  and  no 
records.  Dr.  Morris,  he  says,  was  acting  as  trustee. 
In  October,  1835,  he,  with  Dr.  E.  W.  Gilbert,  "  reor- 
ganized the  church  with  ten  members,  and  ordained 
and  installed  as  elders  Elias  Naudain  and  his  brother, 
Dr.  Andrew  Naudain."  This,  the  reorganized  church, 
they  had  enrolled  in  the  newly-formed  Presbytery  of 
Wilmington,  which  was  composed  of  men  who,  like 
Dr.  Gilbert  and  Dr.  Patton,  were  in  sympathy  with 
the  views  of  what  in  1837  became  the  New  School 
branch  of  the  church.  But  soon  Mr.  Patton  left;  this 
field,  and  until  1843  the  church  might  be  said  to  have 
had  a  merely  nominal  existence.  In  1837  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Wilmington  reported  it  to  the  General  As- 
sembly as  one  of  the  churches  under  its  care,  and 
having  thirteen  members,  but  without  a  pastor.  The 
same  year  the  Presbytery  of  Lewes  reports  it  to  the 
Assembly  as  one  of  the  churches  under  its  core.  In 
the  years  following  until  1840,  the  Presbytery  of 
Lewes  still  included  it  in  its  reports  to  the  Assembly, 
and  occasionally  it  sent  Rev.  Mr.  Fries  as  a  supply. 
But  after  1840  it  seems  to  have  regarded  Dover  as  a 
defunct  church,  and  it  no  longer  even  carried  its  name 
on  the  roll. 

But  there  were  still  some  Presbyterians  in  Dover. 
In  the  spring  of  1843  Dr.  Morris  sent  up  to  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Castle  a  letter  which,  together  with  a 
statement  with  respect  to  the  destitution  of  Dover, 
was  presented  by  a  Mr.  Johns.  In  response  the  Pres- 
bytery appointed  monthly  supplies  for  the  ensuing 
half-year.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  Presbytery 
requested  Mr.  Thomas  G.  Murphey,  then  a  licentiate 
of  the  Second  Presbytery  of  New  York,  to  act  as 
stated  supply  of  the  church  for  three  months  from 
November  1st,  with  the  understanding  that  **  in  case 
it  should  be  aggreeable  to  the  people  of  Dover  and 
himself,  he  should  continue  to  supply  them  after  the 
three  months  had  expired."  This  was  agreeable,  and 
he  continued  their  supply.  The  following  spring 
(1844)  Elder  Elias  Naudain  wrote  the  Presbytery  in- 
forming it  "that  the  church  in  Dover,  which  had  been 
for  a  number  of  years  nearly  extinct,  had  been  re- 


suscitated and  requested  to  be  taken  under  the  care 
of  the  Presbytery ; "  this  was  done  and  Dover  en- 
rolled. Leave  was  then  granted  the  church  to  pro- 
cure the  services  of  Mr.  Murphey  for  the  next  six 
months,  and  it  was  recommended  to  the  Board  of 
Missions  for  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  coming 
year.  A  month  afterward.  May  10, 1844,  the  church 
made  out  a  call  for  Mr.  Murphey,  naming  as  his 
salary  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  a  year, 
the  year  to  begin  with  the  past  February  1st. 

June  27th  he  was  received  into  the  Presbytery  and 
the  call  was  placed  into  his  hands  and  by  him  accept- 
ed. On  June  24th  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as 
pastor.  Subsequently  he  became  pastor  of  the 
Smyrna  Church  also,  serving  it  with  this  until  Octo- 
ber 4,  1859.  October  12, 1860,  his  relation  as  pastor 
to  this  church  was  dissolved.  During  the  period  of 
this  pastorate  the  church  was  twice  left  entirely  with- 
out an  elder.  Elins  Naudain,  who  had  been  ordained 
an  elder  in  1835,  by  Rev.  John  Patton,  died  March 
12,  1849 ;  and  Haddon  Smith,  who  after  that  be- 
came an  elder,  his  name  appearing  on  record  as  a 
member  of  the  Session  September  29,  1849,  died 
October  18,  1855.  On  April  19,  1857,  Mr.  Jones,  and 
on  October  30,  1859,  Mr.  Nicholson,  the  present  mem- 
bers of  the  SeJ»sion,  were  ordained.  For  a  little  over 
a  year  after  Mr.  Murphey  cessed  to  be  pastor  the 
church  was  vacant.  During  that  interval  Rev.  Thos. 
B.  Bradford  was  the  moderator  of  the  Session,  On 
November  27,  1861,  a  call  was  given  through  the 
Presbytery  to  Mr.  J.  J.  Pomeroy,  till  then  a  licen- 
tiate of  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle.  This  was  by  him 
accepted,  and  on  the  following  day  he  was  duly  or- 
dained and  installed.  His  pastorate,  however,  was 
brief,  terminating  by  his  release  October  31st,  of  the 
following  year.  Six  months  later,  April  2,  1863.  Rev. 
Cyrus  Huntington  was  called,  and  on  May  lltb  fol- 
lowing he  was  formally  installed  as  pastor,  which 
office  he  held  until'his  death,  April  15,  1883.  From 
October  4th  following,  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev. 
John  F.  Stoneci(»her,  has  served  the  congregation. 
The  increase  in  the  membership  of  the  church  from 
those  days  when  Mr.  Murphy,  in  the  beginning  of  hi^ 
pastorate,  could  only  report  a  grand  total  of  sixteen 
— but  four  of  whom  were  men — to  these  days,  when 
we  report  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  deserves  to 
be  mentioned.  So  does  the  increase  in  the  benevolent 
contributions  from  tens  of  dollars  to  hundreds.  So 
does  the  acquisition  of  the  beautiful  and  useful  chapel 
in  1880. 

Baptist  Church. — It  is  stated  that  in  1830, 
Jonathan  Stites  and  family  were  the  only  Baptists  in 
or  near  Diver.  In  1832,  George  Parris,  a  Baptist, 
moved  with  his  family  from  New  Jersey  to  the 
neighborhood.  A  few  years  later  the  Rev.  John  P. 
Thompson  was  sent  to  this  region  as  a  •missionary  of 
the  American  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Society.  He 
labored  with  the  people  until  1847,  when  he  was 
succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John  P.  Walter,  a  missionary 
of  the  society.     His  salary  was  three  hundred  dollars 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


a  year,  of  which  the  society  paid  one  hundred  dollars, 
the  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Wilmington  one 
hundred  dollars  and  George  Parris  one  hundred  dol- 
lars. Jonathan  Stites  and  George  Parris  purchased 
a  lot  on  the  south  side  of  the  public  square,  and  in 
1850  started  a  subscription  to  build  a  church,  each 
contributing  five  hundred  dollars.  The  corner-stone 
of  the  church  was  laid  September  8, 1850,  by  the  Rev. 
A.  D.  Gillette,  then  of  Philadelphia.  The  basement 
was  completed  in  the  winter  of  1851-52  and  dedicated 
January  25,  1852.  A  call  had  been  extended  to  other 
churches  to  organize  a  church  at  that  time.  The 
roads  were  bad  and  the  day  stormy,  and  the  delegates 
from  Wilmington  were  the  only  ones  present.  The 
church  was  constituted  with  eight  members — Jona- 
than and  Mary  Stites,  George  and  Jane  Parris,  George 
P.  and  Ruth  H.  Barker,  Mrs.  Eliza  Walker  afid  Mrs. 
Beulah  McGonigal.  The  Rev.  J.  P.  Walter  extended 
the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  Meetings  were  held  in 
March  and  April  following,  and  as  the  result,  eleven 
persons  were  baptized  and  became  members  ot  the 
church  viz. :  John  Q.  A.  Adams,  Mary  McBride, 
Elizabeth  Jones,  Sarah  Hall,  Grace  Nowell,  Samuel, 
Eliza  Ann  and  Jane  Nowell,  Francis  A.  Connelly, 
Raymond  and  Elizabeth  Wheatley.  The  Upper 
part  of  the  house  was  dedicated  in  January  1853. 
The  pastors  of  the  church,  from  the  organization 
to  the  present,  are  here  given :  John  P.  Walter, 
resigned  JuVl,  1852  ;  D.  A.  Nichols,  1852  to  latter 
part  of  1853 ;  E.  R.  Hera,  1854 ;  C.  J.  Hopkins,  three 
months,  in  1859;  H.  C.  Putnam,  from  1861  to  Septem- 
ber 20,1863.  In  1866  the  Rev.  D.  B.  Purinton  was 
sent  to  Dover  and  vicinity  by  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Missionary  Society,  and  resigned  in  1868.  He 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  0.  F.  Flippo,  who  served 
two  years,  and  resigned  September  15,  1870,  to  be- 
come a  missionary  for  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  to 
give  attention  to  Wyoming  Institute,  which  he  was 
then  endeavoring  to  purchase  for  the  Baptists.  The 
church  was  without  a  pastor  for  some  time,  and  has 
been  served  since  by  the  R^v.  Charles  A.  Harris, 
February  27,  1873,  to  September  27.  1873 ;  Rev.  J.  J. 
Reeden,  April  15,  1875,  to  October  1,  1876 ;  Rev.  B.G. 
Parker,  October  29,  1876,  to  1881 ;  Rev.  Henry  Tratt, 
one  year;  Rev.  James  Trickett;  Rev.  J.  C.Miller, 
November,  1885,  to  July,  1887.  Rev.  Mr.  Williams 
accepted  the  pastorate  in  September,  1887.  The 
church  has  a  membership  of  about  one  hundred. 

Catholic  Church  of  the  Holy  Cross.*— The 
foundation-stone  of  the  present  church  was  laid  by 
Rt.  Rev.  Thos.  Becker,  first  bishop  of  the  diocese  of 
Wilmington,  in  November,  1870, — Rev.  Edward  Tay- 
lor, pastor.  The  building,  of  Gothic  architecture,  was 
completed  the  following  year  at  a  cost  of  nearly 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  and  is  at  present  com- 
pletely out  ofcdebt. 

Rev.  Ed.  Taylor  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John 
Lyons,  in  August,  1879 ;  Rev.  Georj^e  Bradford,  in 
1880;  Rev.   Wm.   Bermingham,  in  1884;   and  Rev. 

1  Prepared  by  the  Rev.  Joeeph  Graf. 


Joseph  Graf  la  1887,  under  theRt.  Rev.  Bishop  A.  A. 
Curtis,  D.D.,  second  bishop  of  Wilmington. 

To  the  parii>h  of  the  Holy  Cross  are  attached  the 
congregations  at  Smyrna  and  Magnolia,  and  the  mis- 
sion-stations of  Salisbury,  Westover,  Princess  Anne, 
Berlin,  Ocean  City  and  Cape  Charles  City,  which 
places  are  visited  monthly  by  the  rector  of  the  Dover 
Parish.  The  whole  congregation  numbers  about 
three  hundred  members. 

Methodism  in  Dover.' — ^The  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Dover  was  organized  on  September  13, 
1778.  The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  town  by  a 
Methodist  minister  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Freeborn 
Garrettson,  from  the  steps  of  the  old  academy  that 
stood  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  near  where  the 
Farmerji*  Bank  is  now  situated,  on  September  12, 
1778.  Concerning  the  labors  of  Garrettson  here,  Ste- 
vens, in  his  "  History  of  American  Methodism,"  says : 
"  He  began  his  labors  in  Dover  amid  a  storm  of  oppo- 
sition in  the  latter  part  of  1778.  He  had  been  in- 
vited thither  by  a  gentleman  who  had  been  profited 
by  his  ministry  elsewhere.'  Hardly  had  he  dismount- 
ed from  his  horse  when  the  mob  gathered,  crying  out, 
*  He  is  a  Tory  ;  hang  him,  hang  him  !'  *'  While  others 
shouted  in  his  defense.  Hundreds  of  clamorous 
voices  resounded  around  him.  *'  I  was  in  a  fair  way," 
says  he,  "  to  be  torn  in  pieces." 

He  was  rescued,  however,  by  some  friendly  gentle- 
men, one  of  whom  (Mr.  Smilhers),  taking  him  by  the 
hand,  and  leading  him  to  the  steps  of  the  academy, 
bade  him  preach,  and  declared  he  would  stand  by 
him.  The  evangelist  cried  aloud  to  the  multitude. 
He  was  heard  through  most  of  the  town.  The  crowd 
wept.  One  person  sitting  in  a  window  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  distant,  was  alarmed  by  the  truth  and  afterward 
converted.  More  than  twenty  of  his  hearers  were 
awakened.  The  ringleader  of  the  mob  repented  and 
betook  himself  to  the  reading  of  the  Bible,  and  "  never 
again  persecuted  the  children  of  God."  Garrettson 
preached  repeatedly  in  the  town,  formed  a  society 
(September  13,  1778),  and  "the  Lord  was  with  them, 
spreading  the  word  and  converting  many  souls." 
The  preaching  was  at  this  time  established  at  Mr. 
Hilliard's,  above  Dover. 

The  first  church  edifice  owned  by  this  society  was 
built  by  Richard  Bassett,  Esq.,  afterwards  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  who  was  himself  a  mem- 
ber of  the  society.  The  house  cost  about  two  thou- 
sand dollars,  one-half  of  which  Mr.  Bassett  generously 
donated  to  the  society.  It  was  located  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  North  and  Queen  Streets.  The  entire 
lot  is  now  used  as  a  cemetery.  The  original  trustees 
of  the  property — i.e.,  the  building — were  Richard  Bas- 
sett, Benoni  Harris,  Jno.  Willbank,  Jno.  Lowber 
and  Joseph  Harper.  The  lot  of  ground  on  which  the 
church  stood  was  donated  for  that  purpose  by  Vin- 
cent Loockerman  to  the  following  trustees,  viz. :  Jno. 

«  Contributed  by  Rov.  Thomas  E.  Terry. 

.  8  Nathaniel  Smlthera,  Esq.,  father  of  Hon.  N.  B.  Smithen,  of  Dela- 
ware. 


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Pryer,  Jr.,  Richard  Lockwood,  William  Kirkley, 
Msjor  Taylor  and  James  Hull.  The  deed  for  the 
ground  is  dated  June  1, 1782.  The  society  was  incor- 
porated in  1799,  and  in  honor  of  the  founder  of 
Methodism  it  was  called  Wesley  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  this  first  church  edifice  many  of  the 
fathers  of  Methodism  labored,  among  them  Dr. 
Thomas  Coke,  Freeborn  Garrettson,  **  Father  Con- 
nelly '*  and  others,  and  of  the  bishops,  the  following 
visited  Dover  and  preached  there,  viz. :  Bishops 
Asbury,  Whatcoat,  McKendree,  George  and  Emory. 
Bishop  Whatcoat  died  here  in  1806,  and  his  remains 
were  buried  under  the  altar  of  the  old  church,  and 
when  the  building  was  afterwards  torn  down,  a  suit- 
able monument  was  erected  over  his  grave  to  mark 
the  spot. 

The  old  church  building  was  torn  down  and  the 
new  one  erected  on  the  present  site  on  State  Street 
in  1850,  most  of  the  bricks  from  the  old  edifice  being 
used  in  building  the  new.  The  lecture-room  of  the 
present  building  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  February 
9,  1851.  The  sermon  on  that  occasion  was  preached 
by  Rev.  Charles  I.  Thompson,  from  Gen.  28:  16, 17. 
Since  it  was  first  built  the  house  has  been  enlarged 
twice,  once  in  1870  and  again  in  1884.  The  seating 
capacity  of  the  present  audience-room  is  about  six 
hundred.    Present  membership  (1887),  559. 

During  the  year  1887  the  society  undertook  the  work 
of  erecting  a  chapel  in  the  western  part  of  the  town 
for  the  convenience  of  the  people  living  there,  and 
Edwin  M.  Stevenson,  Esq.,  a  member  of  the  church, 
having  donated  for  that  purpose  a  lot  of  ground  situ- 
ated at  the  corner  of  Governor's  Avenue  and  Mary 
Street,  the  society  built  a  neat  chapel  with  a  seating 
capacity  of  about  two  hundred,  aud  it  was  dedicated 
on  Sunday,  October  2,  1887. 

In  addition  to  the  property  already  referred  to,  the 
society  owns  a  handsome  parsonage  property,  con- 
veniently located  alongside  of  the  church,  and  it  is 
furnished  with  all  the  modern  appliances  necessary 
for  the  comfort  of  the  ministers'  family.  Also  the 
church  has  recently  bought  aud  laid  out  a  handsome 
cemetery  on  the  north  side  of  the  town,  containing 
about  five  acres.  The  aggregate  worth  of  real  estate 
held  by  the  church  is  about  thirty-one  thousand 
dollars. 

The  Sunday-school  connected  with  the  church  is 
one  of  the  strongest  and  most  prosperous  in  the  State. 
At  first  there  was  organized  a  union  school  and  it  met 
in  what  was  at  that  time  the  town  academy,  at  the 
southern  terminus  of  State  Street.  This  school  was 
organized  by  Hon.  Willard  Hall  (afterward  Judge 
Hall),  Dr.  Martin  W.  Bates  and  a  gentleman  named 
A.  Strong,  about  A.  d.  1826.  The  school  was  un- 
denominational, and  after  an  existence  of  about  four 
years  was  abandoned,  Messrs.  Hall  and  Strong  having 
removed  from  Dover  and  Dr.  Bates  having  given  up 
the  enterprise.  During  the  year  1830,  however,  Mrs. 
Ann  Clark  Sipple  collected  the  children  together  aud 
organized  the  school  in  the  Metho<Ust  Church,  and 


Mrs.  Sipple  herself  was  elected  the  first  superinten- 
dent, and  from  that  time  on  to  the  present  the  school 
has  continued  to  increase  until  it  now  numbers  sixty 
ofiScers  and  teachers,  with  about  six  hundred  scholars. 
In  1856  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Davis  Burton,  who  was  assis- 
tant superintendent  of  the  school,  suggested  the 
organization  of  an  infant  department  in  the  school, 
and  the  organization  was  effected  with  Mrs.  Sallie 
Ann  Ridgeley  as  superintendent,  an  oflSce  which  she 
retained  until  her  death,  in  the  spring  of  1887. 

During  the  history  of  the  church  the  following 
ministers  have  been  stationed  here  as  pastors  in 
charge,  viz.: 


William  Olendinning 1783 

NelBonReed 1784 

Samuel  Dudley 1785 

Ira  Elll« 1786 

Jacob  finish 1787 

George  Moore 1788 

William  Thomaa. 1789 

Chridtopber  Spry 1790 

Thomas  Foster 1791 

Walter  Fountain 1792 

John  Wilbum^ 1793 

John  Wllburn 1794 

William  Hunter 1796 

John  Smith „ 1796 

Jo«»ph  Whitby 1797 

Thomaa  Jackson 1798 

Daniel  Crouch 1799 

Archibald  Foster 18O0 

William  Bishop 1801 

T.Smith 1802 

William  Hunter 1803 

Ephraim  Chambera 1804 

Richard  Lyon „ 18u6 

Henry  Boehm „ 1806 

Joseph  Aydolott 1807 

Henry  White 18i)8 

Thomas  Walker 1809 

John  Sharpley „ 1810 

Dora  MelTin 1811 

Asa  Smith 1812 

William  Btehop 1813 

James  Ridgway 1814 

James  Bidgway 1815 

James  Moore 1816 

Charles  Reed 1817-18 

Thomas  Miller 1819 


William  Ryder 1820 

Atward  White 1821 

William  Torbert 1822 

John  Smith 1823 

Solomon  HIggins....- 1824-26 

James  Batenian. 1826-27 

Daniel  Lambdin 1828 

William  Bishop 1829-30 

Solomen  Sharp 1831-32 

William  Bamee 1833-34 

J.  Buckley 1836 

J.  H.  McFarland ~ 1836 

Eliphalet  Reed 1837-38 

Levi  Storks. 1839 

Joshua  Humphries 1840-41 

Ignatius  T.  Cooper 1842-43 

EnosR,  Williams 1844-46 

Henry  Sutton 1846-47 

James  Allen 1848 

Goldsmith  D.  Carrow 1849-50 

John  D.  Hazzard^ 185  < -62 

Henry  B.  Gilroy 1863-64 

Charles  Karsner 1866-66 

William  C.  Robinson 1857-68 

aiarles  Cook 1859-60 

John  D  Curtis 1861-62 

Thomas  J.  Thompson 1863-64 

Henry  Colclazer «^ 1806-67 

James  H.  Lightboum. 1868-70 

James  B.  Mt-rrltt 1871-72 

George  D.  Watson 1873-74 

John  H.  Caldwell 1875-77 

William  P.  Davis- 1878-80 

John  H.  Caldwell 1881-83 

Thomas  E.  Martindale 1884-86 

Thomas  E.  Terry 18S7 


Whatcoat  Methodist  Church  (col.). — ^The  tirst 
meeting-house  erected  by  the  colored  people  in  Dover 
was  built  in  1852,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  old 
church-yard  and  burying-ground  of  the  Methodists. 
The  house  was  used  until  1872,  when  a  new  church 
building  (and  the  present  one)  was  erected  west  of  it  on 
the  same  lot,  and  the  old  church  was  removed  to  the 
south  side  of  North  Street,  and  fitted  up  for  a  parson- 
age, and  is  still  used  for  that  purpose.  The  church 
building  was  neatly  frescoed  and  painted  in  the 
summer  of  1887.  Before  1852  there  was  no  separate 
organization  of  the  colored  people,  but  in  that  year 
the  society  was  organized,  taking  the  name  of  Bishop 
Whatcoat,  who  is  buried  in  the  yard  on  which  their 
church  is  erected.' 

1  Rev.  Richard  Whatcoat,  one  of  the  bishops  «f  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  was  bom  in  the  parish  of  Quinton,  England,  February  23, 
1736.  He  was  ordained  in  September,  1784,  by  John  Wesley  and,  ac- 
companied by  Dr.  Coke,  landed  in  America  the  3d  day  of  Norember 
following. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Prince  Lewis,  who 
served  for  several  years.  In  1857,  under  Bishop 
Scott,  a  local  Conference  was  organized,  since 
which  time  the  following  pastors  have  served 
the  congregation ;  1857,  Revs.  Ebenezer  Songs  ; 
1859,  Isaiah  Broughton  ;  1861,  Nathan  Young;  1863, 
John  G.  Manlove ;  1864  (Delaware  Conference  or- 
ganized), J.  VV.  Saunders  ;  1866,  John  W.  Sisco;  1868, 
Joshua  Brinkle;  1869,  Harrison  Rich;  1871,  Solomon 
Cooper;  1874,- J.  D.  Elbert;  1876,  Lewis T.  Cox; 
1878,  John  H.  Holland;  1880.  W.  M.  Webb;  1883, 
J.  E.  Webb ;  1886,  the  Rev.  A.  Brown,  who  is  the 
present  pastor. 

The  society  has  at  present  one  hundred  and  fifty 
members. 

The  Bethel  A.  M.  E.  Church  (colored)  was  es- 
tablished in  1873  and  erected  a  chapel  on  Kirkwood 
Street.  The  society  has  about  eighty  members.  The 
pastors  who  have  served  the  church  are  as  follows: 

Revs.  William  Davis,  Richard  Barney,  Leonard 
Patterson,  Thomas  Moore,  Abram  Buckley,  Thomas 
Davis,  Thomas  Cuff  and  the  present  pastor,  the  Rev. 
Charles  H.  Ferrier. 

Calvary  Baptist  Chitrch.— A  number  of  colored 
people  from  the  Jfethodist  congregation  accepted  the 
faith  of  the  Baptists,  and  in  1883  met  for  worship  in 
private  houses.  In  1886,  by  the  aid  of  the  Baptist 
Association  and  the  citizens  of  Dover,  a  lot  was  pur- 
Chased  at  the  corner  of  Queen  and  Fulton  Streets,  and 
a  neat  frame  chapel,  thirty  by  fifty  feet,  was  erected, 
which,  with  furniture,  cost  about  two  thousand 
dollars.  It  was  dedicated  July  29,  1887.  The  Rev. 
Henry  C.  Jones  is  in  charge  of  the  congregation. 

Schools  in  Dover. — The  first  schools  in  Dover 
were  private,  and  were  established  by  the  most 
wealthy  residents  for  the  education  of  their  children. 
It  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  soon  after  the 
laying  out  of  Dover,  in  1717,  a  suliicient  number  of 
pupils  were  gathered  together  in  some  private  house 
and  educated.  The  first  positive  knowledge  that  we 
have  of  any  schools  in  Dover  is  found  in  a  sketch  of 
the  life  of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Luff,  who  was  born  in  St. 
Jones'  Neck  in  1756,  and  attended  school  in  Dover 
in  1767-68.  The  following  is  his  account  of  his  intro- 
duction to  the  school  and  town:  ** After  this  I  was 
removed  back  again.  Here  I  was  no  sooner  set  on 
my  feet  and  introduced  to  my  associates,  than  I  was 
let  out  to  battle;  as  children  fight  cocks,  so  did  these 
corrupt  youths  of  Dover  entrap  the  innocent  and 
unguarded  into  a  maze  of  error  and  dissipation,  pro- 
portioned to  each  one's  age  and  circumstances."  .  .  . 
**  A  few  men  anxious  for  the  promotion  of  their  chil- 
dren were  excessively  gulled  by  tutors;  themselves 
unacquainted  with  the  learned  languages  and  sciences. 

On  the  adjonrnment  of  the  Conference  he  traveled  extensively  through 
DeUwRre  and  other  sections  of  the  country  admtuistoring  the  ordinnnces 
HiM  last  Horinon  was  preached  at  Milfurd,  Delaware,  on  the  8th  of  April, 
18  '6.  The  next  day,  while  travelinK,  ho  was  taken  severely  ill,  but  sue* 
ceedrd  In  reaching  Dover,  where  he  found  a  home  with  the  Hon. 
Bichard  Basdott,  and  n»coived  every  attention  which  hospitality  and 
kindness  could  render.  He  lingered  for  thirteen  weeks  and  died  on 
July  6, 1806.    Hit  romaiDt  were  depoelted  a«  stated  above. 


prompted  by  ambition  and  secured  by  wealth,  they 
were  willing  to  go  great  lengths,  but  for  want  of 
proper  knowledge  they  expended  their  money  to 
little  purpose  and  established  habits  that  were  un- 
substantial and  hard  to  eradicate.  Thus  it  was  that, 
after  being  two  years  at  school  to  acquire  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  Latin  language,  I  was  so  improperly 
taught  that,  on  my  going  to  Philadelphia,  I  had  to 
begin  again,  and  I  found  the  mode  of  tuition  so 
diverse  that  it  would  have  been  for  my  benefit  had  it 
been  my  first  essay,  and  the  school  tuition  was  more 
than  two  prices  in  Dover  to  what  it  was  in  Philadel- 
phia ;  so  that  I  had  to  pay  double  prices  for  erroneous 
principles." 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  people  of  Dover  were 
lavish  of  their  means  to  secure  an  education  for  their 
children,  but,  through  incompetent  teachers,  <lid  not 
receive  satisfac  ory  results.  The  school  to  which  Dr. 
Luff  refers  wa^  kept  in  a  building  erected  by  the 
inhabitants  of  Dover,  and  was  known  as  the  Acade- 
my. It  was  located  on  a  lot  owned  by  Thomas 
Nicholson,  on  High  Street  (now  Governor's  Avenue), 
south  of  Bank  Alley.  In  this  house  George  White- 
field  is  said  to  have  preached,  when  on  one  of  his 
trips  through  this  section.  John  Lednum,  in  his 
work  on  *'  The  Rise  of  Methodism  in  America,"  says 
**  that  in  1778  the  Rev.  Freeborn  Garretson  preached 
the  first  Methodist  sermon  in  Dover  from  a  platform 
in  front  of  the  Academy."  He  adds  *'  that  in  1780  a 
plan  had  been  made  between  Dr.  Stephen  Megaw, 
rector  of  Christ's  Church,  Dover,  and  the  Rev.  Francis 
Asbury,  then  working  in  harmony  with  the  Episcopa- 
lians, to  educate  the  youth  in  this  vicinity.  Mr.  As- 
bury induced  James  Coleman  to  come  from  Virginia 
to  Dover,  where  for  a  time  he  was  engaged  in  teaching 
a  school  of  boys." 

In  1785  a  bill  was  introduced  into  the  General 
Assembly  having  for  its  object  the  placing  of  the 
Academy  property  under  control  of  a  board  of  trus- 
tees, but  it  failed  to  pass.  This  system  of  private 
schools  without  trustees  or  any  board  of  control  ap- 
pears to  have  been  spasmodic  and  unsatisfactory,  until 
finally  the  following  petition  was  presented  to  the 
Assembly  at  Dover,  Januiry  10,  1810: — 

To  <A«  H<nwrdble  the  8«naU  and  FTotue  of  BepruMtUivM  of  the  State  of 
Delaware  : 

The  petition  of  the  aubacrlberi  residing  In  Dover  and  its  ricinlty,  re- 
spectfully represents  that  your  petitioners  consider  that  the  establishing 
of  an  academy  at  Dover  would  be  of  great  public  utility,  that  there  belog 
DO  seminary  of  this  kind  in  Kent  County  rnunt  be  a  subject  of  regret  to 
all  thoee  who  consider  the  importance  of  the  general  diffusion  of  educa- 
tiou  in  a  republican  government  and  who  feel  for  the  honor  and  pros- 
perity of  this  State ;  and  this  regret  must  be  Increased  upon  riewing 
oUiers  of  the  United  SUtes,  and  seeing  the  assertions  there  made  for  this 
most  desirable  oUJect. 

That  your  petitioners  belleTe  that  If  the  Legislature  of  the  State  would 
assist  in  the  means  of  erecting  a  suitable  building  for  this  purpose,  that 
an  academy  might  be  established  at  this  place,  and  that  such  means 
might  be  obtained  by  a  lottery  authorized  for  the  purpose. 

Your  petitioners  therefore  pray  ths  honorable  Senate  and  House  of 
Reprosentatives  to  incorporate  certain  suitable  trustees  by  them  to  be 
nominated  under  the  name  of  the  Truuteee  of  Dover  Academy,  and  to 
authorize  these  trustees  to  raise  a  certain  sum  by  lottery  for  the  purpose 
above  mentioned. 

And  your  petitiooers  shall  ever  praj,  et& 


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JoMph  Harper. 
Nathaniel  Boy«r. 
Wm.P.  BiumU. 
Jamea  Schte. 
Bobart  WUda. 
John  Clarke. 
Kicbolaa  Dorsey. 
Nicholas  Ridgely. 
Jacob  Tnrbee. 
Samoel  White. 
John  Many. 
Nathaniel  Smithers. 
J.  B.  Wooten. 
James  Stewart 
Wesley  McDowell. 
Wm.  M.  Trultt. 
French  Battell. 
J.  H.  Raymond. 
Daniel  8en|an. 
Manlove  Hayes. 
James  Kimmey. 
Thomas  Brown. 
Jonathan  Merritt. 


Joseph  Kimmey. 
John  Draper. 
Wm.  Winder  Morris. 
Peter  Caverly. 
Osesar  B.  Wilson. 
Willard  Hall. 
Richard  Oooper. 
John  Lowber. 
Abel  Harris. 
Thomas  Clayton. 
Wm.  B.  Locl&wood. 
W.  Kimmey  Smack. 
James  Harper. 
Jenifer  Taylor. 
Daniel  McDowell,  Jr. 
Francis  Barber. 
Abraham  Yanhoy. 
Samnel  Tmitt. 
James  BattelL 
Nicholas  Loockerman. 
John  Barrett. 
John  Fisher. 
Nathaniel  Smithers,  Jr. 


An  act  to  incorporate  Dover  Academy  passed  the 
General  Assembly  January  23,  1810,  with  the  fol- 
lowing trustees :  Thomas  Clayton,  Andrew  Nandain, 
Cornelius  P.  Comegys,  Richard  Cooper,  James  Har- 
per, John  Fisher,  Peter  Caverly,  Willard  Hall,  James 
Sykes,  William  McClyment,  Nathaniel  Smithers  and 
Henry  M.  Bidgely,  who  were  authorized  to  raise  the 
sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  by  lottery,  to  assist  in 
the  purchase  of  a  lot  and  erect  a  suitable  building 
for  school  purposes. 

These  trustees  purchased  the  residence  at  the  south 
end  of' Main  Street,  now  occupied  by  William  Reilly 
as  a  carriage-factory,  which  was  occupied  during  the 
Revolution  by  John  Baniug.  There  are  no  records 
extant  of  this  academy,  but,  from  the  recollections  of 
early  pupils,  the  following  is  a  list  of  teachers  from 
1818:  Obadiah  Foote,  Thomas  Mann,  Ezra  Scovill, 
Mr.  Meeker,  Ezra  Boswell,  Edward  Higbee,  Theodore 
Gallaudet,  Aaron  Williams,  Rev.  Ashbel  Strong, 
Charles  Ridgely. 

The  public  school  law  was  adopted  in  1829,  but  it 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  adopted  in  Dover  until 
about  1832,  and  even  after  this  time  a  classical  school 
was  maintained  in  the  upper  room  of  the  old  academy, 
and  the  lower  part  used  for  the  public  school.  All 
of  these  school-teachers  were  from  New  England,  and 
did  not  "  spare  the  rod  and  spoil  the  child,"  but  be- 
lieved thoroughly  in  corporal  punishment,  and  exer- 
cised authority  over  their  pupils  after  school,  even 
when  they  were  at  church  or  attending  places  of 
amusement.  Mr.  Foote  is  remembered  as  a  severe 
master,  who  stood  at  the  entrance  door  with  a  drawn 
whip  after  a  certain  hour,  and  woe  to  the  truant  that 
came  late  I  Theodore  Cktllaudet  is  still  alive  and  is 
the  brother  of  Thomas  H.  Ghillaudet,  the  celebrated 
teacher  of  the  deaf  and  dumb.  During  his  time  Miss 
Elizabeth  Thomas  taught  a  school  for  girls  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  academy.  The  following  are  re- 
membered as  having  been  pupils  in  1825,  under  Gal- 
laudet :  W.  H.  Jay,  Joseph  P.  and  George  Comegys, 
George  P.  Fisher,  William  R.  Morris,  Andrew,  Na- 
thaniel B.  and  Theodore  Smithers,  John  P.  B.  and 
68 


Peter  Adams,  Jacob  F.  Johns,  Henry  Ridgely,  James 
L.  Heverin,  James  C.  Douglass,  James  Manlove, 
William  H.  Cooper,  Charles  and  David  Kimmey  and 
John  Wooten.  Edward  Higbee  became  rector  of 
Trinity  Church,  New  York.  Ashbel  Strong  was  a 
Presbyterian  minister  and  often  supplied  the  pulpit 
in  town. 

About  1832  the  free  school  system  was  first  brought 
into  operation.  A  public  school  was  first  established 
in  a  part  of  the  old  Academy,  which  continued  as  the 
school-house  for  many  years.  In  1862  ,when  the  town 
was  growing  northward,  accommodations  were  needed 
in  that  part  of  Dover,  and  a  room  was  hired  in  the 
Reporter  building,  then  standing  on  the  present  site 
of  the  Richardson  Hotel. 

In  April  11, 1863,  a  meeting  was  held  by  the  school 
voters  of  Districts  Nos.  60,  90,  91  and  92  to  consider 
the  expediency  of  consolidating  the  districts,  which, 
after  several  meetings,  was  effected  in  March,  1864, 
and  were  known  as  the  United  Districts  of  No.  60, 
90,  91  and  92.  A  change  was  again  made  in  1874, 
when  Dover  became  the  United  Districts  of  No.  18 
and  101.  Upon  the  consolidation  of  the  districts 
more  room  was  needed,  and  in  the  fall  term  of  1863 
a  room  was  rented  from  the  Odd  Fellows,  then  in  the 
old  Academy  which,  was  used  until  a  new  school- 
house  was  built  in  1865.  On  April  1st,  in  that  year, 
a  lot  of  land  fronting  on  €k>vemor's  Avenue,  and  ex- 
tending through  to  New  Street,  was  purchased  for 
three  hundred  dollars,  of  Clayton  Wetherby,  and  soon 
afterthe  lot  adjoining  was  purchased  for  three  hundred 
and  sixty  dollars,  making  a  front  of  eighty-five  feet. 
April  6,  1867,  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  school-house, 
and  a  contract  was  made  in  June,  1867,  with  William 
Fisher.  A  brick  house  was  erected  on  the  lot  at  a 
cost  of  two  thousand  six  hundred  dollars,  which  was 
soon  filled  and  more  room  demanded.  In  1869  a 
frame  building  was  erected  on  the  west  end  of  the 
lot  at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  dollars,  to  which  an  addi- 
tion was  made  in  1872.  The  increased  accommoda- 
tions and  a  greater  number  of  scholars,  demanded 
more  teachers,  and  four  additional  teachers  were  em- 
ployed. 

Jacob  Van  Loon  was  teacher  from  1863  to  1867, 
when  Solomon  C.  McLean  became  the  teacher.  In 
1869  B.  D.  Brown  was  the  principal  teacher,  with  Miss 
Sarah  Guiteau  as  assistant,  and  Miss  Gertrude  Steven- 
son in  charge  of  the  primary. 

In  1882  the  present  lot  at  New  and  Queen  Streets, 
on  which  the  school-house  stands,  was  bought  of 
George  Morgan  and  a  large  two-story  brick  building 
erected  in  the  form  of  a  Maltese  cross,  surmounted  by 
a  cupola  in  which  is  a  bell.  A  hall  ten  feet  in  width 
passes  through  the  centre,  with  rooms  on  each  side 
twenty-one  by  twenty-three  feet  The  building  has 
a  capacity  of  accommodating  four  hundred  pupils. 
The  building  was  erected  by  Fisher  Bookman,  at 
a  cost  of  sixteen  thousand  dollars,  and  was  opened  for 
use  June  8, 1883.  The  number  of  pupils  enrolled  in 
1886  was  five  hundred  and  twelve.     The  value  of 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


school  property  is  estimated  as  follows :  Grounds, 
$3500;  buildings,  $20,000;  furniture,  $1500.  Nine  de- 
partments are  in  operation,  each  having  a  teacher,  of 
whom  J.  E.  Carroll  is  principal. 

The  principals  since  the  reorganization  in  1875 
have  been  Fred  A.  Williams,  William  M.  Prouse,  and 
James  E.  Carroll. 

The  present  school  directors  are  Edward  Ridgely, 
president,  N.  B.  Smithers,  Rev.  Lewis  W.  Gibson, 
Rev.  John  F.  Stonecipher,  William  Fisher,  John  W 
Casson,  William  H.  Hobson,  W.  T.  Kellum. 

In  1846  a  seminary  was  established  by  Mrs.  Mary 
N.  Cowgill,  in  the  Hillyard  house  on  King  Street, 
which  was  continued  until  1849.  Mrs.  Cowgill  was 
succeeded  by  Dr.  Edward  Worrell  and  wife,  who  re- 
moved the  seminary  to  another  location,  but  did  not 
continue  it  regularly.  A  portion  of  the  time  it  was 
kept  in  the  basement  of  the  Baptist  Church.  Dr. 
Worrell  died  about  1865,  and  his  widow  continued 
teaching  until  1872. 

Rev.  Thomas  G.  Murphy,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  commenced  a  select  school  in  Dover  for 
young  ladies  in  1852.  He  taught  the  English 
branches,  Latin,  French,  music  and  drawing  in  his 
school.  The  following  autumn  he  erected  a  building 
about  one  mile  out  of  town,  where  he  continued  his 
school  for  six  or  seven  years.  The  attendance  aver- 
aged about  eighteen  or  twenty  pupils. 

Wilmington  Conference  Academy}  —  In  1868 'the 
Wilmington  Conference  was  set  off  from  the  Phil- 
adelphia Conference.  At  its  second  session  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  arrange  for  a  Peninsular 
''  Methodist  Convention  to  consider  and  promote  our 
denominational  interest.''  The  convention  was  held 
in  Smyrna  in  November,  1870,  and  before  its  ad- 
journment a  committee  was  appointed  ''  to  take  into 
consideration  the  question  of  ways  and  means,  and 
receive  propositions  for  the  location  of  a  first-class 
academy  for  boys,  with  instruction  to  report  at  the 
next  session  of  the  Wilmington  Annual  Conference.'' 
The  report  of  the  committee  did  not  assume  shape, 
however,  until  the  Conference  .  of  1872,  held  in 
Laurel,  when  they  reported  that  they  had  chosen 
Dover  for  the  location  of  the  academy,  and  outlined 
the  provisions  of  the  charter. 

Under  these  preliminary  provisions  the  Conference 
proceeded  to  election  of  ministerial  trustees,  and  the 
subscribers  among  the  laymen  to  the  academy,  to 
election  of  lay  trustees.  The  trustees  organized  by 
electing  ex-Governor  Saulsbury,  president ;  C.  H.  B. 
Day,  secretary  and  John  W.  Cullen,  treasurer.  -The 
Conference  appointed  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Quigg  agent. 
Already  a  considerable  amount  had  been  subscribed, 
and  the  active  work  of  the  agent  rapidly  increased 
the  subscription  during  the  conference  year. 

In  Feb.,  1873,  a  charter  was  obtained.  Its  principal 
features  were  that  the  control  of  the  academy  should 
rest  in  seventeen  ministerial  trustees  elected  by  the 
Conference,  and  seventeen  lay  trustees  elected  by  the 

1  By  Prof.  W.  L.  Gooding. 


stockholders.  The  means  for  purchasing  the  ground 
and  erecting  the  building  were  to  be  raised  by  a 
joint  stock  subscription  to  consist  of  twenty  thousand 
shares  at  five  dollars  each,  making  an  aggr^ate  capi- 
tal of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  academy  was 
taken  out  of  the  category  of  dividend -bearing  enter- 
prises, by  the  provision  that  the  '*  trustees  shall  have 
power  to  appropriate  out  of  the  surplus  so  much  as 
may  be  required  for  repairs  or  improvements  of 
the  buildings  and  for  renewing  or  adding  to  the  fur- 
niture and  apparatus."  It  was  further  provided 
that  the  work  of  building  should  not  begin  until  fifty 
thousand  dollars  in  reliable  subscriptions  had  been 
secured.  The  corporation  was  the  trustees  elected  at 
Laurel,  in  March,  1872,  and  their  successors. 

At  the  session  of  Conference  held  in  Easton,  in 
1873,  it  was  found  that  the  subscription  was  still 
fifteen  thousand  dollars  short  of  the  amount  required 
by  the  charter  before  building,  and  it  looked  as  if  the 
undertaking  would  fall  through  unless  drastic  meas- 
ures were  employed.  The  Conference  was  equal  to 
the  occasion.  The  Rev.  J.  B.  Quigg,  the  agent,  a 
clever  financier,  proposed  a  measure  which,  when 
passed,  assured  the  completion  of  the  building.  The 
substance  of  the  measure  was  that  the  Conference,  as 
a  body,  subscribe  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  Ten 
thousand  dollars  of  this  was  to  be  in  the  nature  of  a 
permanent  endowment  fund,  on  which  only  the  in- 
terest, at  six  per  cent.,  was  to  be  paid  annually  from 
the  proceeds  of  the  educational  collection.  The  re- 
maining ^^Q  thousand  dollars  were  to  be  paid  in  cash 
out  of  the  "  Tract  Fund,"  conditioned  on  its  return 
to  the  "  Tract  Fund  "  as  soon  as  five  thousand  dollars 
above  the  fifteen  thousand  dollars  required  should  be 
subscribed :  the  Tract  Fund  being  the  share  of  the 
Wilmington  Conference  of  the  book  and  tract  deposi- 
tory of  the  old  Philadelphia  Conference. 

The  conditions  of  the  charter  being  complied  with, 
immediate  preparations  were  made  to  build.  On 
April  8, 1873,  the  trustees,  with  most  excellent  judg- 
ment, purchased  of  J.  Alexander  Fulton,  Esq.,  for 
fiity-five  hundred  dollars,  the  six  acres  of  land  now 
forming  the  site  of  the  academy.  Their  selection 
justifies  especial  commendation,  for  at  that  time 
boards  of  trustees,  with  a  fatuity  hard  to  understand, 
had  been  placing  academies  and  colleges  clear  be- 
yond the  limits  of  towns  and  cities,  and  thus  making 
them  difficult  of  access. 

The  architect  of  the  building  was  James  H.  Wind- 
rim,  of  Philadelphia.  His  plans  called  for  a  cruciform 
structure.  Tfaie  entire  front  was  eighty-nine  feet  and 
the  total  depth  of  centre  ninety- four  feet ;  the  width 
of  centre  forty-two  feet,  and  of  wings  thirty-four 
feet.  The  building  was  to  be  of  brick,  and  four  stories 
high  besides  the  cellar.  There  were  to  be  fifty-four 
rooms,  besides  pantries,  store-rooms,  etc  It  was  to  be 
heated  by  hot  air,  lighted  with  gas,  and  supplied  with 
hot  and  cold  water,  bath-tubs  and  water-closets.  A 
cupola  was  to  surmount  the  building,  thirty-six  feet 
above  the  roof,  making  a  total  height  of  one  hundred 


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feet  from  the  ground.  On  July  17,  1873,  the  bid  of 
Fisher  &  Bockman  to  build  the  academy  according 
to  the  architect's  specifications  for  forty-five  thousand 
dollars  was  accepted,  and  immediately  thereafter 
ground  was  broken  and  the  work  of  building  was 
pushed  rapidly  forward. 

While  these  negotiations  were  in  progress,  efforts 
were  making  to  start  the  school.  About  a  fortnight 
after  the  contract  with  Fisher  &  Bockman  was 
closed,  the  proposition  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Williams,  A.M., 
to  assume  the  financial  responsibility  of  the  school 
for  the  year  intervening  the  completion  of  the  build- 
ing was  accepted,  and  he  was  elected  principal  of  the 
Wilmington  Conference  Academy.  The  Rev.  J.  M. 
Williams  was  a  native  of  the  Peninsula,  reared  near 
Salisbury,  Md.,  was  a  graduate  of  Dickinson  Collie, 
ha^  studied  in  Europe,  had  taught  three  years  at  Mil- 
ford,  and,  at  the  time  of  his  election  to  the  principal- 
ship,  WHS  a  member  of  the  Wilmington  Conference 
and  stationed  at  Felton.  The  school  was  first  opened 
in  September,  1878,  in  an  old  building  near 
the  corner  of  Division  Street  and  Governor's  Avenue, 
and,  despite  the  meagre  accommodations,  forty^four 
boys  and  young  men  were  catalogued  during  the 
year,  a  number  of  them  being  boarders. 

On  September  7,  1884^  the  school  was  opened  in 
the  new  building  with  about  forty  boarders  in  attend- 
ance and  thirty-five  day  scholars.  Among  the  latter 
were  ten  young  ladies,  the  trustees  having  decided,  a 
short  time  before,  to  admit  young  ladies  as  day 
scholars.  The  faculty  numbered  six.  The  course  of 
study  was  adapted  to  students  preparing  for  college 
and  for  business — ^beginning  with  the  elementary 
studies  and  ending  with  three  years  in  the  classics 
and  higher  mathematics.  The  course  then  was  not 
as  comprehensive  as  the  course  of  the  best  secondary 
schools,  and  a  few  years  later  it  was  raised  one  year. 
The  first  year  fUlly  justified  the  faith  and  reasonings 
of  the  friends  of  the  Conference  Academy,  for  the 
total  enrollment  reached  ninety-five. 

The  next  year  the  faculty  was  increased  to  seven. 
Prof.  R.  H.  Skinner  appearing  as  vice-principal.  The 
enrollment  for  the  year  was  eighty-nine.  On  the 
10th  of  March,  1876,  the  building  mysteriously  caught 
fire,  and,  excepting  the  walls,  was  burned  to  the 
ground.  School-rooms  were  again  secured  in  the 
town,  the  students  went  to  the  various  boarding- 
houses,  and  the  year  was  successfully  finished.  This 
Arrangement  was  continued  during  the  next  year, 
1876-77,  but  owing  to  the  decrease  in  the  faculty,  the 
cramped  school-rooms,  and  the  necessity  of  throwing 
the  students  entirely  upon  their  own  responsibility, 
the  attendance  was  small,  the  enrollment  reaching 
only  forty-six. 

In  the  mean  time  the  trustees  contracted  with 
Fisher  &  Bockman  to  restore  the  building  for 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  A  good  deal  of  the  brick- 
work was  standing,  and  hence  the  cost  of  restoration 
was  much  less  than  the  original  cost  of  building. 
Something,  too,  was  gained  by  the  fall  in  the  prices 


of  building  materials  that  had  in  the  mean  time  taken 
place.  As  the  insurance  on  the  first  building  was 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  and  as  the  loss  upon  furni- 
ture, furnaces,  etc.,  was  not  more  than  fifteen  hundred 
dollars,  there  was  a  gain  by  the  fire  of  about  eighty- 
five  hundred  dollars. 

In  September,  1878,  the  building  was  again  ready 
for  occupancy,  and  the  school  was  opened  in  it.  The 
year,  though,  for  diverse  reasons,  was  not  a  prosper- 
ous one,  the  enrollment  being  only  seventy-seven.  At 
the  end  of  the  year  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Williams  resigned, 
and  R.  H.  Skinner,  A.M.,  was  elected  principal. 
Prof.  Skinner  was  likemse  of  Peninsular  birth ;  had 
been  for  a  number  of  years  principal  of  Felton  Semi- 
nary, and  for  the  three  years  prior  to  his  election  as 
principal  he  had  been  vice-principal  of  the  Confer- 
ence Academy  and  Professor  of  Natural  Science.  He 
remained  principal  six  years,  1878  to  1884,  and 
placed  the  academy  on  a  firm  scholastic  and  business 
basis.  The  enrollment  of  his  first  year  was  one  hun- 
dred and  thirteen,  and  after  that  still  larger.  He 
took  advantage  of  the  provision  admitting  young 
ladies  as  day  scholars  to  rent  a  building  for  a  year 
for  their  accommodation,  and  then  to  build  a  large 
house  opposite  the  academy  for  the  use  of  ladies 
from  a  distance.  He  increased  the  income  of  the 
academy  between  seven  hundred  dollars  and  one 
thousand  dollars  a  year,  and  enabled  it  to  pay  a 
handsome  rental  during  his  entire  eneumbency.  Now 
that  the  charter  of  the  Wesleyan  Feoude  College  has 
been  revoked,  the  Conference  Academy  i^  the  one  ed- 
ucational centre  of  Peninsular  Methodism. 

It  was  during  these  years,  in  1881,  that  the  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  trustees.  Dr.  Gk)veSaulsbury,  died. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  brother.  Senator  Eli  Sauls- 
bury,  who  is  still  president.  Two  years  later,  Charles 
M.  Wharton,  trustee  and  agent  of  the  academy,  died, 
and  bequeathed  to  the  academy  two  thousand  dol- 
lars, sagaciously  conditioned  upon  the  debt  of  the 
academy  being  reduced  to  ten  thousand  dollars  in 
two  years.  The  members  of  the  Conference,  the 
trustees  and  the  friends  of  the  academy  went  to 
work,  and  from  all  parts  of  the  Peninsula  contribu- 
tions poured  in.  Owing  to  the  large  shrinkage  of 
the  subscriptions,  and  to  the  accruing  interest,  the 
debt  had  been  slowly  heaping  up  until  about  this 
time  it  was  about  twenty  thousand  five  hundred 
dollars.  The  necessary  eighty-five  hundred  dol- 
lars were  secured,  however,  in  ample  time,  and  the 
28d  of  August,  1885,  saw  the  debt  of  the  Academy 
fall  from  twenty  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  to 
ten  thousand  dollars;  or,  considering  the  interest- 
bearing  subscription  of  the  Conference,  to  nothing. 

In  1884,  Prof.  Skinner  resigned  the  principal- 
ship,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  present  principal, 
W.  L.  (Jooding,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
faculty  in  1874-76,  and  who,  for  the  years  1884-86, 
had  been  associate  principal.  Prof.  Conwell  became 
associate  principal.  The  school  under  the  present 
management  has  been  successful. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  Conference  Academy  has  graduated  about  one 
hundred  young  people  since  its  foundation,  and  pre- 
pared hundreds  of  others  for  teaching,  business,  law, 
medicine,  and  home  life.  The  smallness  of  the 
number  of  graduates  as  compared  with  the  number 
of  students  is  due  to  the  high  standard  of  scholarship 
maintained  in  the  graduating  courses.  The  academy 
has  resisted  all  temptations  to  assume  the  functions 
of  a  college,  and  has  prided  itself  upon  being  a  sec- 
ondary school.  Its  present  need  is  an  extension  of 
the  south  wing  of  the  building  for  the  use  of  the 
ladies.  This  is  now  under  consideration,  and  it  is 
hoped  that  the  beginning  of  1890  will  find  it  com- 
pleted and  the  number  of  students  thus  largely  in- 
creased. 

Dover  Library,  —  For  several  years  eflTorts  were 
made  in  Dover  to  establish  a  library,  but  without 
success.  In  the  winter  of  1884-85,  however,  a  num- 
ber of  the  citizens  started  a  movement  which'  resulted 
in  the  establishment  of  a  library.  A  subscription 
was  started  in  the  winter  of  1884-85,  which  resulted 
in  a  good  working  capital,  and  on  the  24th  of  March, 
1885,  the  "Dover  Library  CJompany"  was  incorpor- 
ated by  act  of  Assembly  with  an  authorized  capital 
of  $2500,  with  the  privilege  to  increase  to  $5000,  and 
with  right  to  hold  real  estate  to  the  value  of 
$25,000. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1885,  a  meeting  of  the  sub- 
scribers was  held,  and  a  committee  previously  ap- 
pointed reported  that  they  had  secured  the  present 
room  of  the  library.  On  the  6th  of  April  the  stock- 
holders met  at  the  library,  adopted  by-laws  and 
elected  nine  directors:  Manlove  Hayes,  Nathaniel 
B.  Smithers,  Walter  Morris,  William  Denney,  Enols 
B,  Eirbin,  John  R.  Nicholson,  Thomas  C.  Roe,  Rob- 
ert H.  Skinner,  William  E.  Smith.  The  board  elected 
Manlove  Hayes  president;  N.  B.  Smithers,  vice- 
president;  Thomas  C.  Roe,  secretary;  and  Walter 
Morris,  treasurer. 

The  by-laws  provided  for  two  classes  of  sub- 
scribers,— ^life  and  annual;  the  life  subscription  to 
be  $25.00,  and  the  annual  $3.00.  Three  hundred 
volumes  of  books  were  presented  to  the  library  from 
friends,  many  of  them  standard  works  (early  edi- 
tions), and  some  rare  old  works  such  are  often  found 
in  possession  of  old  families.  A  list  of  books  desired 
was  carefully  selected,  and  two  directors  were  sent  to 
Philadelphia  and  New  York  to  purchase  them,  and 
on  the  8th  of  June,  1885,  the  library  was  opened  to 
stockholders  and  subscribers. 

The  director's  first  report,  made  April  5,  1886, 
show  upon  the  shelves  of  the  library  one  thousand 
four  hundred  and  fifty-two  volumes.  They  said : 
"  As  before  intimated,  they  have  held  from  the  first 
of  paramount  consideration  the  moral  as  well  as  the 
classical  and  high  literary  character  of  the  books 
they  have  purchased.  In  fiction,  their  care  has  been 
to  select  from  the  best  authors  such  works  as  have 
stood  the  test  of  criticism  and  have  been  commended 
for  their  literary  merits.    They  have  endeavored  to 


guard  your  institution  against  the  charge  of  catering 
to  the  fervid  cravings  often  indulged  by  youthful 
minds  for  sensational  or  frivolous  literature,  and 
have  supplied  instead  a  class  of  books  far  more  inter- 
esting and  valuable.  The  vivid  pictures  drawn  from 
incidents  in  the  lives  of  famous  men  and  women 
found  in  the  form  of  biography,  short  histories  or  the 
more  fascinating  narratives  of  travelers,  whose  ad- 
ventures often  among  strange  tribes  and  families  of 
men,  in  regions  of  which  little  has  been  previously 
known,  prove  that  romance  in  real  life  can  be  wrought 
into  narratives  more  entertaining  and  often  more 
thrilling  than  the  ideal  and  incredible  creations  of 
fictitious  story-tellers. 

"In  pursuance  of  the  first  design,  the  directors 
have,  by  subscription  and  by  the  favor  of  kind  friends 
of  the  institution,  been  able  to  lay  upon  their  table 
many  of  the  best  and  most  popular  magazines  pub- 
lished in  the  United  States,  two  of  which  are  reprints 
of  English  publications;  these,  with  several  scientific 
and  agricultural  papers,  form  an  attractive  feature  of 
the  library.  The  magazines,  after  remaining  on  the 
table  one  month,  are  issued  as  books  to  subscribers." 

The  second  report  of  the  directors  was  made  April 
4,  1887,  and  gives  receipts  for  the  year  ending  in 
March,  1887,  as  $1567.05,  and  expenses,  $1484.63,  of 
which  $669.40  was  part  of  purchase  money  of  lot  and 
building  on  State  Street,  east  of  North  Street,  known 
as  Cowgiil  property,  which  was  purchased  at  a  cost 
of  two  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty-nine  dollars, 
for  the  use  of  the  library.  On  April  10,  1886,  fonr 
hundred  and  seventy-two  volumes,  by  purchase  or 
presentation,  were  added  to  the  library  within  the 
year,  making  a  total  of  one  thousand  nine  hundred 
and  twenty-four  volumes.  William  Denney,  suc- 
ceeded Thomas  C.  Roe  as  secretary,  and  J.  Alexander 
Fulton,  James  Kirk,  Captain  Abram  Nowell  and  Dr. 
J.  H.  Wilson  succeeded  respectively,  as  directors, 
Thomas  0.  Roe,  Enols  B.  Kirbin,  R.  H.  Skinner  and 
William  E.  Smith.  With  the  exception  of  these 
changes,  the  officers  are  the  same  as  when  the  library 
was  organized. 

Miss  Lidie  B.  Greene  is  librarian.  The  only 
source  of  revenue  is  the  payment  of  three  dollars  per 
annum  by  each  subscriber. 

Post-Office. — It  IS  not  known  when  a  post-office 
was  established  at  Dover.  The  first  mention  of  a 
postmaster  is  in  1803,  when  James  Schee  held  the 
position  and  continued  for  many  yean  as  postmaster. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Patrick  Connelly,  Thomas 
Stevenson,  James  Stevenson,  James  Cowgiil  (1841  te 
1845),  Henry  Cole,  John  B.  Smith,  George  Stevenson, 
Timothy  C.  Eillen,  John  H.  Bateman  (1861),  John 
B.  Smith  (1869),  Fannie  A.  Smith,  Andrew  Smithers 
(1877),  and  John  C.  Pennewill  (1885). 

For  many  years  the  post-office  of  Dover  was  kept 
in  various  quarters  of  the  town,  and  in  1872  the 
Hon.  Eli  Saulsbury  succeeded  in  securing  an  appro- 
priation of  forty  thousand  dollars  for  a  post-office 
building.  On  August  8, 1873,  a  lot  sixty-six  by  three 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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hundred  and  twelve  feet,  lying  on  the  east  side  of 
Main  Street,  was  purchased  of  William  J.  Clarke  for 
five  thousand  dollars,  and  a  lot  adjoining,  south, 
seventy  by  three  hundred  and  twelve  feet,  was  pur- 
chased of  Elijah  Crouch.  A  plan  was  drawn  by  Mr. 
Potter,  of  New  York,  then  supervising  architect  of 
the  government,  and  the  present  building  was  erect- 
ed. A  further  appropriation  of  fifteen  thousand  dol- 
lars was  secured  July  8. 1870,  and  on  June  20, 1878, 
the  sum  of  seven  thousand  dollars  was  appropriated 
to  complete  it  The  lower  part  of  the  building  is 
entirely  devoted  to  the  uses  of  the  post-office;  the 
upper  rooms  were  designed  for  the  use  of  the  United 
States  Court,  but  have  not  been  used. 

Hotels.— The  history  of  the  Capital  Hotel  is  in 
the  early  settlement  of  the  town,  as  the  site  was  one 
of  the  earliest  in  Dover,  and  has  been  used  continu- 
ously to  the  present. 

Hotel  Riehardstm. — ^This  elegant  hotel  is  located  at 
the  apex  of  the  triangle  formed  by  State  and  King 
Streets,  and  is  built  in  conformity  with  the  ground 
upon  which  it  stands,  being  one  hundred  and  forty 
feet  on  State  Street,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  on 
King  Street,  thirty-two  feet  in  front  and  ninety  feet 
in  the  rear,  and  four  stories  high.  It  is  built  of 
brick  in  Queen  Anne  style,  and  is  finished  below  in 
ash  and  el^antly  fitted  up  and  well  furnished  in  all 
of  its  appointments.  There  is  a  telegraph  connected 
with  the  clerk's  office.  The  hotel  cost  seventy-five 
thousand  dollars,  and  was  built  under  the  practical 
eye  of  A.  B.  Richardson,  the  proprietor,  in  1881-82. 
It  will  accommodate  one  hundred  guests  comfortably, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifly  if  necessary.  It  is  said  to 
be  the  finest  hotel  in  the  State.  A.  B.  &  H.  A.  Rich- 
ardson are  proprietors. 

The  Bayard  House  was  originally  a  dwelling  on  the 
corner  of  Loockerman  and  Queen  Streets,  which, 
upon  the  opening  of  the  railroad,  was  fitted  up  as  a 
hotel,  and  called  the  Railroad  House.  It  was  en- 
larged from  time  to  time,  and  in  1864  came  under  the 
management  of  J.  M.  Ford,  the  present  proprietor. 
On  November  27,  1877,  it  was  purchased  by  Bachrach 
&  Frankel,  of  Philadelphia,  by  whom  it  was  remodeled 
and  enlarged  to  its  present  capacity,  and  the  name 
changed  to  the  Bayard  House. 

Banks — Farmers'  Bank  of  Delaware. — An  act  to 
establish  a  bank  and  to  incorporate  a  company  un- 
der the  name  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Delaware 
passed  the  General  Assembly  February  4, 1807.  The 
preamble  recites, — 

**  Wlurtas^  thc^eftabliHhraent  of  a  bank  for  the  State  of  Delaware, 
upon  a  fouodatioD  aafflclently  extciidTe  to  answer  the  purposes  intended 
thereby,  will  be  oonducire  to  the  general  interests  of  the  State,  and  tend 
to  promote  the  agriculture,  commerce  and  manufttcturlng  thereof." 

The  act  provided  that  the  bank  should  be  located 
at  Dover,  and  a  branch  at  the  town  of  New  Castle  and 
also  at  Georgetown.  The  capital  was  limited  to  five 
hundred  thousand  dollar^,  to  be  divided  into  ten 
thousand  shares  at  fifty  dollars  each.  Two  thousand 
shares  were  to  be  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  State ; 
the  remainder  were  to  be  subscribed  by  the  counties. 


viz..  New  Castle,  3400  shares ;  Kent,  3000  shares ;  and 
Sussex,  1600  shares.  The  act  also  provided  for  the 
election  of  twenty-seven  directors,  of  whom  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  chose  nine  (three  from  each  county), 
and  eighteen  elected  by  the  stockholders  (six  in  each 
county). 

The  directors  were  to  choose  from  their  number  a 
resident  of  Kent  County  as  president  of  the  principal 
bank,  and  a  resident  of  New  Castle  County  as  presi- 
dent of  the  branch  at  New  Castle,  and  a  resident  of 
Sussex  County  as  president  of  the  branch  at  George^ 
town. 

On  January  30,  1810,  a  supplement  was  passed, 
authorizing  the  bank  to  efiect  insurance  on  houses 
and  other  buildings,  stores  and  merchandise  from  loss 
by  fire.  This  privilege  was  dbcontinued  by  the 
board  of  directors  July  2,  1811. 

On  the  22d  of  January,  1813,  a  supplement  was 
passed,  establishing  a  branch  at  the  borough  of  Wil- 
mington for  the  purpose  of  discount  and  deposit, 
subject  to  the  same  conditions  as  the  other  branches, 
and  providing  for  nine  directors  chosen  from  the  cit- 
zens  of  New  Castle  County — six  chosen  by  the  stock- 
holders and  three  by  the  G^eneral  Assembly. 

The  branch  at  Wilmington,  which  was  established 
in  1813,  had  no  stock,  but  received  for  its  capital  part 
of  the  stock  of  the  main  bank  at  Dover  and  the 
branches  of  New  Castle  and  Georgetown,  and  also  a 
part  of  the  one  hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars 
subscribed  by  the  State  under  the  act  of  February  18, 
1837. 

The  Farmers'  Bank  became  the  State  depository 
under  the  act  of  January  16, 1823,  and  it  was  also  the 
depository  of  the  school  fund. 

An  act  was  passed  February  18, 1837,  authorizing 
the  establishment  of  a  branch  for  discount  and  de- 
posit at  Milford.  This  act  was  not,  however,  carried 
into  effect.  An  act  passed  January  10, 1866,  author- 
ized the  conversion  of  the  bank  into  a  national  bank, 
which  was  not  adopted.  The  bank  retired  its  cur* 
rency,  and  from  that  time  has  been  a  bank  of  dis- 
count and  deposit. 

The  trustees  of  the  School  Fund  of  the  State  hold 
in  stock  of  the  bank  at  Dover  1904  shares,  at  New 
Castle  295  shares,  and  at  Georgetown  240  shares. 
The  State  treasurer  holds  932  shares  at  Dover,  and 
240  shares  at  Georgetown. 

The  amount  of  deposits  on  hand  September  20, 
1887,  was,— 

DoTer « 1300,101.26 

Wilmington « 294,0»6.M 

New  Castle 138,798.09 

Georgetown. 297,980.67 

Total $1,036,976.43 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  Farmers'  Bank 
of  Delaware,  including  all  its  branches,  made  Jan- 
uary 1,  1888: 

Beal  estate $143,716.16 

Bills  and  notes  disoonnted  and  other  InTestments...  1,617,078.66 

Current  expenses  and  taxes  paid 10,372,88 

Gash  and  cash  items 91,173.60 

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embarrassed  by  holding  on  to  their  grain  too  long,     vention  which  nominated  Buchanan  and  Breikea* 


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KENT  COUNTY.  1071 


•v««  »^.**ik«...„ iou»-iu  >  JOQU  uiarKe^ 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1071 


ridge,  and  was  also  elected  a  presidential  elector 
during  the  same  year. 

He  was  appointed  by  the  Legislature  as  one  of  the 
Delegates  to  represent  Delaware  in  the  Peace  Con- 
gress which  assembled  in  Washington  in  1861.  Judge 
Houston  and  he  are  the  only  surviving  members  of 
that  delegation. 

He  was  one  of  the  original  subscribers  to  the  stock 
of  the  Delaware  Railroad,  and  was  elected  a  director 
of  the  road  at  its  organization,  and  served  as  a 
director  until  he  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  Phila- 
delphia, Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad  Com- 
pany by  his  manly  and  independent  course  in  the 
famous  peach  suits  brought  against  that  company  by 
the  peach- growers  of  Delaware  in  1865.  He  took  a 
decided  stand  against  the  company  in  those  suits  and 
was  an  important  witness  against  the  company. 

He  was  elected  director  of  the  Farmers'  Bank  of 
Dover  in  1848,  and  in  1849  was  elected  its  president. 
He  still  holds  the  position  after  a  continuous  service 
of  thirty-nine  years.  His  father  and  his  father-in- 
law,  Jonathan  Jenkins,  preceded  him. 

He  was  elected  a  director  of  the  Kent  County 
Mutual  Insurance  Company  in  1866,  and  afterwards 
its  first  vice-president.  On  the  retirement  of  George  W. 
Cummins,  Esq.,  in  1885,  he  was  elected  to  the  presi- 
dency of  the  company,  and  still  fills  the  place. 

He  is  a  communicant  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Vestry  of 
Christ's  Church  in  Dover  for  nearly  thirty  years. 

He  has  been  a  director  of  two  building  and  loan 
associations  in  Dover ;  a  president  of  one  and  vice- 
prtBid^it  of  another. 

He  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  improvement 
of  his  land  in  Kent  County,  and  has  been  one  of  its 
most  successfiil  grain  and  fruit  growers.  He  has 
grown  as  many  as  thirty  thousand  baskets  of  peaches, 
besides  other  fruits,  in  a  single  year.  He  has  gathered 
as  many  as  twenty,  twenty-five  and  twenty-six  baskets 
of  peaches  from  three  single  and  individual  trees  at 
one  crop,  all  in  the  same  year.  Several  of  his  farms 
have  produced  enough  in  a  single  crop  to  pay  their 
original  cost. 

He  married,  in  1843,  Virginia  E.  Jenkins,  a 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Jenkins,  of  Camden,  Delaware. 
After  a  happy  married  life  of  more  than  forty 
years,  they  still  both  enjoy  the  blessing  of  good 
health.  Of  four  children  born  to  them  a  daughter 
only  remains  ;  Mrs.  Ruthanna  J.  Harrington,  widow 
of  the  late  Richard  Harrington. 

Directors  of  Farmers*  Bank  at  Dover, 


Georgtt  Kennard Judo  9,  1807 

JaniM  Sykea June  9,  1807-13 

William  Hoghlett Juno  9, 1807 

Daniel  Miillin,  Jr.  June  9, 1807-08 

Walter  Douglaa June  9,  1807 

Henry  M.  Ridgely.June  9, 1807-46 

Andrew  Barratt 1808 

John  Oumminf 1808-10 

Walter  Douglas 1808 

Jamet  Fisher 1809-20 

John  Clarke 1809-10 


Thomas  Clay  ton...    1810-28 

Daniel  Mifflin,  Jr 1810 

Andrew  Banratt 1811-16 

Willani  Hall 1812-22 

Samnel  White 1812-15 

Jonathan  Jenkins 1813-48 

George  Cummins 1816-26 

John  Pleasanton 1816-24 

Jacob  Boone 1818-31 

A.  Naudaln 1819 

John  CUirke 1821 


John  Pleasanton 1821 

John  M.  Oayton 1823 

John  Cummins 1824-33 

Joseph  G.  Rowland 1826 

Jacob  Raymond 1826-42 

Hunn  Jenkins 1886-41 

Martin  L.  Bates 182&-^6 

Joseph  Browne 1833-36 

Caleb  H.  Sipple 1834-62 

Robert  Frame »..1837-44 

John  R.  Bostich 1837-43 

James  S.  Buckmaster 1838-61 

George  M.  Manlove 1838-43 

Thomas  Mifflin 1843-46 

Elias  Naudain 1843-46 

Presley  Spruance 1843-49 

Henry  Ridgely 1844-87 

SamnsI  Cotts 1846-60 

Joseph  P.  Comegys 1847-77 

James  L.  Heverin 1847-78 

Garrett  Luff....„ 1847-67   J 

Directors  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to  represent 
the  State, — ^The  list  is  not  complete,  but  as  accurate  as 
can  be  obtained  from  the  records. 


Isaac  Jump ••         1849-61 

Enoch  Spruance 1860-62 

Robert  W.  Reynolds 1862-63 

John  Raughley 1862-63 

Daniel  C.  Godwin 1862-67 

Hunn  Jenkins 1864-67 

Geo.  W.  Cummins 1864-«6 

Edward  Ridgely 1858-61 

Wilson  L.  Cannon 1868-61 

Edward  Lord 1869-60 

Dana  Taylor 1862-71 

Hunn  Jenkins 1864-65 

John  G.  Graham 1866-76 

Edward  Ridgely 1872-87 

John  W.  HiJl 1876-87 

C.  S.  PennewiU 1877-87 

Edwin  M.  Stevenson 1879-87 

Joseph  Bnrchenal..... 1884 

James  B.  Anderson 1886-87 

Caleb  Jackson 1886-83 


Peter  Carerly 1807 

Dr.  James  Fisher 1807 

Isaac  Davis 1807 

George  Cummins Jan.  12, 1824 

John  Bell Jan.  12, 1824 

Joseph  G.  Rowland  ..Jan.  12, 1824 

Thomas  Clayton Jan.  26,  1826 

J<^n  Bell Jan.  25, 1825 

Jacob  Raymond. Jan.  25, 1826 

Thomes  Clayton Jan.  31,  1826 

John  Bell Jan.  31, 1826 

Elias  Naudain Jun.  31,  1826 

Jacob  Boone,  Jr. Jan.  31, 1827 

Elias  Naudain Jan.  31,  18/7 

John  Bell Jan.  31, 1827 

GornelinsP.  Comegys.  ^Jan.  9,  1829 

Joseph  Smithers Jan.  9,  1829 

Elias  Naudain Jan.  9,  1829 

Joseph  Smithers Jan.  8, 1830 

WilUam  K.  Lockwood.Jan.  8, 1830 

Hunn  Jenkins Jan.  8, 1830 

Jonathan  Jenkins Jan.  6,  1831 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood Jan  6, 1831 

Joseph  Smithers. Jan.  6, 1831 

Hunn  Jenkins. Jan.  4,  ia32 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood Jan.  4, 1832 

Joseph  Smithers Jan.  4,  1832 

John  M.  Clayton Jan.  23, 1838 

Jonathan  Jenkins Jan.  23,  1833 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood...Jan.  23, 1833 

Robert  Frame Jan.  12, 1836 

Jonathan  Jenkins Jan.  12, 1836 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood... Jan.  12,  1836 

Hunn  Jenkins .Jan.  11,  1841 

J.  E.  Buckmaster Jan.  11, 1811 

George  M.  Manlove... Jan.  11,  1841 

Thomas  Mifflin Jan.  19, 1843 

Presley  Spruance Jan.  19,  1843 

Elias  Naudain Jan.  19, 1843 

Presley  Spruance Feb.  8,  1846 

Samuel  Catts Feb.  8,  1846 

EUas  Naudain Feb.  8, 1846 

Samuel  Catts Jan.  16, 1847 

Garrett  Luff Jan.  15,1847 

James  L.  Hererio Jan.  15, 1847 

Garrett  LutT Jan.  29,  1861 

John  Raughley Jan.  29,  1851 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Dover, — A  meeting  oi 
a  number  of  citizens  of  Dover  and  vicinity  met  at 
the  oflSces  of  C.  H.  B.  Day,  July  1,  1865,  to  discuss 
the  propriety  of  establishing  a  National  Bank.    It 


Robert  W.  Reynolds.Jan.  29,  1851 
Robert  W.  Reynolds...Mar.  2;  1853 

Garrett  Lmff. Mar.  2, 1863 

Huon  Jenkins Mar.  2,  1868 

Hunn  Jenkins Jan.  23, 1856 

Garrett  Luff. Jan.  23,  1856 

Daniel  C.  Godwin Jan.  23, 1866 

Edward  Ridgely Jan.  28, 1857 

Hunn  Jenkins Jan.  28,  1867 

Wilson  L.  Cannon Jan.  28,  1867 

Edward  Ridgely Feb.  3,  1869 

Edward  Lord Feb.  3,  1869 

WUson  L.  Cannon Feb.  3,  1869 

Wilson  L.  Cannon Feb.  7, 1861 

Hunn  Jenkins ...Feb.  7,  1861 

Edward  Ridgely Feb.  7,  1861 

Edward  Ridgely „.Feb.  12, 1863 

John  W.  Hall Feb.  12, 1863 

Thomas  H.  Denney...Feb.  12, 1863 

Edward  Ridgely Feb.  13,  1867 

John  W.  HaU Feb.  13, 1867 

Samuel  Hargadine....Feb.  13,  1867 

Edward  Ridgely Feb.  17, 1869 

John  W.  Hall Feb.  17, 1869 

Samuel  Hargadine....Feb.  17, 1869 

Edward  Ridgely Jan.  10, 1871 

John  W.Hall Jan.  10,1871 

Samuel  Hargadine....Jan.  10,  1871 

John  W.  HaU Feb.  3,  1873 

Samuel  Hargadine Feb.  3,  1873 

Thomas  K.  Taylor Feb.  3,  1873 

Same Feb.  2,  1876 

Samuel  Hargadine.... Feb.  21,  1877 
Thomas  K.  Taylor.... Fsb.  21,  1877 

Edward  Lord Feb.  21, 1877 

Dr.  John  A.  Moore...Mar.  25,  1879 
Thomas  K.  Tbylor...Mar.  26,  1879 

Edward  Lord ..Mar.  26, 1879 

Robert  Clifton April  6,  1881 

Samuel  W.  Hall April  6,  1881 

Edward  Lord April  6, 1881 

Same Feb.  26, 1883 

Same Jan.  28, 1886 

Robert  Clifton Mar.  8, 1887 

Samuel  Hall ..Mar.  8, 1887 

Geo.  H.  Gildersleeve...Mar.  8,  1887 


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1072 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


was  resolved  to  establish  a  bank  under  the  above 
name,  and  to  solicit  subscriptions.  A  meeting  was 
called  July  29,  1865,  at  which  time  nine  directors 
were  chosen  as  follows :  Hunn  Jenkins,  Isaac  Jump, 
Charles  H,  B.  Day,  Wilson  L.  Cannon,  Alden  B. 
Richardson,  Thomas  B.  Coursey,  John  W.  Cullen 
and  John  T.  Jakes. 

A  certificate  was  granted  authorizing  a  capital  of 
$100,000  with  the  privilege  of  increasing  it  to  $200,- 
000.  The  board  of  directors  elected  Hunn  Jenkins 
president,  and  Charles  Kimmey  cashier.  Business 
was  opened  November  11, 1865,  and  the  deposits  upon 
that  day  were  over  $10,000.  Hunn  Jenkins  was  pre- 
sident until  January  1,  1868,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Dr.  Isaac  Jump,  who  continued  until  January  9, 
1887,  when  Nathaniel  B.  Smithers  the  present  pre- 
sident was  elected. 

Charles  Kimmey,  cashier,  was  succeeded  April  23, 
1868,  by  John  H.  Bateman,who  still  holds  the  position. 

The  office  of  the  bank  was  at  first  on  the  north 
west  corner  of  Main  and  I.<oockerman  Streets,  but 
on  October  15,  1869,  a  house  on  Main  Street  above 
Dr.  Wilson's  was  purchased  and  occupied  until  June 
7,  1877,  when  the  present  bank  building  was  pur- 
chased and  remodelled. 

Charles  Kimmey,  who  was  the  first  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Dover,  was  the  son  of  Charles 
Kimmey,  merchant  and  miller  and  Hannah  Mason,  and 
was  born  in  Marsh  Hope  Neek,  Northwest  Fork 
Hundred,  Sussex  County,  Delaware,  on  August  25, 
1809.  About  1813  his  father  removed  to  Dover,  Dela- 
ware, where  he  lived  until  his  death.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  received  as  good  an  education  as  was 
possible  in  a  country  village,  which  then  boasted  of 
an  educator  who  well  grounded  him  in  English, 
Latin  and  French.  Having  a  turn  for  languages  he 
taught  himself  to  read  and  write  German,  Spanish, 
Italian,  Greek  and  Hebrew.  Being  a  great  reader, 
he  collected  during  his  long  life,  one  of  the  finest 
private  libraries  in  the  state.  At  the  age  of  eight- 
een years  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Martin  W. 
Bates,  of  Dover,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1831 
but  never  practiced  before  the  courts.  Engaged  in 
various  duties  he  became  enthusiastic  with  the  west- 
em  fever,  and  in  1836  started  for  Indiana,  bearing 
letters  from  John  M.  Clayton  and  others  to  H.  Clay, 
Thomas  Ewing  and  prominent  men  in  the  then  west. 
While  in  Cincinnati  he  met  John  Randell,  Jr.,  who 
engaged  him  to  go  south  as  assistant  engineer  on  the 
railroad  then  building  from  Savannah  to  Macon,  Ga* 

He  remained  south  during  1836-37,  and  part  of  38' 
Returning  to  Delaware  he  engaged  in  political  life 
under  John  M.  Cla3rton,  and  in  1842  was  appointed 
prothonotary  of  Kent  County,  and  clerk  of  the  court 
of  errors  and  appeals.  This  office  he  filled  until 
1846,  when  he  resigned  to  enter  the  Farmers'  Bank  as 
teller,  which  position  he  retained  until  the  fall  of 
1865,  when  he  resigned,  to  take  position  ns  cashier  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Dover.  In  1868,  he  was 
called  to  the  position  of  cashier  of  the  Farmers'  Bank 


at  New  Castle,  Delaware,  which  he  resigned  in  1881, 
and  lived  retired  until  his  death  May  7,  1886.  Mr. 
Kimmey  was  identified  with  many  prominent  men 
in  social  and  political  life,  and  his  reminiscences 
were  very  interesting.  Having  a  very  retentive 
memory,  and  living  so  long  at  the  centre  of  Dela- 
ware's social  and  political  life,  he  was  often  referred 
to  settle  disputes  as  to  men  and  afiairs. 

Benjamin  Bartis  Com^ys,  fifth  son  of  Cornelius 
P.  Comegys,the  eminent  banker  of  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
was  born  at  Dover,  May  9,  1819.  He  received  his 
education  at  the  public  school,  in  St.  Jones'  Neck, 
near  the  place  of  his.  birth.  In  January,  1837,  a  few 
days  after  the  inauguration  of  his  father  as  Governor 
of  Delaware,  he  left  his  home,  and  came  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  spent  eleven  years  in  counting-houses 
on  Market  Street.  A  greater  part  of  this  period  was 
passed  with  the  old  dry-goods  house  of  Thomas  C. 
Rockhill  &  Co.  In  May,  1848,  he  entered  the  Phila- 
delphia Bank  as  junior  clerk,  becoming  cashier  in 
August,  1851,  vice-president  in  1867,  and  president  in 
1879,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

He  has  been  manager  of  the  American  Sunday- 
school  Union  for  more  than  twenty-five  yeais,  and 
Western  Saving  Fund  Society  for  twelve  years.  He 
has  been  a  director  of  the  Philadelphia  Trust,  Safe 
Deposit  and  Insurance  Company,  since  its  oiganiza- 
tion,  a  period  of  nineteen  years,  also  a  director  of  City 
Trusts  and  of  Girard  College  for  seven  years,  chair- 
man of  the  Clearing  House  committee  of  banks  for 
four  years.  He  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  that 
committee,  organized  in  January,  1858,  on  which  he 
has  served  continuously.  He  has  also  been  a  trustee 
of  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  for  twelve  years,and 
recently  elected  a  director  in  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company.  These  positions  he  still  holds.  He 
was  appointed  on  a  committee  to  re-a^just  the  debt 
of  Tennessee,  in  the  year  1877. 

He  is  the  author  of  "  Talks  with  Boys  and  Girls," 
"  Beginning  Life,"  and  "  How  to  Get  On,"  (books  for 
the  young,)  and  of  "Thirteen  Weeks  of  Prayer  For 
the  Family,"  "  An  Order  of  Worship  with  Forms  of 
Prayer  for  Divine  Service,"  and  several  lectures  de- 
livered to  Christian  Association  and  Girard  College. 
Two  papers,  one  on  "  Safe  Banking,"  and  the  other 
"  Paper  Currency,"  were  read  before  the  American 
Banking  Association.  Mr.  Comegys  sometimes  con- 
tributes an  article  on  banking  for  the  daily  papers. 

He  has  had  four  children,  three  daughters  still 
living,  and  one  son,  named  after  him,  who  became 
assistant-cashier  of  the  Philadelphia  National  Bank 
and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school  of  the  Wood- 
land Presbyterian  Church,  who  died  in  Nov.,  1884. 

Mr.  Comegys  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Clinton 
Street  Presbyterian  Church,  and  twenty-five  years  ago 
was  an  elder  in  the  Walnut  Street  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  is  now  a  trustee  of  the  latter  church. 
He  has  traveled  somewhat  extensively,  visited 
Europe  on  three  occasions.  In  January,  1887,  he 
visited  Egjrpt. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1073 


Building  and  Loan  Associations.— The  success- 
ful working  of  associations  of  this  kind  in  other 
parts  of  the  country,  induced  a  few  individuals  in  the 
town  of  Dover  in  1869  to  organize  an  association  for 
the  purpose  of  building  up  the  town  and  furnishing 
houses  to  many  who  could  not  otherwise  build. 

Mechcniic^  Building  and  Loan  Associaiion, — Accord- 
ingly an  act  of  incorporation  was  granted  March  4, 
1869,  to  the  above  association,  which  was  organized 
by  the  election  of  the  following  officers :  C.  S.  Penne- 
will,  president;  James  D.  Smith,  vice-president;  C. 
P.  Wetherby,  secretary ;  T.  S.  Harper,  treasurer. 

The  amount  of  stock  was  six  hundred  and  fifty 
shares,  which  was  increased  from  that  time  to  1873 
to  one  thousand  and  eighty-three  shares,  with  a  valu- 
ation of  one  hundred  dollars  per  share.  Samuel 
T.  Jones  was  appointed  secretary  in  January,  1870, 
and  continued  until  the  association  went  out  of  ex- 
istence. 

The  OUieens*  Building  and  Loan  Associalion  was 
incorporated  March  6,  1873,  with  an  authorized 
capital  of  $250,000.  The  following  officers  were 
elected  :  President,  Dr.  Henry  Bidgely ;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Wilson  L.  Cannon ;  Secretary,  William  S. 
Wilson ;  Treasurer  William  Denny.  The  stock  was 
represented  by  2500  shares,  of  which  1814  were 
taken.  The  company  retired  October  20,  1883,  with 
822  shares,  worth  $100  per  share. 

Dover  Building  and  Loan  Association  was  incorpor- 
ated March  4, 1879,  with  an  authorized  capital  of 
$500,000,  The  following  officers  were  elected :  Presi- 
dent, William  Denney;  Vice-President,  John  H. 
Bateman ;  Secretary  Philip  Burnett ;  Treasurer,  John 
H.  Jones.  The  association  is  still  in  operation  and 
there  was  reported  about  March  4, 1887,  1738  shares 
at  a  valuation  of  $63.55  per  share.  The  association 
expires  about  1891. 

Capital  Building  and  Loan  Association  was  incor- 
porated January  30, 1883,  with  an  authorized  stock 
of  $500,000,  embraced  in  3454  shares.  The  associa- 
tion was  organized  in  March  by  the  election  of  the 
following  officers:  Caleb  S.  Pennewill,  president; 
Dr.  Henry  Bidgely,  vice-president;  C.  C.  Fulton, 
treasurer;  John  S.  Collins,  secretary;  Bichard  B. 
Kenney,  Attorney.  There  was  held  at  the  September 
meeting,  1887,  2750  shares  worth  $32  per  share. 

Kent  County  Mutual  Insurance  Company.— 
After  several  meetings  of  citizens  of  Kent  County,  in 
the  winter  of  1846-47,  application  was  made  to  the 
Legislature  for  the  incorporation  of  a  company  to 
effect  insurance.  The  company  was  incorporated 
February  22,  1847,  and  on  March  9,  the  persons 
interested  met  in  Dover,  and  elected  as  directors 
Samuel  M.  Harrington,  John  West,  Tdomas  B.  Currey, 
Henry  W.  Mcllvaine,  James  L.  Heverin,  Joseph  P. 
Comegys,  James  B.  Clement,  Truston  L.  Davis,  and 
Peter  F.  Causey. 

The  directors  elected  as  officers  of  the  company, 
Hon.  Samuel  M.  Harrington,  president ;  Cornelius  P. 
Comegys,  Secretary,  and  James  Cowgill  Treasurer. 


At  a  meeting  held  January  10,  1848,  there  was  re- 
ported property  insured  to  the  amount  of  sixty  thous- 
and four  hundred  and  sixty-three  dollars.  January 
6,  1851,  Thomas  B.  Lockwood,  was  elected  as  General 
Agent.  The  business  of  the  company  has  been 
confined  to  the  Peninsula.  The  officers  of  the  com- 
pany from  its  organization  have  been  as  follows : — 


Pretidantt. 
8.  U.  HaiTiiigton....March  9,  lft47 

Dr.  8.  M.  FIfllw March  7, 1861 

0«o.  W.  Oummiiu. June  9, 186S 

Dr.  Henry  Ridgel7..J«n*7  20, 1886 

Swntariet. 
Oomelins  P.  Conittg7B.Mar.  9, 1847 

JL.  Poulson March  7,  1851 

George  B.  DlckBon...Jaii'7  6, 1852 

JL.  J.  Wright Jan'y  17. 1870 

William  Denney Jan'y  15, 1872 


James  Cowgill March  9, 184T 

A.  J.  Wright .Jan»y  17, 1870 

William  Denney Jan'y  15, 1872 

Omural  AgmUa. 
Thot.  B.  Lockwood. ..Jan*y  6, 18ti 
John  A.  8teTonK>n...Jan'y  7, 1801 

ElUah  Crouch 1865 

John  A.  Jester July  15, 1874 

A.  J.  Wilson Jan'y  — ,  1879 

James  H.  Todd Nor.  24,  18t6 


The  officers  of  the  Company  were  first  located  in  the 
north  end  of  the  Capital  Hotel,  but  in  1872.  were  re- 
moved to  the  second  story  of  T.  O.  Culbreth's  build- 
ing. In  1874,  the  present  building  on  Main  Street 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  eight  thousand  dollars,  and 
the  second  story  fitted  up  for  the  use  of  the  company, 
which  it  has  since  occupied. 

The  average  yearly  amount  of  losses  paid  from  1866 
to  1870,  inclusive,  was  $1,949  and  the  average  amount 
at  risk  was  $1,756,017. 

The  average  yearly  amount  of  losses  paid  from  1871 
to  1880,  inclusive,  was  $11,261,  and  the  average 
amount  of  risk  was  $4,952,754.  From  1881  to  1886, 
inclusive,  the  losses  paid  were  $16,909,  and  the 
average  amount  of  risk  $7,008,150. 

Water-Wokks.— The  first  report  of  the  committee 
of  the  town  council  upon  the  water  works,  was  made 
March  1,  1883,  in  which  is  contained  the  facts  which 
led  to  the  erection  of  the  water-works.    It'says : 

•'As  has  happened  in  the  history  of  other  towns,  so  in  Dover.  During 
the  past  quarter  of  a  oentary,  there  have  been  made,  ttom  time  to  time, 
spasmodic  efforts  to  famish  better  protection  agRinst  lire.  These  efforts 
have  been  msde  while  suffering  fh>m  the  effects  of  some  destrootlTe 
conflagration,  and  smarting  under  a  sense  of  perfect  helplessness.  Gen- 
erally, the  excitement  has  passed  away  and  nothing  came  of  it ;  some- 
times practical  results  followed.  Many  years  ago,  a  hook  and  ladder 
truck  was  purchased,  which  furnifrhed  a  supply  of  ladders  and  buckets 
ready  for  immediate  use,  and  tliey  rendered  good  service  upon  many  oo- 
casion*.  Afterwards,  a  small  hand  engine  and  a  short  length  of  hose 
were  procured,  by  means  of  which  a  chemical  solution  could  be  thrown 
upon  the  flames.  The  stream,  huwever,  was  small,  the  hose  short  and 
Its  efllciency  depended  upon  the  supply  of  chemicals  and  the  water 
which  was  furnished  by  the  buckets.  Of  late  years  several  fires  ooour- 
nd  of  considerable  magnitude,  which  might  have  been  easUy  extin- 
gulshed  if  there  had  been  at  command  an  abundant  supply  of  water  and 
the  means  of  applying  it. 

*'  In  view  of  the  great  amount  of  combustible  material  upon  the  prln- 
cipal  business  street  of  the  town,  there  began  to  arise  a  feverish  appre- 
hension that  our  town  might  at  any  moment  be  visited  with  one  of 
those  wide-spread  conflagrations  which  have  occurred  in  other  places. 

"  This  was  the  sUte  of  the  public  sentiment  when  the  Gapital  Hotel, 
owned  by  Thomas  0.  Oulbreth,  and  kept  by  William  C.  Fountain,  took 
fire  on  the  morning  of  February  4th,  1881,  and  was  totally  destroyed, 
with  the  exception  of  the  wing  on  State  street.  The  cold  was  intense ; 
the  mercury  being  near  sero.  Under  the  influence  of  this  panic  Wil- 
mington was  telegraphed  to  for  aid,  and  promptly  responded  by  despatch- 
ing two  steamers  and  several  hose  carriages,  which  came  down  in  little 
more  than  an  hour  after  being  loaded  upon  the  train.  By  stretohing'their 
hose  from  one  steamer  to  tlie  other,  they  were  enabled  to  draw  water  from 
the  branch  below  the  town,  and  play  upon  the  burning  ruins,  thus  giving 
an  exhibition  to  our  citlxens  of  what  could  have  been  done  If  we  had  pos- 
sessed proper  appliances. 

''The  Town  Council  acted  promptly, appointed  a  special  committee, 
who  corresponded  with  various  piabes  in  relation  tos  ystems  of  Water- 
Works,  aud  called  a  meeting  of  the  dticens  of  the  town,  to  assemble  In 


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1074 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


the  Conrt-Honae  Hall,  to  coniider  the  rabject.  The  meeting  was  presided 
orer  by  Bis  Honor,  Chief  Jostice  Comegys. 

**  A  commiltee  was  appointed,  from  tlie  citlxens  of  the  town,  not  mem- 
bers of  the  Conncil,  with  instructions  M  consider  and  report,  at  a  snbse- 
qiwnt  meeting,  the  best  means  of  obtaining  an  abundant  supply  of  pare 
water  for  fire  protection  and  domestic  aav.  The  committee  consisted  of 
A.  fi.  Richardson,  H.  C.  Collison,  E.  SI.  Stevenson,  John  Bockman  and 
Caleb  P.  Pennewill  thoroughly  capable,  practical  and  conservative  men, 
deserving  the  highest  confidence  of  the  town  in  the  wisdom  of  their  de- 
termination. 

**They  reported  at  a  subsequent  meeting  well-attended,  that  they 
bad  two  plans  proposed  to  them,  one  by  the  Holly  Company,  and  the 
other  by  the  Gloucester  Iron  Company.  The  Holly  system  is  that  of 
pumping  directly  Into  the  mains.  The  Qloucester  system  has  a  stand 
pipe  100  feet  high  and  ten  feet  In  diameter  with  by-iiass  connections  for 
direct  pnmping  into  the  mains  in  case  of  fire.  The  Holly  system  was 
flually  adi^ted. 

"  In  May,  11881,  a  special  committee  was  appointed  by  Council  to 
select  a  site  for  the  well  and  invite  proposals  for  the  entire  woric  and 
material  necessary  to  furnish  the  town  with  a  complete  system  of  water- 
works. The  committee  was  composed  of  John  A.  Nicholson,  Joseph  M. 
Chambers  and  Stephen  Slaughter,  which  was  subsequently  made  the 
•tanding  Water  Committee,  and  superintended  the  work  from  its  com- 
mencement to  its  completion,  except  that  the  term  of  service  of  Mr. 
Chambers  expiring  March  1,  1882,  H.  A.  Richardson  was  appointed  in 
his  place  on  the  committee. 

**  The  site  selected  for  the  well  was  on  a  point  of  land  owned  by  Mr.  E. 
0.  Eccles,  just  across  the  bridge  on  the  east  side  of  St.  Jones'  Croek,  on 
the  road  leading  to  Smyrna.  The  advantages  of  this  site  were  deemed  to 
be,  that  it  was  separated  fh)m  the  town  by  the  creek,  and  there  was  no 
probability  of  the  town  extending  In  that  direction,  and  so  contaminat- 
ing the  water;  there  were  abundant  springs  of  delidoos  water  along  the 
whole  hill  side  east  of  the  creek ;  the  earth  had  been  excavated  and 
hauled  away  by  the  county,  thus  leaving  a  low  level  spot  where  not  much 
digging  would  be  required,  and  though  outside  the  limits  of  the  town,  it 
was  only  about  2100  feet  from  State  Street,  making  a  comparatively  short 
line  for  the  largest  pipe.  The  lot  was  purchased  at  a  cost  of  $300,  being 
1^  acres.  Including  some  land  on  the  top  of  the  hill. 

**  An  experimental  well  was  bored,  16  inches  in  diameter,  at  a  cost  of 
$8.40,  and  hard  bottom  was  reached  at  a  depth  of  21  feet,  and  the  water 
stood  at  2  feet  from  the  surface  of  the  ground,  giving  a  depth  of  water 
of  19  feet. 

"  We  therefore  invited  a  proposal  from  the  Holly  Company,  and  on 
the  18th  of  August,  1881,  made  a  contract  with  them  for  the  following 
complete  system  of  works,  viz : 

*'  2200  feet  of  8-inch  iron  pipe,  MO  pounds  per  length  of  li  feet. 

**  4700  feet  of  6-inch  iron  pipe,  360  pounds  per  length  of  12  feet. 

**  6125  feet  of  4-inch  iron  pipe,  240  pounds  per  length  of  12  feet. 

"  27  double  discharge  Holly  fire^ydrants,  seven  stop  gates,  viz:  one 
8-iDch,  four  6-inch  and  two  4-iuch. 

"  Engine  and  boiler-house  to  be  built  of  brick,  39  feet  long  by  20  feet 
wide;  roof  to  be  of  slate  oV  best  quality  of  roofing  tio.  An  iron  smoke- 
stack 60  feet  high  and  2  feet  in  diameter;  a  pump  well  15  feet  in  diame- 
t«r  and  21  feet  deep,  the  walls  to  be  18  inches  thick,  of  brick  laid  in 
cement;  2  high  pressure  steam-pumps  of  GaskilPs  patent,  with  capacity 
to  throw  four  ^-inch  streams  80  feet  high,  or  three  one-inch  fire  streams 
100  feet  high;  two  tubular  boilers  of  sufficient  capacity;  the  pipes  to  be 
covered  3  feet  4  inches  deep,  and  capable  of  sustaining  a  pressure  of  150 
pounds  to  the  square  Inch,  and  the  whole  to  be  completed  for  $19,500. 

'*  The  last  section  of  the  pipe  was  laid  on  Tuesday,  September  5, 1882. 
At  a  test  given  under  direction  of  C.  6  Hildreth,  a  continuous  stream  was 
thrown  over  the  oonrt-house.  Since  the  works  came  Into  the  possession 
of  the  town,  a  coal-shed  has  been  built,  a  cover  put  over  the  well  and 
various  improvements  made  in  and  about  the  engine-bouse  for  the  better 
management  and  working  of  the  boilers  and  pumps.  The  suction  pipe 
was  placed  at  about  three  feet  flrom  the  b<>ttom  of  the  well,  to  avoid  all 
danger  of  pumping  sand  or  mud  into  the  mains,  giving  an  average  depth 
of  13  or  14  feet  of  water  from  the  surface  to  the  bottom  of  the  suction 
pipe.  The  character  of  the  water  equals  our  highest  expectations,  being 
delicious  to  drink  and  so  soft  as  to  be  adapted  to  all  domestic  usee. 

*'  Mr.  T.  F.  Cooke  was  elected  by  Council,  Chief  Engineer,  and  Mr. 
Patrick  Lyons,  assistant. 

**  Through  the  liberality  of  the  citii&ens,  the  banks,  Kent  County 
Mutual  Insurance  Company  and  the  Levy  Court,  about  $1400  was  col- 
lected, with  which  two  hose- carriages  and  1000  feet  of  hoee  have  been 
purchased  and  committed  to  the  custody  of  the  Robbins*  Huse  Company, 
In  case  of  fire  two  lines  of  hose  can  be  attached  to  any  one  firo  hydrant, 
and  instantaneously  fire  pressure  canbe  applied,  which  need  never  exceed 
70  pounds,  unless  it  is  desired  to  reach  the  most  elevated  part  of  three 
or  four  of  the  tallest  buildings." 

In  1886  a  coDtract  was  made  with  W.  D.  Wells  to 
dig  a  well  oo  the  west  side  of  the  road,  between  the 
works  and  creek  twenty  feet  in  diameter  and  thirty 
feet  deep.  The  well  to  be  of  brick  eighteen  inches 
thick  and  laid  in  cement.    After  going  twenty-one 


feet  and  one  inch  deep  plenty  of  water  being  fonndit. 
was  decided  to  sink  it  no  deeper.     With  the  two  welb 
and  two  engines  and  suction  line  with  St.  Jones*  Creek 
in  case  of  fire,  the  town   is  amply  provided  with 
water. 

The  Bobbins  Hose  Company  was  organized  soon 
after  the  water-works  were  completed,  and  the  next 
year  the  present  hose  house  was  erected  with  a  coun- 
cil chamber  in  the  second  story.  The  company  have 
two  hose  carriages  and  about  one  thousand  two  hun- 
dred feet  of  hose. 

Dover  Gas  Works.— In  1859  Daniel  Trump,  ef 
Philadelphia,  came  to  Dover  and  established  a  gas 
works,  buying  on  October  11th  twelve  thousand  square 
feet  of  land  (the  present  site)  of  John  C.  Pennewill, 
and  built  thereon  a  building  for  the  man  nature  of 
gas  from  resin,  which  at  that  time  was  $1.50  a  barrel. 
Mains  were  laid  from  the  works  down  North  Street  to 
Main,  thence  to  the  public  square  and  to  Water 
Street  and  north  from  North  Street  to  Reed  Street. 
The  civil  war  breaking  out  resin  advanced  to  sixty 
dollars  a  barrel  and  the  manufacture  by  that  process 
was  abandoned,  and  coal  oil  and  wood  was  substituted. 
In  February  1867,  the  plant  was  purchased  by 
Richardson  and  Robbins  who  fitted  up  the  works  for 
the  use  of  resin  and  run  it  for  two  years  when  they 
changed  to  coal  gas.  They  laid  about  five  thousand 
feet  of  main  which  from  time  to  time  have  been  in- 
creased. About  six  million  feet  of  gas  is  manufac- 
tured annually. 

In  1881  a  company  was  incorporated  with  six 
directors.  The  present  officers  are  A.  B.  Richardson, 
president ;  W.  S.  Wilson,  secretary  and  treasurer ; 
George  V.  Maasey,  C.  S.  Pennewill,  H.  A.  Richardson 
and  A.  B.  Richardson,  directors. 

The  Dover  Glass  Works  Company  was  incorpo- 
rated April  9, 1883.  Five  acres  of  land  lying  on  Wil- 
liams Street  was  bought  of  David  'Harrington  and 
Thomas  0.  Culbreth,  and  in  1884  six  buildings 
were  erected  to  conduct  an  eight-pot  ftirnace.  Fifty- 
two  men  are  employed,  and  a  capital  of  $60,000  is  in- 
vested. 

The  sand  in  use  is  obtained  f^om  Morris  River,  New 
Jersey.  The  products  (window  glass)  are  shipped  to 
all  parts  of  the  country. 

The  officers  of  the  company  are  John  Bockman, 
president  and  manager ;  and  William  Fisher,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer. 

Dover  Nurseries. — About  1863  Joseph  W.  Cham- 
bers began  a  nursery  on  twenty  acres  of  the  farm  of 
Judge  S.  M.  Harrington  on  the  south  border  of  the 
town.  From  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  peach  treei  were  annually  raised 
and  sold  for  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  when  it  was  aban- 
doned. Mr.  Chambers  has  since  become  interested 
in  business  in  Dover. 

Canned  Goods.  Richardson  &  Robbins.  —  In 
1853  A.  B.  Richardson  and  Jas.  W.  Robbins  were  con- 
ducting a  tin  and  stove  store  on  Loockerman  Street, 
Dover,   where  Geo.  Baker's  agricultural   warehouse 


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pow  stands.  In  this  bailding  they  began  canning 
goods  in  a  small  way,  and  in  1856  put  six  hundred 
cans  on  the  market.  The  results  were  favorable,  and 
they  moved  to  a  larger  building  on  Pryor  Street,  in- 
creasing their  capacity  from  time  to  time  to  meet  the 
demand.  In  1862  they  put  out  forty  thousand  canq, 
and  in  the  next  year  purchased  the  large  building 
known  as  the  Reporter  building,  corner  of  State  and 
King  Streets,  which  they  fitted  up  with  all  the  im- 
provements then  known  to  the  business.  Mr.  Bobbins 
died  in  the  summer  of  1876,  but  the  name  of  the  firm 
was  retained,  and  Harry  A.  Richardson,  son  of  the 
Mnior  partner,  became  a  member  of  the  firm  and  still 
continues.  In  1876  the  manufacture  of  plum  pud- 
ding and  canning  of  meats  of  all  kind  became  a  lead- 
ing feature.  The  greatly  increased  business  necessitated 
another  change,  and  in  the  spring  of  1881  nine  acres 
of  land  were  purchased  on  King  Street,  where  a  large 
and  commodious  brick  factory  was  erected,  fitted  up 
with  every  improvement  necessary  to  carry  on  a  suc- 
cessful business. 

J.  M.  Chambers  Packing  Company. — Joseph  M. 
Chambers  in  1871  erected  the  present  works  on 
Loockerman  Street  (at  the  depot)  for  the  packing  of 
hermetically  sealed  goods.  In  1881  a  charter  was 
granted  as  the  "  J.  M.  Chambers  Packing  Company." 
Many  specialties  are  manufactured,  such  as  plum 
puddings,  potted  meats,  "peaches  for  cream,"  etc.  The 
buildings  have  a  capacity  of  turning  out  ten  thousand 
cans  of  fruit  and  vegetables  daily  during  the  canning 
season. 

Hazel  &  PennewiU.—Jn  1868  William  G.  Hazel  and 
Caleb  S.  Pennewill  established  a  sash,  blind  and  door 
factory  and  a  planing-mill,  and  opened  a  well-stocked 
lumber-yard  at  the  corner  of  Loockerman  and  Queen 
Streets.  The  firm  also  manufacture  a  large  number 
of  peach  baskets. 

E,  H,  Sellers^  Evaporating  Works. — The  works  were 
leased  of  John  H.  Dana  in  the  summer  of  1887,  and 
are  used  in  evaporating  pears  and  peaches,  and  have, 
when  in  full  operation,  an  average  of  seventy-five 
employees. 

The  business  was  begun  in  1876  by  the  Dover  Fruit 
and  Vegetable  Preserving  Company,  which  was  in- 
corporated in  1878  and  erected  evaporating  works  on 
Railroad  Avenue.  The  business  was  conducted  in 
1875-76-77  by  Dr.  Isaac  Register.  In  1888  the  prop- 
erty was  sold  to  John  H.  Dana,  of  Belpre,  Ohio,  who 
continued  the  business  until  1886,  when  it  ceased. 

Besides  the  State  and  County  Buildings,  Dover 
contains  two  banks,  a  Qovemment  post-office  build- 
ing, and  nine  churches,  an  academy,  a  graded  public 
school  building,  gas  and  water  works,  four  newspaper 
and  a  job  printing-office,  and  is  liberally  provided  with 
stores,  shops,  manufacturing  establishments  and  arti- 
sans for  a  town  of  its  importance. 

Union  Lodge,  No.  7,  A.  F.  A.  M.'— The  earliest 
record  we  have  of  a  lodge  of  Free  Masons  existing  at 
Dover  is  the  meagre  and  scanty  details  that  have 

>  Contributed  by  John  C.  Gooden. 


come  down  to  us  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. It  appears  that  a  warrant  from  that  sovereign 
body  was  granted  August  26,  1775,  for  the  consti- 
tuting of  a  lodge  of  "  Ancient  York  Masons "  at 
Dover,  it  being  No.  18  on  the  roster  of  that  body.  It 
appears  from  the  records  that  but  two  other  lodges 
were  constituted  in  Delaware  prior  thereto. 

Who  were  the  charter  members  who  constituted 
the  officers  of  the  lodge,  what  names  were  borne  upon 
its  roster,  how  long  it  continued  in  existence,  we  have 
no  means  of  knowing,  owing  to  the  destruction  of  the 
Masonic  Temple  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  year  1819,  in 
which  conflagration  the  archives  pertaining  to  the 
Grand  Lodge  and  her  subordinates  were  totally  de- 
stroyed. 

The  next  lodge  at  Dover,  of  which  we  have  official 
cognizance,  is  "Union  Lodge,  No.  7,  of  Ancient 
York  Masons,"  whose  charter,  dated  June  27,  1809, 
was  warranted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware, 
which  was  organized  in  1806. 

The  charter  members  in  the  year  1809,  as  they  ap- 
pear upon  the  register  of  members,  were  Wm.  Hall, 
M.  M. ;  Joseph  Harper,  M.  M.  ;  Robert  Graham, 
M.  M. ;  John  B.  Wooten,  M.  M. ;  Caesar  Rodney 
Wilson,  F.  C. ;  James  Harper,  F.  C. ;  Joseph  H. 
Raymond,  F.  C. ;  Richard  Harrington,  F.  C. ;  Presley 
AUee,  E.  A. ;  Samuel  Truitt,  E.  A. 

This  lodge  continued  at  work  down  to  the  year 
1832,  when  it  ceased  to  labor.  The  record-book  of 
the  lodge  was  in  possession  of  the  lodge  as  late  as 
1883,  about  which  time  it  was  either  lost,  misplaced 
or  stolen.  Owing  to  this  fact,  we  have  not  the  means  at 
hand  to  enable  us  to  tell  who  were  the  successive 
officers  of  the  lodge,  nor  what  was  the  history  of  its 
proceedings. 

The  names  of  the  members  during  the  period  from 
1809  to  1832,  in  addition  to  those  of  the  charter 
members,  are  preserved  and  number  forty-four. 

Of  the  list,  the  Hon.  Willard  Hall,  United  States 
district  judge  for  the  district  of  Delaware,  who  died 
about  1883,  was  Grand  Master  in  1817-18;  Joshua 
G.  Brinkle,  Grand  Master  in  1824 ;  and  Arnold 
Naudain,  in  1825-26-27. 

The  list  during  this  period  comprised  the  most 
eminent  men  of  their  day,  in  the  various  walks  of 
life.  Owing  to  the  anti-Masonic  excitement  in  1827-28, 
the  lodge  membership  fell  off,  and  in  1832  ceased  to 
work. 

In  1857,  James  P.  Wild,  William  Sharp,  John  A. 
Nicholson,  Saxe  Gotha  Laws,  George  W.  S.  Nichol- 
son, Myers  C.  Con  well,  Henry  Stout,  John  W.  Smith, 
Robert  B.  Jump  and  John  P.  Hickey  petitioned  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware  for  a  revival  of  the  charter 
of  1809,  which  was  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  at 
Wilmington,  June  27,  1857. 

Upon  page  one  of  the  records  of  the  lodge,  under 
the  caption  of  "  by-laws, "  occurs  this  section : 

"  Section  2.  "  The  warrant  of  this  lodge  is  a  charter 
granted  on  the  27th  day  of  June,  a.d.,  1857,  a.l. 
5857,  by  the  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Lodge  of  Dela- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ware,  (by  which  waa  revived  Union  Lodge,  No.  7, 
which  had  ceased  to  work  A.D.,  1832,  a.l.,  5832, 
and  had  been  first  constituted  A.D.,  1809,  a.l. 
5809),  to  whose  constitutional  rules  and  edicts  the 
most  implicit  respect  and  obedience  shall  ever  be  paid 
by  its  members.'' 

Under  the  revived  charter,  the  lodge  met  January 
29, 1858,  *^  according  to  appointment  and  summons  of 
the  Right  Worthy  Grand  Master,  A.  P.  Robinson, " 
and  was  regularly  constituted  by  the  election  and  in- 
stallation of  the  following  officers :  James  P.  Wild, 
W.  M. ;  William  Sharp,  S.  W. ;  John  A.  Nicholson, 
J.  W. ;  Saxe  Grotha  Laws,  Treasurer ;  George  W.  S. 
Nicholson,  Secretary ;  Myers  C.  Conwell,  S.  D. ; 
Henry  Stout,  J.  D.;  John  W.  Smith,  Tyler. 

The  lodge  met  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge-room,  in 
the  old  brick  academy.  On  February  5th,  '*  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  procure  a  suitable  room  for 
the  communications  of  this  lodge."  On  February 
16th,  committee  made  a  report,  which  was  accepted, 
and  on  February  19th,  the  committee  was  authorized 
to  procure  the  rooms  in  the  third  story  of  Dunning's 
new  building,  "on  a  lease  of  ten  years." 

This  lodge-room  was  in  the  building  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  State  and  North  Streets,  of  whidh  the 
lodge  took  possession  May  4,  1858,  and  where  it 
continued  to  meet  down  to  the  evening  of  June  24, 
1885  (St.  John's  day),  at  which  time  the  W.  M.  John 
0.  Gooden  convened  the  lodge  in  its  new  lodge-room 
at  No.  27  Loockerman  Street,  to  receive  the  M.  W. 
Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware,  which  dedicated  the  new 
hall  in  ample  form  to  Free  Masonry,  to  virtue  and  to 
universal  benevolence. 

In  the  fitting  up  of  the  hall,  in  1858,  the  lodge  re- 
ceived material  aid  from  W.  H.  Carryl,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  at  its  first  meeting  in  the  new  hall.  May  4th, 
the  lodge  adopted  the  following  resolution : 

"  R0»olv*d^  unauimously,  That  tho  hearty  thankB  of  the  offlcera  and 
memben  of  Union  Lodge,  No.  7,  A.  T.  H.,  Dover,  Del.,  be  and  are 
hereby  returned  to  Brother  W.  H.  Carryl,  of  Franklin  Lodge,  No.  134, 
Phila.,  for  the  valuable  offering  he  hai  laid  upon  the  altar  of  our  Lodge 
as  a  teatiinony  of  hia  firaternal  regard  ;  and  may  he  receiTe  the  reward 
due  to  all  those  who  truly  appreciate  and  practice  the  principles  of  Free 
Masonry. '* 

Upon  the  revival  of  the  lodge,  in  1857,  the  para- 
phernalia necessary  to  the  proper  organization  of 
the  lodge  involved  it  in  a  debt  of  three  hundred  dol- 
lars, which  amount  Henry  Stout  discharged,  and  the 
lodge,  at  its  communication  of  January  7,  1862,  in 
recognition  of  his  generosity,  parsed  resolutions 
thanking  him  for  his  munificence. 

In  1864  the  lodge  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
death  of  Colonel  David  L.  Strieker,  brevet  brigadier- 
general  Second  Delaware  Regiment  Volunteers,  who 
fell  fighting  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  May  12, 
1864,  and  was  buried  in  the  Methodbt  Episcopal 
Church  burying-ground,  at  Dover,  May  18th,  with 
imposing  Masonic  honors. 

On  the  25th  of  September  of  this  same  year  the 
lodge  was  called  the  second  time  to  mourn  the  death 
of  Brother  Dr.  William  M.  Bonwill,  of  Camden,  Dela- 
ware, who  was  a  noted  physician  in  his  day  and  was 


identified  with  almost  every  movement  in  the  first 
half  of  the  present  century  having  a  tendency  to 
advance  scientific  knowledge  and  to  ameliorate  the 
condition  of  his  fellow-men.  He  was  buried  in  the 
Episcopal  Church-yard,  at  Dover,  with  Masonic 
honors  in  due  form. 

On  the  3d  and  4th  of  August,  1874,  the  lodge  was 
favored  on  both  evenings  by  a  lecture  by  Brother 
Robert  Morris,  P.  G.  M.,  of  Kentucky,  who  is  one  of 
the  brightest  lights  in  the  firmament  of  Free  Masonry 
and  an  undoubted  authority  in  Masonic  jurisprudence. 
The  first  lecture  was  before  the  lodge  and  the  second 
before  the  general  public  in  the  body  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  which  had  been  kindly  tendered 
to  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

The  only  other  event  calling  for  special  notice  in 
the  history  of  the  lodge  is  the  leasing  of  the  new  hall 
on  Loockerman  Street,  and  its  dedication  by  the  craft 
on  June  24, 1885,  to  which  reference  is  made  in  con- 
nection with  the  history  of  the  old  hall  in  1858. 

The  following  list  contains  the  names  of  the  Past 
Masters  from  the  revival  of  the  lodge  in  1857  to  the 
present  time :  Edward  Bidgely,  Thomas  C.  Frame, 
William  C.  Jump,  Dr.  Ezekiel  W.  Cooper,  Edwin  O. 
Shakespeare,  Beniah  Watson,  Severn  Taylor,  Dr. 
Edwin  S.  Anderson  and  John  C  Gooden.  Brothers 
John  A.  Nicholson  and  John  F.  Saulsbury  havs 
served  as  Grand  Masters  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
State  of  Delaware. 

The  lodge  now  n  umbers  fifty-four  members.  Of  tiie 
charter  members  there  are  only  three  now  living, 
namely,  John  A.  Nicholson,  George  W.  S.  Nicholson 
and  Robert  B.  Jump.  Brother  Jump  is  presumably 
the  oldest  Master  Mason  in  the  State,  having  been 
a  Mason  in  a  Free  Mason's  Lodge  at  Greensboro, 
Caroline  County,  Maryland,  in  1826. 

Philodemic  Lodge,  No.  7. 1.  O.  O.  F,  of  Dover, 
Del.,  was  instituted  July  5, 1845,  with  J.  H.  Steven- 
son, Henry  Cole,  James  L.  Smith,  William  Wilkin- 
son and  George  Stevenson  charter  members,  under 
the  administration  of  John  Fairfax  Smith,  G.  M. 
The  lodge  was  organized  in  the  north  room  of  the 
second  story  of  the  building  known  as  the  "Old 
Academy,"  situated  at  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
town,  on  the  east  side  of  State  Street,  in  which  room 
the  meetings  were  held  until  some  time  in  the  year 
1862,  when  they  removed  to  Dr.  Saulsbury's  building 
in  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Public  Square,  where 
they  held  their  meetings  until  December,  1870,  when 
they  removed  to  the  third  floor  of  Dyer's  building 
on  Loockerman  Street,  which  room  the  lodge  occupies 
at  the  present  time. 

The  ofiScers  at  the  present  time  are  as  follows  :  Wil- 
liam H.  Powell,  P.  G. ;  Thomas  C.  Dehority,  N.  G. ; 
George  W.  Benn,  V.  G. ;  Samuel  H.  Barker,  P.  S.  ; 
William  Riggs,  R.  S. ;  William  Fisher,  Treasurer  ; 
Clayton  Wetherby,  Warden  ;  James  Coady,  Conduc- 
tor ;  James  E.  Wales,  O.  S.  G. ;  R.  DemMtjc  Clow,  I. 
S.  G. ;  Hiram  Reedy,  Grand  Representative  to  the 
Supreme  Lodge. 


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There  are  at  the  present  time  in  good  standing 
twenty-seven  memhers  in  the  lodge. 

Central  Lodge,  No.  10,  K.  of  P.— This  lodge 
was  chartered  January  27, 1869,  with  thirteen  charter 
members.  Meetings  were  held  for  two  or  three  years 
in  the  old  Academy  until  rooms  were  litted  up  in  the 
third  story  of  Dyer's  building,  corner  of  Leockerman 
Street  and  Governor's  Avenue.  This  lodge  has  at  pres- 
ent fifty-seven  mtmbers.  The  p1*esent  officers  are  : 
Chancellor-Commander,  R.  D.  Clow  ;  Vice  Chan- 
cellor, John  McMichael  ;  Prelate,  Thomas  C. 
Dehority  ;  Keeper  of  Records  and  Seals,  Edward  T. 
White ;  Financial  Secretary,  William  B.  Hammond ; 
Master  of  Exchequer,  D.  W.  Morgan  ;  I.  G.,  Wm.  R. 
Geiser  ;  O.  G.,  James  Powell. 

Diamond  Lodge.  No.  9,  A.  O.  U.  W.— This  lodge 
was  chartered  December  23,  1882,  with  the  following 
charter  members :  J.  W.  Anderson,  W.  D.  Walls, 
E.S.  Anderson,  W.  R.  Cahoon,  Jr.,  Wm.  Swartswelder , 

C.  C.  Handsberry,  Wm.  J.  Adkins,  Judge  J.  Creen, 

D.  W.  Corry,  B.  A.  Bennett,  W.  F.  Page,  W.  T. 
Christopher,  J.  E.  Carroll,  E.  P.  Taylor,  P.  Burnett. 
Meetings  were  held  in  Odd  Fellows*  Hall  until  July 
1,  1887,  when  the  place  of  meeting  was  changed  to 
the  hall  of  the  Grand  Army.  The  lodge  has  a  mem- 
bership of  twenty-five.  The  present  officers  are  : 
Past  Master' Workman,  W.  D.  Wall ;  Master  Work- 
man, W.  L.  Pritchett ;  Foreman,  S.  H.  Barker  ;  Over- 
seer, J.  A.  Forbes  ;  Recorder,  J.  C.  Carroll ;  Finan- 
cial Secretary,  C.  B.  Prettyman ;  Receiver,  J.  T.  Hof- 
fecker. 

Delaware  Lodge,  No.  102,  Ordeb  of  Tonti,  was 
chartered  March  16,  1877.  John  A.  Forbes,  Presi- 
dent ;  John  A.  Wright,  V.  G. ;  J.  E.  Carroll,  Secre- 
tary ;  Chas.  C.  Prettyman,  Treasurer ;  seventeen 
members. 

Grand  Army  op  the  Republic. — General  A. 
7.  A.  Torbet  Post,  No.  3. — ^This  post  was  chartered 
September  9, 1880,  with  twelve  charter  members. 

Meetings  were  held  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  until  July, 
1885,  when  rooms  were  fitted  for  their  use  in  the 
third  story  of  the  Dunn  building,  on  Loockerman 
Street. 

The  post  has  fifty-six  members. 

TheoflScers  are  John  S.  Rowan,  commander;  A. 
B.  Moore,  adjutant ;  A.  B.  Connor,  quartermaster. 


CHAPTER  LVI. 


east  DOVER  HUNDRED. 


The  territory  now  comprising  East  and  West  Dover 
Hundreds,  prior  to  January  28,  1823,  was  embraced 
in  Mnrderkill  and  St.  Jones'  Hundreds.  The  latter 
was  one  of  the  original  hundreds,  and  extended  along 
the  bay  and  between  St.  Jones'  Creek  and  Little 
Creek.  In  1828  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  provid- 
ing that  Murderkill  Hundred  should  be  divided  as 
follows : 


'*  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  branch,  upon  which  the  mill  and 
mill-teat  of  the  late  Heniy  Molleston,  deceased  ;  the  mill  and  mill-seat 
late  held  by  Samuel  Howell,  deceased  ;  the  mill  and  mill  seat  late  held 
by  William  Warner,  deceased  ;  and  the  mill  and  mill-seat  of  William 
Allaband,  all  of  which  are  situated  on  Isnao's  branch,  where  said  branch 
empties  into  St  Jones'  creek,  and  running  thence  up  said  branch 
through  the  mill-ponds  of  said  mills  by  and  with  the  water-courses  to 
the  mouth  of  a  prong  or  stream  emptying  into  said  branch,  A^m  the 
southward  near  Allaband*s  mill-pond,  and  which  stream  crosses  the 
state  road  running  from  the  line  of  Maryland  near  the  River  Bridges  by 
Thomas  Chapel,  through  Camden  to  the  Forest  Landing,  between  the 
poor-house  and  the  house  formerly  of  William  Kirkley  ;  and  running 
from  the  mouth  ef  the  said  stream  last  mentioned,  up  the  same,  by  and 
with  the  water-courses  to  the  State  mad,  and  thence  toward  the  State  of 
Maryland,  called  the  Stow  line  ;  and  all  that  part  of  Murderkill  hun- 
dred, lying  northerly  of  said  division  line,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of 
the  first-mentioned  branch  and  running  as  aforesaid  to  the  line  of  the 
state  of  Maryland,  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  detached  and  set  olf  from 
the  said  hundred  and  united  to  St.  Jones^  hundred  ;  and  that  the  said 
part  of  Murderkill  hundred  lying  northerly  of  said  division  line  and 
St.  Jones*  hundred  shall  form  and  be  one  hundred  and  shall  be  called 
Dover  Hundred.*' 

It  was  designated  as  the  Third  Election  District,  with 
election  place  at  the  court-house  in  Dover.  January 
28, 1831,  a  narrow  strip  of  Murderkill,  now  lying  in 
West  Dover,  was  attached  to  Dover  Hundred.  The 
hundred  of  Dover  was  divided  into  East  and  West 
Election  Districts  by  act  of  Greneral  Assembly,  Feb- 
ruary 18, 1859,  by  a  line  beginning  at  Allaband's  mill- 
stream,  and  running  thence  with  the  road  leading 
fix>m  Dover  to  Hazlettville,  near  Nathan  Slaughter's 
gate ;  thence  with  the  public  road  until  it  is  inter- 
sected by  the  road  near  Dinah's  Comers,  leading  to 
Casson's  Corners ;  thence  with  the  last  named  till  it 
intersects  the  road  from  Casson's  Corners  to  Dinah's 
Comer;  thence  with  the  road  leading  to  Isaac 
Buckingham's,  till  it  is  intersected  by  the  road  lead- 
ing to  the  Seven  Hickories ;  thence  with  the  last- 
named  road  by  George  Parris'  farm,  to  the  branch  di- 
viding Dover  and  Little  Creek  Hundred ;  the  east 
part  to  be  East  Dover  Election  District,  and  the  west 
part  to  be  West  Dover  Election  District  These  elec- 
tion districts  became  East  and  West  Dover  Hundreds, 
by  act  of  February  7, 1877. 

East  Dover  Hundred  is  bounded  north  by  Little 
Creek  Hundred,  east  by  Delaware  Bay,  south  by 
North  Murderkill  and  west  by  West  Dover.  It  is 
drained  by  St.  Jones'  Creek  on  the  south  and  Little 
Creek  on  the  north.  The  land  is  mostly  level  or 
slightly  rolling,  having  a  loamy  gravelly  soil  capable 
of  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Peaches  and  pears  are 
grown  in  great  quantities,  some  of  the  peach  orchards 
being  very  large  and  fine  ;  wheat  and  com  are  also 
grown  successfully,  while  melons,  sweet  potatoes  and 
white  potatoes  are  raised  in  abundance.  The  town  of 
Dover  is  within  the  bounds  of  East  Dover,  and  all 
the  farming  lands  in  the  vicinity  are  very  productive. 

Among  the  most  prominent  of  the  early  settle- 
ments was  "  Towne  Point,"  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  acres  lying  on  the  north  side  of  St.  Jones'  Creek, 
a  short  distance  above  its  mouth.  Though  not  the 
earliest,  it  became  the  most  prominent  point  in  St. 
Jones',  now  Kent  County.  It  is  mentioned  in  an  early 
deed  as  **  heretofore  the  first  seat  on  said  creek."  This 
point  was  surveyed  by  Cornelius  Verhoofe,  surveyor  of 
Whorekill  County,  to  Edward  Pack  and  John  Biiggs, 


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1078 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


on  September  29,  1679.  Pack  resided  on  Towne 
Point,  and  Briggson  "  Kingston  upon  Hull/'  adjoin- 
ing Edward  Pack,  who  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
petition  for  a  new  county  in  1679-80,  and  was  chosen 
the  following  May  as  one  of  the  justices  of  the  peace 
for  St.  Jones'  County. 

The  first  court  for  St.  Jones*  County  (now  Kent 
County)  was  held  in  Edward  Pack's  house  on  "  Towne 
Point."  On  March  10, 1681,  Pack  and  Briggs  sold  this 
property  to  William  Darvall.  The  conveyance 
locates  the  property  as  follows ;  "  Whereas  there  is  a 
certain  house  and  land  commonly  called  by  the  name 
of  Towne  Point,  lying  and  being  on  the  mouth  of 
Jones'  Creek  to  the  southwest,  and  to  Delaware  Bay 
to  the  east,  and  to  the  land  of  John  Briggs  to  the 
north  and  northwest,  now  in  possession  of  Edward 
Pack,  containing  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres."  It  is 
further  mentioned  that  in  consideration  of  one  thou- 
sand two  hundred  pounds  of  tobacco,  *'  all  the  land, 
dwelling-house  and  tobacco-house"  were  conveyed 
to  William  Darvall,  also  a  magistrate,  who  sold  it 
September  23,  1686,  to  William  Hill,  from  whom  it 
passed  to  his  son  Samuel,  and  daughter  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Robert  Jadwin.  They  remained  in  possession 
of  the  property  until  November  12, 1724,  when  it  was 
sold  to  Charles  Thomson,  by  whom  it  was  conveyed, 
August  26, 1727,  to  Benjamin  Shurmer,  who,  on  May 
6, 1730,  sold  it  to  Caleb  Hunn  as  "  Towne  Point,"  con- 
taining one  hundred  and  forty  acres.  Later,  Nath- 
aniel Hunn  came  into  possession  of  the  property, 
which  he  left  by  will  to  his  daughter  Mary,  the  wife 
of  Waitman  Sipple,  Jr.,  who,  August  11,  1749,  con- 
veyed it  to  John  Hunn.  Later  still,  Samuel  Dickin- 
son came  into  possession  of  this  tract,  and  it  is  now 
owned  by  his  great-grandson,  Algernon  Sidney  Logan. 
It  appears  from  the  following  that  Wm.  Darvall  still 
continued  in  occupation  at  the  Point  in  1688,  and 
kept  at  the  place  a  tavern  and  also  ran  a  ferry : 

"  Abticlu  or  AoBESMEMT,  Deo.  14, 1688. 

**  DoncK  RiV£B,  in  ProT.  of  Pa. 
"  WaUam  Darvall  amd  John  Bame$  : 

*'  John  Barnes  obliges  himsslfo  to  Uts,  and  keepe  ordinarye,  on  the 
now  dwellings  plantation,  or  tbo  Court  bouse  where  the  said  Wllllan 
Darvall  shall  appointe,  and  also  to  sell  and  dispose  of  all  manner  of 
trade  whatsoever,  and  sells  all  liquors  By  retails,  &c. 

"  For  his  care,  trouble  and  service,  the  sum  of  forty  pounds,  in  current 
money  of  Pennsylvania. 

*'  The  said  William  Darvall  is  to  have  two  men  or  boys  servants,  and 
if  any  men  or  women's  servants  shall  be  wanting,  to  look  after  horses 
and  ferry,  &c.,  the  said  Darvall  is  to  furnish  them." 

A  tract  called  "Poplar  Neck,"  containing  four 
hundred  acres,  was  granted  to  Thomas  Young,  June 
16,  1671,  by  Gtov.  Francis  Lovelace.  This  was  before 
courts  were  held  at  Whorekill  (now  Lewes),  and  is 
the  earliest  date  of  warrant  in  the  county.  The 
property  is  described  as  being  about  two  miles  above 
St.  Jones'  Creek,  bounded  south  by  a  swamp  running 
westerly  from  the  bay  side.  It  passed  from  Thomas 
Young  to  his  son  Benjamin,  and  was  sold  by  him  to 
Ralph  Hutchinson,  of  New  Castle. 

"  Mulberry  Swamp,"  containing  four  hundred  acres 
adjoining  the  foregoing  tract  on  Uie  north,  was  grant- 
ed to  Thomas  Merritt  July  16,  1671,  and  in  1680 


passed  to  Walter  Dickinson.  July  5, 1679,  this  land 
was  granted  to  Barnard  Hodges,  who  had  then 
occupied  it  for  eighteen  months,  and  it  became  known 
as  *•  Hodges'  Desert,"  and  "  Jones  his  Valley."  Wal- 
ter Dickinson  began  suit  against  Hodges  for  Mulberry 
Swamp,  formerly  surveyed  to  Thomas  Merritt,  and  the 
jury  found  for  Dickinson.  This  tract  came  into  pos- 
session of  Samuel  Dickinson  before  1725,  who,  Sep- 
tember 28, 1743,  sold  it  to  Griffiths  Gordon.  Samuel 
Dickinson  also  came  into  possession  of  sixty  acres  of 
Young's  land,  a  part  of  Poplar  Neck,  which  he  sold 
to  John  PJeasonton  in  1726. 

Jehu  Curtis,  January  5,  1738,  took  up  a  small  tract 
of  fast  land  and  some  marsh  containing  twenty  acres, 
named  "  Kitt's  Hammock,"  and  which  he  very  soon 
after  assigned  to  John  Pleasonton,  who  owned  part 
of  Poplar  Neck  adjoining.  The  survey  gives  "  Kitt's 
Hammock  "  as  containing  thirty-one  acres.  "  Brink- 
loe  Range,"  a  tract  of  marsh  land,  lay  adjoining 
Kitt's  Hammock  to  the  southwest ;  one  hundred  acres 
of  it  also  passed  to  John  Pleasonton.  These  Pleasan- 
ton  lands  passed  to  David  Pleasonton,  and  by  a 
survey  in  Book  B,  it  is  shown  that  in  1818  Nathaniel 
Pleasonton's  tavern  was  on  the  site  or  near  the.  present 
Kitt's  Hammock  Hotel,  and  the  Pleasonton  farm- 
house was  located  west  of  it.  The  old  tavern  entirely 
disappeared  long  years  ago. 

After  the  tavern  went  down  the  place  was  used  very 
much  as  a  tenting-ground  and  for  basket  picnics,  until 
about  1846,  when  William  Hutchinson  and  Henry  W. 
Mcllvaine  built  a  hotel  at  Xitt's  Hammock,  and  about 
the  same  time  planted  oysters  in  Delaware  Bay  at  an 
expense  of  one  hundred  and  five  dollars  each,  think- 
ing that  it  would  be  a  benefit  to  the  hotel  which  is 
located  on  the  beach.  Mcllvaine  failed,  the  property 
changed  hands,  and  no  further  attention  was  given  to 
the  oysters  planted  by  Hutchinson  and  Mcllvaine 
until  about  twenty  years  afterwards,  when  New  York 
boats  began  to  find  an  abundance  of  oysters  on  this 
ground.  Mr.  Hutchinson  consulted  counsel  and 
found  there  was  no  law  to  protect  his  oyster-beds. 
Subsequently  a  bill  was  drawn  up  by  Joseph  P.  Com- 
egys,  now  chief  justice,  and  a  law  was  enacted  pro- 
tecting Delaware  fisheries,  which  has  resulted  in 
^reat  benefit  to  the  State.  While  Mcllvaine  and 
Hutchinson  gained  nothing  for  themselves  in  their 
oyster-planting,  they  claim  to  have  first  demonstrated 
the  feasibility  of  that  culture  in  Delaware  Bay. 
Kitt's  Hammock  is  on  the  bay  where  it  is  about  thirty 
miles  wide,  and  consists  of  one  hotel  and  aboat 
twenty  summer  cottages,  principally  owned  by  peo- 
ple in  Dover,  nine  miles  di^ttant.  The  hotel  and 
grocery  are  now  (1887)  kept  by  John  G.  Melvin. 

St.  Jones'  Landing  is  at  the  mouth  of  St  Jones' 
Creek,  three  miles  south  from  Kitt's  Hammock. 
Vessels  bound  for  Cape  May  occasionally  stop  here  to 
take  on  passengers. 

John  Burton,  November  24, 1679,  received  a  war- 
rant for  six  hundred  acres  of  land,  adjoining  that  of 
Walter  Dickinson,  which  was  known  as  "  Burton's 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1079 


Delight."  John  Brinckloe  received  a  warrant  Janu- 
ary 21,  1681,  for  a  tract  called  "  Poplar  Ridge," 
above  Poplar  Neck,  containing  two  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  acres.  All  the  tracts  thus  far  mentioned 
are  in  St.  Jones'  Neck,  including  "  Kingston  upon 
Hull,"  which  lay  inland.  "  Kingston  upon  Hull,"  con- 
taining four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  and  lying  north- 
west of  Town  Point,  was  taken  up  by  John  Briggs 
and  Mary  Philips  March  12, 1677-78.  John  Briggs  was 
a  member  of  the  Assembly  from  1682  to  1685,  and  in 
1689 sold  ''Kingston  upon  Hull  "  to  Bichard  Bassnett 
and  moved  to  Cape  May.  This  tract  is  also  mentioned 
as  having  been  surveyed  to  Elizabeth  Frampton  in 
1687.  It  was  sold  April  27,  1700,  to  Stephen  Nowell, 
who  sold  fifty  acres  of  it  to  Robert  French,  July  19, 
1701.  The  balance  remained  in  the  family  and 
passed  to  George  Nowell,  who  died  about  1740,  when 
it  was  divided  among  the  heirs,  and  part  of  it  now 
belongs  to  the  Dickinson  estate.  It  was  upon  this 
tract  and  in  the  house  of  John  Briggs  that  Sam- 
uel Dickinson  resided  until  he  built  the  mansion- 
hou^e  known  as  the  Dickinson  farther  west,  and  up 
the  creek. 

A  tract  called  "  Uptown,"  containing  one  thousand 
acres,  lying  east  of  the  Pipe  Elm  tracts,  was  surveyed 
for  John  Richardson  September  9, 1686.  "  Little  Pipe 
Elm  "  tract,  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres, 
was  granted  to  Wm.  Winsmore  in  1680.  It  lies  on  the 
northwest  side  of  Pipe  Elm  Branch,  and  in  time  came 
into  possession  of  Charles  Marim  and  John  Nicker- 
son,  who  obtained  a  warrant  May  10,  1733,  when  it 
was  surveyed  and  found  to  contain  three  hundred  and 
eighty-nine  acres.  "  Great  Pipe  Elm,"  on  the  south- 
east side  of  the  same  branch,  was  granted  to  William 
Winsmore,  and  in  1788-39  was  re-surveyed  to  George 
Robinson.  In  1767  it  was  surveyed  to  the  heirs  of 
George  Robinson,  Charles  Marim,  John  Mtu*im  and 
John  Nickerson.  Charles  Marim  resided  on  the 
northwest  side  of  Little  Pipe  Elm  Creek,  on  Little 
Pipe  Elm  tract,  then  called  "  Cherbourg."  He  died 
about  1781,  and  by  will  left  this  property  to  his 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  and  sons,  John  and  Charles.  In 
1802  Charles  sold  his  interest  to  John,  who,  in  1807, 
conveyed  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  to  Ruhamah, 
wife  of  Cornelius  P.  Com^ys,  and  the  same  day  sold 
Mr.  Comegys  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres  of 
land  adjoining.  On  this  place  is  the  old  mansion- 
house,  still  standing,  a  well-preserved  monument  of 
the  architecture  of  the  early  times,  and  here  Joseph 
P.  Comegys,  present  chief  justice.  Dr.  George  C.  Com- 
egys, a  leading  physician  of  Cincinnati,  and  Mrs. 
Henry  M.  Ridgely  were  bom.  Cornelius  P.  Comegys 
in  1818  removed  to  Dover,  where  he  remained  eleven 
years  as  cashier  of  the  Farmers'  Bank,  after  which 
he  returned  to  the  farm,  which  is  now  in  possession 
of  his  son.  Dr.  George  C.  Comegys.  A  tract  called 
'*  Shoulder  of  Mutton "  lay  south  of  "Little  Pipe 
Elm,"  on  Pipe  Elm  Branch,  and  in  1773  was  in  pos- 
session of  Stephen  Parradee. 

Samuel  Dickinson,  a  merchant  of  Talbot  County, 


Md.,  began  the  purs  base  of  lands  along  St.  Jones 
Creek  and  its  vicinity  about  1715,  including  "  Town 
Point,"  "  Kingston  upon  Hull,"  "  Burton's  Delight," 
"  Mulberry  Swamp  "  and  part  of  "  Poplar  Neck.  On 
December  3,  1733,  he  received  a  deed  embracing  one 
thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty-eight  acres,  which 
he  named  '^Dickinson  Manor  "and  which  includ- 
ed all  of  the  lands  mentioned  above  and  some  others, 
but  not  **  Kitt's  Hammock."  He  built  a  residence 
on  the  site  of  John  Briggs'  house,  upon  "  Kingston 
upon  Hull,"  as  is  shown  by  surveys,  where  he  resided 
for  several  years  after  he  removed  to  this  county,  about 
1734.  In  1738  he  become  one  of  the  magistrates  of 
the  court  of  Kent  County  and  continued  many  years. 
Later  in  life  he  erected  a  brick  mansion-house,  which 
is  still  used  and  is  known  as  the  Dickinson  house,  a 
fine  example  of  colonial  architecture.  He  died  at 
his  residence  and  is  buried  in  a  family  graveyard  ad- 
jacent. John  Dickinson,  his  son,  was  born  in  Mary- 
land and  was  two  years  of  age  when  his  father  moved 
to  the  manor.  It  was  in  the  mansion-house,  in  1767, 
that  he  wrote  the  famous  '*  Farmer's  Letters,"  which 
aroused  public  attention  at  home  and  abroad.  In  a 
few  years  he  was  called  to  take  a  more  active  part  in 
life,  and  moved  to  Wilmington  and  Philadelphia.  He 
died  at  the  latter  city  in  1801,  aged  seventy-five 
years.  He  left  no  male  descendants,  and  two  daugh- 
ters—Sally N.  and  Maria.  The  property  passed  to 
Sally  N.,  who  died  a  few  years  ago,  when  it  passed  to 
her  nephews  and  nieces.  At  the  time  of  her  death 
she  was  the  largest  land-owner  in  the  county  and  was 
assessed  on  over  three  thousand  acres  of  highland 
and  marsh.  Maria,  the  other  daughter,  married  Al- 
banus  Logan,  a  descendant  of  James  Logan,  who  was 
a  man  of  influence  under  Penn's  administration. 
They  had  four  children, — Dr.  John  Dickinson  Logan, 
Gustavus  G.,  Mary  N,  and  Mrs.  Betton.  The  proper- 
ty was  divided  between  them.  Samuel  Betton  re- 
ceived the  north  part  as  his  mother's  share,  Gustavus 
G.  the  home  property  and  Dr.  John  D.  the  lower  part 
and  Mary  other  lands  adjoining*  Albanus  C.  Logan^ 
son  of  Gustavus,  now  owns  the  old  Town  Point  tract ; 
Algernon  Sydney  Logan,  the  "  Kingston  upon  Hull " 
tract  and  the  old  first  residence.  The  only  piece  of 
land  separated  from  the  Dickinson  estate  since  1743 
was  sold  by  Miss  Sally  N.  Dickinson,  in  1823,  to 
Levick  Palmer  and  he  was  favored  because  he  was  a 
Quaker. 

Joseph  Barker,  Csesar  Knight  and  George  Laws 
were  adjoining  neighbors.  Levick  Palmer  married 
Elizabeth  Clymer  and  had  a  family  of  six  children. 
John,  their  son,  died  in  Germantown.  Gen.  William 
Palmer,  of  Denver,  Colorado,  became  a  noted  railroad 
contractor.  Samuel  died  in  Philadelphia.  Hannah 
became  the  wife  of  William  Hutchinson.  Mary,  wife 
of  Chas.  Cowgill,  reared  a  family  of  five  children. 
Levick  P.  resides  in  Camden,  Delaware.  Lizzie  mar- 
ried Robert  Nickerson.  William  resides  in  Wash- 
ington. Jacob  retains  the  homestead,  and  Effie  re- 
sides at  Duck  Creek.    Sarah  Palmer  is  the  wife  of 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Frederick  Cline,  and  Anne  E.  the  wife  of  Bulitha 
Wharton,  of  Philadelphia. 

Robert  Wilson,  who  came  from  Maryland,  resides 
on  a  portion  of  the  Dickinson  land,  called  the  "  Cherry 
Tree."  J.  P.  Wilson,  one  of  his  sons,  is  a  merchant 
in  Philadelphia.  Robert  H.  resides  on  the  home- 
stead. Lena  is  the  wife  of  Geo.  W.  Collins,  who 
resides  on  the  farm  adjoining  the  homestead,  and 
Anna  is  the  wife  of  J.  Frank  Denney,  of  Duck  Creek. 

A  tract  containing  six  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
called  "Tynhead  Court,"  lay  west  of  Pipe  Elm  Branch 
and  "  Little  Pipe  Elm  "  tract,  and  was  taken  up  prior 
to  1680  by  Griffith  Jones  and  John  Glover.  The  fol- 
lowing is  recorded  among  the  early  court  records : 

**  Beceired  then,  of  John  Glover,  the  sum  of  two  thoomnd  ponnda  of 
tobacco,  being  his  part  and  proportionable  share  for  the  Joyant  purchase 
of  a  certain  tract  of  land  in  Bt  Jonee^s  Creeke,  pursuant  to  oertaine  arti> 
c)ea  of  agreement  between  as  drawne  and  six  hundred  pounds  of  tobacco 
being  for  the  purchase  of  his  share  of  a  certain  parcell  and  stoke  upon 
the  said  plantation,  I  say  in  ftiil  satis&ctlon  of  the  premises  mee. 

(Signed)  "  Griff  Jonm." 

Griffith  Jones  was  a  member  of  Penn's  Council 
from  1687  for  ten  years  or  more.  Before  1780  "  Tyn- 
head Court"  was  owned  by  John  Maxwell,  whose 
widow,  Ann,  in  1787,  sold  a  part  of  it  to  James  Sykes, 
who  soon  afterwards  moved  to  Dover  and  held  office 
for  many  'years.  Part  of  the  tract  came  to  Major 
John  Patten,  son  of  Ann  Maxwell,  and  to  John 
Wethered,  an  heir  of  John  Maxwell.  The  part  the 
latter  received  was  known  as  "  Wethered  Court" 
John  Patten  was  a  brave  soldier  during  the  Revolu- 
tion, a  delegate  to  the  Continental  Congress,  in  1785- 
86,  and  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
from  Delaware  in  1793-94.  He  died  in  1800,  aged 
fifty-four. 

"  Tynhead  Court "  is  on  Little  Creek  and  is  now  a 
part  of  the  Ridgely  farm.  Dover  Landing  was  on  the 
Patten  land,  at  the  head  of  navigation  on  Little 
Creek.  About  1830  John  Reed  and  Sipple  and  Penne- 
will  built  a  wharf  there,  and  Elijah  McDowell  built  a 
store  and  dealt  largely  in  grain,  brought  in  from  the 
surrounding  country  and  shipped  by  vessels  to  Phila- 
delphia and  elsewhere.  Aft;er  the  railroad  was  built 
the  place  lost  its  shipping  trade  and  went  down. 
About  1800  a  Mr.  Sherwood  built  a  store  at  Little 
Creek  Landing,  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and 
was  succeeded  in  business  about  1824,  by  Joseph 
Kimmey,  who  was  followed  by  Chaa.  Emory  about 
1828.  September  1,  1837,  James  L.  Heverin  began 
business  there  as  a  merchant,  buying,  selling  and  ship- 
ping grain  and  country  produce.  In  1851  when 
Chas.  H.  Heverin  and  W.  H.  Hobson  succeeded  him 
and  continued  until  February,  1888,  when  C.  H. 
Heverin  died,  and  Jas.  L.  Heverin  took  his  interest, 
and  the  business  was  continued  at  that  point  until 
1865,  when  it  was  moved  across  the  river.  A  store 
was  continued  at  the  old  stand,  however,  by  Peter 
Laughlin,  J.  McOonigal  and  others.  Since  1880 
Wm.  S.  Heverin  has  conducted  the  business,  which 
is  now  owned  by  J.  L.  Heverin,  Joshua  McGonigal, 
Jacob  Cowgill  and  others. 


A  large  tract  called  "  Aberdeen,"  on  the  road  from 
^'  Kitt's  Hammock  "  to  Dover,  was  taken  up  by  John 
^^S&f  ^^^  afterwards  came  into  possession  of 
Thomas  Clifford,  who,  in  1729,  sold  one  hundred  acres 
to  Richard  Hill.  Hill  sold  the  one  hundred  acres  to 
John  Houseman,  recorder  of  Kent  County,  who,  on 
January  10th  of  that  year,  divided  his  purchase  by 
sale  to  John  Gruwell  and  John  Smith.  Smith's  por- 
tion passed  to  his  son  Morris,  who  devised  it  to  his 
son  Solomon,  who  sold  to  Jonathan  Sturges.  Robert 
Porter  had  several  tracts  of  land  in  Dover  Hundred, 
and  among  them  "Porter's  Lodge,"  next  west  of 
"  Aberdeen,"  and  adjoining  the  south  end  of  "  Ber- 
ry's Range,"  and  Tynhead  Court  on  the  northeast. 
It  was  surveyed  November  8,  1680,  and  contained 
four  hundred  acres.  A  portion  passed  to  Robert 
French,  who  sold  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  to  the 
Society  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  first  house 
of  worship  of  the  present  Christ's  Church  of  Dover 
was  erected  on  this  glebe  about  1708,  and  was  used 
until  the  society  built  the  present  church  in  Dover 
about  1740.  "Porter's  Lodge"  is  now  owned  by 
Daniel  Cowgill,  E.  P.  Seimser  and  J.  M.  Comegys. 
"  Troy,"  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres  lying  east  ot 
"Aberdeen,"  was  surveyed  1679-80  to  Thomas  Tar- 
rant, who  sold  it  to  Captain  John  Briggs,  who  ob- 
tained a  patent  in  1684-^.  John  Lewis  was  a  later 
owner,  and  in  1807  "  Troy "  was  sold  to  Manlove 
Hayes.  It  is  now  owned  by  William  Dyer,  who  also 
owns  a  part  of  "  Aberdeen."  The  balance  of  "  Aber- 
deen "  belongs  to  the  heirs  of  Charles  Kimmey. 

"  Lisburne "  property  of  six  hundred  acres,  was 
granted  by  the  Whorekill  County  Court,  in  1679-80, 
to  John  Brinckloe,  who  received  a  patent  March  26, 
1684.  The  ground-rents  were  to  be  paid  every  year 
"  att  the  town  of  Dover,"  which  was  not  laid  out  un- 
til many  years  afterwards.  "  Lisburne "  adjoins 
"  Troy,"  and  the  lands  of  Griffiths  Jones  and  Chris- 
topher Jackson.  A  part  of  it  is  in  possession  of  the 
heirs  of  Charles  M.  Wharton,  who  are  descendants  of 
John  Brinckloe.  Robert  French  purchased  three 
hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  the  tract,  and  by  will 
in  1712  left  it  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth,  who  maijied 
John  Finney.  Their  son  David  in  1760  sold  it  to 
Griffith  Gordon.  In  1800  it  was  owned  by  the  Pleaa- 
ontons,  and  May  15, 1809,  was  conveyed  by  Gilbert 
Coombe  and  Stephen  Pleasonton  to  Manlove  Hayes. 
"Lisburne"  is  now  owned  by  Daniel  Rockwell. 

Many  officials  of  the  State  of  Delaware  and  county 
of  Kent  had  residences  in  Dover  during  their  terms 
of  office  and  some  of  them  much  longer.  Others  pre- 
ferred to  live  a  short  distance  from  town.  Among 
the  later  was  Wm.  Rodney,  grandfather  of  Csetar 
Rodney,  the  signer.  He  was  a  merchant  of  Bristol, 
England,  born  in  1652,  and  married  a  daughter  of 
Sir  Thomas  Ctesar,  of  London.  He  emigrated  to 
America  in  1682  with  William  Penn.  He  located 
first  at  Lewes  and  became  sheriff*  of  Sussex  County. 
It  is  not  known  whether  his  first  wife  died  before  he 
came  to  this  country,  but  within  two  years  aft;er  his 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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arrival  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of  Daniel  Jones, 
who,  December  2,  1683,  took  out  a  warrant  for  seven 
hundred  and  ninety  acres  of  land  called  "  Denbigh/' 
on  the  west  side  of  St.  Jones'  Creek,  which  later 
passed  to  William  Rodney,  who,  September  14,  1695, 
sold  three  hundred  and  ninety-four  acres  of  it  to 
William  Brinckloe.  William  Rodney  was  a  member 
of  the  Assembly,  and  was  said  to  have  been  the  best 
speaker  in  that  body.  After  his  retirement  from  the 
office  of  sheriff  of  Sussex  l^unty  he  removed  to 
Kent  County,  on  "  Denbigh,"  and  was  an  official  of 
the  county  until  his  death,  April  8,  1708.  He  left 
several  children,  of  whom  William,  the  eldest,  was 
born  in  1689  and  died  in  1752.  William  married 
Ruth,  a  daughter  of  Jehu  Curtis,  of  New  Castle, 
and  was  sheriff  of  Kent  County  at  one  time. 
Daniel  resided  on  a  farm,  went  to  Dover;  was  sheriff 
of  Kent  County  in  1735,  was  married,  but  died  with- 
out issue.  Tha  youngest  son  of  William  the  emi- 
grant was  Caesar,  born  in  1707,  and  died  in  1745. 
His  wife  was  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Crawford,  the  missionary,  who  came  to  these  parts  in 
1708.  Caesar  Rodney  and  Elizabeth  had  three  sons — 
Cflesar  (the  signer),  Thomas  A.  and  William.  The 
former  died  unmarried.  Thomas  A.  was  the  father 
of  Caesar  Augustus  Rodney,  of  whom  a  sketch  will 
,be  found  in  the  Bench  and  Bar. 

"  Denbigh "  came  in  possession  of  Caesar  Rod- 
ney, who,  on  April  10, 1765,  sold  it  to  Benjamin  Chew. 
It  lay  north  of  and  adjoining  "  Morgan's  Calf  Pas- 
ture," opposite  '*  Berry's  Range  "  and  the  Shakespeare 
saw-mill.  It  was  in  possession  of  Vincent  Loocker- 
man  in  1767,  and  was  held  by  his  descendants  until 
sold  by  Mr.  Bradford,  after  1852,  and  is  now  occupied 
by  Hon.  Eli  Saulsbury,  the  Agricultural  Society  and 
other  owners.  "  Byefield,"  a  tract  of  nine  hundred 
and  eighty-four  acres,  was  taken  up  on  warrant  dated 
January  26,  1680,  by  Daniel  Jones,  Sr.,  Ezekiel  Jones 
and  Daniel  Jones,  Jr.,  and  was  surveyed  February 
25,  1686,  and  then  contained  eight  hundred  and  fifty 
acres.  It  passed  to  Daniel  Jones'  son-in-law,  William 
Rodney,  and  eventually  to  Caesar  Rodney,  the 
signer.  A  part  of  the  tract  had  been  sold  to  John 
Vining,  and  in  1791  the  remaining  five  hundred  and 
eighty-three  acres  were  sold  by  the  sheriff  to  Joseph 
Barker,  after  whose  death  they  passed  to  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Dr.  Stevenson.  **  Byefield  "  lies  between  Bog- 
gletree  Branch  and  Lewis's  Ditch. 

An  account  of  the  "  Brother's  Portion  "  will  be 
found  in  the  history  of  Dover.  It  contained  eight 
hundred  acres,  and  was  patented  to  John  Walker  and 
sold  to  William  Southerbee,  who,  in  1694,  sold  two 
hundred  acres  to  the  county  for  the  location  of  a 
court-house.  In  1699  he  sold  four  hundred  acres 
lying  south  of  the  town-tract  to  Richard  Wilson. 
William  Wilson,  his  son,  in  1754  sold  a  part  of  this 
tract  to  Nicholas  Ridgely.  Daniel  Rodney  and  John 
Clayton  then  owned  lands  adjoining.  "  Peggy's 
Old  Field  "  was  also  adjoining.  The  fine  residence 
and  well-kept  grounds  of  Manlove  Hayes  adorn  apor- 
68i 


tion  of  the  Wilson  tract.  Edward  Starkey  purchased 
two  hundred  acres  of  the  "  Brother's  Portion  "  lying 
on  Puncheon's  Run,  now  owned  by  Wm.  W.  Morris 
and  the  heirs  of  Perrin  Cooper.  **  Berry's  Range," 
containing  one  thousand  acres,  lies  along  the  east  side 
of  St.  Jones'  Creek,  opposite  the  town  of  Dover,  and 
was  taken  up  by  William  Berry.  In  1691  he  sold  one 
hundred  acres  to  James  Maxwell,  who  kept  an 
"ordinary"  or  inn  near  where  the  water-works  of 
Dover  now  stand.  The  courts  were  held  at  this  house 
in  1693-94.  Prior  to  1688  Maxwell  resided  on  an  estate 
called  "  New  Design,"  which  he  sold  in  1688  to  Ar- 
thur Meston,  who,  during  his  career,  was  recorder  and 
sheriff  of  the  county.  Meston  sold  it  to  John  Court- 
ney, who  sold  to  Simon  Irons.  The  widow,  Naomi 
Berry,  sold  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  "  Berry's 
Range  "  to  James  Maxwell,  July  16, 1695,  and  two 
hundred  and  seventy-four  acres  of  the  same  tract 
passed  to  Nathaniel  Luff,  who,  June  5,  1741,  sold  it  to 
Samuel  Chew.  Nathaniel  Luff,  a  physician,  afterwards 
wrote  an  account  of  his  life,  which  was  published  in 
1848,  and  gives  the  following  account  of  the  Luff 
family : 

*'  Hugh  Luff  came  from  England  the  latter  part  of  the  feTenteenth 
or  the  begiuDlng  of  the  eighteeuth  century  and  took  up  lands  on  the 
western  shores  of  Delaware  Bay.  His  son  Nathaniel  settled  in  Mis- 
pillion,  and  his  son  Caleb  in  St.  Jones'  Hundred.  Caleb  was  a  member 
of  the  State  Legislature  during  the  Revolution,  and  wrarmly  sup,'H>rted 
the  cause.  He  had  two  sons.  Nathaniel  and  John.  Nathaniel,  the  doctor, 
was  bom  in  1750,  and  in  1707  ;  he  commenced  pmcticing  medicine  in 
Kent  County.  He  speaks  of  attending  his  first  patient  in  (he  lower 
couaties,  Henry  MoUeston's  son,  as  follows:  *Tlie  way  was  rery  iutri- 
cate,  through  bushes  and  swampy  grounds;  the  bushes  whipped  me  in 
the  face  and  almost  discouraged  me  ;  howerer,  after  a  short  space,  the 
distance  being  about  four  or  five  miles,  we  soon  galloped  there,  and  my 
mode  of  treatment  proving  successful,  it  established  me  in  practice.  I 
was  provided  with  two  good  horses ;  they  generally  cantered  and  I  seldom 
rode  any  other  gate.*  " 

Samuel  Chew,  who  purchased  the  Lufflands  in  1741, 
was  the  father  of. Benjamin  Chew,  and  his  daughter 
was  the  wife  of  Edward  Tilghm  an,  whobecam  a  large 
land-holder  in  Pennsylvania.  Samuel  Chew  was  also 
prothonotary  of  Kent  County.  January  4, 1770,  Benja- 
min Chew,  later  prominent  in  Germantown,  came  into 
possession  of  the  property,  sold  it  to  Charles  Hillyard, 
reserving  only  the  Chew  family  burial-ground,  now 
on  the  property  of  Edwin  O.  Eccles,  who  also  owns 
the  old  Chew-Hilliard  mansion-house. 

The  tract  long  known  as  the  Nathaniel  Drew  lands 
was  originally  warranted  to  Simon  Irons,  August  6, 
1686,  as  **  The  Range,"  and  is  described  as  lying  on 
St.  Jones*  Creek  joining  ihe  northwest  part  of  **Berry*s 
Range''  containing  six  hundred  acres.  This  land  was 
sold  to  Benjamin  Shurmer,  who  transferred  it  to  An- 
drew Caldwell,  who,  March  12,  1723,  conveyed  it  to 
Nicholas  Loockerman,  who  made  this  his  first  purchase 
of  land  in  Kent  County.  He  built  a  large  brick  house 
forty  by  fifty  feet,  two  stories  high,  with  an  attic. 
The  doors  and  windows  were  capped  with  stone, 
the  cornice  was  elaborate,  the  hall-way  was  large  and 
ran  through  the  centre  of  the  house,  and  the  interior 
was  divided  into  ample  and  convenient  rooms,  while 
the  slaves'  quarters  were  a  short  distance  away.  Here 
Mr.  Loockerman  lived  in  the  easy  style  of  the  old-time 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Southern  gentlemaD,  and  here  he  died  and  is  buried. 
He  built  a  dam  and  saw-mill  at  the  head  of  St.  Jones' 
Creek,  northeast  of  the  house,  which  is  mentioned  in 
the  same  year,  1723.  The  dam  is  still  there  at  the  head 
of  Alexander  Law's  mill-pond,  and  the  road  that  runs 
between  the  present  farms  of  Walker  &  McDaniels 
and  the  old  homestead  (now  the  Co  veil  farm)  passes 
overthedam.  Nicholas  Loockerman  bought  other  lands 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  first  purchase.  The  *'  Brinckloe 
Range,"  which  was  warranted  September  6,  1688,  to 
John  Brinckloe,  was  purchased  by  Loockerman.  It  lay 
opposite  "  The  Range  '*  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek. 
This  land  passed  to  Vincent  Emmerson,  whose  daugh- 
ter Loockerman  married.  Emmerson  sold  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  in  1710,  which  afterwards  came 
into  possession  of  Nicholas  Loockerman,  and  was  in 
possession  of  his  descendants  until  the  new  part  of 
Dover  was  laid  out.  The  descendants  of  Emmer- 
son purchased  land  in  South  Murderkill  about  1795, 
and  are  very  numerous  in  the  county.  Nicholas 
Loockerman  married  Susan  Emmerson  in  1721,  and  in 
1722  Vincent  Loockerman  was  born.  Mrs.  Loockerman 
soon  after  died,  and  Nicholas  married  Esther,  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  Shurmer.  The  Loockerman  burial- 
ground  is  to  the  rear  of  the  old  mansion-house,  sur- 
rounded by  an  iron  fence  and  well-shaded.  The  four 
marble  slabs  are  dedicated  to  Nicholas  Loockerman, 
who  died  March  6,  1769,  aged  seventy -three;  Susan- 
nah Loockerman,  wife  of  Vincent  Loockerman,  died 
November  7, 1773,  aged  sixty-three;  Vincent  Loocker- 
man died  August  26, 1785,  aged  sixty-three ;  and  Vin- 
cent Loockerman,  who  died  April  5, 1790,  aged  forty- 
three. 

The  original  tract  and  other  lands  adjoining,  amount- 
ing to  peven  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres,  were  owned 
by  Nathaniel  Drew,  who  was  proprietor  so  long  that 
it  became  known  as  the  Drew  place.  It  is  now  divided 
into  several  farms,  and  is  owned  by  Messrs.  Walker  & 

McDaniels, Covell,  H.  B.  Leonard,  Wilson  L. 

Cannon,  Robert  H.  Raughley  and  others.  Emanuel 
Stout,  in  1756,  transferred  a  part  of  "  The  Range  "  to 
Lewis  Gano,  who  became  quite  an  extensive  land- 
holder. Rev.  John  Miller  purchased,  May  10, 1750,  of 
Hon.  William  Killen,  a  tract  of  land  containing  104 
acre?*,  a  part  of  "  The  Range,"  on  which  he  resided 
until  his  death.  On  this  estate  his  children  were  born, 
and  from  here  they  went  forth  to  doijood.  Rev.  John 
Miller  was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Dover 
from  1749  to  1791.  His  children  were  John  ;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Col.  Samuel  McLane ;  Mary,  wife  of 
Vincent  Loockerman,  Jr.,  who  died  in  1790,  and  in 
1795  she  married  Major  John  Patten ;  Joseph  married 
Elizabeth  Loockerman ;  Samuel  (1769-1850)  became 
famous  as  Professor  of  Theology  in  Princeton  Semi- 
nary, where  his  son  now  is. 

Samuel  Everett  purchased  of  William  Walker  two 
hundred  and  six  acres  of  "  The  Range,"  and  made 
extensive  improvements  on  it.  He  recently  sold  a 
portion  that  borders  on  Shakspeare  Pond  to  William 
H.  Curtis,  of  Philadelphia.     Mr.  McDaniel  owns  on 


the  opposite  side  of  the  pond.  D.  Mifflin  Wilson  owns 
east  of  the  pond,  and  Joseph  R.  Whitaker  bought  in 
1878  the  farm  on  the  east  side  of  the  State  road.  Mr. 
Whitaker's  farm  consists  of  two  hundred  and  forty- 
five  acres.  He  has  made  great  improvements,  and 
has  brought  the  land  into  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. 

"Maidstone"  tract,  consisting  of  eight  hundred 
and  seventy-seven  acres,  was  taken  up  April  19,  1681, 
by  John  Albertson  and  John  Mumford,  and  was  as- 
signed to  William  Darvall,  whose  grandson,  Thomas 
Willet,  sold  it  to  Thomas  Nixon  November  3,  1736. 
Nixon  sold  it  to  John  Miller  August  15,  1742.  This 
John  Miller  evidently  became  a  settler,  and  must  not 
be  mistaken  for  Rev.  John  Miller.  After  John  Mil- 
ler's death,  about  1760,  his  property  was  divided 
among  his  sons —Henry,  Killen,  John,  Conrad,  Adam 
and  Peter.  John  sold  his  portion  September  18,  1762, 
to  John  Barrett.  Adam  sold  one  hundred  and  nine 
acres  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  Maidstone  Branch 
to  Abram  Barber  May  12,  1762.  Peter  Miller  erected 
a  little  tub  grist-mill,  and  Peter  Miller,  Jr.,  sold  this 
tract  to  John  Reed,  of  Dover,  who  erected  a  bark- 
mill  and  saw-mill  thereon.  After  Mr.  Reed's  death 
the  mill  property  was  told  to  Charles  I.  Du  Pont,  of 
Wilmington,  and  hence  the  name,  Dupont's  Mills,  for 
the  little  railroad  station  near  the  site  of  these  old 
mills.  W.  F.  McKee  has  resided  on  a  portion  of 
these  Reed  lands  for  the  last  twenty  years. 

"  Canterbury "  tract,  consisting  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty-six  acres,  in  the  forks  of  St.  Jones,  was 
surveyed  to  Thomas  Lucas  in  1738,  and  passed  from 
him  to  Hugh  Durborrow,  and  to  his  son  Daniel  in 
1753,  who,  February  24,  1768,  sold  to  Thomas  Keefe, 
who,  in  1773  sold  to  John  Barber.  This  John 
Barber  was  a  son  of  Abram  Barber,  who  in  1729  pur- 
chased all  that  land  called  **  Earls  town,"  being  a 
part  of  "  Lisburne,"  lying  on  the  north  side  of  Dover 
River,  in  the  bend  of  the  creek,  containing  two  hun- 
dred acres.  He  had  two  wive.*,  and  John  Barber  was 
the  eldest  of  the  first  wife's  children.  John  followed 
the  bay  trade  a  number  of  years,  but  finally  married 
Peter  Miller's  daughter,  and  purchased  the  Keith 
tract  before  mentioned.  He  had  nine  children,  of 
whom  Abram,  Joseph  and  John  owned  the  home- 
stead. The  latter  married  Catharine  Cornelius  and 
had  one  son,  James,  who  grew  to  manhood,  and  sev- 
eral daughters.  James,  after  a  business  life  at  Dover 
Landing  and  Little  Creek  for  forty-nine  years,  has 
returned  to  the  homestead  a  bachelor  of  eighty  years, 
the  last  of  hi^  race. 

In  1763  Thomas  Stratton  deeded  to  John  Miller 
one  hundred  and  fifty-three  acres  of  land  near  Hugh 
Durborrow's,  which  was  part  of  a  tract  called  "  Lu- 
cas' Adventure."  This  land  afterwards  became  the 
property  of  Alexander  McCoy.  Abram  Moore 
moved  into  East  Dover  about  1810,  and  his  son  Jo- 
seph bought  the  Alexander  McCoy  place,  then  owned 
by  John  McCoy,  whose  daughter  Joseph  Moore  mar- 
ried.    Another  son,  Abram  Moore,  bought  the  Ed- 


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ward  Ford  place.  McCoy  owned  upwards  of  three 
hundred  acres,  and  made  the  first  improvements  in 
the  neighborhood.  Alexander  McCoy  was  a  car- 
penter, and  helped  build  the  State- House  at  Dover. 

Jacob  Rench  owned  three  hundred  acres  adjoining 
Joseph  Moore,  which  he  purchased  of  Andrew  Nau- 
dain,  of  Leipsic.  It  is  now  owned  by  Noble  T.  Jer- 
man.  The  old  farm  below  Central  Church  is  now 
owned  by  <^arle8  Brown's  heirs.  Thomas  Clayton 
owned  it  many  years  and  rented  it  to  a  favorite  negro, 
John  Wiley.  There  were  never  many  slaves  held  in 
this  part  of  East  Dover.  The  Gano  lands,  part  of 
"  The  Range,"  were  purchased  by  John  and  James 
Denney,  who  came  from  Talbot  County,  Md.,  about 
1829.  They  bought  some  five  hundred  acres  of  land 
and  prosecuted  farming  with  slaves.  These  tracts 
are  now  principally  owned  by  John  P.  M.  Denney  and 
Joseph  Moore,  Jr.,  who  married  Denney's  daughter. 
Thomas  Denney,  a  son  of  John,  owned  a  farm  near 
Dover.  Robert,  another  son,  resides  at  Duck  Creek 
Mill.  Charles  Denney  married  J.  L.  Heverin's 
daughter,  and  resides  at  Little  Creek.  Benjamin 
Simpson,  succeeded  by  his  son  John,  owned  the  farm 
adjoining,  now  owned  by  James  Emerson. 

"  Shoemaker  Hall "  tract  was  taken  up  by  Isaac 
Webb,  and  lies  north  of  Isaac's  Branch,  a  creek'  that 
was  named  for  him.  It  was  owned  in  1766  by  Thomas 
Nixon.  A  portion  of  it  came  to  John  Vining,  who 
Bold  to  John  Pennell,  who  built  a  **  tumbling  dam," 
mill-pond  and  saw-mill  on  Isaac  Webb's  Branch, 
which  was  in  operation  in  1772.  At  this  time  Ctesar 
Rodney  owned  "  North  Smyrna,*'  a  tract  of  six  hun- 
dred acres  adjoining  '*  Shoemaker's  Hall,"  from  Isaac's 
Branch  to  Walker's  Branch  or  Puncheon  Run.  Col. 
John  Vining  owned  it  in  1765.  **  Mill  Square  "  was  a 
tract  of  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  lying  west  of  Smyr- 
na, now  owned  in  part  by  Judge  George  P.  Fisher. 
**Long  Reach,"  a  tract  of  one  thousand  one  hundred 
acres,  was  warranted  February  21,  1681-82,  by 
Thomas,  Henry  and  Robert  J.  Bedwell  and  Adam 
Fisher.  It  lies  on  the  north  side  of  Isaac's  Branch. 
About  one  hundred  acres  was  sold  to  John  Robinson, 
and  July  29,  1774,  it  was  surveyed  to  Andrew  Builer. 
Part  of  it  also  came  to  William  Alleband.  Adjoining 
*'  Long  Reach,"  on  the  north,  was  a  tract  of  one 
thousand  acres  named  "Greenwich,"  warranted  Feb- 
ruary 22, 1681-82,  to  Norton  Claypoole,  who  was  then 
a  resident  of  Lewes.  It  was  mentioned  in  the  laying 
out  of  the  county-seat.  It  was  bounded  northwest  by 
Maidstone  Branch  of  St.  Jones'  Creek  or  the  Beaver 
dams  of  Dover  River.  May  2, 1688,  Claypoole  bought 
the  Indian  right  to  the  land  of  Saramashe,  an  Indian, 
for  three  match-coats.  He  died  in  1689,  and  Nehe- 
miah  Field,  his  administrator,  on  April  7,  1693,  sold 
it  to  Francis  Cook,  administrator  of  the  estate  of  his 
father,  James  Claypoole.  In  1776  the  tract  was 
owned  by  Matthew  Man  love,  Nicholas  Loockerman, 
Csesar  Rodney  and  Dr.  Charles  Ridgely. 

**  Rochester,"  a  tract  of  five  hundred  acres,  lies  be- 
tween  the  forks  formed  by  the  Maidstone  and  St. 


Jones'  Creeks.  It  was  granted  by  warrant  to  William 
Allen,  August  15,  1682.  "  Poplar  Ridge,"  containing 
three  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  was  taken  up  in 
1681-82  by  Jane  Bartlett,  wife  of  John  Love,  on  the 
upper  waters  of  Maidstone  Branch.  The  *'  Triangle," 
a  tract  in  the  same  vicinity,  containing  three  hundred 
acres,  was  granted  to  Charles  Murray,  December  21, 
1680,  and  surveyed  to  John  Burton,  March  20,  1685. 
"Skypton"  lies  adjoining  "Long  Reach"  and 
"Greenwich,"  and  was  taken  up  by  Thomas  Clifford, 
and  in  1776  it  was  owned  by  Dr.  Charles  Ridgely . 
The  "  Virgin's  Choice,"  adjoining  "  Greenwich,"  was 
taken  up  April  21,  1681,  by  Jane  Bartlett,  and  in  1776 
it  wa"^  owned  by  Charles  Ridgely.  It  is  also  known 
as  "Fox  Hall." 

Old  Mills.— Charles  Hillyard  in  1787  built  a 
grist-mill  on  the  St.  Jones'  Creek,  which  was  used 
many  years,  and  was  known  as  Sipple's  Mill  and 
Cowgill's  Mill.  In  1854  William  M.  Shakspeare  pur- 
chased the  Dover  Mills,  as  they  were  then  called,  and 
manufactured  large  quantities  of  oak  lumber  in  the 
saw-mill.  The  present  grist-mill  was  built  by  him 
about  1870,  and  is  now  owned  by  Alexander  Law, 
and  has  been  refitted.  Three  sets  of  rollers  have 
been  put  in,  giving  the  mill  a  capacity  of  fifty  bar- 
rels of  flour  per  day,  besides  a  feed-store  and  meal- 
store. 

William  Mclntire  Shakespear,  Sr.,  born  1819,  in 
White  Clay  Creek  Hundred,  died  1881,  a  resident  of 
Dover,  was  the  oldest  son  of  Benjamin  Shakespear,* 
a  landed  proprietor  of  the  same  hundred,  and  Mary 
Mclntire,  daughter  of  William  Mclntire,*  also    of 

I  From  his  father,  Win.  M.  Shake«pear,  Sr.,  intieritcd  pnrely  English 
blood.  Hia  grandfHther,  Samuol  Shakespear,  with  his  three  brothers, 
Thomas,  David  and  Stephen,  emigrated  from  Coventry,  Warwickshire, 
England,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania  In  1760.  Against  the  rational  in- 
ference from  the  fact  that  the  armorial  coats  and  mnral  monuments  of 
earlier  generations  of  the  family  to  which  these  Shaktwpears  belonged 
occupy  prominent  positions  upon  the  walls  of  churches  of  some  of  the 
parishes  adjoining  Coventry,  and  the  fact  that  this  Samuel  Shakespear 
was  married,  1765,  In  St.  Michael  (Bpiscopal)  Ohurcli,  Coventry,  to 
Susanna  Meater,  of  a  family  whose  members  had  fk«quently  been 
mayors  of  the  city  and  magistrates,  the  emigrant  brothera,  and  the  gen- 
eration immediately  preceding  thein,  were  undoubtedly  Dissenters  and 
active  members  of  the  Baptist  Society  of  that  city,  and  thsir  religious 
afflliations  in  America  were  with  the  same  sect.  •Arrived  In  Pennsylva- 
nia at  about  the  I>eginnlng  of  the  political  agitations  which  culminated 
in  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  1776,  and,  therefore,  naturally 
not  yet  fully  in  sympathy  with  them,  these  brothers  remained  loyal  to 
the  crown.  Upon  the  evacuation  of  New  York  by  the  British  in  1783, 
two  of  them  sailed,  with  other  Loyalists,  for  Nova  Scotia,  where  they 
received  large  grants  of  land  as  Indemnity  in  part  for  the  losses  which 
they  had  suffered  during  the  Revolution.  Soon  after  the  declaration  of 
peace  Samuel  Shakespear  came  to  Delaware,  and  settled  in  White  Clay 
Creek  Hundred,  where  he  raised  a  numerous  family,  of  which  his  sod 
Bei^amin  was  the  youngest. 

3  His  father,  Al>4Xander  McAntier,  and  grandfather,  Samuel  McAn 
Tier, " Scotch-Irish  "  Presbyterian  immigrants  flrom  the  north  of  Ire- 
land, purchased  and  settled  upon  extensive  tracts  of  land  in  White  Clay 
Creek  Hundred  in  1742.  A  portion  of  this  land,  following  the  regular 
course  of  entailed  estates,  descended  to  the  above-mentioned  Mary 
Mclntire.  William  Mclntire's  mother,  Jane,  the  daughter  of  Adam 
Barr,  of  White  Clay  Creek  Hundred,  was  also  of  a  family  of  Presbyte- 
rian immigrants  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  most  of  whose  members  set. 
tied  in  Cecil  County,  Md.  Becoming  a  widow  while  hereon  was  yet  a 
child,  she  married  one  bf  the  most  active  and  substantial  founders  of 
Methodism  in  that  part  of  Delaware,  Isaac  Hersey,  of  Mill  Creek  Hun- 
dred, and  of  this  second  marriage  was  burn  the  well-known  late  Eev. 
Father  John  Hersey.  William  Mclntire  therefore  grew  up  surrounded 
by  the  influences  and  awociations  of  the  early  Methodists  of  Delaware ; 
and  when  he  came  to  his  Inheritance,  urged  by  B  ishop  Asbury,  who  was 
not  infrequently  his  guest,  as  he  had  been  also  in  former  years  the  guest 
of  his  step-father,  he  led  in  the  movement  to  found  Old  Salem  Metb- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


White  Clay  Creek  Hundred,  by  his  wife,  Sarah  Her- 
sey.^ 

The  blood  of  the  French  Huguenots,  of  the  Ger- 
man zealots,  of  the  Scotch  Covenanters  and  of  the 
English  Dissenters  flowed  in  the  veins  of  the  subject 
of  our  sketch,  and  he  therefore  naturally  inherited 
something  of  the  tendencies  which  characterize  the 
sturdy  stock  whence  he  sprung.  After  receiving  a 
public-school  education,  finished  by  a  term  or  two  at 
the  Newark  Academy,  he  married  (1843)  Catharine, 
oldest  daughter  of  Edward  Haman,'  a  successful 
farmer  and  land-owner  of  White  Clay  Creek  Hun- 
dred, by  his  wife,  Rebecca  Smith.' 

A  little  before  his  marriage  Mr.  Shakespear  had 
purchased  a  property  in  Pencader  Hundred,  consist- 
ing of  a  farm,  griAt  and  saw-mills,  and  was  already 
prosecuting  a  successful  and  increasing  business.  In 
1854  the  water-power  of  these  mills  being  no  longer 
equal  to  the  constantly-growing  demand  on  the  part 
of  his  purchasers  for  larger  production,  he  sold  this 
property,  purchased  the  Dover  Mills  and  removed  to 
the  town,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  pros- 
ecuting his  affairs  with  such  energy  and  success  that 
he  soon  became  one  of  the  largest  and  widest-known 
ship-timber  manufacturers  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 
Besides  other  lai^ge  customers,  he  constantly  supplied 
the  navy-yards  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  during  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion  his  annual  output  amounted  to 
several  millions  of  feet  of  the  heaviest  ship-timber. 
The  profits  of  his  business  were  usually  invested  in 
farms  in  the  near  vicinity  of  Dover ;  and  these  he 
took  great  pride  in  bringing  up  to  a  high  standard  of 
productiveness  and  attractiveness.  He  also  now  be- 
came one  of  the  largest  peach-growers  of  the  county. 

Great  as  they  w^re,  the  activity  in  business  and 
the  numerous  claims  upon  the  time  of  Mr.  Shake- 
spear did  not  prevent  him  from  taking  a  prominent 
part  in  matters  of  religion,  charity  and  public  in- 
terests. 

Before  removing  from  New  Castle  County  in  1854, 

odiit  Church,  giTing  the  land  for  that  parpofle  In  18()7,  playing  a  promi- 
nent part  in  many  other  ways,  and  finally  becoming  an  earueft  and 
effective  '*  exhorter  and  local  preacher." 

1  William  Mclntire  married  a  niece  of  his  step-father,  Sarah  Horsey, 
daughter  of  Solomon  Hersey,  of  Bohemia  Manor,  Cecil  County,  Mary- 
land, who,  like  liis  brother  in  Delaware,  was  a  zealous  pioneer  3Ietho- 
dist,  in  whose  house  the  first  Methodist  Society  on  the  Eastern  Shore  of 
Marylnnd  was  organiz(>d  in  1771.  The  father  of  these  two  brolherst 
Isaac  Hersey,  a  Fn-nch  Huguenot  exile,  muriied  Elizabeth  Sluyter,  a 
daughter  of  Rachel  Crcason  (whose  gracdfather,  Pierre  Creason,  a  Picard 
Huguenot,  fled  to  Holland  about  I6:{8,  immigrated  with  his  family  to 
America,  1667,  and  settled  In  Harlem,  New  York),  by  her  first  husband, 
Henry  Slnyttr,  a  "tenant  in  common"  with  his  brother-in-law,  Samuel 
Bayard,  who  had  married  his  sister  Elizaholh,  of  a  large  part  of  the 
**  Lal>adie  tract,^*  on  Bohemia  Manor,  and  a  nephew  of  the  Labadist 
Bishop,  Dr.  Petrus  Sluyter,  who,  with  his  brothers,  natives  of  Wesel,  In 
Germany,  and  educated  at  Lt-yden  for  the  church,  immigrated  and  set- 
tled on  Bohemia  Manor,  1684. 

I  Edward  Uaman  was  the  oldest  son  of  William  Haroan,  a  descendant 
of  an  old  English  family  of  Yorkshire,  who  came  to  America  at  the  ago 
of  seventeen  years,  settled  in  Lower  Penn's  Neck,  Salem  County,  N.  J.  ; 
married  Catharine  Katz,  of  the  neighborhood  of  W^hite  Marsh,  near 
Philadelphia,  and  later  removed  to  New  Castle  County,  where  he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  life  as  a  farmer. 

s  She  was  a  daughter  of  James  Smith  (of  Irish  Presbyterian  ancestry, 
a  large  landni  proprietor  near  New  Castle,  and  an  active  member  and 
deacon  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  town)  by  bis  first  wife, 
Bebecca  Morton,  of  a  family  descended  from  one  of  the  early  Swedish 
sattlan  on  the  DeUware. 


ho  had  united  in  active  memberMhip  with  the  Old 
Salem  Methodist  Church,  which  his  maternal  grand- 
father had  founded,  and  to  which  his  parents  be- 
longed. Immediately  after  this  removal  his  mem- 
bership was  transferred  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Dover,  in  whose  official  boards  he,  in  turn, 
filled  the  position  of  steward  and  trustee,  and  for 
many  years  before  his  death  he  continuously  pre- 
sided over  the  latter  board.  Among  other  important 
positions  of  trust  and  confidence  he  was  called  upon 
to  fill  was  that  of  trustee  of  Dickinson  College,  at 
Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  of  the  Wilmington  Conference 
Academy,  at  Dover. 

It  was  his  habit  to  give  with  a  free  hand  to  all 
public  charities  worthy  of  support,  and  his  private 
benefactions,  of  which  few  but  the  recipients  ever 
knew,  were  numerous,  for  a  more  tender-hearted, 
sympathetic  man,  or  one  who  more  keenly  felt  and 
responded  to  the  promptings  of  human  kindness, 
never  lived. 

The  latter  trait  in  Mr.  Shakespear's  character, 
together  with  others  equally  prominent,  namely,  his 
sterling  integrity,  judicious  fair-mindedness,  the 
courage  of  strong  convictions,  caused  him  to  be 
widely  esteemed  and  respected,  and  not  infrequently 
to  be  named  for  important  public  trusts.  Although 
highly  appreciative  of  such  tokens  of  the  regard  of 
his  fellow-citizens,  he  never  would  (consent  to  allow 
his  name  to  go  before  the  people  for  their  suffrages 
until  he  accepted  the  nomination  to  represent  his 
county  in  the  State  Senate  from  1873  to  1877. 

His  political  sentiments  were  those  of  an  uncom- 
promising Jeffersonian  Democrat;  yet,  although  his 
convictions  were  strong,  neither  his  opinions  nor  his 
course  concerning  matters  of  public  policy  were 
those  of  an  unreasoning  partisan. 

He  was  elected,  and  on  the  organization  of  that 
body  received  at  the  last  session  of  his  term  nearly  a 
majority  of  the  votes  cast  for  president  of  the  Senate. 
During  both  sessions  he  was  chairman  of  the  most 
important  of  the  standing  committees,  viz.,  that  on 
corporations,  and  after  the  adjournment  of  his  last 
session  he  filled  the  responsible  position  of  president 
of  the  commission  appointed  by  the  Legislature  to 
reconstruct  and  furnish  throughout  the  Capitol  build- 
ing. In  these  positions,  as  in  others,  he  was  con- 
spicuous for  the  zeal  and  ability  with  which  he 
watched  over  the  interests  of  his  constituents  and  of 
the  public  at  large. 

The  paralysis  of  maritime  interests  after  the  war 
and  the  failure  of  many  of  the  ship-builders  who 
were  the  customers  and  heavy  debtors  of  Mr.  Shake- 
spear, together  with  the  shrinkage  in  values  of  real 
estate,  in  which  he  was  greatly  interested  about  the 
same  period,  caused  his  financial  failure.  This  mis- 
fortune did  not,  however,  break  his  spirit  or  paralyze 
his  energy  or  indomitable  courage.  He  started  again 
in  a  brave  struggle  to  retrieve  his  lost  fortune.  But 
the  physical  frame  which  had  stood  the  wear  and 
tear  of  near  three-score  years  of  restless  energetic  life 


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1084  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


MtUert  on  the  DeUware. 


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/^^Ji    {//eji^ Jt^--^^^ 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1085 


was  unequal  to  the  strain  and  broke  down  under  the 
heavy  weight  put  upon  it.  In  the  death  of  William 
Mclntire  Shakespear,  Sr.,  May  1,  1881,  it  was  felt 
and  expressed  that  the  commonwealth  had  lost  one 
of  her  most  esteemed  and  valued  citizens. 

Mr.  Shakeepear  left,  m  hiB  surTlvora,  his  widow  and  ilx  sons,  in  the 
order  of  their  birth  as  follows  : 

1.  Dr.  Edward  Oram  Shakespear,  a  physician  of  Philadelphia,  bom 
in  Pencader  Iluodred  1846,  prepared  for  college  at  the  Dover  Classical 
Intttitute,  entered  the  sophomore  class  at  Dickinson  College,  (^rlisle, 
Pa.,  1864,  graduated  A.B.  1867  and  received  the  degree  of  A.M.  1870. 
During  his  Inst  jear  at  college  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  and 
later  in  the  same  year  entered  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  from  which  celebrated  medical  school  he  received  his 
diploma  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  1869.  He  at  once  began  the  successful 
practice  of  his  profession  at  Dover.  During  the  sessiion  of  1873  he  was 
secretary  of  the  Senate  of  Delaware.  The  next  year  he  removed  to 
Philadelphia  and  immediately  became  connected  with  the  Eye  Depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  gradually  drifted  into  the 
exclusive  practice  of  Ophthalmic  Surgery  as  a  specialty.  His  first  publi- 
cation  was  the  announcement  and  deecription  of  a  new  and  ingenious 
Instrument  for  the  accurate  measurement  during  life  of  the  Interior  and 
exterior  of  the  eye.  It  attracted  wide  notice,  letters  of  inquiry  and 
congratulation  concerning  it  being  received  from  distinguished  eye 
surgeons  in  London  and  Paris  as  well  as  from  distant  parts  of  his  own 
country,  and  won  for  him  the  honor  of  mention  in  the  late  Professor 
Giufls*  centennial  hiittory  of  "  A  Century  of  American  Medicine  and 
Surgery,**  as  having  made  the  last  notiible  contribution  of  the  century. 
The  early  limitation  of  his  professional  services  exclusively  to  the 
specialty  of  Ophthalmic  Surgery  allowed  Dr.  Shakespear  considerable 
time  for  other  work.  He  chose  as  a  pastime  and  recreation  the  study  of 
pathology  and  medical  microscopy.  The  publication  of  the  results  of 
his  first  studies  in  this  line  in  1877  secured  for  hlui  the  Warren  Trien- 
nial Prize  of  four  hundred  dollars  in  a  competition  open  to  the  world, 
the  subject  of  his  researches  having  been  "The  Nature  of  Reparatory 
Inflammation  in  Arteries.**  Among  the  most  important  of  his  labors  in 
this  line  has  been  the  translation  and  annotation  of  a  large  French  work 
on  Pathological  Hif«toIogy,  which  became  the  text-book  of  many  of  the 
medical  colleges  of  Ameiica.  His  acquirements  in  this  department  of 
science  had  become  such  that  in  1885  many  of  the  prominent  physicians 
of  the  country  so  strongly  recommended  his  selection  by  the  Govern- 
ment to  investigate  the  plague  then  ravaging  Spain  that  in  the  autumn 
of  that  year  he  was  commissioned  by  the  President  to  visit  Europe  and 
India  for  the  purpose  of  studying  and  reporting  upon  the  causes,  mode 
of  spread  and  means  of  prevention  of  Asiatic  cholera.  This  Investiga- 
tion occupied  one  year  and  the  diwhargo  of  his  duties  led  him  to  Eng- 
land, Germany,  France,  Spain,  Morocco,  Italy,  Egj'pt,  Arabia  and  Hin- 
dnstan.  His  offlclul  report,  comprising  some  eight  hundred  octavo 
pages,  is  now  going  through  the  government  press  at  Washington.  Al* 
though  Dr.  Shakespear  has  continued  to  practice  his  specialty  with 
profit  and  success,  it  is  in  the  field  of  original  research  into  the  cause 
and  prevention  of  disease  that  he  has  achieved  his  widest  reputation. 
Since  his  return  home  he  has  experimented  on  hydrophobia  and  tetanus 
(lockjaw),  and  has  communicated  the  results  in  a  paper  read  before 
the  International  Medical  Congress  of  1887,  which,  besides  attracting 
much  attention  in  America,  has  appeared  in  many  of  the  foreign  Jour- 
nals between  London  and  Oilcutta. 

2.  Benjamin  Fimnklin  Shakespear,  bom  in  Pencader  Hundred 
1S48,  prepared  for  college  at  the  Dover  Classical  Institute,  entered  the 
elective  or  scientific  course  at  Dickinson  College  1864,  but  went  into  bus- 
iness before  taking  adegree.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and 
sale  of  petroleum  lubricating  oil  at  Chester,  Pa.  He  nuirrled,  1870,  Em- 
ma Laws,  daughter  of  James  L.  and  Priscllla  (Stytes)  Heverin,  of  Dover, 
and  has  four  children,  viz.:  1,  Catharine  Ilaman  ;  2,  Frank  Heverin  ; 
3,  William  Mclntire  ;  4,  Annie  Heverin. 

3.  James  Haman  Shakespear,  an  attorney-at-law,  of  Philadelphia, 
bom  1850,  prepared  for  college  at  the  Dover  Classical  Institute,  entered 
Dickinson  College  1865,  took  the  degree  of  A  B.  in  1869,  and  of  A.M.  in 
1872,  entered  as  a  student  at  law  in  the  office  of  James  H.  Heverin,  of 
Philadelphia,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  In  that  city  In  1875,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  the  active  and  successful  practice  of  his  profession,  first  as 
the  assistant,  afterwards  as  the  partner,  of  his  former  preceptor.  As  a 
stanch  Democrat  he  actively  engaged  in  the  political  contest  for  the 
Presidency  between  Horace  Greeley  and  General  Grant,  and  made  many 
effective  speeches,  both  in  Pennsylvania  and  Delaware  ;  but  since  that 
time  has  taken  no  active  part  in  politics.  His  constant  work  has  been 
such  that  no  member  of  the  Philadelphia  bar  of  his  age  has  had  more 
experience  or  greater  success,  and  his  genial  bearing  and  honorable 
course  have  gained  him  the  regard  and  respect  of  his  associates  of  the 
bench  and  the  bar.  In  1881  he  married  Annie  Priscilla.  daughter  of 
James  L.  and  Priscilla  (Stytes)  Heverin,  of  Dover.  His  wife  died  in 
1886,  w.thout  having  had  issue. 

4.  William  Mclntire  Shakespear,  Jr„  bora  1852,  educated  at  the 
Dover  Classical  Institute,  married,  1874,  Eliza  Walker,  daughter  of 
James  L.  and  Priscilla  (Stytes)  Hererin,  of  Dover.  He  resides  at  Dover, 
having  no  living  children. 


6.  Oeorga  Oscar  Shakespear,  bora  1856,  prepared  for  college  at  the 
Dover  Classical  Institute,  entered  Dickinson  College,  but  remained  there 
only  two  years ;  he  returned  home,  and  entered  as  a  student  of  law  in 
the  office  of  Hon.  Joseph  P.  Coroegys  He  abandoned  the  study  of  law 
for  more  active  pursuits,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  business  of  fire,  life 
and  accident  insurance  in  Philadelphia. 

6.  Louis  Shakespear,  born  1858,  educated  at  the  Dover  Classical  In- 
stitute and  the  Bryant  A  Stratton  Business  College,  of  Philadelphia, 
is  now  connected  with  the  Diamond  State  Iron  Manufacturing  Com* 
pany. 

7.  Victor  Arden  Shakespear  was  bom  1865  and  died  1869. 

A  saw-mill  was  built  on  Tumbling  Dam  on  Isaac's 
Branch  as  early  as  1772  by  John  Pennell,  and  subse- 
quently a  grist-mill  was  erected  at  this  point.  John 
Tucker  remembers  that  Henry  Molleston  had  a  grist- 
mill here  in  1805,  shingled  with  cedar  shingles,  as  it 
is  now,  with  two  or  three  run  of  stone.  Henry  Mol- 
leston was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Constitution  of 
Delaware,  sheriff  in  1787,  and  quite  an  extensive 
land-owner.  He  was  a  tall,  fine-looking  man,  and 
was  elected  Governor,  but  died  before  inauguration, 
in  1819.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Alexander  Molles- 
tine,  who  was  one  of  the  magistrates  of  the  Whore- 
kill  (now  Sussex  County)  in  1673.  Nathaniel 
Coombe,  Molleston's  brother-in-law,  administered 
the  estate  and  rented  the  mill  to  Jonathan  Elliott, 
who  added  a  carding-machine.  Sipple  &  Pennewill, 
of  Dover,  purchased  the  mills,  and  sold  them  to 
David  D.  Lewis,  who  operated  them  many  years.  In 
1859  Henry  Moore,  of  Montgomery  County,  Pa.,  pur- 
chased the  property,  and  immediately  began  to  make 
improvements.  He  introduced  the  new  process  into 
the  grist-mill,  and  subsequently  put  in  rollers  and 
steam-power.  The  mill  now  has  a  capacity  of  fifty 
barrels  of  flour  per  day.  The  saw-mill  and  carding- 
machine  are  no  longer  in  operation. 

There  was  a  saw-mill  many  years  ago  on  Puncheon 
Run,  owned  by  Judge  Richard  Cooper.  It  was 
abandoned  about  1820.  Judge  Cooper  lived  on  that 
part  of  "Brothers*  portion"  purchased  in  1699  by 
Richard  Wilson  from  Wm.  Southebee.  The  Cooper 
mansion  is  an  old  brick  building,  now  occupied  by 
J.  C.  Tumbleson.  Richard  Cooper,  the  father  of  the 
judge,  came  from  England  and  settled  in  Maryland. 
His  children  were  Hon.  Richard  Cooper,  before  men- 
tioned ;  Dr.  Ezekiel  Cooper,  who  lived  in  Camden ; 
and  Dr.  Ignatius  T.  Cooper,  whose  children  are 
Richard  G.,  a  cashier  at  New  Castle ;  Dr.  Ezekiel  W., 
of  Camden ;  Dr.  William  H.,  State  Senator,  of  Ken- 
ton; Ignatius  T.,  lawyer  and  planter  in  Alabama; 
Alexander  B.,  lawyer  at  Wilmington.  Rev.  Ezekiel 
Cooper,  a  brother  of  Judge  Cooper,  was  a  celebrated 
Methodist  preacher. 

The  Howell  Mill  is  next  above  the  Mt  Vernon 
Mill  on  Isaac's  Branch,  and  has  been  owned  by  the 
Howells  many  years.  Thomas  Howell  was  a  deaf- 
and-dumb  man,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  ownership 
of  the  mill  by  his  son  Hanson,  who  has  put  in  steam 
and  the  full  roller  process.  The  Camden  Mill  was 
next  above,  and  was  owned  by  Judge  Wm.  Warner, 
who  had  a  grist-mill  there  contemporaneously  with 
the  Mt.  Vernon  Mill  about  1800.    Dr.  Isaac  Jump 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


owned  this  mill  subsequently,  and  it  i&  now  owned  by 
William  Lindale,  who  has  improved  the  property. 

The  Allaband  Mill  was  above  Camden,  and  was  fed 
by  the  stream  in  its  upper  course,  where  it  receives 
the  small  streams  and  ditches  from  what  was  once 
known  as  the  forest,  but  which  has  long  since  disap- 
peared. December  1,  1785,  Richard  Mason  sold  part 
of  "  Long  Reach "  tract,  lying  on  the  north  side  of 
Isaac's  Branch,  to  William  Allaband.  Wharton's 
mill-pond  was  there  then.  April  2,  1767,  Hillary 
Herbert  sold  three  hundred  and  seven  acres  more  of 
"  Long  Reach  "  to  William  Allaband.  A  grist-mill, 
fulling-mill  and  distillery  appear  to  have  been  oper- 
ated by  Mr.  Allaband  about  1800,  and  the  grist-mill 
for  many  years  thereafter.  This  mill  property  de- 
scended to  Martin  Allaband,  who  in  1868  sold  it  to 
Henry  Todd,  who  operated  it  until  1880,  when  a  great 
flood  swept  the  mill  and  dam  away,  since  when  it  has 
not  been  re-built. 

The  following  were  the  persons  assessed  in  1785  in 
St.  Jones'  Hundred  and  that  part  of  East  Dover 
Hundred  lying  east  of  St.  Jones'  Kiver.  All  west  of 
the  river  were  assessed  in  Murderkill  Hundred.  The 
names  marked  with  a  star  (*)  are  assessed  from  ten 
pounds  upwards,  the  Hon.  John  Dickinson  being  the 
highest,  and  rated  at  two  hundred  and  seventy-five 
pounds,  out  of  a  total  of  fifteeen  hundred  and  twen- 
ty-one pounds : 


Win.  Abbet. 
Andrew  Bowman. 
Daniel  Billator. 
Ezakial  B«dwell. 
John  Brown. 
John  Barber. 
Jonathan  Brown. 
John  Brady. 
Kathan  Bradabaw. 
Joshua  Baker. 
Thomas  Buther. 
BeoJ.  Brown. 
JonaUian  Clark. 
Joseph  Cleft.* 
James  Carbine. 
Mascal  Garke. 
Ezekiel  aarke.** 
James  Clarke. 
Margt.  Coldwell.* 
James  Clarke. 
Thomas  Carlile. 
James  Coleman. 
Isaac  Caveler. 
John  Dickinson,  Esq.* 
John  Dickinson,  Jr. 
Joseph  Dieuley. 
Daniel  Durham. 
Henry  Downs. 
Benj.  Durham. 
Rebecca  Durburrow. 
James  Eyler. 
Thomas  Erarey.* 
Peter  Edmonson. 
Thomas  Emmery,  Jr. 
Wm.  Esgate. 
Wm.  Fields. 
Joseph  Fields. 
John  Farit. 
James  Gardner.* 
John  Gordon,  Esq.* 
Joshua  Gordon.* 


James  Gordon. 
James  Grimes. 
Lewis  Granve. 
Robert  Grimes. 
John  Grimes,  Jr. 
Charles  Hillard.* 
Samuel  Hardson.* 
Zadock  Harmon. 
Nehemiah  Hanson. 
John  Haffens. 
James  Johnes. 
Thomas  Jackson.* 
Ebenezer  Jackson. 
Robert  Irons. 
John  Irons. 
Daniel  Jones. 
John  Jeames. 
John  Ingram. 
Ciesar  Knight. 
Robert  Kerkley. 
Vincent  Loockerman.* 
Purnel  Loftley.* 
Mason  Lucus. 
Joseph  Lanthron. 
John  Harim.* 
John  Mauset.* 
Carmon  Mason. 
Mark  MaxBfield. 
Bot\J.  Malser. 
Asa  Manlove. 
Widow  Marim. 
Ann  Maxwell. 
James  Marten. 
Jonathan  Needham.* 
John  Nickerson.* 
Daniel  Newnham.* 
John  Newmand. 
George  Pennocks. 
Jonathan  Pleasonton. 
John  Pleasonton.* 
Thomai  Parker. 


Jonathan  Polllni. 

Caleb  Perdee. 

John  Patton.* 

David  Pell. 

Nathaniel  Pleasonton.* 

John  Quilten. 

Wm.  Rodney.* 

John  Ross. 

Matthew  Ruth. 

George  Rowan. 

John  Roberson.* 

Thos.  Roberts,  schoolmaster. 

James  Sykes,  Esq  * 

John  Steavens. 

Daniel  Slaughter. 

Denness  Shay. 

Elixa  Start. 

Zad<K:k  Start. 


Richard  Smith,  Ek].* 
Thomas  Smith. 
John  Torbert. 
Joseph  Taylor. 
Joseph  Van  Pelt. 
William  Warton. 
David  Ware.* 
William  War«.* 
Ann  Ware.* 
Nathan  Wilkinson. 
Caleb  Williams. 
BeDJ.  Wallace. 
Wm.  WTiita.* 
Nathan  Wright. 
Edward  Wright. 
Solomon  Wright 
ChaiitM  Marim,*  minor. 
Francis  McMuIlen,  minor. 


William  S.  Heverin  has  a  store  at  Little  Creek 
Landing,  which  was  successfully  conducted  by  James 
L.  Heverin  for  a  number  of  years,  and  is  elsewhere 
noticed.  William  started  a  store  on  Morgan's  Cor- 
ners, afterwards  owned  by  James  Barcus,  on  property 
now  owned  by  Abram  Moore.  Charles  Wharton  had 
a  store  where  Charles  Pardee  now  resides,  and  be- 
came wealthy  through  merchandising  at  that  point. 
He  commenced  carrying  eggs  in  a  basket,  and  retired 
worth  $80,000.  He  had  a  store  when  it  was  custom- 
ary to  keep  whiskey  along  with  groceries,  and  often- 
times the  former  drew  more  customers  than  the  latter. 
William  G.  Postles  married  one  of  Wharton's  daugh- 
ters, and  now  owns  the  old  place.  Another  daughter 
is  Mrs.  Evans,  of  Dover.  Joshua,  a  brother  of 
Charles  Wharton,  resides  on  the  Dover  Road.  Sam- 
uel Wharton  resides  in  Dover,  and  Elijah  resides  in 
Philadelphia.  William  Hutchinson  was  engaged  in 
storekeeping  for  ten  years  succeeding  the  war,  and 
now  his  son-in-law,  Jacob  S.  Cowgill,  has  charge  of 
the  busine:!i8. 

Capital  Gbange  No.  18,  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry, was  organized  in  1875  with  H.  D.  Learned, 
Master  ;  W.  F.  McKee,  Overseer ;  Edward  Young, 
Lecturer;  John  H.  Berry,  Steward  ;  Henry  Dager,  As- 
sistant Steward  ;  Edward  Haman,  Chaplain  ;  Wm. 
Dyer,  Treasurer  ;  Thomas  Wilson,  Secretary. 

Schools  and  Churches. — Dover  is  the  central 
point  for  schooln  and  churches  in  this  hundred,  and  the 
history  of  the  churches  and  schools  of  that  town  is  to 
a  certain  extent,  a  part  of  the  history  of  Eiast  Dover 
Hundred.  The  first  schools  were  pay-schools,  and  not 
until  the  public-school  system  was  adopted  did  educa- 
tion become  thoroughly  organized.  In  1829  St.  Jonee' 
Neck  District,  No.  14,  had  eighty  children  from  ^re 
to  twenty-one  years  of  age,  but  no  school-house.  Dis- 
trict No.  15  contained  Jones'  school-house,  but  no 
school  in  operation,  and  eighty  children  of  school  age. 
No.  16,  or  Forest  of  Dover,  was  estimated  to  hare 
seventy  children,  with  no  school  in  operation.  No. 
17,  Forest  of  Dover,  northwest  of  Dover,  had  eighty 
children  of  school  age,  with  no  school  in  operation. 
District  No.  18,  which  included  the  town  of  Dover, 
had  two  schools  in  operation,  with  twenty-five  and 
thirty  pupils  respectively,  out  of  one  hundred  and  ten 
pupils  of  school  age.  District  No.  19,  partly  io  Dover 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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and  partly  Id  Murderkill,  had  a  school-house  known 
as  Irons',  now  Keraey's  school-house,  with  twelve 
pupils  attending  in  a  district  estimated  to  contain 
ninety-six  pupils  of  school  age.  There  are  now  ten 
school  districts  in  the  hundred  exclusive  of  Dover. 
8t.  Jones^  Neck  school  was  started  about  1836.  Boli- 
val  J.  Howe  taught  here  many  years,  and  was  so  suc- 
cessful that  his  patrons  doubled  his  salary  without 
any  solicitation  on  his  part.  Each  district  elects  a 
clerk  and  two  commissioners  to  manage  the  school. 
There  are  two  schools  for  colored  children  in  the  hun- 
dred. Robert  Massey  taught  the  first  school  in  the 
vicinity  of  Du  Font's  mills  about  1840.  There  was  a 
log  school-house  near  Moorton  about  1830,  and  James 
Hook  was  the  first  teacher.  Subsequently  the  school- 
house  was  removed  to  its  present  location,  and  is 
known  as  District  No.  10.  There  is  a  colored  school 
and  church  near  Du  Pont  Station. 

Tub  Methodist  Church  has  a  house  of  worship 
near  CowgilPs  called  the  St.  Jones'  Neck  M.  E. 
Church.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Enoch  Stubbs,  of 
Milford,  January  29,  1871.  There  has  been  a  class 
and  preaching  point  here  for  many  years.  There  was 
a  great  revival  under  Enos  R,  Williams'  preaching 
about  fifty  years  ago,  and  some  seventy  members 
joined  the  church.  Prominent  members  here  have 
been  Charles  Wharton,  George  Knight,  Martin 
Knight  and  Robert  Wilson.  James  L.  Heverin  whs 
the  first  Sunday-school  superintendent  about  1845. 
Rev.  Silas  W.  Murray,  of  Smyrna  Circuit,  organized 
a  class  at  Little  Union,  Du  Pont  Mills,  about  1850, 
with  eleven  members,  having  Robert  Kearney  as 
class-leader.  They  started  in  a  slab  shanty  and  after- 
wards built  a  log  house,  and  established  a  Sunday- 
school.  In  1883  the  present  chapel  was  built,  and  there 
is  a  membership  of  sixty-two  pers<ms.  Central  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  was  started  at  Moore's  Cross- 
Roads  in  1860,  by  Joseph  Moore,  who  began  with  a 
class-meeting  in  the  school-house.  The  class  began  to 
work  in  earnest,  assisted  by  some  local  preachers,  and 
as  a  result  received  additions  until  it  numbered  sixty 
members.  A  Sunday-school  was  organized  about  the 
same  time,  with  Joseph  Moore  as  superintendent. 
He  continued  in  that  capacity  for  thirteen  years  and 
was  class-leader  many  years.  Central  Church  was 
built  largely  through  the  influence  of  Joseph  Moore, 
who  was  the  first  leader.  The  house  was  dedicated 
November  18,  1863,  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Cook,  and 
the  society  belongs  to  Smyrna  Circuit. 


CHAPTER  LVIl. 

WEST   DOVER   HUNDRED. 

West  Doter  Hundred  was  erected  February  7, 
1877,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Gravelly  Run, 
a  branch  of  the  Choptank  River,  and  the  head- waters 
of  the  northern  branch  of  St.  Jones*  Creek,  and  Ken- 


ton Hundred ;  on  the  east  by  East  Dover  Hundred, 
from  which  it  is  divided  by  the  road  that  runs  from 
Seven  Hickories  southeasterly,  crossing  the  northern 
branch  of  the  St.  Jones'  Creek  at  the  Buckingham 
farm,  through  Cassonia  to  the  Allaband  Mill  Pond ; 
on  the  south  by  North  Murderkill  and  Culbreth 
Ditch,  and  west  by  Maryland.  The  western  part  of 
the  hundred,  as  well  as  of  the  State  adjacent  to  the 
Maryland  line,  is  elevated  fifty-five  to  sixty  feet  above 
tide-water  and  is  the  highest  plane  in  the  State, 
forming  a  water-shed  between  the  eastern  and  west- 
ern slope. 

All  the  ditches  on  the  western  slope  are  branches  of 
the  Choptank  and  flow  into  the  Chesapeake,  and  the 
eastern  slope  drains  eastward  into  Delaware  Bay. 
The  western  part  of  the  hundred  was  for  over  a  hun- 
dred years  in  dispute  and  uncertainty,  and  most  of 
the  lands  were  granted  under  Maryland  warrants  and 
patents,  and  were  settled  by  Mary  landers.  Early 
warrants  had  been  granted  by  Delaware  for  many  of 
the  tracts  included  within  what  is  now  known  as  West 
Dover  Hundred,  but  the  titles  lapsed  and  they  were 
warranted  and  resurveyed  under  Maryland  titles. 
The  boundary  line  between  Maryland  and  Delaware 
was  run  in  1763,  and  fully  confirmed  in  1775,  which 
brought  into  the  jurisdiction  of  Delaware  the  greater 
part  of  the  disputed  west  half  of  the  hundred,  which 
had  been  claimed  by  Maryland. 

Among  the  lands  patented  by  Maryland  were 
"  Scotten's  Outlet,"  which  was  surveyed  for  Richard 
Scotten  December  7,  1737.  A  portion  of  this  tract 
was  sold  in  parts  to  Arthur  Farman  and  others.  The 
original  home  tract  (sixty  acres)  is  owned  by  Thomas 
H.  Milbourn. 

Part  of  the  original  tract  adjoining  the  homestead 
contains  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres,  and  is  owned 
by  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Spencer  Scotten,  deceased,  who 

was  the  son  of Merritt,  to  whom  the  land   was 

left  by  his  father,  Richard  Scotten.  Philemon  Scot- 
ten,  who  was  born  December  23,  1823,  is  the  owner 
of  another  tract  which  adjoins  that  of  Spencer.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  in  the  session  of 
1886,  and  is  the  father  of  twenty-four  children. 

The  first  home  of  the  Scottens  was  an  old  log 
house  built  by  William  Scotten,  and  is  still  standing 
on  the  farm  of  Thomas  H.  Milbourn.  ''Smiths 
Outlet,"  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  two  acres,  situ- 
ated in  the  western  part  of  the  hundred,  near  the 
Maryland  line,  was  taken  up  April  2,  1746,  by  Sam- 
uel Robinson  on  a  Maryland  warrant.  It  was  resur- 
veyed in  July,  1770,  for  Richard  Smith. 

Within  the  six  years  following,  Richard  Smith  had 
purchased  "Holly  Island,"  "Smith's  Advantage" 
and  "  Long  Ridge,"  which  names  weYe  merged  into 
that  of  the  original  tract.  On  February  5,  1745, 
Richard  Smith  had  taken  up  several  other  tracts  on 
and  near  the  Maryland  line,  part  of  which  is  now 
owned  by  Thomas  Culbreth,  of  Dover.  These  lands, 
at  his  death,  were  left  to  Richard  Smith,  Elizabeth, 
later  the  wife  of  William  Culbreth,  and  to  Mary,  the 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARB. 


wife  of  Moses  Boon.  By  leases  and  releases  under 
date  of  November  12,  1767,  William  Culbreth  and  his 
wife  obtained  part  of  the  land:§  which  are  now  in  part 
owned  by  the  family.  Culbreth's  mansh  adjoining 
was  drained  in  1800.  A  tract  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty-four  acres,  called  "  Penelope's  Advantage," 
was  taken  up  February  14,  1745,  by  Penelope  Free- 
man. In  1779  the  wife  of  Martin  Irons  transferred 
one-half  acre  to  Rev.  Wm.  Thomas,  which  is  now  the 
site  of  Thomas'  Chapel. 

Martin  Irons,  whose  body  is  buried  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church-yard  at  Dover,  was  a  descendant  of 
Simon  Irons,  who  located  large  tracts  of  land  in  Duck 
Creek,  and  Little  Creek  Hundreds,  and  lived  on  or 
near  Simon's  Creek  or  Dona  before  1700. 

The  original  tract  of  Martin  Irons  is  owned  by 
John  Jarrell,  who  lives  on  the  old  homestead,  Eklward 
Hubbard,  E.  M.  Booach,  Thomas  Rash,  Emory  Scotten. 
Margaret  Nicholls,  George  T.  Voshall  and  John  D- 
Yoshall,  sons  of  Obadiah.  The  latter  married  Eliza- 
beth Williams,  who  died  in  Febuary,  1887.  William 
D.  Voshall  was  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  postmaster 
of  Hazlettville. 

"  Proctor's  Purchase"  was  the  name  of  a  tract  taken 
up  by  John  Durborrow  on  a  warrant  dated  December 
3,  1734,  adjoining  "  Sipple's  Adventure."  By  his 
request  it  was  transferred  to  Thomas  Proctor,  who 
sold  it  to  Henry  Forman  August  6,  1779.  Heron 
Point,  a  tract  within  the  "  Purchase,"  on  which  Hartley 
is  situated,  was  surveyed  for  Richard  Mannering. 

On  June  23,  1748,  a  tract  of  land  was  taken  up  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Furness  Branch  (now  called 
Powell's  Branch  or  Culbreth's  Ditch),  on  Choptauk 
River,  by  Peter  Lowber,  which  passed  to  Michael 
Furbee,  who  sold  it  to  William  Price,  to  whom  it  was 
surveyed  May  23,  1767.  Hugh  Durburrow  on  Au- 
gust 19, 1737,  took  up  "Springfield,"  containing  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Cul- 
breth's  Ditch.  Morris  Freeman  and  Owen  Cains 
then  owned  land  adjoining. 

**  Tappahanna"  was  a  large  tract  of  five  or  six  hun- 
dred acres  on  Tappahanna  Creek,  from  which  it  took 
its  name.  In  1763  Waitman  Sipple  was  the  owner  of 
it  and  from  him  it  parsed  to  Henry  Elbert,  William 
Brown  and  George  Syburn  respectively. 

The  Tappahanna  Ditch  Company  was  incorporated 
in  1800  and  the  ditch  was  soon  after  opened. 

"  Burrowfield  "  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  acres,  which  was  taken  up  at  a  very  early  day,  in 
1790  was  granted  to  John  Day,  who  bought  another 
large  tract  on  the  north  side  of  Tappahanna,  called  the 
"Home  Tract."  Burrowfield  and  the  Home  Tract 
adjoined  each  other  and  are  adjoining  the  Tappa- 
hanna tract. 

Burrowfield  and  the  Home  Tract  were  left  to 
Matthias  Day  (who  in  1817  was  the  owner  of  both 
tracts).  At  his  death  it  was  left  to  C.  H.  B.  Day,  of 
Dover,  and  Rebecca  Day  (later  Mrs.  Thomas  Clements), 
and  now  (1888)  belongs  to  Dr.  Thomas  O.  Clements, 
of  Dover.    The  Home  Tract  passed  to  the  three  younger 


children  and  is  now  owned  by  James  Hutcbins  and 
the  heirs  of  John  Cleaver.  The  old  Day  House,  built 
in  1775,  is  standing  on  this  place,  being  occupied  by 
Mrs.  John  Cleaver. 

A  tract  of  land  called  Beaver  Swamp,  lying  on  a 
branch  of  Choptank  River  called  Tanner's  Branch  or 
Culbreth 's  Swamp  Branch,  was  warranted  in  1747  by 
Waitman  Sipple  and  re-surveyed  to  Henry  Wells  in 
1767,  who  also  in  that  year  took  up  two  other  tracts 
adjoining  Tanner's  Branch.  These  lands  were  a 
short  distance  southwest  of  Hazlettville.  On  Feb- 
uary 13,  1765,  Wells  sold  the  lands,  then  containing 
^ve  hundred  and  fifty  one  acres,  to  Charles  Lyons, 
Thomas  Bond  and  William  Morton,  and  on  March  9, 
1779,  Lyon  and  Bond  sold  to  Joseph  Bnrchenal. 
The  latter  came  from  Maryland  where  his  father, 
Jeremiah  Burchenal,  had  lived  for  many  years.  The 
land  of  Joseph  Burchenal  remained  in  the  family 
many  years,  but  about  1817  it  passed  to  John  Slay, 
who  slill  owns  part  of  it. 

A  tract  of  land  called  the  "Hour  Glass,"  from  its 
peculiar  shape,  years  ago  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  Virdins,  who  still  own  it. 

Of  the  tracts  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  hundred, 
Canterbury  and  Hopewell  join  Proctor's  Purchase, 
and  extend  a  considerable  distance  in  East  Dover 
Hundred.  The  former  was  taken  by  Benjamin 
Shurmer,  who  was  prominent  in  the  county  from 
1700  to  his  death  in  1736.  It  contained  five  hundred 
acres  and  passed  to  his  children.  The  greater  part  of 
the  "Long  Reach"  tract,  containing  one  thousand 
acres,  situated  on  Isaac's  Branch,  is  in  East  Dover,  and 
embraces  the  old  AUaband  property. 

CuvRCKES.—  Thomai'  CAaj[?«/.— The  first  church  or 
chapel  built  by  the  people  of  West  Dover,  who  later 
became  Methodists,  is  known  as  Thomas'  Chapel. 
Penelope  Freeman  (later  the  wife  of  Owen  Irons) 
donated  the  land  for  the  use  of  the  people  from  the 
tract  "  Penelope's  Adventure,"  to  the  Rev.  William 
Thomas,  who,  on  December  24th,  1779,  conveyed 
it  to  Stephen  Black,  Thomas  Seward,  Daniel  Wheeler, 
Nathan  Harrington,  Richard  Shaw,  Thomas  Scotten, 
Nathan  Bailey,  Edward  Callahan  and  Stephen  Black, 
Jr.  The  first  chapel  was  built  of  logs,  and  was 
known  as  the  "  Log  Chapel." 

It  had  been  erected  upon  the  half-acre  of  land 
before  the  title  was  conveyed,  as  in  the  deed  mention 
is  made  of  the  half-acre,  "  together  with  a  preaching- 
house  or  chapel  erected  thereon."  The  logs  were 
dove-tailed  together,  and  tradition  holds  that  it  "had 
not  a  nail  in  it." 

In  this  old  chapel,  Francis  Asbury  (later  Bishop), 
Freeborn  Garrettson  and  others  preached  many  times. 
It  is  related  in  an  old  newspaper  that  on  the  13th  of 
May,  1781,  after  Asbury  had  preached  in  the  old 
chapel,  "  Harry,  a  negro,  preached  upon  the  *  Barren 
Fig-Tree.' "  Asbury  says :  "  The  circumstance  was 
entirely  new,  and  the  white  people  looked  on  with 
attention."  This  was  probably  the  first  instance  a 
negro  had  preached  to  whites. 


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1089 


It  is  held  in  the  neighborhood,  among  the  old 
citizens,  that  the  pulpit  was  a  large  stump  sawed 
square  upon  the  top,  and  set  up  evenly  upon  its  roots. 
The  Log  Chapel  was  removed  about  1798,  and  a 
frame  building  erected  in  its  place.  The  latter  was 
dedicated  by  the  Rev.  Freeborn  Giirrettson,  then 
traveling  through  this  part  of  the  country.  The 
present  chapel  was  built  of  brick,  in  1825,  and  rebuilt 
in  1877.* 

The  dedication  sermon  of  the  first  brick  church 
was  preached  by  the  Bev.  Solomon  Higgins.  It  is 
situated  on  the  Dover  road,  about  a  half-mile  west  of 
Chapeltown  (Westville).  Among  those  who  preached 
in  this  church  previous  to  1850  are  James  Bateman, 
Eliphalet  Reid,  Joseph  Mason,  Joshua  Humphries, 
Samuel  S.  Hare,  Ignatius  T.  Cooper, William  L.  Gray, 
Enoch  B.  Williams,  Goldsmith  D.  Connell  and 
Charles  S.  Thompson.  It  has  now  about  sixty  mem- 
bers, and  is  in  Marydel  Circuit. 

The  burial-ground  attached  to  the  chapel  covers 
three-fourths  of  an  acre  of  ground.  It  was  once 
open  to  both  bond  and  free,  and,  were  it  not  for  a  few 
recently-erected  head-stones,  would  be  almost  un- 
recognizable. 

Union  M,  E,  Church, — ^There  are  no  early  records 
which  can  lead  to  an  authentic  history  of  this  church, 
nor  does  the  recollection  of  its  members  serve  to 
throw  any  light  on  it.  The  first  house  of  worship 
erected  by  its  members  was  a  frame  building,  which 
was  bought  in  1859  by  William  Slay,  who  moved  it 
to  its  present  position  on  his  farm,  where  it  is  now 
used  as  a  bam.  The  earliest  board  of  trustees  of 
which  there  is  any  account  was  composed  of  seven 
members,  viz. :  Greorge  Jones,  William  Slay,  William 
Lewis,  John  Aarons,  John  Seward,  Nathan  Jones, 
Powell  Aarons.  The  present  building  is  also  frame, 
having  been  dedicated  December  25,  1859,  by  Bev. 
John  B.  Mann.  The  membership  numbers  about 
fifty.  The  society  originally  belonged  to  the  Dover 
Circuit,  but  it  is  now  embraced  in  Wyoming.  In  the 
burial  plot  attached  to  the  chapel  is  the  grave  of 
"  John  Seward,  the  first  placed  in  this  yard,  and  who 
died  February  23rd,  1847." 

.McElwee'i  Chapel  (Methodist),  now  called  Asbury 
Chapel,  was  built  before  1829.  On  the  10th  of  October 
in  that  year  Joseph  Bash  sold  one  hundred  and  twenty 
square  perches  to  Myers  Carson,  Joseph  Clark,  John 
Jones,  John  Townend  and  Bobert  Hargadine,  as 
trustees  of  McElwee*s  Chapel.  It  is  on  the  Smyrna 
Circuit  and  is  served  by  the  ministers  of  the  charge. 
Its  name  McElwee  was  derived  from  a  minister  of 
that  name,  who  was  on  the  circuit  at  the  time  it  was 
built. 

Bethesda  Church  (Methodist  Protestant)  was  built  in 
1864  and  rebuilt  in  1883.  Before  the  erection  of  the 
chapel  the  members  met  and  worshipped  in  the  Tap- 
pahanna  Marsh  School-house.  The  ground  was  given 
the  congregation  by  Mrs.  Annie  J.  Cox,  daughter  of 

>  P«rt  of  this  Information  was  obtained  from  Miss  Charlotte  Voehell, 
great-granddaughter  uf  Panelope  Irons. 

69 


Judge  Joseph  J.  Bowland.  William  Virdin,  J.  D. 
Voshell,  P.  D.  Marvel  and  William  Slaughter  were 
the  first  trustees.  Dr.  Daniel  Ewell  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon.  It  has  now  a  membership  of 
seventy. 

Wesley  CAapc/ (Parker's)  was  founded  in  1880.  This 
is  one  of  the  two  churches  supported  by  the  colored 
people  of  this  hundred,  the  other  being  the  Lock- 
wood.  Joshua  Parker  contributed  the  land,  with  the 
provision  that  they  use  it  aldo  for  school  purposes. 
This  was  done,  and  the  school  is  now  taught  by 
colored  teachers. 

Hawkins  M,  E,  Church,  Hartley,  was  founded  in 
1840.  It  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  series  of  meetings  held 
at  the  house  of  Thomas  Landman.  A  rapid  increase 
of  the  members  necessitated  more  commodious  quar- 
ters than  were  found  in  Jones'  School-house,  where 
they  held  services  every  Wednesday.  In  1840  they 
built  and  occupied  a  new  chapel,  in  which  services 
were  held  until  September  18, 1886,  when  it  was  sold 
to  Frederick  Mask,  who  now  has  a  blacksmith  and 
wheelwright  shop  in  it.  The  present  chapel  stands 
about  fifty  yards  east  of  the  old  one.  The  ground  for 
the  former  was  donated  by  Walter  Clark.  The  society 
belongs  to  the  Marydel  Circuit,  and  has  a  member- 
ship numbering  sixty. 

Southern  M.  E.  Churchy  Marydel,  is  embraced  in 
BeaVer  Dam  Circuit.  The  congregation  at  the  organ- 
ization, in  1868,  worshipped  in  the  Marydel  School- 
house,  with  twenty-five  members.  The  members 
separated  and  the  church  soon  declined.  The  trustees 
at  its  organization  were  Joshua  Downs,  W.  H. 
Whitely,  David  B.  Heather  and  W.  H.  Colscott. 
Since  its  dissolution  the  surviving  members  have 
identified  themselves  with  the  Old-Side  Church  of 
Maryland. 

II AZLETTYILLE  is  a  promising  hamlet,  situated  about 
nine  miles  west  of  Dover.  It  has  had  three  name^, 
respectively — ^Sewardville,  Georgetown  and  the  pres- 
ent, which  was  conferred  by  the  Legislature  in  1854 
in  honor  of  Governor  Hazlett,  who  died  in  1823. 
Nothing  authentic  concerning  its  first  settlement  can 
be  learned,  except  that  its  site  is  part  of  a  tract  once 
owned  by  John  Kersey.  His  son,  who  was  sheriff 
in  1851  and  1852,  is  still  a  resident  of  the  place.  The 
first  store  was  opened  in  1806  by  James  Bedwell,  being 
followed  two  years  later  by  another,  kept  by  John 
Lord,  both  of  which  were  abandoned  in  a  short 
time.  Others  were  started  in  succession  and  failed 
in  a  like  manner. 

Dr.  Thomas  Hubbard  in  1850  built  a  house  and 
store,  in  which  was  also  kept  his  ofiice.  He  was  a  prac- 
ticing physician  in  this  place  for  thirty  years,  moving 
away  in  1880,  since  which  time  William  George  has 
continued  the  store.  Dr.  John  M.  Towns  shortly 
after  the  war  opened  the  store  in  which  is  located  the 
post-office.  He  is  the  present  postmaster,  having 
been  appointed  in  1872. 

Dr.  Downs  is  the  only  physician  in  this  locality. 
During  the  war  he  served  as  surgeon  in  the  army. 


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1090 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


and  was  stationed  a  short   time  at  Port  Deposit, 
Maryland. 

Manufactures. — In  1843,  the  plant  of  an  iron 
foundry  was  erected  by  Thomas  Lockwood  and  John 
Slay,  but  ceased  operation  a  year  later.  Its  estimated 
capacity  was  ten  plowshares  per  week.  The  means  of 
heat  was  furnished  by  a  large  blast-furnace,  into  which 
the  air  was  forced  by  large  bellows,  the  motive-power 
being  supplied  with  the  aid  of  horses.  The  thick 
woodland  thereabouts  was  utilized  for  fuel. 

A  packing-house  was  inclosed  and  operated  in  1835 
by  Isaac  Lockwood,  who  was  succeeded  by  Henry 
Scott  and  Joseph  Green. 

Kersey's  wagon-works  were  established  in  1848  by 
John  S.  Kersey,  who,  upon  being  elected  sheriff  in 
1850,  sold  them  to  his  brother  Jonathan.  The  latter 
operated  the  works  until  his  death  in  1886,  when  they 
passed  to  his  nephew,  Powell  Green.  This  is  the 
largest  works  of  its  kind  outside  of  Wilmington. 

There  is  also  a  saw-mill  at  Hazlettville  which  was 
erected  in  1884  by  William  George.  It  has  a  manu- 
facturing capacity  of  two  thousand  feet  of  lumber  a 
day. 

Marydel  (Halltown)  is  situated  in  the  south- 
west part  of  the  hundred.  It  is  wholly  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  Queen  Anne  County,  Md.,  there  being 
but  six  dwellings,  a  school-house  and  a  fruit  and 
vegetable  canning  establishment  on  the  Delaware 
side.  The  first  settler  on  this  site  was  a  colored 
man  named  Williams,  who  built  a  log-house  and 
worked  out  by  the  day.  William  Hall,  a  shoemaker, 
moved  here  about  1850,  and,  buying  between  two  and 
three  hundred  acres  of  ground,  improved  it  for  farm- 
ing purposes.  After  the  completion  of  the  railroad, 
in  1865,  through  the  town,  he  disposed  of  his  proper- 
ty. At  that  time  William  Clarke  built  a  hotel,  which 
was  burnt  down  five  years  later. 

The  "Canning  House,"  for  the  packing  of  fruits 
and  vegetables,  was  built  in  1872  by  a  stock  company, 
of  which  Wesley  Temple  was  president.  It  was 
operated  but  one  season,  after  which  it  remained  idle 
until  1879,  when  it  was  rented  to  William  Knowles, 
who  operated  it  one  year.  In  1881  it  was  occupied 
by  F.  Slemmer,  who  is  the  present  proprietor. 

The  capacity  of  the  establishment  is  fifteen  thou- 
sand cans  of  goods  per  day. 

Wesiville  and  Pierson's  Cross-Roads  are  hamlets  in 
the  hundred. 

Hartley  (Arthurville  or  Butterpat)  is  lo- 
cated three  miles  north  of  Marydel  on  the  Delaware 
&  Chesapeake  Railroad.  The  land  was  originally 
part  of  "  Proctor's  Purchase,''  taken  up  by  John 
Durborrow  December  3,  1734,  and  subsequently 
transferred  by  his  representative  to  Thomas  Proctor. 
The  earliest  habitation  directly  on  the  site,  of  which 
we  have  any  knowledge,  was  a  log-house,  built  by 
James  Foraker.  William  Arthurs,  moving  here 
from  Murderkill,  took  up  a  tract  of  land  and  erected 
a  house,  which  is  now  in  use  as  a  stable,  owned  by 
Walter  Clark.    William  Mallalieu  then  built  a  sec- 


ond frame-house,  in  which  he  started  a  store,  which 
is  now  (1888)  kept  by  Charles  Purcell.  In  1882  there 
were  but  two  houses  in  the  village.  Since  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  railroad  station,  in  that  year,  Hartley 
has  expanded  to  its  present  proportions. 

The  Hartley  Hotel  was  built  in  1883.  It  will  ac- 
commodate twenty-five  guests. 

The  post-office  was  established  in  the  same  year, 
when  Richard  Grant  was  appointed  postmaster,  he 
being  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent,  S.  C. 
Jones.  It  has  now  a  population  of  about  one  hundred 
and  five  persons. 

Slaughter's  Station  was  established  in  1866. 
In  the  fall  of  1873  it  was  burnt  down,  but  was  re- 
placed with  the  present  building  the  same  year. 
Since  the  establishment  of  the  passenger  station  at 
Hartley  it  has  been  used  exclusively  for  freight  The 
store  at  this  plac«  was  built  by  William  Slaughter  in 
1866,  and  is  at  present  kept  by  R.  A.  Davis.  **Dodd*s 
Saw-mill,"  having  a  capacity  of  two  thousand  feet 
of  lumber  per  day,  is  located  to  the  right  of  the  sta- 
tion. It  originally  stood  on  the  farm  of  William 
Slaughter,  by  whom  it  was  built  in  1860.  After  its 
sale  to  the  present  proprietor,  William  A.  Dodd,  the 
latter  moved  it  to  its  present  site. 

Post'Officei  and  Postmasters, —  Hazlettville  poet- 
office  was  established  in  1836.  The  postmasters  have 
been  William  Slay,  Henry  Pratt,  William  D.  Voshall, 
Dr.  J.  M.  Downs  (fifteen  years).  Pierson's  Cross- 
Roads  post-office  was  established  in  1861.  The  post- 
masters have  been  Jonathan  Thomas,  Joseph  H. 
Thomas  and  John  H.  Lord.  Slaughter's  Station 
post-office  was  established  in  1868,  with  William 
Slaughter,  Joseph  Poore,  James  Messick,  H.  C.  Coff- 
man  and  Robert  A.  Davis  postmasters.  Hartley 
post-office  was  established  in  1883,  with  Richard 
Grant  and  S.  C.  Jones  postmasters. 

Schools.— William  Dickey,  who  came  from  Ire- 
land early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  was  undoubted- 
ly the  first  teacher  in  this  part  of  the  State.  There 
being  no  school-houses  established,  he  taught  as  many 
as  were  in  approachable  distance  of  his  house.  His 
body  was  also  the  first  placed  in  the  burial-ground 
of  Thomas'  Chapel.  In  1825  a  log  school-house  was 
erected  on  the  Kersey  tract  (embraced  now  in  Haz- 
lettville) by  Thomas  Lockwood  and  John  Stant. 
Sessions  were  held  in  the  old  log  school-house  until 
1836,  when,  the  districts  being  created,  they  were 
held  in  Pratt's  school-house.  Its  next  use  was  for 
lumber  storage,  being  taken  away  shortly  after  to 
make  room  for  other  improvements.  The  names  of  a 
few  teachers  within  the  recollectien  of  old  citizens 
were  Dr.  Thomas  Hubbard,  John  Slay,  William  Slay, 
John  Lockwood  and  James  Wolcott.  The  Day 
School  was  erected  by  Matthias  Day  in  1828,  on  the 
Burrowsfield  tract.  Shortly  after  the  free  districts 
were  created  it  was  moved  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
below  its  original  site.  Among  the  early  teachers 
were  Hon.  Eli  Saulsbury,  ex-Governor  Gtove  Sauls- 
bury,  William  Rome,  James  Temple,  John  Whitta- 


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ker,  John  Hopkins,  Caleb  Burchner,  Dr.  Cahill, 
John  Powell,  John  Streets,  Isaac  Owens,  Alexander 
Jackson  and  Martha  Clarke.  In  1830,  under  the 
established  school  system,  the  Tappahanna  School 
(46)  was  opened.  The  list  of  teachers  contains  the 
names  of  Dennis  Emery,  P.  K.  Meredith,  Louisa 
Slaughter,  Lydia  Sharpless,  Emma  Sharpless,  Ellen 
Virdin,  William  Virdin,  Alexander  Virdin,  Mary 
Voshall,  William  Johns,  Thomas  Johns,  Powell 
Johns,  Powell  Melerson,  John  Hawkins,  George 
Hawkins,  Dr.  T.  O.  Clements,  Oliver  Bowe,  Richard 
Allee  and  James  Griffith. 

Hose  Valley  (79).— On  April  14,  1869,  the  voters  of 
this  district  met  at  the  house  of  Dennis  Connor  and 
decided  that  "there  being  86  scholars,  the  lawful 
number,  in  that  vicinity,  the  establishment  of  a  sep- 
'arate  District  is  made  necessary." 

In  that  year  a  school -house  was  erected  and  ses- 
sions were  held  there  until  1880,  when  it  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  the  present 
house  was  built  at  a  cost  of  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-five  dollars.  James  B.  Powell,  the  present 
clerk,  has|held  the  office  continuously  since  1859. 
The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  teachers:  Garrett 
Louis,  Miss  H.  A.  Casson,  F.  M.  Hawkins,  Martha 
F.  Powell,  Martha  Janvier,  George  B.  Beynolds, 
Babcock  F.  Sharp,  Susan  Jump  (five  years),  M.  A. 
Clarke,  W.  T.  Moore,  J.  H.  Babbitt,  A.  M.  Cubbage, 
E.  Cooper,  W.  H.  Willis,  A.  M.  Gooden,T.  K.  Jones, 
Flora  A,  Webb,  Ella  Putnam,  E.  B.  Slaughter, 
William  P.  Taylor.  Flora  B.  Cahoon,  William  L. 
Gooding  and  Maggie  Kersey.  The  highest  number 
of  pupils  at  one  session  was  forty. 

Hawkins*  School  (96). — ^This  district  is  composed  of 
parts  taken  from  15,  16,  and  46,  and  was  surveyed  by 
John  Slay  and  John  M.  Foraker,  who  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  Levy  Court  in  1864.  That  year  a 
school-house  was  erected,  fifty  pupils  attending  the 
sessions.  This  was  used  until  1886,  when,  by  an  act 
of  the  Legislature,  an  appropriation  of  one  thousand 
dollars  was  granted  for  a  new  one.  The  latter  was 
finished  in  July,  1887,  and  the  sessions  were  held 
there  in  the  following  term. 


CHAPTEB   LVIII. 


DUCK  CREEK  HUNDRED. 


The  term  "Hundred  of  Duck  Creek"  is  found  on 
record  in  1685,  and  is  given  as  embracing  the  land 
lying  between  Duck  Creek  and  its  southwest  branch, 
called  Little  Duck  Creek,  and  extending  westward  to 
the  Maryland  line;  but  the  region  was  not  finally 
settled  until  many  years  later.  This  division  left 
Bombay  Hook  Island  in  New  Castle  County.  Old 
Duck  Creek  was  a  very  crooked  stream,  and  made  a 
sharp  turn  about  a  mile  from  the  bay,  and  then  ran 
thirteen  miles  to  the  point  where  it  joined  Dona  Biv- 


er  and  entered  the  bay.  Some  time  previous  to  1740 
the  route  to  the  bay  from  the  landing  was  shortened 
by  cutting  a  thoroughfare  at  the  turn,  and  Hon.  Ja- 
cob Stout,  in  1820,  cut  the  Leipsic  or  Little  Duck 
Creek  through.  In  1841  this  thoroughfare  was 
made  a  part  of  the  northern  boundary  of  Kent 
County,  thus  placing  Bombay  Hook  Island  in  Duck 
Creek  Hundred. 

The  hundred  is  well  watered  by  Duck  Creek  and 
Lit  lie  Duck  Creek  and  the  branches  of  those  two 
streams — Sheen ey's  Branch,  Irons*  Branch,  Dawson's 
Branch,  Mill  Creek  and  several  other  smaller  streams. 
These  branches  drain  nearly  every  farm  in  the  hun- 
dred, making  the  land  exceedingly  fertile.  Wheat 
and  corn  are  the  principal  cereals  produced.  Great 
crops  of  wheat  are  grown,  and  in  Raymond's  and 
White  Hall  Necks,  near  the  town  of  Leipsic,  the 
wheat  average  is  equal  to  any  section  in  the  United 
States.  A  large  portion  of  the  land  near  the  bay 
and  creeks  was  formerly  marsh,  of  which  much  has 
been  drained  and  reclaimed. 

Peaches  are  raised  in  large  quantities  in  the  west- 
ern sectioQ,  the  planting  of  the  trees  and  shipments 
having  been  commenced  about  the  same  time  as  in 
Kenton  Hundred.  Other  vegetable  products  are 
grown  in  large  quantities.  The  Delaware  Railroad 
runs  down  the  western  side,  and  forms  the  on  ly  rail 
communication.  The  creeks  have  been  the  main  ar- 
teries for  the  wheat  products  of  Upper  Kent  for 
years.  Duck  Creek  is  navigable  to  Smyrna  Landing, 
and  before  the  railroad  was  built  as  many  as  twenty 
vessels  were  employed  in  the  wheat  trade.  Little 
Duck  Creek,  or  Leipsic  Creek,  as  it  is  now  called,  is 
navigable  to  the  town  of  Leipsic,  the  northern  part  of 
that  town  being  in  this  hundred. 

From  the  marshes  near  Leipsic  in  early  days  large 
numbers  of  muskrats  were  caught,  and  as  many  as 
one  hundred  thousand  skins  in  one  year  have  been 
shipped  from  there.  The  population  of  Duck  Creek 
Hundred,  exclusive  of  Smyrna  is,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  eighteen. 

Early  Settlements.— The  causes  of  the  settle- 
ment of  this  section  are  fully  shown  in  the  general 
history.  One  of  the  earliest  tracts  of  land  to  be  lo- 
cated was  Bombay  Hook,  which  was  granted  by  pat- 
ent from  Governor  Edward  Andros,  December  15, 
1676,  as  follows : 

**  Whereas,  there  is  a  certain  parcel  of  land 
called  Bombey's  Hook,  lying  and  being  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Delaware  Bay,  the  which  by  virtue  of  a 
warrant  hath  been  layd  out  for  Peter  Bayard,  the  8*d 
land  lying  on  the  mouth  of  a  certain  creek  in  the 
Bay  called  Ducke  Creek.*' 

It  was  surveyed  by  Captain  Edward  Cantwell,  and 
returned  as  Containing  six  hundred  acres. 

Peter  Byard  or  Bayard  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
Bayard  family  in  this  county  and  a  son  of  Nicholas 
Bayard,  who  married  Anneke,  a  sister  of  Peter 
Stuyvesant,  and  emigrated  to  New  Amsterdam. 
Peter  Byard  removed  to  "  Bohemia  Manor  **  with  the 


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HISTOFY  OF  DELAWAKii;. 


Labailists,  and  resided  there  four  years  after  the  war- 
rant WHS  granted.  He  purchased  the  Indian  right, 
and  the  transaction  is  thus  recorded  : 

"  Be  it  known  unto  All  men  by  these  presents  that  I,  Mechacksit, 
chief  SHchem  of  Cohonsink,  an  old  Indian  owner  and  Proprietor  of  all 
that  tract  of  land  commonly  called  by  the  Christians  Bompeis  Hook, 
and  by  the  Indians  Novsink,  for  and  in  consideration  of  one  Gunn,  four 
handfulls  of  powder,  three  motts  coats,  one  anchor  of  liquor  and  one 
Kettle  before  the  signing.  .  .  . 

**The  tract  remained  in  the  poesessiou  of  the  family  many  years.'' 

A  great  part  of  the  island  was  marsh  land  and  has 
been  reclaimed.  There  are  now  about  eleven  thou- 
sand acres  of  marsh  and  good  land  in  the  island.  The 
present  owners  are  William  Reybold,  Jane  Smith, 
William  D.  Hayes,  Lucius  P.  Campbell  and  Lydia  A. 
W.  Pyle.  From  the  earliest  times  the  island  was  a 
pleasure  resort.  Parties  would  organize  from  the  sur- 
rounding country  and  eithtr  tent  out  or  form  excur- 
sions for  the  day.  The  first  hotel  was  built  in  1848 
by  John  R.  Brick,  who  managed  it  until  1859,  when 
it  was  sold  to  Eli  Logan,  who  sold  the  property  to 
William  Reybold.  This  hotel  still  stands  but  has  not 
been  used  for  ten  years. 

In  1868  James  W.  Spruance,  of  Smyrna,  built  the 
present  hotel  near  Pearson's  Cove.  He  also  built  a 
number  of  tents  for  the  accommodation  of  families, 
a  dance  hall  and  a  pier.  In  1870  the  steamer  '*  Pilot 
Boy  "  made  regular  trips  between  the  Hook  and 
Philadelphia,  the  "Ariel"  and  **  Thomas  Clyde*' 
succeeding.  At  present  the  hotel  is  conducted  by 
Lucius  P.  Campbell  and  is  the  most  popular  resort  on 
the  bay.  In  1870  Enoch  Spruance  erected  a  hotel 
and  pier  two  miles  below,  and  gave  the  place  the  name 
of  Freeland.  This  property  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1876  and  never  rebuilt. 

The  Bombay  Hook  Light  House,  at  Bombay  Hook 
Landing,  was  erected  in  1829  and  its  keeper  was  Dun- 
can Stuart,  an  old  soldier  of  the  revolution,  who  died 
in  1859.  During  the  war  of  1812,  British  soldiers 
frequently  landed  on  the  island  and  robbed  the  farm- 
ers. In  1813  a  company  was  organized  at  Smyrna  to 
defend  the  island  with  Denney  Stevenson  as  captain. 

Francis  Whitwell  in  1868  was  elected  one  of  the 
justices  of  Whorekill  County,  then  embracing  the 
territory  of  Kent  County,  ^e  purchased  several 
tracts  of  land  on  each  side  of  Little  Duck  Creek  near 
its  mouth.  The  land  on  the  north  side  is  now  known 
as  White  Hall  Neck,  Dutch  Neck  and  Raymond's 
Neck.  The  tract  called  White  Hall  Neck  was  the 
first  fast  land  on  the  north  side  of  Little  Duck  Creek 
up  from  the  mouth  and  contained  four  hundred  acres. 
It  was  warranted  in  1675.  *'  Whitwell's  Chance," 
lying  on  Little  Duck  Creek  adjoining  White  Hall  on 
the  west,  was  warranted  August  14,  1675,  and  con- 
tained one  thousand  acres.  These  tracts  passed  to 
William  Frampton,  whose  daughter  Elizabeth  sold 
five  hundred  acres  to  Joseph  Growden  and  five  hun- 
dred acres  to  Griffith  Jones,  10th  of  June,  1686. 
William  Frampton  and  Francis  Whitwell  died  in 
1686  and  their  large  properties  passed  to  other  fami- 
lies.   White  Hall  Neck  still  bears  the  name  given  by 


Francis  Whitwell  to  the  place  that  probably  was  his 
home,  for  in  the  early  days  it  was  very  desirable  to 
be  near  a  navigable  stream. 

Francis  Whitwell  and  John  Richardson  (who  took 
up  large  tracts  in  the  western  section  of  Duck  Creek) 
on  December  27,  1680,  petitioned  the  court  of  St. 
Jones  for  two  thousand  acres  of  land  **  in  some  con- 
venient place  so  that  they  could  clear  for  the  building 
of  a  mill,  the  aforesaid  promising  to  perform  as  soon 
as  the  workmen  and  necessaries  could  be  provided." 
Land  was  granted  and  surveyed  on  the  north  side  of 
Duck  Creek  in  Kent  County  west  of  the  King's  Road 
in  the  western  part  of  the  hundred.  "  White  Hall  " 
came  into  the  possession  of  Andrew  Hamilton,  who 
sold  it  to  Samuel  Chew,  January  28,  1742.  Chew 
died  in  1744  and  in  the  sett  lement  of  the  estate  in 
1748  it  passed  to  Elizabeth,  his  daughter,  the  wife  of 
Edward  Tilghman.  Parts  of  this  land  are  now  owned 
by  Mr!».  Mary  Hofiecker,  Samuel  Harrington,  Alexan- 
der G.  Cummins,  J.  Frank  Denney,  James  Starling 
and  Dr.  Henry  Stout.  On  the  property  held  by  Dr. 
Henry  Stout,  Governor  Jaco'b  Stout  lived  in  a  house 
erected  by  Thomas  McElroy  in  1756.  In  one  corner 
of  the  yard  is  an  old  tree  used  at  one  time  as  a  whip- 
ping-post. 

Adjoining  White  Hall  on  the  north  was  a  large 
tract  of  land  called  ''  Petty  France,"  which  in  1678 
was  warranted  to  Nicholas  Bartlet,  who  also  owned 
other  large  tracts.  Jacob  Allee  July  7,  1741,  took  up 
a  tract  of  land  in  Tadpole  Neck,  through  which  Tay- 
lor's Gut  ran,  containing  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres  and  March  26,  1757,  four  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  adjoining  the  smaller  tract.  He  also 
about  1743,  by  a  resurvey,  took  up  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  Little  Creek  Hundred. 

"  Westmoreland  "  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  and 
"  Coventry,"  a  tract  of  four  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres,  west  of  the  tracts  mentioned,  were  in  1680  sur- 
veyed to  John  Hillyard.  **The  Mother  Plantation" 
of  two  hundred  acres  was  also  taken  up  by  him  in 
1675  and  was  adjoining  "  Petty  France  "  and  **  White 
Hall." 

Francis  Whitwell  purchased  several  other  pieces  of 
land  besides  those  mentioned.  A  large  tract  of  two 
thousand  acres  lying  on  the  south  side  of  the  main 
branch  of  Duck  Creek,  warranted  December  15,  1681, 
was  assigned  to  William  Frampton,  April  22,  1686, 
and  surveyed  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth,  April  24, 
1687,  as  the  "  Bear  Garden."  Hay  Point  Landing  is 
on  George  Short's  land  west  of  Fleming's  wharf, 
where  the  iron  bridge  now  is.  These  lands  were  sold 
as  the  property  of  Isaac  Short.  A  road  built  by  Hon. 
Jacob  Stout  ran  through  Smyrna  to  Bombay  Hook 
Light  House.  There  is  a  brick  hotel  there  which  has 
been  standing  since  1812.  This  was  all  in  the  "  Bear 
Grarden,"  which  is  now  owned  by  William  C.  Mitchell, 
Jerry  Goldsborough,  Joseph  Bewley  and  others. 
"  The  Watering  Point "  has  been  a  stopping  place  for 
vessels  since  1760. 

John  Hillyard,  one  of  the  first  Justices  of  the  Peace 


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1093 


of  Kent  County,  upon  its  organization,  and  a  member 
of  the  Council  in  1683-84,  probably  resided  at  first 
upon  the  property  that  he  called  "  The  Mother  Planta- 
tion "  adjoining  "  Petty  France,"  and  "  White  Hall." 
He  also  took  up  other  tracts,  one  of  which  was  "  Hill- 
yard's  Adventure,"  containing  six  hundred  acres.  It 
was  surveyed  to  him  November  26,  1677»  and  lay 
between  Iron's  Branch  and  Hillyard's  Branch,  west  of 
the  fast  land  of  Bombay  Hook  about  three  miles.  Hill- 
yard  sold  to  Simon  Irons  March  1, 1684 ;  and  February 
12,  1705,  the  property  was  sold  by  Francis  Irons  to 
John  Brinekloe,  and  the  greater  part  is  now  owned 
by  John  M.  Voshell.  A  tract  of  five  hundred  acres 
called  "  Roberts  Chance  "  situated  on  the  south  side 
of  Duck  Creek  and  west  of  the  Jay  land  was  surveyed 
to  Robert  Palmatry  November  6, 1679,  by  a  grant  from 
the  Court  of  Sussex  County,  conditioned  upon  pay- 
ment of  one  bushel  of  wheat  for  ever)(  hundred  acres. 
This  grant  was  confirmed  by  William  Penn,  January 
26, 1684,  and  sixty  acres  are  now  owned  by  Daniel 
Palmatry  (a  direct  descendant  of  the  original  paten- 
tee) ;  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  acres  by  Samuel  Catts ; 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  by  the  heirs  of  Dr. 
William  Cummins;  ninety-five  acres  by  John  Hart- 
man  and  fifty-six  acres  by  the  heirs  of  Robert  Robin- 
son ;  about  the  same  time  a  tract  called  ''Golden 
Grove"  was  granted  to  Robert  Palmatry.  It  next 
came  into  the  possession  of  David  Fury,  who  sold  it 
to  John  Jay,  November  16, 1778.  John  Jay  also  re- 
ceived several  other  grants  of  land  between  "  Golden 
Grove  "  and  Smyrna,  which  are  now  owned  by  Mat- 
thew Ford,  William  H.  Ford  and  George  W.  Cum- 
mins. At  the  intersection  of  Green's  Branch  with 
Duck  Creek,  a  short  distance  above  Smyrna  and  on 
the  southwest  side  of  the  branch,  at  the  mouth,  Wil- 
liam Green  had  laid  out  for  him  on  a  warrant  Novem- 
ber 17, 1680,  one  thousand  acres  of  land  called  "  Gravel- 
end,"  formerly  laid  out  for  William  Shurmer,  of  which 
he  sold  one-half  February  15, 1687,  to  Frances  Barney. 
The  remainder  he  retained,  and  it  passed  by  gift  March 
6,  1723,  to  his  three  sons,  George,  John  and  Thomas. 
George  inherited  the  old  plantation  and  also  purchased 
of  Christopher  Stoutry  "Belle's  Endea  vor,"  Novem- 
ber 12,  1716.  This  tract  lay  in  Little  Creek  Hundred 
on  Little  Duck  Creek.  The  sons  John  and  Thomas 
became  possesi^ed  of  large  landed  estates,  and  were 
leading  men  in  the  vicinity.  James,  the  son  of 
Thomas  Green,  inherited  the  land  at  the  Cross  Roads 
and  sold  it  in  small  quantities  to  settlers  who  built  up 
Smyrna.  Thomas,  also  a  son  of  Thomas  and  brother 
of  James,  owned  the  old  landing  property,  which  he 
sold  August  13,  1772,  to  William  Jordan.  This  old 
landing  which  was  such  an  important  point  in  days 
past,  is  nothing  now  but  a  few  ancient  houses  and  a 
store  kept  by  Captain  Alexander  Scout.  The  popula- 
tion is  now  not  over  thirty  persons.  At  one  time  it 
was  a  great  grain  centre.  In  1812  grain  was  shipped 
in  large  quantities,  and  the  British  would  chase  boats 
up  the  creek.  In  1837  a  steamboat,  the  "  Oscar  Thomp- 
son," afterward  the  "  Kent,"  ran  between  there  and 


Philadelphia.  About  1851  the  wharves  were  covered 
with  bark,  wood,  coal,  lime,  lumber,  ship  timber,  etc. 
Grain  was  brought  not  only  from  the  surrounding 
country  but  from  Kent,  Queen  Annes  and  Caroline 
Counties,  Maryland.  It  was  sold  to  Smyrna  mer- 
chants, the  largest  buyer  being  John  Cummins,  and 
deposited  in  the  granaries,  of  which  there  were  seven 
at  one  time.  As  many  as  seven  vessels  a  day  loaded 
with  grain  at  the  wharves,  sloops,  schooners  and 
packets  were  constantly  plying  up  and  down  the  creek 
carrying  away  the  products  of  the  surrounding  country 
to  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Boston,  and  bringing 
back  lime,  stone,  grain,  coal  and  merchandise  of  every 
description.  The  price  of  grain  for  the  surrounding 
country  was  regulated  by  the  price  here.  The  gra- 
naries still  stand,  but  are  rapidly  going  to  ruin.  Two 
ship-yards  gave  constant  employment  to  a  large  num- 
ber of  working-men.  Among  the  boats  that  ran  to 
Philadelphia  were  the  "Swan,"  "Star,"  "Wilson 
Small  "  and  "  H.  S.  Bright."  The  large  boat  owners 
were  Robert  Patterson,  John  Cummins  and  John 
Darragh.  These  boats  were  built  by  John  Mustard. 
In  1854  Sutton  &  Cloud  launched  two  vessels,  the 
"  Amanda  "  and  "  Cathay,"  for  McCraken  &  Kennedy. 
From  1866  to  1874,  nineteen  boats  were  built  by  R.  F. 
Hastings,  with  a  tonnage  of  five  thousand  five  hundred 
and  forty-five  tons,  and  valued  at  $314,100.  The 
largest  vessel  ever  built  here  was  the  "  A.  H.  Howe," 
launched  August  26, 1871.  It  was  of  six  hundred  tons, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  long,  thirty-two  and 
one-half  feet  beam,  and  eleven  and  one-half  feet  depth 
of  hold.  Rothwell's  Landing,  two  miles  below,  is 
now  the  landing  place  for  Smyrna.  The  bridge  at 
the  old  landing  was  built  in  1833,  the  Levy  Court 
of  New  Castle  County  paying  $250  and  the  court  of 
Kent  county  $250. 

A  part  of  Gravesend  lying  in  the  forks  of  Dutch 
Creek  and  Green's  Branch,  at  the  mouth  of  the  latter, 
parsed  to  Benjamin  Shurmer,  who  in  August  19, 1716, 
sold  eight  acres  to  William  Down,  who  on  March  28, 
1767,  conveyed  to  Thomas  Woodward  thirteen  hun- 
dred and  sixty-ene  square  feet  adjoining  a  burying 
ground  belonging  to  the  Quakers.  This  is  recorded 
as  being  in  the  place  laid  out  for  a  town  called  Salis- 
bury. This  town  is  now  known  as  Duck  Creek,  so- 
called  because  it  is  near  the  head  of  Duck  Creek,  and 
was  the  first  town  in  this  vicinity.  It  was  laid  out  by 
Benjamin  Shurmer  before  1718,  as  in  that  year  Abra- 
ham Cuff,  who  was  one  of  the  first  purchasers  of  lots 
in  the  then  new  town  of  Dover,  is  mentioned  as  being 
of  the  town  of  Salisbury,  Kent  County.  Samuel 
Taylor  sold  a  lot  in  Salisbury.  February  19,  1776, 
which  he  had  bought  of  Benjamin  Shurmer.  Shurmer 
sold  it  on  August  10,  1732,  to  William  Hammon,  who 
on  August  9,1749,  sold  it  to  Ellinor  Wooten. 

Silas  Spearman  was  one  of  the  first  to  build  a  store 
in  Salisbury.  He  was  father  of  the  Spearman  who 
first  planted  peaches  for  the  market  in  Kenton  Hun- 
dred. The  old  Spearman  store  is  still  in  existence, 
and  is  a  brick  building  on  the  southwest  corner  of 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


the  roads.  It  is  now  occupied  by  W.  Glanden,  and 
is  the  only  store  there.  In  1832  there  were  three 
stores  in  the  town,  kept  by  James  Legg,  John  Ander- 
son and  Robert  Bailey.  A  free  negro  kept  a  black- 
smith-shop, and  near  by  was  a  saw,  and  grist  and 
bolting-mill,  kept  by  Robert  Holden.  There  are 
now  two  blacksmith-shop^  and  sixteen  dwelling- 
houses,  with  a  population  of  eighty. 

Between  Smyrna  and  the  Landing  is  an  old  place 
called  Wapping,  so  named  after  a  suburb  of  London. 
It  is  now  chiefly  occupied  by  negroes,  but  in  the 
flourishing  tim^es  of  Smyrna  Landing  was  a  stopping 
place  to  water  horses.  A  Dr.  Lovegrove  kept  a  drug- 
store there  in  1830. 

The  Bristol  Naval  Store  Company,  through  Benja- 
min Shurmer,  took  up  twenty-five  acres  of  land,  which 
he,  in  1720,  sold  to  the  Pennsylvania  Land  Com- 
pany, which  had  obtained  about  five  thousand  acres 
of  land  in  Milford  Hundred.  These  lands  were  all 
kept  under  lease  until  July  5,  1762,  and  August, 
1765,  when  they  were  sold  at  auction  in  Pbila- 
delph'a  along  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
the  manor  of  Freith,  which  had  been  bought  of 
Shurmer.  On  August  20, 1766,  Michael  Offley  bought 
four  acres  along  Green's  Branch,  including  the  new 
mill  house  and  mill  property.  He  had  purchased  of 
Roger  Pugh  (Miller)  ninety-five  acres,  Henry  Trox- 
Bon,  October  27,  1770,  three  and  three-quarter  acres 
and  of  Samuel  Morris  eight  acres.  Denny's  Mill  is 
located  on  this  property. 

"  Pearman's  Choice  *'  was  granted  by  William  Penn, 
March  26, 1684,  to  Henry  Pearmau.  It  was  on  the 
south  side  of  the  branch  of  Duck  Creek,  afterwards 
called  Pearman's  Branch,  and  contained  six  hundred 
acres.  Two  hundred  acres  of  it  was  sold  to  Andrew 
Love,  June  10,  1691.  He  died  intestate  and  the  land 
escheated.  William  Strickland  petitioned  for  the 
tract  November  16,  1743.  He  came  in  possession 
May  28,  1752,  and  shortly  after  sold  to  John  Cook. 
It  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  C.  E.  Peterson  and  the 
heirs  of  A.  E.  Mitchell.  Another  tract  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  Pearman  conveyed  in  1686  to  William 
Edwards,  from  whom  it  passed  to  Philip  Denny,  who, 
on  the  12th  of  August,  1741,  by  deed  of  gift,  con- 
veyed it  to  his  sons,  John  and  Christopher  Denny, 
who  divided  it  equally,  May  8,  1765.  A  part  of  this 
tract  is  now  owned  by  George  W.  Cummins,  who 
married  a  granddaughter  of  Philip  Denny.  Another 
portion  is  owned  by  J.  V.  Hoflecker.  Henry  Pear- 
man's  daughter  survived  him  and  afterward  sold  to 
William  Cahoon,  who  sold  to  John  Jay.  This  land 
is  also  owned  by  George  W.  Cummins  at  present. 

Belmont  Hall  is  on  the  Pearman  tract  and  is  now 
the  home  of  Mrs.  C.  E.  Peterson.  It  was  formerly 
owned  by  Governor  Thomas  Collins,  who  purchased 
it  May  24,  1771,  from  John  Moore.  It  descended,  at 
his  death,  to  his  son,  Dr.  Wm.  Collins,  and  was  by 
him  sold,  January  3,  1827,  to  John  Clark,  who  left  it 
to  his  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Carrie  E.  Peterson,  into 
whose  possession  it  came  in  1867.    The  house  is  one 


of  the  oldest  in  the  county  and  was  built  in  1753. 
When  Governor  Collins  moved  into  it  he  improved 
it.  The  grounds  are  beautifully  laid  out,  and  it  is 
probably  the  finest  home  in  the  county. 

Thomas  Collins  was  high  Bherifl*of  Kent  County  in 
1767,  governor  in  1787,  *88,  *89,  four  years  a  member 
of  the  council,  and  brigadier-general  of  the  militia 
from  1776  to  1783,  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas.  He  organized  and  maintained  at  his 
own  expense  a  brigade  during  the  Revolution,  and 
died  March  29,  L789.  During  the  war  a  sentinel  was 
posted  on  the  observatory  and  was  shot  by  a  British 
scout.  In  the  fire-place  of  the  old  house,  Ebenezer 
Cloak's  wife  and  the  wife  «f  Governor  Collins 
moulded  bullets  for  the  American  soldiers.  Eben- 
ezer Cloak  was  a  great-grandfather  of  the  present  pro- 
prietor. In  1776  he  fitted  out  a  privateer,  the  boat 
was  chased  aground  by  a  British  Man-of-War,  and 
Cloak  captured  and  confined  in  an  English  prison, 
where  he  died.  The  story  is  current  that  during  the 
life-time  of  Governor  Collins  the  Delaware  Legisla- 
ture met  at  the  hall.  This  is  an  error,  for  the  reason 
that  it  was  not  until  May  4,  1792,  three  years  af\er 
the  death  of  Governor  Collins,  that  the  Legislature 
met  in  Smyrna.  It  was  on  that  date  that,  owing  to  a 
difliculty  with  the  county  authorities,  the  Legislature 
adjoined  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Hale,  who 
kept  the  hotel  now  known  as  the  Smyrna  House. 

Thomas  Collins,  on  April  1,  1767,  took  out  a  war- 
rant for  four  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land 
called  "  Gloster,"  where  he  then  lived,  on  the  south 
side  of  Dawson's  Branch.  The  property  was  origin- 
ally warranted  December  13,  1677,  to  George  Morton. 
He  also  purchased  "  Elk  Home  "  and  "  Coventry  " 
tracts  adjoining,  the  latter  having  been  originally 
granted  to  John  Hillyard,  March  15,  1680.  Collins 
was  sherifi^at  the  time  of  the  purchase  of  **  Gloster." 
The  old  house  in  which  he  lived  stood  until  1S81, 
when  it  was  replaced  by  a  large  frame  structure.  In 
the  rear  of  the  house  about  two  hundred  yards  is  the 
cemetery  of  the  Collins  family,  where  the  Governor 
is  buried.  These  tracts  are  now  owned  by  Miss  Julia 
Ann  Collins  and  Mrs.  Dr.  B.  S.  Goatee  (great-grand- 
daughters of  Governor  Collins),  Mrs.  Carrie  Cavender, 
Thomas  Denny  and  the  Alexander  Peteraon  heirs. 

"  Sheerness,"  a  tract  east  and  northeast  of  "  Glos- 
ter," lying  between  Dawson's  and  Sheerneas'  branches 
of  old  Duck  Creek,  contained  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  and  was  warranted  to  Peter  Baucom 
November  9,  1680,  and  by  George  Morton  as  hi^  ad- 
ministrator, was  sold  to  Robert  French,  who  left  it  by 
will  to  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Dr.  John 
Finney,  of  New  Castle.  Their  son,  David,  October 
18,  1760,  conveyed  it  to  Thomas  Collins,  and  it  is 
now  owned  by  John  Mustard,  of  Smyrna. 

North  of  "  Sheerness  "  and  between  Dawson's  and 
Iron's  branch,  was  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres 
called  "  Islington,"  granted  to  Tom  pass  Batha  Sep- 
tember 22^  1681,  and  assigned  soon  after  to  Francis 
Whitwell.    It  was  sold  by  Wm.  Berry,  his  adminia- 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1095 


trator,  to  Francis  Richardaon,  February  22, 1688.  It 
is  now  owned  in  part  by  John  A.  Nicholson  and  the 
heirs  of  A.  Peterson. 

"Benefield,"  a  tract  of  one  thousand  acres,  is 
described  as  being  on  the  north  side  of  the  southwest 
branch  of  Duck  Creek  (Little  Duck  Creek)  and  was 
between  Banister's  branch  and  Frenchman's  branch. 
Evan  Jones,  by  will,  March  21, 1721,  gave  his  dwel- 
ling and  plantation,  a  part  of  *'  Benefield,''  to  George 
Martin  and  Philip  Denney,  for  thirty  years  in  part- 
nership and  for  ninety  years  to  their  heirs.  George 
Martin  died  leaving  his  son,  George,  who,  with  Philip 
Denny,  son  of  Philip,  Sr.,  possessed  the  land.  George 
Martin  died  without  issue  and  Philip  Denny  left 
seven  children,  of  whom  Francis  and  Philip  Denny 
were  administrators.  These  lauds  are  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Wm.  Denny,  of  Dover,  one  of  the  heirs. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1712,  Evan  Jones  sold  to 
Isaac  and  Elisha  Snow  a  tract  on  the  north  side  of 
Little  Duck  Creek,  containing  one  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  acres,  between  '*  Whitwell's  Chance  "  and 
"  Benefield,"  and  south  of  '*  Coventry." 

Elisha  Snow  lived  on  this  plantation,  and  on  the 
9th  of  May,  1741,  Isaac  conveyed  his  interest  to  him. 
The  house  which  stands  on  the  tract  is  occupied  by 
James  Snow,  a  direct  descendant,  and  was  built  by 
Elisha.  His  son.  Captain  James  Snow,  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  War  of  1812.  A  number  of  British  sol- 
diers attacked  the  house  in  1818  and  carried  the 
Captain  away.  He  died  on  an  English  ship.  Elisha, 
Joshua,  Isaac  and  Israel  Snow,  all  owned  large  tracts 
of  lands  on  the  north  side  of  Little  Duck  Creek,  west 
of  Snow's  branch  to  the  railroad.  This  property  has 
nil  passed  out  of  the  Snows'  hands,  and  is  held  by 
J.  Truax,  J.  W.  Denney,  Mrs.  Dr.  Fisler  and  others. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  persons  assesssed  in 
Duck  Creek  Hundred  in  the  year  1785 : 


BenJ.  AndenoD. 
Joflhua  Albany. 
John  Ackroyd'a  ett. 
Phillip  AndereoD. 
Leonard  Adklnson. 
Thoa.  Benn. 
Wm.  Boots. 
John  Bacon. 
Edward  Boram. 
Widow  Baker. 
Abraham  BooUi. 
Joe.  Bartana. 
Wm.  Balls. 
BeixJ  Bassett. 
John  Bomot. 
George  Barens. 
John  Brown. 
James  Berry, 
Solo.  Bennett. 
William  Barena. 
Anthony  Banning. 
Nicholas  Brooks. 
Alex.  Beard. 
Stephen  Bevena. 
Robert  Boyer. 
Francis  Barber. 
Joseph  Barens. 
Jessey  Barlow. 
James  Bamett. 


Gilbert  Barran. 
John  Cole. 
John  Ciaford. 
Clayton  Caldwell. 
Mark  Condratt. 
John  Carver. 
Patrick  Grain. 
James  Cain  (Cbopsr). 
William  Gaboon,  Esq. 
Thomas  Collins,  Esq., 
John  Cook,  Esq. 
Isaac  Carty,  Esq. 
James  Cockwell. 
Charles  Gaboon. 
James  Cook. 
Christr.  Coles. 
William  Coles. 
William  Collins. 
Thomas  Cutler. 
William  aiester. 
James  Cluffins. 
Darby  Conner. 
John  Conner. 
Patrick  Conner. 
Abraham  Conner. 
William  Clufflns. 
Charles  Conner. 
John  Clncken. 
Thomas  Cross. 


BenJ.  Curry. 
John  Gomegys. 
Michael  Cook. 
Thomas  Gumberford. 
Walter  Conner. 
John  Corbert. 
Edward  Carney. 
John  Cole. 
Isaac  Oayeller. 
Thomas  Clayton. 
Thomas  Ohattan. 
Arthur  DUling. 
BenJ.  Downing. 
John  Denny. 
Joseph  Denny. 
Frances  Denny. 
John  Dreighton. 
William  Daniel. 
Bei^.  Dawsen. 
Charles  David. 
Daniel  David,  Jr. 
John  Darrah. 
James  Dickinson. 
James  Doney. 
Richard  Derrick. 
William  Diens. 
Evan  Denney. 
James  Darling. 
Philip  Denney. 
James  David. 
William  Dailey. 
William  Dailey. 
William  Dawson. 
William  Denney. 
James  Davis. 
Charles  Doney. 
Philemon  Dickinson. 
William  Dwlre. 
James  Donoho. 
Christian  Denny. 
Thomas  Dickson. 
Matthew  Donoho. 
John  David. 
John  Edward. 
H^B*y  England. 
Carty  Ellais. 
Joshua  Edwards. 
James  England. 
Carty  Ellais. 
Joshua  Edwards. 
Jno.  England. 
Charles  Everett 
Isaac  Freeman. 
John  Ford. 
Fenwick  Fisher. 
John  Ferguson. 
James  Ford 
John  Fitachew. 
William  Ford. 
Jessie  Ford. 
David  Foreman. 
Wm.  Ford. 
Robert  Ford. 
Thomas  Ford. 
Thomas  Foster. 
Bei^j.  Farrow. 
Sylvester  Finton. 
John  Greenwood. 
'  Elijah  Green. 
Charles  Green. 
James  Garland. 
Samuel  Greenly. 
Jacob  Gibbs. 
John  Goldsmith. 
Thomas  Greenwood. 
Richard  Gibbs. 
Charles  Girard. 
John  Gilbert. 


Stephen  Garrel. 
Abraham  Garland. 
KJohn  Green. 
Wm.  Greenwood. 
John  Hobeon. 
Wm.  Hobson. 
Koah  Hickman. 
Mary  Heath. 
Joseph  Hill,  Jr. 
Joseph  Holliday. 
Robert  Holliday. 
Wm.  Hawkins,  8r. 
Wm.  Huston. 
Wm.  Hawkins. 
Joseph  Hill. 
Thomas  Hawkins. 
Thomas  Hyatt. 
John  Hyland. 
Charles  Uilton. 
Thomas  HowelL 
Christian  Hylland. 
Henry  Hoffecker. 
Charles  HiUyard. 
Thomas  Harwood. 
John  Holliday. 
Wm.  Hammond. 
Amos  Hartshorn. 
John  Hogans.  . 
Arnold  Hawkins. 
John  HolTecker. 
Joseph  Harwood. 
Thomas  Hale. 
James  Holliday. 
Abram  Haynes. 
John  Hawkins. 
Thomas  Leathran. 
Jonas  Longfellow. 
William  Long. 
James  Leathran. 
Odeb  Levick. 
James  Morris. 
John  McKine. 
John  Moot. 
James  Morris,  Sr. 
James  Morris,  Jr. 
Samuel  Murphy. 
John  Macy. 
Daniel  Morris. 
James  Maxwell. 
Edward  McElroy. 
Thomas  Morris. 
John  Morris. 
John  Marce. 
Tredwell  Manlove. 
Daniel  McDowell. 
Ellend.  Madden. 
Daniel  Morris,  Jr. 
John  Macey. 
Dr.  Morris. 
Arachabel  McLane. 
James  McDowell. 
John  McVey. 
Allen  McLane. 
Sarah  MoDaniel. 
Dennis  McVay. 
William  Miller. 
John  Macy,  Jr. 
Eleazer  McKimmey. 
Hugh  McGear. 
Moses  Morris. 
Richard  Morgan. 
Ezekiel  Needham. 
John  OfQey. 
Ishmael  Owens. 
William  Puke. 
Wheeler  Pennington. 
Thomas  Park«. 
James  Peanou. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


John  Pearce. 
laraol  Peterson. 
James  Pearce. 
Nathaniel  Pearce. 
Samuel  Patterson. 
Bobert  Palmetry. 
Charles  Pearson. 
Peter  Peterson. 
Henry  Peterson. 
William  Pamdlce. 
Abraham  Pearce. 
Moses  Pearson. 
Isaac  Rose. 
Bichard  Rnssell. 
James  Raymond,  Esq. 
William  Reed. 
Widow  Raymond. 
Joseph  Robinson. 
Wm.  Reynolds. 
Wm.  Rydge. 
Robert  Robertson. 
Caesar  Roe. 
John  Reed. 
James  Robinson. 
John  Slangnt. 
Isaac  Snow. 
Wm.  Seers. 
John  Stuart,  Jr. 
John  Sproance. 
Ezekiel  Smith. 
James  Staavenson. 
Joshua  Swallow. 
Samuel  Starr. 
James  Stanton. 
Thomas  Shaln. 
Wm.  Smith. 
Philip  Smith. 
Solomon  Smith. 
Wm.  Savin, 
liambert  SindergilL 
James  Severson. 
Hugh  Spear. 
Joseph  Smith. 
Anthony  Snow. 
James  SteeL 
John  Stuart.*. 
Charles  Stuart. 
Stephen  Stanlon. 


Silas  Snow. 
Thomas  Slmmonds. 
James  Smith. 
Thomas  SIdllington. 
Robert  Solloway. 
James  Scuce. 
Andrew  Tybont. 
Thomas  Tilton. 
Wm.  Traux. 
Francis  Taylor. 
Samuel  Tlppitt 
Jehu  Townsend. 
George  Turner. 
John  Thomson. 
Joseph  Toy. 
James  Tigner. 
John  Traux. 
Simon  Yan  Yiukle. 
James  Yan  Luden. 
Jonas  Yan  Yinlcle. 
Nichlos  Yan  Gaskin. 
James  Yandegrift 
Matthew  Weelcs. 
Alexander  Worknot 
John  Woods. 
Joseph  Woods. 
Wm.  Wallace. 
Thomas  Watklns. 
Robert  Walkers. 
Samuel  West,  Esq. 
John  Wallington. 
Wm.  Whiteal. 
Kind  Wroths. 
Dfl^Tid  Wilson. 
Thomas  White. 
Abraham  Wlialey. 
John  Ward. 
James  Welden. 
John  Wells. 
Hugh  Watson. 
John  Weldon. 
Daniel  Whealey. 
Elias  Wood. 
John  Watts. 
Nicholas  Wood. 
Wm.  Wood. 
Charles  White. 


Roads. — ^The  state  road,  an  account  of  which  will 
be  found  in  the  general  history,  passes  through  about 
four  miles  in  the  hundred,  entering  at  Smyrna,  and 
leaving  near  the  farm-house  of  J.  W.  Denny.  The 
road  from  Smyrna  to  Bombay  flook  Light  House  was 
planned  by  Hon.  Jacob  Stout  in  1830,  and  a  few 
years  earlier,  about  1824,  he  in  connection  with  Hon. 
Thomas  Clayton  laid  out  the  road  from  Leipsic  to  Sev- 
erson's  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  road  upon 
which  Seversons  is  located,  was  laid  out  much  earlier. 
Previous  to  Governor  Stout  laying  out  the  Light 
House  road,  there  had  existed  as  far  back  as  1760,  a 
road  to  what  is  now  Rothweirs  landing. 
■^  Churches  anj>  Cemeteries. — The  first  religious 
organization  to  hold  services  in  Duck  Creek  Hun- 
dred, was  the  society  of  Friends.  It  was  also  the 
earliest  official  meeting  of  Friends  in  Kent  County, 
and  was  held  at  Duck  Creek  (now  Salisbury,  or  Old 
Duck  Creek)  on  the  19th  of  December,  1705.  The 
record  is  as  follows : 

"This  day  was  held  the  monthly  meeting  of  Friends  at  Duck  Creek, 
ItbeiDg  a  monthly  meeting  by  approbation  and  order  of  the  quarterly 
of  the  people  called  Quakers  at  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  continue 


for  the  establishing  and  helping  np  the  Gospel  of  Tmth  and  to  monthly 
henceforward  the  3d  fourth  day  of  the  week  in  each  month  until  further 
order." 

No  business  was  accomplished  at  the  meeting  ex- 
cept the  election  of  Absalom  Cuff  as  clerk.  The 
next  meeting  was  on  the  16th  of  ye  11th  month 
(January)  1705,  when  it  was  reported  that  "none 
appeared  for  George  s  Creek,  neither  any  from  the 
lower  parts."  It  was  "  agreed  upon  that  the  meet- 
ing-house must  be  floored,  and  the  grave-yard  made, 
but  the  time  not  prefixed,  but  referred  to  next  month- 
ly meeting.'' 

It  would  appear  from  this  action  that  a  meeting- 
house had  been  begun  but  wi^  not  yet  completed. 
Further  action  was  deferred  from  time  to  time,  and 
finally  dropped,  as  far  as  record  of  it  is  concerned. 
No  record  of  deed  is  made  prior  to  1769,  but  a  meet- 
ing-house was  built  and  the  grave-yard  used  on  the 
present  site  before  that  date,  as  mention  is  made  of 
them  in  the  deeds.  On  June  17, 1769,  Thomas  Wood- 
ward conveyed  to  Richard  Holliday  and  Jeremiah 
Fisher,  Trustees  of  the  Quakers,  a  lot  on  which  to 
build  a  meeting-house.  They  were  then  in  posses- 
sion of  the  site,  and  had  been  before  the  purchase  of 
surrounding  property  by  Woodward.  On  December 
6, 1801,  Robert  Holliday,  of  Duck  Creek  Hundred, 
sold  to  Solomon  David,  David  West  and  Charles 
Green,  belonging  to  the  Preparative  meeting  of 
Duck  Creek,  eighty  perches  of  ground.  It  appears 
by  this  deed  that  the  Friends  had  by  mistake  placed 
a  portion  of  their  meeting-house  on  property  which 
did  not  belong  to  them,  and  made  the  second  pur- 
chase in  order  to  become  owners  of  all  the  ground 
which  it  covered. 

At  the  meeting  in  January,  1705,  the  following 
names  were  recorded;  Benjamin  Gumley,  John 
Gumley,  Phillip  England,  Robert  Ashtou,  John 
Hales,  Alexander  Adams,  John  Whee,  John  Ashton, 
Joseph  England,  Absalom  Cuflf,  Thomas  Shaw,  Caleb 
Offley,  Hasadiah  Offley,  Ralph  Prime,  John  Wood, 
Margaret  Cohan  e.  The  old  meeting-house  went  rap- 
idly into  decay  after  1800,  until,  in  1830,  nothing 
but  its  ruins  stood.  It  was  of  stone  and  about  thirty 
by  twenty-five  feet  in  dimensions.  At  present  not  a 
vestige  appears  except  a  shallow  cavity  in  the  earth 
to  show  where  its  foundations  were  laid. 

A  school-house  was  built  of  frame  and  was  proba- 
bly the  first  free  school-building  in  the  hundred.  It 
al^  has  disappeared.  The  old  grave-yard  is  the  sole 
remaining  evidence  of  what  was  formerly  the  most 
prosperous  religious  denomination  in  this  hundred. 
There  is  not  a  known  Friend  in  the  hundred  at  the 
present  day.  The  grave-yard  is  still  used  by  their 
descendants.  The  oldest  tomb  with  an  inscription  on 
it  is  that  of  Sarah  Joyce,  who  died  September  20, 
1787.  Ebenezer  Blackiston,  who  was  a  large  land 
owner  in  Kenton,  was  buried  here,  December  11, 
1829,  and  the  ground  contains  the  graves  of  the 
Holdens,  an  old  and  influential  family  of  past  days. 

The  Old  Duck  Creek  Presbyterian  Church,  in  1773, 
stood  in  the  grave-yard  now  used  by  that  denomioa- 


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tion.  The  land  was  a  part  of  "  Pearman'a  Choice  *'  and 
was  panted  by  deed  in  1740.  A  sketch  of  the  church 
will  be  found  in  the  chapter  upon  Smyrna.  The  old 
cemetery  is  one  of  the  prettiest  spots  in  the  county. 
It  is  beautifully  shaded  and  is  kept  in  excellent  con- 
dition.   It  covers  about  two  acres  of  ground. 

One  of  the  oldest  graves  is  that  of  David  Kennedy. 
The  inscription  reads :  "  He  was  born  March  17, 
1741,  in  Antrim,  Ireland,  landed  at  New  Castle,  Dela- 
ware, May  8,  1760,  and  took  an  active  and  decisive, 
though  humble,  part  with  the  patriots  of  the  Revolu- 
tion and  died  December  26,  1802.  Diligent  and  suc- 
cessful in  business,  serving  the  Lord." 

David  Kennedy,  who  is  buried  here,  was  one  of 
Smyrna's  old  merchants  and  sailed  grain  vessels  from 
Smyrna  Landing  to  Philadelphia. 

Another  Revolutionary  officer  is  buried  here.  Cap- 
tain John  Matthews,  who  died  March  3,  1854,  in  the 
eighty-first  year  of  his  age. 

John  Clark,  at  one  time  Governor,  is  buried  in  the 
northeast  corner,  the  date  of  his  death  being  Au- 
gust 14,  182L  At  the  age  of  sixty  years  and  six 
months. 

Here  is  also  the  grave  of  United  States  Senator 
Presley  Spruance,  who  died  February  13, 1863,  aged 
eighty-eight  years. 

Among  the  other  old  graves  are  those  of  Annie  Jam- 
ison, died  February  4,  1785  ;  Anna  8.  Jamison,  died 
March  81,  1785;  John  Caldwell,  died  December  26, 
1782;  John  Clark,  died  February  23,  1767;  James 
Allen  McLane,  died  April  14, 1773  and  James  Peter- 
son, died  November  11,  1782. 

Severson's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  a  mile 
and  a  half  from  RothwelPs  Landing.  The  deed  con- 
veying the  church  property  and  grave-yard  bears 
date  May  13,  1783,  and  is  from  James  Severson  to 
James  Hull,  Moses  Thomson,  Elijah  Bartlett,  John 
Jarrell,  Benjamin  Truax,  John  Conner  and  John 
David  May.  The  first  church  was  erected  in  1784, 
and  was  described  as  one  of  the  first  frame  churches 
in  the  county. 

The  old  structure  was  twenty-five  by  twenty-eight, 
feet.  The  church  was  at  one  time  called  Carrolton,  but 
upon  the  re-building,  in  1874,  the  first  name  was  re- 
vived. The  new  edifice  is  of  brick,  thirty-two  by 
fifty  feet  and  cost  $2668.18.  It  was  built  through  the 
eflbrts  of  the  Rev.  William  B.  Gregg.  The  church  is 
connected  with  the  Smyrna  Circuit  and  a  list  of  its 
ministers  will  be  found  in  the  article  upon  that 
church. 

Raymond's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  built 
in  1825,  upon  ground  donated  by  James  Snow.  The 
bricks  were  burnt  upon  the  ground  and  most  of  the 
work  was  done  by  members  of  the  congregation.  It 
is  a  substantial  and  neat  building  and  has  been  kept 
in  such  excellent  repair  that  it  looks  like  a  more 
modem  structure. 

The  church  was  annexed  to  Smyrna  Circuit.  In 
1868  Leipsic  Church  was  separated  from  Camden  Cir- 
cuit and  Raymond's  from  Smyrna  and  the  two 
69i 


churches  made  a  separate  circuit  with  the  station  at 
Leipsic.  The  names  of  early  ministers  of  Raymond's 
will  be  in  the  article  on  Smyrna  Circuit. 

The  ministers  since  the  organization  of  the  separate 
circuit,  have  been  :  E.  B.  Newnan,  1868 ;  C.  M.  Pegg, 
1870;  C.  W.  Prettyman,  1871 ;  J.  A.  B.  Wilson,  1873  ; 
W.  T.  TuU,  1875;  T.  E.  Terry,  1876;  L  N.  Foreman, 
1878;  I.  N.  Cockran,  1880 ;  T.  O.  Ayers,  1881 ;  E.  C. 
Atkins,  1882;  James  Carrol,  1884;  D.  F.  McFaul, 
1886;  James  Conner,  1887. 

The  Methodists  of  Smyrna  Landing,  built  a  frame 
church  in  1861,  and  it  was  dedicated  Angust  25,  1861, 
by  Rev.  William  H.  Brisbane.  It  has  never  had  a 
regular  minister,  nor  is  it  on  a  circuit.  It  is  rather  an 
independent  affair,  local  ministers  from  Symrna  and 
vicinity  preaching  there. 

The  old  Episcopal  cemetery  near  Duck  Creek,  was 
orginally  established  on  an  acre  of  land  granted  by 
Thomas  Green  to  Nicholas  Ridgely,  for  that  purpose. 
May  17,  1840,  the  time  of  the  erection  of  Duck  Creek 
Episcopal  Church,  the  parent  of  St  Peter's,  Smyrna. 
The  church  stood  on  the  cemetery  grounds  until  1857, 
when  it  was  moved  into  Smyrna.*  Now  the  cemetery 
covers  two  acres  beautifully  situated.  In  the  centre 
is  the  lot  of  the  Cummins'  family,  surrounded  by  a  brick 
wall  four  feet  high.  One  of  the  oldest  inscriptions 
in  the  yard  is  that  of  Daniel  Cummins,  Jr.,  a  brother 
of  John  Cummins,  Esq.,  the  Smyrna  merchant,  who  was 
also  buried  here,  July  29,  1833.  The  date  of  the  in- 
scription upon  Daniel  Cummins,'  Jr.,  tomb  is  Febru- 
ary 3, 1788.  The  father,  Daniel  Cummins,  Sr.,  was 
buried  here  June  10,  1797.  Francis  Cummins'  stone 
bears  date  of  his  death,  November  11,  1784.  George 
Cummins,  Esq.,  a  father  of  Bishop  Cummins  of  Ken- 
tucky, was  "buried  September  22,  1827.  Sarah,  the 
wife  of  Governor  Clark,  was  here  interred  December 
12,  1790.  Governor  William  Temple,  who  died  June, 
1863,  is  buried  here,  but  no  stone  marks  his  resting- 
place.  Major  James  Chambers,  an  ofiScer  of  the  Mexi- 
can war  was  buried  June  15, 1848,  as  was  also  Surgeon 
George  S.  Culbreth,  lost  on  the  United  States  ship 
"  Huron,"  off  the  coast  of  North  Carolina,  May  24, 
1877. 

Betweenthe  Episcopal  cemetery  and  Salisbury,  and 
next  to  that  town  is  an  abandoned  grave-yard,  of  which 
no  record  whatever  exists.  It  is  now  used  as  a  corn- 
field in  the  centre  of  which  are  two  marble  head-stones, 
one  with  the  inscription  "  in  memory  of  Capt.  Samuel 
Lloyd,  who  departed  this  life  the  26th  day  of  August, 
1757,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  Behold,  he 
is  dead !  O I  yes  he  is  gone.  Lamented  Here,  but 
welcomed  home.  Let  us  content  ourselves  and  seek 
to  meet  him  at  Emanuel's  Feet.  There  with  the 
Heavenly  Hosts  to  sing  Eternal  Praise  to  our  King." 
The  other  inscription  :  "  In  memory  of  Esther,  wife 
of  Samuel  Lloyd,  of  Duck  Creek  Hundred-on-Kent 
upon  Delew.  who  died  Oct.  the  5,  1746,  aged  thirty 
years."    The     county     has    condemned    the    land 


1  See  St.  Peter's  Church,  Smyrna. 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


for  a  saDd-pit,  and  large  quantities  of  human  bones 
have  been  taken  out  of  the  ground  and  re-interred. 

On  the  south  side  of  Mill  Creek,  just  out  of  Smyrna 
is  the  Odd  Fellows  cemetery.  The  tract  was  pur- 
chased January  22,  1884,  of  John  E.  Peterson,  May 
E.  Peterson,  Sarah  E.  Peterson,  of  Philadelphia,  and 
John  C.  Corbit,  of  Odessa,  by  Morning  Star  Lodge, 
No.  6, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  McDonald  Encampment  of 
Patriarchs  No.  2, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  for  three  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  ground  was  graded,  and  three  hundred 
lots,  thirty  by  thirty-two  feet  laid.  The  site  is  one 
of  the  prettiest  in  the  State,  and  the  Odd  Fellows 
have  spared  no  means  to  improve  it.  A  tract  sixty- 
four  by  seventy-five  was  reserved  by  the  grantors  of 
the  property,  for  the  reason  that  it  had  for  years  been 
the  burial  ground  of  the  Peterson  family. 

Schools. — District  No.  4  school-house  is  one  of 
the  original  school-houses  in  the  hundred,  and  is  about 
two  miles  from  Smyrna.  It  was  erected  in  1827.  In 
1829  there  wer»  nineteen  scholars.  The  land  is  part 
of  the  old  Snow  estate.  The  first  building  was  of 
logs,  and  was  replaced  about  1840  by  the  structure 
which  Ktill  stands.  At  the  session  of  the  Legislature 
of  1887  the  school  committee  of  the  district,  together 
with  Gamaliel  Garrison,  William  M.  Boyer,  John  H. 
Short  and  Isaac  Traux  were  authorized  to  sell  the  old 
building  and  erect  a  new  one.  In  1886  twenty-nine 
pupils  attended  the  school. 

In  1829  there  was  one  school  in  District  No.  6,  with 
twenty-five  scholars.  The  original  house  was  in 
Dutch  Neck,  and  built  of  logs  in  1810.  In  1838  it 
was  moved  to  its  present  location  near  Severson's 
Church.  The  building  is  rather  inadequate,  it  having 
seen  almost  fifty  years  of  service.  Among  the  early 
teachers  were  John  Dai  ley,  Wm.Wetherby  and  George 
Bray.  In  1886  there  were  fifty  scholars  in  attend- 
ance. 

District  No.  7  is  another  of  the  old  districts,  and  in 
1810  the  first  building  was  erected  near  Raymond's 
Church  upon  lands  belonging  to  Joseph  Snow. 
When  District  88  was  created  the  school  building 
was  moved  to  its  present  location  at  the  cross-roads, 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  church.  The  present 
building  was  put  up  at  that  time.  In  1886  thirty- 
seven  scholars  attended.  Among  the  early  teachers 
were  George  McClement,  Simon  Sweatman,  James 
Wallace,  Albert  Webster,  John  Moore  and  Abram 
Ware.  District  No.  88  was  carved  out  of  No.  7  in 
1853,  Nos.  6  and  7  at  that  time  comprising  almost  the 
entire  western  end  of  Duck  Creek  Hundred.  This 
school  was  built  the  year  the  district  was  created, 
and  is  still  standing  on  a  plot  of  ground  donated  by 
Jacob  Raymond,  about  two  miles  from  Leipsic.  In 
1886  there  were  forty -six  scholars  in  attendance. 

In  1860  District  95  was  created  out  of  No.  6,  and  a 
school-house  erected,  in  which  sefcsions  were  held  un- 
til 1877,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  never  re- 
built. The  district  is  small,  and  so  sparsely  settled 
that  it  cannot  well  support  a  school.  Most  of  the 
children  attend  District  No.  6. 


In  1829  District  3,  west  of  Smyrna,  but  part  of  the 
town,  contained  one  school,  with  twelve  scholars,  and 
No.  5,  east  of  it,  had  one  school  and  thirty  scholars. 
These  two  districts  have  been  consolidated  with  Dis- 
tricts 77  and  107  and  form  Smyrna  public  schools. 

Industries. — Denney*s  mill  located  on  Green's 
Branch  at  Salisbury,  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the 
county.  It  is  on  the  Gravesend  tract,  and  as  early 
as  1717,  apiece  of  land  called  the  Grasses  was  owned 
by  Richard  Empson,  upon  which  was  according  to 
the  records,  "  a  water-grist  mill,  bolting-mill  and  other 
improvements."  These  mills  were  located  below 
Salisbury  a  short  distance  above  the  mouth  of  Greenes 
Branch.  In  1753,  they  were  owned  by  William 
Holliday,  and  in  1797,  by  A.  Redgraves.  About  1820,  • 
they  came  into  possession  of  Richard  Holden,  who 
reconstructed  the  buildings  and  abandoned  the  saw- 
mill and  the  manufacture  of  woolens.  After  his 
death  the  industry  was  continued  by  his  sons 
Abraham,  Samuel  and  William  at  different  times.  In 
1865,  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  present  owner 
Robert  H.  Denney,  who  has  almost  entirely  rebuilt 
the  old  mill.  It  has  a  capacity  for  twenty  bushels  of 
wheat  and  one  hundred  bushels  of  corn  a  day. 

In  early  times  there  were  more  industries  in  Duck 
Creek  Hundred  than  at  present.  In  old  Duck  Creek, 
a  tan -yard,  was  operated  by  Peter  and  Daniel  Low- 
ber,  and  another  run  by  Israel  Peterson,  near  the 
Mill  pond  at  Smyrna.  The  old  ship-yards  at  Smyrna 
landing,  are  mentioned  in  the  early  part  of  this 
chapter.  At  Rothwell's  Landing,  Warden  and  Evans 
had  a  ship-yard  in  1873.  Alven  Allen,  had  a  tile- 
yard  at  the  landing  in  1865,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Nickerson  and  Jerman. 

In  March  1884,  William  M.  Lewis  and  Lewis  M. 
Price,  formed  a  co-partner:ihip  and  built  a  phosphate 
factory,  costing  seven  thousand  dollars,  at  Smyrna 
Landing.  The  firm  employ  twelve  hands  and  produce 
four  thousand  pounds  of  fertilizer  a  week. 

The  Peninsula  Bone  Fertilizeb  Company, 
was  organized  in  1883,  with  J.  E.  Tygert,  H.  D. 
Tygert,  W.  C.  Pierce  and  W.  F.  Brown  as  the  cor- 
porators. The  works  were  founded  by  J.  E.  Tygert 
&  Company,  in  1878,  and  by  them  sold  to  the  present 
proprietors,  who  organized  by  electing  John  £. 
Tygert,  president,  and  W.  G.  Pierce  secretary  and 
treasurer.  These  officers  have  continued  until  the 
present.  The  works  are  located  at  RothwelFs  Land- 
ing, two  miles  from  Smyrna,  and  represent  a  capital  of 
forty  thousand  dollars.  Fifty  hands  are  given  con- 
stant employment,  and  one  hundred  tons  of  phos- 
phate manufactured  daily. 

To  carry  the  products  of  Duck  Creek  Hundred, 
numerous  boats  had  been  running  as  far  back  as  1800. 
The  first  regular  line  of  steamers  wa8  put  on  by  J. 
E.  Tygert  &  Company,  composed  of  Jno.  E.  Tygert 
and  Herman  S.  Tygert.  The  first  steamer  owned  and 
run  in  their  interests  was  the  "  W.  E.  Pierpont,"  in 
1875.  In  July  1879,  the  steamer  "  John  E.  Tygert," 
built  of  iron  expressly  for  navigating  these  waters. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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waa  put  on  in  place  of  the  "  Pierpont.'*  The  boat  was 
built  by  Neafie  &  Levy,  of  Philadelphia,  and  U  com- 
plete in  every  respect  having  state-rooms  and  berths, 
air-tight  compartments  and  every  convenience  for 
handling  freight  and  passengers.  In  February  1883, 
the  line  wassold  to  a  company  called  the  Philadelphia 
and  Smyrna  Transportation  Company,  of  which  the 
original  incorporators  were  John  E.  Tygert,  Herman 
8.  Tygert  and  John  H.  Hoffecker.  This  Company 
was  incorporated  April  13,  1883,  with  a  capital  stock 
of  thirty  thousand  dollars.  The  first  officers  were 
John  E.  Tygert  president  and  W.  G.  Pierce,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  A.  E.  Jardine,  is  the  secretary  and 
treasurer  now.  Owing  to  want  of  proper  depth  of 
water  the  boat  is  unable  to  come  nearer  than  two  and 
one-half  miles  of  the  town  of  Smyrna,  and  all  freights, 
passengers  and  some  two  thousand  tons  of  coal  have 
to  be  hauled  this  distance.  A  complete  survey  of  the 
creek  was  made  last  spring  (1887),  and  it  is  expected 
that  an  appropriation  will  be  granted  sufficient  to 
bring  the  boat  to  the  old  head  of  navigation.  The 
annual  commerce  of  this  body  of  water  is  over  three 
million  dollars  in  value. 

Smyrna. — ^The  greater  part  of  Smyrna  lies  in  the 
old  tract  "  Gravesend,"  taken  up  by  William  Green 
in  1680.  By  his  will  bearing  date  1708  he  devised  it 
to  his  sons — John,  Thomas  and  George.  Thomas 
left  his  portion  to  his  sons,  Thomas  and  James.  The 
latter  owned  the  land  through  which  the  King's  Koad 
passed  at  a  point  where  another  road,  leading  from 
the  old  landing  on  Duck  Creek  to  Maryland,  inter- 
sected it.  Salisbury,  a  little  settlement  northwest  on 
the  King's  Koad,  was  laid  out  many  years  before. 
The  old  landing  also  had  been  in  use  many  years.  In 
1768  Jame<(  Green  began  the  sale  of  lands  at  and  near 
Duck  Creek  Cross-Roads,  and  sold  at  the  dates  given 
below.  To  Samuel  Ball,  merchant  of  Philadelphia, 
March  14, 1768,  fifteen  acres ;  and  November  6th  fbl- 
lowing  to  Samuel  and  William  Ball,  sixty  acres.  On 
August  19th  of  the  same  year  to  William  Creighton, 
five  acres  on  the  southwest  side  of  the  King's  Road 
towards  Salisbury.  On  the  same  day  to  Molleston 
Curry,  one  acre  adjoining  the  cross-roads.  On  Jan- 
uary 5, 1769,  to  William  Jordan,  one  acre  adjoining 
lots  of  Ball  and  Creighton.  On  January  25th  of  the 
same  year  Fen  wick  Fisher,  four  acres  on  King's  Road 
adjoining  Curry's.  On  March  10,  1770,  a  lot  to  Wil- 
liam Hazel.  To  William  Hazel,  May  15,  1770,  six- 
teen acres  near  the  burying-ground  adjoining  Holli- 
day  and  Curry's  land.  This  was  above  Smyrna 
towards  Salisbury,  and  the  burying-ground  mentioned 
was  the  Friends'  burial-place.  On  July  26th  of  the 
same  year  to  Benjamin  Dawson,  thirty  perches  on  the 
south  side  of  the  main  road,  adjoining  lots  of  Colo- 
nel John  Vining,  James  McMullen  and  James  Mor- 
ris. On  the  same  date  to  William  Rees,  five  and  one- 
half  acres  adjoining  Potter's  lot.  To  Allen  McLaue 
(leather  breeches  maker),  January  4,  1772,  four  acres 
on  the  west  side  of  the  main  road  and  one  acre  on  the 
east  side.    To  Thomas  Skillington,  tavern  keeper. 


February  7, 1772,  nineteen  acres  on  the  north  side  of 
the  King's  Road.  On  February  1st  of  same  year  to 
Joseph  Shown,  twenty-eight  acres. 

Thomas  Ross  had  purchased  one-fourth  of  an  acre 
lying  near  the  cross-roads  on  the  road  leading  to 
Dover,  and  thi^j  he  sold  February  21,  1770,  to  Robert 
Wilds,  inn-holder. 

During  the  Revolutionary  WarCapt.  Allen  McLane 
and  a  company  of  thirty  men  from  this  neighborhood 
formed  a  part  of  the  second  battalion.  Hon.  Thomas 
Collins,  one  of  the  six  revolutionary  Presidents  of 
the  State,  lived  near  Smyrna,  and  commanded  a 
brigade  of  Delaware  militia  against  that  portion  of 
Howe's  army  that  was  in  New  Castle  en  route  for 
Brandy  wine. 

In  1789  George  Kennard  &  Co.  were  the  principal 
merchants  in  the  village,  and  the  Delaware  Gazette 
and  General  Advertiser  of  October  28th  of  that  year 
contains  the  following  advertisement: 

"JUST  imported  in  the  ships '  Lerant,*  Captain  Ward,  from  LtTer< 
pool,  and  *  Pigeon/  Captain  Sutton,  from  London,  a  very  large  aasort- 
ment  of  European  goods  immediately  from  the  different  mannf  actoriet, 
and  will  be  sold  very  low  by  the  piece  or  loss  quantity,  at  the  store  of 

**  Gbobok  KtmiAaD  A  Co. 

"  Duck  Creek,  Oct.  10th." 

The  village  went  by  the  name  of  Duck  Creek  Cross- 
Roads  till  1806.  In  1792  the  Legislature  met  here, 
and  at  that  time  thought  of  making  it  the  capital  of 
the  State.  On  January  16th  of  that  year  the  name 
was  changed  to  Smyrna  by  an  act  of  the  Assembly. 
The  village  increased  slowly  in  population,  and  in 
1815  contained  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  inhabi- 
tants. On  January  29,  1817,  the  town  was  incorpo- 
rated, and  Henry  M.  Ridgely,  William  Hall,  Jacob 
Stout,  Jonathan  Jenkins  and  Alexander  McClyment 
appointed  commissioners  to  survey,  lay  out  and  regu- 
late the  streets  of  Smyrna.  They  selected  Nehemiah 
Clark  as  surveyor,  and  proceeded  with  their  task  June 
20th  of  the  same  year. 

The  valuation  of  the  real  estate  in  1818  as  returned 
by  the  assessor  was  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  thou- 
sand six  hundred  dollars. 

The  growth  of  the  town  was  steady,  and  for  many 
years  large  quantities  of  grain  were  purchased  by  the 
merchants  of  the  town  and  stored  in  the  granaries  at 
the  landing  for  shipment.  The  construction  of  the 
railroad,  however,  reduced  the  grain  purchases  in  this 
vicinity. 

In  1857  the  town  limits  were  extended  one- fourth 
of  a  mile  in  every  direction,  making  Smyrna  one  mile 
square  instead  of  a  half-mile  as  heretofore. 

In  1857  the  town  contained  12  dry-goods  and 
grocery  stores,  4  clothing  stores,  1  china  store,  2  jew- 
elry stores,  3  foundries,  3  coach-shops,  2  machine- 
shops,  6  blacksmith-shops,  2  harness-shops,  4  wheel- 
wright-shops, 4  boot  and  shoe-shops,  2  basket  facto- 
ries, 1  tannery  with  a  capital  of  eighty  thousand 
dollars,  2  hotels,  8  churches,  2  stove  and  tinware 
manufactories,  1  marble-yard,  1  gun  and  locksmith- 
shop,  1  select  and  several  district  schools,  3  ale  and 
oyster  saloons,  6  physicians,  a  barber  shop  and  about 


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1100 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


eighteen  hundred  inhabitants.  On  December  6,  I860, 
the  town  was  first  illumined  by  gas,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  well  lighted. 

In  1861  a  branch  road  was  built  to  connect  Smyrna 
with  the  main  division  of  the  Delawan*  Railroad. 
On  Sunday  morning,  September  11,  1876,  a  fire  broke 
out  at  the  factory  of  Mitchell  &  Woddell,  and  before 
it  was  extinguished  consumed  five  buildings,  proving 
the  most  extensive  fire  ever  in  the  town. 

Smyrna  is  situated  on  a  branch  of  Duck  Creek, 
eight  and  a  half  miles  from  Delaware  Bay  and  mid- 
way between  Wilmington  and  Milfnrd.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  farms  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation  and 
large  quantities  of  grain  are  brought  here  for  ship- 
ment. Its  business  interests  are  more  extensive  than 
those  of  any  other  town  in  Kent  County.  The  popu- 
lation of  the  town,  according  to  the'  census  of  1880, 
was  two  thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty-three  in- 
habitants. According  to  statistics  carefully  gathered 
in  1883  by  E.  H.  Beck,  the  business  transactions  of 
the  two  banks  amounted  to  five  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  The  goods,  wares,  etc.,  sold  per  annum 
amounted  to  $844,600,  and  the  goods  manufactured, 
$495,000,  making  the  total  business  interests  of  the 
town  $1,339,600.  There  were  500,000  baskets  of 
peaches  grown  in  the  vicinity  of  Smyrna  in  1882, 
and  of  these  275,000  were  shipped  by  rail,  125,000  by 
boat  and  100,000  canned. 

At  the  present  time  Smyrna  contains  4  churches, 
a  graded  school  of  8  departments,  a  post-office,  2 
banks,  1  foundry  and  machine-shop,  8  carriage  facto- 
ries, 10  general  stores,  9  grocery  stores,  2  jewelry 
stores,  1  dry-goods  store,  3  drug  stores,  4  clothing 
stores,  3  flour  and  feed  stores,  2  shoe  stores,  4  milli- 
nery and  trimming  stores,  4  stove  stores,  2  hardware 
stores,  3  confectionery  stores,  2  furniture  stores,  2 
paper  stores,  2  tobacco  stores,  2  saddleries,  2  news- 
papers, 2  insurance  agents,  2  real  estate  agents,  7 
physicians,  2  dentists,  an  alderman,  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  3  barbers,  4  butchei-s,  2  bakers,  2  tailors,  7  phos- 
phate agencies,  2  plumbers,  2  hotels,  1  saloon,  3  coal- 
yards,  2  lumber  yards,  2  basket  factories,  1  canning 
establishment,  1  evaporator,  5  shoe-shops  and  3 
wheelwright  and  blacksmith-shops. 

By  the  act  of  January  29,  1817,  James  McDowell, 
Thomas  Maberry  and  Henry  Draper  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  hold  an  election  at  Smyrna  for  three 
commissioners,  a  treasurer  and  an  assessor.  They 
attended  to  their  duties  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Comfort 
Lockwood  on  Monday,  June  2, 1817. 

The  following  are  the  commissioners  who  have 
been  elected  at  the  different  dates: 

1817-26.  James  McDowell,  Robert  Patterson,  William  Kennedy. 
1826.  James  McDowell,  Abraham  Pierce,  George  Woolls. 
1826.  Thomaa  May  berry,  Jacob  Eaymond,  George  Woolls. 
1827-28.  James  McDowell,  George  Woolls,  Enoch  Spruance. 
1829.  Enoch  Spruance,  PIner  Mansfield,  Benjamin  Benson. 
1130.  Enoch  Spruance,  Piner  Manefleld,  Thomaa  May  berry. 
183l]  Benjamin  Coombe,  Enoch  Spruance,  Daniel  C.  Lockwood. 
1832^33.  Benjamin  Coombe,  Daniel  C.  Lockwood,  Piner  Mansfield. 
1884.  Joteph  Hill,  Benjamin  Benson,  Enoch  Spruance. 
No  record  until  1842.  „,  ^        . 

1842.  Joeeph  HiU,  Benjamin  L.  Collins,  George  W.  Cummins. 


An  omission  of  the  records  until  1846. 

1845.  William  Temple,  Pres.,.  James  B.  Clements,  Daniel  Cummins, 
Joseph  Fariea,  John  D.  Pitman. 

1846.  William  Temple,  Pres.,  Benjamin  Enos,  Daniel  Cummins,  James 
R.  Clements,  John  D.  Pitman. 

1847.  William  Temple,  Pres.,.  Benjamin  L.  Collins,  Benjamin  Enoa, 
Thomas  Lockwood,  J.  D.  Pitman. 

1818.  William  Temple,  Daniel  Cummins,  Robert  Palmatary,  Samuel 
Catts,  John  G.  Black. 

185U.  Wm.  B.  Collins,  James  MHlaway,  Geo.  W.  Conuniiia,  John  M. 
Denning,  Joseph  Stayton. 

1851.  Janiea  R.  Clements,  George  W.  Cummins,  Jame«  Mlllaway, 
Thomas  P.  Bryan,  Samuel  P.  Wright. 

1853.  John  A.  Cavander,  Joseph  Faries,  Presley  Spruance,  Benjamin 
Donoho,  Thomas  E.  Jelferson. 

ISnb.  Dr.  S.  M.  Fisler,  Pres.,  Samuel  Catta,  John  Mustard,  Samuel 
P.  Wright,  R.  Denny,  Jos.  Carrow,  Jas.  R.  Clements. 

1866.  Dr.  S.  M.  Flsler,  Pres.,  Wm.  Denny,  Peter  Carr,  James  R. 
Clements,  Wm.  C.  Eiiason,  Enoch  Spruance,  Wm.  Cummins. 

1857.  William  Denny,  Pres.,  John  Eaton,  Jas.  R.  Clements,  Dr.  Wra. 
Cummins,  Wm.  C.  Eliaj»on,  Robert  Denny,  Enoch  Spruance. 

1868.  Dr.  8.  M.  Fisler,  Prea.,  William  Denny,  Wm.  C.  Elia«>n,  Walter 
McMullen,  John  M.  Voshell,  Prwley  Spruance,  Jr.,  Wm.  Cnmmlna. 

1859.  William  Denny,  Pres.,  Wm.  C.  Eiiason,  W>u.  Cummipa,  Jno. 
M.  Voehell,  Wm.  Mitchell.  Samuel  Reynolds.  Henry  Shermer. 

1860.  Ayree  Stockly,  Pres.,  Wm.  C  Eiiason,  Jas.  R.  Clements,  Jno.  M. 
Voshell,  Edward  Ward,  Geo.  U.  Raymond,  Wm.  Cummins. 

1861.  John  Mustard,  Ayros  Stockly,  William  Denny,  Jno.  M.  Voshell* 
Edward  Ward,  John  E.  Collins,  Wm.  C.  Eliauou. 

1862-63.  Ayres  Stockly,  John  Mustard,  Wm.  B.  Collins,  John  Mllla- 
way, John  E.  Collins,  John  M.  Voshell,  Wm.  M,  Bell. 

1804,  E.  J.  Golt,  Prt-s.,  John  H.  Bewley,  J.  A.  SeTereon,  W.  C.  MitchelL 
George  H.  Raymond,  W.  McMullen,  P.  Carr. 

1866.  N.  T.  Jerman,  Pres ,  Robert  Hill,  James  Taylor,  R  B.  Allen, 
E.  J.  Golt,  Wm.  E.  Spruance,  John  E.  Collin*. 

1866.  Wm.  E.  Collins,  Pres.,  E.  J.  Golt,  Peter  Carr,  John  C.  Bailey. 
John  Millaway,  George  H.  Raymond,  Mosea  Price. 

1867.  Wm  B.  Collins,  Pree.,  B.  Deakyne,  E.  J.  Golt,  W.  E.  Hall, 
Moses  Price,  Geo.  H.  Raymond,  W.  D.  Sarin. 

1868.  John  M.  Voshell,  Pres.,  Wm.  B.  Collin^  John  Van  Oadcen, 
Powell  F.  Nickerson,  Geo.  W.  Taylor,  E.  J.  Golt. 

1869.  Hyland  B.  Penlnglon,  Pres.,  John  C.  Bailey,  Wm.  B.  Colllna, 
G.  W.  Cummins,  Jr.,  Moaea  Price,  Geo.  H.  Raymond,  Geo.  W.  Taylor. 

187U.  H.  C.  Douglass,  Jno.  C.  Bailey,  Wm.  B.  Collins,  Pree.,  Geo.  W. 
Curnmlns,  Jr.,  Moses  Price,  Geo,  H.  Raymond,  Geo.  W.  Taylor. 

1871-72.  Jno.  M.  Voehell,  Proa.,  Erekiel  V.  Cooper,  John  Van  Gaakes, 
Thomas  E.  Jefferson,  John  VV,  Flick,  N.  F.  Wilds,  Wm.  Sharp. 

1873.  Jno.  H.  llofl^ecker,  Pres.,  Thos.  E.  Jefferson,  Saul  Tajior,  Jno. 
A.  OaTender,  C.  C.  Foxwell,  N.  F.  Wilds,  William  Worden. 

1874,  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker,  Pres.,  Samuel  Taylor,  N.  F.  WiWa,  T.  K 
Jefferson,  Jno  B.  Cooper,  Jno.  Van  Gasken,  C.  C.  Foxwell. 

1876.  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker,  Pres,,  Jno.  B.  Cooper,  N.  F.  Wilda,  T.  E. 
Jefferson, Douglass,  Jno.  Van  Gasken,  C.  C.  Foxwell. 

1876.  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker,  Pres.,  Sam'l  TayWr,  T.  E.  Jefferson,  J.  W. 
Deuney,  N.  F.  Wilds,  Sam'l  Catts,  John  Cosdon. 

1877.  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker,  Pres.,  Robert  Hill,  J.  W.  Donney,  J<An  Coa- 
den,  Samuel  Catts,  Geo.  W.  Taylor,  T.  E.  Jefferaon. 

1878-79.  Jno.  H.  Hoffeckar,  Pre*.,  Geo.  W.  Taylor,  J.  W.  Deoney, 
John  Cosden,  Jno.  M.  Voehell,  Jno.  Van  Gasken,  W.  A.  Fariea. 

1880.  Jno  M.  Voshell,  Pree.,  John  Coeden,  John  Van  Gasken,  Jno.  E. 
Collins,  Jno.  B.  Cooper,  Samuel  Taylor,  Jno.  Mustard. 

1881-82.  Jno.  E.  Collins,  Pres.,  Jno.  B.  Cooper,  Samnel  Taylor, W^.  A. 
Faries,  John  H.  Hoffecker,  J.  Wealey  Jones,  E.  Morris  Cloak. 

1883.  Jno  E.  Collins,  Pree.,  Jno,  H.  Hoffecker,  John  Cowlen,  Samuel 
Taylor,  E.  M.  Cloak,  W.  Faries,  John  B.  Cooper. 

1884.  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker,  Pres.,  James  H.  Grores,  R.  S.  W.  Hirona, 
Wm.  A.  Farie^  Geo.  W.  Taylor,  Sam'l  Taylor,  Jno.  B.  Cooper, 

1885-86.  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker,  Pree.,  G.  W.  Taylor,  Sam'l  Taylor,  W.  A. 
Faries,  Jno.  B.  Cooper,  J.  T.  Jerman,  John  Van  Gasken. 

1887.  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker,  Pres.,  Wra.  E.  Hall,  Jno.  B.  Cooper,  0.  B. 
Voshell,  W.  A.  Faries,  Jno.  C.  Bailey  (resigned)  Sam'l  Taylor,  E.  V. 
Cooper. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as  treasurers 
since  the  incorporation  of  the  town  : 


1817-26.  George  Walker. 
1826.  Ephraim  Jefferson. 
1827-28.  Colin  F.  Hale. 
1829-30.  George  Woolls. 
1831-34.  Thomas  Mayberry. 
1836-41.  No  records. 
1842.  Dr.  William  Cummins. 
An  omission  until  1846. 
1846.  Piner  ^lansfleld, 
1840-47.  Anderson  Melvln. 
1S48.  Benjamin  L.  Collins. 

The  following  were  the  assessors  of  Smyrna,  with 
the  dates  of  service: 


I860.  John  H.  Bewley. 
1861-66.  William  CummiDB. 
1866.    Joseph  C.  Griffith. 
1856-70.  Thomas  E.  Jefferson. 
1870.  Henry  Beame. 
1871-72.  John  E.  Collins. 
1873-76.  J.  Wesley  Denney. 
1876-78.  John  £.  Collim. 
1878-79.  W.  W.  Tschudy. 
1880.  Jamee  P.  Hoffeckar. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1101 


1817-26.  Presley  Spnutnce. 
1826.  Enoch  Spruance. 
1827-30.  Timothy  C.  Raymond. 
1890.  Jacob  Raymond. 
1831-34.  Simon  Spearman. 
1836-41.  No  records. 
1842.  John  M.  Donning. 
An  omission  until  1845. 
1845-48.  John  M.  Denning. 
1848.  Thomas  K  Jefferson.  | 
1850.  Bei^jamin  L.  Collins. 
1851-66.  Wm.  R.  Cahoon. 
1S65.  John  H.  Denning. 
1856-67.  Thomas  L.  Sutton. 
1858-61.  William  Wilds. 
1861.  Robert  Hill. 


1862.  Joseph  W.  Mariner. 

1863.  Henry  Eubanks. 

1864.  Joseph  W.  Mariner. 
1865-66.  Henry  Eubanks. 
18C7.  J.  W.  Mariner. 
1868.  William  Wilds. 
1869-70.  E.  J.  Golt. 
1871-72.  John  A.  Cavender. 
1873-78.  E.  J.  Golt. 

1878.  B.  V.  Woldon. 
1870-80.  James  Dougbton. 
1881-82.  Joshua  T.  Jerman. 
1883.  J.  B.  Faries. 

1885.  G.  D.  Stevenson. 

1886.  Gt)o.  31.  Stevenson. 

1887.  J.  T.  Jerman. 


Religious  Matters.— /S5?.  Peter's  Episcopal  Church, 
Smyrna} — In  1704  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  in  England,  sent  out  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Crawford,  the  first  missionary  to  Kent 
County.  Mr.  Crawford  was  succeeded,  in  1711,  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson,  and  in  1733  the  Rev. 
George  Frazer  was  in  charge  of  Kent  County.  The 
first  regular  effort  to  put  the  Episcopal  Church  on  a 
permanent  basis  at  Old  Duck  Creek  was  made  in 
1740,  and  to  aid  the  effort  Thomas  Green,  May  17th  in 
this  year,  conveyed  to  Nicholas  Ridgely  and  Thomas 
Tarrant,  wardens  of  St.  Jones*  Church  at  Dover, 
*'  one  whole  and  compleat  square  acre  of  land  to  be 
laid  out  on  the  most  convenient  part  of  a  tract  called 
Graves  End."  A  chapel  was  built,  and  the  ground 
was  used  as  a  burying-ground.  In  1744  the  Rev. 
Arthur  Usher,  then  the  rector  in  charge,  reports  that 
there  were  "two  wooden  chapels  begun,  which  I 
hope  to  see  finished  before  spring."  One  of  them 
was  at  Duck  Creek,  and  the  other  at  Mispillion.  The 
deed  for  the  glebe  on  which  the  chapel  was  built, 
dated  August  17,  1744,  was  from  Abraham  Jacob  and 
Ruth  James  to  David  Marshall  and  William  Strick- 
land, all  of  Kent  County,  and  Alexander  Chance,  of 
New  Castle  County,  for  a  tract  of  land  in  Duck  Creek 
Hundred,  laid  out  for  forty  acres  in  consideration  of 
twenty  pounds.  An  extract  from  the  deed  is  as 
follows : 

**  Considering  the  necessity  of  having  some  place  appointed  for  the 
worship  of  Almighty  God  according  to  the  Rubric  of  the  Church  of 
England,  established  by  law,  David  Marshall,  W^illiam  Stricliland  and 
Alex'  Chance  have  agreed  with  the  aforesaid  Abr™  James,  Jacob  James 
and  Ruth  James  for  the  ar>rementioned  tract  of  land  for  the  further 
Improvement  of  the  Established  Church,  and  for  the  better  entertain- 
ment of  a  minister  of  the  Established  Church  that  shall  be  sent  for  that 
purpose  by  the  Society  fur  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts." 

The  Rev.  Arthur  Usher  reported  at  this  time  that 
a  brick  church  had  been  begun  and  finished  at  Dover, 
and  this  Duck  Creek  congregation  came  under  the 
charge  of  the  Dover  Parish,  and  under  the  rectorate 
of  the  Rev.  Hugh  Neil,  Charles  Inglis  and  other 
ministers.  In  1762,  under  the  rectorate  of  Rev. 
Charles  Inglis,  a  new  brick  church  was  erected.  In 
his  letter  of  date  June  15,  1762,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Inglis 
says  "  the  church  at  Duck  Creek,  in  the  upper  end 
of  the  county,  being  too  small  also,  and  being  old 
besides  and  decaying,  the  people  unanimously  agreed 
to  build  a  new  brick  church  of  larger  dimensions,  and 
after  a  sermon    I  preached  on   the  occasion,  they 

1  By  B«T.  Alexander  G.  Cummins. 


subscribed  very  liberally,  according  to  the  circum- 
stances. The  church  is  now  a  building,  and  I  expect 
to  preach  in  it  before  next  winter."  On  November  20, 
1764,  he  writes,  **  the  congregation  declared  that  they 
would  lay  aside  all  thoughts  of  finishing  their  church 
if  I  removed,  tho'  the  windows  are  now  glazed." 
Dr.  Inglis  removed  to  New  York  in  1765,  became 
rector  of  Trinity  Church,  and  subsequently  bishop 
of  Nova  Scotia.  The  building  committee  consisted 
of  Daniel  Cummins,  Thomas  Collins  and  John  Cook. 
The  Rev.  Samuel  Magaw  was  tue  last  minister  sent 
over  in  1767  by  the  Venerable  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel.  He  ministered  from  1767  to 
1775. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Magaw  records  the  completion  of 
Duck  Creek  Church  and  its  opening  on  Trinity  Sun- 
day, 1764, — a  large  congregation  present.  The  church 
had  then  ninety-four  communicants.  Rev.  Mr.  Magaw 
afterwards  became  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Phil- 
adelphia. From  the  War  of  the  Revolution  the 
church  8uff*ered,  and  we  find  the  records  silent  till 
1786,  when,  on  Thursday,  June  23d,  the  vestry  of  Christ 
Church,  Dover,  met  and  received  the  report  of  the 
committee  appointed  to  meet  and  confer  with  a  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  vestry  of  St.  Peter's  Church, 
at  Duck  Creek,  on  the  propriety  of  inviting  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Roe  to  officiate  in  their  churches ;  and  the 
committee  reported  that  it  would  be  greatly  advanta- 
geous to  the  said  united  churches  of  Dover  and  Duck 
Creek,  and  to  religion  in  general,  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Roe  should  settle  among  them.  The  committee  from 
Dover  consisted  of  Messrs.  Rodney,  Taylor  and 
Truitt;  that  from  Duck  Creek  of  Thomas  Collins, 
Daniel  Cummins,  John  Cook  and  Risdon  Bishop. 
The  same  joint  committee  was  reappointed  to  report 
on  the  subject  of  salary.  They  agreed  that  the  sum 
of  three  hundred  pounds  be  raised  and  given  to  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Roe  for  one  year's  service  in  said  churches, 
and  to  be  paid  half-yearly  in  manner  following,  that 
is  to  say,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds  by  the  con- 
gregation of  Christ  Church  and  one  hundred  pounds 
by  the  congregation  of  St.  Peter's.  **  It  is  also 
further  resolved  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Roe  attend  the 
said  churches  alternately,  on  festal  days  altogether  at 
Dover.'*  Signed  James  Sykes,  Thomas  Rodney,  John 
Baning,  Joshua  Clayton,  Thomas  Collins,  John 
Cook,  Daniel  Cummins,  Risdon  Bishop.  The  Duck 
Creek  committee  also  reported  that  St.  Peter's  had  a 
glebe,  which  yielded  twenty  pounds  rental  annually. 
The  glebe  now  forms  the  cemetery  of  the  parish. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Roe  continued  and  died  in  service  here 
February  8,  1791.  From  this  on  till  1827  the  parish 
languished  and  we  have  no  records ;  but  in  1827  the 
old  brick  church  at  Duck  Creek  was  torn  down  and 
a  new  church  was  erected  in  Smyrna,  on  the  lot  of 
ground  donated  by  John  Cummins,  son  of  the  above- 
mentioned  Daniel  Cummins.  The  building  commit- 
tee consisted  of  John  Cummins,  Ebenezer  Blackiston, 
Jacob  Raymond  and  John  and  Eben  Clark.  In  1828 
the  Rev.  John  P.  Robinson  was  called  to  the  charge 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


of  the  parish,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  1831  by  the 
Rev.  Robert  8.  Pig^ott,  who  was  a  learned  and  faith- 
ful pastor  and  a  remarkable  man  in  many  ways.  He 
was  descended  from  Piggott,  Baron  of  Boorne  in 
Normandy,  one  of  the  knights  who  accompanied 
William  the  Conqueror  into  England.  He  was  or- 
dained deacon  by  Bishop  White  in  1823.  He  died 
July  24,  1887,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two 
years,  and  was  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  the 
minstry  until  compelled  to  retire  by  the  infirmities 
of  age,  three  or  four  years  before  his  death.  Through 
a  long  and  faithful  service  to  the  church  he  occupied 
many  positions  as  rector  and  professor  in  colleges 
with  great  credit  and  ability.  He  was  a  prominent 
Mason.  In  art  he  was  said  to  be  an  engraver  of 
no  mean  order.  HU  engravings  have  been  pro- 
nounced by  adepts  as  among  the  very  best.  He  left 
one  of  General  Washington,  one  of  Colonel  Thomas 
Pickering,  one  of  Dr.  Chapman,  another  of  A.  J. 
Dallas,  others  of  Patrick  Henry,  Bishop  South,  Dr. 
Muhlenburg  and  Bishop  Seabury,  of  Connecticut. 
During  his  ministrations  at  Smyrna  he  left  a  painted 
portrait  of  John  Cummins,  the  chief  founder  of  St. 
Peter's,  which  is  highly  prized  by  his  family.  The 
successors  to  Dr.  Piggott  were  in  order,  Revs.  John  P. 
Bausman,  John  Woolward,  Willis  Peck,  Daniel  Hig- 
bee,  Thomas  D.  Ozanne,  James  Tyng,  Andrew  Free- 
man, Samuel  F.  Carpenter.  In  1857  the  congrega- 
tion enlarged  and  remodeled  the  church  through  a 
building  committee  consisting  of  George  W.  Cum- 
mins, Dr.  William  Cummins  and  George  Henry  Ray- 
mond, by  the  addition  of  twenty  feet  to  its  length 
and  two  wings,  making  the  edifice  cruciform  and  giv- 
ing largely  increased  sitting  capacity,  but  with  the 
objectionable  feature  of  an  organ-loft,  back  of  and 
over  the  pulpit.  In  July,  1868,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Julius 
E.  Grammer,  now  of  Baltimore,  was  called  to  St. 
Peter's,  and  remained  until  January,  1861.  His  suc- 
cessors were  Revs.  Henry  S.  Getz,  Dr.  Morsel  1,  Jos. 
T.  Wright,  John  G.  Bawn,  Arthur  S.  Johns.  The  lot 
of  ground  adjoining  the  church  was  bought  for  a 
chapel,  and  the  corner-stone  laid  by  Bishop  Lee, 
August  21, 1872.  A  beautiful  frame  chapel  in  Gothic 
style,  twenty-eight  by  sixty  feet,  was  erected  at  the 
cost  of  four  thousand  dollars,  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Susan 
H.  Fisler,  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  H.  Cum- 
mins, with  stained-glass  windows  memorial  of  Dr. 
Fisler,  her  husband,  and  her  father  and  mother. 
On  August  23, 1878,  the  present  rector.  Rev.  Wm.  B. 
Gordon,  took  charge  of  the  parish.  In  1885  the  con- 
gregation, through  the  building  committee,  consisting 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Gordon,  G.  W.  Cummins  and  E.  A. 
Evans,  made  great  improvements  in  the  church  edifice, 
tearing  out  the  organ-loft  and  making  an  open  chan- 
cel and  putting  in  the  large  memorial  window,  the 
gift  of  A.  G.  Cummins,  in  memory  of  his  father  and 
mother,  John  and  Susan  H.  Cummins.  The  whole 
inside  was  renovated  and  painted,  as  also  the  exterior, 
at  a  cost  of  about  three  thousand  dollars.  In  1883  a 
fine  rectory  was  built,  costing  three  thousand  five 


hundred  dollars,  on  lot  of  ground  donated  by  Mrs. 
Susan  H.  Fisler. 

Methodist  Church, — The  first  Methodist  services 
held  in  Smyrna  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Philip  Cox 
in  the  residence  of  James  L.  Stevenson.  It  was  a 
little  log  building,  adjoining  the  present  church-site, 
and  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1850.  In  1780  Rev. 
Francis  Asbury  visited  this  place  (then  known  as 
"Duck  Creek  Cross-Roads"),  and  preached  his  first 
sermon  to  the  "three  hundred  people"  in  an  orchard 
between  Smyrna  and  Duck  Creek  village. 

In  1786  the  "old  frame  church"  was  erected  in  the 
"old  burying-ground,"  which  was  land  donated  to 
the  church  by  Allen  McLane.  It  was  a  building 
thirty  feet  square,  and  in  Asbury's  notes  is  mentioned 
as  a  "comfortable  house."  In  this  building  the 
Quarterly  Conference  was  held  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  1782  Dover  Circuit  was  Jormed,  and  Asbury 
Church  formed  a  portion  of  it  until  1804,  when  Duck 
Creek  Circuit  was  created  from  a  part  of  Dover  Cir- 
cuit. Edward  Martin,  Israel  Peterson,  Thomas  Wilds 
and  John  Lock  wood  were  the  stewards  in  1790.  On 
February  22,  1799,  notice  was  friven  to  the  society 
that  a  meeting  would  be  held  on  March  4th  of  that 
year  for  the  purpose  of  electing  seven  trustees.  At 
that  meeting  there  were  present  John  Cole,  James 
McDowell,  Israel  Peterson,  George  Kennard,  Simon 
Van  Winkle,  Peter  Lowber,  James  Stevenson,  James 
Henry,  Messer  Beaston,  Philip  Denny,  Daniel  Mc- 
Dowell, Benjamin  Farrow,  Noah  Hickman,  William 
Spearman,  John  Palmatary,  Major  Taylor,  Benjamin 
Bassett,  Robert  Patterson,  Thomas  Hall  and  MoUis- 
ton  Curry.  They  proceeded  to  an  election  with  the 
following  result: 

James  McDowell 20       James  Stevenson 20 

John  Cole 19       George  Kennard^ 19 

Ismel  Peterson 19       Peter  Lowber _ 11 

Simon  Van  Winkle 11       Jamwi  Henry 7 

M^lorTaylor «   i    Daniel  McDoweU „..  3 

Benj.  Farrow 2       Noah  Hickman 1 

Bei^amin  Bassett 1    '    Wm.  Spearman I 

John  Cole  was  chosen  president  of  the  board,  James 
Stevenson  secretary,  and  George  Kennard  treasurer. 

The  certificate  of  incorporation  was  signed  and 
sealed  on  same  date,  and  recorded  March  23,  1799. 
The  deed  for  the  property  was  executed  by  Allen 
McLane  on  the  following  9th  of  May.  On  June  22, 
1801,  the  trustees  appointed  George  Kennard  and 
John  Cummins  managers  of  the  grave-yard.  On 
March  18,  1811,  Isaac  Davis  and  Robert  Petterson 
were  elected  trustees  vice  Kennard  and  Lowber. 

In  1812  sixteen  churches  composed  the  Smyrna 
Circuit.  In  1819  the  **old  frame  church"  was  en- 
larged. Benjamin  Coombs  deeded  more  land  to  the 
church  for  cemetery  purposes  in  1823.  In  1828  the 
churches  of  Smyrna  Circuit  had  the  following  num- 
ber of  members : 


Union 100   i 

Middletown 42   | 

Lee*8  Chapel 66 

Webrter'e at 

Smyrna 144 

Kenton 65 

Farrow'a. 43  " 


Blackiston'i 44 

Maosey's „ ., 19 

Head  of  Saaaafcas 34 

Johnstown „ 24 

Baymond*8„ „ „.  67 

SeverfOB't 20 

Friendakip 29 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1103 


In  1830  a  lot  on  Delaware  Street  was  purchased  of 
Isaac  Davis,  and  a  parsonage  erected.  In  1848  the 
lot  on  which  the  present  church  stands,  on  Mt.  Ver- 
non Street,  was  bought  of  Dr.  Fisler.  The  erection 
of  a  brick  church  was  commenced,  and  the  corner- 
stone laid  May  24,  1844.  This  remained  until  1871, 
when  it  was  torn  down,  and  on  August  14th  of  that 
year  work  was  commenced  on  the  present  edifice. 
The  corner-stone  was  re-laid  on  October  7, 1871,  and 
the  church  dedicated  November  24,  1872,  by  Bishop 
Foster.  The  new  building  is  a  brick  structure,  sixty 
by  eighty  feet,  forty-five  feet  high,  with  two  slated 
towers, — one,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  feet,  and 
the  other  fifty-five  feet  high.  The  auditorium  is 
forty-five  by  sixty-two  feet,  and  has  eighty  pews, 
which,  with  the  gallery,  will  seat  seven  hundred  and 
fifty  persons.  The  cost  of  the  improvement  was 
$22,000.  The  building  committee  was  William  Wor- 
den,  J.  H.  Bewley  and  John  H.  Hoffecker,  who, 
with  James  B.  Clements,  Joseph  Smithers,  John  B. 
Cooper  and  William  H.  Baggs,  composed  the  board 
of  trustees  for  that  year.  In  1860  the  church  pur- 
chased five  acres  of  land  for  cemetery  purposes.  It 
was  commonly  called  the  "  Budd  Lot,"  and  lies  be- 
tween Smyrna  and  Duck  Creek. 

In  1845  Smyrna  was  formed  into  a  separate  station 
and  assigned  a  pastor  of  its  own.  A  dispute  arose  as 
to  whether  the  parsonage  belonged  to  the  circuit  or 
the  Asbury  Church.  As  a  result,  it  was  sold,  and  is 
now  in  possension  of  Mr^*.  Mary  £.  Boyd.  The  lot 
on  which  the  present  parsonage  stands  was  purchased 
of  James  R.  Clements.  The  building  was  erected  at 
a  cost  of  $6500.  The  church  is  now  in  an  excellent 
condition,  and  has  a  membership  of  six  hundred. 

The  Sunday-school,  started  in  1827,  has  now  fifty- 
two  teachers  and  officers  and  four  hundred  and  three 
scholars  under  the  superintendence  of  John  H.  Hof- 
fecker. The  school  has  access  to  a  large  and  care- 
fully selected  library.  The  present  trustees  are  John 
H.  Hoff*ecker,  Joseph  Smithers,  Robert  D.  Hofiecker, 
William  Paries,  Alfred  D.  Hudson,  Samuel  Roberts, 
J.  W.  Denney,  W,  W.  Tschudy  and  J.  B.  Cooper. 

The  following  ministers  have  been  stationed  as 
presiding  elders  over  the  several  circuits  with  which 
Asbury  Church  has  been  connected: 


Her.  Joseph  ETerett 1791 

•»     Wm.  P.  Chandler 1804-07 

"     Solomon  8harp...» 1808 

"     Richard  Sneath 1809 

♦*     James  Smith 1810-14 

••     Henry  Boebm 1815-19 

♦'     Wm.  Bishop 1819-23 

•»     Tho^  Ware 1823-25 

"     Jacob  Moore 1825-27 

*♦  Lawrence  Laurenuon.  1827-28 

•*  Lawrence  McCoombe.  1828-38 

".    MathewSorin 1833-36 

•*     David  Daily 1836-40 

••     Henry  White 1840-41 


Rev.  Dan'l.  Lambdin 1811-14 

"     Henry  White 1844-46 

"    John  T.  Hazard 1846-50 

"     T.  J.  Quigly 1850-64 

•*     Wra.  McCoombe 1854-68 

"     Thoi.  C.  Murphey 1858-61 

"     T.J.  Quigly „ 1861-65 

•*     T.  J.  Thomp«)n 1866-73 

"     John  Hough 1873-76 

"     Charlea  Hill 1876 

"  Thomas  E.  Martindal6...1876 

**     J.  H.  Caldwell 1884-85 

**     John  France 1885 


Rer.  Joseph  Maflon» 1846-47 

"  Jamee  M.  McCartmr. ..1847-49 

"    Jno.  A.  Roche „..184»-5l 

"     H.  E.  Gilroy 1861-63 

"     T.  C.  Murphey 1863-66 

«•  Wm.  C.  Robinson.. ....1866-67 

••     Charlea  HilL 1867-69 

"  Wm.  H.  Brifbane.....l869-61 

*'     Wm.  Bishop 1861-63 

"  Charles  Cooke,  D.D. .1863-66 


Rer.  Samuel  L.  Gracey......l866-69 

"     A.  Rittenhoute 1869-71 

«*    J.  F.  Clymer 1871-78 

"     G.  A.  Phoebus,  D.D...1873-76 

"     Enoch  Stubbfc 1876-78 

«•     T.  H.  Haynes 1878-81 

"     J.  D.  Rigg 1881-84 

"    J.  B.   Qulgg 1884-87 

**    W.  S.  Robinson,  the  piMent 
pastor 1887 


The  following  are  the  Smyrna  circuit  preachers : 


The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  who  have 
been  stationed  here  since  Asbury  Church  became  a 
separate  charge : 


David  Abbott 1782 

BenJ.  Abbott 1782 

Thomas  Ware 1783 

IraElUs 1786 

Thomas  Foster 1791 

Evan  Rogers 1791 

William  Hunter 1803 

Jesse  JusUce 1803 

Thomas  Walker 1803 

Thomas  Eveiiud 1804 

Thos.  Stratton 1804 

Wm.  Herron 1805 

CWeb  Morris 1805 

Richard  Lyon 1806 

Wm.  B.  Lacey 1806 

James  Ridgeway 1807 

Sylvester  Hill 1807 

Thos.  Walker 1808 

Geo.  Harman 1808 

Tho#.  Neal 1809 

John  Wilson 1809 

Sylvester  Hill 1810 

WUliam  Willinms. 1810 

Thus.  Smith 1811 

Sam' I.  Griffith 1811 

Geo.  Sheets 1812 

Wm.  Ridgeway 1812 

Thos.  Davis 1812 

Jno.  Walker 1813 

William  Ryder 1813 

Wm.  Ryder 1814 

David  Daily 1814 

Solomou  Higgius 1814 

Lawrence  McCoomb 1816 

Jno.  Collins 1816 

Lawrence  McCoomb 1816 

Sam'l.  P.  Levis 1816 

Thos.  Miller 1817 

Edwd.  Stout 1817 

James  Moore 1818 

Edwd.  Stout 1818 

Wm.  Williams. 1819 

Sam'l.  Grace »„ 1819 

Wm.  WilUams.„ 1820 

Wm.  Torbert 1820 

Wm.  Ryder 1821-22 

Jos.  Osborne 1821-22 

Samuel  Grace - 1823 

Joseph  Holdich 1823 

James  Smith 1824 

is:dward  Stevenson 1824 

James  Smith 1826 

Walter  B.  Jones. 1825 

Sol.  HIgglns 1826 

J.mesLong 1826 

JohnSmiUi 1827 

Joseph  lUff 1827 

John  Smith 1828 

Jeme  Thompson 1828 

Sol.  Sharp 1829 

Henry  G.  King .182» 

Sol.  Sharp 1830 

Wm.  Couley 1830 

Richard  M.  Greenbauk. 1831 

Bromwell  Andrews 1831 

Richard  M.  Greonbank 1832 


James  Nicols 1832 

Sol.  Sharp 1833 

S.  Anderson 1833 

Sol.  Sharp 1834 

Bei^.  Benson 1834 

Eliphalet  Reed 1835 

Zachary  GascoU 1836 

Eliphalet  Rsed 1836 

Wm.  Allen 1836 

Wm.  Allen 1837 

Vincent  Shepherd 1837 

Joshua  Humphreys 1838 

Jos.  Mann 1838 

Joshua  Humphreys 1839 

Wm.  C.  Thomas 1839 

James  B.  Ayres ....1840 

Wm.  C.  Thomas 1840 

James  B.  Ayres 1841 

James  L.  Houston 1841 

James  L.  Houstwn 1842 

Henry  Sutton 1842 

John  Lednum 1843 

Henry  Sutton 1843 

John  Lednum 1844 

JohuBell 1844 

Robert  H.  Ray 1844 

Wm.  H.  Folks 1846 

John  Bayne 1846 

James  E.  Meredith 1846 

E.  R.  Williams 1846 

J.  Mann 1846 

Thus.  Sumpton 1847 

John  Cummins 1847 

Thos.  Sumpton 1848 

David  A.  Price 1848 

Wm.  L.  Grey 1849 

Jos.  Horner 1849 

Thos.  Newman I860 

Wm.  Bunrell 1860 

Thus.  Newman 1861 

Jos.  Gregg 1851 

George  W.  Lybrand 1852 

Wm.  M.  Warner 1863 

George  W.  Lybrand 1852 

H.  T.  Johns 1853 

Daniel  Lamden 1864 

Jos.  Magee 1854 

8.  M.  Cooper 1866 

Jos.  Gregg 1866 

T.  W.  McClary  ^....1866 

8.  M.  Cooper 1866 

S.  T.  Gardlnner 1866 

8.  W.  Thomas 1867 

W.  F.  Torbert. 1867 

8.  W.  Thomas 1858 

W.  W.  Redman 1858 

T.  J.  Quigly 1869 

J.  T.  Van  Burkalow 1869 

T.  J.  Quigly 1860 

W.  O'Neil 1860 

J.  B.  Ayers 1861 

Jos.  D.  Ayers 1861 

J.  B.  Ayers ..1862 

Wm.  Matthias 1862 

J.  P.  Boone 1863 

Thos.  E.  Bell 1863 


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1104 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


E.  M.  Gart«n 1867 

Wm.  B.  Gregg 1868 

ThoB.  0.  Ayere 1868 

Wm.  Urie 1869 

Thos.  0.  Ayen 1869 

Wm.  Urie 1870 

E.  Hamline  Smith.. 1870 

Wm.  Urie 1871 

John  K.  Smith 1871 

Eiyah  Miller 1872 

John  E.  Smith 1872 


Henry  Sanderson 1864 

J.  Elliot 1864 

Wm.  R.  McFarlane 1864 

John  M.  CUrk 1864 

Henry  Sanderson 1865 

F.  M.  Chatham 1865 

Edward  Newman 1866 

Wm.  B.  Gregg 1866 

James  H.  Rich 186G 

Wm.  B.  Gregg 1867 

Wm.  Singer 1867 

(1873,  Smyrna  Circuit  again  on  Easton  District 
ancf  circuit  cut  down  to  Kenton,  Central  Bethel  and 
Severson.) 

Wm.  B.Gregg 1873-74 

Edward  Davis 1875-76 

P.  H.  Rawlins 1877 

The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Smyrna  was  probably 
organized  in  1733.  In  that  year  they  built  a  church 
edifice  a  little  south  of  the  town  limits,  on  a  tract 
known  as  Holy  Hill,  and  now  used  as  a  cemetery.  The 
first  pastor  was  Rev.  Robert  Jamison,  who  served  this 
congregation  from  December  26, 1734,  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  ten  years  later.  The  next  pastor  was 
Kev.  John  Miller,  who  was  installed  in  1749  as  pastor 
of  the  churches  of  Dover  and  Duck  Creek.  In  1763  a 
complaint  was  lodged  against  him  in  the  Presbytery 
on  the  grounds  that  he  introduced  and  used  Watts' 
version  of  the  psalms  in  the  congregation  of  Duck 
Creek.  Rev.  Miller  continued  as  pastor  until  his  death, 
in  1791.  For  many  years  the  church  was  without  a 
pastor,  and  dwindled  away  until  it  finally  btcame  ex- 
tinct. In  1818  the  old  church  building  was  repaired, 
and  an  interest  awakened.  The  pulpit  was  occasion- 
ally supplied  by  Rev.  James  Wilson  and  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Campbell.  The  affairs  of  the  church  moved 
along  slowly  until  1846,  when  a  church  building  on  Mt, 
Vernon  Street  was  purchased  of  the  Methodist  Pro- 
testants, and  the  church  was  reorganized.  Rev.  Tho- 
mas G.  Murphy  became  pastor  and  served  until  Oct. 
6,  1859.  Rev.  J.  C  Thompson  was  the  next  pastor, 
and  filled  the  pulpit  from  1860  until  1864.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  John  McCoy,  who  ministered  here  from 
January,  1865,  until  Feb.,  1869.  Rev.  G.  W.  Kenne- 
dy was  stated  supply  from  August,  1869,  until  October, 

1870.  Rev.  S.  S.  Sturgess  preached  here  from  June, 

1871,  until  Dec.  of  the  same  year.  Rev.  Jno.  Squire 
ministered  here  for  about  a  year,  and  was  followed  by 
Rev.  R.  A.  Brown,  who  served  from  Jan.,  1874,  until 
April,  1875.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Justus  T.  Um- 
sted,  D.D.,  was  installed  May  15,  1877. 

In  1883  it  was  decided  to  erect  a  new  edifice,  and  a 
lot  was  accordingly  procured  on  Main  Street  and  the 
construction  commenced.  The  building  was  com- 
pleted and  opened  April  6,  1884.  It  is  built  of  ser- 
pentine stone  in  the  early  English  Gothic  style.  The 
main  building  is  fifty-six  and  one-third  by  thirty -seven 
and  two-thirds  feet,  with  a  tower  and  spire  about  one 
hundred  feet  high,  and  has  a  capacity  for  seating  three 
hundred  persions.  In  the  rear  is  a  chapel,  forty-seven 
by  twenty-three  feet,  which  is  used  for  Sunday-school 
purposes.  The  church  is  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
and  has  eighty-five  communicants. 


A  Sunday-school  of  seventy  scholars,  under  the 
superintendance  of  Geo.  W.  Taylor,  is  connected  with 
the  church. 

The  following  persons  are  trustees  at  the  present 
time:  Nathan  L.  Underwood,  John  Heitshu,  William 
B.  Collins,  E.  V.  Cooper,  Geo.  W.  Taylor,  John  Mus- 
tard, Henry  C.  Murphey. 

ftoman  Catholic  Church. — ^The  first  meetings  of  the 
Roman  Catholics  were  held  in  Smyrna  in  the  resi- 
dence of  Michael  Riley  about  1863,  and  were  con- 
ducted by  Father  Daily,  of  New  Castle.  After 
the  first  few  meetings  the  place  of  holding  the 
services  was  changed  to  the  residence  of  Mr.  McCoy, 
at  Spruance  City.  The  meetings  were  held  once  a 
month  and  were  attended  by  six  families.  In  1881 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall  in  Smyrna  was  secured  and 
services  conducted  here  until  the  purchase  of  the 
present  church  from  the  Presbyterians  in  1883. 
The  church  was  denominated  St.  Polycarp  Roman 
Catholic  Church  and  dedicated  June  16,  1883, 
by  Bishop  Foster  and  Father  Bradford.  During 
1883  and  '84  services  were  held  twice  a  month,  but 
were  again  reduced  to  once  a  month.  The  church  was 
named  in  honor  of  St.  Polycarp,  a  bishop  of  Smyrna, 
Asia,  who  was  martyred  in  the  second  century.  It  is 
now  a  mission  with  ninety  communicants,  but  will 
soon  be  converted  into  a  parish.  The  following  priests 
have  ministered  here :  Father  Daily,  Father  Taylor, 
Father  Bradford,  Father  Flynn  and  Father  Graff. 

The  first  Sunday-school  in  Smyrna,  and  the  one 
whence  all  the  others  have  sprung,  was  organized  in 
1820  by  eight  young  ladies.  Their  names  were  Mar- 
garet Kennedy,  Sally  Basset,  Mary  Patterson,  Mary 
Davis,  Rebecca  McDowell,  Mary  Bassett,  Matilda 
Abbott  and  Ann  Curry.  The  first  service  was  held 
September  10th  of  that  year,  in  a  house  on  East  Com- 
merce Street,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Thomas  Davis. 
After  the  first  Sunday  the  Sunday-school  was  held  in 
the  Mechanics'  Academy.  Miss  Kennedy  acted  as 
superintendent  from  the  organization  until  April,  1821, 
when  Miss  Sally  Bassett  served  in  that  capacity.  In 
1823  there  were  seventy -one  scholars, — thirty -seven 
girls  and  thirty-four  boys, — who  were  instructed  in 
divine  knowledge  by  Misses  Rebecca  McDowell,  Sal- 
lie  McDowell,  Sallie  Patterson,  Mary  Ann  Wools  and 
Mr,  Joseph  Farrow.  The  Sundky-school  was  con- 
tinued until  June,  1827,  when  the  several  denomina- 
tions separated  and  formed  distinct  organizations  to 
be  conducted  in  connection  with  their  respective 
churches. 

Schools. — Probably  the  earliest  school  in  Smyrna, 
and  one  which  attained  the  most  celebrity,  was  a 
Friends'  school,  known  as  the  Southern  Boarding 
School.  The  school  exercises  were  performed  in  the 
building  on  Mt.  Vernon  Street,  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
S.  M.  Fisler,  and  the  students  boarded  in  the  build- 
ing now  the  residence  of  John  Muntard.  This  insti- 
tution was  closed  before  1825,  and  little  can  be  learned 
concerning  it. 

On  January  29, 1817,  the  Mechanics'  Academy  of 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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Smyrna  was  incorporated,  with  Thomas  Maberry, 
William  Kennedy,  Ephraim  Jefferson,  James  Smith, 
Ebenezer  Blackiston,  Jr.,  Jacob  Pennington  and 
John  Denning  as  trustees.  In  September,  1820,  Mr. 
Barstow,  who  had  been  a  teacher  of  this  institution, 
died.  The  academy  was  open  for  a  few  years,  and 
then  discontinued.  The  building  stood  on  Mt.  Ver- 
non Street,  where  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Clarissa 
Faries  now  is,  and  was  afterwards  moved  to  Cummins 
Street,  and  is  now  the  property  of  the  heirs  of  the 
Rev.  T.  J.  Thompson. 

Samuel  Priestly  also  taught  a  private  school,  first 
in  the  building  previously  occupied  as  a  Friends* 
academy,  and  afterwards  in  the  building  now  occupied 
by  the  Rev.  Justus  T.  Umsted,  D.D.,  discontinuing  it 
in  1825. 

A  select  school  was  taught  by  Mrs.  S.  P.  Mason  in 
1837  and  1838. 

In  1866,  Rev.  F.  M.  Chatham  was  the  principal  of 
the  Smyrna  English  Classical  Academy,  which  was 
held  in  the  Friends'  Meeting-house.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Dr.  J.  E.  Clawson,  who  continued  the 
school  until  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  about 
1874. 

At  other  times  select  schools  have  been  held  in 
this  town  for  short  intervals. 

The  first  free-school  in  the  town  was  opened  in  a 
building  on  East  Commerce  Street,  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Thomas  Davis.  It  was  started  by  the  young 
ladies  of  the  town,  among  whom  figured  prominently 
in  this  undertaking  Mrs.  Ann  Spruance  and  Misses 
Mary  and  Ann  Patterson.  It  was  incorporated  as 
Female  Union  Society,  January  22, 1818.  Its  object 
was  to  educate  those  who  were  unable  to  pay  the 
tuition  at  the  private  schools.  The  school  was  con- 
tinued until  the  adoption  of  the  public-school  system. 

By  the  first  division  of  the  county  into  school  dis- 
tricts, according  to  the  act  of  1829,  Smyrna  formed  a 
portion  of  Districts  No.  3  and  5.  Two  frame  school- 
houses  were  erected,  one  on  North  and  the  other  on 
South  Street.  At  a  later  date  District  No.  77  was 
created  out  of  No.  3,  and  District  107  out  of  No.  6. 
No  new  buildings  were  erected  in  the  new  districts, 
but  the  schools  conducted  as  before.  In  1854  it  was 
found  necessary  to  provide  more  ample  accommoda- 
tions for  the  scholars,  and  the  building  on  South 
Street  was  removed  and  a  two-story  brick  structure, 
twenty-six  by  forty  feet,  erected.  Both  buildings 
are  still  standing,  though  no  longer  used  for  school 
purposes.  The  building  in  District  No.  3  received 
several  additions  and  alterations,  and  was  used  for 
school  purposes  until  1884.  The  growth  of  the  schools 
and  the  advantages  of  the  graded-school  system  led 
to  the  consolidation  of  the  schools.  In  1881  an  act 
was  passed  enabling  the  commissioners  to  consolidate, 
and  on  April  4th  of  that  year  a  meeting  of  the  com- 
missioners of  Districts  No.  3,  77,  6  and  107  was 
held,  which  resulted  as  follows :  The  board  organ- 
ized by  electing  George  H.  Raymond  president;  E.  M. 
Cloak,  secretary  ;  P.  Hofiecker  treasurer.  On  July 
70 


13th  of  same  year,  George  H.  Raymond  resigned  his 
position  as  commissioner,  and  William  M.  Bell  was 
chosen  his  successor. 

In  September  1881,  L.  Irving  Handy  was  elected 
principal,  which  position  he  filled  until  1887,  when  he 
resigned  and  accepted  the  position  of  superintendent 
of  the  public  schools  of  Kent  County.  Pursuant  to 
a  notice  given  January  8, 1883,  a  meeting  of  the  tax- 
payers was  held  January  19th  for  the  purpose  of 
considering  the  advisability  of  erecting  a  new  school- 
house.  At  this  meeting  it  was  resolved,  "  That  the 
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Smyrna  Public  Schools  be, 
and  hereby  are,  authorized  and  requested  to  ask  from 
the  General  Assembly  at  its  present  session,  an 
amendment  to  the  act  entitled  an  '  Act  to  Consolidate 
the  Public  Schools  of  Smyrna,'  enabling  the  said 
Board  of  Directors  to  borrow,  not  exceeding  the  sum 
of  sixteen  thousand  dollars,  for  the  purpose  of  erect- 
ing a  school-house  in  said  district."  The  petition  was 
granted,  and  on  February  12th  John  H.  Hoffecker, 
George  W.  Taylor,  W.  A.  Faries  and  William  M.  Bell 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  select  a  suitable  site. 
A  lot  on  the  corner  of  Delaware  and  South  Streets 
was  selected  and  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  Mr.  Catts. 
The  plan  of  a  building,  as  draughted  by  C.  £.  Graham 
&  Sons,  of  Wilmington,  was  adopted  on  April  3d. 

The  contract  for  the  building  was  awarded  to  T. 
W.  Farree  &  Bro.,  of  Yorklyn,  on  the  2d  of  May.  On 
May  29th  William  M.  Bell,  W.  A.  Faries  and  G.  W. 
Taylor  were  appointed  a  building  committee.  The 
building  was  completed  and  accepted  in  January, 
1884.  It  is  a  brick  structure,  cruciform  in  shape, 
having  four  transepts,  each  twenty-five  by  thirty-five 
feet,  two  stories  high  and  forming  eight  rooms.  The  cen- 
tre building  is  thirty-five  feet  square,  three  stories  high, 
and  is  surmounted  with  a  dome  and  belfry,  making  a 
total  height  of  ninety-two  feet.  The  total  cost  of  the 
building  was  fourteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  dollars.  The  old  school  property  was 
sold  January  2d  of  that  year.  The  land  on  South 
Street  was  divided  into  six  lots,  three  of  which  were 
purchased  by  William  M.  Bell,  two  by  J.  C.  Bailey 
and  one  by  Mrs.  Hannah  Surgeon.  The  lot  on  North 
Street  was  purchased  by  W.  W.  Tschudy.    In  June, 

1884,  Edward  B.  Gordon  and  Harry  R.  Bell  were 
graduated  as  the  first  alumni  of  the  public  schools. 
The  first  commencement  exercises  were  held  June  26, 

1885,  when  a  class  of  five  was  graduated.  At  the 
present  time  twenty -three  have  graduated.  There 
are  at  the  present  time  in  the  public  schools  eight 
departments. 

The  corps  of  teachers  at  present  is  W.  G.  Lake, 
principal ;  Miss  Lizzie  Parrott,  Miss  Emma  Hough, 
Miss  Anna  Doughten,  Miss  Lizzie  McDowell,  Miss 
Kate  L.  Storm,  Miss  Mary  Spruance  and  Miss  Carrie 
C.  Budd. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as  school  di- 
rectors since  the  consolidation  of  the  districts : 

1881. —Win.  M.  Bell,  E.  M.  Cloak,  James  P.  Hoffecker,  Geo.  W.  Tay- 
lor, Wm.  H.  Garr,  David  T.  Smlthen,  Wm.  A.  Farief. 


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1106 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


1882  and  *83.-^ohii  H.  Hoffecker,  E.  V.  Qoak,  G*o.  W.  Taylor, 
James  P.  Hoffecker,  Wm.  M.  Bell,  David  T.  Smlther^  W.  A.  Fades. 

1884  and  '86.-J.  P.  Hoffecker,  W.  M.  Bell,  E.  M.  Cloak,  G.  W.  Tay- 
lor,  W.  A.  Farles,  J.  H.  Hoffecker,  J.  H.  GroTes. 

1886  and  *87.— Geo.  H.  Baymond,  Geo.  W.  Taylor,  Jamos  P.  Hoffecker, 
W.  A.  Farles,  E.  M.  Fowler,  John  H.  Hoffecker,  Geo.  M.  Stenion. 

Industries. — ^At  no  time  have  the  manufactories 
of  Smyrna  been  numerous  or  extensive.  In  addition 
to  those  in  operation  at  the  present  time,  there  are 
several  no  longer  in  existence  that  deserve  passing 
notice. 

Green's  Pottery  on  Main  Street,  on  property  now 
owned  by  William  £.  Hall,  was  in  operation  many 
years,  and  discontinued  about  1840. 

In  August,  1824,  John  H.  Pennington  advertised 
that  he  had  commenced  the  manufacture  of  "  Piano 
Fortes''  in  Smyrna.  How  long  he  continued  or 
where  his  factory  was  situated  is  unknown.  Mrs. 
Sarah  P.  Mason  used  a  piano  of  his  manufacture  for 
a  short  time. 

In  1 830  Benson  &  Catts,  were  extensive  carriage- 
builders.  After  the  decease  of  Samuel  Catts  the 
business  was  transacted  under  the  style,  Benson  &  Co. 
Gaboon  &  Carrow  were  th«ir  successors,  and  were  in 
the  business  in  1857.  The  £Eictory  was  on  land  now 
used  as  a  garden  by  John  H.  Hoffecker. 

Col.  Samuel  Catts,  of  Smyrna,  was  born  May  10, 
1800,  in  Camden,  Kent  County,  and  died  in  Smyrna, 
June  23,  1856.  His  ancestors  were  English,  and 
settled  in  Virginia  the  latter  part  of  the  17th  century. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  quite  young,  and  left 
him  to  the  care  and  guidance  of  his  mother,  a  woman 
of  many  excellent  qualities.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
went  to  Wilmington  to  learn  a  trade,  carriage-making, 
— a  most  important  one  in  the  days  when  there  were  no 
railroads.  After  the  usual  apprenticeship  he  resolved 
to  further  improve  himself  by  such  an  education  as 
was  within  his  command,  and  for  that  purpose,  by 
means  of  his  savings  and  a  small  legacy  left  him,  at- 
tended for  two  years  the  Kennett  Square  Academy, 
in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  an  institution  of 
learning  well  known  at  that  time,  where,  by  the 
exercise  of  that  industry  and  perseverance  which 
characterized  him  through  life,  he  acquired  what  was 
then  considered  a  liberal  education. 

In  1823  he  went  to  Smyrna,  and  soon  thereafter  with 
Benjamin  Benson  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
carriages.  At  that  time  this  was  comparatively  an 
infant  industry  in  that  section  of  country,  but,  by 
reason  of  their  energy,  excellent  workmanship  and 
integrity,  they  built  up  not  only  the  most  important 
manufacturing  establishment  in  the  county,  but  one 
of  the  most  important  in  the  State,  their  trade  ex- 
tending not  merely  throughout  Delaware,  but  all  over 
the  Peninsula  and  beyond,  as  far  north  as  Philadel- 
phia, and  south  as  Washington.  They  employed  a 
large  force  of  skilled  workmen,  and  made  every  part 
of  the  vehicle,  even  the  silver-plating,  in  their  own 
factory. 

In  the  transaction  of  his  business  he  traveled  much, 
visiting  all  the  important  towns  and  cities  over  a  large 


section  of  country,  and  became  favorably  known  to 
many  people.  He  retired  from  business  in  1844,  hav- 
ing amassed  a  fortune.  He  held  many  positions  of 
trust  and  honor.  He  was  for  many  yean  a  director 
of  the  Farmers'  Bank  at  Dover,  director  of  Insurance 
Company  in  New  Castle  County,  and  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity^  being  one  of  the 
original  members  of  the  lodge  in  Smyrna.  When  the 
Delaware  Railroad  was  projected,  he  subscribed  liber- 
ally to  its  stock,  and  in  order  that  Smyrna  might 
receive  the  greatest  benefit,  earnestly  advocated  its 
construction  east  of  the  town.  Surveys  were  made  to 
that  end,  but  other  influences  prevailed,  and  he  died 
before  the  completion  of  the  road. 

In  politics  he  was  a  liberal  Whig,  a  great  admirer 
of  Clay,  and  a  devoted  partisan,  in  its  higher  sense, 
of  Whig  principles.  He  had  a  thorough  understand- 
ing of  our  government  and  its  history  and  the  admin- 
istration of  its  affairs,  and  in  the  politics  of  the  State 
exercised  a  strong  and  beneficial  influence.  At  one 
time  he  was  mentioned  with  favor  as  United  States 
Senator,  and  in  the  caucus  of  his  party,  then  in 
power  in  the  Liegislature,  was  within  one  rote  of  the 
nomination.  He  was  a  Presidential  elector  on  the 
Whig  ticket  in  1848,  when  (General  Taylor  was 
elected;  was  an  aide-de-camp,  with  the  rank  of 
colonel,  on  the  stafi*  of  Governor  Comegys,  and  also 
held  local  municipal  office. 

Colonel  Catts  was  intellectually  one  of  the  strong 
men  of  Delaware.  To  a  foundation  of  large  common 
sense,  which  he  used  with  great  advantage  in  the 
discernment  of  men  and  things,  he  added,  by  study, 
an  extended  knowledge  of  the  best  English  literature, 
of  which  he  had  accumulated  a  fine  library ;  and  in 
his  discourse  displayed  the  taste  of  a  critic  and  the 
mind  of  a  philosopher.  He  accepted  no  statement, 
argument  or  theory  without  investigation,  and  the 
final  approval  of  his  own  intelligence  and  conscience, 
and,  though  independent  in  his  mode  of  thinking,  he 
was  a  Christian,  and  allowed  the  widest  latitude  to 
others.  In  social,  as  well  as  public,  intercourse  his 
manner  was  engaging  and  his  mental  strength  at  once 
apparent.  To  a  large  mind  he  added  a  large  and 
commanding,  yet  companionable,  presence,  and, 
though  he  invited  friendship,  he  would  not  tolerate 
familiarity. 

He  was  married  in  1829  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  John 
Baily.  Mrs.  Catts  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one,  in  the  possession  of  faculties  bright  and  unim- 
paired. They  had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
still  living,  viz.,  Sarah  Elizabeth,  married  to  Dr. 
John  F.  Cuningham,  of  Philadelphia,  formerly  of 
Chester  County,  and  now  deceased;  Samael,  Anna, 
Evelina,  of  Smyrna,  and  Charles  W.,  lawyer,  prac- 
ticing in  Philadelphia. 

A  building  west  of  the  present  factory  of  the 
Smyrna  Buggy  Company  was  occupied  as  a  foundry 
in  1854  by  Bowman,  Elliott  &  Co.  On  the  second 
floor  was  a  sash  and  door  &ctory,  established  in  1859 
by  Mitchell  &  Bowman.    In  1865  the  building  was 


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purchased  by  Hoffecker  &  Brother,  and  used  for 
manufacturing  woolen  yarn.  It  was  next  operated 
as  a  basket  factory  by  Richard  Mitchell,  and  while 
in  his  occupancy,  in  1870,  was  burned,  and  has  never 
been  rebuilt. 

In  1857  J.  Millaway  &  Son  were  operating  a  foun- 
dry on  the  present  site  of  the  Town  Hall.  McMul- 
len  &  Shermer  commenced  manufacturing  wagons 
about  1850  and  continued  until  1870.  The  &ctory  was 
on  Ck>mmerce  Street,  where  J.  B.  Cooper's  residence 
now  stands. 

In  1857  J.  M.  Denning  operated  a  carriage  factory 
near  the  present  site  of  Hoffecker's  canning  estab- 
lishment. 

Isaac  Solomon  started  a  soap  and  candle  factory 
about  1845  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  L.  Irving 
Handy's  residence.  Robert  Denney  was  the  next 
owner,  who  in  March,  1859,  sold  it  to  A.  Holmes 
Stock  ley.  It  was  afterwards  owned  by  A.  Elton,  who 
sold  it  to  C.  E.  Foxwell  and  W.  V.  Grieves  on  March 
28,  1866,  and  soon  discontinued. 

Clegg  &  Ruth  were  operating  a  foundry  in  1857  on 
the  comer  of  Delaware  and  Commerce  Streets. 

Pratt  &  Lock  wood  started  a  foundry  on  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  Smyrna  Buggy  Company. 
James  Davis  succeeded  Thomas  Lockwood  in  the 
firm,  and  the  business  was  transacted  as  Pratt  & 
Davis.  The  factory  was  burned  while  operated  by 
them,  and  was  rebuilt  by  Thomas  Lockwood.  It  has 
since  been  operated  by  Dixon  &  Clements,  J.  B. 
Evans  &  Co.,  and  from  1882  to  '85  as  a  pickling  fac- 
tory by  the  Diamond  State  Pickling  Company. 

In  September,  1860,  Joseph  H.  Collins  opened  a 
fan  factory  on  Market  Street,  near  Commerce.  The 
factory  was  a  two-story  building,  thirty  by  forty  feet, 
and  gave  employment  to  eight  hands.  On  May  18, 
1862,  it  was  sold  by  the  sheriff,  and  purchased  by 
Robert  Hill,  but  was  never  operated  afterwards. 

On  November  13, 1751,  Thomas  James  sold  to  An- 
drew Peterson,  millwright,  thirty  acres  of  land  and  a 
grist-mill  adjoining  the  meeting-house  and  burial- 
place  (Holy  Hill).  The  thirty  acres  were  probably 
on  both  sides  of  the  stream.  The  mill  remained  in 
the  possession  of  the  Peterson  family  many  years, 
and  then  was  purchased  by  William  Sharp  and 
known  as  Sharp's  Mills.  Sharp  was  unable  to  retain 
the  mill,  and  it  again  came  into  the  possession  of 
the  Petersons  and  became  the  property  of  Mrs. 
John  C.  Corbit,  to  whom  it  now  belongs.  For  the 
past  ten  years  it  has  been  operated  by  J.  B.  Webb. 
The  mill  is  run  by  water-power,  and  the  grinding  is 
done  by  burrs.  It  has  a  capacity  for  grinding  eighty 
bushels  of  grain  per  day. 

In  1867  Joseph  V.  Hoffecker  opened  a  canning 
establishment  on  Main  Street.  In  the  following  year 
he  associated  with  himself  his  brother,  John  H.  Hof- 
fecker. A  three-story  frame  building,  forty-two  by 
sixty  feet,  on  the  site  of  the  present  factory,  was  fitted 
up  with  the  requisite  machinery.  This  building  was 
burned  August  3,  1875,  and  the  present  building 


erected  the  following  year.  The  front  part  of  the 
building  is  two  stories  bigh,  forty-four  by  forty  feet, 
and  the  back  part  one  story,  forty-four  by  sixty 
feet 

In  1877  John  H.  Hoffecker  became  sole  owner,  and 
has  since  operated  it.  Tomatoes,  corn,  pumpkins  and 
all  fruits  available  are  canned.  During  the  sea- 
son (from  August  1st  till  November  Ist)  employment 
is  given  to  one  hundred  and  twenty -five  persons. 
The  capacity  of  the  cannery  is  five  hundred  thousand 
cans.  The  cans  used  are  manufactured  here,  and  for 
this  purpose  five  men  are  employed  six  months  each 
year. 

In  addition  to  the  canning  industry,  in  1882  a 
building  was  erected  and  fitted  up  with  two  Williams 
evaporators.  These  have  a  capacity  of  three  hundred 
baskets  per  day,  and  give  employment  to  twenty-five 
additional  hands.  The  fruits  and  vegetables  pre- 
pared in  this  establishment  are  shipped  to  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Boston  and  Chicago. 

John  H.  Hoffecker,  one  of  the  prominent  manufac- 
turers and  business  men  of  Smyrna,  is  of  German 
descent.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry  Hoffecker, 
many  years  before  the  Revolution,  emigrated  to 
America  with  his  wife,  four  sons  and  four  daughters, 
and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  at  what  is  now  Leather- 
bury's  Corner,  in  Kent  County,  near  Smyrna.  In  his 
native  land  Henry  Hoffecker  learned  the  tailor's  trade 
and  followed  it  as  an  occupation  in  this  country. 
Late  in  life  he  returned  to  G^many  to  receive  an  in- 
heritance, and  died  on  his  return  passage  to  America. 

John  Hoffecker,  his  youngest  son  and  grandfather 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  bom  in  Kent  County, 
and  during  his  life  was  successftilly  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. He  was  married  to  Catharine  Slack,  and  three 
sons  were  born  to  them,  namely, — James,  Joseph  and 
Henry.  Joseph,  the  second  son  and  father  of  John 
H.  Hoffecker,  was  a  prosperous  farmer,  residing  five 
miles  east  of  Smyrna,  in  Duck  Creek  Hundred,  until 
1887,  when  he  bought  the  Edward  Joy  farm,  now 
owned  by  his  son,  John  H.  Hoffecker.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  1826  to  Rachel  Van  Oasken,  by  whom  he  had 
seven  children.  He  died  in  1851,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven  years.  His  widow  is  now  living  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years, 

John  H.  Hoffecker,  the  eldest  son  of  John  and 
Rachel  Hoffecker,  was  bom  September  12, 1827,  on 
the  farm  which  he  now  owns,  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
Smyrna,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the  schools  of 
that  town.  At  his  father's  death  he  succeeded  to  the 
ownership  of  a  large  farm,  which  he  cultivated  from 
1851  to  1868,  when  he  moved  to  Smyrna  and  embarked 
in  the  business  of  canning  fruits,  with  his  brother 
Joseph  as  a  partner.  The  partnership  was  dissolved 
in  1877,  and  the  business  has  since  been  conducted  by 
Mr.  Hoffecker,  who  has  greatly  enlarged  the  establish- 
ment and  increased  the  facilities  for  canning.  In 
1883  he  added  extensive  evaporators  and  a  fifty  horse- 
power engine  to  his  factory.  He  still  continues  to 
manage  his  farm  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


acres,  which  is  mostly  planted  in  fruit-trees.  During 
many  years  of  his  life  he  has  done  a  great  deal  of  sur- 
veying in  his  neighborhood. 

Mr.  HofiTecker  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the 
Fruit-Growers'  National  Bank  of  Smyrna,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  since  its  organiza- 
tion in  1876.  He  is  a  director  in  the  Kent  County 
Mutual  Insurance  Company,  president  of  the  Smyrna 
Building  and  Loan  Association  since  1875,  member 
of  the  Board  of  Town  Commissioners  since  1873  and 
president  several  years,  a  school  director  since  1882, 
and  chairman  of  the  Building  Committee  that  erected 
the  handsome  public  school  building  in  1883.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Philadelphia  and  Smyrna  Transportation  Line  since 
its  origin,  and  was  greatly  instrumental  in  securing 
the  erection  of  the  water-works  for  the  town  of 
Smyrna. 

Mr.  Hoffecker  in  politics  was  a  Whig  from  1849  to 
the  formation  of  the  Republican  party,  and  in  1856 
was  one  of  the  three  hundred  persons  who  voted  for 
John  C.  Fremont,  the  first  candidate  of  the  Republi- 
can party  for  President.  In  1876  he  was  a  delegate 
to  the  National  Republican  Convention  at  Cincinnati, 
when  Rutherford  B.  Hayes  was  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  in  1884  was  a  delegate  to  the  Con- 
vention at  Chicago  which  nominated  James  G.  Blaine 
for  the  same  office.  The  important  position  he  has 
held  has  given  him  prominence  and  influence  not 
only  in  the  town  of  Smyrna  and  his  native  county  of 
Kent,  but  in  the  entire  State  of  Delaware. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  1853,  John  H.  Hoffecker  was 
married  to  Miss  Annie  E.  Appleton,  daughter  of  John 
Appleton,  of  Odessa,  Delaware.  By  this  marriage 
were  born  four  children,  viz. :  Walter  0.,  married  to 
Miss  Beulah  C.  Hance,  of  Philadelphia, — is  engaged 
in  business  with  his  £Either ;  John  A.,  married  to  Miss 
Annie  Waters,  of  Smyrna, — is  chief  clerk  in  the 
superintendent's  office  of  the  Delaware  Division  of 
the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Rail- 
road at  Clayton;  James  Edwin,  married  to  Miss 
Annie  Scott, — ^is  employed  as  clerk  in  the  same  office; 
Annie,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  lives  at  home. 

Mr.  Hoffecker's  first  wife  died  June  20, 1881.  Her 
father  is  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 

In  March,  1883,  Mr.  Hoffecker  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Charlotte  J.  Hoffecker,  daughter  of  Matthias  German, 
of  Kent  County.  Mrs.  Hoffecker  was  a  teacher  in 
China  from  1875  to  1878,  living  in  the  family  of  her 
sister,  who  was  the  wife  of  Rev.  S.  L.  Baldwin,  D.D., 
for  twenty  years  a  missionary  of  the  Methodist  Church 
in  China. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffecker  are  members  of  Asbury 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Smyrna.  He  has 
been  a  prominent  supporter  of  this  church  and  mem- 
ber of  its  Board  of  Trustees  and  Stewards  since  1860. 

In  1826  John  and  Alexander  Peterson  opened  a 
tannery  in  Smyrna,  near  the  corner  of  Mt.  Vernon 
and  Union  Streets.  In  1837  John  Peterson  sold  his 
share  to   John  Mustard,  and  the  tannery  was  con- 


ducted by  him  and  Alexander  Peterson  nndef  tbf 
style  of  Peterson  &  Mustard,  until  the  death  of  Peter- 
son in  1868.  It  was  then  operated  till  1875  by  Johi 
and  Horace  R.  Mustard,  and  then  abandoned.  In 
addition  to  tanning,  quercitron  bark  was  ground  from 
1850  until  1877.  The  quercitron  bark  is  used  for  dye- 
ing purposes,  and  is  principally  shipped  to  Europe. 
The  capacity  for  grinding  was  one  thousand  tons  per 
year.  The  tannery  had  a  capacity  of  five  thousand 
hides  per  year,  and  the  principal  tan  was  sole-leather. 
In  1883  Horace  R.  Mustard  and  A.  Lee  Cummins 
formed  a  co-partnership  for  the  purpose  of  manufac- 
turing baskets.  The  old  tannery  buildings  were  fitted 
up  with  machinery  adapted  to  that  use,  and  have 
since  been  operated  as  a  basket  factory.  Baskets  are 
made  during  four  months  of  the  year,  and  employ- 
ment is  furnished  during  this  period  to  eighty  per- 
sons. The  majority  of  the  baskets  are  used  on  the 
Peninsula,  and  the  rest  shipped  to  New  Jersey  and 
New  York. 

William  Worden  erected  a  steam  saw-mill  and 
machine-shop  on  Commerce  Street  in  1865.  The 
building  was  a  frame  structure,  forty  by  seventy  feet 
In  1867  he  associated  with  himself  J.  D.  Evans,  and 
shortly  afterwards  the  firm  began  to  manufacture 
baskets  in  addition  to  the  other  branches  of  industry. 
Additional  buildings  were  erected,  and  in  the  three 
departments  employment  was  given  to  one  hundred 
persons.  In  1873  Evans  withdrew  from  the  business, 
and  full  charge  was  assumed  by  Joseph  E.  Worden, 
son  of  William  Worden.  In  1875  the  Worden  Man- 
ufacturing Company  was  oi^ganizod.  This  company 
operated  the  works  until  1878,  when  they  were  pur- 
chased by  Tschudy  &  Catts.  On  December  18,  1880, 
the  entire  manufactory  was  burned.  In  1882  the 
present  building,  fifty-six  by  seventy  feet,  one  story 
brick,  and  one  story  frame,  was  erected,  and  has 
since  been  operated  as  a  basket-fEictory  by  Tschudy  & 
Catts,  with  J.  B.  Evans  as  superintendent.  Employ- 
ment is  given  to  seventy-five  persons  for  four  months 
each  year.  With  improved  machinery  the  capacity 
has  increased  from  seventeen  thousand,  produced  the 
first  season,  by  Worden  &  Evans,  to  thirty -five  thou- 
sand per  week  now  manu&ctured.  The  principal 
markets  are  the  Peninsula  and  New  Jersey. 

In  1847  James  Taylor  opened  a  general  wheel- 
wright-shop and  wagon  manufactory  on  Commerce 
Street.  In  1855  George  W.  Taylor,  a  son,  was  admit- 
ted into  partnership,  and  the  place  of  business  moved 
to  Main  Street.  In  the  following  year  the  foundry 
of  James  L.  Bucke  was  purchased,  and  operated  until 
1861.  In  1864  G.  W.  &  S.  Taylor  formed  a  partner- 
ship, and  in  1869  started  a  shop  on  the  present  site. 
Additions  have  been  made  at  different  times  until  at 
present  the  manufactory  is  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  feet  front,  two  hundred  and  ten  fe^  deep,  and 
two  stories  high.  In  November  the  G.  W.  &  S.  Taylor 
Company  was  formed.  In  this  manufactory  are  com- 
bined a  foundry,  wagon-shop  and  a  specialty  machine- 
shop.    Basket   machinery    and    agricultural  imple- 


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n.-.       (J. 


share  to  John  Mustard,  and  the  tannery  was  con-     shop.    Basket    machinery    and   agricultural  imple- 

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KENT  COUNTY. 


1109 


ments  are  manufactured  in  large  quantities.  Em- 
ployment is  given  to  sixty  persons.  They  manufac- 
ture annually  thirty  wagons,  one  hundred  sulky  culti- 
vators, one  thousand  two  hundred  hand  cultivators, 
and  numerous  other  implements,  and  in  addition  a 
large  amount  of  repair  work. 

In  1882  Joseph  L.  Beckett  commenced  to  manu- 
facture wagons  on  Main  Street,  in  a  two-story  build- 
ing, one  hundred  by  fifty  feet,  erected  for  that  purpose. 
He  gives  employment  to  seven  men,  and  produces 
fifty  wagons  per  year. 

In  1871  Lassell  &  Curry  began  to  manufacture 
wagons  on  the  corner  of  Mt.  Vernon  and  Market 
Streets.  In  1882  Samuel  Whitman  bought  the 
interest  of  Henry  Curry,  and  the  business  has  since 
been  conducted  under  the  style  of  J.  C.  Lassell  &  Co. 
In  1885  they  moved  into  the  building  on  Main  Street, 
which  they  now  occupy.  Sixty- five  wagons  are  manu- 
factured annually,  and  employment  is  given  to 
•  twelve  men. 

In  1865  Geo.  W.  Tilghman  opened  a  factory  for 
manufacturing  wagons  and  agricultural  implements. 
In  1880  a  steam  saw-mill  was  attached.  He  gives 
employment  to  five  men. 

In  1 880  Voshell  &  Jerman  erected  a  building  on 
Commerce  Street,  in  which  they  placed  four  evapora- 
tors. They  evaporate  nothing  but  peaches,  and 
during  the  season  give  employment  to  seventy- 
five  hands.  The  capacity  is  five  hundred  baskets 
every  twenty-four  hours.  During  a  season  fifty  thou- 
sand pounds  of  fruit  are  prepared,  which  is  shipped 
principally  to  Pittsburgh. 

Water  Woeks. — ^The  necessity  of  a  water  supply 
was  for  many  years  keenly  felt  by  the  citizens  of 
Smyrna.  In  1885  the  Legislature  was  petitioned  for 
an  act  authorizing  the  town  to  borrow  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  with  which  to  provide  a  suitable 
supply.  The  act  passed  March  16th  of  that  year 
placed  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  the  tax-payers 
of  the  town.  A  vote  was  taken  July  15th  of  the 
same  year,  which  resulted  in  favor  of  water.  After 
examining  the  methods  of  obtaining  water  in  use  in 
the  neighboring  towns,  it  was  decided  to  dig  a  well 
and  erect  a  stand-pipe.  The  contract  was  awarded  to 
A.  H.  Coon  &  Co.,  of  Kingston,  Pa. 

The  work  was  completed  and  accepted  by  the  town 
on  March  25,  1886.  The  well  is  eighteen  feet  in 
diameter  and  twenty-one  feet  deep,  and  has  a  capacity 
of  six  hundred  thousand  gallons  per  day.  The  stand- 
pipe  is  eight  feet  in  diameter  and  one  hundred  feet 
high,  with  contents  of  thirty-seven  thousand  six 
hundred  gallons.  In  the  engiue-room  near  the  well 
was  placed  a  forty  horse-power  engine  and  a  fifty 
horsepower  boiler,  for  the  purpose  of  forcing  the 
water  throughout  the  town  and  to  the  stand-pipe, 
which  is  nearly  a  mile  distant  from  the  well,  and  on 
an  elevation  of  thirty-four  feet.  In  1887  an  additional 
thirty  horse-power  engine  and  forty  horse-power 
boiler  were  placed  in  the  engine-room.  Four  miles 
of  pipe  are  laid  through  the  town,  to  which  are 


attached  thirty-four  twin  hydrants  for  fire  purposes. 
Water  is  also  supplied  to  two  hundred  private  con- 
sumers. Since  the  plant  was  accepted  by  the  town, 
it  has  been  under  the  careful  superintendence  of  Abel 
Taylor. 

The  water  commissioners  appointed  by  the  town 
commissioners  are :  1886 — E.  W.  Taylor,  J.  B.  Cooper, 
J.  Van  Gasken ;  1887— Samuel  Taylor,  J.  B.  Cooper, 
William  E.  Hall. 

The  Smyrna  Coal,  Coke  &  Gas  Company  was  in- 
corporated in  1857,  with  a  capital  stock  of  sixteen 
thousand  dollars.  The  gas  consumed  in  Smyrna  was 
furnished  by  this  corporation  until  1870,  when  the  plant 
was  sold  by  the  sheriff,  and  purchased  by  Joseph 
Smithers  and  Patrick  Maguire,  who  have  since  oper- 
ated it.  The  factory  is  on  Main  Street  near  the  mill- 
pond,  and  contains  a  reservoir,  with  a  capacity  of 
five  thousand  feet.  In  1870,  when  it  was  purchased 
by  the  present  proprietors,  seventeen  burners  were 
used  for  lighting  the  streets,  and  the  total  consump- 
tion amounted  to  two  hundred  thousand  feet  per 
year.  Until  1875  the  gas  was  manufactured  from 
rosin,  but  since  that  time  it  is  made  from  coal.  At 
the  present  time  there  are  forty -seven  street  lamps, 
and  a  consumption  of  two  million  feet  per  year. 
Three  miles  of  pipe  are  laid  through  the  town. 

Banks. — The  Commercial  Bank  of  Delaware  was 
incorporated  February  9,  1812,  with  a  capital  not 
to  exceed  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  was 
to  be  placed  in  four  thousand  shares  at  fifty  dollars 
per  share.  The  act  provided  that  the  main  bank 
should  be  established  at  Smyrna  and  a  branch  at 
Milford.  Commissioners  to  solicit  stock  were  ap- 
pointed as  follows  :  Smyrna,  John  Cummins,  Robert 
Patterson.  Presley  Spruance,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Coomb, 
Ebenezer  Blackiston,  John  Clark,  John  Lowber  and 
Isaac  Davis ;  Milford,  John  Adams,  James  B.  Bal- 
aton, John  Mitchell,  Elias  Shockley,  Robert  Hill, 
John  Williams,  Thomas  Peterkin  and  Louder  Layton. 

The  first  general  meeting  of  the  "  Commercial  Bank 
of  Delaware,"  at  Smyrna,  was  held  June  4,  1812. 
There  were  present  as  directors  of  the  main  bank, 
John  Cummins,  Robert  Patterson,  Isaac  Davis,  John 
Clark,  John  Lowber,  George  Walker,  William  F. 
Corbit,  Cornelius  P.  Comegys  and  Joseph  G.  Row- 
land; and  of  the  branch  bank  at  Milford,  John 
Mitchell,  John  Adams,  Samuel  Neal,  Walter  Douglass, 
Elias  Shockley,  Louder  Layton  and  James  B.  Ralston. 
The  directors  were  authorized  to  select  suitable  sites 
for  banking-houses.  On  proceeding  to  an  election 
the  following  officers  were  chosen :  Main  bank — 
President,  John  Cummins ;  Cashier,  Ebenezer  Black- 
iston ;  Clerk,  James  Stevenson.  Branch  bank — ^Presi- 
dent, John  Mitchell ;  Cashier,  Jacob  Biddle ;  Clerk, 
Leonard  Ad  kins. 

The  bank  was  opened  in  a  building  on  Commerce 
Street,  recently  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Ann  Spru- 
ance. 

John  Cummins  was  president  until  1820,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  John  Clark,  who  held  that  position 


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1110 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Aug.,  1821.  Robert 
Wilson  was  chosen  his  successor,  and  continued  until 
the  election  in  1822,  when  John  Cummins  was  again 
elected.  In  1824  Thomas  Peterken  was  chosen  presi- 
dent and  continued  until  his  death,  August  23, 1826, 
when  Robert  Patterson  was  elected  his  successor. 
He  was  president  until  1830,  when  Reynear  Williams 
was  chosen.  The  last  president  was  Presley  Spruance, 
who  was  elected  in  1832. 

Ebenezer  Blackiston  was  cashier  until  1823,  when 
Samuel  H.  Hodson  was  elected.  He  continued  until 
the  closing  of  the  bank. 

James  Stevenson  was  succeeded  as  clerk  in  1814 
by  Richard  Simmons.  Samuel  H.  Hodson  was 
elected  clerk  in  1816. 

John  Mitchell  was  succeeded  as  president  of  the 
branch  bank  in  1819  by  Mark  Greer,  and  shortly 
afterwards  the  office  of  president  was  discontinued. 

In  1816  Leonard  Adkins  was  promoted  to  the  posi- 
tion of  cashier  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resig- 
nation of  Jacob  Biddle.  Adkins  was  succeeded  by 
Spencer  Williams  in  1826,  who  continued  until  1830, 
when  G^rge  S.  Adkins  was  elected.  He  continued 
until  the  closing  of  the  bank. 

In  1815  James  Owens  was  chosen  clerk,  which 
position  he  held  until  1820,  when  Robert  O.  Penne- 
will  was  elected. 

The  bank  was  very  prosperous  until  the  Bank  of 
Smyrna  was  organized  and  opened.  After  that  its 
interest  dwindled,  and  very  little  was  done.  On 
December  22, 1836,  it  was  ordered  by  the  directors 
''that  the  books,  papers,  cash  and  all  other  property 
whatsoever  belonging  to  the  bank  be  delivered  over 
to  Ayres  Stockley,  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Smyrna." 
And  on  November  1, 1838,  it  was  resolved  that  a  final 
dividend  of  all  the  assets  be  declared. 

John  Cummins  was  a  son  of  Daniel  Cummins,  who 
lived  at  the  corner  of  Mount  Vernon  and  Main 
Streets,  Smyrna,  in  a  large  double  brick  dwelling- 
house,  built  during  the  early  part  of  last  century 
and  still  standing.  Daniel  Cummins  was  one  of  the 
signers  from  Kent  County  of  the  ratification  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  the  chief  foun- 
der of  the  Episcopal  Church,  which  for  a  century  or 
more  stood  at  Duck  Creek. 

Daniel  Cummins  was  the  son  of  Timothy  Cummins, 
who  was  born  in  Scotland  about  1689,  was  a  member 
of  the  Church  of  England,  and  emigrated  to  America 
in  the  early  part  of  last  century,  settling  at  Oxford, 
Maryland,  under  the  Lord  Baltimore  patent.  The 
Cummins  family  trace  their  origin  to  John  Cummins, 
Lord  of  Badenoch,  who  was  Regent  of  Scotland  about 
the  time  of  Edward  I. 

John  Cummins,  the  subject  of  this  notice,  was  born 
in  Smyrna  April  7,  1777,  and  died  July  29,  1833.  He 
was  the  ninth  child  of  a  family  of  six  sons  and  six 
daughters,  bom  to  Daniel  Cummins  and  Frances,  his 
wife.  Before  he  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
having  been  employed  with  George  Kennard,  the 
leading  merchant  of  Smyrna,  he  was  taken  in  by  him 


as  partner,  and  in  1801,  four  years  from  that  time,  he 
bought  out  the  interest  of  Mr.  Kennard,  and  started 
in  the  mercantile  business  for  himself.  Being 
possessed  of  great  natural  ability  and  excellent  judg- 
ment, he  was  so  successful  that  in  a  very  few  years  he 
amassed  a  large  fortune  for  that  time.  By  indomit- 
able energy  he  extended  his  business,  until  it  included, 
not  only  his  store  in  Smyrna,  but  the  baying  and  sell- 
ing of  grain  grown  in  Kent  County,  and  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland.  He  thus 
made  Smyrna  the  greatest  grain  market,  except  Wil- 
mington, in  the  State  of  Delaware.  He  built  a  num- 
ber of  large  granaries  at  Smyrna  Landing,  and  owned 
several  large  vessels,  by  means  of  which  he  shipped  his 
grain  to  Philadelphia,  Wilmington,  New  York  and 
Boston.  These  vessels,  on  their  return,  brought  mer- 
chandise, and  a  great  number  of  the  merchants  on 
the  Peninsula  were  supplied  with  their  goods  from 
Smyrna  by  the  wagons  of  John  Cummins.  His  l>usi- 
ness  interests  continued  to  increase,  and  by  the  time 
he  attained  middle  life  he  was  the  most  extensive  indi- 
vidual grain-dealer  in  Delaware.  He  purchased  a 
large  mill  on  the  Brandywine  at  Wilmington,  which 
was  superintended  by  Samuel  Shipley  for  many  years. 
Corn-meal  ground  at  this  mill  was  shipped  to  the 
West  Indies,  and  flour  to  Liverpool,  England. 

John  Cummins,  being  an  excellent  financier,  was 
elected  president  of  the  Commercial  Bank  of  Smyrna, 
but  at  the  expiration  of  the  charter  of  that  institution 
he  declined  to  take  an  interest  in  the  Smyrna  Bank, 
and  opened  a  private  bank  in  connection  with  his 
large  mercantile,  milling  and  real  estate  interests  and 
conducted  it  successfully  until  his  death.  He  was 
the  first  in  this  region  to  practically  introduce  lime  as 
a  fertilizer  for  worn-out  soils,  and  owned  lime-kilns  at 
Smyrna  Landing. 

Within  twenty  years  from  the  time  he  began  busi- 
ness for  himself  he  acquired,  by  his  tact  and  energy, 
about  twenty-five  farms  in  Kent  County  and  the  sec- 
tion of  Maryland  adjoining  it,  a  large  amount  of  val- 
uable town  property  and  bank  stock,  aggregating  in 
value  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  dollars,  doubtless  the 
wealthiest  man  of  his  time  in  the  State. 

In  religion,  John  Cummins,  like  his  ancestors,  was 
an  Episcopalian.  He  was  chief  founder  and  sup- 
porter through  his  life  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  at  Smyrna,  as  the  memorial  chancel  window 
of  this  church,  donated  by  his  youngest  son,  Alexan- 
der G.  Cummins,  expresses. 

He  was  a  delagate,  as  long  as  he  lived,  to  the  Ge  i- 
eral  Convention  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
of  the  United  States.  For  political  preferments  he 
had  no  aspiration:*,  and  with  the  exception  of  serving 
one  term  as  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  steadily  re- 
fused to  accept  any  oflBce  which  would  divert  attention 
from  his  large  and  increasing  business  interests. 
John  Cummins  was  a  man  of  liberal  ideas  in  both 
church  and  State  relations.  He  commanded  the  full- 
est confidence  of  a  very  large  part  of  the  commun  ty 
in  which  he  lived  and  of  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Maryland, 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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and  of  all  with  whom  he  dealt.  Many  people  would 
leave  large  amounts  of  money  in  his  possession  with- 
out taking  receipts.  His  honesty  and  integrity  were 
never  questioned.  He  was  given  to  great  hospitality, 
and  his  house,  now  occupied  by  his  son,  David  J. 
Cummins,  was  open  for  the  entertainment  of  the 
clergy  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  his  own  and  ad- 
joining States,  and  his  numerous  friends  in  Delaware, 
Maryland,  Philadelphia  and  elsewhere.  As  a  gentle- 
man of  the  old  school,  he  was  punctilious,  regular  in 
his  habits  and  of  courtly  bearing.  In  the  domestic 
circle  he  was  typical  of  the  best  example  of  the  hus- 
band and  father,  educating  and  guiding  his  children 
in  the  path  of  morality,  and  offering  them  the  best 
advantages  that  the  schools  and  colleges  of  that  day 
afforded.  He  was  a  generous  and  liberal  supporter 
of  the  church  and  all  religious  objects,  and  foremost 
in  all  the  public  enterprises  of  town  and  county.  He 
was  a  man  of  most  indomitable  will,  energy  and  per- 
severance, an  indefatigable  worker  and  possessed 
great  mental  strength.  It  was  said  by  many  of  those 
who  knew  him  best  that  he  was  capable  of  filling, 
with  eminent  ability,  the  most  exalted  position  of 
honor  and  trust  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

John  Cummins  married  Susan  Wilson,  daughter  of 
George  and  Susan  Wilson,  June  17,  1806.  Their 
children  were  Susan  H.,  married  to  Dr.  Samuel  Fis- 
ler  (deceased),  of  Smyrna ;  George  W.;  John  H.  (de- 
ceased) ;  Alphonsa,  married  John  G.  Black  (de- 
ceased); Dr.  William  (deceased);  Martha  A.  (de- 
ceased); Mary  (deceased),  married  to  D.  B.  Cum- 
mins, president  of  the.Girard  National  Bank  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  Daniel  (deceased) ;  Rachel  W.  (deceased) ; 
David  J.,  president  of  the  National  Bank  of  Smyrna; 
Anna  W.  (deceased);  Martha,  married  to  Alfred 
Barratt  (deceased) ;  Robert  H.  and  Alexander  Gris- 
wold  Cummins. 

George  Wilson  Cummins,  the  eldest  son  of  John 
Cummins  and  Susan  H.  Wilson,  his  wife,  was  born  in 
Smyrna  January  18,  1809.  He  obtained  the  rudi- 
ments of  his  education  at  the  Smyrna  Academy,  an 
institution  which  his  father  founded  and  supported. 
At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  became  a  pupil  of 
the  famous  scholar  and  mathematician,  Enoch 
Lewis,  who  then  conducted  a  school  in  Wilmington, 
remaining  under  his  instruction  for  three  years.  At 
the  end  of  this  period  his  father  assigned  him  to  a 
position  in  his  store,  thus  giving  his  son  at  an  early 
age  an  excellent  opportunity  of  acquiring  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  mercantile  business.  He  was  put  under 
the  charge  of  the  chief  clerk  in  his  father*?  large 
■tore,  instructed  to  implicitly  obey  him,  and  faith- 
fully and  thoroughly  to  perform  every  duty  assigned. 
In  1830  George  was  taken  into  partnership  in  the 
extensive  business  which  his  father  was  then  con- 
ducting at  Smyrna.  In  March,  1834,  soon  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  he  assumed  charge  of  the  busi- 
ness, with  his  brother  as  partner,  under  the  firm-name 
George  W.  Cummins  &  Brother,  afterwards  as  Cum- 
mins &  Brother.    They  bought  large  quantities  of 


grain,  which  they  shipped  in  their  own  vessels  to 
Wilmington,  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Providence 
and  Boston.  They  also  bought  and  shipped  bark, 
wood-staves,  quercitron  and  other  products  in  large 
quantities.  From  1856  to  1859,  George  W.  Cum- 
mins was  in  business  by  himself.  During  the  last-men- 
tioned year  he  sold  out  to  Col.  Edwin  W.  Wilmer. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  devoting  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  large  land  interests.  He  now  owns  two 
thousand  five  hundred  acres  of  valuable  farming  land 
in  Kent  County,  and  resides  at  "  Woodlawn,"  a 
delightful  home  one  mile  south  of  Smyrna.  Mr. 
Cummins  has  been  abundantly  successful  iu  the  cul- 
tivation of  peach  orchards,  which  have  yielded  im. 
mense  crops  of  that  valuable  fruit.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  persons  in  Kent  County  to  grow  the  peach  on  a 
large  scale,  and  was  also  one  of  the  fir^t  to  success- 
fully use  lime  as  a  fertilizer  in  the  region  of  country 
around  Smyrna.  He  has  now  on  his  farms  8500 
peach  trees,  1500  pear  trees  and  100  apple  trees. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cummins  is  a  Democrat,  and  was 
elected  by  that  party  to  represent  Kent  County  in  the 
State  Legislature  during  the  years  1856  and  1857.  He 
served  in  that  position  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  con- 
stituents, but  he  has  never  since  sought  or  desired  any 
political  office,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  operations,  which  brought  him  a 
larger  income  and  greater  comfort.  On  account  of 
his  rare  executive  and  administrative  ability,  in  1868 
he  was  elected  president  of  the  Kent  County  Mutual 
Insurance  Company,  and  continued  to  hold  that  office 
with  the  greatest  acceptability  until  1886,  when  he 
resigned.  He  was  one  of  the  first  directors  of  the 
company  when  organized.  He  served  as  director  in 
the  Bank  of  Smyrna,  and  was  many  years  a  director 
in  the  Farmers'  Bank  of  Delaware,  at  Dover.  For 
forty- seven  years  he  has  been  a  member,  and  thirty 
years  a  vestryman,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
of  his  native  town. 

Mr.  Cummins  was  married  June  6, 1837,  to  Miss 
Evelina  M.,  daughter  of  William  and  Ann  Denny,  of 
Kent  County.  His  wife's  mother  died  in  1881,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  four  years,  retaining 
to  her  last  year  full  possession  of  her  mental  faculties. 
The  surviving  children  of  George  W.  and  Evelina 
Cummins  are  George  W.,  of  Smyrna ;  Walter,  attorney- 
at-law  and  Municipal  Court  judge  at  Wilmington  ; 
Sarah  A.  and  Louisa  A.  Cummins. 

Reverend  Alexander  Griswold  Cummins,  the  young- 
est son  of  John  and  Sudan  H.  Cummins,  was  born  in 
Smyrna,  November  12,  1833.  After  obtaining  a  good 
preliminary  education,  he  entered  Trinity  College,  at 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  graduated  with  the  first 
honors  of  his  class  in  1852.  He  studied  law  for  three 
years  in  the  office  of  Henry  J.  Williams,  then  the 
leader  of  the  Philadelphia  bar,  and  immediately  after 
his  admission  to  practice  sailed  for  Europe,  and  spent 
two  years  in  study  and  travel.  Upon  returning,  he 
began  the  practice  of  law  in  the  office  of  his  preceptor. 
At  the  expiration  of  five  years,  in  fulfillment  of  the 


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ted.    He  contiDued  until  his  death,  which  occurred    officers  of  the  bauk  in  the  latter  year  were  as  folloire: 
October  6,  1852,  when  Hon.  Presley  Spruance,  an     President,  Ayres  Stockley ;  Cashier, William  M.  Bell; 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1113 


First  Teller,  E.  J.  Golt;  Second  Teller,  John  C. 
Stockley;  Directors,  Peter  F.  Causey,  James  R. 
Clements,  Daniel  Corbit,  Daniel  Cummins,  George 
Davis,  William  J.  Hurlock,  Presley  Spruance,  Ayres 
Stockly  and  Henry  Stout. 

The  charter  of  the  bank  was  extended  by  the  Legis- 
lature from  time  to  time  as  it  was  necessary  till  1878, 
when  it  was  converted  into  a  national  bank.  The 
certificate  of  incorporation  was  granted  by  John  J. 
Knox,  comptroller  of  currency,  on  April  4th  of  that 
year.  At  this  time  the  bank  was  officered  as  follows : 
President,  David  J.  Cummins ;  Cashier,  William  M. 

Bell;  First  Teller,  O.  B.  Voshell ;  Second  Teller 

;  Directors,  James  W.  Anthony,  John 

C.  Bailey,  John  H.  Bewley,  D.*J.  Cummins,  John 
E.  Collins,  James  B.  Conner,  Wilson  T.  Cavender, 
Peter  S.  Collins,  Andrew  B.  Roe,  W.  C.  Satterfield, 
John  W.  E.  Sudler  and  John  M.  Voshell. 

The  bank  has  always  been  successfully  managed 
and  has  proved  of  great  worth  in  the  development 
and  improvement  of  the  surrounding  country.  In  the 
selection  of  officers  good  judgment  has  been  used 
and  the  bank  has  always  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
the  entire  community.  The  capital  stock  still  remains 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars  and  the  surplus  is  forty- 
five  thousand  dollars. 

The  present  officers  are :  President,  David  J.  Cum- 
mins; Cashier,  W.  H.  Janney;  First  Teller,  0.  B. 
Voshell;  Second  Teller,  Eugene  Davis;   Directors, 

D.  J.  Cummins,  Henry  Lea,  Dr.  A.  £.  Sudler,  John 
M.  Voshell,  A.  B.  Roe,  John  C.  Bailey,  J.  B.  Connor, 
William  Hutchinson.  J.  F.  Deuney,  W.  J.  Hill,  W. 
C.  Satterfield  and  J.  E.  Collins. 

A  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  new 
bank  in  Smyrna  was  held  June  17,  1876.  The  un- 
dertaking met  with  favor,  and  on  proceeding  to  an 
election  the  following  persons  were  chosen  direc- 
tors: Jno.  B.  Cooper,  Henry  C.  Douglas,  A.  P. 
Griffith,  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker,  A.  L.  Hudson,  Thomas 
James,  R.  C.  Johnson,  Samuel  Roberts,  George  H. 
Raymond,  Joseph  Smithers,  W.  W.  Tschudy. 

The  directors  met  June  20th,  and  elected  George 
H.  Raymond  president  and  N.  F.  Wilds  cashier. 

The  "  Fruit-Growers' National  Bank  of  Smyrna" 
was  the  name  selected  for  this  banking  institution.  It 
was  authorized  to  commence  the  business  of  banking 
by  a  certificate  of  incorporation  granted  by  the 
comptroller  of  the  currency  on  June  23, 1876.  On 
July  13th  of  the  same  year  S.  G.  Wilds  was  elected 
teller. 

A  building  on  Commerce  Street  was  secured  and 
fitted  up  for  banking  purposes  .  This  building  was 
purchased  of  Jno.  H.  Hoffecker  in  December,  1880, 
by  the  bank,  and  is  still  used  as  a  banking-house. 
On  July  18, 1876,  the  bank  was  opened  for  deposits 
and  the  payment  of  checks.  The  first  discount  day 
was  August  1st  of  that  year.  The  increased  busi- 
ness of  the  bank  made  it  necessary  to  employ  a  book- 
keeper. On  December  12,  1882,  Charles  E.  Moore 
was  elected  to  that  position.    He  resigned  April  14, 


1885,  and  E.  M.  Fowler  was  elected  his  successor. 
The  president,  cashier  and  teller  remain  unchanged 
from  the  organization  of  the  bank.  In  1884  the 
number  of  directors  was  reduced  from  eleven  to  nine. 
The  following  changes  have  occurred  in  the  board ; 
in  1879  Samuel  Hurlock  succeeded  A.  P.  Griffith  and 
resigned  in  1884,  when  N.  P.  Wilds  was  elected 
his  successor;  Jno.  B.  Cooper  was  succeeded  by  F. 
H.  Harper  in  1880 ;  W.  W.  Tschudy  was  succeeded  by 
William  Ellison  in  1885 ;  and  Henry  Douglass  and 
Joseph  Smithers  were  not  connected  with  the  board 
after  1884.  The  prosperous  condition  of  the  bank  is 
due  to  its  able  management  by  competent  and  trust- 
worthy officers  and  the  liberal  patronage  extended  by 
the  citizens  of  this  vicinity.  The  capital  stock  is 
eighty  thousand  dollars  and  the  surplus  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  following  are  the  officers  of  the  bank  at  the 
present  time:  President,  George  H.  Raymond; 
Cashier,  N.  F.  Wilds;  Teller,  S.  G.  Wilds;  Book- 
keeper,  E.  M.  Fowler.  Directors:  F.  H.  Harper, 
Jno.  H.  Hofiecker,  A.  L.  Hudson,  Thomas  James, 
R.  C.  Johnson,  George  H.  Raymond,  N.  F,  Wilds, 
Samuel  Roberts,  William  Ellison. 

Societies. — The  Smyrna  Building  and  Loan  Atso- 
ciaHon  was  organized  April  9, 1867,  with  the  follow- 
ing officers : 

President,  J.  W.  Spruance;  Vice-President, 
Walter  McMuller;  Secretary,  John  B.  Cooper; 
Treasurer,  James  R.  Clements.  Directors:  Edward 
Beck,  William  Worden,  I.  D.  Hamilton,  Edward 
Ward,  W.  H.  Woodkeeper,  Benjamin  H.  Smith, 
George  H.  Raymond. 

The  first  series  was  issued  in  April  of  that  year,  and 
subsequently  eight  more  series  were  issued,  three  of 
which  have  matured.  Each  share  matures  when  h 
has  attained  a  value  of  two  hundred  dollars.  The 
association  has  assisted  very  much  in  improving  and 
building  up  the  town. 

The  present  officers  are :  President,  Jno.  H.  Hoff- 
ecker ;  Vice-President,  William  E.  Hall ;  Secretary, 
John  B.  Cooper ;  Treasurer,  Jas.  P.  Hoff*ecker.  Di- 
rectors :  Joseph  E.  Carter,  Charles  E.  Moore,  E.  J. 
Golt,  E.  H.  Beck,  E.  M.  Fowler,  G.  M.  Stevenson, 
W.  P.  Legg. 

Morning  Star  Lodge,  No.  6,  /.  0,  0.  -F.,  was  insti- 
tuted June  18,  1842,  with  Henry  Van  Gasken,  Tim- 
othy C.  Palmatary,  Edward  Streets,  John  Mustard, 
and  John  Van  Gkisken  as  charter  members.  At  the 
end  of  the  first  year  there  was  a  membership  of  about 
thirty.  On  December  10, 1845,  the  building  in  which 
the  lodge  met  was  burned  and  the  records  destroyed. 
The  officers  elected  December  26th  of  that  year  were 
as  follows :  N.  G.,  Thomas  Hawkins ;  V.  G.,  Benja- 
min F.  Smith ;  Secretary,  T.  P.  Brown ;  Assistant 
Secretary,  C.  F.  Foulke ;  Treasurer,  J.  W.  Denney. 

The  lodge  owns  a  building  in  which  meetings  are 
held  every  Friday  night.  It  also  has  a  half  interest 
in  a  cemetery,  situated  near  Smyrna.  The  present 
membership  is  ninety-six. 


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1114 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  officers  at  present  are:  N.  Q.,  Joseph  H. 
Wright;  V.  G.,  Charles  A.  Barnes;  R.  S.,  John  R. 
Cameron;  P.  S.,  George  M.  Stevenson;  Treasurer, 
Joseph  Wright;  Warden,  John  C.  Manning;  Con- 
ductor, E.  J.  Golt. 

McDonald  Encampment^  No,  2,  /.  0,  0.  JFI,  was  in- 
stituted at  Smyrna  in  1847.  The  charter  memhers 
were  Isaac  Solomon,  Henry  Van  Gasken,  Thomas  P. 
Bryan,  Peter  Carr,  John  Millaway,  John  M.  Den- 
ning and  Joseph  K  Meginnis.  The  encampment  was 
80  named  in  honor  of  Robert  McDonald,  who  died  in 
Wilmington  in  July,  1887.  The  lodge  owns  a  half- 
interest  in  the  Odd  Fellows*  Cemetery,  near  the  town. 
There  are  now  forty-six  members  of  the  order,  and 
meetings  are  held  in  the  1.  O.  O.  F.  Hall  on  the  first 
and  fourth  Tuesday  evenings  of  each  month. 

The  officers  at  the  present  time  are  as  follows: 
C.  P.,  Joseph  H.  Wright;  H.  P.,  Abel  S.  Faries; 
S.  W.,  John  P.  Patterson  ;  J.  W.,  Cari  W.  William- 
sen  ;  Treas.,  Joseph  Wright ;  Scribe,  E.  M.  Fowler ; 
O.  S.  S.,  George  T.  Collins ;  I.  8.  S.,  John  R.  Man- 
nering. 

Harmony  Lodge,  No,  13,  A.  F,  A.  M,y  worked  un- 
der dispensation  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware 
from  November  1,  1866,  till  June  27, 1867,  when  a 
charter  was  granted.  The  first  officers  were, — W.  M., 
Isaac  K.  Shortman ;  S.  W.,  Louis  M.  Bell ;  J.  W., 
J.  Howard  Peterson;  Treas.,  Wm.  A.  Clouds;  Sec, 
J.  W.  Marim ;  Tyler,  George  Z.  Steadley. 

These,  with  the  addition  of  James  McCarter,  com- 
prised the  charter  members.  The  lodge  increased  in 
numbers,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  had  a  membership 
of  twenty-three.  The  third  floor  of  the  opera-house 
is  nicely  fitted  for  lodge  purposes,  and  meetings  are 
held  on  the  first  and  third  Thursdays  of  each  month. 
The  lodge  has  a  membership  of  sixty-five,  and  is 
officered  as  follows :  W.  M.,  Chas.  E.  Moore ;  S.  W., 
N.  F.  Wilds;  J.  W.,  Isaac  H.  Farin ;  Sec,  Geo.  M. 
Stevenson;  Treas.,  Thos.  B.  Megear;  S.  D.,  James 
W.  Anthony ;  J.  D.,  John  V.  Spruance;  Tyler,  John 
R.  Cameron,  Jr. ;  S.  S.,  Wm.  B.  Megear;  J.  S.,  D.  T., 
Smithers. 

Smyrna  Conclave,  No,  45,  /.  0.  H,,  was  instituted 
January  26,  1882,  with  the  following  charter  mem- 
bers: Benton  V.  Weldon,  W.  T.  Collins,  Joseph  E. 
Williams,  Edward  L.  Staats,  Wm.  Walker,  J.  H. 
Groves,  J.  B.  Evans,  Robt.  D.  Hoffecker,  O.  B. 
Voshell,  W.  A.  Hardcastle,  W.  H.  Baggs,  Wm. 
Wood,  Robt.  Morris,  Josiah  D.  Evans,  Edwin  O. 
Sipple  and  T.  B.  Hazard.  The  society  has  a  mem- 
bership of  thirty  and  meets  in  the  Odd  Fellows' 
Hall. 

The  following  are  the  present  officers:  Archon, 
John  Wilkinson,  Jr. ;  Provost,  C.  0.  Swinney ;  Secre- 
tary, George  M.  Stevenson;  Warden,  Joseph  H. 
Primrose ;  Sentinel,  Wm.  E.  Hall ;  Financier,  Wm. 
H.  Baggj* ;  Prelate,  William  Watkins. 

Smyrna  Lodge,  No,  5,  /.  0,  O,  T.,  was  instituted  at 
Smyrna  on  March  25,  1885,  with  a  membership  of 
fourteen.    The  first  officers  were  :  P.  C.  T.,  William 


Wood  ;  C.  T..  Herman  Roe  ;  V.  T.,  Mrs.  Wm.  Wood ; 
Chap.,  P.  H.  T.  Wyatt ;  Dep.,  P.  H.  T.  Wyatt ; 
R.  S..  Miss  Susie  E.  Wyatt;  F.  S.,  Miss  Morah 
Col  ton ;  Treas.,  Edward  Gilbert.  The  members 
steadily  increased,  and  in  May,  1887,  there  were 
one  hundred  and  forty-four  members.  Meetings  are 
held  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  on  Wednesday  nights.  The 
present  officers  are :  P.  C.  T.,  T.  L.  Mason ;  C.  T., 
Miss  Sue  Wright ;  V.  T.,  Miss  Maggie  SLsco  ;  Chap., 
Miss  Lillie  Statts;  Dep.,  P.  H.  T.  Wyatt;  R.  S..  Her- 
man  Roe;  F.  S.,  Mrs.  Herman  Roe;  Treas.,  Mrs.  C.  0. 
Swinney. 

The  Americus  Club  was  organized  January  1,  1884, 
with  twenty-five  memberd.  The  first  officers  elected 
were :  Pres.,  W.  Geo.  Hill ;  V.  P.,  N.  F.  Wild* ; 
Secty.,  O.  B.  Voshell ;  Treas.,  H.  S.  Anthony.  A 
room  was  procured  in  the  Johnson  building,  and 
fitted  up  with  the  paraphernalia  suitable  for  social 
enjoyment.  In  March,  1887,  more  commodious  rooms 
were  selected  on  Main  Street,  and  are  now  occupied 
by  the  club.  The  present  officers  are  as  follows : 
Pres.,  W.  George  Hill  ;  V.  P.,  L.  Irving  Handy ; 
Treas.,  E.  H.  Beck  :  Secty.,  R.  H.  Hill. 

The  Citizens*  Hose  Company,  No.  1,  was  organiz- 
ed January  6, 1886,  with  twenty-seven  members.  B.  V. 
Weldon  was  elected  President;  C.  F.  Lippincott,  Vice- 
president;  and  H.  S.  Anthony,  Secretary.  Nothing 
further  was  done  during  the  year,  and  on  January  6, 
1887,  a  reorganization  was  effected,  when  the  following 
officers  were  chosen  :  President,  B.  F.  Weldon ;  Vice- 
president,  E.  M.  Fowler;  Secretary,  O.  B.  Voshell; 
Treasurer,  G.  A.  Wick ;  Chief,  Samuel  Taylor. 

In  April  the  company  purchased  a  new  hose-car- 
riage and  hose,  al^  thirty  uniforms  consisting  of  hats, 
belts  and  rubber  overcoats  and  boots. 

They  are  now  in  possession  of  two  hose-carriages, 
one  thousand  feet  of  hose,  a  hook-and-ladder  wagon 
and  eighty  feet  of  ladders. 

J.  R.  Robinson  was  elected  secretary  June  20, 1887. 
With  this  exception  the  officers  are  as  above.  Meet- 
ings are  held  on  the  second  Monday  of  each  month. 

There  are  at  present  thirty-two  members. 

Smyrna  Library  Association. — A  meeting  of  the 
citizens  of  Smyrna  was  held  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  on 
November  18, 1857,  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the 
advisability  of  opening  a  public  library  in  that  town.  P 
Spruance  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  E.  D.  Dailey  se- 
lected secretary.  The  project  met  with  succeas,  and  a 
committee  on  plan  of  organization  was  appointed,  com- 
posed of  the  following  gentlemen :  Dr.  J.  E.  Clawson, 
Rev.  W.  H.  Brisbane,  D.  Lockwood,  R.  D.  Hoffecker, 
Jno.  M.  Denning,  W.  R.  Cahoon  and  ex -Gov.  William 
Temple.  On  January  29,  1868,  a  meeting  was  called 
and  an  organization  effected  by  the  election  of  the  fol- 
lowing persons  as  the  first  officers :  President,  Daniel 
Cummins;  Vice-president,  Rev.  William  H.  Brisbane; 
Recording  Secretary,  Robert  D.  Hoffecker;  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  Dr.  E.  D.  Dailey;  Treasurer, 
William  C.  Eliason ;  Managers,  Jno.  M.  Denning,  Rob- 
ert H.  Cummins,  Dr.  J.  E.  Clawson. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1115 


The  pablic  inaugaration  of  the  aasociation  was  held 
in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  od  March  15, 1858. 

The  books  were  selected  by  Rev.  William  H.  Bris- 
bane, assisted  by  Daniel  Cummins  and  William  C. 
Eliason,  and  during  the  first  year  five  hundred  dollars' 
worth  were  purchased. 

They  were  catalogued  and  arranged  in  the  library 
room  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  by  Dr.  W.  T.  Collins.  The 
library  was  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  until  1870,  when  it 
was  moved  to  a  room  in  the  Town  Hall,  which  it  has 
since  occupied.  In  its  infancy  lectures  were  delivered 
in  its  interest  by  such  men  as  Rev.  Phillips  Brooks, 
Frank  Hum,  Dr.  Cook,  Rev.  Dr.  Carrow,  and  the  res- 
ident ministers — Dr.  McCluskey,  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  Rev.  Dr.  Qrammer,  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  Rev.  Brisbane,  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  1861  Edwin  Wilmer  was  elected  president  vice 
Daniel  Cummins.  He  was  succeeded  in  1864  by  Dr. 
J.  E.  ClawBon,  who  continued  until  1866,  when  Jno.  C. 
Stockly  was  elected.  In  1875  N.  F.  Wilds  succeeded 
Stockly  and  continued  until  1878,  when  Jno.  H.  Hoff- 
ecker  was  chosen.  In  1879  H.  G.  Budd  was  elected 
president,  which  position  he  still  holds.  The  library 
has  always  been  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  has 
proved  of  invaluable  worth  in  the  community.  At 
present  it  contains  three  thousand  volumes  of  well- 
selected  literature.  They  are  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  stockholders. 

The  officers  at  present  are :  President,  H.  G.  Budd ; 
Recording  Secretary,  Walter  0.  Hoflecker;  Corre- 
sponding Secretary,  L.  I.  Handy;  Treasurer,  W.  P. 
Cummins ;  Managers,  Wm.  H.  Baggs,  Wm.  A.  Faries, 
W.  H.  Janney. 

Town  Hall. — At  a  meeting  of  the  town  com- 
missioners, held  April  27,  1869,  it  was  resolved 
that  for  the  convenience  of  the  inhabitants  a  town 
hall  should  be  erected  without  delay.  George  H. 
Raymond,  John  C.  Bailey,  G.  W.  Cummins,  Jr.,  and 
H.  C.  Douglass  were  appointed  a  committee  to  select 
and  purchase  a  suitable  lot  on  which  to  build,  to 
procure  and  adopt  plans  and  to  make  contracts  for 
the  erection  of  the  building,  provided  ten  thousand 
dollars  could  be  borrowed  at  reasonable  rates.  On 
May  11th  it  was  decided  to  purchase  of  Dr.  S.  M. 
Fisler  a  lot  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  South  Streets. 
A  plan  of  the  hall  as  draughted  by  Richard  Mitchell 
was  adopted.  On  July  8,  1869,  the  ground  was 
broken  for  a  hall,  which  should  be  fifty^six  feet  on 
Main  Street,  forty-five  feet  on  South  Street  and  three 
stories  high.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  August  19th 
by  George  H.  Raymond,  chairman  of  the  building 
committee.  Addresses  were  made  by  Alderman  Pen- 
ington.  Colonel  Raymond  and  Rev.  Dr.  Morsell. 
The  building  was  completed  and  opened  early  in 
1870.  In  1887  the  building  was  extended  twenty  feet 
on  Main  Street.  The  first  floor  is  occupied  by  Alder- 
man Henry  G.  Budd,  the  Smyrna  Library  and  the 
meeting-room  of  the  Citizens'  Hose  Company.  The 
second  floor  is  used  as  a  hall  for  public  meetings  and  the 
third  story  is  occupied  as  a  lodge-room  for  the  Masons. 


Hotels.— In  1787  Joshua  Fisher  built  a  hotel  in 
Symma.  In  1792,  when  the  Legislature  met  in 
Smyrna,  it  convened  at  this  hotel,  which  was  then 
kept  by  Thomas  Hale.  The  hotel  was  conducted  for 
many  years  by  Mrs.  Comfort  Lockwood,  and  in 
1827,  when  Thomas  L.  Temple  became  proprietor, 
was  known  as  the  "  Indian  King  Hotel."  The  prop- 
erty remained  in  the  Fisher  fkmily  until  purchased  by 
Tilghman  Foxwell.  While  in  his  possession  it  was 
operated  for  some  time  by  his  son,  Charles.  Jeffer- 
son &  Clayton,  the  present  owners  and  proprietors, 
have  been  in  possession  for  several  years. 

The  house  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Mt.  Vernon 
Streets  was  erected  as  a  double  dwelling  in  1817  by 
Robert  Patterson.  In  1837  it  was  converted  into  a 
hotel  and  was  known  as  the  "  Upper  "  or  **  Steamboat 
Hotel."  It  was  first  conducted  by  Thomas  Jackson. 
It  was  next  owned  by  Joseph  Hoflecker  and  Novem- 
ber 24,  1856,  was  sold  by  his  heirs  to  Dr.  S.  M. 
Fisler.  The  building  was  improved  and  remodeled 
by  him  and  opened  April  26,  1856,  as  Delaware 
House,  with  Gilbert  Leonard  as  its  first  proprietor. 
The  property  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Wilson  T. 
Cavender.  William  Fell,  the  present  proprietor, 
took  charge  of  the  hotel  in  August,  1887. 

Post-Office. — Previous  to  the  construction  of  the 
railroad  the  mail  was  carried  daily  to  Smyrna  from 
Dover.  The  last  mail  contractor  was  John  Van  G^esal. 
In  1837  John  S.  Lambdon  was  postmaster  and  his  suc- 
cessors were  D.  Lockwood,  James  Legg,  William 
Ringgold,  Peter  Wynn,  William  Wilds,  E.  J.  Golt, 
Marion  Green,  Benjamin  Donoho,  Jonathan  Emer- 
son, Thomas  Carroll,  William  H.  Baggs  and  John  H. 
Bewley,  present  incumbent,  who  was  appointed  in 
August,  1885.    There  are  eleven  mails  per  day. 


CHAPTER   LIX. 


LITTLE  CHEEK  HUNDRED. 


This  hundred  lies  on  the  Delaware  Bay  and  origi- 
nally extended  westward  between  Little  Creek  and 
Little  Duck  Creek  to  the  Maryland  line.  Its  limits 
were  reduced  to  form  a  part  of  Kenton  Hundred  by 
act  of  Assembly,  February  3,  1869,  when  all  that 
part  lying  west  of  the  Delaware  Railroad  was  made  a 
part  of  Kenton  Hundred,  thus  making  Little  Creek 
the  smallest  hundred  in  the  county,  embracing  in  its 
limits  about  fifty-three  square  miles  and  a  population 
in  1880  of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight. 

A  large  portion  of  the  hundred,  where  it  is  located 
on  the  bay,  is  marsh  land.  Various  efforts  have  been 
made  to  drain  and  reclaim  the  marsh  land,  but  they 
have  not  been  successful.  The  most  ambitious  and 
costly  enterprise  was  that  undertaken  by  Judge  Jacob 
Stout  and  Chief  Justice  Thomas  Clayton,  on  Feb.  2, 
1818 ;  they  obtained  an  act  from  the  General  Apsem- 


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1116 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


bly  granting  them  Kent  Island,  upon  condition  that 
they  would  reclaim  it.  Dykes  were  erected  and 
canals  cut,  and  after  fiye  years  of  labor  and  an  ex- 
penditure of  40,000  dollars  the  land  was  in  excellent 
condition  for  tillage;  but  in  1830  a  strong  easterly 
storm  swept  everything  before  it  and  reduced  the  is- 
land to  its  original  condition  of  marsh  land.  Back  of 
this  low  district  the  land  is  exceedingly  fertile  and 
has  been  brought  by  good  farming  to  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  Wheat,  corn  and  tomatoes  are  produced 
in  large  quantities.  The  Delaware  Railroad,  running 
down  the  west  side  of  the  hundred,  furnishes  trans- 
portation for  the  farm  products.  In  former  times  it 
was  contemplated  to  establish  a  railroad  from  Dona 
Landing  to  form  a  highway  between  the  North  and 
South.  The  Philadelphia  and  Norfolk  Transporta- 
tion Company  was  chartered  on  February  9,  1825,  to 
make  a  through  connection  from  the  North  to  Nor- 
folk, by  running  a  steamboat  from  Philadelphia  to 
Dona.  From  Dona  passengers  were  to  be  taken  by 
way  of  Dover  to  Seaford,  where  they  would  take  the 
steamboat  to  Norfolk.  In  a  few  years  the  company 
failed  and  Dona  lapsed  into  a  sleep  until  1848,  when 
the  steamboat  "  Zephyr  "  was  run  from  Philadelphia 
to  connect  with  the  Peninsula  line  of  mail-coaches. 
Hepburn  S.  Benson  kept  a  hotel  at  Dona  from  1848 
to  1852.  The  stage  and  boat  lines  were  abandoned 
when  the  Delaware  Railroad  was  completed  and 
nothing  remains  but  the  marshes  to  show  this  form- 
erly famous  stopping-place  of  Dona. 

One  of  the  first  tracts  laid  out  in  the  territory  now 
Little  Creek  Hundred  was  called  "  York."  It  con- 
tained six  hundred  acres,  and  was  warranted  to  Wil- 
liam Stevens,  of  Maryland,  April  13, 1676.  It  was 
sold  by  him  in  December,  1696,  to  John  Richardson, 
for  twenty  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco.  It  is  described 
as  being  near  Little  Creek,  and  a  portion  of  it  now 
bears  the  name  '^  York  Seat."  A  part  of  this  land 
and  an  adjoining  tract  came  into  the  possession  of 
Adam  and  Richabel  Mott,  about  1750.  On  January 
1,  1759,  Richabel  Mott,  "out  of  love  and  good-will," 
gave  half  an  acre  of  land,  situate  on  the  west  side  of  the 
tract  called  "York,"  to  the  Society  of  the  Church  of 
England  and  to  the  Presbyterians,  for  the  use  of  a 
school  for  the  education  of  the  youth  of  either  of  the 
societies.  The  property  was  vested  in  John 
Brinckloe  and  Richard  Mott,  vestrymen  of  the  Par- 
ish of  St.  Mary,  and  John  Miller,  Presbyterian  minis- 
ter at  Dover,  and  their  successors  as  trustees.  Rich- 
ard Mott  was  the  oldest  son  of  Richabel  Mott,  and 
succeeded  to  a  part  of  the  estate. 

Manlove  Hayes,  on  January  10,  1818,  bought  two 
hundred  acres  of  the  York  tract,  which  in  1785  was 
owned  by  Jacob  Emerson,  and  has  held  it  ever  since, 
while  another  portion  is  now  owned  by  Dr.  Emanuel 
Stout,  who  is  also  proprietor  of  the  White  Oak  sur- 
vey, originally  taken  up  by  John  Richardson.  A 
successor  to  Richardson  in  the  property  was  Eleazer 
McComb,  who  built  the  mansion-house. 

A  tract  of  land  called  "  Willing  Brook,"  lying  a 


short  distance  west  from  and  including  "  Cowgill's 
Corner,"  was  taken  up  by  John  Richardson  and  sur- 
veyed April  18, 1676,  containing  two  thousand  acres.  A 
month  later  he  installed  Thomas  Crampton  as  his 
tenant,  who  was  to  have  half  the  income  and  increase 
of  the  property  as  compensation  for  his  service  as 
farmer.  Richardson  engaged  to  bring  to  the  planta- 
tion three  hundred  apple  trees,  and  Crampton  was  to 
set  them  out  and  care  for  them  for  three  years.  Rich- 
ardson bought  the  Indian  right  to  the  land  on  Sep- 
tember 20, 1676,  of  the  Indian  chief  .Patocoqae.  The 
consideration  was  "  three  motch-coates,  having  re- 
ceived four  yards  of  frize  and  a  half  yard  buttons 
and  thread  to  the  value  of  two  of  them,  and  one 
motch-coat  more  to  be  paid  to  me,  the  saidPatocoque, 
or  to  Mahoxy,  my  brother."  At  the  close  of  the  deed 
and  before  the  signature  Patocoque  wrote :  '^Forgot. 
I  doe  acknowledge  to  have  received  eight  bottles  of 
rum  as  part  of  satisfaction." 

John  Stevens,  of  Dorchester  County,  Maryland, 
disputed  the  title  to  this  land,  and  August  5,  1679, 
Richardson  petitioned  the  commissioners  of  Dorches- 
ter County.  He  recited  that  John  Stevens  ''  hath  by 
violence  and  force  of  arms  turned  the  said  Crampton 
out  of  doors,  together  with  his  wife  and  family,  etc" 
This  issue  was  brought  before  the  Sussex  County 
Court  in  December,  1679.  A  letter  was  read  from 
Edward    Cantwell,    surveyor,    dated    December   10, 

1679,  denying  that  he  ever  gave  power  to  Thomas 
Philips  to  grant  land,  nor  did  he  give  John  Richard- 
son a  warrant  for  more  than  three  hundred  acres,  and 
that  he  (Cantwell)  afterwards  met  Philips,  who  said 
Richardson  **  had  threatened  to  beat  him  if  he  did 
not  lay  out  such  a  quantity  of  land."  The  tract  in 
dispute  is.  described  as  being  on  the  south  side  of  a 
branch  (Muddy  Branch)  of  Duck  Creek,  adjoining 
the  land  of  William  Stevens,  who  then  owned 
"  York."  The  case  between  Stevens  and  Richardson 
was  in  litigation  several  years.  At  the  court,  held 
in  February,  1680,  at  Whorekill,  the  jury  found  for 
Richardson,  '^  being  he  is  the  first  settler  to  have 
right  to  the  same  hee  hath  seated."  Stevens  ap- 
pealed to  the  Governor  and  Council  at  New  York,  but 
there  is  no  record  of  their  disposition  of  the  case. 

John  Stevens,  in  1680,  had  seated  Samuel  Stites  on 
a  tract  of  land,  as  the  deed  recites, ''  upon  near  Little 
Creek,  in  the  Whoorekill  precinct,"  and  on  July  7, 

1680,  Stites  appeared  before  the  court  and  deposed 
that  "  about  April  3  last  John  Richardson  came  to 
his  house  and  demanded  him  to  give  him  possession  ; 
that  if  he  did  not  he  would  send  him  to  prison,  and 
further  that  Richardson  had  brought  men  servants  to 
take  possession,  and  so,  through  fear,  he  gave  pos- 
session and  went  away." 

This  land  was  probably  "  Willingbrook,"  as  there 
appears  no  other  in  dispute.  John  Stevens  owned 
other  land,  however,  in  the  hundred,  and  in  1715 
sold  part  of  one  of  the  tracts  to  John  Marim.  In 
1747  "  Willingbrook  "  was  owned,  in  part  at  least,  by 
Peter  Galloway,  who,  on  February  11th  of  that  year, 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1117 


sold  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  it  to  Adam 
Mott,  and  two  hundred  acres  to  Bichabel  Mott.  In 
this  deed  it  is  mentioned  that  the  land  formerly  be- 
longed to  John  Richardson,  who  bought  of  James 
Sherwood,  the  latter  having  bought  it  from  Jehosa- 
phat  Holland.  At  the  same  time  Bichabel  Mott 
bought  land  formerly  owned  by  Joseph  Custan  on 
Herring  Branch,  near  the  "York"  tract,  and  one 
hundred  acres  of  the  latter  tract,  a(^*oining  the  prop- 
erty of  William  Morton  and  Samuel  Berry.  Mott 
sold  part  of  this  land  on  May  27,  1763,  to  Govern eur 
Emerson,  and  on  May  6,  1767,  Emerson  sold  it  to 
Thomas  Irons. 

Henry  Stevens  (a  grandson  of  John  Stevens)  in 
1776  had  acquired,  by  purchase  and  inheritance, 
nearly  all  the  land  south  of  Muddy  Branch  to  the 
road  to  Dona  Landing,  including  "  Willingbrook." 

Benjamin  F.  Hamm,  who  resides  on  a  farm  called 
"  Pleasanton  Abbey  "  (a  part  of  this  old  tract),  is  a 
grandson  of  Henry  Stevens.  On  this  farm  Henry 
Stevens'  old  residence  still  stands.  Mrs.  J.  P. 
Du  Hamel,  a  granddaughter  of  Henry  Stevens,  owns 
a  portion  of  the  same  land.  Other  owners  of  the  old 
"Willingbrook  "  tract  are  Dr.  Henry  Bidgely  and  Dan- 
iel C.  Cowgill,  of  Dover ;  Rev.  J.  B.  Merritt  and  Peter 
E.  Lowber,  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
in  1887,  who  lives  in  a  fine  old  mansion  built  by 
Samuel  Price  in  the  summer  of  1800. 

John  Stevens,  who  had  the  dispute  with  John 
Richardson,  took  up  a  tract  of  thirteen  hundred  acres, 
called  "London,"  on  which  a  part  of  the  Little 
Creek  Landing  is  now  built.  It  adjoins  "Simpson's 
Choice."  "  London  "  was  patented  to  John  Stevens 
by  Grovernor  Andross,  and  was  sold  on  September  11, 
1699,  by  his  sons,  John  and  William  W. 

William  Morton  and  William  Rodney,  who  ob- 
tained another  patent  October  9,  1701,  divided  "  Lon- 
don "  equally  the  bame  day,  and  Morton  named  his 
portion  "  Tiverton."  "  London "  is  now  mainly 
owned  by  D.  Mifflin  and  Thomas  W.  Wilson,  George 
Parris  and  Hughett  Knight. 

"  Chipping  Norton  "  and  "  Just  Saved  "  are  two 
properties  north  of  "Willingbrook."  The  former 
was  granted  to  Simon  Irons  in  1679,  and  is  laid  down 
as  on  Muddy  Branch,  and  containing  eight  hundred 
acres.  In  1717  it  belonged  to  David  Morgan,  who 
left  it  to  his  son  Matthew.  It  was  then  called  "  Chip- 
ping Norton  "  or  "  Fiddler's  Neck."  Thomas  Green, 
of  Duck  Creek  Cross-Roads,  sold  it  August  25, 1752, 
to  Richard  Sanders.  David  Pleasanton  owns  a  large 
part  of  these  estates,  and  his  farm  bears  the  old  name 
of  "  Chipping  Norton."  Other  owners  are  Rev.  J.  B. 
Merritt  and  Rev.  John  P.  Du  Hamel. 

Timothy  Hanson,  April  19, 1715,  took  up  a  tract 
acyoining  and  west  of  "  London/*  containing  three 
hundred  and  sixty-five  acres,  apd  called  the  "  Ex- 
change," which  is  now  owned  in  part  by  Dr.  Henry 
Ridgely. 

John  Brinckloe,  a  member  of  the  Assembly  in 
1683,  took  up  several  tracts  of  land  on  Herring's 


Branch,  which,  in  1760,  were  owned  by  one  of  his 
descendants,  also  a  John  Brinckloe ;  and  on  which 
a  manor-house  was  built.  The  property  adjoined 
"  Brookbay,"  an  estate  of  one  thousand  acres,  war- 
ranted January  15, 1675,  to  Francis  Whitwell.  Simon 
Irons  became  a  very  large  proprietor  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, owning  at  one  time,  after  1685,  "  Chipping 
Norton,"  "  Just  Saved  "  and  "  Whitwell." 

His  descendants  inherited  the  property,  and  the 
name  is  yet  known  in  the  county.  Thomas  Irons,  a 
son,  in  1767,  bought  part  of  the  "  York"  and  "Wil- 
lingbrook" lands.  "Brinckloe's  Chance"  is  now 
owned  by  Alexander  Laws,  J.  B.  Fennimore  and 
Isaac  Register. 

The  place  known  as  "Cowgill's  Corners,"  near 
Little  Creek  Landing,  was,  prior  to  1760,  in  the  pos- 
session of  Joshua  Clayton,  who,  by  will  January  21, 
1761,  devised  it  to  his  granddaughter,  Eunice  Osborne. 
He  had  previously  conveyed  to  his  daughter  Sarah, 
widow  of  Thomas  Cowgill,  eighty-eight  acres,  a  part 
of  "  Willingbrook,"  May  11,  1750.  The  other  tract 
was  known  as  "  Higham's  Ferry,"  on  which  was  the 
mansion-house.  Eunice  Osborne  left  the  property 
to  her  children, — Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Cowgill ; 
Mary,  widow  of  Israel  Asten ;  Eunice,  wife  of  Peter 
Edmonson;  and  Tabitha,  wife  of  Jabez  Jenkins. 
The  latter  sold  to  Henry  Cowgill,  January  3, 1794^ 
one  undivided  quarter-interest  in  the  lands  of  Eunice 
Osborne.  He  settled  at  the  Corner,  which  took  his 
name.  Jabez  Jenkins,  November  12, 1711,  bought  of 
Richard  Richardson  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
acres  of  land,  a  part  of  a  large  tract  called  ''  St.  An- 
drew's," adjoining  the  land  of  John  Clayton,  and 
which  was  northwest  of  "  London."  This  tract  of 
"  St.  Andrew's  "  is  now  owned  by  D.  Mifflin  Wilson. 
Jabez  Jenkins'  land  passed  to  his  son,  Timothy,  and 
from  him  to  his  son  Jabez,  who,  August  7, 1815,  sold 
it  to  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Turner  and  Jonathan  W. 
Mifflin. 

"  Mount  Pleasant,"  embracing  three  hundred  acres, 
between  "  Higham's  Ferry  "  and  "  Chipping  Norton," 
was  warranted,  February  25, 1691,  to  Francis  Simons 
and  Elizabeth  Irons,  who  disposed  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  to  David  Morgan  and  the  remainder 
to  Joshua  Clayton  May  12, 1720.  This  tract  became 
the  property  of  Ralph  Needham,  and  was  divided  be- 
tween the  heirs  in  1770.  William  Seward  owns  part 
of  it  at  present.  "Betty's  Fortune"  was  taken  up 
by  Isaiah  Wharton,  and  contained  between  three  and 
four  hundred  acres,  and  lay  north  of  "Simpson's 
Choice "  and  northeast  of  York  tract,  also  adjacent. 
April  29, 1775,  two  hundred  acres  of  it  was  sold  to 
Garrett  Sipple.  The  tract  is  in  a  large  part  now 
owned  by  the  Wards,  and  was  formerly  owned  by 
William  Walker. 

In  1768  Isaiah  Wharton  took  up  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres,  including  a  number  of  ponds 
between"  Betty's  Fortune  "  and  the  bay,  and  adjoining 
the  former  on  the  northeast  and  northwest  of  Tay- 
lor's Gut.    There  were  nine  hundred   and    ninety- 


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1118 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


fleyen  acres  of  upland  and  marsh  taken  up  on  sur- 
veys of  1734  and  1748  to  Waitman  Sipple,  and  in 
1768  they  were  surveyed  to  his  son,  Waitman,  Jr. 
North  of  "Betty's  Fortune"  to  Herring  Branch  is 
now  owned  hy  the  estate  of  Dr.  Robert  H.  Clark,  of 
Milford. 

"  Simpson's  Choice,"  lying  on  Little  Creek,  east  of 
*'  London,"  was  taken  up  by  William  Simpson. 
Abont  1680  it  was  assigned  to  John  Brinckloe,  and 
passed  respectively  by  arrangement  to  John  £d- 
mondson  and  John  Richardson,  Sr.  The  latter,  by 
deed,  conveyed  it  to  John  Richardson,  Jr.,  who,  Sep- 
tember 7, 1691,  sold  part  to  Thomas  Clififord.  John 
Richardson,  Jr.,  also  sold  part  to  Robert  and  Law- 
rence Porter  and  part  to  Samuel  Berry.  John  Hann^ 
in  1784,  become  the  owner  of  that  portion  which  had 
belonged  to  John  Bell.  The  road  from  Little  Creek 
to  Leipsic  was  the  dividing  line  of  this  property  and 
*'  London."  The  land  is  now  held  by  Captain  David 
Montgomery,  Captain  William  Blackson  and  Samuel 
W.  Hall. 

April  3,  1760,  a  'warrant  was  granted  to  John 
Brinckloe  fur  land  and  salt  marsh,  containing  four 
thousand  acres,  on  the  north  side  of  Herring  Branch 
which  was  part  of  a  large  tract  called  the  "  Addi- 
tion," formerly  surveyed  to  Simon  Irons,  but  which 
survey  and  record  was  lost.  John  Brinckloe  died 
before  the  survey  was  made,  January  15,  1763.  It 
included  several  old  surveys,  among  which  was 
"  Brookbay."  This  survey  has  finally  come  into  the 
possession  of  J.  L.  Cowgill,  Dr.  W.  W.  Parvis,  J. 
Alexander  Fulton,  Alexander  Laws,  Hughett  Knight, 
of  Dover,  and  Abram  and  James  Moore. 

A  tract  of  four  acres,  now  owned  by  T.  K.  Taylor, 
near  Leipsic,  was  sold,  November  19,  1757,  to  Jona- 
than Osborne.  Forty  square  feet  of  this  was  re- 
served as  a  grave-yard,  where  "Emmanuel  Stout's 
daughter  Sally  is  buried." 

An  old  tract  called  "  Belle's  Endeavour  "  was  owned 
by  Christopher  Southey  in  1716.  This  land  was  sold 
by  Thomas  Green  (son  of  George  Green,  who  owned 
large  lots  in  Duck  Creek  Hundred),  November  15, 
1774,  to  William  Barnes,  who  the  same  day  passed  it 
to  Daniel  Needham.  It  is  now  owned  in  part  by  A. 
N.  Harper  and  J.  A.  Nicholson.  A  portion  came 
into  possession  of  Elias  Naudain,  who,  in  1830,  owned 
Naudain's  Landing,  the  first  fast  land  above  Leipsic. 
Naudain  had  a  granary  here  and  kept  a  store  at  the 
first  bend  of  the  road,  above  Leipsic,  in  front  of  his 
residence.  The  granary  and  store  were  abandoned 
in  1848,  when  the  land  came  into  possession  of  the 
Nicholsons.  Thomas  Walker  conveyed  to  Elisha 
Snow  one  hundred  acres  of  land  February  16, 1716, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  southwest  branch  of  Duck 
Creek,  part  of  a  large  tract  laid  out  for  Thomas  Wil- 
son, and  called  "  Darby  Town,"  which  was  later 
conveyed  to  Evan  Jones.  Portions  of  this  tract  are 
owned  by  A.  N.  Harper,  J.  T.  York  and  J.  A.  Nich- 
olson. 

"  The  Wheel  of  Fortune"  is  an  old  tract  on  Wilson's 


Branch,  now  owned  by  N.  Farrow  and  J.  A.  Nichol- 
son. It  was  conveyed  March  20,  1738,  to  John 
Chance. 

In  1816  the  following  were  large  land-owners  in 
Little  Creek  Hundred,  and  owned  the  number  of 
acres  stated : 

ACEM . 

BlfldoQ  Bishop 781 

ThomM  Barnett 792 

(East  of  Moorton.) 

T.  8.  Hillyard 350 

WilaooBncknuMter 266 

Joho  A.  liaiming„ ^ 826 

Wm.  Chue 200 

Hamod  0orie*8  est 300 

Wm.  Ooltoni 101 

Daniel  Cowgill 461 

John  Cowgill ^ 360 

Thonuui  Denny 382 

Collins  Denoej  and   T.  Mo- 

DoweU 700 

Jonathan  Emerson 360 

Soaan  Emerson 800 

John  Howard ....„ 1400 

Charles  Hamm —  20t 

Richard  Harington 234 

The  following  persons  are  on  the  assessment  list 
of  Little  Creek  Hundred  for  the  year  1785 : 

Mark  Hirons. 


PhiUp  Hardcastle 850 

Charles  HiUyard .„.  460 

Edward  Joy'sest ^  SM 

Dr.  Bobt.  Jamiaon*s  «st.. »  2W 

Jabes  Jenkins 357 

Wm.  Kennedj*s  est ^  2O0 

Louis  McLane's  est ^ ^  2U 

John  lfarim*s  est ^.^.„^  380 

Thomas  Maoomb*s  *t      ,   -.      400 
Jonathan  W.  Mifflin........^...  400 

Andrew  Naudain ^..^..1438 

Dr.  Ezekiel  Needham lOSo 

John  Pleaaooton .....».^  874 

Hon.  Nicholas  Bidgaley's  est.  488 

Wm.  Ringgold's  est ..."SSS 

Willhun  Ruth 200 

(Blacksmith  shop  near  Leipric) 
Jacob  Stout .,»^  935 


Abraham  AUee. 
Israel  Alston. 
Abner  Alston. 
John  Alston. 
John  Amer. 
Abraham  Ayers. 
Simon  Ayers. 
Joab  Alston. 
James  Ayers. 
Robert  Ardis. 
Eben  Blacksher. 
Wm.  Burkle. 
Wm.  Bush. 
Abraham  Boothe. 
Peter  Brinkle. 
Wm.  Course. 
John  Cowgill. 
Henry  Cowgill. 
Exeklel  CowgllU 
Nathan  Bradley. 
Bei^amin  Bradley. 
Wilson  Bjick. 
Risdon  Bishop. 
John  Bell. 
James  Bellack. 
George  Buck. 
Isaac  Buckingham. 
Joseph  Belch. 
James  Barcus. 
James  Bamet. 
Joseph  Bush. 
Moses  Barnot. 
Peter  Burklo. 
John  Durham. 
J)aniol  Cowgill. 
Wm.  Cooks. 
John  Crocket. 
Jonathan  Crocket 
Wm.  Course,  Jr. 
Alex.  Chance. 
Charles  Chaddock. 
John  Course. 
Joseph  Crippens. 
Daniel  CoWet. 
Clayton  Cowgill. 
Samuel  Darls. 
Robert  Hayse. 


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James  Harmon. 
TasseDieon. 
Jacob  Bmnson. 
ManloTe  Emnson. 
Thomas  Erans. 
Alice  Fraier. 
James  Fraier. 
Wm.  Frazar. 
Samuel  Freeman. 
Richard  Furbnah. 
Thomas  FoUis. 
Col.  Gorden. 
Wm.  Gray. 
Andrew  Gray  ham. 
Samuel  Goodwin. 
Aron  Goodwin. 
Thomas  Hickey. 
John  Hart. 
Wm.  Harper. 
Darid  Harper. 
Wm.  Hirons. 
Charles  Hyllard, 
Joseph  Hirons. 
John  HilU 
Robert  Horn. 
George  Horn. 
Jonathan  Hicks. 
Charles  Hutt. 
Thomas  Irons. 
Jabez  Jenkins. 
John  Johnston. 
Samuel  Jenkins. 
George  Jackson. 
Richard  Kerkland. 
Thomas  Keeth. 
Franses  Keeth. 
James  Keikley. 
Heniy  KUlen. 
Andrew  Lackey. 
Andrew  Lackey,  Jr. 
Wm.  Lerick. 
John  Larwnod. 
Perry  Lethaitroiy. 
George  Legg. 
Wm.  Legg. 
John  LIUey. 

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KENT  COUNTY. 


1119 


John  Lerick,  brick-layer. 
John  Lerick. 
Solomon  Mumford. 
Thomas  Morphy. 
Stephen  Meronr. 
Samnel  Maxwell. 
Stephen  MllUa. 
Iflaiah  Morgan. 
Wm.  Mnllin. 
Wm.  Madden. 
John  Manlof. 
Jamee  Morgan. 
Barid  Morgan. 
Andrew  Murphy. 
Widow  Needham. 
Lambert  Niokerson. 
Abm.  Newton. 
Niel  Oxbarn. 
Wm.  Owans. 
Amon  Owans. 
Bobert  Owans. 
Jonathan  Ozbnm. 
Elijah  Pennington. 
Joeeph  Palmer. 
Thomas  Parker. 
Daniel  QnUlen. 
Wm.  Robinson. 
Charles  Robinson. 
Martin  Roberts. 
Charles  SIsco. 
Jacob  8tout»  Esq. 
Widow  Stoat. 
Bei^.  Stoat 
Stokeles  Stwiges. 
Henry  Sterens. 
Stephen  Sperkmen. 
Daniel  Steven. 
James  Starling. 
Daniel  Smith. 
John  Starling. 
Stephen  Smith. 
George  Sisco. 
Wm.  Smith. 


John  Sworden. 
John  Sisco. 
John  Stow. 
Robert  Smith. 
James  Smith. 
Thomas  Tippens. 
Joseph  Toy. 
Oharles  TuUey. 
Matthew  Tilghmaa. 
Martin  Tamer. 
Wm.  Trnsty. 
DsTid  Tanner. 
Robert  Teaz. 
Richard  Turiey. 
Abm.  Yanoy. 
ElUah  YolinUne. 
Wm.  Tanstarem. 
James  Vandyke. 
Wm.  Voshell. 
Cornelias  Yanstavem. 
Benjamin  Williams. 
Edward  Wright. 
Widow  Whiteman. 
Bei^amin  Wyn. 
James  Well,  gentle. 
James  Wilkeesn. 
Wm.  Wotts. 
Samuel  Whitehall. 
Bei^amin  Wells. 
Isaiah  Wharton. 
Henry  Wilkeson. 
John  Wheelton. 
Alien  Whithsart. 
Thomas  Wlndle. 
Benjamin  Wells,  Jr. 
James  Wells,  Jr. 
Solomon  Whiteheart. 
Thomas  Wilkenson. 
Wm.  Wood. 
Joseph  Wheler. 
Enoch  Wells. 
Wm.  Wells. 
Solomon  Writes. 


BoADB.— The  road  leading  Arom  Little  Creek  to 
Leipsic  is  a  continuation  of  that  from  Dover  to  the 
Landing,  and  is  the  oldest  in  the  hundred.  It  is 
mentioned  as  far  back  as  1714  in  old  deeds.  The 
road  from  Gheswold  (Moorton)  was  laid  out  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  and  when 
Leipsic  was  the  great  shipping  point  for  wheat,  it 
was  the  highway  for  wagons  from  Maryland  loaded 
with  grain.  The  State  Road  passes  through  this 
hundred,  entering  it  at  Hoffecker's  mill  and  leaving 
it  near  the  head  of  Dyke  Branch,  on  the  farm  owned 
by  the  heirs  of  Hon.  Charles  Brown.  The  road  to 
Dona  was  laid  out  at  the  time  of  the  Philadelphia 
and  Norfolk  Transportation  Company's  existence. 

Churches.— The  Friends  early  residing  in  Little 
Creek  Hundred  attended  meeting  at  Duck  Creek 
and  were  part  of  that  society;  but  on  the  22d  of 
Eleventh  Month,  1710-11,  "  Friends  of  Little  Creek 
in  Kent  County,  taking  into  consideration  their  great 
distance  from  Duck  Creek,  Bequesteth  of  this  meet- 
ing the  privilege  of  having  a  meeting  of  worship 
every  first  day  among  themselves — the  Reasonableness 
of  which  proposal  being  considered  by  this  meeting, 
it  is  allowed  them,  with  this  caution,  that  they  be 
careful  in  attending  as  many  of  them  as  they  conve- 
niently can,  the  meeting  of  worship  at  Duck  Creek 


next  before  the  Monthly  Meeting."  At  a  Quarterly 
Meeting  held  17th  of  Third  Month,  1714,  it  was  agreed 
that  Little  Creek  Meeting  be  ''henceforward  as  a 
meeting  of  worship  distinct  from  Duck  Creek,  of 
which  it  hath  hitherto  been  a  part."  A  meeting- 
house was  built  on  land  which,  on  September  12, 
1771,  was  deeded  by  Eleazer  Badger  to  Samuel  Han- 
son, Thomas  Hanson,  Ezekiel  Cowgill,  John  Cowgill, 
Samuel  Hanson,  Jr.,  and  Henry  Cowgill,  for  that 
purpose.  This  meeting-house  was  presently  aban- 
doned, and  on  May  6, 1802,  Jabez  Jenkins  sold  one 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  square  perches  of  land  to 
Daniel  Clayton,  Jonathan  Cowgill  and  Samuel  Price 
"  in  trust  for  the  people  called  Quakers,"  on  which 
the  present  meeting-house  was  erected.  It  was  regu- 
larly used  for  religious  purposes  until  about  1865, 
after  which  only  occasional  services  were  held.  In 
January,  1888,  it  was  sold,  the  last  Quakers  having 
disappeared  from  the  hundred*  Their  old  graveyard 
is  still  used  for  interments. 

Bethel  M.  £.  Church  is  a  handsome  brick  building 
located  on  the  State  Road,  one  mile  below  Little 
Duck  Creek.  The  first  worshippers  of  this  sect  met 
in  the  house  of  Joseph  Farrow,  and  a  church  was 
built  in  1780.  The  old  edifice  retained  the  name  of 
Farrow's  until  1858,  when  it  was  rebuilt.  In  the 
original  church  the  Farrows,  Qarrisons,  Smiths, 
Boggs  and  Jeffersons,  all  old  families,  were  influential 
members.  Work  was  commenced  on  the  present 
structure  in  1853,  and  August  6, 1854,  it  was  com- 
pleted. Rev.  Beverly  Waugh,  senior  bishop  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  at  that  time,  preached  the  dedication 
sermon.  Bishop  Vaugh  was  a  father-in-law  of  Charles 
M.  Cullen,  of  Georgetown.  The  building  is  thirty- 
six  by  fifty  feet,  has  a  commodious  lecture-room  and 
two  class-rooms  in  the  basement,  and  cost  four  thou- 
sand dollars.  James  T.  Farson,  of  Philadelphia, 
formerly  of  this  locality,  was  the  architect,  and  Fries- 
ton  &  Fenimore  the  contractors.  A  graveyard  is 
annexed.  The  church  has  always  been  supplied  by 
the  ministers  from  the  Smyrna  Circuit,  and  a  list  of 
them  will  be  found  in  the  article  upon  that  circuit. 
The  Quarterly  Conferences  of  the  circuit  have  met 
here  frequently. 

Manship  African  M.  E.  Church  is  located  at  Bishop's 
Corner,  and  was  built  about  1880.  In  1876  a  very 
neat  building  was  erected,  and  the  old  name  of  Sut* 
ton's  Chapel  was  changed  to  Manship  Chapel,  in 
honor  of  Rev.  Andrew  Manship. 

Bell's  Chapel,  near  Leipsic,  was  built  in  1847  and 
belongs  to  the  African  M.  E.  Conference.  The  land 
was  given  by  Eliza  Bell.  The  building  is  only  used 
occasionally  on  account  of  its  dilapidated  condition. 

Schools. — District  No.  11  was  the  first  to  have  a 
school  in  the  hundred.  An  attempt  was  made  as 
early  as  February  1,  1816,  to  create  a  school  there. 
At  that  time  an  act  passed  the  Legislature  to  raise 
one  thousand  dollars  by  lottery  to  "  erect  a  school  in 
Little  Creek  Neck  and  Hundred,  near  the  village  of 
Leipsic."    Nothing  came  of  this,  however.    At  the 


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in  the  centre  of  the  district,  on  the  road  from  Leipsic    ket.    Oapt.  David  Montgomory  was  a  pioneer  in  ^ 


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\ 


^^^^/^^^^^^^-^^Z-C^ 


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J 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1121 


basinet,  and  now  each  boat-owner  leases  from  thirty 
to  fifty  acres  of  the  bedd.  Fifty  thousand  bushels  of 
grain  and  one  thousand  tons  of  marsh  hay  are 
shipped  from  the  Lauding  yearly. 

This  hay  is  used  in  making  ropes  and  in  packing 
goods.  At  present  there  are  about  three  hundred  and 
fifty  inhabitants  in  the  town. 

The  Gun  Swamp  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
situated  about  a  mile  from  the  Landing.  A  school 
was  kept  in  the  old  church  in  1832,  and  both  white 
and  colored  children  attended.  The  building  went 
into  decay,  and  in  February,  1875,  was  moved  into* 
Little  Creek  Landing,  and  May  30th  of  the  same  year 
was  repaired  and  opened  for  worship.  In  1884  a  new 
building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  three  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars.  There  are  at  present  twenty  five 
members.  The  church  was  in  the  Dover  Circuit  until 
Dover  was  made  a  station  in  1835,  and  was  then 
annexed  to  Camden  Circuit,  and  continued  there  until 
1883,  when  it  was  made  a  station.  It  was  annexed  to 
Leipsic  Circuit.  The  names  of  the  ministers  will  be 
found  in  the  articles  upon  the  circuits,  to  which  the 
church  was  attached. 

The  Little  Creek  Canning  Company  erected  a 
building  in  1873,  but  for  the  last  few  years  it  has  not 
been  in  operation. 

The  town  of  Little  Creek  was  made  a  post-office  in 
1868,  with  William  Hobson  as  postmaster.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Martin  Collins,  and  the  latter  by  J. 
Thomas  Lowe. 

Leipsic. — In  the  old  records  there  is  the  convey- 
ance of  a  tract  of  land  called  the  "  Weald  "  by  Ed- 
ward Boesll  to  James  and  George  Gano  and  Jacob 
Stout,  April  30,  1723.  The  "Weald  "  contained  300 
acres,  and  had  been  patented  originally  to  John 
Hillyard  October  10, 1687.  Shortly  after  the  convey- 
ance to  Stout  and  Gano,  Stout  laid  out  the  town  of 
Fast  Landing,  the  name  being  given  for  the  reason 
that  it  was  the  only  fast  ground  above  the  bay.  Janu- 
ary 24,  1814,  an  attempt  was  made  to  name  the  place 
Vienna,  and  the  bill  had  passed  the  Legislature,  but 
on  January  28th,  of  the  same  year,  the  present  name  of 
Leipsic  was  given  it,  as  it  was  a  great  shipping-point 
for  furs.  Hon.  Jacob  Stout,  who  lived  there  in  a  house 
which  still  stands  on  the  bend  of  the  road  from  Dover  to 
Morton,  was  instrumental  in  giving  the  place  its  name. 
The  town  in  1836  was  one  of  the  most  important  on 
the  Peninsula.  The  wharves  were  hives  of  industry 
and  the  boat-yards  employed,  large  numbers  of  men. 
Large  quantities  of  lumber,  grain  and  oysters  were 
shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  world.  Daniel  Palmer, 
Charles  Harper  &  Brother  and  Robert  H.  More  kept 
large  general  stores  in  the  town.  Asmany  as  twenty- four 
vessels  loaded  at  one  time  at  the  wharves.  The  boat- 
builders  were  James  G.  Waples,  Wilson  L.  Cannon 
and  George  Parris.  The  lattter  had  a  saw-mill 
and  several  granaries.  Mr.  Cannon  is  still 
living  in  Dover.  He  began  building  boats  in 
1886.  Among  the  vessels  built  by  him  were  the 
"  Louis,"  "  Mary  "  and  "  Fairman  "  (lost  on  the  Irish 
71 


coast),  and  in  1854  he  closed  his  yard,  after  building 
the  last  vessel  launched  at  the  town.  February  2, 
1839,  the  Leipsic  Navigation  Company  was  organized 
to  improve  the  creek,  with  W.  L.  Cannon  as  presi- 
dent ;  Wm.  Collins,  secretary  ;  and  Joseph  P.  Palmer, 
treasurer.  Three  canals  were  cut,  at  a  cost  of  two 
thousand  eight  hundred  dollars,  to  shorten  the  dis- 
tance to  the  bay.  The  Smyrna,  Leipsic  and  Phila- 
delphia Steamboat  Company  was  incorporated 
February  3, 1839,  but  did  not  organize  until  1853, 
when  W.  L.  Cannon  was  made  president,  B.  F. 
Chatam  secretary  and  John  McClary  treasurer. 

The  company  first  ran  the  steamers  ^'Diamond 
State  "  and  "  Lamokin,*'  but  the  management  has  now- 
passed  into  other  hands,  which  placed  on  the  route  the 
"  Maid  of  Kent  and  "  David  Reed."  The  domestic 
trade  of  the  town  is  quite  large,  and  a  profitable  busi- 
ness is  done  in  the  shipping  of  marsh  hay,  grain  and 
oysters. 

John  W.  Fenimore,  merchant  at  Leipsic,  was 
born  in  Burlington  County,  New  Jersey,  March  1, 
1830.  His  grandfather,  John  W.  Fenimore,  was  an 
officer  in  the  Revolution,  and  afler  the  war  lived  and 
died  near  Burlington.  George  W.  Fenimore,  his 
son,  and  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
married  Eliza  Scott.  She  died  in  1837,  leaving  three 
sons  and  one  daughter,  and  he  married  his  second 
wife,  Mary  Reeves,  in  1839.  He  soon  thereafter 
bought  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in 
Little  Creek  Hundred,  near  Dover.  The  following 
year,  1841,  they  moved  to  Delaware  and  began  the 
cultivation  of  the  farm,  on  which  there  was  then  a 
small  orchard  of  five  hundred  peach  trees.  He 
immediately  set  out  another  orchard  of  ten  acres  and 
shipped  the  first  crops  to  Philadelphia  by  boat  from 
Short's  Landing  on  Smyrna  Creek.  He  had  just 
began  to  prosper  a-*  a  general  farmer  and  fruit- 
grower when  he  died,  in  1844,  and  the  farm  was  sold 
by  the  administrator  a  few  years  after  to  R.  B.  Jump, 
of  Dover. 

John  W.  Fenimore,  their  son,  attended  school  at 
Leipsic  and  Smyrna,  and  then  learned  the  trade  of 
bricklayer  and  plasterer  and  diligently  followed  it 
until  1862,  when  he  was  appointed  by  the  Levy 
Court  collector  for  Little  Creek  Hundred.  He  served 
in  that  position  for  three  years.  In  1865  he  bought 
out  the  store  of  Samuel  Hargadine  at  Leipsic,  then 
kept  in  a  building  immediately  south  of  his  present 
store  building.  As  a  merchant  Mr.  Fenimore  pros- 
pered and  his  trade  increased.  He  added  to  the 
business  the  purchase  and  sale  of  grain,  coal,  lime, 
fertilizers  and  general  produce.  He  has  since  suc- 
cessfully continued  the  mercantile  business  and  runs 
a  steamboat  from  Leipsic  to  Philadelphia,  making 
three  trips  a  week  in  summer  and  two  in  winter  to 
facilitate  his  own  business  and  for  the  general  trade 
of  the  community. 

Mr.  Fenimore  represented  Little  Creek  Hundred 
in  the  Levy  Court  of  Kent  County  four  years.  Since 
1877  he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  poor,  was  made 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


treasurer  of  the  County  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Poor  the  same  year  and  has  since  continued  in  the 
same  responsible  position.  He  served  as  school  com- 
missioner for  several  years.  He  owns  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  valuable  land  adjoining  Leipsic. 

Mr.  Fenimore  was  married  October  24,  1852,  to 
Margaret  Taylor,  daughter  of  Henry  Taylor,  of  Kent 
County,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  families  in 
the  county.  The  children  of  this  marriage  were 
Matilda,  married  to  William  Hazel,  now  in  business 
at  Dover;  John  W.  Fenimore,  Jr.,  in  busineas  with 
his  father  at  Leipsic,  married  to  Jennie  Wilson,  of 
Kent  County;  Arthur  married  to  Ida  Clements  in 
the  spring  of  1885,  both  dying  of  typhoid  fever  within 
four  weeks  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  The  two 
youngest  sons,  Henry  and  George  Fenimore,  live 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fenimore  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  at 
Leipsic. 

The  post-oflSce  was  established  in  1836  with  Robert 
H.  More  postmaster,  who  has  been  followed  by  Gil- 
bert Criafield,  George  Spicer  and  James  D.  Moore. 

The  Leipsic  Canning  Factory  is  the  largest  in  the 
State.  It  was  started  in  1873  by  Samuel  W.  Hall,  of 
Dover,  with  a  capital  invested  of  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars and  a  capacity  of  one  million  cans  and  employ- 
ment for  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  hands.  In 
1874, 1.  M.  Lavin  purchased  the  factory  and  since  his 
death  it  has  been  conducted  by  his  sons,  under  the 
firm-name  of  I.  M.  Lavin's  Sons.  Captain  J.  H. 
Fleming  started  his  phosphate  factory  in  1877  and 
has  been  running  since  that  time  with  a  capacity  of 
two  hundred  tons  a  year.  The  Hoffecker  Mill,  four 
miles  from  Dover,  on  Little  Creek,  is  one  of  the 
oldest  in  the  county,  having  been  built  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century. 

Leipsic  now  has  about  four  hundred  inhabitants. 
It  was  incorporated  as  a  town  in  1852,  and  the  first 
commissioners  were  Alexander  Laws,  George  W. 
Spicer  and  Westcott  Campbell.  David  Crockett 
surveyed  the  town  limits  and  Thomas  P.  Wall  was 
the  first  alderman.  The  town  records  are  missing 
from  1852  to  1803.  The  following  is  a  list  of  officials 
since  the  latter  date : 


Thomaa  1*.  WulU lSi>:i-7:i 

James  P.  Lamb 187:5-74 

Thomas  P.  Wulla 1X74 

Henry  M.  How lS7.'i 

Thomiia  P.  Walls 187G-X-2 


Aldermen. 

11.  M.  IIow 1883 

Thomau  P.  Walls 18S4 

Henry  M.  How 1885 

Wm.  F.  T.  HudBon 1887 


Town  Clerks. 


Kdward  E.  Palmer 18r,:M;i 

H.  M.   IIow IK«M 

Morris  Conoway Ih70 

H.  M.  Huw l«7:j 

James  EldtTtliie 1874 

Jame«  P.  Lamb 1875 

H.  M.  How 1870 

U.  Raymond 1878 


Thomas  Reed 1879 

H.  M.  How 1881 

Robert  Collins 1883 

G.  E.  Putter 1884 

James  Story 1885 

John  White 1886 

H.  Raymond 1887 


Town    Commissioners, 


James  Snow 18r.:t   i   John  Marley 1863 

Thos.  Kirkley l8«-3   I   John  Marley 1804 


Tho«.  R.  Buyer 187« 

D.  C.  Hoffecker I«7« 

Wbl  FreestoiM l«T7 

Wm.  H.  Rawley ISH 

Jeff.  L.  Campbell ISH 

Farris  Potter 18T8 

Wm.  H.  Bawley   1878 

Thomas  Parker _..1878 

H.  W.  Stout 1879 

Wm.  H.  Rawltjj 1879 

John  J.  Werser. ,-1879 

H.  M.  How _188D 

Wm.  H.  Barley 1880 

W.  W.  Panri* 1880 

Morgan  Traux 1-81 

Wm.  H.  BaMl*-y 1881 

H.  L.  WII«>D 1«1 

Robt,  Rawley 1882 

Wm.  H.  Bawley 18$2 

Wm.  C.  Ford 1882 

P.  Lynch 18*3 

R.  P.  Collins 18»3 

H.  L.  Wilft.n 1888 

Wm.  H.  Rawley 1884 

Jeff.  D.  CampU-ll.-. ^.1884 

M.  Trmux «1884 

H.  L.  Wil  on -.  1885 

Thos.  P.  Walls 1885 

R.  0.  P.  Wilson 1885 

John  M.  Knight. 1886 

P.  Crtmpbell 1«« 

Samuel  Marshall 1886 

JohnM.  Knight 1887 

Jamos  Dillen .„ 1887 

Chas  F.  Homnan 1887 


H.T.  Hoffecker 1864 

R.  M.  Hopkins 1864 

Rses  Taylor 1866 

P.Campbell 1866 

W.  H.  Morris 1866 

P.  Campbell 1866 

Jaa.  Boggs 1866 

John  Parker 1866 

Samuel  Hargadine 1867 

Wm.  Free&tone 1867 

John  Parker 1867 

Wm.  Freestone 1868 

Peter  Campbell 1868 

John  G.  Scotleu 1868 

Robt  M.  Hopkins. 1869 

*  J.  W.  Wilson 1869 

Chas.  Padluy 1869 

H.  T.  Hoffecker 1870 

John  Parker 187J 

Wm    Fox 1870 

H.  T.  Hoffecker 1871 

John  Parker 1871 

Wm.  Fox 1871 

H.  T.  Hoffecker 1872 

John  Parker 1872 

Samuel  Marshall 1872 

Peter  Campbell 1873 

Robert  Rawley 1873 

Jae.  Khkley 1873 

james  Potter 1874 

Thoe.  R.  Boyer 1874 

John  Parker 1874 

Thos.  R.  Boyer 1875 

Farris  Potter 1875 

D.  C.  Hoffecker 1876 

Wm.  Freestone 1876 

CHURCHES.—The  Muddy  Branch  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  was  established  about  1800,  a  short 
distance  from  Leipsic,  and  was  abandoned  abont 
1837,  when  the  church  was  built  in  Leipsic  through 
the  efforts  of  Rev.  John  S.  Fury.  The  old  building 
went  into  decay  rapidly,  and  in  1849  the  only  trace 
left  was  the  grave-yard.  The  building  of  1837  is 
still  standing,  and  forms  the  main  church  of  the 
Leipsic  Circuit.  Prior  to  1868  the  Leipsic  Church 
was  a  part  of  the  Smyrna  Circuit.  The  ministers  of 
the  church  will  be  found  in  the  list  of  ministers  of 
the  same  circuit. 

The  Leipsic  Methodist  Protestant  Church  was  or- 
ganized June  3,  1865,  with  W.  M.  Smith,  John  G. 
Scotten,  W.  H.  Moore,  John  Slaughter,  Matthew 
Hutchinson,  Samuel  Butler,  B.  F.  Hamm,  Isaac 
Slaughter,  Rees  Taylor,  Peter  Campbell,  Ferris 
Porter,  T.  P.  Walls,  George  W.  Clothier  and  Henry 
Wilson  as  the  first  trustee?.  Two  thousand  dollars 
were  immediately  raised  for  a  church,  and  December 
31,  1865,  was  fixed  for  the  dedication  of  the  new 
building.  There  were  present  Rev.  J.  D.  Valient 
(who  preached  the  first  sermon).  Rev.  Thomas 
Downs,  Rev.  D.  F.  Ewell  (minister  in  charge),  and 
Rev.  J.  B.  Merritt.  The  weather  was  unfavora- 
ble, and  the  dedication  was  postponed  until  Janu- 
ary 28,  1865.  Rev.  J.  B.  Murray  preached  the 
dedication  sermon.  The  building  is  forty-six  by 
thirty-two  feet,  and  cost  $2300.  Immediately  upon 
opening  the  church  a  revival  meeting  was  begun, 
and  eighty  persons  were  enrolled  as  members.  The 
church  was  supplied  with  ministers  from  the  Kenton 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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and  Clayton  churches  until  1883,  when  a  separate 
station  was  established,  and  the  following  have 
preached  here:  Revs.  George  Smith,  J.  D.  Lucas, 
McM.  Thomson  and  B.  W.  Kindley.  There  is  a 
grave-yard  attached  to  the  church. 

Rev.  M.  Marselles  attempted  to  form  an  Episcopal 
congregation  in  Leipsic  May  10,  1869,  and  the  fol- 
lowing officials  were  elected  for  what  was  called  Im- 
manuel  Church:  Senior  Warden,  Andrew  Spear;  Ju- 
nior Warden,  G.  W.  Spicer;  Vestrymen,  Messrs. 
Clements,  Eager,  Wilson,  Lamb,  HofTecker,  Hopkins 
and  Denney.  Bishop  Lee  confirmed  a  number  of 
persons  as  members;  but  the  congregation  was  dis- 
solved after  a  few  years. 


CHAPTER    LX. 


KENTON    HUNDRED. 


Kenton  Hundred  is  in  the  Borthwestern  por- 
tion of  Kent  County,  and  was  carved  out  of  Duck 
Creek  and  Little  Creek  Hundreds,  by  an  act  of 
the  Legislature,  passed  February  3,  1869,  which 
recited:  "The  said  new  hundred  shall  be  called 
Kenton  Hundred,  and  shall  embrace  all  that  por- 
tion of  Duck  Creek  and  Little  Creek  Hundreds 
in  Kent  County,  as  at  present  constituted,  lying  on 
the  west  side  of  the  west  lino  of  the  Delaware 
Kailroad." 

This  made  the  bounds  of  the  new  hundred  as 
foll<>ws:  on  the  north  by  Blackbird  Hundred  of 
New  Castle  County  and  Duck  Creek  ;  on  the  east 
by  the  Delaware  Railroad ;  on  the  south  by  Dover 
Hundred  and  the  Fork  Branch  of  St.  Jones' 
Creek,  and  on  the  west  by  the  State  of  Maryland. 

Some  of  the  best  farming  lands  of  the  State  are 
in  the  hundred,  they  having  been  highly  cultivated 
for  years.  Large  quantities  of  peaches,  wheat, 
corn  and  vegetables  are  raised. 

About  1840,  Simon  Spearman,  who  lived  on 
the  Middle  Alley  road,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Edward  Streets,  shipped  the  first  peaches  for 
market,  and  the  return  was  so  profitable  that  a 
number  of  the  farmers  planted  trees,  until  to  day 
three-fourths  of  the  land  is  planted  with  peach 
trees.  The  shipments  from  the  various  railroad 
stations  have  approximated  in  one  year  as  high  as 
three  hundred  thousand  baskets.  The  year  1887 
was  one  of  the  poorest  ever  known,  and  fifty  thou- 
sand will  cover  the  shipment. 

The  Little  Duck  Creek  runs  through  the  centre 
of  the  hundred,  and  the  railroad  facilities  are 
excellent, — the  Delaware  Railroad  running  down 
the  east  side,  the  Delaware  and  Maryland  through 
the  centre  and  about  one  mile  of  the  Kent  County, 
Smyrna  and  Delaware  Bay  Railroad  in  the  north- 
western section.     In  1880  the  population  was  two 


thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventeen.  There 
has  been  no  survey  since  the  erection  of  the  hun- 
dred, but  the  area  is  about  thirty-five  thousand 
acres. 

Early  Settlements. — The  hundred  early  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  the  English  settlers,  and 
in  the  earliest  records  mention  is  made  of  grants 
of  land,  both  from  the  crown  and  the  original 
proprietors,  to  English  settlers.  The  descendants 
of  these  old  families  still  comprise  a  majority  of 
the  inhabitants.  Particularly  is  this  true  of  the 
occupiers  of  the  land  comprised  in  what  was 
known  as  the  manor  of  "Freith." 

The  manor  of  "  Freith  "  was  one  of  the  many 
manors  in  Pennsylvania  and  outlying  territories 
laid  off  for  William  Penn,  the  warrant  for  this 
tract  having  been  issued  to  the  Surveyor-general 
May  3,  1683,  and  the  laud  surveyed  November 
10th  of  the  same  year,  and  was  returned  as  con- 
taining over  ten  thousand  acres. 

The  Bristol  Naval  Store  Co-partnership  Com- 
pany formed  in  Bristol,  England,  in  1714,  and 
composed  of  William  Down,  Absalom  Lloyd, 
Charles  Horford,  Edward  Lloyd,  Caleb  Lloyd, 
George  Whitehead  and  Richard  Cool,  merchants 
of  that  town.  The  object  of  the  company  was  to 
plant  and  cultivate  hemp  in  the  colonies,  and 
Benjamin  Shurmer,  of  Kent  County,  formerly  of 
Bristol,  was  commissioned  to  purchase  a  tract 
of  land  for  that  purpose.  He  took  up  of  this  tract 
three  thousand  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres 
on  a  branch  of  Duck  Creek,  on  a  warrant  granted 
September  22,  1714.  In  1706  Walter  Dulauy 
took  up  a  large  part  of  this  land,  which  was  con- 
veyed to  him,  and  embraced  old  surveys  lying 
largely  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Kent  County 
and  in  parts  of  New  Castle  County  and  Maryland. 
"Caudley's  Adventure,"  on  a  branch  of  the  Chester 
River,  on  the  New  Castle  and  Maryland  line,  was 
a  portion,  and  was  taken  up  in  1727.  Several 
tracts  of  this  same  land  were  warranted  to  Captain 
Richard  Smith,  January  18,  1696,  and  patented 
in  1710.  They  were  called  **the  remains  of  my 
Lordship^s  Gracious  Grant,"  "Mitchell's  Park," 
"Mitchell's.  Risque,"  "Jones'  Adventure,"  "  Elli- 
nor's  Delight,"  and  "  Beaver  Dam." 

The  present  holders  of  the  Dulany  land  are 
Samuel  and  George  Beck,  Patrick  Hanifee,  J.  L. 
Holt,  Henry  Holt,  Jacob  Hartman,  Frank  Bowers 
and  Bernard  Donnelly. 

South  of  the  Dulany  land  is  the  Blackiston 
tract,  called  the  "Deer  Park"  tract,  and  contain- 
ing two  thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty-five  acres, 
which  was  granted  to  Benjamin  Blackiston,  June 
14,  1733,  upon  payment  of  forty-five  pounds  and 
two  shillings  to  Ix)rd  Baltimore.  The  greater 
part  of  this  land  remained  in  the  possession  of  the 
Blackiston  family  as  late  as  1850,  and  over  four 
hundred  acres  of  it  is  now  owned  by  Miss  Ann 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Blackiston,  a  great-granddaughter  of  the  original 
proprietor.  The  remainder  is  held  by  Benjamin 
and  Herman  Hazel,  and  Thomas  Mayberry. 

Along  the  west  side  of  this  hundred  Samuel 
Chew  took  up  of  the  Manor  of  Freith,  about  five 
hundred  acres,  and  become  seized  of  about  three 
thousand  acres  of  other  lands  in  the  vicinity,  lying 
partly  in  Queen  Anne  County,  Maryland,  and  in 
Kent  County,  Del.  Chew  died  in  1744,  leaving  to 
survive  him  Benjamin  Tilghman,  Elizabeth  Tilgh- 
man,  Ann  (the  wife  of  Peter  Galloway)  and  others. 
By  deed  of  gift,  bearing  date  May  13,  1774,  he 
conveyed  three  thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  to  his  son  Edward.  The  gift  included  tracts 
known  as  "Forlorn  Hope,"  "Scotten's  Folly," 
"  Forced  to  it,"  and  "  Just  Design."  Edward  con- 
veyed all  his  interest  to  Matthew,  his  brother, 
February  4,  1786,  and  the  land  remained  in  the 
Tilghman  family  until  April  15,  1869,  when  it 
was  sold  at  Fox  well's  Hotel,  Smyrna.  The  deeds 
bear  date  June  1,  1869,  and  were  as  follows: 
Henry  H.  Pennell,  125  acres;  William  Sharp, 
298  acres ;  Franklin  Griffith,  209  acres ;  Edward 
C.  Coppage,  219  acres;  William  Hutchinson,  218 
acres ;  and  Francis  H.  Johnston  and  Matthew  T. 
Goldsborough  (heirs),  868  acres. 

Another  portion  of  the  Manor  of  Freith  was  a 
grant  of  one  thousand  and  twenty-five  acres  to 
William  Ellinsworth,  March  21,  1680,  on  the 
southwest  branch  of  Duck  Creek,  now  called 
Little  Duck  Creek.  This  tract  was  called  Dun- 
caster,  and  was  part  of  what  was  called  the  Oxford 
and  Cambridge  tracts.  They  were  conveyed  to 
William  Mitchell,  and  were  taken  up  by  Simon 
Irons.  Oxford  came  to  Thomas  Green,  who, 
December  14,  1749,  sold  portions  to  Jeremiah 
Register  and  William  Sipple. 

In  addition  to  those  named,  the  following  per- 
sons own  lands  formerly  a  part  of  the  old  Manor 
of  Freith :  B.  F.  Goodey,  John  Golt,  Robert  H. 
Cummins,  David  J.  Murphey,  Peter  Wilson,  Wil- 
liam Davis,  Thomas  Rees,  William  Stevens,  Jr., 
William  Stevens,  Sr.,  Robert  H.  Hill,  William 
Lea  &  Sons  Company,  Charles  Ross,  Wesley 
Stevens,  Charles  Doolan,  John  Meyers,  Henry 
Pratt  and  John  Pratt,  John  Farson,  and  Francis 
M.  Burrows. 

"  Hillyard's  Exchange  "  was  taken  up  by  John 
Hillyard  in  1682,  and  contained  four  hundred 
and  twenty-six  acres,  and  is  described  as  being  on 
the  south  side  of  the  west  branch  of  Duck  Creek 
and  on  Hillyard's  Branch.  It  is  near  and  south- 
east of  the  town  of  Kenton,  and  adjoining  what 
was  called  "Wapping,"  "Williams  Range," 
"  Baliff  Hill,"  and  others.  A  part  of  this  land 
was  by  deed  of  gift  conveyed  to  Arthur  Cook  and 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  August  8,  1720,  and  to 
Hillyard's  grandson,  John  Hillyard. 

The  Hillyard  tract  later  came  into  the  possession 


of  Philip  Lewis,  who  also  owned  other  large  tracts, 
including  the  land  on  which  the  town  of  Keuton 
stands. 

Philip  Lewis  began  the  purchase  of  lands  May 
2,  1791,  then  buying  three  hundred  and  six^ 
acres  of  James  Hynson  and  sixty  of  Thomas 
Murphey;  and  November  8,  1791,  bought  one 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  acres  of  William  Dickson, 
which,  in  1753,  was  part  of  a  tract  surveyed  to 
John  Faries,  who,  October  20,  1773,  sold  to  Wil- 
liam Jones,  who,  in  turn,  February  6,  1775,  sc«ld 
to  William  Dickson,  Christopher  Long  and  Samuel 
Jemison.  These  tracts  extended  to  the  Seven 
Hickories,  an  old  stopping-place  for  teams  on  the 
road  from  Dover  to  Kenton,  so  called  for  the  rea- 
son that  seven  large  hickories  stood  there.  In 
]  825  the  Lewis  property  was  divided  among  the 
sons  of  Philip  Lewis,  Jefferson,  Albert  G.,  and 
Phocion  P.  The  first  named  is  still  living.  The 
lands  of  Albert  G.  and  Phocion  P.  were  conveyed 
to  Frederick  Staake  and  by  him  conveyed  to 
Mason  Bailey,  and  are  now  in  the  possession  of 
Bailey's  heirs,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  strip 
of  one  hundred  acres  held  by  Elizabeth  Jones. 

A  tract  called  Brenford  came  in  possession  of 
James  Green ;  who  owned  a  large  tract  in  Duck 
Creek  Hundred ;  who  sold  it,  August  9,  1768,  to 
Molleston  Curry.  He  sold  two  hundred  and  ten 
acres  to  Thomas  Collins.  This  land  is  now  owned 
by  Jacob  P.  Dickson,  William  Stevens,  Samuel 
Hutchinson,  Jr.,  Hester  A.  Knowles,  William 
Saulsbury,  the  heirs  of  Samuel  Catts  and  others. 
West  of  the  town  of  Moorton  are  a  class  of  iJ^ple 
who  claim  that  they  are  original  Moors.  At  one 
time  they  owned  over  a  thousand  acres  between 
Seven  Hickories  and  Moorton.  They  claim  to 
have  settled  hereabout  1710.  In  1785  there  were 
several  families  owning  quite  large  estates,  among 
whom  were  John  and  Israel  Durham.  They  have 
always  lived  apart  from  both  white  and  colored 
neighbors,  and  have  generally  intermarried,  and 
steadily  refused  to  attend  the  neighboring  colored 
schools.  In  1877,  Hon.  Charles  Brown,  of  Dover, 
gave  them  ground  and  wood  for  a  biulding  near 
Moore's  Corner,  and  since  that  time  they  have 
maintained  a  school  there  at  their  own  expense. 
There  are  about  fifteen  ^milies  remaining. 

The  following  names  are  of  persons  assessed  in 
Kenton  Hundred  in  1785,  and  are  taken  from 
the  assessment  rolls  of  Little  Creek  and  Duck 
Creek  Hundreds,  of  that  date : 


Sarah  AHee. 
John  Allee. 
Aquilla  Attix. 
Abrm.  Anderaon. 
John  Attix. 
Jeremiah  Bon>agha. 
Beni.  BlacIcistoD. 
Richard  Boruughs. 
Edward  Boroughs. 
James  Bostick. 


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Ebenezer  BlacIclstoD. 
ElUah  Boroughs. 
John  Barnes. 
Bei^amin  Boroughs. 
John  Boroughs. 
Be^j.  Blackiston,  Jr. 
Daniel  Cummina,  Jr. 
James  Cununlna. 
Nicholas  Clarke. 
Wm.  Oahoon,  Biq. 

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KENT  COUNTY. 


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Dftoiel  Cummintt, 
Bftchael  CUrk. 
John  Clouds. 
Wm.  Clark. 
G«orge  Cummins. 
Samuel  Cole. 
Charles  Clark. 
Ebenezer  Clark. 
BsaJ.  Chew,  Bsq. 
Daniel  DaTid,  Sr. 
Isaiah  Derham. 
Wm.  Derham. 
Joseph  David. 
Joseph  DaTid,  Jr. 
Hugh  Dnrborow. 
Wm.  David. 
Daniel  Durham. 
James  Dean. 
Patrick  Downs. 
Widow  Dnrborow. 
Whitonton  Durham. 
Garrett  Diwhano  est. 
George  Derham. 
John  Durham. 
Henry  Faraons. 
Wm.  Farsons. 
John  Fanons. 
Joseph  Foreacres. 
Robert  Oanel. 
DaTid  Griffin. 
Ljdia  Griffen. 
Wm.  GrifTen. 
Eben  Griffen. 
Thomas  Hillard. 
Barthta  Hazel. 
Matthew  Hazel. 
Be^laniin  Hazel. 
Jacob  Hurlock. 
Wm.  Hutchinson. 
G«orge  Hazel. 
Wm  Hurlock. 
John  Hsxel. 
Ebenezer  Hurlock. 
George  Hnrrlii. 
Wm.  Hill. 
John  Hutchinson. 
Isaac  Hazel. 
Joseph  Howard. 
John  Ham. 
John  Hill. 
Bell  Jones. 
Hannah  Jonm*. 
Jacob  Joneri. 
Be^j.  Jonep. 
Thomas  Jones. 


Dr.  James  Joues. 
Samuel  Jones. 
Richard  Keys. 
Thonuu  Lacount. 
Abm.  Moore. 
Thos.  Moore. 
Robert  Moore. 
Joseph  Meredith. 
Wro.  Murphey. 
Peter  Moore. 
Godfrle  Molestan. 
Michael  Numbers. 
Joseph  Numbers. 
James  Numbers. 
Thomas  Numlters. 
Joseph  Nock. 
Mary  Numbers. 
Wm.  Numbers. 
John  Numbers. 
Joseph  Price. 
Allen  Palmetry. 
Abm.  Parsans. 
Robert  Palmetry. 
Hyland  Pennington. 
Widow  Redgester. 
Jeremiah  Rees. 
Edward  Rees. 
.Tohn  Rees. 
John  Spniance  est. 
John  Spruanca. 
John  Spearman. 
Wm.  Sharp. 
Presley  Spruance. 
John  Starling. 
Wm.  Scottsn. 
James  Scotten. 
John  Scotten. 
Matthew  Tllghman. 
Wm.  Tliomson. 
Abm.  Thomson. 
John  Thomson. 
Moses  Thompson. 
Jethro  Thompson. 
Robert  Thomson. 
James  Thomson. 
Bei^amin  Truax. 
Hendrirk  Truax. 
JumeM  Tippltt. 
Pate  Wiilinms. 
Samuel  Wilson. 
Nathaniel  Wilds. 
Wm.  Wallace. 
Wm.  Wartenbury. 
Juidah  Wallace. 


Churchis. — The  oldest  church  in  the  hundred 
is  the  Old  Duck  Creek  or  Bryn  Zion  Church, 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  northeast  of  the 
town  of  Kenton.  About  1783  eight  or  nine  fami- 
lies (chiefly  members  of  Welsh  Tract  Church) 
made  a  settlement  at  Duck  Creek,  in  Kent  County, 
from  whence  the  same  religion  spread  southward 
to  Cowmarsh  and  Mispillion,  westward  to  George- 
town in  Maryland  and  eastward  to  Fast  Landing. 
Services  were  held  by  these  settlers,  and  occasionally 
a  minister  from  the  Welsh  Tract  would  preach  to 
them. 

In  1747  William  Griffen  conveyed  to  James 
Hyatt,  William  Rees,  Jeremiah  Rees,  James 
Howells,  David  Enos  and  Enoch  David,  all  of 
Kent  County,  trustees  of  the  Baptist  Society,  one- 
half  acre  of  land  for  a  church,  on  condition  "  that 


it  now  doe  and  shall  hercafler  meet  to  embrace 
and  adhere  freely  to  all  the  principals  and  articles 
that  are  complied  in  a  certain  confession  of  Faith 
that  was  agreed  upon  and  adopted  by  the  Baptist 
Association  that  met  at  Philadelphia,  September 
25,  1742."  Upon  this  land  the  church  was  never 
built.  In  1749  Rev.  Griffith  Jones  settled  here 
and  continued  to  preach  until  his  death,  December 
4, 1757.  Rev.  William  Davis,  in  1766,  came  next, 
and  continued  with  this  branch  of  the  Welsh 
Tract  Church  until  his  death,  October  3,  1768. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Revs.  David  Davis,  John 
Sutton,  John  Boggs,  Thomas  Fleeson  and  others. 
When  the  number  of  members  amounted  to 
thirty  a  petition  to  be  formed  into  a  separate 
church  was  presented  to  the  Welsh  Tract  Church, 
and  it  was  granted  on  November  24,  1781.  The 
following  persons  were  constituted  a  church : 
Daniel  David,  Rachel  David,  Lydia  Jones,  Samuel 
Griffin,  Mary  Griffin,  Martha  Griffin,  Rachel 
Griffin,  Mary  Griffin,  Jr.,  Elizabeth  Griffin,  Lydia 
Griffin,  Lewis  Williams,  Ruth  Williams,  Rhoda 
Wallis,  Elanor  Spruance,  Elizabeth  Roe,  Caesar 
Roe,  Martha  Meredith,  Deborah  Dickinson,  Hugh 
Durborow,  Martha  Durborow,  Mary  Anderson, 
Rebecca  McVay,  Rhuhamah  Parkerson,  Martha 
Owens,  Mary  Thompson,  Elizabeth  Greedy,  Mol- 
eston  Curry,  James  Darkling,  Andrew  Lockhart 
and  Mary  Lynch.  In  the  first  ten  years  of  its 
organization  it  increased  from  thirty  to  forty  seven. 
The  regular  pastors  of  Welsh  Tract  who  preached 
here  are  mentioned  in  the  article  on  that  church. 

Rev.  Griffith  Jone*  was  bom  October  8,  1696, 
at  Alltfawr,  in  the  parish  of  IJanon  and  county 
of  Carmarthen.  He  came  to  America  in  1749 
and  settled  at  Duck  Creek.  He  died  December 
4,  1754.  Rev.  William  Davb  was  born  in  1695, 
at  Castellreth,  in  Glamorganshire;  first  came  to 
this  country  in  1722,  but  soon  returned  ;  he  came 
back  in  1737  and  settled  at  Vincent;  thence  he 
went  to  New  Britain  and  had  joint  care  of  the 
church  until  his  death ;  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Eliphaz  Dazey  from  July  23,  1784,  to  Oc- 
tober 25,  1787,  and  the  Revs.  James  Jones,  John 
Patten  and  Gideon  Ferrel  were  co-pastors. 

Rev.  Dr.  Jas.  Jones  was  born  on  theWelsh  Tract, 
April  6,  1736,  and  died  in  1829 ;  his  remains  are 
interred  in  the  old  grave-yard.  He  was  educated 
at  Newark  Academy  and  licensed  to  preach  No- 
vember 2,  1 782.  He  had  been  a  surgeon  in  the 
Revolutionary  army,  joining  it  at  Valley  Forge. 
On  April  7,  1789,  he,  with  the  Rev.  John  Patten, 
took  charge  of  the  church.  The  latter  was  born 
at  Cow  Marsh  December  15, 1752,  and  licensed  by 
the  church  June  14,  1788.  Meetings  were  held 
generally  in  the  dwellings  of  James  Hyatt  and 
Evan  David  Hughes.  The  Independents  had 
built  a  church  which  was  called  Mount  Zion, 
where  they  worshipped  part  of  the  time,  and  upon 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


its  going  to  decay  the  Baptiste  rebuilt  it  of  brick, 
thirty  by  twenty-five  feet,  in  1771,  when  the  lot 
was  conveyed  by  John  and  Philemon  Dickinson. 
This  house  still  stands,  and  was  rebuilt  in  1871 
and  is  valued  at  four  thousand  dollars.  The  con- 
gregation and  church  were  incorporated  July  22, 
1794.  The  late  ministers  have  been  :  Rev.  Peter 
Meredith,  for  seventeen  years,  and  died  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  ninety-five ;  Rev.  Thomas  Barton, 
for  ten  years,  and  Rev.  Ephriam  Rittenhouse,  of 
Hare's  Comer,  who  has  been  at  the  church  for 
twenty-nine  years 

In  the  graveyard  attached  to  the  church  are 
buried  a  number  of  old  families  whose  descend- 
ants still  reside  in  the  hundred,  the  oldest  stone 
being  that  of  Thomas  Ringgold,  who  died  Febru- 
ary 21,  1790.  Among  the  others  are  Jacob  Ander- 
son, August  30,  1792 ;  Armah  Wilds,  October  25, 
1802;  the  family  lot  of  the  Spruances,  among 
whom  is  Presley  Spruance,  November  28,  1837, 
father  of  United  States  Senator  Presley  Spruance. 

Blackiston  Chapel  was  erected  in  1787,  the 
land  being  given  by  Benjamin  Blackiston,  and  is 
located  about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  the 
cross-roads  of  the  same  name.  The  old  church 
was  forty  by  sixty  feet,  and  was  erected  from  de- 
signs furnished  by  Bishop  Asbury.  It  was  for  a 
number  of  years  the  largest  in  size  on  the  Penin- 
sula, exceeding  Barratt's  Chapel.  The  original 
trustees  were  Benjamin  Blackiston,  Abraham 
Parsons,  Luke  Howard,  Richard  Lockwood,  Will- 
iam Kirkley,  James  Hall,  Thomas  Wilds,  James 
Stephenson  and  Richard  Shaw.  The  Methodists 
in  the  region,  which  was  then  a  forest,  held  meet- 
ings on  the  farm  of  Benjamin  Hazel  before  the 
church  was  erected  The  old  church  was  moved 
away  in  1847,  and  the  present  building  erected  in 
its  place.  It  is  much  smaller  than  the  original 
church,  being  twenty-five  by  thirty  feet,  and  valued 
at  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  In  the  old  graveyard 
there  is  buried  Rev.  John  Asay,  an  elder  in  the 
church,  who  died  September  11,  1855;  the  early 
Hurlocks  and  a  number  of  the  Stevens  family,  all 
old  settlers.  Some  of  the  ministers  of  the  church 
have  been,  John  Humphrey,  Daniel  Lambert, 
Thomas  Leadman,  W.  C.  Leibrandt,  William 
Sumption,  Thomas  Hersey,  J.  B.  Merritt,  John  P. 

Du  Hamel, Johns,  Enoch  Stubbs,  Edward 

Newman,  J.   H.  Adams, Warner, 

R.  J.  Stevenson,  T.  L.  Tompkinson,  J.  L.  Hous- 
ton, Samuel  Thomson,  Andrew  Manship,  T.  J. 
Quigley  and  David  Price. 

Downs  Chapely  three  miles  from  Kenton,  is  the 
oldest  Methodist  Protestant  church  in  this  section, 
and  was  built  upon  land  conveyed  by  James  M. 
Downs  to  Lodiam  E.  Downs,  Arwell  Durborough 
and  James  E.  B.  Clark,  trustees,  December  4, 
1842.  The  building  was  erected  the  spring  of  the 
following  year.     Previous  to  the  erection  of  the 


church.  Rev.  William  Heritage  came  in  the  neigh- 
borhood and  preached  to  large  numbers  in  the 
woods,  all  that  country  bring  at  that  time  a  forest. 
After  the  church  was  built,  Mr.  Heritage  was  the 
first  minister ;  he  afterwards  abandoned  the  minis- 
try and  became  a  manufacturer  of  patent  medi- 
cines. During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Ting- 
ling, the  church  was  rebuilt.  At  present  there  are 
seventy-five  members,  with  a  building  worth  eight 
hundred  dollars.  The  following  ministers  have 
since  preached  in  the  church:  Rev.  David  J. 
Ewell,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  E.  J.  Ewell,  Rev.  Dr.  A  T. 
Eversole,  Rev.  A.  D.  Dick,  Rev.  Wm.  A.  Crouse,. 
Rev.  Jas.  M.  Ellderdice,  Rev.  J.  M.  Yiogling, 
Rev.  W.  J.  D.  Lucas,  Rev.  Charles  M.  Thomson, 
Rev.  Benj.  F.  Brown,  Rev.  John  Jackson,  Rev. 
William  Hamilton. 

The  Kenton  M,  E,  Church  is  in  the  Smyrna  Cir- 
cuit, and  was  built  in  1818  at  the  end  of  the  town 
of  Kenton,  on  the  road  leading  to  Downs  Chapel. 
It  was  a  frame  building,  twenty-four  by  sixty  feet. 
The  ground  was  donated  and  the  building  erected 
by  Isaac  Buckingham,  Rev.  John  Durborough  and 
James  Scotten .  Rev.  John  Durborough  was  a  grand 
father  of  Bishop  Cummins,  of  Kentucky,  and  the 
first  minister  of  the  church.  Previous  to  the 
erection  of  the  building,  services  were  held  at 
James  Scottens  house.  The  pld  building  was 
abandoned  in  1877,  and  the  present  substantial 
building  was  erected  in  that  year  and  was  dedica- 
ted September  15,  1878,  by  Bishop  Scott.  The 
list  of  preachers  will  be  found  in  the  article  upon 
the  Asbury  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Smyrna. 

EwelTs  Methodic  Protestaiii  Church  at  Clayton 
was  erected  through  the  eflbrts  of  Rev.  David  J 
Ewell,  its  present  minister,  and  was  dedicated 
December  30,  1860.  by  Rev.  T.  D.  Valient,  of 
Harford  County,  Md.,  assisted  by  Rev.  John 
Roberts,  of  Centreville,  Md.  This  is  at  present  the 
only  church  in  the  growing  town  of  Clayton  and  has 
a  membership  of  fifty  persons.  The  ministers  who 
have  supplied  Downs  Chapel  have  also  been  here. 

Schools.— At  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the 
school  law,  in  1829,  Kenton  Hundred  had  within 
its  limits  Schools  Nos.  1,  2,  8,  9  and  10.  Since 
that  time  there  has  been  created  Schools  and  Dis- 
tricts Nos.  49,  97,  212,  42  and  114. 

District  No.  1  is  located  between  Districts  No. 
14  and  No.  2,  and  in  1829  contained  one  schotil, 
between  Black iston's  Cross-Roads  and  the  M.  E. 
Church,  with  twenty  scholars  between  the  ages  of 
five  and  twenty  years.  The  old  log  building  was 
erected  about  1800,  and  stood  until  1854.  The 
building  then  erected  remained  until  1886,  when 
it  was  abandoned  and  a  new  building  erected 
north  of  Black iston's  Cross-Roads,  about  two 
miles  from  the  site  of  the  old  building.  In  1886 
there  were  fifty-five  scholars. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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The  old  log  building  used  as  a  school  for  Dis- 
trict No.  2,  which  is  next  to  No.  1,  was  built  in 
1797,  at  the  Alley  Cross-Road.  The  school  in 
1829  contained  twelve  scholars  and  the  district 
eighty-five  children  between  the  ages  of  five  and 
twenty.  In  1848  the  old  log  building  was  re- 
placed by  a  frame.  U{>on  this  being  torn  down  in 
1^76  a  neat  structure  valued  at  ei>?ht  hundred 
dollars  was  erected.  In  1886  there  were  forty -two 
scholai-s  One  of  the  first  teachers  was  John  Pal- 
metry,  a  staid  old  Friend. 

District  No,  8  was  south  of  No.  1,  on  the  Mary- 
land line  and  the  western  part  of  what  was  form- 
erly Little  Creek  Hundred.  In  1829  there  were 
seventy-five  children  between  the  ages  of  five  and 
twenty  years,  but  no  school.  In  1835,  Jonathan 
(jordon  and  Captain  Edward  Attix  (father  of 
Thomas  and  Samuel  Attix)  interested  themselves 
iu  having  a  school.  Mr.  Gordon  donated  the 
ground  and  Mr.  Attix  the  greater  part  of  the 
material  and  was  one  of  its  main  patrons  From 
this  fact  it  received  the  name  of  Attix's  school - 
house.  The  building  stood  opposite  Downs  Chapel. 
About  twenty  years  ago  a  new  building  was  put 
up,  which  still  stands  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
old  building.  In  1886  there  were  eighty-two 
scholars. 

Wilds'  School-House  was  the  name  given  to  the 
school  in  District  No.  9,  for  the  reason  the  land 
upon  which  it  was  erected  was  given  by  Nathaniel 
Wilds,  which  has  in  its  limits  the  town  of  Kenton, 
the  building  being  located  there.  In  1829  there 
was  a  school-house  a  short  distance  below  Kenton, 
with  twenty  scholars  and  eighty-five  children  be- 
tween the  ages  of  five  and  twenty.  The  old  build- 
i  ig  was  log  and  had  been  erected  about  1800. 
It  stood  until  1839,  when  it  was  torn  down  and  a 
frame  building  erected  in  its  place.  In  1885  the 
Legislature  authorized  the  erection  of  a  new  build- 
ing, the  old  one  was  abandoned  and  a  fine  brick 
building  erected  in  the  town  of  Kenton  valued  at 
three  thousand  ddllars.  In  1886  there  was  in  it  a 
graded  school  and  primary  with  one  hundred  and 
twelve  scholars. 

District  No.  10  is  in  the  southeastern  corner,  and 
at  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  school  law,  in 
1829,  was  without  a  school  building,  but  had 
seventy-five  children.  The  land  for  a  school  build- 
ing, was  given  by  Israel  Peterson,  in  1835,  and  a 
building  erected  between  Moorton  and  Moore's  Cor- 
ner. In  1860  this  building  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  a  new  one  erected  south  of  Moore*s  Comer,  at 
a  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars.  It  is  still  standing 
and  in  good  condition.  In  1886  there  were  thirty- 
five  scholars. 

District  No.  49  is  one  of  the  new  districts,  and 
was  laid  out  in  1846.  The  school  building  was 
erected  in  1847,  and  a  new  building,  costing  six 


hundred  dollars,  erected  in  1886.     In  this  year 
there  were  forty-five  scholars. 

In  the  extreme  southern  part  of  the  hundred 
is  District  97,  erected  within  the  last  twenty  years. 
The  school  built  at  first  still  stands,  and  had  fifty 
scholars  in  1886. 

Diitrid  No.  114  was  erected  by  the  Legislature, 
in  18S5,  out  of  District  No.  1.  A  new  building 
was  built,  out  of  money  raised  by  taxation,  costing 
eight  hundred  dollars,  at  Hazel's  Corner.  At  the 
time  of  the  annual  reports  there  were  fifty-one 
scholars  in  attendance. 

The  Clayton  District  is  known  as  119,  and  was 
cut  out  of  Districts  Nos.  2,  84  and  49,  in  1873. 
The  building  was  erected  the  same  year  at  a  cost 
of  nine  hundred  dollars,  out  of  funds  advanced  by 
A.  L  Hudson.  In  1887  an  addition  was  built, 
and  the  school  grade  advanced,  and  another  teacher 
employed.  In  1886  there  were  sixty-four  scholars. 
The  new  building,  when  completed,  will  make 
accommodations  for  about  eighty  pupils,  and  room 
for  additional  desks  has  b^n  made  to  meet  the 
increasing  population  of  Clayton 

Towns. —  Clayton  is  the  largest  town  in  the 
hundred,  and  is  situated  in  the  extreme  north 
eastern  part,  and  is  next  in  importance  to  Wil- 
mington as  a  railroad  centre.  It  is  thirty-six  miles 
from  Wilmington  on  the  main  line  of  the  Delaware 
Railroad.  In  1854,  the  time  of  the  surveying  of 
the  railroad,  there  was  not  a  house  in  the  town  ; 
all  the  land  being  owned  by  Richard  Tibbitt. 
Previous  to  that  time  a  little  village  existed  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  away,  called  Jimtown.  It  was 
a  great  stopping-place  for  years  for  teams  on  their 
way  to  Smyrna  Landing  to  unload  grain.  There 
was  a  large  grove,  and  an  old  character,  "Aunt 
Hetty  Johnson  "  by  name,  sold  beer  and  cake^  to 
the  drivers.  Tibbitt  gave  ground  for  a  depot 
and  sold  land  for  building-lots,  and,  in  1859,  a 
hotel  and  store  were  built;  the  store  being  kept  by 
Thomas  B.  Lockwood  in  a  building  now  occupied 
by  Abel  Sevil.  Up  to  this  time  it  was  known  as 
Smyrna  Station,  and  in  1867  was  named  by  the 
Legislature  Smyrna  Station,  but  the  inhabitants 
wanted  it  to  be  called  Clayton,  and  in  1860,  Alex- 
ander McConaghy  sent  an  application  to  the 
Post-Office  Department  for  the  establishment  of  a 
post-office.  This  was  granted,  and  upon  his 
recommendation  it  was  called  Clayton,  and  he  was 
appointed  postmaster,  a  position  he  held  until 
February,  1866,  when  John  S.  Casperson  was  ap- 
pointed. The  State  recognized  the  name  of  Clay- 
ton at  the  last  Legislature. 

It  was  generally  supposed  that  Tibb'tt  held  a 
fee-simple  in  the  land,  but  after  his  death  the  land 
was  claimed  by  a  William  Wartenby,  of  San 
Francisco,  on  the  ground  that  Tibbitt,  in  default 
of  heirs,  had  but  a  life  interest,  and  the  reversion 
in  fee  was  in  him.     The  case  was  carried  to  the 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, — Secretary 
of  State  Bayard  appearing  for  Wartenby,  and 
Reverdy  Johnson,  of  Maryland,  for  the  holders  of 
the  land.  The  case  was  decided  in  favor  of  War- 
tenby, and  the  tract  of  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres,  embracing  the  entire  town,  was  decreed  as 
his  property  and  that  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  W.  Har- 
ris, of  Philadelphia.  The  holders  had  to  make 
settlements  with  the  new  owners,  and  Wartenby 
disposed  of  his  interest  to  Mrs.  Harris,  and  gave 
Mr.  Bayard  one-fourth  of  the  tract  as  a  fee ;  they 
still  own  nearly  all  of  Clayton.  In  1867  Mrs.  R. 
S.  McConaghy  started  the  Clayton  Herald  and  ran 
it  until  her  death,  January,  1868,  when  it  was  sold 
to  J.  W.  Spruance,  and  moved  to  Spruance  City 
and  its  name  chauged  to  Font  Hill  News. 

The  town  received  a  boom  in  1885,  when  the 
Delaware  Railroad's  main  office  was  moved  there 
and  with  it  I.  N.  Mills,* the  superintendent  and  a 
number  of  other  officials  and  employees.  April 
15,  1887,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  appointing 
Hon.  James  R.  Williams,  ex-Senator  C.  S.  Penne- 
will,  D.  J.  Cummins,  George  W.  Whitaker  and 
ex-State  Treasurer  Robert  J.  Reynolds  to  lay  out 
the  town,  define  its  limits,  and  to  hold  an  election 
for  town  commissioners  This  duty  they  have  per- 
formed and  commissioners  were  elected.  In  1887 
there  were  sixty  houses  in  the  town,  three  general 
stores,  kept  by  Abel  Sevil,  George  Brockson  and 
W.  S.  Reynolds,  two  millinery  stores  by  E.  O'Con- 
ner  and  Mrs.  John  Wright,  three  confectionery 
stores  by  John  Casperson,  Sarah  A.  Tims  and  W. 
H.  Boggs,  a  wheelwright  and  blacksmith  shop  by 
Thomas  HoUiday,  a  lumber-yard  by  Hudson  & 
Moore,  J.  Leinberger  butcher,  tw^o  hotels — the 
Bingham  House,  kept  by  William  Whitlock,  and 
the  Hotel  Stockle,  by  Michael  Riley — and  a  drug 
store  by  Dr.  Charles  G.  Harmonson.  The  popu- 
lation is  about  four  hundred. 

Kenton,  the  oldest  town  in  the  hundred,  and 
situated  near  the  centre,  on  the  Delaware  and 
Maryland  Railroad,  was  first  known  as  Lewis* 
Cross- Roads,  afterwards  as  Grogtown,  and  by  act 
of  Legislature,  in  1806,  it  was  changed  to  Kenton. 
It  was  called  Lewis*  Cross-Roads,  after  Philip 
Lewis,  who,  in  1791,  owned  all  the  surrounding 
land,  and  laid  out  the  roads  in  1796. 

The  oldest  house  in  the  town  is  one  now  occu- 
pied by  Mrs.  Mary  Green  It  was  built  by  Philip 
Lewis,  and  is  of  frame,  and  was  moved  to  its 
present  location  about  seventy  years  since.  On  the 
corner  is  an  old  brick  house  standing  on  the  road, 
which  was  built  shortly  afterwards  and  used  as  the 
first  general  store  in  the  town.  The  old  hotel, 
still  standing  and  known  as  the  Kenton  Hotel,  was 
also  built  by  him  in  1809.  It  was  occupied  by 
William  Arthur  in  1811,  and  in  1812  by  James 
Bayels,  who  run  it  for  a  number  of  years.  Charles 
Hamm  had  it  in  1843,  and  in  the  same  year  Thomas 


L.  Temple,  a  brother  of  Governor  Temple,  took  it 
and  ran  it  for  a  number  of  years;  it  is  now  in 
charge  of  Terance  Carvin. 

The  post-office  was  started  in  1860,  and  since 
that  time  the  postmasters  have  been  W.  H.  Taylor, 
John  Wilds,  William  C.  Jump,  Joseph  Roop, 
William  H.  Moore  and  W.  Denny  Wilds. 

The  town's  main  growth  has  been  since  the  war, 
and  the  Legislature,  on  April  23,  1887,  passed  an 
act  incorporating  it  into  a  town. 

At  present  there  are  three  general  stores,  kept 
by  J.  M.  Arthurs,  W.  H.  Moore  and  W.  Taylor; 
a  millinery  store,  two  blacksmith  shops  and  one 
drug  store.  There  are  sixty  houses  and  a  popula- 
tion of  three  hundred 

Blackidon's  Cross-Roads  was  so  named  from 
the  fact  that  when  roads  were  laid  out  in  1764, 
running  into  Maryland,  the  land  was  owned  by 
Benjamin  Blackiston,and  had  been  in  the  possession 
of  the  Blackiston  family  since  1684.  At  present 
there  are  twelve  houses,  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  a 
population  in  1880  of  fifty. 

Downs^  Chapel  is  also  a  cross-roads,  the  first 
building  having  been  a  store  erected  there  by  Wil- 
liam Downs,  in  1838.  The  chapel  was  built  in 
1842,  the  school-house  having  already  been  there. 
At  present  there  are  nine  houses,  two  general  stores 
and  a  population  in  1880  of  forty-five  persons. 
The  post-office  was  established  in  January,  1877, 
with  James  B.  Messer,  postmaster.  There  are  two 
general  stores,  kept  by  Enoch  S.  Short  and  James 
T.  Jacobs. 

Brenford  existed  only  as  a  railroad  station 
until  1866,  and  was  named  after  the  Brenford  farm, 
near  there.  On  the  26th  day  of  May,  1866.  it  was 
created  a  post-office,  with  J.  P  Dickson  as  poet- 
master  He  wan  succeeded,  November  13,  1886, 
by  L.  H.  Spruance.  At  present  there  are  twelve 
houses  and  a  population  of  sixty,  one  general  store 
kept  by  L.  H.  Spruance,  Boyer  &  Wallen,  fioiit 
and  grain  dealers,  and  J.  Q.  &  H.  M.  Farson, 
dealers  in  fruit  packages. 

Chesstvold,  —  Shortly  after  the  railroad  was 
completed,  in  1856,  John  S.  Moore,  who  owned 
all  the  land  upon  which  this  town  is  located,  opened 
a  store  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  James 
Brown,  and  was  appointed  postmaster,  in  which 
place  he  has  been  succeeded  successively  by  J.  Daw- 
son, J.  P.  Jefferson,  Thomas  F.  Moore  and  C.  C. 
Boyer.  From  Mr.  Moore  the  new  town  was  called 
Moorton,  and  continued  under  this  name  until 
1888.  The  town  has  improved  rapidly  the  last 
few  years,  and  now  has  thirty-five  dwelling-houses, 
a  population  of  two  hundred,  and  the  following 
places  of  business:  general  stores,  W.  L.  Collins, 
James  Brown  and  T.  F  Moore ;  wheelwright,  M. 
H.  Palmatry ;  and  Cooper  Brothers,  brick  manu- 
facturers and  grain  dealeri?. 

MANUFACTirREs.  —  Kcutou    has   been   devoted 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1129 


almost  exclusively  to  farmiug,  and  only  up  to 
within  the  past  few  years  has  there  been  any 
manufacturing  interest  outside  of  old  grist-mills. 

What  is  known  as  the  Casperson  Mill  is  situated 
on  Duck  Creek,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  from 
Smyrna.  The  mill-site  was  condemned  July  19, 
1748.  The  mill  was  erected  in  1760  by  Samuel 
Griffen,  and  a  dispute  arose  over  the  line  and  it 
was  surveyed  to  John  Griffen  in  1797.  In  1789 
the  mill,  in  an  advertisement  offering  it  for  sale,  is 
described  as  "  a  grist-mill  in  very  good  repair  for 
grinding  merchant  work,  and  having  to  it  a  good 
dwelling-house  suitable  for  merchant  work."  The 
mill  remained  in  the  Grifien  family  until  1820, 
and  was  afterwards  owned  by  John  Shellton,  John 
Wright,  Sarah  A.  Brown,  John  R.  Kees,  Robert 
Burchop,  and  in  1859,  David  S.  Casperson  pur- 
chased it.  In  that  year  a  dispute  over  the  line, 
which  had  been  standing  since  John  Griffen 's  time, 
arose  between  Casperson  and  a  neighbor,  George 
Buchannon,  and  Buchannon  killed  Casperson.  His 
sons,  David  and  James  Casperson,  owned  it  until 
1882,  when  the  present  proprietor,  Ezekiel  Shaw, 
took  charge.  Shaw  is  a  son-in-law  of  David  S. 
Casperson. 

The  Murphey  mill,  about  a  mile  above  the  Cas- 
person mill  on  the  same  stream,  was  owned  in 
1M32  by  Samuel  Murphey,  who  ran  it  as  a  grist, 
saw,  and  woolen  mill,  but  shortly  before  his  death 
changed  it  to  a  grist-mill.  Samuel  Murphey  died 
in  1860,  and  up  to  1880  the  mill  was  run  by 
David  J.  Murphey  and  Harry  Murphey,  sons  of 
Samuel,  and  is  still  owned  by  David  J.  Murphey, 
and  operated  by  Nathan  Moore  as  a  grist-mill.  It 
has  a  capacity  of  about  forty  bushels  a  day. 

The  Cloak  mill,  situated  on  Little  Duck  Creek, 
about  a  mile  and  one-half  from  the  Seven  Hick- 
ories, was  erected  by  Simon  Kollock  in  1790.  He 
sold  it  to  Ebenezer  M.  Cloak  in  1824.  Cloak  died 
in  1867,  and  his  son.  Dr.  E.  M.  Cloak,  afterward 
ran  the  mill  until  his  death,  in  1886 ;  since  then  it 
has  been  run  by  John  Jewell. 

Malcolm^s  mill  is  situated  one  and  a  quarter 
miles  below  Cloak's  mill  on  Little  Duck  Creek, 
and  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  neighborhood,  the 
site  having  been  condemned  by  Thomas  Alexander 
in  1806.  It  was  a  grist-mill  for  a  long  while,  but 
was  allowed  to  run  down  and  was  not  used  for 
some  time.  Samuel  Keefner  rebuilt  it  as  a  card- 
ing-mill  in  1847,  and  connected  with  it  a  grist  and 
saw-mill.  He  sold  it  to  Samuel  Daniels  and  it  has 
been  since  that  time  owned  by  John  Green,  John 
Bell,  John  Logan  and  John  Malcolm,  the  present 
owner,  who  conducts  it  as  a  grist-mill  with  a 
capacity  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  bushels  a  day. 

The  largest  manufacturing  enterprise  in  the 
hundred  is  the  Delmarvia  Fertilizer  Company  at 
Clayton.  It  was  started  in  1877  by  A.  Lee  Cum- 
mins, and  was  purchased  from  him  by  the  company 


in  1883.  In  that  year  the  establishment  was  incor- 
porated, with  John  D.  Burton,  Thomas  T.  Lacey 
and  Herman  P.  Hazel  as  incorporators.  John  D. 
Burton  was  elected  president ;  Herman  P.  Hazel, 
general  manager ;  and  Thomas  T.  Lacey,  secretary 
and  treasurer  and  general  superintendent.  The 
capital  stock  is  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
capacity  three  thousand  tons  of  phosphate  a  year. 

J.  B.  Messick  has  a  small  phosphate  factory  at 
Kenton,  which  has  been  in  operation  since  1884,  and 
has  an  output  of  one  thousand  tons.  W.  P.  Wright, 
since  1879,  has  conducted  a  brick-kiln  at  Clayton, 
and  manufactured  between  three  hundred  thousand 
to  four  hundred  thousand  bricks  a  year.  John 
W.  Graham,  at  Kenton,  manufactures  one  hundred 
thousand  bricks  a  year,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
it  for  seven  years. 

Old  brick-yards  have  existed  on  the  farm  of 
James  Williams,  near  Kenton,  about  thirty-five 
years  ago,  but  were  abandoned  in  1875.  John  T. 
Poor  formerly  had  a  yard  in  Kenton,  but  it  has 
been  out  of  use  for  several  years.  Another  old 
yard  was  operated  by  Nathaniel  Wilds,  on  what  is 
now  the  Underwood  farm,  two  miles  from  Kenton, 

Being  a  fruit-growing  country,  the  evaporation 
and  canning  of  fruit  is  naturally  one  of  the  main 
industries.  At  Kenton,  J.  M.  Arthur  has  a  large 
canning  establishment,  built  in  1882 ;  capable  of 
turning  out  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  cans 
of  fruit  in  a  season.  In  the  same  t<iwn  John  W. 
Graham  built,  in  1882,  an  evaporator  capable  of 
turning  out  three   hundred  baskets  a  day. 

Smith  &  Carson  have  a  cannery  with  an  output 
of  thirteen  hundred  cans  a  day  at  Clayton,  opened 
this  year.  Other  evaporators  are  Hardcastle  & 
Jones,  opened  in  1881,  at  Clayton,  with  an  output 
of  three  hundred  baskets  a  day ;  J.  G.  &  H.  M. 
Farson,  built  in  1882,  at  Brenford,  an  output  of 
four  hundred  baskets  a  day  ;  and  Smith  &  Brown, 
at  Moorton,  built  in  1881,  and  capable  of  using 
two  hundred  baskets  a  day. 

N.  T.  Underwood  has  an  evaporator  which  is 
used  at  several  of  these  factories,  and  has  increased 
the  quality  of  the  fruit. 

William  B.  Bowman  ran  a  distil lerv  from  1862 
to  1872. 

Societies. — Pillman  Castle^  No.  7,  K.  G.  E., 
was  organized  at  Clayton  April  8, 1885,  but  interest 
failing,  it  ceased  to  exist,  but  was  re-organized 
May  13,  1887,  with  forty-one  members  and  the 
following  officers:  P.  C,  Thomas  Downing ;  N.  C, 
Wm.  L  Gooding ;  V.  C,  Daniel  Jones  ;  Sir  Her- 
ald, George  Heme ;  Keeper  of  Exchequer,  Charles 
Brown;  M.  of  R.,  W.  Colpitis;  H.  P.,  John 
Clifton;  8.  H.,  Hugh  Fleming;  C,  Horace 
Wright ;  I.  G.,  John  P.  Clifton. 

Clayton  Lodge,  No.  10,  /.  0.  O.  T.,  was  institu- 
ted March  10,  1886,  with  the  following  officers : 
W.  C.  T.,  Rev.  C.  M.  Thomson  ;  V.  T.,  Miss  Annie 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Webster ;  P.  C.  T.,  Charles  Stevenson ;  W.  Sec , 
John  A.  Wright;  W.  F.  S.,  Miss  Addie  L.  Wil- 
liard  ;  W.  T.,  A.  B.  Mudge  ;  Chaplain,  Miss  Cora 
Walker;  Marshal,  George  M.  Clayton;  Lodge 
Deputy,  C.  E.  Stevenson;  O.  G.,  Joseph  Jones; 
I.  G.,  Miss  Minnie  Williard;  Asst.  Sec,  Miss 
MattieC.  Wright ;  Deputy  Marshal,  Frank  Burns; 
R.  H.  S,  William  Webster;  L.  H.  S.,  Benjamin 
Turner.  At  present  there  are  thirty-two  members, 
with  the  following  oflScers :  Chief  Templar,  Frank 
Bums  ;  V.  T.,  Miss  Annie  Williard  ;  R.  Sec.  Miss 
Annie  Webster ;  Fin.  Sec,  Mary  Pnul ;  Treas., 
William  A.  Webster ;  Chaplain,  George  M.  Clay- 
ton ;  Marshal,  Walter  J.  Webster ;  I.  G.,  Miss 
Minnie  Williard  ;  O.  G.,  Benj.  Boggs. 

Moorton  Lodge,  No  10,  /.  0.  O,  T.,  was  institu- 
ted March  15,  1886,  with  the  following  officers: 
W.  C.  T.,  C.  Boggs;  V.  T.,  N.  R.  Simpson ;  Rec. 
Sec,  M.  H.  Palmatry ;  Fin.  Sec,  L.  Davis ;  Treas., 
S.  A.  Barcus;  Marshal,  Jefferson  Cooper;  G., 
Lizzie  Bishop ;  Sentinel,  D.  M.  Hardcastle ;  Asst. 
Sec  Venie  Palmatry;  R.  H.  S.,  Elva  Palmatry ; 
L.  H.  S.,  Hattie  Bishop;  and  Deputy  Marshal, 
Elva  Palmatry.  There  are  at  present  twenty  mem- 
bers, with  the  following  officers :  W.  C.  T.,  Charles 
Trout ;  V.  T.,  L.  M.  Davis ;  Rec  Sec,  W.  L. 
Davis ;  Fin.  Sec,  S.  A.  Barcus ;  Treas.,  P.  L. 
Barcus,  Sr.;  Chaplain,  F.  J.  Davis;  Marshal,  P. 
L.  Barcus  Jr.;  G.,  Miss  Laura  Barcus ;  Sentinel, 
John  Barcus;  Asst.  Sec,  Archie  Cudney ;  D.  M., 
Miss  Carrie  Jones ;  P.  C  T.,  Walter  Leanard 

Cereal  Grange,  No.  36,  P.  of  H.,  was  organized 
March  12,  1886,  with  about  fourteen  members  in 
School-house  No.  8,  and  the  following  officers  were 
elected :  Master,  Wm.  Hutchinson ;  Overseer, 
John  N.  Clark  ;  Lecturer,  David  S.  Clark  ;  Chap- 
lain John  Button;  Steward,  Thomas  English; 
Asst.  Steward,  W.  W.  Taylor ;  Lady  Asst.  Steward, 
Alma  Taylor ;  Secretary,  R.  E.  Cantwell ;  Pomona, 
Sarah  Clark ;  Ceres,  Susan  Hutton  ;  Flora,  Lizzie 
B.  Cantwell.  Meetings  are  held  in  a  building  on 
the  farm  of  David  S.  Clark,  about  one  mile  from 
Downs  Chapel,  every  two  weeks.  There  is  a  pre- 
sent membership  of  nineteen.  The  present  officers 
are  the  same,  except,  Steward,  John  Craig ;  Over- 
seer, John  Hutton ;  Chaplain,  John  N.  Clark ; 
Gate-Keeper,  W.  H.  Bull. 


CHAPTER    LXI. 

NORTH  MURDERKILL  HUNDRED.' 

An  account  of  the  original  Murderkill  Hundred 
with  its  divisions,  will  be  found  in  the  sketch  of  South 
Murderkill  Hundred. 

It  18  bounded  on  the  north  by  Tanner's  Branch, 

»  C<jDtributed  by  Jobn  C.  Oooden. 


otherwise  Culbreth's  Ditch,  and  by  Isanc'd  Branch, 
which  separate  it  from  West  and  East  Dover  Hun- 
dreds ;  on  the  northeast  and  east  by  St.  Jones'  Creek, 
or  Dover  River,  which  separates  it  from  East  Dover 
Hundred;  on  the  south  by  South  Murderkill  Hun- 
dred ;  and  on  the  west  by  the  State  of  Maryland.  It 
extends  from  St.  Jones*  Creek  on  the  east  to  the  State 
of  Maryland  on  the  west,  a  distance  of  nearly  fifteen 
miles,  and  is  from  three  and  a  half  to  six  miles  in 
width  in  the  eastern  part,  and  from  two  to  four  and 
a  half  in  width  in  the  western  part. 

The  settlements  were  firdt  made  along  the  streams, 
as  in  other  hundreds. 

About  one  of  the  first  tracts  of  land  to  be  taken  up 
was  a  lot  of  one  thousand  and  fifty  acres,  lying  on  the 
south  or  soutwest  side  of  St.  Jones'  Creek,  and  be- 
tween Beaver  Dam  Branch  and  Cypress  Branch, 
under  a  warrant  from  Sir  Edmund  Andros  to  Robert 
Bedwell,  bearing  date  *'  ye  20  day  of  ye  6  month, 
1679."  This  tract  was  named  "Folly  Neck"  and 
adjoined  "Caroon  Manor"  on  the  southeast,  "The 
Plains"  on  the  southwest  and  "Cypress  Neck"  on 
the  northwest.  This  tract  is  crossed  by  the  road 
leading  from  Canterbury  through  Woodley  Town  to 
the  White  Store  Landing,  which,  before  1730,  was 
known  as  Lowber's  Landing.  At  the  landing  is  a 
brick  building,  eighteen  by  twenty-eight  feet,  two 
stories,  with  cellar  and  attic,  built  by  Matthew  Low- 
ber,  in  1772.  Every  alternate  brick  shows  a  glazed 
end,  out  of  which  has  been  formed  the  initials  of 
Lowber  and  wife,  and  the  year  of  building.  The 
landing  is*  about  three  hundred  yards  above  Barker's 
Landing,  and  has  three  dwellings  and  about  ten  in- 
habitants. This  tract  is  also  crossed  by  the  "  Lower 
King's  Road  "  leading  from  Dover  by  way  of  Fred- 
erica  to  Lewes.  On  the  east  side  of  this  road  and  on 
the  north  side  of  Beaver  Dam  Branch,  just  one- fourth 
mile  north  of  Magnolia,  was  located  a  Quaker  Meet- 
ing-house. The  land  was  conveyed  May  12,  1760, 
by  Wm.  Jackson  to  John  Bowers,  Benjamin  Warren, 
Samuel  Dunnen,  Thomas  Nock  and  Jonathan  Emer- 
son. It  consists  of  one  acre,  and  is  described  as 
"  part  of  a  larger  tract  of  land  called  Folly  Neck," 
and  by  Beaver  Dam  Branch,  "  at  the  going  over  ot 
the  King's  Road."  It  was  known  as  the  "Mother- 
kill  Monthly  Meeting,"  and  embraced  the  Motherkill 
and  Tidbury  Meetings.  Meeting  for  worship  was 
discontinued  in  1828,  and  the  meeting  was  joined  to 
"Duck  Creek"  in  1838,  and  the  name  changed  to 
"Camden  Monthly  Meeting."  The  meeting-house 
has  long  since  disappeared  and  the  ancient  site  is  now 
used  for  a  cemetery.  Folly  Neck  is  now  in  posses- 
sion of  Mrs.  Mary  Barnett,  John  Lodge,  Captain 
Thomas  Draper,  Peter  Massey's  heirs,  Samuel  Whar- 
ton and  Daniel  P.  Barnard,  Jr. 

North-northwest  of  "Folly  Neck,"  lying  on  St. 
Jones'  Creek  and  north  of  Cypress  Branch,  is  a  tract 
of  four  hundred  acres,  surveyed  to  Abraham  Bratt. 
January  24,  1679-80.  This  land  is  crossed  in  its 
western  part  by  the  Lower  King*s  Road  from  Djver 


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to  Frederica,  and  is  now  principally  owned  by  Thos. 
Pickering  and  Cornelius  Freer. 

Southwest  of  Dover  River  (St.  Jones'  Creek),  south  of 
Tidbury  Branch,  and  adjoining  Abraham  Bratt's  pur- 
chase (**  Cypress  Neck "),  is  a  tract  of  land  called 
"  Tidbury,"  which,  under  warrant  of  court  of  Kent, 
dated  June  21,  1683,  to  Thomas  Williams,  of  Nanti- 
coke,  called  for  four  hundred  acres.  In  1684  Thomas 
Williams  sold  one  hundred  acres  of  "  Tidbury  "  to 
Richard  Levick,  who  the  same  year  gave  one  hun- 
dred acres  for  the  use  of  Kent  County,  upon  which  it 
was  intended  to  lay  out  the  town  of  Dover,  near  the 
present  site  of  Rising  Sun  (Five  Points).  In  a  deed 
to  William  Coe  from  Thos.  Williams,  November  1, 
1717,  Tidbury  was  said  to  contain  six  hundred  acres. 
April  18, 1746,  it  was  resurveyed  for  John  Houseman, 
and  confirmed  to  him  by  letters  patent  under  the 
hands  of  Thomas  and  Richard  Pen  n,  December  18, 
1747,  and  said  to  contain  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  It  was  crossed  on  the  west  by  the  Lower 
King's  Road,  cutting  off  about  twenty-five  acres  on 
the  southwest,  adjoining  Ezekiel  Nock's  land.  The 
tract  "  Tidbury "  is  now  chiefly  owned  by  Thomas 
Pickering,  Charles  C.  Babbitt,  Edward  Burton,  Wil- 
liam Dyer,  John  C.  Durborough  and  ThoH.  Hanson. 

Lebanon,  a  thriving  village,  located  on  the  tract 
"  Tidbury,"  is  situated  on  St.  Jones'  Creek  and  south 
of  Tidbury  Branch,  near  its  junction  with  said  creek. 
It  is  sometimes  confounded  with  **  Forest  Landing," 
a  small  cluster  of  houses  on  the  opposite  side  of  Tid- 
bury Branch,  about  four  hundred  yards  farther  up  the 
creek.  It  is  distant  three  and  one-half  miles  southeast 
of  Dover,  and  about  two  and  one-quarter  miles  east  of 
Camden,  and  has  long  been  noted  as  a  shipping  point 
for  grain,  wood,  lumber,  ship-timber,  staves,  bark, 
canned  and  evaporated  fruits.  Large  quantities  of 
ooal,  lime,  fertilizers,  soft-wood  lumber  and  general 
merchandise  are  imported  to  this  point  for  the  mer- 
chants of  Lebanon,  Camden  and  Rising  Sun.  These 
three  places  hold  communication  with  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  States,  the  West  Indies  and  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  and  send  out  large  quantities  of  home  pro- 
ductions. The  village  has  long  been  noted  for  its 
ship-building,  having  turned  out  in  recent  years 
» three-masted  schooner  of  eight  hundred  tons  burden 
for  the  trade  to  the  West  Indies  and  the  Gulf  of  Mex- 
ico. It  is  nothing  unusual  to  see  three  or  four  schooners 
at  anchor  here  at  a  time.  In  the  last  few  years  steam- 
boats have  plied  regularly  at  stated  times  between 
here  and  Philadelphia.  The  place,  also,  at  one  time, 
laid  chiim  to  having  the  largest  fruit-canning  estab- 
lishment in  the  United  States,  built  by  Collins,  Geddes 
A  Co.,  in  1869.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire,  was  rebuilt 
on  a  smaller  scale,  and  again  destroyed  by  fire  in 
1884,  since  which  time  no  canning  or  evaporating 
eatablishments  have  been  carried  on.  There  are  at 
present  two  general  stores,  one  wheelwright  and 
blacksmith-shop.  In  March,  1870,  a  post-ofiSce  was 
established  and  John  W.  Davis  appointed  postmaster, 
which  he  has  been  to  the  present  time. 


The  Methodist  Fpiscopal  Church,  in  1858,  under 
the  pastorate  of  Revs.  Robert  W.  Todd,  and  J.  E. 
Bryan,  of  Camden  Circuit,  built  a  frame  structure, 
20  by  40  feet.  The  building  committee  was  Thomas 
Pickering,  8r.,  Chas.  Short  and  Jas.  Green.  It  was  dedi  • 
cated  July  18th,  Revs.  A.  A.  Rees,  of  Baltimore,  Wm. 
C.  Robinson,  of  Dover,  and  Jonathan  S.  Willis,  of 
Milford,  officiating.  The  trustees  in  1886  were  J.  W. 
Clark,  E.  F.  Wood,  T.  H.  Hopkins,  S.  C.  Wells,  Geo. 
M.  Scott,  Wm.  E.  Maloney,  H.  C.  Deputy,  J.  E.  Dur- 
borrow,  W.  Saxton,  W.  J.  Spencer,  D.  Townsend, 
Elisha  Johnson  and  jHmes  Gordon. 

Diamond  Lodge,  No.  73,  Independent  Order  of 
Good  Templars,  was  organized  February  17,  1874, 
with  thirty-five  charter  members.  Since  1884  the 
order  has  done  very  little  work. 

Rising  Sun. — One  mile  southwest  of  Lebanon,  on 
"Tidbury,"  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  "Lower  King's 
Road,"  is  situated  the  village  of  "  Rising  Sun,"  which 
was  formerly  known  as  "  Five  Points,"  taking  its 
name  from  three  other  roads  crossing  the  King's  Road 
at  this  point.  It  is  located  about  three  miles  south  of 
Dover,  and  one  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Cam- 
den. Before  the  establishment  of  the  "Farmers' 
Fruit  Preserving  Company,"  in  1872,  "Rising  Sun  " 
was  little  more  than  a  country  cross-roads  with  a 
single  farm-house  removed  about  two  hundred  yards 
north  of  the  present  site  of  the  village.  The  "  Far- 
mers' Fruit  Preserving  Company"  was  organized 
with  a  capital  of  eighteen  thousand  dollars  in  1872. 
The  company  organized  by  electing  James  Green, 
president;  Thos.  Pickering,  treasurer;  Geo.  H.  Gil- 
dersleve,  secretary;  and  Jacob  G.  Brown,  general 
superintendent.  In  January,  1876,  the  company  was 
reorganized  and  Wm.  H.  Ridgeway  was  elected  presi- 
dent, Thos.  Pickering  treasurer,  and  Geo.  A.  Gilder- 
sieve  secretary  and  general  superintendent. 

The  company  in  wealth  and  in  prosperity  is  one  of 
the  strongest  in  the  State.  It  is  now  the  second 
largest  canning  and  evaporating  establishment  in  the 
county.  In  1884,  by  reason  of  the  death  of  some  of 
the  original  incorporators,  it  was  reorganized,  with 
the  before- recited  officers.  The  shipping  points  of 
the  village  are  Lebanon,  on  St.  Jones'  Creek,  one  mile 
distant,  and  Wyoming,  on  the  Delaware  Railroad, 
two  and  a  half  miles  distant. 

There  are  also  located  at  this  point  one  wheelwright 
and  blacksmith -shop,  two  general  stores,  and  one 
dealer  in  grain,  coal,  lime,  fertilizers,  wood  and  lum- 
ber. In  1875  the  United  States  government  estab- 
lished a  post-office  and  daily  mail  here,  with  James 
Anderson  postmaster.  In  1886  he  was  superseded  by 
De  Witt  Freer  as  postmaster. 

The  population  is  about  seventy -five,  and  the  dis- 
trict school,  which  serves  for  both  Rising  Sun  and 
Lebanon  and  the  surrounding  country,  is  one  of  the 
best  in  the  county  ;  it  owes  its  success  to  the  exer- 
tions of  Herman  Bessey,  the  present  school  superin- 
tendent of  New  Castle  County. 

North  of  Tidbury,  lying  on  Wild  Cat  Marsh  and 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Cripple,  and  on  Dover  River,  and  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Isaac's  Branch,  were  two  tracts,  called  respectively 
**  Great  Geneva  "  and  **  Reserve,"  surveyed  to  Alex- 
ander Humphreys  and  John  Nowell,  on  "  ye  28  day 
of  ye  7  m',  1683,"  under  a  grant  from  the  court  of 
Kent  County,  dated  the  21st  and  22d  days  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1681-82.  The  tract  "  Great  Geneva  "  extended 
up  Tidbury  Branch  six  hundred  and  sixty  perches  to 
NowelFs  Branch  above  the  crossing  over  the  Kings 
Road  ^from  Dover  to  Frederica,  and  thence  north- 
west to  the  edge  of  Camden,  "  E.  N.  E.  2  Ds.  J 
Northerly  "  to  Dover  River,  near  the  mouth  of  Isaac's 
Branch,  and  contained  within  these  bounds  six 
hundred  acres.  It  adjoined  "  Little  Geneva "  on 
the  southwest,  and  "  Brecknock  "  on  the  west,  and 
the  "  Reserve  "  on  the  north.  "  Great  Geneva  "  passed 
in  time  to  Thos.  England,  who  sold  it  to  Jonathan 
Hunn  prior  to  1765. 

On  St.  Jones'  Creek,  at  the  place  called  "  Forest 
Landing,"  and  above  Lebanon,  were  three  pieces  of 
land  granted  to  Robert  Wilcocks,  under  a  resurvey 
of  June  30,  1748,  and  sold  to  Jonathan  Hunn,  No- 
vember 12,  1761.  The  mansion  of  Wilcocks  is  laid 
down  on  the  survey  as  being  a  short  distance  above 
the  mouth  of  Tidbury  Branch,  and  the  land  lay  to  the 
east  of  the  tract  **  Great  Geneva,"  which  at  the  time 
of  survey  was  in  the  possession  of  Jonathan  Hunn, 
who  had  purchased  it  from  Col.  John  Viiiing,  and  at 
that  time  was  called  ''  Reserve."  This  land  came  to 
his  sons  Jonathan  and  Nathaniel,  and  to  their  de- 
scendants Ezekiel  Hunn  and  others,  who  still  own 
part  of  the  original  tract.  Nathaniel  and  Jonathan 
Hunn,  January  21,  1798,  presented  a  petition  lo  the 
General  Assembly  to  be  authorized  to  erect  a  bridge 
over  Tidbury  Branch,  where  the  Lower  Road  crosses 
the  same,  and  that  a  small  quantity  of  cripple  and 
low  ground  on  the  branch  may  be  condemned  to 
enable  them  to  erect  a  mill  and  forge. 

June  7, 1793,  a  bill  entitled  an  act  to  enable  Nathan- 
iel and  Jonathan  Hunn  to  erect  a  forge  and  saw -mill 
at  the  Forest  Landing,  near  the  mouth  of  Tidbury 
Branch,  was  passed,  and  the  land  condemned  June 
13,  1793.» 

In  1818,  in  the  division  of  Daniel  Mifflin's  real 
estate,  this  mill-seat  is  spoken  of  as  '*  Hunn's  Mill- 
Pond  gone  down." 

"  Great  Geneva  "  is  now  in  possession  of  Ezekiel 
Hunn,  Samuel  Howell  Mifflin,  Webster  D.  Learned, 
Daniel  L.  McBride,  Simeon  Blood,  Thos.  C.  Roe, 
Edgar  H.  Bancroft,  John  Dager  and  others.  At  the 
western  extremity  of  this  tract  is  located  "  The  Odd 
Fellows'  Cemetery,  of  Kent  County,  near  Camden, 
Delaware."  The  land,  comprising  nine  acres  and 
twenty  square  perches,  was  bought  September  25, 
1872,  and  incorporated  by  act  of  that  General  Assem- 
bly March  28,  1873. 

The  tract  "  Reserve,"  touching  Dover  River  near 
the  mouth  of  Isaac's  Branch,  and  resting  upon  the 
south  side  of  said  branch,  adjoining  '*  Brecknock  "  on 

1  The  forge  wu  not  built. 


the  west,  and  separated  from  "Great  Greneva"  by 
their  common  boundary-line,  starting  at  Dover  River, 
near  the  mouth  of  Isaac's  Branch,  and  eontinuiog 
six  hundred  and  sixteen  perches  southwest  to  the 
edge  of  the  town  of  Camden,  was  taken  up  by  John 
Nowell,  and  contained  four  hundred  acres.  The 
Reserve  is  now  chiefly  owned  by  Samuel  H.  Mifflin, 
of  Camden,  John  Dager  and  by  his  son,  Henry  M. 
Dager. 

Westward  of  the  "  Reserve"  and  "  Great  Geneva  " 
lies  the  tract  **  Brecknock,"  taken  up  by  Alexander 
Humphreys,  by  virtue  of  a  warrant,  dated  the  17th 
day  of  the  Ninth  Month,  1680,  containing  six  hun- 
dred acres.  It  lay  on  Isaac's  Branch,  and  extended 
up  it  six  hundred  and  eighty  perches  (a  little  more 
than  two  miles),  to  "  Betty  Smith's  Branch,"  which 
separates  Dundee  and  Brecknock.  In  1734  John 
Bowers,  of  Bowers'  Beach,  bought  one  hundred  acres 
of  Brecknock,  and  at  a  later  date  four  hundred  and 
thirty-six  acres  came  into  the  possession  of  Colonel 
John  Vining,  whose  executors,  January  17, 1780,  sold 
to  Warner  Mifflin,  who,  February  13,  1783,  sold  one 
hundred  and  twelve  acres  to  his  brother,  Daniel 
Mifflin.  Warner  Mifflin  also  sold  to  John  Edmonson 
keventy-four  acres,  and  to  Thomas  Edmonson  two 
hundred  and  forty-nine  acres  in  1786. 

Camden. — Daniel  Mifflin  (ihe son  of  Daniel,  of  Ac- 
comac  County,  Va.),  the  grandfather  of  Samuel  H. 
Mifflin,  now  of  Camden,  seems  to  have  settled  upon 
his  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twelve  acres  about 
the  time  he  purchased.  At  that  time  two  roads 
crossed  on  the  tract,  at  the  junction  of  which  Daniel 
Mifflin  built  a  tavern,  now  standing,  and  a  storehouse. 
To  the  cross-roads  he  gave  the  name  of  **  Picca- 
dilly," which  name  it  did  not  hold  a  long  time,  but 
became  known  as  "  Mifflin's  Cross-Roads." 

Some  time  between  1783  and  l|87,  Mifflin  laid  the  ' 
land  out  in  building  lots.  In  1783  he  sold  to  James 
and  Jabez  Jenkins  nearly  eleven  acres,  including 
dwelling-houses  and  a  large  frame  shop.  On  March 
5, 1785,  he  sold  to  Nimrod  Maxwell  six  acres.  On 
February  8.  1780,  Edwin  Cole  bought  a  lot  and  built 
a  brick  house  in  the  forks  of  the  road,  which  later 
was  occupied  by  Samuel  Williams,  a. hatter,  and  sold 
August  15, 1787,  to  Peter  Lowber,  tanner.  In  1787 
he  sold  the  following  lots :  to  Peter  Lowber,  nearly 
six  acres,  August  15th ;  to  James  Millis,  nearly  two 
acres,  November  28th ;  to  James  McCly men t,  ten  acres, 
November  27th ;  to  Henry  Ennals,  three-fourths  acre, 
July  23, 1788. 

In  one  deed  in  1786  one  parcel  is  described  as 
being  *^  near  unto  the  village  now  called  Piccadilly, 
but  more  commonly  called  and  known  by  the  name 
of  Mifflin's  Cross-Roads." 

In  another  deed,  in  1788,  a  lot  is  described  as  being 
"  at  the  Cross-Roads  called  Piccadilly,  below  Dover." 
The  first  mention  we  meet  with  of  the  name  of 
**  Camden"  occurs  in  a  deed  from  George  Truitt  and 
wife  to  Zadock  Truitt,  dated  December  11,  1788.  In 
that  deed  the  property  is  described  as  being  in  the 


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"Village  some  time  heretofore  called  Mifflin's  Cross- 
Boads  {alias  Piccadilly),  but  now  called  and  known 
by  the  name  of  Camden." 

Camden,  a  long  time  previous  to  the  opening  of 
the  Delaware  Railroad  in  1856,  was  a  place  of  con- 
siderable mercantile  and  commercial  importance. 

In  1860,  and  a  long  time  previous,  vast  quantities 
of  cord- wood,  staves,  black  oak  and  Spanish  oak  bark 
and  grain  were  bought  by  the  merchants  and  shipped 
from  the  "  Forest  Landing"  and  Lebanon  to  Phila- 
delphia and  New  York. 

In  1860  there  were  James  Lord,  Edward  Lord, 
Grarrett  Luff,  James  Green  and  Thomas  and  Daniel 
Mifflin  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busine?8,  who 
bought  the  products  of  the  forest  and  the  field  and 
paid  their  owners  in  cash  and  goods.  But  with  the 
advent  of  the  railroad  in  1856  all  this  changed. 
The  people,  who  had  before  hauled  their  products 
ten,  fifteen  and  even  twenty  miles  to  find  a  market, 
now  found  a  market  at  their  very  doors.  In  those 
days  there  were  two  hotels.  The  hotels  were  mainly 
indebted  to  the  old  stage  line  between  Lewes  and 
New  Castle,  and  the  stage  line  to  Dona  Landing  and 
to  Short's  Landing,  in  connection  with  steamboats  to 
Philadelphia. 

There  is  now  one  hotel,  three  general  stores,  four 
groceries,  one  cannery,  one  saw-mill,  one  lumber- 
yard, one  boot  and  shoe  store,  two  drug  stores,  two 
butchers,  two  undertakers,  two  flour  and  feed  stores, 
one  stove  and  tin-ware  store,  three  physicians  and 
one  real  estate  conveyancer. 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Camden 
was  built  in  1796.  On  July  27th  of  that  year,  Dan- 
iel Lowber  deeded  one-half  acre  of  land  to  Elijah 
Barratt,  Wm.  Bostick,  Thos.  Purnell,  Peter  Lowber 
and  Benjamin  Brady,  trustees,  for  the  people  called 
Methodists  in  and  about  the  village  of  Camden,  on  the 
road  from  Dover  to  Canterbury.  On  April  24,  1813, 
Benjamin  Brady,  Thos.  Paine,  and  George  Temple 
deeded  to  the  trustees  of  Whatcoat  Chapel,  Camden^ 
adjoining  their  lot,  on  which  a  preaching-house  is 
erected,  one-half  acre  more.  The  land  on  which  the 
church  stood  was  also  used  for  a  burial-place,  where 
many  people  are  still  interred. 

The  church  edifice,  about  eighteen  by  thirty  feet, 
was  used  for  a  place  of  worship  down  to  1857,  when 
it  was  abandoned  and  pulled  down,  and  the  congre- 
gation took  posesssion  of  their  new  and  more  com- 
modious brick  structure  farther  up  town,  which  had 
been  built  at  a  cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars,  and 
was  dedicated  July  26,  1857. 

The  Camden  church  was  supplied  with  ministers 
from  the  Dover  Circuit  until  1836,  when  it  was  formed 
into  a  separate  circuit.  The  ministers  who  served  the 
circoit  in  1835-36  were  John  Henry,  Thomas  J. 
Quigley,  John  Henry  and  W.  C.  Thomas. 

In  1867  the  circuit  comprised  Camden,  Bcthbrier, 
Canterbury,  Magnolia,  St.  Jones,  Gum  Swamp  and 
Leipsic.  It  has  now  been  reduced  to  but  two 
charges. 


Smith 1870 

J.  O.  Syph»-rd iftTO 

J.  E.  Br^-an 1871 

J.  E.  Willey 1871 

J.  E.  Bi-yan 1872 

William  Raiigliley 1872 

E.  G.  Irwin 1873 

A.  M.  Green J87S 

E.  G.  Irwin 1874 

T.  E.  Terry 1874 

E.  G.  Irwin 1876 

McMicbuel 1876 

H.  H.  Bodin© 187ft 

William  T.  Talbot 1877 

Charles  Hill 1877 

William  T.  Talbot 1878 

E.  L.  Unbbanl 1878 

Henry  8.  ThoniBou 1879 

E.  C.  Adklns 1879^ 

James  KobiatMin IK79 

James  Kobiuson 1880 

L.  E.  Andrew 1880 

James  Kobinaon  1881 

James  A.  Drindle 1882-83-^ 

E.  H.  Hynson 1885-8fr-87 


Robert  W.  Todd :867-."8 

J.  E.  Smith 1867-68 

J.  E.  Bryiin 1867-68 

James  Flaunery 1869 

T.  E.  Skinner 1869 

James  Flan  nery 1860 

Bell 18*30 

J.  L.  Houston 1801 

N.  B.  Durrell 1861 

J.  L.  Houston 1802 

J.  D.  Ayen» 1862 

J.  B.  Merrill 18«}3 

W.  T.  Tull 1863 

J.  B.  Merrill 1864 

Jump 1864 

James  W.  Hamnit- luley 1865 

J.  B.  Merrlt 1866 

James  W.  Hanimersley 1866 

JohuPownbam 1866 

8.  T.  Gardner 1867 

G.  W.  Schreck 1867 

J.  0.  Sypherd 1868 

G.  W.  Schreck »1868 

J.  O.  Sypherd .1869 

James  Conner 1869 

J.  Wilson 1870 

The  trustees  of  the  church  at  present  are  Frisby 
Clark,  A.  K.  Boggs,  J.  M.  Richards,  Amos  P.  Hinsley, 
G.  H.  Gildersleeve,  Dr.  E.  W.  Cooper  and  E.  A. 
Shilling. 

St.  PhuPs  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was  organ- 
ized July  17,  1868.  Daniel  P.  Barnard,  Jr.,  was 
elected  senior  warden,  and  Philo  H.  Kent,  junior 
warden.  John  G.  Graham,  James  Lord,  Dr.  George 
G.  Harmon,  Dr.  John  W.  Sharp,  Alanson  A.  Law- 
rence, Samuel  B.  Wales  and  John  Antrim  were 
elected  vestrymen.  The  congregation  has  built  no 
church,  but  hold  their  services  in  Sarde's  Hall,  and 
are  attached  to  Christ's  Church,  Dover. 

In  1881  the  Baptists  (new  school)  built  a  meeting- 
house under  the  auspices  and  liberality  of  the  late 
George  Parris,  of  Dover.  The  structure  is  a  neat 
wooden  building. 

Camden  and  the  surrounding  country  is  peculiarly 
a  Quaker  settlement.  Here  the  Mifflins,  the  Hunns^ 
the  Nocks,  the  Jenkinses,  the  Lowbers,  the  Dolbys, 
the  Howells,  and  many  other  families,  settled  and 
took  up  the  laud,  much  of  which  is  still  in  the 
possession  of  their  descendants.  Much  of  the  reli- 
gious history  of  the  Quakers  centres  in  and  near  the 
town  of  Camden,  which  has  ultimately  absorbed  the 
other  societies  of  the  Friends  in  this  county.  The 
first  notice  we  have  of  them  is  from  an  abstract  of  the 
minutes  of  their  meeting  at  Duck  Creek : 

"  The  Tenth  Month  19th,  1705.  This  day  was  held 
the  Monthly  Meeting  of  Friends  at  Duck  Creek  ;  it 
being  the  first  Monthly  Meeting,  by  approbation  and 
order  of  the  Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  people  called 
Quakers,  at  Chester,  for  the  establishing  and  keeping 
up  the  good  order  of  Truth."  The  Friends  of  Duck 
Creek  Monthly  Meeting  held  a  Monthly  Meeting  at 
the  house  of  Widow  Needham,  at  Murderkill  Creek, 
the  18th  of  Sixth  Month,  1712,  at  which  time  Robert 
Porter  was  appointed  overseer  of  the  Weekly  Meetings 
of  Murder  Creek. 

A  record  of  Duck  Creek  Monthly  Meeting,  under 


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1134 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


date  of  17th  of  Fourth  Month,  1728,  contains  the  fol- 
lowing :  "  Friends  of  Murderkill  request  that  they 
naay  have  a  Preparative  Meeting,  to  be  every  fourth 
day  next  before  the  Monthly  Meeting,  which  this 
meeting  approves  of." 

The  time  of  erection  of  a  meeting-house  on  the  site 
of  the  old  burial-place  on  the  road  from  Dover  to 
Magnolia  is  not  known.  A  deed  for  the  land  was 
made  by  William  Jackson,  May  12,  1760,  to  John 
Bower,  Benjamin  Warren,  Samuel  Dunnen,  Thomas 
Nock  and  Jonathan  Emerson,  and  was  *' part  of  a 
larger  tract  of  land  called  *  Folly  Neck.' "  It  com- 
prised one  acre  "  by  the  Branch  at  the  going  over  of 
the  King*s  Road."  That  a  meeting-house  was  erected 
there,  and  was  burned  in  1760,  the  record  fully  dis- 
closes. 

At  a  Monthly  Meeting  of  Duck  Creek,  22d  of  First 
Month,  1759,  "  Ezekiel  Nock  requests  for  himself  and 
several  other  families  about  Tidbury  to  have  liberty 
to  hold  a  meeting  for  worship  on  the  first  and  week 
days,  during  the  winter  season  at  house,"  which  was 
granted. 

At  a  Monthly  Meeting  of  Duck  Creek,  26th  of 
Fourth  Month,  1760,  it  was  reported  that  *'  the  meet- 
ing-house of  Murderkill  was  lately  burned."  The 
,  Friends  in  the  vicinity  of  Tidbury,  who  had  privilege 
of  meeting  the  year  before,  at  this  meeting  brought 
forward  a  claim  "  that  the  members  being  few,  some 
of  them  inclined  to  have  a  house  built  that  might 
accommodate  them  and  their  friends  settled  about 
Tidbury,  who  lye  remote  from  any  meeting,  with 
which  this  meeting  concur."  While  the  action  of 
this  meeting  appears  in  favor  of  Tidbury,  a  committee 
appointed  to  examine  the  matter  appears  to  have  de- 
cided in  favor  of  the  old  site,  as  a  brick  meeting- 
house was  built  upon  it  and  used  until  about  1844, 
when,  being  much  dilapidated,  it  was  sold  to  Henry 
Mcllvain,  who  tore  it  down,  since  which  time  the 
place  has  remained  as  an  old  burial-place. 

The  **  Camden  Friends'  Meeting "  was  the  last  to 
be  established  in  Kent  County,  and  is  at  present  the 
only  one  in  active  operation.  This  Meeting  has 
absorbed  all  the  others,  and  the  old  records  from 
1705  to  the  present  time  are  in  possession  of  Samuel 
Howell  Mifflin.  In  1805  or  1806  the  Society  of 
Friends  determined  to  erect  a  building  for  school 
and  meeting-house  purposes,  and  circulated  a  petition 
to  that  effect. 

In  the  deed  of  conveyance  occurs  the  following 
recitations : 

"  Whereas,  a  number  of  persons  members  of  the  Society  of  the  people 
called  Quakers,  for  a  considerable  time  past  have  had  in  prospect  the 
erection  of  a  Building  to  be  occupied  ns  a  Schoul-houso  and  as  a  meet- 
ing-house for  the  members  of  that  Society ;  for  vrhich  purpose  a  sub- 
scription pfpcr  hath  been  circulated,  and  thn  following-named  persons, 
members  of  the  Society  aforesaid,  did  sulwcribe  ;  and  have  engaged  te 
p«y  the  several  sums  to  their  names  affixed,  viz  ,  Daniel  Mifflin,  Jona- 
than Hunn,  Samuel  Howell,  Jabez  Jenkins,  William  Dolby,  Thomas 
Jenkins,  Thomas  Berry,  Warner  Mifflin,  Elias  Jarrel,  Joseph  G.  Row- 
land, Daniel  Mifflin,  Jun'.,  Samuel  Edmonson,  Samuel  Blifflln,  Henry 
SI.  Godwin,  Thomas  Nock,  Jonathan  Jenkins,  John  Dolby,  Oliver 
Nock,  Sarah  Russell,  Hanuuh  Alston,  Sarah  Mifflin  and  Ann  Hunn 
Jun',  (now  Mifflin).  And  whereas  the  above-named  personn  hare  ap- 
pointed Samuel    Howell,  Warner  Mifflin  and  Joeeph  G.  Rowland,   as 


Trusteet  in  their  behalf  to  take  and  rec«ive  a  DMd  or  Deeds  for  a  Lott 
of  ground  in  or  adjoining  the  Village  of  Camden  given  by  Jonathaa 
Hunn,  for  the  uses  above-mentioned  conformable  to  the  condilitRV 
hereinafter  specified.*' 

In  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  recitations  Jonathan 
Hunn  and  Patience,  his  wife,  July  6, 1806  [Book  I, 
2,  348],  conveyed  and  confirmed  "  unto  the  said  Sam- 
uel Howell,  Warner  Mifflin  and  Joseph  G.  Rowland, 
as  Trustees  as  aforesaid  (upon  this  express  condition, 
that  they,  the  contributors,  and  their  heirs,  are  to 
possess  a  right  in  said  Lott  and  Building  in  propor- 
tion to  their  Contributions  so  long  as  they  retain  a 
right  of  Membership  amongst  Friends,  otherwise  called 
Quakers,  and  no  longer).  All  that  Lott  or  piece  of 
ground  situate,  lyeing  and  being  in  or  near  the  Vil- 
lage of  Camden,  on  the  Main  Road  leading  from  said 
Village  to  the  Poor-House." 

In  1828  the  Motherkill  Monthly  Meeting  was 
united  to  Duck  Creek,  and  in  1830  the  Monthly 
Meetings  of  Duck  Creek  and  Motherkill  were  united 
under  the  name  of"  Camden  Monthly  Meeting,"  and 
held  alternately  at  Camden  and  Little  Creek,  the 
latter  of  which  was  organized  in  1810,  and  but  recently 
abandoned.  Camden  Monthly  Meeting  is  the  only 
Quaker  organization  now  existing  in  the  county, 
and  at  present  numberi  about  fifty  persons. 

"The Union  Academy,"  a  brick  structure  about 
twenty  by  forty  feet,  was  organized  in  1815.  On  the 
20th  of  June,  of  that  year,  Samuel  Newbold  deeded 
fifty-three  square  perches  of  land,  "adjoining  to  the 
Methodist  meeting-house  lot,"  to  Dr.  James  Fisher 
and  Samuel  Edmondson  in  trust  for  the  purpoeo 
therein  named.  On  the  13th  of  January,  1816,  the 
academy  was  incorporated  by  act  of  General  Assembly, 
with  Samuel  Edmondson,  Nathaniel  Coombe,  Henry 
Molleston,  James  Fisher,  Joseph  G.  Rowland,  Samuel 
Mifflin,  Thomas  Latchem,  Thomas  Coursey  and 
Cornelius  Battell  as  trustees.  This  institution  for  a 
long  time  was  one  of  the  most  successful  in  the  State. 
There  the  young  people  of  Camden  and  the  adjacent 
hundreds  received  a  classical  and  academical  educa- 
tion at  the  hands  of  some  of  the  best  instructors  in 
the  United  State?.  It  continued  in  successful  opera- 
tion down  to  the  year  1857.  About  that  time  the 
public  di:4trict  school-house  was  burned,  and  the  com- 
missioners rented  ihe  old  academy  building,  which 
they  still  occupy,  and  now  own.  On  the  7lh  of 
March,  1885,  the  trustees  of  "  The  Camden  Union 
Academy,"  viz. :  Edward  Lord,  Dr.  John  W.  Sharp, 
John  G.  Graham,  William  H.  Sarde,  Andrew  K. 
Baggs,  Frisby  B.  Clarke,  William  B.  Clarke,  Jonathan 
H.  Lowber  and  Alexander  Jackson,  Jr.,  conveyed  the 
right  and  title  of  said  trustees  in  said  academy  to 
"  United  School  Districts  Nos.  22  and  99,"  and  it  is 
now  the  public  property  of  the  State  for  school  pur- 
poses. 

Camden,  during  the  recent  Civil  War,  raised  a  com- 
pany of  seventy -eight  men  which  were  mustered  into 
service  at  Wilmington,  May  4,  1861,  with  James 
(rreen  captain,  and  Enoch  J.  Smithers  and  Samuel 
Simpson  first  and  second  lieutenants,  respectively. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1136 


Amity  Lodge,  No.  20,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  at 
Camden,  June  6,  1849.  It  held  its  meetings  in  a 
rented  building  on  Main  Street  the  first  year.  The 
next  year,  1850,  it  built  an  elegant  hall  on  Commerce 
Street,  where  it  has  since  been  domiciled.  The  lower 
floor  is  used  as  merchants'  stores,  and  the  upper  rooms 
are  used  by  the  Odd  Fellows  and  by  **  Fruitland 
Grange,"  of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  The  Odd 
Fellows  were  incorporated  by  the  General  Assembly. 

In  connection  with  their  order  they  purchased  and 
laid  out  one  of  the  most  eligible  and  beautifully 
located  cemeteries  in  the  county,  just  east  of  Camden, 
on  the  road  to  Magnolia,  which  is  described  in  the« 
tract  of  land  *'  Great  Geneva." 

At  one  time  there  was  a  flourishing  lodge  of  Good 
Templars,  which  is  now  superseded  by  the  **  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union,"  and  their  auxiliary 
societies,  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  and  by  the  juvenile  branch,  all  of  which  are 
in  good  worki  ng  order. 

Fruit-canning  commenced  at  Camden  in  1856, 
under  the  auspices  of  George  M.  Stetson  and  William 
Ellison.  They  were  very  extensively  engaged  in  the 
business  and  carried  a  heavy  stock.  In  1884  their 
extensive  buildings,  which  had  been  enlarged  from 
year  to  year  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  their  growing 
business,  were  destroyed  by  fire.  In  the  conflagration 
Stetson  &  Ellison  lost  their  cannery,  Ellison  also  his 
dwelling,  and  Charles  W.  Lord  his  hardware  establish- 
ment, their  several  losses  aggregating  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  thousand  dollars.  Stetson  &  Ellison,  nothing 
daunted  by  their  loss,  the  next  year  erected  a  still 
larger  and  more  commodious  building,  on  a  more 
eligible  site,  and  entered  upon  their  career  with  still 
greater  energy  and  activity. 

The  only  other  serious  fire  occurred  here  July  9, 
187(5,  in  which  the  drug-^tore  of  Dr.  George  G.  Harmon, 
the  general  store  of  John  W.  Stevens,  the  grocery  of 
Daniel  L.  McBride,  and  the  double  building  owned 
by  Mrs.  Richard  Ward  were  destroyed, —  the  loss 
aggregating  about  110,000.  This  fire  was  the  work  of 
incendiaries. 

There  is  also  an  old  church  here,  built  about  1853 
by  the  colored  people  belonging  to  the  old  side  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  About  18G3  a  division  took 
place  between  the  colored  people  of  this  church,  but 
the  schismatics  being  in  the  minority,  they  allied  them- 
selves with  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
which  has  its  own  colored  bishops,  and  built  a  meeting 
house  near  *' Green's  Mill,"  which  they  named  the 
**Starof  the  East,"  and  use  for  both  church  and  school- 
house.  There  is  also  another  colored  school  here  which 
was  instituted  under  thu  patronage  of  the  Freedman's 
Bureau,  and  which  continues  in  succes^iful  operation 
nearly  the  whole  year.  There  is  also  another  colored 
people's  church  here,  built  in  1883,  called  "  St.  James' 
Chapel,"  belonging  to  the  colored  Methodist  P^pisco- 
pal  Church  (South).  Brecknock  is  now  divided  into 
many  small  lot-*.  The  largest  divisions  are  those  in 
the  possession  of  John  W.  Stevens,  Camden  Union 


Camp-Meeting  Association,  and  the  heirs  of  Thomas 
H.  Howell.  Brecknock  is  the  name  of  one  of  the 
shires  of  Wales,  and  was  evidently  imported  by  Hum- 
phreys and  bestowed  on  this  tract. 

The  town  of  Camden  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of 
Legislature  passed  February  16, 1752.  By  the  act  it 
was  provided  that  a  town-meeting  should  be  held  on 
the^rst  Monday  in  March  next,  for  the  election  of 
three  resident  freehold  commissioners,  and  that  a 
plot  and  survey  of  the  town  should  be  made  and  re- 
corded in  the  recorder's  office  in  Dover.  It  was 
again  reincorporated  March  4,  1869.  The  charter 
was  again  renewed  and  amended  at  the  1888  session 
of  the  General  Assembly.  The  town  officers  since 
1852  have  been,  viz. 


JaUfS  Jenkins 1852 

EMkielJenkins 1853 

Thomfts  Simpson U54-d7 

Natbaniel  Tucker 1858-59 

B.  B.  Register l86(Mil 

A.  Jackson,  Jr 1862-66 

A.  Dudley 1866 

Thomas  Simpson 1867 

W.  S.  l»rouse 1868 

James  Lord 1809-71 

W.  H.  Sards 1872 

Albert  Dudley 1873-74 

WiUiam  B.  Nock 1875-87 

TVeoMtrerc. 

Thomas  Simpson 1852 

Garrett  Lnff. 1^63 

Edward  Lord 1854-57 

Williams.  Prouse 1858-0.-. 

John  G.  Graham 1866 

John  Reynolds 1867 

J.  W.  Sterens 1868 

John  0.  Graham I860 

Alexander  Jackson,  Jr 187<>-83 

C.  W.  Smith 1884-87 

OonecUfr$. 

Isaac  Dolby 1852-53 

WiUiam  Tlndale 1854 

William  H.  McBride 1855-57 

Thomas  Simpeon 1^58 

William  H.  McBride 1859-00 

W.  H.  Sarde 18<  1 

A.  Jackson,  Jr 18C2 

W.  U.  McBride 18«i3 

J.  P.  CoomlMS 1864-65 

William  S.  Prouso 1806 

Robert  Sarde,  Jr 1867 

William  G.  Townsend 1868 

AzSe*M>r$. 

John  P.  Cooml>e 18.Vi-57 

Thomns  Simpson 1''58 

John  P.  Coombe 1859-6;i 

W.  n.  Sarde 1864 

Thomas  Simpw^n 1865 

William  H.  3IcBride 1866 

John  P.  Coombe 18b7 

William  S.  Prouw 1808 

William  B.  Stubbe 1869 

Jonathan  N.  Gildcrsleeve 1870 

David  J.  Richards. 1871 

William  H.  CarUr 1872 

David  J.  Richards 1873 

John  W.  Stevens 1874 

W.  H.  Sarde 1875-81 


C.  W.  Lord 1882-86 

Thomas  Simpson 1887 

Ck}mmiM$ioner$. 

BenJ.  B.  Townsend 1862 

Edward  Lord „..1852 

H.  Jenkins 1862 

Benj.  B.  Townsend 1868 

Edward  Lord 1863 

Alex.  Jackson 1863 

Wiiliam  H.  Lockwood. 1884 

(iarrett  Luff. 1864 

Jabez  Jenkins. ...1864 

John  Louden 1866 

Daniel  S.  McBride 1866 

William  K.;Lockwood 1865 

David  H.  Stayton 1866 

WlllUm  H.  McBride I860 

BenJ.  B.  Townsend 1866 

William  K.  Lockwood 1857 

WilUam  H.  McBride 1857 

James  Hawkins. It67 

William  B.  aark 1858 

Thomas  Marilndale 1868 

James  Hawkins 1858 

Daniel  McBride 1850 

Thomas  W.  Halrgrove 1869 

William  H.  JIcBrido 1869 

James  Haw  kins ib60 

John  Reynolds i860 

Robert  Sarde,  Sr I860 

Robert  D.  Simmons 1861 

John  Reynolds ]8bl 

Rol»ert  Sarde,  Sr 1S61 

John  P.  Couwell 1862 

Henry  Clark 1862 

Alex.  Jacktwn,  Jr 1862 

Thomas  P.  Nock 1863 

W.  H.  McBride 1863 

Alex.  Jackson,  Jr 1863 

Daniel  L.  McBride 1864 

Avery  Draper 1804 

John  W,  Stevens 1864 

William  Lewis ^ 1865 

3Intthia«  Jernian 1865 

Solomon  Townsend 1865 

tljjah  B.  Register 1806 

John  W(K)dttle 1866 

Alex,  .lackson,  Jr 1866 

.\very  Draper 1867 

Jonathan  Carrow 1807 

William  H.  McBride 1867 

Daniel  L.  McBride 1868 

Solomon  Townsend 1868 

David  J.  Richards 1868 

Daniel  L.  McBride 1869 

Matthias  Jerman 1869 

David  J.  Richards 1869 

Digitized  by  VjOOQIC 


1136 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


were    elected    under  the 
for  three,  two  and  one 


Dr.  a.  G.  Hamiou 1876 

Charles  G.  Temple 1876 

Charles  G.  Temple 1877 

Daniel  L.  McBride 1878 

Jaiues  \V.  Cattu. ...1879 

Stephen  Poetles ...1880 

George  Kniifhl 1881 

W.  KlIiBon 18*2 

Stephen  Pi»lleij 1883 

C.  .■\.  Jack«soii 1H84 

ThoniuH  W.  IIiiir;:n»ve 188.') 

C.  W.  Lord 1886 

William  Elli^.n 1886 


Id  1869  commissioners 
new  act  of  incorporation 
years,  respectively, — 

John  Woodale 1869 

BdwanlLord 1p09 

Matthias  JenuHii 1860 

MatthUs  Jermau 1870 

William  Slay 1871 

Edward  I^ord 1871 

William  K.  EvanB 1872 

John  Woodale 1874 

MatthUa  Jerman 1873 

Dr.  George  G.  Harmon 1874 

William  L.  Caulk 1875 

Stephen  Postles. 1875 

William  L.  Carter 1875 

Under  the  act  of  1887  five  commissioners  were 
fixed  for  the  town,  and  E.,0.  Raymond  and  I.  H. 
Hinsley  were  elected  for  three  years,  W.  R.  Postles 
and  D.  L.  McBride  for  two  years,  and  E.  A.  Shilling 
for  one  year. 

On  **  Brecknock"  is  located  "  Hanson's  grisit-mill," 
which  was  deeded  by  James  Clayton  and  wife  to 
Thomas  Hanson  and  Joshua  Gregg,  miller-*,  January 
31, 1761,  for  the  purpose  of  building  thereon  a  grist- 
mill. June  12,  1766,  Gregg  deeded  his  title  in  the 
same  to  Thomas  Hanson,  in  whose  possession  it  con- 
tinued until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1783.  In 
his  will,  proven  June  3,  1783,  he  devised  to  nis  son- 
in-law,  Samuel  Howell,  his  mansion,  plantation,  mill, 
etc.,  and  the  use  of  two  hundred  acres,  purchased  of 
Joseph  Rogers,  during  his  natural  life.  The  mill 
property  is  still  in  the  possession  of  his  de^scendants, 
the  Howells. 

Upon  this  tract  is  located,  on  the  southeast  side  of 
the  public  road  from  Camden  to  Dover,  and  lying  up- 
on Isaac's  Branch.  **  The  Camden  Union  Camp- 
ground for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches  of 
Delaware  and  Philadelphia,"  incorporated  by  act  of 
the  General  Assembly,  February  3,  1859,  and  re-in- 
corporated February  19,  1879.  This  camp-meeting 
ground  consists  of  one  of  the  most  beautiful  groves 
of  forest  trees  on  the  Peninsula,  and  possesses  numer- 
ous springs  of  purest  water  of  unfailing  flow.  Here 
the  people  fron>  different  parts  of  the  State  and  from 
Maryland  assemble  together  for  ten  days  in  the 
hottest  weather  of  summer,  living  in  board  tents 
and  receiving  their  friends  from  abroad.  On  Sun- 
days, from  the  influx  of  the  surrounding  country  and 
of  strangers  from  abroad,  the  numbers  on  the  ground 
often  reach  ten  thousand  persons. 

"  Dundee"  is  a  tract  of  nine  hundred  acres  taken 
up  by  James  Wells,  for  whom  it  was  surveyed  De- 
cember 24,  1680.  It  adjoins  Brecknock  and  **  Little 
Geneva."  In  1771,  Richard  Jackson  was  the  owner 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  In  1783  the  greater 
part  of  this  tract  was  in  possession  of  the  heirs  of 
James  Gardner.  In  1887,  two  hundred  and  nine 
acres  of  this  tract  is  in  possession  of  the  heirs  of  the 
Rev.  Ignatius  T.  Cooper.  Other  parts  are  owned  by 
Thomas  Saxt«n,  Thomas  Downham,  the  heirs  of 
Walker  Mifllin,  the  heirs   of  Thomas  L.  Madden,  by 


Philo  A.  Kent,  Abram  N.  Brown,  Thomas  Jackson  and 
other:*. 

Wyoming. — On  this  tract  is  located  the  thriving 
village  of  Wyoming,  which  dates  its  existence  from 
the  1st  of  June,  1856,  when  the  Delaware  Railroad 
and  Adams  Express  Company  opened  their  respevtive 
ofiices  for  business,  and  appointed  John  T.  Jakes  their 
agent.  At  the  lime  of  Mr.  Jakes*  taking  ptjssession  of 
those  ofiices  there  were  two  dwelling-houses  which  were 
occupied  by  the  owner  of  the  grist-mill  located  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  stream  (Isaac's  Branch)  in  Ea>t 
Dover  Hundred,  and  by  his  miller.  In  the  same  year 
Wm.  P.  Lindall  built  a  store-house,  and  entered  upoa 
the  mercantile  business,  but  in  the  year  following  he 
sold  out  to  John  T.  Jakes,  who  has  continued  the 
business  down  to  the  present  date. 

John  T.  Jakes,  merchant  at  Wyoming,  Kent  Counl>v 
Delaware,  was  born  November  28, 1833,  near  Pearson V 
Corner,  Kent  County.  He  is  of  French  Huguenot 
descent,  the  name  originally  being  Jacques.  Hi& 
first  American  ancestor  wa^  Henry  Jacques,  who  emi- 
grated from  France  and  went  to  Virginia  and  settled. 
Thomas  W.  Jakes,  his  father,  married  Nancy,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Anderson,  a  farmer  of  Kent  County. 
At  the  time  of  this  marriage  she  was  the  widow  of 
Robert  Hargadine,  who  at  Iiis death  left  two  children,— 
William  A.  now  of  the  firm  of  Hargadine,  McKittrick 
&  Co.,  importers  and  wholesale  dealers  in  dry  goodn 
in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  emigrated  before  he  was 
of  ajse,  in  the  year  1842  (he  has  been  eminently  suc- 
cessful and  amassed  a  large  fortune,  and  is  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  that  city);  and  Julia  Ann,  widow  of 
Hon.  Robert  B.  Wright,  of  Kent  County,  who  served 
one  term  in  the  Legislature  of  the  State.  Mrs.  Jaken 
was  a  noble  Christian  woman.  She  died  July  17, 
1863,  aged  sixty-nine.  Thomas  W.  Jakes,  her  hus- 
band, lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-six  year?, 
and  died  March  3,  1885.  He  was  a  man  of  sooud 
judgment,  sterling  integrity  and  noted  for  his  honor 
and  excellent  character,  was  never  sued  for  debt  during 
his  life,  and  never  sued  any  person  on  his  own 
account.  JohnT.  Jakes,  their  only  child,  and  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  obtained  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon free  schools  in  the  vicinity  of  his  early  home ;  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  he  was  taken  from  school  and 
entered  the  store  of  Luff*  &  Green  at  Camden,  Dela- 
ware, as  clerk  in  December,  1849,  and  continued  with 
the  firm  until  they  closed  business,  when  he  went 
into  the  general  mercantile  business  in  the  town  of 
Camden  with  Wm.  S.  Prouse,  under  the  firm-name  of 
Prouse  &  Jakes,  and  continued  for  two  years.  In 
1856  he  was  appointed  agent  for  the  Delaware  Rail- 
road Company  at  then  West  Camden  (now  Wyoming), 
and  for  eleven  years  performed  the  duties  of  that 
position  with  great  acceptability  to  the  company  and 
public,  until  he  resigned  in  favor  of  N.  B.  Buckmas- 
ter,  the  present  agent  In  1857  he  embarked  again 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  his  present  stand,  which 
is  the  second  house  built  in  the  villa;»e  of  Wyoming 
after  the  railroad  was  laid,  since  which  time  his  bosi- 


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tuUL.  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1137 


neBs  has  steadily  increased,  haying  now  an  extensive 
and  lucrative  business.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  the  new  town,  and  assisted  greatly  in  building  it  up. 
He  was  the  leading  man  to  organize  a  Sunday-school 
in  the  village,  and  was  the  leading  man  in  building 
and  having  the  first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  So- 
ciety organized  there.  He  was  also  greatly  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  establishment  of  a  post-office, 
and  became  its  first  postmaster,  appointed  January  6, 
1866,  and  held  the  office  continuously  until  August  10, 
1885,  a  term  of  nineteen  and  a  half  years.  He  was 
appointed  agent  of  Adams  Express  Ck)mpany  when 
the  office  was  established  at  Wyoming  in  1857,  and 
still  holds  that  position.  Mr.  Jakes  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Dover,  Dela- 
ware, was  chosen  a  member  of  the  first  board  of 
directors  in  March,  1866,  and  has  since  held  that  posi- 
tion until  the  present,  and  meets  with  the  board  every 
Thursday.  In  1869  he  became  connected  with  the 
Surrey  Land  and  Lumber  Association,  of  Surrey 
County,  Va.,  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer  of 
the  company,  and  spent  considerable  time  and  means 
during  the  succeeding  two  years  in  looking  afler  his 
interests  in  that  State,  having  opened  a  large  store 
and  blacksmith  shop  at  Spring  Grove,  on  ane  of  the 
tracts. 

His  father  accompanied  him  to  Virginia,  and  while 
there  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  served  two 
years  as  president  judge  of  the  Magistrate's  Court  of 
that  county,  and  until  his  return  to  Delaware. 

In  1868,  Mr.  Jakes  was  elected  Grand  Secretary  of 
the  State  of  Delaware  by  the  Independent  Order  of 
Good  Templars,  which  he  filled  with  honor  to  himself 
and  the  society.  In  1870  he  and  his  wife  were  elected 
Grand  Representatives  to  represent  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  North  America  of  that  order  at  its  session,  held  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  of  that  year,  and  were  present. 

He  joined  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
in  1854,  and  has  filled  all  the  offices  in  the  subordin- 
ate lodge  in  which  he  was  initiated — Amity,  No.  20, 
located  in  Camden,  Delaware — ^and  has  filled  most  of 
the  offices  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State,  except 
the  chair  of  Grand  Master.  In  1879  he  was  elected 
Grand  Representative  of  the  State  to  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  the  United  States,  and  represented  the  State  for 
four  consecutive  years — at  Baltimore,  first ;  the  second 
year  (1880)  at  Toronto,  Canada,  where  he  was  placed 
upon  the  committee  to  revise  the  revision  of  the  new 
ritual  adopted  at  that  place  and  the  name  changed  to 
the  Sovereign  Grand  Lodge ;  in  1881  at  Cincinnati,  and 
in  1882  at  Baltimore.  He  was  also  present  at  the  ses- 
sion held  in  Providence,  R.  I.,  in  1883,  and  at  Minnea- 
polis, in  1884,  he  was  appointed  Grand  Marshal  by 
the  Grand  Sire-elect  Hon.  Judge  Garey,  of  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  and  at  the  next  annual  session,  held  in  Bal- 
timore he  served  in  his  official  capacity  at  the  corner- 
stone laying  and  unveiling  of  the  Ridgley  Monument 
in  that  city  in  1885.  He  also  filled  his  place  at  the 
annual  session  held  in  Boston  in  1886,  and  in  1887 
he  was  present  at  the  session  held  in  Denver,  Colo- 
72 


rado,  and  was  appointed  Assistant  Grand  Messenger 
to  the  Grand  Body.  In  1878  he  was  made  a  life 
director  of  the  American  Bible  Society  and  has  been 
treasurer  of  the  Kent  County  Bible  Society  since  1872. 
He  was  elected  treasurer  of  his  lodge  (I.  O.  O.  F.)  in 
Camden,  Delaware,  January  1,  1875,  which  position 
he  still  holds ;  was  also  elected  treasurer  of  Dover 
Encampment,  No.  5,  located  at  and  meeting  in  the 
same  hall ;  was  also  elected  receiver  or  treasurer  of 
Kent  Lodge,  No.  8,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  January  1,  1884, 
located  at  Wyoming,  Delaware.  He  connected  him- 
self with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1867, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  one  of  its  trustees  and 
has  been  continued  in  an  official  capacity  since  its 
dedication  in  1865,  and  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member 
and  a  hard  worker  for  the  interests  of  the  church,  being 
at  the  head  of  several  of  the  societies  belonging 
thereto.  In  politics  Mr.  Jakes  is  and  always  has  been 
an  ardent  Republican  and  a  constant  and  devoted 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  that  party,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  Temperance  Reform  movement.  He  was 
one  of  the  few  in  Kent  County  who  voted  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  for  President  in  1860,  and  earnestly 
favored  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  He  is  also  an 
honorary  memory  of  the  Women's  Christian  Temper- 
ance Union  of  his  town,  and  has  been  since  its 
organization.  At  the  election  of  President  Hayes  the 
family  represented  three  generations,  his  father,  him- 
self and  his  two  sons  all  voting.  On  the  14th  day  of 
February,  1854,  Mr.  Jakes  was  married  to  Mary  B. 
Townsend,  daughter  of  Benjamin  B.  Townsend,  of 
Camden,  Delaware.  Their  eldest  son,  William  Harga- 
dine  Jakes,  was  admitted  to  partnership  with  his 
father  in  1879  in  the  general  mercantile  business, 
and  doing  business  as  Jakes  &  Son.  He  was  married 
to  Mollie  E.  Jackson,  daughter  of  Thomas  Jackson, 
a  farmer  near  Wyoming,  Delaware.  They  have  one 
son,  named  John  T.,  who  was  nursed  by  and  knew 
each  of  his  great- v ran dfathers  before  their  deaths. 
Dr.  C.  Russell  Jakes,  the  second  son,  is  a  graduate  of 
Delaware  College  and  the  Medical  "Department  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  took  a  regular 
allopathic  course  and  is  practicing  his  profession  suc- 
cessfully. He  was  married  to  Miss  Laura  Ferris,  of 
New  Castle  County,  in  December,  1884,  and  in 
August  following  bhe  died,  only  living  eight  and  a 
half  months.  Maggie  T.  Jakes,  the  only  daughter, 
is  a  graduate  of  Wyoming  Institute  and  has  since 
been  a  successful  teacher  until  the  close  of  school  in 
December,  1887,  when  she  resigned.  Thomas  W. 
Jakes,  the  youngest  son,  is  at  home  clerking  in  the 
store  of  his  father  and  brother,  at  Wyoming. 

In  1860  the  village,  which  had  been  partially  laid 
out  by  Dr.  Isaac  Jump,  of  Dover,  was  quite  a  respec- 
table village.  It  is  located  three  miles  southwest  of 
Dover,  and  one  mile  west  of  Camden,  and  is  bisected 
by  the  Delaware  railroad. 

The  village  of  Wyoming  was  known  by  the  name 
of ''West  Camden  "  from  its  inception  down  to  the 
year  1865,  and  sometimes  as  "  Camden  Station,"  on 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


account  of  its  being  located  for  the  convenience  of  the 
people  of  Camden  and  the  surrounding  country. 

Some  time  in  1866  the  Rev.  John  J.  Pierce,  of  the 
Wyoming  Valley,  Pa.,  came  to  "  West  Camden  "  and 
purchased  the  land  from  Dr.  Isaac  Jump  and  others, 
and  laid  it  out  in  building  lots.  Through  the  exer- 
tions of  Messrs.  Pierce,  Jakes  andothers,  the  village  re- 
ceived quite  a  boom  in  the  way  of  building,  and  many 
persons  from  the  Wyoming  Valley,  and  from  North 
Murderkill  and  West  Dover  Hundreds,  flocked  to 
West  Camden,  and  engaged  in  business.  During  the 
same  year  a  meeting  of  the  leading  and  most  enter- 
prising of  the  citizens  was  called  to  take  into  consider- 
ation the  propriety  of  severing  all  connection  or 
identity  with  the  town  of  Camden,  and  out  of  com- 
plaisance to  Mr.  Pierce,  they  agreed  that  it  should  be 
called  "Wyoming,"  after  his  native  valley  on  the 
North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna.  During  the  same 
year,  in  the  midst  of  the  peach  season,  John  T.  Jakes 
started  a  subscription  list  for  the  purpose  of  putting 
up  a  temporary  building  to  be  used  for  a  Sunday- 
school,  which  had  not  progressed  far  before  the  move- 
ment developed  into  a  church.  Out  of  the  moneys 
collected  was  built  a  plank  church,  but  before  its 
dedication  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hamersley.  of  Camden  Cir- 
cuit, organized  the  beard  of  trustees  to  receive  the 
edifice  in  the  name  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Upon  the  perfecting  of  this  board  of  trus- 
tees they  issued  the  following  notice : 

"  DEDICATION. 

"  Thb  M.  E.  Plank  Church,  or  West  Camdxn, 

"Located  at  Camden  Station,  will  ba  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  Al- 
mighty Ood,  on  Sunday,  the  12th  inst. 

**  Rev.  Andrew  Manship.  of  Philadelphia ;  Ber.  J.  J.  Pearce,  lata  of 
Wyoming  Conference;  Rev.  Colciaz«r,of  Philadelphia  Conference;  Rev. 
A.  D.  Davis,  of  Erie  Conference,  will  officiate.    Services  to  commence  a 
10  o'clock  A.M.,  and  continue  at  3  and  7  o'clock  p.m. 
"  All  are  invited  to  attend,  by  the 

**  Pastor  &  Trustcks. 
"  Nor.  3,  1866." 

Present  board  of  trustees  :  John  T.  Jakes,  Thomas 
Jackson,  Thomas  Downham,  John  Leager,  Samuel 
Conner,  Wm.  B.  Wheatley,  Wm.  C.  Longfellow,  Wm. 
A.  Lewis,  Geo.  M.  Cro^more.  Officers :  Samuel 
Conner,  president  of  board  ;  Thomas  Dorenham, 
secretary  ;  Thomas  Jackson,  treasurer. 

This  plank  church  answered  all  the  purposes  of  a 
church  and  Sunday-school  for  the  people  of  Wyoming 
till  it  became  dilapidated,  and  necessitated  the  build- 
ing of  a  new  one.  In  1883  the  new  structure  was  be- 
gun, and  dedicated  in  September  of  the  same  year. 
In  1885,  a  parsonage  for  Wyoming  Circuit — compris- 
ing the  Wyoming,  the  Willow  Grove,  the  Union,  near 
Hazlettville,  and  Asbury  near  Pearson's  Corner 
was  finished  late  in  the  fall. 

The  list  of  pastors  from  the  time  of  organization  to. 
the  present  is  here  given  : 

Rev.  J.  J.  Pearce for  the  balance  of  the  year  1865 

Rev.  A.  D.  Davjs 1866  and  1867 

Rev.  John  B.  Mann 18(18 

Rev.  J.  L.  Tompkinson 1869  and  1870 

Rev.  George  8.  Conaway „ 1871  and  1872 

Rev.  Joe.  Dare 1873  and  1874 

Rer.  D.  W.  C.  Mclntire 1876,  1876  and  1877 


Rer.  W.  W.  Redman „..1878 

Rev.  A.  W.  Leighboume 1879 

Rev.  8.  L.  Pilchard 1880  and  1881 

Rev.  A.  T.  Melvin 1882  and  18^ 

Rev.  Wm.  M.  Warner 1884,  1886  and  1886 

Rev.  Wm.  M.  Green  (the  preaent  pastor) 1887 

Some  time  in  the  year  1868  a  collegiate  institute 
was  organized  here,  under  the  name  of  "  Wyoming 
College,"  and  incorporated  by  the  Delaware  Legisla- 
ture, February  16,  1869,  with  a  full  corps  of  college 
professors,  with  power  to  confer  all  the  degrees  inci- 
dental to  a  regular  collegiate  course  in  learning.  The 
seminary  was  dedicated  April  14,  1868,  by  Rev.  A. 
Wallace. 

The  numerous  Baptists  settled  in  and  around 
Wyoming,  having  no  place  of  worship  nearer  than 
Dover,  and  sadly  feeling  the  want  of  a  church,  entered 
into  negotiations  for  the  purchase  of  Wyoming  Col- 
lege, which  they  accomplished  in  October,  1869, 
through  the  efforts  of  the  Rev.  O.  F.  Flippo,  who  had 
been  sent  into  the  State  as  an  evangelist.  The  building 
possessed  a  chapel,  which  they  used  for  church  ser- 
vices on  Sunday,  and  was  furnished  for  one  hundred 
pupili>.  In  1875  the  institution  received  a  new  charter, 
and  the  name  was  changed  to  "  Wyoming  Institute." 
Under  the  management  of  the  Rev.  Moses  Heath, 
principal,  the  institute  was  liberally  patronized  by  the 
people  of  Camden,  Wyoming  and  the  adjacent  coun- 
try. The  Rev.  Joseph  Perry  was  the  last  principal, 
who  remained  but  a  short  time.  The  building  is  not 
now  used  for  educational  purposes.  In  1880  (Decem- 
ber 18th),  the  Baptists  of  Wyoming  were  incorporated 
under  the  name  of  *'  The  Wyoming  Baptist  Church. ' 
In  1881,  under  the  care  of  the  Revs.  James  M.  Hope 
and  Moses  Heath,  the  Baptists  purchased  a  lot  of 
ground  of  George  Parris,  of  Dover,  upon  which  they 
erected  a  church  building  in  1881.  This  lot  was  in 
the  town  of  Camden,  and  in  consideration  of  the 
erection  of  the  church  building  upon  said  lot,  Geo. 
Parris,  the  elder,  in  his  will,  provided  that  $300  per 
annum  should  be  paid  to  the  said  church  for  the 
period  of  five  years.  The  church  organization  is  now 
under  the  control  of  the  Rev.  Frank  Howes. 

•'St.  John*s  Reformed  Church"  had  no  meeting- 
house until  1874.  In  April,  1869,  the  Rev.  Dr.  G.  B. 
Russell,  of  Philadelphia,  came  to  Wyoming  and 
preached  for  his  congregation  for  more  than  a  year. 
On  July  18th  of  the  same  year  a  congregation  was 
organized,  the  official  act  being  effected  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  S.  R.  Fisher,  when  twenty-two  persons  entered 
into  covenant  relations.  The  Rev.  C.  C.  Russell  was 
the  first  pastor,  who  began  his  labors  in  the  fall  of 
1870,  and  remained  with  them  until  his  death,  which 
happened  in  about  one  year.  For  several  years  there 
was  no  pastor.  However,  on  the  9th  of  June,  1872, 
the  corner-stone  for  a  meeting-house  was  laid,  and  on 
the  19th  of  April,  1874,  the  house  was  dedicated  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  E.  V.  Gerhart,  of  Lancaster,  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  second  pastor  was  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Lichliter, 
August,  1875,  who  resigned  at  the  end  of  the  year. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  E.  H.  Diefienbacher, 
November,  1876,  who  continued  with  them  until  1880, 

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when  he  waa  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Newton  J.  Miller 
in  Jane  of  that  year  who  remained  until  June,  1882. 
He  was  followed  by  8.  F.  Laury,  who  entered  upon 
his  pastorate  December  1,  1882,  and  remained  with 
them  until  March  1, 1886,  since  which  time  the  pasto- 
rate has  been  vacant.  They  are  supplied  with  religious 
services  from  time  to  time  by  visiting  ministers  from 
other  congregations,  principally  from  the  State  of 
Pennsylvania. 

In  1875,  James  B.  Marsh,  of  Lewisburg,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  Jacob  G.  Brown,  of  "  Rising  Sun,"  formed 
a  partnership,  and  built  a  large  evaporator  for  the 
preservation  of  peaches  and  other  fruits  and  vege- 
tables. In  1880  the  firm  of  Mardh  &  Brown  was 
dissolved,  and  the  company  reorganized  under  the 
name  of  Brown,  Hanson  &  Co.  The  company  claim 
to  have  the  largest  evaporating  establishment  in  the 
State,  with  the  capacity  of  evaporating  seventy-five 
tons  of  peaches  alone.  In  connection  with  it  is  also 
a  canning  establishment  with  a  capacity  of  one  mil- 
lion cans  per  annum. 

A  post-office  was  not  established  here  until  Janu- 
ary 12,  1866,  when  John  T.  Jakes  was  appointed 
postmaster,  which  position  he  held  until  August  10, 
1886. 

In  1870  a  new  school  district  was  formed  from  the 
present  outlying  districts,  and  a  school-house  built 
in  the  village,  which  accommodated  the  children  until 
1886,  when  the  population  had  increased  so  rapidly 
that  a  new  school  building  became  necessary.  In  that 
year  a  new  two-storied  building  was  erected,  and  the 
public  school  organized  on  the  graded  system,  with 
two  efficient  teachers  and  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  scholars. 

There  are  to-day  three  general  stores,  one  drug- 
store, one  milliner,  one  butcher,  two  blacksmiths,  two 
wheelwrights,  one  dealer  in  lumber  and  lime,  two  coal- 
dealers,  one  shoe-shop,  one  harness-maker,  one  nur- 
seryman and  two  physicians. 

There  are  two  secret  societies — **  The  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen,  Kent  I^ge,  No.  8,"  instituted 
in  1883,  with  twenty-two  members ;  and  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  General  Daniel  Woodall  Poet, 
No.  11,  instituted  in  March,  1884,  with  a  membership 
of  twenty-eight  persons. 

Beside  the  extensive  cannery  of  Brown,  Hanson 
&  Co.,  there  are  two  other  small  evaporators,  that  do 
quite  an  active  business  in  seasons  when  peaches 
are  plenty  and  cheap. 

Wyoming  was  incorporated  as  a  town  March  20, 
1869,  and  again  incorporated  at  the  1888  session  of 
the  General  Assembly.  George  M.  Fisher  has  been 
town  clerk  up  to  the  present  year,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Carrol  S.  Fisher. 


TOWN  TRKA8UREK8. 

Hon.  C.  p.  Rarandell 1869 

N.  B.  Buckmaster. ....1870-73 

8.  L.  Richarde 1874 

C.  M.  Carey 1875 

John  T.  Jakes 1876 

K.  B.  Buckmaiter 1877 


Bobert  M.  Howes ..1878 

JamM  R.  George 1879-80 

Caleb  Jackson 1882-88 

ASSESSORS. 

William  McGonlgal 1869 

8.  R.  Meredith.... 1870-71 


8.  W  PoweU 1872-73 

William  Broadway 187i-76 

B,  B.  Baker 1876 

George  Ayers 1877 

WUUam  Broadway 1878-81 

John  H.  Jenklni 1882 

A.  E.  Weteel 1883-86 

A.  A.  Lawrence 1886-87 

OOLLKCTOUS. 

Daniel  George 1869 

D.  G.  Dewoody „ 1870-73 

George  M.  Fisher 1870-73 

C.  M.  Carey 1874-76 

George  T.  Miller 1876 

C.  M.  Carey 1877 

Robert  M.  Hewes.. 1878 

James  R.  George - 1879-81 

Caleb  Jackson „ 1882-87 

TOWN  COMMI8HI0NKR8. 

William  P.  Lindale 1869 

W.  W.  Meredith 1860 

John  T.  Jakes 1869 

William  P.  Lindale .....1870 

W.  W.  Meredith 1870 

WiUlam  T.  Alridi 1870 

William  P.  Lindale 1871 

M.  H.  Gross ; 1871 

John  Hale 1871 

George  M.  Crossmore 1872 

M.  H.  Gross 1872 

Abel  Hartson 1872 

William  P.  Lindale 1873 

E.  B.  Baker 1873 

William  K.  Atkins 1873 

Milo  H.  Gross 1874 

George  M.  Crossmore 1874 

Floyd  C.  Ramsdell 1874 


G.  Nickeraon 1875 

W.  L.  Hubbard 1875 

William  K.  Atkins 1875 

G.  Nickerson 1876 

Lewis  Raymond 1876 

John  Hale ....1876 

Elwood  Jenkins^ 1877 

M.  H.  Gross 1877 

C.  M.  Carey 1877 

Elwood    Jenkins 1878 

John  Hale 1878 

H.  B.  Hopkins 1878 

Elwood  Jenkins 1879 

John  Hale 1879 

William  T.  Alrich 1879 

Elwood  Jenkins 1880 

JohnHnnn 1880 

William  T.  Alrich 1880 

Elwood  Jenkins 1881 

John  Hunn,  Jr 1881 

James  Montague 1881 

Caleb  Jackson 1882 

Jonas  Laudis 1882 

James  Montague 1882 

Caleb  Jackson 1883 

Jonas  Landis 1883 

James  Montague 1883 

Caleb  Jackson 1884 

Dr.  T.  C.  Frame 1884 

James  Montague 1881 

James  Montague 1885 

Caleb  Jackson 1885 

John  Leager 1885 

James  Montague 1886 

Caleb  Jackson 1886 

Carrol  S.  Fisher 1886 

D.Mifflin 1887 

Caleb  Jackson 1887 

K.  Hubbani 1887 

West  of"  Dundee,"  and  south  of  Isaac's  Branch,  is 
a  small  tract  of  land  containing  one  hundred  and 
seventy-six  acres,  taken  up  by  George  Morgan  under 
a  warrant  bearing  date  March  22,  1738,  called  "  Mor- 
gan's Chance,"  and  now  in  the  possession  of  William 
B.  Allaband. 

To  the  west  and  southwest  of  "  Morgan's  Chance  " 
lies  a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres,  called  "  Barnes' 
Chance,"  taken  up  by  Lewis  Johnson  under  a  warrant 
issued  for  John  Barnes  April  21,  1682.  It  is  now 
mainly  owned  by  the  heirs  of  James  Kersey,  by  the 
heirs  of  Edgar  J.  Kinney  and  by  Kent  County.  On 
this  tract  is  located  the  "Alms-House"  of  Kent 
County. 

On  the  same  land  is  the  ancient  grist  mill  seat, 
called  by  the  name  of  the  "  Allaband  Mill,"  which 
was  known  as  a  mill-seat  prior  to  1783.  In  1791  part 
of  this  tract  is  described  as  beinaf  upon  *'  School - 
House  Branch,"  where  the  Forest  Landing  road 
crosses,  and  is  part  of  Mill  Pond,  and  contained  in 
the  aggregate  about  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 

On  the  southwest  of  "  Dundee,"  and  southeast  of 
"  Morgan's  Chance  "  and  "  Barnes'  Chance,"  lies  the 
tract  called  "  Howell's  Lott,"  taken  up  under  warrant 
to  James  Wells,  dated  December  21,  1681,  and  sur- 
veyed to  John  Howell  November  25  and  27,  1683, 
containing  one  thousand  acres,  now  owned  in  part  by 
Daniel  L.   McBride,  by   Willard  A.  Gray,  by  Dr. 

James  Avery  Draper,  by  John  H.  Berry,  by  

Wells,  late  of  Asa  Griffith,  and  ten  acres  in  the 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


eastern  corner  of  the  whole  tract  by  the  heirs  of  Rev. 
I.  T.  Cooper. 

Adjoining  "Howell's  Lotf  and  "Dundee,"  on  the 
south,  is  located  "Longacre,"  containing  one  thou- 
sand acres,  taken  up  by  Nicholas  Bartlett  under  war- 
rant from  court  of  Kent  County,  dated  the  20th  4  mo., 
1682.  In  1742  seven  hundred  and  forty-five  acres 
of  this  tract  were  in  the  possession  of  Andrew  Cald- 
well. This  ancient  tract  is  now  in  possession  of  the 
heirs  of  Rev.  I.  T.  Cooper,  L.  E.  Neilson,  John  B. 
Cleaver,  heirs  of  Samuel  B.  Cooper,  Rev.  Joseph  E. 
Waugh,  Mrs.  C.  I.  Du  Pont,  land  late  of  S.  J.  Everett, 
of  Harvey  Soper,  of  W.  D.  McGloghlan.  and  of  S.  M. 
Thomas. 

Little  Geneva  is  a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres, 
taken  up  by  Alexander  Humphreys,  and  surveyed 
for  him  March  4,  1680.  It  adjoins  "  Dundee  "  and 
"  Brecknock,"  on  the  south  of  them,  and  "  Great 
Geneva"  on  its  southwest  boundary,  and  lies  on  both 
sides  o^the  Upper  King's  Road,  just  outside  of  the 
town  of  Camden,  leading  toward  Canterbury,  and  ex- 
tends to  the  road  leading  from  Camden  to  Willow 
Grove.  In  1745  two  hundred  and  four  acres,  lying 
between  the  Willow  Grove  and  Canterbury  roads, 
were  in  the  possession  of  Andrew  Purdon.  This  part 
is  now  owned  by  William  K.  Evans,  William  P.  Lin- 
dale  and  Matthias  Jerman.  The  part  lying  east  of 
the  Canterbury  road  was  owned  in  1783  by  Warner 
Mifflin,  George  Truitt  and  others.  This  part  is  now 
chiefly  owned  by  Levi  S,  Proud  and  the  assignee  of 
Samuel  J.  Everett. 

Upon  this  tract  is  the  colored  people's  church, 
called  the  "  Star  of  the  East,"  which  was  described 
in  connection  with  "  Brecknock."  There  is  a  hamlet 
of  colored  people,  who  have  bought  small  parcels  and 
built  upon  them. 

On  the  southeast  side  of  Tidbury  Branch  and  south- 
west of  the  tract  "  Tidbury  "  lies  a  tract  of  land  con- 
taining four  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres,  resurveyed 
August  16,  1733,  for  Ezekiel,  Daniel  and  Thomas 
Nock,  the  sons  of  Thoma«,  deceased.  This  tract  re- 
mained in  possession  of  the  Nocks  as  late  as  1783. 
Some  time  about  1760  Ezekiel  Nock  built  a  grist-mill 
there,  and  left  his  property  to  his  sons,  of  whom 
Thomas  remained  on  the  homestead. 

About  the  year  1783,  or  a  little  later,  the  mill 
property  passed  into  the  possession  of  Daniel  Mifflin, 
who  left  it  to  his  two  sons,  Daniel  and  Samuel.  The 
mill  was  known  as  "Nock's  Mill"  and  "Mifflin's 
Mill."  Some  time  about  1852  the  property  passed 
into  the  possession  of  James  Green,  now  deceased. 
William  B.  Nock,  druggist,  of  Camden,  is  the  sole 
survivor  bearing  the  name  of  the  Nock  family. 

West  of  the  Nock  tract,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
Tidbury,  is  a  tract  called  "  Gainsborough,"  compris- 
ing four  hundred  and  forty-five  acres,  surveyed  for 
John  Nowell  December  16,  1680. 

West  of  "  Gainsborough  "  and  south  of  "  Little 
Geneva  "  is  a  tract  called  "  Grigg's  Purchase,"  taken 
up  under  a  warrant  of  December  21,  1681,  containing 


one  thousand  acres.  It  lies  on  and  adjoins  Tidbury 
stream  on  the  north,  and  is  on  both  sides  of  the  Up- 
per King's  Road.  It  was  originally  surveyed  for 
Alexander  Humphreys,  but  is  now  in  possession  of 
Henry  C.  Cooper,  George  Gibbs,  John  Evans,  J.  B. 
Slaymaker  and  others. 

South  of  "Grigg's  Purchase,"  and  on  the  south 
side  of  Tidbury,  is  the  tract  "  TiocuUever,"  taken  up 
under  a  warrant  dated  August  17,  1682,  by  Robert 
Betts  and  John  King,  and  contained  twelve  hundred 
acres.  It  is  now  chiefly  owned  by  Samuel  W.  Derby, 
Thomas  B.  Coursey,  heirs  of  Mrs.  Powell,  B.  F.  Ab- 
bott, heirs  of  Dr.  I.  T.  Cooper  and  others.  The  land 
late  of  James  L.  Dyer  and  of  William  T.  Maloney 
was  also  of  this  tract. 

On  this  tract,  on  the  Upper  King's  Road  from  Can- 
terbury to  Camden,  is  situated  a  grist-mill.  It  was 
bequeathed  by  Mary  Caldwell  to  her  son,  John  Cald- 
well, for  a  grist-mill  seat  October  15,  1786,  and  a  mill 
was  soon  after  erected.  The  grist-mill  is  now  owned 
by  Thomas  B.  Coursey. 

South  of  "  Longflcre  "  and  southeast  of  "  Grigg's 
Purchase  "  and  *' TiocuUever"  is  a  large  tract  of  land 
called  "  Rhodes'  Forest,"  containing  two  thousand 
acres.  It  was  taken  up  by  John  Rhodes,  of  Where- 
kill  County  (Sussex),  on  warrant  from  that  court 
November  23,  1679.  It  was  inherited  by  his  son, 
John  Rhodes,  who.  May  8,  1725,  sold  it  to  Andrew 
Caldwell,  of  Kent  County,  and  took  in  exchange 
therefor  parts  of  tracts  of  "  Bartlett's  Lott"  and  ad- 
jacent tracts,  lying  towards  the  mouths  of  St.  Jones' 
and  Murderkill  Creeks.  This  tract,  on  account  of 
the  change  effected,  was  called  by  Caldwell  *'  The 
Exchange,"  by  which  name  in  subsequent  deeds  it  is 
generally  known.  It  is  described  as  being  on  the 
west  side  of  Tidbury  Branch,  beginning  at  the  month 
of  a  small  run  that  falls  into  the  branch  a  little  above 
an  Indian  path  (Camden  and  Willow  Grove  road  at 
Red  House  Branch)  that  leads  from  Jones'  Creek  to 
Choptank.  It  extended  from  "  Indian  Path,"  w«»t 
by  south  nearly  three  miles,  and  southeast  by  south 
nearly  two  miles,  and  thence  in  a  northerly  direction 
about  three  miles,  to  the  forks  of  Tidbury,  and  np 
Tidbury  to  beginning. 

The  Cald wells  owned  other  large  tracts.  In  1746, 
Andrew  Caldwell,  Jr.,  owned  seven  hundred  and 
forty-five  acres  of  "  Longacre."  a  tract  of  two  hun- 
dred and  eight-seven  acres,  called  **  Quiet  Entry,"  aitn- 
ated  south  of  the  eastern  part  of  Exchange,  aud  partly 
north  of  '*  Hudson's  Lott,"  and  a  tract  of  ninety 
acres  called  "  Caldwell's  Range,"  west  of  the  Ex- 
change. Besides  these,  he  owned  other  large  tracts 
in  diflferent  parts  of  the  county. 

The  tract  "  Quiet  Entry,"  three  hundred  and  four 
acres,  passed  into  the  possession  of  Christopher 
Green,  in  1650.  In  later  years  it  passed  to  Robert 
Catlin.        ^ 

Upon  this  tract,  one  mile  north  of  Canterbury, 
was  located  a  meeting-house  by  the  Methodists. 
May  16, 1781,  Christopher  Green  conveyed  one  acre 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1141 


to  Dr.  Wm.  Bowness,  Wm.  Virdin,  Jogeph  Purdin, 
And.  Purdin,  John  Gilder,  Philip  Barratt,  Caleb 
Furbee,  Oliver  Crawford,  James  Green,  John  Morris 
and  John  Purdin,  "  upon  express  purpose  of  building 
a  Preaching-House  or  Chapel  thereon,"  and  "that 
the  said  Preachers  Preach  no  other  doctrine  than 
is  contained  in  Mr.  John  Wesley's  Notes  upon 
the  New  Testament,  and  four  Volumes  of  Sermons." 

This  meeting-house,  known  by  the  name  of 
"Greenes  Chapel,"  continued  in  existence  down  to 
1856,  in  which  year  the  congregation  built  a  new 
meeting-house  at  Canterbury,  and  called  it  "  Bethes- 
da."  It  was  dedicated  October  26, 1856,  by  the  Rev. 
John  D.  Onins,  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Lambden,  the  preacher  in  charge.  There  is  on  the 
site  of  each  meeting-house  a  cemetery. 

The  tract  called  "Rhodes  Forest"  or  " Exchange" 
18  now  chiefly  owned  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Waugh, 
Mrs.  Charles  I.  Du  Pont,  Peter  Crook,  Mrs.  Ann 
Bostick,  the  heirs  of  Wm.  O.  Kline,  Wm.  S.  Caulk, 
George  H.  Murray,  Hon.  Eli  Saulsbury,  Ezekiel 
Cowgill,  John  J.  Conner,  James  Anderson,  of  Her- 
man (upon  whose  land  is  the  old  Caldwell  burying- 
ground),  and  others. 

WooDSiDE.-— Upon  this  tract,  "  Exchange,"  is  lo- 
cated the  village  of  "  Woodside."  It  was  founded  in 
August,  1864,  when  the  railroad  company,  through 
the  exertions  of  Henry  Cowgill,  established  a  depot 
and  station-hou^e.  Ezekiel  Cowgill  was  appointed 
railroad  and  express  agent,  who  was  succeeded  by  his 
father,  Henry  Cowgill,  in  1867,  who  held  the  office 
until  his  death,  in  1881.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Samuel  Ij,  Richards,  November  17th  the  same  year, 
who  still  is  agent  and  also  postmaster.  In  1864  there 
were  two  dwellings  and  about  eight  inhabitants. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  three  stores,  two 
evaporators,  two  canneries,  one  dealer  in  coal,  lime 
and  grain,  and  (me  dealer  in  fertilizers.  There  are 
twenty-five  dwellings  and  ninety-eight  inhabitants. 
There  is  also  a  daily  mail  by  post  route  from  this 
place  via  Willow  Grove  to  Petersburg,  a  distance  of 
five  and  a  half  miles.  The  place  is  noted  for  being 
in  the  centre  of  the  peach  belt  of  this  peninsula,  and 
for  the  quantity  of  fruits,  vegetables  and  other  pro- 
ducts shipped  hence,  and  for  the  numerous  truck 
farms  in  the  vicinity.  South  of  "  Quiet  Entry,'* 
lying  almost  wholly  on  the  west  side  of  the  Upper 
•  King's  Road,  is  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  acres,  called  "The  Disputed  Turnip  Patch," 
taken  up  under  a  warrant  dated  May  15,  1740,  and 
surveyed  for  the  heirs  of  Noah  Gildersleve,  in  1766. 
It  is  now  chiefly  owned  by  Wm.  Graham. 

Canterbury. — "  Hudson's  Lott "  is  a  large  tract 
lying  on  the  north  side  of  Hudson *s  or  Bannister's 
Branch,  and  upon  both  sides  of  the  Upper  King's 
Road  from  Lewes,  by  way  of  Canterbury,  to  Dover. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  "  Norridge,"  and  con- 
tains eight  hundred  acres.  It  was  taken  up  by 
Robert  Hudson  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  "  bearing  date 
the  2l8t  of  the  12th  month  1681." 


Upon  this  tract  is  located  the  village  of  "Canter- 
bury," lying  upon  both  sides  of  the  public  road  from 
Magnolia  to  Willow  Grove  and  the  road  leading  up 
to  Camden.  The  land  in  1769  was  owned  by  Archi- 
bald McAllister,  who  also  owned  a  mill  seat  south  of 
the  village  called  "  Trippitt's  Mill,"  which,  in  1785, 
was  called  *'Rickett's  Mill,"  which  has  long  since 
been  abandoned  and  the  site  nearly  oblitered. 

The  first  knowledge  we  have  of  Canterbury  is  by 
the  name  of**  Joseph  Caldwell's  Tavern,"  in  the  year 
1782,  in  which  year  John  West  is  spoken  of  as  an  inn- 
keeper. On  the  Ist  day  of  November,  1789,  it  is  men- 
tioned as  *'  Irish  Hill."  Ou  that  day  Ezekiel  Ander- 
son gave  his  alienation  bond  to  George  and  John  Gil- 
dersleve to  sell  five  acres  of  land,  with  a  new  two- 
story  house  thereon,  adjoining  the  main  road  near 
"Irish  Hill,"  formerly  land  of  John  West;  also 
another  house  and  lot,  formerly  of  West,  on  the  "road 
leading  from  Joseph  Caldwell's  Tavern  to  Peter  Go- 
forth'ft  mill  or  Frederica."  On  the  15th  of  April, 
1794,  we  first  meet  with  the  name  of  "  Canterbury," 
in  a  deed  from  Gildersleve  to  James  Foote,  in  which 
he  describes  the  land  as  "  a  Lott  or  peace  of  ground 
in  the  vilage  of  Canterbury,  being  and  lying  on  the 
East  side  of  the  State  road."  In  1811  following, 
Jacob  Jones,  John  Miskimmons  and  Moses  Sipple, 
kept  tavern.  In  1820,  tavern  was  kept  by  Levi  Wol- 
cott,  who  had  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of  "  Hud- 
son's Lott." 

In  1816  mention  is  made  of  a  tan-yard  owned  by 
Jonathan  Neal,  opposite  a  store-house,  formerly  be- 
longing to  George  Gildersleve.  In  1845  two  hotels 
were  kept  in  the  village  by  Barratt  B.  Conner  and 
Henry  J.  Anderson,  respectively.  There  were  two 
stores  and  one  blacksmith-shop.  The  school-house 
was  situated  half  a  mile  north  of  the  village  and  the 
church  (Green's  Chapel),  about  one  mile.  In  those 
days,  Barratt  P.  Conner  was  postmaster.  The  stage 
line  to  Lewes  passed  through  the  village,  and  Canter- 
bury was  made  a  distributing  office  for  the  several 
towns  and  villages  lying  between  it  and  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  all  of  which  were  served  with  a  weekly 
mail. 

At  the  present  time  the  population  is  about  fiA^y. 
There  are  one  general  store,  one  blacksmith-shop, 
fourteen  dwellings,  one  school-house  and  one  church. 
The  church  was  described  under  the  title  of  "  Quiet 
Entry." 

"  Golden  Thicket "  is  a  tract  lying  west  of  Hud- 
son's Lott,  on  the  north  side  of  Hudson's  Branch, 
taken  up  by  Wm.  Shores,  by  virtue  of  warrant  dated 
"y"  20th  day  of  y*  9  in%  1681,"  and  contained  four 
hundred  acres.  In  1730  thesouthernmosthalf  of  tract 
was  sold  to  John  Gordon,  and  the  upper  half 
to  Magdalen  a  Thistlewood.  In  1827  the  greater 
part  of  the  whole  tract  was  owned  by  Jonathan 
Hamilton,  who  left  one  hundred  acres  cleared 
land,  on  the  east  end  of  farm,  with  all  the  improve- 
ments thereon,  and  one  half  his  woodland  to  his 
granddaughter,  Sarah  Henderson,  the  wifeof  Giddiah 


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1142 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Beauchamp ;  the  remainder  of  cleared  land  and  one- 
half  of  the  woodland  he  left  to  his  granddaughter, 
Mary  Elizabeth  Henderson.  The  whole  of  the  land 
eventually  became  vested  in  Giddiah  Beauchamp. 

Viola. — Upon  this  tract  is  situated  the  village  of 
Viola,  on  the  Delaware  Railroad,  ten  miles  south  of 
Dover.  The  village  was  founded  August  1,  1856, 
when  the  Delaware  Railroad  officials  established  a 
station  there  and  appointed  James  B.  Conner  agent, 
who  also  received  the  agency  for  Adams  Express 
Company.  Until  within  the  last  eight  years  the 
village  was  known  as  Canterbury  Station,  being  sit- 
uated one  mile  west  of  Canterbury.  When  the  vil- 
lage was  laid  out,  in  1856,  an  old  grain-car  was  used 
some  time  as  a  station  house  and  office.  There  were 
then  only  three  farm-houses  in  the  vicinity,  which 
served  as  a  nucleus  for  the  present  village,  which 
now  contains  three  general  stores,  one  lumber  dealer, 
one  planing-mill,  three  fruit  evaporators,  one  husk 
factory,  one  blacksmith  and  wheelwright  shop,  one 
dealer  in  coal,  lime,  etc.,  one  warehouse,  fourteen 
dwellings  and  a  population  of  sixty.  There  is  like- 
wise a  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  building  that 
was  long  known  as  Magee's  Chapel,  built  in  1858, 
which  was  located  at  Magee's  Cross  Roads,  nearly 
two  miles  west  of  Viola.  In  1884,  under  the  pastor- 
ate of  Rev.  Mr.  Jewell,  of  Felton  Circuit,  the  building 
was  moved  to  Viola  and  rehabitated  and  now  presents 
a  modernized  appearance.  The  present  pastor  is  the 
Rev.  Vaughan  Smith,  of  Felton  Circuit. 

"Turkey  Point"  is  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  acres,  taken  up  by  Thomas  Blackshare, 
under  a  warrant  of  July  28,  1746.  In  1823,  in  the 
division  of  the  lands  of  Daniel  Mifflin,  deceased,  it 
was  assigned  to  Ann  Mifflin,  his  daughter.  It  is  now 
owned  by  Henry  R.  Draper,  under  the  will  of  his 
father,  Avery  Draper.  This  tract  is  bounded  on  the 
east  by  **  Longacre "  and  on  the  north  by  the  tract 
"  Tomahawk,"  which  was  also  taken  up  by  Thomas 
Blackshare,  under  a  warrant  dated  June  2,  1740. 
Tomahawk  is  south  and  west  of  Howell  s  lot  and 
contains  one  hundred  and  ninety-four  acres.  It  is 
now  owned  by  Martin  Knight  and  Thomas  Gooden. 
West  of  Turkey  Point  is  a  tract  called  the  "Burka- 
low,"  taking  its  name  from  its  first  owners,  which  is 
now  in  possession  of  the  heirs  of  William  O.  Kline, 
of  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Adjoining  the  tract  "  Burkalow  ''  on  the  west  is  a 
tract  of  three  hundred  and  forty-seven  acres  called 
"  Steel's  Ridge,"  which  was  in  possession  of  Robert 
Blackshare  prior  to  1768.  On  the  12th  of  February, 
1829,  it  was  conveyed  by  William  K.  Lockwood,  ad- 
ministrator of  Samuel  Mifflin,  to  John  Gooden,  the 
elder,  who  died  in  1867.  About  one  hundred  and 
seventy-two  acres  of  this  tract  is  now  owned  by  W. 
O.  Kline's  heirs;  the  remainder  is  in  the  possession 
of  John  Gooden,  the  younger.  SteePs  Ridge  lies 
north  of  Willow  Grove.  South  of  SleePs  Ridge  is  a 
tract  of  two  hundred  acres,  taken  up  by  William 
Jackson,  under  warrant  dated  April  17,  1737,  and 


another  tract  taken  up  by  Jackson  under  war- 
rant dated  April  18,  1737.  This  land,  in  1783,  was 
in  possession  of  Francis  Many.  On  the  16th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1787,  Many  sold  to  Alexander  Jackson,  by 
whose  family  the  land  is  still  held.  On  the  2d  of 
March,  1787,  Jackson  sold  ^ve  acres  to  Thomas 
Lockwood,  upon  which  he  had  a  tan-yard.  About 
the  same  time  a  store  and  a  shop  were  opened.  From 
the  establishing  of  the  tannery  Willow  Grove  dates 
its  existence. 

Willow  Grove  is  situated  nine  and  one-half  miles 
southwest  from  Dover  and  three  and  one-half  miles 
west  of  Woodside,  the  nearest  railroad  point.  Jack- 
son built  a  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Chnp- 
tank  Road  from  the  tannery,  called  the  "Jackson 
Mansion,"  a  gambrel-roofed  building,  now  in  a  good 
state  of  preservation  and  in  possession  of  John  C. 
Gooden.  The  tanning  business  was  carried  on  by 
Thomas  Lockwood  till  his  death,  in  1824.  In  1857 
the  tannery  was  in  possession  of  Ambrose  Broadaway, 
who  continued  the  business  till  his  death,  in  1879.  In 
1880  the  tannery  was  closed  and  the  buildings  since 
converted  iato  a  dwelling.  In  1844  there  were  two 
general  stores,  dealing  in  grain,  bark,  cord-wood, 
staves,  etc.,  and  general  merchandise.  The  firat 
merchant  of  which  we  have  any  account  was  doing 
bus'iness  in  1798.  There  are  now  two  general  stores, 
one  wheelwright  and  blacksmith  shop,  one  steam 
saw-mill  and  basket  factory  employing  seventy-five 
men  and  boys.  In  1856  there  was  a  steam  grist-mill, 
which  was  discontinued  about  1867.  From  1844  to 
1860  the  carriage  making  business  was  carried  on. 
The  old  gambrel-roofed  building,  now  owned  by  J. 
C.  Gooden,  was  used  at  one  time  for  a  hotel,  the  tav- 
ern-keepers being  Isaac  Gruwell  and  Waitman  Vick- 
ery. — the  last  one  quitting  the  business  in  1844.  The 
bar-room  was  kept  in  a  small  building  on  one  corner 
of  the  premises,  separate  from  the  inn. 

The  first  resident  physician  was  Dr.  Oilman,  who 
came  in  184^,  who  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Vincent  Emer- 
son in  1848,  who  remained  to  185-,  when  he  removed 
to  Milford,  Pa.  He  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  H.  C. 
Comegys  of  Greensboro  who  remained  till  1858,  when 
he  returned  to  his  native  town.  He  was  followed  by 
Dr.  Thomas  C.  Rogers,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  remained 
till  1874,  when  he  removed  successively  to  Wyoming, 
Felton,  and  Harrington,  at  which  last  place  he  died 
in  1879.  Since  1874  Dr.  John  M.  Wilkinson  has 
been  the  resident  physician. 

The  first  lumber  mill,  lying  south  of  the  village,  was 
built  by  John  Aaron  and  Alexander  Jackson  some- 
time about  1844.  A  little  later  the  property  came 
into  possession  of  Levis  Passmere  of  Philadelphia  who 
built  a  larger  and  more  extensive  saw  mill,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  ship-timber  business.  About  1853,  the  mill 
was  burnt,  and  on  its  ruins  a  still  larger  one  was 
erected.  In  1865,  J.  Colby  Smith  came  from  Aber- 
deen, Maryland,  purchased  the  mill,  and  in  addition 
to  general  lumber  and  ship-timber  busine8S,engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  barrel  staves  and  heading,  and  at 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1143 


a  later  date  embarked  Id  the  manufacturiDg  of  peach 
crates.  This  he  continued  but  a  few  years  when  he 
put  in  peach  basket  machinery,  and  now  turns  out 
five  hundred  thousand  baskets  annually  during  the 
peach  season. 

A  society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
organized  here  at  a  very  early  date,  the  members  of 
which  usually  met  at  Thomas  Lockwood's  house  till 
1824,  when  he  died.  After  his  death  the  congrega- 
tion met  a  short  while  at  William  J.  Needles,  about 
one  mile  south  of  the  village.  On  August  2d  of  the 
same  year,  Thomas  Jackson  for  the  nominal  considera- 
tion of  six  cents,  conveyed  unto  Absalom  Deharty, 
John  Van  Burkalow,  Thomas  Clements,  William  J. 
Needles,  Parrismus  Wilkerson,  Absalom  Stradley,  and 
Samuel  B.  Cooper,  Trustees,  in  trust,  and  upon  express 
condition  that  they  should  erect  thereon  a  meeting- 
house for  the  use  of  the  people  called  Methodists.  In 
1850,  they  enlarged  the  area  oftheir  grounds  and  built 
a  larger  and  more  commodious  building.  In  1883, 
this  was  succeeded  by  a  still  more  elegant  building. 
Tbe  first  preacher  of  which  we  have  any  account  was 
Ferdinand  Griffith,  who  preach  for  them  in  1829,  and 
was  also  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  the 
village. 

In  1850,  when  the  new  church  was  dedicated,  the 
Revs.  James  Flannery  and  Louis  Petit  were  pastors 
in  charge,  and  in  1883,  the  building  of  tbat  day  was 
erected  through  the  exertions  of  the  Rev.  Sewell  N. 
Pilchard,  the  pastorof  the  circuit,  (Wyoming). 

The  postal  facilities  in  1844  consisted  of  a  weekly 
mail  from  Canterbury,  on  the  line  of  the  old  stage 
route,  at  which  time  Ambrose  Broadaway  was  post- 
master. In  1857,  Ezekiel  L.  Cooper  was  postmaster, 
who  at  the  beginning  of  the  late  civil  war  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Henry  C.  Carter.  He  was  soon  succeeded 
by  John  Colby  Smith  who  retained  the  position  till 
1885,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  John  C.  Gooden, 
whose  store-house  and  post-office  was  burnt  out 
February  14,  1887,  when  he  resigned  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  present  postmaster,  Samuel  R.  Meredith. 
There  is  now  a  daily  mail. 

The  first  district  school,  No.  fifty- two, was  organized 
in  1850,  with  Dr.  Ezekiel  Dawson  for  teacher  who  kept 
school  in  a  private  building  part  of  the  year. 

Prior  to  the  establishing  of  free  schools  in  1829,  the 
people  sent  their  children  to  a  pay  or  subscription 
school  at  Petersburg.  The  teachers  between  1820-29, 
were  William  Mason  Stevens,  William  Canner,  John 
Pepper,  and  John  Humphreys,  an  Old  School  Baptist 
Preacher.  In  1858,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  instituted  a  lodge  here  which  was  disbanded 
in  1861.  Thornton  Russell  was  Noble  Grand,  and  E. 
L.  Cooper,  V.  N.  Grand.  The  population  of  the  vil- 
lage is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

One-half  mile  south  of  Willow  Grove,  on  the  old 
road  toward  Greensboro',*  are  two  tracts  of  land  con- 

1  The  term  Chopiank  Bridge  often  occurs  In  old  records,  and  its  exact 
locality  has  been  a  subject  of  doubt ;  an  extract  from  the  journal  of 
National  LnfT,  M.  D.  settles  the  question.  In  this  Journal  dated  "  11th 
month  "  1798,  occurs  this  entry :  *'  On  the  24th  or  25th  of  the  II th  month 


taining  in  the  aggregate  six  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres.  "  Good  Luck,"  one  of  these  tracts,  containing 
two  hundred  acres,  was  originally  surveyed  to  Samuel 
Brooks,  June  18,  1731,  and  later  was  sold  to  Matthew 
Lowber,  for  whom  it  was  resurveyed  June  3,  1741. 
"  Lowber's  Fancy,"  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
was  granted  to  Matthew  Lowber,  December  18,  1730, 
where  he  resided.  He  was  the  son  of  Peter  Lowber, 
who  came  from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  to  this  State 
about  1682.  His  posterity  comprise  nearly  one-half 
of  the  population  in  Kent  County,  and  are  scattered 
throughout  nearly  every  State  and  Territory  in  the 
United  States.  On  the  13th,  14th  and  15th  days  of 
July,  1775,  these  two  tracts,  with  additions  thereto, 
were  resurveyed  to  Peter  Lowber.  One  hundred  and 
fifty-eight  acres  of  "  Lowber*s  Fancy  "  is  now  owned 
by  Alexander  C.  Dill,  whose  son  resides  on  the  site 
of  the  Matthew  Lowber  mansion. 

"  Multangulus  "  lies  south  of  "  Lowber's  Fancy,"  on 
both  sides  of  the  Choptauk  Road.  It  was  warranted 
to  Curtis  Evans,  May  31,  1745,  and  assigned  to  John 
Meekins,  for  whom  it  was  surveyed  June  14,  1748, 
and  contained  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight  acres. 
There  was  also  a  tract  called  "Newell's  Park," 
lying  between  "Multangulus"  and  Cow  Marsh  Ditch, 
containing  two  hundred  and  seventeen  acres,  sur- 
veyed for  John  Meekins,  assignee  of  John  Bowers, 
August  1,  1751.  These  two  tracts,  containing  five 
hundred  and  five  acres,  were  in  possession  of  Robert 
Patton  in  1752.  This  land  is  now  owned  by  John  H. 
Cook,  George  Cook,  the  heirs  of  Alexander  Frazer 
and  others. 

"Manlove's  Purchase"  lay  northwest  of  Multan- 
gulus and  Newell's  Park,  on  the  opposite  side  of  Cow 
Mari>h  Ditch,  and  extended  up  the  west  side  thereof. 
A  part  of  this  tract,  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  was 
in  the  possession  of  Joseph  Nock  in  1795,  who  con- 
veyed that  quantity  to  William  Morris.  This  tract  is 
now  owned  by  Ezekiel  C.  Frazer. 

"Cooper  Cemetery,"  lying  two  miles  west  of  Willow 
Grove,  has  been  used  for  more  than  a  hundred  years 
as  a  place  of  sepulture.  It  was  incorporated  by  act 
of  General  Assembly,  March  5,  1867,  and  conveyed  in 
fee  simple  by  Samuel  B.  Cooper,  Esq.,  late  Speaker 
of  the  State  Senate,  to  the  trustees  of  said  cemetery, 
who  were  also  incorporators,  viz. :  John  Downham, 
William  Broadaway,  Thomas  Gooden,  John  Purnell, 
David  D.  Marvel  and  four  others. 

On  the  11th  of  April,  1887,  the  cemetery  was  re- 
incorporated, with  the  following  incorporators  and 
trustees:  Thomas  Gooden,  John  Bell,  John  W.  F. 
Cooper,  John  Sherwood,  Peter  S.  Cooper,  John  C. 
Gooden,  William  T.  Gooden,  Nathan  Moore  and 
Thomas  Cook. 

Calvin  Ridge  is  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres,  lying 
north  of  Manlove's  Purchase,  and  on  the  west  wde  of 
Cow  Marsh  Ditch,  adjoining  Good  Luck  and  Low- 

I  removed  into  Maryland,  about  one  mile  from  Choptank  bridge,  now 
called  Greent«borough,  into  a  little  houre  belonging  to  my  wife's  former 
husband  (John  Boon)/*  Throughout  his  Journal  Chopiank  is  spoken  of 
oa  synonyniouiwith  Greensboro. 


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1144 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ber^s  Fancy.  This  tract  is  in  the  form  of  a  rectangle, 
extending  due  west  four  hundred  and  twenty  perches, 
and  due  south  eighty  perches.  It  is  described  as 
being  ^'near  the  south  side  of  Bear  Swamp,  including 
a  certain  Ridge  called  *  Brookes  his  Cabin.'  "  It  was 
taken  up  by  Peter  Voshell  on  a  warrant  of  June  20, 
1717,  and  became  the  property  of  Michael  Lowber, 
Jr.,  January  3,  1744,  and  is  now  chiefly  owned  by 
Thomas  Cook  and  William  Gooden. 

Muncey'8  Mount  is  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  warranted  to  Francis  Muncey,  May  4, 
1737,  and  surveyed  to  his  son  Thomas  October  15, 
1741.  It  lies  one  mile  west  of  Willow  Grove,  and 
binds  on  the  north  side  of  Cabin  Ridge.  For  many 
years  it  was  owned  by  Thomas  M.  Cooper,  but  is 
now  the  property  of  Dr.  John  M.  Wilkinson.  On  the 
north  of  Muncey's  Mount  is  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  ninety-three  acres,  named  "  Plymouth*"  taken  up 
under  a  warrant  of  March  8,  1748,  by  Hannah 
Thomas,trustee  for  Thomas  Thomas.  In  1797  this  tract 
lying  on  Culbreth's  Marsh  Ditch,  which  with  other 
tracts  made  four  hundred  acres,  was  in  the  possession 
of  William  Morris,  from  whom  it  descended  to  Edward 
Jay  Morris,  of  Philadelphia.  It  is  now  owned  by 
John  Gooden. 

Addition  to  Cabin  Ridge  is  a  tract  of  ^\q  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  lying  west  of  "Manlove*s  Chance," 
"Cabin  Ridge"  and  "Muncey's  Mount,"  and  lands 
of  the  heirs  of  Samuel  B.  Cooper.  It  is  of  a  very 
irregular  shape,  extending  northward  nearly  one  and 
a  half  miles  and  then  westward  one  mile.  It  was 
surveyed  to  Peter  Lowber  August  25, 1742,  and  with  the 
exception  of  John  Colby  Smith,  who  owns  one  hundred 
and  thirty-eight  acres  of  the  tract  called  the  "  Leak," 
on  the  north  side  of  the  road  from  Willow  Grove  to 
Henderson,  Md.,  the  land  is  in  possession  of  his 
descendants.  The  remainder  of  the  tract,  south  of 
the  aforesaid  road,  is  now  owned  by  William  Gooden, 
Peter  L.  Cooper,  Peter  C.  Grunwell,  John  Bell  and 
Nehemiah  Cohee. 

Petersburg  is  a  small  village  of  eight  dwellings  and 
about  thirty  persons.  It  is  situated  twelve  and  a 
half  miles  from  Dover,  and  is  two  miles  southwest  of 
"  Willow  Grove  "  on  the  road  to  "  Greensboro."  It 
derives  its  name  from  the  number  of  the  descendants 
of  Peter  Lowber  bearing  his  first  name  and  residing 
in  the  neighborhood.  It  was,  about  1840,  called 
"Meredith's  Shop,"  from  Peter  Meredith,  an  Old 
School  Baptist  preacher  carrying  on  the  blacksmith 
and  wheelwright  business,  but  about  1872,  when  a 
post-oflice  was  established  here,  it  was  changed  to 
Petersburg.  There  is  one  general  store  and  a  wheel- 
wright and  blacksmith  shop  here.  The  postmaster 
is  Peter  C.  Frazer,  the  village  merchant,  who  first 
petitioned  for  the  post-office,  and  which  is  served  with 
a  daily  mail. 

Mount  Mori  ah  is  a  small  hamlet  situated  four 
and  a  half  miles  southwest  of  "Willow  Grove"  on 
the  road  to  "Greensboro,"  and  contains  one  store, 
two  dwellings  and  one  meeting-house,  belonging  to 


the  Old  School  Baptists,  and  a  cemetery  in  connec- 
tion with  the  church.  On  the  2d  day  of  February, 
1868,  a  post-office  was  established  here  and  Warren 
J.  Reed  appointed  postmaster,  and  the  office  supplied 
by  a  tri- weekly  mail.  Mr.  Reed  was  succeeded  by 
Thomas  D.  Cubbage  as  postmaster  and  merchant,  but 
the  post-office  was  soon  thereafter  discontinued. 

This  place,  years  ago,  was  quite  noted  as  a  resort 
for  the  sporting  fraternity,  where  they  not  only  in- 
dulged in  conviviality  and  general  good  cheer,  but 
also  engaged  in  horse-racing,  gaming,  and  the  sports 
of  the  chase.    In  later  years  all  this  has  ceased. 

"The  Baptist  Church  at  Cow  Marsh"  was  the 
fourth  Baptist  church  organized  in  Delaware,  and 
was  constituted  as  "  The  Baptist  Church  at  Cow 
Marsh,"  July  18,  1781.  In  1770,  Rev.  John  Sutton, 
then  pastor  at  Welsh  Tract,  held  the  first  meeting 
here.  After  this  period  Revs.  Isaac  Steele,  R.  Kelsay, 
Wm.  Worth  and  others,  preached  here.  In  1772, 
Rev.  James  Sutton  baptized  four,  viz. :  John  Price 
and  his  wife,  Grace  Reynolds  and  Elizabeth  Rey- 
nolds. The  following  named  persons  from  this  terri- 
tory were  baptized  here  or  at  Welsh  Tract :  1781, 
Wm.  Price,  John  Price,  John  Patton,  Job  Merydith, 

Sr.,    Elizabeth    Patton,    Alice    ,  Wm.    Betts, 

Elizabeth  Betts,  Jacob  Gruell,  Susanna  Robinson, 
Ruth  Merydith,  Sarah  Lewis,  Jacob  Merydith  Davis 
Merydith,  Elizabeth  Merydith,  Sarah  Goodwine, 
Elizabeth  Patton,  Sr..  Rebekah  Price,  Lucretia  Bost- 
wick,  Daniel  Carter,  Joshua  Deweese,  Elizabeth  De- 
weese,  Mary  McGifford.  In  1802  the  total  member- 
ship was  116. 

The  intention  of  erecting  a  meeting-house  in  1881 
was  abandoned  on  the  death  of  Luff  Meredith,  an 
active  friend,  and  meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of 
Job  Meredith,  Sr.  On  March  21,  1787,  Rev.  Eliphai 
Dazey  took  charge  of  the  church  in  conjunction  with 
the  one  at  Duck  Creek.  He  resigned  October  25, 1788, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Revs.  Ferrell,  Deweese,  and 
others. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Church,  December  10, 1791,on 
the  second  order  of  business,  it  was  "Motioned 
whetiier  it  would  be  proper  to  give  Brother  Flood 
License  to  Exercise  His  gifts  Publicly  where  he  may 
have  an  Invitation,  <&  the  Lord  in  his  Providence  may 
Call  Him.  answered  in  the  affirmative,  <&  appoint 
Br.  Job  Meredith,  Ju^  to  write  the  Credentials,  which 
was  accordingly  done,  &  signed  Next  Day." 

"  Nov^^  10,  1792,  The  Church  met  after  worship, 
agreed  to  Build  a  Meeting-House  and  appoint  P 
Flood  to  Draw  a  Deed. 

2nd.  Appoint  James  Fraisor  and  John  Growell  2nd 
as  trustees  to  Receive  the  acknowledgement  of  the 
Deed  for  the  Ground  to  Build  the  house  on  in  behalf 
of  the  Church." 

In  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  agreement  Job 
Meredith,  September  7,  1793,  conveyed  to  "  Joseph 
Flood,  professor  of  Theology,  a  parcel  of  ground 
formerly  called  the  Stand  (But  now  called  Mount 
Moriah)  containing  two  acres  or  thereabout." 


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1145 


In  1794,  it  seems  that  a  house  for  worship  had  been 
built  according  to  the  following* extract  from  the 
minutes  of  November  8th  of  that  year :  "  B'  Price, 
S^  Being  present  agreed  with  the  Church  to  nominate 
two  workmen  of  the  Carpenters  Business  to  Value 
the  work  done  to  the  meeting-house  by  B'  Price." 

On  the  4th  of  June,  1796,  Joseph  Flood  conveyed 
to  "  Samuel  Broadaway,  John  Price,  James  Frashier, 
William  Price  and  John  Grewell,  Trustees "  of  the 
''Baptist  Church  at  Mount  Moriah,"  the  aforesaid 
tract  of  "  two  acres  or  thereabout'' 

In  1872  the  old  building  having  become  dilapi- 
dated and  too  contracted  to  accommodate  the  people, 
it  was  torn  down  and  a  new  building,  thirty  by  forty 
feet,  at  a  cost  of  sixteen  hundred  dollars  was  erected 
in  its  place. 

The  preachers  of  late  years  were  Elders  Peter 
Meredith  and  Ephraim  Rittenhouse,  the  latter  taking 
the  oversight  of  the  church  about  1862,  which  he 
has  since  kept. 

In  the  extreme  western  end  of  the  hundred  is  a 
tract  of  forty-three  acres,  abutting  upon  the  Mary- 
land Line  and  on  the  northeast  side  Choptank  River 
at  the  head  thereof,  called  "  Milford,'^  taken  up  under 
a  warrant  of  February  22,  1776,  by  Joseph  Furtad, 
who  built  a  grist-mill  and  a  saw-mill  at  the  place, 
which  was  long  known  as  "  Furtad'a  Mill."  It  is  now 
the  property  of  Hon.  Joseph  P.  Com^^s,  chief  justice 
of  Delaware  State. 

To  the  eastward  and  southeastward  of  Furtad's 
Mill,  or  the  tract  "  Millford"  is  a  large  tract  of  land 
called  "Towton's  Field,"  and  "  Towton's  Field's  Addi- 
tion," lying  upon  the  eastern  side  of  Choptank  River, 
and  embraced  between  the  Cow  Marsh  and  Culbreth 
Ditches.  The  tract  "  Towton  Field's  Addition  "  was 
surveyed  under  Maryland  patent  to  William  Hemsley 
and  the  tract  "  Towton's  Fields,"  was  originally  taken 
up  by  Col.  Vincent  Lowe.  The  two  tracts  contained 
about  two  thousand  acres.  In  1770,  "Towton's 
Fields,"  "Denton  Holme"  and  "Taylor's  Ford," 
were  owned  by  Thomas  Ringgold,  the  elder  of  Ches- 
tertown,  Maryland.  "Towton's  Fields"  is  now 
owned  by  Edward  J.  Carter,  Richard  C.  Carter,  the 
heirs  of  Peter  Raughley  and  others.  "  Denton 
Holme  "  is  owned  by  the  heirs  of  William  Smith,  by 
Josiah  Steel,  Henry  Steel,  James  E.  Sapp,  the  heirs 
of  Isaac  Gooden,  and  Edward  J.  Carter. 

A  list  of  the  names  of  persons  assessed  in  the  year 
1785,  in  the  territory  now  North  and  South  Murder- 
kill,  West  Dover,  and  all  that  part  of  East  Dover 
lying  west  of  St  Jones'  Creek. 


Alleband,  Wm. 
Alford,  Jos. 
Alford,^  Samuel  P. 
Alford.  Adrian. 
Alford,  Macela. 
ADdenoo,  Elizabeth. 
Anderion,  John. 
AbUim,  Wm. 
Ayeri,  John. 
Alston,  Stephen. 
ArmBtTong,  John. 

73i 


Andcnon,  John,  Jr. 
Anderson,  Clothier. 
Allen,  Chas 
Banning,  John. 
Banning,  Biohard. 
Barrett,  Miriam. 
Barrett,  Andrew. 
Barrett,  Samuel. 
Bnckmaster,  Thomas. 
Brown,  John. 
Brown,  Wm. 


Brown,  laaao.' 
Brown,  Bachael. 
Brown,  Solomon. 
Brown,  Aaron. 
Brad3',  Bei\}. 
Baxter,  Nathan. 
Botic,  Shadrach. 
BoUc,  Wm. 
Broadawaj,  Ambrose. 
Buckley,  Arnold. 
Brice.  Wm. 
Brice,  Benedict 
Bennett,  Angelo. 
Bennett,  John. 
Bennett,  John,  Jr. 
Bennett,  James. 
Bowers,  John. 
Bowers,  Rachael. 
Butler,  Wm. 
Butler,  John. 
Butler,  Jas. 
Butler,  Elizabeth. 
Blackshare,  Thomas. 
Bnrriss,  Wm. 
Burriss,  Wilhemlah. 
Bnrriss,  Jesse. 
Bnrriss,  Exekiel. 
Bell,  John  (hatter). 
Baggs.  Jos. 
Boggs,  John. 
Beauchamp,  Oostere. 
Beanchamp,  Jesse. 
Beauchamp,  Morris. 
Beauchamp,  Daniel. 
Beauchamp.  John. 
Beauchamp,  Letl. 
Bullen,  John. 
Betta,  Widow. 
Bradley,  John. 
Boyer,  James. 
Boyer,  Daniel. 
Boyer,  Uttleton. 
Boyer,  Ghas. 
Bassett,  Bichard. 
Bedwell,  Jas. 
Bedwell,  George. 
Bedwell,  Thomas. 
Bedwell,  Preston. 
Berry,  John. 
Berry,  Wm. 
Berry,  Bei^amin. 
Berry.  Chas. 
Boyce,  Alexander. 
Brooks,  Geo, 
Brooks,  Arthur. 
Boil,  Jos. 
Birt,  Henry. 
Bishep,  Richard. 
Black,  John. 
Brummell,  Jacob. 
Body,  Phillip. 
Battle,  Aquilla. 
BaUle,  John. 
Battle,  Elizabeth. 
Battle,  French  (heirs). 
Bownees,  Dr. 
Burrhenell,  Joseph. 
Burrhenell,  Luther. 
Barber,  Jos. 
Baiker,  Richard. 
Boyle,  Christopher. 
Bramork,  Wm. 
Barhnt,  Thos. 
Beswick,  Robt 
Broom,  Jacob. 
Carpenter,  Wm. 
Oalers,  John. 
Cummings,  Joshua. 


Oummings,  Danlol. 
Cummings,  David. 
Crooks,  Beiy. 
Craige,  Isaac. 
Craige,  John. 
Craige,  James. 
Craige,  Samuel. 
OUdwell,  Irwin. 
Caldwell,  Jos. 
Caldwell,  Andrew. 
Caldwell,  John. 
CUdwell,  Robert. 
CUdwell,  BUsabeth. 
Clampitt,  Wm. 
Clampitt,  Jonathan. 
Campbell,  Jonathan. 
Cubbage,  Philoman. 
Cubbage,  Geo. 
Cubbage,  Thomas. 
Cain,  Francis. 
Cain,  Dennis. 
Cole,BeiU. 
Cole,  Cuthbert 
Chain,  Thos. 
Connor,  Dennis. 
Conner,  Samuel. 
Conner,  Solomon. 
Conner,  John. 
Clayton.  John. 
Clayton,  James. 
Clark,  Janes. 
Clarke,  Absalom. 
Clarke,  Samuel. 
Clarke,  John. 
Clarke,  Wm. 
Chambers,  John. 
Chambers,  Joseph. 
Carney,  Dyer. 
Cooper,  George. 
Cooper,  Abram. 
Cooper^  Richard. 
Cox,  DanieL 
Cox,  GoTe. 
Cross,  John. 
Cross,  Lloyd. 
Carter,  Daniel. 
Carter,  Edward. 
Carter,  George. 
Coomlic,  Bei\}. 
Clothier,  John. 
Collier,  Ueniy. 
Corker,  John. 
Couiler,  Isaac. 
Callaghan,  Edward. 
Cohea,  Bei^. 
Cass,  John. 
Cullin,  Richard. 
Cullin,  David. 
Cranston,  Robt 
Camon,  Mires. 
Coakley,  James. 
Colgln,  Richard. 
Connelly,  Wm. 
Crawford,  Oliver. 
Cranmer,  Thos. 
Cridlin,  Edward. 
Chew,  John. 
Chews,  Samuel. 
Concelor,  John. 
Concelor,  Thos. 
Calloway,  Joseph. 
Cook,  Thomas . 
Qftlbrsth,  John. 
Cavender,  Robt 
Cavender,  John. 
Corry,  Patrick. 
Criddi^  Wm. 
DiU,  John. 


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1146 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Dill,  BenJunln.    i 
Dill,  Philoinao. 
Dill,  Solomou. 
Dill,  Joseph. 
Dill,  ElUfth. 
Dill,  James. 
Dill,  Jodah. 
Dill,  Nimrod. 
Dill,  John  W. 
Dill,  Joeeph,  Jr. 
Dorhain,  John. 
Dtulley,  Nicholas. 
DuoDasoD,  Thomas. 
Duhadway,  Dan. 
Daris,  John. 
Daris,  Robert 
Daris,  Thomas. 
DaTis,  Darid. 
Down,  Stephen. 
Downs,  Wm. 
Draper,  Isaac. 
Draper,  Whlttington. 
Dixon,  BoU. 
Dyal,  Robert 
Danham,  Joseph. 
Duwnham,  Thos. 
Downhain,  Isaac. 
Dougherty,  Nicholas. 
Dyer,  Nathaniel. 
Donnhig,  Jamesi 
Dnnning,  Wm. 
Darling,  Robt 
Dalby,  Wm. 
DriskUl,  Jo& 
Dnese,  EUJab. 
Doese,  DanieL 
Doese,  Samuel. 
Dawson,  DanieL 
Denny,  ThomaSb 
Dickenson,  John. 
Dempqr,  Michael. 
Doas,  John. 
Evans,  ThcHnas. 
Edinfleld,  John. 
Edmondson,  Thos. 
Edmondson,  John. 
Edinfleld,  John. 
Edmond,  John. 
Emmery,  Thos. 
Emmery,  John. 
Emmery,  Charles. 
Emmeraon,  Bath. 
Emmeraon,  Yincent. 
Elbert,  Henry. 
Elbert,  Joshua. 
Edwards,  Andrew. 
Edwards,  Philomon. 
Edge,  Jesse. 
Eanas,  Richard. 
Furfoie,  Oaleb. 
Furbee,  Jacob. 
Furbee,  Jonathan. 
Furbee,  Widow. 
Furbee,  Michael. 
Freeman,  John. 
Freeman,  Moses,  Jr. 
Ford,  Thomas. 
Ford,  Daniel. 
Ford,  John. 
Fisher,  John. 
Fisher,  Joshua. 
Freeman,  John. 
Forcum,  Peter. 
Furnace,  Robert. 
Flowers,  Wm. 
F|in,  John. 
Furtad,  Joseph. 
Fnrey,  Peter  B. 


Fiddy,  Jessey. 
Frazier,  Wm. 
Farmer,  Wm. 
Farmer,  John. 
Foracres,  Isaac. 
Gray,  Wm. 
Gray,  John. 
Gray,  Widow. 
Gray,  David. 
Goodwin,  Joseph. 
Goodwin,  Caleb. 
Gooden,  Moses, 
^rlgg,  John. 
Grigg,  Mark. 
Green,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Green,  Thomas. 
Green,  John. 
Green,  James. 
Greenly,  John. 
Greenly,  Bobert. 
Greenly,  Michael. 
Grier,  John. 
Goforth,  George. 
Guforth,  Peter. 
Goforth,  Widow. 
Gait,  Thomas. 
Gibbs,  Edward. 
Grewell,  Jacob. 
Grewell,  John. 
Grewell,  John,  Jr. 
Gilder,  Henry. 
Gilder,  John. 
Gildersleve,  John. 
GilderslsTe,  Jonathan. 
Gilderslere,  George. 
Gitty,  John. 
Gilford,  James. 
George,  Joseph. 
George,  Bachael. 
Gardner,  James. 
Howel,  Samuel. 
Howel,  Jonathan. 
Howel,  Wm. 
Harmison,  Harmon. 
Harmison,  Luke. 
Hindsley,  Amos. 
Hindsley,  James. 
Hindsley,  Solomon. 
Hindsley,  Nathan. 
Hinds,  John. 
Hlnley,  Nehemlah. 
Hayne,  James. 
Hudson,  John,  Jr. 
Hudson,  Alexander. 
Hudson,  Bobert. 
Hutchinson,  John. 
Hatfleld,  Leri. 
Hatfield,  Wm. 
Hatfleld,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Hatfleld,  John. 
Harper,  Wm. 
Harper,  Thomas. 
Harper,  Zephanier. 
Harper,  David. 
Harper,  Joseph. 
Howran,  Edward. 
Harwood,  Thomas. 
Harwood,  John. 
Harwood,  Peter. 
Hanson,  Samuel. 
Hanson,  Widow. 
Henry,  Bobert 
Hale,  Joseph. 
Holden,  Wm. 
Holden,  Edmund. 
Holden,  Bei^. 
Holland,  Brjran. 
Holland,  John. 


Hajtleton,  Wm. 
Howard,  Luke. 
Uadabuck,  Warwick. 
Hadabuck,  Abram. 
Harris,  Abraham. 
Harden,  John. 
Hunn,  Jonathan. 
Hunn,  Nathaniel. 
Hartshorn,  John. 
Halsten,  Abram. 
Hardcastle,  Peter. 
Harrington,  Nathan. 
Hansgrave,  Peter. 
Humphreys,  Alex. 
Herald,  John. 
Irons,  Owen. 
Jackson,  Joseph. 
Jackson,  William. 
Jackson,  Alexander. 
Jackson,  James. 
Jackson,  Thomas. 
Jackson,  Moses. 
Jackson,  Jonathan. 
Jackson,  EzekieL 
Jackson,  Nimrod. 
Jackson,  DanieL 
Jarrel,  James. 
Jarrel,  Bobert 
Jarrel,  Eleaxer. 
Jarrell,  Elias. 
Jarrett,  Matthew. 
Jones,  Bei\Jamln. 
Jones,  Laton. 
Jones,  Phillip. 
Jones,  Jacob. 
Jones,  David. 
Jones,  Luke. 
Jones,  Stanford. 
Jones,  John. 
Jones,  Edward. 
Jones,  Ninet 
Jones,  William. 
Jones,  Hoses. 
Jones,  James. 
Jones,  James,  Jr. 
Jones,  Daniel. 
Johnson,  James. 
Johnson,  Wm. 
Johnson,  Thomas. 
Johnson,  Jonathan. 
Johnson,  Henry. 
Johnsun,  Samuel. 
Jinkins,  Joseph. 
Jenkins,  Thomas. 
Jenkins,  John. 
Jenkins,  Andrew. 
Jenkins,  Jabes. 
Jestor,  William. 
Killon,  Wm. 
Kirkley,  Wm. 
Kirkley,  Thos. 
Kearaey,  Moses. 
Keanard,  Daniel. 
Kilpatrick,  John. 
Kimroey,  Joseph. 
King,  Wm. 
Keee,  John. 
K•o^Wm. 
Lackerman,  Ninet. 
Lock  wood,  Bichard. 
Lock  wood,  Amuell. 
Lockwood,  Amuell,  Jr. 
Lockwood,  Thomas. 
Lockwood,  John. 
Lewis,  Thomas. 
Lewis,  Evans. 
Lewis,  Evans,  Jr. 
Lewis,  Joseph. 


Lewis,  Wm. 
Lewis,  David. 
Lewis,  Bobert 
Lowbar,  Peter. 
Lowhar,  Matthew. 
Lowber,  Jonathan. 
Low^r,  DanieL 
Lowber,  lllichael. 
Lowber,  John. 
Lord,  Henry. 
Loflis,  John. 
Loflis,  Gideon. 
Loft  is,  Wm. 
Lynch,  Wm. 
Lambdon,  George. 
Lee,  John. 
Latcham,  Isaiah. 
Luens^  James. 
Legar,  Francte. 
Lamar,  Daniel. 
Lamar,  Bobt 
Luff,  Nathan. 
Mifflin,  Warner. 
Mifllin,  Dan. 
Mifflin,  Walker. 
Manlove,  Saiah. 
Manlove,  Goorge. 
Manlove,  Matthew. 
Miller,  Conrad. 
MlUer,  Peter. 
Miller,  Peter,  Jr. 
Miller,  John,  Jr. 
McKver,  John. 
McEver,  Timothy. 
McBride,  Thomaa. 
McBride,  Bobt 
McCall,  Geo. 
McCall,  Mark. 
McGarmot.  Widow. 
McCIements,  Jamco. 
Mcaements,  Bobt 
McCIements,  Wm. 
McKinney,  Abram. 
McFarsons,  Hugh. 
McHaney,  John. 
McHaney,  Wm. 
McGray,  Edward. 
McCiqtpin,  Thoa. 
McGifford,  John. 
McComb,  Eleaxer. 
Murphy,  Charles. 
Muney,  Thos. 
Muney,  Elijah. 
Muney,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Muney,  Widow. 
Muney,  James. 
Malleston,  Wm. 
Morris,  Daniel. 
Morris,  Wm. 
Marinor,  James. 
Morris,  John. 
Morris,  Abraham. 
Morris,  Brady. 
Morris,  Issac 
Moore,  Samuel. 
Moore,  Thomas. 
Moore,  David. 
Moore,  Wm. 
Maxwell,  Nimrod. 
Maxwell,  David. 
Meredith,  Job. 
Meredith,  Wm. 
Meredith,  James. 
Meredith,  Luff. 
Meredith,  Thomas. 
Meredith,  Joshua. 
Meredith,  Davia. 
Meredith,  Jacob. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1147 


Meredith,  Peter. 
Meredith,  Job. 
Mmnnerlng,  Widow. 
ManoeriQg,  Sichard. 
Melborn,  Samuel. 
Morgan,  Edtrard. 
Moat,  Simmont. 
MilUi,  Jamee. 
Maiwfleld,  Tboe. 
Mjrae,  Bei\|. 
Marker,  John. 
Marker,  Cnrtia. 
MaMO,  Wm. 
Maion,  Richard* 
Mason,  Babel. 
Matthew,  Thoa. 
Many,  Franoia. 
Merrick,  John. 
Nixon,  Gharles. 
Nixon,  NIcholaa. 
Nixon,  Thomae. 
Nowell,  Benry. 
Nock,  Thomas. 
Nock,  ExekieL 
Nock,  Joseph. 
Nock,  SamneL 
Needles,  Thomas. 
Needles,  Wm. 
Niel,  Jonathan. 
NIel,  AquiUa. 
Niel,  Wm. 
Newman,  James. 
Newman,  Edward. 
Newport,  Jesse. 
Newton,  Isaac. 
Nickerson,  Nathan. 
Oldfleld,  Francis. 
Oldfteld,  Henry. 
Pennywell,  Wm. 
Pennell,  John. 
Patten,  Wm. 
Patten,  John. 
Patten,  Widow. 
Perkins,  Thomas. 
Perkins,  Nicholas. 
Panris,  Wm. 
Parrls,  Absalom. 
Parris,  SamneL 
Panris,  John. 
Parvis,  Richard. 
Pryor,  John. 
Pryor,  Joseph. 
Pnrden,  Andrew. 
Porden,  John. 
Purden,  Joseph. 
Price,  Thomas. 
Price,  Wm. 
Price,  John. 
Price,  Martha. 
Price,  John,  Jr. 
Powell,  Wm. 
Piatt,  Nathan. 
Pratt,  Luke. 
Piatt,  Frederick. 
Patter,  Wm. 
Pickering,  Thomas. 
Pierce,  Wm. 
Pierce,  John. 
Pierce,  Jacob. 
Proctor,  Thomas. 
Piper,  John. 
Plppen,  Robt. 
Pamal,  Abraham. 
Paradee,  John. 
Perry,  Daniel. 
Ridgly,  Chas. 
Rodney,  Thomas. 
Rodney,  Cnsar. 


KuUedge,  Moses. 
Rutledge,  John. 
Register,  Robert 
Register,  John. 
Rash,  John. 
Rash,  Andrew. 
Rash,  Joseph. 
Robinson,  Samuel. 
Robinson,  James. 
RoUnson,  Margaret. 
Reynold,  Michael. 
Reynolds,  John. 
Roe.  Elizabeth. 
Russell,  Thomas. 
Rodgers,  Joseph. 
Rodgen,  Edward. 
Rodgers,  James. 
Reed,  George. 
Reed,  John. 
Reed,Wm. 
Rioharddon,  Wm. 
Rich,  Edward. 
Ridgway,  Thomas. 
Ringgold,  John. 
Rose,  LeTi 
Rose,  Thomas. 
Riley,  Francis. 
Ruth,  Thomas. 
Rickets,  Thomas. 
Rench,  Jacob. 
Rowland,  Isaiah. 
Roberts,  John. 
Rumley,  Edge. 
Rutledge,  Wm. 
Rodgers,  Thomas. 
Sipple,  Garrett 
Sipple,  Waltman. 
M^^le,  Martin. 
8ipit>le,  Caleb. 
Sipple,  Thomas. 
Sipple,  Elhw. 
Stradley,  Nathan. 
Stradley,  Absalom.    ! 
Stradley,  Darid. 
Stradley,  Thomas. 
Stevens,  John. 
Sherrard,  Nixon. 
Sherrard,  Joseph. 
Sherrard,  Daniel. 
Soward,  George. 
Soward,  Thomas. 
Soward,  Widow. 
Shehom,  David. 
Shehorn,  Jonathan. 
Shehom,  John. 
Shehom,  Oomeliua. 
Saxton,  George. 
Saxton,  Alexander. 
Smithers,  John. 
Smithen,  Joseph. 
Smithera,  Nathan. 
Smithers,  Samuel. 
Smith.  Richard. 
Smith,  John. 
Smith,  David. 
Smith,  Olive. 
Smith,  Jacob. 
Smith,  Goorge. 
Smith,  Nathaniel. 
Smith,  Abram. 
Shippard,  BeAjamin. 
Starr,  James. 
Start,  John. 
Seany,  John. 
Seaney,  Bryon. 
Scully,  Burton. 
Scully,  John. 
Scatten,  Thomas. 


Sootten,  Richard. 
Sootten,  Wm. 
Scotten,  John. 
Sootten,  Ellas. 
Strong,  Bei\|. 
Street,  Abram. 
Stanley,  Richard. 
Simmons,  John. 
SInunons,  Jerry. 
Slater,  John. 
Stedham,  Thomas. 
Spy,  John. 
Sapp,  Isaac 
Spencer,  John. 
Spencer,  George. 
Shields  Thomas. 
Shields,  Archibald. 
Skinner,  Thomas. 
Shaw,  Wm. 
Shaw,  Joshua. 
Steel,  George. 
Steel,  Widow. 
Stewart,  Moses. 
Stern,  Abram. 
Summers,  Nathaniel. 
Smock,  Timothy. 
Traitt,  George. 
Truitt  Samuel. 
Tttylor,  Mijor. 
Taylor,  John. 
Taylor,  Thomas. 
Taylor,  Caleb  Isaac. 
Tomlin,  John. 
Trippett,  Absalom. 
Thompson,  William. 
Thompson,  Robert 
Train,  James. 
Tilton,  Nehemiah. 
Tilton,  James. 
Taggart,  James. 
Thomas.  Daniel. 
Thomas,  BeqJ. 
Thomas,  Wm. 
Thomas.  Moses. 
Thomas,  James. 
Thomas,  Thomas. 
Tubman,  Ananias. 
Tilghman,  Edward. 
TibUea,  Wm. 
Townsend,  James. 
Vinlng,  Beni. 
Vashel,  Obadiah. 
Vashel,  John. 
Vlidin,  Wm. 
Virdin,  John. 
Virdin,  Isaac 
Virdin,  John,  Jr. 
Vanattee,  John. 
Venn,  John. 
Wallser,  Daniel. 
Wells.  Richard. 
Wallace,  John. 


Wallace,  Jonathan. 
Wallace,  Thomas. 
Wallace,  David. 
White,  Stephen. 
White,  Jacob. 
White,  Richard. 
White,  Joseph. 
White,  John. 
White,  Thomas. 
Wheeler,  Lemuel 
Wheeler,  Daniel. 
Wheeler,  John. 
Wheeler,  Wm. 
Wheeler,  Jamea. 
Wilson,  Simon. 
Wilson,  Capt  Isaac. 
Wilson,  James. 
Wilson,  John. 
Wilson,  Nathan. 
Wilson,  Wm. 
WUson,  Widow. 
Wilson,  George. 
Wilson,  Ebenezer. 
Wilson,  Robert, 
Wilson,  AUen. 
Wilson,  Solomon. 
Walton,  BagwelL 
Walton,  Widow. 
Williams,  James. 
WilUams,  Christian. 
WilUby,  Samuel. 
Woodly,  Thomas, 
Woodiy,  QUeb. 
Woodly,  Jonathan. 
Watson,  John. 
Whitely,  John. 
Whitely,  Arthur. 
Wilkinson,  John. 
Wilkins,  Thomas. 
West,  Wm. 
West,  John. 
West,  Thomas. 
West,  John  (inn-keeper). 
Wright,  Thomas. 
Wright,  Ambrose. 
Wright,  John. 
Wild,  Thomas. 
Wyatt,  Solomon. 
Wyatt,  Thomas. 
Warren,  John. 
Warren,  Thomas. 
Warren,  BeiU. 
Winslow,  John. 
Wynford,  Alexander. 
Webb,  Wm. 
Webb,  BeAj. 
Webb,  Robert. 
Wealsman,  Jamei, 
Winsmore,  Robert. 
Young,  Preston. 
Young,  Noah. 


CHAPTER    LXII. 

SOUTH  MURDBRKILL  HUNDRED.* 

MURDERKILL  HUNDRED  was  ODe  of  the  original 
divisions  of  Kent  County,  and  embraced  all  the 
present  territory  of  North  and  South  Murderkill 
Hundreds,  West  Dover  Hundred  and  that  part  of  East 


1  Prepared  by  John  C.  Qooden. 


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1148 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Dover  Hundred  that  lies  south  and  west  of  St.  Jones' 
Creek. 

By  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  passed  at  Dover, 
January  28,  1823,  all  that  part  lying  to  the  north  of 
the  present  North  Murderkill  Hundred,  except  a  nar- 
row strip  which  was  separated,  January  28,  1831,  was 
taken  off  to  form  Dover  Hundred. 

March  2,  1855,  Murderkill  Hundred  was  divided 
into  two  election  districts,  known  as  north  and  south 
election  districts.  By  a  further  act,  passed  at  Dover, 
March  20, 1867,  these  two  flection  districts  were,  in 
the  language  of  the  statute,  erected  into  two  separate 
and  independent  hundreds,  by  the  following  divisional 
line :  "  Beginning  at  Dover  River,  at  the  White  Store 
Landing,  and  running  thence  with  the  road  to  Locust- 
ville;  thence  with  the  road  from  Locustville  to  Can- 
terbury until  it  reaches  the  fork  of  said  road  near  town, 
thence  by  the  southern  road  leading  into  said  town, 
until  it  reaches  the  main  road  leading  from  Canter- 
bury to  Frederics,  thence  with  said  road  to  White 
Hall,  thence  with  the  road  running  past  the  school- 
house,  in  district  number  twenty-four,  to  Mount 
Moriah  to  Sandtown,  thence  with  the  road  leading 
from  Sandtown  to  the  Maryland  line  to  said  line.'' 

The  territory  lying  north  of  that  line  was  declared 
to  be  North  Murderkill  Hundred,  and  that  south  as 
South  Murderkill  Hundred. 

South  Murderkill  Hundred  is  about  eighteen  miles 
in  length,  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the  Delaware 
Bay  to  the  Delaware  and  Maryland  line,  and  from 
three  and  a  half  to  five  miles  in  width. 

The  hundred  is  bounded  upon  the  north  by  North 
Murderkill  Hundred ;  on  the  northeast  by  St.  Jones' 
Creek,  separating  it  from  the  eastern  portion  of  East 
Dover  Hundred ;  on  the  east  by  the  Delaware  Bay ; 
on  the  southeast  and  south  by  Murderkill  Creek  and 
by  the  road  leading  from  Felton  to  Whitelysburg, 
beginning  in  the  road  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  afore- 
said creek,  thence  with  said  road  through  Hollands- 
ville  to  within  about  one  and  one-fourth  mile  of 
Whitelysburg,  thence  (leaving  said  road)  in  a  south- 
westerly direction  to  the  Delaware  and  Maryland  line, 
the  said  creek  and  road  separating  the  hundred  from 
Mil  ford  and  Mispillion  Hundreds ;  and  on  the  west  by 
the  State  of  Maryland. 

The  soil,  in  both  of  the  Murderkills,  is  of  varying 
degrees  of  productiveness,  being  specially  adapted  to 
the  growth  of  corn,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  buckwheat,  to 
both  the  large  and  small  fruits  and  to  grazing.  Its 
productiveness  has  been  greatly  increased  in  recent 
years  by  better  methods  of  cultivation,  the  draining 
of  marshes,  the  application  of  artificial  manures  and 
many  other  local  improvements.  The  soil  seems 
particularly  adapted  for  the  growth  of  timber,  such  as 
hickory,  chestnut,  oak,  maple,  poplar  and  sweet  gum, 
nearly  all  of  which,  except  for  domestic  purposes, 
have  disappeared.  In  many  localities,  where  once 
nature,  in  her  timber  productions,  rioted  in  a  super- 
fluous abundance,  the  soil  has  been  entirely  denuded 
of  its  former  luxuriant  forest  growths. 


The  surface  is  neither  level  or  broken,  but  is  gently 
undulating  which  gives  it  an  attractive  appearance 
inviting  occupancy  and  profitable  cultivation. 

The  hundred  is  traversed  by  two  navigable  streams, 
the  St.  Jones'  Creek,  on  the  northeast,  affording 
passage  to  vessels  and  steamers  of  two  hundred  tons 
burden  as  far  up  as  Dover,  a  distance  of  thirty 
miles  ;  the  Murderkill  Creek  on  the  southeast  and 
south  navigable  for  three  miles  above  Frederica,  a 
distance  of  twenty -five  miles.  These  two  streams 
with  their  numerous  tributaries  threading  the  eastern 
and  central  parts  of  the  hundred,  with  the  Choptank 
River  and  its  branches  in  the  western  portion,  aflord 
a  complete  system  of  drainage  to  both  North  and 
South  Murderkill  Hundreds,  and  ample  water-power 
for  all  the  purposes  of  custom  and  merchant  milling, 
and  other  ordinary  manufactures. 

Eably  Settlements.— Here,  as  in  most  other 
new  counties,  the  first  improvements  were  made 
along  the  streams  and  water  courses,  which  enabled 
the  settlers  to  have  access  to  the  outside  world,  or 
upon  which  they  could  erect  mills  and  find  the  re- 
quisite water-power. 

The  point  of  land  lying  on  the  Delaware  Bay  and 
between  the  mouths  of  the  St.  Jones'  Creek  and 
Murderkill  Creek,  now  known  as  Bowers'  Beach, 
was  one  of  the  flrst  to  be  located,  and  was  taken  up 
by  Francis  Whitwell,  who  located  other  large  tracts 
in  Duck  Creek  Hundred,  upon  one  of  which  he  re- 
sided. This  tract  of  land,  to  which  he  gave  the  name 
of  "  Whitwell's  Delight,"  was  located  under  a  warrant 
dated  in  the  spring  of  1675,  granted  by  Sir  Eklmond 
Andros,  Governor  of  the  province  of  New  York  and 
the  territories  lying  upon  the  Delaware,  and  is  de- 
scribed as  beginning  on  the  west  side  of  Dover  River 
at  a  point  called  "  Mulberry  Point,"  by  the  bay  side, 
down  the  bay  to  the  Murder  Creek  meadow,  up  the 
meadow,  and  inland  to  the  head  of  a  small  branch, 
down  branch  to  Mill  Creek,  down  Mill  Creek  to 
Dover  River,  down  Dover  River  to  Delaware  Bay, 
down  the  bay  to  the  beginning,  containing  eight 
hundred  and  thirty-four  acres  of  woodland  and  five 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  meadow.  Francis  Whit- 
well assigned  this  property  in  1685  to  William 
Frampton,  who  obtained  a  warrant  of  re-survey 
November  11,  1685,  and  received  a  patent  dated 
January  5,  1686,  in  which  it  is  stated  as  now  being 
called  "  Dover  Peere,"  and  containing  one  thousand 
three  hundred  and  seventy-four  acres. 

Frampton  was  a  merchant  of  considerable  means, 
and  was  doing  an  extensive  business  in  this  county 
in  1683.  His  bills  were  attested  in  that  year  before 
the  Assembly,  and  show  over  fifty  thousand  pounds  of 
tobacco,  and  large  quantities  of  pork,  corn  and  other 
commodities.  He  was  licensed  to  keep  an  ordinary 
January  16,  1686,  and  presented  a  petition  to  the 
Assembly  requesting  the  "  removal  of  ye  goods  out 
of  ye  caves  before  his  door,  he  being  about  building  a 
wharf."  This  petition  was  granted,  but  for  some  rea- 
son  he  very    shortly  after  moved  to  Philadelphia, 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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wb^re  he  soon  after  died.  Bis  daughter,  Elizabeth 
Frampton,  and  Charles  Pickering,  of  Philadelphia, 
as  administrators,  sold  the  property,  January  24, 
1686,  to  William  Bassett. 

At  the  time  William  Frampton  was  in  business  in 
this  county  the  courts  were  held  on  "  Towne  Point,*' 
in  St.  Jones'  Neck,  then  owned  by  William  Darvall, 
and  Frampton's  place  of  businef>8was  on  this  tract, 
called  Whitweirs  Delight,  the  name  of  which  he  had 
changed  to  "  Dover  Peere,"  and  where  he  doubtless 
intended  to  build  his  wharf,  as  the  tract  was  across 
the  stream  from  "Towne  Point,"  now  "owned  by 
Algernon  Sidney  Logan,  of  Philadelphia. 

In  1750  John  Booth,  eldest  son  of  Joseph  Booth, 
was  in  possession  of  part  of  "  WhitwelPs  Delight," 
or  "  Dover  Peere,"  and  on  August  2d,  in  that  year, 
sold  it  to  Benjamin  Chew.  Nathaniel  Hunn  came 
into  possession  of  four  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
it,  including  some  marsh  land,  long  before  Booth 
bought.  He  died  and  left  it  to  his  children, — Caleb 
and  Nathaniel  Hunn,  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Wait- 
man  Sipple,  Jr., — who,  August  16, 1734,  sold  three 
hundred  acres  of  fast  land  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  marsh  land  to  John  Bowers,  a  part 
ot  "Mulberrie  Point"  or  "  WhitwelPs  Delight" 
Since  the  time  of  Bowers'  purchase  the  place  has 
been  known  as  "Bowers'  Beach."  From  John 
Bowers,  the  elder,  it  passed  to  John  Bowers,  the 
younger,  and  continued  in  the  possession  of  the 
Bowers  family  till  1847,  when  it  became  the  prop- 
erty of  Joshua  Adams,  who  had  intermarried  with 
Elizabeth,  the  youngest  daughter  of  John  Bowers, 
the  younger,  and  who  also  had  been  in  tenure  and 
occupancy  of  the  premises  some  years  before. 

The  writer  well  recollects  those  times  when  Joshua 
Adams  was  "  mine  host "  at  Bowers'.  In  those  days 
the  people  went  down  in  wagons  and  carts,  some  of 
which  were  open  and  some  covered,  many  of  them 
drawn  by  oxen.  They  took  the  whole  family  along, 
women  and  children,  and  would,  perhaps,  be  part  of 
three  days  in  going  and  returning,  and  upon  the 
beach.  They  went  for  profit  as  well  as  pleasure. 
While  at  the  beach  they  would  lay  in  a  store  of  oys- 
ters for  the  fall,  and  later  in  the  season  would  return 
lor  their  winter  store,  which  they  preserved  by  occa- 
sionally "  feeding"  or  throwing  over  them  salt  water, 
and  keeping  them  well -covered  with  salt  hay.  The 
writer  also  remembers  the  time  he  first  visited 
Bowers',  in  1844,  that,  from  where  the  hotel  then 
stood,  it  was  fully  three  hundred  yards  to  the  water, 
and  at  least  one-third  of  a  mile  to  the  mouth  of  Mur- 
derkill  Creek,  but  now  "the  tide  ebbs  and  flows 
twice  in  every  twenty-four  hours"  on  the  site  of  the 
old  tavern,  the  mouth  of  the  creek  has  advanced  one- 
half  way  to  the  hotel,  and  where  fields  of  corn  then 
waved  in  the  summer's  breeze  the  land  is  now  given 
up  to  the  erosion  of  the  waves. 

With  the  death  of  Adams,  in  1851,  the  properly 
passed  from  the  Bowerses  and  the  last  of  their  de- 
scendants.   Amid  the  various  changes  and  transfers 


of  title  to  real  estate  in  this  county,  "  Bowers'  Beach" 
has  become  at  length  vested  in  Mr.  Joseph  Wood. 

The  term  "  Big  Thursday"  is  a  name  that  is  pecu- 
liar to  Bowers'  Beach,  and  many  fanciful  explana- 
tions have  been  given  of  the  origin  of  the  custom  it 
designates,  but  with  little  show  of  plausibility.  The 
custom  originated  with  the  enactment  of  our  laws 
regulating  the  taking  of  oysters  by  our  citizens  from 
the  creeks  and  ponds  of  Delaware.  Prior  to  1835 
there  was  no  law  restricting  citizens  of  the  State 
from  catching  oysters  at  any  time ;  but,  on  the  4th 
of  February  in  that  year,  the  General  Assembly  en- 
acted : 

"  That  hereafter  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever 
shall  be  permitted  to  take  or  gather  oysters  within 
the  waters  of  any  of  the  creeks  or  ponds  in  this  State, 
at  any  time  between  the  fifteenth  day  of  May  and 
the  fifteenth  day  of  August,  in  this  or  any  year  here- 
after," and  this  continued  the  law  until  1843,  when 
the  Legislature,  on  the  7th  of  February,  at  the  demand 
of  the  people,  repealed  the  law.  From  that  time  un- 
til the  revision  and  codifying  of  the  laws,  and  their 
adoption  by  the  Legislature  at  a  special  session  held 
for  that  purpose  in  1852,  no  restriction  was  placed 
upon  the  citizens  of  the  State  in  relation  to  catch- 
ing oysters  at  any  time.  In  that  year,  however,  in 
adopting  chapter  fitty-five  of  the  Revised  Code,  the 
General  Assembly  saw  proper  to  insert  the  clause 
that  "  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to  catch  or 
take  oysters  in  any  creek  or  pond  in  this  State  be- 
tween the  first  of  May  and  the  tenth  of  August  in 
any  year;"  and  this  continued  the  law  till  1877,  a 
period  of  twenty-five  years. 

The  law  of  inhibition  expiring  on  the  10th  day  of 
August,  the  people,  as  a  matter  of  course,  went  down 
on  the  second  Thursday  in  the  month,  which  could 
not  happen  sooner  than  the  eighth  day,  and  were 
thus  enabled  to  obtain  their  supply  of  oysters  and  be 
at  home  on  Saturday. 

Out  of  this  oyster  law  grew  the  custom  of  keeping 
"  Big  Thursday,"  which  has  come  down  to  our  day. 
It  was  a  day  of  recreation,  of  festivity,  accompanied 
by  the  violin  and  dancing,  conviviality  and  general 
good  cheer.  People  from  all  parts  of  the  county 
participated  in  the  general  gayety,  without  respect  to 
age  or  sex,  quality  or  condition,  renewing  old 
acquaintances  and  forming  new  ones.  In  1887,  when 
the  writer  visited  the  spot,  he  found  more  than  three 
thousand  people  present. 

Prior  to  the  purchase  of  Whitwell's  Delight,  in 
1734,  John  Bowers  had  bought,  November  7,  1727, 
two  hundred  and  twenty-six  acres  near  this  place,  but 
further  inland,  which  was  part  of  a  tract  known  as 
"  New  Seven  Haven,"  containing  five  hundred  and 
forty-three  acres,  which  was  originally  surveyed  and 
laid  out  for  John  Kipshaven  and  Peter  Hanson,  but 
first  warranted  to  Peter  Groenendike,  by  the  Whore- 
kill  court,  September  10, 1679,  and  confirmed  by  Wil- 
liam Penn  to  William  Freeman  by  letters  patent 
dated  August  15, 1706.    From  William  Freeman,  wlu) 

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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


died  in  1713  without  children,  it  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  Cornelius  Sullivan,  who  had  intermarried 
with  Freeman*s  sister  and  his  heir-in-law,  from  whom 
John  Sipple  bought  it  in  1723  and  sold  to  John  Bow- 
ers«  as  above  noted. 

Bowers  also  bought  ninety  acres,  a  part  of  "  Great 
Geneva,"  of  David  Anderson  (formerly  of  Alexander 
Farquhar),  lying  west  of  Tidbury  Branch,  on  the  St. 
Jones*  Creek,  and  February  14, 1734,  purchased  one 
hundred  acres,  part  of  tract  of  land  called  "  Breck- 
nock," on  which  the  village  of  Camden  was  built. 

"Bowers',"  recently  ** Bowers'  Beach,"  is  now  a 
thriving  village,  extending  over  a  space  of  halt  a 
mile  on  one  single  avenue,  laid  out  into  small  lots  of 
several  acres.  It  contains  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  inhabitants,  whose  principal  employment  con- 
sists in  cultivating  their  lots,  in  fishing  and  oystering 
in  season  and  in  a  seafaring  life.  The  public  improve- 
ments comprise  a  capacious  hotel,  two  general  stores, 
a  post-office  and  one  resident  physician  with  a  splen- 
did infirmary  for  invalids  who  wish  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  invigorating  effects  of  the  sea-breezes. 

Adjoining  this  tract  ("  WhitwelPs  Delight,"  which 
extended  two  and  one-quarter  miles  in  a  direct  line 
westward  from  the  bay-side),  and  west  of  it,  lay  a 
tract  of  nine  hundred  and  fifty  acres  called  "  Bart- 
lett*s  Lot,"  which  was  taken  up  by  Nicholas  Bartlett, 
Samuel  Burbury  and  John  Nowell,  March  9,  1685, 
and,  by  the  survey  of  December  12,  1688,  is  described 
as  be^nning  at  a  corner  in  a  savanna  (east  of  where 
John  Saxton  now  resides,  1887) ;  thence  two  hundred 
perches  to  a  branch  of  Murder  Creek,  up  said  branch 
(Service's  Branch),  with  its  meanderings  to  a  white 
oak ;  thence  west,  north-northwest,  and  north  to  a 
branch  of  Mill  Creek,  down  said  branch  to  a  white 
oak,  southeast  by  east  crossing  another  branch  of 
Mill  Creek ;  then  down  east  side  of  said  branch  to 
the  mouth  of  the  easternmost  branch,  separating  it 
from  William  Papton's;  then  up  said  branch  to  a 
Spanish  oak  nigh  head  thereof  east-northeast ;  then(  e 
south  thirty-four  degrees  easterly  to  first  corner; 
The  three  last  lines  are  in  line  of  Whitwell's  Delight. 
There  was  also  surveyed  unto  the  said  Bartlett,  Bur- 
bury  and  Nowell,  the  same  day,  another  tract  of  two 
hundred  acres,  called  the  "  Over  Plus,"  lying  in  the 
forks  of  Mill  Creek  and  Skidmore's  Branch,  and 
joining  BartletL's  Lott  on  the  north.  This  tract  of  two 
hundred  acres  became  the  property  of  Samuel  Bur- 
bury,  but  now  is  owned  by  Thomas  Jame«,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  who  came  to  this  county  about  fifty  years 
ago  and  engaged  in  the  raising  of  sweet  potatoes  and 
peaches. 

Bartlett's  Lott  passed  in  part  to  Andrew  Caldwell, 
who,  October  6,  1774,  devised  it  to  his  grandson, 
Andrew  Gray,  who  sold  part  of -it  to  Richard  Cooper 
and  part  to  John  Hunn  about  the  year  1800.  John 
Nowell,  February  8,  1692,  sold  part  of  Bartlett's  Lot 
called  "  Second  Neck,"  two  hundred  acres,  to  James 
Maxwell,  who,  the  same  day,  sold  to  Thomas  Skid- 
more  and  to  Joseph  Richardson. 


Bartlett's  Lot  is  now  in  possession  of  divers  per- 
son«,  the  most  prominent  among  which  may  be 
named  the  heirs  of  Henry  Williams  (recently  de- 
ceased), John  Saxton,  Thomas  James  and  Jehu  M. 
Reed.  The  last-named  is  a  lineal  descendant  of 
John  Nowell,  one  of  the  original  patentees,  and  de- 
scended from  him  through  Henry  Nowell,  his  son, 
born  in  1741,  who  "settled  on  his  father's  place,"  and 
married  Margaret  Wilson  in  1752,  by  whom  was 
born  a  daughter  Ann  in  1768,  who  in  1786  intermar- 
ried with  Elias  Sipple,  whose  daughter  Margaret 
married  Jehu  Reed  in  1827,  from  which  union  was 
born  Jehu  M.  Reed,  the  present  owner  of  part  of 
Bartlett's  Lot,  and  James  H.  Reed,  of  Bower's 
Beach.  Jehu  Reed,  the  father,  was  a  man  of 
considerable  force  of  character,  and  obtained  some 
notoriety  in  his  day.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the 
first  person  who  introduced  the  culture  of  the  peach 
in  this  county  for  profit  by  putting  out  a  large 
orchard  in  1830,  and  adding  thereto  firom  year  to 
year. 

Jehu  M.  Reed  is  descended  on  his  maternal  side 
from  John  Newell,  who,  with  Nicholas  Bartlett,  ob- 
tained a  warrant  in  September,  1685  from  "Wm. 
Markham  and  John  Goodson,  two  of  ye  Commission- 
ers appointed  to  grant  lands  by  Wm.  Penn,  Propri- 
etor and  Grovernor  of  Pennsylvania  and  Counties  an- 
nexed," for  a  tract  of  nine  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
near  the  centre  of  East  Motherkill  Hundred,  adjoin- 
ing '' Whitwell's  Delight"  on  the  west,  and  called 
"Bartlett's  Lot." 

John  Newell  seems  to  have  prospered  here  a-*  one 
of  the  earliest  farmers  in  Kent  County,  for  he  event- 
ually owned  the  most  of  "Bartlett's  Lot,"  with  much 
other  lands,  which  has  since  been  divided  into  sev- 
eral farms. 

On  the  tract  now  owned  by  Caleb  Williams  he 
buiit  his  home  of  brick,  with  dormer  windows,  and 
roof  in  the  style  of  the  old  Swedes'  Church  that  now 
stands  in  Wilmington,  Del.  This  building  which  he 
erected  is  one  of  the  original  houses  in  old  Kent, 
and  id  still  standing.  Here,  with  his  wife,  who  was  a 
Mary  Warren,  he  lived  and  reared  their  children- 
William,  John  and  Thomas.  John  Newell,  Sr..  died 
January  16,  1739,  and  is  buried  in  the  old  Newell 
burial  home  garden,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  south  of  the  home  building.  His  grave  being 
marked  with  a  hard  boulder  stone,  the  letters  J.  N. 
^nd  figures  1739  are  yet  visible.  His  will  left  to  bis 
son  John,  among  other  lands  "  where  he  now  lives. 
Plantation  with  150  acres  thereunto  belonging,"  one 
hundred  and  five  acres  of  which  is  now  part  of  the 
valuable  farm  of  the  lineal  descendant  in  the  sixth 
generation — Jehu  M.  Reed. 

John  Newell,  2d,  settled  in  his  father's  place,  and 
took  for  his  wife  a  maiden  of  Motherkill — Mar/  £d- 
mons.  During  a  prosperous  life  of  twenty  years  they 
lived  in  the  building  erected  by  his  eminent  father, 
reared  two  sons — Henry  and  William  Newell—and 
four  daughters — ^Tabitha,  Lydia,  Hannah  and  Mariam. 


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ex..  .-. 


ii*;t 


.^  c<^ <-•«•'  ^A«^M>UiC  <*liu  pt'uut  uj  xjiujaeii  ttiuce 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1161 


John  Newell  (2d)  by  his  will,  November  14, 1769, 
after  dividinfi;  his  lands  between  his  two  pods,  and 
much  money  and  slaves  to  his  daughters,  willed  the 
old  homestead  and  plantation  to  his  son,  Henry 
Newell, ''who  settled  in  his  father's  place,''  owned 
and  cultivated  the  paternal  acres.  At  the  age  of 
Iwenty-two  years  he  took  for  his  wife  a  maiden  of 
nineteen  years, — Margaret  Wilson,  of  Motherkill, 
daughter  of  George  Wilson  and  Patience,  his  wife, 
who  were  married  May  15, 1762. 

Henry  Newell,  after  thirty-five  years  of  happy  life 
in  the  home  of  his  ancestors,  made  his  will  in  1797; 
He  left  no  sons,  but  five  daughters, — Patience  Gkorge, 
born  1764 ;  Mary  Barratt,  born  1766,  was  the  wife  of 
Judge  Barratt,  who  gave  the  ground  to  the  "Wesleyan 
Methodists "  for  the  erection  thereon  of  ''  Barratt's 
Chapel "  (a  spot  renowned  among  Methodists) ;  Ann 
Newell  Sipple,  born  Third  Month  17, 1768,  who  mar- 
ried Elias  Sipple,  son  of  Waitman  8ipple  and 
Mariam  Townsend  ;  Tabitha  Hunn,  born  Eleventh 
Month  27, 1777 ;  Lydia  Newell,  born  Third  Month 
13,  1780.  The  will  of  Henry  Newell  left  to  his 
daughter,  Ann  Newell  Sipple,  one  hundred  and  five 
acres  of  land  off  of  the  west  end  of  the  Newell  home- 
stead or  "  Bartlett's  Lott,''  and  which  is  now  owned 
by  his  grandson,  Jehu  M.  Beed. 

The  remainder  of  Henry  Newel Fs  property  was 
equally  divided  among  the  remaining  four  daughters. 
Ann  Newell  and  Elias  Sipple  were  married  Eleventh 
Month  23,  1786.  Their  issue  were  Lydia  Sipple, 
born  June  1,1790;  Elijah  B.  Sipple,  born  May  26, 
1794,  who  settled  in  Denton,  Md. ;  Ann  Sipple,  born 
May  27,  1798;  Margaret  Sipple  was  born  July  4, 
1800 ;  Tabitha  Sipple  was  born  October  4,  1804. 

Ann  Newell  Sipple  died  October  6,  1804.  Elias 
Sipple  died  First  Month  27,  1806,  and  left  five  small 
orphans  to  equally  share  the  one  hundred  and  five  acres 
of  Newell  land  or  "  Bartlett's  Lott."  These  Sipple 
children  were  reared  in  the  ancestral  home.  In  1824 
Margaret  Sipple  bought  out  her  brother,  Elijah  B. 
Sipple,  and  in  1827  she  bought  out  her  sister  Lydia's 
fhare  to  the  one  hundred  and  five  ancestral  acres. 

Margaret  Sipple  and  Jehu  Reed  were  married 
Twelfth  Month,  1827.  In  1828  and  1829  Jehu  Reed 
bought  the  two  remaining  shares  to  the  one  hundred 
and  five  acres  of  Ann  Sipple  and  Tabitha  Grier.  In 
1858  Jehu  Reed  sold  to  his  son,  Jehu  M.  Reed,  the 
ancestral  one  hundred  and  five  acres,  together  with 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  the  "Reed 
Farm,"  for  a  bond  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  he  is 
now  the  owner. 

The  land  has  never  been  out  of  the  family  since  its 
acquisition  by  John  Nowell  in  1685.  Mr.  Reed  has 
since  bought  adjoining  lands,  and  now  owns  more  than 
four  hundred  acres.  Margaret  Sipple  Reed  died 
October  18,  1834,  leaving  three  boys, — James  H. 
Reed,  Elias  S.  Reed  and  Jehu  Margaret  Reed, — so 
named  at  the  last  request  of  his  mother. 

Jehu  M.  Reed  was  born  October  10,  1834,  and  was 
eight  days  old  at  the  death  of  h's  mother.     Margaret 


Sipple  ^ed  was  of  the  Quaker  ftdth.  She  was  in  the 
millinery  business  in  Philadelphia  in  1826. 

James  Reed,  the  grandfather  of  Jehu  M.  Reed, 
was  born  near  Snow  Hill,  Md.  He  married  Miss 
Davis,  the  sister  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Davis,  who 
is  buried  at  Barrett's  Chapel,  as  tradition  says,  in  a 
reverential  attitude,  and  was  the  playmate  of  James 
Reed  in  boyhood,  living  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
road,  Reed  and  Davis  both  being  farmers  near  Snow 
Hill,  Md. 

The  children  of  James  Reed  were  Thomas,  Jehu, 
Jaine.^  Mary  and  Elizabeth.  Jehu,  the  second  son, 
father  of  Jehu  if.  Reed,  was  born  May  6, 1806 ;  died 
November  30,  1880.  As  above  stated,  he  married 
Margarett  Sipple,  a  descendant  of  John  Newell,  who 
came  to  Delaware  before  1685.  Jehu  Reed  was  an 
enterprising  merchant,  agriculturist  and  horticultu- 
rist of  Kent  County.  In  1829  he  became  possessed 
of  what  is  now  known  as  the  "  Reed  Farm,"  owned 
by  his  son,  Jehu  M.  Reed.  He  was  the  first  in  his 
county  to  grow  the  peach  on  budded  trees.  A  few 
years  later  he  shipped  the  first  peaches  grown  on 
budded  trees  in  the  country  round-about  that  were 
sold  to  markets  outside  of  Delaware. 

He  had  caught  at  Bowers'  Beach  and  bought 
largely  the  king  crab  early  in  the  thirties,  and  grew 
his  first  peaches  from  them  as  a  fertilizer.  He  also 
taught  the  community  to  profitably  use  the  worn-out 
soil,  before  the  use  of  modern  fertilizers,  by  sowing 
pine-seed,  and  lived  not  only  to  cut  and  ship  hun- 
dreds of  cords  of  wood  grown  upon  it,  but  to  see  the 
same  lands  transformed  into  garden  farms  in  a  period 
of  twenty  years  or  less  after  the  pines  were  removed, 
as  his  son,  Jehu  M.  Reed,  did. 

His  first  crops  of  peaches,  before  the  age  of  steam, 
were  sent  in  fast-sailing  vessels  to  Philadelphia,  and 
he  received  his  pay  in  gold  to  such  an  amount  that  it 
astonished  some  of  the  citizens  of  Motherkill  Hun- 
dred of  those  days.  The  growth  of  the  peach  for  the 
city  markets  a  few  years  later  became  general.  Jehu 
Reed  cultivated  a  large  nursery  of  the  best  fruit  trees 
from  1829  to  1868,  and  introduced  many  valuable 
fruits.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  the  growth  of 
the  silk  mulberry  tree,  and  in  1836  received  the  gold 
medal  offered  by  the  Delaware  Legislature  for  raising 
the  greatest  number  of  mulberry  trees  in  the  State. 
He  had  the  silk-worm  fed  with  mulberry  leaves  until 
they  produced  about  one  hundred  bushels  of  their 
silk  cocoons.  He  had  manufactured  bilk  into  stock- 
ings out  of  these  cocoons,  enough  for  himself  and 
family  for  years. 

James  H.  Reed,  son  of  Jehu  and  Margaret  Sipple 
Reed,  married  Miss  Emma  Christman,  of  Pottsville, 
Pennsylvania.  Elias  S.  Reed  married  Alphonsa  Hev- 
erin,  daughter  of  James  L.  Heverin.  Jehu  M.  Reed, 
the  youngest  son,  now  one  of  the  most  successful  farm- 
ers and  fruit-growers  in  Kent  County,  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  advanced  modes  of  agriculture  and  horti- 
culture from  his  father,  and  has  continued  in  that  vo- 
cation with  great  pleasure  and  profit  to  himself  since 


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1162 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


his  early  boyhood,  except  two  yeara,  1856  and  '57,  spent 
in  travel  and' study  through  the  South. 

He  purchased  his  father's  lands  in  1858,  and 
had  paid  for  them  in  1866  out  of  its  produce.  In 
1868  he  remodeled  and  improved  the  buildings  in 
a  large  degree,  costing  him  over  twelve  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  has  since  purchased  adjoining  tracts,  owning 
more  than  four  hundred  acres  of  the  best  improved 
arable  lands.  In  1866  he  planted  six  acres  i^  straw- 
berries, and  sold  his  first  crop  of  that  delicious  fruit 
at  the  rate  of  fifty-five  cents  per  quart  delivered  in 
New  York  City.  He  was  among  the  first  to  raise  this 
berry  on  an  extensive  scale  in  Kent  County,  and  has 
since  continued,  having  now  twenty-five  acres  of  his 
farm  planted  in  strawberries.  In  1870  he  realized 
$5000  from  a  crop  of  six  acres  of  this  fruit. 

In  1866  Mr.  Reed  set  the  first  asparagus  grown  in 
the  neighborhood  for  markets  outside  the  State.  This 
plant  yielded  a  good  income,  and  he  soon  extended 
its  cultivation  by  planting  twenty-five  acres  with  it. 
His  father  on  the  same  farm  grew  peaches  in  large 
quantities. 

.  He  continued  to  grow  them  and  now  has  about  ten 
thousand  trees ;  he  has  also  five  thousand  pear  trees, 
about  one  thousand  apple  trees,  and  has  raised  some 
years  two  thousand  bushels  of  wheat  and  four  thou- 
sand bushels  of  corn.  The  value  of  the  produce  of  the 
farm  since  1858  to  the  present  has  varied  from  $6000 
to  $10,000  annually.  Mr.  Reed  was  one  of  the  first  to 
abandon  the  use  offences,  there  being  none  on  his  farm 
now,  except  around  his  residence  and  barn,  adding 
much  to  the  economy  and  beauty  of  his  lands. 

He  has  spent  much  time  and  labor  in  beautifying 
his  home ;  improving  his  buildings  and  making  his 
place  one  of  the  model  farms  in  the  State.  In  1868 
he  graded  and  laid  off  into  grass-plats  in  front  of  his 
buildings  a  very  large  mound  yard.  At  the  same  time 
he  remodeled  his  buildings  to  their  present  size.  The 
house  was  built  in  1771 ;  the  walls  and  floors  in  the 
north  part  of  it  are  part  of  the  original  building,  and 
are  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation. 

His  residence  and  farm  buildings,  an  engraving  of 
which  accompany  this  sketch,  are  provided  with  all 
the  improvements  and  convenieuces  necessary  to  ren- 
der his  rural  home  a  place  of  comfort  and  delightful 
retreat. 

Mr.  Reed  married,  July  14, 1858,  Emily  Buckmaster, 
daughter  of  Geo.  and  Mary  Burchenal  Buckmaster, 
of  Milford  Hundred,  Kent  County.  Emily  Buckmas- 
ter was  born  May  15,  1840.  Their  issue — Margaret 
E.  Reed,  born  February  14,  1860,  married  E.  C.  At- 
kins, March  24,  1870;  she  died  August  25,  1881, 
leaving  Margaret  Reverent  E.  R.  Atkins,  born  23d 
of  August,  only  two  days  old,  who  has  been  raised  so 
far  by  her  maternal  grandmother,  Emily  Reed. 
George  B.  Reed  born  July  20,  1862,  on  Sunday. 
Alice  S.  Reed,  born  October  8, 1864,  married  Clarence 
Prettyman,  a  prominent  shoe  merchant  of  Dover, 
October  8,  1884;  their  issue — C.  Reed  Prettyman, 
born  November  29,    1885.    Jehu  M.  Reed,  Jr.,  was 


born  May  1;  1866.    These  dutiful  and  amiable  young 
men  of  good  habits  are  in  business  with  their  fiither. 

Nicholas  Bartlett  also  took  up  other  tracts,  one  of 
which,  called  "Bartlett's  Delight,"  containing  two 
hundred  and  ten  acres,  was  located  on  the  north  side 
of  Mill  Creek,  adjoining  other  land  of  Bartlett,  and 
was  surveyed  for  John  Burton,  March  2,  1681,  fi^m 
whom  it  passed  to  Wm.  Rodney  and  now  forms  part  of 
the  tract  called  "  Dover  Farms." 

West  of  Bartlett's  Lott,  and  partially  embracing  it 
on  the  north  and  on  the  south,  lies  a  tract  of  land 
called  ''  Clapoame,"  or  Clapham,  consisting  of  853 
acres,  taken  up  under  a  warrant  from  the  Court  of 
Kent  County,  dated  "y«  19  day  of  y*  2  »' 1681,*' by 
John  Albertson  and  John  Mumford.  This  tract  is 
bounded  382  perches  on  the  south  by  a  tract  called 
**  The  Downes,"  on  the  west  222  perches  by  "  Joban's 
Hall,"  on  the  northwest  492  perches  by  "  Caroone 
Manor,"  and  U  now  owned  principally  by  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  S.  Willis  and  John  W.  Wright. 

On  the  southwest  side  of  St.  Jones'  Creek,  on  the 
north  side  of  Mill  Creek,  and  south  of  Barker*s  Land- 
ing, is  located  a  tract  of  840  acres,  now  called  "  Dover 
Farms,"  formerly  **  Gibbon's  Point"  This  tract  wis 
originally  taken  up  by  one  Hubertus  Francis,  who 
sold  to  John  Burton,  who,  by  a  bill  of  sale,  sold  it  to 
Edmond  Gibbon  in  1681,  *' y*  said  warrant  bearing 
date  y®  seventeenth  day  of  y*  second  month,  1681-82," 
containing  695  acres.  By  a  warrant  for  re-survey, 
September  20,  1693,  for  William  Rodney,  the  tract 
was  found  to  contain  840  acres.  At  the  time  of  the 
last  survey  a  mill  was  located  on  the  lower  side  of 
Mill  Creek,  and  on  the  upper  side  was  a  house  and 
grounds  called  the  **  lower  plantation."  Farther  up 
the  stream  was  another  house  called  the  "  upper  plan- 
tation." This  land,  in  course  of  time,  came  into  the 
possession  of  Garrett  Sipple,  who  left  it  to  his  grand- 
son, Garrett  Hardcastle,  from  whom  it  passed  to  John 
M.  Ford,  who,  in  1856,  sold  it  to  James  L.  Heverin. 
It  now  belongs  to  Mrs.  Mary  Barnett,  a  resident  of  the 
village  of  Magnolia. 

To  the  north  of  Dover  Farms  and  the  tract 
Clapoame,  and  joining  thereto,  lies  a  large  tract  of 
land,  of  two  thousand  acres,  known  by  the  name  of 
*'  Caroone  Manor."  This  tract  is  often  referred  to  in 
old  deeds  as  the  ''  King's  Manor  "  and  the  ''  Duke  of 
York's  Manor."  This  probably  grew  out  of  the  feet 
that,  in  1683,  at  the  request  of  William  Penn,  the 
court  of  Kent  County  issued  a  warrant  to  the  survey- 
or to  survey  and  lay  out  ten  thousand  acres  of  land 
for  the  Duke  of  York,  "  on  the  rich  ridge  in  the  road 
to  Choptank  and  on  the  heads  of  the  branches  of 
Murther  Creek,  or  where  they  will  in  any  cleare  land 
that  no  other  person  have  any  just  claime  unto  it, 
being  for  a  manor  for  the  said  Duke  of  York  granted 
by  a  special  order  from  the  proprietor  and  the  coort 
for  the  same." 

It  does  not  appear  upon  the  records  that  this  land 
was  ever  laid  out. 

Caroon£  Manou  was  originally  laid  out  for  one 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1153 


Joshua  Barkstead  by  the  approbation  of  the  **  Court  of 
Whorekill,"  and  consisted  of  two  parcels,  one  of 
which,  called  "  Croone,"  contained  twelve  hundred 
acres,  the  other,  called  "  Caroone  Mannor,"  contained 
eight  hundred  acres.  These  two  tracts  extended  in 
one  body  from  St.  Jones'  Creek  to  Double  Run,  a 
tributary  of  Murderkill  Creek.  In  1689  it  appears  to 
have  been  in  possession  of  William  Darvall,  who,  on 
the  7th  of  November  of  the  same  year,  mortgaged  it 
to  Richard  Draughtgate  and  others,  of  London.  On 
the  12th  of  December,  1694,  it  was  sold  at  sheriffs 
sale  as  the  property  of  William  Darvall,  and  pur- 
chased by  William  Rodney  for  the  use  of  William 
Penn. 

On  this  tract  of  land  are  located  the  villages  of 
"Barker's  Landing"  and  "Magnolia," 

The  land  on  which  Barker's  Landing,  on  St.  Jones* 
Creek,  is  situated  was,  prior  to  1800,  owned  by  Thomas 
Barker,  who  built  there  a  warehouse,  which  was  called 
the  **  Red  Granary ;  "  later*  the  place  was  known  as 
Barker's  Landing,  and  sometimes  as  Florence.  The 
tract  embraced  six  hundred  acres  and  extended  near- 
ly to  Magnolia.  Of  this  quantity,  "  439  acres,  99 
perches,  statute  measure,  surveyed  19-20th  May, 
1739,"  was  devised  by  Thomas  Collins,  Esq.,  presi- 
dent of  Delaware  State,  to  his  daughter  Mary,  wife 
of  Joseph  Barker.  It  was  sold  by  the  sheriflf  Sep- 
tember 20,  1819,  and  bought  by  Joseph  Barker,  who 
later  sold  it  to  William  Heverin,  who  keptit  for  many 
years.    It  is  now  cut  up  into  four  tracts. 

On  one  of  these  tracts,  now  owned  by  John  J. 
Conner,  is  located  a  cemetery,  about  one  mile  east  of 
Magnolia,  and  on  the  north  side  of  the  road,  a  short 
distance  back  in  the  field.  It  is  inclosed  by  a  brick 
wall,  three  feet  high,  and  covered  with  a  gable  roof  of 
cypress  shingles.  The  inclosure  is  sixteen  by  ten 
feet,  containing  only  three  graves,  covered  with 
heavy  marble  slabs.  Upon  the  surface  of  one  is  the 
following  inscription: 

"  In  Memory  of 
Mart  Babkbr, 

wife  of 

Jo$eph  Barker^ 

and  elde«t  daughter  of  ki$  Excellency, 

Thomaa  OoHiHa^  Etq., 

.    late  Governor  of  the  State  of  Delaware^ 

who  departed  this  life 

the  27«»  December,  1795, 

ased  30  years,  7  months  &  2  days. 

Her  death  was  occasioned  by  taking  Peruvian  bark, 

adulterated  with  litharge,  which  was  purchased  of 

an  apotkecarjf  in  WUmtHgton.    She  was  an  affectionate 

wife,  a  tender  mother  and  kind  mittreu,  beloved 

and  regretted  by  all  her  fiiende  &  acqiMkUanoe. 

She  left  her  /bubomi,  two  $on»  and  two  daughters 

to  lament  her  untimely  death.** 

Barker's  Landing  in  1887  contained  eleven  dwell- 
ings and  thirty-five  inhabitants,  and,  on  account  of 
its  proximity  to  Magnolia,  might  most  appropriately 
be  called  "  Sleepy  Hollow." 

The  place,  however,  serves  as  an  entrepot  for  the 
merchants  of  Magnolia,  who  export  grain,  wood  and 
fruita,  and  bring  back  coal,  lime,  lumber,  fertilizers 
73 


and  general  merchandise  from  Philadelphia  and  New 
York. 

The  village  of  Magnolia  is  located  on  a  tract  of 
land  part  of  Caroone  Manor,  and  was  owned  at  one 
time  by  Boaz  Manlove,  later  by  John  Marim,  from 
whom  the  land  in  the  vicinity  passed  to  the  Rev. 
James  Bateman,  his  son-in-law,  and  Hannah  Marim. 
November  19, 1818,  they  sold  one  hundred  and  ten 
acres,  adjoining  a  tract  called  "  Lombardy  Grove,"  to 
James  Millichop,  which  was  long  known  as  "  Milli- 
chop's  Woods,"  and  is  the  present  site  of  Magnolia. 

This  town  is  situated  on  the  State  Road,  between 
Dover  and  Frederica,  and  seven  miles  from  the  for- 
mer place.  The  place  may  be  said  to  have  had  no 
existence  prior  to  1845.  The  only  building  then 
standing  was  the  old  Lowber  brick  mansion,  now 
owned  by  Edmund  Stout,  Esq.,  which  was  built  in  the 
year  1774,  by  Matthew  Lowber,  grandson  of  Peter, 
the  pioneer  of  the  family,  who  died  in  1698.  The 
date  of  the  building  is  on  the  southeast  end  of  the 
house,  near  the  top  of  the  gable,  the  figures  and  the 
initials  of  the  builder  being  formed  Of  small  pieces 
of  glazed  brick,  laid  in  cement. 

In  1845  the  Mcllvains  came  from  Sussex  County 
and  built  on  this  land.  In  1847  there  were  five 
dwellings,  one  store-house  and  one  building  used  as 
an  Odd  Fellows*  Hall  and  for  public  school  pur- 
poses. 

For  the  next  eighteen  years  there  was  very  little 
progress,  when,  in  1855,  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  begun  and  finished  and  dedicated  the 
following  year,  since  which  time  the  progress  of  ita 
growth  has  been  regular,  and  the  village  now  num- 
bers forty-seven  dwellings,  two  churches,  two  general 
stores,  one  millinery  establishment,  two  wheelwrights, 
two  blacksmiths,  one  fruit  evaporator,  one  lumber- 
yard and  one  well-built  school-house,  thirty  by  fifty 
feet,  two  stories,  built  in  the  spring  of  1883.  The 
school  is  run  on  the  graded  principle,  with  two  de- 
partments and  about  one  hundred  pupils. 

The  village  has  also  a  post-office,  a  physician  and 
one  resident  minister. 

The  Odd  Fellows*  Lodge  was  established  and  in- 
corporated in  the  year  1847,  but  as  an  active  body 
ceased  to  work  about  1877. 

The  M.  E.  Church,  in  the  northern  limits  of  the 
town,  was  begun  in  1855,  and  dedicated  November 
30, 1856,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Durbin  preaching  the  dedi- 
catory sermon  in  the  morning  and  the  Rev.  Andrew 
Manship  the  evening  sermon.  This  church  was  built 
in  place  of  *^  Banning's  Chapel,"  which  was  on  the 
road  toward  Dover,  and  abtout  one  and  a  half  miles 
from  Magnolia.  Upon  the  completion  of  the  Mag- 
nolia church,  Banning's  Chapel  was  sold  to  Captain 
Thomas  Draper,  who  moved  it  away  and  converted 
it  into  a  barn. 

The  Baptist  Church  (New  School)  was  finished  and 
dedicated  by  the  Rev.  S.  M.  Harris,  of  Baltimore, 
February  15,  1874. 

The  town  of  Magnolia  was  incorporated  April  3, 


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1154 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


1886.  The  act  named  E.  D.  Beaton,  Charles  Terry, 
William  M.  Prouse,  Peter  R.  Hart  and  M.  S.  Van 
Burkalow  as  commi^ioners.  M.  8.  Van  Burkalow 
was  elected  assessor ;  W.  M.  Prouse,  clerk  and  trea- 
surer ;  and  E.  Stout,  collector. 

In  1886  the  commissioners  were  M.  S.  Van  Burka- 
low (assessor),  Peter  R.  Hart,  R.  J.  Blocksom,  William 
M.  Prouse  (clerk,  treasurer  and  collector),  E.  D.  Bur- 
ton. 

In  1887,  E.  Stout,  M.  S.  Van  Burkalow  (asses- 
sor), R.  J.  Blocksom, E.  D.  Burton,  William  M.  Prouse 
(collector,  treasurer  and  clerk). 

The  postmasters  of  Magnolia  have  been  Amos  C. 
Finsthwait,  William  M.  Prouse,  C.  L.  Terry,  Sauls- 
bury  Williams,  James  K.  Sapp. 

In  1880  Magnolia  Circuit  was  formed.  It  at  that 
time  included  Magnolia,  Canterbury  and  Saxon's.  It 
at  present  includes  Barratt,  Saxon's  and  Magnolia. 
The  preachers  have  been :  1880,  W.  F.  Corkran  ;  1882. 
8.  N.  Pilchard;  and,  1884  to  1887,  G.  L.  Hardesty. 

That  part  of  "  Caroon  Manor  "  lying  northeast  of 
Magnolia  has  for  several  years  been  in  possession  of 
Edmund  Stout  and  John  J.  Conner.  The  part  lying 
southwest  of  the  village,  previous  to  1860,  was  almost 
exclusively  the  property  of  John  and  of  Samuel 
Chambers,  but  since  their  deaths  the  land  has  passed 
into  other  hands, — principally  of  Mcllroy  Mcllvain, 
John  W.  Taylor,  Mrs.  Rasmus,  D.  Burton  and  John 
B.  Conner,  the  younger. 

On  this  tract,  on  the  east  side  of ''  Double  Run  "  or 
Island  Branch,''  is  a  mill-seat,  long  known  as  the 
'* Montague  Mill,"  used  in  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber. In  1863  it  was  sold  by  the  administrator  of 
Samuel  Chambers,  deceased,  to  John  J.  Connor,  who, 
in  1884,  sold  it  to  Zadoc  J.  Callaway,  who  has  since 
erected  a  grist-mill  upon  its  site. 

To  the  northwest  of  "  Caroon  Manor,"  and  adjoin- 
ing the  village  of  Magnolia,  lies  a  tract  of  land 
called  "The  Plains."  It  was  taken  up  by  Robert 
Bedwell,  under  a  wariant  granted  **  at  a  Court  held 
for  St  Jones'  County  the  19th  of  November,  1680. 
Present :  Mr.  Francis  Whitwell,  Mr.  John  Hilliard,  Mr. 
Edward  Pack,  Justices."  It  was  surveyed  December 
20th,  the  same  year,  and  contained  eight  hundred  acres. 
In  1685  Bedwell  sold  it  to  Henry  Johnson  and  Daniel 
Rutty,  who  sold  it  off  in  smaller  quantities.  This 
tract  lay  a  short  distance  west  of  the  Magnolia  and 
Dover  Road,  and  extended  to  the  corporate  limits  of 
the  village,  crossing  the  road  from  Magnolia  to  Can- 
terbury, and  from  thence  it  extended  in  a  southwest 
direction,  at  an  average  distance  of  thirty  rods  and 
parallel  with  said  road,  to  "  Double  Run  "  Branch,  a 
distance  of  three  hundred  and  eighty  rods ;  thence 
with  "  Double  Run,"  irregularly,  a  distance  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  rods,  crossing  the  Wood- 
leytown  Road,  dividing  North  and  South  Murderkill 
Hundreds;  thence  a  short  distance  from,  and  parallel 
with,  said  last  road,  northeast  three  hundred  and 
eighty  perches ;  thence  southeast  three  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  perches,  crossing  the  Magnolia  and  Can- 


terbury Road  about  thirty  perches  to  beginning,  near 
western  edge  of  the  village.  On  the  northern  part  of 
this  tract,  on  the  road  dividing  the  two  Murderkills, 
once  stood  the  village  of  "  Woodleytown,"  in  recent 
years  known  by  the  name  of  Locustville.  "  Woodley- 
town  "  was  part  of  the  "  Plains  "  and  waa  laid  out  in 
1783,  in  which  year  Jonathan  Woodley  and  Caleb 
Woodley  purchased,  each,  a  small  lot  of  ground  and 
the  year  following  Gove  Woodley  purchased  a  small  loL 
In  its  day  and  generation  it  did  a  thriving  business, 
but  with  the  advent  of  the  Delaware  Railroad  in 
1857,  and  the  activity  manifested  by  the  village  of 
Magnolia,  only  one  mile  distant,  it  fell  into  decay  ; 
and  to-day  the  stranger  seeking  its  site  would  be  as 
badly  puzzled  to  locate  it  as  he  would  the  fabled  ''At- 
lantis." The  buildings  have  been  moved  away  or 
pulled  down  ;  the  village  has  utterly  ceased  to  exist. 

"The  Plains"  is  now  principally  owned  by  Wm. 
Jackson,  Philip  J.  Barrett,  Samuel  Saxton^  Avery  D. 
Marvel,  Stephen  M.  Thomas,  Mrs.  Sarah  Wilson  and 
Henry  Burke. 

The  tract  owned  by  Burke  was  sold  by  Daniel 
Rutty  to  James  and  Hugh  Craige,  November  10, 
1733,  and  contained  fifty  acres.  Prior  to  the  sale  to 
the  Craiges,  Rutty,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1725,  sold 
two  acres  of  land  in  Murderkill  Hundred,  part  of 
"The  Plains,"  lying  on  a  sTiall  branch  or  sprout  pro- 
ceeding out  of  the  Double  Runs,  "  and  is  the  same 
whereon  the  Presbyterian  or  Dissenting  Meeting- 
house now  stands." 

The  trustees  to  whom  the  land  was  conveyed  were 
Thomas  Skidmore  and  Robert  Cumming,  "  for  use 
and  in  trust  only  of  and  to  the  Dissenting  Minister  or 
Ministers  of  those  people  called  Presbyterians  in  the 
County  of  Kent."    [Deed-Book  H,  vol.  i.  page  225.] 

The  Old  Presbyterian  Church  at  Murderkill  was  the 
first  church  of  this  denomination  in  the  county  of 
Kent  of  which  we  have  any  information,  and  was 
located  about  four  hundred  yards  north  of  the  present 
site  of  the  "  Montague  Mills,"  on  the  road  from  Bar- 
ker's Landing  to  Canterbury.  The  old  road  diverged 
from  the  direction  of  the  present  road,  nearly  oppo- 
site the  dwelling-house  of  Henry  Burke,  and  passed  to 
the  northward  by  the  old  church,  about  six  hundred 
yards  higher  up  the  Double  Runs,  and  crossed  the  two 
streams  by  means  of  a  causeway  and  two  bridges.  On 
the  site  of  the  old  meeting-house  there  are  tomb- 
stones and  the  remains  of  an  old  vault  now  much 
fallen  into  decay,  from  which  the  remains  of  the 
dead  were  long  ago  removed.  It  is  evident  that  the 
old  church  soon  went  to  decay,  for,  in  1762,  two  acres 
were  purchased  on  Hudson's  Branch,  of  a  tract  that 
belonged  to  Bedwell  Maxwell,  whose  widow,  Sarah 
Ann  Maxwell,  who  died  about  1844  or  1845,  stated 
that  she  was  the  first  child  baptized  in  a  church  that 
stood  on  the  Maxwell  farm,  then  entirely  gone.  The 
land  on  which  it  stood  now  belongs  to  Mrs.  Julia  £. 
Hoover.  This  was  evidently  the  second  church,  of 
which  now  no  vestige  remains.  From  the  records 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  other  data,  it  is  ap* 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1155 


parent  that  the  charch  or^nizacion  continued  in  ex- 
idtence  until  1818  or  later.  The  Rev.  John  Lednum 
says  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Huston  (or  Houston)  was 
minister  of  the  PresbyterianB  near  Dover  during  the 
Revolution.  It  also  appears  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
McKee  officiated  as  minister  in  1793,  and  adminis- 
tered spiritual  comfort  to  his  congregation,  so  that  as 
late  as  1818  the  Rev.  Archibald  McCook  was  doubt- 
lesj^  pastor. 

Of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Huston  it  is  related  that,  "One 
Sunday,  while  he  was  engaged  at  his  church,  a  de- 
tachment of  British  soldiers  came  to  his  house  and 
left  their  compliments  by  boring  their  bayonets 
through  the  panels  of  his  doors,  ripping  up  his  beds 
and  carrying  off  rather  more  of  his  live-stock,  his 
cows,  pigs  and  poultry,  than  they  were  welcome 
to  by  the  feelings  of  his  heart." 

It  appears  that  cattle  were  driven  from  Rev.  Alex- 
ander Houston's  farm,  where  John  Saxton  now  dwells, 
and  from  Andrew  Gray's,  on  Mill  Creek,  both  on  the 
same  day. 

As  to  the  location  of  the  residence  of  Andrew  Gray 
there  seems  to  be  some  difference  of  opinion.  Some 
locate  it  south  and  ea^t  of  Canterbury,  because  John 
Gray  had,  a  long  time  before  the  Revolution,  bought 
lands  in  this  neighborhood,  and  they  suppose  the 
cattle  were  driven  from  that  farm  in  the  time  of  the 
Revolution.  They  base  this  supposition  on  the  fact 
that  they  cannot  find  where  Andrew  Gray  ever  bought 
land  prior  to  December  27,  1804,  overlooking  the  fact 
that  Andrew  Caldwell,  his  grandfather,  who  died 
October  15,  1774,  bequeathed  to  him  four  hundred 
and  sixty-five  acres,  a  part  of  "  Bartlett  s  Lott,"  to 
which  he  added,  from  time  to  time,  other  parts  of  the 
same  tract. 

There  is  no  doubt  as  to  the  correctness  of  the  ver- 
sion given  by  Joseph  Burchenal,  Esq.,  who  says  that 
his  father,  Joseph  Burchenal,  in  1805,  married  Eliza- 
beth, the  daughter  of  Thomas  Lockwood,  a  tanner  in 
Willow  Grove,  and  in  1809  leased  the  Gray  farm,  and 
in  1817  bought  the  Crammer  lands,  also  part  of 
"  Bartlett's  Lott."  From  Mr.  BurchenaVs  father  the 
tradition  has  come  down  to  our  day  that  Andrew 
Gray,  the  grandfather  of  George  Gray,  now  a  United 
States  Senator  from  this  State,  owned  the  farm,  in  the 
time  of  the  Revolution,  from  which  the  cattle  were 
driven  up  to  Canterbury,  and  that  the  house  scarred 
with  bayonet  thru.sts,  now  used  as  a  barn,  is  located 
on  the  site  of  the  residence  of  John  Saxton.  The  two 
acres  of  ground  where  once  stood  the  old  meeting- 
house of  the  Double  Runs  has,  undoubtedly,  since 
1762,  been  devoted  exclusively  to  the  burial  of  the 
dead,  and  must  have  been  generally  used  by  the  sur- 
rounding country  down  to  recent  times,  judging  by 
the  multitude  of  depressions  covering  the  entire  area; 
but  this  place  has  long  since  been  surrendered  to  the 
encroachment  of  the  wilderness. 

On  one  marble  slab  is  this  inscription  : 

**To  the  Memory  of 

Georok  Csaiok 

and  Isabella  bis  Wtfo. 


He  departed  this  Life 

In  the  Year  1738, 

Aged  about  ^Z  Years, 

and  She  departed  this  Life 

in  175  J,  AgeJ  ai  Years. 

Also  5  uf  tlieir  Childi-en. 

VIrtne  A  Piety  give  way  to  Death, 

Else  the  Entouib'd  had  uc'er  resigned 

(their  Breath." 

The  last  interment  was  here  made  in  1874,  and  was 
Anor  Clements,  the  former  widow  of  Samuel  Cham- 
bers. 

Adjoining  "The  Plains"  on  the  east,  and  abutting 
on  Caroon  Manor  on  the  north,  lying  on  St.  Jones' 
Creek,  is  another  tract  of  land  taken  up  by  Robert 
Bedwell,  under  a  patent  from  Edmond  Andros,  in 
1679,  which,  lying  almost  wholly  within  theadjoining 
hundred,  will  be  described  in  "North  Murderkill 
Hundred." 

"  By  virtue  of  a  warrant  from  the  Court  of  Kent 
County,  bearing  date  y«  21*'  day  of  y*  12"'  moneth, 
1681,"  there  was  surveyed  for  Peter  Grondycke  a 
tract  of  land  called  "Cittinbourn,"  containing  four 
hundred  and  twenty  acres.  This  tract  lay  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Double  Runs,  and  was  bounded  on 
the  north  by  the  "  Duke  of  York's  Manor  "  (Caroon 
Manor),  on  the  east' by  the  tract  Clapham  or  Clap- 
oame  and  the  tract  called  the  Downs,  and  on  the 
south  by  the  Double  Runs,  or  Island  Branch,  and  a 
branch  proceeding  thereout  to  the  northeastward. 
"By  virtue  of  a  warrant  of  resurvey  from  the  Pro- 
prietaries, dated  at  Philadelphia,  the  22**  day  of  No- 
vemb',  1736,"  a  part  of  this  same  tract,  containing 
three  hundred  and  fifty-two  acres,  was  surveyed  for 
Thomas  Noxon  by  the  name  of  "  Joannus  Hall."  In 
some  of  the  deeds  since  that  date  it  is  called  Joanaly 
Hall,  It  is  described  as  lying  on  the  east  side  of 
the  northwest  branch  of  "Motherhill"  Creek  and 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Caroon  Manor,  and  on  the 
east  as  before  cited.  This  tract  is  now  crossed  by  a 
public  road,  dividing  it  into  two  unequal  parts. 
About  fifty  acres  of  the  southern  or  smaller  part  was 
purchased  by  Thomas  M.  Vinson  in  1880,  and  two 
hundred  acres  of  the  larger  or  northern  part,  abutting 
on  Caroon  Manor,  by  Edward  Jackson  the  same 
year. 

To  the  east  of  "Joannus  Hall,"  and  south  of 
Clapoame,  lies  a  tract  of  land  anciently  known  as 
"  The  Downs."  It  was  surveyed  for  Bryan  O'Neal 
under  a  warrant  from  the  court  of  Kent  County, 
bearing  date  "y*  22*  day  of  y«  12  month,  1681."  It 
extended  from  Joannus  Hall,  along  line  of  Clapoame 
eastward  four  hundred  and  six  perches,  to  a  corner 
in  Servis  Branch  and  was  laid  out  for  four  hundred 
acres.  Upon  a  resurvey  of  this  tract,  by  virtue  of  the 
proprietaries'  warrant,  dated  November  21,  1739, 
"  The  Dovms,  lately  sold  by  James  Logan,  Esq',  to 
George  Brown,  situate  on  the  heads  of  some  branches 
of  Murther  Creek,  hundred  &  Cot^  af*,  according  to 
the  ancient  corner  trees  &  bounds,  &  the  adjacent 
Lands  as  near  as  the  same  can  be  discovered,"  was 
found  to  contain  four  hundred  and  ninety-eight  acres. 


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1156 


HISTORV  OF  DELAWARE. 


This  tract  is  nearly  triangular  in  its  configuration 
and  lies  almost  wholly  west  of  the  road  leading  from 
Frederica  to  Dover,  a  small  portion  only  lying  east 
of  that  road,  whose  extreme  northeastern  corner 
boundary  in  Servis  Branch  is  not  only  a  corner  for 
this  whole  tract,  but  is  also  a  corner  for  Clapoame, 
Bartlett's  Lott  and  for  the  tract  "  Ausbe,"  next  here- 
inafter'described. 

The  southern  extremity  of  the  triangle  is  described 
as  being  a  corner  for  Thomas  Hether's  land  Ausbe 
and  the  tract  called  "  Williams*  Chance,"  and  "  on 
the  southwest  side  Johnny  cake  path,''  a  path  that 
led  to  the  present  town  of  Frederica,  which,  previous 
to  1772,  wan  known  as  Johnny  Cake  Landing.  **The 
Downs"  is  now  principally  owned  by  Jehu  M.  Reed, 
whose  residence  is  on  the  west  side  of  the  Frederica 
and  Dover  Road  and  near  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
triangle,  and  by  Daniel  S.  Ells. 

The  tract  "  Ausbe,"  or  in  later  surveys  "  Ouseby,'' 
was  a  large  tract  of  land  lying  east  of  **  The  Downs." 
It  was  taken  up  by  Thomas  Hethers,  under  a  warrant 
from  the  court  of  Kent  County  "  bearing  date  y*  15th 
day  of  y*,8  month,  1682,"  and  containing  one  thousand 
six  hundred  acres.  It  is  described  as  beginning  at 
the  head  of  Servis  Branch,  a  corner  for  The  Downs, 
Clapoam,  Bartlett's  Lott  and  this  tract,  thence  down 
Servis  Branch  to  Murder  Creek,  up  the  creek  to 
mouth  of  Cranberry  Branch,  up  branch  northwesterly, 
thence  over  branch  west,  thence  northwest  to  corner 
by  '*  Johnny  cake  path,"  a  corner  for  this  tract,  for 
The  Downs  and  for  "  Williams'  Chance,"  thence 
with  the  four  southeast  boundary  lines  of  The  Downs 
in  a  general  northeast  direction  three  hundred  and 
sixty-eight  perches  to  Servis  Branch. 

This  tract  is  now  chiefly  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
Captain  James  Grier,  (recently  Elias  Russell,  Dr.  R. 
S.  W.  Hirons,  Dr.  Thomas  V.  Cahall,  Thomas  W. 
Emory,  Hughett  L.  Knight  and  ex-Governor  John 
W.  Hall. 

Upon  this  tract  is  located  the  school-house  of  Dis- 
trict No.  80,  which  has  from  time  immemorial  been 
known  as  "Warren's  School- House,"  because  the 
Warrens,  long  anterior  to  the  year  1800,  came  from 
Sussex  County  and  purchased  large  tracts  in  this 
vicinity.  **  Williams'  Chance"  is  a  tract  of  land 
lying  south  of  The  Downs  and  described  as  binding 
with  Thomas  Hether's  land  up  a  small  branch  two 
hundred  and  forty-four  perches,  thence  west  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  perches,  northwest  two  hundred  and 
twenty-eight  perches,  in  line  with  the  corner  by 
Johnny  Cake  Path,  thence  west-southwest  to  small 
branch,  down  small  branch  south-southwest  to  north- 
west branch  of  Murder  Creek,  down  northwest  branch 
to  beginning  at  mouth  of  small  branch  on  Murderkill 
Creek,  and  laid  out  for  six  hundred  acres.  It  was 
surveyed  for  Thomas  Williams  and  Peter  Groendyk, 
the20ih  of  January,  1680.  A  part,  if  not  all,  of  "Wil- 
liams' Chance,"  as  well  as  a  good  slice  of  Ouseby, 
was  in  the  possession  of  Philip  Barratt,  and  is 
mentioned  in  his  last   will   and  testament  in   1783. 


One  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  this  land,  lying  on  the 
northwest  branch  of  Murder  Creek,  he  devised  to  his 
son  Andrew.  Another  part  of  the  same  tract  he 
mentions  in  his  will  as  "adjoining  Johnny  cake 
bridge,  which  I  purchased  of  a  certain  Joseph  Price." 
"  Johnny  cake  bridge,"  here  mentioned,  was  higher 
up  than  the  present  crossing  into  Frederica,  which 
was  built  at  a  later  date  across  a  marsh  and  cripple, 
and  was  at  a  place  called  "  Johnny  cake  crossing,"  on 
the  same  stream,  which  had  fast  land  on  both  banks. 
This  crossing  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  land  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Mary  Darby,  and  the  road  therefirom 
passed  by  the  east  end  of  her  house  and  intersected 
the  road  to  "  Johnny  Cake  Landing,"  about  half  a 
mile  west  from  the  wharf. 

"Williams'  Chance"  is  now  owned  by  divers  per- 
sons, the  largest  land-owners  being  Elias  Russell, 
William  H.  Wix,  William  Townsend's  heirs  and 
Hon.  James  R.  Lofland. 

Upon  "Williams'  Chance"  is  located  "Barratt's 
Chapel,"  a  noted  landmark  in  the  history  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  this  country.  It  is 
situated  about  one  mile  north  of  the  town  of  Fred- 
erica, on  the  road  leading  toward  Dover.  The  land 
upon  which  it  is  located  was  deeded  by  Philip  Bar- 
ratt, August  17,  1780,  "  unto  Reynear  Williams,  David 
Lewis,  Waitman  Sipple,  Samuel  Smith,  Caleb  Furbee, 
Jonathan  Furbee,  Andrew  Purdin,  William  Virdin 
and  Daniel  James,"  as  trustees. 

The  deed  of  feoffment,  after  reciting  the  nominal 
consideration  of  ^ye  shillings  current  money,  con- 
tinues in  these  words :  "  For  divers  other  causes  and 
considerations  thereunto  moving  him,  the  said  Philip 
Barratt  have  granted  .  .  .  All  that  part  of  a  Tract 
or  Parcel  of  Land  Called  William*  Chance  .  .  . 
Beginning  at  a  Marked  Hickory  bush  standing  about 
three  feet  to  the  Eastward  from  where  a  Marked  red 
oak  formerly  stood,  being  a  Comer  Tree  of  said  Wil- 
liams' Chance,  as  also  a  Corner  of  a  Tract  of  Land 
Called  Ousbee,  and  about  eight  perches  from  the 
Easternmost  Corner  of  Brick  building  now  Carrying 
on  and  intended  for  a  Preaching-House  or  Chappel, 
then  runs  North  West  thirteen  perches  to  a  Hickory 
saplin  marked  with  nine  Notches,  then  Southwest  by 
west  thirteen  perches  to  a  Hickory  bush  marked  as 
af^^  then  South  East  thirteen  perches  to  a  Red  Oak 
saplin  Marked  as  af!»**,  standing  in  or  near  the  line  of 
Bowers  Furbee's  part  of  s*  Williams'  Chance,  that 
with  that  line  to  the  Beginning  afs"^.  Containing  one 
acre  of  land,  be  the  same  more  er  less.  .  .  Never- 
theless, upon  special  Trust  and  Confidence  and  to  the 
intent  and  express  purpose  of  Building  a  Preaching- 
House  or  Chappel  thereon,  and  that  they,  the  said 
Trustees  and  the  survivors  of  them  and  the  Trustees 
for  the  time  being,  do  and  shall  from  time  to  time, 
and  at  all  times  forever  thereafter,  permit  such  per- 
sons 88  shall  be  appointed  at  the  Yearly  Conference 
of  the  People  Called  Methodists  held  in  America  to 
Preach  and  Expound  God's  Word  and  no  others,  to 
have  and  to  injoy  the  said  premises.  Provided  always 


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that  the  said  [Preacher]  Preach  no  other  Doctrine 
than  18  contained  in  the  Rev*.  John  Wessley's  Notes 
on  the  New  Testament  and  Four  Volumes  of  Ser- 
mons."    [Deed  Book  W,  vol.  i.,  folio  247]. 

From  the  records  that  have  come  down  to  us,  it 
appears  that  the  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettaon  gave  the 
first  impetus  to  Methodism  that  eventuated  in  the 
formation  of  the  strongest  hierarchy  of  any  Protest- 
ant denomination  on  this  Peninsula. 

In  the  year  1778  he  preached  at  the  house  of  a  Mr. 
Lewis,  who,  in  company  with  Philip  Barratt,  Jona- 
than Sipple  and  their  families,  became  so  much  in- 
terested by  his  preaching  in  the  teachings  of  John 
Wesley,  that  they  formed  themselves,  with  others, 
into  a  society  of  Methodists. 

At  this  time  it  was  the  custom  of  the  people  to 
meet  by  appointment  at  each  other's  houses  in  the 
morning  for  prayers  and  to  listen  to  a  discourse  from 
some  passing  itinerant.  It  often  happened  that  more 
people  assembled  on  these  occasions  than  could  be 
accommodated  with  house-room,  particularly  on 
Sundays  and  during  revival  seasons.  Owing  to  the 
lack  of  room  at  private  residences,  the  followers  of 
John  Wesley  felt  greatly  in  need  of  more  spacious 
accommodations. 

In  March,  1780,  Philip  Barratt  and  Waitman 
Sipple  took  the  initiative  in  erecting  a  meeting- 
house, the  result  of  which  was  Barratt's  Chapel.  The 
edifice  was  forty-two  by  forty- eight  feet,  two  stories 
high,  and  had  a  vestry -room  connected  with  it. 
There  is  a  tradition  that  the  bricks  of  which  it  was 
built  were  imported  from  Holland,  which  is  highly 
improbable,  as  the  clay  in  the  immediate  vicinity  is 
as  good  as  any  in  the  woild  for  bricks  and  the  art  of 
making  bricks  was  already  well-known,  as  bricks  had 
been  burned  at  Lewes  and  other  places  in  the  Pen- 
insula many  years  before  this  time.  The  house  was 
furnished  with  a  pulpit  and  occupied  as  a  place  of 
worship  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year. 

In  November,  1784,  Dr.  Samuel  Megaw,  who  had 
been  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
Third  and  Walnut  Streets,  Philadelphia,  Bishop 
Asbury,  Caleb  B.  Pedicord,  Joseph  Hartley,  Rev. 
Cromwell  and  Rev.  Thomas  Coke,  LL.D.,  met  at 
Barratt's  Chapel  and  celebrated  the  first  Quarterly 
Meeting  held  there,  at  which  one  thousand  people 
were  estimated  to  have  been  present.  It  was  on  this 
occasion,  November  14th,  that  Dr.  Coke,  who  preach- 
ing the  sermon  of  the  day,  first  met  Francis  Asbury 
and  concerted  those  measures  by  which  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  oiganized  in  America,  which 
was  effected  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  a  few  weeks  later.  At 
that  meeting  Asbury  was  elected  the  first  bishop  in 
America  and  was  consecrated  by  Dr.  Coke,  who  had 
been  ordained  the  first  bishop  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  by  John  Wesley  himself. 

The  old  fashioned  high  pulpit,  which  in  as  reached 
by  a  flight  of  steps  and  which  aim  »8t  concealed  the 
preacher  from  his  congregation,  has  been  remodel- 
ed  to  suit  modern  ideas  ;  but    the  seat  or  wooden 


bench,  upon  which  Bishops  Coke  and  Asbury,  and 
other  pioneers  of  the  church,  sat,  is  still  preserved  as  a 
memento.  For  the  first  sixty  years  of  its  existence  the 
ground  was  the  only  flooring  of  the  church,  and  the 
walls  were  left  in  an  uncouth  and  primitive  state. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  these  inconveniences,  the  early 
fathers  and  mothers  of  the  church  in  Israel  never 
ceased  to  meet  here  and  hold  divine  services. 

Barratt's  Chapel  has  enjoyed  the  ministrations  of 
some  of  the  brightest  ecclesiastical  luminaries  in  the 
church,  but  the  most  memorable  epoch  in  its  history 
was  the  meeting  of  Coke  and  Asbury  at  the  chapel 
the  year  following,  and  their  own  consecration  to  the 
episcopacy  for  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Ezekiel 
Cooper,  then  twenty-two  years  old.  To  this  trio  is  to 
be  attributed  whatever  of  ultimate  success  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  has  achieved  throughout  the 
world. 

In  1799  Ezekiel  Cooper  became  editor  and  general 
agent  of  the  Book  Concern,  whose  capital  stock  in  the 
next  six  years  rose  from  almost  nothing  to  forty- five 
thousand  dollars.  The  energy  and  ability  which  he 
brought  to  this  undertaking  gave  to  the  *'Book  Con- 
cern '*  an  impulse  and  organization  that  has  rendered 
it  one  of  the  largest  religious  publishing  establish- 
ments in  the  world. 

After  his  ordination  to  the  ministry,  in  1785,  he  was 
in  frequent  communication  with  John  Wesley  as  to 
the  organization  and  details  of  the  church.  Tl^e  last 
letter  ever  penned  by  John  Wesley  to  the  New  World 
was  written  just  twenty-nine  days  before  his  death, 
and  was  directed  to  Ezekiel  Cooper.  The  original 
letter  was  in  the  possession  of  his  nephew,  the  Rev. 
Ignatius  T.  Cooper,  D.D.,  of  Camden,  Del.,  who  had 
it  framed,  and  treasured  it  as  a  memento  of  great  in- 
terest.   Here  is  given  a  copy  of  the  letter  : 

"  Nbab  Lokdom,  Feb.  1, 171*1. 
**  Dear  Brother:  Thoee  that  desire  to  write  or  say  anything  to  me 
have  DO  time  to  luse,  for  Time  has  shaken  me  by  the  hand  and  D«ath  is 
not  far  behind.    But  I  hare  reason  to  bo  thanliful  for  the  time  tiiat  is 
past.    I  felt  none  of  the    infirmities  of  old  age  for  fourscore  and  six 
years.    It  was  not  till  a  year  and  a  half  ago  that  my  strength  aud  my 
sight  failed.    And  still  I  am  enabled  to  scrall  a   little  aud  to  creep, 
though  I  cannot  run.     Probably  I  should  not  be  able  to  do  wo  much  did 
not  many  of  you  assist  me  by  your  prayers.     From  time  to  time  I  hare 
given  a  distinct  account  of  the  work  of  Gud,  which  has  been  wrought  in 
Britain  and  Ireland  for  more  than  half  a  century.    We  want  some  of 
you  to  give  us  a  connected  relation  of  what  our  Lord  has  been  doing  in 
America  from  the  time  that  Richard   Boardman  accepted  the  invitation 
and  left  his  country  to  serve  you.    See  that  you  never  give  place  to  one 
thought  of  soparaUng  from  your  brethren  in  Europe.     Lose  no  oppor- 
tunity of  declaring  to  all  men  that  the  Methodists  are  one  people  in  all 
the  world,  and  that  it  is  their  full  determination  so  to  continue, 
"  *  Though  mountains  rise  and  oceans  roll 
To  sever  us  in  vain.' 
**  To  the  care  of  our  common  Lord  I  commit  you,  and  am 

"  Your  affectionate  friend  and  brother, 

"JouM  Wesley." 

On  the  southwest  side  of  the  Northwest  Branch  of 
Murderkill  Creek,  abutting  on  the  creek,  is  a  large 
tract  of  land  called  "St.  Collom,"on  whi(.h  the  vil- 
lage of  Frederica  stands.  It  was  taken  up  on  a  war- 
rant in  1681  by  Benoni  Bishop  and  surveyed  to  him 
December  10,  1684,  for  fourteen  hundred  acres.  It 
extended  down  a  small  branch  and  Bishop's  Branch 
until  it  fell  into  the  Northwest  Branch,  then  down  In- 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


dian  Creek  (Mill  Creek)  to  "Indian  Point,"  the  site 
of  "Johnny  Cake  Landing,"  now  known  as  Freder- 
ica ;  then  up  the  creek  to  Ash  Branch,  then  hy  var- 
ious lines  to  corner  for  "  Bishop's  Choice "  on  Ash 
Branch,  then  by  lines  of  Bishop's  Choice.  It  extend- 
ed from  Indian  Point,  at  the  junction  of  the  North- 
west Branch  with  Murderkill  Creek,  nearly  two  miles 
into  the  country  in  a  westward  direction.  Bishop 
also  took  up  about  the  same  time  another  tract  of  one 
thousand  and  fifty  acres,  which  he  named  "  Bishop's 
Choice." 

The  Indian  rights  in  these  lands  he  bought  of  Sac- 
carackett,  December  30,  1682,  and  January  5, 
1682-83.  The  lands  were  partly  sold  by  him,  and  the 
remainder  passed  to  two  stepdaughters,  and  from 
their  descendants,  Zachariah  Go  forth,  William  Car- 
penter, Vincent  and  Jonathan  Emerson  and  others 
purchased.  Zachariah  Goforth,  who  owned  the  land 
in  "Johnny  Cake  Neck,"  known  as  the  Old  Landing 
(in  a  survey  of  June  27,  1758,  called  Goforth's  Land- 
ing and  on  the  site  of  the  pre:$ent  crossing  from 
Frederica  to  Milford),  was  the  first  purchaser,  and 
bought  part  of  "  Bishop's  Choice"  (formerly  of  Mark 
Manlove). 

On  March  2,  1769,  he  bought  forty-eight  acres  of 
land,  part  of  St.  Collom,  lying  in  "Johnny  Cake 
Neck,"  adjoining  "  Johnny  Cake  Landing."  It  form- 
erly belonged  to  Samuel  Hues,  and  descended  to  him 
from  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Mott,  who  had  pre- 
viously purchased  from  the  said  Goforth  four  hundred 
acres,  part  of  St.  Collom,  to  which  he  gave  the  name 
of  "  Mott's  Field." 

"  Johnny  Cake  Neck  "  is  a  term  susceptible  of  in- 
definite extension — in  fact,  comprehending  all  of  St. 
Collom  and  part  of  Bishop's  Choice.  It  lay  west, 
northwest  and  southwest  of  Frederica,  and  extended 
from  Murderkill  Creek  on  the  southwest  and  south  to 
the  Northwest  Branch  and  Bishop's  Branch  on  the 
north. 

The  landing-place,  called  "Goforth's  Landing," 
was  surveyed  to  2^chariah  Goforth,  June  27,  1758, 
and  the  remainder,  June  19,  1776.  It  lies  above  the 
town  of  Frederica,  on  the  Murderkill  Creek,  and  is 
near  the  site  of  the  present  crossing  from  Frederica 
to  Milford. 

Silvia  Sipple,  April  29,  1776,  was  granted  a  warrant 
for  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  acres,  part  of  St.  Col- 
lom, lying  in  "Johnny  Cake  Neck,"  adjoining  land 
of  Zachariah  Goforth  and  Vincent  Emerson.  A  part 
of  "St.  Collom"  and  of  "Bishop's  Choice"  in 
"Johnny  Cake  Neck  "  was  granted  to  Vincent  Emer- 
son, September  16,  1769,  and  in  all  contained  nine 
hundred  and  eleven  acres.  The  land  of  ifoi^athan 
Emerson  was  adjoining  and  was  part  of  St.  Collom, 
on  which  he  laid  out  Frederica.  James  Boyer,  by 
warrant,  March  18,  1776,  also  had  one  hundred  and 
twenty-seven  acres  of  land  in  Johnny  Cake  Neck  ad- 
joining Goforth's  land  and  "  Heatherd's  Adven- 
ture," which  was  surveyed  to  James  Boyer  and  Chas. 
Ridgely. 


Frederica.— On  the  part  of  "St.  Collom,"  that 
Jonathan  Emerson  purchased,  he  laid  out,  in  1770,  a 
town  with  streets  and  lots,  each  one  hundred  by  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet.  Zachariah  Goforth  made 
the  first  purchase  that  is  on  record,  February  13, 1772, 
and  bought  two  lots,  Nos.  6  and  7.  The  other  lots, 
soon  after  sold,  were  as  follows:  John  Dill,  August 
24, 1773,  lots  Nos.  27  and  28 ;  John  Crompton,  August 
25,  1773,  lot  No.  2;  Francis  Manny,  August  27,  1773. 
lots  Nos.  25  and  26 ;  John  Fisher,  September  9, 1774, 
lots  Nos.  23  and  24;  Solomon  Elmonson,  February 
6,  1775,  lots  Nos.  8  and  22;  John  Gibson,  February 
15,  1775,  lots  Nos.  18  and  19;  Levin  Wainwright, 
November  15,  1775,  lots  Nos.  9  and  10;  William 
Sipple,  February  24, 1776,  lots  Nos.  11  and  12.  Zach- 
ariah Goforth,  August  10,  1774,  sold  twenty-five  hun- 
dred and  fiAy  square  feet  to  John  Dill,  innkeeper  of 
Johnny-Cake  Landing.  In  1790  William  Berry  was 
a  storekeeper  in  the  town. 

The  idea  prevails  among  some  people  that  one 
David  Leach  owned  all  the  land  around  Frederica, 
and  that  there  was  a  small  cluster  of  wooden  tene- 
ments, with  here  and  there  a  respectable  brick  dwell- 
ing, the  decima'.ed  remains  of  which  are  still  to  be 
seen.  This  idea  so  prevalent  is  all  a  mistake.  David 
Leach  did  not  come  from  Somerset  County,  Md.,  until 
1729,  and  February  20th  in  that  year  bought  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  forest  of  Murderkill 
Hundred  of  Jacob  Simmons,  called  "Simmons' 
Plumbs,"  and  May  14th  the  same  year  he  bought 
fifty  acres  of  land  in  the  fork  of  Murderkill  Creek  of 
John  Sipple.  He  did  not  own  the  land  on  which 
Frederica  stands.  "Johnny  Cake  Landing,"  the 
site  of  Frederica,  was  east  and  northea-st  of  Leach  s 
land,  and  adjacent  thereto  on  the  same  side  of  the 
creek.  Frederica  lies  on  the  extreme  eastern  end  of 
Johnny  Cake  Neck.  David  Leach  died  in  1760,  and 
was  buried  on  Briar  Bush  Hill,  and  did  not,  there- 
fore, lay  out  Frederica,  as  is  amply  proven  by  the 
deed:§  of  Jonathan  Emerson,  dated  twelve  years  later. 

The  headstone  and  footstone,  marking  the  site  of 
his  grave,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  along  the  cripple  of 
Murderkill  Creek,  about  fifty  yards  south  from  Na- 
thaniel Lank's  large  building,  on  his  ship-yard,  are 
in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  and  bear  this  inscrip- 
tion : 

"  David  Lkach 
departed  this  Life 
loth  Day  Janoarj 
1760." 

Many  people  attempt  to  discredit  the  fact  of 
Frederica  being  at  one  time  called  "  Johnny  Cake 
Landing,"  but  Survey  Book  A,  in  the  recorder's 
office  of  Kent  County,  on  folios  118  and  183,  will 
satisfy  one  of  the  identity  of  the  two  names.  On  folio 
118  occurs  this  language :  "  A  Draught  of  two  parcels 
of  Marsh  and  cripple,  situate  in  a  fork  of  theMurther 
Creek  in  Muither  Creek  Hundred,  in  the  County  of 
Kent  on  Delaware  :  viz.  Fig  1.  Oont-aining  34  acres 
and  allowance  of  six  pr  cent :  and  Fig.  2,  including 
Johnny  Cake  landing  and  beginning  at  a  cor.  R.  0. 


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of  David  Leech's  Land,  and  of  land  late  of  Ebenezer 
Hathorn,  on  a  point  near  the  N.  W.  branch  of  said 
Creek    .     .     .    Containing  about  65  square  perches." 

*'  Zachariah  Goforth  says  that  he,  as  representative 
of  one  Bishop,  who  formerly  own*d  a  considerable 
part  of  the  Tract  called  St.  Col  lorn,  is  entitled  to 
ground  for  a  road  to  '  Johnny  Cjike  Landing/  which 
has  always  been  excepted  in  every  grant  made  of  said 
part  by  his  ancestors  or  those  he  represents." 

In  this  plot,  surveyed  in  1758  under  a  warrant 
granted  March  26,  1757,  the  Northwest  Branch  of 
Murderkill  Creek,  on  the  north  and  northwest  of  the 
town,  Murderkill  Creek  on  the  east,  and  Goforth's 
Landing  about  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  perches 
south,  and  the  road  connecting  them,  all  prove  the 
location  of  "  Johnny  Cake  Landing,"  and  iis  identity 
with  Frederica. 

One  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Frederica,  who  has 
lived  there  nearly  the  whole  of  his  life,  is  James  G. 
Hendrickson,  born  Nov.  4,  1801,  and  to  whom  we  are 
indebted  for  many  valuable  suggestions. 

Frederica  Church, — Meetings  were  first  held  in 
the  house  of  Curtis  Anderson,  preaching  every  two 
weeks ;  the  first  building  was  erected  in  1812,  and  the 
dedication  services  were  held  March  12th  of  that  year 
by  Zedekiah  Davis.  The  building  was  twenty  by  twenty- 
six  feet,  one  story.  The  original  building  was  used 
for  both  a  school  and  church  until  the  erection  of  the 
second  building  in  1836.  Benjamin  Dill  deeded  the  lot 
fort  he  first  church  and  Benjamin  Smith  gave  the  frame- 
work. The  first  trustees  were  Curtis  Anderson,  Caleb 
Mason,  Armwell  Lockward  and  Thomas  Curtis.  The 
next  building  was  erected  in  1836.  It  was  thirty-iwo 
by  twenty-four  feet,  two  stories  high,  with  side  and 
end  galleries.  The  third  and  present  building  was 
erected  in  1856.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  church  build- 
ings in  the  State  of  the  denomination.  The  dimen- 
bions  are  forty  by  sixty  feet.  It  is  of  brick,  with  two 
stories  and  a  basement,  the  whole  being  surmounted 
with  a  steeple  in  which  there  is  a  fine  bell.  The 
building  committee  were  William  Townsend,  Caleb 
Smithers,  J.  B.  Anderson.  The  present  trustees  are 
Hon.  John  W.  Hall,  Thomas  V.  Cahall,  Thomas  T. 
Lacey,  James  T.  Postles,  Joseph  Burchenal  and 
James  B.  Anderson. 

As  early  as  1773  this  territory  was  connected  with 
Baltimore  Circuit,  and  Barratt's  and  this  neighborhood 
were  looked  after  by  ministers  from  that  place,  who 
were  Francis  Aabury,  Robert  Strawbridge,  Abraham 
Whitworth  and  Joseph  Yearby.  In  1774  the  old  Kent 
County  Maryland  Circuit  was  formed,  embracing  this 
and  all  the  territory  now  occupied  by  the  Wilming- 
ton Annual  Conference,  and  was  supplied  in  1774  by 
Philip  Gatch  and  John  Cooper;  1775,  Abraham 
Whitworth ;  1776,  Nicholas  Waters,  William  Wren, 
Joseph  Hartley;  1777,  Martin  Rodda,  William  Glen- 
denning,  Joseph  Cromwell,  Robert  Wooster.  In  1778 
Kent  Circuit  was  divided  and  Caroline  formed  out  of 
it.  To  the  latter  were  assigned  that  year  John 
Cooper,  Henry  Kennedy,  William  Duke.      The  next 


year  Delaware  Circuit  was  formed^  and  Caroline 
merged  into  it  and  Kent,  and  to  it  came  Francis  As- 
bury,  Caleb  P.  Pedicord,  Freeborn  Garrettson,  Lewis 
Alfrey,  Micajah  Debruler;  1780,  James  Cromwell 
and  Caleb  P.  Pedicord. 

In  1781  Delaware  Circuit  was  divided  into  Kent, 
Delaware  and  Sussex  Circuits,  and  to  the  former  that 
year  were  sent  Roy  Cole  and  John  Tunnell.  This 
arrangement  did  not  last  long,  for  1782  Kent  was 
dropped,  and  its  work  assigned  to  Sussex  with  Wil- 
liam Gill,  Moses  Park,  Henry  Metcalf  and  David 
Abbot.  The  Dover  Circuit  was  formed  the  next 
year,  and  the  church  was  in  that  circuit  until 
1835,  when  Camden  Circuit  was  formed,  upon 
which  it  remained  until  1839,  with  the  exception  of 
two  years,  when  it  was  again  upon  Dover.  In  the 
articles  upon  the  Camden  and  Dover  churches  will 
be  found  the  preachers  who  supplied  this  church. 
In  1839  Frederica  was  made  a  distinct  charge,  with 
Robert  £.  Kent  as  pastor.  It  remained  so  until  1841, 
when  Frederica  Circuit  was  formed,  with  William 
Connolly  as  pastor;  1842,  William  Connolly  and 
Andrew  Manship;  1843,  Joseph  Carlisle,  Silas  C. 
Palmeter;  1844,  Joseph  Carlisle;  1845,  John  Bayne, 
John  Bell;  1846,  John  Bell,  Thomas  Numbers; 
1847,  Levin  M.  Pretty  man,  Samuel  Grace ;  1849, 
Thomas  Newman,  J.  Carey ;  1850,  James  Flannery, 
Lewis  C.  Petitt ;  1851,  James  Flannery,  Samuel  R. 
Gillingham  ;  1852,  Daniel  Lamden,  Samuel  Thomas; 
1853,  Daniel  Lamden,  William  M.  Warner;  1854, 
Solomon  M.  Cooper,  Reuben  Owen ;  1855,  James  B. 
Merritt,  George  W.  Fisse ;  1856,  James  B.  Merritt, 
George  F.  Hurlock.  In  1857  tho  church  was  made  a 
distinct  charge ;  it  has  remained  ever  since.  The  pastors 
have  been :  1857-58,  Jonathans.  Willis;  1859-60,  John 
Allen  ;  1861-62,  Jacob  Derrickson  ;  1863H54,  Thomas 
W.  Simpers;  1865,  Alfred  T.  Scott;  1866-67,  Henry 
S.  Thompson;  1868-70,  A.  W.  Milby;  1871-72,  Ed- 
ward B.  Newman;  1873-75,  William  P.  Davis; 
1876-77,  J.  E.  Bryan;  1878-80,  John  E.  Mowbry ; 
1881-83,  W.  W.  Wilson  j  1884,  J.  E.  Mowbry;  1885, 
J.  S.  Willis ;  1886-87,  J.  H.  Haynes. 

The  second  building  erected  by  the  Methodists  was 
built  through  the  exertions  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  J. 
Quigley,  the  preacher  in  charge  in  1836,  who  also 
preached  the  dedication  sermon.  When  the  second 
church  building  was  erected  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street  from  the  old  one,  the  old  building  was  set 
aside  for  a  school-house. 

The  third  was  dedicated  in  the  spring  of  1858,  on 
which  oocasion  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Merritt,  who  was  the 
stationed  preacher,  delivered  the  dedication  sermon. 
The  old  building  shared  the  fate  of  its  predecessor 
and  was  converted  into  a  school-house,  and  also  a 
town  hall.  The  basement  is  u^ed  for  school  purposes, 
with  three  departments  in  active  operation. 

The  first  school  opened  at  Frederica  was  in  the 
year  1810,  in  the  private  house  of  Benjamin  Dill, 
and  was  taught  by  William  Hatfield. 

The  first  and  only  Masonic  lodge  of  the  town  wa« 


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1160 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


ioBtituted  here  about  1827  or  1828.  Thomas  Clarke  or 
Samuel  Grace  was  Master.  The  furniture  for  the 
lodge  was  made  by  James  G.  HendrixsoD,  Esq. 

Triple  Link  Lodge,  No.  31,  L  O.  O.  F.,  was  in- 
stituted June  15,  1860,  John  W.  Boone  being  the 
presiding  officer. 

The  Sons  of  Temperance  were  instituted  about 
1856. 

In  1887  there  were  no  secret  societies  in  Frederica. 

In  1809  there  were  two  resident  physicians,  Dr. 
John  Mass, formerly  from  Cambridge,  Md.  and  Dr. 
George  Barratt,  a  native  of  the  vicinity,  both  of 
whom  died  here  and  were  buried  at  Barratt's  Chapel. 

In  1827-28  a  military  company  was  organized, 
under  the  State  militia  law  of  1826,  with  Thomas 
Clarke,  captain,  and  Elijah  Barratt,  first  lieutenant. 
At  the  same  time  a  volunteer  militia  company  was 
organized,  with  Thomas  B.  Harrington  for  captain, 
and  Mark  Gregg  for  firat  lieutenant. 

Prior  to  the  opening  of  the  Delaware  Railroad  for 
traffic  in  1857,  the  town  of  Frederica  was  a  commer- 
cial centre  of  importance.  From  here  was  shipped 
corn,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  staves,  bark  and  wood  in  great 
abundance.  The  merchants  of  the  town  bought  the 
products  of  the  soil  and  the  forests,  shipped  them  in 
their  own  vessels  to  Philadelphia  and  other  places, 
brought  back  general  merchandise,  and  in  the  general 
traffic  grew  rich.  In  1844  there  were  engaged  in 
commerce  and  general  mercantile  pursuits,  ex-Gover- 
nor John  W.  Hall,  William  Townsend,  Thomas  Lock- 
wood,  Buckmaster  &  Smithers  and  Whitaker  & 
Gtooden. 

There  were  two  brick  taverns  at  this  time ;  the  upper 
one  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Church  and  Main  Streets 
was  kept  by  Lemuel  Carpenter,  and  the  lower  one,  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  Commerce  and  Main  Streets 
by  Jonathan  Carrow.  There  were  at  this  time  two 
physicians — Dr.Lister,  who  remained  only  a  short  time 
and  then  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  Dr.  Albert 
Whitely,  who  is  still  in  active  practice. 

In  1825,  Joseph  I.  Lewis  and  Thomas  Lockwood 
were  actively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  silk  and 
fur  hat«»,  but  in  1844,  Lewis  alone  was  engaged  in  the 
business. 

In  1809,  Peny  Boon  kept  tavern ;  in  1814  he  was 
succeeded  by  Morgan  Williams ;  and  at  a  later  date  by 
George  Harris. 

Although  Frederica,  since  1857,  has  not  been  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  and  bark  business,  yet  other 
sources  of  profit  and  employment  have  been  opened 
that  are  as  equally  beneficial  to  the  inhabitants.  In 
1887  there  were  three  canneries  in  active  operation. 
The  firm  of  B-eynolds  &  Postles,  successors  to  Samuel 
W.  Hall,  had  the  largest  tomato  cannery  in  the  United 
States.  In  1886  a  new  cannery  was  started  by  Hydern 
&  McKnitt,  and  in  1887  the  third  one  by  Carlisle  & 
Co.  The  firm  of  Rogers  &  Sons,  extensive  manufac- 
turers of  fertilizers,  has  been  in  existence  for  fifteen 
years.  There  is  also  a  factory  for  the  casting  and 
stocking  of  plows,  and  until  recently  there  were  two 


brush  factories  for  the  manufacture  of  mattresses,  but 
both  have  been  burned.  In  addition  to  all  these 
there  are  ten  general  stores.  There  is  also  one  cloth- 
ing house,  one  coopering  establishment,  two  butcha' 
shops,  one  h<jtel,  one  variety  store,  one  millinery  store, 
one  firm  of  general  dealers  in  farm  machinery  and 
hardware,  lime  and  building  materiab  and  fertilizers, 
two  shoemakers,  two  wheelwrights  and  blacksmiths, 
one  carriage  builder,  three  drug  stores,  and  five 
physicians. 

One  of  the  most  important  pursuits  is  ship^building. 
The  time  whereof  vessels  and  ships  were  not  built  here 
and  sent  out  to  all  quarters  of  the  world  is  unknown  to 
the  oldest  resident,  of  which  there  are  several  from 
seventy  to  eighty-seven  years  old.  In  1S44  the  ship- 
building wa?  carried  on  by  Nathaniel  and  John  Lank. 
In  1869  Thomas  T.  Lacey  and  Nathaniel  Lank  the 
younger  carried  on  the  business  as  partners,  and  in 
1887  Nathaniel  Lank  was  the  ship-builder.  The  busi- 
ness is  steadily  carried  on  from  year  to  year  and  fur- 
nishes employment  to  many  persons. 

The  first  steamboat  navigating  the  Murderkill 
Creek  landed  at  Frederica  June  1,  1858,  being  the 
"  Egypt  Mills,"  with  merchandise  for  James  S.  Buck- 
master,  who  the  same  year  was  the  opposition  candi- 
date for  Governor  of  Delaware. 

The  tract  St.  Collom  passed  through  various  hands, 
and  was  divided  into  several  parts,  and  about  1760 
was  in  possession  of  ZachariahGroforth,  William  Car- 
penter, Vincent  and  Jonathan  Emerson,  Robert  Beau- 
champ  and  others.  One  portion  of  this  tract,  "  Mott's 
Field,"  containing  four  hundred  acres,  is  in  pos- 
session of  Mrs.  Mary  Darby,  who  inherited  it  by  will 
from  her  father,  Samuel  Warren,  who  died  about  1813, 
Other  porci  *ns  are  in  possession  of  Thomas  D.  Burton, 
Nathaniel  Young,  Joseph  I.  Lewis'  heirs,  heirs  of 
Robert  John  Lowber,  heirs  of  Henry  WhitakeV,  heirs 
of  Joseph  Smithers,  Caleb  Smithers  and  others. 

The  first  attempt  to  form  a  corporation  for  the  town 
of  Frederica  was  made  Feb.  9,  1826,  when  an  act  was 
passed  by  the  General  Assembly,  entitled  **  An  act 
Directing  the  Manner  of  Choosing  Commission- 
ers to  Regulate  and  Repair  the  Streets  of  Fred- 
erica." This  act  defined  the  limits  of  the  town 
as  follows:  '* Section  8,  Beginning  at  the  forks  of 
Murderkill  and  Spring  Creeks,  *  and  running  up 
Spring  Creek  to  the  division  line  of  the  heirs  of 
Matthew  Lowber  and  Thomas  Lowber 's  land,  thence 
with  a  line  dividing  the  lands  of  said  Leech,  now 
Vincent  Moore,  and  the  heirs  of  Thomas  Lowber,  to 
the  line  of  Joseph  G.  Rowland,  and  with  said  line 
to  end  thereof,  continuing  said  course  to  Murderkill 
Creek,  and  said  creek  to  the  forks  of  Spring  Creek 
and  the  place  of  beginning." 

Nothing  was  done  under  this  act,  and  March  2, 
1855,  it  was  repealed,  with  the  exception  of  the  sec- 
tion defining  the  limits.  March  8,  1865,  an  act  was 
passed  by  the  General  Assembly  again  incorporating 
the  town,  defining  the  limits,  and  ordering  a  plot  to 
be  made.     It  named  Hon.  John  W.  Hall,  William 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1161 


Townsend,  James  Thomas,  Joha  W.  Sutherland  aad 
Paris  T.  Carlisle,  Sr.,  ta  serve  as  commissioners  until 
the  first  Monday  in  March,  1866.     Since  that  date 
the  commissioners  and  town  officers  have  been  as 
follows : 

CUrkti, 

Caleb  J.  Smithew 186S-67    i   B.  Whttely,  M.D 1876-S3 

B.  Whitely,  M.D 1868-73    |   E.  J.  Green 1884 

J.  8.  Bradley 1874       W.  E.  Kuowlea 1885-87 

Treasurers, 


N.  Sparry 1885 

D.  H.  Mason 1885 

J.  B.  Boone «..1885 


T.  B.  Wingate 1885 

E.  W.  ThoniOB 1885 


Paria  T.  Carlisle,  Sr 1866 

Jamee  B.  Anderson 1867 

William  VIrden 1868 

James  Tumlinaon ,.. 1869 

WllUam  Virden.... 1870-73 


W.  K.  Knowlee 1874 

N.  Lank 1875 

B.  Whiteley,  M.D 1876-83 

E.  J.  Green 1884 

W.  E.  Knowlee 1885-87 


Assessors, 


Joseph  Burchenal,  Jr 1866-67 

Robert  Mawhall 1868-70 

James  Tbemas ^. ..1871 

OollectoTB, 


Joseph  8.  Bradley 1873-74 

B.  Whitely,  M.D ...1875-78 

Bobert  Marshall „ 1879-87 


Thomas  T.  Lacy 1866 

Benj.  F.  Barton 1867 

Vincent  E.  Moore 1868 

Wm.  P.  Cullen 1869 

John  White „ 1870 

John  M.  SutherUind 1871 

James  B.  Anderson ....1872 

John  White 1874 

V.  E.  Moore 1875 

John  W.  Boone 1876 

J.  W.  Emory 1877 

CommissionerB. 


N.  Lank 1878 

S.  W.  Darby 1879 

T.  H.  Lowber 1880 

V.  E.  Moore 1881 

H.  Pride 1882 

Wm.  D.  Harrington 1883 

John  Artis 1884 

James  B.  Boone 1885 

J.  W.  Emory 1886 

N.  Sparry „..1887 


William  Townsend \%m 

Paris  T.  Carlisle,  Sr. 1866 

John  W.  Hall 1806 

Jaa.  B.  Anderson  1866 

Caleb  Smithers 1866 

Wm.  Townsend 1867 

James  B.  Anderson 1867 

Wm.  E.  Knowles 1867 

Thomas  Reynolds 1867 

Wm.  Virden «..1867 

Wm.  VIrden 1868 

Thomas  Cahall 1868 

VincentO.  Moore 1868 

Jamee  Thomas 1868 

Thomas  R.  Wingate 1868 

James  Tomlinson 186U 

Alexander  D.  Green - 1869 

George  Smithers. 1869 

James  S.  Downes 1869 

Nathaniel  Lank 1869 

William  Virden 1870 

Dr.  Thomas  Oahall „....1870 

Jhmee  Wilson 1870 

Jamee  Tomlinson 1870 

John  G.  Melvin 1870 

Wm.  Virden 1871 

Wm.  D.  Httrringtou 1871 

Jamee  Thomas 1871 

James  T.  Postlee 1871 

George  Smithers.. » 1871 

Wm.  Virden 1872 

Jamee  B.  Anderson 1^72 

Wm.  D.  Harrington 1872 

Waitman  Sipple 1872 

John  Artie „ 1872 

Wm.  Virden 1873 

Wm.  D.  Harrington 1873 

John  Artis 1873 

J.  G.  Melvin 1873 

J.  8.  Downs 1873 

Paris  T.  Oarllsie,  Sr. 1874 

Jamee  B.  Anderson.. 1874 


James  T.  Postles. „.1874 

Wm.  E.  Knowles 1874 

Wm.  T.  Hatson 1874 

J.  W.  Boone 1875 

N.  Lank 1875 

8.  W.  Darby 1875 

Wm  Virden 1875 

Nathaniel  Yon  ng 1875 

1876.  Some  commissioners 

1877.  Same    except  Virden,    N. 
Sparry  in  his  place. 

8.  W.  Darby 1878 

N.  Sparry 1878 

N.  Lank 1878 

T.  D.  Burton 1878 

L.  A.  Melvin 1878 

8.  W.  Darby 1879 

N.  Sparry « 1879 

E.  W.  Thomas 1879 

L.  A.  Melvin 1879 

J.  E    Maxson 1879 

T.  D.  Barton 1880 

T.  B.  Wingate 1830 

Wm.  Virden 1880 

Wm.  Whittaker 1880 

8.  W.  Darby....„ 1880 

Nathan  Sparry 1881 

Nathaniel  Young 1881 

Henry  Pride 1881 

Wm.  Virden 1881 

T.  D.  Burton 18il 

1882.  Same  commissioners. 

Wm.  Virden 1883 

Wm.  D.  Harrington 1883 

T.  D.  Conner 1883 

Elias  Ruasell 1883 

T.  D.  Burton 1883 

8.  W.  Darby 1884 

John  Artis 1884 

P.  T.  Carlisle 1884 

N.  Young 1884 

a  J.  Smithers 1884 


73J 


The  following  have  been  postmaster  at  Frederica  : 
John  E.  Price,  James  Thomas,  William  L.  Timmons, 
John  H.  Carrow,  William  Whittaker  and  William 
Whittaker,  Jr.  The  office  has  been  in  existence  over 
sixty  years. 

The  tract  "Bishop's  Choice,"  to  which  reference 
has  heretofore  been  made,  was  surveyed  to  Benoni 
Bishop,  March  29,  1681,  and  extended  from  Murder- 
kill  Creek  and  Ash  Branch  to  Bishop's  Branch  (Pratt's 
Branch),  "taking  in  a  small  neck  called  *  Timber 
Neck,'  which  lyeth  on  the  N.  W.  syde  of  Bishop's 
branch,"  and  contained  one  thousand  and  fifty  acres. 
This  tract  lay  immediately  west  of  and  adjoining  St. 
Collom.  Bishop  sold  to  Robert  Hudson,  who  lived 
farther  up  the  stream  (Hudson's  Branch),  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  "Bishop's  Choice."  This  property 
passed  to  Daniel  Hudson,  the  eldest  son  of  Bobert, 
and  the  deed  to  the  tract  was  confirmed  February  13, 
1733,  by  Margaret,  daughter  of  Benoni  Bishop  and 
wife  of  John  Bowman,  and  Sarah  (wife  of  John 
Townsend)  and  Elizabeth  {wife  of  Francis  Alexan- 
der), step- daughters  of  Benoni  Bishop.  In  the  same 
month  and  year  Hudson  sold  the  upper  part  of  Bish- 
op's Choice  to  Mark  Manlove,  who  gave  it  the  name 
of  "Manlove's  Chance."  It  contained  four  hundred 
acres,  and  is  described  as  beginning  twenty  perches 
above  the  first  sprout  above  the  King's  Road,  and 
thence  southeast  by  south  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  perches,  northeast  by  east  one  hundred  perches, 
northwest  by  north  forty  perches,  north  eight  degrees 
west  to  branch^  up  branch  to  beginning.  This  tract 
is  now  principally  owned  by  Samuel  D.  Roe  and 
other;*. 

Hudson  also  sold  one  hundred  and  fifly  acres,  part 
of  same  tract,  to  Jacob  Simmons,  February  14, 1723, 
which  he  names  "Simmons'  Plumbs." 

On  the  13ih  of  May,  1747,  James  Taylor  purchased 
from  John  Harper  two  hundred  acres,  part  of  Bishop's 
Choice,  and  May  12, 1748,  conveyed  two  and  three- 
quarters  acres  to  George  Goforth,  for  a  mill-seat,  on 
the  south  side  of  Bishop's  Branch ;  and  on  the  23d  of 
the  same  month  it  was  condemned  to  such  use. 
There  was  also  purchased  a  piece  of  ground  of  four- 
teen acres,  part  of  Bishop's  Choice  and  also  part  of 
mill-seat.  On  the  29th  of  November.  1792,  Peter 
Goforth  sold  the  mill-seat  and  mill  called  "Goforth's 
Mill,"  on  Bishop's  Branch,  to  Michael  Hall  Bon  will, 
from  whom  it  took  the  name  of  "BonwilTs  Mill." 
It  is  now  owned  by  John  Pennel  Emerson. 

Adjoining  the  tract  "St.  Collom,"  and  resting  on 
Murder  Creek,  was  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres 
taken  up  by  Thomas  Heatherd  about  1688-89,  called 
"Heatherd'ft  Adventure."  In  1776  it  was  in  posses- 
sion of  William  Carpenter,  and  lies  southwest  of 
Frederica.  It  is  now  in  possession  of  Thomas  Brown 
and  Cyrus  P.  Rogers.  "  Edmonds'  Chance,"  con- 
taining three  hundred  acres,  adjoining  "  Heatherd's 


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1162 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Adventure "  on  the  west,  was  taken  up  by  Robert 
Edmonds,  from  whom  it  passed  respectively  to  Jacob 
and  Vincent  Emerson,  and  in  February,  1767,  was 
bought  by  Jonathan  Emerson,  who  at  the  same 
time  purchased  one  hundred  other  acres. 

To  the  west  of  Edmonds'  Chance,  abutting  on 
Murderkill  Creek,  is  a  tract  (*' Cambridge  ")  of  nearly 
four  hundred  acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  in 
part  by  Bishop's  Choice  and  by  "  Elizabeth's  Lotf — 
(  tract  01  land  consisting  of  five  hundred  and  fifty- 
one  acres,  under  the  name  of  "  Topham's  Chance," 
surveyed  for  Christopher  Topham,  February  26, 1738, 
and  intersected  by  the  '*  road  from  Johnny  Cake  Neck 
to  Choptank,"  and  by  the  "upper  road  down  to 
Sussex,"  dividing  it  into  four  nearly  equal  parcels, 
now  owned  by  Samuel  D.  Roe  and  others)— and  on 
the  west  by  tract  "  Fromes  Elsworth,"  *  sometimes 
written  "  Farins  Elswcrih." 

Cambridge. — This  tract  was  surveyed  for  Benja- 
min Johnson,  under  warrant  of  October  9,  1738,  and 
contained  three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres  and 
an  addition  of  fifty- four  acres.  It  is  crossed  by  the 
upper  King's  Road  to  Lewes  and  is  now  chiefly 
owned  by  Dr.  John  A.  Mopreand  Thomas  B.  Coursey. 
On  the  southeast  of  this  tract,  on  Murderkill  Creek, 
is  located  a  grist-mill  and  saw-mill,  owned  by  Thomas 
B.  Coursey.  This  mill  was  mentioned  in  a  deed  to 
Benjamin  Gibbs  in  1777. 

To  the  west  of  "  Cambridge ''  and  **  Topham's 
Chance,"  and  adjoining,  is  located  **  Fromes  Els- 
worth," a  large  tract  of  nine  hundred  acres,  taken  up 
by  Daniel  Brown  and  patented  to  him  by  Wm.  Penn, 
June  4, 1684.  It  lies  on  the  north  side  of  Murder- 
kill Creek  and  is  partially  embraced  by  Spring  Creek 
a  tributary  of  Murderkill  Creek,  and  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Caleb  Smiihers,  ex-Governor  John  W. 
Hall,  Alfred  O.  Clifton,  Wm.  Case's  heirs,  George  W. 
Killen  and  Joseph  H.  Boon.  On  this  tract,  on  Mur- 
derkill Creek,  about  one  mile  above  "  The  Spring 
Mills"  is  an  ancient  mill-seat,  now  owned  by  Joseph 
H.  Boon,  called  "  Boon's  Mill,"  formerly  "  Jester's 
Mills."  It  was  owned  by  Levi  Jester,  a  Methodist 
preacher,  in  1810. 

In  1785  the  land  or  mill-site  was  purchased  by 
Jacob  Broom,  and  at  his  request  was  condemned  by 
Assembly  for  a  grist-mill. 

To  the  east  of  Felton,  adjoining  "Fromes  Els- 
worth," lies  a  tract  of  five  hundred  and  forty-six 
acres,  called  *'  Andrew's  Venture."  It  was  patented 
to  Thomas  Parke,  in  1743,  and  conveyed  by  him  to 
James  Ringgold,  in  1746.    About  1815  it  was  in  pos- 

1  On  the  tract  known  as  **  Topham*s  Cbanoe/'  and  sonietimet  as 
"Manlore's  Chance,"  where  the  Upper  King's  Road  intersects  the  road 
from  Frederlca  to  Felton,  was  bnilt  a  hotel  about  1H27,  called  the  "Scrap 
TaTem."  It  was  built  by  John  Price,  who  came  from  Virginia  and  who 
had  intermarried  with  the  widow  of  a  Mr.  Roe,  the  mother  of  William 
Roe,  blacksmith.  Price  also  ran  a  general  store  in  connection  with  his 
hotel.  This  place  bad  no  other  building.  It  was  on  the  line  of  the  stage 
route  to  Lewes,  and  here  the  cooch-drirer  stopped  to  obtain  a  relay  uf 
horses  and  continued  his  Journey.  William  Roe,  the  step^son  of  Price, 
bought  lands  in  this  vicinity,  and  about  half  a  mile  south  of  **  Scrap 
Tavern  "  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  foundry  for  plow  castings 
which  he  stocked  and  hauled  over  the  whole  of  the  a4JaceQt  country, 
and  fh>m  which  be  became  rich. 


session  of  Vincent  Moore.  It  is  now  owned  by  ex 
Governor  John  W.  Hall  and  the  heirs  of  William 
Creadick. 

At  the  head  of  the  *'  Double  Run  Branch  "  (which 
flows  south  southeastward  about  one  and  a  half  miles 
west  of  and  parallel  with  the  road  leading  from  Mag- 
nolia to  Frederica,  and  empties  its  waters  into  Mur- 
derkill Creek  at  Frederica)  is  located  a  tract  of  land 
lying  partly  in  North  Murderkill  and  partly  inBouth 
Murderkill  Hundreds,  called  "Amsterdam."  This 
tract  lies  in  the  forks  of  Thorndyke  Branch  and  Am- 
sterdam Branch,  and  is  crossed  by  the  public  road 
dividing  the  two  Murderkills.  It  was  taken  up  by 
Henry  Johnson,  under  a  warrant  from  the  Court  of 
St.  Jones'  (now  Kent  County),  dated  March  16,  1680, 
and  contained  two  hundred  acres. 

On  the  15th  of  February,  1682,.  Henry  Johnson 
and  Daniel  Rutty  assigned  the  certificate  of  survey  to 
John  Courtney,  from  whom  it  passed  to  Peter  Low- 
ber,  who  lived  on  it  and  died  there  in  1698,  leaving 
four  daughters  and  one  son,  Michael,  who  settled  on 
the  homestead.  Peter,  the  pioneer  of  the  family, 
came  from  Amsterdam,  Holland ;  though  there  are 
but  few  of  the  name  surviving,  his  descendants  are 
scattered  throughout  the  country  and  in  some  locali- 
ties, the  Murderkills  in  particular,  comprise  a  majority 
of  the  inhabitants.  The  old  high  clock  with  brass 
works,  that  he  brought  over  from  Holland,  is  in  the 
possession  of  Mrs.  Letitia  Gruwell,  one  of  his  de- 
scendant'). The  greater  part  of  the  tract  is  now  owned 
by  James  W.  Green,  who  resides  on  the  site  of  the  old 
mansion,  in  North  Murderkill  Hundred. 

To  the  southwest  of  "  Amsterdam  "  and  resting 
upon  Amsterdam  Branch  and  the  Double  Runs,  was 
a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres,  named  *'  South  Hamp- 
ton," which  was  deeded  to  Michael  Lowber  by  Daniel 
Rutty  about  the  year  1717.  Of  this  tract,  Lowber 
deeded  two  hundred  acres  to  Andrew  Caldwell,  and 
one  hundred  acres  to  his  daughter,  Susannah,  the 
wife  of  Benjamin  Turbee. 

On  the  other  one  hundred  acres  he  erected  a  mill, 
and  on  the  11th  of  February,  1744,  under  oath  before 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  when  Robert  Cummins  at- 
tempted to  dispossess  him,  said  that  he  was  sixty- 
seven  years  old,  that  '*  in  the  year  1730,  he  built  a 
water  Mill  on  the  Hun*  acres  w**^  he  had  reserv*  to 
himself  the  upper  part  of  s**  tract,  w**  hun*  acres  of 
land  and  water-mill  thereon,  he  peaceably  and  quietly 
possessed  &  enjoyed,"  etc. 

Lowber  dying  the  same  year  while  the  mill-seat 
was  in  litigation,  Cummins  succeeded  in  gaining  pos- 
session. 

The  site  of  the  old  mill  was  about  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  farther  up  the  stream  than  the  **  Montague 
Mills,"  and  was  by  the  road  that  passed  by  the  Double 
Runs  **  Presbyterian  Meeting-House  "  to  Barker's 
Landing.  This  tract  is  now  in  possession  ot  Lewis 
Jackson,  Wm.  H.  Ridgaway,  one  of  Lowber's  descend- 
ants, and  of  others.  On  the  west  of  Double  Runs,  and 
south  west  of  "South  Hamptoa  "is  atract  of  land  called 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1163 


"  Arandale,"  which  was  warranted  to  Peter  Baucom, 
by  Wm.  Penn,  September  17,  1680,  aad  surveyed  to 
him  May  5, 1684,  containing  eight  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  This  tract  passed  to  Ruth  Baucom,  his  only 
chil4  and  heir,  who  intermarried  with  Richard  James, 
and  from  her  to  her  son,  George  James,  who  left  it  to 
his  son,  Jacob  James. 

On  the  west,  and  adjoining  this  tract,  is  another 
large  tract  of  seven  hundred  acres,  called  **  Norridge,'* 
taken  up  under  a  warrant  to  Thomas  Bannister,  and 
assigned  by  him  to  Edmund  Gibbon,  Feb.  8,  1681. 
The  tracts  "Arundale"  and  "Norridge"  lay  upon 
the  north  side  of  Bannister's  Branch  (Hudson's)  and 
8e«;m  to  have  been  in  possession  of  the  James*  in 
•1747,  as  in  a  deed  of  March  10th,  of  that  year,  Jacob 
James  conveyed  to  Daniel  James  all  his  title  to  two 
parcels  of  land  on  the  the  north  side  of  Hudson's 
Branch,  so  called,  or  Mill  Creek,  one  called  "  Nor- 
ridge,*'  containing  seven  hundred  acres  and  the  other 
**  Arundel,"  containing  eight  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.  On  the  sooth  side  of  Bannister's  Branch,  Wil- 
liam Road-)  in  November,  1767,  owned  a  water  grist- 
mill, which  was  known  as  early  a<  1729  as  Samuel 
Nichol's  mill.  In  1722,  Nichol's  administratrix  sold 
"  Nichol's  Mill,"  and  one  hundred  acres  of  land  to 
Andrew  Caldwell.  It  is  now  known  by  the  name  of 
"  Virdin's  Mill  "  and  is  owned  by  Dr.  James  T.  Mas- 
sey.  In  1796,  Daniel  James  divided  his  home  planta- 
tion of  three  hundred  acres,  lying  on  the  south  side  of 
the  road  from  Canterbury  to  the  bay,  made  up  of  two 
larger  tracts.  "  Norridge"  and  '*  Arundale,"  to  Edith 
Saunders,  from  whom  it  passed  to  Wm.  Herring,  and 
in  1863  to  the  Rsv.  John  J.  Pierce,  who  sold  the 
three  hundred  acres  off  in  smaller  parcels  to  various 
persons.  On  the  tract  "Arundale,"  north  of  the 
Virdin  Mill  pond  resides  Charles  H.  Lowber,  a  des- 
scendant  of  Peter,  who  died  in  1698.  The  tract  **  Nor- 
ridge "is  now  principally  owned  by  JohnL.  Pratt, 
Wm.  H.  Ridgway,  Thos.  C.  Kersey  and  John  W. 
Bateman.  Adjoining  the  south  side  of  Hudson's 
Branch  and  the  tract  "  Arundale"  lies  a  tract  of  two 
hundred  and  forty-seven  acres,  taken  up  by  Samuel 
Mann,  under  a  warrant  of  February  20,  1741,  called 
**  Chance,"  now  owned  by  John  W.  Hall,  Jr.,  of 
Frederica. 

**  Hudson's  Lott,"  lying  upon  Hudson's  Branch, 
and  almost  wholly  within  North  Murderkill  Hundred, 
will  be  described  in  that  hundred. 

Hudson's  or  Bannister's  Branch  rises  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  Canterbury,  flows  eastward 
past  Canterbury,  then  southeastward  into  Double 
Run  Branch,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  above  the 
junction  of  Bishop's  or  Pratt's  Branch  with  the 
Double  Run. 

On  the  south  side  of  Hudson's  Branch,  and  lying 
on  both  sides  of  the  "  King's  Highway,"  leading  up 
from  Sussex  to  Dover,  is  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  called  "  Double  Hill."  It  was  originally 
purchased  by  William  Manadoe,  who  devised  it  to 
his  daughter,  who  had  intermarried  with   Richard 


Downham.  It  was  re-surveyed  to  Richard  Down- 
ham,  under  a  warrant  of  May  15,  1740.  It  was  im- 
mediately south  of  Canterbury,  and  was  the  seat  of 
the  Presbyterian  meeting-house  after  the  abandon- 
ment of  the  Double  Runs  church  in  about  1762. 
The  meeting-house  was  about  two  hundred  yards 
distant  from  the  King's  Road  and  nearly  opposite 
the  Old  Maxwell  Burying-Vault,  which  lay  to  the 
west,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road.  In  1845  this 
tract  was  in  possession  of  Mrs.  Sarah  Maxwell,  who 
at  her  death  left  it  to  her  niece,  Mrs.  Mary  G.  Lof- 
land,  the  widow  of  the  late  Dr.  James  P.  Lofland,  of 
Milford,  Del.  It  is  now  chiefly  owned  by  Dr.  James 
T.  Massey,  who  reside-j  upon  it.  To  the  south  of  this 
tract  lies  "  Burberry's  Berry,"  consisting  of  six  hun- 
dred acres  taken  up  by  John  Courtney  April  21, 
1682,  and  assigned  by  him  to  Samuel  Burberry  Jan- 
uary 23,  1683,  from  whom  it  took  its  name  of  "  Bur- 
berry's Berry." 

This  tract  of  land  lay  upon  the  north  side  of 
Bishop's  Branch,  and  adjoined  another  tract  of  four 
hundred  acres,  warranted  to  Christopher  Moore  Au- 
gust 17,  1682,  under  the  name  of  "Showforth.'* 
"Burberry's  Berry"  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Ed- 
mond  Bailey,  William  S.  Mcllvain  and  the  heirs  of 
John  Downham.  It  was  the  property  of  Thomas 
Berry  in  1735,  in  which  year  he  sold  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres — part  of  "Burberry's  Berry" — to  James 
Anderson. 

Some  time  prior  to  1818  a  large  part  of  the  tract 
was  in  the  possession  of  Governor  George  Truitt, 
who  devised  it  to  his  grandson,  George  Truitt 
Fisher.  Upon  the  part  owned  by  the  widow  of  the 
Rev.  John  Downham,  a  Methodist  preacher,  is 
buried  ex-Governor  Truitt.  The  burial-place  is 
west  of  the  dwelling-house,  in  the  wagon-yard,  con- 
sisting of  three  graves  bricked  up  level  with  the 
ground  and  covered  with  heavy  marble  slabs.  Upon 
the  slab  of  Governor  Truitt's  grave  is  this  inscrip- 
tion : 

**  This  nMrble 
coTen  all  that  was  mortal  of 
Okoror  Truitt,  Esquire, 
formerly  Governor  of  the  State  of  Delaware, 
who  departed  this  life 
on  the  8th  of  October,  1818. 
Aged  62  years. 
This  distlngulsbed  citizen,  in  the  rarioua  public  stations  to  which  he 
was  culled  by  the  vuice  of  his  Country,  always  evinced  that  probity  and 
fidelity  which  belong  to  the  soul  of  the  genuine  patriot ;  and  his  actions, 
as  a  public  man,  will  live  in  the  archives  of  Delaware,  to  att^^st  to  bis  use- 
fulness, when  this  perishable  marble  shall  have^beeo  mouldered  into  dust : 

As  a  man  and  citizen  he  was  happy  in  possessing  the  esteem  and  oon> 
fldence  of  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances ;  and  while  society 
deplores  his  loss,  as  one  of  the  worthiest  of  men,  bis 
family  and  friends,  gratefully  mindful  of  his 
virtues,  mourn  bis  departure,  as  the 
keenest  dispensation  of  Eter- 
nal Goodness.*' 

By  his  side  reposes  his  widow  (the  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  Hodgson),  who  died  February  6, 
1822,  aged  sixty-five  years.  Mrs.  Sarah  Fisher,  his 
daughter,  the  wife  of  Dr.  James  Fisher,  who  departed 
this  life  July  15,  1803,  in  the  twenty-third  year  of 
her  age,  lies  interred  by  the  side  of  her  mother. 


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1164 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


On  the  northeast  side  of  the  Upper  King's  Road, 
and  lying  upon  Bishop's  Branch,  is  a  tract  of  six 
hundred  acres  granted  to  Robert  Parvis,  by  the 
court  of  Kent,  on  the  "  17'*'  day  of  the  8"*  month, 
1682,"  named  "Gill ford."  This  land  is  now  owned 
by  John  Pennell  Emerson  and  others.  On  this  tract 
is  located  the  old  "  Pratt's  Branch "  School-house, 
which  for  many  years  was  the  only  institution  of 
learning  available  to  the  people  for  miles  around. 
It  was  incorporated  by  special  act  of  the  Qeneral  As- 
sembly January  29,  1829,  with  George  T.  Fisher, 
William  Roe,  William  Satterfield,  John  Bailey  and 
Joshua  McGonigal  as  trustees.  It  now  belongs  to 
the  common  school  system  of  the  State. 

Southwest  of  Canterbury,  on  the  Delaware  Rail- 
road, lies  what  was  once  known  as  "Plymouth."  It 
was  attempted  to  be  founded  by  a  set  of  colonists 
from  Massachusetts,  who  settled  in  the  immediate 
vicinity,  bought  lands,  divided  them  into  small  par- 
cels and  engaged  in  trucking.  In  December,  1866. 
Rev.  D.  B.  Purington  came  to  Dover  under  rhe 
auspices  of  the  American  Bapti»t  Home  Mission  So- 
ciety, and  in  February,  1867.  began  preaching  at 
Plymouth,  where  were  several  Baptist  families.  In 
the  same  year  the  Congregationalists  built  a  church 
there  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars,  but  the 
ground  on  which  it  stood  having  been  refused  to  be 
con6rmed  to  the  society,  the  congregation  disbanded. 
September  24th,  of  the  same  year,  the  Plymouth 
Baptist  Church  was  organized  with  a  membership  of 
thirty  persons,  who  used  the  above-mentioned  church 
for  about  a  year.  Revs.  J.  M.  Haswell  and  Isaac 
Cole  preached  occasionally,  but  many  of  the  members 
moving  away  and  having  no  house  of  their  own  in 
which  to  worship,  they  became  disheartened,  and 
March  22, 1873,  disbanded,  the  members  uniting  with 
the  church  at  Magnolia.  The  church  building  in 
1874  was  sold  to  Hudson  P.  Haynes,  who  moved  it 
away  to  be  used  as  a  canning- factory.  Plymouth  was 
laid  out  in  1866,  and  that  or  the  following  year  the 
Delaware  Railroad  put  in  a  side-track  and  established 
a  station,  which  did  quite  a  business  for  a  few  years. 
But  the  people  being  mostly  small  truck  farmers  and 
the  seasons  not  yielding  so  abundantly  as  they  had 
hoped,  many  sold  out  and  moved  away,  the  place 
went  to  decay,  the  railroad  discontinued  the  station 
and  Plymouth  ceased  to  exist. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Fred- 
erica  into  Felton,  south  of  Pratt's  Branch  (Bishop's 
or  Parvis')  and  chiefly  east  of  Fork  Branch,  slightly 
infringing  on  the  northeastern  corporate  limits  of  the 
town  of  Felton,  is  a  tract  of  land  located  by  Michael 
Lowber  and  Henry  Lewis,  under  a  warrant  bearing 
date  May  29,  1715,  which  is  now  owned  by  Alfred  O. 
Clifton,  of  Felton. 

Felton. — The  town  of  Felton,  lying  on  both  sides 
of  the  Delaware  Railroad,  is  ten  and  one-half  miles 
from  Dover  and  six  miles  west  of  Fred  erica,  on  the 
road  leading  through  the  town  to  Whiteleysburg. 
It  was  laid  out  on  the  1st  day  of  August,  1856,  when 


the  railroad  and  Adams'  Express  authoritieB  opened 
their  offices  at  this  place.  Robert  W.  Reynolds  was 
the  first  agent;  he  was  shortly  followed  by  George 
C.  Hering,  who,  after  a  brief  period,  was  succeeded 
by  James  B.  Conner,  ^ho  has  been  in  the  employ 
of  the  two  companies  to  the  present  time.  The  land  on 
which  Felton  is  built  was  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
Joseph  Simpson  and  by  Alfred  O.  Clifton.  In  1856, 
when  the  railroad  was  thrown  open  for  traffic,  Rob- 
ert W.  Reynolds  &  Brother  had  opened  a  general 
store,  and  there  was  one  blacksmith  shop  and  one 
farm-house.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  a  hotel  was 
built  and  called  the  "Fountain  House,"  now 
"Smoofs  Hotel." 

The  population  in  1880,  according  to  the  census 
returns,  was  three  hundred  and  eighty-three,  being 
fifty-four  less  than  in  1870.  To-day  the  population 
is  rapidly  increasing  and  some  very  fine  residences 
are  being  built.  There  are  six  general  stores,  two 
groceries,  one  hardware  and  two  drug  stores,  two 
hotels,  two  general  carriage  dealers,  three  wagon- 
builders  and  blacksmiths,  one  steam  saw-mill,  built 
in  1859  by  John  S.  Kersey,  which  was  destroyed  by 
fire  in  1876,  and  rebuilt  by  John  Waldman  the  Ksme 
year,  who  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  ship  timber  and  general  hard-wood  lumber.  There 
is  also  one  florist  and  general  nurseryman — Dr.  Rob« 
ert  W.  Hargadine,  who  is  said  to  own  and  operate 
the  most  extensive  green-house  on  the  Peninsula. 

The  most  important  industries  are  the  basket  factor- 
ies and  the  canning  and  evaporating  establishments. 
In  1870  James  H.  Hubbard  began  the  making  of 
crates  for  the  transportation  of  peaches,  which  he 
continued  until  1875,  when  he  put  in  basket  machinery 
which,  in  a  fair  peach  season,  will  turn  out  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  baskets.  In  1887  a  second 
basket  factory  was  established  under  the  firm-name  of 
Meredith,  Conner  &  Waldman,  which  has  a  capacity 
to  produce  five  hundred  thousand  baskets.  There  are 
also  one  canning  and  three  fruit  evaporating  establish- 
ments. These  basket  factories  and  canning  and  evap- 
orating establishments  give  employment  to  three  or 
four  hundred  persons  each  season,  for  five  months  in 
the  year,  and  add  much  to  the  material  prosperity  and 
well-being  of  the  community. 

There  are  two  churches,  the  Methodist  and  the 
Presbyterian.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  a 
brick  structure,  thirty-six  by  forty-five  feet,  sur- 
mounted by  steeple  and  bell.  It  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  and  was  dedi- 
cated September  29,  1861,  the  Rev.  Dr. Cook,  of 

Philadelphia,  Pa.,  officiating.  Prior  to  the  building 
of  the  church  in  town,  the  people  of  the  village  and 
the  surrounding  country  met  for  worship  at  an  old 
frame  structure,  about  half  a  mile  out  of  town,  on  the 
road  toward  Frederica.  It  was  a  plain,  old-fashioned 
building,  about  eighteen  by  thirty  feet,  with  the  high 
canopied  pulpit. 

The  following  have  been  the  ministers  of  Felton 
Church  since  May  1,  1865 : 


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1165 


Bev.  Horace  A.  Clereland.  186fi~66 

ThoniasJ.  Qnigley 1867-70 

David  R.  Thomas 1870-72 

J.  M.  Wlllianw 1872-73 

Robert  W.  Todd 187.3-76 

B.  E.  White 1875-76 

Henry  Colclacer 1876-78 


J.  W.  Pearson 1878-79 

Joseph  Robinson 1879-82 

Jonathan  S.  Willis 1879-82 

A.  W.  Mllby 1882-83 

Isaac  Jewell 1883-86 

Yanghaa  S.  Collins. 1886-88 


Treasurers. 


The  Presbyterian  Church  is  a  frame  building,  thirty 
by  forty  feet,  and  was  organized  November  15,  1860. 
Rev.  J.  G.  Hamner,  of  Mil  ford,  preached  until  1863. 
From  January,  1864,  to  January,  1866,  L.  P.  Bowan,  a 
licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Lewes,  supplied  the 
pulpit.  From  the  spring  of  1868  to  the  spring  of  1873 
the  Rev.  S.  Murdock  was  the  pastor  in  charge.  Dur- 
ing the  next  two  years  there  was  only  occasional 
preaching.  From  December,  1875,  Rev.  S.  S.  Sturgea 
was  the  stated  supply  until  his  death,  June  20,  1877. 
From  October,  1877,  until  October,  1879,  the  Rev.  L.  A. 
T.  Jobe  was  the  minister  in  charge.  Since  his 
departure  ihe  church  has  been  without  pastor  or 
stated  supply. 

Feiian  Lodge,  No,  30,  /.  0.  0.  /*!,  was  instituted 
June  21,  1859,  and  in  1887  the  lodge  was  in  a  very 
flourishing  condition. 

Felton  Lodge,  No.  22,  A,  R  A.  if.,  was  l^ally  or- 
ganized in  1868.  The  Masons  met  in  ihe  Odd  Fellows' 
Hall  until  November,  1875,  when  they,  in  conjunction 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  built  a  hall  of  their  own. 
The  Masonic  fraternity  at  Felton  had  many  trials. 
They  were  burnt  out  and  lost  their  furniture  and 
regalia ;  and  after  their  funds  had  been  embezzled  by 
their  treasurer,  they  became  disheartened,  and  sur- 
rendered their  charter  to  the  Grand  Lodge. 

The  Knights  of  Pythias  also  had  a  discouraging 
existence. 

For  many  years  the  people  of  Felton  had  no  other 
school  facilities  than  those  afforded  by  the  old- 
fashioned  school-house,  situated  half  a  mile  east  of 
town,  on  the  site  of  the  PurneH's  meeting-house  lot, 
and  hence  called  "  PurnelPs  School-house.**  In  1887 
Felton  had  one  of  the  finest  school-houses  on  the 
Peninsula,  and  her  educational  facilities  are  as  good 
as  those  of  any  town  in  the  State. 

A  stock  company  was  formed  and  a  seminary  was 
instituted  for  the  education  of  both  sexes  in  the 
languages,  belles  lettres  and  the  higher  mathematics. 
It  was  placed  under  the  management  of  Robert  H. 
Skinner,  and  was  successfully  conducted  by  him. 

The  town  of  Felton  was  incorporated  before  1861. 
The  records  of  the  town  in  many  respects  are  incom- 
plete and  unobtainable.    The  civil  list  is  as  follows  : 

Town  Clerks, 


Joseph  H.  Boon 1862 

A.  J.  Wright 1864 

John  A.  Moore 1865 

N.  P.  Luff. 1806 

P.  L  Bonwill 1866 

Benjamin  C.  Hopkins 1869 

M.  M.  Stevenson 1870 

John  A.  Bloore 187l-7:i 

A.  B.  Conner 1874 

Wilbur  H.  Burnite 1875 


A.  B.  Conner 1876 

J.  A.  Moore ,... 1877-78 

W.  H.  Burnite 1880 

A.  B.  Conner 1881-82 

C.  C.Clifton 1883 

WilliiimT.  Parvls 1884 

C.  L.  Luff 1885 

George  Waldnian 1886 

A.  B.  Conner 1887 


James  B.  Conner. 1861 

A.  J.  Wright 1864 

John  A.  Moore 1865 

N.  P.  Lnff. 1866 

P.  L.  BonwilL 1867-69 

N.  P.  Luff. 1870 

Philemon  C.  Carter 1871 

Jacob  W.  Prettyman 1872 


John  Simpeon 1873 

J.  T.  Taylor 1874 

M.  M.SteTen8on 1875 

John  W.Godwin 1876 

M.  M.  Stevenaon 1877 

JoahiiaB.  Luff. 1878 

M.  M.  Stevenion 1880 

Thomaa  H.  Kelley 1881-87 


Assessors, 


John  Green „  1878-80 

John  W.  Waldman 1881 

John  Green...! 1882 

J.  B.  Luff. 1883-86 

John  M.  Evans 1886 

Robert  Hodgson 1887 


John  Simpson 1861  ; 

Samuel  Harrington 1864 

W.  H.  Cain 1866 

Samuel  D.  Roe 1867 

David  Needles 1869-74 

John  Green 1875-76 

J.  W.  Godwin 1877 

Collectors, 

H.  Morris  Stevenson 1861-64  i   W.  T.  Case 1867 

W.  H.  Cain 1865  |   Thomas  H.  Kelley 1880-87 

Aldermen, 

George  Moore 1861-79  |  Stephen  G.  Simpkins 1886 

A.J.  Wright. 1880       Peter  Creadick 1887 

Peter  Creadick. 1881-86  | 

Oommisiioners, 


John  W.  Carter. 1861 

Nathaniel  P.  Luff. 1861 

A.  J.  Wright 1861 

Dr.  Joeeph  Simpson 1861 

A.  J.  Wright -..  1862 

James  B.  Conner 1862 

Joeeph  Simpson 1862 

John  Simpson 1862  ' 

Jobs.  Butterworth 1882 

John  A.  Moore 1861 

A.  J.  Wright 1864 

N.  P.  Luff 1804 

John  W.  Reynolds 1864 

Charles  P.  Wyatt 1864 

Dr.  Joseph  Simpson 1866 

John  Bailey 1865 

James  B.Conner 1865 

Stephen  W.  Lewis 1865 

J.  W.  Reynolds 1865 


William  H.  Herring 1866 

N.  P.  Luff 1866 

David  Foster^ 18G6 

Joshua  R.  Lnff. 1866 

N.  P.  Luff 1866 

J.  A.  Moore 1866 

Andrew?.  Nilee 1866 

S.  Harrington 1806 

J.  W.  Reynolds 1866 

Peter  L.  Bonwill 1867 

J.  B.  Anderson 1867 

John  Shiiling 1867 

Benjamin  A.  Reeves 1867 

Samuel  Harrington.. 1867 

P.  L.  Bonwill 1868 

B.  A.  Reeves 1868 

W.H.  Cain 1868 

David  Needles 1868 

J.  T.  Taylor 1868 


In  1869  the  town  was  re-incorporated,  and  the  act 
appointed  commissioners  for  the  first  year  as  follows : 


Jacob  W.  Prettyman 1869 

Benjamin  A.  Reeves 1869 

David  Niver 1869 

Bepjamin  C.  Hopkins. 1869 

8.  D.  Roe 1870 

M.  M.  Stevenson 187«» 

Joshua  Morris. 1870 

John  A.  Moore 1870 

John  A.  Moore 1871 

M.  M.  Stevenwn 1871 

Ell  Dehorty 1871 

Charles  P.  Wright 1871 

J.  A.  Moore 1872 

M.  M.  Stevenson 1872 

C.  P.  Wyatt 1872 

Eli  Dehorty 1872 

Same  Commissioners 1873 

J.  A.  Moore 1874 

Alvin  B.  Conner 1874 

N.  P.  Luff. „ 1874 

P.  C.  Carter 1874 

P.  C.  Carter 1875 

Wilbur  H.  Burnite 1875 

Eli  Dehorty... 1875 

John  Simpson 1875 


J.  A.  Moore 1876 

Alfredo.  Glfton * 1876 

John  M.  Waldman 1876 

Alvin  B.  Conner 1876 

John  W.  Godwin 1876 

J.  A.  Moore 1877 

J.  M.  Waldman 1877 

Eli  Dehorty 1877 

J.  H.  Hubbard 1877 

Alfred  O.  aifton 1877 

W.  H.  Burnite 1878 

P.  C.Carter 1878 

A.  B.  Conner 1878 

R.  W.  Hargadine 1880 

Ell  Dehorty 1880 

Wesley  McDowell. 18«0 

W.  H.  Burnite 1880 

Dr  R.  W.  Hargadine 1881 

J.  B.  Luff 1881 

Eli  Dehorty 1881 

A.  B.  Conner 18S1 

Caleb  L.  Luff 1882 

A.  B.  Conner 1882 

R,  W.  Hargadine 1882 

John  T.  Taylor 1882 


February  21, 1883,  the  act  of  1869  was  amended, 
by  which  the  alderman  was  made  ex  officio  a  member 


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1166 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


of  the  Board  of  Town  Commissioners  and  president  of 
the  board — six  commissioners,  four  of  whom  were  re- 
quired to  be  freeholders. 


C.  L.  Luff. 1883 

J.  M.  Waldeman 1883 

Ell  Dflhorty 1883 

R.  W.  HargAdine 1883 

Chariee  C.  Clifton 1883 

J.  H.  Hubbard 1883 

C.  L.  Luff. 1884 

Frederick  Hubbard 1884 

Eli  Dchorty 1884 

James  H.  Dunleavey 1884 

W.  T.  Parvis. 1884 

George  Dohorty 1884 

A.  B.Conner 1885 

M.  M.  SteveuMn...    1885 

C.  L.  Luff 1885 


George  W.  Godwin 1885 

James  H.  Price 1885 

George  W.  Eliason 1886 

J.  H.  Hubbard 1886 

W.  T.  Pan-Is „..  1886 

Charles  W.  Kelley 1886 

George  Waldman 1886 

William  T.  Milbourne 1886 

John  W.  Godwin 1886 

Jacob  Friedel 1887 

Henry  0.  Baynum 1887 

JohnT.  Taylor 1887 

S.  G.  Slmpkins 1887 

Robert  Clifton 1887 

A.  B.  Conner 1887 


About  one-half  mile  west  of  Felton,  lying  on  the 
north  side  of  the  road  leading]to  Whiteleysburg,  was 
a  tract  of  three  hundred  and  sixty-nine  acres,  called 
*'  Bear  Garden."  In  1773,  it  was  in  possession  of 
John  Grier,  and  is  described  as  being  bounded  on  the 
north  and  northeast  by  land  of  John  Hou-icman, 
called  the  "  Turkey's  Nest ;"  east  by  land  now  of  John 
Clothier;  south  by  land  of  John  Houseman,  called 
the  "  Bald  Eagle*'  and  partly  by  the  road  to  "  Chop- 
tank  Bridges  ;*'  and  on  the  west  by  land  called  the 
"Cave,"  originally  patented  to  Colonel  John  French. 
In  1810  "  Bear  Garden,"  in  part,  passed  to  Vincent 
Moore,  a  merchant,  and  is  now  owned  by  his  grand- 
son. Dr.  John  A.  Moore,  of  Felton.  It  also,  in  part, 
is  now  owned  by  Henry  C.  Cooper.  The  two  parts 
are  separated  by  the  road  leading  from  Berrytown  to 
Willow  Grove. 

"  Berrytown"  was  located  on  the  southeastern 
corner  of  this  tract,  about  one-half  mile  from  Felton. 
The  first  record  we  have  of  it  is  in  1767,  when  Preston 
Berry  purchased  [one-half  acre,  part  of  "Bear 
Garden,"  and  built  on  it,  and  in  1766,  Peter  Lowber 
kept  a  tavern  there.  In  1774,  Timothy  Caldwell 
kept  a  store. 

In  1775,  Preston  Berry,  blacksmith,  purchased  two 
and  a  half  acres  more.  There  were  at  one  time  five 
dwellings,  two  stores,  blacksmith  shop  and  a  hotel  in 
the  village.  A  hotel  was  kept  as  late  as  1811  by  Wil- 
liam Anderson.  To-day  there  exists  only  two  dwell- 
ings on  the  site  of"  Berry  Town,"  the  other  buildings 
having  been  pulled  down,  converted  into  granaries, 
or  moved  into  Felton.  Since  the  founding  of  Felton 
the  village  may  be  said  to  cease  to  have  an  existence. 

Immediately  south  of  "  Bear  Garden"  and  adjoining 
thereto  is  a  tract  called  "  Bald  Eagle."  surveyed  to 
John  Houseman,  under  a  warrant  bearing  date 
June  25,  1735, .  containing  two  hundred  acres,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
James  Needles. 

On  the  west  of  "Bear  Garden"  is  a  tract  called 
the  **Cave,"  containing  five  hundred  and  ninety 
acres.  It  was  crossed  in  its  southern  part  by  the 
Choptank  road,  leaving  a  strip  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  on  the  south  side  of  the  road.  It  was 
surveyed  to  Colonel   John   French,  administrator  of 


William  Morton,  under  a  warrant  bearing  date  the 
29th  of  the  Sixth  Month,  1715.  The  strip  south  of  the 
road  is  now  owned  by  Jacob  Friedel  and  the  heirs  of 
James  Hopkins,  deceased,  and  the  quantity  north  of 
the  road  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Wilbur  H.  Bur- 
nite  and Parmalee. 

Adjoining  "  Bear  Swamp"  on  the  north  is  a  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres,  sarveyed 
to  John  Houseman,  by  virtue  of  a  warrant  bearing 
date  February  24,  1742.  Ii  was  called  the  "  Turkey's 
Nest,"  and  was  lately  in  the  possession  of  Eliaa  8. 
Reed  and  Nathaniel  Harrington. 

About  two  miles  west-southwest,  on  the  road  to 
Whiteleysburg,  is  a  small  hamlet  consisting  of  six 
dwelling!^,  a  steam  saw-mill  and  a  population  of  about 
thirty  inhabitants,  called  '*  Bumite*8  Mill"  formerly 
"  Reynolds^  Oomera."  The  people  are  chiefly  engaged 
in  the  employ  of  Wilbur  H.  Burnite,  who  runs  a 
steam  saw-mill  in  the  manufacture  of  ship  timber, 
etc.,  and  an  evaporating  establishment  in  peach 
season.  About  five  miles  from  Felton,  on  the  same 
road,  is  a  small  village  called  *^  Hollandsville"  laid 
out  in  1854  by  Richard  Holland,  a  surveyor  and 
school-teacher,  and  named  after  himself.  He  built  a 
dwelling  and  store-house,  and  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits,  but  in  a  short  time  the  property  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Samuel  C.  Dill,  the  present  owner. 

The  place  in  1887  contained  two  general  stores,  four 
dwellings  and  about  twenty  inhabitants.  It  also  has 
a  post-ofiice.  About  one-fourth  of  a  mile  northeast 
of  the  village,  in  Mispillion  Hundred,  is  located  a 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  named  "ManshipV' 
called  after  the  Rev.  Andrew  Manship,  who  dedicated 
it  December  2,  1855.  This  church  took  the  place  of 
"  Black  Swamp  "  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  located 
about  one  and  a  quarter  miles  farther  up  the  road 
toward  Felton.  Intermediate  between  these  two  loca- 
tions on  the  Mispillion  side  of  the  road,  on^the  land 
now  owned  by  Alexander  Hughes,  was  located,  in 
1772,  "St.  Paul's"  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
which  was  abandoned  previous  to  1820,  and  is  now 
entirely  obliterated. 

About  nine  and  a  quarter  miles  southwest  of  Felton, 
on  the  road  to  Denton,  Maryland,  is  the  Tillage  of 
"  Whiteleysburg^^'  located  on  land  formerly  the 
property  of  Arthur  John  Whitely.  About  sixty  years 
ago  it  was  a  thriving  village,  containing  an  extensive 
tannery,  owned  by  the  Lock  wood  Brothers,  one 
general  store,  wheelwright  and  blacksmith  shops, 
eight  families  and  a  population  of  about  fifty.  To- 
day it  contains  one  general  store,  three  dwellings  and 
a  blacksmith  shop. 

It  was  located  on  or  adjacent  to  a  tract  called 
"  Rich's  Wood- Yard,"  containing  four  hundred  acres. 
The  greater  part  of  this  tract  lies  north  of  Whiteleys- 
burg and  is  principally  owned  by  Jonathan  Longfel- 
low. This  tract  adjoins  a  tract,  "Golden  Grove,"  taken 
up  under  a  Maryland  patent. 

On  the  road  from  Felton  to  Sandtown,  about  three 
miles  west,  is  situated  "  Willis'  Chapel."    In  1858  the 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1167 


Rev.  Joseph  M.  Magee,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  founded  on  this  bite  a  church  which  he  called 
**  Ebenezer."  In  1880  the  church  building  was  sold 
and  moved  away,  and  a  new  structure  erected  in  its 
stead,  which  the  congregation  named  in  honor  of 
their  pastor,  the  Rev.  Jonathan  S.  Willis,  an  eloquent 
and  popular  preacher  and  lecturer. 

At  the  junction  of  the  road  from  Felton  to  Willow 
Grove  and  the  road  from  Petersburg  to  Canterbury 
was  located,  in  South  Murderkill  Hundred,  on  the  line 
dividing  the  two  hundreds,  another  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  founded  also  by  the  Rev.  J.  N.  Magee. 
In  1857  he  erected  a  plank  church,  after  the  manner 
of  a  camp-meeting  tent,  at  which  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Wil- 
lis preached  the  dedication  sermon.  In  the  following 
ytar  he  succeeded  in  erecting  a  handsome  wooden 
structure,  which  he  dedicated  with  the  usual  solemn 
ceremonies.  This  church  has  been  moved  to  Viola 
and  rehabilitated  within  the  laut  t)iTee  years.  The 
school- house  which  stood  beside  it  has  also  been 
moved  away  about  half  a  mile  eastward.  To-day 
"  Magee's  Chapel  "  Cross* Roads  does  not  exist. 

About  two  mile:!  southwest  of  Willow  Grove,  on 
the  road  to  Greensboro',  Maryland,  lying  on  both  sides 
of  Beaver  Dam  Branch,  a  tributary  of  Cow  Marsh 
Ditch,  and  south  of  Iron  Mine  Branch,  a  prong  of 
Beaver  Dam  Branch,  is  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and 
seventy  acres,  called  **  Cow  Neck,"  surveyed  for  Wil- 
liam Welch,  April  29,  1731.  It  was  resurveyed  for 
Michael  Lowber,  in  trust  for  his  three  grandchildren, 
John,  Michael  and  Susanna  Reynolds,  April  17, 1739. 
Michael  Reynolds  was  the -grandfather  of  Robert  W. 
Reynolds,  who  died  in  1863,  and  Susanna  was  the 
grandmother  of  John  Gooden,  who  died  in  1867,  aged 
eighty-eight  years.  Through  the  Lowber  blood  these 
two  families  are  connected  wilh  not  less  than  half  of 
the  families  in  Kent  County,  and  their  affiliations  are 
scattered  throughout  nearly  every  State  and  Territory 
in  the  United  States.  **  Cow  Neck  '*  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  three  of  Michael  Lowber's  descendants. 
Robert  J.  Reynolds  owns  about  one  hundred  acres 
west  of  Beaver  Dam  Branch  his  sister,  Mrs.  Fanny  G. 
Clough,  and  Mrs.  Letitia  Gruwell  own  the  remainder 
of  the  original  tract.  The  mansion-house  of  '^  Golden 
Ridge,"  where  R.  W.  Reynolds  resided  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  is  upon  the  tract  "  Cow  Neck."  "  Golden 
Ridge  "  lies  west  of  "  Cow  Neck  "  and  is  owned  by  R. 
J.  Reynolds,  to  whom  it  descended  from  his  ancestors. 

About  four  miles  southwest  of  Willow  Grove,  on 
the  road  to  Greensboro',  and  lying  on  the  south  side 
thereof,  is  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres,  called 
**  Rachel's  Delight,"  taken  up  by  Robert  Meredith, 
under  warrant  of  September  18,  1735,  and  which  is 
now  owned  by  Peter  K.  Meredith,  a  direct  descendant. 
To  the  southeast  of  "  Rachel's  Delight "  is  a  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty-seven  acres,  taken  up  by  Joshua 
Meredith,  under  warrant  of  April  22,  1743,  which  is 
also  the  property  of  P.  K.  Meredith,  he  having  re- 
cently purchased  it  from  Whitely  H.  Meredith,  now 
deceased. 


Five  miles  west  of  Felton,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
road  leading  from  Felton  to  Sandtown,  are  several 
ancient  tracts,  now  embraced  in  one  tract  of  nearly 
seven  hundred  acres,  owned  by  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  War- 
ren, widow  of  Charles  Warren,  and  her  sister,  Mary 
E.  White,  who  inherited  theiand  from  their  ancestors, 
Richard,  William  and  John  White.  The  part  called 
"  Flintshire  "  was  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  seventy- 
two  acres,  taken  up  by  John  Davis,  by  viitue  of  a 
warrant  dated  June  4,  1742,  and  lay  on  both  sides  at 
the  head  of  Meredith's  Branch.  "  White's  Lott,"  on 
the  west  side  of  Meredith's  Branch,  upon  which  they 
reside,  was  taken  up  by  Wm.  White,  under  warrant 
of  June  4,  1742,  and  contained  one  hundred  and 
twenty-nine  acres  Under  a  warrant  of  June  2, 1746, 
there  was  surveyed  to  Richard  White  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  ninety  acres,  called  "  Richard's  Swamp," 
and  under  warrant  of  June  22,  X744,  forty-four  acres 
more.  "  Loftis's  Desire,''  taken  up  under  a  Maryland 
patent  by  John  Loflis,  was  sold  by  him  to  John  Reed 
and  Wm.  White  in  1794.  This  tract  now  belongs  to 
Lewis  Schabinger  in  part,  and  in  part  to  Mrs. Warren 
and  her  sister.  These  tracts  lie  at  the  head  of  Mere- 
dith's Branch  and  of  Pratt's  Branch,  a  small  stream 
flowing  northward  through  lands  late  the  property  of 
James  Cohee  and  of  Nathan  Clarke,  and  emptying 
into  Meredith's  Branch  from  the  west. 

On  the  lands  owned  by  Mrs.  Warrep,  nearly  one 
mile  south  of  the  present  site  of  the  school-house,  in 
District  No.  61,  was  located  a  pay-school  that  was 
taught  by  Robert  A.  Maxwell  in  1826.  The  furniture 
was  very  primitive.  The  benches  were  formed  of  a 
hollow  gum  split  open  and  the  concave  side  placed 
next  the  floor,  with  boards  laid  across.  The  teacher's 
desk  was  as  equally  unique,  consisting  of  a  barrel 
with  a  board  laid  across  for  the  teacher  to  write  on. 
There  was  a  school-house  on  the  same  tract  of  land 
westward  of  the  old  mansion,  where  John  White,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Warren,  born  in  1798,  attended  school 
in  1808-10. 

A  little  over  four  and  a  half  miles  southwest  of 
Willow  Grove,  on  the  road  to  Greensboro',  and  lying 
on  both  sides  ot  the  public  road,  partly  in  North  and 
partly  in  the  South  Murderkill  Hundreds  lies  a  tract 
of  one  thousand  acres,  taken  up  by  Joshua  Dine  or 
Doyne,  of  St.  Mary's  County,  under  a  Maryland  grant, 
dated  June  4,  1683.  This  tract  was  granted  to  Doyne 
by  Charles,  Lord  Baltimore,  February  )0,  1684.  In 
1780  it  was  in  possession  of  Benedict  Brice,  who  deed- 
ed, the  same  year,  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres 
to  Edward  Callahan.  Part  of  "  Timnah  Serah,"  the 
above-described  land  was,  in  1797,  in  possession  of 
the  heirs  of  Elijah  Dawson. 

"  Timnah  Serah  "  in  1887  is  in  possession  of  the 
heirs  of  Nathan  Clarke,  Samuel  D.  Conner,  John 
Gruwell,  Joseph  Gruwell  and  Dr.  John  M.  Wilkinson. 

On  the  tract  **  Timnah  Serah  "  is  located  a  Metho- 
dist Protestant  Church,  which  was  founded  in  1845, 
and  superseded  by  a  new  and  more  commodious 
structure  about  1871. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


There  was  also  situated  on  this  tract  a  school- 
house,  which  was  used  also  as  a  meeting-house  for  the 
Methodists.  Prior  to  1829  it  was  known  as  a  pay- 
school,  and  was  taught  by  William  Mason  in  1828. 

Sandtown.— Adjoining  "  Timnah  Serah,"  on  the 
west,  is  a  tract  of  land  taken  up  under  a  Maryland 
patent,  of  which  no  survey  ia  now  at  hand.  This 
tract  was  called  "  Codds-head-raanor,"  and  Iny  partly 
in  Carolina  County,  Md.,  and  partly  in  Kent  County, 
Del.  On  this  tract  is  located  **  Sandtown,"  which, 
ninety  years  ago,  was  called  "  Lewisville."  The  vil- 
lage of  Sandtown  was  laid  out  May  9, 1797,  on  which 
day  six  building  lots  were  sold :  Edward  Covington, 
one  acre ;  John  Lemar,  one  acre ;  John  Grigg,  one 
acre  and  fourteen  perches;  Sarah  Greenbury  and 
Benjamin  Dawson,  one  acre;  Robert  Meredith,  seven- 
eighths  of  an  acre ;  Thomas  Taylor,  one  acre,  be- 
ginning by  a  blacksmith's  shop. 

The  ancient  tract  of  "  Codds-head-manor,"  on 
which  Sandtown  is  located,  between  1825-30,  was  in 
the  possession  of  John  Killen,  a  prominent  man  in 
his  locality.  In  1847  it  became  the  property  of  John 
Cooper,  where  he  has  since  resided.  About  1816  a 
general  store  was  kept  here  by  Vincent  Moore,  who 
also  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  at  Berry  town 
at  the  same  time.  In  1827  the  mercantile  business  was 
carried  on  by  William  Bostick,  and  a  hotel  called  the 
**  Red  Tavern*'  was  conducted  by  Cynthia  Grigg,  who 
afterwards  sold  out  and  moved  to  Wilmington.  The 
village  of  Lewisville  at  that  time  consisted  of  seven 
families  and  a  population  of  about  forty-five.  The 
Killens  and  the  Bennetts  were  the  noted  men  of  the 
neighborhood.  At  this  time  there  is  one  store,  kept 
by  Samuel  Faulkner,  who  also  runs  a  distillery  in  the 
manufacture  of  apple  brandy.  In  1885  a  post-office 
was  established  with  James  A.  Longfellow  for  post- 
master. The  service  is  a  tri-weekly  mail.  There  are 
now  three  families  and  nine  inhabitants.  This  place, 
like  many  others,  before  the  advent  of  the  Delaware 
Railroad,  wsl^  noted  for  the  conviviality  of  its  inhab- 
itants and  for  their  hospitality  towards  strangers. 

South  of  Sandtown,  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
leading  toward  Whiteleysburg,  is  a  long,  irregular 
tract,  extending  from  north  to  south,  called  the 
*'  Crooked  Billet." 

It  was  taken  up  under  a  warrant  of  February  22, 
1776,  by  Samuel  Craig,  and  contained  eighty-one 
acres.  It  is  now  owned  by  Henry  L.  Carter,  of  Fred- 
erica,  and  by  Thomas  Smith,  who  was  born  on  the 
land. 

Intermediate  between  Sandtown  and  Whiteleys- 
burg is  "  Greenlee's  Cross-Roads,"  which  is  formed  by 
the  intersection  of  the  road  from  Felton  to  Greens- 
boro', Md.  At  this  point,  and  south  of  it,  were  three 
parcels  of  land,  known  by  the  name  of  **  Brotherly 
Love,"  "  Wootter's  Lot "  and  "  Bear  Hill,"  which  were 
in  possession  of  George  Cooper  in  1787,  who  came  to 
this  country  with  his  brother,  Richard,  from  York- 
shire, England,  some  time  previous  to  the  year  1747. 
This  land  has  continued  in  the  uninterrupted  posses- 


sion of  his  family,  and  is  now  in  possession  of  hi^ 
great-grandson,  John  W.  Cooper,  who  has  since 
added  to  the  three  tracts  two  hundred  and  nine  acretf, 
part  of  **  Golden  Grove,"  a  Maryland  patent,  which 
was  surveyed  to  Robert  French  under  warrant  of 
December  23,  1702.  This  part  of  "  Golden  Grove  " 
lies  on  the  Delaware  and  Maryland  line,  on  the  north 
of  White  Marsh  Branch  and  adjoining  *' Rich's 
Wood- Yard,"  which  extends  to  Whiteleysburg. 

At  Greenlee's  Cross-Roads,  some  time  after  his 
father's  death,  which  occurred  at  the  beginning  of 
1795,  John  Cooper,  who  was  a  local  preacher  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  built  a  h*  use  for  wor- 
ship, which  was  known  as  "  Cooper's  Meeting- 
House."  This  meeting-house  was  also  used  as  a 
school-house  up  to  the  establishment  of  free  schools 
in  this  State,  which  occurred  in  1829.  On  the  tract 
**  Golden  Grove"  in  1844,  lying  about  two  miles  north 
of  Whiteleysburg,  was  founded  a  meeting-house  and 
tt  cemetery  by  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  and 
called  by  the  name  of  **  Cedar  Grove  Meeting-House." 
Upon  the  building  of  this  church  the  old  structure 
at  Greenlee's  Corners  was  moved  away  and  converted 
into  a  barn  by  William  Greenlee.  This  building 
having  become  too  small  to  accommodate  the  increas- 
ing membership  and  attendance  in  1858,  the  narrow 
quarters  were  superseded  by  a  new  and  splendid 
edifice,  on  the  site  of  the  old  one. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  road  opposite,  is  a  tract  of 
two  hundred  and  ninety  acres  made  up  of  three  other 
tracts,  called  the  *'  Upton  Farm,"  which  recently  be- 
came the  property  of  Dr.  Thomas  H.^  Cooper,  of 
Chestertown,  Md. 

Murder  Mil  Neck^  is  the  eastern  end  of  South  Mur- 
derkilt  Hundred,  in  Kent  County,  bounded  east  by 
the  Delaware  B^y.  north  by  Jones*  River,  south, 
by  Murderkill  Creek  and  west  by  the  north  branch 
of  its  Spring  Creek  tributary,  known  as  the  Mon- 
tague mill-stream.  Near  the  mill-seat  a  slight  eleva- 
tion divides  iis  waters  from  a  branch  of  Jones'  Creek, 
and  thus  prevents  the  neck  from  being  an  island. 
The  divide,  with  contiguous  tracts,  was  an  early  ac- 
quisition of  the  Chambers  family,  whose  ancient 
dwellings  and  burial  vaults  are  pointed  out  to  the 
stranger.  That  the  Neck  was  once  a  populous  abode  or 
favorite  haunt  of  the  red  man,  is  evident  by  the  shell- 
heaps  visible,  and  by  other  large  deposits.  Many  ar- 
row-heads have  been  gathered,  of  various  shapes  and 
origin.  A  heap  of  fragmentary  arrow-head  cleavings, 
once  observed  at  the  mouth  of  Murderkill  Creek,  . 
suggested  the  idea  that  it  may  have  been  at  one  time  ; 
a  place  for  the  manufacture-  of  Indian  implements. 
Recent  collections  of  implements — besides  arrow- 
heads and  interesting  specimens  of  pottery — include 
tree-killers,  meat  and  skin -dressers,  corn-crusher  and 
a  furbisher.  Great  numbers  of  water-fowl  frequented 
the  streams,  small  quadrupeds  the  forests,  ponds  and 
marshes ;  wild-turkeys  were  numerous ;    bears,  deer 

1  Prepared  bj  JaoMs  H.  B«ed,  of  Bowen,  Kent  Ooanty. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1169 


and  other  animals  were  common  in  this  locality.^ 
The  family  names  of  early  settlers  in  Murderkill 
Neck,  and  especially  of  those  who  afterwards  rose  to 
a  controlling  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  who,  having  died,  are  now  remembered 
only  by  what  they  have  done,  may  be  mentioned,  in 
the  following  order:  Warren,  Barratt,  Nowell,  Sip- 
pie,  Gray,  Chambers,  Van  Natti,  Neill,  Walton,  Dar- 
nell, Cramer,  Montague,  Boone,  Lockwood,  Edmunds, 
Hewston,  Fisher,  Cole,  Lindale,  Smith,  Anderson, 
Smithers,  Wilson,  George,  Manlove,  Bowers,  Reed, 
Grier,  Clark,  Harper,  Melvin,  Burchenal,  Hirons, 
Vickery,  Williams,  West,  Baker  and  Emory. — 

**  Lamented  dead  and  names  of  men 
Who  built  the  Bchool-house,  drained  the  fen." 

The  latest  dates  found  on  any  head  stones  of  the 
Van  Nattis  or  Nowells  are  1787.  The  private  burial- 
ground  of  the  Warrens  is  doubtless  one  of  the  oldest, 
but  that  of  the  Barratts  best  denotes  wealth  and  re- 
finement. Inhabitants  of  the  Necks  had  acquired  a 
d^ree  of  social  culture  and  repute  before  Frederica 
was  known  as  a  town. 

The  soils  near  the  bay  shore,  and  on  the  creek  bot- 
toms, are  naturally  stronger  than  the  uplands,  yielding 
more  grain  and  of  better  quality.  The  farmers  have 
always  been  able  to  carry  more  stock  by  reason  of 
their  marshes,  and  thus,  making  more  manure,  main- 
tain fertility.  Convenient  landings  for  the  shipment 
of  fore-«t  and  farm  produce,  and  in  the  unloading  of 
lime,  coal,  fertilizers  and  general  merchandise,  is  of 
great  advantage  to  the  farmers  in  this  locality. 

To  restore  the  worn-out  lands,  lime  was  applied  at 
an  early  period  by  some  who  were  able  to  obtain  it. 
The  late  Joseph  Burchenal,  in  1836,  constructed  a  kiln 
on  his  farm  for  the  burning  of  lime-stone.  The 
wholesale  destruction  of  wooded  preserves,  before  the 
development  of  coal,  caused  alarm  among  the  people. 
To  meet  the  demand  for  hedges,  l^ng  before  the  Osage 
orange  came  into  use,  Jehu  Reed;  in  1832,  having 
then  a  nursery  upon  his  home  farm,  procured  berries 
of  the  Virginia  blackthorn.  These  he  fermented, 
planting  the  seed  in  beds,  and  for  many  years  grew 
and  sold  thornquicks  in  addition  to  other  nursery 
stock.    In  some  instances  he  set  out  hedges  by  con- 

1  It  Is  said  Drummer  Gray,  an  aged  freedman,  who  died  about  1840, 
pointed  out,  in  his  time,  to  those  now  living,  the  place  where  he  bad 
•een  the  last  small  herd  uf  bufTnlo  in  this  neck— namely,  a  glade  or 
UMadow,  on  the  farm  of  his  then  master,  Andrew  Gray  the  grandfather  of 
OUT  Senator  George  Gray,  northwest  of  his  residence. 

This  character  deserves  a  historic  niche.  In  addition  to  his  freedom, 
he  was  giren  a  life-right  In  what  the  papers  call  the  •'  Ommmcr  Gray 
Ix>t8."  ''Well  to-do"  white  fullcs  spealc  of  bis  hospitality,  of  visits  to 
his  house  and  of  seats  at  bis  table.  Pious,  and  Justly  proud  of  his  oxen, 
he  could  be  saen  in  his  cart  early  Sunday  morning,  on  his  way  to  Bar- 
rAtt's  Chapel,  where,  in  the  giiliery,  the  colored  people  worshipped  in 
those  days  and  held  cluss-moetings  before  tho  white  folks  arrived.  Back 
of  these  historic  walls  of  Methodism,  and  of  (he  more  recent  mortuary 
city  of  evergreen  and  marble,  are  the  graves  of  those  early  Christians 
of  the  colored  race.  Some  who  yet  live  well  represent  **  the  rare  old 
■tock  ;**  especUlly  those  by  the  name  of  Gray  (of  several  distinct  types) 
wbooe  ancestor*  were  doubtless  all  sUves  to  the  snnie  family,  known 
ma  sober,  civil  and  orderly,  refloct  cretlil  on  the  name  they  inherit,  as 
compared  with  certain  others,  wh  >  received  not  the  precepts  of  n*lig!on 
while  under  the  yoke.  In  tho  livos  of  these,  observed  to  be  vicious, 
treacherous  and  short,  and  of  thooe  (he  reveroo,  one  may  discern  ante- 
cedents ;  likewise,  the  good  or  evil  one  may  do  through  succassive  gen- 
erations after  ceasing  to  live  or  even  to  be  remembered. 

74 


tract,  notably  one  for  his  friend  and  patron,  the  Hon. 
John  M.  Clayton.  About  the  same  time  he  was  in 
quest  of  pine-seed  to  sow  on  certain  tracts  of  worn-out 
land  he  had  acquired  in  Murderkill  Neck,  as  is  shown 
by  a  letter  to  him  from  the  family  of  General  Potter, 
of  Maryland,  dated  October  23,  1831,  which  land  he 
was  then  unable  otherwise  to  improve.  Failing,  for 
some  cause,  to  obtain  the  pine-seed  to  sow  the  next 
spring,  Mr.  Reed  set  out  about  thirty  acres  of  this 
poor  land  in  peach  scions,  from  such  of  his  nursery 
stock  as  he  could  not  sell.' 

In  1834  Mr.  Reed  had  peaches  of  his  own  growing 
of  fine  quality,  from  an  orchard  interset  with  the 
Damson  plum.  Finding  the  latter  required  different 
treatment  from  the  peach,  they  were  replaced  by  ap- 
ple trees.  It  was  not,  however,  until  after  he  had  set 
out  his  third  orchard  with  persistent  pomological 
endeavor,  that  Mr.  Reed  received  any  profitable  return 
from  his  fruit  from  1836  to  1840,  and  these  were  of 
natural  varieties,  as  were  all  that  had  gone  before. 
Amid  difficulties  that  would  have  paralyzed  any  but 
a  brave  and  determined  spirit,  the  nursery  business 
was  continued  by  Mr.  Reed,  his  stock  including  the 
different  varieties  of  the  peach,  apple,  pear,  plum, 
grape  and  quince,  also  quicks  and  the  Italian  and 
Chinese  mulberries.  He  was  also  early  in  sympathy 
with  the  silk-growers  of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jer- 
sey, and  set  out  a  tract  of  his  worn-out  land  as  an 
orchard,  in  the  Italian  mulberry.  Two  of  these 
trees  he  set  near  the  front  entrance  of  Barratt's 
Chapel,  as  memorial  shade-tree$>,  in  honor  of  his  de- 
ceased wife,  one  of  which,  after  more  than  fifly-three 
years,  is  still  in  good  condition. 

The  mulberry  trees  made  rapid  growth  in  the  worn- 
out  soil,  and  were,  apparently,  as  self-sustaining  and 
free  from  drawbacks  as  any  indigenous  tree  of  the 
forest.  Under  the  inspiration  of  a  National  Society, 
organized  in  Philadelphia  in  1839,  with  Nicholas 
Biddle  as  president,  for  the  promotion  of  silk  culture, 
Reed  fitted  up  hurdles  in  [suitable  apartments, 
and  began  the  growing  of  silk,  feeding  the  worms  on 
the  foliage  gathered  from  his  plantation  of  mulber- 
ries. Finding  the  first  season  that  'the  silk-worm 
eggs  were  difficult  to  check  or  keep  back  from  hatch- 
ing before  the  mulberry  leaves  were  sufficiently  de- 
veloped, he  grew  afterwards  early  lettuce  in  shel- 
tered beds,  on  which  to  feed  the  young  worms  until 
the  mulberry  leaves  were  sufficiently  grown.  A  few 
worms  were  fed  on  the  lettuce  exclusively,  to  observe 
the  result,  which  was  of  fair  growth,  without  the 
production  of  silk.  Mr.  Reed's  experience  confirmed 
the  views  propagated  by  Benjamin  Franklin  in  1770, 
and  later  by  ex-President  Adams;  also  by  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph, who,  in  his  report  to  Congress,  as  chairman  of 
the  committee  appointed  to  investigate  the  subject, 
declared  the  perfect  adaptability  of  Delaware  soil 
and  climate  for  the  production  of  silk,  equal  to  the 
best  portions  of  China.     He  also  found  the  work  es- 

<  A  printed  advertisement  found  among  the  paper  of  Jehu  Reed,  de- 
ceased, shows  that  he  had  a  nursery  of  peach  sciona  for  sale  in  1827. 


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1170 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


pecially  adapted  to  women  and  children,  and  con- 
cluded that  if  females  were  encouraged  to  persevere 
in  it  on  their  own  account^  a  lucrative  business  would 
certainly  follow.  Continuing  a  mixed  husbandry  on 
his  farms,  but  dropping  the  silk  business  and  other 
side  ibsues,  Mr.  Reed  resolved  to  make  of  the  peach 
a  specialfy,  and  in  1841  took  a  new  departure,  as 
shown  by  advertisements  printed  in  February,  1842. 
He  procured  the  services  of  Champion  Clark,  a 
practical  nurseryman  from  New  Jersey,  and  an- 
nounced that  he  was  prepared  to  furnish  "inocu- 
lated **  and  "  engrafted  peach  trees,"  and  any  article 
in  the  "  peach  scion  line  equal,  as  to  quality  of  fruit,  to 
anything  that  can  be  furnished  from  any  nursery  in 
the  Union.'*  Mr.  Reed  sold  his  trees  from  $8 
to  $12.50  per  hundred.  His  varieties  were:  *'  Early 
York  Opening,"  "Early  Heath  Opening,"  "Old 
Mixon's  Early  Cling,"  "Red  Cheek  Malacatoon," 
" Pine  Apple  Peach  Improved,"  " Columbia,"  "Mor- 
ris White,"  '-Late  Rare  Ripe,"  "Lemon  Cling," 
"LaU  Heath  "  or  "  English  Cling  Improved." 

Whatever  remained  unsold  of  his  inoculated  peach 
trees,  instead  of  burning  them,  as  practiced  in  New 
Jersey,  he  continued  to  hold  and  to  set  out  on  his  best 
land.  He  also  grew  about  this  time  large  quantities 
of  the  famous  Mercer  potatoes.  In  one  year  he 
gathered  about  seven  hundred  bushels,  and  was 
awarded  a  silver  medal  for  meritorious  advancement 
in  horticulture.  When  more  peach  trees  were  left 
over,  Mr.  Reed  was  compelled  to  plant  them  in  soil 
less  improved,  and  he  resorted  to  the  king  crab  as  a 
fertilizer.  In  1841-15  he  had  about  one  hundred 
acres  in  very  thrifty  peach  orchards,  all  of  choice 
budded  fruit,  %hich  area  was  rapidly  increased  to 
two  hundred  acres  or  more  a  few  years  later.  Selling 
the  late  Henry  Todd  trees  to  set  out  his  first  orchard, 
Mr.  Reed  afterwards  sent  his  sons  to  inoculate  a 
nursery  of  scions  which  Mr.  Todd  had  raided  from 
the  seed.  lu  1846  he  began  to  send  his  peaches  to 
the  Philadelphia  market  by  a  line  of  fast-sailing  boats, 
of  light  draft,  chartered  and  manned  expressly  for  his 
own  fruit.  The  peaches  had  to  compete  with  those 
of  Major  Reybold,  whose  extra  fine  fruit  went  to 
market  by  steam,  over  less  than  half  the  distance. 
Notwithstanding  every  disadvantage,  Mr.  Reed  con- 
tinued this  plan  with  abundant  succe^^s  for  about  ten 
years,  or  until  the  Delaware  Railroad  reached  Wy- 
oming. The  boats  discharged  their  cargoes  bound  to 
New  York  at  Camden,  New  Jersey,  where  it  brought 
more  money  than  in  Philadelphia.  In  1857  the  pines 
Mr.  Reed  had  sown  in  1884  and  later  presented  a 
handsome  body  of  well-grown  timber,  ready  for  the 
harvest  of  cord-wood,  of  which  many  vessel-loads 
were  sent  to  market.  After  this  wood  was  cut  and 
marketed,  Mr.  Reed  lived  long  enough  to  grow 
another  crop  of  the  same  age  from  the  same  seed. 
About  seven  years  before  the  timber  was  removed 
the  land  received  a  heavy  dressing  of  lime,  and  when 
the  ground  was  cleared,  the  once  worn-out  toil  was 
new  land  of  most  excellent  quality.     It  has  been  used 


almost  continually  since  in  gardening  for  the  New 
York  market.  Mr.  Reed's  peaches  and  wood  were 
shipped  from  Warren's  aiias  Gray's  Landing,  on 
Jones'  River,  which  empties  into  the  Delaware  Bay 
at  the  northwest  end  of  a  pretty  beach,  once  covered 
with  oak  and  walnut  trees  to  the  verge  of  an  abrupt 
shore  of  gravel  and  tenacious  yellow  clay.  This 
place,  at  first  called  Whitwell's  Delight,  has  been 
known  for  many  years  as  Bowers'  Beach,  and  extends 
to  the  mouth  of  Murderkill  Creek,  about  two-thirds  of 
a  mile.  The  bathing  is  good,  and  bath-houses  with 
bathing-suits  are  at  hand.  A  well-kept  hotel  with 
extensive  stabling  adds  to  the  attractions,  and  though 
much  of  the  shore  has  been  washed  away,  it  must 
continue  to  be  a  favorite  place  of  resort  Its  trout 
fisheries  have  always  been  a  feature,  attracting  farmers 
and  others,  even  from  the  shores  of  the  Chesapeake 
Bay.  The  oysters  of  Murderkill  Creek  and  of  the 
shore  near  the  mouth,  are  said  to  resemble  the  famous 
Bltte  Points,  and  have  been  preferred  by  many  con- 
sumers to  any  others  for  a  ceitain  delicacy  ot  flavor. 
The  gathering  of  king  crabs  for  commerce  has  received 
a  check  by  recent  legislative  enactment. 

It  was  reserved  for  Bende  Blohm,  of  Pennsgrove, 
New  Jersey,  to  teach  the  natives  the  value  and  meth- 
od of  catching  sturgeon.  Casting  his  nets  in  the 
cove,  in  March,  1871,  he  took  the  first  day  seventy 
sturgeon,  valued  at  six  hundred  dollars.  Since  that 
event,  quite  a  number  of  men  have  engaged  in  the 
business  every  season.  Before  the  sturgeon  enter 
the  Hudson  or  Delaware  Riveis,  avoiding  the  icy 
currents  still  descending  the  channels  from  the  north, 
they  seek  the  warmer  waters  of  Bowers'  Cove,  and 
taken  then  are  quite  a  prize  to  the  fishermen.  Schools 
of  shad  also,  of  the  finest  quality,  bask  for  a  while 
near  the  flat  shore,  before  ascending  the  rivers  and 
creeks.  Recently  and  by  improved  methods,  those 
engaged  in  taking  them  have  made  of  it  a  lucrative 
calling. 

A  village  has  grown  up  near  the  beach,  called 
Bowers',  and  a  post-office  was  established  there  in 
1880.  The  oysters  planted  off*  shore,  by  reason  of 
the  Murderkill  waters,  are  of  the  finest  quality. 
The  one  great  drawback  to  the  cove  planting 
and  development  of  kindred  industries  at  Bowers' 
is  the  bar  obstructing  the  mouth  of  Jones*  River. 
Unable  to  make  the  nearby  harbor,  which  Jones'  would 
afford  in  stormy  weather  at  low  tide  (with  a  jettied 
deep  water  way  through  this  bar),  the  oyster  boats 
have  to  depend  solely  on  a  run  to  Mahon's  every 
evening,  or,  when  in  stress  of  weather,  a  round  trip  of 
more  than  twenty  miles. 

The  channel  through  this  bar  permanently  deep- 
ened, the  Jones'  River,  meandering  through  grain, 
fruit  and  garden  farms,  and  past  numerous  landings, 
affords  a  water-way  for  heavy  and  fast  freights  alike — 
an  advantage  which  numerous  and  increasing  busi- 
ness interests  demand. 

In  the  summer  of  1887  an  opening  was  made 
through   this  bar  and  the  river  dredged  to  Dover, 


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and  a  steamboat  has  recently  made  trips  from  Dover 
to  Philadelphia. 


CHAPTER  LXIII. 

MISPILLION. 

MisPiLLiON  Hundred  originally  included  in  ita 
borders  all  of  what  is  now  Milford  Hundred,  and 
extended  from  the  Delaware  Bay  to  the  Maryland 
line,  and  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Murderkill 
Hundred,  and  on  the  south  by  Sussex  County.  It 
was  one  of  the  original  and  the  largest  hundred  in 
the  8tate,  and  as  now  constituted  covers  more  area 
than  any  one  hundred  in  Kent  County.  January  2d, 
1830,  the  Legislature  passed  the  following  act  divid- 
ing the  hundred: 

**  The  dividing  line  to  be  the  road  leading  directly 
from  the  division  line,  between  Murderkill  and  Mis- 
pillion  Hundreds  to  Williamsville,  being  the  same 
which  was  formerly  used  and  occupied  by  the  Phila- 
delphia, Dover  and  Norfolk  Steamboat  and  Trans- 
portation Company."  All  lying  east  of  said  road 
shall  be  called  Milford  Hundred. 

In  early  time,  nearly  all  of  the  present  hundred 
of  Miepillion  was  one  vast  forest  of  oak  and  pine, 
and  all  the  early  grants  of  land  are  designated  as 
being  in  the  '^forest  of  Mispillion  Hundred."  The 
greater  portion  of  this  land  has  been  cleared  from 
time  to  time,  andisoow  under  cultivation.  While 
there  is  still  a  great  amount  of  wood  land,  there  are 
very  few  of  the  older  trees  left  standing,  numerous 
sawmills  having  from  time  to  time  devastated  the 
forests.  The  land  is  a  sandy  loam,  and  in  the  cen- 
tral and  southeastern  parts  has  reached  a  high  Ftate 
of  cultivation.  The  western  end,  which  was  settled 
later,  is  good  land,  and  in  a  few  years,  under  the  pres- 
ent tillage,  will  reach  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
The  cereals  are  grown  in  abundance  in  all  sections, 
tomatoes  are  raised  in  large  quantities  for  the  can- 
neries, and  some  attention  is  given  to  small  fruits. 
Within  the  last  few  years  a  large  number  of  peach 
trees  have  been  set  out,  and  the  land  being  virgin 
soil  for  that  kind  of  fruit,  first-class  results  are  ex- 
pected. 

The  Marshy  Hope  Ditch  and  its  prongs,  which  en- 
ter nearly  every  section  of  the  hundred,  and  the 
branches  of  the  Murderkill  and  Mispillion  Creeks 
furnish  excellent  means  of  irrigation,  and  are  care- 
fully taken  care  of  by  incorporated  ditch  com- 
panies. 

On  Ingram's  Branch  of  the  Choptank  River,  which 
enters  this  hundred  in  the  northwestern  corner,  large 
quantities  of  iron  ore  were  formerly  dug  and  shipped 
to  the  furnaces  at  Milford  and  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land. These  deposits  have  been  exhausted  since 
about  1888. 

The  main  line  of   the  Delaware  Railroad  passes 


through  the  eastern  part  and  furnishes  quick  trans- 
portation for  farm  products  to  the  large  cities.  The 
Delaware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia  Railroad  has  its 
northern  terminus  at  Harrington.  The  population 
is  mainly  descendants  of  old  settlers,  and  in  1880 
numbered,  including  Harrington,  four  thousand  three 
hundred  and  thirty-four. 

Early  Settlements.— The  firbt  settlements  in 
this  hundred  were  made  in  the  northeastern  part,  and 
consisted  of  emigrants,  from  the  early  settlers  on  the 
bay -shore  and  river.  The  southwestern  part  was  not 
settled  until  seventy-five  years  later,  aud  then  upon 
patents  granted  by  Lord  Baltimore,  who,  prior  to 
1763,  claimed  all  the  greater  part  of  the  present  hun- 
dred south  of  a  line  drawn  from  Whiteleysburg  to 
Staytonville.  These  grants  were  taken  up  by  the 
early  Mary  land  settlers,  some  of  whom  had  been  land- 
holders in  Maryland  for  years  before  migrating  to 
Delaware. 

The  first  recorded  grant  that  there  is  of  land  in  this 
hundred  was  that  to  Luke  Watson,  of  Lewes,  Dela- 
ware, January  21,  1681,  for  a  tract  of  fifteen  hundred 
acres  called  "  Hunting  Quarter.'*  Nearly  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  this  land  lays  in  Milford  Hundred.  The 
land  lay  below  Harrington  and  towards  Milford. 
Watson,  by  will,  September  6, 1705,  left  it  to  his  wife 
Sarah  and  daughter  Mary,  equally.  His  wife  married 
again  and  died,  leaving  as  lawful  issue,  John,  Richard 
and  Peter  Hoffman.  Mary  married  Peter  Hoffman. 
Matthew  Helford  came  into  possession  of  a  large 
part  of  this  tract  in  1760.  The  portion  in  Mispillion 
Hundred  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Dr.  J.  R. 
Mitchell. 

The  next  grant  was  that  of"  Fairfield,"  a  tract  of 
one  thousand  acres  of  land  lying  on  the  south  side 
of  Brown^s  Branch,  at  the  head-waters  thereof.  It  was 
taken  up  by  Wm.  Durvall  and  Wm.  Clark,  on  the  1st  of 
Nov.,  1684.  A  large  portion  of  this  tract  in  later  years 
came  into  the  possession  of  Chancellor  Samuel  M. 
Harrington  and  at  his  death  wan  sold.  The  owners 
of  the  old  tract  are  now  Thomas  H.  Dorman,  David 
Harrington,  Dr.  F.  J.  Owens,  Samuel  Swain,  Alex- 
ander Harper,  William  C.  Qui  Hen,  William  H.  Dick- 
inson, Giles  Foot,  William  Morris  and  J«hn  Rich- 
ards. 

"John's  Purchase,"  a  tract  of  five  hundred  acres  on 
the  south  side  of  the  main  branch  of  Murderkill 
Creek,  was  warranted  to  John  Townsend,  December 
3,  1693,  and  was  re-surveyed  August  19, 1737,  to  H. 
Durburrow,  who  owned  large  tracts  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county.  Durburrow  sold  the  land  to 
Solomon  Wallace,  who  conveyed  two  hundred  and 
thirty-two  acres  to  Robert  Catlin,  and  March  7, 
1760,  the  latter  owner  sold  to  William  Hodgson. 
This  tract  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Elijah  Sapp, 
Waitman  Clark  and  Colin  Able. 

'*  Salisbury  Plains,"  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  on 
the  south  side  of  and  on  the  heads  of  Murderkill 
Creek,  was  warranted  October  30,  1717,  to  James 
Thistlewood,  who  built  the  mill  there.    A  portion  of 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


this  tract  has  remained  in  the  Thistlewood  family 
since  the  original  holder,  and  is  now  owned  by  John 
Thistlewood.  William  and  Beniah  Tharp  also  owa 
portions  of  this  tract. 

John  Rudolph  Bundelin  took  up  by  warrant,  Au- 
gust 9,  1785,  two  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  south 
side  of  Marshy  Hope,  opposite  Booth's  or  Great  Island 
and  adjoining  Cow  Hand.  This  Booth's  or  Great 
Island  was  taken  up  by  John  Booth,  who  owned 
large  tracts  of  land  in  olhe/  parts  of  the  hundred. 
These  lands  are  now  nearly  all  in  the  possession  of 
George  Morris,  William  Seeders  and  Peter  S.  Har- 
rington. Bundelin  was  also  in  possession  ofothei* 
lands  also  on  "  Marshy  Hope,"  two  hundred  acres 
warranted  by  George  Green,  in  1718,  and  sold  to 
Thomas  Berry,  who,  in  1731,  conveyed  it  to  Bundelin. 
These  lands  were  all  sold  by  Bundelin,  August  13, 
1743,  to  Peter  Galloway,  acd  at  the  same  time  Gal- 
loway sold  to  Bundelin  a  tract  called  "  Peiers- 
borough,"  of  one  thousand  acres,  in  South  Murder- 
kill  Hundred,  except  two  hundred  acres  called  the 
"  Bear  Garden,*'  and  Billingsgate,  four  hundred  and 
sixty-three  acres,  which  Galloway  retained,  parts  of 
which  are  now  owned  by  James  Hopkins,  Burton 
Townsend's  heirs.  These  Galloway  lands  were  all  in 
the  vicinity  of  lands  bought  of  Bundelin.  Peter  Gal- 
loway, in  1784,  took  up  ten  tracts  of  land  in  Miapil- 
lion  Forest,  of  which  there  was  Wolfpit  Ridc:e,  two 
hundred  and  twenty-three  acres,  and  "  Galloway's 
Luck,"  two  hundred  and  seven  acres  on  a  branch  of 
Murderkill  Creek,  and  the  other  tracts  in  all  embrac- 
ing two  thousand  two  hundred  acres.  The  name  of 
Galloway  has  in  later  years  become  to  be  known  as 
Calloway,  and  descendants  of  the  family  are  still  nu- 
merous in  the  hundred,  among  whom  are  Peter  N. 
Calloway,  Henry  Calloway  and  Eli  Calloway.  Peter 
N.  Calloway  is  in  posssession  of  some  of  this  original 
grant. 

John  Johnson,  who  came  to  Mispiilion  about  1700, 
purchased  of  James  Parker,  to  whom  it  was  warranted 
in  1709,  a  tract  of  land  in  this  neighborhood,  and  ad- 
joining tracts,  including  some  of  the  Bundelin  lands. 
He  had  over  one  thousand  acres  and  it  has  been  in 
the  family  possession  ever  since.  Ex-Senator  Alex- 
ander Johnson  lives  on  that  part  of  it  called  the 
"  Coon's  Den."  The  tract  known  as  "  Wolfpit  Ridge  " 
is  owned  by  Edward  Reed,  and  other  owners  of  the^e 
Bundelin  and  Galloway  lands  are  John  Traux,  Daniel 
Anthony's  heirs,  Robert  Raughley,  Mrs.  Lydia  J. 
Harrington,  C.  A.  Smith  and  Jacob  Caudrey's  heirs. 

In  the  land  office  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  a  grant  is 
recorded  of  three  hundred  acres  of  a  tract  called 
"Turkey  Point,"  July  9,  1724,  to  James  Hayes,  of 
Dorchester  County.  Henry  Sapp  received  a  patent 
for  thirty  acres  with  the  signature  of  Benedict  Leonard 
Calvert,  Governor  and  commander-in-chief  in  and 
over  the  province  of  Maryland,  chancellor  and  keeper 
of  the  great  seal.  May  27,  1728.  This  land  come  into 
the  possession  of  William  Hewitt,  and  by  him  sold  to 
Eben    Hughes    and   descended    to    his    son,  Eben 


Hughes,  who  owns  the  thirty  acres  and  a  part  of  the 
three  hundred  acres.  Hezekiah  Sapp  and  W.  C. 
Satterfield  also  own  portions  of  this  land.  It  ia 
described  as  located  on  the  south  fork  of  White 
Marsh  Branch,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Great  Chop- 
tank  River.  It  was  here  where  iron  deposits  were 
formerly  found. 

"Merritt's  Adventure,"  a  tract  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  was  surveyed  to  Isaac  Merritt^ 
March  25,  1727,  and  lay  between  Marshy  Hope 
Creek  and  old  Marshy  Hope,  a  branch  thereof.  On 
May  17,  1768,  a  resurvey  was  made,  including  the 
mansion-house  of  Isaac  Merritt  and  granted  to  Daniel 
Benston,  whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Merritt  The 
land  was  again  resurveyed  to  John  Barnes  in  1808. 
Among  the  owners  of  parts  of  .this  tract  are  Samuel 
Thomas,  Emorton  and  Thomas  Prettyman.  "Mills' 
Purchase"  and  "McKimmey's  Outlet,"  lying  in  the 
**  forest  of  Misspillion  Hundred,"  were  granted  by 
Maryland  patent  June  10,  1776,  and  were  warranted 
by  the  proprietors  at  Philadelphia  to  John  Fisher, 
and  contained  four  hundred  and  six  acres.  Thomas 
Clifton,  by  a  Maryland  patent,  obtained  a  lar^e  tract 
of  laud  called  "  Boyer's  Adventure."  An  addition  was 
made  to  it  November  23,  1739,  by  a  warrant  from  the 
Penns.  Nathan  Clifton  was  in  possession  of  eight  hun- 
dred acres  of  this  tract  in  1816.  James  Rawley  in  1756 
obtained  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres  called 
"Rawley's  Addition,"  adjoining  the  above-mentioned 
tract.  A  large  part,  of  these  lands  are  owned  by 
Elisha  Booth's  heirs,  Mrs.  E.  Raughley  (the  modern 
corruption  of  the  name),  B.  R.  Tharp  and  Zebulon 
Hopkins. 

On  the  heads  of  Marshy  Hope  Creek  two  warranto 
of  April  21,  1735,  were  granted  to  George  Manlove, 
containing  nine  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres. 
This  land  was  resurveyed  in  1766  and  included  an 
improvement  where  Manlove  lived  when  he  took  out 
the  warrants.  It  embraced  an  old  survey  of  Hugh 
Durburrow  called  "  Rejected  Bundle."  Manlove  sold 
the  land  to  Elijah  Morris,  Samuel  Griffin,  John 
Crompton,  Robert  .Edmunds  and  John  Watts,  in 
whose  possession  it  was  at  the  survey  of  1766. 

A  tract  called  **  Flowers  Lot"  was  patented  in  1736 
to  Samuel  Fleming,  and  sold  by  htm  to  Pumell 
Johnson,  who  left  it  to  his  daughter,  a  wife  of 
ex-Governor  William  Tharp,  who  lived  on  the  place. 
It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  R.  J.  Hill,  a 
daughter  of  the  Governor.  The  fine  mansion-house 
on  this  farm  was  built  in  part  by  Purnell  Johnson 
and  completed  by  Governor  Tharp.  Robert  Hill,  a 
grandfather  of  Robert  J.  Hill,  was  a  colonel  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  did  service  at  Lewes. 

William  Fleming,  who  emigrated  to  this  county 
from  Scotland  in  1739,  applied  to  the  land  office  and 
received  a  grant  for  four  hundred  acres  called  "  Wil- 
liams' Choice."  This  land  is  west  of  and  includes  the 
prtsent  town  of  Farmington.  This  land  is  owned  by 
Moses  Harrington,  theolde^tt  resident  of  the  hundred, 
William   Tharp,    James  Ross    and    Ruth    Carlisle. 


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f\J1»    T\JM    k^XT  kTfJ? 


the  possession  or  Wiiiiam  iicwitt,  unv*  '^j  ....^  -^.„  . 

Eben    Hughes    and    desceuded    to    his    bod^  £ben     William   Tharp,    James  Boss    and    Bath   Uum*.       H 

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KENT  COUNTY. 


1173 


"  Ranger's  Chance,"  a  tract  of  wx  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  acres,  was  surveyed  to  Jeremiah  Morris,  April, 
1741.  It  is  adjoining  a  tract  called  "Godeenfield." 
Mrs.  James  Tatman  lived  in  the  old  mansion-house 
hnilt  by  Morris.  John  Scott  owns  a  portion  of  this 
land. 

"  Windsor  Forest,"  a  tract  of  three  hundred  and 
&(ij  acres,  was  taken  up  on  a  warrant  of  October  27, 
1739,  and  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  seven  acres  by 
warrant  June  2,  1746,  by  James  McNitt,  and  were 
resurveyed  to  him  September  27, 1766.  This  McNitt 
land  remained  in  the  possession  of  that  family  up  to 
within  a  few  years,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  present 
owners — Eli  Calloway,  John  Jackson,  Llewellyn 
Tharp,  Nathaniel  Powell  and  Amos  Cole. 

The  tracts  "  Liberty,"  **  Luck  by  Chance,"  "  Bay- 
nard*s  Regulation"  and  **Tanton  Dean,"  all  situated 
in  the  western  part  of  the  hundred,  on  the  Maryland 
line,  were  taken  up  on  Maryland  patents  by  Thomas 
Baynard  in  1748.  These  lands  embraced  in  all  nearly 
fifteen  hundred  acres.  "  Tanton  Dean  "  and  **  Bay- 
nard's  Regulation  "  came  into  the  possession  of  John 
Baynard,  who,  in  1781,  built  the  large  brick  mansion- 
house  still  standing,  and  which  remained  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  Baynards  until  the  early  part  of  1887, 
when  Ferdinand  Baynard  sold  it  to  a  relative  by 
marriage.  This  old  house  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
county,  and  was  probably  the  best-built  house  at  the 
time  of  its  erection.  After  the  long  period  of  its  existence 
it  is  in  almost  as  good  condition  as  when  first  built. 
John  Baynard,  its  builder,  was  one  of  the  largest  mer- 
chants in  the  county,  and  conducted  several  grist  and 
saw-mills  in  Northwest  Fork  and  Nanticoke  Hun- 
dreds, Sussex  County,  and  in  Caroline  County,  Mary- 
land. The  other  present  owners  of  '^Tanton  Dean*'  and 
**  Baynard's  Regulation  "  are  Thomas  Sipple,  Ferdi- 
nand Baynard  and  Reuben  Ross.  "  Liberty-Luck"  and 
"  Luck  by  Chance  "  and  Hog  Range  are  owned  by 
Zadock  Sipple,  Henry  Thawley  and  Nimrod  Har- 
rington. 

A  large  tract  of  nine  hundred  acres  was  patented, 
in  1769,  by  Nathaniel  Luff,  and  in  1794  it  came  into 
the  possession  of  Caleb  Perdue,  Solomon  Kimmey, 
Stephen  Lewis  and  Waitman  Booth.  There  was  some 
dispute  over  the  title  of  this  land,  and  it  was  per- 
fected by  an  act  of  the  Legislature.  Stephen  Lewis, 
who  was  a  grandfather  of  Senator  B.  L.  Lewis,  left 
his  share  to  Jacob  F.  and  John  Lewis.  These  lands 
are  now  owned  by  Alexander  Simpson,  Peter  Callo- 
way, Clement  Harrington  and  Mrs.  Mary  Tharp. 
A  tract  adjoining  the  above  land  was,  October  30, 
1750,  surveyed  to  James  Anderson.  It  is  described  as 
on  the  south  side  of  Harris*  Glade,  and  contained 
one  hundred  and  sixty -six  and  three-fourths  acres.  It 
was  left  to  Major  Anderson,  and  come  into  the  posses- 
sion afterward  of  Mary  P.  Tharp,  widow  of  Beniah 
Tharp. 

Beniah  Tharp,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Mispillion 
Hundred,  was  born  January  23,  1805,  and  died  June 
2, 1872.    William  Tharp,  his  grandfather,  was  an  in- 


fluential citizen  of  the  same  hundred  before  the 
Revolution.  James  Tharp,  his  son  and  father  of 
Beniah,  was  also  a  succe>sful  farmer,  and  acquired  a 
large  landed  estate.  He  married  Eunice  Fleming, 
by  whom  he  had  twelve  children,  viz.:  William, 
Beniah  (the  subject  of  this  sketch),  Ruth,  Elizabeth, 
James  Madison,  Llewellyn,  Reuben,  Jehu,  Jonathan, 
Jane,  Sarah  Ann  and  Hester. 

William,  the  oldest  son,  was  Governor  of  Delaware 
from  1847  to  1851 ;  Llewellyn,  the  only  one  of  the 
sons  now  living,  owns  and  resides  upon  the  home- 
stead farm;  Jane,  Sarah  Ann,  and  Hester  are  liv- 
ing. 

Beniah  Tharp  (the  second  son),  James  and  Eunice 
grew  to  manhood  upon  the  homestead  farm  in  Mis- 
pillion.  His  father  died  in  1829  and  his  mother  a 
few  years  before.  At  his  father's  death  Beniah,  who 
was  then  twenty- four  years  old,  inherited  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  Mispillion  Hundred, 
near  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  moved  upon  it  in 
January,  1830,  and  there  spent  all  his  life.  He  was 
a  man  of  sound  common  sense,  good  judgment  and 
diligently  attentive  to  his  duties  as  a  farmer.  As  a 
result  of  energy  and  enterprise  he  accumulated  con- 
siderable wealth,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  owned 
a  number  of  farms,  aggregating  several  hundred  acres 
of  land.  When  only  twenty -seven  years  old  Beniah 
Tharp  was  chosen  one  of  the  delegates  from  Kent 
County  to  the  convention  which  met  at  Dover  and 
framed  the  Amended  State  Constitution  of  1831, -and 
when  Delaware  accepted  the  free-school  system  he 
was  one  of  the  commissioners  that  laid  ofi*  his  native 
county  into  school  districts. 

In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  Republican,  the  only 
member  of  the  family  that  advocated  the  principles 
of  that  party.  He  was  an  ardent  Union  man  during 
the  Civil  War. 

Beniah  Tharp  was  married,  January  21, 1831,  to 
Mary  P.  Anderson,  of  Kent  County,  and  who  now 
resides  in  the  village  of  Harrington.  Their  children 
are  William,  Samuel,  Beniah,  Laura,  married  to 
Peter  Calloway;  Sarah  Pauline,  married  to  George 
Collins  ;  Louisa,  married  to  William  Anderson. 

William,  the  eldest  son,  married  Sarah  Hopkins, 
and  lives  on  the  homestead  farm,  which  he  owns ; 
Samuel,  the  second  son,  married  Elizabeth  Redden, 
and  lives  upon  and  owns  the  **  Prospect  Farm," 
where  his  mother  lived  in  her  early  years,  and  which 
property  she  inherited  at  the  death  of  her  father, 
Ezekiel  Anderson.  Beniah,  the  youngest  son,  mar- 
ried Margaret  Redden.  He  owns  and  cultivates  the 
farm  formerly  the  home  and  property  of  his  great- 
grandfather, William  Tharp.  It  is  situated  in  Mis- 
pillion Hundred,  four  miles  from  Harrington. 

The  Luff  and  Anderson  lands  were  originally  a  part 
of  a  large  tract  of  over  five  thousand  acres  that  was 
known  as  the  "  Goldsborough  Survey,"  It  was  sur- 
veyed for  Henry  Goldsborough  about  1730,  but  was 
afterwards  granted  to  various  parties.  These  subse- 
quent grants  have  been  the  subjects  of  frequent  con- 


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1174 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


tention  in  the  Kent  County  Courts,  the  lioes  of  the 
grant  never  having  been  clearly  defined.  Those  who 
hold  portions  of  the  old  surveys  besides  those  men- 
tioned are  Mrs.  A.  T.  A.  Torbert  (of  Milford),  the 
Emory  Spencer  heirs,  John  W.  Smith,  Jesse  Ward, 
Reuben  Ross,  Henry  Calloway,  G^eorge  Murphy,  Wil- 
liam D.  Taylor,  William  H.  Taylor's  heirs  and  Jacob 
D.  Graham.  The  town  of  Vernon  is  on  the  old 
grant. 

"  Petrekin's  Chance,"  consisting  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  acres,  was  warranted  by  Charles,  Lord 
Baltimore,  to  David  Petrekin,  June  14,  1733.  It  i^ 
described  as  commencing  at  Marshy  Hope  Bridge 
and  running  north  from  the  bridge.  The  land  was 
resurveyed  to  John  Hopkins,  March  7,  1776,  and 
again  surveyed  when  the  line  was  settled  between 
Delaware  and  Maryland,  to  Zebulon  Hopkins.  Two 
hundred  and  ninety-six  acres  of  this  original  tract  is 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  John  Hopkins ;  the  remainder 
is  in  the  possession  of  Zebulon  Hopkins,  a  grandson 
of  the  orginal  warrantee,  Mrs.  Dr.  Lobstein,  Charles 
M.  Adams,  Sr.,  William  Layton  and  James  Stafford. 

The  tract  "  Pea  Hill "  was  surveyed  September  20, 
1760,  to  James  Anderson,  and  is  now  owned  by  Henry 
Knox,  and  is  described  as  adjoining  the  old  Bassett 
tract.  This  Bassett  land  is  in  the  possession  of 
George  Collins. 

"  Hayfield  "  was  granted  to  Zadoc  Helford  in  1796. 
It  is  west  of  the  Fairfield  tract,  and  contained  six 
hundred  acres.  Tt  had  been  surveyed  in  1740,  to 
Andrew  Bentling,  but  given  up  by  him ;  it  is  now 
owned  by  James  J.  Wood's  heirs,  William  M.  Willis, 
William  Marvel  and  Nathaniel  Johnson. 

In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  hundred  is  a  large 
tract  of  land  taken  up  before  1785  by  William  and 
Eli  Saulsbury,  who  had  large  landed  estates  in  Mary- 
land. A  portion  of  this  land  descended  to  William 
Saulsbury,  the  father  of  ex-Governor  Saulsbury,  Sena- 
tor Eli  Saulsbury  and  Chancellor  Wiilard  Saulsbury. 
They  were  all  born  at  the  old  homestead,  still  stand- 
ing, about  two  miles  above  Marshy  Hope  Bridge,  on 
the  read  to  Burrsville,  Md.  The  old  homestead  is 
owned  by  the  chancellor. 

A  tract  of  seven  hundred  acres  was  taken  up  by 
William  and  Thomas  Barrack,  in  the  western  part  of 
the  hundred,  on  a  Maryland  patent,  June  10,  1760. 
A  portion  of  this  land  is  owned  by  Robert  H.  Smith. 

Clement  Cecil  Simpson,  farmer  of  Mispillion 
Hundred,  was  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  this  locality.  He  was  born  in  Milford 
Hundred,  March  29,  1809.  He  was  the  son  of 
Thomas  Simpson,  a  farmer,  who  was  esteemed  for  his 
many  good  qualities  as  a  citizen  and  religious  man. 
Thomas  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature  on 
the  Adams  ticket,  in  1829,  but  died  November  29th,  of 
that  year.  Thomas  was  married  three  times,  his 
first  wife  being  Mary,  daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Cecil,  of  Queen  Anue's  County,  Maryland,  his 
wedding  taking  place  February  28.  1806.  Two 
children  of  this  marriage  grew  to  maturity, — the  sub- 


ject of  this  sketch  and  Ezekiel  Merrick,  who  died 
August  24,  1875,  in  California.  The  wife  died  in 
1813,  and  the  following  year  he  married  Mary,  widow 
of  Beauchamp  Walton  and  daughter  of  David  and 
Susannah  Harrington,  by  whom  he  had  one  child, 
William  Walton.  The  second  wife  dying  in  1817, 
in  1820  he  married  Rachael,  daughter  of  Solomon 
and  Elizabeth  GrifiSth,  and  three  children  were  the 
fruits  of  this  last  marriage, — Silas  Asbury,  Margaret 
Anna  (now  deceased)  and  Thomas  Simpson.  The 
father  of  Thomas  Simpson  was  John  Simpson,  born 
December  28,  1750,  and  died  July  14, 1819.  He  mar- 
ried Mary,  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Ann  Milford, 
who  was  born  January  15,  1748,  and  died  April  19, 
1826.  Their  children  were  Esther,  born  in  1777, 
and  died  in  1840 ;  Nancy,  born  in  1773,  who  w»s 
killed  by  accident  when  a  young  woman ;  Clement 
born  in  1779 ;  Johu,  born  in  1781 ;  and  Thomas,  born 
November  26,  1783.  John  and  Clement  emigrated, 
to  Ohio  in  1818,  and  raised  large  families.  The 
family  was  originally  of  that  hardy,  thrifty  class  of 
people,  Scotch-Irish,  and  were  among  the  first  to 
receive  land-granti  in  the  hundred,  and  in  what  is  now 
Milford.  They  have  always  been  among  the  pro- 
gressive farmers,  and  have  kept  their  land  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
attended  school  irregularly  until  he  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  He  was  then  apprenticed  to  a  black- 
smith, but  remained  but  three  years,  abandoning  it 
at  the  end  of  that  time  on  account  of  his  health,  and 
returned  to  farming.  In  1852  he  purchased  the  farm 
in  Mispillion  Hundred  upon  which  James  B. 
Cooper,  who  married  his  granddaughter,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Alexander  Simpson,  now  resides.  He 
purchased  several  other  tracts  after  this,  among  them 
six  acres  in  the  town  of  Harrington,  which  he  divided 
into  town  lots  and  sold.  He  engaged  in  the  growth 
of  grain  to  a  large  extent,  and  was  a  successful  culti- 
vator of  fruits.  Good  management  and  strict  integ- 
rity was  the  secret  of  his  success.  He  was  one  of  the 
best  known  men  in  the  hundred,  aod  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Kent  County.  He  was  a  life-long 
Whig  and  Republican,  and  a  staunch  Union  man  dur- 
ing the  war.    He  died  April  3, 1883. 

In  January,  1832,  Clement  C.  Simpson  was  married 
to  Ann,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Sarah  Morris,  who 
had  removed  from  Caroline  County,  Md.,  to  Kent 
County,  Del.  As  a  result  of  this  union  six  children 
have  grown  to  maturity, —Alexander,  who  married  a 
daughter  of  Heury  and  Bhoda  L#ewis ;  Mary ;  Ezekiel 
Henry,  who  married  Louisa  Calloway,  and  died  Octo- 
ber, 3,  1878,  aged  thirty-six  years;  Richard  John, 
refliding  in  Kansas;  James  Thomas;  and  Sarah 
Matilda,  wife  of  Thomas  A.  Melvin.  Alexander, 
who  married  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Rhoda  Lewis, 
had  nineteen  children,  fourteen  of  whom  are  livim;, 
viz. :  Anne,  wife  of  James  B.  Cooper ;  Henry  R. ; 
Mary  R.,  wife  of  Evan  Lewis;  Clement  C;  Rhoda 
L. ;  Lucy  M. ;  Alexine ;  John ;  Sarah  C. ;  Emma ; 
Charles ;  Laura  Virginia ;  James  D.  and  Grace.  The 


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1174  HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


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[mf*  .--Timi^-*,  **..  ii^.  tV 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1175 


wife  of  Clement  C.  Simpson  died  February  28, 1880, 
at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 

The  following  persona  are  owners  of  estates  ex- 
ceeding three  hundred  acres  in  Mispillion  and  what 
is  now  Mil  ford  Hundreds  in  1816: 


Ezcklel  Anderson 445 

Dr.  John  Adams 332 

Jamet  Bucknuwtcr. 364 

Dr.  Elijah  Barratt's  ert 330 

Jam«8  Bell 310 

John  Barratt 914 

Biddle  k  UitcheU 4iO 

Thomas  Booth 360 

John  Barker 446 

Joseph  Booth 300 

Cbarln  Bnckmaster  est 509 

John  Booth IU70 

William  Clark 351 

John  Clark  est 300 

Ephralm  Carter.. 440 

John  Covington ., 1120 

Ephralm  Chambers ^  336 

Thomas  Clark  est 621 

Wm.  Colkway 320 

Jonathan  Caldweirs  est 560 

Nathan  Clifton 800 

James  Davis  est 360 

Sovereign  Davis 435 

Walter  Douglas 1040 

Israel  Davis  est 550 

Henry  Davis,  8r 865 

Betsy  Davis 347 

Dr.  Robert  Dill,  near  Mllford.  346 

Bichard  T.  Earles  est 475 

Jesse  Eckles 300 

James  Flnsthwait SCO 

BeuUh  Fleming 342 

Philip  D.  Fiddeman 800 

Uinson  Graham.. 880 

John  Hall's  est 4«7 

Winlock  Hall 686 

John  Houston  est 333 

Benjamin  Harrington 478 

Zebulon  Hopkins 620 

Aaron  Harrington 421 

WillUm  Hamilton 450 

Bichard  8.  Harris 700 

Caleb  Jarvi8„ 637 

Pumell  Johnson 60i) 

James  Johnson,  Esq 547 

Jubn  Johnson 396 

Henry  KiUen  est 3(»9 

Jonathan  Lord  and  John  Ball  311 


Stephen  Lewis 400 

Dr.  Luff  Lewis 816 

Henry  Molleston  est 460 

Wm.  Hasten  (Neck) 400 

Alex.  McClyraent's  est 390 

Wm.  Masten,  Sr 366 

Nimrod  Morris 660 

Warner  Mifflin's  est 600 

John  Mitchell,  Esq 3U0 

Dr.  Exekiel  Needham'sest 377 

Elias  Primrose 800 

Charles  Polk 1000 

Benjamin  Potter ^ 600 

Samuel  Parley 30O 

Wm.  Smith,  Sr 600 

John  Pnrden 801 

Henry  M.  Bidgely.. 390 

Edward  Roes  est 340 

John  Reed,  Sr.,  est 300 

Clement  Riggs 306 

David  Riggs , 600 

Molton  Reords 312 

Isaiah  Rowland 400 

Shadrach  Raughley „ 863 

Dr.  James  Ralston 400 

Thomas  Sipple  est .300 

Thomas  Smith 700 

Wm.  M.  Satterfii'ld 307 

Robert  Simpson 418 

James  Swarden 700 

Wm.  Spence 300 

James  Tomlinson 3S6 

Jenefer  Tavlor*sest 580 

Benjamin  Tbarp 400 

Solomon  Towussnd 850 

Reuben  Turner  est 370 

Jesse  Turner 400 

James  Tharp 725 

William  Taylor 322 

Wm.  Walker,  Sr 750 

Col.  John  Wood 3200 

Aaron  Williams 446 

Thomas  Winsmore 620 

James  Whitaker 680 

John  Willoughby 427 

John  WhiU 382 

Peter  Wilson 463 

George  Walton's  est 630 


LowderLayton  est 620 

List  of  persons  assessed  in  Mispillion  Hundred  in 
1785,  which  now  includes  Milford  and  Mispillion 
Hundreds : 


Samuel  Arranton. 
James  Anderson. 
Wm.  Anderson. 
Esekittl  Anderson. 
"UMJot  Anderson. 
James  Anderson. 
Andrew  Anderson. 
John  Artsis. 
Robert  Arters. 
John  Anderson. 
Jacob  Adams. 
Henry  Amis. 
John  Adams. 
Sarah  Adams. 
Jehu  Anderson. 
Nathan  Autery. 
Thomas  Ashen. 
Solomon  Alrick. 


Nathan  A  mop. 
Thomas  Bowman. 
Wm.  Bowman. 
James  Bright. 
Thomas  Bowman. 
Thomas  Barker. 
Wm.  Bowman. 
James  Bright. 
Thomas  Bowman. 
Thomas  Barker. 
Wm.  Beauchamp. 
James  Baskit. 
Joseph  Brown. 
Eduiond  Baley. 
Wm.  Bradley. 
Eiyah  Berry. 
Daniel  Benston. 
John  Bowing. 


Wm.  Brinkley. 
Jonathan  Bradly. 
Nathan  Bowman. 
Thomas  Brown. 
Thomas  Baynard. 
John  Btiynard. 
Henry  Baynard. 
Solomon  Barrack. 
John  Barnes. 
Robert  Bradley. 
Daniel  Boxman. 
Leven  Benston. 
Watman  Boath. 
Robert  Baskit. 
Thomas  Barker. 
Joseph  Barkei. 
Wm.  Bedlow. 
William  Bowing. 
James  Bowing. 
Wm.  Brown. 
Richard  Brinkley. 
Nathaniel  Bowman. 
Anthony  Bayard. 
John  Barker. 
Wm.  J.  Button. 
Thomas  Bullock. 
Curtis  Bessicks. 
Wm.  Burris. 
Joshua  Barrick. 
Timothy  Calwell. 
Joseph  Catlin. 
Benjamin  Clarke. 
Jacob  Cnrween. 
Jehu  Curtis. 
Idaac  Codn'y. 
John  Cox. 
B.  Swamp. 
Peter  Calloway. 
Wm  Caudrey. 
Curtis  Crampton. 
Wm.  Cain. 
Wm.  Collins. 
Thomas  Can». 
Muses  Clamptt. 
George  Cnllen. 
Archabel  Curry, 
bsac  Cullin. 
Hezekiah  Culllo. 
Joshua  Clarke. 
Thomas  Clarke. 
Andrew  Collins. 
Wm.  Collins. 
Nathan  aifton. 
Seth  Catlin. 
Thomas  Cane. 
Daniel  Cadeau. 
Henry  Clarke. 
John  Carton. 
Benjamin  Conn  way. 
Thomas  Chadwork. 
Thomas  Clifton,  8r. 
Thomas  Clifton,  Jr. 
Daniel  Clifton. 
John  Cane. 
Othaniel  Gama. 
John  Clarke. 
Samuel  Garter. 
Sorden  Casson. 
John  Cuppage. 
Wm.  Cuppage. 
John  Christopher. 
Thomas  Clarke. 
James  Colwell. 
Tilman  Chance. 
Gideon  Cullin. 
Daniel  Colo. 
Isaac  Clarke. 
James  Crippen. 


Daniel  Chance. 
Charles  Cramer. 
Thedary  Catlin. 
Caleb  Chance. 
Daniel  Cavender. 
Matthew  Clarke. 
NehemiaJi  Cheney. 
John  Cox,  Sr. 
John  Cox,  Jr. 
Isaac  Cooper. 
Jacob  Callaway. 
Richard  Chance. 
Jehu  Davis. 
Robert  Davis. 
Cornelius  Dewees. 
John  Dillan. 
Mathias  Davis. 
John  Dewees. 
Zebdial  Dawson. 
John  Datey. 
Joshua  Deweas. 
Richard  Delenear. 
BenJ.  Downs. 
Aneary  Draper. 
David  Dewees. 
Joshua  Diers. 
Matthias  Darls. 
Solomon  Davis. 
John  Defray. 
Henery  Davis. 
Kzekiel  Deweas. 
Brinkley  Davis. 
Cornelius  Dewees. 
George  Datey. 
Isaac  Deweas. 
Samuel  Dnrglns. 
Lewis  Darls. 
Jonathan  Dewees. 
Joseph  Derock. 
Thomas  Davis. 
Watman  DIsheroon. 
John  Dawson. 
Wm.  Daley. 
Wm.  Draper. 
John  Draper. 
Duke  Dier. 
Wm.  Draper,  Sr. 
Solomon  Dill. 
Edward  Elliot. 
Johnson  Elixon. 
Wm.  Edgen. 
John  Edgen. 
BenJ.  Edgen. 
Edward  Fisher. 
Matthew  Fleming. 
Joseph  Fleming. 
Widow  Fleming. 
Robert  Fleming. 
Nathan  Fleming. 
Archibald  Fleming. 
Robert  Fleming,  Sr. 
Samuel  Smith. 
Theo.  Fisher. 
Thomas  Fisher. 
John  B.  Fenerwalt 
Theodore  Fenerwait. 
James  Fenerwait. 
George  Fleming. 
John  Fisher,  Sr. 
Henry  Fisher. 
Richard  Fisher. 
Waiteman  Furby. 
Archibald  Flamming,  Jr. 
James  Finber,  Sr. 
James  Fisher,  Jr. 
Wm.  Frasion. 
Boaz  Fleming. 
Dr.  Pheonix  Fisher. 


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1176 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


BenUh  Fleming. 
Wm.  Green. 
Henry  Griffin. 
John  GrifflD. 
JohnGullitt,  Sr. 
Ezekiol  Godwin. 
l<atban  Godwin. 
George  Gullet. 
Hylliard  Griffin. 
Stephen  Garrald. 
George  Gray  ham. 
Abram  Gullett. 
Daniel  Godwin. 
Levi  Gibflou. 
John  Gullitt,  Jr. 
Isaac  Gullitt 
Jonathan  Griffin. 
Joeeph  Greenwood. 
Cb  ristopher  Grasham. 
Joeeph  Gullitt. 
Solomon  Griffin. 
Joseph  Griffin. 
Geo.  H.  Garrald. 
Wm.  Gaekina. 
Wm.  Gariac. 
Isaac  Griffin. 
Sam  Gray  ham. 
Samuel  Goeley. 
Samuel  Goelln. 
John  Gibbfl. 
Preaston  Goden. 
John  Hopkins,  Jr. 
James  Hopkins. 
John  Herrington,  Sr. 
Jacob  Herrington. 
John  Herrington. 
liiaac  Herrington. 
Wm.  Herrington. 
Thomas  Hulford. 
James  Harper. 
John  Hopkins,  Sr. 
Robert  Hopkins. 
Wm.  Hudson. 
Zebulon  Hopkins. 
Wenlock  HalU 
Wm.  Hellman. 
James  Hatfield. 
Wm.  Hail. 
Kicodemas  Hickman. 
John  Howard. 
JacobuH  Hendrickson. 
Ben},  Hurdesty. 
Thomas  Harmon. 
Thomas  Hancock. 
John  Hambleton. 
Jacob  Hickman,  Sr. 
Daniel  Hinds. 
Wm.  Hauen. 
Absalom  Hudson. 
Wm.  Holden. 
Absalom  Hudson,  Jr. 
James  Hambleton. 
Boeh  Herrington. 
Henry  Hendrickson,  Jr. 
Dan  Horan. 
Absalom  Herrington. 
Nathan  Herrington. 
David  Herrington. 
Wm.  Harper. 
Elijah  Uulston. 
Aaron  Herring^n. 
Jacob  Hickman,  Jr. 
Jonathan  Herrington. 
Robert  Hilford. 
Hasoy  Hambleton. 
Isaac  Hudson. 
Thomas  Jacobs. 
Wm.  Jester. 


James  Johnson. 
Speakman  Jacobs. 
Isaac  Jester. 
Samuel  Johnson. 
Wm.  Johnson. 
Francis  Jester. 
Elias  Jester. 
Wm.  Johnston,  Sr. 
Isaac  Junes. 
2W'harIah  Jones. 
Beyman  Jacobs. 
Leven  Jump. 
Thomas  Jester. 
Salathiel  Jones. 
Absalom  Jester. 
Emanuel  Jester. 
John  Jester. 
Christopher  Jump. 
Jonathan  Johnson. 
Francis  Jester,  Jr. 
John  Killingsworth. 
Roger  Kirk. 
Mark  Kullen. 
Thomas  Kimmy. 
Robert  King. 
John  King. 
John  Killen. 
Solomon  Kimmy. 
Levi  Kimmy. 
Peter  King, 
John  Killum. 
Stephen  liewis. 
Nathan  Luff. 
Leah  Laws. 
Wm.  Laws. 
Joshua  Laws. 
Thomas  Ledenam. 
Peter  Lotchman. 
Richard  Lererton. 
James  Layton. 
Wm.  Lain. 
John  Laws. 
Anthony  Lain. 
Wm.  Lester. 
Darin  LaviPanck. 
Outten  Laws. 
Gary  Leverton. 
John  Mason. 
Joseph  McNatt. 
Wm.  McNatt,  Sr. 
Samuel  Miieaham. 
Zachariah  Masten. 
Wm.  Maston. 
Henry  Moleston. 
Mutthew  ManloTo. 
Charles  Mason. 
MtOor  3IcNatt. 
Levin  Marroday. 
Edmund  Melvin. 
David  Melvin. 
Robert  McMagonal. 
Anderson  Milvin. 
Thomas  Manlore. 
Leven  Murphy, 
Zadock  Morris. 
Peter  Nowell. 
James  Nutter. 
John  Night. 
Henry  Nowell. 
Jessie  New. 
Joseph  Oliver,  Sr. 
Joseph  Oliver,  Jr. 
John  Pleasonton. 
Ezeklel  Pritchard. 
Benjamin  Parker. 
Zachariah  Pritchard. 
David  Peterkln. 
Wm.  Primrose. 


John  Parsons. 
Joshua  Pnrwns. 
Thomas  Primrose. 
Andrew  Patten. 
John  Pullett. 
John  Pullen. 
James  Parker. 
Eaekiel  Pritchard. 
John  Pearce. 
Patrick  PendergrasL 
John  Price. 
John  Parker. 
Wm.  Payne. 
John  Porter. 
Wm.  Parker. 
Edward  Pearson. 
George  Pratt. 
Nathaniel  Pennewell. 
Wm.  Powell. 
Zadoc  Powell. 
John  Parson. 
Isaac  fiiggs. 
John  Revil. 
John  Read. 
James  Read. 
Thomas  Ruaslm. 
Wm.  Rusmm. 
Wm.  Rawley. 
Thomas  Rawley. 
Wm.  Read. 
Wm.  Ratten. 
John  Ralston. 
Wm.  Rennald. 
Jonathan  ^Rowland. 
Thomas  Rowell. 
Elijah  Rawley. 
Daniel  Rowland. 
Wm.  Riggs. 
John  Rick  word. 
David  Rockley. 
Peter  Rearson. 
Henry  Ratten. 
Joseph  Right 
Alexander  Riggs. 
Elijah  Sipple. 
John  Stewart. 
Caleb  Strsdley. 
George  Stewart. 
Wm.  Saulsbury. 
EH  Saulsbury. 
Jonathan  Staten. 
Samuel  Stradley. 
James  Sapp. 
Wm.  Sapp. 
Nathan  Sapp. 
Samuel  Sapp. 
Henry  Soden. 
Wm,  Soden. 
Thomas  Shockley. 
Wm.  Saxton. 
Andrew  Santon. 
Caleb  Sipple. 
Jehu  Scott. 
Daniel  Smith. 
Edwin  Sapp. 
Hill  Staten. 
Wm,  Simpson. 
Thomas  Shepherd. 
Joshua  Satterfleld. 
John  Sippel. 
Thomas  Smith. 
Isaac  Staten. 
Nathan  Scott. 
ElTin  Smith. 
Nathan  Satterfleld. 
Benjamin  Simpson. 
Wm.  Smith. 
Jacobs 


Digitized  by 


Thomas  Simpson. 
Benjamin  Sparks. 
Aaron  Satterfleld. 
Thomas  Shrowdan. 
Thomas  Smith. 
Garrett  Sipple. 
John  Simpson. 
Samuel  Smith. 
John  Smith. 
Robert  Simpson. 
John  Scott. 
Jehu  Swan. 
Jenifer  Taylor. 
John  Taylor. 
Peter  Taylor. 
Wm.  Tharp. 
Samuel  B.  Turner. 
Jehu  Twiner. 
Isaac  Tharp. 
Thomas  Tnmbleson. 
Carel  Tombleson. 
Ebene»'r  Tumblesoa. 
John  Tucker. 
Shadrach  Tucker. 
Solomon  Townsend. 
Charles  Townsend. 
John  Taylor. 
Wm.  Truitt. 
Daniel  Thomas. 
James  Shipeaalevood. 
James  Thomas. 
James  Thompson. 
Thomas  Tuttle. 
Wm.  Thompson. 
Emannel  Thistlevood. 
Gove  Tribute. 
Hugh  Thompson. 
George  Twiner. 
William  Tharp. 
Gary  Tomlinson. 
Charles  Turner. 
Richard  Tomlinson. 
John  Tucker. 
James  Tharp. 
Joshua  Underwood. 
John  Underwoood. 
Absalom  Underwood. 
James  Underwoood. 
Thomas  Vain. 
James  Vinnen. 
Daniel  Yinoon. 
John  Vickery. 
Eiekiel  Vickery. 
John  Yirden. 
Jeasey  Vinson. 
Thomas  Winamore. 
Enion  Williams. 
Wm.  White. 
Wm.  Ward. 
Bei^amin  Williania. 
Thomas  White,  Esq. 
Edward  White. 
Gill  White. 
John  WiUiams. 
Ward  Williams. 
Thomas  Williams. 
Wm.  Wyatt. 
Wm.  Winsmore. 
James  Walker. 
Joshua  Wolcota. 
Reuben  Wolcota. 
Caleb  Wulcots. 
Gabriel  Wiley. 
Levin  Willey. 
Zebulon  Wyatt. 
Henry  Whitecnttar. 
James  Whittaker. 
Jacob  Webb. 

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KENT  COUNTY. 


1177 


EbeneMr  W«Idi. 
John  Wyatt. 
James  Willkms. 
Lewis  Wllliami. 
Kilman  WUliami. 
JohD  Walker. 
Thomas  Wilkinson. 
James  White. 
Anthony  Woodcock. 
Aaron  Wyatt. 
Thomas  Wyatt 


Lemuel  Whitehead. 
Jeremiah  Whitehead. 
Jacob  Whitehead. 
Thomas  Webster. 
Bobert  Wilson. 
Samuel  Wildgoee. 
John  Williams. 
Thomas  Wright. 
Benjamin  Zoe. 
Darid  Zains. 


Belioious  Matters — The  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church, — MispillioD  Hundred,  while  not  the  birth- 
place of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Chnrch  in  Dela- 
ware, was  the  place  of  meeting  of  the  First  Annual 
Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in  the  United  States, 
which  met  at  the  house  of  Judge  Thomas  White.  It 
was  held  for  the  convenience  of  the  preachers  in  the 
northern  stations,  that  they  might  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  confer  over  the  state  of  the  church.  At  that 
time  the  entire  separation  from  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land had  not  been  determined  upon,  and  it  was  at 
this  Conference  decided  that  they  should  not  separate 
either  directly  or  indirectly ;  and  in  harmony  with 
that  sentiment,  Mr.  Asbury,  who  was  well-known 
to  be  opposed  to  separation,  it  was  declared,  ought  to 
act  as  general  assistant  in  America  on  account  of  his 
age  and  his  original  appointment  to  America  by  Mr. 
Wesley.  John  H.  Baynard  was  secretary  of  this 
Conference.  The  second  Conference  of  the  church  was 
also  held  here  April  16, 1781,  but  adjourned  to  Balti- 
more and  concluded  its  sessions  at  the  latter  place. 
It  was  here,  in  April,  1778,  that  a  band  of  Revolution- 
ary police  came  to  the  home  of  Judge  White,  who 
was  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  the 
county  of  Kent,  seized  him  and  carried  him  off  to  jail« 
under  the  charge  of  being  a  Methodist.  It  was  with 
this  same  Methodist  judge  that  Asbury  had  been 
compelled  to  take  refuge  from  his  enemies,  who  would 
have  captured  him,  had  he  not  hid  in  the  shrubbery. 
Judge  White  was  held  a  prisoner  for  five  weeks,  and 
upon  his  trial  was  acquitted.  The  ruins  of  the  old 
house  are  still  standing  upon  the  farm  of  John  Bul- 
lock. The  churches  in  the  hundred  have  always 
been  under  one  circuit,  except  Manship  Church — 
the  first  being  the  Caroline  Circuit,  then  Denton, 
afterwards  Vernon  and  then  Harrington,  and  at  pres- 
ent Farmington  and  Harrington.  In  1814  Asbury 
and  White's  and  Todd's  Chapel  were  included.  In 
1836  there  were  Todd's,  Prospect  and  White's.  In 
1851  Salem  was  in  the  circuit,  and  in  1859,  Harrington, 
Salem,  Asbury,  Prospect,  Todd's,  Masten's,  White's 
and  Farming^n. 

Sunday-schools  were  established  in  all  the  appoint- 
ments in  1884.  Previous  to  that  time  there  was  a 
school  at  White's.  Among  the  preachers  who  have 
rendered  service  in  the  hundred  are  Francis  Asbury, 
Caleb  R.  Pedicod,  Freeborn  Garrettson,  Lewis  Al- 
firey,  Micajah  Debruler,  John  Cooper,  William  Can- 
non, Jesse  Lee,  Joshua  Humphreys,  Christopher  J. 
Crouch,  Joshua  Mann,  John  Cooper,  Jr.,  Jacob 
Lewis,  Christopher  Green,  Allen  Loockerman,  A. 
75 


Green,  J.  Collison,  William  D.  Bumham,  William 
Spry,  Lewis  Storks,  Joseph  Mann,  William  E.  Saun- 
ders, Thomas  Hickey,  Nicholas  O.  Smith,  Charles 
Williamson,  John  Atkinson,  Samuel  Smith,  S.  C. 
Pelmetry,  J.  Bell,  S.  Layton,  William  Haman,  R. 
Owens,  Joseph  Gregg,  S.  T.  Churdner,  William  B. 
Walton,  Thomas  E.  Bell,  W.  W.  Redman,  Joseph  E. 
Smith,  S.  Townsend,  J,  T.  Van  Burkalow,  H.  Sander- 
son, J.  O.  Sypherd,  M.  Barnhill,  James  A.  Mas- 
sey,  J.  W.  Weston,  W.  M.  Warner,  A.  P.  SeUoway, 
J.  S.  Willis,  J.  Conner,  J.  M.  Williams,  George  S. 
Conoway,  A.  D.  Davis,  J.  A.  B.  Wilson,  J.  W.  Poole, 
J.  L.  Houston,  R.  B.  Hazzard,  J.  H.  Miller,  John  E. 
Mowbray,  W.  T.  Tolbert,  George  W.  Hardesty,  E.  N. 
Kirby,  A.  W.  Milby,  W.  F.  Cochran,  W.  S.  Robinson, 
C.  A.  Grice,  W.  E.  England,  Julius  Dodd,  F.  C. 
McSorley,  A.  W.  Milby,  G.  W.  Burke  and  John 
Warthman. 

As  early  as  1777  meetings  were  held  in  the  house 
of  Judge  White,  and  in  1780  White's  Chapel  was 
built  on  his  farm.  At  the  time  of  its  erection  a  ves- 
try was  attached  to  it,  and  Bishop  Asbury,  who 
preached  there  in  1782,  declared  it  to  be  one  of  the 
neatest  country  chapels  that  there  was  in  the  whole 
continent  The  church  was  moved  to  its  present 
location  in  1859,  and  is  a  neat  structure  and  painted 
white.  The  next  building  was  TbdtTs  Chapel,  About 
1800,  meetings  were  held  in  the  house  of  Levin  Todd, 
near  the  line  in  Sussex  County.  In  1808  Olive  Jump 
gave  land  to  build  a  church,  and  the  building  was 
erected  the  same  year  and  continued  in  use  until 
May  30,  1858,  when  the  present  building  was  erected, 
at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  dollars.  It  is  the  largest, 
next  to  the  Harrington  Church,  in  the  hundred, 
being  thirty-two  by  forty  feet 

Asbury, — April  14,  1814,  William  Marten  con- 
veyed to  Elisha  Hitchens,  Richard  Harris,  William 
Masten,  Sr.,  Peter  Hitchens  and  John  Harris,  trus- 
tees, seven  hundred  square  feet  of  land,  whereon  a 
school-house  and  Methodist  meeting-house  is  now 
begun,  for  worship,  and  Sabbath  and  week-day 
schools.  This  was  near  the  road  leading  from  Har- 
rington to  Felton.  This  was  the  first  beginning  of 
the  Asbury  meeting-house,  which  was  rebuilt  a  few 
years  ago.  It  is  located  about  one  and  one-half 
miles  from  Masten's  comers,  and  is  a  neat  structure, 
twenty-five  by  thirty-five  feet 

Salem,  or  Farmington  Church, — The  Farmington 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  formerly  located 
about  one  mile  from  the  town,  and  was  erected  in 
1816.  A  conveyance  of  the  land  is  on  record  bearing 
date  May  21, 1817,  from  Thomas  Davis  to  Jonathan 
Jester,  Nathan  Davis,  Clement  Jester,  Curtis  Cau- 
drey,  Eli  Pritchett,  trustees  of  meeting  and  school- 
house,  erected  on  the  premises  which  consist  of 
thirty-five  perches  of  land.  June  1, 1873,  the  church 
was  dedicated  in  Farmington  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  R.  L. 
Dashiel  and  Rev.  J.  S.  Willis,  since  which  time  the 
old  building  has  been  torn  down. 

Manship^s  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, — ^The  old 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Black  Swamp  Church  was  built  early  in  the  present 
century,  and  Btood  at  "Whitaker'a  Gate"  (now 
James  G.  Jester).  It  was  abandoned  and  sold  when 
Maaship's  Church  was  built  farther  down  the  road, 
about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  Hollands ville.  The 
building  was  dedicated  December  2,  1855,  and  is  of 
frame.  It  ha?  sittings  for  four  hundred  persons.  Rev. 
Andrew  Manship  preached  thededication  sermon.  It 
is  supplied  with  ministers  of  the  Felton  circuit 
and  the  list  will  be  found  in  the  article  upon  South 
Murderkill  Hundred. 

Pmspeci. — Prospect  Church  is  east  of  Vernon,  and 
was  built  in  1834,  at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  dollars, 
the  ground  having  been  donated  by  Isaac  Graham. 
The  present  building  was  erected  upon  the  site  of 
the  old  chapel  in  1877,  and  was  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Scott.  It  is  thirty  by  forty  feet,  and  will  seat  three 
hundred  persons. 

Masten*s  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — The  church 
at  Masten's  Comers  was  built  in  1873,  and  was  named 
in  honor  of  Joseph  A.  Masten,  who  donated  the 
ground.  It  is  thirty -six  by  twenty-four  feet,  and  cost 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars. 

Bethel  Church. — ^This  church,  situated  three  miles 
northeast  of  Marshy  Hope  Bridge,  was  built  in  1830, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Churches  built  in  the  country.  Among  the  early 
members  were  Emory  Graham,  Dr.  Luther  Swiggett, 
Mary  Swig^ett,  Samuel  Anderson,  Levi  King,  David 
Taylor  and  Elias  Booth.  Among  the  early  ministers 
were  Thomas  Melvin  and  Richard  N.  Merrikin.  In  1871 
the  church  was  rebuilt  of  frame,  and  is  thirty-two  by 
forty  feet.  Since  the  erection  of  the  Harrington 
church  the  ministers  have  been  supplied  from 
there. 

Farmington  Presbyterian, — ^This  church  was  built 
about  1840,  upon  the  land  of  W.  H.  Powell.  In  1863 
it  was  moved  into  Farmington,  but  has  been  out  of 
use  for  some  time.  A  select  school  was  conducted  in 
it  for  several  years  by  Rev.  J.  M.  Williams,  formerly 
president  of  Wesleyan  College,  Wilmington. 

Vernon  Baptist  Church, — Zion  Church  was  first  a 
congregation  of  Independent  Methodists,  and  in  De- 
cember, 1870,  Rev.  D.  B.  Purinton  began  preaching, 
and  finally  baptized  the  congregation  March  28, 
1871.  Rev.  Richard  H.  Merriken  was  ordained  to 
the  Baptist  ministry  the  same  day,  and  became  the 
pasior.  A  subscription  was  started  for  a  church, 
which  was  dedicated  November  19th  of  the  same 
year.  The  members  have  mostly  moved  into  Har- 
rington, and  services  are  held  there. 

St,  FauPs  Episcopal  Church, — ^The  last  mention 
that  is  made  of  this  church  is  in  a  report  of  1836, 
where  it  is  recommended  that  an  effort  be  made  to 
rebuild  it.  The  old  building  has  entirely  disap- 
peared. The  original  building  was  erected  in  1765. 
The  land  was  conveyed  by  John  Read,  October  31, 
1765,  to  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gos- 
pel in  Foreign  Parts,  and  recites  "  all  that  small  par- 
cel of  land  containing  two  acres,  whereon  hath  been 


erected  a  house  or  building  called  St  Paul's  Church, 
to  the  only  proper  use  and  behoof  of  the  said  So- 
ciety for  themselves,  successors  and  assigns." 

Schools. — ^Prior  to  the  passage  of  the  school  law 
of  1829  private  subscription  schools  were  in  ope^^- 
tion  in  nearly  all  the  Methodist  Church^  then  built* 
In  other  places  school-houses  were  built  by  private 
persons,  and  the  teachers  paid  by  subscription  from 
the  parents  of  the  children. 

District  33. — ^The  school-house  in  this  district  was 
erected  in  1834,  the  money  being  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion among  the  inhabitants.  In  1886  there  were 
thirty  scholars  in  attendance. 

IHstrict  34. — Before  the  passage  of  the  school  law, 
and  down  to  1834,  a  school  was  held  in  Hardesty's 
meeting-house,  a  short  distance  from  where  the 
present  school  building  stands.  In  1834  the  present 
building  was  erected.  Among  those  who  had  taught 
there  are  John  Appl^^te,  William  ^Saulsbury,  Wait- 
man  Jones,  Hon.  Eli  Saulsbury,  Thomas  Saulsbury 
R.  D.  Cahall  and  Aleaid  Dawson.  In  1886  there 
were  fiily-six  scholars  in  attendance. 

District  35.-— Thomas  Short,  in  1838,  gave  the  land 
for  a  school-house  in  this  district,  and  the  same  year 
a  building  was  erected.  The  early  teachers  were 
Sydenham  Lewis,  Rev.  Richard  N.  Merriken,  Ste- 
phen Kane,  John  R.  T.  Masten  and  Nathan  B. 
Fleming.  In  1886  there  were  forty  scholars  in  at- 
tendance. 

District  36.— The  people  of  District  36  in  1831, 
two  years  afler  the  passage  of  the  school  law,  built 
the  Prospect  School-house  ;  previous  to  this  they  had 
maintained  a  school  in  Vernon.  It  was  rebuilt  in 
1877.  Among  the  early  teachers  were  Jefferson  L. 
Rich  and  John  O.  Hornett.  In  1886  there  were  fifty- 
three  scholars. 

District  37.— What  is  known  as  the  Tomahawk 
School-house  was  built  on  the  branch  that  bears  that 
name  in  this  district  in  1832.  James  Booth  gave  the 
laud  to  the  district,  and  the  money  to  erect  the  build- 
ing was  raised  by  subscription.  A  new  building  was 
erected  in  1881.  Among  the  early  teachers  were 
John  Pepper,  Jefferson  Rich,  Waitman  Jones  and 
John  Jones.    In  1886  there  were  fifty  scholars. 

District  38. — ^The  inhabitants  of  this  district  had 
maintained  a  school  for  twenty  years  before  the  pub- 
lic school  building  was  built,  in  1831.  It  was  burned 
down  in  1864,  and  a  new  building  erected  ^e  next 
year.  Sydenham  Lewis,  Robert  Fulton  and  John  R. 
T.  Masten  were  among  the  early  instructors.  Thiriy- 
six  pupils  attended  during  the  year  1886. 

Districts  39  and  124  compose  the  Farmington 
School  District.  The  original  school-house  was  a 
short  distance  out  of  the  present  town,  and  was 
erected  in  1835.  Jonathan  Tharp  and  Sydenham 
Lewis,  who  taught  in  nearly  all  the  districts,  were 
among  the  early  teachers.  The  building  was  moved 
into  Farmington  in  1880,  and  is  a  neat  structure,  with 
a  graded  school  and  two  teachers,  with  an  attendance, 
in  1886,  of  forty-two  pupils. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1179 


DUtrici  47. — About  a  few  hundred  yards  west  of 
the  site  of  the  old  Friends'  Meeting-house  a  school 
was  built  in  this  district  in  1844,  and  among  those 
who  taught  there  were  Dr.  William  H.  Jones,  James 
Murine  and^^Bobert  H.  Smith.  A  new  building  was 
erected  in  18^,  and  is  still  standing,  forty-two  scholars 
being  in  attendance  in  1886. 

District  48.— A  school  was  built  at  Powell's  Comer 
in  1846,  and  is  still  used,  and  was  at  one  time  the 
school-house  for  the  Harrington  District.  In  1886 
there  were  thirty -one  pupils  in  attendance. 

Diitrict  56. — ^Th«  Pine  Grove  School-house  was 
built  in  this  district  in  1857,  and  has  been  in  continu- 
ous use  since  that  time.  Clement  Harrington,  Na- 
than B.  Fleming  and  Frisby  Hellis  taught  the  first 
pupils  in  the  old  building.  According  to  the  report 
of  1886  there  were  thirty  pupils  in  attendance. 

IHttricl  55. — ^About  one  hundred  yards  from  the 
present  site  Outten  Anderson,  in  June,  1855,  gave 
the  land  for  a  school-house,  which  was  built  the  same 
year  by  subscription.  Clark  H.  Adams,  6.  F.  Jester, 
William  E.  Cahall  and  Robert  H.  Smith  taught  in 
the  old  building.  The  present  structure  was  erected 
in  1844,  and  two  years  after  had  fifly-one  pupils  in 
attendance. 

District  58. — ^The  Masten  School-house  was  erected 
in  1857,  about  one  mile  from  Mast  en's  Corners,  and 
stood  until  1874,  when  it  was  moved  into  Masten^s 
Corners  and  a  new  building  erected.  Forty  pupils 
were  in  attendance  in  1886.  Among  the  instructors 
in  the  old  building  were  Dr.  John  Warren,  Martha 
Powell,  Charles  Warren,  James  T.  Jarrell  and  James 
Townsend. 

District  89. — Rawley's  School-house  was  built  upon 
the  Dawson  land  in  1862,  and  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1884.  In  1885  the  school  was  rebuilt,  and  the 
next  year  had  thirty-six  scholars  in  attendance. 
Beniah  Fleming,  Nathan  Anthony  and  John  Bar- 
rett taught  in  the  old  building. 

District  100. — ^John  Porter  gave  the  land  for  this 
building,  which  was  erected  in  1867.  Susanna  Ann 
Harrington  and  Sally  Richardson  first  taught  school 
in  the  building,  which  had  thirty-five  scholars  in 
1886. 

Villages—  Vernon, — ^The  old  town  of  Vernon,  in 
the  centre  of  the  hundred,  was  for  many  years  the 
only  town  in  the  hundred.  About  1780  an  old  man 
named  Joshua  Vincent  moved  there  and  laid  out  a 
walk  and  opened  a  store.  The  place  then  took  the 
name  of  Vincent's  Causeway.  When  the  name  was 
changed  to  Vernon  is  uncertain,  but  as  far  back  as 
1814  it  was  known  by  that  name.  It  assumed  consid- 
erable importance  about  this  time,  and  on  Thursday 
of  every  week  two  justices  of  the  peace  would  sit  in 
the  town.  These  justice  days  were  great  events  in  the 
little  town.  Lawyers  from  Dover  and  G^rgetown 
would  journey  here,  and  large  numbers  of  people  would 
attend  their  sittings.  Then  there  were  three  stores  and 
a  hotel  in  the  town,  and  as  many  as  two  thousand  people 
would  be  at  this  little  settlement  attending  the  courts. 


Lewis  &  Graham  had  a  store  in  1880,  where  W.  D.  Tay- 
lor now  lives,  and  did  &  large  business,  and  George 
Waltham  ran  a  hotel.  A  store  was  built  a  short  dis- 
tance away  by  Reuben  Anderson,  and  the  place  was 
called  Greenville.  The  post-office  alternated  between 
these  two  places  as  the  politics  of  the  country  changed. 
Among  those  who  have  been  postmasters  are  Reuben 
Anderson,  George  Fleming  and  Elias  Hopkins  (the 
last  one  at  Greenville),  Zachariah  Minkin,  Wesley 
McNitt,  William  Lewis,  John  Isenberry,  William  H. 
Taylor,  William  Calloway,  William  D.  Taylor  and 
the  present  one  —  John  F.  Thawley.  Robert  & 
James  Smith  had  a  store  at  Greenville  in  1864,  since 
which  time  it  has  passed  out  of  existence.  All  Mis- 
pillion  Hundred  voted  at  Vernon  up  to  the  time  of 
the  division  of  the  hundred,  and  it  was  not  until  Har- 
rington began  to  assume  considerable  importance 
that  it  was  made  the  voting-place.  Since  then  the 
place  has  rapidly  gene  down,  and  only  one  store, 
kept  by  William  D.  Taylor,  and  a  blacksmith-shop 
are  left  to  mark  its  past  prosperity. 

Farmington. — This  is  another  town  that  came  with 
the  railroad.  In  1855  the  railroad  company  built  a 
station  and  called  it  Flatiron.  When  the  post-ofilce 
was  established  in  1858,  with  Shadrack  D.  Taylor, 
postmaster,  the  name  was  changed  to  Farmington. 
Jesse  Keenan,  L.  Tharp,  David  Johnson  and  Wil- 
liam A.  Reddin  have  succeeded  Mr.  Taylor.  The 
improvement  of  the  town  has  been  rapid,  and  it  has 
become  a  place  of  considerable  importance,  the  ship- 
ments of  fruit  last  season  exceeding  those  at  Har- 
rington. The  population  is  over  three  hundred,  and 
there  are  two  general  stores,  a  drug-store  and  several 
small  stores  and  a  blacksmith-shop. 

The  most  important  industry  is  N.  R.  Johnson  & 
Co.'s  canning-factory  and  evaporator.  The  firm 
comprise  ex-Representative  N.  R.  Johnson,  E.  W. 
Russell  and  W.  H.  Murphey.  The  evaporator  was 
started  in  1882  by  Mr.  Johnson,  and  the  cannery  in 
1884.  The  capacity  of  the  evaporator  is  1800  baskets 
of  peaches,  and  cannery  100,000  cans.  A  capital  of 
$25,000  is  invested  and  employment  given  to  125 
hands. 

James  C.  Reed,  who  has  the  cannery  at  Harring- 
ton, also  conducts  one  at  this  place.  He  employs 
seventy  hands. 

The  saw-mill  of  J.  B.  Simmons  was  started  in 
1877.  Seven  thousand  feet  of  lumber  are  cut  a  day, 
and  employment  given  to  sixteen  men. 

Masten's  Comers, — In  1842  William  Masten  built  a 
store  on  the  road  leading  from  Harrington  to  Felton, 
and  several  houses  having  been  built  shortly  after- 
ward, it  acquired  the  name  of  Masten's  Comers. 
Jonathan  Loper  and  Foster  Boone  were  afterwards 
proprietors  of  the  store.  William  Kelly  opened  a 
store  about  1870.  At  present  John  Masten  has  a 
store,  and  there  are  about  forty  inhabitants. 

Brownsville  is  a  hamlet,  consisting  of  a  store  and 
house,  about  three  miles  from  the  Maryland  line. 
ThisUewood^s  ARU, — ^This  mill  was  originally  built 


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1180 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


by  John  Thistlewood  about  1780.  It  was  rebuilt  in 
1825  by  Hicks  Dellner.  It  has  since  been  conducted 
by  John  Booth,  Thomas  Thistlewood,  David  Donnan 
and  now  by  Beniah  Tharp,  who  runs  it  as  a  grist- 
mill. 

There  is  also  in  the  hundred  the  saw-mill  of 
McNatt  &  Brother^  six  miles  from  Harrington,  in  Dis- 
trict 83,  which  has  been  in  operation  since  1880. 

The  brick-yard  of  Wright  &  Calloway,  near  Har- 
rington, has  been  in  operation  since  1880. 

Harrington, — Harrington  is  an  example  of  what 
enterprise,  public  spirit  and  energy  will  do.  From 
nothing,  comparatively,  it  has  in  thirty  years  grown 
to  be  one  of  the  most  important  points  on  the  Dela- 
ware Peninsula,  and  the  principal  railroad  centre 
south  of  Wilmington.  Before  the  advent  of  the  rail- 
road, in  1856,  all  that  there  was  in  what  was  then  known 
as  Clark's  Comer,  were  one  house  and  a  store.  The 
ground  was  owned  mainly  by  the  descendants  of 
Benjamin  Clark,  to  whom  it  had  been  patented  in 
1760.  One  hundred  and  eighty  acres  comprising  his 
grant  embraced  the  land  lying  east  and  west  of  the 
present  town.  The  land  on  the  north  and  south  was 
in  the  possession  of  Benjamin  Harrington.  The  first 
that  is  known  of  Clark's  Comers  was  in  1810,  when 
Benjamin  Clark  erected  a  hotel  upon  the  present 
site  of  the  Harrington  Hotel,  the  old  building  still 
forming  a  portion  of  the  present  stracture.  Jehu 
Clark,  his  brother,  built  a  store  which  was  kept  by 
John  C.  Harrington.  Shortly  after  building  the 
depot,  Matthew  J.  Clark  laid  out  a  number  of  town 
lots,  which  he  succeeded  in  selling  rapidly,  and  four 
years  later  about  twenty  new  houses  had  been  erected. 
The  building  of  the  Junction  and  Breakwater  Rail- 
road gave  the  place  an  impetus.  Burton  Bennett 
opened  another  store,  where  Alexander  Matthews 
now  conducts  a  general  merchandising  business. 
The  old  hotel  had  been  closed  for  years,  and  the  need 
of  one  becoming  apparent,  Zadock  Clark  built  the 
present  Harrington  House,  which  has  been  conducted 
since  by  Benjamin  F.  Fleming,  James  Satterfield, 
Edward  C.  Shaw,  James  Herserp,  Frank  Harmonson, 
Samuel  Solomon,  J.  W.  Westcott  and  John  Herd- 
man.  The  Delaware  House  was  built  as  a  store  in 
1858,  by  Zachariah  Meriken,  but  shortly  afterwards 
E.  H.  Macklem  remodeled  it,  and  opened  the  hotel, 
and  his  successors  have  been  Thomas  Fountain,  John 
C.  Garby,  Amos  Cole  and  Alexander  Newman. 

The  post-office  was  established  in  1857,  with 
Matthew  J.  Clark  as  postmaster,  since  which  time  it 
has  been  in  charge  of  John  H.  Van  Giesel,  James  A. 
Moore,  S.  L.  Shaw  and  Thomas  J.  Smith.  Thus,  with 
all  that  goes  towards  making  a  new  town,  the  popula- 
tion began  to  increase.  Mispillion  Hundred,  largely 
populated  with  good  farmers,  who  had  become 
wealthy  by  their  long  years  of  industry,  had  never 
had,  previous  to  this  time,  any  town,  eligibly  located, 
to  which  they  could  retire  and  at  the  same  time  at- 
tend to  their  lands.  The  main  advantages  of  Har- 
rington soon  presented  themselves,  and  these  pros- 


perous old  farmers  rented  their  farms  and  erected 
handsome  and  comfortable  homes  in  the  new  town, 
and  used  their  capital  in  adding  to  its  improvement 
and  progress. 

In  1880  the  population  numbered  eight  hundred. 
About  this  time  a  number  of  industries  were  started, 
which  attracted  laboring  people,  and  a  number  of  fine 
stores  were  built  and  opened,  and'a  careful  estimate, 
made  in  1887,  placed  the  population  at  thirteen  hun- 
dred. 

The  Legislature  in  1862  changed  the  name  of  the 
town  from  Clark's  Corners  to  Harrington,  in  honor 
of  Hon.  Samuel  M.  Harrington,  at  the  time  chancel- 
lor of  the  State.  The  population  warranting  it,  in 
1869,  Harrington  was  incorporated,  and  Wm.  Shaw, 
Thomas  H.  Dorman,  Martin  W.  Harrington,  James 
H.  Vickery  and  Wm.  T.  Vlin  Giesel  were  named  as 
the  first  commissionetv.  They  were  to  hold  office 
until  March,  1870,  to  hold  an  election  for  alderman, 
treasurer,  assessor  and  collector,  and  to  define  the 
limits.  Joseph  Ward  was  selected  as  the  surveyor. 
The  limits  of  the  town  were  fixed  one-half  mile  from 
the  tank-house  in  every  direction.  The  election  re- 
sulted in  the  choice  of  Henry  C.  Wolcott  for  alder- 
man ;  J.  W.  Stevenson,  treasurer ;  Eli  Harrington, 
assessor ;  and  C.  C.  Powell,  collector.  The  new  com- 
missioners opened  new  streets,  laid  sidewalks,  erected 
lamps  and  passed  a  number  of  ordinances  for  the 
town  government 

Since  1870  the  town  officers  have  been : 

Aldermen, 


JahaF.Tbarp 1870 

Joseph  Ward 1871-76 

Wm.  E.  Bates. 1876 

Joseph  Ward. 1877-78 

Wm.  H.  Powell 1879-80 


Alexander  P.  Sorden „..1881 

Joseph  Ward... 188S 

B.  0.  Dale« ^ 1888-84 

G.  E.  Simmona.......^ 1885-M 

Henry  Knox 1887 


Assessors. 


Bobert  H.  Short 1870 

Jehu  C.  Fleming. 1871-72 

John  W.  Oain« 1873 

G.  L.  Balrd. 1874 

James  Porter 1875 

Samnel  L.  Shaw^ 1876 


Samael  NoweU IVn-Tt 

S.  L.  Shaw ^ 187»-«1 

John  P.  Hasten^ ^1884 

8.  L.  Shaw „ 18S5-« 

John  P.  Masten. 18S6 

James  A.  Smith „ IBIT 


A.  Miner. « 

Rnftis  Jones 1871 

Henry  N.  Clark 1872-76 

Gtoorge  W.  Jester. 1876-77 


Oolieetors, 

1870      Heniy  N.  Clark 1878-88 

W.  D.  Meredith 1884 

Henry  N.  Clark....„ 1885-86 

Bobert  Smith- 1887 


IVeasurers. 

J.  W.  SteTenson 1870-77  .  James  A.  Moore........ 1879-8S 

Wm.  T.Sharp 1878  |  Z.  Fleming ....1884-*x 

Tbwn  Oommissioners. 


Eli  Harrington 1870 

E.  Fleming..: 1870 

Henry  N.  Clark 1870 

W.  T.  Van  Giesel ....1870 

W.  T.  Sharp  (clerk) 1870 

James  Sharp 1871 

Thomas  H.  Dorman 1871 

Wm.  Shaw »..1871 

James  A.  Moore. 1871 

Bobert  J.  Lank  (clerk) 1871 

James  Sharp 1872 

C.  0.  PoweU 1872 


J.  B.  Simmons. 187S 

John  W.  Kane „ ..1872 

Bobert  S.  Downs  (clerk) «..18T2 

Ezekiel  Fleming. ....187S 

James  Porter ..J8T8 

Wm.E.  Bates. U78 

Eli  Harrington UTS 

Bobert  8.  Downs  (clerk) J87S 

Wm.  Shaw .« WH 

EU  Harrington „„ 1874 

Wm.  Harrington 1874 

Joseph  ParBon.. 18T4 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1181 


AmotOole. ^ 1879 

Jamet  Satterfleld 1870 

Samuel  Nowell 1879 

J.  B.  Fleming 1879 

Dr.  B.  L.  Lewis  (olerk) 1879 

Amos  Cole 1880 

James  fiatterfleld 1880 

Joseph  A.  Calloway... 1880 

J.  C.  Fleming. 1880 

Dr.  B.  L.  Lewis  (derk) 1880 

J.  E.  Fleming. a881 

Wm.  J.  Hubbard 1881 

Augustus  Jelllson 1881 

John  W.  Gain. 1881 

Charles  E.  Simmons  (clsrk)...188l 

Wm.  Harrington 1882 

Gilbert  Jonas. 1882 

P.  N.  Jester.. 1882 

E.  S.  Burdock 1882 

James  P.  West  (clerk) 1882 

James  Hanley 1883 

Wm.  0.  Wright 1888 

W.  H.  Franklin.. 1883 

AlfVed  Raughley 1883 

O.  B.  Simmons  (clerk) 1883 

Charles  Bichards 1884 

W.  H.  Anderson 1884 

W.  J.  Hubbard 1884 

J.  W.  Gain 1884 

A.  Allen  (clerk) 1884 

W.  H.  Anderson 1886 

Charles  Richards 1886 

J.  W.  Gain 1886 


W.  Layton. ^ „..1886 

W.  D.  Meredith  (clerk) ^..1886 

W.  H.  Anderson 1888 

0.  J.  Franklin 188< 

J.  N.  Jester. ......1886 

Frederick  Seed 1886 

J.  E.  Homey  (clerk)... 1886 

Ezekiel  Fleming 1887 

Wm.Shaw 1887 

D.Gordon 1887 

John  W.  Cain 1887 

Dr.  Fred  J.  Owens  (clerk).... ..1877 

Robert  8.  Downs  (clerk).. 1874 

J.  B.  Simmons. 1876 

James  A.  Moore„ 1876 

G.  L.  Baird. 1876 

Thomas  H.  Pnmell 1876 

Jehu  C.  Fleming  (clerk) 1875 

Robert  H.  Short ». 1876 

Wm.  Shaw 1876 

G.  L.  Baird 1876 

John  Climer 1876 

Robert  S.  Downs  (clerk).. 1876 

Wm.8haw 1877 

John  Climer. 1877 

G«)rge  W.  Hardesty «1877 

James  C.  Reed 1877 

Gilbert  Jones  (clerk) 1877 

James  A.  Smith 1878 

G«orge  W.  Hardesty. 1878 

G.  L.  Balrt 1878 

Wm.  Shaw 1878 

Robert  S.  Downs  (clerk) 1878 


The  PtU>lio  SehooL — ^The  enterprise  of  Harring- 
ton is  best  shown  in  the  handsome  large  school- 
building  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  town.  This 
building  is  of  frame,  and  is  "T"  shape,  one  end 
being  thirty-five  by  sixty,  and  the  other  thirty  by 
thirty-five.  There  are  six  large  rooms,  two  stories. 
The  building  is  built  in  the  Queen  Anne  style  of 
architecture,  and  cost  six  thousand  dollars,  and  was 
erected  in  1884.  There  are  accommodations  for  six 
teachers  and  four  hundred  scholars.  At  present 
there  are  four  teachers  and  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  scholars.  The  school  is  graded,  and  the  higher 
branches  are  taught.  The  district  is  a  consolidation 
of  Districts  Nos.  94  (which  was  erected  in  1862),  126 
and  127  of  Kent  County,  and  was  incorporated  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  at' the  session  of  1888.  The 
9ct  named  Robert  S.  Downs,  Robert  H.  Short,  James 
A.  Smith,  Ezekiel  Fleming,  Alfred  Raughley,  Wil- 
liam T.  Sharp,  Henry  Dickerson,  Amos  Cole  and 
James  Moore  as  a  Board  of  Education  for  the  town 
of  Harrington.  They  were  given  power  to  borrow 
five  thousand  dollars  to  erect  a  school  building,  and 
were  to  hold  office  until  April,  1888,  at  which  time 
their  successors  were  to  be  elected, — three  to  hold 
one  year;  three,  two  years;  and  three,  three  years. 
The  following  persons  have  been  elected  members  of 
the  school-board : 

1883.— W.  T.  Sharp,  Robert  H.  Short,  A.  Raugh- 
ley, John  P.  Masten,  £.  Fleming,  Amos  Cole,  Curtis 
Sapp,  Augustus  Jellison  and  Dr.  B.  L.  Lewis. 

1884. — James  A.  Moore,  William  H.  Franklin  and 
Samuel  Q.  Shaw,  for  three  years;  Ezekiel  Fleming, 
for  two  years;  Augustus  Jellison,  one  year. 


1886.— James  D.  West,  A.  Jellison  and  William  G. 
Hardesty,  for  three  years. 

1886.— W.  H.  Anderson,  G.  L.  Baird  and  Dr.  B.  L. 
Lewis  for  three  years ;  N.  Frank  Raughley,  for  one 
year. 

1887.— W.  H.  Franklin,  N.  Frank  Raughley  and 
Jehu  C.  Fleming,  for  three  years. 

Churches. — ^The  Harrington  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  is  a  neat  frame  structure,  and  has  the  largest 
congregation  in  the  town.  For  a  number  of  years 
before  the  erection  of  the  church  the  meetings  were 
held  in  the  school-house.  Dr.  F.  J.  Owens  started 
the  first  Sunday-school  in  1860  with  twenty  scholars. 
The  church  building  was  erected  in  1870,  and  dedi- 
cated October  23, 1870— Rev.  Jonathan  S.  Willis,  of 
Milford,  preaching  in  the  morning,  and  Rev.  Andrew 
Manship  in  the  evening.  The  building  cost  twenty- 
eight  hundred  dollars,  and  is  thirty  by  fifty  feet.  The 
church  is  the  centre  of  the  Harrington  Methodist 
Episcopal  Circuit,  and  a  list  of  the  ministers  who 
have  preached  here  will  be  found  in  the  article  upon 
the  Methodist  'Episcopal  Churches  in  Mispillion 
Hundred. 

The  Harrington  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized 
by  the  Rev.  S.  Murdick  in  the  old  school-house  of 
District  94,  in  the  winter  of  1871,  with  fifteen  mem- 
bers. In  1878  the  present  building  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
The  present  membership  is  forty-four.  The  pastors 
have  been  Rev.  S.  Murdick,  S.  S.  Sturges  and  W. 
Edwards.    At  present  there  is  no  minister. 

The  Baptist  Church  is  the  same  as  the  one  at  Vernon, 
and  was  dedicated  in  November,  1871,  at  that  place, 
the  building  costing  two  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 
The  members  nearly  all  having  moved  into  Harring- 
ton, services  for  ten  years  past  have  been  held  in  the 
Grange  Hall.  The  ministers  have  been  the  Rev. 
O.  P.  Flippo,  Rev.  Dr.  Isaac  Cole,  Rev.  Henry  Leanoy, 
Rev.  Geerge  Bradford,  Rev.  James  Hope,  Rev. 
James  Steelman  and  the  Rev.  S.  H.  Haskell. 

The  Harrington  Methodist  Protestant  Church  was 
organized  in  1880,  with  a  membership  of  fifty.  The 
church  building  was  dedicated  August  19,  1881,  by 
the  Rev.  T.  H.  Lewis,  Rev.  R.  S.  Rowe  and  John  E. 
Nicholson,  of  Wilmington.  The  building  is  a  neat 
frame  structure,  and  cost  two  thousand  two  hundred 
dollars.  The  same  ministers  who  have  preached  here 
have  preached  at  Bethel  Church,  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  hundred.  They  have  been  Rev.  J.  E.  Nicholson 
Rev.  C.  S.  Arnett,  Rev.  G.  L.  Backus  and  Rev.  C.  m! 
Thomson.  At  present  there  is  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  members,  and  regular  services  are  held. 

The  St.  Anne's  Episcopal  Church  was  consecrated 
by  Bishop  Lee,  June,  1876.  The  building  was  erected 
by  subscription,  the  greater  portion  of  the  amount 
being  contributed  by  the  Rev.  J.  L.  McKim,  of  Mil- 
ford,  who  held  services  there  until  about  1887, 
when  the  church  closed. 

Industries, — The  largest  and  by  far  the  most  im- 
portant manufacturing  interest  in  the  town  of  Har- 


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1182 


HISTOKY  OF  DELAWARE. 


rington  is  that  of  E.  Fleming.  In  1872  Mr.  Fleming 
started  a  large  saw-mill  with  a  capacity  of  six  thou- 
sand feet  of  lumber  a  day.  Since  that  time  he  has 
added  a  spoke  factory,  in  which  he  manufactures 
white-oak  wagon-spokes,  which  have  achieved  a  repu- 
tation in  the  large  cities  for  their  excellence.  A 
grist-mill  and  wagon-  works  were  next  added.  A  capi- 
tal of  eighteen  thousand  dollars  is  invested  in  the 
business  and  constant  employment  is  given  to  sixty 
men.  The  large  canning  factory  and  evaporator  of 
Jas.  0.  Reed  has  contributed  as  much  to  the  prosperity 
of  Harrington  as  any  other  industry.  The  cannery 
was  erected  in  1877  by  Sharp  &  Quillen,  and  con- 
tinued under  their  management  until  1882,  when  Mr. 
Reed  purchased  it.  The  extent  of  this  industry  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  as  high  as  fifty  thousand  cases 
of  canned  goods  in  one  year  have  been  put  up ;  em- 
ployment is  given  to  two  hundred  hands,  and  a  capi- 
tal often  thousand  dollars  is  invested.  The  evaporator 
was  erected  in  1880  by  Sharp  &  Fleming,  and  by 
them  sold  to  Frederick  Arnold,  who  disposed  of  his 
interest  to  Mr.  Reed.  Mr.  Reed  last  feai  evaporated 
seventy-five  thousand  pounds  of  fruit  and  gave  em- 
ployment to  seventy-five  hands. 

Franklin  Brothers,  both  young  men,  have  con- 
ducted, since  1879,  a  successful  basket  factory.  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Omar  J.  Franklin  constitute  the  firm. 
They  have  given  employment  to  forty  hands  and  have 
a  capital  invested  of  six  thousand  dollars. 

The  Harrington  Chemical  Works,  conducted  by 
S.  S.  Harrington,  manufacture  a  high  grade  of  fertili- 
zers. The  output  of  this  establishment  has  increased 
from  year  to  year  until  it  has  become  one  of  the  im- 
portant industries  of  the  town.  Employment  is  given 
to  fifteen  persons  and  a  capital  of  six  thousand  dol- 
lars is  invested. 

The  Cho8m  Friends*  Lodge,  L  0.  of  0.  R,  No, 
36,  was  organized  May  4th,  1870,  with  the  follow- 
ing officers:  N.G.,  William  Ward;  V.  G.,  James  H. 
Lodge;  Recording  Secretary,  Zadoc  Fleming ;  Treas- 
urer, Ezekiel  Fleming.  At  the  date  of  organization, 
there  were  seven  members.  At  present,  there  are 
twenty-two.  An  additional  story  has  been  erected 
by  them  over  Anderson's  store,  and  this  is  used  as  a 
hall.  The  officers  at  the  last  election  were :  Noble 
Grand,  Isaac  N.  Jester;  Vice-Grand,  Thomas  J. 
Binding ;  Recording  Secretary,  L.  W.  Betts ;  Perma- 
nent Secretary,  John  P.  Masten ;  Treasurer,  Robert 
S.  Downs. 

Mispillion  Conclave^  No,  33,  Improved  Order  of  Hep- 
iasophs,  was  organized  September  22d,  1881,  with  a 
membership  of  twenty-two.  The  officers  at  that  time 
were :  Archon,  Robert  S.  Downs ;  Chancellor,  B.  L. 
Lewis,  M.D. ;  Provost,  Amos  Cole ;  Secretary,  Henry 
C.  Johnson ;  Treasurer,  Ezekiel  Fleming ;  Inspector, 
Samuel  L.Shaw;  Warder,  Jason  B.Simmons;  Finan- 
cier, Charles  Rickards.  The  meetings  are  held  every 
Thursday  evening.  At  the  last  election,  in  1887,  the 
following  officers  were  elected:  Archon,  Alexander 
Russell ;  Provost,  George  M.  Jones ;  Secretary,  L.  W. 


Betts ;  Financier,  L.  W.  Betts ;  Treasurer,  C. Rickards; 
Prelate,  J.  W.  Blades;  Inspector,  Greorge  L.  Baird; 
Warder,  E.  Fleming;  Sentinel,  W.  C.  Wright. 

Weiner  Circle,  No.  9,  B,  U,  (ff,  F.),  was  organized 
February  25, 1884,  and  the  officers  at  that  time  were : 
C.  W.,  A.  Allen ;  C  J.,  E.  Luff;  C.  F.,  W.  J.  Potter; 
S.  H.,  H.  H.  Linck ;  H.  R,  J.  A.  Harrington  ;  H.  T., 
Z.  T.  Jester ;  H.  H.,  C.  N.  Grant ;  W.  D.,  J.  J.  Le- 
gatts ;  W.  N.,  E.  McGinico ;  E.  W.,  E.  R.  SmitL 
The  officers  now  are :  E.  W.,  J.  A.  Butler ;  C.  W.,  H. 
Atkinson ;  C.  J.,  E.  Cohee ;  C.  F.,  N.  Fleming ;  H. 
H.,  E.  Climer;  W.  D.,  C.  W.  Heckler;  W.  N.,  J.  P. 
Allen;  H.  T.,  W.  W.  Wyatt ;  H.  R.,  W.  J.  Masten ; 
H.  S.  K.,  J.  J.  Johnson. 

Hollywood  Cemetery.  —  About  one  and  one-half 
miles  from  Harrington  is  the  Hollywood  Cemetery. 
In  1881,  a  number  of  prominent  citizens  of  Harring- 
ton, recognizing  the  necedsity  of  a  public  burying- 
ground,  purchased  ten  acres  of  ground  situated  on  a 
high  point  of  land.  They  were  incorporated  the  same 
year,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected :  Presi- 
dent, Zebulon  Hopkins ;  Treasurer,  William  Tharp ; 
Superintendent,  Thomas  H.  Dorman  ;  Secretary,  Dr. 
B.  L.  Lewis ;  Board  of  Directors :  William  Tharp, 
William  H.  Anderson,  Samuel  L.  Shaw,  Beniah  Tharp, 
James  A.  Smith,  Zebulon  Hopkins,  James  A.  Moore, 
Robert  S.  Downs  and  Amos  Cole.  These  officers  have 
been  continued  without  change  up  to  the  present 
time.  The  cemetery  has  been  laid  out  into  drive-ways 
and  shade  trees  planted,  and  the  greater  portion  of 
the  lots  sold. 

Harrington  Library.  —  A  well-couducted  library 
is  one  of  the  best  evidences  of  the  intellectuality  of 
a  community.  Harrington  is  by  no  means  behind  its 
sister  towns  in  this  respect.  A  library  was  started 
November  10, 1880,  with  W.  A.  Franklin,  president; 
Jennie  P.  Sheldrick,  vice- president;  Miss  Carrie  D. 
Harrington,  secretary ;  E.  W.  Waples,  recording  sec- 
retary ;  W.  A.  Ransom,  treasurer.  At  present  there 
are  six  hundred  and  eighty  lK>oks,exclusive  of  periodi- 
cals. A  membership  fee  of  one  dollar  is  charged  atid 
ten  cents  a  week  dues.  This  entitles  the  members  to 
the  use  of  one  book  for  three  weeks.  The  present 
officers  are :  President,  Dr.  B.  L.  Lewis ;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, O.  J.  Franklin;  Secretary,  Miss  Amanda  L. 
Wolcott;  Librarian,  L.  W.  Bette;  Treasurer,  Frank 
T.  White. 


CHAPTER    LXIV. 


MILFORD  HUNDRED. 


Previous  to  1830  the  land  included  in  Milford 
Hundred  formed  a  part  of  Mispillion  Hundred.  Ou 
July  28th  of  that  year  an  act  of  the  Legislature  was 
passed  for  dividing  the  latter.  The  road  leading 
directly  from  the  division  line  between   Murderltill 


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and  Mispillion  Hundreds  to  Williamaville  was  fixed 
as  the  dividing  line.  This  was  the  same  road  which 
had  formerly  been  used  and  occupied  by  the  "  Phila- 
delphia, Dover  and  Norfolk  Steamboat  and  Trans- 
portation Company."  All  land  west  of  the  road  was 
called  Mispillion  Hundred,  and  all  east  Milford 
Hundred.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Murder- 
kill  Creek,  on  the  east  by  Delaware  Bay,  on  the  south 
by  Mispillion  Creek  and  on  the  west  by  the  hun- 
dred of  the  same  name.  The  land  is  well  watered 
by  numerous  small  streams  and  produces  peaches, 
wheat,  corn  and  oats  in  large  quantities.  The  streams 
on  the  north  and  south  are  navigable  and  afford  a 
suitable  means  for  the  shipment  of  the  products  of 
the  hundred.  The  Delaware,  Maryland  and  Virginia 
Railroad  runs  through  the  southwestern  part  of  the 
hundred  and  affords  additional  accommodations  for 
shipping  and  travel. 

Early  Settlements. — Possibly  the  first  white 
people  to  land  on  the  territory  new  included  in  Mil- 
ford  Hundred  was  a  boat-load  of  Swedes,  Finns  and 
Lavonians,  who  landed  on  Paradise  Point  (Clark's 
Point),  a  short  distance  north  of  Mispillion  Creek, 
in  1638.  No  settlement,  however,  was  effected  by 
them.  The  same  name  was  applied  to  a  point  at 
Lewes,  by  the  same  party,  but  no  settlement  made. 

An  organization  called  ''The  Barbadoes  Com- 
pany'' was  brought  into  being  in  1685  by  mer- 
chants, of  whom  were  Ealph  Frettwell  and  Francis 
Gamble,  of  the  island  of  Barbadoes.  On  October 
20,  1685,  they  purchased  of  John  Eklmonson,  a 
merchant  of  Talbot  County,  Md.,  several  large 
tracts  of  land  as  follows:  "Edmonds'  Berry,"  one 
thousand  acres ;  "  Plains  of  Jerico,"  twelve  hundred 
acres  ;  "  Long  Acre"  one  thousand  acres  ;  aud  Long- 
ford, six  hundred  acres,  all  lying  on  or  near  the  main 
branch  of  Murderkill  Creek  and  mostly  in  Milford 
Hundred.  The  most  of  this  land  was  subsequently 
sold  by  Francis  Gramble  to  the  I'ennsylvania  Land 
Company.  The  latter  company  was  formed  in  Lon- 
don a  few  years  after  Penn's  arrival  in  this 
country,  and  in  1699  purchased  of  him  sixty  thou- 
sand acres  of  land  situated  mostly  in  Pennsylvania 
and  partly  in  New  Castle  County,  an  account  of 
which  will  be  found  in  the  hundreds  of  Brandy- 
wine  and  Christiana,  They  continued  in  operation 
buying  and  selling  land  till  about  1780,  when  their 
lands  were  all  sold.  The  purchasers  in  Kent  County 
were  for  the  most-  part  in  Milford  Hundred.  A 
recital  of  some  of  the  early  lauds  is  given  before  they 
came  into  the  possession  of  the  company. 

Under  a  warrant  granted  to  Hermanius  Wiltbank 
for  twelve  hundred  acres,  there  was  surveyed  Decem- 
ber 22,  1685,  for  John  Brinkloe,  of  whom  much  has 
been  said  in  other  chapters,  a  tract  of  one  thousand 
acres  on  the  north  side  of  Mispillion  Creek,  for  which 
he  received  a  patent  April  2,  1686,  under  the  name 
''Loogfield."  On  the  20th  of  the  same  month, 
Brinkloe  conveyed  this  tract  to  William  Clark,  of 
Lewes.  "  Improvement,"  a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres. 


was  patented  to  John  Manlove  at  the  same  time ;  this 
was  also  conveyed  to  William  Clark,  who,  on  July  9, 
1686,  sold  both  tracts  to  Francis  Oamble,  of  the  Bar- 
badoes Company.  On  August  3,  1714,  they  were 
sold  to  Thomas  Story,  who,  December  24, 1720,  con- 
veyed them  to  John  Haddon  and  Benjamin  Kiston, 
authorized  agents  of  the  Pennsylvania  Land  Compa- 
ny, in  London.  Swan  Creek  forms  the  eastern  bound- 
ary of  Lnprovement. 

They  -also  purchased  "Long  Acre,"  "Golding 
Mine,"  "Springfield,"  *' Angleford,"  "  Wheatfield," 
"  Longford  "  and  "Corbion,"  all  in  Milford  Hundred, 
and  several  tracts  in  Duck  Creek  Hundred  (now 
Kenton),  amounting  in  all  to  five  thousand  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty -four  acres. 

The  above  tracts  were  all  old  surveys.  "Long 
Acre  "  was  taken  up  by  Nicholas  Bartlett ;  "  Corbi- 
on," by  Henry  Stevens ;  "  Longford,"  by  John  Raw- 
lings  ;  "  Angleford  "  was  surveyed  under  warrant  to 
Robert  Taylor,  assigned  to  Renner  Williams,  Novem- 
ber, 1680,  and  contained  seven  hundred  and  forty- 
four  acres ;  "  Springfield  "  was  warranted  to  John 
Cropper,  November  15, 1681,  surveyed  December  20, 
1685,  for  Thomas  Stratton,  to  whom  a  patent  was 
granted  April  12,  1686,  and  contains  eight  hundred 
acres ;  "  Wheatfield  "  was  talfen  up  December  20, 
1681,  by  William  Emmett. 

These  lands  were  leased  by  the  company  for  many 
years,  and  on  the  5th  of  July,  1762,  were  offered  for 
sale  in  Philadelphia.  The  majority  of  the  land  was 
sold  at  this  time,  and  the  remainder  on  August  20, 
1765.  The  agents  of  the  company  in  Philadelphia  at 
the  time  were  Jacob  Cooper,  Samuel  Shoemaker  and 
Joshua  Howell.  The  names  of  purchasers  are  here 
given,  with  the  dates  of  the  deeds : 

Zadoc  Cooper,  May  11,  1762,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  of  the  tract  "  Lonpfield,"  adjoining  the 
New  Wharf  lot,  No.  17,  on  Miller's  Branch  ;  August 
17, 1763,  to  Josiah  Bradley,  lot  No.  19,  containing 
238  acres  adjoining  "Saw  Mill  Range";  Septem- 
ber 15,  1763,  to  Thomas  Peterken,  lots  No.  11,  37 
acres,  and  No.  16,  115  acres  (Peterken  passed  this 
deed  to  William  Frazer  and  Adam  Mawril) ;  August 
24, 1763,  to  Robert  Willcocks,  lot  No.  9,  containing 
225  acres ;  same  date  to  John  Cox,  225  acres  of  the 
tract  "  Wheatfield  " ;  same  date  to  James  Hunter  and 
William  Craig,  lot  No.  34,  containing  316  acres  on 
Miller's  Run;  same  date  to  Cornelius  Dewees,  305 
acres  of  the  tract  "  Middletown " ;  same  date  to 
Thomas  Home,  lot  No.  23,  containing  125  acres,  part 
of  "  Wheatfield  "  ;  same  date  to  William  Bowen,  140 
acres,  part  of  "  Oolding  Mine  "  ;  November  28,  1763, 
to  William  Thorp,  two  tracts,  165  and  126  acres,  part 
of  "  Golding  Mine,"  except  two  acres  condemned  by 
John  Manlove  for  a  mill ;  December  8,  1763,  to  Joseph 
Brown,  180  acres;  December  10,  1763,  to  Richard 
Reynolds,  lot  No.  26,  containing  82  acres ;  September 
10,  1762,  to  Thomas  Arrowsmith,  of  Freehold,  N.  J., 
lot  No.  3,  containing  150  acres,  part  of  "  Middle- 
town"  ;  March  21, 1763,  to  Benjamin  Resin,  lot  No. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


4,  containing  150  acres;  June  23,  1763,  to  Mathiaa 
Davis,  325  acres  of  "  Golding  Mine  "  ;  September  4, 
1762,  to  Levin  Adams,  lot  No.  18,  containing  81  acres 
of  the  tracts  "  Longfield  "  and  "  Improvement " ; 
August  4, 1766,  to  Jonathan  Brady,  lot  No.  22,  con- 
taining 128  acrea ;  March  24,  1767,  to  John  Haslet, 
lot  No.  20,  containing  250  acres ;  May  10,  1768,  to 
Levin  Cropper,  141  acres  of  "  Wheatfield  " ;  Decem- 
ber 15,  1758,  to  Cornody  Candy,  lot  No.  8,  containing 
150  acres ;  April  21,  1767,  to  Edward  Fitzcandolph, 
10  acres  of  **  Middletown,"  and  341  acres  of  "  Angle- 
ford  "  ;  November  14, 1767,  to  Joshua  Clark,  lot  No. 
7,  195  acres  of  "Springfield";  November  13,  1768, 
to  Richard  Bartlett's  widow,  lot  No.  6,  containing  120 
acres;  August  22,  1769,  to  John  Dill,  lot  No.  24,  con- 
taining 142  acres;  November  12, 1770,  to  MosesClam- 
pitt,  213  acres,  parts  of  "  Longford,"  "  Long  Acre,*' 
and  three  other  ancient  surveys,  one  of  which  was  on 
Murderkill  Creek ;  November  1,  1771,  to  Joseph  Ma- 
son, lot  No.  29,  83  acres  of  "  Wheatfield  " ;  December 
11.  1773,  to  Joseph  Calloway,  47  acres  of  "  Long 
Acre"  ;  June  7, 1774,  to  James  Craig,  lot  No.  8,  128 
acres  of  "  Longford  "  ;  same  date  to  Nahnr  Golden, 
122  acres  of  "Corbion,"  "Longford"  and  "Long 
Acre." 

"Longfield"  is  east  of  "Saw  Mill  Range,"  on 
which  Milford  is  situated,  and  is  now  principally 
owned  by  the  estate  of  Benjamin  Potter,  Peter  L. 
Lofland  and  the  heirs  of  W.  N.  W.  Dorsey. 

"Improvement,"  bounded  on  the  east  by  Swan 
Creek,  on  the  south  by  Mispillion  Creek  and  on  the 
west  by  "  Longfield,"  is  now  mainly  owned  by  James 
Griffin  and  the  heirs  of  Benjamin  Henderson. 

"  Golding  Mine,"  the  majority  of  which  is  owned 
by  the  estate  of  David  Riggs,  is  south  of  "  Hunting 
Quarter,"  a  tract  of  fifteen  hundred  acres  warranted 
January  21,  1681,  to  Luke  Watson.  The  larger  por- 
tion of  "  Hunting  Quarter "  is  in  Milford  Hundred, 
and  the  remainder  in  Mispillion  Hundred.  The  part 
in  Milford  Hundred  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
Charles  Townsend,  Isaac  S.  Truitt,  Mrs.  Curtis  S. 
Watson,  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Polk,  David  Scott,  Rev.  W. 
Richardson  and  John  H.  Johnson. 

Swan  Creek  separates/'  Improvement "  fromJBridge- 
town,  a  tract  of  one  thousand  acres,  surveyed 
November  21,  1685,  for  Wm.  Spencer.  On  the  north 
of  Bridgetown  is  "Springfield,"  on  the  east"  Angle- 
ford,"  and  on  the  south  Mispillion  Creek.  It  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  Chas.  T.  Fleming  and  the  estate 
of  Benjamin  Potter. 

"  Angleford,"  the  next  tract  on  the  east  of  Bridge- 
town, is  bounded  on  the  east  by  "  Gooseberry  "  and 
Fishing  Creek  and  on  the  south  by  Mispillion  Creek. 
It  is  now  owned  by  C.  T.  Fleming,  the  heirs  of 
George  Davis  and  the  heirs  of  Dr.  John  Owens. 

"  Gooseberry,"  a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres,  was 
surveyed  for  Peter  Groenendike  under  a  warrant  of 
Dec.  21,  1680,  granted  to  Cornelius  Verhoofe,  who 
died  before  the  survey  was  made.  Groenendike  as 
his  administrator  sold  the  property  in  1687  to  David 


James.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  "  Springfield," 
on  the  east  by  Fishing  Creek,  on  the  south  by  Betts' 
Branch  of  the  same,  and  on  the  west  by  Angleford. 
It  is  now  owned  by  Silas  T.  Jenkins  and  Eli  F. 
Hammer. 

"  Springfield  "  lies  north  of  Gooseberry,  between 
Swan  and  Fishing  Creeks,  and  is  now  principally 
owned  by  Charles  Barker  and  the  estate  of  Benjamin 
Potter. 

"  Middletown,"  a  tract  of  one  thousand  acres,  lying 
between  the  branches  of  Mispillion  and  Murder- 
kill  Creeks,  was  taken  up  by  John  Betts  on  the  1st  of 
April,  1686.  On  June  13th  of  the  same  year  he  con- 
veyed the  tract  to  William  Clark,  who  sold  it  to  the 
Barbadoes  Company,  and  from  them  it  passed  to  the 
Pennsylvania  Land  Company. 

"Mount  Pleasant,"  a  tract  of  four  hundred  and 
twelve  acres  of  "  fast "  land  and  two  hundred  acres  of 
marsh,  on  MispUlion  Creek,  and  bounded  on  the  east 
by  Beaver  Dam  and  on  the  west  by  Fishing  Creek,  was 
surveyed  January  16, 1681,  for  William  Betts,  by 
Ephraim  Herman.  In  1683  Betts  sold  to  Mathew 
Manlove,  who,  at  his  decease,  devised  the  property  to 
his  children,  Mark  and  Mary.  Mary  married  Curtis 
Brinkley,  and  became  seized  of  the  entire  estate,  and 
at  her  death  it  passed  to  their  only  child,  Phoebe,  who 
married  John  Beswick.  The  estate  is  now  owned  by 
William  P.  Beswick,  K  J.  Beswick  and  Angeline  B. 
Herring,  grandchildren  of  John  Beswick  and  J.  A 
Bickel. 

"  Increase,"  a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres  on  the 
north  side  of  Mispillion  Creek,  and  adjoining  "  Mt. 
Pleasant,"  was  warranted  to  Baptist  Newcome  on 
March  15, 1681,  and  the  patent  returned  April  10, 
1685. 

Fairfield,  a  tract  of  nineteen  hundred  and  fifty 
acres,  was  surveyed  January  18,  1681,  for  William 
Clark.  Its  beginning  was  the  three  runs  of  the  Mis- 
pillion (Clark's,  Main  and  Bowman's  Branches),  and 
extending  northeast  was  bounded  on  the  south  by 
"  Saw-Mill  Range  "  and  "  Longfield."  "  Robin  Hood's 
Range,"  a  tract  of  sixty -three  acres  on  Clarks'  Branch 
and  adjoining  Fairfield,  was  warranted  to  Dr.  Robert 
Cummins,  October  24,  1737.  A  large  portion  of  these 
tracts  is  owned  by  the  estate  of  Benjamin  Potter. 

Peter  Baucom,  who  in  1680  was  recommended  by 
Francis  Whitwell,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  to  Governor 
Andros  as  a  suitable  person  for  sheriff  of  Kent  County, 
and  was  appointed  by  him  and  reappointed  by  Wil- 
Ham  Penn  in  1682,  took  up  several  tracts  of  land  on 
the  bay  between  Murderkill  Creek  and  the  stream  tiiat 
bears  his  name  and  that  of  John  Briggs,  viz. :  Baa- 
com-Briggs.  He  also  took  up  land  below  this  stream. 
"  Arundel,"  a  tract  of  eight  hundred  acres,  was  war- 
ranted December  17, 1680,  and  patented  July  5, 1684. 
He  also  took  up  "Staning,"  containing  twelve  hun- 
dred acres,  surveyed  April  2,  1681.  Six  hundred 
acr^  of  this  tract  passed  to  Timothy  Hanson,  March 
17,  1717,  and  was  on  the  bank  of  Baucom-Brigg. 
West  of  this  land  was  "  Partnership,"  a  tract  of  thir- 


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teen  hundred  acres,  located  April  1, 1681,  by  Thomas 
Flowers  and  Thomas  Davis. 

John  Bell  located  a  tract  of  land  and  made  im- 
provements. It  was  warranted  December  21, 1680- 
81,  and  patented  Jan  nary  29, 1684,  to  John  Betts  for 
one  thousand  acres,  and  was  known  as  "  Betts'  Par- 
chase."    In  1772  it  was  owned  by  Benjamin  White. 

A  portion  of  the  Baucom  land  is  now  owned  by  J. 
W.  C.  Webb,  Edward  Short,  James  D.  Sipple,  J.  W. 
Kirby  and  the  estate  of  Benjamin  Potter. 

Richard  Williams,  who  is  mentioned  in  1684  as  an 
old  renter,  owned  a  tract  called  **  Bichmore,"  which 
before  1784  belonged  to  Henry  Molleston  and  Elijah 
8ipple,  and  was  divided  among  the  heirs  in  that  year. 
He  was  also  granted  a  tract  "  Williams'  Choice,'"  on 
December  21, 1680. 

John  Walker,  December  20, 1680,  took  up  a  tract 
of  three  hundred  acres  called  "  Wadford,"  adjoining 
the  tract "  Angleton." 

Brown's  Branch  rises  in  Mispillion  Hundred,  flows 
through  a  portion  of  Milford  Hundred,  and  empties 
into  the  Murderkill  Creek  at  Fork  Landing.  Daniel 
Brown,  from  whom  this  stream  took  its  name, 
obtained  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres  in  this 
vicinity  in  1680.  There  were  also  surveyed  for  him, 
August  26,  1684,  nine  hundred  acres  on  the  north 
side  of  Murderkill  Creek,  which,  January  24, 1685,  he 
Bold  to  Richard  Mitchell  and  Mary  Wells. 

Among  the  many  tracts  taken  up  by  John  Brinkloe 
was  one  called  "Wild  Goose  Chase,"  situated  on 
Brown's  and  Manlove's  Branches.  It  passed  to  his 
son  John,  and  February  6, 1746,  two  acres  on  Brown's 
Branch  was  condemned  for  the  use  of  a  mill  for 
Richard  Brinkloe.  The  mill  and  land  in  vicinity  is 
now  owned  by  J.  L.  Smith. 

On  the  north  side  of  Brown's  Branch,  at  the  pond 
then  called  Isaac  White's  mill-pond,  there  were  sur- 
veyed, October  6, 1740,  three  hundred  and  three  acres 
of  land  for  the  heirs  of  William  Jacobs.  The  survey 
shows  three  houses  on  the  bank  of  the  pond  above  the 
dam.  The  land  lying  to  the  north  was  owned  by 
Nathaniel  Luff,  and  down  the  branch  below  the  dam 
was  a  tract  called  "  Rawling's  Lot,"  and  west  and 
south  was  Melvin's  Adventure,  272  acres  taken  up  by 
Edmund  Melvin  at  an  earlier  date. 

On  the  bay,  in  the  bottom  of  Milford  Hundred, 
between  the  mouth  of  old  Strunkill  Creek  and  the  old 
^'  Great  Fishing  Gut,"  a  tract  of  salt  marsh  was  taken 
up  and  surveyed  Apri  1  22, 1785,  for  George  Manlove, 
and  resurveyed  October  15,  1765,  for  a  company  com- 
posed of  William  Molleston,  Luke  Manlove,  William 
Betts  and  Thomas  Juster,  who  called  the  tract 
**  Company's  Adventure." 

Rblioious  Matters.— The  first  mention  of  Friends 
in  the  present  limits  of  Milford  Hundred  is  found  in 
the  minutes  of  Duck  Creek  Meeting,  on  the  19th  of 
Third  Month  (May),  1707,  at  which  time  it  is  reported 
that  **  Joseph  Booth  and  Mark  Manlove  appeared  for 
Mushmillion  "  (Mispillion).  William  Horn  brought 
a  note  from  the  Quarterly  Meeting,  signifying  their 


approbation  of  settling  a  meeting  of  worship  at 
Mushmillion  Creek,  upon  the  first  day  of  the  week. 
Weekly  meetings  had  been  held  at  the  house  of 
Matthew  Manlove,  and  on  the  20th  of  Ninth  Month, 
1710,  request  was  made  that  the  place  of  meeting  be 
changed  to  the  house  of  Beynear  Williams,  which  was 
granted.  No  mention  is  made  of  the  Friends  in  this 
vicinity  erecting  a  meeting-house  until  after  1790. 
On  the  13th  of  November  of  that  year,  John  Dickin- 
son sold  to  the  trustees  of  Murderkill  Meeting  five 
acres  of  land  near  Milford,  for  the  erecting  and  sup- 
porting a  meeting-house  and  school- house.  The 
meeting-house  was  then  erected  and  used  for  many 
years,  but  has  now  entirely  passed  away.  The  land 
on  which  it  stood  is  now  owned  by  J.  J.  Rosa. 

In  1781  the  first  Baptist  meetings  in  Milford 
Hundred  were  held  by  Revs.  John  Boggs  and  Thomas 
Fleeson.  Under  their  ministration  five  persons  were 
converted  and  baptized.  Revs.  Baker,  Hughes  and 
others  also  preached  here  shortly  afterwards.  On 
May  10, 1788,  the  following  persons  were  constituted 
a  church:  Joshua  Dewees,  Elizabeth  Dewees,  Ra- 
chel Dewees,  Cornelius  Dewees,  Cornelius  Dewees, 
Jr.,  Ann  Dewees,  John  Dewees,  Mary  Dewees,  Isaac 
Dewees,  Mary  Furchase,  Martin  Purchase,  Peter 
King,  Ann  King,  Ruth  Merony,  Coelia  Jester,  Avery 
Draper,  William  Merony,  Esther  Draper  and  James 
Thistlewood.  In  1791  eighteen  families  comprised 
the  congregation.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  house 
of  Cornelius  Dewees  until  the  meeting-house  was 
completed,  in  1797.  The  church  was  incorporated  in 
1796,  with  Peter  King,  Vincent  Beswick  and  Corne- 
lius Dewees  as  trustees.  On  August  15th  of  that 
year  David  Dewees  granted  to  the  trustees  one  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  square  perches  of  land,  on  the  road 
from  Dover  [to  Milford.  The  erection  of  a  church 
was  immediately  begun  and  the  building  was  com- 
pleted the  following  year. 

Regular  services  were  held  in  this  church  till 
about  twenty  years  ago,  when  they  were  discontinued. 
The  old  building  still  stands,  surrounded  by  the 
graves  of  its  dead,  at  the  edge  of  a  forest,  and  is 
occupied  by  an  old  colored  man  and  his  family.  ,  The 
following  ministers  have  served  this  church  in  the 
capacity  of  regular  pastors :  Rev.  Eliphaz  Dazey, 
Rev.  Joshua  Dewees,  Rev,  Joseph  Flood,  Rev.  S. 
Snead,  Rev.  8am  uel  Broadaway,  Rev.  Peter  Meredith. 
Trustees,  J.  B.  Coursen,  Jos.  Frazier,  Jno.  B.  Jacobs, 
James  H.  Postles,  Chas.  C.  Case. 

Previous  to  1850  the  Methodists  of  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  hundred  worshipped  in  the  school -house 
in  District  No.  47.  In  that  year  a  lot  of  land  near 
Williamsville  was  donated  by  W.  T.  Griffith  to  the 
trustees  for  church  purposes.  The  trustees  were 
Parker  Lofland,  C.  L.  Sharp,  Josiah  Dickerson,  J.  H. 
Johnson  and  W.  T.  Griffith,  and  under  their  super- 
vision a  neat  one-story  frame  building,  twenty-four  by 
thirty-six  feet,  was  erected,  and  named  Griffith's 
Chapel  in  honor  of  the  donor.  Rev.  Flannery  was 
the  pastor  in  charge  when  the  church  was  built    The 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


church  originally  belonged  to  Milford  Circuit,  but 
later  formed  a  portion  of  Houston  Circuit.  Services 
were  conducted  here  till  1884,  when  this  church  was 
merged  into  the  congregation  at  Houston. 

The  Houston  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
erected  in  1886,  and  dedicated  the  same  year  by  Rev. 
Davis.  Under  the  direction  of  a  building  committee 
composed  of  Rev.  McSorley,  William  Marvel,  Henry 
Vineyard,  George  L.  Counselman  and  Zachariah 
Johnson,  a  neat  one-story  frame  structure,  sixty  by 
thirty  feet,  was  built  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand  seven 
hundred  dollars.  It  forms  a  portion  of  Houston  Cir- 
cuit, and  services  are  conducted  once  in  two  weeks. 
The  church  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  num- 
bers two  hundred  communicants.  A  Sunday*8chool 
containing  one  hundred  and  ninety  scholars,  under 
the  superintendence  of  Zachariah  Johnson  and 
George  L.  Counselman,  is  connected  with  the  church. 
The  officers  of  the  church  at  present  are  as  follows : 
Pastor,  J.  T.  Mitchel;  Trustees,  William  Marvel, 
David  Scott,  Benjamin  Manlove,  Zachariah  Johnson, 
Henry  Vineyard,  L.  H.  Wilson,  George  L.  Counsel- 
man. 

On  April  7,  1802,  Marcy  Smithers  conveyed  to 
Joshua  Laws,  William  Hughlett,  Thomas  Sipple, 
Sorden  Lister  and  Jacob  Calloway  one-quarter  of  an 
acre  of  ground  *'  for  the  express  purpose  of  building 
a  church  or  preaching-house  thereon  for  the  use  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church."  A  frame  building, 
twenty  by  twenty-four  feet,  was  erected  and,  in 
honor  of  Joshua  Laws,  was  named  Laws'  Chapel. 
The  old  building  remained  till  1856,  when  it  was 
torn  down  and  the  present  building  erected.  The 
trustees  at  this  time  were  Thomas  B.  Coursey,  Jas. 
Downs,  James  Postles,  Joseph  Frazier,  Josiah  Marvel 
and  Molten  Jacobs.  The  building  is  a  neat  frame 
structure,  forty-two  by  sixty  feet,  and  was  erected 
at  a  cost  of  eighteen  hundred  dollars.  The  chapel 
first  belonged  to  Milford  Circuit,  afterwards  to  Fred- 
erica,  Vernon  and  Harrington  Circuits,  and  now 
forms  a  part  of  Houston  Circuit.  Services  are 
held  once  in  two  weeks.  A  flourishing  Sunday- 
school,  under  the  superintendence  of  John  B.  Jacobs, 
is  connected  with  the  church.  There  are  at  present 
about  seventy-five  communicants. 

The  early  Methodists  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  hundred  worshipped  in  a  building  erected  for 
church  and  school  purposes.  Meetings  were  con- 
tinued in  this  building  till  1840,  when  the  name  was 
changed  from  Sardis  to  Wesley  and  a  new  structure, 
twenty-six  by  thirty-six  feet,  was  built.  The  land 
was  donated  by  John  Wood  to  Nathaniel  Lufl;  James 
Hendrickson,  Thomas  Sipple,  John  Parsons,  Isaac 
Jester,  John  Taylor,  Thomas  Smith  and'  James  Bell, 
and  contained  two  and  a  quarter  acres.  The  building 
was  remodeled  and  enlarged  in  1874  and  is  now 
twenty-six  by  fifty  feet  and  two  stories  high.  The 
membership  at  present  is  one  hundred.  The  church 
has  been  connected  with  Milford,  Harrington,  Fred- 
erica  and  Houston  Circuits. 


The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  Joshoa 
Bennett,  Benjamin  Needles,  Jehu  Davis,  William 
Abbott,  John  W.  Hall,  Matthew  Mitten  and  GeoTKe 
W.  Thomas. 

In  1880  a  church  was  built  near  the  "  Tub  Mill,"  on 
land  donated  by  Mrs.  Mitchell.  Services  were  held 
in  this  building  by  the  Methodist  Protestants  for  aboat 
a  year  and  a  half,  under  the  leadership  of  Bev.  Irving. 
It  was  then  converted  to  the  use  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  denomination,  and  dedicated  by  Rev.  Willis. 
It  has  been  used  regularly  for  Sunday-school  purpoies 
and  occasional  preaching  services  have  been  hdd  in 
it,  but  it  has  never  been  connected  with  any  circuit 
It  is  a  neat  one-story  frame  structure,  twenty-seven  by 
forty  feet,  and  cost  one  thousand  dollars.  William  J. 
Polk  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath-schooL 
The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing persons :  William  P.  Polk,  Nathan  Thomas, 
Luther  Cubbage,  Houston  Cubbage,  Robert  McColley. 

Mechanical  Industries.  —  Isaac  White's  mill- 
pond  is  mentioned  in  a  survey  of  three  hundred  and 
three  acres,  made  October  6, 1740,  for  the  heirs  of 
William  Jacobs.  It  was  on  Brown's  Branch,  and  very 
probably  occupied  the  site  of  the  mill  now  owned  by 
William  Wilson,  as  thwe  have  been  only  two  mills  on 
this  stream,  and  the  land  for  the  use  of  the  J.  L.  Smith 
mill  wAs  condemned  six  years  later.  In  1816  this 
mill  was  owned  by  Joseph  Cheairs,  and  contained 
one  water-wheel  and  two  pairs  of  stones.  The  mill 
was  afterwards  owned  by  John  D.  Smithers  and  by  him 
sold  to  Alfred  Newson^e,  whose  administrator  seld 
the  mill  to  Paris  D.  Carlisle.  William  Wilson,  the 
present  owner,  purchased  the  property  of  Carlisle  in 
1863.  By  him  the  mill  was  enlarged,  and  is  a  two- 
story  frame  building.  William  Wilson  operated  the 
mill  till  October,  1887,  when  hb  son,  James  A.  Wilson, 
took  charge.  The  grinding  is  done  by  burr,  and  con- 
sists mainly  of  custom  work. 

A  condemnation  for  two  acres  of  land  on  Swtn 
Creek  for  mill  purposes  for  Joseph  Mason  was  re- 
turned December  7, 1771.  A  mill  was  accordingly 
erected  and  has  since  been  known  as  the  "  Tub  Mill ; " 
at  his  decease  the  property  was  inherited  by  his  wn 
Joseph,  who,  March  28, 1806,  conveyed  the  mill  and 
land  in  the  vicinity  to  James  Henderson.  It  de- 
scended to  his  daughter  Priscilla,  who  conveyed  it  to 
John  Brinkloe.  It  was  afterwards  owned  by  Dr. 
James  P.  Lofland,  William  Sazton  and  James  Wil- 
liams, the  latter  of  whom  sold  to  Silas  T.  Jenkins  in 
1875.  A  few  years  afterwards  a  saw-mill  was  bnilt. 
The  mills  are  operated  by  John  D.  Wilson  and  are 
chiefly  employed  on  custom  work.  Water  and  steam 
are  both  employed  in  operating  them. 

The  date  of  the  erection  of  the  first  mill  on  the  main 
branch  of  the  MispUlien  on  the  site  of  the  mill  now 
owned  by  Daniel  Griffith  has  not  been  ascertdned. 
The  present  mill,  a  three-story  frame  building,  is  tht 
third  one  that  has  occupied  this  site,  and  was  bailt  in 
1858  for  William  Griffith,  whose  wife  Sarah  inherited 
the  property  from  her  father,  David  Riggs.    It  wis 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1187 


devised  by  Mrs.  Griffith  to  her  son  Daniel,  who  is  the 
present  owner.  The  mill  is  now  operated  by  William 
Edington.  The  grinding  is  done  by  burr  and  consists 
mainly  of  cnstom  work. 

On  May  25,  1785,  James  Douglas  purchased  of 
John  Clayton,  sheriff,  **  all  that  lot  of  ground  or  mill- 
seat  with  part  of  a  mill  thereon  on  the  south  side  of 
Brown's  branch,''  which  was  offered  at  public  sale  as 
the  land  of  Thomas  Ogle.  The  land  formerly 
belonged  to  John  Harmenson,  who  sold  to  Thomas 
Muncy,  fur  whom  two  acres  was  condemned  for  a 
grist-mill.  Thomas  Ogle  purchased  from  Muncy.  A 
very  large  merchant  mill  was  erected  by  Douglass, 
which  was  known  as  **  Mordington  Mills."  In  1816, 
it  was  in  the  possession  of  his  son,  Walter  Douglass, 
and  then  contained  two  water-wheels  and  three  pairs 
of  stones.  He  operated  the  mill  till  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1827.  On  May  14, 1829,  it  was  purchased 
by  Charles  Kinney,  who  sold  to  Samuel  A.  Short  on 
November  12, 1882.  While  in  his  possession  the  mill 
was  burned,  and  a  new  one  about  half  the  size  of  the 
former  mill  erected.  A  saw-mill  was  also  built  by 
him.  He  retained  possession  till  January  1,  1848, 
when  he  sold  the  mills  to  Joseph  O.  McColley,  who 
February  23, 1876,  conveyed  them  to  Mrs.  Eliza  B. 
McColley,  wife  of  Edward  B.  C.  McColley.  J.  L. 
Smith,  the  present  owner  and  proprietor,  obtained' 
possession  May  8«  1878. 

The  mills  on  this  stream  nearer  its  head  were  erected 
by  Ezekiel  Riggs,  and  at  his  death  descended  to  his 
sen  David,  who  owned  them  in  1816,  when  they  con- 
sisted of  a  grist-mill,  containing  one  water-wheel 
and  two  pairs  of  stones,  and  a  new  saw-mill.  At  the 
decease  of  David  Riggs  it  was  selected  as  the  dower 
property  by  his  widow,  who  afterwards  inter-married 
with  C.  L.  Sharp,  by  whom  the  present  grist-mill 
was  built  in  1875.  It  next  came  into  possession  of 
David  Riggs'  daughter  Sarah,  who  was  the  wife  of 
William  Griffith.  By  Mrs.  Griffith  the  property  was 
devised  to  her  son,  David  R.  Griffith,  who  owned  it 
until  1884,  when  it  became  the  property  of  J.  B.  Wil- 
son, the  present  owner  and  operator.  The  present 
mill  is  a  three-story  building. 

In  1875  Charles  Barker  began  to  evaporate  fruit 
with  one  machine.  In  1878  he  erected  a  building  on 
the  present  site,  which,  with  the  addition  since  made, 
constitutes  the  present  establishment.  Since  1882 
four  evaporators  have  been  in  operation,  with  a  ca- 
pacity of  five  hundred  baskets  per  day.  During  the 
season  seventy-five  hands  are  employed  and  thirty 
tons  of  peaches,  apples  and  berries  are  evaporated 
and  find  a  ready  market  in  Baltimore,  Philadelphia, 
Chicago  and  Boston. 

J.  B.  Counsel  man  erected  a  building  and  fitted  it 
up  for  the  canning  of  vegetables  and  fruits  in  1878. 
Additions  have  been  made  and  the  establishment  now 
covers  one  hundred  and  forty-seven  thousand  square 
feet  of  ground,  and  is  the  principal  industry  of  Hous- 
ton. The  factory  is  in  operation  for  seven  months 
each  year  and  during  this  time  employment  is  given 


to  three  hundred  hands.  The  sixty  thousand  cases  of 
goods,  of  which  forty  thousand  are  tomatoes,  packed 
each  year  are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  country. 
Twenty  men  are  employed  during  the  entire  year 
manufacturing  cans  for  their  goods. 

In  1882  Zachariah  Johnson  opened  a  canning  es- 
tablishment about  a  mile  from  Williamsville.  During^ 
the  season  he  employs  twenty-five  hands,  and  packs 
two  thousand  five  hundred  cases  ofcanned  goods,  which 
are  shipped  principally  to  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia. 

J.  L.  Smith  erected  a  canning  establishment  in 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  hundred  in  1882.  In 
canning  peaches  and  tomatoes  employment  is  given 
to  forty  operatives  for  three  months  of  the  year.  Three 
thousand  cases  are  packed  annually  and  shipped  to 
New  York  and  Philadelphia. 

In  1884,  E.  C.  Peck  moved  a  steam  saw -mill  from 
Frederica  to  Houston.  The  mill  was  operated  by 
him  until  the  latter  part  of  1886,  when  it  came  into  the 
possession  of  J.  J.  Nivison,  who  has  since  conducted 
it.    The  work  consists  solely  of  custom  work. 

Samuel  W.  Darby  opened  a  brickyard  in  1884,  od 
land  owned  by  Bem'amin  Hydron.  He  employs  four 
men  and  manufactures  two  hundred  thousand  bricks 
per  annum. 

In  1884  J.  L.  Smith  began  to  maiiu&cture  a  fertil- 
izer from  king  crabs,  dried  and  ground.  One  hun- 
dred tons  are  manufactured  per  year,  for  which 
ready  sale  is  found  in  the  vicinity. 

In  1849,  George  S.  Grier  opened  a  machine-shop  in 
the  town  of  Mil  ford.  Shortly  afterwards,  this  was 
burned,  and  the  present  foundry  and  machine-shops, 
on  the  Mispillion  Creek,  about  half  a  mile  from  Mil- 
ford,  were  erected  in  1851.  Additional  buildings  have 
been  constructed  at  different  periods,  and  the  estab- 
lishment now  covers  two  acres  of  ground.  Steady 
employment  is  given  to  sixteen  men,  who  are  engaged 
in  performing  all  kinds  of  work  pertaining  to  a 
foundry  and  general  machine-shop.  The  special 
features  of  the  establishment  are  the  manufacture  of 
fruit  evaporators  and  corn-shellers,  and  the  repair  of 
steam-engines. 

Villages  and  Landings. — Houston,  the  only 
village  in  Mil  ford  Hundred,  is  situated  in  the  western 
part,  on  a  tract  of  land  warranted  January  21,  1681, 
to  Luke  Watson,  under  the  name  of  "Hunting 
Quarter.''  In  1854  the  village  received  its  name  in 
honor  of  John  W.  Houston.  A  station  of  the  Dela- 
ware, Maryland  and  Virginia  Railroad  is  located  here, 
and  affords  ample  accommodation  for  travel  and 
shipment.  The  village  at  present  contains  a  church, 
a  school-house,  two  stores,  a  saw-mill,  a  canning  es- 
tablishment and  about  sixty  dwellings. 

The  post-office  was  established  about  twenty  years 
ago  with  Rev.  W.  Richardson  as  the  first  post- 
master. He  was  succeeded  by  David  Scott,  J.  W. 
Jester  and  George  L.  Counselman,  the  present  in- 
cumbent, who  received  his  appointment  in  1883. 

The  several  landings  in  Milford  Hundred,  on  the 


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1188 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


streams,  were  of  much  greater  importance,  previous 
to  the  construction  of  the  railroad,  than  now.  They 
consisted  principally  of  a  suitable  place  for  landing 
and  loading  boats,  and  for  these  purposes  granaries 
were  erected.  The  principal  one  on  the  Murderkill 
Creek  was  Fork  Landing,  where,  in  1816,  Levi  Lister 
owned  a  wharf  and  granary,  and  another  wharf  and 
granary  was  jointly  owned  by  Thomas  Sipple  and 
William  Tomlinson.  In  1852  there  were  here  three 
granaries,  two  stores  and  several  dwellings.  Two 
vessels  plied  weekly  between  this  landing  and  Phila- 
delphia, carrying  grain  to  the  latter  place.  It  is  now 
occasionally  visited  by  boats  of  light  tonnage. 

Schools.  —  The  several  subscription  schools  in 
operation  previous  to  1829  gave  way  to  the  common 
school  system  adopted  in  that  year.  The  hundred 
was  divided  into  school  districts,  and  school-hooses 
erected  in  suitable  locations.  Among  the  pioneer 
district-school  teachers  within  the  bounds  of  Milford 
Hundred,  were  John  Quillen,  John  Sharp,  William 

Hurley,  Martin  Harrington  and Harvey.    As 

the  buildings  became  dilapidated,  new  and  more  com- 
modious ones  were  erected,  and  when  the  scholars 
became  too  numerous,  new  school  districts  were 
created.  The  schools  of  to-day  in  this  hundred  are 
in  an  excellent  condition,  being  supplied  with  many 
conveniences,  and  taught  for  niue  months  each  year 
by  skillful  and  competent  teachers. 

MILFORD  TOWN. 

The  town  of  Milford  is  located  on  both  sides 
of  the  Mispillion  Creek, — North  Milford,  or  the 
old  town,  being  taken  from  Milford  Hundred,  Kent 
County,  and  South  Milford  being  taken  from  Ce- 
dar Creek  Hundred,  Sussex  County.  The  town  is 
located  on  a  tract  called  "Saw-Mill  Range,"  contain- 
ing seventeen  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  which 
was  warranted  to  Henry  Bowman,  March  20,  1680, 
on  condition  that  he  should  build  a  saw-mill  thereon. 
It  is  probable  that  he  complied  with  the  conditions 
of  the  contract  and  built  a  saw-mill,  but  just  where 
it  was  located  it  is  now  impossible  to  tell.  Saw-Mill 
Range  passed  from  Henry  Bowman  to  his  sou  John, 
who.  May  5, 1780,  sold  five  hundred  and  ten  acres 
of  it  to  Joseph  Booth,  who  gave  part  of  it  to  his  son 
John,  who  sold  it  to  William  Manlove,  Jr. 

May  17th,  1771,  Joseph  Oliver  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  acres  of  Saw-Mill  Range  of  Jacob 
Warrington,  who  then  owned  it,  and  April  17, 1778, 
he  bought,  adjoining,  a  tract  of  Levin  Crapper,  also 
part  of  Saw-Mill  Range,  also  part  of  an  adjoining 
tract  called  "Improvement,"  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Land  Company. 

February  23,  1774,  Nathan  Adams  (merchant) 
bought  one-quarter  of  an  acre  of  land  lying  on  the 
creek  near  the  place  called  Millstone  Landing,  now 
known  as  New  Wharf  Landing,  of  Joseph  Oliver.  In 
1787  Joseph  Oliver  had  James  Johnson  survey  the 
land  lying  on  the  north  side  of  Mispillion  Creek  into 
town  lots.    Some  of  these  lots  were  conveyed  by  deed. 


but  most  of  them  were  demised  by  perpetual  lease, 
with  a  reservation  of  ground -rent,  which  is  still  ptid 
annually.  The  first  lot  of  which  there  is  any  record 
at  Dover  was  taken  by  William  Johnson,  on  the 
comer  of  Water  and  Walnut  Streets,  and  is  now  occa- 
pied  by  C.  W.  Davidson,  jeweler.  The  boundaries  of 
the  lot  are  here  given,  as  a  specimen  of  a  curiooslT 
minute  description : — 

**  Beginning  at  the  intenectlon  of  MUd  street,  it  being  tbat  poiat 
which  lleth  norUi  eleren  degrees  weet,  forty-four  feet  seTen  incbci  item 
the  diametric*!  centre  of  the  body  of  a  niaple  tree  taken  at  the  height  of 
eighteen  inches  above  the  sorface  of  the  gronod,  standing  In  ttiee^ 
of  the  cri]^e  of  said  creek,  below  Milford  bridge ;  thenoe  mnaii^^  with 
Walnut  Street  north  eight  degrees  and  fifty  minutes  west,  thirty-thm 
feet  three  inches ;  thence  tearing  said  street  north  seT«nty-nlne  degree 
ssTen  minutes  and  twenty-two  seconds  east,  eigh^-nine  fiwt  teniacyi 
and  seTen  hundred  and  seventy  and  fire  thousandths  of  an  Inch.  Tbw 
south  eight  degrees  and  fifty  mlnntes  east,  thirty-one  feet  and  one  mO- 
lion  forty-nine  thousand  four  hundred  and  seTentr-flve  ten  mflliantbi 
of  an  inch  to  Water  Street ;  thence  with  Water  Street  south  seveaiy- 
seven  degrees  and  forty-four  minutes  west,  ninety  feet  hooM  to  the 
place  ef  beginning.  Containing  two  tho>nsand  eight  handrsd  and  dghtj 
and  eight  superficial  square  feet  and  sevens-nine  square  inches  sod 
seventy  million  one  hundred  and  eighty-three  thousand  and  twenty  u4 
seven  hundred  mlllionths  of  an  inch.*' 

Joseph  Oliver,  Sr.,  leased  or  sold  after  this  town 
lots  to  the  following  persons,  as  found  among  the 
minutes  of  James  Johnson's  surveys :  Joe^h  Ayde- 
lott,  two  lots  on  Front  Street  in  1794,  Thomas  Allen, 
William  Briuckle,  James  Bowen,  Nancy  Bradley, 
Nancy  Bateman,  Jesse  Bradley,  William  Crumpton, 
John  Cary,  James  Carman,  Joseph  Carman,  Joha 
Collins,  Thomas  Collins,  John  Crumpton,  Elza  Col- 
lins, Zabdiel  Dawson,  James  Dawson,  Peter  Dsvii, 
Jonathan  Dyer,  Abuer  Dill,  John  Davis,  Molly 
Davis,  Andrew  Davis,  Sarah  Davis,  Monk  Davis, 
Charles  Draper,  John  Flemming  from  Peter  Caverly, 
Joram  Griffith,  Belitha  Glass,  Isaiah  James  in  1787, 
Elijah  Jester,  John  Houston,  Isaac  Liofland,  John 
Laws  (bricklayer),  Thomas  Marriner,  Jonathan  Man- 
love,  James  Millechop,  John  Newcom,  Gauiadett 
Oliver,  John  Pleasonton,  Andrew  Patton,  Curtis  Pal- 
more,  Samuel  Pasley,  Richard  Pettigrew,  William 
Sorden,  Thomas  Strowd,  Joshua  Spencer,  Noah  Spen- 
cer, Elias  Shockley,  John  Ralston,  Nathan  Russom, 
Nehemiah  Riley,  John  Thomas,  Stephen  Townaend, 
Pompey  Turner,  James  Tichner,  Andrew  WithSjLeri 
Wilents,  Jasper  Waller,  William  Margin,  Bethael 
Watson,  William  Ward,  David  Walton. 

According  to  James  Johnson's  notes  he  began  May 
28,  1817,  to  survey  and  lay  out  the  town  of  Milford, 
under  the  direction  and  superintendence  of  John 
Pettigrew,  Dr.  Joseph  Sudler,  John  Wallace,  Martin 
Dewaley  and  William  Davis,  commissioners,  daly 
elected  to  lay  out  the  town  of  Milford,  in  pursuance 
of  a  special  act  of  the  Delaware  Legislature.  After 
being  sworn  by  James  Millechop,  Esq.,  they  proceeded 
to  attend  to  the  duties  of  their  appointment. 

The  following  are  the  boundaries  given  on  a  map  in 
1838:  "Beginning  at  Mispillion  Creek,  at  Paul  Knabb'i 
Landing;  thence  with  a  line  of  land  formerly  of  Sam- 
uel Oliver,  Sen.  and  John  Draper,  North  53°  West  up 
the  lane  leading  to  Paul  Knabb*s ;  thence  on  a  division 
line  of  lots  now  of  Geo.  S.  Atkins  and  James  T.  Bur- 
leigh, Gauiadett   Oliver,   John   Wallace,   Peter  F. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1189 


Causey  and  Mary  K.  Shockley,  148  perches  out  to  the 
road  leading  from  Milford  to  Frederica  and  in  a  line 
of  land  formerly  of  Wm.  Bradley,  dec'd,  for  the  said 
Oliver  and  Draper  land;  thence  with  said  line  South 
22**  West  across  the  lot  of  Mary  E.  Shockley's  lot,  in- 
cluding two  and  a  half  acres  thereof  in  the  limits  of 
said  town ;  .  .  .  across  the  lot  of  Edward  Collins, 
Ben.,  dec'd,  including  one-third  thereof,  with  the  dwell- 
ing-house in  the  limits  of  said  town,  across  the 
county  road  six  and  three-tenths  perches,  north  of  a 
stone  buried  on  the  Northwest  side  of  said  road  oppo- 
site North  Street;  thence  across  Henderson  Collins'  lot 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Quaker  meeting-house  road,  in- 
cluding three  and  one-half  acres  thereof  in  the  limits 
of  said  town  to  and  across  the  meeting-house  road  and 
a  piece  of  woods  of  Benjamin  Potter's  and  Benjamin 
Henderson's  line,  making  the  whole  line  one  hundred 
and  ninety-two  perches ;  thence  with  said  Potter  and 
Henderson's  line,  formerly  Oliver's,  west  thirty-two 
perches  to  an  old  white  oak  stump  near  Cullin's 
branch;  thence  into  and  down  the  water-course  of 
said  Cullin's  branch  to  Mispillion  Creek;  thence 
down  said  creek  to  the  place  of  beginning."  In  1886 
the  lines  were  changed  in  some  places.  The  first  line 
extends  frem  the  Frederica  road  to  a  branch  thereof, 
where  it  corners,  forming  nearly  a  right  angle,  thence 
to  Cullin's  Branch,  thence  following  the  streams  as 
before  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

South  Milford  has  been  laid  out  since  by  James 
Johnson  and  resurveyed  by  Thomas  J.  Davis.  It  lies 
on  the  south  side  of  Mispillion  Creek,  and  has  Front 
and  Second  Streets  parallel  with  the  creek  and 
Gtorgetown  Road,  Washington,  Mortgomery,  Frank- 
lin and  McColley  Streets  running  from  the  creek. 
Carlisle  Lane  runs  diagonally  from  the  comer  of 
Franklin  and  Front  to  Second  Street ;  Causey  Street 
extends  from  the  Georgetown  Road  to  the  depot. 
The  town  contains  some  three  thousand  inhabitants. 
According  to  the  Oleaner  in  1856,  the  population  of 
the  town  was  two  thousand  inhabitants,  with  twenty- 
five  stores,  two  hotels,  twelve  schooners  and  sloops 
running  to  Philadelphia.  The  export  trade  at  this 
time  was  said  to  be  250,000  bushels  of  corn,  80,000 
bushels  of  wheat,  10,000  bushels  of  oats,  5000  bushels 
of  rye,  2500  cords  of  wood.  400  cords  of  bark  and  400 
cords  of  quercitron,  worth  $851,500,  and  the  imports 
were  placed  at  $225,000.  The  exports  and  imports 
by  shipping  are  not  as  much  as  formerly  ;  but  if  what 
is  transported  by  vessels  is  added  to  that  carried  by 
the  cars,  the  amount  would  probably  amount  to  more 
than  in  1856. 

Corporation  Hi8TC)ry.— The  town  of  Milford 
was  first  incorporated  in  1807;  the  first  Board  of  Com- 
missioners were  Dr.  Joseph  Sudler,  John  Wallace, 
Martin  Dewaile,  William  Davis. 

The  act  of  incorporation  passed  in  1867  is  the  only 
one  we  have  records  of.  Under  the  town  charter  they 
elected  five  commissioners,  an  alderman,  an  assessor 
and  a  treasurer,  all  for  one  year. 

18S7.— C.  8.  Wfttaon,  H.  B.  ridaeman,  P.  W.  Hall,  John  H.  Denning, 


commtailoneni ;  P.  8.  Smoot,  alderman;  Dr.  N.  Pratt,  nwofor ,  R.  & 
Hemmont,  collector ;  John  H.  Denning,  clerk. 

186S.— A.  T.  A.  fTorbert,  T.  F.  HammerBlj,  Jas.  F.  Andereon,  John 
CMiall,  W.  Thomaa  Pretlyman,  commJesionen ;  Jas.  BJ)aTifl,  aldennan  ; 
Jaa.  H.  Bell,  awoMor;  R.  8.  Henunone,  coUector;  J.  F.  Andeiwn, 
clerk. 

1869.— A.  T.  A.  Torbert.  Dr.  N.  Pratt,  Joaeph  Truitt,  Wm.  Thomas 
Prettyman,  P.  W.  Hall,  commlsrioni^rB;  Jamee  Short,  alderman  ;  Jas.  H. 
Bell,  assesBor;  Joseph  Gorby,  collector;  Dr.  N.  Pratt,  clerk. 

1870.— James  PoeUes,  N.  H.  Johnson,  J.  Y.  Foulk,  T.  F.  Hammeraly, 
Wm.  C.  Welsh,  eommissionerB ;  James  Short;  alderman ;  Joseph  Gorby, 
collector  ;  Jas.  H.  Bell,  assessor ;  J.  Y.  Foulk,  clerk. 

1871.— Chas.  T.  Flemmlng,  Wm.  0.  Welch,  T.  F.  Hammersly,  J.  Y. 
Foulk,  John  B.  Oshall,  commissioneTs ;  James  Short,  alderman  ;  Jaa.  H. 
Bell,  assessor  ;  Geo.  A.  Moore,  collector ;  J.  Y.  Foulk,  clerk. 

1872.— C.  J.  Hall,  N.  J.  Pierson,  8.  C.  Erans,  Ohas.  T.  Flamming, 
John  W.  Oaosey,  Geo.  Bussell,  commissioners ;  Wm.  Shockley,  alder- 
man ,  Jas.  B.  Daris,  assessor ;  Geo.  A.  Moore,  collector ;  C.  J.  Hall, 
clerk. 

1873.— J.  Loweiy,  Jas.  R.  Mitohel,  John  B.  Cahall,  Geo.  Russell,  D. 
0.  K.  Strong,  Samuel  Simpler,  oommisdonerB ;  Wm.  Shockley,  alder- 
man :  Jas.  B.  Mahan,  assessor ;  Geo.  A.  Moore,  collector ;  8.  M.  Simpler, 
clerk. 

1874.— Chaa.  T.  Fleming,  John  Cahall,  Wm.  A.  Lister,  Samuel  Simp- 
ler, A.  K.  Hall,  T.  J.  DaTls,  commissioners ;  Wm.  Shockley,  alderman  ; 
B.  A.  Steward,  assessor ;  Geo.  A.  Moore,  collector ;  Chas.  T.  Fleming, 
clerk. 

1875.— C.  J.  Hall,  John  W.  Hallett,  John  Osball,  M.  H.  Daris,  Jas. 
Beedy,  Wm.  H.  Darls,  commlsrioners.;  Wm.  Shockley,  alderman ;  B.  A. 
Steward,  assessor ;  Geo.  A.  Moore,  collector ;  M.  H.  Daris,  clerk. 

1876.-0.  J.  Hall,  James  Beedy,  John  B.  Gannon,  John  Hallett, 
Wm.  H.  DaTls,  M.  H.  Daris,  commissionen :  B.  J.  Beswick,  aldeite 
man ;  R.  A.  Steward,  assessor;  Wm.  B.  Truitt,  collector;  C.  J.  Hall, 
clerk. 

1877.— P.  W.  HaU,  Wm.  Hill,  John  B.  Cannon,  H.  W.  MoOoUey.  Wm. 

A.  Scribner,  A.  K.  Hall,  commissioners ;  Asel  Sterens,  aldennan ;  Sam- 
uel M.  Simpler,  aasessor ;  B.  8.  Hemmons,  collector :  H.  W.  McColley. 
clerk. 

1878.— Slnathan  Smith,  John  B.  Cahall,  B.  J.  Beswick.  H.  W.  McCol- 
ley, Wra.  F.  Rerill,  I.  L  Smith,  commissioners ;  Aiel  Sterens,  alder- 
man ;  Samuel  M.  Simpler,  assesMr ;  B.  8.  Hemmous,  collector ;  B.  J. 
Beswick,  clerk. 

1879.— B.  Y.  Watson,  Charles  T.  Fleming,  G.  W.  Joseph,  William  F. 
Berin,  Charles  A.  Blair,  D.  O.  K.  Strong,  commissioners;  Asel  Sterens, 
alderman;  R.  J.  Beswick,  assessor;  George  F.  Pierce,  collector;  D.  0.  K. 
Strong,  clerk. 

1880.— Frank  RIckards,  Tho.  Townsand,  James  Raedy,  H.  W.  Mc- 
Colley, S.  M.  Simpler,  Charles  A.  Blair,  commissloneis;  Axel  Sterens, 
alderman ;  George  P.  Minor,  assessor;  William  H.  Twigg,  collector; 
Theo.  Townsend,  clerk. 

1881.— Jamee  Beedy,  J.  O.  Brown,  Theo.  Townsend,  James  Russell, 
Charles  A.  Blair,  M.  H.  Davis,  commissioneni;  Axel  Sterens,  alderman  ; 

B.  J.  Beswick,  asssssor;  8.  M.  Simpler,  colleotor;  Theo.  Townsend,  clerk. 
1882.— Dr.  G.  W.  Marshall,  Theo.  Townsend,  J.  0.  Brown,  8.  W, 

Gray,  M.  H.  Daris,  John  B.  Smith,  commissioneni;  Azel  Sterens,  aiders 
man;  B.  J.  Beswick,  assessor;  8.  M.  Simpler,  collector;  Theo.  Town« 
send,  clerk. 

1883.— Frank  Beedy,  John  H.  Apel,  Jamee  Welch,  James  Abbott,  John 
W.  Batclifi;  B.  H.  Oilman,  oommissioners;  Azel  Sterens,  aldarman;  John 
W.  Hallett,  sssessor;  8.  M  Simpler,  collector;  R.  H.  Oilman,  elerk. 

1884.— John  H.  Apel,  Robt.  M.  Carpenter,  Isaac  8.  Truitt,  R.  H.  Da- 
ris, 8.  N.  Gray,  J.  T.  Bells,  commissioners;  Axel  Sterens,  alderman ; 
H.  W.  MoCoUey,  sssessor;  J.  D.  Hill,  oollect«r;  Isaac  8.  Truitt,  clerk. 

1886.— James  M.  Htfll,  John  H.  Apel,  Wm.  N.  Donsy,  Wm.  F.  Ckusoy, 
Geo.  C.  Abbott,  Geo.  H.  Hall,  commissioners ;  Azel  Sterens,  alderman ; 
B.  H.  Daris,  sssessor ;  J.  D.  HUl,  collector ;  Geo.  H.  Hall,  clerk. 

1886.— James  M.  Hall,  Frank  Richards,  Wm.  T.  Watson,  Wm.  F. 
Causey,  H.  W.  McColley,  Wm.  A.  Humes,  commissioners ;  R.  J.  Besl 
wick,  alderman  ;  Theo.  Townsend,  assessor ;  J.  D.  Hill,  ooUsctor ;  H.  W. 
McColley.  clerk. 

An  act  of  reincorporation  was  passed  at  Dover  on 
February  28,  1887,  by  which  the  town  began  to  work 
under  a  new  charter.  The  government  of  the  town 
now  consists  of  a  Town  Oouneil,  composed  of  a  presi- 
dent and  six  members.  The  president  and  three  of 
said  members  shall  be  freeholders  within  the  town 
limits,  the  assessor  also  to  be  a  freeholder.  Two  of 
said  councilmen  shall  be  elected  for  two  years,  the 
president  and  four  members  for  one  year.  There  have 
been  several  amendments  to  the  old  charter,  but  none 
of  much  interest. 

Those  elected  under  the  new  town  charter,  March 


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1190 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


7,  1887,  were:  Preaident,  H.  W.  McColley;  William 
T.  Wateon,  James  Russell,  Joseph  M.  Davis,  R,  C. 
Hall,  Frank  Rickards,  Charles  H.  Tuthill;  Alder- 
man, R.  J.  Beswick ;  Assessor,  William  G.  Herring  ; 
Collector,  Thomas  A.  Wateon;  Clerk,  Charles  H. 
Tuthill. 

Among  those  who  have  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace  in  Milford  are  J.  Millechop,  Samuel  Rat- 
cliffe,  Henry  Hudson,  John  H.  Denney,  William  M. 
W.  Dorsey,  Manlove  Hayes,  Richard  H.  Phillips, 
Robert  J.  Beswick,  Lowder  Layton,  Beniah  Watson, 
William  Porter,  John  J.  Hazzard,  William  F.  Revill, 
William  Shockley,  Azel  Stevens.  Among  the  post- 
masters were  Thomas  Winsmore,  appointed  in  1803 ; 
Charles  Mason,  Perry  Stevenson,  Joseph  George, 
William  M.  W.  Dorsey,  Alexander  Hall,  A.  W.  Bell, 
Rhodes  S.  Hemmons,  William  G.  Hering,  R.  A. 
Steward,  Dr.  R.  Y.  Watson. 

Indubtbies. — Milford  has  always  been  an  in- 
dustrious town.  The  condition  upon  which  Henry 
Bowman  took  Saw-Mill  Range  was  that  he  should 
build  a  saw-mill,  and  from  the  name  of  the  tract  it  is 
bvident  that  saw-mills  were  in  operation  here  at  an 
early  day.  In  connection  with  the  saw-mills  it  is 
fitting  to  observe  that  ship-building  was  an  early  and 
important  industry.  The  oak  in  this  vicinity  is  good, 
and  the  reputation  of  Delaware-built  schooners 
and  sloops  was  far  extended.  A  small  vessel  was 
built  up  near  the  dam  many  years  ago,  and  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Du  Pre  built  one  vessel  at  the  New 
Wharf.  In  1793  action  was  taken  in  the  Legislature 
in  relation  to  a  wharf.  Robert  RusstU  was  one  of 
the  first  ship-builders  where  Carlisle's  yard  now  is. 
David  West  next  carried  on  the  business,  building 
only  about  one  small  vessel  per  year.  M.  R.  Carlisle 
and  William  F.  Revill  carried  on  ship-building  from 
about  1830  to  1850,  when  Revill  retired  and  Theo- 
dore Carlisle  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
brother.  This  partnership  continued  for  about  thirty 
years,  during  which  time  they  built  many  three-masted 
schooners  of  one  thousand  tons  burden.  Since  Man- 
love  Carlisle  died  Thomas  Carlisle  has  not  built 
many  vessels.  Among  other  builders  were  Sylvester 
A.  Deputy  and  his  son,  James  H.  Deputy,  who  built  a 
number  of  ships  and  worked  at  the  business  for  many 
years.  William  A.  Scribner  also  had  a  yard  where 
David  Lank,  a  son  of  John  Lank,  another  old  ship- 
builder, now  is.  There  are  three  ship-yards  in  opera- 
tion now, — Abbott's,  Carlisle's  and  Lank's.  A  tug- 
boat, the  first  built  at  Milford,  was  launched  from 
David  Lank's  yard  in  1887.  There  have  been  about 
six  or  seven  vessels  built  per  year  at  these  yards  for 
many  years.  They  have  been  mostly  sloops  or  two 
and  three-masted-schooners,  built  for  coast-wise  trade, 
of  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  thousand  tons 
burden. 

Orist-Mlls. — In  1787  an  act  was  passed  by  the 
Delaware  Legislature  enabling  Rev.  Sydenham 
Thome  to  erect  a  mill-dam  across  Mispillion  Creek, 
and  for  the  condemnation  of  a  small  piece  of  flat- 


land  on  the  Sussex  side  of  the  said  creek,  for  the  use 
of  a  grist-mill.  This  petition  represents  that  Rev. 
Sydenham  Thorne,  of  Kent  County,  is  the  own«-  of  a 
certain  tract  of  land,  which  affords  a  very  conveni«it 
situation  for  a  grist-mill,  being  at  the  head  of  Mis- 
pillion  Creek  in  the  county  of  Kent.  It  appeals  that 
Rev,  S.  Thorne  erected  a  grist-mill  where  the  Red  Mill 
now  stands,  possibly  the  same  structure  that  is  there 
now,  about  1787.  The  mill  is  shingled  in  place  of 
siding  and  has  been  the  same  as  now  as  far  back  as 
any  one  now  living  can  remember. 

There  was  a  ford  here  formerly,  which  gave  the 
name  Mill  Ford  or  Milford.  The  head  of  navigation 
is  said  to  have  been  farther  up  the  stream  prior  to  the 
erection  of  the  mill  dam ;  be  that  as  it  may,  the  head 
of  navigation  is  now  below  the  mill  dam. 

Joseph  Oliver  immediately  began  to  lay  out  a  town 
and  lease  loto,  as  before  noticed,  and  the  town  from 
this  time  forth  began  to  grow  in  population  and  im- 
portance. This  section  has  been  celebrated  for  corn, 
and  more  recently  good  wheat  has  been  grown,  which 
has  rendered  the  milling  business  both  necessary  and 
profitable.  Among  the  subsequent  owners  of  this 
mill  have  been  Mr.  Dutton,  John  M.  Darby,  Peter  F. 
Causey  and  his  son  of  the  same  name,  who  is  the 
present  owner.  Gov.  Causey  was  also  owner  of  what 
is  known  as  the  Haven  Mills.  The  Red  Mill  has 
four  run  of  stones,  and  recently  one-half  roller  process 
has  been  added.  A  husk  factory  was  built  for  Orcatt 
Brothers  about  1850,  and  is  now  operated  by  R.  H. 
Williams ;  it  manufactures  about  two  hundred  thou- 
sand tons  of  husks  for  matresses.  Peter  F.  Causey 
built  a  woolen-mill  in  1868,  which  burned  down  July 
27, 1872,  and  was  rebuilt  and  operated  by  Hofiecker  & 
Brother,  who  employed  thirty  hands  and  manu&ctored 
about  five  thousand  yards  of  cloth  per  week.  These 
mills  were  one  hundred  by  fifty  feet  main  building, 
with  a  picker-room  twenty-two  by  fifty  feet.  They 
were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1882.  R.  H.  Williams  oper- 
ated a  mill  for  grinding  black  oak  bark  to  a  fine  pow- 
der, called  quercitron,  for  coloring  purposes.  This 
branch  of  industry  has  been  abandoned  since  other 
processes  have  been  discovered  to  produce  like  colon 
at  less  expense.  George  S.  Grier,  an  Englishman,  has 
operated  a  foundry  and  repair-shop  here  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Allen  Tolbert  owned  the  Haven  Mills  i* 
subsequently  Edward  Stapleford,  Joseph  Dutton, 
and  John  M.  Clayton  finally  purchased  them  for 
John  M.  Darby.  These  mills  at  that  time  consisted 
of  a  grist-mill,  a  saw-mill  and  carding-machine.  The 
tanning  business  was  formerly  quite  extensively  car- 
ried on  by  James  Clayton  and  others. 

James  H.  Denning  started  a  pottery  en  Pear  Street 
about  1840,  and  carried  on  business  for  about  thirty- 
five  years,  making  all  kinds  of  earthenware,  supply- 
ing all  the  country  around.  The  American  Basket 
Company  was  organized  at  Milford  in  1876. 

Alden  first  fully  demonstrated  the  practicability 
of  his  fruit-drying  process  here  in  1871,  his  estab- 
lishment then  employing  ninety  hands  day  and  night 


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daring  the  frait  season,  which  lasts  about  six  weeks, 
and  consuming  from  three  hundred  to  five  hundred 
baskets  of  peaches  in  twenty-four  hours.  There  are 
now  some  thirty  drying  factories  in  Miiford  and 
vicinity,  which,  together  with  Beis'  Cannery,  which 
was  started  in  1881,  and  employs  about  eighty  or 
ninety  hands,  having  a  capacity  of  from  fifteen 
thousand  to  twenty  thousand  cans  per  day,  is  capa- 
ble of  disposing  of  the  peach  and  tomato  erop  with- 
out loss  to  the  liirmer,  even  if  there  is  no  pressing 
demand. 

Nathan  Davis  had  a  small  plow  foundry  back  of 
Lowery's  hotel,  near  John  Dunning*8  pottery.  In 
1849,  George  8.  Qrier  purchased  the  Haven  Mills 
water-power  of  Peter  F.  Causey,  and  started  a  foun- 
dry. He  has  employed  sixteen  hands  and  made  agri- 
cultural implements  of  all  kinds.  Matthews,  Hall 
&  Co.  have  a  foundry  near  the  depot,  started  about 
1865,  where  general  repairing  is  done.  Isaac  Simpson 
has  the  largest  phosphate  factory.  Clift  &  Ryder, 
King  &  Spearman,  Peter  Truit,  Taylor  &  Sharp 
have  been  prominent  carriage-makers.  John  Scrib- 
ner,  blacksmith,  years  ago  made  the  bolts,  screws  and 
nails   that  were  used  in  vessel-building  at  Miiford, 

Merchants. — ^Nathan  Adams  took  up  land  at  Mill- 
stone Landing,  now  known  as  the  New  Wharf,  in 
1774,  and  is  mentioned  as  a  merchant  Adams*  heirs 
sold  this  property  to  Benjamin  Parker.  Among  the 
early  and  well-remembered  merchants  were  Molton 
Rickards,  Squire  Samuel  Ratclifie  and  Walter  Sipple 
(who  were  in  partnership),  Wm.  Sorden  (who  owned 
the  property  now  owned  by  Geo.  S.  Adkin's  heirs), 
Jacob  Biddle,  John  Wallace,  Martin  Dewaile,  Daniel 
Godwin,  John  M.  Darby,  Lowder  Layton,  Walker 
Sipple.  Benjamin  Potter  (was  a  merchant  and  tan- 
ner), Peter  T.  Causey  and  son.  Gov.  Peter  F.  Causey, 
Abner  Dill,  Benjamin  Waddams,  Rev.  Truston  P. 
McCoUey  (hatter  and  merchant),  Peter  Griffiths,  Isaac 
Lofland,  Curtis  Watson,  Bethuel  Watson,  Mitchell 
A  Warren,  Ckorge  Buchanan,  Andrew  J.  McColley, 
Joseph  Bennett.  About  1840  there  were  twenty  mer- 
chants doing  business  in  Miiford,  every  one  of  whom 
were  solvent  and  worthy  of  credit. 

Bntg  Stares. — Joseph  S.  Bennett,  the  first  druggist 
in  Miiford,  commenced  in  1846  where  Benjamin 
Anderson  has  a  grocery-store.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Thomas  Wallace,  and  Thomas  R.  Hammersley  con- 
ducted the  business  for  him.  Sherwood  &  Foulk 
succeeded  him;  after  Sherwood  died  Foulk  sold  his 
interest  to  Thomas  Sherwood,  a  son  of  his  former 
partner,  and  started  again  where  Dr.  Marshall  now 
resides,  in  1856,  and  in  1870  he  removed  to  his  present 
quarters  in  Watson's  block.  Thomas  Sherwood  sold 
to  Thomas  F.  Hammersley,  who  now  has  a  drug-store 
on  Walnut  Street.  Dr.  Marshall,  Dr.  Pratt  and  H.  L. 
Page  now  sell  drugs. 

The  house  now  owned  by  Wm.  F.  Causey,  Esq.,  was 
built  in  1750  by  an  Englishman  bv  the  name  of  Levin 
Crapper.  Gtov.  Rogers  resided  here  in  the  early  part  of 
the  century,  and  is  buried  on  this  farm.  Lowder  Layton 


was  an  early  merchant  in  a  little  store  which  stood 
where  Peter  F.  Causey,  Jr.,  now  lives.  The  farm 
contained  six  hundred  acres  when  Rogers  owned  it. 
In  1849,  Gk)vernor  Causey  purchased  and  refitted  it, 
and  it  is  now  one  of  the  most  desirable  residences  in 
town.  Of  Lowder  Layton's  sons,  Caleb  S.  was  asso- 
ciate judge  of  Sussex  County,  and  Garret  S.  was  a 
physician  in  Miiford,  and  Joshua  was  a  merchant  at 
Georgetown. 

Henry  Hudson  owned  the  land  where  South  Miiford 
now  stands,  and  had  James  Johnson  lay  it  off  into 
town  lots  in  1819.  He  built  the  brick  house  now 
occupied  by  Widow  Lemuel  Draper.  The  building  of 
this  house  ruined  him,  financially,  and  Walker  Sipple 
purchased  the  property,  from  whom  it  passed  to  his 
daughter  and  John  A.  Hazard,  who  sold  it  to  Lemuel 
Draper.  After  hb  failure,  Henry  Hudson  kept  the 
hotel  where  Lowery  now  is. 

Thomas  Davis  resided  in  Cedar  Creek  Hundred, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  at  one  time. 
Two  of  his  sons  resided  in  Miiford.  Robert  M.  was 
Treasurer  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  and  Thomas  J. 
Davis  is  a  surveyor  and  conveyancer,  and  has  settled 
a  large  number  of  estates. 

Daniel  Curry  started  the  first  peach  orchard  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Miiford,  and  was  laughed  at  by  his 
neighbors  for  so  doing.  He  was  also  a  grain  dealer 
and  shipping  merchant  at  Miiford.  Mary  E.,  his  only 
daughter,  was  the  wife  of  Gen.  Torbert.  She  came  into 
possession  of  her  father's  real  estate,  and  now  resides 
at  Miiford. 

Majqr-General  Alfired  T.  A.  Torbert,  son  of  Jona- 
than R.  Torbert,  was  bom  at  Georgetown,  July  1, 
1838.  He  was  educated  at  the  home  school  and 
West  Point,  graduating  in  1855.  He  was  with  Gen* 
eral  A.  S.  Johnston  in  his  campaign  against  the  Mor- 
mons in  Utah.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion 
he  helped  to  organize  the  New  Jersey  troops,  and  was 
commissioned  colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  of  New 
Jersey  Volunteers,  September  16, 1861,  by  Gov.  Olden, 
and  served  with  the  regiment  during  the  Peninsular 
Campaign.  In  April,  1864,  he  was  appointed  briga- 
dier-general in  command  of  the  First  New  Jersey 
Brigade.  May  4,  1864,  he  was  assigned  to  the  first 
division  of  cavalry  ander  General  Sheridan.  He  did 
gallant  service  at  Winchester,  and  in  many  other  hard 
fought  battles;  subsequently  he  was  promoted  to 
brevet  major-general.  He  married  in  Jaauary,  1866, 
and  resigned  his  command  in  the  army,  and  came  to 
Miiford  to  live,  in  the  home  of  his  bride.  In  1869  he 
was  appointed  minister  to  San  Salvador,  where  he  re- 
mained nearly  two  years  until  1871,  when  he  was 
appointed  consul-general  to  Havana,  and  in  1873 
consul-general  to  Paris.  After  his  return  home  he 
devoted  himself  to  his  private  affairs,  and  was  on  his 
way  to  Mexico  on  private  business  when  he  was  Bhip- 
wrecked,  his  body  being  washed  ashore  on  the  coast 
of  Florida.    He  is  buried  in  the  Methodist  cemetery. 

Nelson  Rickards  moved  from  Georgetown  to  Mil- 
ford  about  1837,  and  started  the  chair-making  business, 


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1193 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


which  he  followed  for  many  yean.  Perry  P.  and 
James  S.  started  carriage-makiDg,  which  the  former 
still  continues. 

Bethuel  Watson,  son  of  Isaac  Watson,  who  patented 
land  in  Sussex  County  in  1785,  lived  in  Cedar  Creek 
Hundred.  Jesse  Watson,  son  of  Bethuel,  married 
Rachel  Collins,  and  their  son  Beniah  came  to  Milford, 
and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  He  took  his 
son  Curtis  into  partnership  with  him,  and  after  his 
death,  in  1844,  Curtis  and  his  brother  Bethuel  engaged 
in  merchandising  until  the  latter  died.  Curtis  S. 
Watson  not  only  engaged  extensively  in  merchandis- 
ing at  home,  but  also  in  the  export  trade.  As  many 
as  twenty  ships  traded  from  this  port  then,  and  large 
quanties  of  quercitron  bark,  which  brought  as  high  as 
ninety  dollars  per  ton  in  Europe,  were  exported. 

His  life  is  worthy  of  more  than  passing  notice. 
He  was  born  December  9,  1809,  in  Cedar  Creek 
Hundred,  Sussex  County,  Delaware,  three  miles  south 
of  Mil  ford.  His  grandfather  Jesse  Watson  was  a 
native  of  the  same  hundred,  where  he  lived  and  died, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years,  and  his  grand- 
mother at  eighty-seven  years.  Jesse  Watson  had 
three  sons,  Jeremiah,  David  and  Beniah,  and  one 
daughter,  who  married  and  moved  west.  Beniah,  the 
youngest  son  and  the  father  of  Curtis  S.  Watson, 
early  in  life  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  but  after  his 
marriage  with  Elizabeth  Shockley,  engaged  for  a 
time  in  farming  in  Cedar  Creek  Hundred,  and  owned 
a  saw-mill,  which  he  operated.  The  children  of 
Beniah  and  Elizabeth  Watson  were  Curtis  S., 
Catharine,  Ann,  Bethuel  and  Beniah. 

Curtis  S.  Watson  was  the  eldest  child.  He 
obtained  his  education  in  the  schools  near  his  home, 
and  at  the  Milford  Academy,  remaining  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  was  nineteen  years  old.  He 
then  entered  a  store  at  Milford  as  a  clerk.  When  he 
attained  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  his  father  and 
he,  in  1881,  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Milford,  as  the  firm  of  B.  Watson  &  Son.  Thid 
oe-psrtnership  continued  for  ten  years,  when  his 
father  on  account  of  increasing  age,  retired.  Mr. 
Watson  then  took  into  the  business,  as  partner,  his 
brother  Bethuel,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to 
C.  S.  WatsoA  &  Co.  They  carried  on  a  general 
business  which  graduilly  grew  and  developed  and 
became  very  profitable.  These  operations  included 
not  only  the  buying  and  selling  of  store  goods,  but 
dealing  in  real  estate,  grain,  lime,  lumber,  fertilzers, 
and  other  articles,  by  which  they  supplied  numerous 
customers,  residing  in  town  and  over  a  large  extent 
Of  the  surrounding  country. 

A  number  of  tracts  of  land  were  purchased  con- 
taining valuable  timber  which  was  cut  down  and 
much  of  the  white  oak  lumber  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  vessels.  Within  fifteen  years,  C.  8.  Watson 
&  Co.  had  built  at  Milford,  fifteen  vessels  ranging 
from  sixty  to  two  hundred  tons  burthen.  These  ves- 
sels they  used  in  shipping  the  grain,  bark,  staves  and 
lumber  to  Philadelphia  and   New  York.    All  the 


merchandise  sold  in  the  store  was  billed  as  a  retoro 
cargo.  They  also  brought  lime  from  the  Hudson  or 
North  River  on  the  return  trip  and  sold  it  here  to  the 
farmers  of  the  vicinity. 

In  1856,  C.  S.  Watson  &  Co.  retired  from  the  gen- 
eral merchandbdng  business.  Bethuel,  the  jonior 
member  of  the  firm  died  the  next  year.  CortiB  S. 
Watson  then  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  grain, 
guano  and  phosphates  which  he  continued  with  great 
success  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  at  Milford.  He 
retired  from  business  in  1882  to  attend  to  his  large 
landed  interest  in  Kent  and  Sussex  Counties  aggre- 
gating in  all  two  thousand  five  hundred  acres.  The 
fkrms  which  he  now  owns,  he  purchased  at  various 
times  with  means  he  accumulated  through  his  rare 
ability  as  a  business  man.  In  addition  he  owns  three 
store  buildings  and  tne  post-office  building  on 
Walnut  Street  and  his  lai^ge  residence  on  Front 
Street  in  Milford. 

In  1876  Curtis  S.  Watson  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Milford  and  has  since 
been  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  that 
institution.  He  served  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
town  commissioners  for  ten  years ;  and  was  president 
of  the  board  several  terms. 

He  was  fifteen  years  a  director  in  the  Junction  and 
Breakwater  Railroad,  from  Harrington  to  Lewes. 
In  politics  he  has  always  ht&i  a  staunch  democrat. 
His  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Andrew  Jack- 
son, in  1832,  and  he  has  since  voted  at  every  presiden- 
tial election  for  the  candidate  of  his  party.  He  was 
elected  a  representative  to  the  Legislature  in  1859, 
and  re-elected  in  1861,  serving  in  all,  four  years. 
From  1871  to  1875,  he  represented  Kent  County  in 
the  State  Senate.  For  fifty  years  he  haa  been  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Mil- 
ford and  a  trustee  and  steward  for  a  long  period.  He 
is  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  church  and  devoted  to 
its  interests  and  to  the  cause  of  religion.  He  was 
made  a  Mason  half  a  century  ago,  in  Temple  Lodge, 
No.  9,  of  Milford,  and  became  a  Royal  Arch  Mason, 
thirty  years  later. 

In  1840  Mr.  Watson,  made  his  first  visit  to  Sara- 
toga, New  York,  then  a  small  villiage.  Every  year 
since  that  time  he  has  spent  about  sixty-five  days  of 
the  "hot  summer  months  at  that  now  famous  pleasure 
resort,  making  in  all  forty-seven  visits  in  forty-seven 
years. 

Mr.  Watson  was  married,  January  5,  1883,  to 
Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas  Davis,  of  Cedar  Creek 
Hundred,  by  whom  he  had  seven  children,  all  sons. 

His  wife  died  November  5, 1861.  Their  surviving 
children  are  Beniah  Watson,  attorney  at  law,  practic- 
ing at  Dover,  Delaware,  and  Dr.  R.  Y.  Watson,  the 
present  postmaster  at  Milford. 

Curtis  S.  Watson  was  married,  July  27,  1858,  to 
Lydia  A.  White,  daughter  of  George  White,  of 
Milford. 

Peter  F.  Causey  and  Dr.  Lofiand  had  mills  for 
grinding  quercitron  or  oak  bitrk.     D.  H.  Holland 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1193 


started  geoeral  merchandizing  where  Hume  has  his 
hardware  store  in  1837,  thence  he  removed  to  a  store 
which  stands  nearly  opposite  where  he  is  now,  and  in 
1880  he  came  to  his  present  location.  He  took  his 
son,  Joseph  £.,  into  partnership  with  him,  and  has 
since  done  a  leading  husiness,  and  is  now  the  mer- 
chant of  the  longest  standing  in  the  place.  John  Jump 
commenced  about  the  same  time  that  Holland  did, 
and  discontinned  recently.  Randall  Williams  and 
Henderson  Collins,  William  C.  Williams  and  Benjamin 
Potter,  who  left  a  will  giving  his  property  to  the  poor 
of  Kent  County,  outside  of  the  poor-house,  were  all 
merchants  in  Milford.  Noah  Lofland  was  one  of  the 
first  hatters  here,  and  his  son,  William,  whom  Ander- 
son succeeded,  and  T.  P.  McCoUey  worked  at  the 
business. 

Benjamin  Anderson  commenced  the  hatter  business 
in  1886.  and  was  one  of  the  last  hatters  in  the  state, 
when  he  discontinued  in  1860.  After  he  stopped 
making  hats,  he  associated  his  son  with  him  in  the 
dry-goods  business. 

In  1878  Benjamin  Anderson  started  the  present 
grocery  business.  Alexander  Pullen  started  the  nur- 
sery business  in  Milford,  in  1870.  He  has  since  asso- 
ciated James  F.  Anderson  in  the  business  with  him, 
and  they  sell  from  two  to  three  hundred  thousand 
peach  trees  yearly,  beside  ten  thousand  apple  and  five 
thousand  pear  trees,  vines  and  berries.  Hall  &  Son 
are  also  doing  a  large  business. 

The  railroad  takes  considerable  business  from  the 
shippers  by  water.  The  largest  importation  by  vessel 
is  material  for  fertilizers,  and  coal.  The  out-going 
vessels  carry  pine  and  oak  wood  and  piling,  also  oak 
timber  for  ship  building.  George  Hall  and  D.  H. 
Holland  are  principally  engaged  in  shipping  wood. 

John  Pettigrew  came  to  Milford  from  Scotland,  and 
was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution.  He  owned  the 
property  where  James  M.  Hall  now  resides.  He 
married  Ann  McNeUl,  and  had  three  daughters — ^Ann, 
wife  of  Dr.  Greer,  Margaret,  wife  of  Dr.  Joseph  Sud- 
ler,  and  Leah,  wife  of  J.  Millechop.  Of  Millechop's 
daughters,  Sally  was  the  wife  of  Ezekiel  Cowgill; 
Margaret  married  Elias  Naudain ;  Ann  married  Pur- 
nell  Hall,  a  farmer  and  cabinet-maker;  Mary  G. 
married  John  Greer ;  Lavinia  R.  married  Dr.  Ears- 
ner,  and  Clara  M.  married  James  C.  Wilson, 

Governor  William  Tharp  was  bom  November 
27, 1808,  and  died  January  1, 1865.  His  great-grand- 
father was  John  Tharp,  of  Sussex  County,  England, 
who  settled  in  Kent  County,  Delaware.  His  son, 
William  married  Ruth  Clark,  and  their  son  James 
married  Eunice  Fleming.  Their  son,  William  (the 
Gk>vemor),  had  a  family  of  daughters  that  married 
and  settled  in  Milford  and  vicinity.  Ruth  is  the 
mother  of  William  Watson,  and  Williamina  is  the 
wife  of  C.  J.  Hall,  lately  Clerk  of  the  Peace  for  Kent 
County, 

Miss  Harriet  McNatt,  who  was  bom  with  the  cen- 
tury, and  is  the  last  of  her  family,  has  a  very  clear 
recollection  of  events  that  took  place  in  the  early  his- 
76 


tory  of  the  town.  Her  grandfather,  Richard  Dela- 
ner,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  owned  a  large 
tract  of  land  on  the  road  to  Harrington,  at  Delaner's 
Cross  Roads,  about  three  and  three-fourths  miles  from 
Milford.  He  was  a  large  planter,  and  carried  on  store 
keeping  and  a  tavern.  He  was  an  Irishman  by  birth, 
and  fought  for  the  Americans  all  through  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  He  died  in  1810,  aged  eighty-one. 
He  had  two  sons — Levin  H.  and  John,  and  a  daugh- 
ter, Mary,  the  wife  of  Major  McNatt,  and  Harriet  R., 
now  aged  eighty-seven,  is  the  only  surviving  member 
of  the  family.  Her  mother  remembered  when  there 
were  only  three  houses  in  Milford — Joseph  Oliver's 
house,  which  stood  where  Colonel  Watson  and  Mrs. 
Ruth  Carlisle's  residence  now  stands,  then  called 
Oliver's  Landing ;  William  Sordons,  a  merchant,  and 
Isaiah  James,  a  tanner.  Afterwards,  William  Brinckle 
lived  where  James  Traitt  lives,  and  carried  on  tan- 
ning. He  was  very^aged  when  he  died.  His  children 
were  William,  John  and  Mary,  wife  of  Dr.  John 
Adams.  Thomas  Collins  had  a  large  family,  all  of 
whom  are  dead  or  have  moved  away. 

The  first  school  Miss  McNatt  attended  was  in  1808, 
near  her  grandfather  Delaner's.  It  was  kept  in  a  log 
school-house  with  an  earthen  floor,  with  planks  around 
the  outside  for  desks.  The  Quakers  had  a  meeting- 
house where  Rosa  lives.  Gauladett  Oliver  and  John 
Thomas  were  Friends.  The  former  had  three  sons — 
Joseph,  Thomas  and  Paul,  and  several  daughters. 
Ann,  wife  of  William  Godwin,  Governor  Rogers,  Gov- 
ernor Tharp,  Gtoveraor  Burton  and  Gk>veraor  Causey 
all  resided  here.  David  Walton  and  Colonel  Hall 
were  cabinet-makers.  Samuel  Ratcliffe  lived  in  South 
Milford  years  ago,  in  a  little  red  house. 

Hotels. — Daniel  Gknlwin  built  the  brick  part  of 
the  Lowery  House,  it  being  the  first  three-story  build- 
ing in  the  place.  He  kept  the  hotel  a  number  of 
years  and  was  superintendent  of  the  stage  route  from 
Wilmington  to  Seaford.  He  also  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business,  and  built  the  house  now  owned  by 
A.  B.  Cooper.  He  was  also  a  local  Methodist 
preacher.  His  son,  William,  became  commission 
merchant  in  Philadelphia,  and  Frank  was  president 
of  the  Corn  Exchange,  in  the  same  city.  Daniel  C. 
was  in  partnership  with  his  father  many  years.  Sam- 
uel P.  founded  the  Franklin  Reformatory  Home,  in 
Philadelphia,  and  is  its  president  Peter  F.  Causay 
purchased  this  property  and  sold  it  to  Justus  Lowerey, 
the  present  proprietor.  Joseph  Walton  first  leased  the 
Stine  lot  on  September  18, 1786,  and  in  1792  he  made 
a  lease  for  a  ground  rent  for  $8.13.  Walton  and 
family  built  and  occupied  this  lot  several  years.  Mar- 
tin Dewaile,  a  Frenchman,  came  into  possession  of  the 
property,  and  his  widow  kept  a  hotel  there.  The  suc- 
cessive owners  since  have  been  William  A.  Mygatt, 
Levi  Harris,  John  W.  Jump  and  Richard  F.  Stine, 
who  has  erected  a  fine  brick  hotel.  J.  C.  Shockley 
kept  this  hotel  for  twenty  years. 

Physicians. — Dr.  Joseph  Sudler  was  one  of  the 
first  physicians  in  the  place;  he  married  a  daughter 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


of  John  Pettigrew.  Dr.  James  P.  Lofland,  Gov.  Bur- 
ton, M.D.  and  Dr.  James  B.  Mitchell,  were  the  three 
leading  physicians  for  many  years.  Dr.  Owen,  was 
also  an  early  physician.  Dr.  John  S.  Prettyman  came 
to  the  Tillage  when  a  young  man  and  in  connection 
with  his  son  is  still  practicing  here.  Dr.  Nathan  Pratt, 
Dr.  Mark  G.  Lofland,  Dr.  J.  O.  Pierce,  are  among 
later  physicians.  Dr.  J.  D.  Strong,  was  the  first  Homoe- 
pathic  physician  in  the  place;  he  built  the  residence 
now  occupied  by  J.  B.  Smith. 

There  are  eight  physicians  practicing  medicine  in 
Milford,  Dr.  Wm.  MarshaU  and  son.  Dr.  G.  W. 
Marshall,  Dr.  J.  W.  Purnell,  Dr.  Nathan  Pratt,  Dr. 
J.  0.  Pierce,  John  S.  Prettyman  and  son,  John 
Prettyman,  Dr.  J.  G.  Dawson,  who  has  one  of  the 
finest  collection  of  Indian  relics  to  be  found  outside 
of  the  Smithsonian  Institute. 

Dr.  James  B.  Mitchell  was  bom  in  Caroline  County, 
Maryland,  in  1806,  and  moved  to  Milford  with  his 
parents  when  he  was  one  year  old.  He  was  educated 
here  and  read  medicine  with  Dr.  Burton,  of  Milford, 
and  attended  the  University  of  Maryland.  He  located 
in  Milford,  and  bad  a  successful  practice  for  forty 
years. 

Purnell  Lofland,  lived  and  died  in  Milford.  He 
had  two  children  by  his  fir^t  wife,  Mary  Bobinson, 
Dr.  James  B.  Lofland  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Spencer 
Williamx,  who  was  cashier  of  the  Commercial  Bank 
of  Milford.    His  second  wife  was  Arcadia  Burton. 

Of  his  children  by  his  second  marriage,  Purnell 
WMS  a  merchant,  and  a  lieutenant  in  the  Mexican  War, 
Mary  was  the  wife  of  Samuel  Harrington,  and  Ann 
married Austin. 

Dr.  John  Owens,  a  native  of  Nanticoke  Hun- 
dred, Sussex  County,  was  born  in  1787,  at  St. 
Johnstown.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Jos. 
Sudler,  and  graduated  at  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1819.  He  pr4Cticed  medicine  in  Milford 
and  Frederica  for  many  years  in  the  present  century. 
His  wife  was  Mary,  a  daughter  of  Isaiah  James,  one 
of  the  first  settlers,  and  was  considered  a  great  belle 
in  her  day.  Dr.  Owens  was  a  charter  member  and 
first  secretary  of  Temple  Lodge.  One  of  his  sons, 
Frederick  J.,  became  a  physician. 

Charles  T.  Fleming,  son  of  Beniah  Fleming,  was 
born  in  Mispillion  Hundred,  about  seven  miles  from 
Milford,  in  1805,  is  descended  from  William  Fleming, 
who  came  to  Mispillion  Hundred,  from  Scotland, 
in  1740,  and  took  up  four  hundred  acres  of  land. 
Charles  T.  came  to  Milford  in  1827,  and  in  1835 
commenced  surveying ;  having  collected  the  old  sur- 
veys of  James,  William  and  Manlove  Johnson,  he 
became  the  most  competent  surveyor  in  this  part  of 
the  state,  and  he  has  done  considerable  conveyancing. 
He  was  notary  public,  and  commissioner  of  deeds  for 
New  York,  for  many  years ;  for  forty  years  he  was  agent 
for  the  Farmers*  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company. 
In  1837,  he  was  a  Whig  member  of  the  legislature. 
Originally  a  Presbyterian,  he  joined  the  Methodist 
church  during  the  time  there  was  no  Presbyterian 


church  in  the  place.  In  1883,  Mr.  Fleming  laid  out 
in  building  lots,  eight  or  nine  acres  belonging  to 
Frank  Biekards,  situated  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
the  town,  which  are  now  (1887)  largely  occupied  by 
dwellings. 

Colonel  Thomas  Peterkin  was  a  bachelor,  a  very 
demonstrative  man,  with  decided  convictions,  true  to 
the  cause  he  espoused,  and  proverbially  honest.  John 
W.  Bedden  was  a  carriage-maker  here.  He  married 
Catherine,  a  daughter  of  Gulaudette  Oliver,  l^ey 
removed  to  Natchez,  Mississippi,  in  1820.  William 
Brinckle,  Jr.,  son  of  William  Brinckle,  Sr.,  was  bora 
in  Milford.  John  P.  Brinckle  was  a  lawyer  at  George- 
town, where  he  died  quite  young, 

Milford  Bbipqe. — In  June,  1785,  an  act  was 
passed  to  enable  Joseph  Oliver,  of  Kent  County,  to 
erect  a  bridge  over  Mispillion  Creek.  In  1791  this 
act  was  repealed  and  the  following  was  enacted: 
"Whereas,  the  draw-bridge  over  Mispillion  Creek 
on  the  public  road  leading  from  the  village  of  Milford 
into  the  county  of  Sussex  hath  become  of  great 
utility  to  the  inhabitants  of  Kent  and  Sussex  Coun- 
ties, hence  it  was  provided  that  each  county  should 
pay  half  of  the  expenses  of  keeping  and  repairing 
the  bridge  and  Isaac  Davis  and  John  Balaton,  of 
Kent,  Daniel  Bogers  and  Nathaniel  Hayes,  of  Sus- 
sex, were  appointed  commissioners  to  carry  out  tl^ 
provisions  of  the  act.  The  act  further  provided  that 
the  bridge  between  abutments  should  be  Uiirty-five 
feet,  nineteen  feet  of  which  should  be  a  draw  or  plat- 
form eighteen  feet  wide  with  good  and  suffici^it 
chains  for  raising  and  lowering  the  same,  a  provkion 
that  was  neccessary  when  vessels  ascended  the  Mis- 
pillion to  a  point  above  the  bridge." 

Street  Lightikq  and  Fibb  Department. — ^An 
act  to  regulate  and  light  the  streets  of  Milford  was 
passed  February  5, 1807.  This  act  was  subsequentiy 
repealed.  Now  the  streets  are  being  lighted  by 
electric  light.  Milford  Hook  and  Ladder  Compuiy 
was  organized  in  February,  1869,  with  Mark  G.  Lof- 
land, president ;  Beuben  A.  Steward,  vice-presideot; 
P.  C.  Fossett,  secretary;  Justis  Lowery,  treasurer; 
William  B.  Lowery,  fire  marshal.  The  company 
contained  about  twenty  members. 

Banks. — Elias  Shockley  owned  a  controlling  inter- 
est in  the  old  Commercial  Bank.  He  was  largely  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  and  gave  his  name  as  security 
too  freely  causing  his  failure,  and  the  bank  went 
down  with  him.  After  this  failure  the  Smyrna  Bank 
established  a  branch  office  at  Milford  and  did  banking 
business  here  until  the  establishment  of  the  present 
bank.  The  First  National  Bank  of  Milford  was 
chartered  July  27, 1876.  The  first  board  of  directors 
were  H.  B.  Fiddeman,  C.  S.  Watson,  M.  B.  Carlisle, 
James  B.  Lofland,  George  Bussell,  Bobert  H.  DsTis, 
James  H.  Deputy,  C.  J.  Harrington,  James  M.  Hall. 
The  first  officers  were  H.  B.  Fiddeman,  president ;  J.  R 
Smith,  cashier,  and  Isaac  S.  Truitt,  teller.  W.  B.  Aldred 
is  the  present  teller.  T.  J.  Davis,  CkorgeS.  Qrierawi 
J.  B.  Smith  are  among  the  directors  now.    Accord ing 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


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to  report  in  1887,  the  cash  capital  of  the  bank  is  sixty 
thousand  eight  huiidred  dollars ;  surplus,  thirty-five 
thousand  dollars;   undivided  profits,  $11,659.58. 

Schools. — William  Johnson  bought  the  lot  now 
owned  by  C.  W.  Davidson  in  1787,  and  lived  and 
died  there.  He  was  a  surveyor  and  one  of  the  first, 
if  not  the  first,  school  teachers  in  the  place.  Like  all 
the  schools  here,  up  to  1832  it  was  a  private  school. 
In  Johnson*8  note-book  the  following  notices  appear: 
Thursday,  March  25,  1788:  ''Notice  is  taken  that 
James  Train  called  William  Russell  a  liar.  Witness, 
William  Pope."  ''  Notice  is  taken  that  Peter  Robin- 
son was  absent  from  the  school  till  the  evening.*' 
"  Notice  is  taken  that  James  Train  came  to  an  engage- 
ment in  school  this  evening."  A  system  of  pri- 
vate schools  has  been  continued  with  varying  success 
until  the  present  time.  A  private  school  or  academy 
was  held  in  the  Maaons'  building  for  many  years.  In 
1882  the  first  public-school  iu  the  northern  part  of 
the  town  was  held  in  the  house  now  owned  by  J.  B. 
8mith,  and  William  Dickinson  was  the  first  teacher  ; 
this  building  was  sold  to  Captain  James  Thompson 
and  the  Masonic  building  was  purchased  for  public 
school  purpesee  in  1846  and  was  used  until  1887  when 
it  was  remodeled  and  enlarged.  There  is  also  a  public 
school  in  South  Milford. 

Daniel  S.  Ells,  superintendent  of  North  Milford 
public  schools,  January  15, 1887,  reported  as  follows : 
The  value  of  the  school  property  is  two  thousand 
dollars  with  four  teachers  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty-three  pupils.  Charles  W.  Allen,  principal  of 
the  South  Milford  School,  reported  that  the  school 
property  is  worth  forty-five  hundred  dollars ;  amount 
of  money  raised  by  tax,  eighteen  hundred  dollars ; 
amount  of  money  received  from  the  State,  eight  hun- 
dred dollars;  amount  paid  for  teachers'  salaries, 
eighteen  hundred  and  ninety  dollars.  The  school  is 
in  operation  nine  months  in  the  year  with  an  average 
attendance  of  one  hundred  and  forty-two  pupils  out 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty-one,  the  whole  number 
on  the  roll. 

The  MUfwd  Female  Imtiiute  was  conducted  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Kennedy  for  six  or  seven  years.  Mr.  Kennedy 
was  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  the  time, 
and  desiring  to  educate  his  own  family  he  started  a 
school  for  females  where  the  common  branches,  lan- 
guages and  music  were  taught,  and  many  of  the  the 
young  ladies  of  Milford  were  here  educated. 

Societies. — Ktrkwood  Encampment,  No.  6,  was  or- 
ganized September  4, 1850,  with  the  following  charter 
members :  Thomas  Wallace,  Joseph  H.  Bennett,  John 
H.  Denning,  Joseph  C.  Gtorby,  Robert  H.  Clark,  John 
8.  Moody,  William  C.  Welsh,  Joseph  L.  Linderman. 

Afifford  Orange,  No.  6. — The  first  grange  in  the 
State  was  organized  in  West  Brandywine,  in  1874,  by 
Mr.  Hamilton,  then  residing  in  California.  Milford 
Grange  was  organized  the  same  year,  with  John  Q. 
Rosa  as  the  first  master.  There  are  from  thirty  to 
forty  members  in  the  Milford  Grange  at  present.  Mr. 
Rosa  resides  where  the  old  Friends'  meeting-house 


formerly  stood,  and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
farmers  in  the  vicinity. 

Temple  Lodge,  No.  9,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  was  organized 
in  Milford,  Jan.  16, 1815.  This  lodge  was  organized 
by  Greneral  Jesse  Green,  who  was  the  first  Master. 
The  other  officers  were  John  Mitchell,  Sr.  W. ;  James 
Millechop,  Jr.  W. ;  Colonel  Thomas  Peterkin,  Treas- 
urer ;  Dr.  John  Owens,  Secretary ;  John  W,  Redden, 
S.  D. ;  William  Brinckle,  Jr.,  J.  D.  The  Masters 
since  the  organization  up  to  1846  have  been  Jesse 
Green,  James  Millechop,  Jr.  (five  times),  John 
Mitchell,  John  W.  Redden,  Dr.  James  B.  Lofland 
(thirty-eight  times),  Spencer  Williams,  Joseph  G.  O. 
Oliver,  Edward  Collins,  Beniah  Watson,  William  M. 
Godwin,  Liston  A.  Houston,  Dr.  William  Burton, 
William  F.  Revill,  Daniel  C.  Godwin.  They  met  in 
a  building,  part  of  which  is  the  present  public  school 
building,  until  about  1846.  A  private  school  was  con- 
ducted in  this  building  for  many  years,  and  it  is  said 
that  a  number  of  poor  children,  some  of  whom  have 
since  become  prominent,  were  educated  at  the  expense 
of  the  Masons.  This  lodge  was  the  parent  lodge  of  a 
number  of  other  lodges  in  the  vicinity. 

OrytiaX  Fount  Lodge^  No.  10,  /.  0.  of  0.  F.,  was  or- 
ganized February  10,  1847.  The  charter  members 
were  Joseph  S.  Bennett,  Joseph  C.  Gorby,  Samuel 
P.  Godwin,  John  H.  Denning,  Joseph  L.  Linderman, 
all  of  whom  are  still  living  but  Linderman.  During 
its  existence  till  1887  the  lodge  has  paid  $7079  bene- 
fits to  sick  members ;  for  burying  the  dead  $6502 ;  re- 
lief of  widows  and  children  about  $700 ;  outside 
charities  $698.  Present  assets  $5816.28.  One  mem- 
ber, J.  G.  Foulk,  has  been  Grand  Master  of  the 
State.  Three  members — J.  G.  Foulk,  Alexander  Hall 
and  Samuel  M.  Simpler,  have  been  representatives  to 
the  Sovereign  Grand  Lodge.  The  present  member- 
ship is  forty-nine.  In  1879  ground  was  purchased 
and  the  beautiilil  Odd  Fellows'  cemetery  was  sur- 
veyed into  burial  lots.  Since  the  organization  of  the 
lodge  nearly  every  public  celebration  in  the  town  has 
been  managed  by  the  order. 

Religious  Matters.— CAm<  Church,  1704-1887. 
— ^The  Rev.  Thomas  Crawford,  a  missionary  of  the 
English  **  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  €k>spel 
in  Foreign  Parts,"  stationed  at  Dover,  is  believed  to 
have  held  the  first  service  of  the  Church  of  England 
in  the  lower  part  of  Kent  County,  in  the  year  1704. 
The  congregation  then  worshipped  at  a  place  three 
miles  west  of  the  present  town  of  Milford,  though  it 
is  not  known  in  what  year  the  first  church  building 
was  erected,  or  precisely  where  it  stood.  As  early  as 
1745  a  small  wooden  chapel,  supposed  to  have  been 
the  second  edifice  of  the  kind,  thirty-six  feet  long  by 
thirty  feet  wide,  was  built  at  the  point  known  as 
Church  Hill.  This  building  is  mentiioned  in  the 
missionary  reports  under  the  name  of  Christ  Church 
MispUlion,  though  it  was  popularly  called  "  The  Sav- 
annah Church,"  on  account  of  a  swamp  near  by,  or, 
perhaps,  to  distinguish  it  from  **  the  7%ree  Rum  meet- 
ing-house "  of  the  Presbyterians,  situated  twe  miles 


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1196 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


further  down  the  creek.  At  this  date,  the  English 
minister  stationed  at  Dover,  and  officiating  also  at 
Mispillion  and  Duck  Creek,  was  the  Rev.  Arthur 
Usher.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  Neil, 
who,  in  turn,  was  followed,  in  1757,  by  the  Rev.  Chas. 
Inglis.  At  the  end  of  a  succeesfiil  administration 
of  six  years,  Mr.  Inglis  was  called  from  this  field  to 
the  rectorship  of  Trinity  Church,  New  York.  The 
next  name  on  the  list  of  ministers  is  that  of  the  Rev. 
Bamuel  Magaw.  With  his  removal  terminated  the 
fostering  care  of  the  Venerable  Propagation  Society 
over  the  English  Churches  of  Kent  County.  From 
this  time  the  Mispillion  Church  appears  to  have  had 
a  separate  existence  and  history. 

In  1773-75  the  Rev.  Sydenham  Thome  arrived  and 
took  up  his  residence  near  Church  Hill.  Mr.  Thorne, 
like  his  predecessor  in  the  rectorship,  was  probably  of 
English  birth  and  education,  though  he  came  to  this 
County  from  Virginia.  Besides  having  considerable 
ability  as  a  scholar  and  preacher,  he  waa  also  distin- 
guished  for  the  refinement  and  elegance  of  his  man- 
ner. Wealthy,  benevolent  and  public-spirited,  he  was 
said,  by  one  who  well  remembered  him,  to  have  been 
the  most  influential  man  of  the  county;  and  this, 
notwithstanding  his  political  and  religious  principles 
of  unconcealed  loyalty  to  the  King  and  Church  of 
England. 

In  the  year  1777  Mr.  Thorne  came  into  possession 
of  the  farm  on  the  west  side  of  Mullet  Run,  a  little 
stream  which  empties  into  the  creek  two  miles  east  of 
Church  Hill.  This  property  was  subsequently  owned 
by  his  nephew,  Peter  Caverly,  then  by  James  Clayton, 
and  afterwards  by  the  late  Benjamin  Potter,  who,  at  his 
death,  devised  it  to  his  grand-nephew  and  namesake. 
On  this  land  the  parson,  in  1779,  erected  the  large  and 
imposing  brick  house,  known  as  the  Thorne  Mansion, 
— almost  the  only  relic  of  the  last  century  which  has 
been  allowed  to  remain  without  alteration  to  the 
present  day.  Among  the  parishioners  of  the  Savan- 
nah Church  was  Joseph  Oliver,  who  owned  the  f&rm 
extending  from  Mullet  Run,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east- 
ward, towards  another  land  mark  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mispillion,  called  the  High  Hill.  At  the  instance  of 
the  parson,  or  mainly  under  his  direction,  it  is  said, 
Oliver  about  this  time  divided  his  land,  or  a  large  part 
of  it,  into  town  lots  and  streets.  Of  these  lots  two 
were  given  for  the  use  of  tht  parish  church  and  grave- 
yard; and  here,  in  1791,  was  laid  the  foundation  of 
the  present  Christ  Church,  Milford.  Much  oppo- 
sition was  made  in  certain  quarters  to  the  removal  of 
the  house  of  worship  to  another  site,  and,  in  conse- 
quence, some  of  the  members  refused  or  withheld 
their  assistance  in  the  new  enterprise.  But  notwith- 
standing this  drawback,  the  building  went  on  until 
the  walls  were  raised  and  roofed  in,  the  parson  him- 
self paying  the  cost  of  the  brick,  which  were  made 
of  clay  dug  from  Oliver's  land,  and  burned  in  a  kiln 
three  hundred  yards  north  of  the  church.  The  sills, 
rafters,  beams  and  girders  were  constructed  out  of 
trees  grown  on  Mr.  Thome's  farm,  cut  down  and 


hewn  at  his  expense,  and,  when  necessary,  sawed  into 
shape  at  his  own  mill.  The  death  of  this  zealous  man, 
February  13,  1793,  interrupted  the  building  of  the 
church,  and  the  work  remained  at  a  standstUl  for  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

As  originally  designed,  the  edifice  was  of  two  stories 
having  galleries  on  the  north,  west  and  south  sides, 
and  the  Communion  Table  on  the  east.  The  pews 
were  made  with  high  and  straight  Imcks,  and  the  pul- 
pit was  a  quaint-looking  afiair,  shaped  like  a  chalice, 
and  surmounted  by  a  lefty  canopy  or  sounding-board. 
It  was  placed  in  the  east  wall,  over  the  holy  table,  so 
that  the  preacher  might  look  into  the  galleries  as  well 
as  upon  the  audience  in  the  pews  beneath.  The  in- 
■side  of  the  building,  designed  to  be  finished  in  a  semi- 
circle, seems  never  to  have  been  carried  any  fuither 
than  the  putting  in  of  the  arched  pieces  intended  to 
hold  up  the  ceiling.  It  was  not  until  the  year  1835 
that  the  original  churdi  thus  begun  in  1791  by  parson 
Thome,  was  entirely  completed. 

The  next  minister  of  the  parish  was  the  Rev. 
William  Pryce,  who  officiated  until  1800.  He  then 
removed  to  Wilmington  and  became  the  rector  of 
Trinity  Church  (Old  Swedes),  in  that  town.  Seven- 
teen years  later  the  church  was  again  under  the 
charge  of  the  Dover  minister,  the  Rev.  Henry  R. 
Judah,  until  1$19,  when  the  Rev.  Joseph  Spencer 
was  made  master  of  the  academy  in  Milford,  and,  in 
connection  with  this  position,  rector  of  the  parish. 
Mr.  Speucer,  afterwards  doctor  of  divinity,  resigned 
these  offices  in  1822-23,  and  was  appointed  principal 
of  the  University  Grammar  School,  Philadelphia. 
Services  were  now  maintained  till  1880  by  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Higbee ;  and  three  years  later  than  this  date, 
began  the  rectorship  of  the  man  who  wae  destined  to 
complete  the  building  of  the  temple  whose  founda- 
tion had  been  laid  by  the  lamented  Thome,  nearly 
a  half  century  before.  The  Rev.  Corry  Chambers 
was  an  Irishman,  and  graduate  of  Trinity  College, 
Dublin,  who  had  been  but'  a  few  years  in  this 
country,  and  was  previously  settled  in  Lewistown, 
Pennsylvania.  An  energetic  man  and  a  popular 
preacher,  he  soon  succeeded  in  bringing  together  and 
adding  to  the  flock,  scattered  and  discouraged  since 
the  departure  of  Parson  Higbee,  until  the  church 
was  filled  again,  on  Sundays  and  at  other  religious 
festivals,  with  an  interested  and  devout  assembly. 

During  Mr.  Chambers'  ministry,  a  new  roof  was 
put  on,  the  galleries  and  pews  received  their  first  coat 
of  paint,  and  the  pulpit  was  adorned  with  hangings 
and  upholstery  of  crimson  silk,  in  the  most  approved 
style  of  the  day.  It  is  related  that,  just  after  these 
extensive  improvements  were  completed,  and  before 
ever  a  service  had  been  held,  the  new  roof  in  some 
unaccountable  manner  suddenly  took  fire.  The 
accident,  by  good  fortune,  happened  at  midday,  and 
an  alarm  brought  swifiJy  to  the  spot  a  score  of  inttf- 
ested  citizens,  by  whose  willing  help  the  flames  were 
extinguished  in  a  few  moments,  and  before  any  con- 
siderable damage  had  been  done. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1197 


A  pertinent  illustration  of  the  old  adage,  "  to  strike 
while  the  iron  is  hot/'  was  afforded,  on  this  occasion, 
by  Mr.  Chambers,  who,  thinking  the  opportunity  too 
good  to  be  lost,  immediately  after  the  fire,  opened  on 
the  spot  a  subscription  paper  for  repairs,  and  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  went  about  among  the  bystanders, 
soliciting  money;  until  presently,  he  had  received 
contributions  and  pledges  amounting  to  twice  as 
much  as  was  required  to  make  good  the  damage. 
The  church,  now  entirely  finished  and  fiirnbhed,  was, 
in  1886,  consecrated  to  pious  uses  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Henry  CJ.  Onderdonk,  provisional  bishop  of  the 
diocese  of  Delaware. 

Soon  after  this  date,  Mr.  Chambers  was  succeeded 
by  the  Rev.  John  Reynolds,  who  remained  in  charge 
till  1843,  meanwhile  supplementing  his  slender  salary 
by  giving  instruction  to  the  young  people  of  the  town 
and  others,  at  the  Midford  Academy. 

In  the  following  year  the  church  fell  to  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  John  Linn  McKim.  This  gentle- 
man, a  native  of  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  was  gradu- 
ated at  Dickinson  College,  in  the  class  of  1830,  and 
had  been  a  pupil  there  of  Doctor  Joseph  Spencer, 
sometime  rector  of  Milford,  and  afterwards  professor 
of  Ancient  languages  in  this  institution.  Mr.  Mc- 
Kim was  himself  a  thorough  classical  and  mathe- 
matical scholar.  Like  his  predecessor  at  Milford,  he 
was  master  of  the  academy  as  well  as  rector  of  the 
church.  His  learning  was  said  to  be  accurate,  varied 
and  extensive,  and  he  was  especially  remarkable  for 
the  rare  power  he  possessed  of  adapting  his  sermons 
to  the  character  and  needs  of  those  who  heard  them. 
A  man  of  singularly  pure  life,  of  gentle  manners  and 
cultivated  taste,  he  deserves  to  be  ranked  with  Inglis, 
Magaw,  Thome  and  other  worthies  whose  names  are 
destined  to  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  as  long 
as  the  parish  shall  have  a  history  to  record. 

By  the  choice  of  the  vestry  and  congregation,  the 
rectorship  now  descended  from  father  to  son ;  and,  in 
1863,  the  Rev.  John'  Layton  McKim  began  his 
ministry  in  the  venerable  church.  A  native  of  Dela- 
ware, and  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, it  is  a  point  interesting  in  this  connection,  that 
he  received  his  academic  degree  precisely  a  century 
after  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Magaw,  who  had  graduated 
at  the  same  college  in  1757.  The  coincidence  goes 
further;  for  he  also  came  to  the  parish  just  a  hundred 
years  later  than  his  illustrious  fellow-alumnus.  Like 
him,  too,  he  seems  to  have  had  a  faculty  for  teaching, 
and  devoted  a  large  part  of  his  time  to  this  profession. 
The  most  successful  teachers  often  prove  to  be  aUo 
the  most  useful  clergymen,  and  the  two  offices  have 
been  united  in  the  case  of  more  than  one  minister  of 
this  parish,  who,  but  for  the  increased  compensation 
which  followed,  might  have  been  compelled  to  ''shake 
the  dust  off  their  feet  and  depart,"  even  though  the 
people  had  been  ever  so  willing  to  listen  to  their 
instruction  and  submit  to  their  administration. 

During  the  incumbency  of  Mr.  McKim,  the  church 
was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  chancel,  sacristry 


and  tower;  the  new  work  being  carried  on  chiefly 
under  his  oim  direction  and  supervision.  But  while 
the  ancient  edifice  was  remodelled  as  to  its  roof  and 
general  outside  appearance,  the  walls,  ground-sill 
and  floor,  were  allowed  to  remain  as  originally  placed 
by  Mr.  Thome. 

Mr.  McKim  resigned  in  1880,  and  at  this  date  th^ 
parish  is  administered  by  the  Rev.  James  C.  Kerr. 
Under  his  judicious  direction,  the  church  has  lately 
been  decorated  in  the  hest  style  of  ecclesiological  art, 
and  otherwise  improved  until  it  is  perhaps  not  sur- 
passed in  beauty  and  convenience  by  any  house  of 
worship  in  the  state. 

Milford  Presbyterian  Church. — The  Three  Runs 
Presbyterian  Church  is  supposed  to  have  been  organ- 
ized in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  or  the  first 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  It  was  located  on 
the  ground  now  occupied  by  an  old  abandoned  grave- 
yard and  took  its  name  from  the  Three  Runs  of  the 
Mispillion  Creek.  It  was  a  frame  structure  with  a 
brick  floor  and  was  abandoned  as  a  place  of  worship 
in  the  early  part  of  the  present  century.  Miss  McNatt 
remembers  that  her  grandfather  Delaner  and  family 
worshipped  here.  Governor  Tharp's  family  also  were 
Presbyterians.  The  records  are  lost,  but  the  follow- 
ing election  of  trustees  in  1819  has  been  preserved. 
''At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbyterian  Congregation  of 
Three  Runs  held  at  Milford,  January  11, 1819,  Joseph 
Hazlett,  Robert  P.  Campbell,  John  Shafer,  Robert 
King  and  William  Satterfield  were  elected  trustees." 
The  RaUitons  worshipped  here  also.  When  Rev.  G. 
W.  Kennedy  came  to  Milford  in  1849,  there  were 
only  two  members  of  this  church  remaining,  Robert 
King  and  his  sister.  Mr.  King  was  a  firm  Calvinist 
and  devoted  his  life  largely  to  the  study  of  the  Scrip- 
tures and  theological  works,  and  was  liberal  in  giving 
for  religious  purposes. 

In  1849,  the  Presbytery  of  Wilmington  instructed 
Rev.  G.  W.  Kennedy,  an  Evangelist,  for  the  Presby- 
tery to  visit  Milford,  and,  if  the  way  be  open  to 
organize  a  Presbyterian  Church  there.  He  visited 
Milford  and  found  only  two  Presbyterians.  One  was 
the  wife  of  Governor  William  Tharp  and  the  other 
was  Miss  Johnson  afterwards  Mrs.  Primrose.  In  a 
short  time  other  Presbyterians  moved  to  Milford  and 
a  church  was  organized  with  seven  members,  viz.: 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Y.  Coulter,  Mrs.  Governor 
Tharp,  Mrs.  Edward  P.  Morris,  Mrs.  Purnell  Lofland 
and  Mrs.  S.  M.  Kennedy,  the  pastor's  wife. 

A  move  was  made  at  once  to  build  a  church,  and 
Governor  Tharp,  Colonel,  afterwards  Governor  Cau- 
sey, Dr.  James  P.  Lofland  and  John  Hazzard  were 
appointed  a  building  committee,  with  Rev.  George 
W.  Kennedy  as  chairman  and  financial  agent,  through 
whose  untiring  exertions  a  neat  and  substantial  brick 
church  and  parsonage  were  erected  in  1850.  At  the 
organization  of  the  church,  William  V.  Coulter  was 
elected  and  ordained  a  ruling  elder,  subsequently 
Rufus  K.  Baynum  and  Robert  C.  Hall,  were  elected 
and  ordained  elders.    After  a  number  of  additions 


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1198 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


had  been  made  to  the  cborch  in  March,  1856, 
Rev.  Mr.  Kennedy  resigned  his  position  as  stated 
supply.  The  church  remained  vacant  until  Novem- 
ber, 1857,  when  Rev.  John  W.  Mears,  of  Philadel- 
phia was  elected  pastor.  During  the  first  year  of  his 
pastorate,  thirteen  members  were  added  to  the  church. 
He  resigned  February  15,  1860,  and  November  14, 
1860,  Rev.  J.  Garland  Harned  succeeded  to  the  pastor- 
ate and  was  installed.  He  resigned  September  20, 
1868.  Then  the  Rev.  L.  P.  Bowen,  a  licentiate,  was 
received  as  stated  supply,  and  entered  upon  his  duties 
January  24,  1864.  At  this  time  there  were  thirty- 
four  members.  He  resigned  January  28,  1866,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  F.  Severance.  At  the 
same  time  Colonel  Henry  B.  Fiddeman,  Henry  J. 
Hall  and  Jacob  Y.  Foulk,  were  elected  ruling  elders. 
Mr.  Severance  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Richard  A. 
Mallery,  July  12,  1868,  who  died  June  9,  1875,  and 
after  an  interval  of  a  year.  Rev.  A.  A.  Dinsmore  was 
elected  pastor.  Messrs.  James  B.  Gilchrist  and  Ed- 
win Hopkins  were  elected  to  the  eldership.  Mr. 
Dinsmore  closed  his  labors  as  pastor  in  November, 
1875,  and  was  succeeded  by  Charles  F.  Boynton,  who 
began  his  pastorate  February  1, 1876.  He  resigned 
in  January,  1879,  and  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev. 
S.  K.  Schofield  until  February  1880,  when  Rev.  H.  K 
Bnnstein  became  pastor  and  continues  as  such  to 
date,  September,  1887.  During  his  pastorate,  William 
Marshall,  M.D.,  John  B.  Smith  and  William  A.  Humes 
were  elected  ruling  elders.  There  are  at  present  on 
the  roll  of  membership  two  hundred  and  ten  names. 

Mr.  Bunstein  was  bom  in  Easton,  Pennsylvania, 
August  18,  1844,  graduated  at  Lafayette  Collie  in 
1864  and  at  Union  Theological  Seminary  in  1872.  He 
was  pastor  of  Clinton  Street  Presbyterian  Church, 
Philadelphia,  from  1872  to  1876,  of  Beech  Creek  Pres- 
byterian Church  1877-1880,  and  was  called  to  Milford 
in  November  1879. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  i/X^ord.— October  18, 
1787,  Francis  Asbury,  in  his  journal,  says :  **  I  had 
divine  aid  in  preaching  at  Milford,  the  house  was  open 
and  the  day  was  cold."  December  3, 1787,  Joseph 
Oliver  deeded  to  Nathaniel  Smithers,  Jr.,  Joseph 
Aydelott,  William  Ward,  Elias  Shockley,  Thomas 
Ross,  Reynear  Williams,  William  Beauchamp,  John 
Taylor  and  David  Beauchamp,  a  lot  containing  four- 
teen thousand  four  hundred  square  feet  "  for  the  use 
and  express  purpose  of  building  a  preaching  house  or 
church  thereon  for  the  only  proper  use  and  benefit  of 
the  religious  society  of  people  called  Methodists." 
Tuesday,  October  22,  1789,  Asbury  says :  "  Rode  to 
Milford ;  we  had  a  great  move  and  noble  shouting." 
Rev.  Mr.  Whatcoat  was  presiding  elder  here  then. 
Milford  Circuit  first  appears  in  the  minutes  of  the 
Methodist  Church  in  1789,  Thomas  Jackson  and 
William  Ratcliffe,  preachers,  Richard  Whatcoat,  Pre- 
siding Elder.  The  circuit  must  have  embraced  a  large 
amount  of  territory,  as  the  membership  reported  is 
eight  hundred  and  seventy-nine  whites  and  two  hun- 
dred and  thirty-six  colored.    The  early  records  of 


Milford  Church  are  not  to  be  found,  but  from  the 
recollection  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  it  appears  that 
Samuel  Draper,  Julia  Adkins,  George  S.  Adkihs, 
Henry  Hudson  and  wife,  Walker  Sipple  and  wife, 
Lowder  Layton  and  wife,  John  R.  Draper  and  wife, 
Jabez  Crocker  and  wife,  Wesley  Collins  and  wife, 
Benjamin  Henderson  and  wife,  were  prominent  mem- 
bers. Revs.  James  Bateman,  Levi  Starks,  George 
Taylor,  John  D.  Onins  and  Charles  Carsner,  are  re- 
membered. The  latter  had  a  great  revival  in  1887 
which  was  kept  up  night  and  day,  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty-seven  members  were  added  to  the  church. 
Daniel  GU>dwin,  Molton  Rickards,  C^rge  Adkins, 
Wesley  Collins  and  Samuel  Draper  are  remembered 
as  class  leaders.  In  1855,  during  Rev.  William  An- 
near's  ministration,  there  was  a  great  revival,  and 
many  joined  the  church.  There  was  another  great 
revival  in  1874,  during  Rev.  D.  C.  Ridgway's  pastor- 
ate, and  some  three  hundred  joined  the  church, 
ninety  of  whom  were  from  the  Sunday-schooL  The 
first  Methodist  church,  which  stood  nearly  opposite 
where  the  present  church  stands,  was  sold  at  public 
sale  for  $49.50.  In  1840  the  second  church  was  built 
on  the  site  of  the  present  church.  Among  the  most 
prominent  subscribers  to  the  erection  ef  this  church 
were  Rev.  Truston  P.  McCoUey,  John  M.  Darby, 
Peter  F.  Causey,  John  Rickards,  WUliam  N.  W.  Der- 
sey,  Samuel  Draper,  G.  S.  <Sb  W.  Adkins,  John  Wal- 
lace and  family,  Daniel  C.  Godwin,  James  R.  Mitchell, 
Charles  T.  Fleming,  Henderson  Collins,  Purnell  HaU, 
Henry  May,  Elias  Smithers,  George  Primrose.  Clem- 
ent Clark,  Jesse  Sherwood,  Beniah  Watson,  James 
H.  Deputy.  This  second  church  and  lot  cost  $4428. 
35.  The  present  church  was  erected  in  1871,  at  a  cost 
of  $19,000.  William  T.  Yauls,  Joseph  S.  Truitt, 
James  H.  Deputy,  William  Welsh  and  Peter  F. 
Causey,  were  committee.  A  party  of  nine  gentlemen 
bought  the  old  church  and  converted  it  into  a  public 
hall.  The  parsonage  was  rebuilt  at  a  cost  ^f  $4000, 
in  1883.  A  chapel  has  recently  been  built  in  South 
Milford  through  the  instrumentality  of  Peter  F. 
Causey,  John  C.  Hall  and  Joshua  Spencer,  at  a  cost 
of  $2000,  for  Sunday-school  purposes.  The  Baptists 
have  recently  organized  a  church  in  the  town. 

Reverend  Jonathan  Spencer  Willis,  son  of  William 
Barnaby  Willis  and  Mary  Spencer,  was  born  in  Tal- 
bot County,  Maryland.  His  father  served  as  sheriff 
of  Talbot  County,  was  a  member  of  the  Maryland 
Legislature  four  terms  and  was  a  very  successful  ag- 
riculturalist. Oxford  John  Willis,  his  grandfiuher, 
was  custom-house  offi(ier  at  Oxford,  Maryland,  for  a 
period  of  forty  years,  when  that  place  was  a  leading 
port  of  entry  and  before  Baltimore  developed  into 
a  commercial  town.  Oxford  John  Willis  was  the 
grandson  of  John  Willis,  the  grandson  of  Sir  Rich- 
ard Willis,  who  came  to  Virginia  early  in  her  col- 
onial history,  with  the  Fairfaxes  and  others  who  took 
up  large  estates  in  Virginia.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  of  the  eighth  generation  in  direct  line  of 
decent  from  Sir  Richard  Willis.    Mary  Spencer,  his 


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TTT^TOT^Y  OF  PETATVAr.E. 

'      ♦.     :Im^    f]]iir-h    ;.•   Much,    IS--'.,  Miilurd   ^''hnr-h   «•*•  'i<.r  to  L.    f.-ur  I 

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!i   ,.  J. ft."    W.   .'It  HI'S,  ot  PLii:i<ii']-  He  -ry   fi'i-ls.in   aiul    wife.    Wuiker  ' 

•-^i  ;■  '     *       '»...  Mr  t!ie  tVst  \far  of  h'.s  Low«i»'r  J.tiyton   aM«l  wife,  J<  .m  H.  '    . 

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i.^.hH'cI.  .Ho    rf-tj^ii»Mi    St-pU'ii.r»ei    20.  i  nylur,  Jt)h.i  I).  Onina  aud   (  l-.Hfli^'-  •  . 

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.!r*'d   iiT'      V   -        'T   (.'•.'    '.     ';  .*       <    \    T'*'.  "Cent  from  Sir  Ricliard  Willis. 


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KENT  COUNTY. 


1199 


mother,  wai  the  oldest  daughter  of  Jonathan  Spencer, 
who  was  an  officer  in  the  War  of  1812. 

Bev.  Jonathan  Spencer  Willis,  the  oldest  of  nine 
children,  was  bom  April  5,  1830.  He  grew  up  at 
Long  Point,  his  father's  large  farm  near  Oxford, 
Maryland.  The  district  in  which  his  parents  lived 
was  one  of  the  first  places  in  the  county  to  adopt  the 
public-school  system.  He  attended  the  well-conducted 
school  near  his  home  and  by  the  time  he  reached 
the  age  of  thirteen  had  acquired  a  complete  knowl- 
edge of  the  branches  then  taught  in  it.  The  suc- 
ceeding year  was  spent  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  at  George- 
town, D.  C.  Returning  to  his  home  he  again  became 
a  pupil  in  the  district  school  for  two  and  a  half  years. 
It  was  now  taught  by  Lyman  Griswold,  under  whose 
careful  instruction  he  obtained  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  English  grammar,  studied  algebra  to  quadrate 
equation,  read  Latin  to  Virgil  and  learned  the  ele- 
ments of  Greek.  He  then  taught  in  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  county  and  as  principal  of  an 
academy  for  seven  years.  In  the  meantime  he  con- 
tinued the  study  of  geometry  and  French  and  in 
after  yean  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  German  lan- 
guage. 

In  1854  Mr.  Willis  became  a  Methodist  preacher  in 
the  Philadelphia  Conference,  having  three  years 
previously  been  married  to  Anne  S.  Valliant,  by 
whom  he  had  three  children  who  died  in  infancy  and 
whose  death  was  soon  followed  by  that  of  their 
mother.  His  first  charge  in  the  ministry  was  at  Oen- 
treville,  Maryland.  His  next  appointments  in  order 
were  at  Camden,  Dover,  Frederica  and  Odessa,  Dela- 
aware.  In  1860  he  was  called  to  Tabernacle  Church, 
Philadelphia,remaining  two  years  and  then  took  charge 
of  a  chapel  on  Mount  Vernon  Street,  out  of  which 
grew  the  present  Spring  Garden  Street  Methodist 
Church,  which  he  built  and  organized,  the  congrega- 
tion beginning  with  forty-five  members  and  closing 
his  pastorate  of  two  years  with  two  hundred  and 
eighty  communicants.  In  1864  he  accepted  a  call 
to  the  Western  Presbyterian  Church  of  Philadelphia, 
but  resigned  at  the  end  of  one  year  and  then  returned 
to  the  Methodists.  In  1868  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
Seventeenth  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
New  York  City,  and  served  with  great  success  for 
three  years,  spent  the  next  three  years  as  pastor  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Stamford,  Con- 
necticut, and  then  returned  to  New  York  as  pastor  in 
charge  of  the  Seventh  Street  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  three  years.  At  the  expiration  of  this 
time  he  returned  to  Delaware  in  the  spring  of  1878, 
and  for  five  and  a  half  years  served  several  churches 
in  the  state.  He  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  interests  of  his  landed  estates.  In  1885 
he  located  three-quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  Milford 
where  he  had  previously  erected  a  large  and  beauti- 
ful mansion.  The  superintendence  of  the  cultivation  of 
his  lands  has  its  charms  for  him.  He  owns  six  hun- 
dred acres  on  which  are  twenty-five  thoumnd  peach 
trees. 


Mr.  Willis  has  always  been  a  diligent  student 
of  classical  literature.  He  has  written  quite 
extensively  for  the  secular  and  religious  press,  some 
of  his  articles  possessing  great  merit.  During  the 
Rebellion  he  wrote  a  series  of  war  lyrics  which  ap- 
peared in  the  columns  of  the  Philadelphia  Press  and 
attracted  general  attention.  A  poem  of  his  pub- 
lished in  New  York  at  the  opening  of  the  centennial 
was  highly  commended  by  William  CuUen  Bryant  for 
its  rythmetic  beauty  and  patriotic  sentiment.  In  1877 
he  was  the  poet  for  the  commencement  at  Dickinson 
College  at  Carlisle,  Pa.,  and  he  has  written  a  number 
of  other  poems  which  appeared  in  various  journals. 
Mr.  Willis  is  a  graceful  speaker,  has  a  musical  voice 
and  a  ready  command  of  language.  He  has  studied 
the  art  of  oratory  and  at  times  is  quite  eloquent  when 
the  theme  upon  which  he  discourses  is  one  that 
arouses  the  noblest  impulses  of  our  nature.  His 
lectures—"  William  the  Silent,"  "The  First  Woman" 
and  others — are  fine  specimens  of  composition  and 
he  has  frequently  delivered  them  to  large  audiences. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  an  ardent  and  uncom- 
promising Republican,  and  he  has  made  a  careful 
study  of  the  great  issues  in  our  country  ever  since 
the  days  of  his  boyhood. 

In  1864  Mr.  Willis  was  married  to  Anne  Townsend, 
daughter  of  William  Townsend,  of  Frederica,  Dela- 
ware, by  whom  he  had  two  children — a  son,  who  died 
an  infant,  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth  Townsend  Wil- 
lis. On  the  morning  of  August  28, 1885,  Mrs.  Willis 
died  from  injuries  received  by  the  explosion  of  a 
coal-oil  lamp  while  sittiog  alone  in  her  bed-room. 
She  was  a  cheerful,  loving,  amiable  and  noble  woman, 
much  admired  by  many  intimate  friends  who  greatly 
deplored  her  unfortunate  death  at  the  early  age  of 
forty-two  years. 

The  family  of  Mr.  Willis  is  now  composed  of  him- 
self and  his  bright  and  intelligent  daughter,  whose 
varied  accomplishments  certainly  draw  around  their 
home  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

African  Methodist  Church. — ^The  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  organized  in  Miford  in  the 
autumn  of  1867,  through  the  instrumentality  of  Mrs. 
Lizzie  Little,  of  Philadelphia,  who  had  services  held 
in  the  private  residence  of  Mrs.  Jane  Jacobson, 
North  Street,  for  more  than  a  year.  When  their 
number  had  increased  to  twelve  or  thirteen  and  a 
bmall  fund  had  been  accumulated  the  Rev.  Wilkshelm, 
then  laboring  on  the  Milton  circuit,  took  charge  of 
them  and  encouraged  them  in  the  erection  of  their 
present  church  building.  The  original  trustees  were 
John  W.  Fountain,  Stokely  Jacobs,  William  Sorden, 
Robert  Bailey,  Nehemiah  Fountain  and  Rev.  Peter 
Hill.  Mr.  Hill  was  largely  instrumental  in  building 
up  the  church.  In  1887  the  membership  was  seventy- 
five  with  a  congregation  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
and  seventy  Sunday-school  children. 

The  Colored  Methoiist  Episcopal  Church  has  about 
thirty-five  members.  The  members  of  this  church 
formerly  worshipped  with  the  whites  and  the  colored 


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1200 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


memberahip  is  mentioned  in  the  conference  minutes 
in  1789.  This  church  was  re-organized  and  made  dis- 
tinctively colored  at  the  time  Bishop  Scott  re-organ- 
ized the  colored  Methodist  Churches  throughout  the 
United  States. 

BioQRAPHiOAL. — Bev.  Truston  P.  McCoUey  was 
born  March  9, 1793,  and  educated  at  the  country 
schools.  He  became  an  apprentice  to  the  hatter's 
trade ;  was  a  merchant  for  some  time  and  a  local 
preacher  many  years.  In  1832  he  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Constitutional  Convention  and  made  president  of 
that  body.  He  was  a  useful  man  in  the  community 
and  the  church,  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one. 
One  of  his  daughters,  Angeline,  became  the  wife  of 
Dr.  William  Marshall  who  was  born  in  1827.  Dr. 
Marshall  was  educated  at  Milton  and  studied  medi- 
cine at  Jefferson  Medical  College.  He  was  surgeon 
on  the  ship  *'  Clarissa  Perkins  "  that  conveyed  the 
first  of  the  '49  men  to  California.  He  worked 
in  the  gold  mines  for  a  time  and  returned  in  1851. 
He  was  surgeon  in  the  army  and  wounded  in  a  skir- 
mish. He  was  captain  in  the  Sixth  Delaware  Regi- 
ment. He  removed  to  Milford  in  1866,  was  secretaiy 
to  the  State  Board  of  Health  and  delegate  to  th« 
Ninth  International  Congress  of  Physicians.  He 
owns  a  large  flouring-mill  and  is  otherwise  interested 
in  business.  His  son,  Dr.  G.  W.  Marshall,  was  born 
in  1854  and  educated  in  Delaware  College  and  Jeffer- 
son College,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1876. 
He  came  home  and  married  Mary  L.  Donnell  and 
has  been  practicing  medicine  in  Milford  since  that 
time.  The  house  where  Dr.  Marshall  resides  was 
built  by  John  Law  in  1787.  From  John  Law  it 
passed  to  John  Pleasonton,  a  merchant  who  had  a 
store  therein.  Ellas  Shockley  also  had  a  store  and 
a  tavern.  Polly  Peterkin  was  murdered  here  by 
a  man  who  married  her  for  her  money.  It  was  the 
old  Commercial  Bank  building,  and  after  its  failure 
the  Smyrna  branch  bank  was  here  also. 


CHAPTER  LXV. 


SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


Sussex  County  is  the  southernmost  county  of  Dela- 
ware, and  has  an  area  of  about  nine  hundred  and  fifty 
square  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Kent 
County  and  Delaware  Bay,  on  the  south  by  Maryland, 
on  the  east  by  Delaware  Bay  and  Atlantic  Ocean,  on 
the  west  by  Maryland  and  Kent  County.  It  is 
drained  by  the  Mi^pillion  Creek,  Cedar  Creek,  Prime 
Hook  Creek,  Beaver  Dam  Creek,  Cool  Spring  Creek, 
Love  Creek,  Middle  Creek,  Miry  Creek,  Farry's 
Creek,  Indian  River,  Irona*  Creek,  Pepper  Creek, 
Turkey  Creek,  Herring  Creek,  Assawaman  Bay,  Poco- 
moke  River,  Sheals'  Creek,  Gray*8  Creek,  Broad  Creek, 
Coal  Creek,  Tussocky  Creek,  Little  Creek,  Nanticoke 
River,  Deep  Creek,  Gum  Creek,    Gravelly    Creek, 


Clear  Creek,  St.  John's  Creek,  Marshy  Hope  Creek 
and  the  Delaware  Bay  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 
The  surface  is  nearly  level,  and  a  large  part  of 
it  is  covered  with  forests.  The  soil  is  mostly  fer- 
tile, the  staple  products  being  com,  wheat,  cattle, 
pork,  lumber  and  potatoes.  The  county  is  inter- 
sected by  the  Delaware  Railroad  and  the  Junc- 
tion and  Breakwater  Railroad,  and  contains  thirteen 
hundreds  as  follows :  Lewis  and  Rehoboth,  George- 
town, Cedar  Creek,  Broadkiln,  Indian  River,  North- 
west Fork,  Broad  Creek,  Nanticoke,  Seaford,  Little 
Creek,  Dagsborough,  Baltimore  and  Gumborough. 
The  town  of  (Georgetown,  in  Georgetown  Hundred,  is 
the  county-seat. 

The  territory  occupied  by  the  present  county  of 
Sussex  was  known  in  the  seventeenth  century  as 
Hoorenkill,  Horekilland  Whorekill,  and  extended 
from  Bomptles  (Bombay)  Hook  to  Cape  Henlopen 
(Fenwick  Island).  The  first  settlement  was  on  the 
site  of  the  present  town  of  Lewes. 

In  1658  Lieutenant  Alexander  De  Hinijoesa  was 
given  command  of  the  Horekill,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Peter  Alrichs,*  nephew  of  Vice-Director  Jacob 
Alrichs,  as  commandant,  in  1660.  The  territory  was 
controlled  by  the  Dutch  authorities  at  New  Amstel 
(New  Castle),  and  Peter  Alrichs,  by  reason  of  his 
official  position,  obtained  a  monopoly  of  the  trade 
from  Bompties  Hook  to  Cape  Henlopen,  causing  con- 
siderable dissatisfaction  among  the  inhabitants,  who 
complained  to  the  Vice- Director  William  Beekman,  of 
Fort  Altena,  and  he  wrote  to  Director  StuyvesanU 
Twe  years  later,  1664,  the  territory  passed  into  the 
possession  of  the  English. 

On  April  22,  1665,  Captain  Martin  Creiger,  was 
granted  permission  to  trade  in  Delaware  Bay,  and  on 
November  11,  1665,  Peter  Alrichs  was  allowed  to 
traffic  at  Horekill  for  "  skins,  peltry  or  what  other 
commodities  those  parts  would  afford,  he  to  make 
entry  with  the  officers  at  Delaware  (New  Castle)  of 
the  quantity  and  quality  of  goods." 

On  March  20, 1666,  all  duties  on  household  goods 
were  discontinued  on  the  Delaware  River,  and  on 
October  22, 1670,  on  petition  of  the  inhabitants,  all 
customs  were  abolished.' 

On  January  12, 1670,  a  grant  was  made  to  James 
Mills  for  a  "  neck  of  land  "  lying  *'  to  the  southward 
of  the  town  called  Whorekill "      He  was  also  given 

1  Petor  Alrichs  took  up  a  tract  of  land  at  the  HoreklU,  while  ke 
was  in  command  nnder  the  Dntch,  but  a  patent  was  not  obtained, 
and,  upon  the  capture  of  the  territory  by  the  English,  in  1604,  all  tkt 
land  in  his  posseeslon,  both  in  New  Castle  County  and  at  the  Whon- 
kill,  was  confiscated  and  later  granted  by  Goremor  Bichaid  NidioH 
in  1666,  to  William  Tom,  clerk  of  the  courts  **on  Delaware/*  A  tnct 
at  the  Whorekill  was  granted  to  Turn,  and  his  name  appean  In  a  list 
of  persons  whose  qnit-rents  are  still  due,  as  follows :  "  Will  TMn,  at 
Grt  Whorekill,  2  bushells.'*  This  tract  was  on  the  Whorekill  and  <m 
the  side  of  Pagan's  Creek.  It  contained  one  hundred  and  thiitf-tvo 
acres  and  was  resunreyed  to  him  July  7, 1676. 

s  Samuel  Jennings,  later  Go?emorof  New  Jersey,  in  a  lettv  October 
17,  1680,  to  Penn  Lawrie  and  Lucas,  assignees  of  Edward  Bylliaga, 
says,  **  In  good  time  we  came  to  anchor  in  Delaware  where  one, 
Petor  Alrichs,  came  aboard  and  brought  a  handsome  present  to  onr 
Commander  and  sent  for  me  into  the  round-house,  where  they  both 
were,  and  Peter  told  me  he  had  nothing  to  mj  relating  to  < 
he  had  no  commission  for  it,  nor  did  he  know  anybody  that  had. 


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1201 


the  privilege  of  buying  the  Indian  right.     The  sur- 
vey accompanying  the  grant  was  as  follows : 


FAC-8IMILE  OF  SURVEY  OF  THE  COAST  ALONG  THE 
DELAWABB  BAY^  AND  THE  SEA,  MADE  JANUARY 
12,  1670. 

KxPLARATioir:— 1.  Lore's  Or«ek.  3.  Herring  Creek.  3.  Big  Ditch. 
4.  Indian  Biver  Bay.  6.  Beboboth  Bay.  6.  Islands.  7.  Cape  Henlo- 
pen  (the  present).  8.  Trading  Poet,  and  site  of  the  present  town  of  Lewis. 
9.  Cape  Henlopen,  the  present  Fenwick  Island. 

On  May  8, 1671,  the  following  census  of  Horekill 
was  taken : 

1  From  a  manoscript  in  the  British  Musaem  the  writer  (who  was 
informed  by  a  soldier  who  was  in  the  fort  at  the  Hoorenkill  when  under 
the  Dutch  in  1M2)  says  concerning  the  cieek  at  that  place  *'that  along 
the  seashore  it  was  not  abore  two  leagues  from  the  cape,  and  that  near 
the  fort,  which  is  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  it  is  about  two  hundred  paces 
broad,  and  narlgable  to  about  half  a  league  upward ;  the  pilots  say 
generally  about  six  feet  of  water  In  going  in,  but  canoes  can  go  two 
leagues  higher.  There  were  two  small  islands  In  it,  the  first  very  small, 
the  last  about  half  a  league  in  circumference,  both  overgrown  with  fine 
grasB,  especially  the  latter,  and  all  about  half  a  league  asunder,  and  the 
latter  about  a  league  from  the  channers  mouth.  The  two  islands  are 
anrrounded  with  muddy  ground,  in  which  there  grows  the  beet  sort  ot 
oysters,  which  ground  begins  near  the  first  Island,  for  the  mouth  of  the 
channel  has  a  sandy  bottom,  being  also  very  deep,  and  therefore  there 
are  no  oysten  there.  Near  the  smaller  idand,  and  higher  up,  it  is 
broad  again  as  at  the  mouth.  Near  the  fort  the  channel  for  a  good  way 
runs  at  equal  distances  from  the  sea,  having  the  breadth  <'f  about  two 
hundred  paces  of  high  downy  land  lying  between  them.  Near  the  fort 
there  is  a  glorious  spring  of  fresh  m-ater.  A  small  rill,  rising  in  the 
southeast  part  of  this  country,  and  falling  fh)m  a  rising  hill,  runs 
through  this  downy  land  into  the  mouth  of  the  Horekill,  is  fur  its  good< 
ness  and  fertility  named  for  the  very  best  of  New  Netherland.'' 

Smith  writing  of  this  manuscript  says:  '*Sooa  after  English  posses- 
sion it  got  the  name  of  Lewestown,  by  which  it  is  mostly  called.  It  is 
situate  at  the  mouth  of  Delaware  Bay,  and  is  a  general  resort  for  pilots 
waiting  to  convey  vessels  up  the  river.  Where  the  creek  is  described  as 
deep  and  sandy  is  now  a  mowing  marsh.  The  channel  also,  by  the 
WhorekiU,  then  used  for  vessels  to  pass,  is  diminished  to  about  a 
hundred  yards  at  the  mouth.  The  two  islands,  one  very  small  and  the 
other  half  a  league  in  circumference,  are  now,  the  flr^t,  supposed  to  be 
ten,  and  the  last  thirty  times  as  large  as  then  described,  and  this  altera- 
tion  in  about  one  hundred  years.*'  Smith  is  mistaken  in  the  place 
being  called  Lewestown  soon  after  the  English  took  possession.  It  was 
not  until  after  1690  that  the  name  was  used  in  official  records. 


"Hilmonus  Fredericks  Wiltbank,  his  wife  two  sous  and  a  man  servant.  6 

Alexander  Hoelsteen,  his  wife,  two  sons  and  a  man  servant 6 

otto  Wolgart,  his  wife,  one  son  and  a  man  servant 4 

William  Klarsen,  with  two  daughters  and  a  child 4 

Jan  Kipehaven,  his  wife  and  daughter 8 

James  Weedon,  one  daughter,  one  son  and  four  servants 8 

John  Bods  (Roades)  his  wife,  five  children,— three  sons  and  two 

daugters 7 

Daniel  Breen,  his  wife  and  partner,  John  Colleson 3 

Jan  Uichael,  Anthony  Pieters,  Abraham  Peters,  Peter  Smith 4 

Ficter  Oronedick,  Anthony  Sandes 2 

Herman  Comelissen,  Herman  Drooche,  trader 2 

47 

There  are  here  at  present  on  Captain  Mnrtyn  Cregiers'  sloop  Belfast,  6 
Also  on  a  small  boat  of  Peter  Aldrich,  ftom  New  Oastle 2 

7 
"IIB&MANUS  F.  Wiltbank." 

On  June  14,  1671,  the  Council  adopted  an  order  in 
reference  to  land  taken  at  Horekill  to  the  effect  that 
"  what  is  past  or  granted  there  bee  confirmed  upon 
the  same  conditions  as  the  rest  of  ye  Land,  with  this 
Proviso,  that  each  Planter  bee  obliged  to  settle  upon 
the  Land,  &  that  each  Person  be  enjoyned  to  settle 
a  House  in  a  Towne  to  be  appointed  neare  them." 

At  this  time  little  land  had  been  taken  by  the  set- 
tlers, excepting  in  and  near  the  town  of  Horekill ; 
but  the  residents  of  Maryland  showed  a  disposition  to 
locate  them.  The  southern  and  western  boundaries 
were  in  dispute,  and  as  Lord  Baltimore  and  Governor 
Lovelace  were  uncertain  as  to  the  exact  location  of 
the  line,  considerable  difficulty  and  uneasiness  re- 
sulted. In  June,  1672,  Richard  Perrot,  of  Virginia," 
wrote  to  Gk)vernor  Lovelace  concerning  this  ques- 
tion : ' 

"  May  it  please  your  Honor:— Tn  May  last  myselfe,  with  some  other 
Gentlemen  of  Vergeney,  came  over  to  Delievrare  to  see  the  place  and 
liking  the  place  wee  made  choise  of  severall  tracts  of  Land  for  our  selfes 
and  nabors  and  had  made  bold  to  have  given  your  Honor  a  visitt  had  not 
one  of  ourcompaney  falen  ill  so  that  wee  implied  Mr.  Waiter  Wharton 
flTor  to  paten  our  Land.  Now  May  it  please  your  Honor  about  four  days 
before  I  came  to  seete  the  Maryland  men  have  sarvaed  it  again  in  the 
Lordes  name.  I  much  fear  it  will  disharten  the  rest  of  the  gentelmen 
from  cuming  up  at  the  falle  and  severall  more  of  our  nabors  that  would 
have  come  up  at  the'fale  of  the  lefe  very  Honest-men  and  good  House- 
keepers ,  they  desired  me  to  take  them  up  sums  land,  which  I  am  doubt  Ail 
to  done  unless  your  Honor  will  be  plesed  to  g  ive  me  permission  for  it.    I 

dout  not  but  to  se  the  plase  well  seated  in  tow  or  three  years  at  the 

and  a  trade  fh>m  Louden  ;  the  plase  Is  good  and  healthy  and  wanteth 
nothing  but  peple.  I  was  in  good  hopes  I  should  have  had  the  happiness 
to  have  got  up  before  your  Honor  left  Deliware,  but  my  hopes  was  in 
value.  I  hcpe  your  honor  will  bee  plesed  to  honor  me  with  a  line  or  two 
whoe  is  youre  fuithfhll  and  obedient  servant  unknowne. 

"From  the  Horbkill,  "Richard  Prrbot.'* 

"June  21, 1672. 

"  If  your  Honore  plese  to  grant  us  all  the  land  to  us  Yirgenianes  that 
lieth  between  the  Horekill  and  the  Mortherkill  wee  shall  take  spedey  care 
for  the  seating  of  it,  as  may  be  expected  at  so  great  a  distance  when  Layed 
out  according  to  menes  families ;  what  good  land  there  may  bee  found  in 
the  distance  I  know  not ;  at  present  wee  have  a  desire  to  be  neare 
together  as  the  plase  will  afforde.  I  intend  Vergeney  for  sum  occasions 
of  businis  and  send  up  my  son. 

*'B.P.'» 

In  July,  1673,  when  the  Dutch  again  came  into 
possession  of  the  territory,  Peter  Alrichs  was  reap- 
pointed commandant  at  Horekill,  from  Bompties 
Hook  to  Cape  Henlopen,  and  among  other  instruc- 

*  Richard  Perrott  settled  in  Cedar  Creek  Hundred,  on  the  bay,  at  that 
time  in  Horekill  district  or  county,  and  the  land  was  held  by  the  family 
through  three  generations. 

'  Perrott's  letter  caused  a  lengthy  correspondence  between  Governor 
Lovelace  and  Lord  Baltimore,  on  the  subject  of  the  western  and  south* 
em  boundary,  which  had  been  in  dispute  since  the  earliest  settlement 
of  the  country,  and  was  not  finally  reconciled  until  nearly  a  century 
later. 


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1202 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


tiooB  was  "  authorized,  for  the  promotion  of  Agricul- 
ture, to  aFsign  lauds  to  the  inhahitants  of  South 
River,"  subject  to  the  approval  of  Governor  Anthony 
Colve,  and  to  call  for  confirmation  and  proper  title- 
deeds  afler  the  lands  had  been  surveyed  by  the  sworn 
surveyor. 

After  the  re-occupation  by  the  English,  in  August, 
1674,  Captain  Cantwell  wrote  to  the  Governor,  inform- 
ing him  of  affairs  in  the  Horekill,  to  which  the 
Governor  replied  that  he  was  "glad  to  hear  that 
people  are  generally  so  well  satisfied  with  the  change, 
and  of  the  likelyhood  you  tell  me  of  newcomers  to 
settle  in  those  parts.  In  the  mean  time  you  may  give 
to  such  newcomers  as  desire  to  continue  there  any 
reasonable  quantity  of  lands  not  disposed  of  or  settled 
in  time,  according  to  their  capacity  and  number  of 
hands  they  shall  bring  for  clearing  it ;  .  .  .  and, 
till  my  arrival  or  order,  do  further  empower  you  to  be 
surveyor  for  the  whole  river  and  bay." ' 

On  July  7, 1665,  eighty  acres  of  land  were  granted 
to  Alexander  Molestidy  (Molestine),  **  lying  upon  the 
Whorekill,  neare  unto  the  mouth  of  the  kill,"  adjoining 
the  land  of  William  Tom,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
two  acres  were  granted  to  Hermanns  Wiltbank  on  the 
Whorekill  and  Pagan's  Creek,  also  adjoining  the  land 
of  William  Tom. 

On  March  26, 1676,  patents  were  granted  as  follows : 

Henry  Strieker  (Stretcher),  600  acres;  Timothy 
Love  (Rehoboth  Creek),  411  acre«;  John  King,  900 
acres ;  Randell  Revell,  900  acrei* ; '  Robert  Windsor, 
1100  acres;  Daniel  Hart, 500  acres ;  John  Roads, 850 
acres;  Daniel  Brown,  400  acres;  Alexander  Mole- 
steen, 411  acres;  Abraham  Clenning  and  Otto  Wol- 
gast,  600  acre^;  Hermanns  Wiltbank,  800  acres. 

On  June  15,  1676,  Edward  Codell  was  granted 
three  hundred  acres,  called  "Edward's  Choyce," 
**  lien  in  the  woods  south-southeast  from  the  horekil 
town,  distans  three  miles,  near  unto  Green  branch." 

On  June  11, 1677,  Hermanns  Wiltbank  wrote  to 
Governor  Andross  from  Horekill  : 

** Bight  Honorable: 

**  Whereas  I  am  Informed,  very  creditable,  that  those  of  Maryland 
have  surveyed  some  inconsiderable  qnantity  of  Land,  the  certaine 
quantity  unknown,  but  is  supposed  to  bee  seTerall  thousand  acre,  the 
which  Land  Lying  within  the  Limits  of  this  government^  As  I  can  pro- 
duce by  an  Instrum^  In  writing,  made  between  the  Christians  and  the 
Indiana,  In  the  first  settlement  of  these  places  lieing  bought  and  paid 
for,  as  the  Writing  more  at  large  may  manifest,  being  to  the  soutb< 
ward  of  Whorekill  Creek  about  the  distance  of  18  or  20  miles,  But 
to  the  northward  of  the  supposed  Oape  Henlopen  and  the  extended 
limits  according  to  the  aforfmid  Writing  being  called  Assawoma  In> 
let,  conveniently  at  the  sanboanlside,  wherefore  I  have  already  ac< 
quainted  several  persons  that  what  Incouragement,  privileges  and 
Assistance  can  or  may  be  procured  from  yo*  Hono*>>«  shall  not  be 
wanting  if  that  any  persons  are  willing  to  settle  there.  In  those  parts 
aforesaid  under  the  protection  of  his  Royall  Higness.*' 

In  1677  the  appended  1  st  of  settlers  in  the  Hore- 
kill were  given  as  belonging  ''to  the  company  in 
Delaware,"  and  in  1678,  Captain  Edmund  Cantwell, 
of  New  Castle,  obtained  land  patents  for  them : 

1  On  the  reorganisation  of  the  courts,  in  1676,  by  Governor  Andross, 
they  were  authorized  to  issue  warrants  for  land  to  settlers,  subject  to 
survey  to  be  approved  by  the  authorities  at  New  York. 

3  Revel r«  tract  was  surveyed  August  3, 1675.  It  was  on  "Slaabter's 
(Yeek,  near  to  the  Whorekill/' 


Acres. 

Richard  Hill...... 1000 

James  Wells 44iO 

Robert  Hart,  Jr 600 

Richard  Brasey 300 

JohnAutry «    300 

Sander  Moleeteyn> 50 

Robert  Brasey,  St. 800 

James  Lille 300 

John  Johnson 400 

Jacob  Seth 500 

William  Warren 300 

Henry  Stretcher 400 

James  Pedy 600 

William  True 300 

Samuel  Styles 400 

John  Dupre 1000 

Thomas  Davis 300 

Edward  Cooper. 360 


Acns. 

Walter  Lewis --    300 

Sam'l  Styles  A  Trayly T44 

John  Kirke ^ -    WHO 

William  Borton 1000 

JohnOlton 300 

Abraham  Clement 40) 

Themaa  Davis ».    500 

Christop  Jackaon 300 

Comelis  Yerhoofe. 
Daniel  WhiUey. 
John  Comlis. 
John  Alward. 
WilHrm  Prentice. 
John  Linning. 
Josias  Coudrty. 

Edward  Furlong —    400 

Robert  Braasy,  Jr.....„ -    30D 

Robert  Frmier 400 


Tracts  of  land  in  Horekill  were  taken  up  as  follows: 

In  1677,  by  Otto  Wolgast,  one  of  the  magltttratea,  a 
tract  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  called  the 
"Vine-yard,"  "near unto  Rehoboth." 

On  December  8,  1677,  by  James  Laten,  "  Hart's 
Delight,"  four  hundred  acres  "lien  and  bein  in 
Cedar  Creek." 

On  January  15, 1677,  by  Cornelius  Johnson,  "John- 
son's Delight,*'  six  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres, 
formerly  surveyed  for  Hermanns  Wiltbank,  lying  on 
the  north  side  of  Kimball's  Creek. 

On  January  16, 1677,  four  hundred  acres  to  Henry 
Hermon,  called  "  Hermon's  Choyce,"  near  a  mmvth 
called  "  Kimball's  Neck." 

On  November  13, 1679,  Captain  Edmund  Cantwell 
certified  to  the  following  grants,  "  the  names  starred 
being  already  seated  and  the  others  intended  to 
seate  next  winter":  Thomas  Goward,*  600;  Paul 
Marsh,*  600 ;  Francis  Meggs.*  600 ;  John  Cooley,* 
600;  James  Li  ten,*  400 ;  Anthony  Enloes,*  150; 
Simon  Plaing,*  300;  John  Oakey,  400;  Comelis 
Verhoofe,  1210;  Robert  Highnet,*  622;  John 
Crows,*  900;  Cornells  Johnson,  600;  Hendrick 
Molestine,  John  Kiphaven,  Jr.,  Comelis  Verhoofe 
and  Hermon  Cornells,*  800 ;  Jessey  Sumerford,  800 ; 
Richard  Beaty,  421 ;  Henry  Harmon,*  400 ;  Captain 
John  Avery,  800;  Alexander  Molestine  and  John 
Briggs,  800 ;  Andrie  Dupre,  400. 

On  May  14,  1679,  William  Clarke,  one  of  the 
justices  of  the  court  at  Horekill,  wrote  to  Governor 
Andross : 

•*  GOVER"'  ANDB068  : 

"Since  thee  were  pleaaed,  when  I  was  at  Torke,  to  Aeke  me  if  ther« 
wMiiDythiDgl  knew  relating  to  this  place  for'thee  to  settle  or  order  doth 
Imbolden  me  to  Lay  one  thing  before  thee,  which  I  obeerre  to  bee  a 
grearance  and  that  which  does  prevent  the  better  seating  of  tfato  ooqd- 
trj,  and  that  is,  they  tliat  have  land  here  are  not  at  any  cwtaiotj  what 
they  must  doe  for  the  surveying  itt.  The  planters  that  cofne  oat  of 
Maryland  are  and  hare  been  in  expectacon  that  they  should  pay  no 
more  than  is  paid  for  sun'eying  theee,  which  is  one  hundred  pounds  of 
Tobacco  for  the  first  hundred  acree,  and  fifty  pounds  fur  the  second 
hundred  acres,  and  twenty-fire  pounds  for  every  hundred  acres  after  to 
one  thousand  acres,  soe  that  the  survaying  of  one  thousand  acres  of 
Land  come  to  but  three  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  But  instead  thereof 
same  have  paid  here  two  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco  for  survaying  one 
thousand  acres,  and  none  that  I  hear  of  have  paid  Lease  than  one  thon- 
sand  pounds  for  survaying  one  thousand  acres  of  Land,  which  may  be 
done  in  a  day's  work  or  less  and  is  looked  upon  as  a  greate  Burthen  com* 

s  Alexander  Molestine. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1203 


plajned  In  by  th«  pUnters.  And  they  doe  ny  H  doth  hinder  others 
fh>m  coming  to  seat  in  this  County,  that  had  thought  of  coming. 
This  I  thought  lltt  to  signifiee  unto  thee ;  being  sUways  willing  to  Ap- 
pear in  that  which  may  be  for  the  pro^ri^  and  well-being  of  that  place 
which  I  eat  my  bread  In  ;  And  leave  it  to  thy  consideratien  to  retume 
snch  answer  and  directions,  hereunto,  as  in  thy  great  wisdom  shall  seem 
discreet ;  And  as  this  finds  Acceptance  with  thee,  I  shall  the  more  free- 
dome  hereafter  ss  things  presents;  And  subscribe  myselfe  Thyne  to 
serve  thee,  Sir,  what  I  can.  **  Wm.  Claek." 

The  Governor,  in  a  letter  to  the  magistrates  at 
Whorekill,  dated  June  6,  1679,  says  of  this  letter  : 
"  Upon  a  letter  or  address,  of  William  Clarke,  irom 
your  place  to  the  govemour,  concerning  the  uncer- 
tainty of  surveyor's  fees  in  the  s'd  parts,  Its  his 
honour's  order  that  the  price  of  surveys  hee  att  the 
Whorekill,  &c.,  as  in  Virginia  and  Maryland,  money 
or  value."  One  William  Taylor  was  acting  as  the 
"  pretended  surveyor,"  and  by  this  letter  Cornells 
Verhoofe  was  appointed  surveyor  at  the  Whorekill. 

On  March  1680,  John  Roads  was  granted  five 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  "  on  ye  beach  of  ye 
sea  bounding  on  Rehobah  Bay.'* 

In  February,  1682,  Wm.  Durvall,  John  Roades, 
Alexander  Molestine,  John  Kiphaven,  William 
Clark,  Norton  Claypoole,  Henry  Bowman,  John  Hill, 
William  Ffootscher,  William  Emibb,  Mathias  Emer- 
son, Richard  Shoulter,  William  Page,  Cornelius 
Johnson,  Richard  Patte,  Daniel  Brown,  Thomas  Den- 
nison,  Henry  Stretcher,  Robert  Johnson,  Barnwell 
Jackson,  Ffraim  Gumby,  Thomas  Hasfialini  Robert 
Midach  and  Thomas  Harvard  were  fined  for  not 
working  on  the  public  roadts. 

In  1682  (old  style),  1688  (new  style)  surveyors  of 
roads  and  bridges  were  appointed  as  follows : 

Iti  IXifcicI  John  Hill,  surveyor,  from  the  flat  lands  southward  and  to 
the  south  side  of  the  Green  Branch  of  Prime  Hook  Creek  northwards. 

2d  DMrice—Bobert  Hart,  Jr.,  surveyor,  ttom  south  side  of  Green 
Branch  of  Prime  Hook  Greek  southward,  to  the  three  runs  of  MIspilllon 
Creek  northward. 

Rd  Ditfrio<— William  Crawford,  surveyor,  fipom  the  flat  lands  north- 
ward unto  the  extent  of  the  connty,  southward  being  to  Cape  James, 
f<»inerly  called  Cape  Henlopen. 

On  October  29,  1682,  William  Penn  wrote  to  the 
magistrates  of  the  two  lower  counties  of  St.  Jones' 
and  Whorekill,  to  meet  him  at  New  Castle  in  No- 
vember following,  '*  to  arrange  matters  for  the  guid- 
ance and  good  government  of  the  territory."  ^ 

On  December  25,  1682,  the  proprietary  wrote  to 
the  magistrates  of  Sussex  County '  as  follows  : 

'*  By  the  Proprietary  A  Governor  of  Pennsllvania  &  the  Teritorys 
thereunto  Belonging  : 

**  Having  duely  Considered  the  preeent  state  of  your  county  to  the 
end  that  all  obstructions  to  the  due  Improvement  thereof  may  be  re- 
moved and  reasonable  encouragement  given  to  invite  planters  to  settle 
amongst  yon,  I  doe  think  fltt  to  order  and  appoint  as  follows: 

**Flrti.  That  you,  in  open  court,  shall  receive  alt  peticons  from  time 
to  time  that  may  be  made  by  snch  persons  as  designe  to  take  up  Land 
among  you  and  that  you  grant  them  a  Warrant  to  the  Surveyor  to 
•dmeasun*  the  same,  provided  always  that  you  exceed  not  three  hundred 
aoresof  land  to  a  master  of  a  family,  nor  a  hundred  acres  to  a  single 
person,  at  one  single  penny  per  acre  or  value  thereof  In  the  produce  of 
the  oonntiy,  which  done,  that  the  Surveyor  make  his  retume  into  Court 
and  that  the  Court  make  thereon  return  Into  my  secretary's  office. 


1  Penn  arrived  at  New  Castle  October  27,  1682,  and  the  following  day 
received  the  territory  of  Delawrare  from  John.  Moll  and  Ephraim  Her- 
mans. He  returned  to  Upland  the  same  day  and  wrote  to  the  magis- 
trates tnm  there.  Whorekill  was  divided  and  St.  Jonee*  County  formed 
oat  of  it  by  Governor  Andross  in  1680. 

'Whorekill  had  meantime  been  changed  to  Sussex— "The  extent 
thereof  shall  be  from  the  maine  branch  of  Mispillion  Creek,  called  the 
three  runs  northwards,  and  southwards  to  Assawomet  Inlet" 


'*  Secondly,  And  because  no  Land  shall  lye  waste  to  the  pr^ndice  of 
new  planters,  all  lands  formerly  granted  and  not  taken  up  and  settled 
within  the  time  limited  by  the  methods  of  your  own  Court  that  granted 
them.  Shall  be  accounted  vacant  land,  and  if  possible  upon  the  terms 
aforesaid  the  old  claymt  or  pretender  to  have  the  preferonce  if  not 
already  seated,  owners  of  above  800  acres,  unless  already  seated  by  some 
other  person. 

**  Thirdly,  That  all  persons  for  the  fbtnre  that  shall  have  grants  to 
take  up  land  be  also  limited  to  seat  it  within  one  year  after  the  date  of 
the  grant,  else  the  said  grant  to  be  voyd  and  of  no  effect. 

"Fourthly,  That  you  endeavor  to  seat  the  lands  that  shall  hereafter  be 
taken  up  in  the  way  of  townships."  As  three  thousand  acree  amongst 
Tenn  family's,  if  single  persons  one  thousand  acres.  Amougst  Tenn  of 
them  laid  out  In  the  nature  of  a  long  square  five  or  Ten  of  a  side  and  a 
way  of  two  hundred  foot  broad  Left  between  them  for  an  Highvray  In 
the  township.  This  I  would  have  ye  carefDlI  in,  for  the  ftiture  good  and 
grate  Beneiit  of  your  country  given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  Chester, 
the  25th  of  lOmo.,  1682. 

**  To  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the  Co.  of  Sussex, 

"Wm.  Pmm." 

This  letter  was  followed  immediately  by  the  one 
appended : 

*•  By  Wm.    P*im  Ptttprittary   A  GontimoT   of  PnwtsiZooiMa  dt  T«mto»-ys 
Th0rtH.nU>  Bdongiug : 

**  I  doe  hereby  order  and  appoint  that  before  any  land  be  surveyed 
for  any  other  person  you  doe  iKue  forth  a  warrant  directed  to  the  Sur- 
veyor or  his  Deputy  to  lay  out  for  the  Duke  of  Torke  In  your  county  or 
precincts  Tenn  Thousand  acres  of  Land  for  a  Hannor  and  Tenn  Thou- 
sand acres  of  land  for  a  Mannor  for  myselfe  and  I  would  have  the  Duke^ft 
Kannor  lye  on  the  north  side  of  Aflawamet  Inlett  as  near  to  Cape 
James  *  as  may  be  and  my  Mannor  to  be  between  the  bounds  of  Cedar 
Creek  and  Mispillion  Creek  or  in  the  most  convenient  place  towards  the 
north  side  of  the  county.  Given  onder  my  hand  A  seal  at  Chester,  thia 
26th  of  lOmo.,  1682. 

"Wm.  Pum. 

"To  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  Sussex  Co.** 

On  December.  10,  1684,  Samuel  Gray  presented  the 
names  of  William  Emmott,  John  Brown,  Richard  Gill, 
John  Williams,  John  Waron,  Robert  Janson,  Har- 
man  Cornelius  for  not  working  on  the  "  Bye-ways," 
and  the  delinquents  were  ordered  **  to  work  between 
this  and  the  next  court  what  they  are  behind  in  their 
work,  otherwise  to  be  fined  20s.  per  day  for  what  they 
are  behind."  Robert  Hart,  surveyor  of  the  bye-ways^ 
presented  Luke  Wattson,  Sr.,  Henry  Bowman,  Hen- 
ry Smith,  Barnwell  Jackson,  David  Coursey,  William 
Ffaury,  Wm.  Spencer,  Jr.,  and  Bartholomew  Apple- 
gate. 

On  February  2, 1687.  the  following  letter,  signed  by- 
Governor  Markham,  was  sent  by  the  Provincial  Coun- 
cil to  the  Sussex  authorities : 

*'  By  the  President  and  provintiall  oouncill : 
**  Whereat,  by  the  169th  Law  in  the  Law  booke  of  the  province  and 
territories,  It  is  enacted  that  no  undressed  Deer  skins  be  put  on  board 
any  Shipp's  Boats  or  vesMll  with  Intent  to  transpoort  ye  same  onteof  this 
province  before  they  have  l)een  publicly  exposed  to  sale  within  the  same 
by  aflBxing  in  writing  upon  some  meeting-house  or  court-house  doore, 
five  days  at  least  .  .  .  upon  the  penalty  of  ye  forfriture  of  ye  same. 
•*  The  President  and  Council  having  duly  considered  the  great  iAJury 
and  danimage  the  Government  dally  receives  by  the  officers*  neglect  In 
their  duty,  in  cot  putting  the  said  law  in  execution,  have  thought  fitt 
to  order  and  strictly  command  all  officers  concerned  that  they  strictly  put 
in  execution  the  said  law,  and  that  the  naval  officer*  of  this  Government 
deer  no  Shippe,  Boate  or  Vessel le  going  out  thereof  with  any  undrest 
Deer  skins,  unless  certlflca,  as  afoiesaid,  be  first  introduced.** 

On  March  6, 1694,  the  magistrates  of  Sussex  County 

s  The  suggestion  of  Penn  in  this  letter  to  the  division  of  lands  smong 
ten  families  Is  in  accordance  with  the  old  English  ciistom  of  dividing 
land  among  ten  families— assuming  that  each  family  with  its  servants 
was  ten  in  number,— making  one  hundred,  and  from  which  fact  the 
title  "hundred  **  was  originally  derived,  and  this  suggestion  of  Penn*s 
is  doubtless  the  reason  why  the  term  obtained  in  this  State. 

*  Cape  Henlopen. 

ft  There  was  no  naval  officer  in  Whorekill  at  this  time,  but  on  August 
8,  1686,  Henry  Bowman  was  appointed. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


wrote  to  the  authorities  adjacent  in  Maryland  con- 
cerning the  boundary  dispute  : 

"Cfmtlemen ;— Whereai  we  their  M^jties  Jmtices  of  the  peace  In  court 
letting  are  given  to  understand  that  John  Barker  and  Charles  Tindall 
enhabitanta  on  the  south  side  of  the  Indian  River  within  this  county 
and  government  stand  bound  over  to  jour  government  and  for  the  rest 
owning  the  authority  of  ye  Qovernment 

"Thought  fltt  therefore  to  signifle  unto  you  that  most  of  the  land  on 
ye  said  south  side  of  the  Indian  Eiver,  and  particularly  the  land  that 
they  live  upon,  was  taken  up  and  surveighed  by  grant  when  the  land 
was  under  the  government  of  New  York  and  since  patented  by  William 
Fenn,  Esq.,  absolute  proprietary,  and  that  the  said  above-named  per- 
sons possest  their  said  lands  by  the  said  Right,  and  have  all  along  paid 
Rents  and  Dues  unto  the  said  Proprietors  and  Government,  and  for  as 
much  as  some  of  your  County  have  pretended  to  something  of  an  order  of 
King  and  Council.  That  the  tract  of  land  lying  and  being  on  the  River 
and  Bay  of  Dt'laware  on  the  one  side  and  Chesepeake  Bay  on  the  other 
side  bee  divided  into  two  equal  parts  by  a  line  fh)m  the  latitude  of  Cape 
lulopen  to  ye  40i>'  degree  of  northern  latitude,  and  that  one>half  thereof 
lying  towards  Chesapeake  Bay  Bemaiue  to  ye  Lord  Baltimore,  and  that 
half  part  lying  towards  the  River  and  Bay  of  Delaware  unto  William 
Penn.,  £!sq.  But  if  any  apprehend  so  they  are  under  a  great  mistake, 
florye  order  of  King  and  Council  is,  'That  for  avoiding  further  dlifer- 
ence  the  tract  of  land  lying  between  the  River  and  Bay  of  Delaware  and 
the  easterne  sea  on  the  one  side  and  Chesapeake  Bay  on  the  other  side, 
bee  divided  into  equall  parts  by  a  line  from  the  latitude  of  Cape  Henlo- 
pen  to  ye  40^  degree  of  northern  latitude,  and  that  one-halfe  thereof 
lying  towards  the  River  and  Bay  of  Delaware  and  the  eastern  sea  bee 
adjudged  to  belong  unto  his  Majesties  and  that  the  other  halfe  remalne 
to  Tx>rd  Baltimore  as  oomprlsed'within  his  charter/  Now  some  of  your 
government  have  also  alleaged  that  Cape  Henlopen  and  Cape  Inlopea 
are  one  and  the  same  Cape,  which  like  wise  needs  bee  a  great  error,  for 
if  so,  there  had  been  no  need  for  the  King  and  Council  to  have  men- 
tioned the  Eastern  sea  in  the  said  Order.  All  which  being  duely  de- 
liberated more  whether  or  no,  Itt  bee  not  most  fltt  abstain  all  acts  of 
violence  and  breach  of  good  neighborhood  on  either  part  until  such 
time  as  ye  Division  be  made  and  compleated  according  there  untu,  which 
wee  have  good  g^nnds  to  believe  will  not  be  long. 

*'  Theee  things  we  have  agreed  to  offer  to  your  prudent  and  Judicious 
consideration  and  being  properly  Debated  may  conduce  to  the  Reliefs  of 
the  said  Barker  and  Tindall  and  so  wee  Bid  jrou  farewell  with  a  Real 
acknowledgment  of  being 

"  Your  affectionate  friends  to  serve  you, 

"  William  Clabke, 

**  LuKB  Watson, 

•*  Thomas  Pbmbbrtom, 

*•  RoBBKT  CUFTOK, 

"  Thomas  Oldman. 
*'ffh)m  a  County  Court,  held  in  their  maj**"  name,  att  Lewes,  for  the 
County  of  Susoex,  on  the  Sixth  day  of  March,  1694. 

"  Nkhbmiah  rriBLD,  Cltrk.** 

On  September  7,  1698,  overseers  of  highways  were 
appointed  as  follows :  John  Miers,  for  town  district  ; 
Richard  Himon,  for  Rehoboth  to  the  Inlett;  John 
Barker,  from  the  Inlett  to  the  Indian  River;  Thomas 
Ffisher  and  Mathew  Osbourne,  for  the  Broad  Creek ; 
Luke  Watson,  Jr.,  for  Prime  Hook,  and  Justice  Booth 
for  Cedar  Creek. 

On  Decembers,  1695,  the  Court  of  Sussex  County 
ordered  the  constables  to  appear  with  a  list  of  persons 
liable  to  taxation  **  within  their  respective  hundreds." 

On  January  16,  1727,  there  were  appointed  as  over- 
seers of  highways:  Jacob  Kollock,  Esq.,  for  Lewes- 
ton  Hundred ;  David  Cordrey,  Rehoboth  Hundred ; 
Robeit  Smith,  Broadkiln  Hundred ;  Henry  Brewing- 
ton,  Indian  River  Hundred ;  Samuel  Davis,  Esq.,  An- 
gola Neck  J  John  May,  Esq.,  Cedar  Creek  precinct; 
and  William  Till,  Esq.,  Slaughter  Neck  precinct. 

At  the  May  term  of  Court,  1735,  the  following  were 
appointed,  and  the  roads  defined  over  which  they  had 
authority :   **  Jacob  Wiltbank  for  Lewestown  streets 

1  This  is  the  flrst  mention  of  the  term  '*  Hundred  *Mn  the  Sussex 
records.  The  Provincial  Council,  April  9, 1690,  instructed  the  mafls- 
trates  and  grand  Juries  of  the  several  counties  to  divide  them  into  hun- 
dreds. In  1690  there  vrere  Rehohah  and  Broadkill  Hundreds  with  the 
addition,  in  1702,  of  Cedar  Hook  Hundred,  and  In  1706,  of  Indian  Creek 
Hundred. 


and  along  ye  Kings  road  as  far  as  the  two  mile  post; 
Anderson  Parker,  Esq.,  from  ye  said  two  mile  post  to 
Coolspring;  John  Roads,  from  ye  seaside  to  along 
Rehoboth  road  to  ye  place  where  a  gallows  stood  to- 
wards Lewestown ;  James  Miers  and  Isaac  Watson 
for  Cedar  Creek  hundred ;  Samuel  Carey  and  William 
Pettyjohn,  Samuel  Carey  from  ye  saw  mill  vs.  Wm. 
Burton's  to  Bracey's  Branch,  and  said  Pettyjohn  from 
ye  branch  along  ye  said  road  to  the  two  mile* post  on 
Southern's  Run;  Robert  Smith  from  Coolspring  to 
Long  Bridge;  John  Conwell,  from  Long  Bridge  to 
Sowbridge;  Simon  Kollock,  Esq.,  from  SoaUiem's 
Run  to  Orr's  mill ;  Thomas  Warrington  from  ye  bottom 
of  Angelo  Neck  to  Orr's  mill ;  William  Burton  and 
James  Pettyjohn  from  Burton's  said  mill  to  Pember- 
ton's  bridge  now  road ;  Richard  Burton,  Park  Neck 
road  from  ye  Horseboat  Landing  on  the  Sling's  Road 
to  the  Crab  Tree.  At  the  May  sessions  1736  Thomas, 
Davis  and  William  Donnelly  were  made  overseera 
from  the  Sow  Bridge  to  the  Three  Runs." 

In  1764  authority  was  granted  the  courts  to  lay  oat 
public  roads.^ 

On  January  31,  1811,  the  law  defining  the  elecdon 
districts  of  Sussex  was  passed,  and  the  polling  places 
were  designated  as  follows : 

First  District.  "Cedar  Creek,"  at  the  house  of  MUloway  White,  ai 
head  of  Cedar  Creek. 

Second  District  "Broad  Kill,*'  at  house  of  Benjamin  Benson,  1  Hil- 
ton. 

Third  District,  "  NanUcoke,'*  at  house  of  widow  of  Boai  OoTerdala^  la 
Bethel  or  Passwater  Cross  Roads. 

Fourth  District,  "  Northwest  ^ork,"  at  house  of  John  Wikon,  at 
Bridgerille. 

Fifth  District,  "  Broad  Creek,"  at  house  of  widow  of  John  EUiot. 

Sixth  District,  "Little  Creek,"  at  house  of  Thomas  ffidaoer.  at 
Laurel. 

Seventh  District,  "  Dagsborough,"  at  house  of  Peter  HalL 

Eighth  District,  "  Baltimore,"  at  house  of  Wm.  HoweU. 

Ninth  District,  "  Indian  Rirer,"  at  house  ef  WUllam  Walters,  nearftt 
George^s. 

Tenth  District,  "  Lewes  and  Behoboth,"  at  house  of  John  Wott,  in 
Quakertown. 

In  1829  the  school  law  was  passed,  and  under  it 
George  R.  Fisher,  E.  Walter,  Henry  Bacon  and 
Thomas  Jacobs  divided  the  county  into  school  dis- 
tricts. 

CouRT-HousES,  Prisons  and  ALM8Hou8E.~More 
by  popular  consent  than  by  official  enactment,  Lewes 
or  the  Horekill  was  recognized  as  the  coanty-seat 
from  its  establishment  as  a  trading-post  in  1658  until 
Georgetown  was,  in  1791,  formally  made  the  centre 
of  the  administration  of  justice  and  transaction  of 
county  affairs.    When  the  West  India  Company  set 

s  The  territory  of  Sussex  County  was  not  extended  southward  nor 
westward  until  after  1765,  and  the  four  hundreds,  Lewes  and  Rehobolb. 
Indian  River,  Broadkiln  and  Cedar  Creek,  comprised  the  tenitory  of  the 
county  for  at  least  three  quarters  of  a  century.  Among  the  old  srttlsn 
of  half  a  century  ago  it  was  known  as  **  Old  Sussex."  In  conflnnalioa 
of  this  term,  a  deed  made,  hearing  date  Novemher  6, 1764,  of  land  In  the 
western  part  of  Broadkiln  Hundred,  recites  of  the  parties  that  they  were 
John  Clowes,  Jr.,  of  Sussex  County,  Bei^amln  Mifflin,  of  Philadelphis, 
and  "John  Jones,  of  Worcester  County,  alias  New  Sussex."  This  was 
but  a  year  after  the  first  surrey  line  was  made,  and  the  territory  tat- 
merly  Worcester  County,  Maryland,  this  eariy  was  recognised  as  reallj 
belonging  to  Sussex  County.  In  1786  an  effort  was  made  to  form  a  new 
county  out  of  Sussex  and  Kent,  to  embrace  the  territory  betweoi  If  «r* 
derkiU  Creek  and  Broad  Kiln  Creek,  and  the  Dvli^ware  B«y  and  the 
Maryland  line.  Six  petitions  bearing  three  hundred  and  ninety-oneiif- 
natures  were  presented  to  the  Legislature,  but  without  success,  and  the 
movement  was  never  revived. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1205 


up  their  fort  on  the  Horekill,  the  Dutch  commanders 
held  their  military  courts  therein,  followed  by  the 
English  in  16&4.  It  was  not,  however,  until  1678  that 
these  were  followed  by  the  exercise  of  a  rude  form 
of  civil  jurisprudence.  Originally  embracing  all 
that  is  now  Kent  and  Sussex  Counties,  the  Horekill 
territory  soon  grew  so  populous  that  in  1680  Gov- 
ernor Andross  granted  the  petition  of  the  people  of 
the  Northern  District  by  setting  it  apart  as  St.  Jones 
County.  The  division  was  quickly  followed  by  a 
reorganization  of  the  court  at  Lewes,  which  contin- 
ued to  have  jurisdiction  over  the  remainder  of  the 
Horekill  region.  There  is  no  evidence  that  up  to 
this  time  any  effort  had  been  made  to  erect  a  court- 
house or  prison  at  Lewes ;  but  when  the  new  justices 
were  commissioned.  May  28, 1680,  they  entered  upon 
a  project  for  the  establishment  of  a  proper  county- 
seat  at  that  settlement,  with  its  necessary  concomit- 
ants of  jail  and  courthouse.  On  June  26th  they 
united  in  a  petition  to  that  effect  to  Andross,  and 
also  asked  that  the  name  Horekill  might  be  changed. 
This  latter  request  was  at  once  granted  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, who  re-christened  the  settlement  Deale,  which 
name  it  held  until  it  became  Lewes-town  in  1682.  In 
their  memorial  to  Andross  the  judges  said : 

**WbereM,  there  hnre  heatherto  bene  a  neglect  In  geting  A  prison 
here,  for  want  of  which  there  hare  bene,  not  long  lince  a  priaoner  for 
debt,  whoe  waa  a  stranger,  made  his  eecape,  which  may  prove  damage 
either  to  the  County  or  Sherife.  For  the  prerenting  of  the  Like  for  the 
fatter,  we  have  ordered  a  priasoo,  stocks  and  wheepping-post  forth  with 
to  be  built,  'which  will  cost  betwene  three  or  four  thousand  pounds  of 
Tobacco.  Here  is  also  greate  want  of  a  Court-House,  which  will  cost 
•bout  five  thonmnd  pounds  of  Tobacco.  Our  request  is  that  thee  will 
be  pleaded  to  impower  us  to  make  a  Tax,  to  Leavey  the  same  on  the  Id. 
habitants.  There  was  sume  Certain  Land  formerly  laid  out  by  Cantwell 
fbr  a  Towne,  which  was  to  be  divided  into  Lots  of  sixty  foot  in  breadth 
and  ti»o  hundred  feet  in  Leingth,  and  the  Land  and  wood  that  Ly^  back 
was  to  be  common  for  food  for  cattel  and  firewood,  it  being  in  all  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land.  Since  which  time  Armainas 
(Helmanns)  Wiltbank  have  got  the  said  land  surveyed,  but  we  do  not 
understand  that  he  have  any  patent  for  it.  He  demands  a  bushel  1  of 
Winter  Wheat  a  yeare  of  any  person  that  shall  build  upon  the  said 
Towns  lets,  which  is  soe  high  a  rent  that  It  gives  noe  incouragnment  for 
any  to  build.  We  should  think  one  halfe  of  that  rent  would  bee  anouffe, 
but  that  we  leave  to  thy  ordering,  and  to  whom  the  rent  shall  be  paid, 
-whether  to  the  duke  of  york  or  to  Armainas  Wiltbank.  Here  is  a  great 
marsh  that  lyes  at  the  north  west  side  of  the  Towne  which  if  it  should 
be  at  any  time  here  after  be  taken  up  by  any  perticolar  person  It  would 
be  a  great  Inconveuiency  to  those  that  doe  or  shall  here  after  live  here, 
as  also  the  Otpe,  where  there  is  good  pin  trees  for  building— the  Land 
Lattel  worth— both  which  we  desier  may  Lye  In  common  for  the  use  ot 
the  Towne.  It  hath  bene  spoke  here  as  if  they  did  intend  as  an  Bare  to 
the  Court  to  Impower  the  surveyor  to  grant  warrants  to  lay  out  land  to 
■Qch  penons  as  shall  Come  to  take  it  up ;  but  we,  being  senseeble  of  the 
HI  Consequences  that  will  attend  that,  doe  desire  that  thee  would  be 
pleased  to  forbear  givelng  him  any  such  power,  for  our  precents  is  now 
bat  small,  and  he,  for  the  Lucker  of  geting  the  more  money,  will  lay  out 
such  Large  tracts  of  land  for  a  perticolar  person  that  might  serve  many 
fkmllies  to  live  <k>mfortably  upon.  There  have  been  expeerience  of  thee 
lik«,  as  when  Captain  Cantwell  had  the  same  power  he  surveyed  tliree 
thousand  acres  of  princable  land  at  Prime  book  for  Henry  Smith,  and 
others  of  like  nature  might  be  mentioned.  And  we  have  good  cause  to 
resolve  for  the  time  to  Gome  U  grant  leas  tracts  of  land  to  perticolar  per- 
•ODfl  thsui  have  bene  formerly  granted,  for  this  County,  as  it  is  now 
divided,  is  not  above  halfe  as  big  or  large  as  St.  Jones,  nor  will  not  hold 
a  halfe  soe  many  people ;  neither  is  the  Lond  soe  generally  good  as  that 
Is.  And  this  being  the  antientest  place,  wee  think,  with  snbmisBion> 
might  a  bene  oontinowed  at  least  Equil  with  the  others,  which,  if  thee 
pUase,  may  be  redreoed  in  the  next  Gommisson  or  sooner,  which  may 
be  by  deviding  by  Murther  Creek,  and  soe  down  words." 

Governor  Andross'  answer  was  to  confirm  the 
action  of  the  justices  regarding  the  stocks  and  whip- 
ping-post and  authorize  the  prison  and  court-house 
to  be  built.    His  reply  was  in  this  fashion  : 


"  At  a  oouncin  att  New  York  the  13th  Nov  1680  present  the  Governor 
and  GounciU  upon  application  made  by  the  Magistrates  and  Court  of 
the  Whoorekill  in  Delaware  signifying  the  necessity  and  want  of  a 
Court  house  prison  stocks  and  whipping  post  for  the  pnblique  service  de- 
siring to  be  Impowering  to  rate  the  Inhabitants  and  how  to  pay  for  the 
same.  Having  already  Agreed  for  the  building  of  the  prison  stocks  and 
whipping  poet  which  they  already  will  cost  between  three  or  four  thou- 
sand pounds  Tobacco  Grant  for  the  prison  stocks  and  bespoake  But  if  the 
prison  bee  not  already  done  and  furnished  Then  to  make  It  Two  story 
high  the  upper  story  to  Jutt  over  and  to  be  made  a  Court  House,  the 
charge  of  both  not  te  exceed  six  thousand  pounds  of  tobacco  but  If  for 
the  prisson  and  without  Court  room  then  not  to  exceed  three  Thousand 
five  hu  ndred  pounds  of  Tobacco  which  make  an  eguile  rate  According 
to  Law, 

"  E  Andross 

**  By  order  of  Council 

*•  John  Wert  Clk  Council " 

This  authorization  reached  the  Horekill  officials 
in  about  six  weeks  from  the  time  it  was  given,  and 
they  promptly  proceeded  to  act  upon  it,  as  appears 
from  the  subjoined  extract  from  the  Sussex  Court 
records  of  January  1,  1680-81. 

**  The  Court  House  Stocks  suid  whipping  poet  and  prison  which  the 
Governor  of  Ne  w  Torke  ordered  to  be  built  for  the  service  of  this  county 
is  this  d«y  ordered  to  be  forthwith  built,  sixteene  foot  square  In  the 
clear  beeon  and  twenty  foot  square  In  the  deare  the  upper  rooms  and  to 
be  Lodg  house  Raise  sixteen  foot  high  and  to  be  three  rooms  below  and 
the  ground  floor  to  be  laid  with  plank  or  spleet  Trees  of  four  Inches 
thick  and  the  Court  house  floore  to  be  an  Inch  and  halfe  thick  thedoois 
to  be  made  of  plank  of  Two  Inches  Thick  and  A  good  strong  Boofe  TIte 
and  well  Covered.  Two  good  windows  in  the  Court  House  of  three  foot 
square  Apeese.  The  Loggs  for  the  said  house  to  be  laid  none  Lesss  than 
eight  inches  Thick  And  all  the  Loggs  to  be  sott  in  and  in  to  the  other. 
And  a  good  palre  of  Stain  made  up  to  the  Court  House  with  plank  of  an 
inch  and  halfe  thick  the  stairs  to  be  with  outside  of  the  house,  the  lion 
work  and  nails  to  be  provided  for  the  said  work  at  the  charge  of  the 
oountrey,  the  said  house  to  be  finished  by  the  first  day  of  next  May. 
Also  a  good  pair  of  stocks  ef  nine  fstt  Long  and  a  whipping  poet  at  the 
end  of  them  to  be  also  forthwith  made  and  sett  up, 

**  The  said  house  stocks  and  whipping  post  is  taken  to  be  dona  and 
performed  by  Luke  Wattson  According  to  the  dementions  abeve  ex- 
preesed  for  which  the  GommlsBloners  doe  obledge  themselves  to  p«y  unto 
the  said  Luke  Wattson  Seaven  Thousand  pounds  of  good  sound  Mer- 
chantable Tobacco  in  Oaskes  And  Samuel  Gray  have  taken  the  Casting 
all  the  said  Loggs  and  wood  work  to  the  place  where  the  house  Is  to  bee 
sott  up  of  Luke  Wattson  for  which  Luke  Wattson  Is  to  p«y  the  said 
Samuel  Gray  Twelve  hundred  pounds  of  Tobacco  good  and  merchant- 
able, the  stairs  not  be  Less  than  four  foott  wide  with  Bayle  on  both 
sides  Six  Thousand  pounds  of  tobacco  to  be  Baisen  by  a  vote  on  the  In- 
habitants of  the  said  County  and  the  other  thousand  pounds  with  what 
the  Nails  and  Iron  works  shall  cost  to  be  paid  out  of  the  fines. 

**The  7th  day  of  the  aforssald  monte  George  Young  did  agree  and 
Consent  with  Luke  Watsen  to  doe  halfe  the  worke  of  the  House  Stocks 
and  whipping  post  within  mentioned  within  the  time  expressed,  for 
which  the  said  Lake  Wattson  doe  promise  to  pay  nnto  the  said  George 
Young  Two  Thousand  nine  hundred  pounds  of  Tobaccco  good  and  mer- 
chantable in  Caskes  or  to  give  the  said  George  Young  a  Becept  for  the 
same  Sume  on  the  account  of  Oapt  delavall  In  witness  whereoff  the 
said  George  Young  have  sott  his  hand  the  day  and  yeare  above  written. 

*'  signed  George  Young  ** 

Luke  Wattson  entirely  defaulted  on  his  contract 
and  never  even  began  to  execute  it  for  reasons  which 
are  set  forth  in  the  proceedings  of  the  court  February 
12,  1682-83 : 

*'  The  petitioner  sett  forth  by  his  petition  that  when  he  was  obliged 
to  build  a  court  house  and  prison  and  that  since  that  time  the  Govern- 
ment is  allowed  and  that  he  is  much  Imployed  In  other  public  busness 
soe  that  it  would  be  much  to  his  domidge  if  he  should  be  confined  to  doe 
thesaid  work,  the  court  taking  the  same  into  their  consideration  doe 
hereby  order  that  he  shHll  be  released  and  discharged  from  the  said 
agreement  all  ways  previded  that  this  only  shall  in  no  ways  release  or 
discharge  the  said  Luke  Wattson  fhmi  the  domadg  that  the  sherlflb  hath 
or  shall  suffer  for  want  of  a  prison  to  this  day.'* 

So  Wattson  seems  to  have  slipped  out  of  what  was 
perhaps  an  unprofitable  job,  and  the  court  looked 
around  for  some  other  colonist  who  would  undertake 
to  furnish  its  members  with  a  session  room  and  its 
prisoners  with  a  dungeon.  He  was  found  in  the 
person  of  Baptist  Newcomb,  and  on  August  31,  1683, 
the  judges  entered  the  following  of  record : 


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HISTOBY  OF  DELAWARB. 


"  Baptitt  Noreoomb  Iiatb  this  day  agreed  with  the  Coart  to  bring  k 
deliver  at  the  Town  Landing  where  the  Shippe  is  bnilding  Eighty  Cyp- 
pros  Logs  twenty  two  foot  long  each  logg  to  contain  at  least  one  foot  in 
thickneaat  the  great  end  besides  the  Baric  to  be  delirered  between  this 
and  the  twentieth  day  of  the  next  8th  mon.  for  which  the  court  hath 
obliged  themselfe  to  pay  nnto  the  said  Baptist  or  his  order  the  ueat 
quantity  of  3000  pounds  of  tobacco  to  be  paid  between  this  A  the  2A  day 
of  the  next  10th  month  which  said  timber  is  for  building  of  a  prison  t 
Court  House.** 

December  9,  1684,  the  court  awarded  tbe  contract 
to  Baptist  Newcomb,  "  to  build  ye  court-house  and 
prison  as  is  expressed  elsewhere  for  10,000  pounds  of 
tobacco ; "  but  he  was  in  no  hurry  to  begin  the  work, 
and  on  August  10,  1685,  the  wearied  court  lost  pa- 
tience and  it  was : 

*"  Ordered  this  day  by  the  Court  that  Baptyst  Newoem  be  forwith  sent 
for  that  he  build  the  prison  and  court  house  according  to  his  former  un- 
dertaking the  last  %dnter  that  he  build  it  forthwith.  John  Street  de- 
claring he  Is  willing  to  help  and  aid  ye  sd  Babytyst  to  build  the  Said 
bouses  and  upon  the  refusal  or  neglect  of  his  doing  the  aaid  worke  that 
the  Sheriffe  should  hare  an  execution  to  serve  the  penalty  of  the  obli- 
gation of  Babytyst  for  non  performance. 

Not  even  this  extreme  threat  spurred  Newcomb  up 
to  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  and  on  May  3d,  1687, 
the  grand  jury  tried  its  hand  at  coercion  by  the  radi- 
cal process  of  presenting  the  court  *'  for  not  causing 
a  court-house  and  prison  to  be  made/'  Then  the 
justices  took  up  another  plan  of  action,  in  which 
Newcomb  again  makes  his  appearance,  and  which  is 
explained  in  the  minutes  of  October  8,  1687.^ 

**  It  is  agreed  by  this  court  that  whoever  subscribes  any  logs,  to  be 
gotten  for  the  use  of  the  prison  and  court-house,  shall  bring  said  logs  to 
the  place  in  the  towne  where  it  is  to  be  built  in  forty  days  after  the 
date  hereof,  or  else  forfeit  duble  the  valine  of  the  said  logs.  There  Is  to 
be  as  foUoweth  : 

**M  logs  at4-8pi,  15  foots  long,  1  foote  over  8  inch  thick. 

■*  16  ditto  at  6-8,  23  foote  long  and  over  8  inch  thick,  squared  two 


'*  Every  person  that  undertakes  to  get  any  is  to  take  3  short  and  one 
long. 

**  I  doe  undertake  to  get  20  logs :  Wm.  Clarke. 

^'and  [  do  undertake  41  logs :  Tho.  Wynne. 

'*  I  doe  undertake  20 logs :  Henry  Stretcher. 

"We  doe  undertake  six  short  and  two  long:  Francis  Cornwall,  Morrise 
Edwards. 

^  for  myself  and  Justice  Gray,  3  long  and  16  short ;  Heniy  Molleston, 
SamwoU  Gray. 

**  I  Baptitft  Newcomb,  doe  engage  myselfe  to  find  Rafftorsand  Clabords 
for  a  prison  and  cover  tbe  said  prison,  the  court  finding  nails. 

Bapt.  Newcomb.** 

After  all  this  delay  of  more  than  six  years  the 
project  was  still  not  executed,  as  the  record  of  March 
10,  1688,  bears  testimony  that  court  was  then  being 
held  *'  at  the  house  of  Henry  Streitcher,  commonly 
called  the  court-house.'*  Streitcher  was  merely  the 
keeper  of  the  village  tavern,  in  one  of  the  rooms  of 
which  the  court  was  holding  its  sessions.  Norton 
Claypoole  was  then  clerk  and  recorder,  and  had  his 
office  in  his  own  house.  On  April  30, 1688,  he  re- 
ported to  the  grand  jury  that  an  attempt  had  been 
made  to  burn  his  office,  and  the  jurymen  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  intention  of  the  incendiaries  was 
to  destroy  the  county  records. 

Although  the  county  was  yet  destitute  of  a  court- 
house it  had  managed  to  begin  the  building  of  a 
prison,  which  on  May  3,  1688,  was  officially  viewed  by 
the  grand  jury  under  order  of  court.  Samuel  Jones 
had  undertaken  the  construction,  but  never  com- 
pleted it,  for  the  report  of  the  grand  jury  of  which 


Luke  Wattson  was  foreman,  was  that  "  wee  now  doe 
find  that  this  worke  is  not  sufficient  for  a  prison." 
At  the  January,  August  and  December  terms  in  1691, 
the  court  was  thrice  presented  by  the  grand  jury  "for 
not  having  a  sufficient  prison,"  and  as  late  as  1709  a 
similar  presentment  was  made  indicating  that  neither 
court-house  or  prison  had  beon  built  up  to  that  time. 

At  what  time  Sussex  County  actually  did  obtain  a 
court-house  is  not  be  precisely  determined.  Ber. 
George  Ross  wrote  in  the  journal  of  his  tour  through 
Delaware,  in  1717,  with  Governor  Wm.  Keith,  that 
ou  August  6th  he  held  services  in  the  court-hooae  at 
Lewestown,  but  it  is  of  course  poasible  that  he 
officiated  on  the  tavern  premises  and  that  they  were 
still  occupied  for  the  sictingif  of  the  judiciary.  A 
building  of  some  character  was  already  in  rnte  as  a 
jail  and  may  have  had  court-house  accommodations. 
Bev.  John  McKim,  who  went  to  Lewes  in  1838,  de- 
rived the  tradition  from  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of 
the  town  that  the  first  court-house  was  built  upon  a 
lot  which  was  part  of  the  property  owned  by  the 
county,  extending  through  from  Water  to  Market  or 
Front  Street  This  tradition  places  it  opposite  the 
tavern  which,  when  the  courts  were  moved  to  G^eorge- 
town  in  1792,  was  kept  and  had  been  kept  for  many 
years  by  Phillips  Kollock.  The  old  jail  still  stand- 
ing in  the  centre  of  Market  Street  eccupies  a  site 
corresponding  to  the  legend  which  Mr.  McKim  re- 
ceived, and  as  so  much  of  the  contiguous  land  was 
public  property  it  is  probable  enough  that  the  earliot 
court-house  was  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  It 
is  indisputable,  however,  that  Sussex  County  had  a 
court-house  in  1735,  for  the  records  of  that  year  show 
that  Samuel  Paynter  was  paid  fifteen  pounds  for  work 
upon  the  building,  and  this  is  really  the  first  tangible 
evidence  of  the  existence  of  the  structure  for  which 
the  judges  had  petitioned  and  planned  more  than 
half  a  century  previously. 

It  did  not  continne  in  existence  long  after  Mr. 
Paynter  expended  his  workmanly  skill  upon  it  At 
some  time  between  1740  and  1750,  the  second  coort- 
house  was  built  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Epis- 
copal chnrch-yard.  It  was  a  frame  structure,  and 
sufficed  for  all  the  needs  of  Sussex,  so  long  as  Lewes 
remained  the  county  seat  In  1811,  Simon  Mariner 
occupied  it  as  a  tavern,  and  after  he  died  his  widow 
continued  the  business  until  1817.  The  bnilding 
must  have  fallen  into  dilapidation,  as  on  January  18, 
1833,  it  was  sold  for  $210.47,  and  the  ^purchasers  de- 
molished it  for  the  sake  of  the  material. 

Whatever  structure  was  in  use  as  a  jail  in  Lewes 
prior  to  1729,  it  had  them  become  inadequate  to  its 
purposes,  and  on  November  4th  of  that  year  the 
court  allowed  £50  "  for  building  a  new  prison,^'  but 
evidently  nothing  was  accomplished  in  that  direction, 
as  on  February  3,  1735,  the  Grand  Jury  reported  that 
"  having  viewed  the  prison  of  the  County  of  Sussex, 
do  say  that  we  find  the  same  insufficient,  and  &r 
much  out  of  repair." 

During  this  year  the  prison  caught  fire  but  was 


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not  destroyed,  and  the  treasure's  report  of  Decem- 
ber, 1785,  has  the  following  accooDt ;  "  To  Richard 
Poultney  for  liquor  about  putting  out  the  fire  in  the 
prison,  £0  S$.  6d,"  and  in  November,  1786,  to  Cor- 
nelius Wiltbank,  former  sheriff,  **  on  account  of  the 
Prison  being  a  fire,  putting  out  and  watching  the 
eame,  £1  2$.  6d" 

At  the  November  term  of  1788,  the  Grand  Jury 
again  reported  the  insufficiency  of  the  jail,  and  the 
court,  in  concurrence  with  the  jury,  ordered  that 
**  a  goal  be  built  in  Lewistown  for  debtors."  The 
budget  of  taxes  was  calculated  by  Daniel  Nunez  in 
that  year,  and  his  final  entry  was  of  £100  "  to  be 
raised  for  building  a  goal." 

The  minutes  of  the  Court  for  the  two  succeeding 
years  are  missing,  but  in  the  public  charges  made  in 
1741-42,  is  an  account  for  work  on  the  prison  and  for 
laying  the  prison  hearths. 

As  the  old  jaU  stands  now  in  Market  Street,  it  is  a 
creation  of  different  periods.  The  most  reliable  in- 
dications are,  that  the  rear  section,  a  roughcast  struc- 
ture only,  fiA;een  by  twenty  feet  in  dimensions,  was 
built  in  part  with  the  appropriation  made  in  1788, 
and  that  within  the  succeeding  quarter  of  a  century 
the  extension,  twenty  by  twenty  feet,  was  made  out 
to  Second  Street.  On  November  5, 1777,  the  court 
'*  took  into  consideration  the  scanty  allowance  for 
prisonen,  and  upon  consideration  thereof,  ordered 
that  two  shillings  be  allowed  each  prisoner  per  diem 
for  subsistence."  At  the  November  term  in  1780, 
High  Sheriff  Rhodes  Shankland  had  another  com- 
plaint of  the  same  nature  to  present,  and  the  court 
allowed  for  each  prisoner  daily  ten  pence  in  specie 
during  the  winter  and  eight  pence  during  the  sum- 
mer, or  the  equivalent  in  the  depreciated  currency. 
Tmce  the  county  seat  was  removed  to  Georgetown. 
The  jail  building  has  passed  through  many  hands 
and  been  used  for  divers  purposes.  In  1887  it  was 
occupied  as  a  grocery  store  by  Thomas  Poynter. 

With  the  decision  of  the  Maryland  and  Delaware 
boundary  controversy  in  1775,  which  added  to  Sussex 
the  hundreds  of  Baltimore,  Dagsborough,  Broad 
Oreek  and  Little  Creek,  arose  the  agitation  for  a 
change  of  the  county  seat.  Lewes,  at  the  extreme 
eastern  side,  was  not  convenient  of  access  for  the 
great  majority  of  the  people  of  the  county,  now  that 
its  bounds  were  permanently  determined. 

Between  January  19, 1786  and  July  Ist  of  the  same 
year,  twenty  petitions,  signed  by  nine  hundred  and 
seventy-nine  inhabitants  of  Sussex,  were  presented  to 
the  General  Assembly,  praying  that  some  central 
location  be  made  the  county  seat — and  the  movement 
effected  the  passage  of  the  act  of  January  29, 1791, 
which  provided  that  Qeorge  Mitchell,  Robert  Hous- 
ton, William  Moore,  John  Collins,  Nathaniel  Young, 
William  Perry,  Rhoads  Shankland,  Woodman  Stock- 
ley,  Daniel  Polk  and  Thomas  Batson  act  as  commis- 
sioners, and  authorized  them  to  purchase,  in  fee,  for 
the  use  of  Sussex  County,  a  quantity  of  land  not  ex- 
-ceeding  a  hundred  acres,  near  the  center  of  the  county. 


at  the  place  called  James  Pettyjohn's  old  field,  or 
within  two  miles  of  the  house  where  Ebenezer  Petty- 
john then  resided,  situate  in  Broadkiln  Hundred,  for 
the  purpose  of  building  a  court-house  and  prison 
thereon.  The  commissioners  were  authorized  to  lay 
out  the  plot  and  sell  lots,  reserving  half  an  acre  each 
for  court-house  and  prison.  The  court-house  was 
specified  to  be  built  of  wood,  the  same  size  as  the  old 
court-house  at  Lewes ;  the  prison  to  be  built  of  brick 
or  stone ;  and  when  both  were  completed,  the  old 
buildings  at  Lewes  were  to  be  sold.  John  €k)rdon, 
John  Ralston,  Andrew  Barratt,  Joseph  Barker  and 
Peter  Lowber,  of  Kent  County,  were  appointed  to 
judge  of  the  fitness  of  the  buildings.  Annual  elec- 
tions were  ordered  to  be  held  at  the  new  court-house, 
when  finished,  and  until  that  time  at  the  house  of 
James  Pettyjohn,  in  Broadkiln  Hundred. 

The  commissioners  met  at  the  home  of  Abraham 
Harris  May  9,  1791,  and  negotiated  the  purchase 
from  him  of  fifty  acres,  buying  also  twenty-five  acres 
from  Rowland  Bevins  and  one  acre  from  Joshua  Pep- 
per. Rhodes  Shankland  the  same  day  surveyed  the 
purchase,  which  was  named  Georgetown,  in  honor  of 
commissioner  George  Mitchell,  on  October  26,  1791, 
the  L^slature  passed  an  act  declaring  that  '*  all 
courts  (of  Sussex  County)  shall  be  held  at  the  new 
court-house,  which  shall  be  deemed,  held  and  taken 
to  be  the  legal  court-house  of  Sussex  County^  at  the 
place  now  declared  by  the  name  of  (Georgetown." 
Shankland  platted  the  town  in  May,  1792,  and  re- 
served the  present  court-house  and  jail  lots.  By  act 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  June  14,  1793,  the  whip- 
ping-post and  pillory  were  removed  from  Lewes  to 
the  new  town.  A  jail  was  erected  at  once,  and  in  1798, 
on  the  recommendation  of  a  committee,  appointed  by 
the  Levy  Court,  a  brick  addition,  sixteen  by  eighteen 
feet,  and  two  stories  high,  was  made  by  Kendall 
Batson,  superintendent  and  contractor.  This  jail 
stood  on  the  site  at  the  corner  of  Market  Street  and 
Cherry  Alley,  now  occupied  by  Hazel's  drug-store, 
and  was  demolished  in  1854.  It  contained  three  cells 
on  each  of  its  two  floors,  one  of  the  upper  dungeons 
being  specified  for  the  imprisonment  of  delinquent 
debtors.  The  citizens  contributed  much  of  the  money 
for  the  erection  of  the  court-house  and  jail,  and  on 
February  7,  1795,  the  Legislature  passed  a  bill  to 
raise  by  lottery  a  sum  not  exceeding  three  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars  to  reimburse  them. 

In  March,  1834,  the  Levy  Court  advertbed  for  plans 
and  proposals  for  a  new  jail,  and  on  April  18th 
adopted  the  plan  submitted  by  Joshua  S.  Layton.  It 
called  for  a  brick  structure,  forty  by  forty- two  feet, 
and  two  stories  elevation.  Spencer  Philips,  James 
Redden  and  Benaiah  Watson  were  appointed  to 
supervise  the  work,  and  let  the  contract  to  Mr.  Layton 
and  Caleb  B.  Sipple  for  ten  thousand  dollars.  The 
jail  was  completed  within  a  year,  and  was  burned  to 
the  ground  November  10,  1865.  In  the  next  year  the 
present  jail  was  built  on  the  same  location. 

The  original  court-house  was  completed  in  1792  or 


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1208 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


1793,  as  it  is  mentioned  in  an  act  of  1793,  and  in 
1797  was  repaired  by  order  of  the  Levy  CSourt.  It 
stood  on  the  corner  of  Market  Street  and  the  square 
until  the  summer  of  1837,  when  it  was  removed  to  its 
present  location  on  Bedford  Street.  In  1835  a  popu- 
lar demand  for  a  more  modern  and  commodious 
building  made  itself  felt,  and  on  February  13,  the 
General  Assembly  authorized  a  lottery  to  raise  not 
more  than  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  court-house  and  fire-proof  public  building. 
Wm.  D.  Waples,  Philip  Short  and  Robert  H.  Griffith 
were  appointed  trustees  of  the  lottery,  and  a  supple- 
mentary act  of  February,  1837,  named  Mr.  Waples, 
in  conjunction  with  George  R.  Fisher  and  David 
Hazzard,  as  building  commissioners.  They  met  on 
March  7th,  and  after  deciding  that  the  new  structure 
should  be  placed  on  the  court-house  lot,  sold  the  old 


SUSSEX  COUNTY  COURT  HOUSE,  GEORGETOWN,  DEL. 

edifice.  For  the  next  two  years  court  was  held  in 
Burton  C.  Barker's  hotel  on  the  square,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1839  the  first  term  was  held  in  the  new  building, 
which  baa  since  been  continuously  occupied.  It  is 
of  brick,  two  stories  high,  with  the  public  offices  on 
the  ground  floor  and  the  court-room  above.  It  was 
built  entirely  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  lottery,  which 
realized  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and  on  March  5, 
1840,  the  Levy  Court  adopted  resolutions  compliment- 
ing the  commissioners  on  the  discharge  of  their  duties, 
and  congratulating  the  people  of  Sussex  that  the  work 
had  cost  them  nothing. 

Almshouse. — Laws  had  been  enacted  for  the 
relief  of  the  poor  very  early  in  the  history  of 
the  colony,  but  it  was  not  until  the  Act  of  Janu- 
ary 29,  1791,  that  trustees  were  appointed  and 
authority  given  to  counties  to  hold  bonds,  erect  build- 
ings, and  otherwise  transact  business  in  a  corporate 
capacity.  Section  28  of  that  Act,  provided  that  the 
paupers  of  Sussex  County  should  wear  upon  the  left 


arm  a  piece  of  red  cloth  inscribed  in  black  the  letters 
p.  8.  This  section  was  repealed  by  an  Act  of  February 
3, 1802.  The  Act  of  1791,  named  as  trustees  for  Sus- 
sex County,  George  Mitchell,  Barclay  To wosend,  Wil- 
liam Owens,  Jacob  Townsend,  John  Ingram,  Rhodes 
Shankland,  William  Lockwood,  Robert  Houston, 
Woodman  Stockley  and  John  Hooper.  Their  suc- 
cessors were  to  be  appointed  by  the  Levy  Court.  On 
the  5th  of  December,  1793,  the  trustees  purchased 
of  John  Stephen  Hill,  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  a 
tract  called  "  Springfield  "  lying  on  White  Creek,  in 
Baltimore  Hundred,  which  was  by  Maryland,  patented 
April  9, 1684,  to  William  Whittington,  and  by  numer- 
ous changes  came  to  John  S.  Hill.  The  tradition  is 
that  a  house  for  the  poor  existed  in  Dagsborough  Hun- 
dred before  one  was  established  in  Baltimore  Hun- 
dred, and  that  the  former  house  was  burned.  Itisquite 
likely  this  is  true,  for  the  record  of  the  Alms  House 
begins  June  1, 1791,  and  John  Anderson,  as  overseer, 
makes  a  report  from  that  time  to  June,  1792.  The 
first  house  was  probably  rented,  as  there  is  no  record 
of  title  having  been  acquired  until  1793.  This  land  in 
Baltimore  Hundred  was  kept  and  used  until  an  ex- 
change was  made  December  30,  1800,  with  Warren 
Jefierson,  for  four  hundred  and  one  acres  of  land  in 
Broadkill  Hundred,  (now  Georgetown  Hundred), 
which  is  the  present  almshouse  property.  The  title 
was  not  fully  perfected  until  November  23,  1809. 
This  property  was  originally  taken  up  on  a  warrant 
dated  May  28,  1759,  by  Richard  Jefierson,  and  was 
described  as  lying  on  the  heads  of  Kinney*8  Branch 
and  Tussock's  Branch,  of  Indian  River.  Tussock's 
Branch  still  retains  the  name,  and  Kinney's  was  early 
enlarged  and  called  the  "  Poor  House  Ditch,"  and 
afterwards''  Wall's  Ditch."  On  this  tract  was  a  dwell- 
ing built  about  1766,  which  was  at  once  fitted  up  for 
the  almshouse,  and  used  as  such  until  taken  down  in 
the  spring  of  1877.  It  stood  in  the  open  space  west 
of  the  superintendent's  residence,  which  was  erected 
in  1874,  at  a  cost  of  seven  thousand  dollars.  An  old 
building,  formerly  used  for  the  insane,  and  now  for 
the  worst  cases  of  pauperism,  in  1879  was  moved  to 
where  it  now  stands,  and  east  of  it  was  erected  in 
1878  the  present  building  for  the  insane,  at  a  oost  of 
seven  thousand  dollars.  The  house  for  colored  people 
was  erected  in  1856,  and  has  since  been  enlarged. 
The  buildings  for  men  and  women  were  erected  re- 
spectively in  1884 and  1885,  at  a  cost  of  five  thousand 
dollars.  The  farm  has  been  enlarged  find  decreased  by 
purchase  and  sale  at  various  times,  and  at  present 
contains  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres. 

The  superintendents  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained 
have  been,  John  Anderson,  1791 ;  Thomas  Rodney, 
1802;  Job  Jefierson,  1805;  Darby  Collins,  Brinkloe 
Ewing,  Zetub  Hazzard,  1824;  Jacob  Morris,  Dog- 
worthy  Derrickson,  1840;  Joshua  Burton,  1842; 
Abram  Morrell,  1846;  Fdward  Short,  1848;  Peter 
Morton,  1856;  Edward  Short,  1865;  John  Stockley, 
1874;  David  Lord,  1884;  and  Hiram  S.  Short,  the 
incumbent  in  January,  1887. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1209 


Among  the  physicians  who  have  had  the  Alms- 
house in  charge  were  Dr.  George  W.  MauU,  Dr.  David 
H.  Burton,  Dr.  Elias  S.  Bickards  and  Dr.  Charles  H. 
Bickards,  who  has  served  since  1853,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  year  or  two,  and  to  whom  great  credit  is  due 
for  the  excellent  care  of  the  inmates  and  condition  of 
the  buildings.  The  Trustees  of  the  Poor,  the  first  of 
whom  were  appointed  in  1791,  are  shown  in  the  fol- 
lowing list  so  far  as  the  records  exist : 

0«>rg«  Mitchell 1791 

Barelaj  Townsend 1791 

Wm.Oweni 1791 

Jaoob  Towmend 1791 

Johnlugrain „ 1791 

Bhodes  ShMiklaDd 1791 

Wm.  Lockwood 1791 


Robert  Hootton 1791 

Woodmfto  Stookley 1791 

John  Hooper 1791 

SlmoD  KoUock 1793 

Hap  Hiuard. 1793 

Woodman  Stookley 1793 

John  Bacon 1793 

Wm.  Swain 1793 

Tnwtin  L.  Polk 1793 

Beq).  L.  Holland 1793 

Bob«rt  Houston 1793 

Daniel  Bodney 1793 

John  Parker » 1809 

Curtis  Shockley „18a9 

John  Jefferson 1809 

Bnkiel  WiUiams 1809 

Joatph  Rassell 1810 

Robert  Barton „ 1810 

Dr.  JoMph  Manll 1810 

Peter  G.  Wooten. 1811 

John  Wilson ....1811 

John  Morris 1811 

Dr.  JoMph  Hanll. 1811 

John  Parker 1812 

Cortis  Shockley 1818 

John  Jefferson 1812 

Zadoc  Aydelott 1812 

John  H.  Burton 1813 

Joseph  Russell 1813 

Peter  O.  Wooten 1814 

John  Wilson 18U 

John  Morris. 1814 

Dr.  Joseph  ManU 1814 

Isaac  Wooten « 18W 

Covington  Mesiok 1815 

John  Parker 1816 

Joseph  Truitt « 1816 

John  Jefferson ......1816 

Zadoch  Aydelott.. 1816 

John  H.  Burton 1816 

Arthur  Mllby........ 1816 

Samuel  Qllott 1917 

Col.  John  Wilson 1817 

Miers  Burton „ 1817 

Minos  Tindal 1817 

Zadoch  Aydelott 1818 

Thomas  DaTis......^ 1818 

Eli  Hall 1818 

John  Parker,  Sr.. « 1818 

iMaao  Wooten 1818 

Jacob  Morris 1819 

John  Lingo ....„ ^ 1819 

Corington  Medck 1819 

Jacob  Morris. 1820 

John  Lingo 1820 

CoTington  Mesiok 1820 

Zadoc  Aydelott 1820 

Thomas  Daris 1820 

Eli  Hall 1820 

77 


John  Parker,  Sr. 1820 

Col.  John  Wilson 1820 

Minos  Tyndale  . 1820 

Miers  Burton ..1820 

Thomas  Dav|s 1821 

Bli  Hall 1821 

PhiUp  Matthews 1821 

John  Parker 1821 

Jaoob  Morris 1822 

Philip  Matthews. 1822 

John  Thoroughgood............„1822 

Cropper  Laws. 1822 

Isaac  Willing 1822 

Miers  Burton 1823 

Thomas  Davis. 1824 

Arthur  MUby 1824 

Wm.  Burton .^ 1824 

Zadoc  Aydelott 1824 

Jacob  Morris. 1826 

Isaac  Cannon 1826 

John  Thoroughgood» 182A 

Mien  Burton »......1826 

Cn^per  Lacy...„ .....1826 

Isaac  Welten 1826 

Eli  Pepper 18S6 

Bevans  Morris 1827 

Thomas  Davis 1827 

Zadoc  Aydelott 1827 

Jacob  Prettyman 1827 

Philip  Matthews. 1828 

Qeorge  Heam 1828 

Levi  Hill 1828 

Robert  Morris 1829 

Isaac  Kinder 1829 

Oilley  G.  Short 1829 

Stephen  Warren 1880 

Ool.  John  Wilson....  .^. 1830 

Zadoc  Aydelott .'. .1830 

Wm.  Burton 1880 

Bobert  Morris...... „1SS2 

Isaac  Kinder 1838 

GiUeyG.  Short 1832 

Stephen  Warren........ 1833 

Zadoc  Aydelott 1833 

Col.  John  Wilson 1833 

WiUea  Burton 1833 

PhUip  MatUiews. 1834 

Joseph  Heam ....1834 

Wm.  J.  Harris 1834 

Bobert  Morris 1836 

Isaac  Kinder 1836 

Gllley  G.  Short 1836 

Stephen  Warren 1836 

James  Maull. 1836 

Zadoc  Aydelott 1836 

Joshua  Benton ......1836 

Philip  Matthews. 1837 

Joseph  Heam ....1837 

Daniel  W.  Brereton 1837 

Bobert  Morris 1838 

Isaac  Kinder 1838 

Joshua  McCaulley 1838 

Joeeph  Watson 1839 

George  Hall 1839 

JohnDerickson 1839 

George  Bell 1839 


Philip  Matthews 1840 

George  Heam - 1810 

Daniel  W.  Brereton 1840 

Wm.  Dunning 1841 

Jaoob  Prettyman 1841 

Joshua  McColley 1841 

Joseph  Watson 1842 

George  Hall 1812 

Lemuel  Derrickson 1842 

Joshua  Burton 1842 

Wingate  Matthews 1843 

George  Hearn 1843 

Arthur  Haxiard ....1843 

Wm.  Dunney 1844 

Jaoob  Prettyman 1844 

Joshua  McColley 1844 

Samuel  B.  Shockley 1846 

James  Anderson 1846 

Peleg  W.  Helm 1846 

David  Walker ..1846 

Daniel  Hudson 1846 

Elijah  Williams.. 1846 

Wm.  D.  Waples 1846 

Bobert  Burr „1847 

Jamos  Darbee .» 1847 

Ci4>t.  FhUip  Marvel 1847 

Joseph  Watson 1848 

James  Anderson 1848 

Ebe  Walter. 1848 

David  Walker „ 1818 

Daniel  Hudson 1849 

Samuel  Kinney ..1849 

James  Walls 1849 

Fisher  H.  Willis. 1860 

Jonas  Darbe 1850 

Robert  B.  Houston „ 1860 

James  Anderson 1861 

Ebe  Walter „ 1861 

David  Walker 1861 

Bobert  E.James 1862 

Samuel  Kinney 1868 

James  Walls 1868 

Isaac  WilUn 1862 

Warren  Kinder 1863 

Isaac  H.  Houston 1863 

Joseph  Watson 1864 

James  Anderson 1864 

Ebe  Walter ...1864 

David  Walker ^ 1864 

Wingate  Matthews ^1856 

Nutter  G.  Wooten 1866 

Day  worthy  Derrickson 1866 

Thomas  Swain 1866 

Woolsey  Burton 1866 

Joshua  McOolley 1866 

Joseph  Watson 1867 

James  Anderson.......„„ 1867 

Isaac  Lynch. 1867 

Bobert  B.  Bobinson 1867 

Wm.  D.  Records 1868 

Jeremiah  Adams. 1868 

Day  worthy  Derrickson 1858 

George. W.  Collins 1869 

Matthew  G.  Doves. 1869 

John  Jones 1869 

Capt  Joseph  Watson 18^0 

James  Anderson 1860 

Wm.  B.Hickman 1860 

Bobert  B.  Robinson.. 1860 

Dayw-orthy  Derrickson 1861 

James  Scott 1861 

lliomas  PhilUps. ., 1861 

George  W.  Collins. 1862 

Matthew  G.  Davis. 1862 

John  Jones 1862 

Capt  Joeeph  Watson 1863 

Nathaniel  Yeasey 1863 

Jacob  Hickman 1863 


Bobert  R  Robinson.. 1868 

James  Anderson. 1863 

James  Scott 1864 

Thomas  Philips 1864 

Dayworthy  Derrickson 1864 

Wm.  P.  Jones 1864 

Levin  Cona way 1864 

Levin  Conaway 1865 

M.  Greentree  Davis 1866 

Wm.  P.  Jones 1866 

Nathaniel  F.  Yeasey 1866 

Henry  K.  Hill 1866 

Bobert  B.  Bobinson... 1866 

James  Anderson 1866 

Capt  Joseph  Watson 1866 

Dayworthy  Derrickson. 1867 

Thomas  PhilUps. 1867 

Wm.  Giles 1867 

Wm.  P.  Jones » 1868 

Matthew  G.  Daris. 1868 

Levin  Conaway 1868 

Capt  Joseph  Watson. 1869 

James  Anderson 1869 

Bobert  B.  Robinson 1869 

Wm.  W.  Yeasey 1869 

Ezekiel  C.  WUUams. 1869 

Dayworthy  Derrickson 1870 

Wm.  Giles 1870 

Joseph  Ellis. 1870 

Miles  Messick 1871 

Matthew  G.  Davis... 1871 

Joseph  Morris 1871 

Joseph  Watson 1878 

James  Anderson 1872 

Bobert  B.  Bobinson 1872 

Wm.  W.  Yeasey 1878 

Isaac  Jones.. 1872 

Marshall  Smith 1872 

Nehemiah  M.  Stayton ...1878 

Wm.  Giles  « 1873 

Marshall  Smith 1873 

John  E.  Hasxard 1873 

Miles  Merrick 1874 

Wm.  B.  Burton 1874 

Matthew  G.  Davis. 18T4 

Clement  C.  Hearn 1874 

Joseph  Watson 1876 

Wm.  W.Yeaaey 1876 

Isaac  W.  James 1876 

Bobert  B.  Bobinson 1876 

Irtac  Conaway ...-^.....1876 

Nehemiah  M.  Stayton.. ....1876 

Wm.  Giles 1876 

Marshall  Smith 1876 

John  B.  Hassard 1876 

Scekiel  Tlmmons 1877 

Matthew  G.  Davis.. 1877 

Josiah  Prettyman 1877 

Wm.  B.  Burton „ 1877 

Wm.  W.  Yesey 1878 

Esekiel  C.  Williams 1878 

B.  B.  Bobinson 1878 

Isaac  Conaway 1878 

James  H.  Deputy 1879 

Nehemiah  M.  Stayton 1879 

Wm.  Giles 1879 

Marshall  Smith 1879 

John  E.  Haszard 1879 

James  Willey 1880 

Wm.  E.  Burton 1880 

Hosea  Dawson 1889 

Ezekiel  Timmons.......^ 1880 

James  H.  Deputy 1881 

Andrew  J.  Holland 1881 

Thomas  Dukes 1881 

Dr.  Joeeph  B.  Waples 1881 

Thomas  E.  Becords 1881 

N.  M.  Stayton 1888 


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1210 


HISTOKY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Marahall  Smith 1882 

John  E.  Hazzard 1882 

HoaeaDawioD 1883 

Wm.  F.  Jones 1883 

Chariot  B.  Honiton 1883 

Isaac  F.  Hearn 1883 

Thomas  Dukes 1884 

James  Deputy „ 1884 

Alfred  Bossell 1884 

Robert  B.  Robinson 1884 

Joseph  B.  Waples 1884 


N.  W.  Stayton 1885 

Jacob  W.  Cannon 1885 

Ebenezer  M.  Lowe 1885 

John  E.  Hazzard ^...1885 

Hosea  Dawson 1886 

Jacob  Prettyman 1886 

Philip  W.  Wingate 1886 

Kendell  R.  Richards 1887 

Miles  T.  Mills. 1887 

Andrew  J.  Holland 1887 

James  H.  McGlochan 1887 


Philips  Kollock 1773 

Kendall  Batson ^1797 

Wm.  Hazzard 1800 

James  L  Bayliss ^..1806 

JehuStocklej 1821 

George  B.  Rodney 1826 

Edward  L.  Wells 1830 

John  D.  Rodney Jan.  18,  1847 


Civil  List  of  Sussex  Ck>UNTY. 
Profhonotaries, 


Ifehemiah  Field 1694 

Philip  Biuaell 1730 

Ryree  Holt „ 1753 

Jacob  Kollock 1763 

Darid  Hall March,  1777 

Nathaniel  Mitchell July  1, 1788 

Francis  Brown »  Jan.  19,  1805 

John  Stockley Feb.  3. 1825 

Oeorge  R.  Fisher Feb.  4, 1830 

Isaac  M.  Fisher Jan.  18, 1842 


Robert  A.  Houston. ..Jan.  18, 1847 

Isaac  Giles Jan.  8, 1852 

Dr.  Stephen  Green. ..Not.  20,  1854 

C.  H.  Richards Dec.  30, 1861 

William  F.  Jones Dec.  31,  1866 

Shepherd  P.  Martin. ..Jan.  1, 1872 

Henry  W.  Long..... Jan.,  1877 

Joseph  T.  Adams Jan.  2,  1882 

Joseph  T.  Adams Jan.  3, 1887 


Recorders, 


William  CUrk 1682 

Norton  Claypoole 1687 

Nehemiah  Field.. ..^..! 1604 

Thomas  Fisher 1710 

John  Hepburn „ 1714 

Preserved  Coggeshall 1718 

Philip  Russell 1721 

Jacob  Kollock 1732 

Wrixam  Lewis June  4, 1764 

John  Russell Apr.  18,  1777 

Philip  Kollock Aug.,  1793 

Thomas  Conltsr June  13,  1804 

Philip  Kollock Feb.  8, 1806 

William  Bell Jan.  17, 1811 

Jehu  Stockley Jan.  28,  1814 

Stephen  M.  Harris. ...Feb.  27,  1821 

Philip  Stockley Feb.  24,  1824 

Philip  Short July  12, 1824 

Registers, — The  first  registers  of  wills  were  termed 
deputy  registers  under  the  three  counties. 

Nehemiah  Field  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  Or- 
phans' Court  and  deputy  register  in  1682,  and  contin- 
ued until  April  7,  1705,  when  Roger  Corbett  was  ap- 
pointed. On  the  9th  of  August,  1705,  John  Hill, 
Luke  Watson  and  Thomas  Fenwick,  were  appointed 
deputy  registers,  and  April  7,  1708,  John  Hill,  Jere- 
miah Bailey  and  Philip  Russell  were  appointed. 

Roger  Corbett  served  as  clerk  of  the  registers  until 
1717,  when  Preserved  Coggeshall  was  appointed  reg- 
ister.   His  successors  are  as  follows : 


QustaTUS  A.  Bwing.....Oct,  22, 1828 
James  P.  W.  Kollock.  Jan.  18,1833 

John  H.  EllegMd May  13. 1836 

Nathaniel  P.  Harris.  Jan.  18, 1837 

Caleb  B.  Sipple May  28,  1838 

Oaleb  B.  Sipple. May  1. 1841 

William  H.  Swlggett..May  1, 1845 

Henry  Dunning Nov.  12,  1846 

Charles  Tnnnell May  2.  1849 

Charles  Tunnell May  3,  1863 

Wlllinm  Harris, May  4,  1867 

James  C.  Dunning May  6.1881 

Oeorge  M.  Davis May,  1866 

William  H.  Donovan.May  16, 1871 
BeiUamin  D.  Bnrton.May  16. 1876 

William  H.  Boyce May  16,  1881 

Joseph  P.  Monris May  ^20,  1886 


Philip  Russell 1722 

Jacob  Kollock 1724 

Philips  Kollock 1770 

George  Hazzard 1796 

Philips  Kollock 1801 

Nathan  Vickars Nov.  6,  1820 

Cornelius  Paynter Nov.^,  1830 

David  R.  Smith Nov.  10,  1836 

Peter  Parker. Nov.  12,  1840 

Henry  Dunning Nov.  28,  1846 


William  Dunning Apr.  14, 1846 

James  Anderson Apr.  18,  1861 

JohnSorden Apr.  19,1866 

John  W.  Scribner.....Apr.  19.  1861 

Hiram  S.  Short ...Apr.  21,  1866 

Major  W.  Allen June  20.  1866 

Lozley  R.  Jacobs July  26, 1871 

Wm.  H.  Whe«tley....July  26, 1876 

William  A.  Polk July  26. 1881 

William  A.  Polk July  26,  1886 


Registers  of  the  Court  of  Chancery  and  Clerks  of  the 
Orphans*  Court, 

The  office  was  filled  by  the  clerk  of  the  peace  for 
many  years,  and  was  the  officer  of  all  the  courts. 


{   James  Stewart wJan.  8, 1852 

Iflsac  F.  Jenkins....»Jan.  19,  US7 

Thomas  Robinson Jan.  6,  \USi 

Hiram  T.  Downing Jan^  IMS 

Hiram  T.  Downing...Nov.  30,  IfTO 

Philip  C.  Pennell Nov.  So,  1875 

PhiUp  C.  Pennell. ..>Nov.  30, 1880 
Charles  W.  Whiley,  Jr.,Nov.,  1886 


Hermanns  Wiltbank.. 


Sheriffs. 

m16«9   !   John  Vines. .1671 


Uikdar  Pom. 


John  Vines 1682 

JohnHin 1684 

Francis  Comwell 1686 

Jonathan  Bailey 1688 

Wm.  Rodney -1689 

JohnHiU 1693 

Wm.  Dyre 1606 

Dr.  John  8t<*wart. 1700 

Jonathan  Bailey 1702 

Ckpt  Luke  Watson 1703 

Thos.  Fenwick 1706 

Samuel  Rowland 1708 

John  Hepburn 1719 

John  Jacobs 1720 

RyvesHolt „ - 1724 

John  Shankland 1736 

Peter  Hall 1742 

Wm.  Shankland 1746 

Peter  Qows 1748 

Wm.ShankUnd »..1760 

Jacob  Kollock 1764 

John  Rodney 1768 

Joseph  Shankland..... 1760 

Daniel  Nnnea 1763 

Boos  Manlove ...1770 

Dorman  Lofiand 1776 

Luke  Watson 1779 

Cord  Hazxard ^ 1784 

Peter  T.  Wright 1786 

Thomas  Evans 1788 

Thomas  Laws „ 1792 

Seth  Griffith 1796 

Kendall  Batson 1800 

Oeorge  Boblnaon»......0ct.  9. 1808 

David  Owens^ Oct.  7, 1806 

Wm.B.  Cooper Sept.  7,  1809 

Wm.  B.  Cooper... Oct..  1809 

Wm.  Burton Oct  4. 1811 

John  Robinson Oct  24. 1814 

John  Robinson Nov.  7.  1816 


Pumell  Tindell Oct  9, 1817 

Wm.  EUegood Oct  6,1820 

Levin  Stewart 18ZI 

James  Maull J?ov.,  1823 

John  Collins Oct  6, 18» 

John  Collins Oct  26,  UK 

PnmeU  Johnson Oct  10, 1829 

Warren  JeflersoD Nov.  2Q,lBfi 

Oeorge  Frame ISU 

Pumell  Johnson 1838 

Wm.  O.  Redden. Nov.  16, 1838 

James  Steel Nov.  14. 1840 

Thos.  W.  Record8.....Nov.  10, 18« 

David  R.  Smith JSo\.  l^  18M 

John  West Nov.l7.  IM 

Roger  Adams .....Nov.  16, 18M 

PbUip  C.  Jones Nov.  14.1850 

George  P.  White JJov.  16, 1852 

John  D.  Redney. Nov.,  18M 

Cfaaries  C.  Stockle7....Nov.  6, 18» 

Wm.  Lofland ...Nov.  8, 1«» 

Wm.  F.  Jones Nov.  10, 18e» 

Philip  C.  Jones ..Apr.  12, 18fl 

Wm.  F.  Jonee Apr.  25^  1861 

Aaron  B.  Marrell......Nov.  8,  IMS 

James  H.  RusaeU Nov.  14, 18M 

O«orge  W.  WiUin Nov.  9. 18fiS 

Samuel  H.  Layton Nov.  7, 1818 

Jodah  P.  Marvel J?«v.7, 1810 

Eli  R.  Sharp Nov.  13, 1872 

Wm.  Gray Nov.  18.1874 

Benaiah  M.  Traitt...Nov.  14,  im 

Joseph  Ellis Nov.  14, 1878 

Samoel  J.  Martin. ...Jfov.  14, 18ft) 

Isaac  Wootin ....Nov.  16, 1882 

Thomas  B.  Windaor..Apr.  17, 1884 

Isaac  Wootteu May  IS.  1884 

John  W.  Shore. Nov.  7. 1884 

Charles  T.  Pumell  ...Nov.  10. 1888 


Coroners, 


Joshua  Barkstead 1686 

John  Vine Mar.  9,  1686 

Thomas  Stratton Mar.  16.  1600 

Joshua  Fisher „ ~1783 

Elijah  Evans.. Mar.  21,  1804 

EliMcCaulley Oct.  8,  1804 

Wm.  Eli Sept  12. 1807 

Ishmael  Steel Oct  6, 1810 

David  Johnson Oct  11, 1813 

Anthony  Ingram Oct.  14, 1819 

Adam  Short Oct  4,  1822 

Warner  Jeflersan Oct  8, 1825 

David  Holland Oct  22,  1828 

Jacob  S.  Buston Oct  10.  1831 

John  Day Nov.  14,  1834 

James  Pettyjohn Nov.  11, 1836 

Luke  Lofland Nov.  16, 1838 

Caldwell  W.  Jones...Nov.  14,  1840 
Zach.  F.  Wilson.*...  .Nov.  10, 1842 

Lazarus  Turner Nov.  16, 1844 

Wm.  Walton Nov.  16. 1846 


Theo.  W.  Marvel Nov.  16, 1*48 

Stephen  Goudy ..Nov.  14, 1850 

John  H.  Burton Nov.  16, 18&2 

J.  p.  Cordrey -...Nov.  16,  MM 

Caleb  R.  Stewart Nov.  6,  18S6 

Jacob  Fancett Nov.  6, 1858 

W. S.  Wilson -Nov.  10. 18» 

James  Gordon -...Nov.  8. 1862 

Wm.  Forque -...  Nov.  14»  WA 

Wm.  S.  Phillips -Nov.  li,  1866 

Manoen  B.  Marvel. — Nov.  7, 1888 

James  N.  Pepper Nov.  11. 1870 

Wm.  Bf.  Wilson- Nov.  9,  1872 

Wm.  8.  Melson Nov.  9,  1874 

Edward  DiU J?ov.  11. 1878 

t>amnel  J.  Wilaon Nov.  H  ^^ 

Oeorge  W.  Hatfield. ..Nov.  13^  18ft> 

Noah  B.  James -Nov.  16.  1882 

Joseph  H.  Lingo Nov.  7. 1884 

Wm.  A.  Troitt -Nov,  9. 1886 


Digitized  by 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1211 


Clerks  of 

OorneUus  Verhoofe  ..« 1680 

Mehemfah  Field 1G93 

Boger  Corbet 1710 

Win.  White 1717 

PriMerYed  Coen^all 1720 

George  Hanard „ 1797 

J.  M.  Brown 1798 

Phllllpe  KuIloolL...^ 1799 

Win.  Ruoell Jui.  19.  1806 

Kendall  Batson .Jan.  23, 1815 

Caleb  S.  Lajton .Jan.  12,  1820 

Jodiua  8.  Layton Dec.  20, 18i2 

Jodiua  S.  Layton Dec.  21, 1827 

Dedvmtu 

Jacob  Kollock April  10, 1766 

John  Clowee. April  10, 1766 

Tbomaa  Till April  10, 1766 

Bei^amin  BQrton.....April  10, 1766 
Shepherd  Kollock...  April  10,  1766 

David  Hall Nor.  1, 1764 

Jacob  Kollock,  Jr Nor.  1. 1764 

John  Rodney March  8, 1777 

Jacob  Moore March  8,  1777 

John  Rodney May  30, 1782 

Darld  Hall May  80,  1782 

Jacob  Moora May  30, 1782 

Simon  Kollock Sept.  6, 1793 

Joeeph  Hall... Sept.  6,  1793 

Philip  KuIlock„ Sept.  6. 1793 

Nathaniel  Mitchell.. ..Sept.  6,  1793 


the  Peace, 

r    Joehiia  S.  Layton Jan.  18, 1831 

I    Sheppard  P.  HonitoaJan.  18, 1837 

I    Wm.  0.  Redden Jan.  18,  1816 

Wm.  Hitch ..Jan.  8, 1853 

I    Wm.  Ellegood Jan.  19,  1857 

'    John  M.  Rawnne Jan.  20, 1862 

Aaron  B.  Marrell Jan.  21, 1867 

Wm.  P.  Jonet Jan.  83, 1872 

W.  FiakeTowniend...Jan.  23, 1877 
'    Wm.  B.  Tomllnson„...Apr.  6,  1879 

I    N.  W.  Hickman Apr.  6,  1884 

Ebe.  W.  Tnnnell Apr.  12,  1886 


Poteetatem, 

'   Thomas  Cooper ^....Feb.  2,  1802 

Nicholas  WUlianMon^.Feb.  2, 1802 

John  CaMy r*b.  2, 1802 

Thomas  Cooper Feb.  26,  1806 

Jamea  Anderson Feb.  26, 1806 

Francis  Brown Feb.  26, 1806 

WiUiam  Rnssell Feb.  26, 1806 

Simon  Kollock Feb.  26, 18(>6 

Simon  Kollock Jan.  17,  1811 

John  Collins Jan.  17. 1811 

William  Bell Jan.  17,  iHll 

Francis  Brown Feb.  4, 1M14 

Jehu  (John)  8tockley..Feb.  4, 1814 

WilUam  Rnawli Feb.  4, 1814 

Matthew  Bench Oct.  10,18->9 

Edward  L.  Wells.. Oct  10, 1829 


Justices  of  the  Pcoof.— Courts  had  been  held  prior  to 
1673  at  the  Horekill  by  the  justices  from  New  Castle, 
and  upon  the  Dutch  obtaining  possession  in  1673 
courts  were  established,  and  on  November  29ih  of 
the  same  year  there  were  appointed  as  justices  Mr. 
Harmonus  Wiltbank,  Sandee  Moelsteyn/  Dr.  Jon 
Roats  and  William  Clossen. 

Civil  and  Military  Appointments  far  Horekill, — The 
following  is  a  list  of  magistrates  appointed  on  Novem- 
ber, 1674 : 

Captain  Paul  Marsh,  lieutenant  and  president  of  the  court. 

Helmonun  Wiltbank,  Justice,  sheriff  and  collector. 

Alexander  Molesteen,  Justice. 

John  Kippshareu,  Justice. 

Otto  Wolf^Mt,  Justice. 

Daniel  Brown,  under  sheriff  and  constable. 

June  25,  1676,— 

John  Arery,  lieutenant  and  president  of  the  coart 

Edward  Southern,  Justice. 

Alexander  Molteen,  Justice,  with  none  abler. 

John  Kippshaven,  Justice,  well  to  take. 

Otto  Wolgost,  Justice,  ordinary  planter. 

Daniel  Brown,  under  sheriff  and  constable. 

Gorneles  Verhoofe,  clerk,  deputy  surveyor  and  collector. 

January  4, 1676, — 

Daniel  Brown  discharged  fh>m  constable's  office  and  Simon  Paling 
«lected. 


HelmonuB  Wiltbank..May  14,  1677 

Sdward  Southern May  14, 1677 

Alexander  Molestlne.May  14,  1677 
C.  Verhoofe,  clerk....  May  14, 1677 

John  Arery Oct  8, 1678 

•  Francis  Whitwell Oct.  8,  1678 


Alexander  MoIe8tine...Oct.  8, 1678 

John  Klppsharen. Oct  8, 1678 

Luke  Watson Oct  8, 1678 

John  Roade8...„ Oct  8, 1678 

James  Wells Oct  8, 1678 

0,  Verhoofe,  clerk. Oct  8, 1678 


Upon  the  reorganization  of  the  county  districts  by 
Sir  Ekimund  Andros  in  1680,  appointments  of  justices 

1  Alexander  Molestlne  and  Dr.  John  Rhodes.  Molestine  was  spelled 
in  the  early  records  In  rarious  ways  and  to  day  Is  known  as  MoUeston, 
formerly  a  family  of  prominence  in  Kent  County. 

•  Francis  Whitwell  was  one  of  the  first  Justices  of  St  Jones*  County 
(now  Kent)  when  It  was  organised  In  1680. 


were  made  for  the  six  districts.  On  the  28th  of  Maj» 
1680,  the  following  were  appointed  for  the  WhorekiU 
District  as  follows  : 

**A  commission  of  the  former  date  to  Mr.  Luke  Wattson,  Mr.  Jobs 
Roadee,  Mr.  John  Kippshaven,  Mr.  Otto  Woolgost  and  Mr.  William 
CSarke  to  be  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  the  Whore  Kill  and  Dependencies, 
the  said  Court  to  begin  at  the  south  ride  of  Ceder  Creek  and  goe  to  goe 
downwards. 

*'  William  Clakkk,  Clerk." 


Justices  of 

Wm.  Clark Sept,  1682 

Luke  Watson Sept.,  1682 

John  Roades Sept,  1682 

John  Avery Sept,  1682 

Harmonus  Wiltbank.  ...Sept.,  1682 

Alexander  MolesUne.  ...Sept.,  1682 

AppoimUd  bg  WOtiam  Pemn, 

Luke  Wattson -.Not.,  1682 

Wm.  Clark Nov.,  1682 

John  Roades Nov.,  16S2 

John  Avery Nov.,  1682 

Harmonus  Wiltbank Nov.,  1682 

Wm.  DanraU.....«.....Dec.  25, 1682 

Luke  Wattson Dec.  25, 1682 

Norton  Claypoole Dec.  26,  1682 

John  Roades Dec.  25, 1682 

Edward  Sonthrin Dec.  2\  1682 

Robert  Host Dec.  25,  1682 

John  Kiphoven Dec.  25,  1682 

Alexander  Molestine..May  3,  1683 

Wm.  Chirk May  1,  1683 

Norton  Claypoole,  elk.  May  1, 1683 

Wm.  Clark Mar.  1, 1684 

Luke  Wattson Mar.  1, 1684 

Hercules  Shepherd Mar.  1,  1684 

John  Roades Mar.  1,  1684 

John  Kiphoven Mar.  1, 1684 

Robert  Host Mar.  1,1684 

Alexander  Draper Mar.  1, 1684 

Robert  Braiy Mar.  1, 1684 

Francis  Comwell April  9, 1686 

Robert  aifton April  9, 1686 

Samuel  Gray „ April  9, 1686 

Thomas  Price April  9,  1686 

Wm.  Clark Aug.  5, 1686 

John  Roads Aug.  5, 1686 

Thomas  Langhorne...Aug.  5,  lb86 

Thomas  Price Aug.  5, 1686 

Robert  Clifton Aug.  5, 1686 

Samuel  Gray Aug.  5, 1686 

Gaorge  Young Aug.  6, 1686 

Thomas  Wynne ..Jkpril  1, 1687 

Thomas  Price May  8, 1687 

Samuel  Gray May  3, 1687 

George  Young.. S«>pt  6, 1687 

Wm.  Clarke Feb.  10, 1687 

Thomas  Wynne Feb.  10, 1687 

Thomas  Price Feb.  10,  1687 

Robert  CUfton Feb  10, 1687 

Henry  Bowman Feb.  lU,  1687 

Henry  Moulstine Feb.  10, 1687 

Albert  Jacobs J'eb.  10,  1687 

Wm.  Futsher ...Feb.  10, 1687 

Wm.  Clark Nov.,  1688 

Griffith  Jones Nov.,  1688 

John  Hill Nov.,  1688 

Thomas  Price Nov.,  1688 

Robert  Cllflon .JJov.,  1688 

Henry  Molerton Nov.,  1688 

A  Ibertus  Jacobs Nov.,  1688 

Wm.  Futsher Nov.,  1688 

Henry  Smith Nov.,  1688 

Samuel  Gray Mar.  7,  1690 

John  BelUmy...........June  4, 1690 

Wm.  CUrk „ ~Jun^  1692 

Luke  Watson,  8r June,  1692 


the  Peace, 

JohnHUl Jun^  1692 

Albertus  Jacobs MTune,  1692 

Samuel  Gray ..June,  1602 

Robert  Clifton June,  1692 

John  Stockley June,  1692 

Samuel  Preston June,  1602 

Wm.  Clark Sept  6,  1693 

Capt  Luke  WatHon...Sept  5,  1603 
Thomas  Pemberton...Sept  5,  1693 

Albert  Jacobs Sept  5,  1603 

Robert  Clifton ..Sept.  5, 1603 

Samuel  Gray Sept  6,  1693 

John  Stokely Sept  6, 1603 

Thomas  Oldman Sept  5,  1603 

Joseph  Booth ....Sept  5,  1693 

Wm.  Clark 1606 

Robt  Clifton. 1606 

Capt  Luke  Watson 160S 

Thomas  Oldmau 1606 

John  HIH ...1606 

Thomas  Pemberton 1696 

Joseph  Booth 1696 

Capt  Luke  Watsou 1608 

John  Hill 1606 

Thomas  Oldman 1696 

Jonathan  Bailey ....1698 

John  Walton 1608 

Wm.  Clark „ 1702 

John  Hill 1702 

Thomas  ffenwiok 1702 

James  Walker 1702 

Philip  Russell 1702 

Thomas  Pemberton..April  20, 1704 

Luke  Watson April  20,  1704 

Thomas  ffisher April  20, 1704 

John  Waltham...  ...JLprll  20, 1704 

John  Hill ».May  i,  1704 

Thomas  ffenwick May  2, 1704 

James  >^alker.. May  2,  1704 

Philip  Russell May  2, 1704 

John  Watson May  2,  1704 

Wm.  Bagwell Mi^  2,  1704 

Luke  Watson — Nov.  22,  1705 

Joseph  Booth Jan.,  1706 

Jonathan  Bail^... Jan.,  1706 

James  Walker... Feb.  1, 1708 

PhiUp  Russell Feb.  1, 1708 

Jonathan  Bailey Feb.  1, 1708 

Wm.  Bagwell ....Feb.  1,  1708 

Cornelius  Wiltbank....Feb.  1,  1708 

Richard  P^yntor.. Feb.  1, 1708 

James  Beaton Feb.  1,1708 

Mathew  Parker Feb.  1,  1708 

Wm-TilL 1714 

Wm.  ShanUand. 1714 

Philip  RusseU 1714 

Henry  Brooke..... 1717 

Berkley  Codd «1717 

James  Walker 1717 

John  Roades 1717 

Wm.  Shankland 1717 

Andenon  Parker 1717 

Samuel  Rowland 1717 

Alexander  Molestlne 1717 

Cornelius  Wiltbank 1719 

Richard  Hinman 1710 


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1212 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Richard  Piiynter 1719 

Woolaey  Burton 1719 

Wm.  ShankUnd. 1725 

Wm.  Till 1725 

Samuel  Bowlaod 1725 

Wm.  Fliher 1725 

David  Smith 1725 

Simon  Kollock 1726 

Jeremiah  Claypoole 1726 

Wm.  Gordon 1725 

Joseph  Haywood 1725 

Daniel  Hart 1725 

Philip  Runell 1726 

Jacob  Kollock 1727 

John  Jacobs 1727 

Samuel  Dayla 1727 

Enoch  CummingB.. 1727 

John  RoadM 1727 

JowphCord - 1727 

Wm.  Till 1727 

John  May 1727 

Bob«t  Shankland 1727 

Anderson  Parker .1733 

Jacob  Kollock 1733 

Jeremiah  Claypoole.. 1733 

Robert  Shankland ^..1733 

Darld  Smith 1733 

Robert  Smith 1738 

Wm.  Till 1783 

Abraham  Wynkoop 1733 

Enoch  Cnmminga. 1734 

John  Prettjrman 1733 

Woodman  Stockley.   1740 

Byvet  Holt 1740 

Wm.  Burton 1740 

Anderson  Parker...... 1740 

Darid  Smith 1740 

Jeremiah  Claypoole.. 1740 

John  Prettyman 1740 

Simon  KoUock 1740 

Jacob  Kollock 1740 

Jacob  Phillips 1743 

Joshua  Fisher 1743 

Jacob  Kollock.. 1762 

Anderson  Parker 1762 

Joseph  Shankland 1762 

Thomas  Davis. 1752 

John  Clowes 1762 

Beiuunin  Stockley 1762 

Thomas  Till „ 1762 

Abraham  Wynkoop. ..1752 

David  Hall 1768 

Beqjamln  Burton 1768 

Jacob  Kollock,  Jr 1758 

Thomas  Prettyman 1768 

Nehemiah  Draper 1758 

Isaac  Watson 1758 

John  Spencer 1768 

Jacob  Philips 1768 

Jacob  Kollock,  Sr 1766 

Beqjamin  Stockley 1766 

Wrixam  Lewis 1766 

OiUalsher  Parker 1765 

Thomas  Robinson 1766 

Anderson  Parker 1766 

John  Wiltbank 1766 

John  Rodney 1766 

Parker  Robinson 1766 

Wrixam  Lewis 1774 

John  Rodney 1774 

Anderson  Parker 1774 

Jehn  Wiltbank 1774 

Daniel  Nunee 1774 

BeAjamin  Burton 1774 

Nehemiah  Davis 1774 

Parker  Robinson 1774 

Levin  Cropper 1774 

BooxManlove 1774 


Benjamin  Burton... 1774 

flillalsher  Parker. 1774 

John  Wiltbank 1779 

Isaac  Smith 1779 

John  Laws 1779 

Wm.  Polk 1779 

John  Clowes 1779 

Isaac  Bradley Oct.  22,  1784 

John  Tenant Oct  22,  1784 

Nathaniel  Toung Oct.  22, 1784 

Luke  Watson Oct.  22, 1784 

Simon  Kollock.. June  2, 1785 

Nathaniel  Waples. June  2, 1786 

Burton  Waples June  2,  1786 

Thomas  Batson June  2,  1786 

Joseph  Hasard June  2, 1786 

Wm.  Polk June  2, 1785 

Joshua  Polk June  2,  1785 

Robert  Houston June  2, 1785 

James  Douglas June  2,  1786 

John  Wingate June  2, 1786 

Robert  Stevenson June  2,  1785 

Robert  Prettyman June  2, 1786 

Stephen  Hill June  2, 1786 

Thomas  Grove.. June  2,  1786 

Luke  Watson »....Jnne2,  1785 

Wm.  Owens.. June  2,1786 

John  MitchelL Jnne  2, 1786 

John  Collins June  2, 1786 

Richard  Hayes,  Jr....Jan.  18, 1786 
J.  Simpson  Campbell  Jan.  18, 1786 

Wm.  Lockwood Jan.  18,1786 

Wm.  Jordan  Hall.....Jan.  18, 1786 

Rhood  Shankland M^une  7, 1787 

Samuel  Paynter June  7,  1787 

Charles  Polk Feb.  2,  1788 

John  Wiltbank Feb.  2, 1788 

John  Clowes Feb.  2, 1788 

Alex.  Laws Feb.  2, 1788 

Richard  Haye Oct.  23,  1790 

Jacob  Townseud Oct.  23,  1790 

John  Evaus Jan.  27, 1791 

Wm.  Owens Jan.  27, 1791 

Isaac  Draper Jan.  27, 1791 

Hap  Hanard.... „..Jan.  27, 1791 

Wm.  Moore Jan.  27, 1791 

Barclay  Townsend.....Jan.  27, 1791 

Isaac  Cooper Jan.  27, 1791 

Wingate  Cannon Jan.  27, 1791 

Nathaniel  Young Jan.  27, 1791 

Bei\|amin  Hudson 1800 

Isaac  Beanchamp 1800 

John  Williams. 1800 

W.  0.  Cooper 1800 

Stephen  Hyer 1800 

Exekiel  Williams 1800 

Simon  Kollach ..July  29, 1802 

John  Hooper Oct  2,  1802 

Jehn  Collins Aug.  6, 1803 

Aaron  Hall Nov.  28,  1808 

Be^J.  Prettyman June  13,  1804 

Thomas  Coulter Dec.  26,  1804 

David  Smith Feb.  16,  1805 

Wm.  Davis Mar.  22,  1806 

Seth  Griffith Apr.  10,1806 

Thomas  Fisher May  7,  1806 

John  Williams July  10, 1806 

Wm.  White ..Oct.  26,  1806 

John  Polk Apr.  16, 1806 

Ezekiel  Williams July  26,  1806 

Wm.  Ellegood Oct  7, 1806 

Samuel  Jacobs Jan.  13,  1807 

Nathl.  Rupum Feb.  11,  1807 

Edward  Dkgle Nov.  12,  1807 

John  Rnssel Dec.  16,  1807 

Eli  McCaulley JIar.  7, 1808 

Wm.  Cariisle Feb.  23, 1808 

Simon  Kolloch. Aug.  2,  1809 


Wm.  Haszard Oct.  9,1809 

Radcliir  Paynter. Jan.  24, 1810 

John  Handy July  9, 1810 

Wm.  Wolf Dec.  6, 1810 

John  Dashiell Dec.  24,  1810 

Robert  Davis Jan.  4,  1811 

CurtisJacobe May  14,1811 

Thomas  C.  Waples.. .June  16,  1811 

David  Hazzard ...May  7, 1812 

James  Miller Aug.  14, 1813 

Wm.  Vaughan Oct  16,1813 

Samuel  Jacobs. Jan.  28, 1814 

Joshua  Bnrton Sept.  8,  1814 

Watson  Pepper. JBept  22,  1814 

Edward  Dingle Nov.  19,1814 

Zadok  Aydelott ..Mar.  23, 1815 

Samuel  Badcliff. Mar.  27, 1815 

John  Splcer Mar.  1,1816 

Ellas  Lofland Aug.  23, 1816 

Peter  G.  Wootten Oct  18, 1816 

Samuel  Laws Dec.  6, 1816 

Wm.  Cwrllsle Apr.  9, 1816 

Spencer  Philips Aug.  20, 1816 

Nathl.  Ross Nov.  4,  1816 

Stephen  Warrington.Dec.  29, 1816 

Thomas  Rodney Dec.  29, 1816 

John  Dashiell Jan.  6, 1818 

Joseph  Collins May  13,  1818 

Wm.  A.  Ellegood Mar.  8, 1819 

John  M.  West May  29,  1820 

James  Miller Ang.  16, 1820 

Robert  Hall Oct.  7. 1820 

Wm.  Vaughan Oct  18,1820 

BenJ.  Prettyman Sept  24, 1821 

Mathew  Bench jSept.  24, 1821 

Stephen  Hill Nov.  28, 1821 

Joseph  Smith „Feb.  13,  1822 

Zadok  Aydelott „Mar.  27,  1822 

John  Houston Mar.  27, 1622 

John  Shover Mar.  27, 1822 

Lowber  Layton.. ..Oct  10, 1822 

Henry  Little Dec.  6, 1822 

Tilghroan  Layton. Dec.  6, 1822 

Samuel  Laws..... Dec.  6, 1822 

Samuel  Hart Dec.  20, 1822 

John  W.  Dingle Jan.  1, 1823 

Peter  Hall ..Apr.  29,1823 

Robert  Harris July  12, 1824 

Peter  Parker Nov.  6, 1826 

Wm.  A.  Ellegood Mar.  11, 1826 

John  M.  Wert July  6, 1827 

Joshua  A.  Ellegood......Oct  6, 1827 

Isaac  Cannon Oct  22, 1827 

£11  McCaulley Jan.  10, 1827 

Wm.  Spencer  Hall Mar.  4, 1828 

C.  D.  BUney Mar.  6, 1828 

Arnold  Naudaln Mar.  10,  1828 

Wm.  K.  Lockwood...Mar.  12,  1828 

Paynter  Walton Oct  21, 1828 

Stephen  Hill Dec.  8, 1828 

Robert  H.  Griffith. ....Feb.  13,  1829 

Zadok  Aydelott. Mar.  27, 1829 

George  Walton Mar.  27, 1829 

George  Clendaniel May  6, 1829 

Lowder  Layton Oct  12,  1829 

Derrick  BamanL. Oct  28, 1829 

Tilghman  Layton Dec.  6,1829 

Henry  Little Dec.  23,  1829 

Dr.  John  Carey Dec.  23, 1829 

John  Campbell Dec.  24,  1829 

Peter  Hall Apr.  29,  1830 

Isaac  W.  Cope July  26, 1830 

Thomas  Fooks. Oct.  13,  ia30 

Eli  HasUngs Oct.  13,  1830 

Nathl.  Heam Nov.  9.  1830 

Wm.  0.  Redden Nov.  28, 1830 

Matthew  Rench ..Apr.  10, 1831 

Thos.  W.  MoIlvaine.Nov.  27,  1832 


BepJ.  Bnrton Dec  15, 1832 

Andrew  Thooipson Jnly  8,  1834 

Joshua  A.  Ellegood...Oct  13,  ISM 

Miles  Tindall Jan.  12,  IfOS 

John  Ponder...^ Feb.  2, 1835 

Peleg  W.  Helm. Mar.0, 183S 

Dr.  Wm.  Harris Mar.  90,  1836 

Dr.  Stephen  Green„...Feb.  14, 1836 

Zadoch  Aydelott Mar.  27, 1836 

Geo.  Clendaniel ..M«7  21,  IKM 

Dr.  Edward  Dingle^. ..Jane 8, 1«3( 

Benaiah  Watson Nov.  17, 1836 

Joel  Carlisle Nov.  18.  1896 

David  Taylor - Nov.  21, 1836 

Joseph  L.  Harper Nov.  28, 1836 

John  Gibbons ^..J)ec  29,1836 

John  Campbell Dec.  29,  1836 

Philip  W.  Mathews...Oct.  14, 1837 

Cyrus  P.  Winsor. Nov.  9, 1837 

GusUvus  A.  Ewing...Apr.  10, 1838 

Wm.  Hazzard May  11,  1S38 

John  M.  West May  11,  1838 

Zachariah  Potta. Jan.  24, 1S39 

Thomas  Rubinson.....Nov.  27,  ]S3t 

Edward  Dingle ....Dec.  16,  1839 

Wm.  Hazzard.. Dec  2, 1840 

Wm.  W.  Morgan .Oct.  30,  IMl 

Nehemiah  D.  Welch^.J'eb.  2, 1842 

Joseph  A.  Collins. Feb.  2, 1842 

John  Steel Mar.  11,  IMS 

George  Heam.. „.Feb.  19, 1843 

Alanson  DickiDson...May  30,  ISO 

Edward  Dingle ...Jnne  8, 1843 

Thos.  Mcllvaine .Oct  2S,  1843 

John  A.  Hazzaid Nov.  17, 1JK3 

Joel  Cariisle „..  Nor.  23, 1843 

Nathaniel  T.  Davis...Dec  30,1848 

Gustavns  A.  Bwing Joly  4,  1844 

Cyrus  C.  Windsor Dec  6,  1844 

Stansbury  Gannon -..Jeb.  10,  1846 

Philip  Short. March  7, 1846 

D.  W.  Borton... Apr.  11, 1845 

George  W.  Heam Dec  23, 1846 

Wm.  Russell Jan.  IS,  1840 

John  W.  Dean Jan.  28,  1846 

Zachariah  Potts. Feb.  11,  1846 

James  D.  Wilds Mar.  23, 1M« 

Spencer  PhiUpa. Dec  ft,  1846 

Wm.  HaxsanL. Jan.  li,  1M7 

Peleg  W.  Helm ..Sept  24.  1847 

James  S.  Barton Nov.  22, 1847 

John  S.  Smith JDec  6, 184S 

Minos  T.  Cennow«y.  „.Frtiu  8, 184t 

John  Ponder Feb.  8, 1M9 

Petor  R.  Jackson .Jsb.  7,  1849 

Sampson  Lelby. Mar.U,  1849 

Bayard  Dawson. Sept  12, 1849 

Lemuel  B.  Shockley.  Jnne  8, 1860 

Wm.  Porter ...J)ec  8, 1860 

Thos.  P.  Jefferson Jan.  9, 1851 

Bayard  Dawson. Mar.  11, 1861 

Dr.  Stephen  Green.„..J>ec  6, 1861 

Wm.  TnnneU J)ec  6^  1851 

George  M.  Davis Feb.  11. 166i 

Nicholas  PrettymanJnne  16, 1868 

J.  P.  W.  Kolloch Jan.  18,  1893 

James  H.  RnsseU...  J'eb.  in.  18S3 

BeiO.  D.  Burton Apr.  26, 18SS 

I.  N.  F.  Hopkins June  14, 186S 

Dr.  Wm.  Morgan Jan.  17, 1864 

Kendall  Rickards Oct  10, 1864 

Edward  W.  Moore Not.  8, 1854 

Jesse  L.  Long.. ....Dec  7.  1864 

George  H.  Phillips^.Mar.  22, 1864 
John  D.  Marshall — Mar.  22, 18S» 

Francis  A.  Roop Aug.  18, 1865 

Nathaniel  Oonwaj Feb.  4, 1856 

David  Lofland .....Feb.  %  1866 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1213 


IflMC  Btttts Jaoe  20. 1857 

Wm.  Hauard Aug.  10, 1857 

Wm.  Pitt^ Fob.  1ft,  1858 

IMM  0.  Barton. Not.  10, 1858 

Owrge  M.  Darit. Feb.  11, 1850 

Alfred  CoUiiigham.^Feb.  16, 1860 

Jeremiab  Jonea ..Mar.  14, 1850 

James  A.  GaMj Mar.  12,  1850 

Oharles  Manship....  April  11, 1850 

James  Baker.. Apr.  26,  1850 

Wm.  Evana. June  13, 1810 

WiDlock  H.  C0IU1M...JUI7 10, 1850 

Thoa.  Bobfiwoo ^or.  25, 1860 

John  Moore ..Jan.  17,  I860 

Mathew  Rench Jan.  17,  1860 

Wm.  P.  Junes -Jan.  24, 1860 

John  W.  Galloway  ...Jane  18, 1860 
Christopher  8,  Likite..Dec.  4, 1860 
Kendall  RIokard8......NoT.  6, 1861 

Jesse  L.  Long Dec  7, 1861 

Tboe.  A.  Jones. Mar.  22, 1862 

Bobert  L.  Laoey Nov.  10, 1862 

Josiah  Simpler .JfoT.  26,  1862 

Benton  K.  TindaU.^.Feb.  27, 1863 
Oharles  A.  Bowline... May  30, 1863 

Oharles  Manshlp Sept  26,  1863 

Oaleb  L.  Morris Sept  26, 1863 

Joseph  T.  Adams M^an.  7, 1864 

Isaac  Betts July  5, 1864 

Wm.  Hanard »..Aag.  18, 1864 

Wm.  F.  ReTille Dec.  8, 1864 

Johns.  Waplee Dec  17, 1864 

Saraael  G.  Willey Deo.  22, 1864 

John  £.  Spicer. Feb.  2, 1866 

Thomas  Bacon .....Feb.  2, 1865 

Alfred  CotUngham...Feb.  17, 1865 
Obartos  A.  Bowllns...NoT.  2,  1866 

James  W.  Welch Apr.  4, 1866 

Iiaao  Lynch Apr.  0,  1866 

James  W.  Smith Apr.  13,  1866 

Wm.  Evans. Jane  20, 1866 

George  W.  WhiU Aog.  27,  1866 

Thomas  B.  Jones Dec  27,  1866 

LiiUeton  H.  Smith.  ...Jan.  0,  1867 
Jas.  P.  W.  KoUoch...Feb.  14,  1867 

Wm.  B.  Layton Feb.  1,1867 

Jas.  P.  W.  Kollock...Feb.  14. 1867 
Barton  W.  Lynch.  ...Nov.  22, 1867 

John  Jones. Sept  15, 1868 

Kendall  Rickards....J}ov.  30, 1868 

Southey  A.  Polk. Jan.  1, 1860 

Wm.  B.  Wilson Feb.  17,  1860 

Jonathan  F.  HeanuApril  22,  1860 

Derrick  B.  Morris Dec.  0,  1860 

Wm.  N.  Hastlngs.....Mran.  21, 1870 

John  H.  Satterfield Feb.  2,  1870 

John  P.  Barton ..May  10,  1870 

John  A.  Hazsard Deo.  17,  1870 

Jos.  T.  Adams. ^lan.  0, 1871 

Thos.  W.  Ralph Jan.  13, 1871 

Severn  A.  Lambdin...Feb.  16, 1871 


Jesse  W.  Robinson... April  17,  1871 

David  H.  Mustard May  2, 1871 

Wm.  L.  Sirman. May  23, 1871 

Eb«i.  H.  Tyre June  27, 1871 

MiS|.  W.  Alien... Aug.  10.  1871 

Wm.  Sbockley Dec  6, 1871 

John  G.  HaEsard Jan.  12, 1872 

Saml.  L.  Layton Mar.  7, 1872 

Ohas.  A.  Rawlins Mar.  l^  1873 

Lem.  W.  Waples.....June  28,  1873 

Elihu  0.  PhUUps. Aug.  5,  1873 

James  11.  Boyce Dec  3,  1878 

Jno.  L.  Thompeon....Jan.  17,  1874 
Jas.  P.  W.  Kollock...Feb.  16,  1874 

David  Green Jan.  2, 1876 

Isaac  F.  Warren Jan.  14, 1875 

Wm.  H.  Rodney Jane  28,  1876 

John  Jones. Sept.  22, 1876 

Jasper  Dawson Jan.  24, 1876 

Asel  Stephens. .July  8, 1876 

Derrick  B.  Morris.... Dec.  13, 1876 

JSbm,  H.  Tyre Deo.  20, 1876 

John  L.  Thomson.. ...Mar.  27, 1877 

John  P.  Burton Sept  1,  I8n 

John  G.  Hastard Dec.  10, 1877 

Thos.  W.  Ralph.. Jan.  14,  1878 

Severn  A.  Lambdin...Feb.  16,  1878 
Jesse  W.  Robinson-JLpril  17,  1878 

MiO-  W.  AUen Aug.  20, 1878 

BeiU.  H.  Elliot Jan.  10,  1870 

John  L.  Thomson. ..„Mar.  81,  1870 

R.  J.  Donason May  14, 1870 

Jos.  N.  Willey Mar.  13,  1880 

Cor.  R.  WUtbank Aug.  4, 1880 

Jas.  A.  Boyer Dec.  16, 1880 

Ghas.  A.  Rawlins. Nov.  0,  1881 

David  Green .Jan  12, 1882 

John  Dukes June  81,  1888 

Jos.  B.  Lingo Jeb.  14, 1883 

Jos.  S.  Jones Mar.  22, 1888 

Asel  Stephens „Jaly  9, 1883 

Ghas.  A.  Rawlins Oct.  24. 1883 

Derrick  B.  Morris.. ...Dec.  15, 1883 

John  H.  BllioU April  30,  1884 

John  P.  MarBhall....July  17,  1884 

John  P.  Burton Sept  4, 1884 

Joseph  P.  Betts. Dec.  80, 1884 

James  H.  Tyre Feb.  11,  1886 

Emory  B.  Riggen Feb.  11, 1886 

Jesse  W.  Robinson..April  17,  1885 

MiV|.  W.  Allen.. .Sept.  2,  1886 

Isaac  F.  Warren Sept.  11, 1886 

Josh.  A.  Truitt Jan.  16,  1886 

Bei\j.  N.  Elliott Jan.  16,  1886 

Wm.  Collins Mar.  10,  1886 

John  L.  Thompson... Mar.  81, 1886 

G.  M.  Lynch.. ..Sept  16,  1886 

Isaac  L.  Long Mar.  10,  1887 

John  L.  Thompson... Mar.  10, 1887 

Kben  H.  Tyre April  5,  1887 

Thos.  B.  Chandler.. ...May  12,  1887 


Notaries  and  Tbbelion  Public, 


James  Elliot Jan.  4,  1803 

John  Parker. April  80, 1805 

Watson  Pepper. July  14, 1807 

John  Thompson ..Feb.  26,  1812 

Win^or  Dashell Nov.  2, 1812 

Thomas  Philipa.. Aug.  18,  1814 

Thomas  Rodney.. April  4, 1817 

William  Ellegood....June  14,  1818 

Matthew  Rench... Oct.  5, 1821 

John  M.  West Jan.  20, 18^ 

Dr.  Wm.  Harris March  6, 1830 

John  Tunnell April  17,  1837 

Thomas  Mcll value... April  29, 1837 

Wm.  0.  Redden June  24,  1837 

Dr.  Edward  Dingle„.  Jnne  26, 1837 


Gustavus  A.  Swing.  ...July  4,  1837 

Mathew  Rench July  4,  1887 

John  H.  Barton July  4, 1837 

Jeremiah  Kimmey Oct  3,  1837 

James  H.  Adkins Oct.  10,  1837 

Peleg  W.  Helm Nov.  20, 1837 

Wm.  Jacobs Jan.  3, 1838 

John  GampbelL July  3,  1838 

Jos.  S.  Barnard. Feb.  22,  1838 

Asbury  W.  Prettyman..Apl.  4, 1837 

John  M.  West May  21, 1838 

Bayard  Dawson Sept  10, 1838 

Benaiah  Watson Nov.  14, 1838 

George  P.  White Nov.  17,  ia')8 

Wm.  Hanard.... Dec  2,  1840 


Goorge  Frame Dec  2, 1840 

Wm.  W.  Morgan Oct  30, 1841 

Nehemiah  D.  Welch».Feb.  2,  1812 

Joseph  A.  Collins. Feb.  2, 1842 

John  Steel .March  11,  1842 

Alonson  Dickinson...  May  20,  1843 

Edward  Dingle June  8,  1843 

Thqs.  W.  Mcnraine  ...Oct.  25, 1843 

John  A.  Hanard Nov.  17,1843 

Joel  Carlisle Nov.  23,  1848 

Nathaniel  Y.  Davis....Dec.  30,  1843 

GM>rge  Witman March  25,  1844 

Gustavus  k.  E«ing.....July4, 1844 
Philip  W.  Mathews...Oct  19,  1844 

Cyrus  G.  Windsor Dec  5,  1844 

John  Tunnell„ Jan.  20, 1845 

Stransbury  Gannon  ..Feb.  10, 1846 


Joehua  8.  Barton  ....Mar.  20, 1846 

John  D.  Rodney July  16, 1845 

Joeeph  S.  Barnard.. ..July  19, 1846 

Zachariah  Potts. Sept  18,  1846 

Edward  C  Dingle Dec  3, 1846 

George  W.  Heam.....Dec  23, 1846 

Wm.  Russell Jan.  12,1846 

Arthur  Hazzard Jan.  6,  1847 

Henry  B.  Hill. Jan.  6,  1847 

John  W.  Dean Jan.  15,  1847 

Lemuel  Darid»>n Jan.  15, 1847 

Wm.  Hassard Jan.  18, 1847 

Benjamin  Burton Jan.  18,  1847 

Ix>wder  N.  Heam Jan.  18,1847 

Jas.  P.  W.  Kolloch...  Jan.  21, 1847 
R.  West Jan.  21,  1847 


Notaries  Public, 


Peleg  W.  Helm Sept.  24,  1847 

Nathaniel  P.  Harris..Oct.  21,  1848 

John  8.  Smith Dec  6, 1848 

Thomas  W.  Reccnrds.  Jan.  18, 1849 

Sampson  Selby Mar.  16, 1849 

James  Stuart June  5, 1840 

Spencer  Philips. Apr.  1, 1860 

Lemuel  B.  Shocklsy.June  18, 1850 

Wm.  Porter Dec.  3, 1860 

Be^J.  D.  Burton Jan.  10, 1864 

Robert  West Jan.  21, 1864 

Ell  Davis.: Aug.  6, 1854 

Jtsse  L.  Long Nov.  20, 1854 

Dr.  Wm.  Morgan Feb.  27, 1856 

Joshua  S.  Buxton.  ...Mar.  12, 1855 

John  W.  Reddish Mar.  17,  1856 

Sonder  N.  Heame....Mar.  17, 1855 

Peleg  W.  Helm Mar.  10, 1856 

Levin  Petty  John.....Mar.  30,  1856 
Arthur  M.  Hacxard.....Nov.  8, 1856 
George  H.  Phlllips...Dec.  12,  1856 

Wm.  B.  Records. Jan.  23,  1866 

Nathaniel  Gonaway..Mar.  24, 1856 

James  Stuart June  6, 1856 

Isaac  J.  Jenkins June  20, 1857 

Wm.  F.  Reville Dec.  3, 1867 

Wm.  G.  Carlisle.. Dec  12. 1857 

Nehemiah  D.  Welsh....Jan.  0, 1858 

Wni.  Swiggett Aug.  9, 1858 

Alfred  Gottingham....Feb.  16, 1860 

Goorge  M.  Davis Mar.  0, 1850 

Wm.  P.  Junes Jan.  31,  1860 

Kendal  Richards Sept  l.\  1861 

Jesse  L.  Long Dec.  7,  1861 

Samuel  H.  Layton. ..Mar.  18,  1862 
John  W.  Galloway. ...Apr.  30, 1862 

Joehua  S.  Burton May  10, 1862 

George  A.  Jones. Sept  26, 1862  < 

Peter  Robinson Oct  30,  1862 

J.  P.  W.  Kollock Dec.  10,  1862 

Thomas  P.  Walls Dec  30. 1862 

Thomas  A.  Jones. Jan.  2,  1863 

Robert  L.  Lacey Jan.  17, 1863 

Thomas  J.  Daris. Mar.  4, 1863 

Samuel  Davidson Mar.  30, 1863 

John  Hickman Apr.  11, 1864 

Wm.E.  Cannon July  22, 1864 

Wm.  F.  Reville Dec.  3, 1864 

Joseph  J.  Adams. Dec.  3, 1864 

Alfred  Cottlngham Feb.  7, 1866 

Charles  A.  Rawlins... Apr.  11, 1866 

John  Hickman Nov.  16, 1866 

Hesom  T.  Downing...Nov.  19,  1866 

James  Stewart Jan.  2,  1867 

Littleton  H.Smith Jan.  9, 1867 

Nathaniel  H.  Brown. Feb.  14, 1867 

Wm.  B.  Layton Feb.  1, 1867 

Nathl.  H.  Brown Feb.  14,  1867 

James  H.  Tyre Jan.  21, 1868 


Robert  West Jan.  26,  1868 

Kendal  Richards. .Oct  7,  1868 

Seuthey  A.  Polk. Jan.  1, 1860 

Wm.  R.  Wilson. Feb.  17, 1860 

John  Hickman. June  15,  1860 

Wm.  M.  Hickman  ...June  24, 1860 

Joseph  Loftota Nov.  28, 1869 

Jas.  P.  W.  Kollock...Dec.  13,  1860 

John  P.  Burton May  10,  1870 

Robert  H.  Davis May  26, 1870 

Derrick  B.  Morris June  6,1870 

John  A.  Haszard Deo.  17,  1870 

Tho.  W.  Ralph Jan.  13,  1871 

Jesse  W.Robinson. ...Apr.  17,  1871 

David  H.  Mustard May  2, 1871 

Ebez.  H.  Tyre June  27,  1871 

Wm.  L.  Slnman July  24, 1871 

MiSlorW.  Allen Aug.  10,  1871 

Wm.  Shockley Dec.  5,  1871 

Joeeph  T.  Adams Dec  18, 1871 

George  A.  Jones Jan.  31,  1872 

J.  H.  Satterfield Nov.  17, 1872 

S.  P.  Houston .Mar.  18. 1878 

Ghas.  A.  Rawlins Apr.  22, 1873 

John  Hickman May  27,  1873 

James  H.  Boyce Dec  3, 1873 

Hiram  T.  Downing.  ...Dec  3,  1873 

Henry  W.  Baker Jan.  16,  1874 

John  L.  Thompson. ..Jan.  17, 1874 

Wm.  S.  Rodney Jan  25,  1875 

James  LafreU Nov.  28, 1876 

J.  P.  W.  Kollock Dec  13,  1876 

Philip  C.  Pennell Feb.  16, 1877 

Jasper  Dawson Mar.  3, 1877 

John  L.  Thomson Mar.  27, 1877 

Isaacs.  Jones Apr.  17, 1877 

Robert  H.  Davis May  26,  1877 

Derrick  B.  Morris.... June  21,  1877 

john  A.  Hazzard Dec.  10,  1877 

Thomas  W.  Ralph Jan.  14, 1878 

R.  J.  Davidson Feb.  11,  1878 

Jesse  W.  Robinson. ..Apr.  17,  1878 

S.  H.  Layton May  14,  1878 

David  H.  Mustard June  3, 1878 

Mi^or  W.  Allen Ang.  29,  1878 

Azel  Stephens Dec.  16,  1878 

Joseph  F.  Adams Dec.  18, 1878 

BeoJ.  H.  Elliot Jan.  10, 1879 

George  A.  Jones Feb.  5, 1870 

John  H.  Satterfield..Jan.  14, 1880 

Wm.  B.  Rlcords Feb.  26,  1880 

John  L.  Thompson Mar.  8,  1880 

Lemuel  W.  Waples...Mar.  18, 1880 

Joseph  N.  Willey Mar.  30, 1880 

Hiram  T.  Downing.. ..May  3, 1880 

Henry  W.  Baker Jan.  16,  1861 

Ghas.  A.  Rawlins Nov.  0,  1881 

David  Green Nov.  24,  1882 

Joseph  B.  Lingo Feb.  14, 1888 


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1214 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Jasper  Dawkii Mmy  18,  1886 

Sunoel  W.  Layton....May  18, 1885 

M^lorW.  All«a Sept.  2,  1885 

IsMo  F.  WorreD Kot.  sa,  1885 

Azel  Stephens Dec.  16, 1885 

J.  T.  Adams Dec.  22, 1886 

Bei\}.  N.  Elliot Jan.  16,  1886 

George  A.  Jones.. Feb.  5,  1886 

Isaac  L.  Long Mar.  10, 1887 

B.  Frank  Waggoner... Apr.  6,  1887 

L.  W.  Waples Apr.  26, 1887 

Thos.  B.  Chandler May  12,1887 

H.  MarUn  Wrigfat....May  19, 1887 


Fnuik  Morrison Mar.  28,  1883 

John  M.  Bawlins....»AQg  30, 1883 

John  T.  Jacobs Oct.  31,  1883 

8.  P.  Houston Not.  10, 1883 

Philip  0.  PenneU Feb.  19,  1884 

John  Dokes  Mar.  7, 1884 

James  E.  BetU Apr.  17, 1884 

John  H.  Elliot Apr.  30, 1884 

Robert  H.  Davis May  27,  1884 

Derrick  B.  Morris.»^ane26, 18M 

James  H.  Tyre Feb.  11,  1886 

J.  H.  Rossell Feb.  18, 1886 

R.  J.  Davidson Mar.  9,  1886 

Jesse  W.  Robinson. ...Apr.  17,  1^ 

Levy  Court — The  account  of  the  organization  of 
the  Levy  Court  will  be  found  in  the  Civil  List  of 
New  Castle  under  the  head  of  the  Levy  Court.  The 
act  of  June  14,  1793,  provided  for  the  election  of 
commissioners  to  compose  the  Levy  Court  as  at  pre- 
sent and  designated.  Ten  for  Sussex,  one  for  each 
Hutdred. 

The  early  records,  from  the  organization  until  1798, 
are  not  found.  A  list  of  commissioners  in  that  year, 
and  also  in  1809,  are  given,  and  from  that  time  con- 
tinuously as  elected,  the  term  extending  three  years. 

Levy  Oouri  Chmmissionerg.  < 


Jacob  Townsend .-.1798 

Anoh  P.  Phelps 1798 

SUMcCaulley 1798 

ArmwellLong 1798 

BUJah  Adams 1798 

George  Walter. 1798 

Stephen  Stiyer 1798 

Jacob  Hasiard 1798 

Jacob  Uazxard...... 1802 

Wm.  Barton 1802 

Ohas.  McCoUen 1802 

John  Morris 1802 

Asahel  Phelps „ 1802 

■U  McCoUey -1802 

William  White 1802 

Jacob  Townsend 1802 

Solomon  Moore 1802 

Wm.  Rlclrards. 1802 

William  Burton 1809 

Ralph  Robinson 1809 

WUlUm  Harris 1809 

Wm.  Ellegood »1809 

George  Howard 1809 

baac  Lynch 1809 

KU  McCaulley „1809 

nihu  Thoroughgood 1809 

Raeckcliff  Paynter 1809 

Thomas  Fisher 1809 

Oomeiios  Wiltbank 1810 

John  Short 1810 

George  Robinson 1811 

Robert  Davis 1811 

Samuel  Elliott 1812 

George  Howard... 1812 

Ralph  Robinson 1812 

Benton  Harris 1813 

Edward  Dingle 1813 

John  Carlisle ......1813 

George  Robinson 1814 

Dr.  Edward  Dingle 1814 

Lawrence  Biiey ...1814 

Liston  A.  Hamilton 1815 

Nathaniel  Boss ...1816 

JohnDashiel 1815 

Wm.  Ellegood 1815 

Richard  Clark 1816 

Dickson  Harris 1816 


Benten  Harria 1816 

Edward  Dingle 1817 

Daniel  Burton 1817 

Lawrence  Riley 4817 

Bagwell  Barker 1817 

Thomas  Heam 1818 

Samuel  Elliott 1818 

Wm.  Derrickson 1818 

Daniel  Burton 1818 

Dixon  Harris 1819 

Benton  Harris ......1819 

Wm.  Dunning 1819 

Wm.  Dunning 1820 

Bagwell  Barker. 1820 

Lawrence  Riley 1820 

Nathaniel  Ross 1821 

Daniel  Burton 1821 

Thomas  Heam 1821 

Samuel  ElUoU 1821 

Wm.  Derrickson 1821 

JesM)  Dutton 1822 

Edward  Dingle,  Jr 1828 

Robert  Burton 1823 

Samuel   Ratcliff. 1823 

Eli   Campbell 1824 

Jesw  Dutton 1824 

Robert  Burton 1824 

John  Wiltbank 1824 

Jonathan  Waller 1824 

James  Fisher 1825 

Thomas  Heam 1825 

Samuel  Ratcliffe 1826 

Ralph  Robinson 1826 

Edward  Dingle,  Jr 1826 

Ell  Campbell ..1827 

Henry  F.  Rodney 1827 

Thomas  Fooks 1827 

Jonathan  Waller 1827 

James  F.  Bylis 1828 

James  Fisher 1828 

Elijah  Cannon 1828 

John  Ponder 1828 

George  Frame 1829 

Spencer  Philips 18^9 

Thomas  Fooks 1830 

Jonathan  Waller 1830 

James  Rickards 1830 


Samuel  Ratcliff. 1831 

ElUah  Otnnon 1831 

Thomas  Robinson 1831 

James  Redden 1831 

Thomas  Robinson 1833 

Wm.  Beniah  Watson 1832 

Stephen  Collins 1832 

Isaac  Knowles 1833 

WUIiam  Knowles  1833 

Shepherd  P.  Houston 1833 

Daniel  Short 183^ 

Warren  Kinder ..1836 

Spencer  PhiUps «....1835 

John  M.  West 1837 

EU  Hall 1837 

Joseph  I.  Lynch 1837 

Isaac  Wilson « 1839 

Thomas  W.  Mdlvaia 1839 

James  A.Harris ..1839 

Lerin  Yanghaa 1841 

John  James 1841 

Marion  Gum 1841 

Peter  R.  Waples 1841 

Brinkley  Daris 1841 

Waitman  Jones 1843 

John  C.  Daris 1843 

John  Day 1843 

Joshua  G.  Baner April  1843 

John  F.  Burton  .„...  ..October  1843 

John  Ponder 1846 

Lewis  West ..1846 

William  V.  Coulter 1846 

Henry  Lingo ^...1846 

Philip  Short 1845 

Bbe  Walten 1846 

Isaac  Giles 1845 

Isaac  Willen 1W7 

John  Kender « - 1847 

Aaron  B.  Manrel 1847 

Henry  Lingo 1847 

Perry  Poole 1847 

Darid  Pepper ., 1849 

James  Scott 1840 

Nathaniel  Horsey 1849 

JosUh  T.  Selby 1849 

Purael  D.  Norman 1849 

Nathl.  T.  Davis. 1851 

Jonathan  Owens » 1861 

Loxley  R.  Jacobs „ 1861 

Samuel  Davidson 1851 

James  M.  Tunnell 1861 

John  Jones 1851 

Nebemlah  Dorman 1863 

John  Jones 1853 

Joseph  Dodd 1863 

Henry  Hickman 1864 

John  Bennett 1856 

Robert  P.  Barr 1865 

Wm.  Ross 1855 

Solomon  Short 1855 

Joshua  Wharton 1855 

John  Salmans 1855 

Puraeli  B.  Norman 1886 

John  L.  Bacon 1857 

Eli  G.  Philips 1857 

Joshua  T.  Lynch 1667 

Burton  Stockley 1857 

Miers  Reynolds 1859 

James  W.  Welch 1869 

Warren  Kinder. 1859 

Wm.  B.  Layton 1869 

John  M.  Philips 1869 

John  T.  Conwell 1861 

Jacob  W.  Cannon 1861 

Joseph  Kills 1861 

John  M.  Taylor 1861 

James  F.  Morten 1861 

Samuel  B.  Jefferson... 1863 


Ahasnerus  Tindel ^^., 

Nehemiah  Stay toa.  ....^ . 

John  M.  Hooston 

Fletcher  Lacey...^....^. 

David  Pepper 

Wm.  B.  Tomlinsoa  . 

David  H.Bqyce ~. 

Ebe  Walter 

Thomas E.  Records... 

John  Davis 

Wm.  Shockley 

Wm.  E.  CanniNi.........^ 

JSseph  Ellis 

Joseph  Marvel ^ 

Joseph  B.  Strafford 

Thomas  J.  Perry ^ 

Thomas  Heam 

John  H.  Hosea ^ 

Wm.  D.  Paynter. 

John  Macklin 

David  H.  Boyce 

Samuel  M.  Slmplor 

Chalton  Smith 

Thomas  W.  WiUIn 

Wm.  E.  Rogers 

David  H.  Boyce _... 

Wm.  0.  Short 

James  P.  W.  Marsh 

Andrew  J.  Horsey.....^. 

Philip  C.  MatUiewa 

John  Fisher.... 

Ebeneser  M.  Lowe... 

Th<nnas  Dukes 

Samuel  0.  Paynter.. 

Charles  Tunnell........ 

Samuel  M.  Simpler..... 

David  R.  Smith 

Thomas  W.  Wlllin...... 

Wni.  0.  Short .... 

James  P.  W.  Marsh 

Wm.  E.  Rogers 

George  W.  Jones. 

George  H.  Draper.. 

Henry  B.  Lingo 

John  Rodney ... 

John  Elliott 

Jehu  F.  Derridnoo..... 

George  D.  Orton ..« 

Joshua  A.  Lynch 

Edward  Owens..... 

Nathan  J.  Banrick 

Joshua  J.  DerrioksoD... 
Joseph  B.  Lingo......... 

George  D.  Orton.. ^. 

James  T.  O'Day 

George  W.  Jones 

John  J.  Morris 

Wm.  T.  Moore 

Samuel  Bacon 

Wm.  G.  Davis 

W.  P.  Thompson... 

Nathaniel  H.  Wil«m.. 

ElUah  Hudson. 

JesM  B.  Stevenson 

John  H.Manh 

Henry  B.  MitcheU 

Joseph  R.  Ricards 

Edward  F.  Sammoos... 

William  Handy 

John  J.  Morris 

R.  W.  D.  Albttty ... 

Alfred  R.  White _ 

J.  W.  ViDCMU 

J.  W.  Anderson. 

George  'W.  Jones 

H.  W.  Hickman 

Joseph  R.  Records.. , 

Henry  B.  MitcbeH 


1*3 

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1866 

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1881 

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ifn 

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wn 

itn 

1871 

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1873 

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1875 

1833 

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1875 

1875 

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18TS 

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1881 

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1881 

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1885 

1885 

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l««S 

18SJ 

1885 

.._.I8«T 
...^-18*1 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1215 


George  0.  Abbott....^ 1887 

Thomas  A.  Joseph. 1887 

Charles  P.  Tatman 1887 

George  W.  LeCbtes ...1887 


Andrew  J.  Lord,  vice  Joseph  R. 

Ricarda,  deceased April,  1887 

Levin  T.  Sanlsbury,  vice  R.  W.  D. 

Albarjr  resigned .^pril,  1887 


Trecuurers  Sussex  County. 


Wm.  Peei7 1786 

George  Hauard 1796 

Isaac  Tannell „ 1810 

Thomas  Robinson ^ 1826 

Pamel  Johnson 1828 

Jamss  Maoll 1830 

Joseph  Honston 1832 

Joshua  G.  Baker 1839 

Joel  Prettyman „ 1841 

Nathaniel  P.  Harris 1845 

George  P.  White 1847 

Thomas  Walker 1860 

Charles  C.  Stockley 1861 

Thomas  W.  Barton 1863 

Thomas  H.  Fooks. 1866 

David  Pepper^ > 1867 


James  H.  Boyce 1869 

Hiram  S.  Short 1861 

Joeiah  P.  Marvel „ 1863 

Wm.  H.  Wheatley 1866 

Shepherd  P.  Martin 1866 

John  L.  Coulboom 1867 

Edward  W.  Houston 1869 

George  H.  Vincent 1871 

Warren  Kinder 1873 

John  W.  Short 1876 

Daniel  R.  Burton „ 1877 

James  Rawlins 1879 

Cyrus  Warde 1881 

John  H.  B.  Mustard 1883 

Levin  8.  Hitch 1885 

Jesw  B.  Stevenson » 1887 


CHAPTER    LXVI. 

LEWES  AND  REHOBOTH  HUNDRED. 

This  hundred  borders  on  Delaware  Bay  and  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  and  pavtakee  of  the  characteristics  ot 
this  indented  coast.  It  is  irregular  in  shape,  and  is 
one  of  thesmallest'hundreds  in  the  county  in  territory. 
On  the  south  and  west  are  Behoboth  Bay  and  Indian 
River  Hundred;  and  on  the  north  is  Broad  Kiln 
Hundred,  giving  it  an  area  of  about  six  by  ten  miles. 
The  most  of  the  surface  is  level  and  along  the  arms  of 
Rehoboth  Bay  is  of  a  marshy  nature.  In  this  locality 
the  ocean's  strand  is  high,  affording  a  firm  beach  for 
bathing,  and  making  it  popular  as  a  resort.  Reho- 
both Bay  is  a  large,  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  full  of 
fish  and  visited  by  vast  flocks  of  wild  fowl.  On  some 
of  its  shores  oysters  were  found  as  early  as  1662. 
Newbold's  Lake  and  Oordon's  Pond  are  fredh  water 
bodies,  whose  size  has  been  decreasing  on  account  of 
the  drifting  sands,  which  have  been  slowly  filling 
them  up.  The  same  action  has  been  lessening  the 
size  of  the  streams  of  hundred,  the  largest  of  which 
is  Lewes  Oreok.  This  was  first  known  as  the  Hoem 
Kill,  later  as  the  Hore  Kill,  and  took  its  present  name 
firom  the  town  located  on  its  banks.  It  is  al:K>ut  ten 
miles  long  and  flows  parallel  with  the  pcean  and 
Delaware  Bay,  and  about  one  mile  from  them.  It  is 
subject  to  tidal  influences  and  its  channel  into  the 
bay  has  been  several  times  shifted.  Cape  Henlopen 
lies  to  the  northeast  of  this  stream,  and  has  been 
widening  at  the  rate  of  several  yards  each  year. 
Originally  it  was  covered  with  a  growth  of  pines  and 
cedars,  but  is  now  almost  destitute  of  trees,  and  in 
many  places  of  vegetation,  presenting  the  appearance 
of  a  sandy  waste.  In  other  parts,  a  good  quality  of 
manh-grass  grows  luxuriantly,  affording  splendid 
pasturages.  Beyond  the  cape  the  soil  is  generally  an 
admixture  of  sand  and  clay,  capable  of  producing  a 
variety  of  products,  and  under  good  treatment  yields 


well.  The  presence  of  clay  enables  the  hundred  to 
have  the  best  roads  in  the  county. 

The  country  has  been  well  cleared  up,  although  some 
very  fine  forests  of  oaks  remain,  and  most  of  the  farms 
are  large.  Having  been  long  under  cultivation,  some 
lands  have  become  exhausted;  but  in  recent  years 
many  acre^  have  been  reclaimed  by  systematic  tillage, 
and  some  highly  improved  farms  may  be  found. 

Along  the  sea-shore,  on  the  salt  lands,  shallow 
wells  have  been  dug  and  the  water  gathering  into 
them  has  been  evaporated  in  rude  salt-works,  put  up 
in  that  locality.  In  the  War  of  1812  salt  was  made 
on  the  flats  beyond  Henlopen  Light-house,  and  was 
sold  at  $3.00  per  bushel.  Some  of  the  buildings  used 
were  afterwards  occupied  by  Thos.  Norman,  and  were 
swept  away  in  a  great  flood,  which  is  still  remembered 
as  *^  Norman's  Flood  '*  by  some  of  the  old  citizens  oi 
Lewes.  Through  the  heroic  courage  of  the  Lewes 
pilots,  the  Norman  family  were  rescued  from  their 
perilous  positon.  The  earliest  account  of  titles  to  the 
lands  of  this  section,  and  their  settlement,  outside  of 
the  trading  posts  established  at  Lewes,  is  given  in  the 
following  report: 

The  directors  of  the  City-ColoDy  in  New  Netherlands  to  Petrue 
Stuyretant,  June  7, 1658.  *'  Since  oar  last,  of  the  20th  of  last  month, 
sent  by  the  ship  '  De  Mobsman,'  of  which  we  enclose  a  copy,  the  Hon- 
orable GocnmisBionera  for  the  manaffoment  of  the  City-Colony  in  New 
Netherland  have  Informed  us  that  their  noble  worship,  the  Lords  Bur* 
Komssters,  were  desirous  of  acquiring  the  country,  situate  on  the  bay  of 
the  South  RiTer,  on  its  western  side  (where  for  the  safety  of  incoming 
ships  some  buoys  ought  to  lie  placed  as  danger-signals)  and  called  the 
Horekill.  They  request  us,  therefore,  that  the  aforesaid  tract  of  buid, 
from  Cape  Henlopen  to  the  Boorotiens  Hoeck  should  be  purchased  by  our 
orders  and  then  be  conreyed  to  their  director,  as  they  Intend  to  place 
there  a  suitable  fortification  f^r  the  protection  of  those  places.  As  we 
bare  thought  that  this  will  be  of  advantage  to  the  company  and  their 
possessions,  we  have  resolved  to  order  and  direct  your  Honors  hereby  to 
acquire  the  aforesaid  country  immediately  and  without  deli^,  and  to 
purchase  it  from  the  lawful  owners  if  it  should  not  have  been  done  be- 
fore, under  properly  executed  deeds,  and  then  to  raconvey  it  there 
to  the  director  of  the  said  Colony.  No  t|me  is  to  be  Inst  herein,  but 
speed  is  necessary  in  order  to  anticipate  thereby  other  nations,  especi- 
ally our  English  neighbors,  whom  we  suspect  of  baring  cast  their  eyes 
upon  these  places,  for  we  have  heard,  that  lately  two  boats  with  English 
people  from  Virginia  have  been  at  the  Cape  Henlopen  ;  they  stranded 
there,  however,  and  were  taken  prisoners  by  the  savages,  but  were  ran- 
somed again  by  the  said  Director  Alrichs,  as  they  pretended  to  be  fugi- 
tives, pertiaps.to  f^ce  their  governor  from  the  su^ldon  that  he  had  any 
knowledge  of  It.  And  as  we  understand  also  that  the  said  Director 
Alrichs  has  consented  to  the  coming  over  from  there  of  some  En  glisb 
families  and  as  we  cannot  expect  anything  good  fh>m  this  nation,  con- 
sidering their  unsufTerable  proceedings  in  the  past  (not  only  their  inva- 
sion of  our  indisputable  territories  and  possession  at  the  north,  but  also 
the  arrogant  audaciousness  and  fkithlessness  of  those  even  who  are 
under  our  Jurisdiction  and  alleginnce)  we  cannot  omit  to  recommend 
hereby  to  our  Honors  most  earnestly,  not  only  to  inform  yourselves 
thoroughly  of  tlie  number  of  English  families  arrived  there,  but  also  to 
communicate  in  a  friendly  way  to  the  said  Director  Alrichs,  the  danger- 
ous consequences  of  the  aflkir  agreeably  to  the  enclosed  extract  of  our 
resolutions,  and  then  to  report  to  us  in  regard  to  the  one,  and  the  other,  so 
that  we  may  know  what  occurs  in  this  direction,  from  time  to  time,  and 
may  do  which  we  deem  necessary." 

This  matter  having  been  brought  to  the  attention 
of  Director  Alrichs,  he  communicated  with  Governor 
Stuy  vesant,  November  10,  1668,  as  follows : 

**  On  the  resolution  or  contract  made  with  each  other  and  agreed  to 
by  the  Lords  Directors  and  the  City,  in  regard  to  the  territory  on  the 
Horekill,  to  add  the  same  to  this  Colony,  whereof  the  Lords- Principals 
respectively  gave  notice  as  well  as  to  your  Honor  there,  ai  to  this  place, 
and  whereupon  followed,  that  your  Honor  issued  an  order  to  eivJoy  the 
benefit  of  it,  also  an  order  was  passed  to  this  effect  to  your  Honor's 
Commissary,  Mr.  Beekman,  to  purchase  the  aforesaid  land  with  another 
person,  who  was  to  be  qiwUfled  thereto  fh>m  this  side  (he  being  Mr. 
Hinojossa)  I  have  instructed  the  two  respective  cominissiuners  about  it, 
to  begin  the  Journey  thither  and  make  a  calculation,  what  they  would 


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121« 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


require  for  the  purchase,  and  they  made  the  proposition  that  they  wouM 
require  thereto  a  lot  uf  duffels,  also  coats  for  the  sarages,  kettle*,  look- 
ing^glaMes,  knives,  trumpets,  etc.,  of  which  the  principal  part  cannot 
be  had   here,  at   least  not  for   money  or  wares,  nor  did  now  the  ship 
•DeMeulln*  brinjc  for  the  city *s  account  any  wide  duffels  nor   have 
any  of  the  other  thiuKS  been  sent    Consequently  difficulties  arise,    and 
their  Journey  thither    would  be  In  rain,  without   their  bringing  such 
things  with  them,  the  more  so.  because  it  is  winter,  so  that  now  nego- 
tiations. If  of  any  Importance,  cannot  well  be  begun  or  doue,  especially 
with  this  nation,  unless  they  huTe  them.    In  my  opinion  it  is  adTisable 
to  accomplish  the  purchase,  the  sooner  the  better  for  [then]  we  [have 
not  to  fear  that  we  shall]  be  frustrated  by   anybody  on  account  of  delay ; 
therefore  your  Honor  will  please  [to  consider]  whether  it  would  be  ad- 
▼antageous.**    ••••••    **  That  what  is  must  necessary  thereto 

might  be  sent  from  there  while  at  the  same  time  the  aforesaid  commI«- 
siouers  both  are  of  my  opinion,  that  this  Is  extremely  necessary  and  ad- 
Tantageous,  in  order  that  by  the  first  opportunity  steps  may  be  taken 
towards  the  n^otiation." 

Negotiations  having  been  begun,  Alrichs  wrote  to 
Stuy vesant,  May  14,  1659,  in  regard  to  the  mission  of 
Beekman, — 

"  It  was  proposed  to  his  Honor  that  he  should  be  pleased  to  take  on 
this  occasion  the  five  soldiers,  and  another  one,  *  *  *  to  the  Horekil, 
and  then  these  same  soldiers  might  remain,  or  perhaps  go  over  into  the 
01ty*8  service,  against  those  who  will  be  found  willing  therein.  *  *  *  As 
they  say  the  soldiers  there  do  no  guard  nor  other  military  duties.  *  •  * 
I  send  twenty  under  the  Honorable  Captain-Lieutenant  Hin^ossa  to 
Horekill,  for  the^purchase  of  which  place  Mr.  Bookman  and  the  said 
Hinijeesa  (who  remains  there  In  command)  are  going  there." 

Concerning  the  mission  of  these  commissioners,  Al- 
richs wrote  ftirther  from  New  Amstel,  May  23, 1659 : 

*'  Since  my  last  to  your  Honor  Mr.  Beekman  and  Mr.  HinUossa  went 
to  the  Horekill  on  the  23rd  of  last  month.  I  received  a  note  on  the 
8Uth  that  they  had  safely  arrived  there,  and  sent  out  a  savage  for  the 
chiefs  of  that  country  there,  that  they  should  come  down  to  make  an 
agreement  with  them,  dnoe  which  I  have  not  heard  from  them,  nor  had 
further  news ;  therefore  I  expect,  with  desire,  to  hear  firom  them  again. 

*'  I  hear  at  present  some  strange  rumors,  as  If  the  English  pretended 
that  this  river  or  land  by  right  belonged  to  them ;  that  they  would  cer- 
tainly send  two  persons  here  to  demand  this  place  and  take  possession  of 
It.  with  whom  some  mischievous  .persons  would  unite,  to  assist  In  ac 
compliahing  it,  the  more  so  as  there  are  people  here  who  boast  that  they 
have  seen  or  read  letters  written  from  Virginia  to  the  Swedes  that  they 
should  remain  here  as  a  free  colony,  under  the  English,  of  which  so 
much  is  spoken  that  I  can,  by  no  means,  let  It  pass  by  (unnoticed)  and 
without  informing  your  Honor  immediately.  And  [I  request],  as  I 
have  here  only  ten  or  fifteen  soldiers,  since  about  twenty  went  to  the 
Horekil,  that,  therefore,  more  might  [be  sent],  or  that  your  Honor  In 
person  would  come  here  (if  the  first  would  be  considered  serviceable  or 
expedient ;  or,  on  the  other  side,  if  your  Honor's  business  could  some, 
how  admit  It).'* 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1659,  Alrichs  was  able  to  re- 
port to  Btuyvesant  that  the  commissioners  had  suc- 
cessfully performed  their  mission  and  had  secured  a 
contract,  as  would  be  seen  by  the  "  bill  of  sale,  which 
will  be  sent  to  your  Honor  by  Mr.  Beekman  and  to 
which  I  refer."  * 

Although  the  Dutch  had  secured  this  territory  by 
purchase  from  the  Indians,  it  did  not  allay  their  ap- 
prehensions of  encroachment  or  attack  by  the  English, 
coming  from  the  province  of  Virginia;  and  on  the 
same  day  (June  14,  1659),  Director  Alricbs  again 
called  the  attention  of  the  Governor  to  the  defenseless 
condition  of  the  coast.    He  said : 

•♦  Therefore  I  refer  all  concerning  it  respectfully  to  your  Honor,  but 
if  they  should  desire  to  use  force  (of  arms)  to  rob  and  plunder,  then  I 
think  this  place  in  the  present  time  is  too  weak ;  there  is  little  courage 
on  account  of  the  two  years*  sicknee^  the  bad  summer,  the  hard  winter, 
scarcity  of  provisions,  without  little  assistance  as  I  am  ordered  and 
commanded  by  letters  from  my  Honi>i«  Principals  to  equip  another  place 
and  have  It  fortified  and  garrisoned,  which  cinnot  be  done  without 
great  expense." 


1  This  bill  of  sale  of  the  land  between  Cape  Henlopen  and  Boomties 
Hook  given  by  the  Indians  to  Mr.  Beekman  and  Lieutenant  de  Hii.Uoasa 
for  the  West  India  Company,  on  the  7th  of  June,  1659,  was  placed 
among  the  records  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society,  but  time  has  so 
much  effaced  its  writing  that  it  is  no  longer  legible. 


The  latter  place  to  be  fortified  doubtless  had  refer- 
ence to  the  Horekill  region,  where  a  small  fort  was 
again  built  for  the  West  India  Company,  and  a  trading 
post  maintained  in  its  interests  after  1661. 

One  of  the  first  tracts  in  the  hundred  for  which  a 
warrant  was  issued  was  "Tower  Hill,"  on  Pagan 
Creek.  It  was  granted  November  25, 1676,  by  Gover- 
nor Andross  to  Derrick  Brown.  This  is  a  choice  lo- 
cation, and  belonged  to  Harbeson  Hickman  in  1887. 

The  same  authority,  September  29, 1677,  granted  a 
tract  of  four  hundred  acres,  called  "Sun  Dials,"  to 
James  Weels.  It  was  "  located  at  a  beaver  dam  pro- 
ceeding from  Lewes  Creek."  On  the  8th  of  Novem- 
ber, the  same  year,  William  Tom,  by  a  deed  and  as- 
signment made  to  Luke  Watson,  f »r  five  thoasand 
pounds  of  tobacco,  conveyed  a  certain  patent  from 
Governor  Andross  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-two 
acres  of  land  lying  on  the  Horekill. 

A  warrant  was  issued  to  Arthur  Clements,  March 
25,  1686,  for  fifteen  hundred  and  twenty  acres  "  •n 
Pointexter*s  Creek,  which  flows  into  Lewes  Creek." 

"  West  Chester,"  a  tract  of  nine  hundred  acres,  on 
the  northeast  side  of  Love's  Creek,  was  deeded  to 
John  Crew  by  Francis  Cook,  September  3, 1700 ;  and 
on  the  4th  of  March,  the  same  year,  Peter  Lewis 
deeded  "  Middleborough,"  four  hundred  and  fortf 
acres,  near  the  town  of  Lewes,  to  Jacob  KollodL 
This  tract  had  been  warranted  to  Alexander  Moleston, 
who  had  also  deeded  five  hundred  acres  on  the  head 
of  Love  Creek  to  Thomas  Fisher,  son  of  John,  on  the 
8th  of  January,  1696.  In  1702  William  Futcher  con- 
veyed to  *'  Richard  Paynter,  inn-keeper,  of  Lewes,  his 
mansion,  land  and  plantation,  three  hundred  and  six- 
ty-six acres,  bounding  on  King*s  Creek,  from  ye 
mouth,  fronting  upon  ye  bay,  to  ye  head,  part  of  a 
lai^  tract  called  'Peach  Blossom.'" 

The  John  Fisher  above  mentioned  came  from 
England  in  1682,  and  settled  on  the  Horekill  tract 
He  had  besides  the  son,  Thomas,  another  son,  named 
John,  and  from  the  latter  has  descended  Judge  John 
Fisher.  The  wife  of  the  fir^t  John  Fisher,  after  his 
death,  married  Dr.  Thomas  Wynne,  who  came  to 
Lewes  in  1685,  and  two  years  later  bought  the  one 
hundred  and  thirty-two  acres  of  land  previously  sold 
to  Luke  Watson. 

Franris  Wolfe  obtained  a  patent  for  fifteen  hundred 
acres  on  the  "  Pot  Hooks,"  now  called  Wolfe's  Creek, 
a  branch  of  Lewes  Creek,  on  which  he  built  a  substan- 
tial farm-house.  His  descendants  have  all  been  quiet, 
unobtrusive,  but  intellectual  men»  and  the  successive 
generations  have  been  those  of  Reece,  William,  John, 
Daniel  and  Beece,  whose  descendants  have  become 
well  known  in  this  part  of  Sussex  County. 

The  general  settlement  of  the  hundred  is  shown  in 
the  following  list  of  taxables  in  1785 : 


Adams,  John. 
Arnold,  William. 
Signal,  Joseph. 
Bailey,  Joseph. 
Bowman,  John. 
Bignal,  William. 


Digitized  by 


Bmce,  Alexander. 
Bailey,  NathanleL 
Bryan,  Jonathan. 
Biill,  Joshna. 
Bailey,  Wniiam. 
Baird,  Hompfarsy. 

Google 


SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1217 


Brocton,  William. 
Conner,  Daniel. 
Ooulker,  Oalrin. 
Ouneron,  Andrew. 
ConaOy,  Francis. 
Craig,  John. 
Craig,  Edward. 
Coffin,  William. 
Cbddy,  John. 
Coleman,  William. 
Chambers,  James. 
Charles,  James. 
Charles,  Esau. 
Coulter,  Thomas. 
Coulter,  William. 
Dodd.  William. 
Dodd,  Hehron. 
Drain,  John. 
Darby,  Joseph. 
Diper,  Joseph. 
Davis,  John. 
Drain,  OsldwelL 
Kmmit,  LeTin. 
Edwards,  Sln^n. 
Emmit,  Samuel. 
Fisher,  WillUm. 
Fleming,  Archibald. 
Fisher,  Henry. 
Fisher,  Thomas. 
Fisher,  Jabes. 
Fisher,  John. 
Fisher,  Joshua. 
Creen,  Richard. 
Gill,  William. 
Gordon,  Thomas. 
Gordon,  NathanleL 
Green,  Ambruee. 
Hslls,  Darid. 
Howard,  Richard. 
Hali,  William. 
Holland,  Isaac. 
Holland,  WillUm. 
Holland,  Hannah. 
Harmonson,  John. 
Harmonson,  Peter. 
Hall,  Thomas. 
Hanard,  MUhan. 
HaU,  Adam. 
Hazzard,  Uriah. 
Hsrt,  Jacob. 
HaU,  Simon. 
Irwin,  Brindley. 
JeflTries,  William. 
Jacobs,  Albnrtus. 
Jones,  Penalope. 
Jacobs,  William. 
Jacobs,  Sarah. 
Jsckson,  John. 
Kollock,  Margaret. 
Kollock,  Jacob. 
Kollock,  Hercules. 
Killem,  Henry. 
Kollock,  PhUlp. 
Lewis,  Wrixham. 
Little,  Richard. 
Little,  Nicholas. 
LltUe,  John. 
Lawes,  Noble. 
Lawes,  William. 
Maull,  John. 
Maull,  William. 
Miller,  Josiah. 
Massey,  Robert. 
Marshall,  John. 
McCracken,  John. 
Martin,  James. 
Martin,  Josiah. 


Manh,  Thomas. 
Hanh,  John. 
Moore,  Jacob. 
Morris,  LstL. 
Murphy,  DauieU 
Marshall,  Aaron. 
Martin,  Elizabeth. 
MoHam,  Thomas. 
Neill,  Heniy. 
Newbold,  James. 
Newbold,  WUliam. 
Nunez,  Hannah. 
Newman,  William. 
Oliver,  Charles. 
Oakey,  Saunden. 
Oakey,  Thomas. 
Oakey,  Robert 
Orr,  John. 

Prettyman,  Sheppard. 
Paynter,  SamueL 
Prettyman,  John. 
Parker,  Peter. 
Parker,  Anderson. 
Pride,  Suthy. 
Peters,  Abigail. 
Paynter,  Reece. 
Parker,  G«orge. 
Parsons,  John. 
Paynter,  Cornelius. 
Rowland,  Samuel. 
Rowland,  Thomas. 
Rodney,  John. 
Russell,  John. 
Riccords,  LoTin. 
Riooords,  Thomas. 
Rhoads,  John. 
Kussell,  Philip. 
Roach,  LotI. 
Roach,  WillUm. 
Riccords,  Thomas. 
Still,  William. 
Stockley,  William. 
ShankUnd,  David. 
Shield,  Luke. 
Shankland,  Rhoads. 
Stockley,  Jacob. 
Stevenson,  David. 
Steel,  William. 
Stockley,  Elizabeth. 
Shankland,  Robert. 
Steel,  John. 
Train,  David. 
Thompson,  James. 
Thompson,  Samuel. 
Turner,  Isaac. 
Thomson,  William. 
Triglalian,  Philip. 
Turner,  John. 
Vint,  James. 
Yirdtn,  Marriner. 
Waves,  William. 
Wirt,  William. 
Wiltbank,  Robert  John. 
Wtltbank,  Goorge. 
White,  Wrixham. 
Woolf,  Reeoe. 
Woolf,  John. 
Woolf,  Jonathan. 
Walker,  Thomas. 
Wright,  Peter. 
White,  Issac. 
White,  William. 
Wirtley,  John. 
Wyatt,  Packer. 
White,  Peter. 
Wright,  Thomas. 
White,  Newcomb. 


West,  Thomas. 
WUtbank,  Cornelius. 
White,  John. 
White,  Paul. 


Walker,  Jacob. 
Wilson,  Thomas. 
Walker,  George. 
Wiles,  Robert. 


In  the  course  of  the  next  thirty  years  there  was  a 
large  influx  of  people  into  the  hundred,  and  many 
families  located  whose  descendants  still  remain.  A 
list  of  taxables  in  1813  embraced  the  names  of  the 
following  :* 


Arnold,  Wm. 
Arnold,  John. 
Arnold,  Wm.  G. 
Atkins,  Bagwell. 
Art,  Jacob  (Heiis). 
Art,  Bailey. 
Art,  James. 
Burton,  Daniel. 
Beeby,  Richard. 
Breveton,  James. 
Breveton,  Robert. 
Ball,  James. 
Bowman,  John. 
Bowman,  Sandrus. 
Bowman,  James. 
Baricer,  Samuel. 
Ball,  Joshua. 
Burton,  Alburtus. 
Burton,  Anthony. 
Brown,  Greensbnry. 
Batson,  Randall. 
Bailey,  Wm. 
Breveton,  Thomas. 
Biishnell,  Wm. 
Bell,  Thomas. 
Bailey,  James. 
Burton,  Joshua. 
Breveton,  Henry. 
Bruce,  Paris. 
Baker,  John. 
Batloy,  Nathaniel. 
Coulter,  Jesse. 
Carey,  John. 
Cannon,  Arcady. 
Carpenter,  James. 
Casey,  John. 
Coleman,  Wm. 
Cummins,  ^lomon. 
Coulter,  Robert. 
CUmpett,  Klook. 
Clifton,  W. 
Clifton,  Asa. 
Clifton,  James. 
Clifton,  Wellington. 
Canwell,  Jacob. 
Cope,  Joeeph. 
Coleman,  Thomas. 
Clouse,  Isaac 
Carey,  Joseph. 
Clifton,  Daniel. 
Dorman,  John. 
Davies,  SamueL 
Derwan,  John. 
Dodd,  Wm. 
Swing,  Brinkley. 
Edwards,  Wm. 
Edwards,  Simon. 
Edwards,  Simon,  Jr. 
Frank,  Csto. 
.  Futcher,  Wm. 
Field,  Mary. 
Green,  Alburtls. 
Gordon,  Jonathan. 
Oanoe,  John. 
Gordon,  David. 


Gordon,  James. 

Hudson,  Brsston. 

Hudson,  SamueL 

Hill,  George. 

HUl,  John. 

Holland,  Comfort. 

Holland,  Robert. 

Holland,  James. 

Holland,  David. 

HolUnd,  John. 

Holland,  William. 

Hlrges,  Jacob. 

Harris,  Mathus. 

Hood,  John. 

Hebson,  Leah, 

Harges,  Levi. 

Hall,  Abraham. 

Hazzard,  David. 

Holland,  James  J. 

Heckman,  Selby. 

Hall,  David. 

Howard,  Thomas. 

Howard,  Robert. 

Hall,  Peter. 

Holland,  Bei^amln. 

Harris,  William. 

Hall,  Joshua. 

Hickman,  George  (store) 

Hall,  Henry. 

HolUnd,  John. 

Holland,  Albertus. 

Hudson,  Anderson. 

Howard,  Richard. 

Hall,  Col.  David. 

Houston,  Liston  (heirs). 

Hopkins,  William. 

Hall,  Thomas. 

Harminson,  Thomas. 

Johnson,  David. 

Jeffrie,  #aoob. 

Johnson,  William. 

Jacobs,  George. 

Johnson,  Purner. 

l^olloch,  PhiUp. 

KoUoch,  Solomon. 

Kolloch,  London. 

KoUoch,  SamueL 

King,  Hugh. 

Long,  Armwell. 

Long,  James. 

Lewis,  Jacob. 

Lacy,  Zadock  B. 

Lesriey,  James. 

Long,  Hester. 

Littl^  John. 

Lamb,  Luke. 

Lank,  William. 

Lintner,  Jacob. 

Lacy,  Robert. 

Lewis,  WUliam  (shoemaker). 

Marsh,  Thomas. 

Maull,  Peter. 

Maull,  John. 

Marsh,  Thomss. 

Maull,  John,  Jr. 


1  Both  lUts  embrace  also  all  the  taxables  residing  at  Lewes. 


Digitized  by 


Google 


1218 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


McAlister,  DuiieL 
McHain,  John. 
Marriner,  Sarah. 
Miles,  John  S. 
HcGracken,  Gilbert. 
Marshall,  William. 
Marah,  Jamaa. 
Manh,  Mary. 
Marah,  Matthew. 
Marsh,  John. 
McCuUen,  Charles. 
Mcllvain,  Beivfamin. 
Mcll  vain,  James. 
Mcllvain,  Mills. 
Marsh,  Susan. 
Marshall,  Aaron. 
Milbey,  Peter. 
Milbey,  John. 
Mcllvain,  John. 
Marsh,  Dr.  Joaeph. 
Martin,  John. 
Moore,  George. 
Maniner,  John. 
Mustard,  John. 
Mustard,  David. 
Mustard,  Jodah. 
Newoomb,  Wm. 
Nicholson,  Jamea. 
Newbold,  Jamea. 
Newoomb,  Patience. 
Orr,  John. 
Oakey,  Jonathan. 
Oakey,  Wm. 
Oakey,  Robert 
Orr,  David. 
Orr,  Wm. 
Polk,  Wm. 
Pttynter,  John. 
Prettyman,  Jamea. 
Prettyman,  Thomas. 
Prettyman,  Perry. 
Parker,  George  (store). 
Paynter,  Moaes. 
P»ynt»r,  Peter. 
Parker,  John. 
PbiUips,  Waymoth. 
Paynter,  Merltta. 
Prettyman,  Comfort. 
Prettyman,  Shepard  S. 
Paynter,  Wm. 
Pbynter,  Daniel.* 
Paynter,  Richard. 
Prettyman,  Shepard. 
PoIIett,  Jamea. 
Peters,  Thomas. 
Paynter,  Hector. 
Prettyman,  Jacob. 
Paynter,  Thomas. 
Parsons,  EH. 
Paynter,  Cornelius. 
Parsons,  Robert. 
Rodney,  Daniel. 
Ricords,  Thomas. 
Rodney,  Thomas. 
Rodney,  Caleb. 
Rodney,  John. 
Rowland,  John. 
Rogers,  Luke. 
Ragley,  Wni. 
Riccords,  Jamea. 
Riocords,  Isaac. 
Ricoords,  Ezekiel. 
Riccords,  Levi. 


Riocords,  MitcheL 
Ricooids,  EUslia. 
Rowland,  Thomas. 
Rhoades,  John. 
Rhoades,  Caesar. 
Riccords,  Samuel. 
Rowe,  Fredrick. 
Russell,  Wm. 
Rboads,  Kenmon. 
Shankland,  Rhoads. 
Smith,  Hugh. 
Stockley,  Jacob. 
Saunders,  John. 
Baunders,  Thomas. 
Steel,  Wm. 
Steel,  Joshua. 
Strong,  Archibald. 
Skilling,  Jeremiah. 
Saunders,  Wm. 
Shankland,  David. 
Steel,  Ebenezer. 
Steel,  laaac. 
Summers,  Cyrus. 
Spry,  Christopher. 
Stephenson,  David. 
Stephenson,  James. 
Stephenson,  Joseph. 
Stephenson,  David. 
Shankland,  Joseph. 
Thompson,  Jamea. 
Thompson,  Jamea,  pilot  (mu- 
latto). 
Turner,  Isaac. 
Thompson,  John. 
Thmston,  Elisabeth. 
Yerdin,  Thomas. 
Verdln,  Lydia. 
Yerdin,  Mitchell. 
Warrington,  Heater. 
West,  Bailey  A. 
Weet,  Bailey  A. 
West,  Wm.  (pilot). 
WeaUy,  Richard. 
West,  Joseph  C. 
Waplea,  Peter. 
Wiltbank,  Fiuncis. 
West,  Jacob. 
Wiltbank,  Sarah. 
Westley,  George. 
White,  Jacob. 
White,  BeAjamin  (tailor). 
West,  John  M. 
Wolfe,  Daniel. 
White,  Peter. 
White,  Doctor  John. 
Walker,  David. 
Wolfe,  Wm. 
Warrington,  Thomas. 
Wilson,  James  P. 
West,  Lewis. 
Waples,  Wolsey. 
Webb,  Sarah. 
WiUbank,  John. 
Ware,  John. 
White,  Peter. 
Warrington,  Moeey. 
Wolfe,  Doctor  John  (heirs). 
Wiltbank.  Cornelius. 
White,  Wrixham. 
Waples,  Joseph. 
White,  Robert  C. 
Wolfe,  John  M. 


BusiNEPs  Interests  and  Villages. — On  the 
4th  of  March,  1695,  the  court  at  Lewes  was  peti- 
tioned by  Jonathan  Bailey  to  grant  him  part  of  the 


branch  formerly  called  Bundick's,  on  which  to  build 
a  water-mill.  The  court  granted  the  request,  on  con- 
dition that  he  would  ''build  the  mUl  within  fifteen 
months  and  to  attend  and  minde  the  same  and  grinde 
the  grain  well  and  in  due  course  as  it  U  brought 
thither  without  respect  of  persons,  at  the  eighth  part 
tolle  for  wheat  and  the  sixth  part  tolle  for  Indian 
corne.''  The  only  mill  successfully  operated  in  the 
hundred,  in  1887,  was  the  small  grist-mill  of  Benja- 
min Burton,  at  the  head  of  Love  Creek,  where  a  mill 
has  been  maintained  for  more  than  a  century  and  a 
half;  and  near  Midway,  Benjamin  Carmine  was 
operating  a  steam  saw-mill,  which  was  cutting  the 
fine  pine  of  that  section  into  lumber.  In  other  parts 
of  the  hundred  such  mills  performed  useful  swrice 
until  the  timber  supply  was  exhausted. 

The  improvement  of  Lewes  Creek  was  projected  at 
an  early  day,  the  purpose  being  to  unite  its  waters 
with  those  of  Behoboth  Bay.  To  carry  out  such  a 
measure  the  Legislature  incorporated  a  company, 
January  14,  1803,  with  an  authorized  capital  of  ten 
thousand  dollars,  and  named  James  P.  Wilson,  of 
Lewes ;  Thomas  Marsh  and  Daniel  Wolfe,  of  Beho- 
both; William  Shankland,  of  Indian  River;  and 
Samuel  Paynter,  Jr.,  of  Broad  Kiln,  managers. 
Wb^le  this  project  was  not  executed,  the  plan  has  not 
been  wholly  abandoned,  such  a  canal  being  deemed 
feasible  at  the  present  time  and  its  construction  is 
still  urged  in  the  interests  of  coast  navigation. 

Outside  of  Lewes,  but  few  business  places  have 
been  established  in  the  hundred.  In  connection 
with  the  former,  some  trade  was  transacted  at  Quaker- 
town,  two  miles  from  Lewe:*,  which  was  a  hamlet  of 
fifteen  families  as  long  ago  as  1725.  A  public-hou»e 
was  there  kept,  the  militia  trained  at  that  place, 
and  the  elections  were  also  held  there.  Near  where 
was  built  the  residence  of  Gideon  Prettyman  stood 
the  pillory  and  whipping  post,  which  were  used  as  long 
as  the  courts  were  held  at  Lewes.  In  later  years  this 
place  became  known  as  Prettymanville,  in  compli- 
ment to  that  family.  In  1887,  stores  were  kept  by 
Wm.  Prettyman  and  A.  Cord,  and  there  were  also  a 
few  mechanics'  shops. 

Beyond  this  place  and  nearer  Bundick*s  Branch,  Dr. 
Joseph  Marsh  lived  as  a  physician,  in  the  early  part 
of  the  present  century.  Dr.  Erasmus  Marsh  succeeded 
as  a  practitioner  and,  in  1887,  Dr.  Joseph  W.  Marsh 
was  there  professionally  engaged. 

At  Nassau,  a  station  on  the  Junction  and  Break- 
water Railroad,  which  was  completed  through  the 
hundred  to  Lewes  in  1869,  are  a  few  houses,  a  Metho- 
dist parsonage,  a  store,  kept  by  Paynter  &  Marsh,  and 
a  small  fruit  evaporating  establishment,  operated 
since  1882  by  the  Reynolds  Bros.  The  postmaster 
was  Theodore  W.  Marsh,  who  succeeded  Samuel  C. 
Paynter.    The  first  store  was  kept  by  James  Lank. 

On  the  highway  from  Lewes  to  Rehoboth,  and  at 
almost  equal  distances  between  those  places,  is  the 
hamlet  of  Midway.  It  consists  of  half  a  dozen  resi- 
dences, a  store,  mechanic's  shops  and,  in  the  immedi- 


Digitized  by 


Google 


SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1219 


ate  neighborhood,  a  Predbyterian  Church.  A  post- 
office,  with  the  name  of  Midway,  was  established  in 
1884,  with  £.  L.  Warrington  as  postmaster.  The 
mercantile  business  he  is  carrying  on  was  established 
by  Wm.  P.  Thompson.  As  the  surrounding  country 
is  rich,  the  hamlet  has  become  a  bridk  trading  centre. 

Rehoboth  Beach  and  Citt.~  The  surroundings 
and  natural  advautages  of  Rehoboth  Beach,  for  a 
summer  resort,  were  recognized  many  years  ago,  but 
the  difficulty  of  reaching  the  locality  prevented  ex- 
tensive improvements,  until  within  a  recent  period. 
In  1855  the  Legislature  incorporated  the  "  Rehoboth 
Hotel  Company  *'  and  granted  the  use  of  five  acres  of 
land,  belonging  to  the  State,  lying  between  the  land  of 
Robert  West  and  the  Indian  River  Inlet,  on  condition 
that  the  hotel  should  be  erected  in  five  years.  As 
this  was  not  done,  the  charter  was  renewed,  March 
22, 1875,  under  the  name  of  the  ''Sussex  Hotel  Co," 
of  Rehoboth  City.  Tbe  latter  plan  was  located  in 
1869,  on  a  tract  of  land  at  the  head  of  Rehoboth  Bay, 
purchased  of  Robert  West.  The  following  year 
Louis  Tredenick  came  to  this  projected  town  aud 
opened  a  small  place  of  entertainment,  which,  in  an 
enlarged  condition,  has  since  been  continued  by  him 
as  the  Rehoboth  City  Hotel.  On  the  lands  plotted 
for  this  "  City  **  another  summer  hotel,  the  Douglass 
House,  halting  sixty  raems  for  guests,  was  erected  in 
1877,  by  William  C.  Fountain,  and,  in  1887,  was 
owned  by  Emory  Scotten.  A  few  fine  cottages  have 
also  been  built  on  the  lots  plotted  fur  city  purposes. 

A  mile  higher  up  the  ocean  strand  is  Rehoboth 
Beach,  one  of  the  finest  seaside  resorts  on  the  central 
Atlantic  coast.  Under  the  auspices  of  the  Rehoboth 
A8s«)ciation,  incorporated  March  15, 1871,  a  tract  of 
land,  embracing  several  hundred  acres,  lying  above 
the  Rehoboth  City  property,  was  purchased  of 
Lorenzo  D.  Martin,  in  1872,  for  the  purpose  of  estab- 
lishing a  resort  with  religious  infiuences,  and  to  hold 
in  connection  a  yearly  camp-meeting.  This  location 
was  well  platted  with  wide  avenues,  streets,  parks  and 
spacious  lots,  and  the  situation  being  exceedingly 
fine,  a  large  number  of  lots  were  readily  sold  at  fifty 
dollars  each.  In  1873  two  summer  hotels — the  *'  Bright*' 
and  the  "Surf" — and  several  fine  cottages  were 
erected,  and  many  guests  were  attracted  to  the  beach. 
On  the  27th  of  January,  that  year,  the  name  of  the 
association  was  changed  by  legislative  enactment  to 
the  '*  Rehoboth  Beach  Camp-Meeting  Association  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church."  Camp-meeting 
grounds  were  now  established  in  the  beautiful  grove, 
half  a  mile  from  the  beach,  and  the  annual  meetings 
there  held  became  occasions  of  great  interest.  This 
feeling  encouraged  the  association  to  make  yet  more 
extensive  and  substantial  impibvements  on  the  beach, 
and  a  large  number  of  cottages  were  erected  by  the 
lot-owners.  On  July  2,  1878,  an  extension  of  the 
railroad  was  completed  to  the  camp-meeting  grounds, 
which  enabled  many  excursionists  to  visit  the  beach ; 
and  the  number  of  permanent  guests  was  also  in- 
creased.   In  February,  1879,  the  charter  of  the  asso- 


ciation was  again  changed,  the  title  becoming  the 
"Rehoboth  Beach  Association,"  and  in  1881  the 
camp-meeting  feature  was  discontinued,  but  the 
grounds  have  since  been  used  for  other  gatherings. 
In  1884  the  railroad  was  extended  down  the  main 
avenue  of  the  town  to  the  beach,  and  a  depot  was  es- 
tablished in  a  central  location.  About  this  time  the 
beach  was  also  improved,  a  board-walk,  eight  feet 
wide  and  one  and  a  quarter  miles  long,  being  built  at 
a  safe  distance  from  the  wash  of  the  highest  tides. 
The  beach  is  about  two  hundred  feet  wide,  firm  and 
smooth,  and  owing  to  its  regularity  is  deemed  very 
safe.  But  one  case  of  drowning  is  reported,  that  of 
John  Frank,  August  14, 1887. 

For  the  accommodation  of  visitors  several  large 
hotels  have  been  erected  on  the  beach,  and  one  of 
them,  the  "  Surf  House,"  was  destroyed  by  fire  Au- 
gust 22,  1879,  luckily  without  the  loss  of  life.  Near 
its  site  the  "  Hotel  Henlopen  "  was  erected  by  a  com- 
pany, which  had  among  its  members  J.  E.  Hooper, 
George  R.  Johnson,  Oeorge  McCullough  and  others. 
It  cost  more  than  twenty  thousand  dollars  and  con- 
tains about  seventy-five  rooms.  Dr.  J.  W.  Thomp- 
son has  charge  of  the  "Hotel  Henlopen,"  and 
Walter  Burton  the  "  Bright  House."  The  "  Bright 
House  "  was  also  enlarged  and  well  furnished.  In 
1887  it  contained  eighty  sleeping-rooms.  It  was  the 
property  of  William  Bright,  who  waa  also  the  presi- 
dent of  the  "  Beach  Association."  Additional  accom- 
modations were  afforded  by  the  "  Douglass  Hou^e," 
several  large  boarding-houses  and  there  were  about 
forty  cottages.  Ten  of  the  latter  were  occupied  the 
entire  year.  J.  R.  Dick  was  the  superintendent  of 
the  affairs  of  the  association.  Among  the  public 
improvements  here  projected  is  an  iron  pier  into  the 
ocean,  to  enable  steamers  of  light  draught  to  effect  a 
landing.  The  Atlantic  beach  in  this  vicinity  has 
several  life-saving  stations ;  No.  1,  south  of  Cape 
Henlopen  Lights  having  been  established  in  1875  and 
is  in  charge  of  Captain  Theodore  Solmon.  The  In- 
dian River  Inlet  Station  was  established  the  same 
year  and  placed  in  command  of  Captain  Washington 
Vickers.  The  station  at  Rehoboth  City,  in  charge  of 
Captain  Thomas  Truxton,  was  established  in  1879. 

Rehoboth  Beach  post-office  was  established  in  1873 
with  Dr.  Wm.  Dawson  as  postmaster.  He  also  had  a 
drug-store,  which  was  the  first  mercantile  house  on 
the  beach.  M.  D.  Lambom  had  the  next  store,  on 
Rehoboth  Avenue.  In  1887  Mrs.  J.  Messick  owned 
the  store  and  was  in  charge  of  the  post-office,  which 
had  a  daily  mail. 

Scott's  Chapel  b  a  neat  Gothic  structure,  which 
was  built  in  the  spring  of  1880  under  the  direction  ot 
James  E.  Hooper,  assisted  by  the  general  community. 
It  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Scott,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  was  named  for  him.  It  was 
designed  as  an  unsectarian  place  of  worship  and  has 
been  statedly  occupied  by  various  denominations. 

Religious  Societies. — The  early  history  of  the 
oldest  religious  organization  in  the  hundred  has  not 


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1220 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


been  preBerved,  but  from  a  contemporary  account,  it 
appears  that  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Cool  Spring 
was  organized  many  years  before  the  time  usually 
given — 1784  to  1737.*  It  is  not  improbable  that  the 
congregation  may  have  been  formed  as  early  as 
1700,  as  a  number  of  Presbyterian  families  lived  in 
that  locality  at  that  time.  To  accommodate  these 
with  a  place  of  worship,a  central  location  was  selected, 
situated  in  the  forest,  near  a  good  spring  of  water. 
For  this  lot  a  warrant  for  a  survey  was  issued,  by  the 
proprietaries  in  Pennsylvania,  August  22, 1787,which 
directed  that  "  four  acres  and  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
five  feet,  in  a  lot  of  ten  acres,  be  surveyed  for  James 
Martin  and  a  few  other  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
congregation,  to  include  the  meeting-house  and  grave- 
yard thereon,  located  on  the  southeast  side  of 
Cool  Spring,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  coun- 
ty road,  being  nearly  seven  miles  distant  from 
the  town  of  Lewes."  This  survey  was  made  Septem- 
ber 29, 1737,  by  Deputy-Surveyor,  W.  Shankland. 

In  1734  the  congregation  formed  a  parish  with 
Lewes,  Rev.  Josiah  Martin  being  the  minister,  and 
his  successors  at  Lewes,  subsequently,  also  preached 
here.  In  1788  the  church  became  a  part  of  the  cor- 
poration of  "  the  United  Presbyterian  Congregation 
of  Lewes,  Cool  Spring  and  Indian  River,"  and  for 
many  years  retained  that  connection.  Prior  to  1805 
there  were  ordained  as  ruling  elders  at  Cool  Spring, 
under  this  arrangement :  Archibald  Uopkins,Manlove 
Russell,  Robert  Coulter,  David  Stephenson,  William 
Virden,  Josiah  Martin,  David  Mustard,  John  Stephen- 
son and  William  Peery. 

In  1810  the  congregation  had  a  larger  membership 
than  either  of  the  other  churches,  and  for  many  years 
was  strong  in  numbers  and  influence.  In  1887,  how- 
ever, there  were  but  forty  members  and  the  church 
had  no  regular  pastor. 

The  present  house  of  worship,  a  substantial  frame, 
is  the  third  building  which  was  erected  on  this  lot, 
and  was  dedicated  January  14, 1855.  It  replaced  an 
old  church,  painted  red,  which  stood  with  its  side 
towards  the  street,  and  had  two  doors  to  enter.  A 
gallery  was  built  at  each  end,  and  it  was  in  other 
arrangements  like  the  churches  of  the  olden  times. 
When  the  present  house  was  occupied,  the  congrega- 
tion had  as  trustees  James  F.  Martin,  David  M. 
Richards  and  Peter  J.  Hopkins.  At  the  same  time 
the  ruling  elders  were  Elisha  D.  Cullen,  David  M. 
Richards,  Benjamin  White,  Peter  J.  Hopkins,  Aaron 
Marshall,  James  F.  Martin  and  David  J.  Ennis. 

There  were  eighty  white  and  two  colored  members 
and  Rev.  Cornelius  H.  Mustard  was  the  pastor.  He 
acceptably  served  in  that  relation  until  the  spring  of 
1869, when  failing  health  obliged  him  to  leave  a  people 
he  loved  so  well,  and  where  he  had  received  his 
spiritual  nurture  while  a  youth.      Other  ministers 

1  lu  hia  report  to  the  Miaionarjr  Society  of  London,  October  II,  1728, 
the  Ber.  Wm.  Beckett,  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  eaid,— **  The  Presby- 
teriane  hare  two  Chnrchee  in  Suaeex  County— one  at  Cool  Spring  and 
the  other  at  Lewee,**  etc.  There  wore  at  that  time  six  hundred  Preeby- 
teriana  (old  and  young)  in  the  county. 


from  this  church  were  the  Revs.  Samuel  M.  Perry  and 
David  Coulter. 

Since  Rev.  Mr.  Mustard's  pastorate,  the  ministm 
officiating  regularly  at  Cool  Spring  have  been  the 
following : 

1870,  Rev.  G.  N.  Kennedy;  1874,  Rev.  J.  Bailie 
Adams ;  1882,  Rev.  E.  A.  Snook ;  1886,  Rev.  Benja- 
min Crosby. 

In  1887  the  ruling  elders  were  Benjamin  White,  D. 
J.  Ennis,  James  M.  Martin  and  Thomas  J.  Perry. 
The  latter  was  also  clerk  of  the  sessions. 

Among  the  interments  noted  in  the  cemet^at 
Cool  Spring  (which  is  a  large  yard  well  inclosed), 
were  those  of  James  Mcllvain,  died  1754,  aged  sixty- 
one  years ;  Robert  Torbert,  died  1752,  aged  fifty-seven 
years;  James  Fergus,  died  1796,  aged  forty-eeyeo 
years ;  William  Perry,*  Esq.,  died  1800 ;  Rev.  Joseph 
Copes,  died  1^2,  aged  fifty -seven  years ;  David  M. 
Richards,  died  1856,  aged  forty -seven  years ;  Wm.  V. 
Coulter,  died  1875,  aged  seventy-eight  years ;  David 
Mustard,  died  1858,  aged  sixty-five  years;  Josiah 
Martin,  died  1842,  aged  seventy-three  years;  Jtmei 
Martin,  died  1846,  aged  seventy-three  yean ;  Qideon 
Fenwick,  died  1858,  aged  seventy-one  years ;  Bobert 
Hunter,  died  1836,  aged  sixty-eight  years. 

Rehoboth  Presbyterian  Church  was  erected  in  1855, 
as  a  chapel  to  be  used  in  connection  with  the  church 
at  Lewes,  thus  serving  as  a  preaching  station.  Those 
most  instrumental  in  building  it  were  Thomas  Walker, 
Joseph  Dodd,  John  Futcher  and  John  Hood.  Since 
that  time  it  has  been  repaired,  and  was,  in  1887,  a 
A*ame  edifice  of  respectable  appearance,about  thirty  by 
forty  feet  in  size.  It  is  pleasantly  located,  on  the 
highway  to  Rehoboth  Beach,  near  the  hamlet  of  Mid- 
way. 

The  congregation  occupying  this  church  became  a 
separate  body  May  17, 1876,  when  a  number  of  mem- 
bers withdrew  from  the  Lewes  Church  for  that  par- 
pose,  and  others  united  with  them,  there  being  a  total 
membership  of  seventy-five  persons  at  the  time  of 
organization.  Thomas  Walker  and  John  M.  Futcher 
were  elected  the  first  ruling  elders.  Since  that  time 
William  A.  Dodd  and  Captain  Edward  S.  TonneD 
were  elected  to  the  same  office. 

The  congr^ation  was  first  supplied  with  preacbiof 
by  Rev.  Daniel  Tenney,  and  Rev.  W.  W.  Reese  be- 
came the  first  pastor.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  £• 
A.  Snook,  who  was  the  pastor  until  1884,  since  which 
time  the  pulpit  has  again  been  filled  by  supplies. 

In  1887  the  church  property  was  valued  at  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  dollars,  and  the  trustees  were 
William  A.  Dodd,  Thomas  Walker,  John  N.  Hood, 
John  M.  Futcher,  Hiram  C.  Fisher,  Charles  K. 
Warrington,  William  P.  Thompson,  Henry  P.  Wolfe 
and  Rhoads  Thompson. 

The  Ebenezer  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
hundred  was  built  near  Lewes,  in  1788,  and  the 
lot  on  which  it  stood  is  still  preserved  as  a  ceme- 
tery.    It  was  used  in  connection  with  the  Beihel 

*  Had  serred  as  obtain  in  the  Rerolutionary  War. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1221 


Church  antil  its  decay.  The  present  church  was 
built  in  the  southern  part  of  the  hundred,  on  half  an 
acre  of  land  secured  from  the  farm  of  Mrs.  Abbie 
Marsh,  and  was  dedicated  January  4, 1858.  It  is  a 
frame,  thirty-six  by  forty  feet,  and  has  a  gallery  which 
increases  the  sittings  of  the  church.  Repairs  in  1886 
have  made  it  more  comfortable  and  inviting.  In 
1887  the  controlling  board  of  trustees  was  composed 
of  J.  C.  Collins,  Joseph  T.  Futcher,  Daniel  Wolfe,  E. 
L.  Warrington,  William  D.  Wilson,  John  C.  Wilson 
and  Levin  A.  Donovan. 

Until  1880  the  ministers  of  the  church  were  the 
same  as  those  who  preached  at  Lewes.  That  year 
Nassau  Circuit  was  formed  to  embrace  this  church, 
Connelly's  and  White's  Chapel,  in  Indian  River 
Hundred,  and  Zion*s  Church,  in  Broad  Kiln,  and  the 
ministers  have  been  Revs.  James  Carroll,  John 
Warthman,  I.  N.  Foreman  and  E.  Davis.  The  circuit 
owns  a  parsonage  at  Nassau  Station. 

In  the  hundred  are  also  three  churches,  used  as 
places  of  worship  by  people  of  color,  namely,  "  Little 
Israel,"  built  for  mulatto  people,  which  was  burned 
down  about  1858,  rebuilt  and  since  repaired ;  "  Little 
We:»ley,''  built  for  the  African  Methodists  many 
years  ago,  and  becomiug  unfit  for  further  use  a  new 
house  was  built  in  1872 ;  and  *'  Little's  Chapel,''  near 
Rehoboth  Beach,  which  was  built  in  1888.  These 
houses  are  small,  but  have  been  found  useful  factors 
in  promoting  the  moral  training  of  those  who  occupy 
them.  At  most  of  the  foregoing  churches  small 
grave-yards  have  been  maintained. 

The  Town  of  Lewes. — This  ancient  town  is 
located  on  an  elevated  tract  of  land  on  Lewes  Creek,^ 
overlooking  the  mouth  of  Delaware  Bay,  and  about 
one  mile  from  it.  Cape  Henlopen  is  a  little  more 
than  that  distance  from  the  lower  end  of  the  town, 
extending  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean  as  a  sandy  waste. 
Above  it,  and  northeast  from  Lewes  Creek,  are  the 
marsh  commons,  forming  a  small  peninsula.  West  from 
the  creek,  which  was  a  fine,  deep  stream  two  centuries 
ago,  is  a  belt  of  well-drained,  fertile  lands,  whose  ad- 
vantages for  settlement  were  recognized  by  the  first 
voyagers  on  the  Delaware.  With  the  Indians  this 
was  also  favorite  ground,  and  there  have  been  unmis- 
takable evidences  that  an  aboriginal  village  was 
located  on  the  site  of  Lewes.  East  from  the  railway 
station  a  burial-place  was  discovered,  while  the  road 
was  being  cut  through  the  small  hill  in  that  locality, 
and  many  skeletons  were  exhumed.  These  indicated 
that  a  people  of  large  size  and  wonderful  power  had 
once  lived  here,  and  bad  passed  away  in  a  period  so 
remote  that  not  even  a  traditionary  account  of  them 
has  been  preserved. 

The  occupancy  of  this  section  by  the  whites  dates 
from  1622.  In  that  year  some  Dutch  traders  came 
and  carried  on  a  good  business  with  the  neighboring 
tribes  of  Indians.  In  1631  De  Vries  settled  thirty 
persons  on  the  creek,  which  he  called  the  "  Hoorn 
Kill,"'  after  his  native  place  in  Holland,  and  for  their 

1  ForoMrty  oOled  HorekiU  CrMk.        <  Oomipted  thence  to  Hoi^  KlU. 


protection  built  a  small  fort  or  house,  surrounded  by 
a  palisade  of  logs,  which  stood  on  the  bank  of  the 
creek,  which  was  at  that  time  a  deep  and  rapidly- 
flowing  stream,  and  the  marshes  were  covered  with 
fine  forests,  in  which  game  was  abundantly  found. 
Through  some  offense  the  settlers  incurred  the  hos- 
tility of  the  Indians,  who  wreaked  summary  ven- 
geanceon  them  by  killing  the  entire  colony  and  destroy- 
ing every  vestige  of  the  improvements  they  had  made. 
When  De  Vries  next  visited  this  locality,  in  1638,  not 
"  a  trace  of  the  fort  could  be  found."  The  next  set- 
tlement was  founded  in  1638  by  the  Swedes  and 
Finns  under  Peter  Minuett,  who  landed  at  the  high 
ridge  of  land  on  the  then  lower  part  of  Lewes  Creek,* 
which,  from  its  attractive  appearance,  he  called  Para- 
dise Point.  It  is  believed  that  a  few  settlers  of  that 
nationality  here  permanently  located,  at  that  time, 
and  were  soon  after  joined  by  Dutch  traders,  who 
again  commenced  bartering  with  the  Indians  of  this 
region.  Through  their  influence  the  Horekill  section 
was  purchased  of  the  Indians  by  the  West  India 
Company  in  1658.  Two  years  later  the  English  laid 
claim  to  the  country,  basing  their  demand  on  its  dis- 
covery by  Hudson,  in  1609.  To  better  maintain  its 
claims,  the  West  India  Company  erected  a  fort  at 
Paradise  Point  (now  the  lower  fort  of  Pilot  Town),  but 
in  1664  this  fort  and  the  contiguous  country  was 
yielded  to  the  English,  who  kept  up  the  trading  post. 
There  were  only  a  few  houses  and  small  farms,  but 
the  place  was  deemed  of  snfllcient  importance  to  keep 
a  "  customs  man "  residing  there.  In  1678  this 
country  again  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Dutch,  who 
now  established  a  court  at  Lewes.  The  English  re- 
captured the  place  in  1674,  and  continued  the  courts 
trading  post  and  customs  man.  Six  years  later  the 
Horekill  country  was  divided,  what  is  now  Sussex 
County  being  called  Deale.  In  1682  the  Duke  ot 
York  deeded  to  William  Penn  all  the  Delaware 
country  south  to  Cape  Henlopen,  when  the  present 
names  of  the  county  and  town  were  adopted  or  con- 
firmed by  Penn's  official  sanction.^ 

The  first  deed  for  land  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
State  was. for  a  tract  at  Lewes,  and  was  granted  July 
2, 1672,  by  €k>vernor  Francis  Lovelace  to  Hermanus 
Frederick  Wiltbank  for  "  all  that  piece  of  land  at 
the  Horekill,  signed  and  called  *  Lewes'  in  Delaware 
Bay.  Bounded  on  the  south  side  with  a  marked 
Pine  and  the  land  of  William  Classen,  on  the  N.  W» 
to  ye  lands  of  the  heirs  of  Jean  Jardyne,  a  French- 
man, containing  in  breadth  114  rods  (each  rod  be- 
ing eleven  English  feet),  stretching  N.  E.  and  S.  W. 
into  the  woods  to  ye  hindermost  Kill,  which  piece  of 
land  is  called  ye  'West  India  fort.'"  Wiltbank  as- 
signed this  land  to  Norton  Claypool  and  from  that 
family  it  passed  to  Samuel  Rowland  November  12, 
1703. 

Afrer  William  Penn  had  obtained  title  to  the  Dela- 

*  At  that  time  the  month  of  the  ereek  wm  nearer  town  by  three  milea 
than  in  1887. 

*  Lewee  it  alto  the  name  of  a  town  in  Suttex  County,  Bngland.   ' 


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1222 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ware  country,  a  new  interest  in  its  settlement  was 
awakened  and  there  seems  to  have  been  an  especial 
purpose  to  make  Lewes  a  merchant  port. 

The  court  was  instructed  to  grant  titles  to  lots 
upon  certain  conditions,  the  fulfillment  of  which 
implied  the  building  of  a  house  of  stated  dimensions 
thereon ;  on  failing  to  pay,  a  fine  was  imposed  of  five 
pounds  and  the  forfeiture  of  the  lot.  On  this  basis 
lots  were  granted  at  the  November,  1682,  term  of 
court  to  Cornelius  Pluckhoy,  who  already  owned  a 
house  ;  to  John  Kiphaven,  also  the  owner  of  a  house, 
to  William  Durvall,  who  lived  at  Lewes  at  that  time, 
to  William  Carter,  adjoining  the  land  of  Nathaniel 
Walker;  to  William  Trotter,  next  to  Carter's;  to 
John  Hill,  *'  the  lot  on  the  southwest  of  the  blind 
man's  house,''  to  John  Bellamy,  a  "  lot  adjoining  the 
old  brick  yard,"  to  John  Beverly,  **  the  lot  on  which 
he  is  building  a  vessel  on,"  to  Hermanns  Wiltbank, 
the  lot  adjoining  his  farm ;  to  Henry  Jones,  adjoin- 
ing Wiltbank  ;  to  Robert  Williams,  the  one  next  to 
Henry  Jones ;  and  to  Edward  Warner,  for  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  "  near  by  the  town." 

In  1683,  John  Brown,  a  ship-builder,  petitioned  the 
court  *'  for  a  lott  at  Lewes  on  which  he  might  build 
a  sloop  or  shallop  as  the  one  he  now  occupies  is  not 
fit."  The  same  year  William  Beverly  was  sued  by 
Hermanns  Wiltbank,  '*for  neglect  of  his  work  in 
building  the  vessel."  The  records  of  this  year  show 
that  tobacco  was  largely  raised  and  used  in  payment 
of  nearly  everything  purchased. 

In  the  next  few  years  following,  many  titles  for 
lots  in  Lewes  were  granted  by  the  Court,  and  there 
was  considerable  accession  to  the  population.  Among 
these  new  citizens  were  some  who  established  small 
industries  in  the  mechanic  trades.  In  1685,  Arthur 
Starr  petitioned  for  two  lots  on  which  to  erect  his  tan- 
yard,  the  Court  having  previously  refused  to  grant 
him  an  acre  near  Block  House  Pond.  Transfers  of 
property  are  recorded  as  early  as  1692,  when  Captain 
Thomas  Pemberton,  as  attorney,  conveyed  to  Peter 
Davis,  a  lot  of  land  and  a  brick  house.  March  4, 
1695,  Robert  Cade,  conveyed  two  lots  on  Second 
Street,  and  those  running  back  to  Pagan  Creek  to 
John  Paynter,  and  on  the  same  day  a  like  number  of 
lots,  in  the  same  locality,  to  Richard  Paynter.  On 
the  Ist  of  June,  1696,  Peter  Lewis  conveyed  to  Jac«b 
KoUock  a  lot  on  Second  Street,  on  which  was  a  brick 
house,  which  had  previously  been  owned  by  William 
Carter,  bricklayer.  June  6, 1699,  William  Dyre,  con- 
veyed to  Thomas  Fen  wick  ninety-six  acres  of  land, 
fronting  on  Lewes  Creek  and  sixty  feet  back  of  the 
same  for  a  street,  adjoining  the  uppermost  part  of 
Lewes. 

Among  the  important  transfers  after  1700,  were  in 
1704,  Samuel  Preston  to  William  Shankland.  a  tract 
of  land  called  ^*  St.  Martins,"  four  hundred  acres  on 
Pagan  Creek.  Through  this  land  was  afterwards 
located  the  well-known  '' Shankland's  Lane."  In 
1707,  Thomas  England  bought  a  house  and  lot  on 
Front    Street,    which    was    located    between     the 


properties  of  Richard  Williams  and  Cornelius  Wilt- 
bank. The  same  year  Walton  Huling,  bought  t 
house  on  Second  Street,  which  adjoined  the  land  of 
Jonathan  Ba|ley.  The  latter  also  owned  land  on 
Paradise  Point,  which  remained  in  his  family  maaj 
years.  One  of  his  daughters  married  Jacob  Art,  & 
pilot,  who  was  one  of  a  number  in  that  vocation  who 
settled  there  and  from  which  circumstance  that  ptit 
of  Lewes,  became  known  as  "  Pilot  Town."  On  tius 
tract  of  land  is  the  oldest  burial-ground  in  this  part 
of  the  State,  being  already  spoken  of  in  1687,  as  the 
"  Ancient"  ground.  This  street  for  many  years,  waa 
the  favorite  home  of  pilots  and  in  1816,  lots  were 
owned  on  it  by  William  Art,  Charles  M.  Cullen, 
Jacob  Conwell,  George  Hickman,  David  Johnaon, 
John  MauU,  William  Russell  and  Thomas  Rowland. 
In  order  that  the  growth  of  Lewes  might  be  still 
more  rapidly  advanced,  the  court  made  that  matter  a 
subject  for  consideration  June  25, 1689,  as  follows: 

**The  Ooart,  coiufdering  what  few  inhabitants  there  is  in  Um  town  d 
Lewofl,  and  being  willing  to  Inoourage  people  to  live  in  the  nid  Tovi, 
and  to  seat  and  Improve  the  back  parte  uf  the  said  Town,  are  willing  to 
grant  Larger  Lotte  than  hath  been  usoally  granted,  and  for  that  tin 
clearing  the  parte  of  the  said  Town  will  be  conTenient  and  beneficial  to 
bring  a  road  to  the  front  of  the  aaid  Town,  thej  do  Order  that  whoMMTCf 
shall  take  up  any  back  lotts  shall  not  snffer  any  Tree  or  Trees  te  grow 
thereon  to  the  hight  of  Twenty  feet,  and  whoeoever  plants  any  frvil 
Trees  or  other  Trees  thereon  shall  not  plant  them  nearer  than  foi^  ftel 
asunder,  and  keep  their  Lotts  continually  clear  of  bmeh  or  other  wooA 
and  also  to  keep  the  strsete  afieve  their  Lotts  clear  of  all  brash,  and  s9 
the  trees  in  the  streets  to  be  gmbed  up,  the  said  back  Lotts  te  be  tm- 
acre  Lotts,  with  a  square  of  four  acres  In  the  middle  of  the  town,  for  u? 
pnblick  use  or  uses  that  the  Court  shall  think  fitting ;  the  pond  on  tbe 
back  side  of  Arthur  Stam  to  be  dreaned  and  remain  for  commoo  toeone 
dewn  the  ralley,  the  where  the  Ship  is  building  into  the  river  of  Level, 
and  that  he  that  builds  and  clears  flnt  shall  have  the  first  Lotts  next  t* 
the  town." 

Some  improvements  were  now  made  in  that  part  of 
the  town,  but  an  obstacle  to  its  general  settlement 
was  found  in  the  small  marsh  near  Second  Street,  ac- 
cordingly on  the  6th  of  March,  1694,  the  court 
granted 

"  Liber^  for  a  Ditch  to  bee  Cutt  through  the  most  convenient  Place  in  die 
Town  of  Lewes  Into  the  Creek  for  the  conveniency  of  Drayning  <^  tbeS^ 
Tanah  on  ye  back  part  next  the  second  etreet  lotts,  and  order  that  yevacsst 
ground  that  lies  between  the  lott  of  Nehemiah  ffleld  and  the  fooreo* 
lott  of  Oaptain  Pemberton,  a4Joyuing  Richard  Holloway,  to  be  rmemi 
for  a  Market-place ;  and  the  vacant  piece  of  Land  next  adjoyning^on  tbe 
southwest  side  of  John  Miers,  his  lott  to  ye  Block  House  Pond  end  6» 
Block  House  field,  and  that  to  bee  used  as  a  common  barying-groend." 

The  vague  manner  in  which  some  of  the  decrees  of 
the  court  were  formulated,  especially  as  they  applied 
to  streets  and  public  places,  led  to  controversies  at  an 
early  period  in  the  history  of  Lewes,  and  which  were 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  court,  September  5, 
1694,  when  it  was  decreed  that 

"  WhereoMt  There  hath  been  some  differences  and  Disputes  aboet 
Bounds  of  the  Town  of  Lewis.  It  is  ordered  by  the  O*  to  prertiit 
farther  such  like.  That  ye  should,  and  the  Sorveyor,  with  suitahls  si. 
sistance.  Doe  forthwith  Run  out  ye  side  line  that  Runs  along  l>fr> 
Land  of  AbrahHm  and  Isaac  Wiltbank,  and  ye  land  of  John  WiUiaoisi 
also  ye  other  side  line  that  runs  along  by  ye  land  of  WlUIam  Dyre." 

The  irregularity  in  the  streets  and  public  grounds 
was  also  the  subject  of  much  complaint,  and,  in  1704, 
a  re-survey  of  the  lots  and  streets  was  ordered,  accord- 
ing to  the  plan  when  the  town  was  laid  out,  and 
which  plan  had  not  been  preserved.  But  such  a  8a^ 
vey  was  not  made  until  nearly  twenty  years  later 
when  the  court  was  again  petitioned  by  the  principal 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1223 


citizens  to  fix  the  corners  of  the  streets  so  that  the 
matter  might  be  set  at  rest.  The  court  answered  this 
request  by  directing  that  Robert  Bhankland,  in  con- 
nection with  other  commissioners,  namely.  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Beckett,  Archibald  Smith,  Simon  Kollock,  John 
Jacobs,  Edward  Dawes,  Richard  Herman  and  John 
Rhoades,  should  make  a  re-survey  upon  such  informa- 
tion as  they  could  obtain  from  old  citizens  and  con- 
temporary records. 

A  preliminary  survey  was  made  in  August,  1722, 
concerning  which  Shankland  made  this  memoranda 

"  of  nreral  BouDds  and  Stations  or  placoA  of  Beginning  of  lome  of  tli« 
streets  of  Lewistown  that  were  yet  known  by  some  of  the  Ancbent  A 
Princible  men  of  Lewistown  (to  wit) :  Mr.  Jacob  Kollock,  Sr^  Mr.  PbiUp 
Rnaell,  Mr.  John  Mien  and  Gapt  Jonathan  Bailey  (that  is),  that  ye  old 
Bricic  cliimney  of  Jacob  Kol1ock*8  Honse  set  on  the  northwest  side  of  the 
street,  and  that  the  ahead  or  Oomer  of  the  House  of  Joseph  Jotoyal  that 
did  belong  nnto  William  Orr  was  sett  on  the  southeast  comer  of  ye 
Market  St.;  also  that  Mr.  Russeirs old  house  was  sett  on  the  southwest 
comer  of  the  Back  Street  at  the  comer  of  Mulberry  Street  at  ye  comer 
— those  are  all  Boundarys  of  the  Town  that  were  showde  me  by  the  Per- 
sons abore  mentioned  at  my  first  surveying  of  the  Town  as  witness  my 
hand  this— day  of  August,  1722. 

"Robert  Shankland/' 

The  report  of  the  survey  of  Shankland  was  made 
to  the  court  May  4, 1728,  and  throws  some  light  upon 
the  early  history  of  Lewes. 

He  stated  **  the  town  was  originally  called  Deale, 
in  the  county  of  Deale,  on  the  southwest  side  of 
Lewes  Creek,  for  many  years  called  Hore  Kill  Creek." 

**  That  the  land  of  the  town  was  first  taken  up  or  claimed  by  Dysert 
Peters,  and  a4)oiued  the  lands  of  Koophayen  or  Dyre  ^  and  those  of 
Hermanns  Wiltbank,  with  the  creek  and  the  pond  on  the  other  sides,  Ac^ 
Ac." 

The  commissioners  located  the  corners  of  the  streets 
and  decided  that  the  original  purpose  was  to  have 
four  principal  streets,  to  be  known  by  the  names  of 
Front,  Market,  Ship-carpenter  and  Mulberry,  and  as 
many  cross-streets,  which  were  to  be  numerically 
designated.  All  the  streets  were  to  be  kept  sixty  feet 
wide. 

With  the  exception  of  an  occasional  decree  from 
the  court,  relating  to  minor  affairs,  there  were  no 
especial  orders  in  regard  to  Lewes  until  1794,  when 
the  Legislature  passed  an  act  again  ordering  the 
streets  to  be  surveyed  and  imposing  a  penalty  for 
appropriating  or  obstructing  them. 

Like  all  ancient  towns,  Lewes  had  its  market,  and 
regulations  were  frequently  made  for  it.  A  clerk  was 
statedly  appointed  after  1700,  but  seventy  years  later 
all  acts  pertaining  to  it  were  repealed.  The  market 
was  kept  in  the  rear  of  the  small  brick  jail  which  was 
used  by  Sussex  County  until  1792,  when  the  county- 
seat  was  removed  to  Georgetown.  This  building,  as 
an  enlarged  store-house,  is  still  standing,  but  the 
county  court-house,  built  about  1730,  which  stood  in 
the  cemetery  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  was  taken  down 
in  1838. 

At  the  foot  of  the  market-place  a  bridge  was  author- 
ized to  be  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  No- 
vember 6,  1773,  which  named  John  Rodney,  Henry 
Fisher  and  Henry  Neil  as  commissioners.      They 

1  Owned  by  Simon  Kollock  in  1723. 


were  "  to  build  and  erect  a  bridge  and  causeway  over 
the  creek  at  Jjewistown,  formerly  called  the  Hore 
Kill,  to  begin  at  or  near  the  place  where  the  Fort 
in  the  said  town  stood,  and  thence  in  a  strait  di- 
rection to  the  point  of  fast  land  on  the  cape 
side  of  the  creek  nearly  opposite  the  house 
now  in  the  occupation  of  William  Arnold;  and  also 
to  erect  all  necessary  abuttments,  wings,  banks  and 
other  works  for  the  use  of  the  bridge." 

Subscriptions  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  one  thou- 
sand pounds  were  authorized,  and  those  subscribing  a 
certain  amount  were  to  be  exempt  from  paying  toll. 
Under  the  direction  of  the  commissioners,  Peter 
White,  a  carpenter,  built  the  bridge  at  a  cost  of  fifty- 
seven  pounds  fourteen  shillings  and  nine  pence,  com- 
pleting it  August  12, 1775. 

This  bridge  was  improved  under  the  provision  of  a 
supplementary  act,  passed  January  ^9, 1791,  and  was 
fully  completed  soon  after.  In  1794  David  Hall  and 
Caleb  Rodney  were  named  as  commissioners  in  place 
of  John  Rodney  and  Henry  Fisher.  After  1818  it 
passed  under  the  control  of  the  town  authorities. 

The  use  of  the  bridge  over  Lewes  Creek  has  given 
the  inhabitants  of  the  town  direct  access  to  the 
Beach  Marsh,  which  belongs  to  them  as  a  common, 
and  from  which  and  the  Great  March  they  have  de- 
rived benefit  ever  since  the  settlement  of  the  place. 
One  of  the  first  recorded  acts  in  regard  to  the  former 
was  after  the  accession  of  William  Penn  : 

**  Upon  the  petition  of  Edmond  Warner  the  Court  grant  unto  him  the 
land  of  the  cape  commonly  called  Cape  Inlopen,  lying  on  the  north  east 
side  of  the  creek  commonly  called  the  Hore  Kill,  to  make  a  coney  War- 
ren on,  and  Liberty  to  build  a  House  and  seat  a  Warriner  upon  the 
said  land  upon  condition  that  the  Timber  and  feed  of  the  said  Land  and 
marshes  thereunto  belonging  be  and  forever  hereafter  Lye  in  common 
for  the  use  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Lewes  and  County 
of  Sussex;  as  also  free  Liberty  for  any  or  all  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  said  county  to  fish,  get  and  take  off  their  oyster  and 
cockle  shells  and  gather  plums,  cimnberrys  and  huckleberrys  on  the 
said  land  as  they  shall  see  fitt,  always  provided  that  ne  person  whatso> 
ever  shall  not  hunt  or  Kill  any  Babbits  or  Hares  on  the  said  land  with- 
out the  leave  or  consent  of  him  the  said  Edward  Warner  his  Executor, 
Administrator  or  Assigns,  At  a  Court  held  at  Lewes  for  the  County  of 
Sussex  and  by  the  King's  Authority  and  by  Commissions  from  William 
Penn,  proprietary  and  Governor  of  Pennqrlvania  and  territory  tberenn- 
to  belonging  the  9th,  10th  A  11th  day  of  the  11th  month,  1682.  Jus- 
Uces  present,  WUliam  Dorvall,  Luke  Watson,  John  Boads,  Edward 
Southern,  Robert  Hart  and  John  KIphaven." 

The  phraseology  of  the  foregoing  decree  gives  the 
county  of  Sussex  equal  claim  to  the  marsh  with 
Lewes  and  it  has  in  a  measure  served  as  a  common 
for  the  people  outside  of  the  town.  By  acts  of  the 
Legislature,  it  was  placed  in  charge  of  trustees,  and 
later  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  county  was 
authorized  to  appoint  trustees  to  care  for  the  com- 
mons. Since  1871  the  control  has  been  vested  in  the 
commissioners  of  the  town  of  Lewes,  and  through 
their  sanction  a  number  of  improvements  have  been 
made  and  buildings  erected  on  leased  lots.  A  high- 
way to  the  beach  has  also  been  constructed  and  wharves 
built  into  the  bay,  whereby  it  has  been  made  possible 
to  establish  a  considerable  shipping  business,  since 
the  creek  has  failed  to  afford  the  means  of  naviga- 
tion. 

One  of  the  first  recorded  references  to  the  Great 


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1224 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Marsh  is  found  in  a  suit  at  court,  September,  1687,  in 
which 

**  Jooatbftn  Bailey  was  sammoDed  to  appear  before  the  Grand  Jury, 
for  about  since  the  beginning  of  the  year  1086  contemning  anddeq)islng 
the  neighbors  fence,  not  only  the  King's  Highway  to  the  own  use  which 
said  highway  bath  been  Made,  Worne  and  accustomed  for  many  years, 
neither  had  the  neighbors  any  other  roads  or  highway  to  ye  Commons, 
commonly  called  Marshes,  either  to  fetch  hay,  look  after  their  catUe  or 
other  orations,  but  alsoe  to  the  onely  known  Ancient  place  of  A  burying 
ground  for  the  town  of  Lewis,  «tc."  **  He  also  had  placed  the  frame  of  a 
wind-mill  thereon  and  alsoe  hath  not  only  confidently  and  impudently 
denyed  and  Beftised  thy  neighbors  the  use  of  ye  said  ground  to  bury 
their  dead,  forbiding  them  or  any  of  them  to  come  upon  the  said 
ground." 

A  true  bill  was  found  against  Bailey,  and  on  trial 
it  was  found  that  he  had  infringed  upon  the  rights  of 
the  public.  The  highway  to  the  marshes  was  re- 
stored, and  one  acre  of  the  "  Ancient "  burying-place 
was  ordered  to  be  kept  for  the  public.  The  latter  is 
now  known  as  the  Rowland  burial-ground,  at  the 
lower  end  of  Pilot  Town. 

Forty  years  lat^r  the  right  to  the  use  of  this  com- 
mon was  confirmed  to  the  people  of  Lewes,  by  the 
proprietaries,  as  follows  : 

'*  Whereas  a  certain  tract  or  quantity  of  Marsh,  lying  on  the  side 
of  Delaware  Bay,  between  the  Broad  Creek  and  the  Canary  als.  Pagan 
Ctnek,  in  the  County  of  Suswx,  bath  been  for  several  years  past  by 
some  expectation  given  by  our  late  father  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Lewes  deemed  and  taken  to  belong  to  the  said  town  as  a  com- 
mon, or  pasture  for  the  said  inhabitants*  But  no  regular  Surrey  been 
formerly  made  on  the  same,  yet  by  our  permission  at  the  request  of 
Simon  Kolloch,  Jacob  Kolloch  and  Rires  Holt,  three  of  the  principal 
Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Lewes  aforesaid,  the  said  marsh  hath  been 
lately  surveyed  and  circumscribed,  as  appears  by  a  draught  thereof, 
now  exhibited,  and  thereupon  the  mid  Simon  Kolloch,  Jacob  Kolloch 
and  Rives  Holt,  on  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  other  inhabitants  of 
the  said  town  request  that  we  would  be  pl*«sed  to  grant  our»  Warrant  in 
<M4er  that  the  survey  made  on  the  said  marsh  may  be  duly  returned 
and  established.  Theee  are,  therefore,  to  authorise  and  require  thee  to 
accept  and  receive  the  Survey  of  the  said  marsh  and  make  retnrn  there- 
of  unto  our  Secretaries  office  in  order  for  confirmation  to  the  said  Simon 
Kolloch,  Jacob  Kolloch  and  Rives  Holt  in  trust  and  for  use  in  behalf 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Lewes  aforesaid  and  their  Successors 
to  be  holden  of  us  our  heirs  and  Successors,  under  the  yearly  quit-rent 
of  one  penny  sterling,  for  every  acre  thereof,  to  be  duly  paid  by  the  said 
Inhabitants  for  and  towards  the  support  of  a  school,  to  be  kept  within 
the  said  town.  Given  under  my  hand  and  the  lesser  seal  at  Philadelphia 
this  23<  day  of  June,  Anno  Domine  1736,  to  Beqjamin  ENstbum,  Surv. 
OenM.  ••  Tho.  Pbmh." 

Lewes  was  incorporated  by  an  act  of  the  Assembly, 
passed  February  2, 1818,  and  Samuel  Paynter,  James  F. 
Baylis,  Benjamin  Prettyman,  David  Hazard  and  Peter 
F.  Wright  were  named  as  commissioners  to  survey 
the  bounds,  streets  and  lanes  of  the  town  and  to  have 
a  map  of  the  same  made.  An  election  was  ordered 
to  be  held  in  June  each  year,  when  five  persons  were 
to  be  chosen,  to  be  known  as  the  **  Trustees  of  the 
Town  of  Lewes,*'  who  were  vested  with  the  powers 
usual  in  such  cases,  and  were  authorized  to  arrange 
with  the  commissioners  of  Lewes  Bridge  to  obtain  and 
control  the  same.  For  many  years  the  government  of 
the  town  under  this  act  was  merely  nominal,  and 
more  comprehensive  powers  were  needed  in  order  to 
satisfy  the  demands  occasioned  by  the  increase  of 
population.  Accordingly,  a  new  act  was  passed  March 
2, 1871,  whieh  was  amended  March  31, 1873,  and  at  a 
later  period,  whereby  the  scope  of  the  authorities  was 
enlarged  and  new  bounds  established,  as  follows : 

u  Commencing  at  the  mouth  of  Canary  creek,  thence  up  Canary 
creek  and  Lentner's  Branch  to  the  road  leading  from  Paynter*s  mill  to 
Shepherd  P.  Houston's ;  thence  around  said  road  to  the  ruad  leading 
from  Lewes  to  Behoboth ;   thence  down  said  road  to  Wolfe's  lane  ; 


thence  down  said  lane  to  £dward  Burton *s  turn ;  thence  dovn  to 
Giirs  Neck  road  to  the  road  leading  t<i  Restore  B.  Lamb's  fsrm,  iochii- 
ing  said  roads ;  thence  in  a  northeasterly  coorse,  parallel  with  Soitk 
street,  to  low  water  mark  on  the  Delawakv  Bay  shore ;  thenoe  is  » 
northwesterly  direction  along  said  bay  shore  to  a  place  nortbesst  d  ii» 
mouth  of  Canary  creek  ;  thence  in  a  northwesterly  direction  acroa  tte 
beach  to  the  mouth  of  the  said  Canary  creek  and  the  place  of  beginniBf." 

The  government  of  the  town  under  the  amended 
acts  is  vested  in  a  board  of  twelve  citizens,  chosen  and 
designated  as  a  body  politic  and  corporate  in  law,tbej 
and  their  successors  to  be  known  as  the  "  Commis- 
sioners of  Lewes.''  One  of  this  number  is  annually 
chosen  as  president  of  the  commissioners,  and  is 
vested  with  the  powers  of  a  justice  of  the  peace  and 
the  duties  of  an  alderman ;  and  the  board  waa  en- 
dowed with  ample  powers  for  the  good  of  the  town, 
including  authority  over  Great  and  Beach  Marshes, 
with  power  over  the  adjacent  public  lands,  and  to  as- 
sume the  same  jurisdiction  over  the  cape-laods  as 
was  exercised  by  the  trustees  under  the  act  of  1814, 
and  those  of  later  periods.  The  income  arising  from 
these  lands  was  ordered  to  be  paid  into  the  treasory 
of  the  town  of  Lewes  instead  of  the  county  of  Sussex, 
as  under  the  old  acts.  The  election  of  all  kinds  of 
officers  was  also  authorized  by  the  new  charter,  the 
exercise  of  which  provisions  has  greatly  benefited 
the  town. 

It  appears  from  the  assessment-roll  of  1873  tiiat 
there  were  then  living  within  the  bounds  of  Lewes 
three  hundred  and  thirty-nine  white,  and  fifty-four 
colored  persons,  liable  to  taxation,  and  the  amounts 
carried  into  the  treasury  by  all  sources  aggregated 
$1034.56.  The  expenditures  the  corresponding  period 
were  $126.70,  in  excess  of  the  receipts.  In  1886  there 
were  five  hundred  white  and  one  hundred  colored 
taxables,  and  the  amounts  expended  in  carrying  on 
the  affairs  of  the  town  were  $1768.04. 

In  December,  1887,  the  principal  officers  of  the  town 
of  Lewes  were : 

Commissioners.— Edward  Duffle,  president;  Rohert 
Wiltbank,  W.  P.  Nicholas,  William  Scott,  Joseph 
Truxton,  Charles  M.  Marshall,  William  Virden,  Jacob 
Prettyman,  G.  W.  Joseph,  Edward  D.  Kitchen,  T.  C. 
Maul  and  Henry  C.  Maul,  secretary.  Charles  H. 
Maul  was  the  treasurer. 

The  growth  and  improvement  of  Lewes  have  not 
been  eventfUI.  In  1721  it  was  reported  as  "a  lar^ 
and  handsome  town  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware." 
Five  years  later  there  were  fifty-eight  families  at 
this  place,  and  fifteen  at  Quakertown.  In  1807  the 
place  had  about  eighty  buildings,  and  that  number 
was  not  much  increased  until  after  the  civil  war. 
Twelve  years  after  that  event,  in  which  period  the 
railroad  was  built,  one  hundred  and  fifty  new  houses 
had  been  added,  and  the  population  was  estimated  at 
eighteen  hundred.  In  1887  there  were  within  the 
corporate  limits  about  two  thousand  souls,fi  ve  churches, 
a  fine  union  school,  a  hotel,  and  about  thirty  places  of 
business,  including  a  telegraph  office  established  in 
1852. 

Nearly  all  the  buildings  at  Lewes  are  of  wood,  the 
walls  being  covered  with  shingles,  which  give  greater 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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protection  against  the  driving  and  severe  storms  that 
sometimes  prevail  here,  than  when  they  are  weather 
boarded  in  the  usual  way.  A  number  of  land  marks 
in  these  old  houses,  of  the  last  century,  notably  the 
homes  of  the  Rodneys,  remain  and  give  evidence  of 
the  comfort  they  must  have  afforded  their  inmates 
when  much  of  this  country  was  still  in  a  primeval 
condition.  Others  have  been  replaced  by  mansions  of 
modem  architecture,  but  only  one  is  of  stone.  This 
is  the  house  of  Frank  Burton,  built  in  1880,  out  of 
granite  belgian- blocks  recovered  from  a  wreck  near 
the  Breakwater. 

The  improvements  on  Delaware  Bay  have  been 
closely  associated  with  the  industrial  history  of 
Lewes.  It  is  a  matter  of  tradition  that  the  British 
Government  built  a  good  light-house  on  Cape  Hen- 
lopen,  as  early  as  1725.  The  stone  used  in  its  con- 
struction were  carried  up  Lewes  Creek,  whose  course, 
at  that  time,  was  much  farther  to  the  eastward,  and 
the  walls  were  seven  feet  in  thickness.  The  tower 
was  octagonal  in  shape,  and  being  built  on  level 
ground  was  raised  seven  stories  high.  A  dwelling 
for  the  keeper  and  other  buildings  were  attached. 
In  the  course  of  years  the  shifting  sands  completely 
covered  the  latter,  and  formed  a  high  mound  on  a  spot 
which  had  originally  been  flat.  Jacob  Hargis  is  re- 
membered as  one  of  the  early  keepers.  During  the 
Revolutionary  War  the  inside,  or  the  wood-work  of 
this  light-house,  was  burned  by  the  British.  For 
the  benefit  of  this  light-house,  two  hundred  acres  of 
land,  on  the  cape,  were  ordered  to  be  surveyed,  No- 
vember 27,  1763,  by  John  Penn,  and  in  the  same 
month,  commissioners  were  appointed  by  the  provi- 
sioaal  government  of  Pennsylvania  to  raise  a  fund  by 
subscription,  and  by  a  lottery  to  maintain  a  light 
and  buoys  at  the  mouth  of  Delaware  Bay.  This  light 
and  its  surroundings,  have,  with  the  interruption  in 
the  Revolution,  since  been  kept  up,  but  in  a  much 
improved  condition.  The  light-houses  on  Green  Hill 
and  on  the  breakwaters  have  been  erected  in  more 
recent  years.  The  breakwater  in  Delaware  Bay,  op- 
posite Lewes,  is  the  most  important  improvement 
of  the  kind  in  the  United  States.  The  early  history 
of  this  work  is  given  elsewhere  in  the  chapter  on 
"  internal  improvements."  It  is  a  massive  work  of 
granite  masonry,  two  thousand  eight  hundred  feet 
long,  exclusive  of  the  Ice  Breaker,  above  it,  which  is 
seventeen  hundred  feet  long.  The  first  material 
used,  was  brought  from  the  North  River,  but  most  of 
the  rock  was  afterwards  obtained  in  New  Ca^itle 
County.  It  was  more  than  forty  years  in  construc- 
tion, and  cost  nearly  two  and  a  quarter  million  of 
dollars.  For  the  purpose  of  improving  the  channel 
of  the  Bay  near  the  Delaware  shore,  it  was  ordered 
that  the  gap  between  the  two  pieces  of  masonry  be 
filled  up  and  that  work  was  begun  in  1883.  The 
breakwater  has  been  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the 
navigation  of  Delaware  Bay  and  the  coastwise  trade, 
affording  protection  to  thousands  of  vessels  yearly  ; 
as  many  as  one  hundred  vessels  have  found  shelter 
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behind  its  friendly  walls  in  a  single  storm  and  the 
calamities  to  navigators  on  this  dangerous  coast, 
have  through  this  means  been  very  much  dimin- 
ished. In  1880,  the  Government  established  a  marine 
signal  station  on  the  inner  works,  where  the  Mari- 
time Exchange  also  maintains  an  office  from  which 
the  passage  of  vessels  through  the  bay  is  noted  by  a 
sub-marine  telegraph. 

A  number  of  wrecks  have  occurred  off  the  coast  of 
Cape  Henlopen,  but  one  of  the  most  important  was 
the  sinking  of  the  brig  "  De  Braak,"  May  2,  1798, 
with  nearly  all  its  crew  and  a  large  amount  of  specie 
on  board.  The  "  De  Braak  "  was  in  command  of 
Captain  James  Drew,  a  bold  Irish  seaman,  who  set 
sail  in  January,  1798,  with  letters  of  marque  and 
reprisal  from  the  English  Goverment,  against  Napo- 
leon and  his  allies.  The  vessel  was  equipped  with  a 
dozen  brass  cannon  and  carried  a  crew  of  thirty-eight 
officers  and  men.  After  cruising  in  southern  waters 
several  months,  the  '^  De  Braak "  approached  the 
American  shore  laden  with  the  fruits  of  its  victories 
over  the  enemy  and  having  in  tow  the  Spanish  gal- 
leon, "  La  Platte."  Taking  on  a  Lewes  pilot  by  the 
name  of  Andrew  Allen,  she  was  approaching  shore 
for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  supply  of  fresh  water, 
at  Lewes,  when  not  heeding  an  approaching  storm, 
a  gust  of  wind  struck  the  full  sheeted  vessel  and  cap- 
sized her,  carrying  down  the  captain,  the  entire  crew 
and  fifteen  prisoners.  The  pilot  and  twenty -five 
men  were  picked  up  alive,  and  the  body  of  Captain 
Drew  was  recovered  three  days  later  and  was  buried 
in  the  cemetery  of  St.  Peter^s  Church  at  Lewes, 
where  a  monument  yet  mark^  the  place.  The  prize 
treasures  of  the  "  De  Braak  "  are  said  to  have  been 
(for  those  times)  fabulous,  consisting  of  gold,  silver 
and  diamonds,  in  coins  and  metals,  amounting  to 
millions  of  dollars.  The  stories  of  this  unknown 
wealth  have  become  a  part  of  the  traditions  ef  this 
coast  and  their  recital  has  encouraged  many  efforts  to 
raise  the  wreck  which  have  not  yet  been  successful. 

About  1806  Gilbert  McCracken,  a  partner  of 
Pilot  Allen,  set  the  bearings  of  the  wreck  which 
have  served  as  guides  for  these  operations.  They 
indicated  a  spot  about  a  mile  from  the  breakwater, 
where  a  mound  in  the  water  at  a  depth  of  twenty- 
seven  feet,  is  described.  This  is  supposed  to  contain 
the  treasure  trove,  and  efforts  to  uncover  them  were 
systematically  begun  in  the  summer  of  1887,  by  the 
International  Sub-marine  company  of  Philadelphia 
and  Dr.  S.  Pancoast,  also  of  that  city,  acting  under 
the  authority  of  the  National  Government.  The 
favorable  progress  of  the  work  before  the  close  of  the 
season  has  inspired  confidence  in  the  ultimate  suc- 
cess of  the  enterprise. 

Half  a  mile  above  the  Cape's  End  a  United  States 
Life-Saviog  station  was  opened  in  March,  1882,  and 
placed  in  charge  of  Captain  J.  A.  Clampitt.  It  is  the 
upper  of  a  series  of  four  stations  on  the  coast  from 
the  Bay  to  the  Indian  River  Inlet,  the  entire  dis- 
tance being  patroled.    The  appointments  of  the  sta- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


tions  are  fir^t- class,  and  it  has  rendered  good  seryice 
to  distressed  vessels. 

In  July,  1884,  the  United  States  Marine  Hospital 
Service  established  a  quarantine  at  Lewes,  having  in 
service  the  steamer  **  Tench  Coxe,"  with  Dr.  G.  W. 
Stoner  as  quarantine  surgeon.  In  October  the  same 
J  ear  a  hospital  was  erected  near  the  point  of  the 
Cape,  which  was  placed  in  the  care  of  Dr.  W.  P. 
Orr,  oj  assistant-surgeon,  and  all  foreign  vessels 
were  boarded  before  entering  the  Bay.  In  1885  the 
hospital  treated  several  casei  of  yellow  fever,  and 
since  that  time  others,  infected  with  epidemic  dis- 
eases, have  been  placed  in  the  hospital,  which  has 
accommodation  for  twenty  patients.  Dr.  Orr  has  had 
as  assistants  in  this  hospital  work,  during  quarantine 
season  (from  May  until  November),  in  1866,  Dr. 
Joseph  M.  Brockerhoof;  and,  in  1887,  Dr.  Harbeson 
Hickman. 

A  large  number  of  pilots  on  the  Delaware  reside  at 
Lewes,  and  it  has  been  the  home  of  many  of  that  cla?s 
of  people  for  more  than  two  hundred  years.  Minister 
Griffith,  of  the  Friends*  Society,  who  visited  this  sec- 
tion in  1765,  wrote:  "  We  made  Cape  Henlopen  and 
a  pilot  came  on  board  who  proved  to  be  a  native 
Indian."  Some  of  the  white  pilots  carried  on  other 
occupations,  and  they  have  always  been  among  the 
prominent  citizens  of  ihe  town. 

Before  the  Revolution,  Bailey  Art,  David  Johnson, 
Henry  Fisher  and  others  were  pilots  at  this  place. 
Later,  pilots  Allen  and  McCracken  lived  here;  and 
after  1800,  the  occupation  appears  to  have  been  con- 
fined almost  entirely  to  persons  bearing  the  names  of 
Connell,  Clampitt,  Rowland,  Maull,  Howard,  West, 
Marshall,  Wesley,  Chambers  and  Virden.  Members 
of  the  latter  family  have  been  very  successful  in  this 
occupation,  and  through  their  influence  a  beneficial 
system  of  pilot  laws  for  the  Delaware  have  been  se- 
cured by  legislative  enactment.  In  1872,  thirty  pilots 
resided  at  Lewes,  Thomas  Roland,  aged  eighty-ihree 
years,  being  the  oldest.  In  1887  nearly  double  that 
number  of  pilots  claimed  Lewes  as  their  home,  and 
nearly  half  the  business  on  the  Delaware  was  con- 
trolled by  them.  They  are  an  active,  intelligent, 
enterprising  class  of  men,  and  have  many  substantial 
improvements  in  Lewes. 

In  the  infancy  of  Lewes,  the  Creek  afforded  a  good 
channel  for  the  navigation  of  sloops  and  schooners — 
and  as  good  timber  grew  in  the  contiguous  country, 
ship-building  became  an  industry  of  considenible 
importance. 

Some  of  the  fir«t  English  inhabitants  were  ship- 
carpenters,  a  fact  which  was  recognized  by  naming 
one  of  the  streets  of  the  town  after  them.  Among 
these  early  mechanics  of  whom  any  account  has  been 
preserved,  were  John  and  William  Beverly  and  John 
Brown,  all  of  whom  carried  on  that  occupation  prior 
to  1685.  Later  well-known  boat-builders  were  John 
and  Peter  Maull,  who  had  a  yard  at  Pilot  Town,  where 
they  built  the  last  boat  in  1866,  for  Nathaniel  Hick- 
man.   Peter  and  Cato  Lewis,  colored  men«  also  built 


boats  there.  After  the  decline  of  that  interest  here  a 
number  of  ship-carpenters  removed  to  Milford.  In 
1879,  F.  C.  Maull  built  a  small  schooner  at  the  wharf 
below  the  Market  Street  bridge,  and  John  Paynter 
buiit  one  in  1883,  which  were  among  the  last  of  note- 
worthy size  built  at  this  place,  as  the  channel  of  the 
creek  has  been  filling  up  so  rapidly  in  recent  yean 
that  navigation  on  it  has  been  suspended.  Abraham 
Wiltbank  had  a  wharf  on  the  creek  as  early  as  1735. 

Nathaniel  Hickman  was  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising vessel-owners  of  the  town  a  score  of  years  ago. 
and  since  1879,  A.  L.  Burton  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  shipping  business.  In  1887  he  owned  a 
fieet  of  four  schooners,  and  chartered  others  as  bis 
business  demanded.  The  products  shipped  were  the 
general  freight  of  the  railroad,  laden  from  the  pier 
of  the  company,  and  employment  was  given  to  about 
thirty  men. 

The  first  pier  into  the  Bay  was  a  wooden  mole 
built  by  the  Government,  in  1838.  This  stood  above 
the  railroad  pier  and  having  become  w<»rm  eaten  was 
swept  away  by  the  tide.  In  lb51,  a  new  pier  was 
built  for  a  Company  running  boats  from  Lewes  to 
Philadelphia.  The  Steamer  **  St.  Nicholas"  was  pur- 
chased and  placed  on  this  line  and  for  a  time  business 
was  very  brisk,  as  this  means  of  travel  was  a  decided 
improvement  on  the  stage  coach  across  the  country. 
Lewes  then  became  the  terminus  of  Stage  lines  from 
Milford  and  Snow  Hill.  Many  excursions  were 
brought  to  Lewesy  which  also  now  came  into  notice 
aa  a  sea-side  resort.  In  the  fall  of  1^55,  the  steamboat 
waa  taken  off,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1857,  a  part  of  the 
pier  was  destroyed  by  the  breaking  away  of  the  ice  in 
the  Bay.  The  railroad  pier  was  commenced  in  1869, 
and  has  been  used  since  1870.  In  the  later  year  a  line 
of  steamers  began  to  ply  to  New  York,  among  the  boats 
being  the  "Washington,"  "  Granite  State,"  "W.N. 
Coit"  and  others,  owned  by  the  "  Old  DominioD 
Line."  For  a  number  of  years  a  large  traffic  was 
done,  both  in  carrying  freight  and  passengers,  but  the 
absorption  of  the  railway  by  the  Pennsylvania  Systemi 
caused  the  steamers  in  1885,  to  be  withdrawn.  The 
railroad  (Junction  and  Breakwater)  was  completed  to 
Lewes  in  November,  1869,  and  after  January  1, 1870, 
trains  were  regularly  run.  In  the  spring  of  1883, 
this  branch  was  consolidated  with  other  lines,  under 
the  name  of  the  Delaware,  Maryland  and  Virginia 
Railroad.  Repair  shops  were  removed  to  Greorgetowo 
in  1884,  and  soon  alter  transfered  to  Wilmington. 
Their  location  at  Lewes  greatly  increased  the  popula- 
tion, and  their  removal,  together  with  the  abandon- 
ment of  the  lines  of  steamers,  seriously  affected  the 
commercial  prosperity  of  the  town. 

In  1870,  Congress  appropriated  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  for  the  construction  of 
an  iron  pier,  off  the  land  of  the  Cape,  into  the  ocean, 
and  the  following  year  work  upon  the  same  was  com- 
menced. Additional  appropriations  have  since  been 
made,  and,  with  some  interruption,  the  work  of  its 
construction  haa  been  continued  to  the  present  time. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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It  is  intended  for  the  use  of  the  Government  in  cases 
of  emergency,  or  when  navigation  on  the  Delaware 
should  become  obstructed.  The  structure  is  very  sub- 
stantial, more  than  half  a  million  dollars  having  been 
expended  on  it,  and  is  about  two  thousand  feet  long. 
In  1884,  the  railroad  track  from  Lewes  to  the  pier  was 
graded. 

Near  the  iron  pier  factories  for  extracting  the  oil 
from  menhaden  and  other  fish  were  erected  in  1883, 
by  Luce  Brothers  and  S.  S.  Brown  &  Co.  The  build- 
ings stand  on  ground  leased  from  the  commissioners 
of  Lewes  and  are  well  fitted  up.  Four  steamers  and 
several  hundred  men  are  employed  in  carrying  on  the 
business. 

General  Business  Interests.— For  many  years 
the  manufacturing  interests  of  Lewes  were  limited  to 
the  ordinary  trades,  and  it  was  not  until  the  railroad- 
shops  were  here  located  that  the  industrial  life  of  the 
place  was  quickened  into  greater  activity.  After 
these  were  in  operation  other  enterprises  were  begun 
and  some  have  been  successfully  continued.  The  re- 
pair-shops gave  employment  to  about  fifty  men  until 
their  removal  to  Georgetown,  in  1884. 

In  1882  Wm.  B.  Yardley  erected  a  fruit  evaporat- 
ing establishment,  near  the  depot,  in  which  were 
placed  two  Williams'  dryers,  having  a  capacity  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  baskets  per  day.  D.  W.  Brere- 
ton  was  the  superintendent,  and  with  John  H.  Mc- 
Oolley,  in  1885,  became  the  owner.  In  the  same 
locality  W.  H.  Virden  and  Joseph  Draper  engaged  in 
fruit  evaporating  and  have  since  continued.  About 
fifteen  thousand  baskets  per  year  are  prepared  for  the 
markets  by  these  establishment^^. 

The  Henlopen  Mills,  near  the  depot,  were  built  in 
1882  by  Wm.  P.  Jones  and  Spencer  A.  Phillips.  On 
the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1884,  his  interest  passed  to 
John  W.  Phillips,  by  whom  and  Mr.  Jones  the  mills 
are  still  operated.  The  building  is  a  three -story 
frame,  thirty- two  by  sixty  feet,  and  is  supplied  with 
seven  sets  of  rollers  for  grinding  wheat,  and  two  com 
burrs.  The  motor  is  steam  from  a  fifty  horse- power 
engine,  and  about  fifty  barrels  per  day  are  manufac- 
tured. The  plant  is  valued  at  twenty-two  thousand 
dollars. 

The  town  has  always  been  a  good  trading  point, 
and  Adam  Johnson  had  a  store  as  early  as  1687.  In 
1695  William  Orr  was  the  merchant,  and  in  1740 
Joshua  Fisher  traded  and  was  also  a  mariner  and 
clerk  of  the  Market.  Caleb  Rodney  traded  before 
1812  and,  later,  Daniel,  John,  Thomas  and  Henry  F. 
Rodney  had  stores  which  enriched  their  owners  and 
made  them  the  most  prominent  people  in  this  section. 

George  Parker  was  a  conteriiporary  of  the  elder 
Rodneys  and  Lewis  and  Robert  West  and  George 
Hickman,  of  those  of  a  younger  generation;  and  for 
many  years  these  three  families  furnished  the  mer- 
chants of  the  town.  Wm.  P.  Orr  has  been  in  trade 
since  1848,  and  has  had  since  that  time,  as  principal 
fellow-merchants,  Wm.  M.  Hickman,  Nathaniel  Hick- 
man, Henry  Wolfe,  Alfred  E.  Burton,  T.  E.  Record, 


F.  C.  Maull,  E.  J.  Richardson,  J.  H.  Dodd  and  E.  J. 
Morris,  the  five  last-named  having  stores  in  the  year 
1887. 

The  first  drug-store  in  Lewes  was  opened  by  Dr. 
David  H.  Houston.  Since  1871,  Dr.  David  L.  Mus- 
tard and  Ebe  W.  Tunnel  1  have  carried  on  a  drug- 
store, in  part  of  the  old  Caleb  Rodney  house,  on 
Second  Street,  on  which  the  principal  stores  have  al- 
ways been  located.  Frank  Burton  opened  the  first 
store  in  Pilot  Town,  in  1877.  All  branches  of  trade 
were  represented  in  1887,  there  being  more  than  thirty 
places  of  business  in  Lewes. 

A  partial  list  of  postmasters  of  the  town  embraces 
the  names  of  A?a  Clifton,  William  Morrow,  Henry 
Wolfe,  Stephen  Waples,  Jesse  T.  Pool,  Edward 
Duffle,  Henry  C.  Maul,  E.  J.  Morris,  D.  W.  Brere- 
ton,  C.  H.  Maull  and  T.  E.  Record,  the  latter  serving 
since  January,  1885. 

An  inn  was  kept  at  Lewes,  before  1700,  by  Richard 
Paynter,  and  Roger  Corbett  entertained  the  public  in 
1706.  After  the  county  abandoned  the  court-house, 
in  1792,  that  building  was  converted  into  a  tavern 
and  was  used  as  such  a  score  of  years.  It  was  in  the 
dining-room  of  this  house  that  Dr.  Wilson  was  killed, 
in  1805.  It  was  kept  later  by  Josiah  Marriner  and 
after  his  death  by  his  widow,  Sarah.  About  the  same 
time  Philip  Kollock  and  Cook  Olampitt  also  kept 
public  houses.  In  1831  Samuel  Walker  kept  a  hotel 
near  the  creek  and  during  the  severe  storm,  that  year, 
the  sloop  "Breakwater  "broke  from  moorings  and 
ran  her  bow-sprit  through  the  windows  of  the  bar- 
room, to  the  great  astonishment  of  the  inmates.  On 
that  occasion  the  tide  ran  higher  at  Lewes  than 
since.  The  **  Ocean  House,"  at  the  upper  end  of 
Pilot  Town,  was  built  in  1846,  for  the  Rev.  Solomon 
Prettyman.  It  was  intended  for  summer  boarders 
and  was  the  first  hotel  with  large  accommodations 
erected  in  the  place.  After  the  establishment  of 
the  steamboat  line,  in  1851,  it  did  a  large  business, 
but  was  closed  in  1856.  Later  it  was  again  opened  to 
the  public  and  during  the  season  of  1871,  while  kept 
by  Walter  Burton,  accommodated  one  thousand 
guests.  For  many  years  it  has  been  used  as  a  private 
residence.  In  May,  1870,  the  "Atlantic  Hotel," 
which  stood  on  the  corner  of  Front  and  King  Streets, 
was  destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  a  large  three-story 
frame,  and  was  at  that  time  owned  by  ex-Sheriff  Lof- 
land.  James  Belt's  "  Pavilion  House,"  built  in  1873, 
near  the  railroad  pier,  for  the  accommodation  of 
visitors  to  the  seaside,  was  also  burned  down.  At 
this  place  Caleb  Lynches  boarding-house  was  after- 
wards erected. 

The  only  hotel  in  1887,  was  the  "  Virden  House," 
on  Front  Street,  near  the  site  of  the  upper  fort,  in  the 
war  of  1812.  It  was  erected  in  1847,  by  Charles 
Wilson  and  Hudson  Burr,  and  was  opened  as  the 
"  United  States  House."  In  1879  the  building  was 
enlarged  by  Henry  Virden,  when  the  name  was  also 
changed,  and  it  has  since  been  known  by  its  present 
title.     It  was  exceedingly  well  kept   in   1887,  by 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


William  M.  JefTerson,  and  had  a  large  patronage, 
rankiDg  with  the  best  hotels  in  the  state. 

The  Lewes  Building  and  Loan  Association  was  or- 
ganized March,  1873,  and  issued  four  series  of  stock 
before  its  business  was  closed.  Each  series  matured 
in  the  course  of  nine  years.  Its  ofiQcers  were  James 
H.  Russell,  president;  George  D.  OrtonandD.  W. 
Brereton,  secretaries ;  D.  L.  Mustard  and  E.  J.  Mor- 
ris, treasurers.  The  association  was  highly  beneficial, 
enabling  many  citizens  to  secure  homes. 

Lewes  has  had  a  long  line  of  able  and  honored 
physicians.  Dr.  John  Rhoads,  who  was  also  one  of 
the  judges  of  the  court,  was  in  practice  as  early  as 
1674.  Eleven  years  later  Dr.  Thomas  Wynn  located 
here.  In  1695  Dr.  Thomas  Bowman  is  mentioned.  In 
1702  Dr.  John  Stewart  was  here,  and  in  1717  Dr. 
Nathaniel  Hall.  Dr.  Henry  Fisher,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, came  in  1725,  and  settled  at  Pilot  Town,  where 
he  built  a  mansion,  which  was  regarded  as  palatial  in 
those  days.  This  property  passed  into  the  hands  of 
the  Hickman  family,  and  the  title  still  stands  in  the 
name  of  a  member.  Dr.  Fisher  was  the  father  of  the 
patriotic  pilot,  Henry  Fisher,  who  was  prominent  in 
Revolutionary  matters,  and  in  the  business  affairs  of 
Lewes  of  that  period. 

On  or  about  the  24th  day  of  October,  1682,  William 
Penn  arrived  in  the  ship  "  Welcome,"  within  the  capes 
of  the  Delaware  Bay,  and  with  him  came  quite  a  large 
number  of  passengers  with  the  intention  of  settling  in 
the  province  which  had  been  deeded  to  Penn  by  the 
Duke  of  York.  Among  those  passengers  were 
John  Fisher  and  Margaret,  his  wife,  and  his  two  sons, 
John  and  Thomas,  the  latter  of  whom  was  Penn*s 
private  secretary.  John  Fisher,  his  brother,  settled 
near  Lewes.  He  left  three  sons,  the  eldest  of  whom 
was  John,  whose  son,  Jabez  Fisher,  was  the  father  of 
Thomas  Fisher.  The  mother  was  Elizabeth  Wright, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Purnell,  of  Maryland,  and  widow 
of  Hezekiah  Wright.  Jabez  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Lewes,  in  Sussex  County,  Delaware,  where  his  son 
Thomas  was  born  on  the  14th  day  of  June,  1763. 

In  the  severe  winter  of  1779-80,  having  just  enter- 
ed his  seventeenth  year,  Thomas  was  seized  by  a 
press-gang,  and  carried  on  board  the  British  frigate 
"Roebuck,"  then  lying  near  Cape  Hen  lopen.  Word 
was  sent  to  his  father  Jabez,  from  the  press-gang  that 
captured  him,  that  his  son  Thomas  and  his  negro 
slave  Samuel,  also  hcized  by  the  press-gang,  could  be 
ransomed  only  by  the  delivery  of  one  hundred  bul- 
locks on  board  the  English  frigate.  These,  from  his 
own  herds  and  contributions  made  by  neighbors, 
were  carried  on  the  ice  some  two  or  three  miles  from 
the  shore  and  delivered  on  board  the  frigate,  and 
Thomas  and  the  slave  were  liberated.  On  the  death 
of  Jabez  Fisher,  his  father,  in  1786,  Thomas,  being 
the  eldest  son,  and  then  about  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  was  left  to  care  for  the  younger  children,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  John  Fisher,  who  afterwards 
became  a  distinguished  lawyer  at  the  Dover  bar,  and 
federal  judge  of  the  district  of  Delaware. 


General  Thomas  Fisher  received  such  edacatioo 
only  as  could  be  obtained  in  those  troublous  timw, 
immediately  preceding  and  during  the  Revolution- 
ary War,  at  private  schools  in  Sussex  County.  He 
managed  to  acquire,  however,  a  fair  English  edu- 
cation. Being  a  man  of  commanding  presence,  af- 
fable manners  and  great  popularity,  he  was  ap- 
pointed or  elected  to  several  public  offices  in  Sussex 
County,  both  civil  and  military;  among  others,  twice 
filled  the  office  of  high  sheriff  of  the  county.  It  isa 
singular  coincidence  that  afterwards,  having  become 
a  resident  of  Kent  County,  he  was  also  twice  made 
high  sheriff  of  Kent. 

8hort)y  before  the  massacre  in  San  DomiDgo, 
Stephen  Girard,  who  at  that  time  was  doing  buslDea 
on  rather  a  small  scale  in  Philadelphia,  started  for 
that  island,  and  the  vessel  on  which  he  took  passage 
was  driven  by  stress  of  weather  to  take  refuge  in 
Lewes  Creek,  which  then  afforded  a  comparatively 
safe  harbor,  the  Delaware  Breakwater  at  that  time 
not  having  been  dreamed  of.  The  vessel  was  nem- 
sarily  detained  at  Lewes  for  several  days,  during 
which  interval  some  of  the  creditors  of  Girard  in 
Philadelphia  sent  an  express .  messenger  to  Lewes, 
then  the  county-seat  of  Sussex,  and  served  oat  writs 
for  his  arrest  and  imprisonment,  which  were  placed 
in  the  hands  of  General  Fisher,  who  was  then  sheriff 
of  that  county,  to  be  served.  On  repairing  to  the 
hotel  and  making  known  his  business  to  Mr.  Girard, 
the  latter,  in  a  sudden  burst  of  passion,  struck  at  him 
with  a  Spanish  knife,  but  the  general  parried  the 
thrust  by  a  counter-stroke  on  Girard 's  elbow,  and 
with  the  other  hand  felled  him  to  the  floor,  and  kept 
him  in  durance  vile  until  he  succeeded  in  obtaining 
bail  for  his  appearance  at  the  ensuing  term  of  court 
Having  been  thus  liberated,  Girard  completed  his 
voyage  to  San  Domingo,  and  whilst  there  a  very 
large  number  of  the  wealthy  planters  and  merchants 
of  that  island  made  arrangements  with  him  to  take 
back  to  Philadelphia  and  have  consigned  to  him 
there  large  amounts  of  money  and  other  valoablee 
which  must  have  aggregated  between  five  hundred 
thousand  and  a  million  of  dollars  in  value,  and  so 
terrible  was  the  destruction  of  life  by  the  massacre  of 
the  white  inhabitants  of  the  island,  that  manj 
families  were  so  completely  extirpated  as  to  leave  no 
legal  representatives  behind  them  to  claim  the  large 
deposits  which  had  been  entrusted  to  Mr.  Girard  for 
safe  keeping.  This  forms  the  basis  of  the  colossal 
fortune  which  he  subsequently  amassed. 

During  the  War  of  1812,  General  Fisher  was 
brigadier  commanding  the  brigade  of  militia  of 
Sussex  County,  and 'was  present  at  the  bombardoaent 
of  Lewes  by  the  British.  At  that  time  he  resided  on 
his  farm  at  Milton,  but  in  1815  removed  to  Milford, 
in  Kent,  for  which  county  he  was  elected  sheriff  in 
1824,  for  the  term  of  three  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  term  he  purchased  a  mill  property  and  farm, 
upon  apart  of  which  the  present  ,town  of  Wyoming 
has  since  been  built.    In  1830  he  removed  to  it  and 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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there  died  in  December,  1835,  in  the  seventy-third 
year  of  his  age,  leaving  but  one  child  to  survive 
him,  Hon.  George  P.  Fisher,  a  sketch  of  whofe  life  is 
published  in  this  work.  He  was  by  birthright  a 
Quaker,  but  early  in  life  became  an  Episcopalian, 
in  which  faith  he  died,  lamented  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

Dr.  Joseph  Hall,  born  1748,  began  practicing  med- 
icine at  Lewes  before  the  Revolution,  and  continued 
until  his  death,  179G.  His  practice  extended  through 
the  greater  part  of  Lower  Sussex.  Dr.  Wm.  Robin- 
son succeeded  to  the  practice  of  Dr.  Hall,  which  he 
carried  on  several  years.  Contemporary  with  Dr. 
Hall  was  Dr.  Matthew  Wilson,  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  who  looked  after  the  physical  as  well 
as  the  spiritual  interests  of  his  members.  His  son, 
Dr.  Theodore  F.  Wilson,  was  killed  in  1806,^  after 
practicing  a  few  years.  Near  the  same  time  Dr.  John 
and  Jacob  Wolfe  were  in  practice.  The  latter  was 
killed  by  lightning  in  the  court-house  at  Georgetown, 
July  16,  1805.  The  former  also  deceased  before  1812. 
Dr.  Thomas  R.  Blandy  was  here  about  the  same  time. 

Dr.  John  White  was  in  practice  from  after  1800 
until  his  death  in  1829.  A  little  later.  Dr.  Henry  F. 
Hall  became  a  practitioner.  He  was  a  surgeon  in 
the  war  of  1812,  retiring  from  the  army  in  1819.  His 
death  occurred  in  1866,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years.  In  this  period.  Dr.  Joseph  Harris,  Dr.  Wm. 
Rickards,  Dr.  A.  L.  Wiltbank,  Dr.  Simeon  K.  Wil- 
son and  others  were  professionally  engaged  at  Lewes, 
some  remaining  but  a  few  years.  The  connection 
with  the  profession  at  Lewes  of  Dr.  Robert  Burton 
and  Dr.  Robert  Mcllvain  dates  from  an  earlier  period, 
both  removing  to  the  northern  part  of  the  county. 
After  being  in  practice  at  Lewes  a  number  of  years, 
and  serving  with  credit  as  a  surgeon  in  the  War  for 
the  Union,  David  H.  Houston  retired  to  his  home  in 
Broadkiln  Hundred,  where  he  still  lived  in  1887. 
Dr,  Joseph  Lyons  was  retired  at  Lewes,  after  a  num- 
ber of  years  of  practice,  and  Dr.  Rodney  H.  Richard- 
son had  removed  to  the  Pacific  Coast. 

The  physicians  resident  at  Lewes  and  in  active 
practice  in  1887  were  Dr.  David  Hall,  graduated 
from  Pennsylvania  Medical  School,  and  a  practitioner 
since  1852 ;  Dr.  David  L.  Mustard,  pupil  of  the  above, 
and  graduated  from  same  school,  in  1858  (after  ten 
years'  practice  in  Blackwater  he  removed  to  Lewes, 
where  he  has  since  resided) ;  Dr.  Hiram  Rodney 
Burton,  graduated  from  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1868,  in  practice  at  Frankford,  Delaware,  until  1872, 
and  since  that  year  in  Lewes ;  Dr.  W.  P.  Orr  and  Dr. 
Harbeson  Hickman,  both  natives  of  Lewes,  and  grad- 
uates from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1884. 
Both  are  in  the  hospital  service  of  the  United  States, 
on  Cape  Henlopen,  in  addition  to  being  practitioners 
in  town. 

Of  the  many  attorneys  who  resided  at  Lewes  in  the 
last  century.  Col.  David  Hall,  who  practiced  law  be- 
fore he  went  to  the  Revolutionary  War,  stood  prom- 

1  Shot  by  one  Wiley,  In  Uie  hotel  at  Leweti. 


inent.  James  P.  Wilson,  a  later  attorney  of  prom- 
ise, renounced  that  profession  and  became  a  Presby- 
terian clergyman  after  1800.  The  resident  attorney 
in  1887  was  Charles  W.  Whiley. 

Jefferson  Lodge,  No.  16,  A.  F.  A.  M.,  was  insti- 
tuted at  New  Castle  January  27,  1825,  with  W.  T. 
Read,  master;  John  Belville,  senior  warden;  Bennett 
Lewis,  junior  warden.  For  a  number  of  years  its 
meetings  were  statedly  held  at  New  Castle  until  they 
were  discontinued.  But  the  charter  was  revived 
June  27,  1849,  and  the  lodge  was  re-established  at 
Lewes,  where  the  original  members  were  John  Bur- 
ton, Benjamin  Mcllvain,  Thomas  Coleman,  George 
Tunnell,  Alfred  P.  Robinson,  Hudson  Burr,  Joseph 
Lafetra,  John  W.  Walker  and  John  W.  Dean.  Since 
that  time  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  persons  have 
been  admitted  to  membership,  and  in  the  fall  of  1887 
the  number  in  good  standing  was  sixty-seven. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  lodge  held  its  meetings 
in  the  United  States  Hotel,  but  now  (1888)  occupies 
its  own  hall  on  the  King's  Road,  in  the  western  part 
of  the  town.  The  corner-stone  of  this  building  was 
laid  December  26,  1870,  and  the  hall  was  dedicated 
in  July,  1871.  The  structure  is  a  two-story  frame, 
twenty-five  by  fifty  feet,  and  was  erected  by  a  com- 
mittee composed  of  E.  J.  Morris,  L.  L.  Lyons,  John 
A.  Clampitt  and  William  H.  Orten.  The  hall  is 
well  furnished,  and  the  property  is  valued  at  three 
thousand  five  hundred  dollars.  In  1887  it  was  in 
the  care  of  Trustees  John  R.  Price,  Jehu  Jeffers  and 
Andrew  H.  Baker.  C.  H.  Maull  was  the  master; 
William  P.  Orr,  Jr.,  secretary;  and  J.  A.  Clampitt, 
treasurer. 

Atlantic  Lodge,  No.  15,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  insti- 
tuted at  Lewes,  December  4,  1847,  with  twenty-one 
charter  members,  most  of  whom  had  a  former  mem- 
bership in  the  Union  Lodge  of  Georgetown.  The 
meetings  were  first  held  in  the  Long  House,  on  Mul- 
berry Street;  but,  in  1852,  a  hall,  twenty-four  by 
forty  feet,  was  built,  in  which  the  lodge  has  since 
statedly  assembled.  When  first  used,  it  was  regarded 
as  very  fine,  and  has  been  kept  in  an  inviting  con- 
dition. The  lodge  has  prospered  in  membership  and 
financially,  having  in  1887  real  and  personal  property 
valued  at  two  thousand  dollars  and  eighty  members 
in  good  standing.  The  principal  officers  in  the  latter 
half  of  the  year  were  as  follows:  N.  G.,  Robert  R. 
Wilson ;  V.  G.,  S.  M.  Warren ;  R.  S.,  Edward  Hud- 
son; P.  S.,  D.  W.  Brereton;  Treas.,  John  W.  West; 
Trustees,  James  Lewis,  W.  H.  Virden  and  John 
West. 

Ocean  Encampment,  No.  9,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  in- 
stituted October  12,  1875,  with  the  following  mem- 
bers: James  H.  Russell,  E.  J.  Morris,  D.  W.  Brere- 
ton, C.  T.  Burton,  Wrixham  W.  White,  George  R. 
Messick,  William  J.  Norman,  Ed.  B.  Mears,  John  A. 
Nixon  and  E.  W.  Tunnell. 

In  the  fall  of  1887  there  were  twenty-five  members, 
with  Robert  R.  Wilson  as  C.  P.,  and  William  H. 
Virden  as  H.  P.    The  meetings  were  held  in  Atlantis 


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1230 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Hall,  where  also  assembled  "  Breakwater  Lodge "  of 
Good  Templars,  which  was  organized  September  15, 
1885,  with  thirty-five  charter  members.  This  society 
is  also  prosperous;  but  a  division  of  the  Sons  of 
Temperance,  formerly  here,  has  long  since  passed 
away. 

Schools.— In  1734,  John  Russell  is  spoken  of  as 
the  schoolmaster  of  the  town,  serving  also  as  dep- 
uty recorder,  but  there  is  no  account  of  a  school- 
house  in  that  period.  Two  years  later  Thomas  Penn 
ordered  that  the  income  from  the  Great  Marsh  should 
be  devoted  to  the  surport  of  a  school  in  Lewes,  but 
it  is  probable  that  no  building  for  that  especial 
purpose  was  erected  until  1761.  That  year  a  frame 
house  was  erected  on  Second  Sireet,  near  Ship  Car- 
penter Street,  in  which  the  youth  of  the  town  were 
in8tru<*ted  more  than  one  hundred  years,  and  which 
has  but  lately  been  removed.  For  the  lot  on  which 
it  stood  a  deed  was  executed.  May  4,  1762,  by  John 
Wiltbank  to  Ryves  Holt,  Jacob  Kolloch,  David  Hall, 
Jacob  Kolloch,  Jr.,  Matthew  Wilson,  Peter  Razer, 
Daniel  Nunez,  James  Thompson,  Samuel  Row- 
land, Daniel  Nunez,  Jr.,  Anderson  Parker,  John 
Rodney,  Henry  Fisher,  Daniel  Hosman  and  Reece 
Wolfe,  Jr.,  leading  citizens  of  the  town,  in  consider- 
ation of  ten  shillings,  "as  well  as  for  the  promotion 
and  encouragement  of  the  youth  of  the  county, 
being  taught  and  educated  in  the  principles  of  re- 
ligion and  virtue,  useful  knowledge  and  learning." 

Of  the  many  teachers  who  occupied  this  building. 
Dr.  William  Harris  was  a  schoolmaster,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century,  whose  worth  is  best 
remembered.  In  February,  1818,  a  board  of  trustees 
was  incorporated  for  this  school,  enabling  it  to  be 
better  maintained. 

Before  1800,  schools  where  instruction  in  the  classics 
might  be  imparted  were  taught  in  Lewes,  the  Rev. 
Francis  Hindman  having  such  a  school  as  early  as 
1795.  This  led  to  the  establishment  of  the  Lewes 
Academy  soon  after.  A  large  frame  building  was 
erected  for  school  purposes,  at  the  intersection  of 
South  and  Third  Streets,  which  was  controlled  in 
1803  by  Trustees  David  Hall,  Daniel  Rodney,  Caleb 
Rodney,  John  White,  James  P.  Wilson,  George 
Parker,  William  Wolfe,  James  Wiltbank,  Frederick 
Rowe  and  Jacob  Wolfe.  That  year  Peter  McLaugh- 
lin was  the  principal,  but  retired  in  1805,  and  the 
Rev.  James  Wiltbank  succeeded  him.  The  latter 
was  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College,  and  later  be- 
came the  provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 
About  the  same  time  R.  S.  Clarke  was  teaching  a 
school  for  young  ladies,  in  connection  with  the 
academy.  In  an  announcement  of  his  purposes  he 
made  great  professions  of  his  proficency,  assuring  his 
patrons  that  he  could  "teach  Grammar  grammati- 
cally, and  would  also  use  the  globes,  etc."  John  Gib- 
bons was  a  teacher  of  the  ancient  languages.  The  Rev. 
A.  Strong  taught  in  the  academy  for  nearly  twenty 
years,  and  is  best  remembered  in  connection  with 
that  old  institution,  which  has  long  since  been  closed. 


and  the  building  now  forms  a  part  of  a  private  resi- 
dence. In  its  best  days  many  students  from  abroad 
were  in  attendence. 

The  schools  of  Lewes  and  vicinity  are  now  con- 
trolled by  a  "  Board  of  Public  Ekiucation,"  which  was 
created  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  March  9, 

1875,  which  also  consolidated  Districts  Noa.  14, 15, 
110  and  112  for  the  better  promotion  of  the  schools. 
The  first  board  of  this  union  district  was  composed, 
of  Dr.  David  Hall,  president ;  Lemuel  W.  Wapl« 
secretary  ;  William  P.  Orr,  treasurer ;  Robert  Arnell, 
John  A.  Clampitt,  Harbeson  Hickman,  David  A 
Marshall,  £.  J.  Morris,  Dr.  David  L.  Mustard, 
Thomas  £.  Record,  James  H.  Russell  and  Bdward 
Russell.  It  was  authorized  to  issue  bonds  for  six 
thousand  dollars  to  build  a  new  school -hoase,  and  to 
grade  the  course  of  instruction.  Both  were  done  in 
the  fall  of  1875,  and  a  very  imposing  edifice,  costing 
more  than  eight  thousand  dollars,  was  completed  in 

1876,  making  it  the  centennial  building  of  the  town. 
It  contains  seven  large  and  well-appointed  rooms, 
in  which  more  than  three  hundred  pupils  are  in- 
structed in  studies  embracing  the  classics.  The 
first  class  to  complete  the  course  was  composed 
of  May  Hickman,  Sallie  Ross,  Helen  Marshall  and 
Sallie  Waples,  and  was  graduated  in  June,  1879, 
under  the  principalship  of  Professor  H.  C.  Carpen- 
ter. In  1887  the  school  had  six  departments,  and 
the  principal  was  Roman  Tamany.  The  yearly  ex- 
penditure was  about  three  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
property  was  estimated  worth  ten  thousand  dollars. 

The  Lewes  Library  Association  was  formed 
January  13,  1877,  with  C.  W.  Whiley,  president ;  C. 
H.  Mau  11, secretary ;  Joseph  Lafetra,  treasurer;  H.  R. 
Burton,  E.  W.  Tunnel  I,  H.  C.  Carpenter,  H.  S.  Mar- 
shall, additional  trustees.  Robert  H.  Orr  was  the 
librarian.  The  association  has  been  successfully  con- 
ducted and,  in  1887,  the  library  contained  six  hun- 
dred volumes  of  standard  and  miscellaneous  books.  It 
was  kept  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  and  Edward  Duffel 
was  the  librarian. 

In  1810  a  library  was  formed  at  Lewes,  which  was 
maintained  a  score  of  years  and  contained  a  number 
of  good  books. 

Lewes  Presbyterian  Church. — Among  the  set- 
tlers at  Lewe?,  after  1682,  were  a  number  of  persons — 
Independents — from  Scotland  and  Northern  Ireland, 
who  were  inclined  to  establish  worship  in  accordance 
with  their  belief.  To  this  people  came  the  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Davis,  about  1691,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
"  London  Missionary  Society "  (organized  in  1689, 
and  disbanded  in  1692),  and  if  he  did  not  immediately 
organize  them  into  a  congregation,  at  least  preached 
to  them.  He  took  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  near  the 
town,  where  he  was  visited,  in  1692,  by  George  Keith, 
a  Friend,  who  speaks  of  the  existence  of  a  small 
congregation  at  that  period.  With  this  congregation 
the  Rev.  Davis  united,  in  1707,  in  the  call  for  a  pas- 
tor ;  but  none  being  secured,  he  continued  to  preach 


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until  1715,  when  he  removed  to  Snow  Hill,  Md., 
where  he  died  in  1725. 

In  1707  the  firet  meeting-house  of  the  congregation 
was  huilt  on  a  lot  of  land  which  had  been  conveyed, 
May  9th  of  that  year,  by  Thomas  Fenwick  (who  had 
purchased  the  Wm.  Dyre  place),  **  for  the  use  of  the 
Presbyterian  Professors  and  to  build  a  meeting-house 
and  a  school-house  for  the  above  s**  Party  or  Company 
of  Presbyterians,  and  for  a  burial-place  forever."  **  One 
certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land,  situate,  Lyei ng  and 
being  butted,  bounded  at  the  end  of  Lewistown,between 
the  County  Jload  and  the  road  that  goes  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Davis  his  plantation  on  the  Hill,  containing  one  hun- 
dred feet  square."  The  house  was  of  wood  and  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  substantially  built,  so  that  in 
the  course  of  twenty  years  it  had  become  unfitted  for 
use.  A  better  edifice  of  brick  was  accordingly  begun 
in  1727  and  partially  completed  that  year.  It  had  a 
high  hip-roof  and  end  gallery,  and  was  without  a  stove 
when  first  used.  Bepairs  were  made  on  it  in  1759, 
and  again  in  1818,  but  after  fourteeen  years'-  more  ser- 
vice it  was  little  used.  Yet  it  was  lefl  standing  in  the 
same  lot  until  November,  1871,  when  it  was  sold  to 
Henry  Wolfe,  for  eighty  dollars,  who  demolished  it. 

The  present  edifice  was  dedicated  in  1832,  but  had 
been  building  several  years.  In  1869  the  windows 
were  ehanged,  and  the  old  pulpit,  which  had  thirteen 
steps,  removed  toimake  place  for  one  of  more  modern 
construction.  Further  improvements  to  this  building 
were  made  in  1886,  when  a  bell,  weighing  a  thousand 
pounds,  was  placed  in  the  steeple,  which  was  erected 
that  year,  and  a  pipe-organ  was  also  placed  in  the 
church.  In  1887  the  church  was  thoroughly  modern- 
ized, at  an  outlay  of  two  thousand  five  hundred  dol- 
lars, making  it  one  of  the  best  edifices  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  State.  A  new  mansion  was  built  on  an 
adjoining  lot  in  1877,  and  the  combined  value  of  the 
church  property  was,  in  December,  1887,  nearly  eight 
thousand  dollars. 

In  1715  the  Rev.  John  Thompson,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, supplied  the  pulpit  and  continued  two  years, 
being  installed  the  first  regular  pastor  of  the  church 
in  April,  1717.  He  continued  until  1729,  when  he 
removed  to  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  learned  man, 
an  author  of  considerable  reputation,  "able,  judici- 
ous and  Evangelical." 

The  church  seems  to  have  been  without  a  pastor 
until  1734,  when  the  Rev.  James  Martin,  also  an 
Irishman,  entered  into  that  ofiSce,  which  he  acceptably 
filled  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  May,  1743. 
His  remains  were  interred  in  front  of  the  pulpit  in 
the  brick  church.  In  1876  this  grave  was  opened  and 
the  story  of  his  burial  was  fully  verified  by  finding 
his  bones  in  the  spot  indicated.  During  his  pastorate, 
October  3, 1739,  the  eminent  George  Whitefield  visited 
Lewes,  and  preached.  In  his  account  of  that  event 
he  said:  "The  chief  inhabitants  prevailed  on  me  to 
preach,  but  they  were  not  troubled  by  the  tender  and 
melting  story  of  a  Saviour's  sacrifice."  He  preached 
from  the  steps  of  the  new  court-house,  since  no  church 


in  the  place  was  large  enough  to  hold  the  people 
assembled.  Another  important  event  in  the  pastorate 
of  the  Rev.  Martin  was  the  organization,  November 
19;  1735,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Lewes,  the  records  of 
which  have  been  lost. 

From  1743  until  1756  the  church  had  no  regular 
pastor,  but  the  Revs.  Samuel  Black,  Hector  Allison 
and  others  occasionally  [>reached.  In  the  latter  year 
the  Rev.  Matthew  Wilson  was  installed  the  pastor  and 
served  continuously  from  May  5th  until  bis  death, 
March  31,  1791,  when  he  was  interred  in  the  church- 
yard. He  was  a  painstaking,  conscientious  man,  and 
"although  his  ministry  extended  through  the  war, 
they  w^ere  times  of  peace  to  the  church."  His  parish 
also  embraced  the  Cool  Spring  Church,  and  at  the 
latter  church  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Francis  Hind- 
man,  was  ordained,  October  27,  1791,  and  continued 
pastor  until  April  20,  1795.  He  was  also  the  teacher 
of  a  school  at  Lewes,  and  was  a  stern  disciplinarian. 
Dr.  Harri.-*,  who  subsequently  taught  an  academy,  was 
one  of  his  students. 

December  10, 1795,  the  Rev.  John  Btirton,  a  licen- 
tiate from  Scotland,  became  the  next  pastor.  He  was 
also  a  thorough  scholar,  but  plain  in  manners,  frank 
in  his  speech,  eccentric  and  very  absent-minded. 
Many  amusing  incidents  of  his  forgetfulness  are  re- 
membered. 

The  Rev.  James  P.  Wilson,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Mat- 
thew, supplied  the  pulpit  about  two  years,  but  in  1807 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Copes  became  the  pastor,  and  re- 
mained the  minister  until  his  death.  He  was  buried 
at  the  Cool  Spring  Church,  January  1,  1822. 

From  1823  to  1826  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Ogden  was 
the  pastor,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  John 
Mitchell.  The  latter  lost  his  life  in  March,  1834,  by 
the  burning  of  the  steamer  "  Wm.  Penn."  His  body 
being  recovered,  it  was  buried  in  Philadelphia.  The 
Rev.  Abram  De  Witt  was  the  next  pastor,  serving 
from  1834  until  1838.  The  following  year  the  Rev. 
Cornelius  H.  Mustard  became  the  minister  of  the 
church  and,  with  some  interruption,  served  it  as  pastor 
and  stated  supply  until  1857.  Since  the  latter  period 
the  ministers  have  been  :  1857  to  1859,  the  Rev.  Wil- 
liam C.  Handy;  1860-61,  the  Rev.  Andrew  Thomas; 
1861  to  1870,  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Nemo.  Then  followed 
as  supplies  the  Revs.  W.  E.  Gaylord,  C.  F.  Boynton, 
G.  L.  Wolf,  Daniel  Tourney,  W.  W.  Reese.  In  No- 
vember, 1881,  the  Rev.  Austin  C.  Heaton  became  the 
pastor,  and  served  the  church  acceptably  until  his 
resignation  was  compelled  by  ill  health,  in  the  fall  of 
1887. 

For  nearly  a  hundred  years  Cool  Spring  and  other 
congregations  were  served  with  the  Lewes  Church, 
but  after  1857  the  only  congregation  thus  connected 
was  the  one  in  Rehoboih  Hundred,  and  since  1873  the 
Lewes  Church  has  been  an  exclusive  charge.  Its 
membership  has  thus  been  much  diminished,  but 
ninety  two  communicants  belonging  in  November, 
1887.  Among  these  were  Ruling  Elders  James  H. 
Russell,  Dr.  David  Hall,  Dr.  David  L.  Mustard,  Ed- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


ward  Ruasell,  Alfred  L.  Burton  and  Thomas  B.  Schel- 
lenger.  Others  in  that  office  have  been  William  Rus- 
sell, Lewis  West,  David  Walker,  John  Paynter, 
Thomas  Rowland,  Henry  Wolfe,  Dr.  David  H. 
Houston,  William  E.  Bingham,  Thomas  Walker, 
Henry  F.  Hall,  Peter  Waples,  John  Futcher,  Gov. 
David  Hall,  Peter  White,  John  Orr  and  Joseph  Hall, 
all  ordained  after  1790. 

Good  Sunday-schools  have  long  been  maintained  in 
the  church,  David  M.  Mcllvain  being  the  Superin- 
tendent of  one  of  the  first.  Dr.  Henry  F.  Hall  held 
that  position  many  years,  until  his  death.  James  H. 
Russell  was  the  superintendent  in  1887,  and  the 
school  had  one  hundred  and  thirty -five  members. 

Fkiekds*  Meeting  at  Lewes.— As  early  as  1692 
the  Friends  residing  at  Lewes  held  meetings  after  the 
manner  of  their  sect,  and  in  June,  1712,  a  regular 
Weekly  Meeting  was  established  at  the  house  of  Cor- 
nelius Wiltbank.  Members  of  that  family,  the  Fish* 
ers,  Miers  and  some  others  constituted  this  meeting, 
which  was  attached  to  the  Camden  Monthly  Meeting. 
The  meeting  at  Lewes  appears  to  have  been  "  raised  " 
about  1800,  the  few  remaining  members  becoming  con- 
nected with  the  Coal  Spring  Meeting  in  Broad  Kiln 
Hundred.  The  grave-yard  at  Lewes  was  given  up 
about  1840. 

St.  Peter's  Church,  Protestant  Episcopal. — 
Visiting  clergymen  held  services  in  accordance  with 
the  usages  of  the  Established  Church  in  all  the  larger 
settlements  of  the  State,  prior  to  1700,  but  it  does  not 
appear  that  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  organize  the 
people  of  Lewes  into  a  parish  at  so  early  a  period. 
On  the  26th  of  July,  1708,  the  Rev.  William  Black 
came  to  the  town  and  remained  until  May  9,  1709,  in 
which  period  he  held  meetings  here  and  in  other 
localities,  but  the  interest  created  was  not  sufficient  to 
attempt  the  founding  of  a  church  in  Lewes;  and  nearly 
a  dozen  more  years  elapsed  before  that  purpotse  was 
accomplished.  In  1717  the  Rev.  George  Ross  was  in- 
vited by  Sir  William  Keith,  at  that  time  Gover- 
nor of  Pennsylvania,  to  accompany  him  in  a  tour 
through  Lower  Delaware  to  look  alter  the  wants  of  the 
people.  On  this  mission  they  vij^ited  Lewes,  where 
Mr.  Ros4  held  divine  service  in  the  court-house 
'  August  6,  1717,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  those  as- 
sembled. Impressed  with  the  spiritual  needs  of  the 
people  of  this  section,  he  returned  in  1718,  and  during 
his  stay  of  a  week  baptized  more  than  a  hundred  per- 
sons at  L-wes,  Cedar  Creek  Hundred,  and  the  country 
along  the  Indian  River.  An  effort  was  now  made  to 
obtain  a  regular  minister,  and  through  the  influence  of 
Mr.  Ross,  the  Rev.  William  Beckett  came  as  a  mision- 
ary  under  the  auspices  of  the  "Society  for  the  Prop- 
agation of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  of  London, 
to  take  up  this  work.  He  selected  Lewes  as  a  central 
point  from  which  to  carry  on  his  operations,  locating 
here  in  September,  1721.  Taking  what  means  had 
already  been  gathered,  he  immediately  commenced  to 
build  a  church,  and  a  year  later  he  reported  to  his 
society  :  '*  The  frame  of  our  church  was  raised  on  a 


high  bank  in  the  centre  of  our  town  on  the  6th  (k^o- 
ber  last,  and  we  hope  to  finish  it  the  next  Summ^. 
The  other  two  churches  we  have  raised  at  distsat 
places.  We  intend  to  fit  them  up  with  all  convenient 
speed."  The  two  churches  here  mentioned  were  St. 
Matthew's,  in  Cedar  Creek  Hundred,  and  the  first  bi. 
George's  Chapel,  in  Indian  River  Hundred,  which  also 
belonged  to  the  parish  created  by  Mr.  Beckett.  Oi 
the  19th  of  May,  1724,  ho  wrote  to  his  society  that  not 
one  of  his  three  churches  **  will  contain  the  hearer 
that  constantly  attend  Divine  Service:).*'  In  1728  he 
built  "  a  fourth  church  in  the  middle  of  a  forest,  by  the 
name  of '  St.  John  Baptist,'  and  there  is  likel  j  to  be  a 
numerous  congregation  there."  The  interest  in  hi^ 
preaching  in  all  those  churches  continued,  and  io  bis 
last  letter,  September  26,  1742,  he  says  "  the  four 
churches  are  filled  on  Sundays,  and  I  am  often  cbligni 
in  summer  to  preach  under  the  trees,  since  the  houses 
are  too  small  to  hold  all  who  come  to  hear."  Mr. 
Beckett  died  August  20,  1743,  and  was  buried  in  the 
grave  yard  of  St.  Peter's  Church  at  Lewes. 

The  first  church  building  was  a  frame,  twenty-four 
by  forty  feet,  and  was  fifteen  feet  between  the  plate 
and  sill,  and  was  not  completed  until  1728.  That 
year  Patrick  Gordon,  Esq.,  then  Governor  of  Penn- 
sylvania, gave  £5  to  finish  the  gallery,  after  the 
front  of  it  had  been  wainscoted  with  black  walnat 
at  the  expense  of  Joseph  Pemberton.  The  hoose 
was  covered  with  cypress  shingles,  and  the  entire 
amount  expended  on  it  was  £96  6«.  did.  These 
moneys  were  contributed  by  the  people  of  the 
parish,  and  a  considerable  portion  was  secored  frora 
friends  outside  of  the  State,  Governor  Keith  being  a 
generous  donor.  On  the  10th  of  June,  1773,  John 
Penn,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  three  lower 
counties,  presented  a  fine  communion  service  to  the 
church. 

The  old  church  having  been  condemned  as  unsafe 
for  further  use,  a  new  house  was  built,  of  the  same  aixe, 
about  forty  feet  southwest  of  the  old  one.  The  firame 
was  raised  in  June,  1808,  and  by  September  15th,  that 
year,  the  church  was  completed,  which  was  deemed 
very  quick  work  for  those  times.  After  the  lapse  of 
forty  years  an  effort  was  made  to  build  a  larger  church, 
but  no  actual  work  was  done  until  the  fall  of  1853, 
when  the  above  building  was  removed  to  the  nwth- 
west  corner  of  the  cemetery,  by  Dr.  William  M.Rickard 
and  A.  8.  Wiltbank,  and  on  the  27th  of  May,  1854,  the 
comer-stone  of  a  new  church  was  laid  on  the  old  site. 
In  1855  work  was  continued  on  the  building,  under 
the  direction  of  L.  L.  Lyons,  H.  F.  Rodney,  William 
M.  Hickman,  John  Rodney  and  William  P.  Orr,  as  a 
building  committee,  but  the  edifice  was  not  completed 
for  consecration  until  July  15, 1858.  That  ceremony 
was  performed  by  Bishop  Alfred  Lee,  who  also  con- 
ferred holy  orders  upon  the  rector,  Thomas  M.  Maitin, 
at  the  same  time.  It  is  a  brick  structure,  forty-seven 
by  seventy-six  feet,  Gothic  style,  with  fine  window8,and 
cost  six  thousand  dollars.  The  sitting  capacity  is  nearly 
seven  hundred.    A  tower  was  added  and  other  im- 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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provements  made  to  the  Church  in  1870.    Other  im- 
provements have  been  made  at  a  more  recent  period. 

In  1790  St.  Peter's  Church  was  incrirporated  with  a 
board  of  trustees  composed  of  John  Wiltbauk,  Recce 
Wolfe,  John  Russell,  Phillip  Kolloch,  Hap  Hazzard, 
George  Barker  and  Anderson  Barker.  In  1797  the 
church-yard  was  enlarged  by  the  purchase  of  land 
from  Daniel  Rodney  and  the  Rev.  James  Wiltbank, 
and  other  property  of  the  church  was  sold;  the  glebe, 
devised  by  Daniel  Nunez,  in  1791,  to  Peter  Robinson 
and  the  old  Court-House  and  sundry  lots  west  Jrom 
it,  June  15,  1833,  to  H.  F.  Rodney  and  others.  The 
property,  which  was  in  fair  order  in  1887,  was  in  charge 
of  a  vestry  composed  of  William  P.  Orr  and  Alexan- 
der Harrison,  wardens  ;  Hiram  Burton,  Charles  Bur- 
ton, Henry  Marshall,  Jacob  Marshall,  James  Mar- 
shall, Clinton  Long  and  David  R.  West,  vestrymen. 
The  parish  embraced  forty -five  families,  and  St.  Peter's 
was  the  only  church  within  its  limits,  all  the  other 
churches  at  first  associated  with  it  having  assumed 
different  parish  relations. 

The  ministers  of  the  church,  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Beckett  in  1743,  were  as  follows : 


.  Arthur  Usher lUr^-M 

John  Andrews 1767 

Samuel  Tingley 1774 

John  Wade 1776 

Stephen  Sykes 1779 

Wm.  Skelley 1790 

Jamea  WiltUnk 1795 

Hamilton  Bell 1811 

John  Forman 1818 

Daniel  Higbee 1821 

Nathan  Kingsbury 1834 

Charles  £.  Pleaaanto 1836 

John  L.  McKim 1838 

Whitetide 1840 

I.  A.  Childa 1842 


Eer.  GeorgeHall 1848 

"    Thomas  M.  Martin 1867 

**    George  A.  Crooke 1869 

"    Edwin  B.Chase 1860 

**    George  S.  Lewis 1861 

"    John  B.  Henry 1863 

"    George  A.  Crooke 1866 

*•    John  A.  Parsons 1867 

"    John  L.  McKim 1870 

"  Kensey  Johns  Stewart. ..1871 

•*    GeorgeHall 1879 

**    John  L.  McKim 1882 

"    Thomas  McClintock 1883 

"  Thoo.  Waterman. 

**  Edwin  B.  Armstrong!. ..1886 


The  Bethel  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Lewes. — Methodist  ministers  preached  in  this  locality 
as  early  as  1774,  the  meetings  being  held  in  private 
houses.  But  on  the  Slst  of  March,  1788,  a  board  of 
trustees  was  incorporated,  with  a  purpose  to  build  a 
church,  namely,  John  Wiltbank,  William  West,  Wil- 
liam Coulter,  Abraham  Hargis,  Sheppard  Pretty  man, 
Thomas  Coulierand  William  Prettyman.  This  board 
purchased  a  lot  of  Rhoads  Shankland  May  7, 1788,  on 
what  was  known  as  Shankland's  Lane,  on  which  was 
raised  the  frame  of  the  old  "Ebenezer  Church." 
Three  years  later  "Bethel  Church"  waa  built  in 
Lewes,  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Market  Stnets, 
and  for  many  years  meetings  were  alternately  held 
in  the  two  churches.  Later  Ebenezer  Church  was 
allowed  to  go  down,  but  the  burial-place  is  still  main- 
tained. In  1828  Bethel  Church  was  removed  from  its 
old  site  to  the  location  of  the  present  church,  and  ten 
feet  added  to  the  length  of  the  house,  making  it 
twenty-five  by  forty  feet.  In  a  repaired  condition  the 
old  church  was  used  until  the  present  edifice  was 
occupied.  Its  corner-stone  was  laid  August  29, 1870, 
but  the  dedication  did  not  take  place  until  August  28 


78 


>  Mr.  Armstrong  is  the  rector  in  1887. 


1872.  The  church  is  a  frame,  forty  by  sixty  feet, 
and  is  thirty-two  feet  high,  giving  it  lecture  rooms  in 
the  basement,  and  a  large  auditorium.  It  was  erected 
by  a  building  committee  composed  of  George  Cham- 
bers, E.  J.  Morris  and  T.  E.  Record,  and  cost  about 
six  thousand  dollars.  In  1880  a  steeple  was  built  on 
the  church,  and  it  was  since  otherwise  improved. 
The  following  year  a  very  neat  parsonage  was  built 
for  the  use  of  the  minister,  the  church  having  the 
previous  year  become  an  independent  charge.  In 
1887  the  entire  property  was  valued  at  sixteen  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  was  controlled  by  Trustees  D.  W. 
Brereton,  T.  E.  Record,  E.  J.  Morris,  Geo.  Chambers, 
Wm.  E.  Chambers  and  P.  B.  Norman,  Sr. 

When  old  "  Bethel "  was  removed  to  its  new  loca- 
tion in  1828,  about  twenty  families  worshipped  in  it. 
In  1887  the  membership  of  the  church  was  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-three,  and  it  was  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  the  Rev.  H.  S.  Thompson.  The  church  also 
maintains  a  very  flourishing  Sunday-school  of  three 
hundred  and  forty-five  members,  of  which  D.  W. 
Brereton  and  A.  D.  Mason  are  the  superintendents. 

The  first  Sabbath-Hchool  in  Lewes  was  held  in  the 
old  Bethel  Church  as  a  union  school,  in  1813,  by 
Mrs.  Sallie  West,  assisted  by  Mrs.  Selfy  Beebe  and 
others.  In  1816  the  school  was  conducted  under  a 
constitution  written  by  the  Rev.  John  Rodney,  and 
eight  ladies — three  Methodists,  three  Presbyterians 
and  two  Episcopalians — were  selected  as  directresses. 
The  school  was  first  held  in  the  Methodist,  but 
later  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  1820  a  Sabbath- 
school  was  taught  in  the  school-house  on  Second 
Street  by  ladies  of  various  denominations,  those  from 
the  Mcllvain,  Hall,  West,  King,  White  and  Rodney 
families  being  especially  active  in  this  work.  This 
school  was  subsequently  transferred  to  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  there  continued  until  about  1830, 
when  a  separate  Methodist  Sunday-school  was  organ- 
ized. Of  the  latter,  Bailey  A.  West  was  the  superin- 
tendent. In  1834,  Ferdinand  Schey,  a  young  Ger- 
man watchmaker,  became  the  superintendent,  and  for 
six  years  greatly  promoted  the  interest  in  the  school. 

John  W.  White  and  George  W.  Evans  were  suc- 
cessively at  the  head  of  the  school,  and  under  the  latter 
the  first  celebration  was  held  in  1846.  Assisted  by 
Dr.  H.  F.  Hall,  he  was  also  instrumental  in  forming 
the  first  Juvenile  Temperance  Society.  The  later 
superintendents  were  Wm.  A.  Conwell,  C.  M.  Mar- 
shall, and,  since  1858,  D.  W.  Brereton. 

The  church  at  Lewes  has  sustained  many  circuit 
relations,  and  at  first  had  services  only  at  long  inter- 
vals. In  1788  it  was  a  part  of  Dover  Circuit;  alter 
1795,  of  Milford  Circuit;  in  1803,  of  Lewistown  Cir- 
cuit; 1841,  Milton  Circuit;  1852,  Lewes  Circuit, 
which  then  had  eleven  appointments;  in  1864,  Indian 
River  Circuit  was  formed,  and  Lewes  now  had  five 
appointments ;  and  in  1880,  Lewes  became  a  station. 

The  following  have  been  the  Methodist  ministers 
who  preached  at  Lewes,  with  the  years  of  their  ap- 
pointment by  Conference : 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


BeT.  Abraham  Whitworth 1774 

*•     Philip  Gatch 1776 

•*     John  Cooper 1776 

"     Nicholas  Waters. 1776 

"     JoMph  Hartley 177e 

"      Martin  Rodda -1777 

*•     Jowph  Cromick 1777 

"     Freeborn  Garrettwn 1778 

"     John  LlttIiOo»»n -1778 

"     Joseph  Hartley 1779 

"     Thoe.  McClure 1779 

*•     Wm.  Gleudenninc 1780 

••     Jamee  0.  Cromwell 1780 

"     John  Coleman 1781 

*«     John  Tunnell 1781 

••      Wm.  GUI 1782 

"     Moeee  Park 1782 

"     Henry  Metcalf. 1782 

•«      Darid  Abbott 1782 

••     Wm.  Clendeuning 1783 

"     George  Kimble 1783 

"     Nelson  Reed 1781 

•«     Adam  Qoud 1784 

**     Samuel  Dudley 1786 

"     Joseph  Wyatt 1786 

••     Ira  Elkls 1786 

••     George  Moore 1786 

••     John  Brush 1T87 

»•      Aaron  Hutchinson 1787 

••      George  Moore 1788 

•«     Benton  Rlggin. 1788 

"     Thoe.  Jackson 1789 

"      Wm.  Rodcllff 1789 

**     James  Thomas. 1790 

«•     Evan  Rogers 1790 

••     John  Smith 1791 

«*     Shadiack  Boetwick 1791 

"     George  Moore 1792 

••     Solomon  Sharp 1792 

"      Walter  Fountain 1793 

*•     Joseph  Rowen » 1793 

•*     BednCash 1794 

••     Walter  Fountain 1794 

"     Wm.  Colbert ~ 1795 

••      Elisha  Cole 1796 

••      Solomon  Sharp 1796 

**     John  Robinson 1796 

"     DaTidBartine 1797 

••     Thoe.  Jones 1797 

••     B.  Chambers 1798 

"     Thoa.  Jones 1798 

"     Wm.  Mills 1799 

"      Archibald  Foster 1799 

••     Thos.  Jackson 1800 

•*      Wm.  Mills 1800 

"     Richard  Sneath 1801 

••     John  Wilthank 1801 

"      David  Best 1802 

"     Samuel  Budd 1802 

•«     Joseph  Jewell 1803 

••     Wm.  Earley „.  1803 

"     James  Moore 1804 

*•      Henry  White 1804 

"     John  Wiltbank 1805 

"     Henry  White 1805 

"     George  Wooley 1806 

••     Thos.  Dunn 1806 

"     George  Wooley 1807 

••     George  Armstrong 1807 

"     Thomas  Smith ^ 1808 

*•     John  Purden 1808 

*•     James  Herrod 1809 

••     Joshih  Colborn 18.9 

"     Thos.  Walker 1810 

••     John  Wilson 1810 

"     Sylvester  Hill 1811 

•«     William  Williams. 1811 

<•     Daniel  Ashton 1812 


Rev.  John  Collins 1813 

**      William  Leonard 1814 

"      William  Ross 1814 

**     Joseph  Bennett 1816 

**     James  Aiken „  ....  1816 

"     ArvaMelvln 1816 

••     Richard  Sneath 1816 

**     James  Bateman 1817 

"     William  Ross 1817 

"     John  Smith 1818 

••      William  Prettyman 1818 

••     Jehn  Smith 1819 

••     Jacob  Moore 1819 

••     Edward  Page 1820 

••     William  Quinn 1820 

"     Edward  Page 1821 

"     David  Best 1822 

••     JamM  B.  Ayers.. 1822 

"     John  FiDley 1823 

"     Thomas  Smith 1823 

"     Asa  Smith 1824 

**     John  Ledunm 1824 

"     Alvard  White 18-26 

'*     Edward  Stephenson 1825 

••     Alvard  White 1826 

♦•     John  Collins 1826 

"      William  Torbert 1827 

♦*     George  Wilcher 1827 

••     William  Torbfrt 1828 

*'     WIlliMm  Barnes 1828 

'*     William  Barnes. 1829 

*'     Joshua  Humphries 1829 

"     William  Smith 1829 

•»     John  Boyne 1830 

•♦     John  Bell 1830 

••     John  Boyne 1831 

"     J.  8.  Porter 1831 

•*     J.  8.  Porter 1832 

*♦     D.  Landon ^ 1832 

"     D.  Landon ^ 1833 

••     W.  Allen „ 1833 

"     D.  Daily 1834 

"     8.  Drain 1834 

••     D.Dailey 1836 

••     8.  T.  Ames. ^ 1836 

"     J.  T.  Haazard 1836 

••     8.  T.  Ames 1836 

••     Isaac  R.  WiUett 1837 

"      C.   Carsmr 1838 

"     William  Spry 1839 

*•     William  Spry 1840 

••     Jonas  Bissy 1841 

**     J.  A.  Watson 1841 

"      J.  B.  Merritt 1841 

'•     G.  Barton „., 1842 

"      Leeds  K.  Berridge 1842 

'*  James  U  Houston...  1843-44 

•♦  L.  M.  Prettyman..  ..1845-46 

••     Joshua  H.  Turner 1845-46 

••  David  L.  PatterBon...l847-48 

"      Arthur  W.  Milby 1847-48 

**     Samuel  Pancoast 1849-50 

••     Adam  Wallace 1851 

*•      Robert  E.  Kemp 1852 

"     Adam  Wallace 1852 

"     Charles  Shock 1853 

••     Adam  Wallace 1853 

♦•     Charles  Shock 1854 

♦•     D.  Hough 1854 

•*     D.   Hough 1866 

"     J.  PaStorAeld 1856 

"     8.  Layton 1856 

"     James  Hargis 1857 

♦•     Thomas  T.  Reed 1867 

"     Henry  Sanderson 1858 

"     John  M.  Plumer 1858 

"     Henry  Sanderson 18.^9 

**     Joseph  N.  Mulford 1869 


Rev.  Abraham  Freed 1860-61 

••     Edwin  G.  Irwin -1860-61 

"     J.  W.  Hammersly 1862 

••     J.  T.  Reed 1862 

•*     J.  W.  Hammersly ..1863 

**     Conner 1863 

"      L.  D.  McGliutock 1864-66 

'*  Thomas  B.  KilUam..l8C6>68 

••     G.  W.  Burke ^1869 


Rev.  J.  A.  B.  Wilson -^18» 

"     Geo.  W.  Burke IKO 

••      W.  M.  Warner 1871-T3 

•»      C.  M.  Pegg ..1874-T6 

-  W.  K.  England^ 1877-79 

"     C.  W.  Prvttymaa^ 1880^ 

-  J.D.Kemp.- „....18*3-«4 

**     Joseph  A.  Brindle 1SS5-^ 

**     H.  8.  Thompacm 18CT 


In  1853,  Nathan  Young  and  Solomon  Metcalf  were 
reported  an  colored  preachers. 

W.  Evans  waa  a  local  preacher  from  1820  udUI  1887; 
and  Joseph  W.  Hudson  from  1875. 

The  colored  people  of  Lewes  maintain  churches : 
St.  Qeorge^s  African  Methodist,  in  Pilot  Town,  on  a 
lot  adjoining  the  burial-ground,  deeded  to  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  in  1716.  The  present  church  was 
built  in  1883,  to  take  the  place  of  a  hou^e  homed 
down  in  1882.  It  is  plain  but  neatly  kept.  The 
second  church  is  known  by  the  name  of  St  Paurs 
Methodist  Episcopal  (colored),  and  wan  completed  in 
June,  1883,  on  Fourth  Street,  near  Ship  Carpenter 
Street;  it  also  has  an  inviting  appearance.  Each  con- 
gregation numbers  about  forty  members. 

Cemeteries. — The  history  of  the  oldest  cemeteries 
at  Lewes  is  somewhat  obscure,  but  it  is  probable  that 
the  one  at  the  lower  part  of  Pilot  Town,  on  the  pres- 
ent Thomas  Rowland  place,  was  first  devoted  to  the 
repose  of  ihe  dead.  As  early  as  1687  it  is  mentioned 
in  the  court  records  as  the  "  Ancient  Burial-Place," 
where  the  citizens  of  the  Hure  Kill  section  made  in- 
terment, and  one  acre  of  land  was  ordered  to  be  »>et 
aside  lor  such  an  use.  It  appears  to  have  fallen  into 
disuse  early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  so  far  as  the 
public  was  concerned,  and  to  have  become  a  private 
burial-ground  for  the  dead  of  the  Bailey,  Jacobs  and 
Art  families,  who  owned  the  adjacent  lands.  A  few 
plain  head -stones  to  the  memory  of  persons  of  those 
families  may  still  be  seen  in  this  ground,  which  is 
much  neglected  and  not  separately  inclosed.  The 
oldest  stones  are  marked  "John  Jacobs,  died  1731," 
•*  Hannah  Bailey,  died,  1732,  aged  72  years/'  "Jacob 
Art,  died,  1769." 

On  the  highway  along  Lewes  Creek,  and  near  the 
upper  part  of  Pilot  Town,  a  new  burial-ground  was 
established  as  early  as  August  7,  1716,  when  Samuel 
Rowland  set  aside  *'  one  acre  of  land,  lying  near  the 
town  of  Lewes,  fronting  on  y'  river  of  Lewes  to 
build  thereon  a  church  for  a  religious  place  of  wor- 
ship, for  the  church  of  England  and  no  other  ways 
to  be  employed,  and  to  pay  unto  me,  my  heirs, 
one  grain  of  Indian  corn  yearly,  forever,  if  de- 
manded." 

This  lot  is  just  above  the  African  Church  and  has 
not  been  used  for  years  for  its  intended  purpose.  A 
few  graves  only  have  been  marki  d  by  low  sand-stones. 
It  is  probable  that  when  the  Bite  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  was  located  more  centrally,  in  Lewes,  this 
ground  was  practically  abandoned.  The  title  to  the 
acre  of  land,  which  is  still  reserved  for  interments, 
remains  in  doubt,  but  the  property  seems  rightfully 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1235 


claimed  by  St.  Peter^a  Parish,  whose  cemetery  is  at 
the  church. 

The  oldest  koown  grave  in  that  yard  is  marked  by 
a  stone  inscribed  as  follows : 

•*  Here  J  jeth  y  body 

of  Margaret,  widow 

of  Jamet  Huling. 

1707." 

It  is  not  likely  that  this  yard  was  opened  as  early 
as  1707,  and  the  above  may  have  been  a  re-interment 
from  the  lower  Pilot  Town  burial-ground.  The  ce^^ 
etery  is  inclosed  by  a  substantial  brick  wall  and  con- 
taius  many  graves.  Four  Governors  of  the  State  lie 
buried  in  it,  namely : 

Daniel  Rodney,  died  1846,  aged  eighty-two  years. 

Caleb  Rodney. 

Samuel  Paynter,  died  1845,  aged  seventy-seven 
years. 

Dr.  Joseph  Maull,  died  1847. 

The  first  monument  of  any  size  that  was  erected  in 
this  yard  has  the  following  inscription  : 

**  Here  mt  the  remains  of  Oaptain  Jamee  Drew,  who  commanded  his 
Britannic  MiO^'Sty's sloopof-war,  * De  Bnwk,*  in  which  he  lost  Iils  life 
when  she  foundered  at  the  capes  of  Delaware  the  10*^  of  June,  1798. 
He  was  beloved  for  hie  virtues  and  admired  for  his  bravery.  His 
affectionate  relict  has  erected  this  monument  to  perpetuate  his  mem- 
ory.'* 

The  monument  has  lately  been  placed  in  good  or- 
der and,  in  connection  with  the  interest  perpetuated 
io  the  supposed  lost  treasures  of  the  ill-fated  "  De 
Braak,"  is  an  object  which  attracts  much  attention. 
In  this  yard  is  also  a  small  memorial  to  a  child  of 
Captain  Stotesburg,  which  is  the  work  of  an  Italian 
artist. 

It  is  a  small  block  of  Italian  marble,  on  which  is 
carved  a  mantle  half  drawn  aside,  so  delicately 
cut  that  one  looks  involuntarily  for  an  inscription 
underneath  the  raised  folds.  Other  tombstones  per- 
petuate the  memory  of— 


Died.                                       Age. 
1844.  David  Mills  Mcllvain 71 

1879,  Joseph  Mcllvain 79 

1832,  Joshua  Hall 83 

- 1818,  John  Houston,  Esq 48 

1880,  Robert  Houston 72 

1856,  William  Russell 86 

1851,  James  Rowland 67 

1854,  Thomas  Howard 76 

1823,  Capt.  Richard  Howard 67 

1881,  Thomas  Rowland 88 

1857,  Lewis  West 67 

1870,  Rev.  Cornelius  MusUrd...66 

1833,  Robert  West ^ 69 

186?,  Hon.  Elisha  D.  Cullen G2 

1861,  Burton  Stockly 64 

1852,  John  Khoades 69 

1866,  Capt.  David  R.  Blizzard...68 

1851,  James  Newbold 82 

1772,  Elias  Hugg 84 

1800,  Dr.  Theodore  Wilson 27 

1855,  Capt  Jacob  Morris 27 

1803,  Capt  Henry  Neil 61 


Died.  Age. 

1867,  Peter  Waples .86 

1831,  Jacob  Horgis 65 

1819,  Wni.  Shankland.„ 51 

1824,  Dr.  John  White 64 

1866,    Dr.   Peter   Fisher   Hall, 

(Surgeon  U.  8.  A.  1812) 76 

1817, 1  Col.  David  Hall 66 

1796,  Dr.  Joseph  Hall 46 

1865,  Aaron  Marshall » 78 

1820,  Capt  Peter  White 74 

1854,  Capt  Alex.  Maasey 60 

1828,  Wolsey  Waples 62 

1853,  John  Sweeney » 66 

1881,  Henry  C.  Long 64 

1875,  David  J.  Rowland 70 

1833,  Lieut.  James  Mcllvain,  U. 

8.  Army 44 

1847,  Benjamin  Mcllvain 92 

1803,  Silby  Hutchens 73 

1854,  Reoce  Wolfe 62 

1854,  Wm.  D.  Waples 41 


Died.  Age. 

1888,  John  Rodney.. 68 

1884,  Capt  Henry  Viiden t)9 

1862,  Henry  Maull 69 

1866,  John  Amall 76 

1830,  Capt  George  Orton 67 

18  4,  ThomAs  N.  Orton 27 

1786,  Albert  Jacobs. 

1846,  Wm.  Paynter 71 

181^8,  Jonathan  Marshall .'.66 

1846,  Jonathan  M.  West ....61 

1821,  John  Waie 52 

1859,  John  M.  West 64 

1852,  Dr.  Robert  A.  Mcllvain....48 

1827,  John  Parker 44 

1776,  John  Wood 41 

1842,  George  Parker 89 

1863,  Thomas  Nouman 88 

1852,  Richard  Beebe ^ 74 


Died.  Age. 

1842,  George  Parker. 87 

1 772,  Jacob  Kolloch 80 

1799,  John  Rodney 67 

1829,  Jacob  Kolloch,  Jr 63 

1760,  Jacob  PhillifM,  Esq 03 

1869,  Henry  Fisher  Rodney 69 

1871,  Jacob  Conwell 77 

1860,  Alfred  8.  Wiltbank,  M  J)..S1 

1763,  Ryvee  Holt 67 

1769,  Daniel  Nunes. 

1815,  John  Wolf. 74 

1840,  John  C.  Burton. 

1846,  Cornelius  Paynter 81 

!   1814,  Samuel  Paynter 78 

I   1849,  Robert  Burton 77 

I   1868,  Henry  McCracken  (pilot)..77 
I   1839,  Gilbert  McCracken 73 


The  Presbyterian  Cemetery  is  next  in  importance, 
containing  the  graves  of  many  of  the  former  well- 
known  citizens  of  Lewes  and  vicinity.  The  follow- 
ing inscriptions  have  been  noted : 


As  early  as  1694  the  court  ordered  that  a  tract  of 
land  near  the  Block  House  Pond  be  used  as  a  place 
for  burial.  At  this  place,  in  1727,  a  Friends*  burial- 
ground  was  opened,  Mary  Miers  setting  aside  an  acre 
of  land  for  that  purpose.  Here  some  interments 
were  early  made,  but,  after  the  custom  of  Friend? > 
were  not  marked  by  headstones.  In  1813  Jane  Cord, 
a  descendant  of  the  original  grantor,  conveyed  the 
above  acre  and  three  more  to  the  trustees  of  the 
Camden  Monthly  Meeting  for  a  burial-yard.  The 
Friends  removing,  the  use  of  a  burial-place  was  no 
longer  required,  and,  in  1840,  most  of  the  ground  was 
sold  to  William  Bussell,  and  has  been  converted  to 
©ther  uses.  Near  by  is  the  burial-ground  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  which  has  been  secured  in  recent 
years.  An  earlier  graveyard  of  this  church  was 
located  on  Shankland's  Lane  some  time  about  1788, 
and  is  not  yet  wholly  abandoned,  though  not  kept 
with  the  care  that  such  places  deserve. 

The  situation  of  Lewes,  at  the  mouth  of  Delaware 
Bay,  and  its  naturally  defenseless  condition,  have 
exposed  it  to  the  attacks  of  all  the  foreign  powers 
with  which  our  country  has  been  at  war.  In  the 
colonial  period,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth 
century,  the  coast  was  much  harassed  by  the  French 
privateers,  who  threatened  to  lay  waste  such  towns  as 
refused  to  pay  them  tribute.  Fears  were  early  en- 
tertained that  Lewes  would  be  singled  out  for  an 
attack,  and  on  the  15th  of  July,  1695,  the  court  at 
Lewes  took  action  in  the  matter  of  providing  a  watch 
for  the  approach  of  the  enemy  as  follows  : 

*'  Present  at  court,  Jubtice  William  Clark,  Jobn  Stokely,  Oapt.  Luke 
Watson,  Thomu  Oldman,  Capt.  Thomas  Pemberton  and  Joeeph  Booth, 
when  theee  minutce  were  placed  upon  the  records : 

'*  *  An  order  and  Warrant  from  the  GoTomorand  Councill  was  pro- 
duced and  read,  Relating  to  a  suspicion  of  a  Designe  of  our  enemies,  the 
tfrench,  to  attack  this  or  some  of  our  neighboring  Plantations,  whereon 
for  safe  Guard  It  is  ordered.  That  Two  men  shaU  bee  Hired  to  Watch 
upon  the  Cape  erery  day  fh>m  Are  In  the  morning  until  seren  att  night 
until  ye  first  day  of  October  next  Ensuing.  In  obedience  whereunto 
the  Justices  considering  of  Penens  fitting  for  ye  said  watch  and  trusts^ 
and  did  Agree  and  approve  of  Anthony  Parsly  and  John  Pulbert,  and  ac« 
cordingly  did  agree  with  them .'  ** 

Subsequently  it  was  deemed  best  that  this  watch 


1  GoTemor  from  1802  until  1806. 


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1236 


HISTOPY  OF  DELAWAKu;. 


should  be  distributed  among  the  citizens  of  the  town 
and  the  vicinity,  and  the  court  decreed  that  "Watch 
bee  appointed  to  be  kept  at  Cape  Inlopen/'  to  b^in 
Monday,  June  7, 1697,  and  to  continue  until  the  tea- 
son  was  ended, — 

**  flrat  watch  by  two  at  a  time  sacceBsively  as  they  are  hereafter  named, 
at  the  rate  of  8c.  a  day,  per  man,  viz.:  Jonathan  Bayley  and  Nehemiah 
ffleld,  William  Clarlc  and  Cornelius  Wilthank,  Abraham  Wiltbank  and 
Imac  Wiltbank,  James  Scattown  and  John  Gibb,  John  Miers  and  James 
Walker,  Jonathan  Wolfinder  and  William  Orr,  John  Hill  and  Henry 
Stretcher,  Jacob  Kolloch  and  Alexander  MoUcHton,  Thomas  Lay  and 
Peter  Lewis,  William  Dyre  and  Thomas  Oldman,  John  Crouch  and  Philip 
Bnssell,  Capt.  Watson  and  John  Paynter,  Caleb  Herwithen  and  James 
Peterkin,  William  Adams  and  Gaines  Simson,  Thomas  Fenwick  and  John 
Williams.*' 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  enemy  made  his  ap- 
pearance that  season  for  the  purpose  of  pillage,  but 
the  following  year  the  fears  of  the  people  were  real- 
ized. The  French  pirates  landed  and  sacked  Lewes, 
August  27,  1698,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  report  of  the 
court  to  the  Council  at  Philadelphia,  September  3, 
1698: 

'*The  Lt.  Oorr  acquainted  the  Council  that  he  had  received  a  Letter 
from  ye  Justices  of  the  peace  of  Sussex  county,  which  he  read  as 
follows : 

**This  to  our  sorrows,  but  according  to  our  duties,  is  to  inform.  That 
on  friday  last,  in  the  afternoon,  a  small,  snng  ship  and  a  Sloop  came  too 
within  our  Cnpe,  not  wholly  undescried,  but  little  dreaded  of  being 
an  enemy  or  ffVeDch,  both  which  they  proved,  and  yesterday  morning 
landed  about  M)  men,  well  armed,  and  came  up  town  and  plundered  almost 
every  house  youre  Committing  great  spoil,  breaking  open  doors  and 
chests,  and  taking  away  all  money  or  plate  to  be  found,  as  also  all 
manner  of  goods  and  mcrdizes  wurth  anything,  together  with  rugs, 
blankettings  and  all  other  Bed  Covering,  Leaving  scarce  anything  in 
ye  place  to  cover  or  wear.  .  .  . 

**They  all  went  on  board  last  night ;  Killed  several  sheep  and  Hogs. 
They  continue  still  att  anchor  in  ye  birth  as  neer  in  the  Bay  opposite  to 
thistowno  as  they  well  can  find  water  to  ride  in,  and  its  doubted  they 
will  be  on  shore  again  before  night  for  more  Cattle,  if  not  to  burn  ye 
Houses,  but  we  shall  endeavor  to  save  youe.  They  lye  ready  for  all 
mischeifc,  inwards  or  outwards,  by  Land  or  Water,  and  Have  Pilots  any- 
way. They  are  now  in  chase  Inwards  of  a  Briganteen  with  their  sd 
sloop.  The  briganteen  outsails  youe,  and  m  ee  hope  in  God  will  escape ; 
they  are  beggarly  Bogues,  and  will  pillage  for  a  trifle,  nnd  do  think 
they  may  tarry  long  enough  until  ye  man-of-war  att  New  York  may 
have  speedy  notice.  They  took  about  eleven  of  ye  chief  of  our  town 
prisoners,  and  when  they  had  made  youe  help  on  board  their  plunder 
dismist  all  except  one  man,  Captain  Watson,  Carpttnter.  This  place  is  very 
open  for  danger,  and  very  naked  for  defence.  Mr.  Clark's ^  house  and 
goods  both  Hath  Sufficiently  shared  in  ye  villany.  We  hope  wee  need 
not  repeat  ye  Calamities  aforesaid,  nor  ye  great  terror  yet  must  needs 
here  attend  all  Sexes  and  Sizes  ;  all  which  is  submitted  to  yor  Honor 
most  serious  consideration.  By  sir,  yor  Humble  Servants,  Luke  Watson, 
John  Hill,  Thomas  Oldham  and  Jonathan  Bailey." 

The  people  in  the  surrounding  country  were  sum- 
moned to  the  relief  of  Lewes,  and  on  the  17th  of 
September,  1698,  the  court  allowed  payment  of  bills 
amounting  to  i^21  13*.  Irf.,  money  **  disbursed  as  a 
debt  of  the  whole  government  for  ammunition  and 
provisions  for  ye  county  people  summoned  in  and  for 
the  relief  and  assistance  of  the  town  of  Lewes,  who, 
on  Saturday,  the  27th  day  of  August  last  past,  were 
plundered  by  french  pirate*,  t©  their  great  damage, 
which  sd.  pirates  Left  not  the  Bay  until  the  Wednes- 
day following  in  the  morning." 

Lewes  contributed  her  share  in  the  Revolutionary 
War  to  secure  the  independence  of  the  colonies.  Col. 
David  Hall,  of  this  place,  raised  a  regiment  in  No- 
vember, 1776,  which  was  at  the  battles  of  Brandywine, 
Germantown,  Monmouth,  and  did  valiant  service  in 

>Mr.  Clark,  who  Is  mentioned,  was  at  the  time  in  Philadelphia  as  a 
member  of  Council,  and  was  sitting  in  the  board  when  this  letter  was 
lead. 


the  South.  Among  ils  members  from  Lewes  and 
vicinity  were  John  Clifton,  Whittington  Clifton, 
William  Walker,  Samuel  Dodd,  Richard  Davis,  Mi- 
chael Dorman,  Edward  Robinson,  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, Thomas  Walker,  John  Norman,  William  X<ingo, 
William  Orton,  James  Marsh,  Thomas  Rhoades,  John 
Cullen  and  Thomas  Gordon. 

Not  all,  however,  were  patriots.  There  were  some 
pronounced  Tories  in  Lewes,  and  so  intense  was  their 
opposition  to  the  war  that  it  resulted  in  a  riot,  in  the 
summer  of  1776,  of  which  Henry  Fisher  said,  "That 
they  cut  the  flag-staff  down  and  sold  the  flag  for  13dL, 
and  nearly  did  bodily  injury  to  the  Court." 

Joshua  Fisher,  a  rank  Tory,  who  was  at  that  time  a 
merchant  at  Lewes,  was  subsequently  banished  to 
Virginia  by  the  Committee  of  Safety. 

Later  in  the  Revolution,  a  British  man-of-war,  the 
"  Roebuck,"  lay  opposite  Lewes  for  some  time,  but 
did  not  injure  the  town.  But  a  party  from  the  ship 
landed  and  burned  out  the  interior  of  Cape  Henlopen 
Light-house.  They  also  captured  some  cattle  feeding 
on  the  marshes,  but  did  no  damage  to  life.  Ascend- 
ing the  Indian  River,  the  crew  of  the  "Roebuck" 
took  captive  some  patriots,  residing  on  that  stream, 
but  discharged  them  after  they  had  been  held  pris- 
oners a  short  lime. 

In  the  War  of  1812  the  events  at  Lewes  were  of  a 
more  stirring  nature,  and  embraced  the  investment  of 
the  town  by  the  British.  A  full  account  of  these  events 
appears  elsewhere  in  the  chapter  on  the  "  War  of  1812." 
The  enemy  appeared  in  the  bay  in  the  month  of  March, 
1813,  and  made  a  demand  upon  the  people  for  fresh 
provisions.  This  being  refused,  a  bombardment  was 
threatened  by  the  British  fleet,  which  consisted  of  two 
seventy-four-pounder  ships, — the  **  Pontius  "  and  the 
"Belvidere," — one  frigate,  two  bloops-of-war  and 
some  barges,  and  the  demand  was  renewed.  It  was 
again  relused  by  Col.  Samuel  B.  Davis,  who  had  now 
taken  command  of  the  American  forces.  These  con- 
sisted of  some  regular  troops  and  militiamen,  num- 
bering in  all  about  500  soldiers.  Most  of  these  were 
quartered  at  Block-House  Pond,  the  regular  troops 
being  in  charge  of  the  forts  or  earthworks  at  Pilot 
Town,  on  the  site  of  the  old  colonial  fort,  and  the  fort 
on  Lewes  Creek,  near  the  present  Virden  House.  These 
were  hastily  equipped  with  guns  brought  to  Lewes 
from  the  interior  of  the  Slate.  An  arsenal  was  located 
between  the  two  forts,  on  Ship  Carpenter  Street,  near 
Second. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  1813,  the  bombardment  of 
the  town  by  the  British  began,  and  was  actively  con- 
tinued some  time.  But  the  trees  on  the  marsh  ob- 
structed their  view  to  such  an  extent  that  their  aim 
was  not  effective.  The  lower  edge  of  the  store  door  of 
Caleb  Rodney  (now  the  aples  house)  was  struck, 
and  the  impact  of  the  ball  may  still  be  seen.  The  Mc- 
II vain  house,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
hotel,  near  the  upper  fort,  was  also  struck,  but  beyond 
this  no  damage  was  done.  The  gunners  in  the  Ameri- 
can forts  fired  at  long  intervals,  since  their  ammani- 


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SUSSEX  COUiNTY. 


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tion  wa»  limited,  and  itis  thought  that  one  of  the  ene- 
my's barges  was  rendered  unseaworthy  by  a  ball  from 
one  of  the  forts.  The  fleet  remained  off  Lewes  about 
six  months,  and  was  restrained  to  a  great  extent  from 
passing  up  the  river  by  the  effective  work  done  by  the 
pilots  under  Captain  Marshall.  The  British  admiral 
greatly  feared  the  marine  contrivances  placed  in  the 
channel,  and  preferred  to  remain  in  the  open  waters, 
while  the  fleet  ascended  the  Chesapeake  instead  of  the 
Delaware  Bay.  To  this  fact  Philadelphia  owed  its 
safety,  and  the  inroads  of  the  enemy  were  thus  greatly 
hindered.  Among  the  militia  at  Lewes  was  a  com- 
pany raised  in  the  place  and  which  had  as  officers : 


Oaptain,  Win.  Marshall. 
Lieutenant,  John  Gano. 

Private*, 
Art,  Joeeph. 
Atkins,  BagwelU 
Art,  Jacob. 
Art,  William. 
Barker,  Charles. 
Batson,  J.  W. 
Oonwell,  Jacob,  Sr. 
Conwell,  Jacob,  Jr. 
Clampitt^JohD. 
Clampitt,  Cook. 
Davis,  S.  P. 
Davis,  John. 
Edwards,  Simon. 
Edwards,  Simon,  Jr. 
Edwards,  William. 
Hall,  David. 
Jefn-ies,  William. 
Johnson,  William. 


Lewis,  William. 
McCracken,  Gilbert. 
Hasten,  WUliam 
Nicholson,  James. 
Newman,  Nathaniel. 
Nichols,  Moses. 
Norman,  Thomas. 
Norman,  John. 
Norwood,  J.  W. 
Orton,  George. 
Paynter,  Richard. 
Paynter,  Arthur. 
Rowland,  John. 
Rowland,  Samuel. 
Saunders,  John. 
Schelleyger,  Jersey. 
Thompson,  Samuel. 
Vinder,  Thomas. 
West,  Samuel. 
West,  William. 


The  company  remained  in  service  until  March  13, 
1815.  On  that  date  Captain  Marshall  entered  a  record 
in  his  book  as  follows : 

**  This  day  discharged  all  the  men,  took  the  keys  of  the  magazine, 
nailed  up  the  Guard-bouse  and  stopped  the  touch^boles  of  the  cannon.** 

Most  of  the  cannon  were  allowed  to  remain  at 
Lewes  and  within  recent  years  a  number  have  been 
placed  in  position  on  the  creek,  near  the  spot  where 
they  did  service  in  1813,  and  are  kept  as  memorials 
of  the  engagement  which  here  took  place  in  the 
second  struggle  for  American  Independence. 


CHAPTER    LXVII. 

GEORGETOWN   HCJNDRED 

Occupies  a  central  position  in  Sussex  County.  Its 
border  hundreds  are  Broad  Kiln,  Indian  Biver,  Dags- 
boro,  Nanticoke  and  Cedar  Creek,  following,  in  the 
order  named,  from  the  north.  Its  area  is  small  and 
its  origin  of  comparatively  recent  date.  This  hundred 
was  first  erected  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  January 
29, 1833,  which  provided  that  Broad  Kiln  Hundred, 
should,  after  the  1st  day  of  October,  1833,  be  divided 
into  two  hundreds,  and  named  George  R.  Fisher, 
George  Frame  and  John  Ponder  as  commissioners  to 
establish  the  boundary  lines.  Accordingly,  Broad 
Kiln   Hundred  was  divided,  as  near  as  possible,  at 


equal  distance  between  Milton  and  Georgetown,  be- 
ginning on  the  Indian  River  boundary  line  and  run- 
ning thence  to  the  line  of  Cedar  Creek  Hundred. 
The  part  west  and  south  of  the  line  run  by  the  com- 
missioners was  ordered  to  be  called  Georgetown 
Hundred,  and  the  elections  were  to  be  held  in  the 
town  of  Georgetown.  It  was  also  provided  that  the 
two  hundreds  were  to  have  but  one  trustee  of  the  poor 
and  but  one  commissioner  of  the  Levy  Court. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1835,  the  foregoing  act  was 
repealed,  Georgetown  Hundred  passing  out  of  exis- 
tence. This  was  the  condition  until  March  7,  1861, 
when  the  act  of  1833  was  revived  and  declared  to 
have  the  same  force  as  before  its  repeal  in  1835.  An 
amendatory  act  of  January  16,  1863,  authorized 
Georgetown  Hundred  to  elect  trustees  and  commis- 
sioners, the  same  as  other  hundreds,  and  from  that 
period  it  dates  its  existence  as  a  complete  political 
division  of  the  county. 

The  surface  of  Georgetown  Hundred  is  in  the  form 
of  an  elevated  plain,  whose  soil  is  a  sandy  loam. 
Here  are  the  head  waters  of  Indian  Run,  draining  inte 
the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  of  the  Nanticoke  River,  whoso 
waters  fall  into  Chesapeake  Bay.  Nevertheless,  the 
surface  is  so  level  near  the  source  of  that  stream,  that 
a  system  of  ditching  has  been  found  necessary  in 
order  to  secure  more  per  feet  drainage.  Heavy  growths 
of  pine  and  the  common  decidious  trees  abounded, 
and  large  areas  have  been  brought  under  cultivation 
only  in  recent  years.  The  ordinary  farm  crops  yield 
well,  and  the  improved  conditions  apptar  to  be  espec- 
ially favorable  for  the  cultivation  of  fruit  and  vege- 
tables. Many  small  farms  devoted  to  these  interests 
have  been  opened  since  the  completion  of  the  rail- 
road to  Georgetown  in  1868. 

The  level  nature  of  the  country  and  its  consequent 
swampiness  in  some  localities  prevented  the  general 
settleuient  of  the  hundred  long  after  other  parts  of 
the  county  were  well  occupied.  The  large  tracts  of 
land  owned  by  non-residents  was  another  obstacle  to 
its  early  development.  Among  the  first  warrants 
were  those  granted  to  the  Pettijohn  family.  August 
3,  1715,  John  Pettijohn,  Sr.,  became  the  owner  of 
five  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  the 
twelve  hundred  acres  known  as  the  Bundick  tract, 
some  of  which  was  also  warranted  to  John  Allen,  in 
1722.  The  Pettijohns  have  lived  continuously  in  the 
hundred,  but  the  descendants  of  the  family  are  not 
as  numerous  as  they  were  a  century  ago.  In  the  old 
Ebenezer  Pettijohn  house,  east  from  Georgetown, 
which  was  taken  down  in  1878,  were  found  some  rare 
and  curious  coins  bearing  date  from  1698  to  1723,  the 
latter  being  probably  the  time  when  the  building  was 
erected,  as  the  money  was  securely  fastened  in  a  mor- 
tise in  the  frame  of  the  house.  This  property  has 
passed  out  of  the  hands  of  the  family. 

In  1714,  Pennsylvania  warrants  for  land  on  the 
head-waters  of  Gravelly  Branch,  and  the  Long  Bridge 
Branch  of  the  Broad  Kiln  were  issued  to  Walter 
Reed,  two  hundred  acres  ;  William  Dauten,  two  hun- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


dred  acres;  Gilbert  Marrioer,  two  hundred  acres ;  and 
in  1716,  Thomas  Park,  two  hundred  acres. 

A  number  of  tracts  of  land  in  the  hundred  were 
granted  on  warrants  issued  by  Worc«ster  County, 
Maryland,  and  as  no  distinct  record  was  kept,  they 
cannot  be  here  noted.  In  November,  1763,  Benja- 
min Wootten  received  title  for  a  tract  of  two  hundred 
acres,  called  "  Inclosed,"  which  had  previously  been 
granted  to  Edward  Wootten,  with  another  tract  called 
"  Hound's  Ditch." 

On  the  24th  of  July,  1764,  an  agreement  was  made 
between  Benjamin  Mifflin,  of  Philadelphia,  and  John 
Jones,  of  Worcester  County,  **  alias  New  Sussex,"  to 
purchase  lands  and  drain  the  marshes.  In  accord- 
ance with  this  plan,  they  purchased  a  tract,  Novem- 
ber 6, 1764,  called  **  Ye  Great  Savannah,"  of  Samuel 
Pettijohn,  which  had  been  warranted  to  him  in  1760. 
They  also  bought  of  him  another  large  tract  of  land 
on  both  sides  of  the  "  Great  Drain,"  and  three  hun- 
dred acres  adjoining,  of  Thomas  Pettijohn.  A  special 
act  for  the  division  of  the  lands  acquired  under  the 
above  agreement  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  Jan- 
uary 30,  1818,  and  a  final  report  was  made  in  1820  by 
Samuel  Paynter,  John  Stockley  and  Isaac  Tunnell, 
who  had  been  appointed  commissioners.  The  lands 
were  divided  between  the  heirs  of  John  Sparhawk 
and  Jonathan  Shoemaker,  but  later  passed  into  the 
possession  of  Aaron  Marshall,  and  are  now,  in  part, 
owned  by  Dr.  WilliAm  Marshall,  of  Milford. 

In  the  fall  of  1833  the  following  list  of  taxables  of 
the  newly-erected  hundred  (including  also  the  town 
of  Georgetown)  was  prepared: 


Andenon,  Wm. 
AddeiM,  Richard. 
Addens,  Inac 
Atkins,  Arcmda. 
Atkins,  George  W. 
AodenoD,  James. 
Atkins,  James. 
Atkins,  Thomas  (Heirs). 
Anderson,  Peter. 
Brinkloe,  John  P. 
Barton,  John. 
Butler,  Samuel. 
Butler,  James. 
Bajnem,  Zacarlah. 
Baynem,  Henry. 
Baynem,  George. 
Burns,  Wm. 
Brown,  Humphries. 
Benston,  Wm. 
Beauchamp,  Wm. 
BaUer,  Jeremiah. 
Bliszard,  Stephen  B. 
Blizzard,  Wm.  E. 
Bell,  Henry. 
Baker,  Joshua. 
Chase,  Wm. 
Oullen,  Ellsha  D. 
Cannon,  Cornelias  D. 
Cottingham,  Charles. 
Calhoun,  George. 
Carpenter,  Jacob. 
Carpenter,  Benton. 
Carpenter,  Stephen. 
Campbell,  John; 
Calhoun,  Jonathan. 
Calhoun,  Peter. 


CofBn,  Cornel  ins. 
Coffin,  John. 
Coffin,  Thomas. 
.     Carey,  Elisha. 
Carey,  Wm.  H. 
Cooper,  Wm.  B. 
DIckerson,  George. 
Dodd,  Asahel. 
Dodd,  Darid. 
Dodd,  Absalom. 
Dodd,  Cornelius. 
Dodd,  Thomas. 
Dodd,  Marian. 
Dutton,  Josiah. 
Dutton,  James  R. 
Dutton,  Darid. 
Donaran,  Gibson. 
Donaran,  Peter. 
DonaTan,  John. 
Donaran,  Job,  Sr. 
Donaran,  Job,  Jr. 
DonoTan,  Nehomiah. 
DonoTan,  Wm. 
DonoTan,  Mary. 
DonoTan,  George. 
Donoran,  KendalL 
Donoran,  Wm. 
Donoran,  Burton. 
DonoTan,  Reuben. 
Donovan,  Somerset. 
DonoTan,  Russell. 
DIckerson,  Thomas. 
Dickerson,  Wm. 
DIckerson,  James. 
Dickerson,  Elizabeth. 
Dickeraon,  ElifAbeth. 


Dickerson,  Allison. 
Dickerson,  Dagworthy. 
Dickerson,  Abraham. 
DaTis,  Brinckley. 
Daris,  Neheuiah  R. 
Day,  Pretty  man. 
Ellegood,  John. 
Ennis,  PowelL 
Ennis,  John. 
Earing,  Gustarus  A. 
Fisher,  George  R. 
Fielder,  John. 
Ferrel,  Silby. 
Gates,  John. 
Gray,  Frazier. 
Gray,  Samuel. 
Gray,  Wm. 
Gray,  Jacob. 
Gray,  Wm.  W. 
Griffith,  Isaac  Fisher. 
Grundy,  Edward. 
Green,  Jesse. 
Gordon,  Mary. 
Houston,  Joseph. 
HoflSi,  Thomas, 
Harris,  George. 
Harris,  Stephen  M. 
Harris,  Nathaniel  P. 
Harris,  James  A. 
Harris,  John  H. 
Harris,  Wm.  C. 
Hart,  Tsaac. 
Hudson,  James. 
Hammond,  Wm. 
Hammond,  L.  P. 
Hamilton,  Pumel. 
Hurdebough,  Jacob. 
Johnson,  Pumel. 
James,  Ellas. 
Jones,  David  H. 
Jones,  Joshua. 
Jones,  Dagworthy. 
Joseph,  Zachariah. 
Joseph,  Wm.  C. 
Joseph,  Zachariah  S. 
Joseph,  Robert 
Jester,  Daniel  Sr. 
Jester,  Daniel,  Jr. 
KoUock,  James  P.  W.,  Esq. 
Kollock,  John. 
KoUock,  George. 
Kollock,  Philip. 
Kimmey,  Alexander. 
Kimmey,  Pumel. 
King,  John. 
King,  Wm. 
Layton,  Joshua  S. 
Layton,  Caleb  S. 
Layton,  Chas. 
Lawles,  James. 
Lawless,  Stephen. 
Landrum,  John. 
Lafland,  John. 
Lindal,  Wm. 
Linck,  Jehu. 
Layton  &  Slpple. 
Maull,  James. 
Martin,  Dr.  John. 
MarUn,  James. 
MarUn,  Wm. 
Maull,  Dr.  Geo.  W. 
Milman,  Elisha. 
Messick,  Elisha. 
Marvel,  Jusiah. 
Marvel,  Aaron. 
Marvel,  Edward. 
Marvel,  Wm. 
Marvel,  Thomas,  Sr. 


Morris,  Stsphea. 
Mumford,  John. 
Marorord,  Robert 
McCklU,  James  S. 
Messick,  Wlngata. 
Meaiick,  Covington. 
Maxwell,  Wm. 
McColley,  Outten. 
McCoUey.  James. 
Oliver,  Joseph  H. 
Paynter,  Coroellos,  bq. 
Prettyman,  Perry. 
Prcttymao,  Thonos  of  Wa. 
Prettyman,  Thomas. 
Prettyman,  Warrea. 
Prettyman,  Robert  K. 
Prettyman,  LemosL 
Pepper,  David. 
Pepper,  Joshua. 
Pepper,  Ariniry  G. 
Pepper,  Wm.  S. 
Pepper,  Eli. 
Pepper,  Jgshna  8. 
Pepper,  George  9. 
Pepper,  Thomas. 
Pepper,  David. 
Pumel,  James  T. 
Pumel,  Wm.  T.,  Esq. 
Pettijohn,  Lerin,  of  Zock. 
Pett^hn,  Jame^  of  Ebes. 
Pett^ohn,  James. 
Pettijohn,  AbsL 
Pett^ohn,  Zachariak. 
PettUohn,  EUsha. 
Pett^ohn,  Ebeneaer. 
Parker,  Samuel  P. 
Plumer,  William. 
Palmer,  Wm.  B. 
Prldo.  WiBgate. 
Rogexs,  Wm. 
Rench,  Matthew. 
Richards,  John. 
Russell,  Isaac 
Reed,  Summeisst 
Reynolds,  James. 
Reed,  Wm. 
Roach,  James. 
Roach,  Issac. 
Roach,  Wm. 
Reynolds,  Covington. 
Reynolds,  Zachariah. 
Reynolds,  George. 
Rust,  Peter. 
Reed,  Aham. 
Reed,  Peter. 
RobblDB,  Joseph. 
Russell,  John. 
Russell,  David. 
Rossell,  Wm.,  Esq. 
Russell,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Richards,  Nelson. 
Redden,  Stephen. 
Robinson,  Peter,  1^. 
Robinson,  Thomss,  Jr. 
Redden,  James. 
Ridgely,  Nichotos. 
Rodney,  Calvert 
Rogers,  DanieL 
Rogers,  Thomas. 
Rogers,  John. 
Short,  Wm  S. 
Short,  Philip. 
Stewart,  Caleb  B. 
Stewart.  David. 
Sharp,  Henry. 
Sharp,  John. 
Sharp.  Asa. 
Sharp,  Jacob. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1239 


Sharp,  Wm. 
8tee),  Pris. 
Salmons,  Peter. 
Smith,  Stephen. 
Smith,  DaTid  B. 
Steel,  Jamet. 
Smith,  Edward. 
Tnnnell,  Isaac 
Tonnell,  Charles. 
Torbert,  Jonathan  B. 
Tunnell,  Wm. 
Torbert,  Peter. 
Torbert,  John. 
Thompson,  Isaiah. 
Tacker,  John. 
Truitt,  James  P. 
Yaaghan,  Joseph  B. 
Yaughan,  Nathaniel  W. 
Vincent,  Short 
Yent,  John. 
Yeasey,  Wm. 
Walls,  John  (tailor). 
Walls,  James. 
WmIIs,  Edward  S. 
Walls,  Eli,  of  SamueL 
Wilson,  Asa. 
Wilson,  Joseph. 
Wilson,  Elzey. 
Wilson,  Jacob. 


Wootten,  Edward. 

Wolfe,  DaTid  B. 

Warren,  Jenkins  T. 

Warren,  Asa. 

Wilson,  Mi^or. 
Wilson,  John,  of  John. 
Wilson,  Joseph,  of  John. 
Wilson,  Wm.,  of  William. 
Wales,  Burton. 
Wales,  Pumal. 
Wilson,  Bichard  P. 
Wilson,  Henry  S. 
Walker,  Thomas,  Sr. 
Walker,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Walker,  Jettae. 
Wilson,  Wm.  P. 
Wilson,  Flndley, 
Wilson,  Joseph,  Sr. 
W'arren,  M^Jor. 
Wales,  Samuel,  of  Thomas. 
Wilson,  Zacliariah. 
Warrington,  Joseph. 
Wilson,  Jonathan  J. 
Wolfe,  Wesley. 
Walker,  Elisba. 
Wright,  Turpin. 
Waples,  Peter. 
Walter,  Penelope. 
Wales,  Wm.  H. 


The  Business  Intebbsts  of  the  hundred  are  con- 
fined to  the  small  stations  on  the  Junction  and 
Breakwater  Railroad.  Of  these,  the  hamlet  of  Red- 
den, a  little  more  than  four  miles  from  Georgetown, 
is  the  most  important,  containing  a  steam  lumber- 
mill,  two  stores  and  a  dozen  residences.  The  station 
was  established  in  August,  1870,  with  the  name  of 
Carey,  but  was  soon  after  changed  to  its  present  title, 
to  harmonize  with  the  name  of  the  post-office,  already 
existing  in  the  neighborhood,  and  which  had  been 
established  through  the  efforts  of  Col.  William  0. 
Redden.  The  first  agent  was  James  A.  Evans,  who 
was  succeeded,  in  April,  1886,  by  the  present  R.  C. 
Hill.  Larg<)  quantities  of  wood  and  lumber  are 
shipped,  the  saw-mills  having  been  extensively 
operated  since  1879  by  Isaac  A.  Peck  and  others. 

The  first  store  was  opened  in  1872,  by  James  A. 
Evans,  who  is  still  in  trade.  He  had  previously 
merchandised  at  Carey's  Cross-Roada,  where  he  also 
kept  the  post-office,  which  was  removed  to  the  station 
with  the  store.  In  1885  be  was  succeeded  as  post- 
master by  A.  T.  Dutton,  who  has  carried  on  a  store 
since  1879. 

Carey's  Cross-Roads  is  so  called  for  the  Carey  family 
residing  at  that  point,  half  a  mile  from  Redden 
Station.  A  store  was  there  opened  in  1867  by  James 
A.  Evans,  which  was  continued  five  years. 

Robbins  is  a  station  six  miles  from  Georgetown, 
and  contains  a  store  and  post-office,  kept  by  Joshua 

A.  Lynch,  who  is  also  the  station  agent.    Large  saw 
and  grist-mills,  put  up  at  this  place  in  1873  by  Wm. 

B.  Tomlinson  &  Co.,  were  destroyed  by  fire  in  1876. 
Bennum  Station,  locally  called  Hancock's  Crossing, 

is  four  miles  northeast  from  Georgetown.    A  store  is 
there  kept  by  W.  A.  Warrington,  who  is  also  in 
charge  of  the  interests  of  the  railroad  company. 
J.  B.  McConnaughey  built  a  steam  saw-mill  near 


Georgetown,  on  Layton  Ditch,  about  1850,  which  was 
operated  by  him  many  years.  The  mill  is  still  stand- 
ing and  is  now  the  property  of  the  Bank  of  George- 
town. 

Higher  up  the  road  to  Mil  ford,  on  Mifflin  Ditch, 
John  Harding,  from  New  Jersey,  successfully  oper- 
ated a  steam  saw-mill  until  he  was  accidentally  killed 
in  the  mill.  The  machinery  was  removed  to  Mil  ford 
more  than  twenty  years  ago. 

Churches. — There  are  a  few  religious  societies  in 
the  hundred,  outside  of  Georgetown,  belonging  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  oldest  of  these 
maintains  McColley's  Chapel^  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Carey's  Cross- Roads.  This  building — a  small  frame — 
was  erected  in  1857,  through  the  efibrts  of  Trustan  P. 
McColley,  and  was  named  for  him.  It  has  served  its 
purpose  well,  but  needs  repairs,  and  an  efibrt  to  that 
end,  or  the  building  of  a  new  church,  is  being  made 
at  this  time  (the  fall  of  1887).  Previous  to  the  build- 
ing of  the  chapel  a  small  house  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  street  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship. 

The  membership  of  the  chapel  b  small,  and  is  a 
part  of  the  Ellendale  Circuit,  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Proust 
being  the  pastor.  A  Union  Sunday-school  is  kept  up 
by  the  neighbors  through  the  efibrts  of  C.  Comp- 
ton,  Joshua  A.  Lynch,  Charles  R.  Swain  and  others. 

Reed*s  Chapel  is  on  the  Milton  road,  three  miles 
from  Georgetown.  Locally  this  church  is  called 
''  Sand  Hill  Church,"  on  account  of  the  sand  deposit 
in  the  neighborhood,  which  is  not  unlike  that  found 
on  the  beach  of  the  ocean.  The  chapel  was  named 
for  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reed,  a  preacher  in  charge  of  the 
circuit  when  it  was  erected,  about  thirty  years  ago. 
It  was  repaired  in  1885,  and  is  now  a  comfortable 
place  of  worship,  and  also  belongs  to  Ellendale  Cir- 
cuit. There  are  about  twenty-five  members,  belong- 
ing to  the  Dutton,  Donovan,  Spicer,  Pettijohn,  Wil- 
son, Roach  and  other  families.  Both  these  churches 
were  formerly  a  part  of  the  Methodist  charge  at 
Georgetown,  which  was  the  centre  of  a  number  of 
appointments  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

geoboetown. 
Georgetown,  the  county-seat  of  Sussex  County,  is 
eligibly  located  near  its  geographical  centre,  about 
thirty -six  miles  southeast  from  Dover.  It  is  a  station 
on  the  Junction  and  Breakwater  Railroad,  and  the 
northern  terminus  of  the  Breakwater  and  Frankford 
Railroad,  the  former  confpleted  in  1868,  the  latter  in 
1874.  Much  of  the  substantial  growth  of  the  town 
has  taken  place  since  the*  latter  period,  the  population 
having  increased  from  seven  hundred  and  ten,  in 
1880,  to  about  sixteen  hundred  in  1887,  and  since  the 
agriculture  of  the  surrounding  county  has  become 
more  diversified,  thus  increasing  its  wealth,  the  im- 
portance of  the  town  as  a  trade  centre  has  been  pro- 
portionately increased.  Within  recent  years  many 
fine  residences  have  been  erected.  There  are.  also, 
besides  the  county  buildings  and  the  beautiful  little 
public  park,  a  branch  of  the  State  Bank,  two  news- 


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1240 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


paperS)  two  society  halls,  an  academy  and  a  fine  pub* 
lie  school  building,  four  churches,  factories,  hotels, 
good  stores  and  other  elements  of  an  active,  enter- 
prising business  point. 

The  town  was  located  solely  to  afford  a  more  con- 
venient place  to  transact  the  affairs  of  the  county. 
An  act  of  the  Legislature,  January  29,  1791,  author- 
ized the  removal  of  the  county -seat  from  Lewes,  and 
located  a  new  site  for  the  county- town  in  James  Petti- 
john's  old  field,  near  the  centre  of  Sussex.  For  this 
purpose  fifty  acres  of  land  were  conveyed,  May  9, 
1791,  to  the  following  commissioners  appointed  to 
carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act :  George  Mitchell, 
Esq.,  Robert  Houston,  Esq.,  William  Moore,  E*q., 
John  Collins,  Esq.,  Nathaniel  Youog,  Esq.,  Williara 
Peery,  Esq.,  Rhoads  Shankland,  Esq.,  Thomas  Batson, 
Esq.,  Daniel  Polk,  Esq.,  and  Woodman  Stockley.  An 
act  of  October  26,  1791,  declared  that  the  name  of 
the  place  where  the  county  buildings  were  being 
erected  should  be  Georgetown,  it  is  said,  in  honor  of 
Commissioner  George  Mitchell,  who  was  active  in 
this  movement. 

Georgetown  was  surveyed  for  the  commissioners  in 
May,  1792,  by  Rhoads  Shankland,  who  thus  ex- 
plained the  plot :  **  In  or  near  the  centre  of  the  town 
is  a  spacious  square  of  one  hundred  yards  each  way, 
for  publick  use;  on  the  northeast  side  thereof  stand 
the  court-house  and  public  offices.  The  streets  run 
as  follows :  Pine,  Market  and  Laurel  Streets,  Straw- 
berry and  Cooper  Alleys  run  southwest  and  north- 
east; at  right  angles  with  them  are  Race,  Bedford 
and  Front  Streets,  North,  Love,  Cherry  and  South 
Lanes,  and  North  and  South  Alleys. 

"The  lotts  are  laid  off  sixty  feet  front  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  back,  each  lott  having  the 
conveniency  of  a  street  or  an  alley  for  an  outlet. 
There  are  eighteen  lotts  of  one  acre  each  laid  out  on 
the  north  end  of  the  town.  The  streets  are  laid  off 
sixty  feet  wide  and  the  alleys  twelve  feet  wide." 

Sale  of  lots  in  the  town  was  made  by  the  commis- 
sioners prior  to  1800,  as  follows  : 


George  Cook 1791 

Jesse  Grew 1791 

Joseph  Blchards 1791 

Nathaniel  Mitchell 1791 

Wm.  Teague 1791 

Thomas  MHTYel 1791 

John  Willis 1791 

Robert  Prettyman « 1791 

James  Lowry 1791 

Jacob  Hazaard „ 1792 

Joseph  Wilson 1792 

David  Shockley 1792 

Robert  Jones 1792 

Peter  P.  Harris 1792 

John  Evans ^ 1793 

Thomas  Bevans 1793 

Wm.  G.  Moor© 1793 

Wingate  Hall 1793 

Kendall  Batson 179 ) 

James  Anderson 1793 

Abraham  Harris, 179-1 

George  Hazzurd 1794 

BeutOD  Harris. ^ 179) 


Wm.  Russell 1796 

Lacy  Morris 1795 

Joseph  Melson 1796 

John  Russell 1797 

George  Haeeard 1797 

Eleanor  Redden 1797 

Peter  P.  Harris 1797 

Kendall  Batson 1797 

Joshua  Morgan 1797 

Benton  Harris 17W 

Wm,  Russell 1797 

N.  Mitchell 1797 

Nicholas  Ridgely 1797 

Isaac  Wilson 1797 

N.  Mitchell 1797 

Bei^amin  Bullen 1797 

Dr.  Jacob  Wolfe 1797 

Wm.  Freeman 1797 

John  W.  Batson 1797 

Philip  Kolloch 1797 

Thomas  Bevans 1799 

J.  Anderson 1797 


Three  of  the  commissioners  having  deceased,  a 


supplement  to  the  act  of  1791  was  passed  Jone  23, 
1801,  when  Benton  Harris,  Dr.  James  Robertson  and 
William  Russell  were  appointed  in  the  place  of 
Robert  Hou&ton,  William  Moore  and  George  Mitchell, 
deceased,  and  the  court  was  authorized  to  fill  futore 
vacancies,  so  that  clear  titles  could  be  given. 

The  original  plat  of  Georgetown  has  been  enlai^ 
and  additions  were  made  in  1883  by  John  L.  McKim 
and  D.  J.  Layton — eighty  lots — and  a  third  addition 
of  one  hundred  lots  was  made  by  W.  D.  Albur?. 
West  from  the  original  plat,  a  suburban  village  baa 
been  laid  out  by  Thomas  Pepper,  in  which  aboat 
thirty  buildings  have  been  erected  in  recent  yeaw, 
and  which  are  not  included  in  the  corporate  limiia. 

Aside  from  the  provisions  contained  in  the  act 
authorizing  the  location  of  the  new  county -seat,  the 
Legislature  passed  sundry  acts,  at  divers  times,  for  the 
government  of  the  town.  An  act  of  February  7, 
1795,  to  restrain  the  runuing  at  large  of  swine  in  the 
streets  of  Georgetown,  authorized  the  killing  of  the 
same  for  the  use  of  the  prisoners  in  the  jail.  Thin 
matter  was  again  legislated  upon  in  1801,  **  as  some 
of  the  inhabitants  had  suffered  great  spoil  and  dam- 
age by  the  reason  of  the  running  at  large,  etc-"  A  for- 
feit of  the  animals  for  the  benefit  of  the  prisoners  wu 
again  authorized.  The  school  fund  received  the 
benefit  of  fines  on  unrestrained  animals  in  1847. 

A  board  of  commissioners  to  govern  the  town  was 
authorized  by  the  act  of  March  3,  1851,  and  John 
Richards,  John  B.  Waples,  Jonathan  R.  Torbert,  Mat- 
thew Rench  and  John  West  were  named  as  the  first 
commissioners,  until  their  successors  should  be  elected 
in  1852.  The  powers  of  these  commissioners  were 
enlarged  by  the  act  of  February  24,  1859,  which  also 
authorized  the  inclosure  of  the  public  park,  the 
improvement  of  the  sidewalks,  and  the  enactment  of 
ordinances  for  the  sanitary  and  police  regulations  of 
the  town.  The  amount  of  taxes  to  be  raised  was  not 
to  exceed  two  hundred  and  fiity  dollars  per  year. 

The  act  of  March  18,  1863,  extended  the  limits  of 
the  town  one-half  a  mile  each  way,  from  a  central 
point  in  the  public  square.  These  limits  were  retained 
by  the  act  of  March  2,  1869,  under  which  the  towu 
has  since  been  governed.  This  act  provided  a  co^ 
porate  name, — the  **Ck>mmissioner8  of  Georgetown," 
to  whom  were  delegated  the  powers  customary  in  such 
cases, — ^and  enabled  the  election  of  a  fill  1  set  of  officers, 
which  made  the  town  independent  of  the  surround- 
ing hundred. 

The  first  election,  held  March  6,  1869,  resulted  ia 
the  choice  of  the  following : 

Alderman^  James  H.  Rnnel. 

OomnuMionert. 
Jacob  D.  Klmmey.  Charles  M.  Gullen. 

Shepard  P.  Martin.  Jacob  Moore. 

Charles  T.  Tunnell. 

iisssssor,  Joseph  H.  Marrel. 
Tnamrer.  Charles  H.  Richards. 

Since  that  period  the  following  have  served  as  Al 
dermen  and  Secretaries  : 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1241 


AkUrmen. 


1870.  John  B.  Waplee. 
IH71.  John  B.  WaplM. 

1872.  Charles  T.  Pumell. 

1873.  Joseph  T.  Adams. 

1874.  Joseph  T.  Adams. 
1876.  Joseph  T.  Adams. 


1876.  Joseph  T.  Adams. 

1877.  J.  P.  W.  Kollock. 

1878.  J.  P.  W.  Kollock. 

1879.  John  W.  Messick. 
1880-^.  John  L.  Thompson. 


SecrHarie*. 


1870.  Geo.  W.  Faucett. 

1871.  James  P.  Barker. 

1872.  BeqJ.  F.  BuUer. 

1873.  JoMph  B.  Waples. 

1874.  Charies  T.  Purnell. 

1875.  James  P.  Barker. 

1876.  Wm.  H.  Lingo. 

1877.  Charles  T.Pamell. 


1878.  W.  F.  Tunnell. 

1879.  W.  F.  Tunneil. 
1880-87.  Caleh  R.  Layton. 

Geo.  W.  Hatfield. 
Chas.  T.  Parnell. 
John  Barr. 
J.  E.  Fauoett. 
Charles  L.  Moore. 


CbmmiwKmen,  1887. 
Wilbur  F.  Tunnell.  Wm.  J.  Thoronghgood. 

Wm.  W.  Rawlins.  Joseph  T.  Adams. 

Charles  L.  Moore. 

Board  of  UtalA. 
Dr.  C.  R.  Layton.  Wm.  J.  McNatt. 

Dr.  0.  D.  Robinson.  Rufus  W.  Torbert. 

Dr.  John  W.  Messick. 

Since  the  town  baa  been  incorporated  the  streets 
have  been  well  improved,  and  lighted  since  1874. 
One  of  the  most  destructive  fires  the  place  has  ever 
had,  occurred  May  18, 1887,  when  the  residences  of 
R.  W.  Torbert  and  Sarah  Wingate  and  the  store  of 
B.  W.  Warren  were  destroyed,  the  total  loss  being 
about^four  thousand  dollars. 

The  first  fire  apparatus  was  purchased  in  1831, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  the  ^'Geoi^etown  Fire 
Association,"  which  received  an  appropriation  from 
the  Levy  Court  for  that  purpose.  In  1833  the  use  of 
the  old  jail  was  granted  to  house  the  apparatus. 

General  Business  Interests. — Georgetown  has 
had  mechanics  of  character  and  energy,  whose  labors 
have  aided  materially  to  make  it  a  business  point. 
As  carpenters  James  Maull,  Thomas  Wilson,  Gusta- 
vus  Ewing,  Thomas  Pepper  and  George  Harris  de- 
serve to  be  noted.  The  latter  followed  his  occupa- 
tion for  fifty-three  years, — from  1830.  The  Bogers 
were  old-time  blacksmiths  and  Wesley  Wolfe  and 
John  Burton  the  carriage-makers  of  the  town. 

Dr.  Robiuson  had  a  mill  for  grinding  bark  for  dyeing 
purposes,  and  Eli  Pepper  and  Joshua  Layton  carried 
on  brick -yards.  Robert  D.  Stout  followed  hat-mak- 
ing, having  from  eight  to  ten  men  employed.  One  of 
his  apprentices  was  Trustan  P.  McColley.  Another 
shop  was  carried  on  by  Renatus  Thomas,  who  moved 
to  Philadelphia  in  1828.  Dagworthy  Jones  was  a 
halter  at  a  later  period. 

At  the  lower  end  of  Market  Street,  beyond  the 
Judge  Wootteu  place,  the  tanning  business  was  exten- 
sively carried  on  by  Thomas  and  Peter  Robinson. 
With  the  latter,  John  Richards,  who  had  learned  his 
trade  of  James  Clayton,  at  Dagsboro',  became  asso- 
ciated after  1812,  and  later  carried  on  the  tannery 
himself,  being  succeeded  by  his  son,  Dr.  Charles  H. 
Richards.  There  were  about  one  hundred  vats,  in 
which  Spanish  hides  were  tanned,  until  about  1858, 
when  the  tannery  was  abandoned.  Smaller  tanneries 
were  carried  on,  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  by  Wil- 
liam Russell,  John  Register  and  William  Tunnell ; 
but  these,  too,  have  passed  away. 
78* 


With  the  more  general  use  of  steam  and  the  ship- 
ping facilities  aflforded  by  the  railroad,  after  1868, 
there  was  a  greater  diversity  of  the  manufacturing 
interests.  A  steam  saw-mill  was  operated  many 
years,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  by  Curtis  A. 
Conaway,  who  also  established  a  foundry  near  by, 
about  1875,  bringing  the  material  from  Millsboro'. 
The  former  industry  was  discontinued  and  the  latter 
passed  into  the  hands  of  George  M.  Thoronghgood,  in 
1883,  who  subsequently  carried  it  on.  At  G^eorgetown 
plow-castings  and  repairs  were  principally  made.  In 
1883  a  new  steam  saw-mill  was  erected  on  the  north- 
western part  of  the  town  by  Benjamin  Carmean, 
which  is  still  carried  on  by  Frederick  Kreer. 

The  culture  of  small  fruits,  peaches  and  vegetables, 
at  and  near  Georgetown,  created  a  demand  for  can- 
ning and  preserving  establishments,  which  was  first 
met  by  William  H.  Lingo,  who  opened  a  small  can- 
nery on  Laurel  Street,  which  he  carried  on  a  few 
years. 

In  August,  1875,  an  association,  known  as  the 
"  Fruit  Preserving  Company,*'  was  formed  and  build- 
ings erected  near  the  railroad  depot,  in  which  to 
carry  on  busines.  An  Alden  Evaporating  Machine 
was  secured  and  about  forty  thousand  pounds  of  fruit 
preserved  in  the  fall  of  that  year  by  E.  R.  Sharpe, 
manager.  By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  the ''Fruit 
Preserving  Company"  became  incorporated  Febru- 
ary 1,  1877,  with  corporators  D.  J.  Layton,  C.  C. 
Stockley,  H.  T.  Downing,  Jacob  Moore,  E.  R.  Sharp 
W.  W.  Rawlins,  P.  S.  Faucett,  J.  S.  Adkins,  J.  W. 
Lynch  and  William  Tam.  This  company  carried  on 
operations  until  the  interests  it  controlled  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  C.  H.  Treat  Manu&cturing  Company, 
and  the  building  now  forms  a  part  of  that  establish- 
ment. 

In  1876  the  "  Georgetown  Packing  Co."  was  formed, 
having  as  members  E.  Wilson,  William  A.  Faucett, 
John  West,  G.  C.  Calhoun  and  G.  M.  Thoronghgood. 
In  a  few  years  Thoronghgood  and  Calhoun  became 
the  owners,  and  later  D.  S.  Rodney  was  associated 
with  them.  The  company  put  up  tomatoes  and 
peaches  until  1884,  when  it  ceased  work,  and  the  can- 
nery was  vacated. 

In  1887,  George  M.  Thoronghgood  and  G.  C.  Cal- 
houn built  and  put  in  operation  a  new  cannery,  on 
North  Cedar  Street,  which  is  so  arranged  that  it  has 
a  capacity  to  put  up  eighty-six  thousand  three-pound 
cans  per  season,  and  when  fully  operated  forty-eight 
hands  are  employed. 

The  cannery  of  William  A.  Faucett  &  Sons,  which 
has  been  operated  since  1883,  has  a  somewhat  smaller 
capacity. 

In  1884  the  car-shops  were  removed  from  Lewes  to 
Georgetown,  with  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  repair 
work  on  an  extensive  scale.  J.  D.  Billings  was  the 
master  mechanic,  A.  A.  Barrett  the  master  machinist 
and  there  were  thirty  skilled  employees.  Before  these 
plans  could  be  carried  out,  the  railway  passed  under 
control  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Balti- 


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1242 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


more  Company,  which  trans fered  the  interests  to  its 
works  at  Wilmington,  keeping  but  a  small  repair  shop 
at  Georgetown.  The  first  station  agent,  in  1868,  was 
John  M.  Rawlins.  His  successor  has  been  the  pres- 
ent agent,  Charles  F.  Tunnell. 

The  interests  of  C.  H.  Treat  and  his  associates  have 
been  the  most  important  in  the  industrial  history  of 
the  town,  and  have  given  a  new  impetus  to  its  manu- 
facturing life.  The  firm  first  became  identified  with 
the  afiairs  of  Delaware  in  1878,  when  the  business  of 
manufacturing  wooden -ware  from  veneers  was  estab- 
lished at  Frankford,  in  Sussex  County.  Recognizing 
the  superior  advantages  offered  by  Georgetown,  the 
interests  were  transferred  to  the  latter  place  in  1883, 
and  absorbed  the  pjant  of  the  "  Fruit  Preserving 
Company"  near  the  railway  station,  where,  under  the 
title  of  The  C,  H.  Treat  Manufacturing  Company ,  an 
extensive  business  has  since  been  conducted.  The 
company  was  incorporated  April  4,  1883,  with  a  cap- 
ital stock  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  and  the 
following  corporators :  Charles  H.  Treat,  president ; 
Norman  B.  Huxford,  secretary  and  treasurer  ;  Andrew 
B.  Banghart,  superintendent ;  Henry  Treat,  James  M. 
Huxford  and  A.  H.  Montague.  The  latter  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  New  York  agency,  through  which 
many  of  the  products  of  the  factories  are  sold.  The 
plant  comprises  several  acres  of  land,  on  which  stand 
a  number  of  three-story  frame  buildings,  aggregating 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  length,  and  varying 
from  thirty  to  thirty-six  feet  in  width,  which  are 
equipped  with  the  most  improved  machinery  for  the 
purpose  of  manufacturing  wooden  novelties  in  three- 
ply  veneer,  butter,  pie  and  other  dishes  patented  by 
Messrs.  Banghart  and  Treat,  and  the  canning  and 
preserving  of  fruit  and  other  vegetables.  The  estab- 
lishment in  all  its  appointments  is  very  complete  and 
the  business,  still  in  its  infancy,  necessitates  the  em- 
ployment of  several  hundred  persons. 

The  Sussex  Manufacturing  Company  was  incorpor- 
ated April  10,  1886,  and  organized  to  begin  business 
in  1886.  Of  this  company  C.  H.  Treat  was  elected 
president ;  N.  B.  Huxford,  secretary ;  and  Henry 
Treat,  treasurer.  An  eligible  location  was  secured  at 
the  intersection  of  the  railroads,  in  the  eastern  part 
of  the  town,  where  a  large  manufactory  has  been 
erected.  The  main  building  is  a  two-story  frame, 
thiry  by  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet,  with  two  wings, 
thirty  by  forty  feet,  in  which  have  been  placed  ma- 
chinery for  manufacturing  baskets,  barrels,  casks, 
builders'  lumber  and  scroll  and  jig-sawing.  A  large 
force  of  men  is  employed,  not  only  in  the  factory,  but 
in  various  parts  of  the  State  to  fiirnish  the  material  for 
the  consumption  of  the  establishment,  whose  business 
has  already  become  a  pronounced  success. 

Incidental  to  the  foregoing  is  the  extensive  mer- 
cantile establishment  of  C.  H.  Treat  &  Co.,  the  larg- 
est in  the  State  outside  of  Wilmington.  A  two-story 
frame  building,  forty -six  by  one  hundred  and  forty 
feet,  is  occupied,  in  which  are  handled  almost  every 
species  of  merchandise,  and  the  transactions  involve 


the  sale  of  seventy-five  thousand  dollars'  worth  of 
goods  annually. 

A  system  of  excursions  from  various  parts  of  the 
Peninsula  has  extended  the  fame  of  this  house  be- 
yond the  limits  of  the  county. 

It  is  said  that  the  first  store  in  the  place  was  kept 
by  Benton  Harris,  in  a  small  building,  one  story  high, 
near  the  present  bank,  which  was  afterwards  occa- 
pied  by  Jehu  Stockley  as  a  watch-maker's  shop. 
Harris  later  had  a  store  on  the  site  of  the  Brick  HoteK 
then  moved  to  the  Faucett  corner,  where  James  A. 
Harris  afterwards  traded,  the  former  merchandising 
until  his  death,  about  1830.  More  than  sixty  ye«« 
ago  William  Bell  had  a  small  store  on  the  site  of  Dr. 
Richards'  residence.  James  Anderson  also  traded, 
prior  to  1810,  on  the  west  side  of  the  square.  At  thi^ 
place  Matthew  Rench  subsequently  did  a  large  bua- 
ness,  and  was  one  of  the  successful  merchants  of  the 
town.  Joshua  S.  Layton  and  Caleb  B.  Sipple  were  a 
contemporary  firm  selling  goods,  and  also  bein^  Iftrge 
contractors,  they  erected  the  new  court-house,  jail 
and  the  Brick  Hotel.  Charles  Tunnell,  David  Moore 
and  John  B.  Waples  were  also  successful  merchants 
in  their  day.  In  recent  years  the  trade  of  the  place 
has  been  divided  among  a  large  number  of  firms, 
there  being  in  1887  three  drug-stores,  several  cloth- 
ing-stores, hardware  and  general  stores,  to  the  number 
of  about  one  dozen.  Some  of  the  foregoing  mer- 
chants were  also  the  postmasters,  but  more  frequently 
the  office  was  kept  in  private  houses  and  shop^. 
In  1808  the  postmaster  was  a  Mr.  Frederica ;  and 
James  Anderson  was  a  later  appointee.  Other  pos- 
masters  were  Philip  Short,  Charles  Tunnell,  P.  S. 
Purnell,  James  W,  Lynch,  Levin  A.  Pepper,  James 
Maull,  Greenbury  Rogers,  James  A.  Wolfe,  James 
Barker  and  James  Butler.  The  business  of  the 
office  has  very  much  increased  in  recent  years,  and 
improved  mail  facilities  have  been  afforded. 

The  first  public-house  in  Georgetown  stood  near 
the  present  Eagle  Hotel.  It  was  put  up  by  Art 
Willis,  and  was  kept  by  his  family.  The  latter  hotel 
was  partially  built  in  1807,  and  has  had  many  keepers, 
among  those  of  earlier  periods  being  Philip  Short, 
David  R.Smith  and  Philip  Jones.  In  an  enlarged 
condition  the  house  has  preserved  its  old-time 
popularity.  On  the  southwest  side  of  the  Park 
was  a  frame  building,  set  aside  for  the  public  as  eariy 
as  1811,  where  Robert  D.  Stout  dispensed  hospitality. 
After  him  John  H.  Ell^ood  was  a  popular  landlord 
until  1836,  when  the  old  house  was  demolished  and 
the  present  Brick  Hotel  built.  Burton  C.  Barker  was 
the  first  keeper,  and  later  was  Adolphus  Ewing. 
During  the  Civil  War  the  place  was  known  as  the 
Union  Hotel,  but  the  original  name  now  again  applies. 
The  past  twelve  years  it  has  been  so  well  kept  by  R. 
A.  Rosenbaum  that  it  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
hostelries  on  the  Peninsula.  On  the  site  of  Raynor's 
drug  store  was  an  old-time  tavern,  after  1820,  for  a 
number  of  years,  kept  by  James  Gaskins  as  the 
*''  Rising  Sun,"  a  fact  which  was  indicated  by  its  sign. 


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O.  H.  TREAT.  Pnes. 


^.^ 


A.  B.  BANQHART.  8urt. 


N    B.  HUXFORD   Treas. 


THE  C.  H.  TREAT  MANUFACTURING  CO., 

.     GEORGETOWN,  DEL. 


O.  H.  TREAT,  PreS. 


HENRY  TREAT,  Treas. 


THE  SUSSEX   MANUFACTURING  CO., 

GEORGETOWN,  DEL. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1243 


Id  1823,  William  Rostell  kept  this  house,  und  later 
James  Maull  was  the  laDdlord.  The  latter  also 
kept  public-houses,  on  the  Faucett  comer,  and 
in  an  old  red  building  which  stood  on  the  site  of 
Layton's  drug  store,  and  which  was  known  as  the 
*'  Wilson  House." 

The  physicians  are  C.  R.  Richards,  Joseph  B. 
Waples,  C.  R.  Layton,  O.  D.  Robinson,  Alexander 
Laws  and  Joseph  R.  Layton  ;  the  two  latter  retired. 

One  of  the  old-time  law-offices  stood  on  the  site  of 
the  fine  residence  south  of  the  bank,  and  has  been 
occupied  by  J.  W.  Houston,  Willard  Saulsbury, 
Thomas  Robinson,  John  R.  McFee  and  John  H. 
and  Edward  R.  Paynter.  It  was  torn  down  in  1878. 
South  of  the  Brick  Hotel,  in  the  house  demolished  in 
1887,  Oeorge  Alfred  Townsend,  the  celebrated  writer, 
was  born  while  his  father,  a  Methodist  minister,  liyed 
at  Georgetown. 

One  of  the  customs  peculiar  to  the  people  of  Sussex, 
from  time  immemorial,  is  to  hold  high  carnival  on  the 
day  when  the  results  of  a  general  election  are  an- 
nounced. On  this  "  Return  Day  "  the  official  Board 
of  Canvassers,  with  the  sherifi  presiding,  meets  at 
Georgetown  at  twelve  o'clock,  noon.  But  early  in  the 
morning  people  from  all  parts  of  the  county,  and 
even  from  Maryland,  may  be  seen  coming  to  the 
county-seat,  some  walking,  others  on  horseback,  and 
still  others  in  wagons  and  carts,  drawn  by  one  or 
more  oxen,  by  an  ox  and  a  horse,  an  ox  and  a  mule, 
or  several  oxen  and  a  horse,  the  vehicle  being 
gayly  decorated  with  bright  colors  or  flags.  Often 
this  crowd  presents  a  motley  appearance,  some 
being  dressed  in  costumes  which  were  used  in 
primitive  times,  and  others  purposely  arraying 
themselves  in  an  outlandish  manner  to  give  more 
zest  to  the  spirit  of  the  occasion.  The  successful  can- 
didates also  come  to  town  and  are  met  by  a  great  crowd 
of  admiring  friends,  who  extend  their  congratulations 
in  an  unmistakable  manner.  Some  of  these  candi- 
dates are  taken  up  bodily,  and  are  carried  around  on 
men's  shoulders  when  the  results  are  announced  from 
the  window  of  the  court-house  to  the  congregated 
mass  below.  Booths,  stalls  and  stands  are  erected 
near  the  court-house,  where  all  kinds  of  edibles,  such 
as  opossum  and  rabbit  meat,  fish  and  oysters,  can  be 
procured.  The  women,  who  constitute  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  crowd,  are  generously  treated  to  cakes, 
candies,  and  the  best  the  booths  afford.  The  citizens 
of  the  town  hold  a  genaral  reception,  and  all  are  ex- 
pected to  help  entertain  the  people,  especially  if  they 
are  friends  of  the  successful  party.  Every  one  en- 
deavors to  make  ''  Return  Day  "  a  hilarious  one,  and 
all  seem  willing  to  perpetuate  a  custom  which  is  now 
peculiar  to  Sussex  County  alone,  and  which  sometimes 
brings  three  thousand  people  to  town. 

The  Georgetown  Branch  of  the  Farmers' 
State  Bank  began  business  in  1807,  in  a  frame 
building,  a  part  of  which  new  forms  the  residence 
of  Benamin  Burton,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
public  square.     In    1857   the   bank  was  moved  to 


the  substantial  brick  building  now  occupied,  on  the 
comer  of  the  square  and  Bedford  Street.  The  office 
is  neatly  furnished,  and  has  the  modern  appliances 
to  secure  greater  protection  for  the  funds  entrusted 
to  the  keeping  of  the  bank.  The  following  were 
elected  to  the  offices  indicated  below,  in  the  years 
affixed  to  their  names : 


PreHdentt. 

ThonuuCooper ^ 1807 

Jamea  Anderaon „1807 

Gardiner  H.  Wright 1862 

James  Ponder 1875 

Charles  G.  Stoekley 1878 

OoMhien. 

latac  Tannell 1807 

James  Andenou „ 1862 

Gardiner  H.  Wrlglit 1876 

WUburF.  Tunnell 1882 

Direelor$. 

Caleb  Rosi 1808-13 

Wm.  Roasell 1808 

Ignatius  Pearce 1809 

Peter  Robinson 1809-52 

Joseph  King ^ 1810 

Wm.  Waples 1810 

James  Anderson 1810 

Jeass  Green 1811-12 

Wm.  H.  Wells. 1811 

Samuel  Paynter... 1812-37 

Wm.  H.Wells 1814-18 

Wm.Bo8.4eII 1815-16 

James  Anderson 181^-25 

•  hirtis  Jacobs 1818 

Caleb  Ross „ 1819-23 

Benton  Harris 1821 

Arthur  Milby 1822-32 

Wm.  D.  Waples 1824-34 

Beni.  T.  Fooks If 24-26 

David  Hazxan] 1824 

Jehu  Stockley 1824 

Philip  Short 1824 

Maenan  Bull 1825 

Wm.  W.  Green 1826 

David  Hazzard 1825 

JebuStockley 182-5 

David  Uazxard 1820 

Stephen  M.  Harris 1820 

Jehu  Stockley •. 1826 

John  Tennant 1820-30 

Charles  M.  CuUen 1827 

Wm.  D.  Waples 1827 

Jehu  Stockley 1827 

Stephen  M.  Harris 1827 

David  Hazxard 1828 

Matthew  Bench 1828 

Thos.  Cooper 1829 

Jamea  Anderson 1829-37 

John  Stockley law 

wm.  D.  Waples 1830 

David  Hazzard 1830 

Matthew  Bench 1830 

James  Barratt 1831 

John  Tennant 1831 

Arthur  Milby 1831. 

David  Hazzard 1831 

Jesse  Green 1832-33 

Bei\|.  Fooks ;. 1832 

Wm.  D.  Waples 1832 

James  Barratt 1832 

Wm.  N.  Polk 1832 

Thos.  Robinson 18a3 

David  Harjcard \SXi 

Hsnry  Little isaj 

George  Hickman 1833 


W.  W:  Dashlell 1833 

Miers  Burton 1834 

David  Hazzard 1835 

Wm.  D.  Waples 1835 

Oeorge  Hickman 1835 

Henry  Little 1835 

Wm.  D.  Waples 1841 

Lewis  West 1841 

Henry  LItUe 1841 

Wm.  Dunning. 1843 

Lewis  West 1843 

Peter  N.  Bust 1843 

Gustavns  A.  Ewing 1846 

Lewis  West 1846 

Peter  N.  Rust 1846 

Lewis  West 1847 

Peter  N.  Bust 1847 

Thomas  Jacobs 1851 

Matthew  Bench 1861 

Lewis  West 1851 

Benjamin  Fooks. 1853 

Matthew  Bench.. 1863 

Lewis  West 1853 

Matthew  Bench 1855 

Henry  Wolfe 1856 

Elibn  J.  Pusey 1866 

Matthew  Bench 1867 

Henry  Wolf 1867 

Wm.  W.  DuUny 1867 

Matthew  Bench 1859 

Shepperd  P.  Houston 1859 

Wm.  W.  Dulany 1869 

Ber\jamin  F.  Fooks 1801 

James  Ponder 1861 

Henry  Wolfe 18C1 

James  Anderson 1861 

Gardiner  H.  Wright 1861-75 

John  Ponder 1851-66 

W.  W.  Dashlell 1861-78 

Joseph  KoUoch 1861-72 

George  W.  Green 1861-78 

Charles  Wright 1802-4i5 

James  Ponder 1863 

John  Turpin  Moore 1863 

Wm.  D.  Waples 18(a 

W.  H.  Ro« 1860-76 

James  Ponder 180(t-77 

Wm.  D.  Waples 1867 

John  Turpin  Moors 1867- 

Loxley  B.  Jacobs 1867 

Wm.  D.  Waples 1869 

John  Turpin  Moore ..1869 

Loxley  B.  Jacobs 1869 

Edwin  R.  Payuter 187(>  87 

Wm.  D.  Waplos l}<7i 

John  Turpin  Moore 1871 

Loxley  B.  Jacobs 1871 

UarlMMon  Hickman 1873-87 

Wm.D.  Waples 1873 

John  Turpin  Muore 1873 

Loxley  B.  Jacobs 1873 

C.  0.  Stockley 1876-87 

Loxley  B.  Jacobs 1875 

John  R.  McFee 1875 

Charles  H.  Bichanls 1875 

Loxley  B.  Jacobs 1877 

Bobert  B.  Houston 1«77 

Lewis  B.  Chandler 1m77 

John  B.  McFee 1877-87 


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1244 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Ohariefl  H.  Richards 18T7-B7 

Hugh  Martin 1879 

Ebe  W.  Tnnnell 1879 

CharlMB.  Houston 1879 

James  Ponder 1881 

Hugh  MarUn 1881 


Kbe. W.  Tnnnell 1881 

Charles  B.  Houston. 1881 

Daniel  R.  Burton 1883-87 

Hugh  Martin 1883-87 

Ebe  W.  Tunnell 1883-87 

Charles  B.  Houston 1883-87 


The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  Farmers'  Bank 
at  Georgetown  made  January,  1888  : 

Assets. 

RMlestate. 18,473.19 

Bills  and  notes  discounted  aud  other  investments 346,006.17 

Current  expenses  and  taxes  paid 1,5M.62 

Otsh  and  cash  items 16,601.94 

Duefh>m  banlcs  and  banlcers 49,233.72 


$421,869.54 


LiabilUies, 


Capital  stock S120.000.00 

Surplus 27,699.43 

Undivided  profits 11.974.07 

Individual  deposits 260,963.68 

Due  to  banks  and  bankers 11,332.36 

9421.809.64 

Georgetown  Building  and  Loan  Association 
was  organized  under  the  act  of  incorporation  granted 
March  12, 1885.  The  first  officers  elected  in  August 
1886  were:  president,  E.  R.  Paynter;  vice-president, 
B.  F.  Wagamon ;  secretary,  C.  R.  Jones ;  treasurer 
R.  W.  D.  Albury;  attorney,  R.  C.  White;  directors, 
Joseph  T.  Adams,  John  L.  Thompson,  W.  M.  Hazel, 
Charles  L.  Moore,  R.  C.  White,  James  S.  Maull, 
W.  H.  Boyce,  H.  T.  Downing,  Isaac  N.  Fooks.  The 
association  is  successfully  conducted. 

Franklin  Lodge,  No.  12,  F.  A.  M.— The  dispen- 
lation  for  this  lodge  was  granted  June  27,  1823,  and 
on  the  2l8t  of  July  an  organization  was  effected,  with 
the  following  principal  officers :  W.  M.,  Caleb  S.  Lay- 
ton  ;  S.  W.,  Kendall  Batson ;  J.  W.,  Asaph  Buck  ; 
Secretary,  John  Handy ;  Treasurer,  Matthew  Rench ; 
Senior  Deacon,  George  Fraim ;  Junior  Deacon,  Robert 
Burton ;  Tyler,  John  Gray. 

This  lodge  became  an  incorporated  body  February 
26  1847,  but  owned  real  estate  pri«r  to  that  time. 
The  corner-stone  of  its  hall  was  laid  August  17, 1841, 
forty-three  members  participating  in  the  ceremonies ; 
but  the  building,  which  was  also  used  for  an  academy, 
was  not  immediately  completed.  In  1843  it  received 
the  benefit  of  a  lottery  authorized  for  the  purpose, 
and  that  year  was  finished  for  occupancy.  Since  that 
time  the  meetings  of  Franklin  Lodge  have  been  stated- 
ly held  in  the  upper  story  of  the  building,  while  the 
lower  has  remained  under  the  control  of  the  academy 
trustees.  The  membership  of  the  lodge  has  been 
drawn  on  in  the  formation  of  other  lodges  in  the 
neighboring  towns— numbering  but  twenty- two  in 
1887.  At  the  same  time  the  principal  officers  were : 
W.  M.,  Charles  T.  Purnell ;  S.W.,  McKendre«  Down- 
ham  ;  J.  W.,  C.  Rodney  Layton ;  Secretary,  Andrew 
B.  Banghart ;  Treasurer,  Charles  P.  Purnell ;  S.  D., 
George  A.  Jones;  J.  D.,  Alfred  C.  McGill;  Tyler, 

H.  H.  Day. 

Hope  Chapter,  No.  3,  Royal  Arch  Masons, 
was  instituted  at  Georgetown  June  19,  1826,  and  had 


among  its  early  members  John  Handy,  Asaph  Bock, 
Joseph  G.  Oliver,  Edward  Collins,  Winder  Dashiel, 
Trnstan  P.  McColley,  David  R  Smith  and  Samnel 
Wise. 

From  1830  to  1846  no  meetings  of  the  chapter  are 
recorded ;  they  were  then  again  resumed,  bat  once 
more  discontinued  during  the  Civil  War.  The  chap- 
ter was  revived  in  the  early  part  of  1870,  being  now 
designated  as  No.  3.  In  January  of  that  year  there 
were  twenty -five  members,  and  Jacob  Moore  was  the 
High  Priest.  .  After  a  few  years  the  meetings  of  the 
chapter  at  Georgetown  were  again  discontinued — 
Franklin  Lodge  being  the  only  Masonic  body  in  1887. 

Union  Lodge,  No.  3, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted  at 
Laurel,  July  4,  1833,  as  Bayard  Lodge,  No.  3.  It  was 
reinstated  at  Georgetown,  May  19,  1846,  with  the  pres- 
ent name,  upon  the  application  of  Joseph  Ellis,  Noble 
Grand;  Thomas  I.  Philips,  Vice-Grand;  John  8tockley, 
Secretary ;  Thomas  W.  Records,  Treasurer ;  Cyrus  C. 
Windsor,  Dr.  Wm.  B.  Derrickson,  James  E.  Ralph, 
Jacob  Stockley  and  T.  S.  Philips.  February  22, 1849, 
the  lodge  was  incorporated,  and  an  effort  was  made  to 
erect  a  hall  two  years  later,  but  this  purposs  was  not 
accomplished  until  18''>6.  The  meetings  meantime 
were  held  in  the  old  school  building.  This  hall  was 
enlarged  and  remodeled  in  the  fall  of  1884,  being  a>m- 
pleted  in  September  of  that  year.  It  is  a  three-story 
frame  building,  in  the  second  story  of  which  is  also  a 
public  hall,  twenty-eight  by  fifty  feet.  This  hall  is 
under  the  management  of  Charles  H.  Taylor. 

The  lodge  has  prospered  financially,  having  property 
in  1887  amounting  to  $6773.49.  Its  members  num- 
bered forty-two,  and  its  principal  officers  were :  Noble 
Grand,  W.  S.  Walls;  Vice-Grand,  Wm.  J.  Thorough- 
goed;  Recording  Secretary,  Charles  8.  Walls;  Per- 
manent Secretary,  Samuel  R.  Wilson ;  Treasurer, 
George  A.  Jones. 

Sussex  Temple  of  Honor,  No.  2,  was  incorpo- 
rated February  21,  1861,  and  authorized  by  the  Legis- 
lature to  unite  with  Rechabite  Division,  No.  22,  Sons 
of  Temperance,  and  Union  Lodge,  No.  3,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
to  form  a  stock  company,  and  erect  a  building  for  the 
use  of  these  societies  and  for  seminary  purposes.  This 
object,  however,  was  not  accomplished,  and  the  latter 
society  is  the  only  one  which  did  not  soon  after  sus- 
pend its  hieetings. 

Nanticoke  Tribe,  No.  21, 1.  O.  R.M.,  was  organ- 
ized at  Georgetown  April  24, 1884,  by  visiting  members 
from  other  tribes,  to  the  number  of  seventy,  and  has 
an  enrollment  of  forty-five  members.  On  the  22d  of 
January,  1886,  it  became  an  incorporated  body  and 
has  been  prosperous  since  its  institution,  having  in- 
creased its  membership  to  eighty-two.  A  neatly- 
furnished  wigwam  is  maintained  in  the  second  story  of 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  In  1887  the  trustees  were  Mc- 
Kendree  Downham,  John  L.  Thompson  and  C.  R. 
Layton. 

Georgetown  Lodge,  No.  29,  A.  O.  A.  M.  was  insti- 
tuted about  1871.  Its  meetings  were  held  with  con- 
siderable interest  about  three  years,  when  they  were 


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discontinaed  and  finally  altogether  sogpended.  The 
lodge  had  at  one  time  forty  members. 

Midland  Grange,  No.  27,  P.  of  H.,  holds  its  meet- 
ings at  G^rgetown,  and  had  in  March,  1887,  R.  J. 
Davidson  as  master,  and  Miss  Effie  L.  Davidson  as 
secretary. 

Company  G,  National  Guard  of  Delaware, 
was  mustered  at  Georgetown  March  31,  1887,  with 
twenty-nine  men  and  the  following  officers  :  Captain, 
Wm.  H.  Boyce ;  First  Lieutenant,  Charles  L.  Moore ; 
Second  Lieutenant,  Chas.  W.  Cullen;  First  Sergeant, 
Richard  A.  Rosenbaum.  A  requisition  was  made  for 
fifty-eight  rifles,  used  by  a  former  company  at  this 
place,  and  military  duties  were  at  once  begun.  At 
the  encampment  of  the  State  Guard  at  Rehoboth 
Beach,  July  27  to  August  3, 1887,  the  company  had 
more  members  present  than  any  other  organization.  It 
also  made  a  creditable  appearance  on  account  of  its 
numbers  and  soldierly  bearing  at  the  Constitutional 
Celebration  at  Philadelphia,  September  15  to  Septem- 
ber 17, 1887. 

Educational  and  Religious.  —  Schools  have 
been  maintained  at  Gfeorgetown  since  the  location  of 
the  town,  the  first  school-house  being  twenty-two 
feet  square,  and  standing  on  the  site  of  Caleb  Lynch's 
residence.  In  February,  1812,  Isaac  Tunnell,  Benton 
Harris,  William  Russell,  Robert  D.  Stout,  Francis 
Brown  and  Peter  Robinson  were  incorporated  as  the 
"  trustees  of  the  Georgetown  school,"  and  conducted 
it  as  a  private  enterprise.  In  1886  a  new  school- 
building  was  erected  on  Pine  Street,  out  of  the  ac- 
crued income  of  the  school  fund,  and  by  voluntary 
contributions.  This  later  became  known  as  the  ''  old 
academy,"  to  distinguish  it  from  the  new  one  erected 
in  1843.  In  it  public  schools  were  taught  until  the 
present  school  building  was  occupied  in  1885.  It  is 
a  two-story  brick,  twenty-four  by  thirty-six  feet,  and 
remains  as  one  of  the  land-marks  of  the  town.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Kingsbury  was  one  of  the  first  teachers, 
conducting  what  was  then  known  as  an  academy. 
Ten  years  efirlier,  in  the  winter  of  1825,  Dr.  Davis 
had  located  at  Georgetown,  and  announced  that  "  by 
Divine  permission"  he  would  open  an  academy 
January  1, 1826. 

The  present  acadsmy  building  was  erected  by  the 
joint  efforts  of  the  Masons  and  the  citizens  of  the 
town,  through  a  board  of  trustees,  from  1841  to  1843. 
In  the  latter  year,  by  the  help  of  a  fund  secured 
through  a  lottery,  the  lower  story  was  completed  for 
school  purposes  and  Loren  Johnson  became  the  first 
principal.  Subsequently  John  L.  McKim,  Oliver 
Wilson  and  others  conducted  the  schools,  which  was 
well  patronized  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
in  1861.  In  later  years  McKendree  Downham  and 
Elisha  Conover  were  then  principals,  the  latter  in 
1885,  when  the  last  session  was  held. 

Under  the  act  of  March  29, 1781,  a  Union  District 
was  authorized,  of  Districts  No.  67,  96, 106  and  109, 
to  be  controlled  by  the  "Board  of  Commissioners  of 
the  Public  Schools  of  Georgetown."    This  act  was 


amended  March  11,  1885,  when  the  commissioners 
were  empowered  to  sell  the  old  building,  secure  a  new 
site  on  which  to  erect  a  building,  issuing  bonds  to 
the  amount  of  six  thousand  dollars  to  pay  the  same, 
provision  for  which  was  made  by  a  special  tax.  Ac- 
cordingly, a  fine  site  was  secured  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  the  town,  upon  which  was  erected,  in  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1885,  a  main  building,  thirty-two 
by  sixty-six  feet,  and  a  winf?,  thirty-two  by  forty-two 
feet,  each  being  a  frame,  two  stories  high.  Four 
school -rooms  and  a  hall  were  thus  afforded,  haying 
sittings  for  nearly  six  hundred  persons.  The  exter- 
nal appearance  of  the  building  is  relieved  by  a  belfry, 
and  the  whole  was  substantially  completed  at  a 
cost  of  about  six  thousand  five  hundred  dollars. 
At  that  time  the  Board  of  Commissioners  was  com- 
posed of  William  H.  Boyce,  B.  F.  Wagamon,  Wil- 
liam J.  McNatt,  H.  T.  Downing,  Levin  T.  Sauls- 
bury,  Charles  R.  Jones,  Alfred  P.  Pepper,  C.  R. 
Layton  and  George  W.  Faucett. 

The  schools  were  opened  in  this  building  in  Decem- 
ber, 1885,  Calvin  Cubbage  being  the  principal  and 
having  three  assistant  teachers.  They  had  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  pupils  enrolled  in  1887,  and  were 
maintained  at  an  expense  of  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred dollars  per  year.  John  A.  Collins  was  the 
principal,  R.  C.  White  president  of  the  commis- 
sioners, and  Joseph  B.  Waples  treasurer. 

St,  PauVs  Churchy  Protestant  Episcopal. — ^The  early 
records  of  this  church  have  been  destroyed,  but  from 
contemporary  accounts  it  appears  to  have  been  or- 
ganized in  1794.  On  the  21st  of  June,  that  year, 
Rowland  Bevin,  Edmond  Dickerson,  Abram  Harris, 
Philips  Kolloch,  Isaac  Wilson  and  Warren  Jefferson 
were  elected  trustees,  to  whom  was  conveyed  one- 
third  of  an  acre  of  land  on  Pine  and  Front  Streets, 
on  which  to  erect  a  church.  But  it  seems  that  this 
site  was  not  deemed  desirable,  for  it  was  sold  in  1806, 
to  William  Russell,  after  four  other  lots  on  Pine 
Street  had  been  secured,  on  which  was  begun  a  frame 
church  in  1804.  Owing  to  the  small  membership, 
there  was  some  diflSculty  in  completing  the  building 
for  want  of  funds,  and  on  the  15th  of  January,  1805, 
the  Legislature  passed  an  act  to  enable  the  vestry  to 
raise  by  lottery  one  thousand  ^y^  hundred  dollars  to 
finish  the  church,  and  to  inclose  the  land  belonging 
to  the  burying-ground. 

The  church  was  dedicated  on  St.  PauPs  Day,  1806, 
by  the  rector,  the  Rev.  Hamilton  Bell.  Up  to  this 
time  the  services  were  held  in  the  court-house.  The 
church  was  not  fully  completed  for  many  years,  and 
on  the  8th  of  February,.  1827,  another  lottery  was 
authorized  by  the  Legislature  to  raise  a  fund  of  ten 
thousand  dollars,  for  the  purpose  of  "building  an 
academy  and  Masonic  Hall,  and  finishing  the  Episco- 
pal Church."  John  Stockley,  Thomas  Robinson,  Sr., 
and  Philip  Short  were  named  as  managers,  but  the 
lottery  was  not  held. 

The  frame  church  was  thirty-six  by  forty-eight  feet, 
and  had  galleries  on  three  sides,  with  a  high  pulpit, 


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1246 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


canopied  by  a  sounding-board.  A  clerk's  desk 
was  in  front  of  the  pulpit.  This  building  was  re- 
moved in  1843  to  make  place  for  a  brick  church, 
which  was  erected  on  its  site,  and  which  was  conse- 
crated in  November,  1844.  The  latter  edifice  was 
rebuilt  during  the  rectorship  of  the  Rev.  B.  J.  Doug- 
lass, and  was  again  opened  for  service  October  13, 
1881.  It  is  an  attractive  building,  in  the  Gothic 
style,  with  a  tower  having  an  open  vestibule  and  a 
spire.  Internally  the  church  was  much  beautified 
during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Kerr,  1885-87, 
and  a  good  pipe-organ  supplied.  On  the  same  lot  is 
a  small  Sunday-school  chapel,  erected  by  the  Rev. 
Douglass,  which  became  the  property  of  the  parish 
in  1886.  The  entire  property  is  valued  at  six  thou- 
sand dollars,  and  was  controlled,  in  1887,  by  the  fol- 
lowing vestry :  Edwin  R.  Paynter,  Wm.  H.  Boyce, 
Charles  C.  Stockley,  Wm.  H.  Rawlins,  David  T. 
Marvel,  Charles  L.  Moore  and  Ed.  D.  Hearn. 

The  wardens  of  the  parish  since  1838  have  been 
Matthew  Rench,  George  R.  Fisher,  James  Anderson, 
Edward  Wootten,  Caleb  S.  Layton,  Robert  W.  D. 
Albury,  Edwin  R.  Paynter  and  Wm.  H.  Boyce. 

From  1804  to  1838  the  rectors  of  the  parish  were 
the  Reverends  Hamilton  Bell,  James  Wiltbank, 
J.  Foreman,  Daniel  Higbee,  N.  Kingsbury,  C. 
Pleasants. 

In  1838  the  Rev.  J.  L.  McKim  became  the  rector, 
and  served  the  parish  two  years.  Then  came  the 
Revs.  C.  F.  H.  Whitesides  and  Walter  E.  Franklin. 
From  March,  1844,  until  April,  1867,  the  Rev.  John 
L.  McKim  was  again  the  rector,  his  ministry  being 
the  longest  in  the  history  of  the  church.  The  suc- 
cessive rtctora  were, — from  November,  1867,  Rev. 
Charles  De  L.  Allen;  December  3, 1871,  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin J.  Douglass,  who  resigned  September  1, 1884; 
January  1,  1885,  to  January,  1887,  the  Rev.  J.  C. 
Kerr,  the  last  regular  rector.  In  the  spring  of  1887 
the  Rev.  Louis  W.  Wells  preached  several  months; 
but  since  that  time  the  pulpit  has  been  vacant.  The 
parish  has  fifty-three  communicant  memben,  and 
maintains  a  good  Sunday-school,  of  which  Edwin  R. 
Paynter  is  the  superintendent. 

The  Georgetown  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was 
founded  as  Wesley  Chapel  in  the  early  part  of  the 
present  century.  A  board  of  trustees,  composed  of 
John  Houston,  James  Prettyman,  Joram  Griffith, 
Robert  W.  McCoUey,  Thomas  Morrell,  Peter  Parker, 
Harris  I.  Wilson,  William  Dickerson,  John  McCol- 
ley,  James  M.  Rounds  and  Eli  McColley,  was  chosen, 
who  purchased  a  lot  in  1802,  on  which  to  build  a 
church.  This  lot  on  Pine  Street  was  enlarged  in 
1806  by  an  additional  purchase,  so  as  to  afford  room 
for  burial  purposes.  A  brick  meeting-house  was 
begun,  which  was  not  completed  for  many  years, 
since  the  members  were  few  and  poor.  Yet,  through 
the  eflforts  of  several  devoted  women — Mrs.  Martha 
Richards,  Miss  Louisa  Wolfe  and  Mrs.  Margaret 
Rickards — funds  were  collected,  and  the  place  made 
more  comfortable.  .  The  first  seats  in  the  church 


were  without  backs,  and  everything  was  extremely 
plain.  An  increased  interest  in  religious  matters 
followed,  which  augmented  the  membership,  and 
among  those  now  active  in  church  work  were  Jona- 
than R.  Torbert,  local  preacher;  William  Russell, 
class-leader;  David  Moore,  George  Kollock,  Wesley 
Wolfe  and  others.  Later  were  added  Charles  and 
Sarah  Tunnell,  Kendall  B.  Wingate  and  David 
Dodd. 

In  1859  it  was  determined  to  erect  a  new  church 
on  Race  Street,  which  should  be  thirty-seven  by 
fifty-four  feet,  and  whose  estimated  cost  was  three 
thousand  dollars.  But,  unfortunately,  again  the 
work  of  completion  was  deferred,  and  it  was  not 
until  October  13,  1865,  that  the  church  was  ready 
for  consecration.  That  interesting  service  was  per- 
formed by  Bishop  Simpson  and  the  Rev.  A.  Cook- 
man.  The  old  church  was  then  demolished ;  but  the 
cemetery  is  still  used,  though  in  a  n^lected  condi- 
tion. The  present  church  is  a  two-story  frame, 
which  was  remodeled  and  much  beautified  in  1882. 
Its  value  has  been  placed  at  five  thousand  dollars, 
and  the  parsonage  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street 
at  one  thousand  Aye  hundred  dollars.  This  property 
was  controlled  in  1887  by  Trustees  Charles  F.  Rich- 
ards, Peter  S.  Faucett,  Charles  T.  Purnell,  Wilbur 
F.  Tunnell,  Charles  P.  Tunnell,  Dr.  Charles  H. 
Richards  and  J.  T.  Adams. 

In  1887  the  church  had  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  members,  forming  three  classes,  led  by  Charles 
P.  Tunnell,  M.  J.  McNatt  and  the  pastor,  the  Rev. 
W.  J.  Du  Had  way,  who  has  had  ministerial  charge 
since  1885. 

Georgetown  Church  has  sustained  a  number  of  cir- 
cuit relations,  but  for  many  years  has  been  closed  as 
a  station.  A  list  of  ministers  from  1836  to  1852, 
when  the  circuit  was  made  much  smaller,  embraces 
the  names  of  the  Revs.  Stephen  Townsend,  William 
Spry,  Solomon  M.  Cooper,  William  Mullin,  William 
B.  Messick,  Arthur  W.  Milby,  Samuel  Pancoast, 
Jonathan  Turner,  R.  E.  Kemp  and  C.  I.  Turner; 
1853,  Rev.  J.  Hough;  1854,  Rev.  J.  H.  Lightbourne; 
1855,  Rev.  J.  Pastorfield;  1856-57,  Rev.  Adam  Wal- 
lace; 1858-59,  Rev.  John  Talbot  Gracey;  1860,  Rev. 
John  Hough;  1861,  Rev.  T.  W.  Macla'y;  1862,  Rev. 
W.  W.  Wylhes;  1863-64,  Rev.  Charles  F.  Sheppard; 
1865,  Revs.  John  Dyson  and  J.  B.  Beck;  1866-67, 
Rev.  William  Merrill;  1868-69,  Rev.  D.  R.  Thomas; 
1870-71,  Rev.  Elijah  Miller;  1872-74,  Rev.  A.  D. 
Davis;  1875-77,  Rev.  W.  B.  Walton;  1878-79,  Rev. 
J.  W.  Hammersley;  1880-81,  Rev.  H.  Colclazer; 
1882-84,  Rev.  P.  H.  Rawlins;  1885-87.  Rev.  W.  J. 
Du  Hadway.  Rev.  Eli  J.  Roach  has  been  a  local 
preacher  since  1872. 

TTie  Presbyterian  Church  of  Oeorgetoum  was  organ- 
ized January  27,  1860,  by  a  committee  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Lewes.  Eight  persons  united  in  membership 
and  Elisha  D.  Cullen  was  elected  ruling  elder.  He 
served  until  his  death,  February  8,  1862,  and  on  the 
13th  of  May,  1864,  John  R.  McFee  was  elected  to 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1247 


that  oflSce,  which  he  has  since  filled.  In  the  fall  of 
1887  the  congregation  had  thirty-eight  memhers  and 
no  regular  pastor,  there  being  occasional  preaching  by 
supplies.  The  only  regular  pastor  was  the  Rev.  J. 
Bailie  Adams  who  was  installed  April  27,  1873,  and 
resigned  March  1, 1881.  Previous  to  his  ministry 
the  preaching  was  also  by  supplies,  and  the  meetings 
were  first  held  in  the  court-house.  On  the  6th  of 
October,  1871,  the  contract  for  building  a  chapel  on 
West  Bedford  Street  was  awarded  to  Hiram  T.  Dow- 
ning and  Peter  Pepper  for  three  thousand  dollars, 
and  on  the  5th  of  December,  1872,  the  church  build- 
ing was  dedicated  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Patton.  It  is  an 
attractive  structure,  in  the  Gothic  style  of  architec- 
ture, and  has  been  kept  in  good  repair. 

African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — ^This  church 
existed  as  an  organized  body  as  early  as  1840,  when 
its  trustees  were  Moses  Robinson,  Isaac  Kollock, 
George  Radcliff  and  Timothy  Jacobs,  to  whom  Wil- 
liam E.  Harris  conveyed  a  lot  of  land  on  which  to 
build  a  church  and  open  a  burial-ground.  A  small 
frame  building  was  erected,  which  stood  until  1867, 
when  the  present  house  took  its  place.  In  this  both 
meetings  and  schools  have  since  been  kept.  The 
church  has  about  forty  members. 

The  Union  Cemetery  Company  was  incorporated  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature,  March  24,  1881,  and  was 
organized  by  electing  nine  directors.  John  D.  Rod- 
ney, president;  and  Oeorge  W.  Bennum,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  In  1887  the  directors  were  P.  S.  Fau- 
cett,  George  W.  Bennum,  Charles  H.  Taylor,  W.  S. 
Walls,  I.  N.  Fooks,  James  H.  McGlathen,  George  C. 
Calhoun,  Joseph  S.  Wilson  and  Wilbur  F.  Tunnell. 
The  cemetery  contains  three  and  three-quarters  acres 
of  land,  on  the  east  side  of  the  town,  which  has  been 
neatly  inclosed  and  tastefully  improved. 

In  the  cemetery  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  George- 
town the  following  tomb-stones  have  been  noted : 


Died. 

1823,  Dr.  Iflaac  RobertaoD. 

1841,  Col  Wm.  D.  WaplM. 

1H49,  Geo.  David  R.  Smith. 

1840,  Jo«hua  Layton. 

1802,  Robort  Muniford. 

1863,  C^pt  Marti  D  W.  B.  BUegood. 


Diod. 

18G4,  John  B.  Waples. 

18«5,  Matthew  Reocb. 

1873,  Dr.  Philip  Smith. 

1875,  Eii  WalU. 

1877,  Asbury  C.  Pepi)«r. 

1886,  Col.  Gardiner  H.  Wright 


Among  those  interred  in  the  old  Methodist  ceme- 
tery were  : 


Died.  Age.  , 

ISSt),  J.P.  W.  Kollock 90  I 

1858,  Wm.  Rngaell 84 

1876,  John  Burton  (C.  M.) 82  i 

1880,  Jane  W.  Vaughn 83  j 

1821,  Margaret  RuwoU 47 

1853,  Jonathan  R.  Torbert 50  I 


Died.  Age. 

1880,  Charles  Tunnell 76 

1877,  Wesley  Wolfe 78 

1846,  GustaTiu  A.  Ewing 57 

1865,  Jacob  Faucett 60 

1817,  Philip  Short 71 


CHAPTER  LXVIII. 

CEDAR  CREEK   HUNDRED. 

Cedar  Creek  was  so  named  on  account  of  the 
abundance  of  cedars  on  its  banks,  and  from  the 
stream  the  hundred  takes  its  name.  Originally  all 
of  the  land  in  this  hundred  north  of  the  creek  formed 
a  portion  of  St.  Jones  County,  but  in  1683,  (ipon  the 
change  of  name  of  the  counties  St.  Jones  -  and 
Whorekill  to  Kent  and  Sussex,  Mispillion  Creek 
was  substituted  for  Cedar  Creek,  as  the  line  di- 
viding the  two  counties.  The  hundred  is  the  most 
northern  in  Sussex  County,  and  is  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Mispillion  Creek,  on  the  east  by  Dela- 
ware Bay,  on  the  south  by  Prime  Hook  Creek  and 
Georgetown  Hundred,  and  on  the  west  by  Nanticoke 
and  Mispillion  Hundreds.  The  land  is  well  watered 
by  numerous  small  streams,  and  that  which  is  in  a 
state  of  cultivation  produces  largely  the  usual  fruits, 
grains  and  vegetables.  Cedar  Creek,  which  nearly 
separates  the  northern  and  southern  parts  of  the 
hundred,  is  navigable  as  far  as  the  brick  granary, 
and  affords  facilities  for  shipping  to  those  living  in 
the  vicinity.  The  mouth  of  this  stream  was  often 
filled  with  sand,  impeding  navigation.  To  remedy 
this,  an  act  was  passed  February  2,  1793,  for  cutting 
a  canal  to  begin  at  or  near  Lewis'  Ditch  in  Cedar 
Creek  and  to  run  into  the  Delaware  Bay  or  Mispillion 
Creek.  Nothing,  however,  was  done  till  1848,  when 
George  R.  Fisher  was  instrumental  in  digging  a  canal 
from  this  point  to  Mispillion  Creek.  In  1869  the 
Cedar  Creek  Navigation  Company  was  incorporated, 
and  the  present  channel  dug. 

Like  facilities  for  shipping  are  afforded  to  those 
in  the  northern  part  by  the  Mispillion  Creek,  which 
is  navigable  to  Milford.  The  Delaware,  Maryland 
and  Virginia  Railroad,  running  north  and  south 
through  the  central  part  of  the  hundred,  affords  ex- 
cellent advantages  for  travel  or  shipment  by  rail. 
Well-constructed  and  numerous  highways  make 
travel  through  the  different  parts  of  the  hundred 
easy  and  convenient. 

Early  Settlements.  —  A  tract  of  land  one 
thousand  by  four  hundred  and  eighty  perches, 
containing  three  thousand  acres,  and  lying  be- 
tween Prime  Hook  and  Slaughter  Creeks,  was 
patented  June  21,  1671,  by  Governor  Lovelace  to 
Richard  Perrott,  of  Virginia,  concerning  whom 
more  information  will  be  found  in  a  letter  from 
him  to  Governor  Lovelace  in  the  "General  His- 
tory of  Sussex  County.''  The  large  tract  obtained  by 
Richard  Perrott  in  part  descended  to  his  grandson, 
Richard  Parrott,  who  conveyed  his  interest  to 
Berkley  Codd,  who  was  a  descendant  of  Perrott, 
on  October  29,  1718.  With  the  exception  of  the 
lands  resurveyed  for  John  and  William  Bellamy,  re- 
conveyance were  made  to  the  owners  by  Codd.  At 
his  decease  the  property  vested  in  his  widow,  who 
devised  itrto  her  great-grandson,  Thomas  Till,  whose 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


widow  afterwards  married  George  Read,  of  New  Cas- 
tle, signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  For 
George  Read  and  Gertrude,  his  wife,  the  land  was 
resurveyed  and  the  following  land  conveyed :  In 
1773,  to  Nathan  and  Robert  Young,  hve  hundred  and 
seventy-five  acres  of  land  and  two  hundred  and 
sixty-seven  acres  of  marsh,  being  a  part  of  "  Plea- 
sant.*' This  portion  is  now  owned  by  Mark  Davis, 
George  H.  Draper,  Joseph  H.  Draper,  Nehemiah  D. 
Draper  and  Thomas  E.  Draper. 

"  Pleasant,"  a  tract  of  one  thousand  acres,  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Slaughter  Creek  and  on  the  east  by 
"  Marsh  Patent,"  was  resurveyed  for  John  Bellamy, 
May  30, 1684.  **  The  Fancy,"  containing  one  thousand 
acres,  situate  west  of  "  Pleasant "  and  also  touching 
Slaughter  Creek,  was  resurveyed  for  William  Bellamy 
at  the  same  time.  These  tracts  were  all  situated 
partly  within  the  Parrott  grant.  On  the  14th  of 
February,  1684-88,  two  thousand  and  ninety-four 
acres  of  marsh  and  upland,  known  as  "  Marsh  Patent," 
was  granted  to  Luke  Watson,  Sr.  Thi«  was  situate 
partly  within  and  partly  without  the  above  tract.  In 
the  same  year  there  was  resurveyed  for  Henry  Smith 
a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres,  called  "  Delight,"  adjoin- 
ing **  Marsh  Patent,"  and  bounded  on  the  south  by 
Prime  Hook  Creek.  The  next  tract  to  the  west  was 
"  Fairfield,"  containing  six  hundred  acres,  warranted 
to  Luke  Watson,  November  16,  1683,  which  also 
touched  Prime  Hook  Creek  on  the  south.  To  John 
and  Samuel  Watson  there  were  warranted  on  the 
same  date  six  hundred  acres  of  land  situate  west  of 
"  Fairfield." 

To  Charles  Draper,  in  1773,  two  hundred  and  thir- 
teen acres  of  land  and  two  hundred  and  twenty -one 
acres  of  marsh,  which  are  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
William  Russell. 

At  the  same  time  there  was  conveyed  to  Mark  Davis 
four  hundred  and  sixty-one  acres  of  land  and  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  of  marsh  of  the  tracts  *'  Pleas- 
ant" and  "  The  Fancy."  This  land  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Joseph  M.  Davis  and  Thomas  J.  Davis. 

At  the  same  date  one  hundred  acres  of  *'The 
Fancy  "  was  sold  to  John  Ricketts.     It  is  now  owned 

by Yerkes.      An   additional   hve  hundred  and 

fifty-eight  acres,  resurveyed  at  the  same  time,  is  now 
the  property  of  the  heirs  of  H.  B.  Fiddeman  and 
Benjamin  F.  Waples. 

The  tract "  Fairfield  "  is  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of 
Benjamin  F.  Waples,  who,  together  with  Robert 
Roach  and  the  two  daughters  of  Robert  H.  Carey, 
are  the  possessors  of  the  larger  part  of  the  "  Marsh 
Patent." 

"  Delight"  is  owned  by  John  B.  Smith,  of  Milford. 
a  lineal  descendant  of  Henry  Smith,  the  patentee. 

In  1773  John  Cirwithin  was  in  the  possession  of 
sixty-seven  acres  of  fast  land  and  the  body  of  Cypress 
Swamp,  which  he  claimed  as  a  part  of  the  original 
survey  of  John  and  Samuel  Watson.  Their  land  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  David  Coverdale  and  the 
heirs  of  Benjamin  F.  Waples. 


On  November  1, 1723,  Caleb  Cirwithin  purchased  of 
Berkley  Codd  three  hundred  acres  of  the  John  and 
Samuel  Watson  tract.  The  other  three  hundred  acres 
were  sold  August  10, 1698,  to  Luke  Watson,  Jr.,  by 
Wm.  Pyle,  who  purchased  the  entire  tract  from  the 
Watsons. 

*^  Cullin's  Purchase,"  a  tract  of  five  hundred  acres 
on  the  southeast  side  of  Mispillion  Creek,  was  war- 
ranted to  George  Cullin  on  May  27, 1680. 

On  January  5, 1681,  Thomas  Skidmore,  a  planter  of 
St.  Jones'  (Kent)  County,  conveyed  to  Wm.  Clark, 
merchant,  of  Deale  County  (Sussex),  a  plantation  of 
four  hundred  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Cedar  Creek, 
near  its  mouth  and  crossing  over  the  land  near  t 
branch  of  Mispillion  Creek,  as  by  survey  of  Cornelius 
Verhoofe,  and  granted  to  Skidmore  by  the  WliorekiU 
Court. 

Four  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  south  side  of 
Cedar  Creek  was  surveyed  for  John  Dickarson  in 
October,  1686.  It  adjoined  land  of  Henry  Pening- 
ton  and  John  Outon,  and  descended  to  John  Dickar- 
son, son  of  the  patentee. 

On  December  29, 1677,  Governor  Andros  patented 
to  Robert  Hart  nine  hundred  acres  on  the  north  side 
of  Cedar  Creek,  known  as  *'  Hart's  Range."  Robert 
Hart  was  chief  of  surveyors,  and  on  the  15th  of  No- 
vember, 1681,  there  was  warranted  to  him  by  the 
court  of  Kent  County  nine  hundred  acres  of  land, 
which  was  surveyed  for  James  Louter,  who  assigned 
his  interest  to  Robert  Hart,  Sr.,  from  whom  it  de- 
scended to  Robert  Hart,  Jr.  "  Hart's  Delight,"  t 
tract  of  six  hundred  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Cedar 
Creek,  adjoining  his  other  lands,  was  warranted  by  ^ 
Whorekill  Court  and  surveyed  April  6,  1680.  The 
Hart  land  lay  between  the  Cedar  and  Mispillion 
Creeks  and  extended  eastward  to  the  bay.  It  is  now 
principally  owned  by  Greorge  R.  Fisher,  Henry  Car- 
ter, Miles  Mills,  Joseph  Jackson,  Henry  Pierce,  C. 
S.  Watson,  Mrs.  Dr.  William  Marshall  and  the  heirs 
of  William  Pierce. 

*'  Mount  Holly,"  a  tract  of  four  hundred  and  ten 
acres,  was  also  granted  to  Robert  Hart  by  the  coart 
of  St.  Jones,  by  warrant  bearing  date  November  16, 
1681.  It  is  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Cedar  Creek 
and  soon  afterwards  was  conveyed  to  Henry  Molles- 
ton,  who,  on  the  Ist  of  November,  1687,  conveyed  the 
tract  to  John  Richards.  On  July  20,  1704,  William 
Clark,  attorney  for  John  Richards,  sold  the  land  to 
Thomas  Stapleford,  in  whose  family  it  remained  until 
1825,  when  it  was  purchased  by  Joshua  Depatr. 
'*  Mount  Holly"  is  now  owned  by  James  H.  Deputy 
of  Zachariah,  R.  G.  Smith  and  Mrs.  Eli  Hammond. 

On  a  warrant  bearing  date  December  H,  1684, 
there  were  surveyed  for  Dennis  Brown  and  William 
Townsend  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  on  the  north 
side  of  the  north  branch  of  Cedar  Creek.  It  re- 
mained joint  property  until  February  19, 1716,  when 
it  was  divided  and  resurveyed. 

On  August  9,  1690,  there  was  conveyed  to  Henry 
Bowman,  by  special  warrant  from  the  commissionefs 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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of  property,  a  tract  of  land  known  as  "  Little  Graves 
End."  It  was  formerly  owned  by  Thomas  Skidmore 
and  Thomas  Williams,  to  whom  it  was  warranted  as 
four  hundred  acres.  On  the  re-survey  made  for  Bow- 
man, with  the  vacant  land,  glades  and  marshes  then 
taken  in,  it  was  found  to  contain  nine  hundred  and 
thirty-three  acres.  Henry  Bowman  also  owned  other 
lands  in  the  hundred,  and  after  his  death  a  portion 
was  inherited  by  his  son,  Henry  Bowman,  Jr.,  and  the 
remainder  was  sold  by  his  administrator,  William 
Clark.  Among  the  sales  made  by  Clark,  as  adminis- 
trator, are  the  following :  On  the  20th  of  November, 
1694,  to  John  Nutter,  of  Maryland,  a  tract  called 
"  Prog's  Rock ; "  on  December  5th  of  same  year,  to 
Thomas  Davis  eight  hundred  acres  adjoining  the 
above  and  near  Cedar  Creek;  on  June  1,  1697,  to  the 
same,  a  tract  called  "  Davies'  Farm,"  a  part  of  a  larger 
tract  called  "Bowman's  Farms,"  situate  on  the  north 
side  of  Slaughter  Creek  adjoining  Indian  Branch  and 
Alexander  Draper's  land ;  June  14,  1698,  to  Thomas 
J.  Kingston,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  acres  on  south 
side  of  Mispillion  Creek ;  January  24, 1699,  to  Com- 
fort Goldsmith,  widow  of  William  Goldsmith,  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  on  the  north  side  of  Cedar 
Creek,  known  as  "Goldsmith's  Hall ; "  January  25th 
of  same  year,  to  Nicholas  Granger,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  in  Cedar  Creek  Neck,  and  on  July  25, 1704, 
to  Dr.  Charles  Haynes,  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
lying  on  a  branch  on  the  north  side  of  Cedar  Creek. 

On  April  4,  1702,  Thomas  Davis  sold  one  hundred 
and  twenty -seven  acres  of  his  land  to  Thomas  TUton, 
and  July  26,  1704,  five  hundred  acres  adjoining  Alex- 
ander Draper's  land  to  Mark  Manlove.* 

On  December  5,  1694,  Justice  Joseph  Booth  con- 
veyed to  Peter  Goyletwo  hundred  acres  of  land  lying 
on  the  south  side  of  a  creek  called  Mispillion,  and 
adjoining  the  tract  known  as  "  Little  Graves  End." 
The  two  hundred  acres  were  part  of  a  tract  containing 
four  hundred  and  seventy-five,  laid  out  for  Robert 
Hudson  in  1682,  and  by  him  sold  to  Henry  Bowman, 
June  4,  1693.  Booth  purchased  of  Bowman  on  Sep- 
tember 6th  of  the  same  year. 

On  December  5,  1694,  James  Booth,  administrator 
of  William  Couthy,  sold  to  Thomas  May  five  hundred 
acres  of  land,  being  part  of  a  larger  tract  called 
"Josey's  Choice,"  and  afterwards  "Spencer  Hall." 
This  tract  adjoined  land  belonging  to  Robert  Hart. 

On  March  4, 1700,  William  Fisher  conveyed  to  John 
Bennett  a  tract  of  three  hundred  acres,  binding  on 
Cedar  Creek. 

"  Cedar  Town,"  a  tract  of  six  hundred  acres,  was 

1  On  a  portion  of  the  Bowman  land,  now  owned  by  Joseph  Shephard,  la 

a  tombstone  bearing  the  following  inscription : 

"Ukbe 

Lies  thb  Body 

OF  Li  nor 

Sykes,  who  Dcpa 

Rtf.d  this 

HFB  Y«  14<* 
OF   NOVKMBEB, 

1711, 

AOKO  H  YKABS." 

79 


laid  out  for  William  Carter,  who  sold  the  same  to 
William  Clark.  Three  hundred  acres  of  it  was  sold 
to  James  Brown,  who,  June  6,  1699,  sold  his  portion 
to  Richard  Manlove.  The  tract  is  described  as  being 
by  the  marshes  of  Mispillion  Creek. 

Arthur  Johnson  Vankirk,  of  Sussex  County,  on 
June  25, 1704,  conveyed  to  Thomas  H.  Lymans  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Mispillion 
Creek. 

"Strife,"  a  tract  containing  two  hundred  acres,  on 
the  east  side  of  Somerset  Beaver  Dam  and  the  head 
of  Nauticoke  River,  was  surveyed  for  Abraham  Ingram 
in  1718.  The  tract  is  now  owned  by  Isaac  F.  Warren, 
H.  C.  Warren  and  William  Smith. 

On  a  warrant  of  February  17,  1725,  there  were  sur- 
veyed for  Henry  Bishop  two  hundred  and  five  acres 
of  land  on  the  northwest  side  of  Herring  Branch  of 
Mispillion  Creek.  This  land  is  now  in  the  possession 
of  George  W.  Risler  and  the  heirs  of  Bethuel  Wat- 
son. 

On  June  24, 1735,  there  were  surveyed  in  "  Mus- 
mellon  Neck,"  between  Mispillion  and  Cedar  Creeks, 
ten  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
known  as  "  Penn's  Manor."  The  tract  was  west  of 
the  King's  Road,  leading  from  Milford  to  Milton,  and 
was  intersected  by  Bowman's  and  Herring  Branches. 

On  June  17,  1717,  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
this  land  was  assigned  to  Charles  Polk.  The  prin- 
cipal owners  of  the  manor  at  the  present  time  are 
Peter  Lofland,  A.  S.  Small,  Henry  Austin,  Witting- 
ton  Williams,  James  B.  Deputy,  Houston  Hudson, 
Samuel  Hudson,  Henry  W.  Stewart,  N.  Jefferson, 
James  Stewart,  Philip  Griffith,  Edward  Walton,  B. 
F.  Woodel,  George  H.  Hall,  Wm.  P.  Corsa  and  the 
heirs  of  Joshua  Truitt. 

"  Spittlefield,"  a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  north 
of  the  land  taken  up  by  Henry  Bishop,  was  patented 
to  Benjamin  Truitt  in  1741.  It  is  situated  near  the 
present  site  of  Lincoln,  and  is  now  owned  by  James 
Houston,  Curtis  Houston  and  the  heirs  of  Joshua 
Truitt. 

In  1743  three  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  south- 
east side  of  Cedar  Creek  was  taken  up  by  Jonah  Webb. 
It  is  now  in  the  possess*ion  of  Curtis  Watson,  Clem- 
ent Houston  and  the  heirs  of  John  Shew.  In  the 
same  year  William  Moore  took  up  three  hundred 
acres  of  land  south  of  Cedar  Creek.  This  tract  is  now 
owned  by  James  B.  Shepherd,  Michael  Millman  and 
Willard  S.  Dickarson. 

West  of  the  land  taken  up  by  Jonah  Webb  is  a 
tract  of  three  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres  granted 
to  William  Lofland  in  1743.  This  land  is  now  owned 
by  S.  C.  Horton,  Edward  Betta  and  Mrs.  William 
Betts. 

A  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  lying  west  of  the 
present  site  of  Ellendale,  and  adjoining  land  of  Jonah 
Webb,  was  taken  up  about  1750  by  Eklward  Calloway. 
It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  William  Millman  and 
Willard  S.  Dickarson. 

John  Webb,  in  1747,  took  up  a  tract  of  four  hun- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


dred  acres  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  land  of  Jonah 
Webb.  It  is  now  owned  by  Isaac  E.  Warren,  Mrs. 
Jane  Benson  and  the  heirs  of  Stephen  Warren. 

"  Porter's  Folly,"  a  tract  of  three  hundred  and  nine 
acres  on  the  east  side  of  Bowman's  Branch  of  Mis- 
pillion  Creek,  was  owned  by  Levin  Crapper  in  1768. 

The  assessment  list  of  1785  contained  the  following 
names: 


Alexander  Argo. 
IV'^Jamin  Aydelott. 
Joseph  Aydelott 
John  Argo. 
John  Abbott. 
Sheppard  Bryan. 
Wm.  Batman. 
Puruel  Batman. 
Edward  Buckwortb. 
BenJ.  Black. 
8am  imI  Bamet 
Boaz  Barrows. 
Bennett  Briam. 
Levin  Benton. 
Solomon  Buckwortb. 
Thomas  Backworth. 
Nebomiah  Bennett. 
Joseph  Bennett. 
Wm.  BeAI. 
Thomas  Bell. 
Robert  Bell. 
John  Bun. 
Isaac  Beatham. 
James  BctIbs. 
Thoiuoft  Brown. 
John  Black. 
Mitchell  Black. 
Joshna  Bennett. 
John  BamSb 
Wm.  Bradley. 
George  Black. 
Israel  Brown. 
Wm.  BurroMTS. 
Jonathan  Brown. 
Wm.  Black. 
Jesse  Bradley. 
Wm.  Bloxham. 
Elisha  Broughton. 
Bichard  Bloxham. 
John  Chance. 
Jacob  Coventer. 
George  Cowan. 
Joseph  Couch. 
Jolin  Clendaniel. 
Nepthalia  Carpenter. 
John  Collins. 
Uaucock  Collins. 
Wm.  Collins. 
John  Oampbell. 
Nathnn  Clifton. 
Sampson  Calhoon. 
Wm.  Coffin. 
Nehemiah  Carey. 
Thomas  Carey. 
Wm.  Carlisle. 
Pemberton  Carlisle. 
Zacbariah  Carlisle. 
Coverdale  Cole. 
Bichard  Coverdale. 
Jehu  Clifton. 
A  very  Clendaniel. 
Bunwick  Conwell. 
Luke  ClendanieL 
John  Crappen. 
John  Carlisle. 
Joseph  Collins. 
Caleb  Curmither. 


Thomas  CoIIIds. 
John  Collins. 
Warner  Collins. 
John  Clifton. 
Hiller  Crappen. 
Wm.  Chambers. 
Thomas  Carey. 
Amos  Carey. 
Thomas  Carlisle. 
Sheppard  Collins. 
Draper  Coal. 
Wm.  Crappen. 
Edward  Cox. 
John  Draper. 
Alexander  Draper. 
Nathan  Deputy. 
Sylvester  Deputy. 
Vester  Deputy. 
Jesse  Deputy. 
Joshua  Deputy. 
Clias.  Deputy. 
Wm.  Daniel. 
Selby  De  Pray. 
Peter  Davis. 
Levin  Do«s. 
Avery  Draper. 
Henry  Draper. 
Solomon  Deputy. 
Wm.  Deputy. 
Mark  Davis. 
Nehemiah  Davis. 
William  Davis. 
Joseph  Draper. 
Charles  Draper. 
Suniuel  Draper. 
David  Davis. 
Paul  Davis. 
Thomas  Dingee. 
Thomas  Daniel. 
Polly  Draper. 
Henry  Davis. 
Jehu  Davis. 
ThomaM  Evans. 
Jos«>ph  Flummer. 
Samuel  Fountain. 
Andrew  Fountain. 
Thomas  Fisher. 
Joshua  Fisher. 
Thomas  Fleetwood. 
Gerome  Griffith. 
David  Gault. 
Joec>ph  Gray. 
Daniel  Godwin. 
Robert  Hill. 
Reuben  Havoloe. 
Honry  Hudson. 
Jehu  Hudson. 
Bei^Jamin  Hudson. 
Andrear  Haledger. 
Nathaniel  Haledger. 
Philip  Haledger. 
John  Hudson. 
Wm.  Hickman. 
Major  Hudson. 
Jacob  Hickman. 
Nathan  Hill. 
Kobert  Hill. 


Isaac  Hammer. 
Samuel  Haveloe. 
Benjamin  Hart. 
Richard  Hays. 
Nathaniel  Hays. 
Robert  Houston. 
Richard  Hudson. 
John  Hickman. 
Isaac  Hickman. 
Joshua  Hickman. 
Wm.  Hinds. 
Wm.  Hafxard. 
Wm.  Hickman. 
Joshua  Hayes. 
Piimel  Houston. 
Richard  Hays. 
John  Holston. 
Richard  Jones. 
Ellas  Jones. 
Wm.  Ironshircs. 
Francis  Johnson. 
Samuel  Ireland. 
James  Johnson. 
Joshua  Jones. 
Baker  Johnson. 
David  Jester. 
Isaac  Rillow. 
John  Killow. 
Wm.  Kendrick. 
John  Killingsworth. 
Luke  Killingsworth. 
Nathan  Lofland. 
Wm.  Lofland. 
John  Lofland. 
George  Lofland. 
Gabriel  Lofland. 
Simeon  Lewis. 
Luke  Lewis. 
Jesse  Lewis. 
Francis  Lindry. 
Jacob  Linnet. 
Alexander  Lay  ton. 
Joseph  Lay  ton. 
Zadoc  Lofland. 
Brannar  Lofland. 
Joshua  Lofland. 
Dorman  Lofland. 
Belitha  Laws. 
Rachael  Lofland. 
Wm.  Laws. 
John  Metcalf. 
Robert  Miller. 
Jonathan  Manlove. 
John  Mullener. 
Wm.  Moore. 
Thomas  Mugs. 
George  Morris. 
Wm.  MuUiner, 
Chas.  McLain. 
Mary  Melman. 
Israel  Mulliner. 
Stephen  Mitchell. 
Joseph  Morgan. 
Daniel  Mun>hy. 
Israel  Murphy. 
Peter  Melman. 
Records  Mills. 
Wm.  McCay. 
John  Moore. 
Stephen  Morris. 
John  Nutter. 
Nathan  Nicolson. 
Christopher  Nutter. 
Andrew  Norwood. 
Isaac  Oyston. 
Aaron  Owens. 
Levi  Oliver. 
BenJ.  Oliver. 


Digitized  by 


Samnel  Owens. 
Thomas  Ogbnm. 
Giledas  Oliver. 
Natbl.  Paynter. 
Wm.  Pierce. 
Jonathan  Pierce. 
John  Postlea. 
Thomas  Pumek. 
Ephraim  Polk. 
Alexander  Parramon. 
Thomas  PulUtt. 
Ephraim  Polk. 
Joseph  Polk. 
Edmond  Potter. 
Thomas  Postlea. 
Shadrach  Postlea. 
John  Peanon. 
Wm.  Pumels. 
Ruth  Paynter. 
Wm.  Polk. 
John  Polk. 
Oliver  Pride. 
Wm.  Paynter. 
Mary  Porter. 
Luke  Pride. 
Ednx>nd  Polk. 
John  Robinaon. 
Edward  Roberts. 
Burton  Robinson. 
Francis  Robinson. 
Wm.  Records. 
John  Records. 
George  Records. 
Joseph  Richards. 
Spencer  RicbardiL 
John  Richards.      ' 
Wm.  Riley. 
Lawrence  Reiley. 
Jesse  Reed. 
John  Records. 
James  Rench. 
Peter  Rigga. 
Esekiel  Riggs. 
Levi  Riggs. 
Daniel  Rogers. 
Thomas  Roob. 
Wm.  Rom. 
Alexander  Rigga. 
Noah  Spencer. 
Allen  Smith. 
Labar  Sturgis. 
Joshua  Spencer. 
Luke  Spenoctr. 
Jesse  Smith. 
Asael  Spencer. 
Samuel  ^ucer. 
Wm.  Shockley. 
Richard  Simpson. 
Elias  Shockley. 
David  Smith. 
Ebenezer  Spencer. 
Carter  Stockley. 
Levin  Stockley. 
Thomas  Smith. 
John  Smithe. 
Burton  Smith. 
James  Sturgis. 
Wm.  StnlTord. 
Joseph  Stockley. 
Isaiah  Spencer. 
Shadrach  Sturgis. 
John  Shaver. 
Nathau  Spencer. 
Aaron  Sowden. 
Wm.  Smith. 
John  Sturgis. 
Job  Smith. 
Mathauial  Stockley. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1251 


£dward  SUpleton. 
Ann  Shaver. 
William  Sullivan. 
JeMe  Spencer. 
Daniel  Stargi«. 
Joshua  Stnrgis. 
Richard  Stockley. 
Donavan  Spencer. 
Thomas  StiH)leton. 
Levin  Stiaver. 
Elizabeth  Smith. 
David  Siromons. 
Lnke  Tuwnsend. 
Solomon  Trnitt. 
John  Truitt. 
Zadock  Truitt. 
Stephen  Townseud. 
Zachariah  Tharp. 
I^evi  Turner. 
Sydenham  Thorne. 
Jacob  Townaend. 
Littleton  Townsend. 
Wm.  Townaend. 
Joeeph  Truitt. 
Solomon  Tuwnsend. 
Joseph  Truit. 
Benjamin  TruiU. 
Collins  Truitt. 
Boaz  Truitt. 
Isaac  Townsend. 
Silas  Townsend. 
Wm.  Tharp. 
Joseph  Tharp. 
George  Van  Kirk. 
Solomon  Teach. 
Wro.  Veach. 
Elias  Veach. 
Bennett  Van  Kirk. 
LeTin  Yinnin. 
Thomas  Yinnin. 
Andrew  Yight. 
Thomas  Ymch. 
Levin  Willey. 
DaTid  Williams. 
Bei^ftmin  Whlttington. 
Isaac  Watson. 
Thomas  Wilson. 
David  Watson. 
John  Wilson. 
George  Watson. 
Wm.  Watson. 


Luke  Walton. 
Wm.  Willery. 
George  Walton. 
Wm.  Woods. 
Joseph  Watson. 
Jesse  Watson. 
Jonathan  Williams. 
John  Williams. 
Richard  Watson. 
Thomas  Watson. 
Wm.  Wheeler. 
Lemuel  Willhuus. 
Moses  Williams. 
John  Wheeler. 
Wrixham  Warren. 
David  Warren. 
Levi  Warren. 
Bernard  Warren. 
Alexander  Warren. 
Absalom  Warren. 
Joseph  Williams. 
Wm.  Winslow. 
Wm.  Williams. 
Charles  Williams. 
Jacob  Webb. 
Sylvester  Webb. 
Eli  Wharton. 
John  Webb. 
Dorman  Webb. 
Hewitt  Wharton. 
Robert  Walker. 
David  Walton. 
Benjamin  Wynkoop. 
Luke  Watson. 
Robert  Watson. 
Bethuel  Watson. 
Anslow  White. 
Aaron  Williams. 
John  Walton. 
Joeeph  Walton. 
Nathaniel  Young. 
Robert  Young. 
Mary  Young. 
John  Young. 
BenJtiiuin  Young. 
Albert  Hudson. 
Alexander  McCay. 
Nathaniel  Prtynler. 
Ratcliff  Payuter. 
Thomas  Paynter. 
Thomas  Vinson. 


Schools. — ^There  were  subscription  schools  held  in 
the  several  parts  of  the  hundred  previous  to  the  adop- 
tion of  the  free-school  system.  A  few  of  these  pio- 
neer teachers  were  Stephen  B.  Lofland,  Solomon 
Truitt  and  Eliazer  Gorham.  In  a  few  places  the 
schools  were  held  in  regular  school  houses  and  in 
others  in  improvised  buildings.  When  the  common 
schools  came  into  use  the  buildings  which  were  suita- 
ble were  converted  to  that  use. 

The  commissioners,  George  R.  Fisher,  Ebenezer 
Walter,  Henry  Bacon  and  Thomas  Jacobs,  appointed 
to  apportion  the  county,  in  1829,  separated  the  hun- 
dred into  six  districts.  District  No.  1  lay  on  the  bay, 
between  Mispillion  and  Cedar  Creeks,  and  extended 
westward  to  Peter  F.  Causey's  mill-dam,  on  Herring 
Bun,  and  to  the  Brick  Granary.  District  No.  2  in- 
cluded 8oulh  Milford  and  extended  from  No.  1  to 
"  Shawnee  bridge."  District  No.  3  began  at  "  Shaw- 
nee bridge,  on  road  leading  from  Milford  to  St.  Johns- 
town ;  thence  along  public  road  leading  to  Smith's 


meeting-house  to  Shovel  Branch;  thence  up  said 
branch  to  the  main  branch  of  Cedar  Creek,  at  Clem- 
ent Hudson's  mill ;  thence  down  said  branch  to 
David  R.  Smith's  mills,  at  the  head  of  Cedar  Creek  ; 
thence  down  the  creek  to  No.  1.  District  No.  4,  in 
Slaughter  Neck,  on  the  bay,  from  Cedar  Creek  to 
Slaughter  Creek  and  west  to  David  R.  Smith's  mills. 
District  No.  5,  in  Prince  Houk  and  Slaughter  Necks. 
District  No.  6,  in  western  part  of  hundred. 

These  districts  have  subsequently  been  sub-divided 
and  now  retain  very  little  of  their  original  shape. 
Well-built  and  commodious  school-houses,  under  the 
supervision  of  competent  teachers,  now  afford  excel- 
lent advantages  for  pupils  of  all  classes  in  this 
hundred. 

Religious  Matters.— 6^  MaiihewU  Episcopal 
Church. — The  first  church  was  in  process  of  erection 
in  1717,  and  was  mentioned  by  Rev.  George  Ross, 
when  at  Lewistown  in  that  year.  He  wrote  '*  There 
are  two  houses  of  worship,  one  sixteen  miles  fiom 
Lewes,  the  other  in  the  upper  part  of  the  county,  not 
finished."  This  church  was  built  on  what  was  called 
Church  Creek,  a  branch  of  Cedar  Creek,  which 
empties  into  it  at  Coulter's  mill.  No  vestige  of  the 
old  church  now  remains.  On  March  13, 1769,  there 
was  conveyed  by  bond  irom  David  Thornton  to  Isaac 
Watson,  Stephen  Townsend  and  Levin  Crapper,  a 
tract  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  Cedar  Creek,  near 
Draper's  old  mill-pond.  This  was  "surveyed  and 
divided  off  for  twu  acres  and  five  and  a  half  square 
perches  of  land  the  tenth  day  of  April,  1770,  by 
Caleb  Cirwithen,  together  wiih  a  church-house 
thereon  erected." 

On  June  16, 1788,  Nehemiah  Davis,  Thomas  Evans, 
Isaac  Beauchamp,  George  Walton,  Jacob  Townsend, 
Bethuel  Watson  and  Mark  Davis  w<;re  incorporated 
trustees  of  the  church,  and  on  October  28th  of  the 
same  year,  the  property  was  conveyed  to  them  as 
trustees.  In  1805,  the  trustees  were  Bethuel  Watson, 
Isaac  Wattson,  Ratliff  Poynter,  Nathaniel  Poynter, 
William  Davis,  Jf^hn  Bennett  and  Lawrence  Reiley. 
Services  were  last  held  in  this  church  in  1854,  by 
Rev.  J.  L.  McKim.  In  1858,  the  building  was  sold 
to  John  Ingram  and  the  land  leased  to  him.  In  1864, 
the  building  was  purchased  by  Hiram  Barber,  moved 
to  Milford  and  used  as  a  saw-mill  until  Dec,  1871, 
when  it  was  burned.  The  land  is  still  owned  by  the 
society,  and  in  the  old  grave -yard,  surrounded  by 
cedars,  stand  tombstones  erected  to  the  memories  of 
the  following  persons:  Sarah,  wife  of  Samuel  Draper, 
who  departed  this  life  in  1775;  "  Nelley  Draper,  who 
departed  this  life  April  17,  1790,  aged  14  years;" 
Reynear  Williams,  who  died  April  2,  1773,  aged  26 
years  and  7  months;  Abigail,  wife  of  Sylvester  Webb, 
who  departed  thw  life  17th  December,  1785,  aged  25 
years. 

SlauglUer  Neck  Zlon  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
was  formerly  known  as  Hickman's  Meeting-Huu^e. 
The  first  members  were  William  Hickman,  William 
Shockley,  Homer  Smith,  William  Kendrick,  Daniel 


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1252 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Godwin,  Noah  Morris,  John  Riley,  Nathan  Young, 
Lin  ford  Truitt,  Thomas  Metcalf,  Nehemiah  Davis, 
Mored  Draper,  Selutha  Lewis,  Eli  Shockley,  Joseph 
Hickman,  Thomas  Draper,  Swan  Goden  and  William 
Reding.  On  July  26,  1810,  they  met  and  elected 
William  Shockley,  William  Kendrick,  Daniel  God- 
win, Nathan  Young  and  Eli  Shockley  the  first  trust- 
ees. On  October  7th,  the  trustees  purchased  of  Will- 
iam Hickman,  seventy  square  perches  of  land  "  where- 
^  on  the  said  meeting-house  is  built.*'  The  first  church 
was  a  frame  structure  twenty-five  feet  square,  with  a 
gallery  on  three  sides.  The  church  was  originally 
connected  wiih  the  Mil  ford  Circuit  and  for  many 
years  services  were  held  on  Wednesday.  The  old 
church  remained  until  1855,  when  an  acre  of  land  was 
purchased  of  Lemuel  Draper,  and  a  new  two  story 
building,  twenty-five  by  thirty-five  feet,  near  the  old 
site,  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  and  fifty 
dollars.  The  building  committee  was  Thomas  J. 
Davis  and  John  Bennt;tt.  In  1852  the  church  was 
transferred  to  Lewis  Circuit  and  afterwards  to  Milton 
Circuit,  and  now  forms  a  part  of  the  Lincoln  Circuit. 

It  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condition.  The  present 
Board  of  Trustees  is  composed  of  the  following  per- 
sons: J.  M.  Davis,  J.  H.  Draper,  L.  W.  Davis,  J. 
Calhoun,  T.  R.  Wilson,  Robt.  Rooche,  J.  W.  Bennett, 
J.  A.  Argo,  Wm.  J.  Hickman. 

On  June  29,  1821,  David  Smith  conveyed  to  Joseph 
Hudson,  Curtis  Shockley,  James  Butler,  Lowder  Lay- 
ton  and  Walter  Sipple,  a  tract  of  eighty  perches 
about  six  miles  from  Milford,  on  the  road  from  Mil- 
ford  to  Concord,  known  as  the  "Townsend  Road." 
On  this  land  was  erected  Smith's  Chapel.  It  was  a 
one-story  frame-building,  twenty-six  by  thirty  feet, 
and  remained  till  1873.  In  that  year  it  was  removed 
and  the  present  edifice  begun.  The  corner-stone  was 
laid  December  14,  1873,  and  tl^e  new  building  dedi- 
cated May  3,  1874,88  the  Union  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  by  Rev.  Enoch  Stubbs.  It  is  a  one-story 
frame  structure,  thirty  by  forty  feet,  and  was  built  at 
a  cost  of  one  thousand,  three  hundred  and  fifty  dol- 
lars. The  building  committee  was  Jehu  H.  Clendan- 
iel,  James  B.  Deputy  and  Solomon  I.  Betts.  There 
are  at  present  thirty  communicants.  A  Sunday-school 
under  the  superintendence  of  John  H.  Deputy  is  con- 
nected with  the  church.  The  church  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Ellendale  Circuit  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  that  Circuit  in  1873,  and  has  been  served  by 
the  following  pastors :  Rev.  James  Conner,  Rev.  D. 
W.  C.  Mclntyre,  Rev.  A.  A.  Fisher,  Rev.  Valentine 
Gray,  Rev.  A.  P.  Pretty  man,  Rev.  N.  McQuay,  Rev. 
I.  D.  Johnson,  Rev.  D.  F.  McFall,  Rev.  J.  M.  Collins, 
Rev.  Wilmer  Jsggard,  Rev.  J.  T.  Prouse. 

Ellendale  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — On  July 
16, 1873,  William  McColley  granted  to  Alfred  Heave- 
low,  William  Short,  James  M.  Jester,  Bevans  Morris 
and  Alfred  Short,  a  tract  of  land  for  a  church,  par- 
sonage and  school.  A  school  and  parsonage  costing 
five  hundred  dollars  were  soon  after  erected.  The 
church  was  commenced  in  1882,  and  dedicated  De- 


cember 31st  of  the  same  year  by  Rev.  Jonathan  S. 
Willis.  The  building  committee  composed  of  EUas 
B.  Reed,  Alfred  Short  and  Benjamin  E.  Jester,  erected 
a  mat  irame  edifice  thirty  by  forty-four  feet,  at  a 
coj»t  of  twelve  hundred  dollars.  The  membership 
now  consists  of  twenty-five  communicants.  There  is 
in  connection  with  the  church  a  Sunday-school,  con- 
taining twenty  scholars,  under  the  superintendeDcy 
of  James  H.  Jester.  The  church  has  always  been 
connected  with  the  Ellendale  Circuit,  and  the  pnlpii 
has  been  filled  by  the  pascors  of  that  circuit. 

Ihe  First  Methodist  Church  in  Cedar  Neck  was 
built  on  land  now  owned  by  Stephen  M.  Ellid.  It 
waa  a  one-story  franiie  building,  which  many  yeare 
afterwards  was  moved  to  a  place  near  the  site  of  the 
present  church.  In  1875,  Curtis  C.  Watson  donated 
an  acre  of  land  to  the  trustees,  and  on  it  the  present 
church  was  built  at  a  cost  of  eleven  hundred  dollari 
It  was  connected  with  Milford  Circuit  till  1872,  when 
it  became  a  part  of  Lincoln  Circuit.  The  pastors  con- 
nected with  these  circuits  have  served  this  church. 
It  has  a  present  membership  of  about  thirty-five.  The 
present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  Miles  T. 
Mills,  Jno.  W.  Potter,  Henry  Pierce,  Isaac  Cirwithio, 
John  Tease  and  William  Townsend. 

The  Methodists  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Lin- 
coln first  held  meetings  in  a  private  house,  and  after 
a  hall  was  built  in  the  village,  resorted  to  that.  Sab- 
bath-school was  held  regularly,  and  occasionally 
preaching  services  were  conducted  by  the  clergymen 
of  adjoining  churches.  In  1869  it  was  decided  to 
build  a  church,  and  J.  Houston,  J.  B.  Tracey,  David 
Stout,  A.  S.  Small  and  B.  VV.  Truitt  were  appointed 
a  building  committee.  The  corner-stone  was  laid 
October  10,  of  that  year,  by  Revs.  S.  L.  Gracey  and 
E.  Stubbs.  The  building  was  completed  and  used  as 
a  house  of  worship  till  1885,  when  the  present  struc- 
ture was  erected.  The  church  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition, and  connected  with  it  is  a  prosperous  Sabbath- 
school,  under  the  superintendence  of  B.  M.  Cain. 
The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  James 
Houston,  B.  W.  Truitt,  A.  S.  Small,  A.  W.  Snwll 
Elias  Shockley  and  J.  N.  Lecompte. 

The  following  pastors  have  ministered  to  the  con- 
gregation :  Rev.  J.  A.  B.  Wilson,  Rev.  John  E.  Smith, 
Rev.  I.  N.  Foreman,  Rev.  G.  S.  Conoway,  Rev.  E.L 
Hubbard,  Rev.  I.  N.  Foreman,  Rev.  Edward  Davis, 
Rev.  J.  M.  Collins,  Rev.  I.  L.  Wood. 

The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  at  Ne* 
Market,  was  erected  at  an  early  period.  Dr.  Wallace, 
of  Ocean  Grove  fame,  was  once  stationed  in  charged 
the  circuit  with  which  this  church  was  connected.  In 
a  recent  article,  he  characterized  its  members  » 
"shouting  Methodists."  The  old  building  remaind 
untill  1881,  when  it  was  replaced  by  the  present  struc- 
ture. It  formerly  was  connected  with  Milton  Circuit, 
but  now  forms  a  part  of  Lincoln  Circuit  The  chnrcb 
is  in  a  good  condition  and  is  well  attended.  The 
Sunday-school  is  in  charge  of  James  Warren. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  comprises  the  folloir- 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1253 


ing  persons:  P.  K.  Johnson,  Geo.  H.  Fisher,  Geo.  H. 
Welsh,  Wm.  Short,  Isaac  Worrell,  Stephen  Warren, 
Jr.  . 

Through  the  influence  of  Rev.  H.  J.  Gaylord  the 
erection  of  a  Presbyterian  Church  at  Lincoln  was 
begun  in  1869,  on  land  donated  by  A.  S.  Small.  It 
WHS  dedicated  in  January  of  the  following  year,  by 
Kev.  Richard  Mallory,  of  Mil  ford.  The  first  trustees 
were  Dr.  Townsend,  D.  R.  Stewart,  G.  W.  Risler,  Geo. 
L.  Stevens  and  Erastus  Arnold.  Rev.  Mr.  Gaylord 
officiated  as  pastor  of  the  church  until  1871.  Since 
that  time  the  pulpit  has  been  filled  by  stated  supplies 
from  Milford,  among  whom  were  Revs.  R.  Mallory, 
Chas.  F.  Boynton  and  H.  L.  Bunstein.  At  the  pres- 
ent time  no  regular  services  are  held.  The  present 
trustees  are  Erastus  Arnold,  George  Morrison,  G.  W. 
Risler  and  Frank  Shew. 

In  May,  1867,  an  effort  was  made  to  organize  a 
Baptist  Church  at  Lincoln,  but  failed.  The  effort  was 
renewed  however,  and  on  April  28,  1869,  a  church 
was  constituted  with  twenty-one  members,  by  Revs. 
O.  Flippo  and  Purinton.  Rev.  W.  H.  Spencer  became 
the  pastor,  and  upon  his  death,  A.  M.  Webb,  the  for- 
mer clerk  of  the  church  was  licensed  to  preach,  and 
continued  until  1873,  when  the  church  was  merged 
into  the  Milford  Church. 

Industries.— The  earliest  and,  in  fact,  the  only 
industries  of  this  hundred,  consist  of  grist  and  saw- 
mills, some  of  which  were  erected  at  an  early  date 
and  have  not  been  in  operation  for  many  years.  Cedar 
Creek  afforded  the  best  advantages  for  mill- seats,  and 
consequently  more  mills  were  built  on  it  than  any 
other  stream  in  the  hundred.  The  oldest  grist-mill 
on  this  stream  is  situated  near  Cedar  Creek  village, 
and  is  mentioned  as  early  as  1769  as  Draper^s  mill.  It 
was  later  inherited  by  Mary  Draper,  who  married 
Hon.  Joseph  Haslett.  After  his  decease  it  passed  to 
his  heirs,  who  conveyed  the  mill  to  David  Smith,  on 
July  12, 1825.  He  retained  possession  unil  December 
18,  1829,  when  he  deeded  it  to  his  son,  David  R. 
Smith,  who  on  May  21st  of  the  following  year  sold 
it  to  Jacob  B.  Dutton.  Licmuel  B.  Shockley  became 
the  owner  March  23, 1838,  and  remained  in  possession 
till  Oct.  17,  1838,  when  he  sold  to  Wm.  B.  Coulter. 
In  1839  the  mill  was  burned,  and  the  pre.^'ent  one 
immediately  erected  a  little  east  of  the  original  site. 
In  1852  a  saw-mill  was  erected,  but  is  no  longer  in 
use.  The  property  was  retained  by  Wm.  B.  Coulter 
and  bis  son,  Thomas  J.  till  1885,  when  it  became  the 
property  of  H.  L.  Hynson  and  J.  H.  McColley.  It  is 
now  owned  by  Dr.  J.  S.  Pretty  man.  The  grinding  is 
done  by  burr,  and  consists  mainly  of  custom  work. 

The  next  mill  above  was,  at  an  early  date,  owned 
by  John  and  William  Draper,  and  by  them  sold  to 
Lemuel  B.  Shockley,  by  whom  it  was  rebuilt  in  1819. 
John  C.Davis  was  the  nextowner,and  after  his  death  it 

wassold  by  his  heirs  to Hitchcock.  He  retained 

possession  a  short  time  and  then  sold  to  Hiram  Bar- 
ber, by  whom  it  was  conveyed  to  C.  M.  Miles.  It 
next  came  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Dubois,by  T>-hom 


it  was  sold  to  Mark  L.  Davis  and  Bevens  Cane.  Mark 
L.  Davis  &  Son,  the  present  owners  and  proprietors, 
succeeded  Davis  &  Cane.  In  1885  the  roller  system 
of  grinding  was  adopted.  The  mill  is  run  by  water- 
power,  and  has  a  capacity  of  one  and  a  half-barrels 
per  hour. 

About  1780,  Bethuel  Watson  erected  a  grist-mill 
on  Cedar  Creek.  After  his  death  it  was  inherited  by 
his  daughter  Sarah,  who  married  Lawrence  Riley. 
Aiter  the  decease  of  Riley,  the  mill  came  into  the 
possession  of  Trustan  P.  McColley,  by  whom  it  was 
sold  in  1848,  to  Lemuel  B.  Shockley,  and  in  1860  it 
came  into  the  hands  of  £lias  Shockley,  the  present 
owner.  The  old  mill  was  burned  in  1880,  and  in  the 
following  year  the  present  building  was  erected.  The 
grinding  is  done  by  burr,  and  is  mostly  custom  work. 

The  next  mill  above  was  early  owned  by  Benjamin 
Hudson  and  later  passed  to  his  son,  C.  H.  Hudson. 
In  1871,  he  sold  to  Jehu  H.  Clendaniel,  the  present 
owner.  The  mill  was  rebuilt  in  1878.  It  consists  of 
a  mill  for  grinding  corn  and  a  saw- mill.  At  the  op- 
posite end  of  the  dam  an  old  saw-mill  formerly 
stood. 

The  last  mill  on  this  stream  was  a  aaw-mill,  owned 
in  1830,  by  William  Deputy.  After  his  decease,  it 
wa^i  inherited  by  his  daughter  Elizabeth,  who  married 
Isaac  Betts.  It  next  came  into  the  possession  of 
William  Betts  and  Samuel  Clendaniel,  and  was  last 
operated  about  sixteen  years  ago. 

The  mill  in  this  hundred,  on  Prime  Hook  Creek, 
was  erected  at  an  early  period  by  Caleb  Cirwithin. 
On  May  29, 1759,  it  came  into  the  pos'iession  of  John 
Cirwithin,  probably  a  grandson.  In  1816  it  was 
owned  by  John  Smith.  At  a  later  period  it  became 
the  property  of  Henry  Smith,  by  whom  it  was  sold  to 
Benjamin  F.  Waples,  and  is  now  owned  by  his  heirs. 
In  1869  a  saw-mill  was  built,  which  has  been  aban- 
doned for  the  past  eight  years,  on  account  of  the 
scarcity  of  water. 

In  1884  the  present  gristmill  was  built,  and  has 
since  been  operated  by  Charles  J.  Waples.  The 
grinding  is  done  by  burr,  with  a  patent-process  at- 
tachment. 

On  Herring  Branch  are  a  grist-mill  owned  by  Dr. 
William  Marshall,  and  a  saw-mill  of  Chas.  Harring- 
ton. . 

In  1829,  Peter  F.  Causey  was  the  owner  of  a  grist 
and  saw-mill  on  Herring  Branch,  which  later  came 
into  possession  of  Dauiel  Curry.  On  December  10, 
1851,  he  sold  the  property  to  Mrs.  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  A.  T.  A.  Torbert,  who  sold  the  mills  to  Delos 
and  Caleb  Griffin  on  May,  1,  1865.  They  retained 
possession  till  December  9,  1871,  when  they  sold  to 
Dr.  Wm.  Marshall,  the  present  owner.  On  October 
6,  1884,  the  mills  were  burned.  The  erection  of  the 
present  mill  was  immediately  commenced,  and  on 
February  10,  1885,  the  first  grinding  was  done.  The 
mill  is  a  three-story  building  thirty  by  fifty  feet,  and 
is  fitted  up  with  a  full  roller  system.  The  capacity  is 
two  barrels  per  hour. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


A  saw-mill  was  built  on  this  branch  at  a  very  early 
date  by  Beniah  Watson,  Sr.  After  his  death,  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Beniah  Watson,  Jr.,  who  operated 
it  till  his  death,  when  it  was  inherited  by  Bethuel 
Watson.  The  mill  is  now  owned  by  Charles  Harring- 
ton, who  married  the  daughter  of  Bethuel  Watson, 
and  thus  became  the  owner.  The  mill  has  not  been 
operated  very  much  for  the  past  few  years. 

In  1840  William  Johnson  was  the  owner  of  a  grist- 
mill on  Bowman's  Branch.  About  the  year  1848  il 
became  the  property  of  Nathaniel  Johnson,  and  at 
his  decease  was  inherited  by  his  sons  Richard  and 
William.  By  them  it  was  sold  in  1870  to  John  A. 
Nickerson,  whose  heirs  still  own  it.  The  grinding 
is  done  by  burr.  The  mill  has  been  operated  for  the 
past  four  years  by  Z.  Nutter. 

In  1868,  T.  R.  Smith  and  F.  A.  Whitehead  erected 
a  steam  saw  and  shingle  mill  at  Lincoln.  The  mill 
was  operated  by  them  two  years,  and  then  White- 
head's interest  was  purchased  by  William  Hiscock. 
The  business  was  conducted  by  Smith  and  Hiscock, 
until  1879,  when  the  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire.  It 
was  rebuilt  by  Smith  who  has  been  the  sole  owner 
and  proprietor  since.  In  addition  to  sawing  there 
1^  a  special  department  for  manufacturing  baskets 
and  boxes  for  canned  goods.  The  capacity  is  twelve 
thousand  boxes  and  twenty  thousand  baskets  per 
week.  When  the  entire  manufactory  is  in  full  op- 
eration employment  is  given  to  fifty  hands. 

In  1870,  B.  E.  Jester  &  Brother  erected  a  steam 
saw-mill  at  Ellendale.  It  was  operated  by  them  for 
ten  years  and  then  sold  to  E.  B.  Reed  &  Son,  who 
ran  the  mill  till  1882,  when  the  present  firm  of  S.  E. 
Reed  &  Brother  was  established.  The  mill  has  a 
capacity  of  three  thousand  feet  per  day.  In  1886,  a 
basket  factory  was  added  with  a  capacity  of  two 
thousand  baskets  per  day.  In  both  departments 
twenty-two  hands  are  employed. 

A.  S.  Small  erected  a  steam  saw-mill  and  planing- 
mill  at  Lincoln  in  1871.  Shortly  afterwards  a  basket 
factory  was  added  with  a  capacity  of  four  hundred  thou- 
sand baskets  per  season.  In  the  basket  factory  employ- 
ment is  given  to  sixty-five  operatives.  The  saw-mill 
does  both  merchant  and  custom  work,  and  to  operate 
it  ten  men  are  steadily  employed.  A  canning  estab- 
lishment was  also  erected  by  him.  It  was  operated 
by  him  till  1885,  when  it  was  burned.  A  new  build- 
ing was  then  erected  and  the  canning  of  fruiis  and 
vegetables  commenced  on  a  larger  scale.  It  is  now 
operated  by  A.  W.  Small,  and  has  a  capacity  of 
twenty-five  thousand  cases  per  season,  during  which 
time  seventy -five  hands  are  employed.  A  brick-yard 
was  also  opened  inil875,and  in  that  year  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  bricks  were  manufactured.  The 
yard  is  operated  five  months  per  year.  Twelve  men 
are  employed  and  four  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
bricks  manufactured. 

In  1884,  Caleb  Lee  moved  a  steam  saw- mil  I  to  the 
Brick  Granary.  iSince  its  establishment  there  the 
mill  has  been  in  operation  but  a  short  time. 


In  1886  Jester  &  Reed  erected  a  canning  establish- 
ment at  Ellendale.  They  can  tomatoes  priucip&lly, 
and  during  the  season  pack  three  thousand  five  hun- 
dred cases,  which  are  shipped  to  Philadelphia. 
While  in  operation  forty  hands  are  employed. 

Considerable  attention  is  paid  to  evaporating 
peaches  in  this  hundred.  When  there  is  a  good  crop 
of  peaches  the  evaporators  are  extensive  operators. 
Among  the  pers  >ns  engaged  in  this  business  are  Mark 
H.  Davis,  Joseph  M.  Davis,  Geo.  H.  Draper,  Ham- 
mond &  Wheelbank,  Ferryman  &  Short,  Wm.  R. 
Phillips,  William  Prettyman,  Fox  &  Webb,  Freder- 
ick Wiswell  and  E.  B.  Reed  &  Co. 

Henry  D.  Macklin  began  to  manufacture  bricks  at 
Ellendale  in  1872.  The  yard  is  open  three  moDtb 
per  year,  and  fifty  thousand  bricks  manufactured. 

In  1881  Heury  Stuart  erected  a  steam  saw  and  grist- 
mill.  The  grist-mill  was  operated  one  year,  and  the 
saw-mill  three  years. 

Cedar  Creek  village,  situated  near  the  centre  of  the 
hundred,  and  containing  a  grist-mill,  saw-mill  and 
three  residences,  is  but  the  skeleton  of  its  former 
self.  It  was  at  one  time  the  most  important  village  in 
the  hundred,  and  within  its  bounds  were  St.  Mathew's 
Church,  a  store,  a  hotel,  the  mills  above  mentioned 
and  about  a  dozen  dwellings.  For  many  years  the 
voters  of  ihe  hundred  assembled  here  to  express  their 
views  in  regard  to  national  and  local  affairs  by  their 
ballots.  In  1812,  at  the  call  of  Governor  HasleU,  the 
troops  centered  here  for  the  defense  of  Lewes.  He 
resided  here  during  his  gubernatorial  term,  and  at 
his  death  was  buried  near  by,  on  land  now  owned  by 
Thomas  J.  Coulter.  Over  his  grave  is  erected  a  mono- 
raent  with  the  following  inscription  ; 

"In  Memory  of  Joseph  Haslett  He  was  son  of  Colonel  John  Hulett, 
who  fell  at  the  battle  uf  Princeton,  January  3,  1777 — *  a  gallant  offlcef 
and  gHllantly  tteconded  by  Delaware  troops ' — leaving  a  widow,  who  iBi 
few  days  died  of  grief,  &  aereral  small  children.  Joseph,  the  subject  of 
this  epitaph,  was  reared  under  the  guardianship  of  William  Kill«o,  chief 
Justice  and  afterwards  chancellor  of  the  State.  Af  er  arriving  at  age  be 
removed  from  Kent  County  St  established  himself  a  fanufr  in  Odar 
Oroek  Hundred  (Sussex).  He  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State  in  18lu, 
and  with  credit  discharged  the  funcUens  of  his  oflSce,  the  burdea  vA 
respo  sibilitles  of  which  were  greatly  enhanced  by  the  war  of  1812.  Is 
1822  he  was  elected  Governor  the  second  time,  the  only  case  of  a  seond 
election  to  that  office  in  the  State.  He  died  during  his  second  tern 
June  28,  1823. 

** An  honored  name,  gratefully  remembered  by  the  Cieneral  AssemUj  of 
Delaware,  directing  by  their  resolution  of  February  21,  1S61,  tbe 
erection  of 

This  Monument ; 

Also  flnit  and  second  wife  of  Joseph  BLaalett — 

Mary  Draper 

ft 

Bachel  Hickman.^* 

The  village  of  Ellendale,  is  situated  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  hundred,  on  a  tract  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty-two  acres,  known  as  "  Bennett's  Plea^u^e,'' 
which  was  taken  up  by  Stephen  Bennett,  on  a  warani 
bearing  dale  August  6,  1740.  The  tract  afterwards, 
came  into  the  possession  of  William  S.  McCaulley, 
late  of  Wilmington,  and  while  owned  by  him  the 
village  was  laid  out  in  1867.  Dr.  J.  S.  Prettyman 
the  authorized  agent  superintended  the  laying  oui 
and  named  the  village  in  honor  of  his  wife  Ellen. 
The  village  is  well  located  and  has  railroad  facilities. 


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It  has  gradually  grown  and  at  present  contains  two 
churches,  two  stores,  a  school-house,  a  post  ofiSce,  a 
canning  establishment,  an  evaporator,  a  brick  yard, 
two  saw-mills  and  basket  factories  and  one  hundred 
inhabitants. 

In  1865  A.  S.  Small,  became  the  owner  of  six  hun- 
dred and  nioety-six  acres,  of  land  including  the 
present  site  of  Lincoln.  The  favorable  location  of 
the  land  and  its  proximity  to  the  proposed  railroad 
running  through  the  State,  suggested  the  founding 
of  a  town.  Under  the  supervision  of  A.  T.  Johnson, 
the  land  was  laid  out  in  seven  hundred  and  seventy- 
four  building  lots,  and  'preparations  made  for  the 
growth  of  the  town.  Lots  were  sold  and  buildings 
erected  and  on  October  11,  of  that  year  the  Lincoln 
Herald  was  started  by  Johnson.  It  was  published  a 
few  months  and  then  discontinued.  The  village  in- 
creased quite  rapidly  and  the  construction  of  the  rail- 
road to  this  place  on  September  1,  1867,  gave  Lincoln 
an  additional  boom.  Since  that  time  tbe  growth  of 
the  village  has  been  steady  and  permanent. 

At  the  present  time  Lincoln  contains  two  churches, 
three  stores,  a  school-house,  a  canning  establishment, 
two  saw-mills  and  basket  factories,  a  brick-yard  and 
about  five  hundred  inhabitants. 

Post  Offices.— The  first  post-office  in  the  Hun- 
dred was  established  at  Lincoln  in  1865,  with  Jas.  J. 
Jackson  as  the  first  postmaster.  He  was  succeeded 
by  his  wife,  Lucy  Jackson,  A.  W.  Small  and  F.  C. 
Shew,  the  present  incumbent,  who  received  his  ap- 
pointment, January  15,  1886. 

The  post-office  at  Ellendale  was  established  in 
December,  1867.  The  office  was  opened  in  January 
of  the  following  year  with  W.  P.  Short  in  chHrge. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1872  by  W.  F.  Short,  who  con- 
tinued till  1876,  when  J.  W.  Short  was  appointed. 
Alfred  Short,  the  present  incumbent,  received  his  ap- 
pointment in  1880. 

Waples*  post-office  was  established  in  March,  1887. 
C.  J.  Waples,  the  first  postmaster  appointed,  still 
continues  in  charge. 

Light-Houses. — At  the  request  of  Jonas  Dawson 
for  the  privilege  of  holding  a  lottery,  to  raise  three 
thousand  dollars,  for  "  the  erection  of  a  building  for 
the  purpose  of  keeping  a  permanent  light  at  the 
mouth  or  entrance  of  Mispillion  Creek,  near  the 
Delaware  Bay,"  an  act  was  passed  January  14,  1803, 
for  that  purpose.  Jonas  Dawson  was  to  build,  and 
after  the  completion  of  the  building  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  light,  he  was  to  receive  from  the 
commander  of  every  sloon,  or  vessel  whose  draft  is 
three  feet  or  over,  twenty-five  cents;  six  feet  and 
over,  thirty-seven  cents.  He  was  to  keep  and  main- 
tain a  sufficient  light  thirty  feet  above  water.  The 
lantern  was  to  be  four  feet  in  diameter,  in  which  was 
to  be  placed  an  Argand  lamp,  with  a  flame  one  inch 
in  diameter,  placed  in  the  focus  of  a  well  polished, 
concave  tin  reflector,  three  feet  in  diameter.  It  is 
probable,  that  this  light-house  was  never  erected,  as 
no  evidence  of  it  has  been  obtained.    About  1829, 


however,  a  light-house  was  erected  on  the  Hart  Tract, 
on  land  ceded  by  Charles  Polk  and  Benjamin  Potter. 
Owing  to  the  encroachment  of  the  water,  this  site  is 
now  in  the  bay.  Thos.  Carlisle  was  the  first  commis- 
sioner, and  James  Hilliard  the  keeper.  Cliarles 
Hamm  succeeded  them,  and  filled  both  positions. 
William  Jacobs  succeeded  Hamm,  and  a  new  light- 
house was  built  near  by.  His  successor  was  Geo.  M. 
Davis,  who  was  succeeded  by  James  Bell.  While 
under  his  supervision  it  was  abandoned,  in  1865.  The 
building  was  moved  to  Milford,  and  is  now  used  as  a 
store-room  by  Geo.  H.  Hall.  The  present  light- house 
was  built  about  1870,  and  James  Bell  appointed 
keeper.  He  was  succeeded  by  Henry  Spencer,  the 
present  keeper. 

Hotels. — As  early  as  1794  there  was  a  hotel  at 
Cedar  Creek  Village,  which  was  then  kept  by  Daniel 
Rogers.  It  was  afterwards  owned  by  James  Ward, 
Jesse  Walls,  Isaac  Carpenter  and  William  B.  Coulter. 
While  in  the  possession  of  the  last,  it  was  last  con- 
ducted as  a  hotel  in  1861,  with  Robert  D.  Roberts  as 
proprietor.  The  building  still  stands  and  is  now  oc- 
cupied by  Thomas  J.  Coulter  as  a  residence. 

At  an  early  period  there  were  two  hotels  in  opera- 
tion in  Fleatown,  afterwards  called  Federalburg. 
The  proprietors  were  Milloway  White  and  Samuel 
Warren,  and  the  hotel  of  the  former  was  the  scene  of 
many  a  midnight  revel.  At  the  death  of  White  the 
property  was  purchased  by  Warren  and  closed.  The 
building  has  since  been  removed.  The  hotel  belong- 
ing to  Warren  was  not  licensed  after  his  death  which 
occurred  in  1843.  It  is  now  owned  and  occupied  as  a 
residence  by  Greenberry  Benston. 

A  hotel  standing  at  Thorn  Point  was  destroyed  by 
an  ice  freshet  in  1831.  In  the  following  year  a  com- 
pany composed  of  Elijah  Hudson,  William  D.  Wil- 
liams, Joseph  G.  Oliver  and  William  E.  Jester  erected 
another  one.  Thomas  Carlisle  was  the  first  proprie- 
tor. The  company  owned  the  hotel  for  about  twenty 
years  and  then  sold  it  to  Thomas  Clark.  It  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  about  1872,  while  in  the  possession  of 
W.  N.  W.  Dorsey.  The  present  hotel  was  commenced 
by  H.  J.  McColley  and  completed  by  A.  S.  Small  of 
Lincoln  in  1887. 

A  building  standing  at  Cedar  Creek  Village  was 
purchased  by  Joseph  G.  Morgan  about  twenty  years 
ago  and  moved  to  Slaughter  Beach,  where  it  was 
opened  as  a  hotel.  Morgan  sold  to  Charles  Todd,  of 
Indiana,  who  ran  it  a  short  time  and  then  sold  it  to 
J.  S.  Short.  It  next  came  into  the  possession  of 
Joseph  Hearn  the  present  owner  and  proprietor.  The 
beach  has  become  a  summer  resort  and  there  are  now 
there  about  half  a  dozen  cottages. 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 

BROADKILN  HUNDRED. 

This  Hundred  situated  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
Sussex  County  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Prime 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Hook  Creek ;  on  the  east  by  Delaware  Bay  and  Cool- 
Spring  Branch ;  on  the  south  by  the  same  Branch  and 
Georgetown  Hundred;  and  on  the  west  by  George- 
town Hundred.  Its  name  is  derived  from  the  creek 
of  the  same  name,  which  flows  through  the  central 
portion  of  the  Hundred  and  is  navigable  as  far  as 
Milton.  By  means  of  this  creek  large  quantities  of 
grain  and  lumber  have  been  and  still  continue  to  be 
shipped  annually  to  the  Philadelphia  and  New  York 
markets.  About  three-fifths  of  the  land  in  this  Hun- 
dred is  in  a  state  of  cultivation,  and  produces  the 
usual  cereals  and  small  fruits  in  abundance.  The  soil 
is  well  watered  by  numerous  small  streams  which  rise 
and  flow  within  its  boundaries. 

The  population  is  equally  distributed,  and  with  the 
exception  of  Milton,  no  village  of  any  size  is  found  in 
this  Hundred.  In  addition  to  the  facilities  for  ship- 
ment by  water,  additional  advantages  for  shipping  and 
travel  are  afforded  by  the  Delaware,  Maryland  and 
Virginia  Railroad,  which  runs  through  the  southern 
portion  of  Broadkiln  Hundred. 

Early  Settlements. — One  of  the  earliest  persons 
to  take  up  land  in  Broadkiln  Hundred  was  Hermanus 
Wiltbank,  who  settled  at  Lewes  previous  to  1673. 
A  more  complete  history  of  him  will  be  found 
in  the  Chapter  on  Lewes.  He  and  his  son  Cor- 
nelius took  up  and  purchased  large  tracts  of  land 
on  the  coast  and  inland  before  1680,  some  of  which 
are  now  in  the  possession  of  their  lineal  det^cen- 
dants,  John  and  David  Wiltbank  of  Milton.  In 
September  1695,  Cornelius  Wiltbank  presented  a  peti- 
tion to  the  Court  of  Sussex  County,  setting  forth  that 
"  hee  hath  designe  to  build  a  water-mill  in  this  county 
on  that  branch  or  creek  of  the  Broadkiln,  called  Mill 
Creek,(Beaver  Dam  Branch),  if  y*  C"  will  grant  him 
the  same  and  land  which  is  customary  adjoining  to 
the  same."  The  petition  was  duly  considered  and 
it  was  agreed  that "  The  C'*  grant  him  the  said  stream 
provided  he  build  the  said  mill  thereon  within  filteen 
months  from  hence  forward,  and  attend  and  mind  the 
same,  and  doe  grind  the  graine  well,  and  in  due  course 
as  itt  comes  to  mill  without  Respect  to  persons  att  y* 
eighth  part  Poll  for  wheat,  and  sixth  ffbr  Indian 
corne."  It  is  very  probable  that  this  mill  was  never 
built,  as  two  years  later  a  mill  was  built  on  this  stream 
by  Jonathan  Bailey,  who  was  an  early  settler  at  Lewes, 
and  in  1676  owned  a  grist  mill  at  Pilot-town.  He 
was  Sheriff*  of  the  county  at  several  different  times. 
His  descendants  both  of  the  name  Bailey  and  Art  still 
live  in  Lewes. 

A  warrant  for  six  hundred  acres  of  land  in  this 
Hundred  was  granted  by  the  Whorekill  Court  to 
Thomas  Hassold.  The  tract  was  surveyed  July  24, 
1682,  and  was  known  as  Hassold^s  Fortune.  It  was 
described  as  being  on  the  west  side  of  Delaware  Bay, 
and  on  the  south  side  of  Prime  Hook  Creek,  and  joined 
land  of  Thomas  Moulson,  Philip  Morris  and  Hermanus 
Wiltbank.  The  most  of  this  land  is  now  owned  by 
William  A.  Hazzard,  James  T.  Reed,  David  Argo  and 
the  heirs  of  Eli  Collins. 


The  family  represented  by  John  H.  Wiltbank 
traces  its  genealogy  to  a  very  early  period  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  country,  and  for  more  than  two  hundred 
years  has  been  identified  with  its  growth  and  develop- 
ment. 

The  original  ancestor  was  Halmanius  Wiltbank, 
who  emigrated  from  Sweden  about  the  year  1650. 
Tradition  says  that  the  vessel  in  which  he  had  em- 
barked was  wrecked  off*  Cape  Henlopen  and  thai  be 
saved  himself  by  swimming  to  the  shore,  carrying  m 
^is  pocket  a  silver  watch  that  has  since  been  handed 
down  from  father  to  son  in  the  family  and  is  siill  in 
the  possession  of  his  descendants.  Halmanius  resided 
for  the  remainder  of  his  life  near  Lewes,  Id  Sussex 
County,  where  a  number  of  the  family  still  reside. 
At  his  death  he  leil  three  sons,  Cornelius,  John  and 
Abraham.  John  became  a  man  of  considerable 
prominence  and  served  as  one  of  the  associate  judges 
of  the  court  held  at  Lewes,  in  1755.  One  of  his  sons, 
known  as  Parson  Wiltbank,  was  a  noted  preacher 
in  his  day  and  the  father  of  John  Wiltbank,  who 
was  a  prominent  physician  and  a  professor  in  one  of 
the  medical  colleges  of  Philadelphia.  The  mother 
of  the  late  Chancellor  Harrington  was  also  one  ot 
the  daughters  of  the  Parson. 

Cornelius,  the  oldest  son  of  Halmanius,  was  boro 
about  1660  and  died  in  1730.  He  received  one  of  the 
original  patents  from  William  Penn  for  a  tract  of 
land,  comprising  two  hundred  and  fifly  acres,  lying 
on  the  north  side  and  along  the  Broadkiln  Kiver, 
about  three  miles  from  Delaware  Bay,  which  has  con- 
tinued to  be  held  by  his  male  heirs  to  the  present 
date,  1888.  He  left  one  son,  Isaac,  who  was  bom 
about  the  year  1705  and  at  his  death  left  two  sons, 
Cornelius  and  Samuel.  The  former,  Cornelius,  was 
born  in  1731  and  died  in  1803.  He  married  Rachel, 
daughter  of  John  Hazzard,  and  passed  his  life  as  a 
farmer  on  the  family  tract  on  the  Broadkiln  River. 
He  was  known  as  a  staunch  patriot  during  the  trying 
scenes  of  the  Revolution.  At  his  demise  he  left  two 
sons,  Cornelius  and  David,  and  a  daughter,  Elizabeth, 
who  became  the  mother  of  Judge  John  W.  Houston. 
David  was  born  in  1789  and  died  in  1865.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  also  resided  on  the  home 
tract.  He  was  an  ardent  Whig  and  served  as  a  vol- 
teer  in  the  war  of  1812-15,  participating  in  the  de- 
fense of  Lewes  in  1813.  He  married  Sarah  G.  Mor- 
ris, and  left  two  sons,  John  H.  and  David  A.  Wiltbank. 

John  H.  Wiltbank  was  born  on  the  homestead 
tract  of  his  family,  June  9th,  1823.  His  youth  was 
passed  as  farmers'  sons  usually  grow  up,  acquiring  a 
fair  education  while  rendering  what  assistaDce  he 
could  upon  the  farm.  He  has  devoted  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  fruit 
growing,  and  led  an  honest,  earnest  and  industrioos 
life.  He  U  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  during  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion  was  a  sincere  and  active  Union 
man,  and  did  what  he  could  to  sustain  the  General 
Government  in  the  effort  t^  preserve  the  national 
integrity. 


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1256  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1257 


He  married  Martha  A.,  daughter  of  John  T.  Hud- 
son, a  prominent  farmer  of  New  Castle  County,  and 
with  this  truly  eatimable  lady  now  resides  in  the  town 
of  Milton,  where  both  are  enjoying  the  happy  fruits 
of  a  well-spent  life  and  the  merited  respect,  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  many  Mends. 

William  Clark,  of  whom  so  much  has  been  said 
in  the  history  of  Colonial  times,  and  in  Lewes, 
was  also  the  owner  of  considerable  land  in  Broad- 
kiln.  On  March  6,  1684,  there  was  granted  to 
him,  by  William  Penn,  a  tract  of  five  hundred 
acres,  lying  between  Cool  Spring  Branch  and  the 
main  branch  of  Mill  Creek  (Beaver  Dam  Branch). 
This  tract,  known  as  "Penn's  Manor  of  Worm- 
inghurst,"  was  confirmed  to  him  April  2,  16S6,  by 
Thomas  Lloyd,  James  Claypoole  and  Robert  Tur- 
ner. On  November  21, 1717,  it  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Preserved  Coggeshall.  On  the  day  of  the 
confirmation  of  "  Penn's  Manor  of  Worminghurst," 
there  was  patented  to  Clark,  "Mill  Plantation,''  a 
tract  containing  eight  hundred  acres.  Of  this  he  sold 
two  hundred  acres  to  Mathew  Osborne,  who  also  had 
surveyed  for  himself  on  April  25, 1722,  a  tract  of  land, 
warranted  to  Robert  Lodges  on  December  18, 1718> 
and  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Theodore  Carey.  "  Mill 
Plantation "  is  now  in  the  possession  of  George  A. 
Bryan,  the  heirs  of  Nathaniel  Veasey  and  the  heirs 
of  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Fisher. 

On  February  9, 1686,  Clark  sold  to  Thomas  Fisher 
three  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  south  side  of 
Broadkiln  Creek.  Thomas  Fbher  was  the  son  of 
John  Fisher,  who  came  to  this  country  with  Penn  in 
1682.  Thomas  was  also  the  owner  of  "  Stretcher's 
Island,"  containing  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
acres,  and  surveyed  January  29, 1701,  by  Jonas  Green- 
bank.  On  April  11,  1711,  he  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  adjoining  this  tract,  which  was 
granted  to  Robert  Murdock  on  November  5,  1690. 
These  two  tracts  are  now  owned  by  William  A.  Haz- 
zard  and  Peter  B.  Jackson.  Some  of  the  land  pur- 
chased by  Thomas  Fisher  is  now  the  property  of 
James  Fisher  and  the  heirs  of  John  Fisher,  lineal 
descendants  of  Thomas. 

Clark,  as  administrator  of  Henry  Bowman,  was  also 
the  owner  of  ''  Rich  Farms,"  containing  six  hundred 
and  fidy  acres,  which  were  warranted  to  Thomas 
Tilton  on  August  5, 1687.  Clark  sold  this  tract  to 
John  Hill,  a  merchant,  on  December  5, 1696. 

John  Cljowes  settled  in  this  hundred  at  an  early 
date,  on  the  "  Dreans  "  and  **  Green  Branch  "  of  the 
Nanticoke.  His  son  John  also  purchased  lands  in 
the  vicinity  on  September  7, 1672,  of  William  Dau- 
ters  and  William  Boucher,  which  had  been  warranted 
by  William  Shankland  December  19, 1743,  as  Spring 
Garden.  Dr.  Peter  Clowes,  brother  of  John  Clowes, 
Sr.,  also  settled  in  the  vicinity,  on  land  now  owned 
by  Jesse  £.  Dodd.  On  land  now  in  the  possession  of 
David  Conwell,  is  a  family  vault,  about  eight  by 
twelve  feet,  walled  up  with  brick,  which  at  present 
contains  no  remains.  Near  by  are  several  graves, 
80 


three  of  which  are  marked  by  headstones.  One  is 
*•  In  memory  of  John  Clowes,  who  departed  this  life 
Feb.  24, 1790,  Aged  69  years  3  months  &  19  days." 
Another  is  to  the  memory  of  Sarah,  wife  of  John 
Clarke,  who  died  December  19, 1790.  The  third  is 
in  memory  of  Mrs.  Aletta  Clark,  who  died  May  11, 
1852.  The  John  Clowes  here  referred  to  is,  doubtless, 
the  son  of  the  early  settler  John. 

On  October  25,  1713,  John  Ponder  purchased  of 
John  Howe  one  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the  north 
side  of  Broadkiln  Creek,  which  was  part  of  an  eight 
hundred-acre  tract,  formerly  the  property  of  Thomas 
Pemberton,  from  whom  Pemberton's  Branch  takes  its 
name.  On  February  1, 1717,  he  purchased  two  hun- 
dred acres  more  of  this  tract,  which  was  surveyed 
January  23d  of  same  year,  by  Robert  Shankland. 
Abram  Parsley  and  Peter  Lucas  were  chain-bearers 
and  Samuel  Dickarson  was  marker.  John  Ponder 
also  obtained  other  land  in  this  hundred.  The  house 
in  which  he  lived  is  now  occupied  as  a  residence  by 
a  tenant  of  John  Ponder.  It  is  a  hip-roofed  struc- 
ture, built  of  cedar  logs  and  weather-boarded.  John 
and  James  have  been  the  names  peculiar  to  this 
family.  Hon.  James  Ponder,  of  Milton,  ex-governor 
of  the  State,  still  retains  much  of  the  land  originally 
purchased  by  his  ancestor,  John  Ponder,  and  has 
added  to  it  many  acres. 

On  October  14, 1738,  Thomas  Harrison  sold  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  a  tract  known  as  *'  Maiden 
Plai^tation,"  containing  nine  hundred  and  seven  acres, 
to  James  Hood.  It  was  situated  south  of  "Mill 
Plantation,"  and  is  now  owned  by  John  Sherman, 
George  A.  Bryan,  Joseph  Hunter,  and  the  heirs  of 
Robert  Hood,  Jr. 

The  Paynters  have  owned  land  in  Broadkiln  Hun- 
dred for  nearly  two  centuries.  Samuel,  the  grand- 
son of  Richard,  began  the  purchase  of  lands  here  in 
1732,  on  February  8th,  of  which  year  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  Thomas  Stockley. 
Other  lands  were  soon  afterwards  purchased  by  him, 
some  of  which  still  remain  in  the  fiimily.  On  the 
land  early  acquired.  Gov.  Samuel  Paynter  was  born. 

On  September  16, 1735,  there  was  surveyed  or  re- 
surveyed  for  John  and  Thomas  Penn,  by  William 
Shankland,  a  tract  containing  one  thousand  acres  of 
marsh  land.  This  is  now  owned  by  William  A.  Haz- 
zard. 

"  Come  by  Chance,"  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
acres,  was  warranted  to  Jacob  Skilpman  on  June  8, 
1737. 

"Ralph's  Delight"  and  "Walker's  Folly,"  now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Theodore  Curey,  were  resurveyed 
March  5,  1742. 

"  Reed's  white  mould  "  was  warranted  to  William 
Mollineaux  on  June  11, 1750,  and  patented  for  one 
hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  to  Edmund  Reed,  by 
Governor  Clayton  on  December  4, 1794.  It  was  part 
of  a  larger  tract  originally  granted  to  David  Coursey 
by  the  Court  of  Deal  (now  Sussex)  on  April  11, 1682, 
for  three  hundred  acres. 


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1258 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


"  c^tretcher'i  Hall/'  a  tract  of  five  hundred  acres, 
was  originally  granted  to  Henry  Stretcher,  and  by  him 
sold  to  James  Standfield  and  James  Thomas.  It  was 
later  known  as  the  '*  Jersey  Tract/'  and  is  situated  on 
the  south  side  of  Cypress  Branch  of  Prime  Hook 
Creek.    Hon.  James  Ponder  is  the  present  owner. 

Christopher  Topham  was  the  owner  of  a  six  hun- 
dred acre  tract  called  "  White  Oak  Neck,"  previous 
to  1742.  In  that  year  he  deeded  six  acres  of  it  to  the 
Friends.  It  was  situate  on  Cool  Spring  Branch.  He 
also  owned  four  hundred  acres  of  forest  land,  known 
as  "  Green  Meadow." 

The  assessment  list  of  Broadkiln  Hundred  for 
the  year  1785  contained  the  following  names: 


Abbott,  Wm. 
Abbott,  Nicholas. 
AndanoD,  Jacob. 
Aiiie,  laaac. 
Abbott^  Richard. 
Addifon,  Jacob. 
Addiaoo,  John. 
Abbott,  Jamea. 
Blozham,  Richud. 
Bevini,  Rowland. 
Barton,  Wm. 
Bevana,  GornaUnt. 
Burton,  Joahoa. 
Barr,  John. 
Barr,  Wm. 
Brumbiy,  Mi^f. 
Bano,  Jamet. 
Beniim,  Oeorga. 
Bailey,  Bdward. 
Bradford,  Nathaniel 
Benton,  John. 
Bennett,  Pumell. 
Benum,  Levi. 
Baker,  Lerln. 
Burris,  Benjamin. 
Baker,  John. 
Baker,  Solomon* 
Bloxham,  EUtha. 
Bill,  John. 
Butler,  Samuel. 
Baker,  Levin. 
Baker,  Elisha. 
Baker,  Silaa. 
€arton,  Benton. 
€lark.  Lot. 
Collina,  Susanna. 
Clowee,  John. 
Conwell,  John. 
Conwell,  Abraham. 
Conwell,  Wm. 
Conwell,  Eliaa. 
Conweil,  David. 
Conwell,  George. 
Conwell,  Luther. 
Conwell,  Mary. 
Cade,  John. 
Crutch,  Thomaa. 
aarke,  Wm. 
Coulter,  Jamet. 
Coulter,  John. 
CouUir,  Andrew. 
Coulter,  Robert 
Coulter,  Joseph. 
Coulter,  Jamea. 
Cord,  Joseph. 
CoUins,  Matthias. 
Cord,  Wm. 
•Cade,  Thomas. 
Clendaniel,  Ahab. 


Cftroy,  Wm. 
Conwell,  Avery. 
Conwell,  Francis. 
Carpenter,  Wm. 
Cade,  Richardson. 
Carpenter,  Jacob. 
Clifton,  Philip. 
Clowes,  David. 
Clifton,  Aaron. 
Cnfleld,  8am. 
Oufleld,  John. 
Collins,  John. 
Coiton,  Joshua. 
Corton,  Benton. 
Calhoon,  Jonathan. 
Calhoon,  Wm. 
Chan,  Wm. 
Clark,  John. 
Carey,  Thomas. 
Callings,  Jeremiah. 
Canlton,  John. 
Clark,  Miers. 
Corton,  Stephen. 
Corton.  Edmond. 
Corton,  Matthias. 
Doorman,  John. 
Dougherty,  James. 
Dood,  Samuel. 
Doody,  Sol'jmon. 
Dickerson,  Edmond. 
Dean,  John. 
Draper,  Isaac. 
Deputy,  Nunez. 
Dickinson,  Jonatiian. 
Dood,  Nathan. 
Dood,  Solomon. 
Dutton,  Thomas. 
Dntton,  John. 
Dutton,  Abel. 
Dutton,  Baker. 
Davis,  Darobald. 
Donovan,  Foster. 
Donovan,  Woolman. 
Downey,  Jonathan. 
Dood,  Pettyjohn. 
Donovan,  John. 
Day,  John. 
Dood,  Joseph. 
Delaney,  Wm. 
Donovan,  Foster. 
Doed,  Aaron. 
Dickinson,  Edmond. 
Dickinson,  Jonathan. 
Daniel,  John. 
Bllingsworth,  Robert. 
Evans,  Thomas. 
Smmit,  John. 
Fisher,  James. 
Fleetwood,  John. 


Fish,  Simeon. 
Flemming,  John. 
Flemming;  Archibald. 
Frame,  Wm. 
Fitchell,  Wm. 
Fisher,  John. 
Fowler,  John. 
Fowler,  Archibald. 
Fowler,  John. 
Fowler,  Wm. 
Fowler,  Thomas. 
Foreman,  David. 
Grover,  Thomas. 
Gnm,  Jacob. 
Glover,  Samnel. 
Glover,  Amos. 
Green,  Esekiel. 
Green,  Samuel. 
Gray.BevlDS. 
Godwin,  Wm. 
Green,  John. 
Hopkins,  Robert. 
Havelodk,  Jonathan. 
Hand,  Wm. 
Hand,  Thomas. 
Hood,  Robert. 
Haazard,  Jos. 
Hanard,  Wm. 
Hauard,  H^. 
Hazzard,  Cord. 
Hazzard,  Jacob. 
Havelock,  John. 
Havelock,  Andrew. 
Havelock,  Daniel. 
Hall,  Hngh. 
Hatfield,  Whitby. 
HaU,  LevL 
Hall,  James. 
Hall,  Joseph. 
Hopkins,  Archibald. 
Hickman,  Nathanlri. 
Hazzard,  Aaron. 
Hall,  Wm. 
Hall,  John. 
Hall,  Robert. 
Hopkins,  James. 
Hall,  Joseph. 
Hazzard,  John. 
Holland,  John. 
Hall,  AzaU. 
Hill,  John. 
Hazzard,  Rachel. 
Hill,  Yirdin. 
Hudson,  SamueL 
Hosea,  Daniel. 
Hart,  Thomas. 
Hart,  Richard. 
Hand,  John. 
Harris,  Abraham. 
Haveloc,  Anthony. 
Haveloc,  James. 
Harmon,  ArzaL 
Halston,  John. 
Harmon,  John. 
HaU,  Joshua. 
Harmon,  Jethro. 
Hudson,  Walter. 
Halston,  Richard. 
Ingram,  John. 
Ingram,  Joshua. 
Jackson,  Clement. 
J<^n8on,  Peter. 
Joseph,  Elisha. 
Jones,  Burrel. 
Jester,  Daniel. 
JeflTerson,  Warring. 
Johnson,  Sarah. 
Johnson,  Mary. 


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Jones,  Robert. 
Jones,  AbigaU 
Jones,  Gtaffln. 
Jones,  Elias. 
Johnson,  SamueL 
Johnson,  Cbas. 
Johnson,  Be^j. 
King,  Mary. 
King,  Wm. 
King,  James. 
King,  John. 
Kinny,  Aaron. 
Lawes,  Spencer. 
Laws,  Jonathan. 
Lailten,  Littleton. 
Lawless,  James. 
Undel,  Zadock. 
Lee,  Wilaon. 
Lee,  Thos. 
Lauis,  Geoige. 
Lnken,  Wm. 
Lay,  BapUs. 
Luneck,  John. 
Lank,  Levin. 
Lank,  Mitchell 
Lank,  John. 
MnmfMid,  SamueL 
Morgan,  John. 
Maton,  Chaa. 
Morris,  Bevin. 
Melson,  EUJah. 
Mifflin,  BeiU. 
Matthews,  Wm. 
Morgan,  Joshua. 
Murts,  Wm. 
Murphy,  Wm. 
Messick,  Wra. 
Morris,  Joshua. 
Morris,  John. 
Martin,  John. 
Morgan,  James. 
Massey,8amL 
Morris,  Wm. 
Mitten,  Wm. 
Morris,  Dennis. 
Morris,  Jossph. 
McLane^  Thos. 
McLane,  Joab. 
Messick,  Patience. 
Messick,  Obadiah. 
Messick,  John. 
Messick,  LevL 
Mitchell,  Stephen. 
Messick,  Gentle. 
Mason,  David. 
Messick,  Job. 
Messick,  George. 
McNeil.  Jame^ 
Morris,  Joahoa. 
Mazfleld,  JauMS. 
Neck,  John. 
Newcomb,  Thomsfc 
Newoomb,  John. 
Nnll,  Hiralt. 
Null,  Robert 
Null,  John. 
Nottingham,  AbiL 
Nottingham,  Clark. 
Nottingham,  Jacob. 
Null,  Taylor. 
Oakey,  Levin. 
Owens,  Wm. 
Pamer,  John. 
Paylig.Wni. 
Pride,  Luke. 
Pride,  James. 
Ferry,  Aaron. 
Ponder,  John. 

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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1259 


Ponder,  James. 
Panumon,  Sulomon. 
PiuTunon,  Stephen 
Pamunuu,  Wm. 
Pettjjohn,  Hannah. 
Pride,  Wm. 
PhUpman,  Alice. 
Philpman,  OonMlini. 
Pitted  John. 
Patfwea,  Hagh, 
Parker,  Jeeepk. 
Pepper,  John. 
Pepper,  Lerin. 
Pride,  Joab. 
Pettyjohn,  Thomaa. 
Pettyjohn,  Aaron. 
Pettyjohn,  Benedlot. 
Pettyjohn,  John. 
Pettyjohn,  Jamee. 
Pepper,  Joshna. 
Pncknm,  Richard. 
Puckom,  Matthew. 
Parramon,  Joab. 
Parramon,  Richard. 
Pamunon,  Mary. 
ROfMell,  Levi. 
RecunK  Benjamin. 
Raukia,  Darid. 
Rowler,  Kseklel. 
Rowland,  John. 
Ra*ell,  Joseph. 
RusmU,  ImmanneL 
Kal«ton,  Richard. 
RimmU,  Samnel. 
Reed,  Alex. 
Robinson,  Parker. 
Raocords,  James. 
Rawlins,  Winsor. 
Rowland,  aaBoel. 
Rowland,  James. 
Rowland,  John. 
RMd,Zacharia. 
Rlchartem,  James. 
Riley,  Jamee. 
Riley,  Lawrence. 
Riley.  Jacob. 
Riley,  John. 
RMd,  Matthew. 
Rood,  Rdmund. 
Roed,  Nehemlah. 
Robins,  Wm. 
Renolds,  Thomas. 
Renolds,  Samplss. 
Renolds,  Pnmell. 
Renolds,  John. 
Renolds,  James  R. 
Renoldi,  Richard. 
Rons,  John. 
Redding,  Stephen. 
Roach,  Thomas. 
Reed,  John. 
Reed,  James. 
Reed,  Joab. 
Scodder,  David. 
Stewart,  KUaabeth. 
Stewart,  John. 
SUwart,  Sophia. 
Stephenson,  Jesepb. 
SIridroore,  Heniy. 
Starr,  NathanleL 
Stewart,  John. 
Stephenson,  Hngh. 
Spencer,  J<^n. 
Stephenson,  John. 
Stephens,  James. 
Smith,  Henry. 
Savage,  Robertson. 
Statton,  Thomas. 


Stevenson,  Wm. 
Sewell,  Wm. 
Stare,  James. 
Steel,  Wm. 
Spencer,  Nathan. 
Steel,  Daniel 
Steel,  NathanleL 
Steel,  James. 
S«Ulvan,Wm. 
SolUvan,  John. 
Steel,  Pnsgrove. 
Smith,  Chatton. 
Smith,  Allen. 
Soott,  Daniel. 
Soott,  Mitchell. 
8lsel,Bei\j. 
SmlHi,  John. 
Scott,  Jote. 
Short,  Joab« 
Sharp,  John. 
Stafford,  John. 
Simpeon,  Blisha. 
Truitt,  John. 
Tilney,  Springo. 
Tnlle,  Wm. 
Tulle,  Noble. 
Trindles,  Jonathan. 
Thornton,  David. 
Townsend,  Bei^. 

Templin,  Issac. 

Thomas,  Lerin. 
Talbett,  Robert. 
Truitt,  Sarah. 

Tam,  John, 

Tkm,  Joseph. 

Tcague,  Wm. 

Townsend,  George. 

Ylrdin,  Wm. 

Ylrdin,  John. 

Yirdin.  Uvi. 

Ylrdin,  Maruex. 

Yirdin,  Manlore. 

Wist,  George. 

Wiltbank,  ComeUus. 

Walter,  Charles. 

Walton,  Wm. 

Wyatt,  Wm. 

Walker,  John. 

Wist,  Luke. 

Walker,  Winfred, 

Waist,  Thomas. 

WUtbank,  Samuel. 

WUes,  Robert 

White,  Beig. 

Warring,  Msjor. 

Wilson,  Thomas. 

Wilson,  Reuben. 

Wilson,  John. 

Warring,  Heniy, 

Wharton,  Iiaiah. 

Warring,  Richard. 

Warring,  Job. 

Wilson,  Isaac. 

Wood,  Esther. 

Walls,  Samuel. 

WOsoo,  Thomas. 

Watkins.  Thomas. 

Wilson,  Nathaniel. 

Warring,  Ebeneier. 

Wharton,  Stephen. 

Woods,  John. 

Warring,  Samuel. 

Oonwell,  Susanna. 

Doon,  Jonathan. 

Dicker,  John. 

Dood,  George. 
Dickinson.  Wm. 


Religious  Matters. — At  a  Monthly  meeting  of 
Friends  held  at  Duck  Creek  (Smyrna)  on  the  22d  of  the 
Sixth  Month,  1720,  Caleb  Offly  reported  that  the  Quar- 
terly Meeting  gave  consent  for  a  place  of  worship  to  be 
settled  at  Cool  Spring,  until  further  orders.  It  is  un- 
known whether  a  meeting-house  was  erected  preYious 
to  1742.  On  February  1,  of  that  year,  Christopher 
Topham  conveyed  to  the  Society  of  Friends  Murderkill 
Monthly  Meeting,  six  acres  of  land  for  the  use  of  a 
meeting-house  and  burial  place.  On  this  a  one-story 
frame  building,  about  eighteen  by  twenty-four  feet, 
was  erected  and  used  for  many  years  as  a  meeting- 
house. It  has  long  since  disappeared,  and  none  but 
the  oldest  residents  remember  when  meetings  were 
held  there.  In  1839  the  main  portion  of  this  six  acres 
was  purchased  by  Samuel  Paynter.  A  small  plat 
for  the  burial  of  the  dead  is  still  enclosed,  and  cared 
for  by  the  family  of  James  Fisher.  Among  the  later 
Friends  who  worshiped  here  were  members  of  the 
Ford,  Bobbins,  Wright  and  Rowland  families. 

On  March  11, 1818,  Aletta  Clark  granted  to  Bevens 
Morris,  Sr.,  Samuel  Cade,  John  T.  Connell,  Jonathan 
HeYaloe  and  Thomas  Draper,  trustees,  a  lot 
of  land  in  Broadkiln  Hundred  containing  three 
thousand  six  hundred  square  feet  A  one-story 
frame  building,  eighteen  by  twe  nty  feet,  known 
as  the  Zion  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  was  erected 
the  same  year.  Services  were  held  in  this  structure 
until  1848,  when  it  was  enlarged  so  as  to  accommodate 
the  growing  congregation.  In  1873  it  was  found 
necessary  to  erect  a  new  building.  An  adjoining 
lot  of  land  containing  one  acre  was  conveyed  by 
Hevaloe  Morris  to  the  trustees,  who  at  that  time  were 
J.  T.  Conwell,  Robert  Morris,  John  Morris,  Sylvester 
H.  Rust,  Hevaloe  Morris,  Daniel  R.  Burton  and  James 
C.  Robbins.  The  new  one-story  edifice,  35  by  50 
feet,  was  completed  and  dedicated  January  25, 1874. 
The  church  has  a  present  membership  of  forty.  It 
has  been  connected  with  the  Lewistown,  Milton  and 
Nassau  Circuits.  A  flourishing  Sunday-school  con- 
nected with  the  church  is  under  the  superintendence 
of  John  M.  Robbins. 

White's  Methodist  Episcopal  Chapel  was  erected 
on  one-fourth  of  an  acre  of  land,  donated  in  1838,  by 
Samuel  Paynter  to  David  Robbins,  Peter  C.  Lank, 
Robert  Russell,  John  Lank  and  James  Lank.  The 
chapel  received  its  name  from  Henry  White,  a  presid- 
ing elder.  The  first  building  was  a  one  story-struc- 
ture eighteen  by  twenty  four  feet.  Previous  to  this 
meetings  were  held  in  an  old  school-house.  Services 
were  held  in  the  first  church  until  1872,  when  the 
present  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  two  thousand 
five  hundred  dollars.  It  is  a  one-story  frame  building, 
thirty  by  forty-five  feet.  Services  are  held  once  in 
two  weeks.  The  church  has  been  connected  with 
the  same  circuits  as  Zion. 

A  flourishing  Sunday-school  of  seventy  members  is 
under  the  superintendence  of  Mrs.  Anna  Fisher. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  the 
following  persons :  James  Lank,  Myers  Fisher,  David 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Robbins,  James  Fisher,  Henry  White,  Peter  Lank, 
Absalom  Rust. 

Oave  Neck  Churches. — In  1886  the  Methodists  of 
Cave  Neck  formed  a  class  and  met  in  a  school-house 
for  a  short  time.  A  lot  of  land  was  donated  to  them  by 
the  heirs  of  Jacob  Coffin,  and  a  neat  frame  church 
building  erected.  This  was  used  by  the  Methodist 
Protestants  for  about  a  year,  and  then  a  dispute 
arose  and  the  church  was  finally  set  apart  for  the 
services  of  [the  Methodist  Episc  tpal  denomination. 
The  membership  and  attendance  is  very  squall. 

The  Methodist  Protestants  withdrew  from  the 
church  and  again  held  services  in  the  school-house. 
A  lot  of  land  was  deeded  to  them  by  B.  F.  firockson, 
and  a  new  church  erected  this  year.  It  now  has  a 
membership  of  thirty-four,  and  is  connected  with  the 
Milton  circuit.  The  present  board  of  trustees  is 
composed  of  George  Prettyman,  Samuel  Palmer,  G. 
Dutton,  T.  H.  Arterbridge,  John  E.  Johnson,  Charles 
H.  Sharpe,  John  Carpenter  and  Nathaniel  Hood. 

Services  were  held  by  the  Methodist  Protestants 
of  the  -  southern  part  of  the  hundred  in  private 
houses,  a  short  time  previous  to  1844.  In  that  year 
land  was  donated  to  the  society  by  Barclay  Wilson, 
and  the  Beaver  Dam  Methodist  Protestant  church 
erected.  It  was  a  one-story  frame  building,  about 
twenty-eight  by  thirty-two  feet.  Services  were  held 
in  it  until  1885,  when  additional  land  was  donated  by 
Harbeson  Hickman,  and  the  present  one  story  frame 
structure,  thirty  by  forty  feet  built.  The  church  has 
now  a  membership  of  fifty-four.  It  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Milton  circuit  since  the  oi^anization 
of  that  circuit,  and  previous  to  that  had  no  regular 
pastor.  Silas  M.  Warrington  is  the  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school,  comprising  about  forty  mem- 
bers. The  present  board  of  trustees  of  this  church 
are:  William  H.  Prettyman,  Thomas  W.  Walls, 
Peter  A.  Dodd,  James  A.  Coulter,  Silas  M.  War- 
rington. 

In  1870  a  church  building  was  erected  by  the 
Methodist  Protestants  at  Pender's  Mills.  While  the 
dedicatory  services  were  being  performed  by  the  pas- 
tor, on  December  25,  of  that  year,  the  building  caught 
fire  and  was  entirely  consumed.  Services  were  then 
held  in  a  school-house  until  July,  1872,  when  the  pre- 
sent building  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  by 
Rev.  Charlton.  It  is  a  one-story  frame  structure, 
twenty-two  by  thirty-five  feet.  Since  its  erection  the 
church  has  been  connected  with  the  Milton  Circuit, 
and  the  pulpit  has  been  filled  by  the  ministers  in 
charge  of  that  circuit.  The  membership  of  the 
church  at  the  present  time  is  forty-nine. 

Schools.— Previous  to  1829,  there  were  private 
schools  in  various  parts  of  the  Hundred.  When  they 
began  is  not  known,  but  nearly  all  closed  at  the  adop- 
tion of  the  common  school  system  of  education. 
Among  the  teachers  of  these  pay  schools  are  remem- 
bered the  names  of  Nehemiah  Dorman,  Gilbert  Poole, 
Daniel  Drain,  John  Davis,  Archibald  Fleming  and 
Mitchell  Lank. 


For  common  or  free  school  purposes,  the  Hundred 
was  divided  into  the  following  districts  : 

District  No,  7,  in  Broadkiln  Neck,  at  the  mouth  of 
Primehook  Creek  and  the  Delaware  Bay,  thence  mn- 
ning  up  said  creek  to  Smith's  Mill,  thence  up  stream 
to  mouth  of  Ingram's  Branch,  up  the  said  branch  to 
public  road  leading  from  ihence  through  Broadkiln 
Neck  to  the  Delaware  Bay,  thence  along  said  public 
road  to  the  western  end  of  Simpler's  Lane,  thence 
with  a  straight  line  to  a  point  on  Broadkiln  Greek. 
called  Heavilon's  Landing.  There  was  one  school  in 
this  District  8,  including  North  Milton  io  Broadkiln 
Hundred,  beginning  on  Broadkiln  Creek,  at  a  place 
called  Heavilon's  Landing,  a  comer  of  No.  7,  thence 
to  the  western -end  of  Simpler's  Land  to  a  public 
road,  thence  along  the  public  road,  leading  near  the 
dwelling-house  of  George  Con  well,  a  line  of  No.  7  to 
Ingram's  Branch,  thence  up  and  with  said  branch  to 
where  the  old  country  road,  as  formerly  used,  croases 
the  same,  thence  with  a  straight  line  to  an  old  mill- 
dam,  called  the  fulling  mill  dam  below  the  mill, 
formerly  owned  by  Isaac  Clows,  now  by  Arthur  Nulby, 
thence  down  the  stream  to  Joseph  Manll's  mill-dara  to 
the  head  of  Broadkiln  Creek,  there  to  place  of  begin- 
ning, store  of  Hazzard  and  Barratt,  in  Milton. 

District  9. — Begins  at  the  mouth  of  Ingram's  branch 
where  it  enters  Sow  Bridge  branch,  on  a  line 
of  Cedar  Creek  and  Broadkiln  Hundreds,  thence  up 
and  with  said  Sow  Bridge  and  Hundred  line  to  the 
head  thereof,  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  road  leading 
from  New  Market  to  the  Riley  Road,  a  comer  of  No. 
6,  thence  with  straight  line  to  the  west  of  the  house 
of  Johnson  Riley,  where  Jonathan  Massey  now  lives, 
and  thence  to  a  bridge  on  Riley  Road. 

District  10. — In  Coolspring  Neck,  in  Broadkiln 
Hundred.  B^ins  at  mouth  of  Coolspring  Greek  where 
it  enters  Broadkiln  Creek,  to  moudi  of  Mill  Creek, 
thence  to  Elisha  Holland's  mill,  thence  with  stream 
to  old  dam  for  saw-mill,  thence  with  road  to  Cool- 
spring branch,  where  the  road  curves  the  same  passing 
near  Presbyterian  Meeting  House,  thence  to  mills  of 
Samuel  Paynter,  Esq.,  at  head  of  Coolspring  Credc 
One  school  in  district 

District  11. — Cave  Neck  in  Broadkiln  Hundred,  up 
to  Broadkiln  to  mouth  of  stream  called  Roundpole 
branch,  near  Milton. 

District  12. — Including  South  Milton  to  feny  where 
Joseph  Maull's  bark  manufactory  is  situated.  Then 
was  once  an  Academy  in  said  district. 

District  13.— Adjoining  12,  8  and  9.  Suitable  pla- 
ces for  holding  school  were  provided  in  each  of  these 
districts.  As  the  number  of  pupils  increased^  sub- 
divisions of  the  districts  were  made.  Comfortable 
and  commodious  school-houses  supplied  with  careful 
and  competent  teachers  are  now  found  throughout 
the  Hundred. 

Mills  and  Manufactories.— On  March  1, 1694, 
John  Haynes  purchased  of  Jacob  Waring  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  Broadkiln  Hundred.  On  Janu- 
ary 20,  of  the  following  year  he  also  obtained  from 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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William  Wolfe,  two  hundred  acres  on  the  west  side  of 
Mill  Creek.  This  land  was  sold  by  his  attorney 
Nehemiah  Fields  to  Jonathan  Bailey,  on  February 
10, 1697.  On  it  Bailey  erected  a  water-mill,  which  he 
conveyed  with  the  land  on  June  9,  of  the  next  year  to 
Abraham  Potter,  in  whose  family  the  land  still  re- 
mains. After  the  death  of  Potter,  the  property  vested 
in  his  daughter  who  was  the  wife  of  William  Stew- 
art. The  estate  was  next  inherited  by  a  daughter  of 
Stewart,  who  married  William  Stevenson.  Their  son 
John  was  the  next  owner,  and  came  into  posseesion 
about  1773.  He  had  additional  land  condemned  for 
mill  purposes  and  soon  afterwards  died,  when  the 
property  vested  in  his  sister  who  was  the  wife  of  John 
Holland.  William  Holland  a  son  afterwards  came 
into  possession  of  the  mill  and  in  1811,  it  vested  in 
Elisha  Holland,  the  present  owner  of  the  land.  The 
mills  were  rebuilt  several  times.  In  1826,  Elisha  Hol- 
land added  a  saw-mill,  which  was  in  operation  until 
about  four  years  ago.  The  grist-  mill  was  abandoned 
about  twelve  years  ago. 

At  an  early  date  there  was  a  ship-yard  about  three 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  Holland's  mill,  on  land  now 
owned  by  Herbert  Reynolds. 

The  next  mill  on  Beaver  Dam  branch  above  Hol- 
land's mill  is  a  saw-mill,  owned  and  operated  by 
James  Hunter.  It  stands  on  the  site  of  a  mill,  at  one 
time  owned  by  William  Perry.  The  present  mill  was 
built  about  1832,  as  in  1831  there  was  an  act  of 
Assembly  passed  enabling  Robert  Hunter,  to  erect  a 
mill-dam  across  the  head  waters  of  Mill  Creek,  a 
branch  of  Broadkiln.  After  the  death  of  Robert  Hun- 
ter, the  mill  was  inherited  by  his  son  James,  the 
present  proprietor. 

On  February  8, 1758,  Benjamin  Chipman,  executor 
of  James  Chipman,  sold  to  John  Talbot,  the  one- 
half  part  of  a  grist-mill  and  fulling-mill  on  Pemberton 
branch  together  with  one-half  of  the  utensils.  The 
mills  were  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  stream, 
about  a  mile  west  of  Milton,  on  land  now  owned  by 
the  heirs  of  Noble  Ellingsworth,  and  have  long  since 
passed  away.  In  1851, severalexcavations  were  made 
around  the  foundation  walls  by  an  unknown  person, 
which  led  to  the  belief  that  some  hidden  treasure  had 
been  removed. 

Grist  and  saw-mills  and  a  cotton  factory  were 
erected  on  Pemberton  Branch  at  an  early  date  by 
John  Clowes.  In  the  vicinity  he  planted  poplar 
and  willow  trees  eight  feet  apart  and  made  prepara- 
tions as  if  to  start  a  powder  manufactory.  This, 
however,  was  never  effected.  In  1809  the  mills  were 
owned  by  Isaac  Clowes  and  soon  afterwards  came 
into  the  possession  of  Arthur  Milby.  They  were  sold 
by  him  to  Gideon  Waples  who  operated  them  until  his 
death  when  they  vested  in  his  son  Gideon  B.  Waples. 
While  in  his  possession  the  mills  were  repaired. 
After  his  decease  they  were  sold,  September  17, 1864, 
by  his  executor,  Hon.  James  Ponder,  to  J.  G.  Betts, 
the  present  owner.  The  saw  and  grist  mill  are  still 
in  operation,  but  the  carding  factory  was  abandoned. 


In  1809  Joseph  Tam  was  the  owner  of  a  grist  and 
saw-mill  and  twenty-seven  acres  of  land  in  Broad- 
kiln  Hundred.  The  mills  were  on  the  southwest 
branch  of  the  Broadkiln  Branch  and  were  operated 
many  years  by  Tam,  and  finally  pas^  into  the  hands 
of  Benjamin  Mcllvain.  They  next  came  into  the 
possession  of  George  Davis,  by  whom  they  were  sold 
to  Nathaniel  Ingram.  While  in  his  possession  the 
saw-mill  was  abandoned  and  the  grist-mill  was  re- 
paired and  next  purchased  by  James  Coulter,  who 
conveyed  to  G.  P.Johuson,  the  present  owner. 

In  1809  Zadock  James  was  the  owner  of  a  saw -mill 
on  the  same  stream.  It  was  last  operated  about  1838 
by  Aaron  Marshall,  whose  heirs  are  the  present 
owners  of  the  site. 

On  Cool  Spring  Branch  was  a  grist-mill  owned  in 
1750  by  Samuel  Paynter.  It  was  retained  in  the 
family  many  years  and  was  known  as  the  "  Paynter 
or  Red  MiU."  Near  by  was  a  carding  factory  built 
by  Samuel  Paynter  and  abandoned  about  fifty  years  % 
ago.  The  Red  Mill  was  finally  sold  by  John  Paynter 
to  Elijah  Register,  by  whom  it  was  improved  and  en- 
larged. Robert  Hammon,  the  next  owner,  was  in 
possession  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1885. 

The  grist  and  saw-mills  on  Prime  Hook  Creek, 
owned  in  1809,  by  Nathan  Reed,  were  sold  by  him  to 
William  Mcllvain.  They  next  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  Roderick  Reynolds,  and  at  his  decease  be- 
came the  property  of  his  son,  Silas  M.  Reynolds.  By 
him  they  were  sold  to  Hon.  James  Ponder,  the  present 
owner.    The  mills  are  still  in  operation. 

Robert  Stephenson  inherited  f^om  his  father,  James, 
a  grist-mill,  on  the  south  side  of  Prime  Hook  Creek. 
This  he  sold  in  1775,  to  John  Ingram,  and  in  1816,  it 
was  in  the  possession  of  his  son,  Anthony  Ingram, 
together  with  three  hundred  acres  of  land.  On  No- 
vember 26,  1823,  it  was  purchased  at  sheriff's  sale,  by 
Arthur  Milby,  by  whom  it  was  conveyed,  January 
26, 1827,  to  Hester,  wife  of  John  Ponder.  While  in 
her  possession  it  was  abandoned,  about  1845. 

In  1886,  Jeffrey  O.  Bentley  and  Moses  A.  Walsh 
formed  a  co-partnership  and  established  a  chemical 
works  on  the  south  side  of  Broadkiln  Creek,  about 
two  miles  east  of  Milton.  The  main  productions  are 
wood  alcohol,  granulated  charcoal  and  tar.  Employ- 
ment is  given  to  ten  men. 

Villages  and  Post-Offioes. — Drawbridge  is  a 
small  hamlet  on  Broadkiln  Creek,  about  three  miles 
east  of  Milton.  It  contains  a  store  which  was  con- 
ducted many  years  by  Governor  Samuel  Paynter, 
his  children  and  grandchildren.  In  1857  it  was 
purchased  by  W.  V,  Coulter,  who  ran  it  until  1859, 
when  Wm.  B.  Tomlinson  became  owner.  He  sold  to 
Burton  &  Dorman  in  1866.  In  1878  they  dissolved 
partnership,  Dorman  retaining  the  store.  It  also 
contains  three  dwellings,  four  granaries  and  a  wheel- 
wright and  blacksmith  shop.  There  is  a  landing- 
place  here,  and  one  boat  plies  regularly  between  here 
and  Philadelphia,  and  two  between  Drawbridge  and 
New  York.     About  2,500  cords  of  wood,  and  30,000 


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1262 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


bushels  of  grain  are  shipped  annually.  The  name 
is  derived  from  a  draw-bridge,  which  crosses  the 
Broadkiln  at  this  place.  A  post-office  was  established 
here  about  1880,  with  Samuel  R.  Paynter  as  postmaster. 
It  was  changed  for  a  time  to  Houston,  but  again 
moved  to  Drawbridge.  J.  B.  Dorman,  the  present 
incumbent  was  appointed  in  January,  1879. 

The  Hon.  John  B.  Dorman  was  born  in  Broadkiln 
Hundred  in  the  County  of  Sussex  and  State  of  Dela- 
ware, on  the  19th  day  of  August,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord,  one  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  forty-three. 
His  early  life  was  passed  upon  his  father's  farm,  and 
in  the  freedom  of  rural  life  he  early  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  that  physical  vigor  and  ruddy  health  which 
so  peculiarly  distinguished  him,  and  which  exper- 
ience has  shown  to  conduce  so  much  to  success,  and 
to  be  so  essential  to  the  true  enjoyment  of  life. 

He  acquired  the  rudiments  of  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  but  at  the  age  of 
^  sixteen  was  sent  to  the  academy  at  Milton. 

As  the  years  advanced  and  it  became  necessary  tor 
him  to  choose  a  vocation,  he  followed  a  natural  bent 
and  selected  a  mercantile  life.  In  order  to  prepare 
himself  thoroughly  for  the  occupation  he  had  so 
wisely  chosen,  he  completed  his  preparatory  studies 
at  Crittenden's  Commercial  College  of  Philadelphia, 
but  upon  the  death  of  his  fa  her  his  entrance  into 
commercial  life  was  delayed  and  he  was  called  upon 
to  take  charge  of  the  ancestral  farm. 

In  1866  when  his  presence  was  no  longer  required 
on  the  farm,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Captain 
David  Burton  in  the  mercantile  business  at  the  Draw- 
bridge. This  partnership  was  dissolved  in  1878,  and 
since  that  time  Mr.  Dorman  has,  with  eminent  suc- 
cess, conducted  the  business  in  his  own  name. 

Mr.  Dorman  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Hetty  J. 
White,  daughter  of  Mr.  Benjamin  White,  a  &rmer  of 
Broadkiln  Hundred. 

The  Drawbridge  is  a  small  hamlet,  situated  at.  a 
landing  on  Broadkiln  Creek,  a  few  miles  below  Milton. 

It  is  a  point  of  considerable  mercantile  and  commer- 
cial activity  ;  has  always  been  a  political  centre  of 
importance,  and  has  furnished  one  Grovernor  to  the 
State.  The  importance  of  the  hamlet  has  by  no 
means  diminished  since  Mr.  Dorman  has  been  its 
leading  spirit.  Not  only  has  he  largely  extended  the 
trade  of  the  place  and  given  it  a  wider  influence  in 
business  circles,  but  he  has  also  fully  maintained  its 
political  prestige.  In  1886  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate  by  the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he 
and  his  ancestors  have  always  been  consistent  and 
honored  members.  In  his  political  life  Mr.  Dorman 
has  displayed  the  same  sagacity  and  good  sense,  and 
the  same  honesty  of  purpose  which  had  already 
characterized  him  in  his  business  transactions. 

But  perhaps  Mr.  Dorman 's  most  distinguishing 
trait  is  the  social  bonhommie  and  kindness  of  heart 
which  he  carries  into  all  relations  of  life.  With  him 
sympathy  with  the  poor  is  ever  a  controlling  thought, 
and  it  is  said  of  him  that  no  indigent  and  worthy 


debtor  ever  suffered  from  him  the  extremity  of  the 
laws. 

In  the  new  social,  intellectual  and  industrial  life 
which  is  coming  to  his  native  county  Mr.  Domun 
will  prove  to  be  one  of  the  foremost  and  ablest 
leaders. 

The  land  on  which  Harbeson  stands  was  at  one 
time  owned  by  Barclay  Wilson,  but  is  now  prin- 
cipally in  the  possession  of  Harbeson  Hickman,  from 
whom  it  received  its  name.  The  establishment  of  a 
railroad  station  here  in  1869,  was  the  origin  of  the 
village.  T.  R.  Burton  was  appointed  station-ageot 
and  post-master  in  that  year.  He  filled  both  poaitioos 
until  1885  when  he  was  succeeded  by  8.  A.  Jarris,  the 
present  incumbent.  The  village  contains  two  stores, 
a  church,  school-house,  station,  blacksmith-shop,  and 
about  ten  dwellings. 

In  1870  a  station  was  located  near  Cool  Spring 
Branch,  and  named  Cool  Spring.  W.  M.  Mcllvain 
was  appointed  station  agent.  In  the  following  years 
post-office  was  established  here,  and  he  became  post- 
master. He  was  succeeded  in  both  these  positions  io 
1872,  by  James  M.  Martin,  the  present  incombeot. 
No  village  is  laid  out  as  yet.  Large  shipments  of 
lumber  and  charcoal  are  made  from  this  point. 

LoDGB— Harbeson  Circle,  No.  10,  B.  G.  C,  was 
instituted  at  Harbeson,  June  10, 1887.  The  first  and 
present  officers  are  as  follows:  G.  W.,  Thos.  R. 
Burton ;  C.  W.,  Paynter  Frame ;  C.  J.,  Joseph  B. 
Lingo;  C.  F.,  Jos.  W.  Wimbrow;  C.  K.,  B.  O. 
Vaughn  ;  H.  R.,  Henry  Prettyman ;  H.  T.,  Silas  J. 
Warrington ;  W.  D.,  Robt  S.  Watson ;  W.  M.,  Chas. 
A.  Isaac.  These  with  N.  T.  Roach,  Wm.  Walka. 
Walton  Thompson,  John  T.  Watson  and  Thomas  A. 
Joseph  composed  the  charter  members.  The  present 
membership  is  thirty-five.  Meetings  are  held  every 
Wednesday  night  in  the  lodge-room  over  T.  R.  Bur- 
ton's store. 

Milton. — ^The  tract  of  land  on  which  Milton  now 
stands  is  part  of  a  thousand-acre  tract  patented  April 
29, 1686,  to  James  Gray  under  the  name  "  MilfonL" 
In  1719  Samuel  Rowland  was  the  owner  of  this  land, 
and  on  November  3d,  of  that  year,  he  sold  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres  of  it,  lying  on  the  south  side  of 
Broadkiln  Creek,  to  Joseph  Hepburn.  By  sundry 
conveyances  all  that  portion  of  Milton  on  the  south 
side  of  Broadkiln  Creek  vested  in  George  ConwelL. 
and  the  land  embracing  North  Milton  came  into  the 
possession  of  William  Perry.  Major  William  Peery 
(now  Perry)  was  in  command  of  a  company  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  and  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  near 
the  head  waters  of  Cool  Spring  Run.  He  lived  in  s 
large  red  house  on  this  tract  where  he  died  in  1800, 
leaving  no  descendants.  His  brother  James  lived  on 
a  tract  north  of  this  and  his  descendants  still  reside 
in  this  portion  of  the  county.  G^rge  Conwell  resi- 
ded in  Milton  and  members  of  his.  family  are  now 
residents  of  Broadkiln  Hundred.  Various  sized  lott 
were  sold  by  Conwell  and  Perry  to  difierent  persons. 
The  village  which  sprung  up  was  early  known  as 


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and  it  is  said  of  him  that  do  indigent  and  worthy     The  Tillage  wnicn  sprung  up  wms  eany  iuiv««  *  ^ 


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SUSSEX  COUNTr. 


1263 


i 


Osborne's  I^anding,  Ck>nweir8  Landing,  Upper  Land- 
ing and  Head  of  Broadkiln.  On  February  3, 1807, 
an  act  of  assembly  was  passed  changing  the  name 
from  Head  of  Broadkiln  to  Milton.  It  was  so  named 
in  honor  of  the  poet,  Milton. 

The  assessment  list  of  1809  shows  the  following 
persons  as  land  owners  in  Milton  at  that  date :  James 
Hood,  lot,  store,  house  and  granary ;  Elizabeth  Jones, 
house  and  lot;  Burton  Hall,  house  and  lot;  David 
Hazzard,  house  and  three  lots  and  granary;  Mary 
Fergus,  lot,  store,  house  and  granary ;  Edward  Evans, 
house  and  lot ;  Peter  Coulter,  house  and  lot ;  Benja- 
min Benson,  two  lots ;  Richard  Bloxsom,  house  and 
granary;  Nehemiah  Lofland,  two  houses  and  lot; 
Joseph  Maull,  house  and  lot;  Bevens  Morris,  two 
and  a  half  lots,  store,  house  and  three  granaries; 
Samuel  Paynter,  house  and  lot ;  Johi^  Bell's  heirs, 
house  and  lot;  Nehemiah  Riley,  house  and  lot; 
Thomas  W.  Rogers,  house  and  lot ;  David  Starr,  house 
and  lot ;  Abel  Vent,  house  and  lot ;  William  Vent, 
house  and  lot ;  Samuel  Wright,  house,  lot,  tan-yard 
and  store. 

From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  at  this  early  date 
there  were  already  here  four  stores  and  seven  granar- 
ies, indicating  that  Milton  was  then  a  grain  shipping 
point.  The  quantity  of  grain  shipped  increased  until 
the  construction  of  the  railroad  afforded  new  facilities 
for  its  transportation.  The  annual  shipments  amoun- 
ted to  about  five  hundred  thousand  bushels. 

The  growth  of  the  village  was  slow  but  steady,  and 
on  March  17, 1865,  an  act  was  passed  incorporating 
Milton  as  a  town.  William  V.  Coulter,  Robert  L. 
Lacey,  George  W.  Atkins,  Samuel  Martin  and  Hon. 
James  Ponder  were  appointed  commissioners  and  au- 
thorized to  secure  a  surveyor  and  lay  out  the  town.  No 
action  was  taken  by  the  commissioners  until  March  30, 
1867,  when  they  met  to  perform  the  duties  prescribed 
by  the  incorporation  act.  John  C.  Hazzard  was 
appointed  surveyor.  The  limits  of  the  town  were 
then  thus  defined:  North  Milton — ''starting  from 
the  bridge  eight  hundred  yards  up  the  Main  Street ; 
then  six  hundred  yards  each  way,  east  and  west,  from 
thence  to  creek  on  east  side,  and  to  the  mill-pond  on 
west  side,  east  and  west  sides  to  run  parallel  with 
Main  Street."  South  Milton — "starting  from  the 
creek  at  the  foot  of  Main  Street ;  thence  twelve  hun- 
dred yards  up  said  street;  thence  west  to  mill-pond  on 
one  side,  and  on  the  other  side  to  Robert  Carey's 
line,  following  said  line  to  Round  Pole  branch  and 
down  said  branch  to  creek." 

By  an  amendment  passed  February  7,  1877,  the 
number  of  commissioners  was  increased  from  five  to 
nine,  and  by  a  re-incorporation  act,  passed  March  3, 
1881,  the  name  was  changed  from  commissioners  to 
council. 

Milton  is  pleasantly  located,  near  the  central  part 
of  Broadkiln  Hundred,  at  the  head  of  navigation  of 
Broadkiln  Creek.  The  nearest  railway  station  is 
Harbeson,  distant  about  five  miles.  Good  facilities 
for  shipment  however  are  afforded  by  water.    Six 


vessels  ply  regularly  between  Milton  and  Philadelphia, 
and  five  carry  consignments  of  freight  to  New  York, 
Considerable  grain  is  still  shipped  from  here.  About 
ten  thousand  cords  of  wood  are  transported  by  boat 
from  here  to  Haverstraw,  New  York,  where  it  is  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  bricks.  The  abandonment  of 
ship-building  and  the  lack  of  industries  are  serious 
drawbacks  to  the  advancement  of  the  town. 

The  town  at  present  contains  eleven  general  stores, 
three  grocery  stores,  two  clothing stores,four  millinery 
stores,  two  drug  stores,  one  hardware  store,  one 
jewelry  store,  three  confectionery  stores,  four  wheel- 
wright shops,  five  blacksmith  shops,  two  shoe  shops 
and  one  barber  shop. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  commissioners  and  coun- 
cilmen  who  have  served  since  th^  incorporation  of  the 
town: 


Wm.  V.  Coulter « 18«7 

Lewis  B  Chandler 1867 

Geo.  W.  AtkiQi 1867 

Saml.  Martin 1867 

Wm.  Ruiwl 1867 

Inac  White 1868 

John  C.  HazBard 1868 

Geo.  W.  Atkini. 1868 

Saml.  Martin 1868 

N.  D.  Welch 1868 

Saml.  Martin 1869-73 

G.  W.  Atkins. 1869-73 

H.  B.  Lingo 1869-73 

Wm.  0.  Pret^man 1869-73 

Saml.  MarUn 1873 

Geo.  W.  Atkins. ISTJ 

Bobt  H.  CJarey 1873 

H.  B.  Lingo 1873 

B.  H.  Carey 1869-73 

Wm.  B.  Tomlinson 1873 

I«ac  White 1874 

Wm.  B.  Wilson 1874 

Wm.  D.  Lank 1874 

C.  J.Carey ^ 1874 

Jas.  A.  Hopkins 1874 


8.  J.  Wilson 1877 

J.  G.  Betis 1877 

George  Prettyman 1877 

B.  L.  Collins 1877 

C.  L.  Morris 1877 

8.  J.  Martin 1877 

John  W.  Fox. 1878 

T.  L.  Black 1878 

E.  N.  Lofland 1878 

John  C  Uaziard 1879 

Androw  J.  Davidson 1H79 

James  Ellingsworth 187^ 

James  Ponder 1880 

K.  P.  WarreA 1880 

W.  J.  White 1880 

Noah  W.  Magee 1881 

Joseph  E.  Lank — 1881 

N.  W.  White 1881 

Stephen  R.  Bennett 1882 

Obas.  H.  AtMns. 188S 

Edward  P.  Jones.. 1882 

H.Daridson 1883 

Wm.  G.  Fering 1883 


Isaao  White 1876  '  John  H.  Wiltbank 1883 


B.  P.  Warren .'. *.  1876 

John  C.  Baynum 1875 

T.  8.  Wilson 1876 

W.  E.  Reynolds 1876 

K.  P.  Warren 1876 

Isaac  White 1876 

W.  E.  Reynolds 1876 

T.  S.Wilson 1876 

J.  L.  Blaok....„ « 1876 

J.  L.  Black 1877 

Wm.  D.  Lank 1877 

K.N.  Lofland 1877 


Samnel  J.  Martin 1834 

Joseph  B.  Lank 1H84 

William  J.  White 1884 

Eli  L.  Collins. 1886 

George  A.  Bryan.. 1886 

John  M.  Hall 1886 

H.  Davidson 1886 

James  A.  Betts 1886 

E.  W.Warren 1886 

T.  L.  BUck 1887 

H.  B.  Lingo 1887 

8.  J.  Martin 1887 


The  following  persons  have  served  as  aldermen  since 
the  creation  of  that  office  in  1881 : 

John  A.  Haxsard,  1881-86 ;  R.  J.  Betts,  1886 ;  L.  B.  Chamberlain,  1887. 

The  office  of  assessor  has  been  filled  by  the  follow- 
ing persons : 

Nehemiah  D.  Welsh 1867  ^  Wm.  R.  Wilson.. 1876 

AsaF.Conwell 1868-70   |   Wm.  J.White „..  1876 

C.  M.  Vaughan 1870-73   '   C.  L.  Morris. 1877-80 

David  T.  Atkins 1873      W.  J.  White 1880-86 

Houston  Hall 1874  !  E.  W.  Warren 1886 

The  following  is  the  list  of  treasurers  : 

Hon.  James  Ponder 1867-76   |  Hon.  James  Ponder„ 1880 

Henry  B.  Lingo 1876-77  John  H.  Davidson 1881 

Wm.  D.  Lank 1877  Edward  P.  Jones. 1882-86 

Thomas  L.  Black 1878  i  Joseph  E.  Lank 1886 

John  C.  Hauard 1879  '  E  L.  Collins 188C 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  following  peraooB  have  served  as  collectors : 

0«orge  PrettymaD^ 1877-79 

JoMph  C.  WUaon 1878 

N.  W.  White 1880 

D»Tld  Lynch 1881 

Joshua  Beiley 1882 

John  0.  Wilson ^^  1883 

D»Tld  Lynch 1884 


Wni.  H.  rirtier >  1887-69 

Wnu  B.  Wilwn 1869 

Imac  White 1870-72 

B.  P.  Ptner 1872 

K.  P.  Jones 1873 

Bei^Jaroin  B.  Wharton 1874 

B.  P.Jones ^ 1876 

George  Moore 1876 

Religious  Mattebs.— ^.  John  Baptist  Pbo- 
TE8TANT  EpisC50Pal  Chubch. — Rev.  William  Beck- 
ett in  a  letter  bearing  date  September  25,  1729, 
says,  that  his  churches  are  in  a  growing  condi- 
tion, and  that  "  a  fourth  churph,  built  in  a  forest, 
was  opened  by  me  about  a  year  ago  by  the  name 
of  St.  John  Baptist,  and  there  is  likely  to  be  a  numer- 
ous congregation'  there."  In  his  last  letter,  September 
26,  1742,  he  states  that  his  four  churches  are  filled  on 
Sundays,  and  he  was  often  obliged  to  preach  under 
the  trees.  The  church  building  was  erected  at  the 
fording-place  of  Long  Bridge  Branch  in  the  forest  of 
Broadkiln  where  the  road  crossed  that  stream,  and 
which  was  at  that  time  the  main  thoroughfare  leading 
to  the  lower  part  of  the  County  and  into  Maryland. 
It  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  pond,  between 
the  residence  of  H.  S.  Marshall  and  the  school-house. 
£x-Oov.  James  Ponder  has  in  his  possession  a  receipt 
for  twenty  shillings,  bearing  date  March  16, 1731,  and 
given  to  John  Ponder,  his  great-grandfather,  "  for  his 
subscription  to  the  Church  St.  John  Baptist  by  me 
Joseph  Harrison."  The  church  was  under  the  charge 
of  the  St.  Peter's  Episcopal  Church  at  Lewes,  and  the 
building  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  until  a  short 
time  previous  to  1800,  from  which  time  it  was  used  as 
a  school-house  for  many  years.  The  families  of  Pon- 
der, Pettyjohn  and  Paramore  (now  Palmer)  were  all 
connected  with  this  church,  and  Ebenezer  Pettyjohn 
at  bis  death,  had  in  his  possession  the  Bible  and  other 
articles  belonging  to  the  church.  George  Calhoon, 
long  since  deceased,  once  related  that  in  his  early  days 
he  attended  preaching  in  the  house  and  in  1800  at- 
tended school  there,  it  having  been  converted  to  that 
use  a  short  time  previous. 

The  congr^ation  was  later  revived,  and  services- 
were  held  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Methodist 
Protestant  Churches  of  Milford  until  June  5, 1877, 
when  the  present  building  was  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Lee.  It  is  situated  on  Federal  Street,  on  land  pur- 
chased of  Wm.  V.  Coulter.  It  is  a  one-story  frame 
structure  thirty  by  fifty-six  feet,  and  cost  $2500. 

No  regular  rector  is  stationed  here  and  the  pulpit  is 
supplied  by  rectors  from  Milford,  Georgetown  and 
Lewes. 

Thos.  Douglass  is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
School. 

The  present  ofi&cers  of  the  church  are :  Wardens, 
Nehemiah  D.  Welch,  Hon.  James  Ponder;  vestry, 
Thomas  Douglass,  John  Ponder,  E.  P.  Jones. 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church, — When  the  first 
Methodist  meetings  were  held  in  Milton,  or  how  long 
they  were    conducted  in  private  residences,  is  un- 


known. In  1801  the  society  felt  the  need  of  a 
regular  house  for  worship,  And  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  funds  for  the  accomplishment  of  their  desire 
the  following  paper  was  passed  among  the  citizeos 
of  the  town  and  vicinity :  *'  Whereas  the  People 
called  Methodists  have  it  in  contemplation  to  Erect 
a  Building  at  the  Head  of  Broadkiln  (Milton),  in  the 
county  of  Sussex  and  State  of  Delaware,  for  the 
public  worship  of  Almighty  God,  and  being  consdoos 
that  it's  not  only  the  Duty  of  the  members  of  their 
own  Society  but  of  all  who  profess  the  Ohristiaii 
Name  to  be  willing  to  contribute  for,  and  to  promote 
the  Religion  of  Jesus  ;  And  as  such  Building  can- 
not be  Erected  without  considerable  expense,  th^ 
therefore  Solicit  the  Patronage  of  their  fellow-citizem 
who  wish  the  Prosperity  of  Zion  By  becoming  Sub- 
scribers and  willing  by  casting  in  their  Mites  to  for- 
word  the  work ;  the  said  Building  is  to  be  Erected  on 
a  Rising  ground  beautifully  Situate  for  that  purpose, 
lying  back  of  a  Lot  of  ground  belonging  to  Eli 
Hall,  the  Dimentions  of  which  as  well  as  the  materi- 
als to  compose  the  same  shall  be  under  the  Directioo 
of  Bevins  Morris,  Abel  Dutton,  Archibald  Flern- 
ming,  John  Tinley  and  Thomas  Coulter,  who  are  ap- 
pointed Managers  to  conduct,  carry  on  and  Complete 
the  Said  Building ;  the  Lot  of  ground  en  which  it  is 
to  be  Erected  shall  first  be  conveyed  by  a  good  and 
sufficient  Deed  of  sale  from  John  S.  Conwell  and 
Wife  to  the  said  Bevins  Morris,  Abel  Dutton,  Archi- 
bald Flemming,  John  Tinley  and  Thomas  Coulter 
and  to  their  successors  in  office,  for  ever.  Trustees  in 
trust.  Agreeable  to  the  Rules  and  forms  laid  down  in 
the  form  of  Discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  for  the  Raising  and  Securing  the  pay- 
ment of  a  sum  of  Money  sufficient  to  E>ect  and 
complete  the  said  Building :  We,  the  subscrib- 
ers oblige  ourselves,  our  Heirs,  Executors  and 
Administrators,  to  pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  to  the 
said  Managers,  or  any  of  them,  the  several  sums  of 
money  to  our  respective  names  annexed,  to  be  by 
them  applied  in  Erecting  the  Building  aforesaid.  In 
witness  whereof  we  have  hereto  set  our  hands  the 
7th  day  of  July,  1801."  On  this  paper  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty-eight  dollars  were  subscribed  and 
one  hundred  and  twelve  on  another,  making  a  total 
of  four  hundred  and  forty  dollars. 

On  January  16,  1802,  the  land  was  granted  by 
John  S.  Conwell  and  wife  to  John  Hazzard,  Bevens 
Morris,  Isaac  Coulter,  John  Tinley,  Samuel  Ratcliff, 
Eli  Hall,  Morgan  Williams  and  Thomas  Coulttf. 
Groshen  meeting-house  was  immediately  commenced, 
but  was  not  fully  completed  until  1820. 

In  1838  a  brick  wall  was  built  around  the  church 
and  burying-ground.  In  1873  the  need  of  a  new 
church  WM  keenly  felt.  A  lot  of  land  on  Federal 
Street  was  purchased  of  G.  W.  S.  Nicholson,  and 
preparations  made  for  the  erection  of  a  new  building. 
The  foundation  was  laid  in  the  fall,  and  in  the  spring 
was  found  to  be  in  bad  condition.  This  discouraged 
some  of  the  members  and  nothing  further  was  d<»ie 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1265 


until  1877,  when  the  work  was  revived  and  thestructure 
<completed  the  following  year.  On  August  4th  of  that 
year  the  lecture-room  was  dedicated  by  Bishop  Scott, 
and  January  12, 1879,  the  auditorium  was  dedicated 
by  Rev.  J.  Hough.  The  building  is  a  two-story  frame 
-edifice,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  and  cost  six  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars.  A  parsonage  on  the  corner  of  Fed- 
eral and  Coulter  Streets  was  erected  in  1885. 

The  site  of  the  former  church  is  used  as  a  cemetery. 
The  present  membership  is  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five.  The  Sabbath-school,  comprising  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  members,  is  under  the  superinten- 
dence of  L.  Jas.  Coverdale.  The  present  board  of 
trustees  is  composed  of  the  following  persons :  Wil- 
liam A.  Hazzard,  Jno.  H.  Davidson,  Thomas  L.  Blank, 
John  C.  Hazzard,  Henry  P.  Burton,  Chas.  H.  Atkins, 
James  A.  Carey,  Samuel  J.  Martin,  Samuel  L.  Ooslee. 
This  church  was  connected  with  Lewistown,  George- 
town and  Milton  Circuits,  and  in  1868  was  made  a 
separate  charge.  Since  that  time  the  pulpit  has  been 
filled  by  the  following  pastors :  1868-65,  flev.  Joseph 
Dare;  1865-67,  Rev.  William  B.  Walton;  1867,  Rev. 
M.  W.  Redman;  1868,  Rev.  George  W.  Burke;  1869- 
71,  Rev.  William  Merrill;  1871-78,  Rev.  W.  P. 
Davis;  1878-75,  Rev.  E.  E.  White;  1875-77,  Rev. 
John  E.  Smith;  1877-79,  Rev.  Robert  W.  Todd; 
1879-81,  Rev.  George  S.  Gassner;  1881-88,  Rev.  A. 
W.  Lightbourne;  1883-85,  Rev.  Thomas  Williams; 
1885,  Rev.  Walter  Underwood;  1886,  Rev.  Joseph 
Robinson. 

Presbyterian  Church. — In  1888  a  subscription  was 
taken  by  the  Presbyterians  for  the  purpose  of  erect- 
ing a  house  of  worship  in  Milton.  The  nearest 
church  of  this  denomination  at  that  time  was  the 
Cool  Spring  church,  about  seven  miles  distant.  The 
effort  met  with  approval,  and  in  the  following  year  a 
church  was  erected  on  land  purchased  of  Thara 
Mesdick.  The  membership  was  never  very  large,  but 
the  congregation  often  numbered  several  hundred. 
Services  were  conducted  until  about  1865,  when,  the 
building  being  dilapidated  and  the  memberrthip  too 
small  to  erect  a  new  one,  the  church  was  dissolved, 
some  going  back  to  the  old  church  and  others  joining 
some  other  denomination.  During  the  season  that 
the  church  was  open  services  were  conducted  by 
Rev0.  De  Witt,  Mitchelmore,  Fisher,  Hayden  and 
Mustard.  Among  the  last  families  worshipping  here 
were  those  of  Aaron  Marshall,  Gideon  Waples, 
Samuel  Parker  and  Captain  Parker.  The  building  is 
still  standiifg  and  is  now  used  for  school  purposes. 

Methodist  Protestants, — The  first  meetings  of  the 
Methodist  Protestants  of  Milton  were  held  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  On  October  22,  1857, 
William  A.  Hazzard  conveyed  to  Thomas  A.  Moore, 
Andrew  Holland.  Bartlette  Wilson,  John  M.  Phillips 
and  John  D.  Rodney,  trustees-elect,  a  lot  of  land  on 
Union  Street,  thirty  by  forty-three  feet.  On  this  a 
church  building,  covering  almost  the  entire  space, 
was  immediately  erected.  It  is  a  neat  one-story 
frame  structure  and  is  still  in  use.    In  1881,  under 


the  pastorate  of  Rev.  D.  A.  Shermer,  a  parsonage 
was  erected  on  Broad  Street.  The  present  member- 
ship of  the  church  is  one  hundred  and  fifteen.  J.  H. 
B.  Mustard  is  the  superintendent  of  a  fiourishing 
Sunday-school  of  seventy-five  members,  connected  with 
this  church.  The  present  board  of  trustees  is  as  fol- 
lows :  J.  H.  B.  Mustard,  Andrew  Holland,  Wallace 
White,  Bateman  Lingo,  G«orge  Warren. 

The  church  was  connected  with  Sussex  Circuit  until 
1868,  when  the  Milton  Circuit  was  formed. 

Since  that  time  it  has  been  served  by  the  follow- 
ing pastors  :  1808,  Rev.  Isaac  Atkins ;  1869-72,  Rev. 
A.  T.  Melvin ;  1872-74,  Rev.  James  H.  Ellegood ; 
1874-76,  Rev.  Charles  M.  Thompson ;  1876-78,  Rev. 
H.  Bruener;  1878-80,  Rev.  A.  A.  Harriman;  1880- 
82,  Rev.  D.  A.  Shermer,  M.D.;  1882-84,  Rev.  A.  D. 
Dick;  1884r-87,  Rev.  J.  E.  Malloy ;  1887,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Wiegand. 

Schools.— Jftfton  Aoademy. — By  an  act  of  assem- 
bly passed  January  27, 1819,  the  Milton  Academy  was 
incorporated,  and  Hon.  Joseph  Maull,  Arthur  Milby, 
John  D.  Smith,  Hon.  David  Hazzard,  Eli  Hall,  Wm. 
Morgan  and  Cornelius  Carey  were  appointed  commis- 
sioners to  attend  to  the  matters  pertaining  to  the 
opening  of  the  school.  At  a  meeting  of  the  stock- 
holders held  January  7, 1850,  it  was  announced  that 
the  amount  necessary  to  erect  the  building  had  been 
subscribed.  Each  share  was  worth  five  dollars  and 
entitled  the  holder  to  a  vote.  Ex-Governor  David 
Hazzard  presided  at  this  meeting,  and  Peter  T.  Wright 
was  chosen  secretary.  John  Ponder,  Hon.  David 
Hazzard  and  Cornelius  Hazzard  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  prepare  a  constitution,  which  they  ac* 
cordingly  did.  The  preamble  was  as  follows :  *'  We 
the  Subscribers,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  Union, 
ensure  Tranquility,  promote  Learning,  and  secure 
the  Blessings  of  Tuition  to  our  Posterity,  Do  ordain 
and  establish  this  Constitution  for  the  Milton  Acad- 
emy.'* 

A  lot  of  land  on  the  corner  of  Appletree  (now  Chest- 
nut) and  Coulter  Streets  was  procured,  and  a  one- 
story  frame  building,  about  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  was 
erected.  In  this  building  the  subscribers  met  January 
7,  1822,  and  elected  the  following  persons  trustees ; 
Hon.  David  Hazzard,  John  Gray,  Eli  Hall,  Cornelius 
Coulter,  Joseph  Carey,  William  Vent  and  John  Pon- 
der. Morgan  Rawlins  was  selected  as  the  first  teacher, 
and  school  opeqed  January  9, 1822.  On  April  15th 
of  the  same  year  the  examining  committee  reported 
that ''  It  consists  of  about  thirty  pupils,  about  one- 
third  studying  geography,  grammar,  etc.,  the  others 
studying  the  lower  branches."  George  Middlebrooks, 
the  next  teacher,  was  succeeded  in  September,  1828, 
by  Shadrach  Terry,  who  continued  until  September, 
1827.  While  in  his  charge  Mr.  Terry  advertised  in 
the  Wilmington  papers  as  follows:  '*To  those  who 
may  resort  here  for  an  education  notice  is  given  that 
all  branches  will  be  taught."  W.  Thatcher  was  the  next 
teacher.  For  a  few  years  after  the  adoption  of  the 
common  school  system  the  academy  was  abandoned. 


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1266 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


In  May,  1842,  Rev.  Nathan  Kingsbury  took  charge 
of  the  school.  In  the  following  year  it  was  rebuilt 
and  enlarged  by  an  additional  story.  School  was  after- 
wards kept  by  Messrs.  Crosby,  Lamb,  Bel  lis.  Hicks 
and  Wood.  The  building  was  last  used  for  school 
purposes  in  1880,  when  Frederick  Thompson  had 
charge.  It  is  now  used  as  a  voting-place.  The  present 
trustees  are  Nehemiah  D.  Welch,  Oeorge  W.  Atkins, 
Joseph  0.  AtkiBB,  Robert  H.  Oan^  and  Hon.  JnMs 
Ponder. 

In  the  original  division  of  the  county  into  school 
districts,  the  town  of  Milton  formed  a  portion  of  two 
districts,  that  part  of  the  town  north  of  Broadkiln 
Greek  being  in  District  No.  8,  and  the  remainder  in 
District  No.  12.  In  the  latter,  district-school  was  held 
in  the  academy  until  a  school-house  was  erected  in  1833. 
The  building  then  erected  continued  in  use  with  oc- 
casional repairs  until  1876.  In  that  year  the  district, 
which  had  been  sub-divided  into  Districts  Nos.  93  and 
160,  was  again  consolidated,  fiy  a  vote  of  the  people 
taken  June  26, 1876,  it  was  decided  t»  buy  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  This  was  accordingly  done,  and  the 
building  was  arranged  for  three  school-rooms.  These 
are  presided  ever  at  present  by  C.  K  Morris,  Mist 
Mary  R.  Black  and  Miss  Mary  Magee.  There  are  in 
attendance  seventy-eight  males  and  sixty -six  females. 

In  District  No.  8,  a  school-house  was  soon  buih 
after  the  passage  of  the  School  Law.  In  1837 
John  Tilney  had  chaige  of  the  school,  which 
comprised  twenty-five  pupils  at  that  time  and  was 
open  six  months.  In  1848  there  were  forty-one 
males  and  twenty-seven  females  in  attendance.  The 
district  was  divided  in  1867  and  No.  153  created.  The 
two  were  soon  consolidated  and  so  continue.  In  the 
following  year  the  old  school-house  was  removed  and 
the  present  one  erected.  It  is  a  one-story  frame 
building  with  two  departments,  taught  respectively 
by  E.  Wise  Warren  and  Mrs.  S.  J.  Coverdale.  At 
the  present  time  there  are  enrolled  forty-five  males 
and  forty-eight  females. 

Industries. —The  principal  industry  in  which  the 
people  of  Milton  were  ever  engaged  was  ship-build- 
ing. Baptist  Lay,  the  pioneer  of  this  business,  built 
his  first  vessel  a  short  distance  from  Milton  over  a 
century  ago.  As  early  as  the  year  1800  Cornelius 
Coulter  was  extensively  engaged  in  ship-building. 
He  was  succeeded  about  1825  by  his  brother,  Wm.  V. 
Coulter.  At  this  time  Jacob  White  and  Samuel 
Martin,  Samuel  Stephenson,  John  Mustard  and  Geo. 
W.  Atkins  were  also  in  the  business. 

The  amount  of  work  gradually  increased  and  about 
1861  reached  its  maximum.  From  that  year  until  1880 
there  were  generally  three  or  four  ships  on  the  stocks. 
The  principal  builders  during  this  time  were  David 
H.  Atkins,  Ponder  &  Russell,  Cornelius  C.  Davidson, 
Wm.  C.  Prettyman,  Wm.  Lamb,  Joseph  L.  Black 
A  Bro-,  and  R.  F.  Hastings.  There  were  employed  in 
the  ship-yards  about  one  hundred  workmen.  The 
industry  has  almost  ceased  and  during  the  past  year 
there  were  only  two  vessels  built. 


In  1815  an  act  of  Assembly  was  passed  enabling 
Hon.  Joseph  Maul],  John  8.  Conwell  and  Wm.  W. 
Conwell  to  erect  a  mill  dam  acioas  Broadkiln  Creek, 
near  Fergus  Bridge.  The  dam  was  completed,  and 
soon  afterwards  a  grist-mill  was  erected  by  them,  i^iiek 
later  became  the  sole  property  of  MauU.  He  also  par^ 
chased  a  saw-mill  on  the  same  stream  aahortdistaBoe 
above.  This  was  known  Miht^  Dnper  Mill,''  and 
in  1812  a  one-half  interest  in  it  was  conveyed  to  Wil- 
liam W.  Conwell  by  Isaac  Clowes.  A  bark-mill  wu 
erected  on  the  same  stream,  opposite  the  saw-mill,  by 
Maull,  and  it  continued  in  operation  until  1845.  After 
Maull's  death,  his  executor.  Shepherd  P.  Houston, 
sold  the  above  mills  to  Samuel  R.  Paynter,  whoie 
heirs  still  own  them. 

A  tan-yard  was  in  operation  in  Milton  in  1816,  un- 
der the  proprietorship  of  Nathaniel  Lofland.  It  was 
last  owned  and  operated  by  Robert  Burton,  about  1830. 

Another  tannery  was  opened  by  Hall  &  Hazzard 
about  the  year  1825.  At  a  later  period  Geerge  Hall 
became  sole  owner,  and  continued  operating  it  until  hit 
death,  which  occurred  in  1864.  Since  that  time  it  has 
not  been  in  operation. 

At  an  early  date  a  saw-mill  occupied  the  present 
site  of  Hon.  James  Pender's  ship-yard.  It  waa  built  bj 
William  Martin  and  John  Conwell,  and  by  them  oper- 
ated for  some  time.  It  has  long  since  been  diacon- 
tinned. 

In  1863  Hon.  James  Ponder  erected  a  steam  saw  and 
bark-mill  in  Milton.  The  bark-mill  was  used  for  grind- 
ing quercitron  bark,  and  had  a  capacity  of  three  tons 
per  day.  The  saw-mill  was  operated  chiefly  in  pre- 
paring ship-tamber.  The  mills  were  destroyed  by  fire 
April  16, 1877,  and  never  rebuilt. 

The  Milton  Brick  Manniactoriag  Company  opeasd 
a  yard  a  short  distance  from  town  in  S^ieeabcKv  1897. 
They  propose  to  manufacture  200,000  bricks  per  month, 
and  be  in  operation  seven  months  per  year.  Employ- 
ment is  given  to  fifteen  men. 

A  large  quantity  of  peaches  are  grown  in  this 
locality,  and  this  has  occasioned  the  erection  of  evap- 
orators. The  principal  owners  of  evaporators  in 
Milton  are  Reynolds  Brothers,  W.  H.  Chandl^  k 
Co.,  Tomlinson  &  Burton,  £.  B.  Atkins,  Charles  G. 
Waples,  David  Wiltbank  and  Pullen  &  Collins. 

Post  Office. — Asa  Haines  had  charge  of  the  post- 
office  previous  to  1829.  In  that  year  John  Ponder 
received  the  appointment,  and  continued  in  charge 
until  1849,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Nehemiah  D. 
Welch.  In  1853  Hon.  James  Ponder  became  post- 
master, which  position  he  held  until  1861,  whco 
Thomas  Atkins  was  appointed.  William  C.  Fish^ 
was  appointed  in  1867,  and  was  succeeded  by  John 
C.  Polk  in  1869.  Polk  continued  until  1885,  when  John 
B.  Mustard,  the  present  incumbent  received,  the  ap- 
pointment. 

JjODQES.— Endeavor  Lodge,  No.  17,  A.  F.  A.  If.,  was 
instituted  at  Milton  in  June,  1848.  The  first  ofiScen 
were  as  follows :  W.  M.,  Hon.  James  Ponder ;  S,  W., 
Theodore  W.  Parker;  J.  W.,  Elisha  Holland;  Treas- 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1267 


urer,  Samael  J.  Wilson ;  Secretary,  JamM  £.  Bliz- 
zard; S.  D.,  Rouse  Young;  J.  D.,  Benton  H.  John- 
son; Tyler,  John  H.  B.  Mustard.  The  cfafifter 
members  were  Hon.  James  Ponder,  Theodore  W. 
Parker,  Bouse  F.  Young,  James  Ck>oper,  Benton  U. 
Johnson,  Henrj  W.  Johnson  and  EUisha  Holland. 
The  lodge  steadily  increased  in  numbers  until  it 
has  a  membership  of  thirty-three.  Meetings  are 
held  on  the  second  and  fourth  Thursday  evenings  ef 
each  month,  on  the  second  floor  of  Masonic  Hall,  a 
two-story  building  recently  erected  by  the  society  on 
the  corner  of  Chestnut  and  Mill  Streets.  The  officers 
of  the  lodge  at  the  present  time  are, — W.  M.,  James 
A.  Hopkins;  S.  W., Samuel  J.  Martin;  J.  W.,  David 
H.  Atkins ;  Treasurer,  Charles  U.  Atkins ;  Secretary, 
Joseph  £.  Lank. 

Ooiden  Rule  Lodge,  No.  17,  /.  0.  O.  K,  was  instituted 
September  16, 1848.  The  first  officers  were,— N.  G., 
John  H.  Wiltbank;  V.  G.,  Wm.  Jeffries;  Secretary, 
David  A.  Vent ;  Assistant  Secretary,  Wm.  8.  Vent ; 
Treasurer,  Joseph  C.  Atkins.  In  addition  to  the 
above,  Richard  Dickinson  and  Robert  M.  Hall  were 
charter  members.  The  present  membership  of  the 
lodge  is  fifteen.  Meetings  are  held  every  Saturday 
night  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  which  was  dedicated 
July  4,  1863.  The  present  officers  are,— N.  G.,  Wm. 
D.  Lank ;  V.  G.,  Josiah  H.  Davidson ;  R.  S..  Alfred 
H.  Manship;  Treasurer,  Samuel  L.  Goslee;  P.  S., 
John  H.  Davidson. 

Milton  Lodge,  No.  44,  /.  0.  H.,  was  instituted  Jan- 
uary 17, 1882,  with  the  following  persons  as  its  first 
officers:  P.  A.,  Wm.  H.  H.  Dashields;  A.,  John  H. 
Davidson;  Treasurer,  John  H.  B.  Mustard;  Fin., 
John  B.  Welch ;  P.,  Henry  Ellingsworth  ;  W.,  F.  F. 
Fulmer;  P.,  David  Lynch.  There  were  twenty-one 
charter  members.  The  lodge  has  decreased  in  mem- 
bership and  now  numbers  twelve.  Meetings  are  held 
the  second  Monday  night  in  each  month  in  Wilson*s 
Hall.  The  present  officers  are, — P.  A.,  John  H.  Da- 
vidson; A.,  J.  B.Welch;  Treasurer,  N.  W.  White ; 
F.,  Wm.  E.  Carey ;  P.,  Samuel  J.  Wilson ;  W.,  Thomas 
Johnson  ;  P.,  Henry  Ellingsworth. 

The  Broadkiln  Hundred  Building  and  Loan 
Association  was  organized  at  Milton,  in  February, 
1871,  by  electing  the  following  officers:  President, 
William  B.  Tomlinson;  Vice-President,  Caleb  L. 
Morris;  Secretary,  David T.  Atkins;  Treasurer,  John 
H.  Wiltbank.  Directors:  L.  B.  Chandler,  Dr.  James 
A.  Hopkins,  George  W.  Atkins,  Alfred  H.  Manship, 
Samuel  J.  Martin,  J.  K.  Dukes,  Dr.  John  F.  Carey, 
J.  H.  B.  Mustard,  Eli  L.  Collins. 

Nine  series  have  been  issued,  of  which  six  have 
matured.  The  last  series  was  issued  in  February, 
1881.    The  value  of  each  share  at  maturity  is  $200. 

The  present  officers  are :  President,  John  H.  Dav- 
idson ;  Vice-President.  Eli  L.  Collins ;  Secretary, 
William  J.  White;  Treasurer,  William  E.  Carey. 
Directors:  Robert  J.  Betts,  N.  W.  White,  E.  B. 
Atkins,   David  Hazzard,  George  A.  Rust,  John  H. 


Wiltbank,  Elias  Lofland,  Joseph  F.  Outten,  Joseph 
Stevenson. 

The  Milton  Library  Assoeiation  was  organized  in 
JvnuAiy,  1875,  and  incorporated  March  7, 1883.  The 
first  officers  of  the  association  were  as  follows :  Presi- 
dent, John  C.  Hazzard ;  Vic*«pi^^i<^6n^  N.  W.  Ma- 
gee  ;  Secretary,  John  Ponder ;  Librariaui  L.  B.  Oband- 
ler ;  Assistant  Librarian,  John  B.  Welch ;  Treasurer, 
Dr.  J.  A.  Hopkins.  A  suitable  case  for  the  books 
was  placed  in  the  store-room  of  John  B,  Welch, 
where  it  has  since  remained.  A  share  of  stock  is 
worth  $2.50,  and  entitles  the  holder  to  an  unrestrained 
use  of  the  library.  The  present  membership  of  the 
association  is  forty-five.  The  following  are  the  pres- 
ent officers:  President,  John  C.  Hazzard;  Y,ice- 
President,  William  D.  Lank ;  Secretary,  Miss  Clara 
Vaughn;  Treasurer,  Charles  H.  Atkins;  Librarian, 
John  B.  Welch. 

Hotels.— The  first  hotel  in  Milton  was  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Federal  and  Front  Streets,  and  is  now  used  as 
a  store.  Benjamin  Benson  was  the  owner  and  pro- 
prietor, and,  after  his  death,  it  was  sold  by  his  heirs 
to  John  Ponder.  It  was  last  used  as  a  hotel  in  1858, 
when  James  Cooper  was  the  proprietor. 

The  Ponder  House  was  built  in  1857,  by  Hon. 
James  Ponder.  It  was  opened  as  a  hotel  the  follow- 
ing year,  with  Ezra  Chambers  as  proprietor.  It  is 
the  only  brick  house  in  the  town.  W.  C.  Lofland,  the 
present  proprietor,  took  charge  of  the  hotel  in  June, 
1886. 

Another  hotel  was  opened  in  the  town  about  1880» 
by  Peter  Hart.  It  was  managed  by  him  several 
years,  and  then  leased  to  W.  S.  Lane,  the  present  pro- 
prietor. 


CHAPTER   LXX. 


INDIAN  RIVBR  HUNDRED. 


This  hundred  is  located  south  of  the  central  part 
of  Sussex  County  and  borders  on  two  arms  of  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  called  Rehoboth  Bay  and  Indian 
River  Bay,  which  have  a  common  inlet.  The  upper 
part  of  the  latter  sheet  of  water  bears  the  name  of 
Indian  River,  from  which  the  hundred  takes  its  title. 
This  stream  is  wide  and  shallow  at  low  tide,  and  has 
been  so  much  filled  up  that  but  a  small  part  of  its 
length  remains  navigable.  It  forms  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  hundred,  separating  it  from  Baltimore 
and  Dagsboro'  Hundreds.  On  the  west  and  north  are 
Georgetown  and  Lewes  and  Rehoboth  Hundreds. 
Separating  it  from  the  latter  are  Bundick's  Branch 
and  Love  Creek,  which  empty  their  waters  in  Reho- 
both Bay.  Extending  from  the  southern  psrt  of  the 
latter  is  a  large  arm,  into  the  upper  part  of  which 
fall  the  waters  of  Middle  and  Herring  Creeks.  These 
arms  or  indentures  of  the  bays  give  the  eastern  shore 
a  very  irregular  appearance  and  form  a  number  of 
necks  and  islands.    Of  the  latter,  Burton's  Islund, 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


near  the  Indian  River  Inlet,  it  the  largest.  Above  it 
is  the  Long  Neck,  whose  main  characteristic  is  ex- 
pressed by  its  name.  It  contains  some  fine  lands. 
Angola  Neck,  northwest  of  Rehoboth  Bay,  has  also 
a  large  acreage  of  good  lands,  whose  possession  was 
much  desired  by  the  early  settlers.  The  general  sur- 
face of  the  hundred  is  level,  much  of  the  soil  being 
of  a  sandy  nature,  and,  consequently,  the  lands  are 
not  as  fertile  as  those  of  the  contiguous  hundreds. 
Yet,  with  careful  cultivation,  they  can  be  made  fairly 
productive.  And  there  are  some  fine  fiurms,  with 
good  improvements,  many  of  the  latter  being  the 
results  of  intelligent  labor  in  recent  years.  A  large 
area  remains  covered  with  original  forests  and,  in 
ether  sections  are  the  growths  of  trees,  principally 
pines,  on  lands  once  under  cultivation,  which  have 
been  abandoned  or  turned  out  as  commons.  In  later 
yeard  much  of  this  has  again  been  cleared  up,  the 
wood  being  converted  into  charcoal,  which  has  be- 
come a  profitable  industry.  This  work  and  ordinary 
agriculture  constitute  the  chief  occupation  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  hundred,  who  numbered  eighteen 
hundred  and  thirteen  according  to  the  census  of 
1880. 

One  of  the  first  patents  for  lands  in  the  hundred 
was  for  a  tract  of  six  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  upon 
Indian  River  and  Rehoboth  Bay.  It  was  designated 
as  *'  Cruder's  Neck,"  and  was  granted  to  Captain  Na- 
thaniel Carr,  October  28, 1667.  "  Avery's  Rest,"  on 
King's  Creek,  out  of  Rehoboth  Bay,  was  patented  to 
John  Avery  July  1,  1676.  A  part  of  this  tract  was 
transferred  to  John  Morgan  in  1702. 

In  1677  William  Burton  received  a  warrant  from 
Governor  Andross  for  the  survey  of  one  thousand 
acres,  called  the  "  Long  Neck,"  of  which  he  sold  i^ve 
hundred  acres  to  Thomas  Bagwell,  October  9,  1679. 
Tbis  tract,  at  a  later  day,  became  the  property  of 
Bagwell  Burton.  William  Burton  had  eleven  sons, 
whom  he  settled  along  the  Indian  River,  principally 
on  ''  Long  Neck,"  where  the  family  owned  thousands 
of  acres  of  land.  From  them  have  descended  the 
numerous  Burtons  of  the  county,  and  to  each  genera- 
tion belonged  a  number  of  John  Burtons,  there 
being  at  one  time  more  than  thirty  persons  bearing 
that  name  in  the  hundred.  On  the  Indian  River  was 
built  the  ancestral  home  of  one  line  of  Burtons,  which 
became  widely  known  as  the  "  White  House,"  and  for 
more  than  a  century  it  was  owned  by  successive  John 
Burtons.  In  1887  it  was  the  property  of  Mrs.  John  M. 
Houston,  a  daughter  of  the  late  John  Robert  Burton. 
The  main  part  of  the  house  is  of  brick,  one  and  a  half 
stories  high,  and  was  whitewashed ;  hence  its  name. 
It  is  believed  that  the  house  was  built  as  long  since 
as  1722.  This  home  farm  embraced  two  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  1887,  and  was  one  of  the  best- 
known  landmarks  in  the  hundred. 

Some  of  the  Burtons  became  eminent  in  the  affairs 
of  the  State,  Dr.  Wm.  Burton  being  the  Governor  at 
the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War.  Robert  Burton, 
another  well-known  member  of  the  family,  was  born 


near  St.  George's  Chapel  in  1772.  He  was  a  man  of 
unusual  sound  judgment  and  purpose  to  benefit  the 
public.  Through  his  efforts  the  general  act  wn 
passed  by  the  Assembly  to  ditch  the  low  lands  <d 
Baltimore  Hundred.  But  this  measure  was  at  fint 
so  violently  opposed  by  some  of  the  citizens,  whs 
claimed  that  it  would  produce  oppressive  taxatioa, 
that  they  threatened  to  do  him  bodily  harm,  if  he 
should  appear  in  their  midst  Yet  most  of  them 
lived  to  see  time  jiutify  his  wisdom.  That  system  of 
drainage  has  made  the  lands  of  the  hundred  the 
most  productive  in  the  county.  He  died  at  Lewes  in 
1849,  having  rounded  a  good  and  noble  life. 

In  1684  the  "Brothers'  Patent,"  coDtaining  six 
hundred  acres  of  land,  adjoining  those  of  "  Loog 
Neck,"  were  warranted  to  Thomas  and  John  Jones, 
but  were  resurveyed  to  William  Burton,  June  16, 
1736. 

In  1685  the  tracts  called  "  Timber  Hill/'  on  the 
south  side  of  Mill  Creek,  and  **  Spring  Ford,"  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Great  Kill,  were  warranted  to  Wil- 
liam Clark,  eleven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  all.  In 
1687  "  Maiden's  PlanUtion,"  ''  Batchelor's  Lott,"  and 
"  Farmers'Hall,"  all  on  the  **  creeks  proceeding  out 
of  Rehoboth  Bay,"  were  located  to  parties  who  sold 
them  within  a  few  years.  "  Bradford  Hall/'  twelve 
hundred  acres  on  the  south  side  of  Rehoboth  Bay, 
was  located  in  1688,  and  warranted  to  Nathaniel 
Bradford.  Part  of  this  tract  was  sold  to  Roger  Oor- 
bett,  of  Lewes,  who  transferred  three  hundred  acres 
of  the  same,  situate  along  Love  Creek,  to  Woodman 
Stockley,  Sr.,  in  1706.  John  Stockley  had  purchased 
five  hundred  acres  of  William  Clark  in  1691. 
Another  part  of  the  Bradford  tract  was  conveyed  to 
Richard  Paynter  and  the  land  was  divided  in  1691 

John  Barker  became  the  owner  of  *'  Lancaster^"  a 
tract  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  on  the  north  side 
of  Indian  River,  in  1698,  and  the  same  year  two 
hundred  acres  of  "  Farmers'  Hall "  passed  to  Jacob 
Kollock. 

In  1701  "Kinney's  Adventure,"  seven  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  the  bottom  of  Angola  Neck, 
was  resurveyed  to  Robert  Burton.  In  1702  John  Gibbs 
purchased  four  hundred  and  seventy-four  acres  along 
Love  Creek,  and  in  1705  James  Drake  became  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  acres  on  what  is  now  Herring 
Creek,  at  that  time  called  Fishery  or  Goldsmith's 
Creek. 

In  1706,  Richard  Hinman  purchased  of  John 
Paynter  three  hundred  and  forty-four  acres  on  An- 
gola Neck ;  and  the  same  year  Anderson  Parker  and 
Matthew  Spicer  purchased  *'  Good  Hope,"  six  hun- 
dred acres  in  all,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Marshes 
Creek. 

In  1715  Richard  Bundick  became  the  owner  of 
twelve  hundred  acres  of  land  at  the  head  of  Love 
Creek  (hence  the  name  of  that  part,  Bondick's  Branch), 
but  soon  after  sold  the  most  of  it  to  Thomas  and 
John  Jones  and  John  Pettijohn.  In  1818  the  latter 
disposed  of  some  of  his  purchase  to  John  Allen  and 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1269 


George  Dodd.  "Bottle  &  Oakes ''—three  hundred 
and  forty  acres  at  the  head  of  Long  Neck — was  di- 
Tided,  in  1716,  between  William  Hanzer  and  Thomas 
Geese.  A  part  of  the  former's  land  became  the  prop- 
erty of  John  Lingo,  November  10,  1761,  and  from 
that  date  the  Lingo  family  became  identified  with  In- 
dian Rirer  Hundred.  Henry  Lingo  purchased  land 
in  Slaughter  Neck  as  early  as  1748.  The  descendants 
have  become  a  large  and  influential  £amily.  E.  M. 
Lingo,  a  leading  farmer  of  Angola,  is  a  member  of 
this  family. 

The  settlement  of  the  Robinson  family  in  the 
hundred  was  much  earlier.  In  March,  1693,  Wm. 
Robinson,  a  tanner,  purchased  four  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  land  in  Angola  Neck,  called  *'  Robert  his 
fortune,"  which  had  been  patented  as  early  as  1677. 
Subsequently  this  estate  was  enlarged  by  other  pur- 
chases, and  remained  for  many  years  in  the  hands  of 
the  Robinson  &mily.  As  the  property  of  Benjamin 
Robinson,  it  was  subdivided  among  his  sons — William, 
Benjamin,  Parker,  John  and  Peter.  The  upper  or 
William's  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres, 
and  the  improvements  thereon,  became  the  property  of 
Peter  R.  Burton,  who  was  the  owner  in  1887.  In 
1763  Thomas  and  Peter  Robinson,  merchants,  bought 
of  Elizabeth  Flemming  two  hundred  and  thirty-two 
acres  on  the  north  side  of  Herring  Branch,  which 
had  been  warranted  to  Christopher  Topham  in 
1718.  Soon  after  Thomas  Robinson  settlcKl  in  the 
Ticinity  of  St.  George's  Ohapel,  where  he  opened  a 
store.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  a  Tory  and  in 
1779  his  property  was  confiscated.  He  then  returned 
to  England  and  later  to  Canada,  but  after  peace  was 
declared  again  took  up  his  abode  in  Indian  River 
Hundred,  where  he  lived  until  his  death;  His  son, 
Peter,  born  in  1776,  became  a  lawyer  and  jurist  of 
distinction,  and  his  son  Thomas  was  a  member  of  the 
Legislature.  Peter  Robinson,  the  brother  of  Thomas, 
the  merchant,  lived  at  the  head  of  the  Angola  tracts 
where  he  was  well-known  as  a  business  man.  He 
was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  in 
1793.  The  site  of  the  farm  of  Thomas  A.  Joseph,  of 
Angola,  is  a  historical  tract.  He  is  a  descendant  of 
the  old  Josephs  family,  which  was  prominent  in  the 
early  history  of  the  State  and  large  tax-payers  in 
1785. 

On  the  Indian  River,  above  the  White  House  and 
below  Millsborough,  a  settlement  was  made  by  the 
Waples  f&mily  on  a  farm  which  was  once  part  of  a 
large  tract  of  land  called  **  Warwick,"  consisting  of 
three  hundred  acres,  which  was  bought  by  Peter 
Waples  of  John  How,  September  8, 1693.  He  had 
bought  three  hundred  acres  of  John  Barker  Novem- 
ber 10, 1692,  and  on  April  24,  1694,  bought  of  Wil- 
liam Clark  four  hundred  acres.  These  lands  were 
adjoining  on  the  Indian  River.  It  is  supposed  that 
his  home  was  at  the  narrow  part  of  the  river,  now 
known  as  'Terry  Landing."  On  the  2d  of  Septem- 
ber, 1696,  he  petitioned  court  for  license  to  keep  a 
ferry  across  the  river  from  his  house,  for  greater  con- 


venience for  travelers  to  and  from  Maryland,  which 
was  granted.  The  road  from  Lewes,  which  was  the 
principal  settlement  at  that  time,  came  to  St.  George's 
Chapel  and  down  to  the  river,  and  in  later  years  was 
joined  near  that  place  by  the  road  from  the  upper 
part  of  the  State.  Before  1750  a  town  was  laid  out 
on  this  tract  on  the  river,  which  was  called  Warwick, 
and  May  7th  of  that  year  lots  in  the  town  were  sold 
as  the  property  of  Woolsey  Burton.^ 

The  name  of  **  Ferry  Billy  "  Burton  is  still  remem- 
bered by  older  citizens  as  the  ferryman  at  this  place. 
For  a  Airther  account  of  this  ferry,  reference  is  made 
in  the  article  on  ''  Internal  Improvements "  in  the 
general  history.  Peter  Waples  also  owned  land  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river  in  Dagsborough  Hundred 
in  Pine  Neck.  He  had  three  sons,  William,  Peter 
and  Paul,  from  whom  the  family  in  his  State  have 
descended. 

The  first  representative  of  the  Frame  family,  who 
settled  in  the  hundred,  was  named  George,  who  early 
located  a  large  tract  of  land  on  the  upper  part  of 
Indian  River.  From  him  the  property  passed  to  his 
son  George,  whose  son  Robert  was  the  next  owner  by 
right  of  primogeniture.  Breaking  through  the  cus- 
tom, the  latter  divided  the  land  with  his  brother 
Paynter,  who  deceased  in  1812.  In  addition  to  his 
being  a  farmer,  the  latter  carried  on  a  store  and  dis- 
tillery in  the  neighborhood  of  the  old  Presbyterian 
Church,  which  was  built  on  the  Frame  tract.  Near 
the  fruit  distillery  was  one  of  the  largest  and  oldest 
peach  orchards  of  this  part  of  the  State.  This  tract 
of  land  is  yet  mainly  owned  by  Henry  C.  Frame^ 
while  his  brother  Paynter  owns  another  part  of  the 
large  estate  in  the  northern  section  of  the  hundred. 

The  latter  tract  of  four  hundred  acres  includes 
''Black's  Savannah,'*  of  twenty-five  acres,  which  was 
originally  bare  of  trees.  Here  are  the  head-waters  of 
numerous  streams,  which  attracted  much  game  to  the 
locality,  and  it  was  also  a  favorite  resort  of  Indian 
hunters.  Many  relics  and  a  few  Indian  graves  have 
been  found.  Next  above  this  land  was  the  "  White 
Horse  "  tract  of  Joseph  Warrington,  the  ancestor  of 
that  numerous  family  in  Sussex  County. 

Paynter  Frame  has  given  this  section  local  celebrity 
by  growing  on  his  farm  some  of  the  finest  melons  and 
fruit  ever  produced  in  Delaware.  He  has  also  prop- 
agated  new  species  of  fruits  and  vegetables. 

The  first  American  ancestor  of  the  old  Delaware 
family  of  Frame  was  George  Frame,  who  emigrated 
from  England  at  an  early  period,  and  patented  several 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  what  is  now  Dagsboro',  and 
Indian  River  Hundreds.  Several  of  his  children  sub- 
sequently emigrated  to  Ohio,  where  they  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Pickaway  County,  in 
that  State.  George  Frame,  son  of  the  emigrant,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Paynter,  aunt  of  (5ov.  John  Paynter, 
who  bore  him  two  sons,  Robert  and  Paynter  Frame. 

1  May  8,  1746,  Wm.  Burton,  fittber  of  Woolsey  Burton,  told  to  tho 
Utter  the  place  called  "  Warwick,"  inclndlDg  the  gronnd-reDti,  wbicli 
implies  that  the  town  had  already  been  laid  out  and  some  lots  sold. 


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1270  HISTORY  OF  DlCLAWARfi. 

Robert  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four.     Hit     in  the  care  and  management  of  the  nudiiidiieiUli 

widow,  whose  maiden-name  was  Mary  Vaughan,  first     of  his  father.    B^  w*^-  -  - 

married  a  Mr.  West,  and  hnrr  him  ""•'^  ^-^i^  -^'*     .  ..,,.. 

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v^2-r^^z-t-^ 


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1270 


HISTORY  or  DlCLAWARfi. 


Robert  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four.  His 
widow,  whose  maiden-name  was  Mary  Vaughan,  first 
married  a  Mr.  West,  and  bore  him  one  child,  Eliza- 
beth. After  his  death  she  married  Wm.  Burton,  and 
had  four  children, — Dr.  William  Burton,  Ute  (Governor 
of  Delaware ;  John  Hammond,  a  well-known  sur- 
veyor ;  Lydia  and  Carolina.  After  the  death  qf 
Mr.  Burton,  she  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Frame, 
and  bore  him  three  children, — Elizabeth  Paynter, 
who  married  James  Anda»on,  of  Georgetown  ; 
George,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  notice; 
and  Robert  Frame,  who  later  became  Attorney- 
General  of  Delaware.  Mrs.  Frame  died  soon  after  her 
husband,  and  the  children  were  reared  by  their  uncle, 
Paynter  Frame,  who  had  no  children  ef  his  own. 

George  Frame,  son  of  Robert,  when  he  arrived  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  years,  was  bound  as  an  apprentice 
to  Baxter  &  Bird,  hardware  merchants  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  remained  with  that  firm  until  he  attained 
his  migority.  In  1819  he  made  a  journey  to  Havana, 
but  returned  soon  after,  and  settled  in  his  native 
county  of  Sussex,  devoting  himself  to  the  improve- 
ment and  development  of  the  four  hundred  acres  of 
land  he  had  inherited  from  his  father's  estate.  He 
manifested  great  energy,  industry  and  executive 
ability,  and  added  greatly  to  his  landed  estate ;  was 
a  skillful  surveyor,  and  owned  about  one  thousand 
five  hundred  acres  of  fairly  productive  and  well  culti- 
vated land  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  active  in 
political  affairs  ;  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  his 
State  in  1831 ;  served  as  sheriff  of  Sussex  County  in 
1834,  and  was  a  popular  candidate  for  gubernatorial 
honors  in  1840.  He  died  September  13, 1845,  in  the 
forty-ninth  year  of  his  age.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth  Jeff- 
erson, daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann  (Jefferson)  War- 
rington, and  a  distant  relative  of  President  Thomas 
Jefferson.  She  bore  him  twelve  children,  of  whom 
eleven  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  namely  :  Robert, 
Mary  Vaughan  (wife  of  Manlove  Wilson)  Paynter, 
Ann  J.  (wife  of  R.  H.  Davis)  Henry  Clay,  Elizabeth 
West  (wife  of  Nathaniel  Williams),  George  W.,  (de- 
ceased), Thomas  Jefferson,  Rev.  Clement  T.,  (of  the 
Baptist  denomination),  Jennie  W.,  and  Thalia  H.  M. 
Frame.  Mrs.  Frame  led  an  exemplary  Christian  life, 
was  possessed  of  remarkable  energy  and  business 
ability,  as  well  as  a  high  order  of  intelligence,  and  it 
is  said  of  her  that  she  read  the  Bible  through  thirty 
times  in  course.  She  died  January  5, 1879,  in  her 
seventy-seventh  year. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  house 
where  he  now  resides,  in  Indian  River  Hundred,  on 
October  21, 1826.  He  aUended  the  public  schools  of 
his  neighborhood  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age, 
and  then  enjoyed  academic  instruction  in  George- 
town, Seaford  and  Millsboro'  until  past  the  age  of 
twenty.  The  last  year  of  his  attendance  at  school  he 
paid  his  own  tuition  in  gold,  derived  from  the  sale  of 
rabbits  which  he  had  caught.  After  completing  his 
educational  career  he  remained  with  his  mother,  on 
the  family  homestead,  at  her  request,  and  assisted  her 


in  the  care  and  management  of  the  iiii£vid#deitiie 
of  his  father.  He  never  married,  but  has  proved  sa 
enthusiastic  farmer,  paying  special  attention  to  the 
grafting  and  improvement  of  fruit  He  owusoTer 
five  thousand  peach  trees,  also  pear  and  apple  trees 
in  abundance,  as  well  as  numerous  varieties  of  smsll 
fruits.  He  owns  several  tracts  of  land,  and  raisei 
large  quantities  of  wheat  and  com — his  fences  being 
lined  with  the  choicest  varieties  of  grapes  grafted 
onto  the  wild  vines.  He  is  widely  known  in  connec- 
tion with  the  growth  of  waier-melons,  having  alio 
originated  several  eiccellent  varieties,  such  as  the 
*' Iron-Clad,"  and  the  "Prize,"  and  frequently  pre- 
serves this  luscious  fruit  during  the  winter.  He  hss 
also  recently  developed  a  peach  of  great  merit  which 
he  has  named  "  Frame's  Favorite." 

In  1876  he  was  one  of  the  nine  commissioners  ap- 
pointed to  represent  Delaware  at  the  Centennial  Exhi- 
bition, and  served  efibctively  as  a  member  of  the 
Committee  on  Agriculture,  and  as  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Horticulture.  He  was  also  appointed 
by  Governor  Hall  a  delegate  to  represent  Sussex 
County  in  the  National  Agricultund  CanveotioD, 
which  met  in  New  York  City,  in  I>eeember,  1879. 
At  that  session  the  American  Agricultural  As«>cia- 
tion  was  formed,  of  which  organization  he  is  a 
member. 

He  has  frequently  been  selected  to  fill  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility,  and  acted  as  the  executor  of 
the  estate  of  his  uncle,  Peter  Warrington.  He  is 
part  owner  of  a  vessel  trading  between  Milton,  Del., 
and  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  Like  his  £sther,  he 
has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  politics,  and  in 
1854  was  the  nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for  tiie 
State  Legislature,  but  was  defeated.  He  was 
elected,  however,  in  1856,  and  served  with  credit 
and  acceptability;  and  was  again  chosen  to  repre- 
sent his  party  in  1866  and  in  1874.  He  has,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  been  a  delegate  to  every  conven- 
tion of  his  party  in  the  country  for  the  last  thirty 
years.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  many  years,  and  much  of  the 
time  has  acted  as  trustee  and  steward.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Peninsula  Convention  of  all  denomi- 
nations in  1860,  and  ha*  long  been  identified  with  the 
Sussex  County  Bible  Society,  and  has  served  as  its 
vice-president.  He  was  made  an  Odd  Fellow  in  1850, 
a  Mason  in  1852,  became  Master  of  the  lodge  in 
1854,  and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arch  in  1858.  He 
was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Grand  Convocation  of 
Royal  Arch  Masons  in  Baltimore  in  1872,  and  is 
Past  Deputy  Grand  High  Priest  of  the  Grand  Chapter 
of  the  State  of  Delaware.  He  was  a  prominent  can- 
didate for  Governor  in  1870,  and  again  in  1872.  He 
is  of  an  agreeable  and  social  temperament,  popular 
and  respected,  and  one  of  the  foremost  farmers  of  his 
county. 

In  the  hundreds  of  Indian  River,  Lewes  and  Reho- 
both  and  Dagsborough  are  a  numerous  class  of  col- 
ored people  commonly  called  yellow  men,  and  by 


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1270  HISTOSr  OF  DELAWARE. 

WfiifMivf  Mm^  <»^iiii^>^«wlw  ■■«  nf   iliiwiwNi4Mt*—  Hmi     in  the  care  &ndm&iiaiEamfiiit  of  theudfeniMlaUti 


1  r- 

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'y^^^z^^^^f'i^^ 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1271 


maDy  believed  to  be  descendantB  of  tbe  Indians, 
which  formerly  inhabited  this  country.  Others  re- 
gard them  as  mnlattoes  and  still  others  claim  that 
they  are  of  Moorish  descent.  From  the  fact  that  so 
many  of  them  bear  the  name  of  Sockum,  that  term 
has  also  been  applied  to  the  entire  class  of  people. 
Of  their  genealogy,  Judge  Greorge  P.  Fisher  said : 

"  About  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  a  cargo  of 
alaves  from  Congo  River  wfis  landed  at  Lewes,  and 
sold  10  purchasers  at  that  place.  Among  them  was  a 
tall,  fine-looking  young  man  about  five  and  twenty 
years.  This  man  was  called  Eequa,  and  was  remark- 
able for  his  manly  proportions  and  regular  features, 
being  more  Caucasian  than  African.  Requa  was  pur- 
chased by  a  young  Irish  widow,  having  red  hair,  blue 
eyes  and  fair  complexion.  She  afterwards  married 
him.  At  that  time  the  Nanticoke  Indians  were  still 
quite  numerous  at  and  near  Indian  River.  The  off- 
spring of  Requa  and  his  Irish  wife  were  not  recog- 
nized in  the  white  society,  and  they  would  not  asso- 
ciate with  the  negroes,  and  they  did  associate  and 
intermarry  with  the  Indians. 

"  This  statement  was  made  on  oath  of  Lydia  Clark, 
at  Georgetown,  in  1856,  in  the  trial  of  the  case  of  the 
State  against  Levin  Sockum  for  selling,  contrary  to 
law,  powder  and  shot  to  one  Isaiah  Harman,  alleged 
to  be  a  free  mulatto.  The  question  upon  which  the 
case  turned  was  whether  Harman  really  was  a  free 
mulatto,  and  the  genealogy  of  that  race  of  people  was 
traced  by  Lydia  Clark,  then  about  eighty-seven  years 
of  age,  who  was  of  the  same  race  of  people. 

•*  The  court  was  so  well  convinced  of  the  truth  of 
Lydia's  testimony  that. Sockum  was  convicted  of  the 
charge  preferred  against  him. 

''  This  race  of  people  are  noted  as  peaceable,  law-abid- 
ing citizens,  good  farmers,  and  are  known  as  Moors, 
but  without  any  foundation.  The  name  Requa  or 
Regua  is  now  handed  down  as  Ridgeway.'' 

The  exclusiveness  spoken  of  continues  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  This  class  of  people  maintains  its  separate 
social  life  (so  far  as  it  is  possible  to  do  so)  seldom  in- 
termarrying with  the  negroes  or  mulattoes,  and  sup- 
port separate  churches.  The  number  in  the  county 
is  diminishing,  owing  to  removals  and  natural  causes 
but  enough  remain  to  make  it  a  distinctive  element. 

In  1785  a  list  of  tazables  in  the  hundred  embraced 
the  fbllowing  names : 


Allm,  MoMa. 
AtUni,  Stephen. 
Allen,  Wm. 
Abdell,  Littleton. 
Aydelott,  jMuee. 
AtUne,  Spencer. 
Abdell,  Wm. 
AtUna,  Ihmc. 
AtUjM,  XU)«h. 
AbdelU  Jacob. 
Barton,  Bei^Jsmin. 
Burton,  Joe^»h. 
Burton.  John. 
Baiprell,  Wm. 
Bftirton,  Henry. 
Barker,  Wm. 


Butlett,  ThomM. 
Burton,  Wm.  (Joiner). 
Braeton,  Thomai. 
Burton,  Bei^emln. 
Burton,  John. 
Burton,  Wm. 
Burton,  Bobert 
Bagwell,  Ann. 
Barker,  Perry. 
Butcher,  Wm. 
Barbridge,  Thomaa. 
Burton,  Bobert. 
Burton,  Luke. 
Brockfleld,  EIL 
Burton,  Benjamin. 
Burton,  Stratton. 


Burton,  Aaron. 
Bagwell,  John. 
Barker,  Leatherby. 
BUnacd,  Wm. 
Benton,  Bei^amin. 
Bradey,  John. 
Butcher,  Bobert. 
Oarey,  Wra. 
Carey,  Sli. 
Oollina,  John. 
Collina,  Thomas. 
Ooulter,  Bobert. 
Coulter,  Samuel. 
Carey,  Samuel. 
Craig,  John. 
Con  well,  John. 
Collina,  John. 
Oarey,  Thomaa. 
Craig,  Hambleton. 
Conwell,  Jamea. 
Clark,  Wm. 
Dean,  John. 
Day,  Wm. 
DaTidson,  Jamea. 
Davidaon,  John. 
Dean,  Jeaw. 
Dickaon,  KHAa. 
Davidson,  William* 
Doughton,  Wm. 
Dean,  Caleb. 
Driggua,  Drake. 
DaTidson,  Claypole. 
Day,  August. 
Smmit,  Brlttenham. 
Emmit,  Jacob. ' 
Frame,  Smith. 
Foster,  Thomas. 
Frame,  George. 
Field,  John. 
Froaaet,  Wm. 
Friend,  Job. 
Orlse,  Thomas. 
Green,  Darid. 
Grise,  Wm. 
Goeling,  John. 
Hathaway,  Wolsey* 
Hopkins,  John. 
Hansor,  John. 
Hansor,  Thomas. 
Hills,  John. 
Hansor,  Amlnadab. 
Hathaway,  James. 
Hopkins,  William. 
Hansor,  WilUam. 
Hansor,  David. 
Hansor,  Jonathan. 
Hammons,  John. 
Hansor,  Samuel. 
Houston,  Joseph. 
Houston,  Miavfah. 
Hopkina,  John. 
Harris,  Caleb. 
HanctKk,  William. 
Hall,  Joaeph. 
Hancock,  Mioi^Jah. 
Hopkins,  William. 
Hodge,  Oammage. 
Jackson,  WUliam. 
Jones,  Mary. 
Jackson,  Stephen. 
Joaephs,  Jeremiah. 
Jackaon,  Samuel. 
Jones,  Whitington. 
Johnson,  Milby. 
Joaephs,  Nathan. 
Johnson,  William. 
Johnson,  Samuel. 
Jackson,  Annanias. 


Josephs,  Josei^. 
Kolloch,  WilUam. 
Knock,  Joseph. 
Lacey,  Robert. 
Lacey,  Spencer. 
Lacey,  John. 
Lacey,  Paiker. 
Lacey,  John. 
Lingo,  Samuel. 
Lingo,  Henry. 
Lewis,  Wrixham. 
Lingo,  Daniel. 
Murrat,  James. 
Milby,  LeTin. 
Milby,  Nathaniel. 
Marriner,  Thomas. 
Marriner,  Moses. 
Mcllvain,  Thomas. 
McGee,  Isaiah. 
Maroy,  Jonathan. 
Mollrain,  Alexander. 
McGee,  John. 
Marriner,  William. 
Marriner,  Bobert. 
McDowell,  Isaac 
McIlTain,  Sheppard. 
McIlTain,  Leonard.  . 
McIlTain,  Beqjamin. 
McIlTain,  James. 
Morris,  Joshua. 
McGee,  Samuel* 
Morgan,  William. 
Marriner,  Biohard* 
McIlTain,  Darid. 
Morris,  John. 
Marriner,  William. 
Morris,  William. 
Marriner,  Constant. 
Newton,  Curtis. 
Norwood,  Nathan. 
Owens,  Harrington. 
Oakley,  WiUiam. 
Potter,  John. 
Prettyman,  Thomas. 
Prettyman,  Bobert. 
Prettyman,  William. 
Prettyman,  Burton. 
Parker,  Anderson. 
Pool,  John. 
Pool,  Mi^or. 
Pool,  William. 
Panymon,  Thomas. 
Prettyman,  Kljjah. 
Bobinson,  Peter. 
Boblnson,  Joseph. 
Bobinson,  Thomas. 
Reed,  Allen. 
Rider,  George. 
Beed,  Alexander. 
Reed,  John. 
Ruth,  William. 
Rouok,  Thomas. 
Renolds,  William. 
Renolds,  Henry. 
Rigwan,  John. 
Roals,  Solomon. 
Rust,  Peter. 
Roach,  Leri. 
Richards,  DaTid. 
Rigwan,  William. 
Roberts,  John. 
Roach,  WiUiam. 
Robinson,  Thomas. 
SteTeuson,  Jonathan. 
Sherman,  Thomas. 
Sherman,  Geoige. 
Sherman,  John. 


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1272 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Stocklay,  Cornelius. 
Stephenson,  fiobert. 
Stockley,  Solomon. 
Stockley,  Jacob. 
Salmon,  Bei^amin. 
Simple,  William. 
Simple.  Thomas. 
Stockley,  Woodman. 
Stockley,  Paynter. 
Stuart,  William. 
Simple,  Paul. 
Sharp,  James. 
Simple,  Andrew. 
Stockley,  John. 
Simple,  Milby. 
Shankland,  MUes. 
Salmon,  Beedy. 
Simple,  Aaron. 
Streets,  DaTid. 
Stockley,  Prettyman. 
Stephens,  William. 
Stockley,  William. 
Stockley,  LeTin. 
Stockley,  John. 
Salmon,  John. 
Simple,  William. 
Smith,  John. 
Toonjey,  John. 
Thomas,  Bobert. 
Townsend,  Jesse. 
Townsend,  Bei^jamln. 
Thorp,  John. 
Yaughan,  Nathaniel. 


Vint,  John. 
Walters,  George. 
Wall^  William. 
Walla,  Levi. 
Walls,  Levin. 
Walls,  Joshua. 
Warrington,  Luke. 
Woolf,  William. 
Warrington,  LeTL 
Williams,  John. 
Wilkins,  James. 
Waples,  Burton. 
Wirt,  Lewis. 
Wirt,  Kzekiel. 
Wirt,  Ellas. 
Warrington,  Joseph. 
Warrington,  Bobert 
West,  Benjamin. 
Wright,  WiUiam. 
Wright,  George. 
West,  Joseph. 
Wirt,  Joseph. 
Warrington,  Thomas. 
Williams,  John. 
Warrington,  EUJah. 
Warrington,  Jacob. 
Welsh,  William. 
Warrington,  John. 
Waples,  Bei\Jamin. 
Walls,  Jonathan. 
Warrington,  William. 
Wyatt,  John. 


In  182^  there  were  three  hundred  and  ninety-eight 
taxables  in  the  Hundred  owning  real  estate  and  per- 
sonal property  as  follows : 


Burton,  Samuel. 
Burton,  Tbos. 
Burton,  Wm. 

Bnrton»  Jos.  (at  Warwick), 
Burton,  John. 
Burton,  Wm. 
Burton,  Wm.  (JofiMr). 
Burton's,  Ooraelius  (h«in). 
Burton,  Aden. 
Burton,  Bei^amin. 
Burton,  Wm.,  of  Luke. 
Burton,  Coard. 
Burton,  Joahua. 
Burton,  Joslah. 
Bayllss,John,  Jr. 
Barker's,  EU  (heirs). 
Barker,  Job. 
Barker,  Joseph. 
Bartlett,  James. 
BllEsard,  Paynter. 
Butcher,  Wm. 
Baylis,  James  F. 
Burton,  Wolsey. 
Burton,  Gyrus. 
Burton,  James,  of  Luka. 
Burton,  John  H. 
Burton,  John,  of  Joshua. 
Burton,  Belfast  (negro). 
Blizzard,  Wm. 
Blizzard,  Stephen. 
Blizzard,  James. 
Brereton,  Cudgo  (negro). 
Butcher,  Derickson. 
Burton,  Robert. 
Burton,  John,  of  Lqke. 
Blizzard,  Thomas. 
Barker,  Bagwell. 
Gark,  Comfort 
Casey,  Joseph. 
Coffin,  Newbold. 


Coffin,  Samuel. 
Casey,  Wols(*y. 
Clark,  Nathaniel. 
Clark,  Morris. 
Clark,  Whittington. 
Clifb,  Isaiah. 
Casey,  Thomas. 
Casey,  Kli. 
Collins,  Horatio. 
Coleman,  Wm. 
Coffin,  Jordan. 
Garnish,  John. 
Clark,  John. 
Derrickson,  Dagworthy. 
I>utton,  Samuel. 
DaTidson,  John. 
DaTidson,  James. 
Dean,  John  W. 
Ennls,  Jamss. 
Ennis,  Wm. 
Fisher,  Curtis. 
Fisher,  James. 
Frame,  George. 
Frame,  Bobert 
Frame,  Bobert,  of  Robert 
Green,  John. 
Goslin,  Job. 
Grice,  Themes. 
Harmon,  Wm. 
Harmon,  Nathan. 
Hanson,  Jesse. 
Hanson,  Jacob. 
Hanson,  Nehemiah. 
Harmon,  Joshua. 
Hanson,  Wm. 
Hall,  Ann. 
Herman,  Thomas. 
Harris,  Bobert 
Hunter,  Bobert 
Haxzard,  James. 


Hazsard,  John. 
Hazzard,  David. 
Harris,  Wm. 
Harris,  Mary. 
Hopkins,  John. 
Hudson,  John. 
Hill,  Nehemiah. 
Hopkins,  Josiah. 
Harrison,  Mary. 
Hill.  Arcada. 
HIU,  Levi. 
Hazzard,  Arthur. 
Hazzard,  Joeeph. 
Hurdle,  Jacob. 
Hudson,  James. 
Harrison,  Wm. 
Johnson,  Richard. 
Johnson,  Asa. 
Johnson,  Anderson. 
Johnson,  Brinkley. 
Josephs,  Elisha. 
Josephs,  Hezekiah. 
Joeephs,  Samuel. 
Josephs,  Ephraim. 
Josephs,  Jeremiah. 
Josephs,  Jonathan. 
Josephs,  Wm. 
Josephs,  EIL 
Josephs,  Nathan. 
Josephs,  Ebenezer. 
Josephs,  Thomas. 
Johnson,  James. 
Johnson,  SamueL 
Johnson,  Burton. 
Johnson,  PumeL 
Johnson,  Wm. 
Johnson,  Return. 
Jackson,  Shepard. 
Kolloch,  Elizabeth. 
Lingo,  John. 
Lingo,  Henry. 
Lingo,  Henry,  8r. 
Lingo,  Henry,  of  Haaiy. 
Laoey,  Spencer. 
Lockwood,  Samuel. 
Lacey,  Fletcher  D. 
Lingo,  Jesse. 
Lawson,  James. 
Lingo,  Jesse. 
Lamb,  Luke. 
Lawless,  James. 
Lawson,  Selby. 
Lewis,  Wrizam. 
Lingo,  Samuel. 
Lockwood,  John. 
MoGee,  John. 
Morris,  NathanieL 
McUvains,  John. 
Mcllvains,  Thomas. 
McGee,  Wm. 
Mclivaine,  Wrixam. 
McGee,  Moses. 
McHvain,  David. 
MoGee,  Thomas. 
Marsh,  John. 
Milby,  Arthur. 
Marriner,  Robert. 
Marriner,  PhiUp. 
Martin,  Wm. 
Marvel,  Burton. 
Norwood,  Eli. 
Prettyman,  James. 
Parsons,  Wm. 


Prettyman,  Klizabetii. 
Parsons,  Hopkiu. 
Pools,  Peny. 
Pret^man,  Wm. 
PreUyman,  Robert 
Palmer,  John. 
Prettyman,  Peter. 
Prettyman,  Peggy. 
Palmer,  John,  <i€Jchn. 
Parkv>  P«ter. 
Palmer,  Wm.  B. 
Palmer,  Tatom. 
Palmer,  Wm. 
Palmer,  Wolsey. 
Parsons,  Eli 
Prettyman,  Burton. 
Prettyman,  BoUnsoo  J>. 
Prettyman,  Be^jamiA. 
Pool,  Sarah. 
'Prettyman,  David. 
BoMiMon,  Wm. 
Robinson,  James. 
Robinson,  Bei\ianiin. 
Rust,  Absalom. 
Roach,  Wm. 
Robinson,  Thomaa. 
Richards,  Beivlamiii. 
Rigwire,  John. 
Robinson,  Thomas. 
Reynolds,  Henry. 
Richards,  Comfort 
Robinson,  George. 
Robinson,  Burton. 
StaelB,  Bei^amin. 
Sharp,  John. 
Street,  Hayslett 
S^-eet,  Jeremiah. 
Stockley,  Moses. 
Stephenson,  Wm. 
Simplw,  Thomas. 
Simpler,  James. 
Simpler,  Peter. 
.  itockley,  Robert 
Streets,  Wingata. 
Stockley,  John. 
Stockley,  Bei^amin. 
Starr,  Mary. 
Thoroughgood,  John. 
Tooney,  Wm.  B. 
Tooney,  Wm.  F. 
Thoroughgood,  Petsr. 
Tingle,  Henry. 
Yickes,  Edward. 
Yaughn,  Charles. 
Waples,  John. 
W^es,  Robert 
Wise,  George. 
Waples,  Robinson. 
Waples,  Joseph. 
Warrington,  Alexander. 
Wingate,  John. 
Warrington,  John. 
White,  Harry. 
Wilson,  John. 
Walton,  Peter. 
Walls,  Nehemiah. 
Warrington,  James. 
Warrington,  Mary. 
Warrington,  Robert 
W^es,  Isaac. 
Walls,  James. 
Waples,  Wm.  D. 


The  Business  Interests  of  the  hundred  are  coo- 
fined  to  a  few  small  trading  points  and  the  operation 
of  mills  by  the  feeble  water-powers  of  the  sluggtak 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1273 


streams,  flowing  into  the  Rehoboth  and  Indian  River 
Bays.  On  the  Middle  Creek,  at  the  head  of  Angola 
Neck,  the  Robinson  family  had  one  of  the  first  mills, 
different  members  owning  it  until  1843,  since  which 
time  Peter  R.  Burton  has  been  the  proprietor.  The 
saw-mill  was  abandoned  many  years  ago,  but  the 
grist-mill  is  still  operated  in  a  limited  way.  Higher 
up  the  same  stream  and  on  Herring  Creek,  prior  to 
1825,  the  Robinson  family  also  had  mills,  suited  to 
the  demands  of  those  times,  which  have  passed  out 
of  existence  so  long  since  that  scarcely  a  trace  of 
them  can  be  seen.  In  1797  Woodman  Stockley  was 
authorized  to  erect  a  mill-dam  across  Rood*s  Creek, 
probably  where  was  afterwards  the  Ennis  mill.  That 
tfite  was  vacated  by  order  of  the  court,  on  account  of  the 
overflow  caused  by  the  dam.  In  1806  an  act  was  also 
passed  to  enable  Joshua  Jones  to  remove  his  mill  and 
erect  a  dam  on  Swan  Creek,  one  hundred  and  seven- 
teen perches  down  said  creek,  and  two  acres  on  the 
west  side  of  the  creek  were  condemned  for  a  mill-site. 
On  this  steam  Samuel  Lockwood  operated  a  mill  as 
early  as  1816,  which  did  quite  a  heavy  busi- 
ness for  those  times.  The  channel  of  the  stream 
permitted  boats  to  be  loaded  below  the  mill  so  that 
flour  was  shipped  from  here  direct  to  Philadelphia. 
Higher  up  the  stream,  Robert  and  Cornelius  Waples 
had  a  mill,  which  has  also  gone  down. 

On  the  Deep  Branch  of  the  Indian  River  the  Pool 
Mill  did  good  service  for  the  settlers  after  1800,  and 
as  the  power  is  constant  the  mills  have  since  been 
continuously  operated,  being  later  known  as  the 
property  of  Burton  Morris.  Several  miles  below,  the 
Frame  family  had  a  saw-mill,  near  which  the  Presby- 
terian meeting-house  was  afterwards  built,  and  which 
circumstance  of  locality  gave  rise  to  the  name  "Saw- 
mill Church.'*  Later,  Col.  Wm.  Waples  improved  a 
power,  lower  down  the  stream,  the  breast  of  the  dam 
being  used  as  a  causeway  for  the  road  acro*sthe  river. 
This  became  locally  known  as  the  Doe  Bridge,  one  of 
these  animals  having  been  killed  near  this  spot.  The 
grist-mill  put  up  became  widely  known  as  the  prop- 
erty of  Col.  Waples  and  later  of  Robert  Morris  ;  but 
Hi  nee  1864  it  has  been  known  as  the  property  of  Ben- 
jamin B.  Jones.  The  latter  was,  also,  in  1887,  the 
owner  of  the  mills  at  Millsboro'.  That  power  was 
improved  at  an  early  day  by  Elisha  Derrickson,  and  was 
first  made  to  operate  but  a  small  mill ;  this  gave  place 
to  a  large  mill,  having  two  water-wheels  on  the  out- 
side of  the  building.  There  was  a  kiln  for  drying 
corn,  and  much  grain  was  ground,  which  was  loaded 
upon  vessels  coming  up  to  the  mills.  The  property 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1839,  while  owned  by  Col. 
William  D.  Waples  and  while  being  operated  by 
Henry  C.  Waples,  whose  residence  near  the  mill 
was  burned  at  the  same  time.  The  present  mill  was 
built  in  1840,  and  soon  after  became  the  property  of 
Gardiner  H.  Wright.  In  1852  it  was  remodeled  and  has 
been  enlarged  within  more  recent  years  as  the  property 
of  Benjamin  B.  Jones.  It  has  a  strong  and  constant 
power.  The  usefulness  of  a  large  saw-mill  on  the 
80  i 


Dagsborough  side  of  the  stream  has  been  superseded 
by  many  portable  steam  saw-mills,  located  in  the 
forests  of  the  hundred,  among  the  principal  ones 
being  those  of  J.  A.  Lingo,  near  Warwick,  and  R. 
Lingo,  on  the  Long  Neck. 

M1LL8BORO'  is  located  in  both  Indian  River  and 
Dagsborough  Hundreds,  but  had  its  beginning  as  a 
business  point  in  the  former.  The  furnace  store 
connected  with  the  furnace  and  grist-mills  at 
this  place  was  opened  near  the  mills,  on  the 
Indian  River  side,  about  1820,  and  as  the  fur- 
nace alone  had  about  seventy  employes,  it  had 
a  large  trade  until-  its  removal  to  the  Dagsbor- 
oujch  side  (which  was  then  known  as  Washington), 
about  18^0.  The  store  was  supplemented  by  an  inn, 
kept  by  Philip  Short  and  later  by  Burton  Waples  and 
Thomas  Hayworih,  and  as  this  place  was  also  the 
headquarters  of  Colonel  Waples'  stage  line  across  the 
Peninsula,  there  was  much  business  activity.  The 
inn  was  closed  to  the  public  many  years  ago,  but  stores 
have  been  pretty  continuously  kept  at  the  old  stand 
until  the  present  time.  In  1887  Derrick  B.  Morris  was 
in  the  trade  and  there  were,  besides  the  mills  and  the 
store,  half  a  dozen  residences  in  the  Indian  River  part 
of  the  village,  the  general  business  being  confined  to 
the  Dagsborough  side,  where  is  also  the  railway  station. 

At  Angola  the  Robinsons  had  a  store  prior  to  the 
Revolution,  the  building  in  which  they  traded  being 
on  the  bide  of  the  present  barn  of  Peter  R.  Burton, 
who  was  a  merchant  of  more  recent  times.  In  a  still 
more  recent  period  James  Maull  opened  another  store, 
and  for  the  past  ten  years  D.  D.  Burton  has  been  in 
trade,  also  being  the  postmaster  of  the  office  established 
about  thirty  years  ago.  A  small  hamlet  has  grown 
up  at  this  place. 

At  Warwick  Landing  was  formerly  a  store,  which  has 
long  since  been  discontinued,  but  at  the  head  of  Long 
Neck  a  business  stand  was  established  many  years  ago 
by  Levin  Sockum,  where  afterwards  traded  Henry 
Groome  and,  since  1873,  John  A.  Lingo.  Lower  down 
the  Neck  a  store,  kept  by  Captain  Baylis,  has  been 
discontinued. 

At  Johnson's  Cross-Roads  (St.  John's  Church)  Pe- 
ter Parker  had  a  small  store  as  early  as  1830.  Here 
later  merchants  were  John  T.  Burton  and  James  W. 
Lynch.  East  from  this  place,  in  a  locality  known  as 
Holleyville,  Burton  C.  Preityman  opened  a  store, 
about  1842,  which  is  still  continued.  The  post-office 
is  of  more  recent  origin.  It  receives  its  mail  from 
Harbe^ion  station,  and  also  supplies  the  Angola 
office. 

Nearer  the  central  part  of  the  hundred  is  the  new 
hamlet  of  Fairmount,  which  consists  of  the  Unity 
Church,  store,  shops  and  a  few  houses,  nearly  all  the 
buildings  being  new  and  presenting  an  attractive  ap- 
pearance. The  business  interests  at  this  point  are 
solely  the  creation  of  Daniel  C.  Townsend,  who  there 
engaged  in  trade  in  1879.  Since  that  time  he  has  suc- 
ceeded in  making  it  a  good  business  centre.  A  Grange 
Hall,   in   this  neighborhood,   is  a  two-story    frame 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


building,  in  which  public  meetings  are  also  held.  The 
membership  of  the  Grange  was  small  in  1887. 

In  the  vicinity  of  St.  George's  Chapel  there  were, 
besides  the  mills,  already  mentioned,  about  eighty 
years  ago,  two  taverns  and  a  small  store,  the  latter 
kept  by  the  Robinson  family  as  early  as  the  Revolu- 
tion. Nearer  Lewes  was  a  race-course  and  a  bullet 
path ;  the  latter  was  a  sort  of  bowling  alley,  only  they 
used  large  bullets  and  rolled  on  a  firmly-beaten  path. 
Half  a  century  ago  that  was  a  popular  pastime  in 
rural  sections.  All  the  foregoing  have  long  since 
disappeared,  leaving  the  chapel  as  the  sole  interest  in 
that  community. 

The  St.  George's  Chapel  (Protestant  Episco- 
pal) is  the  representation  of  the  earliest  organized 
religious  effort  in  the  hundred.  As  early  as  May  8, 
1706,  Roger  Corbett  "made  over  to  the  public,  for  a 
religious  place  of  worship  or  church,  one  acre  of  land 
situate  on  the  south  side  of  Love's  Branch,  to  have 
and  to  hold  the  same  for  ye  use  aforesaid,  with  war- 
rants from  him,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  by  deed 
of  gift."  It  is  said  that  about  this  time  a  small  log 
church  was  built  on  this  tract  of  land,  but  the  account 
appears  to  be  purely  traditionary.  In  a  report  of  the 
missionary,  the  Rev.  William  Beckett,  October  11, 
1728,  is  an  authentic  statement  of  the  chapel  as  fol- 
lows :  "  In  Indian  River  Hundred,  nine  miles  from 
Lewes,  was  raised  in  December,  1719,  an  oak  frame, 
twenty  by  twenty-five  feet,  and  twelve  feet  high.  The 
w  alls  and  roof  were  covered  with  red  oak  boards,  and 
so  remained  until  1725,  when  fifteen  feet  were  added 
to  the  le  ngth  of  the  building,  but  this  part  was  not 
finished.  In  the  old  part  was  the  pulpit,  gallery 
and  floor.  In  1728  it  was  proposed  to  cover  the  whole 
building  with  cypress  shingles  and  otherwise  improve 
the  appearance  of  the  chapel.  About  two  hundred 
people  steadily  attended  the  services  of  the  chapel." 

In  subsequent. years  this  building  was  further  re- 
paired, and  was  used  until  about  1792,  when  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  the  flames  being  communicated  from 
a  burning  building  near  by.  In  1794  the  present  edi- 
fice was  erected  of  bricks  burned  near  the  church. 
It  was  built  two  stories  high,  having  double  rows  of 
windows  and  galleries  all  around  the  church.  The  pul- 
pit was  tulip-shaped  and  was  supplied  with  a  sound- 
ing-board. In  this  condition  it  was  a  well-kept  place 
of  worship  for  nearly  a  hundred  years ;  but  the  walls 
becoming  badly  cracked,  it  was  deemed  unsafe,  and, 
in  1882,  it  was  determined  to  rebuild  the  church. 
The  height  of  the  building  was  cut  down,  the  galler- 
ies being  removed,  and  the  architecture  was  changed 
to  Gothic  style.  These  repairs  were  completed  in 
April,  1883,  at  an  outlay  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  At  this  time  William  C.  Burton  was  the 
junior  warden  and  much  of  the  work  was  done  under 
his  direction.  In  1887  the  building  presented  a  plain 
but  not  unattractive  appearance. 

St.  George's  Chapel  was  for  many  years  a  part  of 
the  parish  of  Lewes,  and  had,  consequently,  the  same 
rectors  as  St.  Peter's  Church,  these  being,  afler  1820, 


the  Revs.  Daniel  Higbee,  Charles  C.  Pleasants,  George 
Hall,  the  latter  being  ordained  a  priest  at  St.  Mark's, 
Millsboro',  October  8,  1848. 

The  Rev.  William  Wright  became  the  rector  of  St 
George's  Church  and  the  Chapel  of  the  Holy  Com- 
forter, December  1,  1855,  and  continued  until  Sep- 
tember, 1860,  when  the  Rev.  J.  Rambo  was  appointed 
to  take  charge  of  these  churches,  serving  in  the 
capacity  of  missionary  until  June,  1863.  Since  that 
time  the  rectors,  in  connection  with  other  churches, 
have  been  the  following:  1867,  the  Rev.  John  A. 
Parsons ;  1868-73,  the  Rev.  John  L.  McKim.  From 
July,  1873,  until  the  fall  of  1887  the  minister  of  Oie 
Episcopal  Churches  in  the  hundred  was  the  Rev. 
George  W.  Johnson.  The  membership  is  not  large, 
many  of  those  formerly  belonging  having  removed. 
In  December,  1887,  the  communicants  at  the  church 
and  its  chapel  did  not  exceed  thirty.  The  vestry  of 
the  former  was  composed  of  D.  D.  Burton  and  Wil- 
liam C.  Burton,  wardens ;  Alfred  Joseph,  M.  B.  Mar- 
vel, Thomas  W.  Turner,  Thomas  W.  Burton  and  John 
E.  Burton,  vestrymen. 

The  Chapel  op  the  Holy  Comportek  was  con- 
secrated May  25,  1847,  and  was  erected  for  the  con- 
venience of  members  of  St.  George's  residing  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  hundred.  It  is  a  frame  building, 
twenty-eight  by  thirty-eight  feet,  with  a  chancel 
added,  and  was  placed  in  good  repair  in  1880.  In 
its  ecclesiastical  relation  it  has  always  been  a  part  of 
St.  George's  Parish,  the  two  places  of  worship  having 
a  common  place  of  burial  at  the  old  church. 

The  cemetery  at  the  old  St.  George's  Chapel  (now 
Church)  has  been  kept  in  a  good  condition.  A  fine 
brick  wall  was  built  around  it  in  1857,  and  a  neat 
iron  fence  separates  it  from  the  public  highway.  The 
location  is  a  good  one,  being  on  a  sandy  knoll.  There 
are  some  fine  monuments  in  the  yard,  and  among  the 
headstones  noted  were  memorials  to  members  of  the 
following  families:  Kalloch,  Lingo,  Robinson,  Der- 
rickson,  Phillips,  Baylis,  Dodd,  Stockley,  Wilson, 
Prettyman,  Cary,  Long,  Collins,  Hill,  Turner. 

The  Indian  River  Presbyterian  Church.— 
This  body  has  passed  out  of  existence,  leaving  no 
record  of  its  early  history.  The  organ i7.ation  of  a 
congregation  near  the  "  Head  of  Indiau  River  "  ante- 
dated 1750,  and  it  may  have  been  as  early  as  1730 
or  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  congregation  at 
Cool  Spring,  with  which  some  of  the  Presbyterians 
residing  in  the  hundred  would  naturally  have  been 
first  connected.  Soon  after  1750  a  dissension  aro« 
in  the  Indian  River  congregation,  between  the  "  Old 
and  New  Light  *'  members,  which  prevented  their 
agreeing  upon  the  Rev.  Matthew  Wilson,  of  the 
Lewes  Church,  as  a  suitable  pastor,  and  on  the  12th 
of  October,  1754,  the  "  peace  was  preserved  '*  by  elect- 
ing the  Rev.  John  Harris  as  the  first  separate  pastor 
of  whom  any  account  has  been  preserved.  The  con- 
gregation retained  him  in  that  office  until  1759,  when 
it  confessed  its  inability  to  pay  his  salary  any  longer, 
and  the  pulpit  became  vacant    After  it  was  supplied 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1275 


a  short  time  by  the  Bev.  Moses  Little,  a  union  was 
again  eflfected  in  1767,  with  the  churches  at  Lewes  and 
Cool  Spring,  and  the  Rev.  Matthew  Wilson  then  be- 
came the  pastor,  serving  the  three  congregations  until 
his  death.  In  1788  these  congregations  were  incor- 
porated under  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  1787,  with 
the  name  of  '*  The  United  Presbyterian  Congregations 
of  Lewes,  Cool  Spring  and  Indian  Eiver.^'  All  their 
temporalities  were  thus  united,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  "  they  called  and  paid  their  pastors  in  the 
name  of  the  trustees  of  this  Directory," 

In  1800  the  ruling  elders  of  the  congregation  were 
Robert  Houston,  Benjamin  Prettyman,  David  Rich- 
ards and  Jacob  Burton.  In  1811,  Edward  Hall  and 
William  Rodney  were  elected,  and  in  1836  the  ses- 
sion was  composed  of  Dr.  S.  K.  Wilson,  C.  Waples, 
P.  Marvel,  Aaron  Marvel  and  Peter  Waples.  At  this 
time  the  communicants  numbered  sixty-eight,  and 
the  Rev.  Cornelius  H.  Mustard  was  the  pastor.  In 
1811  the  membership  was  still  stronger,  there  being 
seventy-four  communicants.  After  the  latter  period 
the  congregation  appears  to  have  declined  very 
rapidly,  and  was  soon  so  weak  that  no  regular 
minister  could  be  maintained,  the  Rev.  Henry  Fries 
being  the  las?i  to  serve  in  that  relation.  The  Civil 
War  still  further  disrupted  the  church,  which  has  not 
had  an  active  existence  since  that  time. 

The  place  of  worship  of  the  congregation  was  in  a 
meeting-house  erected  on  the  Frame  farm,  one  and  a 
half  miles  about  Millsboro',  an  acre  of  land  in  a  fine 
grove  having  been  set  aside  for  this  purpose.  The  first 
building  was  replaced  by  a  better  frame  structure  in 
1794,  which  was  well  finished,  the  interior  being  of 
heart  pine,  in  panel  work,  while  the  entire  outside 
was  covered  with  cypress  shingles.  In  1838  it  was 
repaired  for  the  last  time,  and  after  1866  was  prac- 
tically abandoned.  In  1887  the  frame  of  the  build- 
ing was  still  standing,  but  most  of  the  lumber  en- 
tering into  the  construction  of  the  building  had  been 
carried  away,  and  the  cemetery  was  no  longer  used. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  had  an 
active,  aggressive  membership  in  the  hundred  for 
more  than  eighty  years,  and  in  1887  it  was  stronger 
numerically  than  all  the  other  denominations  com- 
bined. An  account  of  its  work  in  this  division 
embraces  the  history  of  ^ve  white  and  three  colored 
churches.  Of  these,  **  Zoar"and  **  Unity"  both  appear 
to  have  been  built  in  1810 ;  but  the  organization  of 
the  classes  occupying  them,  as  parts  of  old  Lewes 
Circuit,  was  undoubtedly  a  number  of  years  earlier. 

ZoAR  was  incorporated  November  5,  1810,  with 
fifteen  families  represented,  among  them  being  those 
of  William  Ennis,  Asa  Johnson,  Jeremiah  Joseph, 
Thomas  Grice,  Peter  Mayer,  John  Sharp,  Spencer 
Lacy  and  Isaac  Atkins.  A  frame,  shingle-covered 
meeting-house  was  built,  on  the  main  road,  several 
miles  north  of  Millsboro'.  This  house  was  a  regular 
place  of  worship  many  years,  but  it  now  stands  ne- 
glected. Its  further  regular  use  was  made  unneces- 
sary by  the  changes  in  population   and  the  building 


of  Bethesda  Church,  in  Dagsborough  Hundred,  to 
accommodate  most  of  the  members  formerly  at- 
tendants at  Zoar.  On  the  church  lot  is  a  small 
burial  lot,  and  the  building  is  yet  occasionally  used 
for  funerals  and  other  gatherings. 

The  Unity  Church  was  built  on  sixty  square 
perches  of  land  deeded  Sept.' 22,  1810,  to  Trustees 
Selick  Hazzard,  David  Hazzard,  Perry  Pool,  James 
Lingo  and  Thomas  Mcllvaine,  by  Arthur  Milby. 
The  original  house  was  rebuilt  in  1842,  and  this, 
in  turn,  gave  place  to  a  new  church,  in  the  fall  of 
1887.  It  is  a  frame  house,  thirty  by  forty  feet,  with 
eighteen  feet  posts,  and  was  erected  by  a  building 
committee  composed  of  Daniel  C.  Townsend,  John 
H.  Prettyman,  Robert  Burton,  Joshua  Burton  and 
Rev.  Robert  Rowe.  It  was  finished  plainly  and 
cost  one  thousand  dollars.  The  church  has  a  central 
location  at  the  hamlet  of  Fairmount. 

St.  John's  Church  is  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  hundred,  at  Johnson's  Cross-Roads,  and  has  a 
pleasant  site  in  a  well-kept  cemetery  which  is  inclosed 
by  a  substantial  brick  wall. 

The  church  is  a  frame  building,  which  was  erected 
during  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John  Hough,  on  the 
Georgetown  Circuit,  of  which  it  still  forms  a  part. 
Prior  to  its  occupancy  meetings  were  held  at  the 
houses  of  James  Johnson,  John  Walls  and  the  school- 
house.  John  Walls  was  still  living  in  this  locality  in 
the  fall  of  1887  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight  years,  and 
was  one  of  the  earliest  Methodists  in  this  part  of  the 
county. 

The  church  was  plain  but  not  unattractive,  and  had 
these  trustees— Albert  J.  Johnson,  John  Walls,  Josiah 
Simpler,  Paynter  Frame,  G.  S,  Walls,  K.  D.  Wilson, 
Joseph  W.  Wimbrown,  Peter  P.  Dodd  and  Peter  W. 
Rust. 

Connelly's  Chapel  is  at  the  head  of  Angola 
Neck,  and  was  built  in  1837,  largely  through  the  ef- 
forts of  the  Rev.  Connelly,  who  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  and  who  did  much  of  the  work  himself.  In  re- 
cognition of  his  services  the  first  chapel  was  named  for 
him,  and  when  the  present  house  was  built,  in  1876, 
the  title  was  retained.  It  is  a  plain  frame,  with  sit- 
tings for  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  people,  and  the 
surroundings  are  neatly  kept  by  the  community.  In 
1887  the  trustees  were  William  Hopkins,  John  A. 
Marsh,  Peter  Walls,  Joseph  Walls.  Wm.  S.  Robinson 
and  Peter  R  Burton.  The  appointment  is  a  part  of 
the  Nassau  Circuit,  while  the  Unity  Church  and  the 
Central  Church  belong  to  Millsboro'  Circuit.  The 
latter  was  built  in  the  upper  part  of  Long  Neck 
after  1867,  several  years  elapsing  before  it  was  com- 
pleted. In  1887  it  was  enlarged  and  repaired,  making 
it  an  attractive  country  place  of  worship. 

The  colored  people  of  the  hundred  maintain 
churches  which  bear  the  names  of  "  Friendship," 
**  Harmony  "  and  Johnson's  Meeting-House.  The 
latter  was  built  in  1879.  The  former  has  been  in  use 
more  than  fifty  years.  The  churches  are  plain  wooden 
structures,  having  good  seating  capacity. 


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r^ELAWARE. 


CHAPTER   LXXI. 

NORTHWEST  FORK. 

The  hundred  of  Northwest  Fork  is  situa 
northwestern    corner     of  Sussex    County, 
originally  a  part  of  Maryland,  and  at  that 
eluded  all  the  territory  west  of  the  Northwest . 
the  Nanticoke  River.    This  fork  is  now  known 
Marshy  Hope  Creek,  and  upon  running  the  di^ 
line  between  the  States  a  small  portion  of  the  st. 
was  thrown  into  Delaware.    From  this  stream 
hundred  takes  the  name,  by  which  it  has  been  kno 
since  1682.     It  was  the  largest  in  the  county  befo 
March  11, 1869,  when  the  Legislature  erected  Seafon 
Hundred    out    of  it  by  the  following  boundaries: 
"Beginning  in  the  middle  of  the  old   State   Road  at 
Walker's  mill-dam,  and  running  thence  westwardly  by 
the  centre  of  said  road  between  the  old  Frank  Brown 
form  and  the  farm  of  the  late  Daniel   Cannon,  over 
and  by  Cannon's  Crossing,  to  its  intersection  with  the 
road  leading  from  Federalsburg  to  Bridgeville,  and 
thence  by  the  centre  of  said  Federalsburg  and  Bridge- 
ville road  past  Horsey's  Cross-Roads  to  the  eastern 
boundary  of  Maryland."    This  line  makes  the  bounds 
of  the  hundred  on  the  north  by  Kent  County,  on  the 
east  by  Nanticoke  Hundred,  on  the  south  by  Seaford 
Hundred  and  on  the  west  by  the  State  of  Maryland. 
It  is  about  eight  miles  square  and   embraces  about 
sixty-five  square  miles  of  territory. 

The  Nanticoke  River  and  Marshy  Hope  Creek,  and 
the  ramifications  of  their   branches,  form    the  chief 
means  of  irrigation.    They  are  so  shallow,  however, 
that  they  afford  but  comparatively  little  mill  facilities. 
The  soil  is  a  stiff  clay  and  sandy  loam,   and   of  a 
nature  entirely  different  from  its  near  neighbor,  Nan- 
ticoke, and  taken  as  a  whole,  is  the  largest  and  best 
body  of  farming  land  in  the  county.    Large  crops  of 
wheat  and  corn    are  grown.     Small  fruits  grow  in 
abundanceand  largequantities  are  shipped  to  Northern 
markets.    In  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  large 
quantities  of  tobacco  were  grown  and  in  the  northern 
part  sugar-cane  was  raised  and  sent  North  to  sugar- 
mills.    For  over  sixty  years  the  cultivation  of  both 
of  these  products  has  ceased.    Northwest  Fork  was 
formerly  a  large  slave-holding  hundred,  as  early  as 
1796,  the  asiewment  roll  of  that  date  showing  two 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  slaves,  and   twenty  years 
later  the  number  had  increased  to  five  hundred  and 
ten.     At  the  time  of  the  emancipation  amendment  to 
the  Constitution,  there  were  very  few  slaves  in  the 
hundred,  and  they  were  mostly  engaged  in  domestic 
occupations. 

The  Delaware  Railroad,  which  reached  Bridgeville 
in  1858,  passes  through  the  eastern  end  of  the  hundred. 
Its  advent  was  the  signal  for  renewed  energy  among 
the  people,  and  the  country  has  developed  rapidly 
since  that  lime.  Being  without  navigable  streams, 
the  farmers  before  that  time  had  no  convenient 
methods  of  shipping  their  products. 


1 

U 

Ju 

unc 

the  , 

prope 

near  ti 

Daniel 

standing 

now  ownt 

possession 

Polk,  of  Mi 

was    Govern 

adopted  State 

settlers  of  who 

tract  *'Salem,» 

land,  situated  ni     - 

sey's  Cross-Road. 

it  was  re-surveyet 

August  1,  1752,  witL 

Lay  field  is  a  name  i 

hood. 

The     Adamses     wt 
time,  the  first  of  whoa 
a  tract  called   *'  Backcl 
and  his  son  in  1740  also 
rants  "  Addition  to  Luckb 
acres ;    '*  Addition  to  Back^ 
seven  acres ;       '*  Batchelor'« 
twenty-three  acres,  was  wa^*^* 
horn,  containing  fifty  acres  ^^ 
light,"  containing  twenty-nine  * 
a  total  of  two  hundred  and  »^^^ 
ruary  4,  1777,  Roger  Adams,  the  ^ 
to  Constantine  Cannon.    Roger  ^ 
took  up  another  one  hundred  ^^^^ 

called  Turkey  Swamp,"  located    ^*''^'  i^ 
Bridge  Branch;  also  "the  Trian^^t'gi^*^ 
containing  fifty  acres  '*  near  the  Q[<^\i%9^^^ 
WilHam    Harper's   and    Henry    ^^ 


surveyed   February   20,   1776,  »^^^%X 
land  and  the  land  of  Tilghman  si^^    ^r  ^ 
noii^   nn.wi o ,  .     ri^^    *. 


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WIBTOBY  OF  DELAWARE. 


methods  of  shipping  their  products.  *v  nuuiii    a^u..^^.  ^    — -    ^ 

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'Ma^^J^c^^ 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1277 


Adjoining  this,  on  February  20,  1776,  he  also  took  up 
"  Rogers*  Puzzle."  This  tract  began  at  a  corner  from 
Curtis  Otweirs  land,  and  starting  between  Adams' 
fence  and  the  road  that  leads  to  Marshy  Hope  Bridge* 
Nutter  Adams,  a  son  of  the  elder  Roger,  took  a  tract 
called  **  Bright's,"  in  1776.  The  Adamses  also  took  up 
other  large  tracts  adjoining  these  lands,  among  which 
was  a  tract,  granted  February  18,  1824,  called  *'  Calf 
Pasture,"  described  as  being  on  the  east  side  of  a 
branch  of  the  Northwest  Fork  of  the  Nanticoke.  On 
December  10,  1740,  Richard  Adams  received  a  grant 
for  one  hundred  acres,  called  "  Adams'  Delight,"  and 
adjoining  this  tract  Joshua  Morgan  received  a  war- 
rant on  July  1, 1723,  for  *'  Hogs'  Quarter,"  which  was 
re-warranted  to  William  Adams  December  12, 1753. 
The  lands  are  all  situated  in  the  northwest  corner, 
and  are  now  owned  by  J.  T.  Noble,  Roger  Adams,  M. 
L.  Blanchard,  Henry  A.  Blanchard,  Joseph  Davin, 
Marim  Davis,  Frank  Davis,  Georjre  Spence  and 
Francis  Spence,  W.  Adams  and  Charles  M.  Adams. 

"  Woodgate's  Fortune,"  a  tract  of  land  situated  on 
the  main  road  that  leads  from  Bridge  Branch  to 
CUar  Brook  Branch,  and  adjoining  a  tract  called 
"  Batchelor's  Ramble,"  was  granted  March  18,  1710, 
to  Francis  Woodgate  for  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres.  This  land  is  located  a  short  distance 
below  Bridgeville,  and  a  part  of  it  is  now  called 
"  Freeland,''  and  is  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  M.  C. 
Jacobs.  Mrs.  M.  C.  Jacobs,  well  known  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  State  as  a  successful  woman  in  agricul- 
ture, or  more  properly  horticulture,  and  also  as  a 
frequent  contributor  to  publications  devoted  to  those 
industries,  has  exhibited  in  her  career  what  pluck 
and  industry  may  accomplish,  even  when  the  most 
unfavorable  conditions  interpose.  What  may  be 
difficult  for  a  man  to  accomplish  is  simply  almost 
impossible  for  a  woman,  and  her  achievement  should 
therefore  be  awarded  a  larger  meed  of  praise.  Mrs. 
Jacobs  was  the  daughter  of  John  Goslin  and  Hester 
Cannon,  his  wife,  and  was  born  in  1828  at  Cannon's 
Ferry,  amid  the  sands  and  pines  of  Lower  Sussex. 
That  is  about  the  time  and  place  of  Patty  Cannon's 
remarkable  deeds  and  death,  which  caused  excite- 
ment to  run  high  through  the  whole  southern  half 
of  the  Peninsula.  During  her  early  childhood  she 
walked  six  miles  a  day  for  the  privilege  of  attending 
one  of  the  commonest  of  common  schools,  but  when 
twelve  years  of  age  her  father  purchased  a  large  farm 
four  miles  west  of  Bridgeville,  where  school  and 
church  privileges  were  a  little  better,  though  still 
very  far  from  what  they  should  be.  In  1843  she 
went  one  lerm  to  a  good  grammar  school  at  George- 
town. She  was  married  at  the  age  of  eighteen  to 
Alanson  Dickerson,  who  resided  near  whero  is  now 
the  village  of  EUendale.  At  twenty-three  she  was 
left  a  widow  with  two  small  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom  is  now  the  wife  of  F.  H.  Dyer,  of  Detroit, 
Mich.,  and  the  second,  Willard  S.  Dickerson.  Three 
years  after  she  became  a  widow  our  subject  married 
Nathaniel    R.  Jacobs,   who   lived  near   Bridgeville. 


Two  children  were  the  offspring  of  this  union, — Ger- 
trude, now  the  wife  of  W.  C.  Rust,  and  Miss  Lily 
R.  Jacobs.  After  seventeen  years  of  happy  married 
life  Mrs.  Jacobs  was  again  a  widow.  Her  husband 
having  been  a  remarkably  kind-hearted  man,  had 
indorsed  considerable  property  for  friends,and  after  his 
death  it  was  discovered  that  he  was  almost  insolvent, 
and  his  properly  was  sold  for  the  benefit  of  his 
creditors,  with  the  exception  of  one-third  of  the 
lands  reserved  for  the  widow,  who  also,  under  the 
then  laws  of  the  State,  was  allowed  provisions  to  the 
value  of  thirty  dollars.  Mrs.  Jacobs  went  heavily 
into  debt,  and  at  the  administrators'  sale  bought  back 
a  fraction  of  what  had  formerly  been  hers,  and  was 
then,  according  to  equity,  if  not  to  law.  She  now 
began  to  show  that  ability  for  which  she  has  since 
been  famous.  In  ten  years,  single-handed  and 
working  against  odds,  she  not  only  paid  off  all  in- 
debtedness, but  improved  fields,  fences  and  out- 
buildings, made  and  furnished  anew  a  pretty  cottage 
out  of  the  old  farm  house,  and  gave  good  support  to 
her  children,  and  an  education  to  the  younger  ones. 
She  became  a  successful  peach  grower,  was  the  first 
shipper  of  dressed  poultry  to  the  city  market,  and  owned 
the  first  and  finest  herd  of  Alderne>s  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. She  sold  more  grain  to  the  acre  and  to  the 
number  of  hands  hired  than  did  her  neighbors;  grew 
in  her  garden  thirteen  varieties  of  strawberries,  (long 
before  they  were  considered  a  marketable  crop  in  this 
region),  and  raised  ten  varieties  of  grapes,  for  table 
use  only.  Nor  was  this  all,  for  with  an  eye  to  the 
beautiful,  costly  ro^^es  and  rare  flowers  were  made  to 
grace  that  house  of  simplicity,  which  was  albeit 
one  of  hospitality.  In  1881,  at  the  age  of  fifty-three, 
she  married  Hon.  T.  K.  Jacobs,  of  Lima,  Ohio,  but 
he  died  after  they  had  been  joined  but  four  yean*, 
and  she  then  returned  to  her  old  home  where  she 
lives  now  at  the  age  of  sixty,  still  industrious,  still 
extending  hospitality,  still  dispensing  charity.  Her 
farm  has  upon  it  some  of  the  finest  blooded  stock 
and  poultry  to  be  found  in  this  region,  and  her 
gardening  is  unsurpassed.  Her  only  companion  is 
her  young  daughter.  Both  contribute  to  the  prej'S, 
especially  upon  those  topics  with  which  their  lives 
have  made  them  particularly  familiar.  They  are 
known,  not  only  as  industrious  practical  agricultur- 
alists, but  as  well  read,  well  informed  people,  both 
poets  of  no  mean  degree,  and  generally  respected 
alike  for  their  works  and  character.  What  a  woman 
can  do  in  this  life  of  toil,  and  against  many  obstacles 
has  certainly  few  better  illustrations,  than  in  the 
achievements  of  Mrs.  Jacobs. 

Doublin  was  granted  to  John  Rider  in  1720,  and 
originally  contained  five  hundred  and  forty-three 
acres.  The  name  of  Rider  was  afterwards  corrupted 
to  Prider,  and  in  1776,  this  land  was  resurveyed  to 
James  Prider. 

Daniel  Polk,  a  son  of  Robert  Polk,  had  resurveyed 
to  him  seven  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  he  had 
come  into  possession  of  from  time  to  time,  and  eight 


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1278 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


hundred  and  ninety-four  acres  of  vacant  land.  This 
embraced  "Tausey  Wandoke,"  already  mentionedf; 
"Polk's  Out-Lot"  granted  May  10,  1743,  to  Robert 
Polk  for  one  hundred  and  eighteen  acres ;  "  Double 
Purchase"  granted  October  16,  1750,  to  Robert  Polk 
for  three  hundred  and  thirty-four  acres ;  "  Gk)od 
Will,"  granted  January  11,  1727,  to  William  Smith 
for  one  hundred  acres;  "Polk's  Fancy,"  granted 
March  24, 1747  to  Robert  Polk  for  one  hundred  and 
twenty-one  acres;  "Ross's  Hazzard,"  granted  Octo- 
ber 21, 1730,  to  James  Ross  for  fifty  acres;  "Ban- 
chalas  Chances,"  granted  to  John  Higgins,  October 
28,  1823,  for  one  hundred  acres ;  and  "  Neglect," 
granted  to  Robert  Polk,  October  10,  1752,  for  one 
hundred  and  sixty-two  and  three-quarter  acres.  This 
entire  tract  was  named  "  Polk's  Regulation  "  and  is 
described  as  commencing  near  the  Clear  Brook 
Branch  on  the  path  that  leads  from  Daniel  to  William 
Polk's  house,  and  extending  to  a  point  on  the  south 
side  of  Bridge  Branch  and  to  Curtis  Brown's  tract, 
"Brown's  Regulation,"  also  near  Isaac  Williams 
land.  Daniel  Polk  also  had  surveyed  to  him,  June 
17, 1776,  a  tract  called  "Daniel's  Regulation"  near 
the  head  of  Muddy  Branch.  John  Polk  had  a  tract 
called  "  Doublin  Advantage  "  surveyed  to  him  De- 
cember 20,  1741,  and  containing  one  hundred  and 
eighty-four  acres.  On  August  1,  1752,  he  had  war- 
rants granted  him  for  "  John's  Venture,"  two  hun- 
dred acres;  "Polk's  Chance,"  fifty  acres;  "Salem," 
eight  hundred  acres;  and  four  hundred  acres  of 
vacant  land.  This  land  is  described  as  situated  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Northwest  Fork  of  the  Nanticoke, 
and  adjoining  Robert  Polk's  land,  and  extending 
across  the  hundred  from  the  Nanticoke  to  the  Mary- 
land line.  Robert  and  John  Polk  were  brothers. 
The  Polks  that  settled  in  this  locality  and  in  Mary- 
land are  the  original  ancestors  of  that  family  in 
America.  They  are  now  scattered  all  over  the 
United  States  ;  President  James  K.  Polk  being  a  de- 
scendant of  this  family. 

Among  those  who  now  run  portions  of  the  Polk 
lands  are  H.  P.  Cannon,  Dr.  —  Dodd,  Benton  Jacobs, 
Benjamin  S.  Melson,  Joshua  Brown's  heirs,  J.  F. 
Campbell's  heirs, Friedel,  Phillip  Cannon,  Lay- 
ton  and  Brother,  William  Gray,  W.  J.  Ridgaway, 
George  V.  Massey,  John  D.  Burton,  the  heirs  of  Dr. 
Joseph  R.  Sadler,  O.  Hill,  J.  B.  N.  Layton  and  Wm. 
E.  Corbin. 

James  Ross,  who  received  the  warrant  for  "  Ross's 
Hazzard  "  of  "  Polk's  Regulation,"  was  the  first  of 
that  family  in  this  part  of  Delaware.  William  Ross, 
his  brother,  on  March  24,  1730,  was  granted  a  war- 
rant for  "  Ross's  Fancy,"  which  was  located  between 
Iron  Mine  and  Muddy  Branches.  James  Ross,  in 
1743,  was  granted  a  warrant  for  two  hundred  acres 
called  "Ross's  Venture,"  which  is  described  as  being 
at  the  mouth  of  the  first  arm  that  makes  out  of  Bridge 
Branch.  This  James  Ross  was  the  ancestor  of  Gov- 
ernor William  Rosi»,  of  Delaware.  These  lands  are 
held  in   part  by   Edward  Wright,   M.  A.  G.  Coates 


and  D.  S.  Myre.  The  Layton  family  came  firom  Vir- 
ginia about  1730,  and  settled  mainly  two  miles  north 
from  Bridgeville,  and  about  a  mile  west  of  the  head- 
waters of  Nanticoke  port  The  original  tract  is  now 
owned  by  S.  J.  Raughley.  Robert,  Thomas  mod 
Lowder  Layton  who  settled  in  this  neighborhood 
were  brothers. 

Lowder  Layton  and  Tabitha  his  wife,  lived  in  the 
vicinity  of  Brigdeville  where  their  son  Lowder  was 
bom  August  21,  1770.  He  married  Sarah  Sipple,  and 
lived  in  Northwest  Fork  Hundred,  during  early  man- 
hood and  later  at  Milford  where  he  died  in  1^49.  He 
retained  part  of  the  homestead  which  passed  to  hk 
children.  James  Layton  was  granted  a  warrant  of 
resurvey  July  5, 1776,  of  a  tract  of  fifty  acres  called 
"  Youug  Man's  Venture,"  originally  patented  by 
Maryland,  November  26,  1751,  to  his  father.  When 
resurveyed  it  contained  forty-eight  acres,  to  which 
was  added  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres  of  va- 
cant land,  and  the  whole  renamed  "  Layton's  Joat 
Division."  It  was  adjoining  "  Turkey  Point,"  '*  Mcr- 
ritts  Discovery,"  Rogers  Adams*  surveys  of  '*  Poz- 
zell,"  and  "Triangle,"  and  "Safibrds  Venture:" 
Robert  Layton  had  a  warrant  of  resurvey  grant^i 
on  "  Laycon's  Partnership  "  in  1776,  and  Thomas  Lay- 
ton, "  Neighbors  Agreement "  in  1777.  Robert  Lay- 
ton  also  purchased  of  David  Williams,  February 
24,  1776,  a  tract  called  "Young's  Addition,*^ 
originally  granted  to  Nathan  Young,  September  29, 
1756,  for  seventy-five  acres.  It  is  located  on  Bridge 
Branch,  about  one-half  mile  above  the  Bridge. 
Among  those  who  now  own  parts  of  the  Layton 
lands  are  W.  J.  Coates,  M.  A.  G.  Coates,  G.  Bia»ell 
and  G.  Trout. 

The  Richards  family  took  up  a  number  of  early 
grants,  the  most  important  of  which  is  that  ot  **  Pop- 
lar Levil "  surveyed  to  John  Richards  on  the  15th  of 
April  1760,  for  nine  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 
The  patent  recites  that  it  began  "  near  an  old 
school-house  on  the  road  from  John  to  James  Rich- 
ards."  James  Richards  had  resurveyed  to  him  in  the 
western  part  of  the  hundred,  one  hundred  and  tea 
acres  called  "First  Purchase."  It  was  adjoining 
lands  granted  to  Isaac  Brown  and  Clement  Polk, 
situated  on  the  east  side  of  land  that  had  been  pre- 
viously granted  him.  This  was  also  adjoining 
"John's  Venture."  The  land  is  now  (1888)  owned  by 
J.  T.  Noble.  Henry  Richards  had  resurveyed 
"  Bachelor's  Ramble  "  containing  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  acres,  February  20,  1776,  a4joining  lands 
granted  to  John  Richards  and  Nutter  Adams.  This 
is  the  same  land  that  is  now  owned  by  William  A. 
Corbin,  Amos  K.  Corbin  and  J.  T.  Noble.  Other 
owners  of  the  Richards'  tracts  are  J.  K.  Wright,  ex- 
speaker  of  the  State  Senate  C.  F.  Rust  and  I^. 
Hugh  Martin.  In  the  extreme  northwest  of  the 
hundred  a  tract  was  surveyed  to  Henry  Fisher, 
MarchS,  1776,  called  "Timothy's  Venture."  It  had 
been  originally  surveyed  to  James  Johnfon  in  1757. 
who  died  intestate.     It  is  now  located  on  the  road 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1279 


from  Marshy  Hope  Bridge  to  Hunting  Creek,  Md., 
and  part  of  it  is  now  owned  by  J.  R.  Whaley. 

Peter  Rust,  the  pioneer  of  the  Rust  family  in  this 
section,  was  granted  on  the  18th  of  March,  1776,  a 
resurvey,  for  a  tract  called  "Hard  Fortune,"  con- 
taining one  hundred  and  forty-eight  acres.  It  was 
originally  called  '•  Luck  by  Chance "  and  was  war- 
ranted April  1, 1757,  to  George  Smith.  It  is  located 
on  the  road  from  Northwest  Fork  Bridge  to  the 
Chapel  in  Md.  James  Fassett  on  a  warrant  of  re- 
survey  dated  March  12,  1776,  took  up  two  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  of  land  on  the  Marshy  Hope  Creek 
adjoining  **Hog  Quarter." 

The  following  persons  were  on  the  assessment  roll  of 
North  West  Fork  Hundred  for  the  year  1786.  North 
West  Fork,  at  that  time,  embraced  Seaford  Hundred: 


Aoderaon,  Wm. 
Adanu,  Boger. 
Adania,  Jamet. 
Adams,  Wm. 
Adams,  El^ab. 
Adams,  Moses. 
Adams,  John. 
Adams,  Absalom. 
AlsxsDder,  Bbsaezer. 
Adams,  Thomas. 
Anze,  Thomas. 
Adko,  John. 
Amett,  Jonathan, 
Wilson,  Samuel. 
Anthony,  Nathan. 
Brown,  Charles. 
Berass,  Stanley, 
Bozman,  BIsdon. 
Brown,  James. 
Brown,  Isaac 
Brown,  Levin. 
Bradley,  Wm. 
Bradley,  Joseph. 
Brown,  Charles. 
Brown,  Cnrtis. 
Brown,  John. 
Bnckham,  Charles. 
Balls,  Clement. 
Butler,  William. 
Brown,  Whits. 
Brown,  Ezekiel. 
Brown,  Anderson. 
Brown,  Humphries. 
CannoD,  Willis. 
CUrton,  Lerin. 
Collins,  John. 
Cannon,  Mewton. 
Clariuon,  Bazely. 
Clifton,  Jonathan. 
Cannon,  Mary. 
C«nnon,  William. 
O&nnon,  Truitt. 
Cannon,  Bichard. 
Cannon,  Solomon. 
Cannon,  Joseph. 
Cannon,  Absalom. 
Cannon,  Stephen. 
Coulbourne  Michael. 
CoMison,  0«orge. 
Clarkson,  William. 
Clarkson,  Robert. 
Cannon,  Levin. 
Cannon,  Jesse. 
Clarkson,  Benedict. 
Cannon,  John. 
Cannon,  Hudson. 
Clifton,  Frederick. 


Oausey,  William. 
Calhoun,  Stephen. 
Calhoun,  Thomas. 
Cannon,  Howard. 
Cannon,  Bobert. 
Cannon,  Levi. 
Cooper,  James, 
Collins,  William. 
Gannon,  Charles, 
Coats,  Thomas. 
Cawinder,  Darid. 
Calhoun,  Elijah. 
Cannun,'^£dward. 
Camplin,  Edward. 
Curry,  Thomas. 
Cannon,  Whittington. 
Cannon,  Jacob. 
Corbin,  Stephen. 
Chipman,  Draper. 
Camplin,  Jamss. 
Camplin,  Edward, 
Cannon,  Elizabeth. 
Cannon,  Eliaha. 
Cannon,  Blackson. 
Blackson,  Willis. 
Duncan,  Matbew. 
Dawson,  Joseph. 
Downs,  Henry. 
Downs,  Hezekiah. 
Downs,  Charles. 
Downes,  Robert. 
Diehl,  Abner. 
Dawson,  Thomas. 
Dlllaha,  John. , 
Douglas,  Sarah. 
Eccleston,  Hngh. 
Errickson,  John. 
Eaton,  Edward. 
Flowers,  Julia. 
Flowers,  Thomas. 
Flowers,  Charles. 
Flowers,  John, 
Flowers,   Henry. 
Fortner,  Joshua. 
Fitzgeralds,  George. 
Gray,  Thomas. 
Griffith,  James. 
Goelin,  Wattman. 
Griffith,  Baris. 
Griffith  Samuel. 
Gorlee,  Samuel. 
Griffith,  Jesse. 
Goslin,  Joseph. 
Glines,  Philemon. 
Green,  Zachariah. 
Griffith,  Zeth. 
Graham,  John. 


Gammon,  Perry. 
Hubbert,  Thomas. 
Huggins,  Hezekiah. 
Higman,  James. 
Higman,  Lerin. 
Hitch,  Mary. 
Hooper,  Henry. 
Hitch,  Spenser. 
Hinee,  Jehu. 
Hagan,  Valentine. 
Harpan,  Wm. 
Handy,  SamueL 
Handy,  John. 
Hand,  George. 
Hubbert,  John. 
Hitch,  Wm. 
Hopper,  John. 
Hosper,  Henry. 
Hickman,  Wm. 
Himmet,  Perry. 
Hickman,  Bobert 
Jump,  Sophie. 
Jessup,  John. 
Jones,  John. 
Jessnp,  Wm. 
JesBup,  Carter. 
Jackson,  Julia. 
Jester,  Samuel. 
Jacobs,  John. 
Jackson,  Jeremiah. 
Jacobs,  Constantine. 
Jones,  Isaac. 
Jewltt,  Robert. 
King,  Henry. 
Kinder,  Jacob. 
Kimmy,  Robert. 
Kitty,  James. 
Karris,  James. 
Lowry,  James. 
Littleton,  CIms. 
Laws,  Thomas. 
I^yton,  Thomas. 
Layton,  Robert. 
Lay  ton,  Wm. 
Layton,  Lowden. 
Loudinham,  Stafford. 
Layton,  Tilghman. 
Layton,  Hughet. 
Laws,  Robert. 
Layton,  El^ah. 
Layton,  Nehemiah. 
Littleton,  Leri. 
Luatt,  Joseph. 
Layton,  James. 
Layton,  Darid. 
Layton,  Charles. 
Loudinham,  Thomas. 
Loudinham,  John. 
Loudinham,  Edward. 
Layton,  Spencer. 
Landenham,  Zadock. 
Martine,  Wm. 
Martin,  John. 
Martin,  Gills. 
Miner,  Blisha. 
Moore,  John. 
Maloney,  Wm. 
Morris,  Nathaniel. 
Morris,  John. 
Morris,  Zachariah. 
Morris,  Daniel. 
Monis,  Martin. 
Morgan,  Jonathan. 
Murpbey,  Joseph. 
Milligau,  Thomas. 
Miner,  Edward. 
Morris,  Curtis. 
Morgan,  George. 


Marine,  Thonua. 
Manihip,  Chas. 
Mills,  John. 
Mean,  Henry. 
Minor,  Richard. 
McDaniel,  James. 
Nutter,  Darid. 
Nutter,  Thomas. 
Nutter,  John. 
Nichols,  Sarah. 
Nutter,  Chiis. 
Norman,  Jeho. 
NelU,  Wm. 
Nutter,  Chas. 
Neill,  Jehu. 
Nichols,  John. 
Neallumus,  John. 
Nichols,  James. 
Nutter,  Caleb. 
Owens,.  Sarah. 
Obean,  Joshua. 
Polk,  John. 
Ottmell,  Griffin. 
Outerbridge,  James. 
Polk,  Qement 
Polk,  Truitt. 
Pullett,  Jonathan. 
Polk,  Wm. 
Polk,  DanieL 
Polk,  Zephania. 
Percuse,  Jshn. 
Perry,  Samuel. 
Polk,  Lydia. 
Pnc«,  Wm. 
Prider,  James. 
Pttrris,  Zadock. 
Rust,  Peter. 
Records,  Charles. 
Boss,  Anthony. 
Richards,  Henry. 
Ross,  Wm. 
RosH,  Matthew. 
Richards,  Wm. 
Richards,  John. 
Richards,  DanieL 
Roes,  Robert 
R«cords,  Joseph. 
Records,  Charles. 
Ross,  Levin. 
Rust  John. 
Rogers,  Christopher. 
Resd,  Jacob. 
Reed,  Ezekiel. 
Rile,  Thomas. 
Robinson,  John. 
Ross,  Reuben. 
Smith,  Charles. 
Shials,  Joshua. 
Stephens,  John. 
Stafford,  Uenry. 
Safford,  LeTi. 
Safford,  Thomas. 
Smith,  Henry. 
Smith,  Curtis. 
Smith,  Matthew. 
Smith,  Wm. 
Smith,  Ezekiel. 
Smith,  Hezekiah. 
Spencer,  James. 
Spencer,  John. 
Spencer,  Nathan. 
Steward,  Wm. 
Safford,  Abraham. 
Steele,  Uenry. 
Smith,  Obadiah. 
Smith,  G«orge. 
Smith,  Allen. 
Swygett,  Uenry. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Smith,  Jesse. 
Spencer,  Alexander. 
Spence,  Heury. 
Spence,  James. 
Safford,  Zadock. 
Smith,  Joseph. 
TuU,  Bichard. 
Tall,  James. 
Tyford,  Solomon. 
Tyford,  Bert. 
Tull.  Joshua. 
Tull,  Jehu. 
TuU,  Levin. 
Tull,  John. 
Turpin,  Joseph. 
Tull,  Jesse. 
Turpin,  John. 
Turpin,  Marj. 
Tinent,  John. 
Taylor,  Bat. 
Tiffords,  Rounds. 
Tull,  Elijah. 
Tull,  Noble. 
Vinton,  MiOoi^* 
Wilson,  Wm. 
Francis  Whight. 
Wallace,  George. 
Wallace,  John. 
Williams,  Joshua. 
Williams,  Morgan. 
Winner,  Morgan. 
Warrick,  Jeremiah. 


Winror,  Wm. 
Winzor,  Rufford. 
Warren,  Henry. 
White,  Thomas. 
Warren,  John. 
Waters,  Annie. 
Watts,  Jehu. 
Watts,  ElUah. 
Williams,  Edward. 
Whiteley,  James. 
Wright,  Edward. 
Williams,  Joshua. 
Wallace,  Bei^amin. 
Waits,  Mijah. 
Brown,  James. 
White,  Francis. 
Wheatley,  Jehu. 
Williams,  Isaac. 
Williams,  Whittington. 
Downs,  Abraham. 
Newman,  Peter. 
Newman,  John. 
Cannon,  Charles. 
Null,  Arthur. 
Null,  Joseph. 
Doughten,  Jamee. 
Argo,  Wm. 
Roach,  Robert. 
Waits,  George. 
Higman,  Thomas. 
Higman,  Nicholas. 
Higman,  Joshua. 


Persons  in  Northwest  Fork  Hundred  in  1816  who 
had  over  two  hundred  acres  of  land  asssessed  to 
them, — 

Wm.  Allen 304 

Roger  Adams 300 

James  Adams,  Sr 3:}0 

Francis  Brown 400 

Joseph  Bradley's  heirs 200 

John  Blocksum 361 

Anderson  Brown's  heirs. 300 

John  Cannon 380 

Jacob  CHunon 420 

Whittington  Cannon 370 

Isaac  and  Jacob  Cannon 4573 

Wingate  Cannon 230 

John  Collins 425 

Abraham  Cannon's  heirs 308 

Thomas  Conlbourn,  Sr.. 675 

Robert  Collins 330 

Levi  Cannon,  Sr. 200 

Wm.  Carlisle 2e4 

Clement  Cannon,  of  Constan- 

tine 360 

John  Code 300 

John  Carey 925 

Dr.  James  Derrickson 382 

Charles  Bean 250 

Thomas  W.  Dawson 318 

John  Evans,  Sr 268 

Mary  Frampton 360 

Waitnian  Goslin 495 

Zach.  Hatfield 279 

Gary  Hitch 264 

Thomas  Hooper 208 

Amelia  Jeffries 280 

Stansbury  Cannon.. 400 

Jonathan  Jacobs 370 

Curtis  Jacobs 4ti54 

Yaughan  Jump '. 250 

Isaac  Kinder 270 

Henry  Little 5u0 

Thomas  Lowe's  heirs 460 

Pumel  Layton 200 

.fames  Lowry 300 


Wm.  Loudenham 216 

Rosannah  Loudenham 204 

Richard  Lawrence 260 

Clement  Morris 372 

Elizabeth  Morris,  of  Curtis....  360 

Hezekiah  Morris 280 

Wm.  Maloney. 300 

Fletcher  Merine 200 

Isaac  Merrick  .... 280 

John  Morris,  of  John 234 

Wm.  H.  Morris 275 

Joseph  Neale 365 

John  Neale,  of  Joseph 500 

John  Neal,  of  John 360 

James  Tull 300 

Ephraim  Tull  (mill  seat) 200 

Joseph  Vickers 643 

John  Wilson 400 

George  T.  WiUiams 432 

Charlotte  White„ 300 

Peter  Walters 377 

Whittington  WiUiams 310 

Sallie   and    Turpin     Wright 

(mill  seat) 435 

James  Wilson 300 

Noble  Williams 327 

Skinner  Neal 200 

Wm.  Neal 250 

Wm.  Neal 760 

Perry  Obier 250 

Wm.  N.  Polk. 747 

Daniel  Polk  heire. 660 

Jeremiah  Rust 312 

Wm.  Rust 208 

Wm.  Richards 730 

Edward  Ross 310 

Loxly  Ricord's  heirs 376 

John  Richards 1054 

Levin  Ricords 467 

David  Richards 12.i6 

Nathaniel  Ross Htup 


John  Rust 360 

Thomas  Ricords..... 400 

Gibson  Boss 800 

Leake  Robinson 330 

Huett  Ross 1000 

Ralph  Robinson 800 

Caleb  Ross _  600 

Joseph  Ricords 231 

Bridges. — The    bridge 


Jesse  Smith 

George  W.  Smith 

Anderson  Stafford. 

Thomas  Sorden's  heirs.... 

Wm.  Todd 

Francis  Turpin 


213 

648 

200 

..-502 

John  Teunant. „ 1300 

Augustus  Tnll...^ ..  2tD 

crosising    the    stream    in 


Bridgeville,  from  which  the  town  and  branch  takes 
its  name,  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county.  The 
earliest  mention  of  the  bridge  is  found  in  an  old  record 
of  1730,  but  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  was  there 
as  early  as  1700,  for  in  1730  it  was  referred  to  as  "ye 
old  bridge  over  the  branch  and  near  John  Natter's 
place.''  The  stream  at  that  time  was  probably  much 
wider  than  at  present.  The  first  bridge  remained 
until  1802,  when,  on  account  of  its  unsafe  condition, 
the  Legislature  passed  an  act  authorizing  a  new  bridge 
to  be  built.  A  few  years  ago  the  present  structure  was 
erected.  The  Marshy  Hope  Bridge  is  also  one  of  the 
original  bridges  in  the  hundred.  It  was  built  at  an 
early  period  by  the  authorities  of  Maryland.  On 
June  14,  1793,  the  General  Assembly  of  Delaware 
passed  an  act  *'ibr  supporting  in  good  repair  the 
bridge  over  the  northwest  foik  of  the  Nanticoke  River, 
commonly  called  the  Marshy  Hope  Bridge."  Under 
this  act  the  old  bridge  was  torn  down  and  a  new  one 
erected.  In  1887  the  Levy  Court  of  Sussex  County 
ordered  this  bridge  to  be  repaired.  From  this  bridge 
Marshy  Hope  village,  now  Adamsville,  took  its  name. 

Trinity  M.  E.  Church. — Unlike  its  cortbem 
neighbor,  Mispillion,  Northwest  Fork  had  no  churcht« 
outside  of  Bridgeville,  before  1843,  the  piously- 
inclined  portion  of  the  community  being  compelled 
to  drive  either  to  Bridgeville,  St.  Johnstown,  or  to  the 
eastern  shore  Maryland  churches.  In  1843  Trinity 
Church  was  erected  on  a  lot  located  on  the  road  run- 
ning from  Horsey 's  Cross  Eoads  to  Marshy  Hope 
Bridge,  at  the  point  where  the  road  from  Bridgeville 
intersects.  The  first  structure  was  twenty-five  by  forty 
feet  and  built  of  frame.  In  1885  it  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  and  the  present  neat  and  attractive  building  on 
the  same  site  was  erected.  It  is  thirty  by  forty-five 
feet,  one  story  high  and  faces  the  road.  The  church 
has  been  supplied  with  ministers  mainly  from  the 
Bridgeville  circuit  down  to  1883,  when  it  was  placed 
on  the  Greenwood  circuit.  The  board  of  trustees  are: 
I.  K.  Wright,  Samuel  H.  Melson,  Samuel  W.  Kinder, 
Lewis  Kinder,  C.  P.  Swain,  Benjamin  S.  Melson  and 
J.  T.  Noble. 

Schools. — Before  the  passage  of  the  public  free 
school  law  of  the  State,  there  were  two  schools  main- 
tained by  subscription  in  this  hundred.  One  of  these, 
located  one-half  mile  north  of  Bridge  Branch,  was 
the  first  in  Western  Sussex,  having  been  in  operatioa 
as  early  as  1765.  In  a  deed  of  that  date  it  is  men- 
tioned as  one  of  the  outbounds  of  a  tract  of  land. 
This  building  was  of  stone,  and  stood  as  late  as  1800. 
The  oldest  inhabitants  say  that  it  stood  on  the  same 
site  where  District  No.  72  School-house  now  stands. 
The  other  school  was  located  in  what  is  District  TSj, 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1281 


lo  both  of  the  old  schools  the  education  was  lim- 
ited, and  when  the  ''simple  rule  of  three"  was 
reached,  the  scholar  generally  knew  as  much  as  the 
master.  The  schools  were  open  three  months  in  the 
year. 

School-House.— In  1867  the  school-house  of  dis- 
trict ninety-one  was  erected  in  the  town  at  a  cost  of 
one  thousand  dollars.  This  continued  in  u^e  until  1887, 
when  the  present  building  was  erected.  It  is  a  graded 
school  with  two  teachers. 

The  commissioners  in  1829  divided  the  hundred 
into  four  districts,  numbering  72,  73,  74  and  75,  and 
in  1830  and  1831,  school  buildings  were  erected  in 
Districts  74  and  75,  respectively.  Since  that  time 
school  Districts  73i,  97,  90,  139  and  143  have  been 
erected  out  of  the  four  original  districts.  All  these 
schools  are  open  ten  months  in  the  year. 

Bridgeville.— Bridge vi lie  is  the  oldest  town  in 
Western  Sussex,  it  being  the  first  town  in  what  was 
formerly  known  as  "  New  Su-sex."  On  October  22, 
1747,  James  Haile  obtained  a  warrant  for  ninety- 
three  acres  of  land,  called  "  Haile's  Chance."  West 
of  this  tract  and  adjacent,  was  one  granted  to  Charles 
Nutter,  November  3,  1729. 

The  present  town  is  located  upon  these  two  tracts. 
The  history  of  the  town  dates  back  to  the  erection  of 
the  bridge  over  the  branch,  in  1730.  The  name  of 
Bridgebranch  was  given  to  a  few  hamlets  scattered 
along  the  State-road,  on  what  is  now  Main  Street. 
This  name  was  retained  until  January  30,  1810,  when 
the  General  Assembly  passed  '^  an  act  to  establish  the 
name  of  a  village  in  Northwestfork  Hundred,  hereto- 
fore called  Bridgebranch,  as  Bridgeville."  In  1812 
the  tavern  of  John  Wilson,  now  the  Parvis  House, 
was  selected  as  a  voting  place  for  the  citizens  of  the 
hundred.  The  old  tavern  was  built  by  Themas 
Wilson,  the  father  of  John  Wilson,  mentioned  above, 
and  has  been  owned  by  John  Wilson,  Jr.,  William 
Morris,  John  Cannon,  Daniel  Wilson,  Man  love 
Adams,  Thomas  White,  George  Willin,  Purnel  Short, 
James  Pretty  man,  Samuel  Laws,  William  Cannon 
and  James  Parvis. 

Across  the  bridge,  Charles  Polk,  in  1812,  kept  the 
**  Knife  and  Fork"  tavern  for  several  years.  The 
building  was  located  at  the  intersection  of  the  road  to 
St.  Johnstown  and  the  first  as  the  bridge  is  crossed. 

From  1812  to  1816  the  growth  of  the  town  was 
rapid,  being  far  in  advance  of  either  Seaford  or  Laurel, 
and  was  the  business  place  for  all  of  western  Sussex. 
Three  stores  were  in  operation,  the  principal  being 
kept  by  Josiah  Cannon.  This  was  probably  the  first 
store  opened  in  the  village,  and  is  still  standing  oppo- 
site the  store  now  occupied  by  Mitchell  Layton. 
Josiah  Cannon  kept  this  store  until  1830,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Henry  and  William  Cannon  (after- 
wards Governor).  In  1857  a  new  store  was  built 
opposite,  which,  after  Governor  Cannon's  death,  was 
conducted  by  his  sons,  H.  P.  &  P.  L.  Cannon.  The 
old  building  is  still  used  as  a  warehouse. 

Huett  Ross  had  a  store  where  Governor  Cannon's 
81 


flower-garden  is  now  situated,  and  Ross  &  Smith 
conducted  business  on  Market  Street,  opposite  R.  W. 
Cannon's  present  store. 

Adjoining  the  bridge,  William  Hudson  had  an 
extensive  tan  yard,  formerly  owned  by  Daniel  Laws. 
It  was  afterwards  run  by  George  Grier,  Isaac  Lock- 
wood  and  Robert  A.  Houston,  who  closed  it  in  1840. 

In  addition  to  the  stores  and  tan-yard  in  the  town 
in  1816,  Robert  Ross  lived  on  the  property  now  owned 
by  E.  M.  Layton.  Rev.  Jeremiah  Jefferis  resided 
where  Mrs.  Elizabeth  A.  Cahall  now  owns,  which  is 
said  to  be  the  oldest  house  in  town.  Joshua  Bradley, 
who  married  Dr.  John  Carey's  widow,  lived  where 
Robert  Hughes  owned ;  and  Dr.  John  Carey  where 
William  Layton  owns.  John  H.  Van  Berg  owns  the 
house  where  Zacariah  Hatfield  lived.  John  Sorden's 
heirs  owned  a  house  and  lot.  Stephen  Redden  was  a 
tailor  and  owned  a  house  and  lot.  John  Wilson  was 
the  early  town  carpenter;  William  Smith,  Elijah 
Victor  and  John  Wilson  were  also  residents. 

The  town  during  the  period  from  1816  until  about 
1865  remained  in  a  comatose  condition.  The  railroad 
which  was  constructed  through  the  town  in  1858  gave 
the  place  a  little  boom,  which  has  continued  to  the 
present  time.  On  March  29,  1871,  the  town  was 
incorporated.  Its  limits  were  defined  and  a  large 
number  of  houses  were  built  in  the  next  few  years. 
At  present  there  are  six  general  stores,  one  hardware 
store,  two  drug  stores  and  two  confectionery  stores, 
and  about  six  hundred  inhabitants. 

The  town  records  are  incomplete  or  lost.  The  fol- 
lowing persons  have  filled  the  offices  named  since  the 
incorporation : 


Aldermen. 
George  M.  Daris. 
William  Swain. 
Peter  Cam. 
John  Jacobs. 
E.  L.  Wilson. 
C.  R.  Stuart. 
S.  P.  Short. 

Town  Treaewreri. 
James  W.  Ward. 
H.  P.  Cannon. 
O.  M.  Davis. 
Richard  W.  Cannon. 


R.  W.  Gannon. 
C.  A.  Rawlins. 
H.  P.  Cannon. 
8.  P.  Willey. 
B.  6.  Moore. 

Commiuionen. 
Thomas  W.  Willen. 
John  W.  Rettew. 
L.  W.  White. 
Levi  Lanshe. 
George  M.  Davis. 


John  B.  Walker. 
John  Dale. 
Caleb  R.  Stoart. 
Joseph  P.  Stuart. 
Peter  Gray. 
John  Keller. 
Isaac  Watson. 
P.  L.  Gannon. 
John  W.  Killen. 
G.  W.  Stradley. 
Peter  Cam. 
R.  W.  Gannon. 
Garrett  S.  Layton. 
Samuel  P.  Short 
Lojtley  Willey. 
James  A.  Honsel. 
Horace  Sndler. 
A.  Ball. 

William  HolIowelL 
H.  W.  Viven. 
E.  J.  Rawlins. 
S.  B.  Hazzard. 
G,  W.  Willey. 
H.  P.  Cannon. 


Bridgeville  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.— 
This  church  is  the  third  in  age  in  Sussex  County,  and 
was  built  in  1805.  March  11th  of  that  year  Thomas 
Borden  sold  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  land  for  ten 
dollars  to  Thomas  Laws,  William  Mason,  John  Carey, 
Charles  Brown,  Elijah  Adams,  Stephen  Eeddin  and 
William  Allen,  the  first  trustees.     The  old  building 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


was  of  frame  twenty  by  thirty-ODe  feet,  and  the 
church  membership  was  twenty-two. 

This  building  remained  until  December  10,  1871, 
when  the  present  fine  structure  was  dedicated  by  Rev. 
Enoch  Stubbs.  It  is  thirty  by  fifty  feet,  and  is  sur- 
mounted by  a  cupola.  The  membership  is  rapidly 
increasing,  and  at  present  amounts  to  over  one  hun- 
dred. 

In  1846  the  Bridgeville  Circuit  was  formed,  and  in- 
cluded Zion,  Seaford,  Wheateleys,  Cokesberry  and 
Bethel  churches.  The  first  minister  of  this  circuit 
was  Rev.  William  Spry,  who  was  succeeded  by  James 
McCarter,  Robert  E.  Kent  and  Robert  H.  Pattison, 
father  of  Governor  Pattison,  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
1847,  Bethel,  Trinity,  Cannon's  Ferry,  Middleford, 
Seaford  and  Onion  comprised  the  circuit.  Henry  F. 
Hearn,  Isaac  R.  Merritt,  Jeremiah  Pastorfield, 
Thomas  B.  Miller,  Samuel  Pan  coast,  S.  C.  Palmetry, 

Dobson, Short  and    J.  H.  Prettyman 

supplied  these  churches.  In  1854  Seaford,  Concord, 
Trinity,  Onion,  Bethel,  Cannon's  Ferry,  Johnstown 
and  Middleford  were  in  the  circuit.  The  ministers 
after  this  were  S.  Powers,  J.  F.  Chaplain,  W.  H. 
Formosa,  I.  H.  McLaughlin,  William  Tuckett,  J.  A. 
Massey,  T.  F.  Plummer,  A.  Fried,  S.  J.  Conner,  J.  T. 
Van  Burkalow,  James  Carroll,  R.  C.  Jones,  L.  M. 
Lindttle,  A.  P.  Prettyman,  W.  S.  Robinson  and  Ed- 
ward Davis. 

In  1883  Bridgeville  was  made  a  station,  and  the 
church  has  been  supplied  by  L.  J.  Mutcbmore,  I.  D. 
Johnson  and  J.  H.  Howard.  The  present  trustees 
are  P.  W.  Short,  Mitchell  Layton,  Thomas  Layton, 
Gilly  Moore,  H.  P.  Cannon  and  Thomas  Willey. 

First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Bridgeville. — 
This  church  is  prettily  located  on  Market  Street  in  a 
grove  of  trees,  and  is  forty  by  sixty  feet.  It  was  or- 
ganized December  20,  1866,  and  dedicated  March, 
1866,  by  Rev.  Alexander  Gulic,  of  Ohio.  The  build- 
ing cost  one  thousand  dollars.  The  ground  embraces 
a  half  acre,  and  was  donated  by  A.  G.  R.  Haile,  one 
of  the  descendants  of  the  original  patentees. 

Previous  to  ihe  erection  of  the  church,  services 
were  held  in  the  store- house  near  the  bridge.  The 
truj^tees  are  Simeon  Pennewill,  John  Dale,  James 
Hessey  and  D.  S.  Meyer.  Among  those  who  have 
ministers  are  Alexander  Gulic,  Messrs.  White,  Todd, 
E.  P.  Elcock,  Schoefield,  Edwards,  William  Barnes, 
J.  H.  Rizor,  B.  D.  Sinclair  and  Charles  Bailey.  There 
is  no  minister  at  present. 

The  African  U.  M.  P.  Church  was  erected  in 
1877,  and  is  located  north  of  the  Branch.  It  is  a  neat, 
substantial  structure,  costing  $800.  Rev.  George 
Townsend  and  Elijah  Green  have  been  among  the 
ministers  that  have  supplied  the  church. 

Schools. — The  school  north  of  the  town,  in  Dis- 
trict 72,  furnished  primary  education  for  the  children 
of  the  vicinity  up  to  1861,  when  District  No.  90  was 
erected  by  the  Legislature  out  of  Districts  143  and  72. 
Aprils,  1883,  the  Legislature  parsed  an  act  incorpor- 
ating the  public  schools  of  Bridgeville,  and  naming 


R.  W.  Cannon,  W.  C.  Rust,  P.  L.  Cannon,  S.  B.  Haz- 
zard  and  Dr.  D.  D.  Palmer,  as  a  board  of  education  to 
serve  until  April,  1884.  Alexander  Ball  became  sub- 
sequently a  member  in  place  of  Dr.  Palmer.  The 
board  was  authorized  to  borrow  $2000  to  erect  a  school- 
house.  R.  W.  Cannon,  A.  Ball  and  Mitchell  Layton 
were  selected  as  a  building  committee.  The  edifice 
was  completed  and  opened  in  December,  1883.  It  is 
two  stories  high,  and  cost  $2500.  April,  1884,  R.  W. 
Cannon  and  P.  L.  Cannon  were  elected  to  serve  one 
year  as  members  of  the  board ;  M.  Layton  and  S.  B. 
Hazzard,  two  years;  and  W.  C.  Rust  and  William 
Gray,  three  years.  The  following  members  have  been 
elected  since  that  time  :  1885— T.  W.  Willin  and  H. 
P.  Cannon  ;  1886— John  T.  Jacobs  and  Mitchell  Lay- 
ton  ;  1887— R.  W.  Cannon  and  B.  G.  Moore. 

Industries. — Wellington  Pattin,  merchant  and 
manufacturer  of  Bridgeville,  is  of  that  class  of  men 
who  came  from  the  North  to  Delaware  after  the  war, 
and  by  their  enterpri^e  and  thrift  have  done  so  much 
to  develop  the  country.  He  is  also  of  that  type  of 
men  which  our  free  institutions  make  possible,— an 
essentially  self-made  man.  Born  near  Fort  Plain, 
Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  April  14,  1843,  he  ww 
the  youngest  child  of  Erastus  and  Nancy  (Philips) 
Pattin.  At  the  early  age  of  ten  he  started  out  upon 
the  sea  of  life  to  earn  his  own  living,  working  upon 
a  farm  until  his  nineteenth  year,  during  which  time 
he  had  not  been  able  to  secure  over  three  months' 
schooling.  The  first  two  years  he  worked  for  no  pay 
whatever;  but  after  that  time  by  industry  and  thrift 
he  managed  to  accumulate  over  three  hundred  dol- 
lars, and  with  this  he  decided  to  secure  an  education. 
He  entered  school ;  but  after  nine  months,  the  Ciril 
War  having  opened,  his  patriotic  impulses  would  not 
allow  him  to  remain,  and  he  enlisted  in  the  service 
of  his  country  in  Company  F,  Second  New  York 
Heavy  Artillery,  being  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment 
but  twenty  years  of  age.  He  served  until  after  tbt 
end  of  the  war,  returning  in  October,  1865,  after  par- 
ticipating in  fifteen  engagements.  The  company  went 
out  with  one  hundred  and  fifly  men  on  the  15th  of 
May,  and  after  the  battle  of  Ream's  Station,  Va.,  Aug. 
25th,  all  the  company  could  stack  was  fifteen  arms. 
Mr.  Pattin  was  wounded  at  Tolopotomy  Creek  May 
31,  1864.  The  war  being  over,  Mr.  Pattin  returned 
home  October,  1865,  and  having  by  strict  economy 
succeeded  in  accumulating  one  thousand  dollars,  he 
decided  to  engage  in  business  for  himself.  He  came 
to  Delaware  at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  and  purchased 
a  farm  five  miles  from  Bridgeville,  which  he  still 
owns.  Having  a  natural  taste  for  a  business  life, 
shortly  after  1868  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
square  berry  baskets,  being  the  first  to  take  up  ihat 
industry  upon  the  peninsula.  This  business  he  coo- 
ducted  for  two  years.  In  1873  he  purchased  a  poru- 
ble  saw-mill,  and  established  it  upon  his  farm,  and 
still  operates  it.  This  mill  has  been  conducted  with 
profit  to  Mr.  Pattin,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  it 
was  blown  up  in  1879  and  destroyed  by  fire  in  187$ 


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1282  HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 

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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1283 


and  1880.  It  has  a  capacity  of  sawing  five  thousand 
feet  of  oak  timber  per  day,  and  gives  employment  to 
fifteen  hands.  In  1881  Mr.  Pattin  opened  his  present 
large  general  merchandizing  warehouse  in  Bridge- 
ville,  associating  with  him  in  1886  Burton  G.  Moore. 
Determining  to  enlarge  his  business,  he  in  1884  pur- 
chased the  grist  and  saw-mills  of  Alexander  Ball, 
and  removed  to  his  present  beautiful  mansion,  located 
to  the  east  of  the  railroad,  the  grounds  embracing 
seventeen  acres  tastefully  laid  out. 

Mr.  Pattin  immediately  took  an  interest  in  the 
improvement  of  the  town,  and  his  removal  there  was 
the  commencement  of  an  era  of  prosperity.  His  en- 
terprise and  energy  made  itself  felt,  and  being  at  the 
head  of  the  progressive  element,  he  was  elected  pres- 
ident of  the  Board  of  Town  Commissioners  in  1885, 
serving  two  years.  During  his  term  of  office  the 
town  underwent  a  great  many  improvements,  and  to 
his  efibrts  in  the  main  are  these  due.  His  business 
he  continued  to  extend,  and  in  1885  he  started  a 
basket  factory,  which  gives  employment  during  the 
season  to  fifty  hands,  and  has  a  capacity  of  four  thou- 
sand baskets.  The  grist-mill  has  a  capacity  of  grind- 
ing fifty  bushels  of  wheat  and  fifty  of  corn  per  day. 
In  addition,  he  is  in  the  charcoal  business,  and  has  a 
large  coal-yard. 

In  all  Mr.  Pattin's  branches  of  industry  he  em- 
ploys in  busy  season  about  ninety  men,  and  has  a 
capital  stock  invested  of  forty  thousand  dollars.  In 
accumulating  this  he  has  been  beset  by  what  would 
have  seemed  to  most  men  insurmountable  difficulties. 
Coming  to  a  strange  country  at  the  end  of  the  war, 
he  was  met  on  all  sides  by  difficulties  and  prejudices, 
and  these  he  has  succeeded  in  surmounting  until  he 
has  now  the  largest  business  in  his  section  of  the 
country,  an4  which  is  secured  upon  a  firm  foundation. 

February  7,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Ellen  Frances 
Hancock,  the  daughter  of  Timothy  Edwin  Hancock 
and  Harriet  P.  (Gilmore)  Hancock  of  North  Attle- 
borough,  Massachusetts.  The  Hancock  family  de- 
scended from  one  Anthony  Hancock,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  town  of  Wrentham,  Mass.,  the  adjoin- 
ing town  to  North  Attleborough.  Mrs.  Pattin  was  one 
of  those  patretic  and  noble  women,  who  went  South 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  to  educate  the  freedmen, 
remaining  but  a  short  time.  On  her  way  home,  stop- 
ping near  Bridgeville,  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Pattin. 
As  a  result  of  this  union  there  have  been  eight  child- 
ren :  Edwin  Erastus,  Henry  M.,  Horace  Greeley, 
Wellington  F.,  Florence  E.,  Charles  Hancock,  Walter 
and  Nancy. 

D.  S.  Myer  and  Son  have  a  large  nursery  on  the 
North  of  the  Branch.  The  firm  give  employment  to 
ten  hands  and  ship  as  high  as  one  hundred  thousand 
trees,  principally  peach  and  apple,  a  year  to  all  parts 
of  the  United  States.  The  business  was  first  started 
twenty-thre^  years  ago  by  D.  S.  Myer  and  Lukens 
Pierce.  Mr.  Pierce  retired  in  1867,  and  Mr.  Myer 
continued  the  business  until  1887,  when  his  son  was 
admitted,  and  the  present  firm  formed. 


H.  P.  and  P.  L.  Cannon  conduct  a  canning  factory 
employing  fifty  hands  in  the  busy  season  and  putting 
up  six  thousand  cans  of  tomatoes  a  day. 

John  W.  Keller's  evaporator  was  built  in  1882. 
During  the  season  employment  is  given  to  sixty  hands 
a  day. 

Beidgeville  Cemetery.— This  embraces  a  neat- 
ly laid  out  plot  of  five  acn^s  on  the  north  of  the  town. 
The  Company  was  incorporated  February  16,  1875. 

The  corporators  were  Daniel  F.  Ball,  David  S. 
Myer,  Simeon  Pennewill,  John  Ray,  Isaac  B.  Cot- 
terell,  Mark  A.  G.  Coates,  Dr.  William  T.  Sudler,  R. 
W.  Cannon  and  H.  P.  Cannon.  A  board  of  mana- 
gers and  officers  were  elected  with  President,  Daniel 
F.  Ball ;  Secretary,  H.  P.  Cannon ;  Treasurer,  R.  W. 
Cannon ;  Managers,  J.  B.  Cotterell,  P.  L.  Cannon, 
R.  W.  Cannon,  I.  K.  Wright,  J.  Ray,  D.  S.  Myer 
and  Jacob  Kinder.  Mr.  Ball  has  been  succeeded  by 
Isaac  B.  Cotterell  as  president. 

Bridgeville  Agricultural  and  Mechanical 
Society. — ^This  organization  is  a  thing  of  the  past. 
It  was  incorporated  March  9,  1875,  with  John  L. 
Richards,  M.  L.  Blanchard,  Henry  Q.  Nicholson, 
Henry  P.  Cannon,  W.  J.  Coates,  S.  P.  Raughley, 
David  Lord,  H.  Clarkson  and  Dr.  William  T.  Sudler 
as  corporators.  Albert  Curry  was  elected  president ; 
H.  Q.  Nicholson,  secretary ;  and  W.  J.  Coates,  treas- 
urer. Three  fairs  were  held  on  grounds  north  of  the 
branch  in  the  town.  The  venture  proved  unprofitable 
and  was  abandoned  in  1877. 

Societies. — ^The  Bridgeville  Conclave,  I.  O.  H., 
was  incorporated  April  1,  1885.  The  first  officers 
were  P.  A.,  W.  C.  Rust ;  Archon,  R.  C.  Jones ;  Pro- 
vost, W.  B.  Hallowell ;  Secretary,  S.  P.  Short ;  Fi- 
nancier, C.  H.  Rawlins;  Treasurer,  Dr.  D.  D.  Palmer; 
Prelate,  A.  P.  Prettyman ;  Inspector,  J.  W.  Hessey. 
The  present  officers  are :  P.  A.,  J.  A.  Cam ;  Archon, 
J.  A.  Housel ;  Provost,  G.  B.  Graef ;  Prelate,  Rev.  J. 
H.  Howard ;  Secretary,  Wilbert  Layton ;  Financier, 
J.  B.  Cam  ;  Treasurer,  R.  W.  Cannon ;  Inspector,  J. 
E.  Harris;  Warden,  Jacob  Pattin;  Sentinel,  R.  P. 
Swain.    There  is  a  membership  of  fifty-four. 

A  branch  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union  was  organized  December  4, 1884.  The  officers 
are;  President,  Mrs.  W.  T.  Sudler;  Treasurer,  Mrs. 
R.  W.  Cannon;  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  James 
Raughley;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Mrs.  Welling- 
ton Pattin.    There  is  a  membership  of  eighteen. 

The  Grange,  at  Bridgeville,  Was  organized  April 
1874. 

Greenwood. — The  town  of  Greenwood  is  an  out- 
growth of  St.  Johnstown,  as  the  Delaware  Railroad 
Company  named  the  station  which  it  established  at 
this  point  in  1858.  Simeon  Pennewill,  who  owned  all 
the  land  upon  which  Greenwood  is  situated,  engaged 
William  Atkinson  to  lay  out  a  town  plot  The  main 
street,  running  east  and  west,  was  called  Market 
Street;  the  one  north  of  it.  Minor  Street,  and  three 
cross  streets,  Beaver,  Church  and  Maple.  Mr.  Penne- 
will named  the  new  town  Greenwood,  because  of  the 


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1284 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


great  number  of  holly  trees  and  other  evergreens  in 
the  neighborhood.  He  also  built  the  first  store,  in 
1859,  on  the  corner,  where  J.  R.  Ricards  &  Sons  now 
are — and  it  was  opened  by  Thomas  Coates.  C.  W. 
Jones  opened  another  store  the  same  year,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  street,  opposite  Mr.  Pennewill, 
building  on  the  same  ground  where  Owens  &  Rad- 
cliff  now  are.  The  hotel  building  was  erected  in 
1865  by  Ezekiel  Jones,  and  is  now  kept  by  J.  H. 
Gorby.  Within  the  past  few  years  the  town  has 
grown  very  rapidly  and  has  become  one  of  the  lead^ 
ing  business  places  in  upper  Sussex.  At  present  there 
are  four  general  stores,  a  drug  store,  confectionery 
store,  harness  shop,  two  millinery  stores  and  two 
blacksmith  and  wheelwright  shops.  The  population, 
according  to  a  census  taken  in  1887,  was  two  hundred 
and  fiHy  persons. 

Greenwood  M,  P,  Church  was  erected  in  1880,  upon 
ground  donated  by  Simeon  Pennewill.  The  dedica- 
tion took  place  August  8th  of  that  year,  and  Revs.  J. 
M.  McFadden,  J.  E.  Nicholson  and  Thomas  Moore 
participated  in  the  exercises.  The  society  was  organ- 
ized in  1878  and  held  meetings  until  the  erection  of 
the  church  building  in  the  old  school-house.  The 
building  is  thirty  by  forty  feet,  and  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  twelve  hundred  dollars.  At  present  there  is 
a  membership  of  thirty-five,  and  a  Sunday-school 
attached,  with  W.  J»  Andrew  superintendent.  The 
first  trustees  were  N.  J.  Barwick,  Robert  H.  Willey 
and  W.  J.  Andrew.  The  present  trustees  are  N.  J. 
Barwick,  W.  J.  Andrew,  J.  C.  Barwick,  E.  P.  Willey. 
John  W.  Morri«»,  Joel  Larmor  and  William  H.  Rich- 
ardson. Rev.  J.  E.  Nicholson  was  the  first  minister, 
serving  until  1882.  Rev.  C.  S.  Arnett  followed  until 
1884;  Rev.  G.  L.  Backus  until  1886,  and  then  the 
present  pastor.  Rev.  G.  M.  Thomson. 

Greenwood  M,  E,  Chitrch  is  an  ofishoot  of  the  St. 
Johnstown  Church,  and  was  dedicated  June  28, 1880, 
when  the  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  R.  W.  Todd, 
presiding  elder  of  the  district.  The  building  is  thir- 
ty-six by  twenty-four  feet,  and  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  one  thousand  dollars.  The  trustees  at  that  time 
were  James  H.  Willey,  S.  P.  Raughley,  Abel  Spence, 
N.  M.  Stayton  and  J.  M.  Hollis.  The  membership 
at  present  has  reached  forty-five,  with  a  Sunday- 
school  of  thirty  scholars,  with  J.  M.  Hollis  as  super- 
intendent. The;  trustees  are  N.  M.  Stayton,  Abel 
Spence,  S.  P.  Raughley,  J.  M.  Hollis,  Samuel  Kinna- 
mon,  Charles  W.  Ammerman  and  Charles  C.  Ricards. 
Up  to  the  year  1886  the  Bridgeville  Circuit  supplied 
the  church  with  ministers,  but  in  that  year  Greenwood 
Circuit  was  formed,  with  Rev.  J.  E.  Carroll  as  pastor, 
and  Chaplain's,  Trinity,  St.  Johnstown  and  Green- 
wood as  the  charges. 

Industries — Two  large  tracts  of  land  were  surveyed 
for  Joseph  Shanklaud,  Sept.  17,  1764,  upon  which 
he  soon  after  erected  a  forire.  On  May  7,  1771,  he 
sold  the  property  to  Joseph  Earle,  attorney  of  Kent 
County,  Maryland,  and  Dr.  John  Boyd  and  William 
Buchanan,  merchants,  both  of  Baltimore.    In  the  war- 


rants for  this  property,  it  is  described  as  being  in  the 
forests  of  Cedar  Creek  Hundred,  in  the  great  neck 
twenty  miles  distant  from  Lewistown,  and  on  waters 
that  flow  into  the  Nanticoke.  The  deed  alludes  to  one 
tract  of  eight  hundred  and  eleven  acres  called 
"  Shankland's  Discovery,"  on  which  "  is  lately  erected 
a  double  forge  and  other  improvements."  The  other 
tract  was  called  "  Iron  Valley  "  of  two  hundred  aciw, 
it  "  being  that  part  of  whole  survey  which  is  intended 
to  be  kept  for  ye  use  of  the  forge  aforesaid  to  supply 
ye  same  wiih  iron  oar."  The  property  evidently  did 
not  remain  in  possession  of  this  firm  long,  as  in  No- 
vember 1774  suit  was  brought  against  Samuel  Shank- 
land,  as  owner  of  five-sixths  of  the  Unity  Forge  lands 
by  Daniel  Kelley,  who  owned  the  lands  adjoin- 
ing. The  property  remained  idle  for  several  yean, 
and  for  some  reason  a  part  at  least  reverted  to 
the  Penns,  and  after  an  intermediate  tenancy  es- 
cheated to  the  State.  On  October  25,  1793,  a  part  Of 
it,  twenty-six  acres  called  "  Company's  Privilege  '*  was 
warranted  to  Charles  Polk  and  Rhodes  Shankland,  the 
warrant  recited  "  whereon  is  erected  a  forge  called 
Unity  Forge."  On  April  1,  1794,  Rhodes  Shankland 
asssigned  his  right  to  William  Shankland,  who  was 
operating  the  forge  in  1796,  and  soon  after  assigned  to 
John  Elliott.  Polk  and  Elliott  on  the  16th  of  July, 
1811,  assigned  the  forge  and  property  to  John  Brad- 
ley, who  ran  it  for  several  years.  It  does  not  appear 
on  the  assessment  rolls  after  1816. 

The  tract  ^^  Shankland's  Discovery  "  lay  on  the  west 
side  of  the  branch,  and  passed  with  other  lands  to 
John  Elliott,  who  died  in  1807,  and  left  this  property 
to  his  four  sons,  Shadrack,  Meshack,  Abednego  and 
John.  Shadrack,  March  19,  1814,  sold  a  part  of  the 
tract  below  Bradley's  Forge  to  Jonas  Walker,  who 
January  2,  1815,  bought  of  William  Maloney,  other 
lands  adjoining  his  own,  formerly  owned  by  Walter 
Douglas,  and  which  were  once  the  property  of  the 
Deep  Creek  Furnace  Company. 

Iron  Valley, the  other  tract  of  the  Unity  Forge  lands, 
and  from  which  most  of  the  ore  was  obtained,  laid 
along  Gum  Branch  in  Nanticoke  Hundred.  A  por- 
tion, amounting  to  three  hundred  and  fifty-six  acres, 
passed  November  18, 1823,  to  Samuel  Richiirds  and 
EdwardSmith.  Large  quantities  of  ore  weretak^n  from 
these  lands  in  later  years  and  shipped  to  New  Jersey. 
Thomas  S.  Judge  also  became  a  purchaser  of  ore 
lands  in  the  vicinity,  and  shipped  direct  from  here. 
There  is  no  sign  of  the  old  forge  property  now. 

Priscilla  Ange,  November  4,  1761,  bought  a  tract  of 
land  on  the  south  side  of  what  was  known  as  Sow 
Bridge  Branch,being  a  part  of  a  larger  tract  granled  to 
Jacob  Stafibrd  adjoining  Griffith  Jones.  John  Angs 
lived  near  there  and  had  a  mill.  October  6,  l?"***, 
Richard  Tull,  John  Ange,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  Ange 
entered  into  partnership  to  built  a  saw,  grist  mill  and 
dam  where  John  Ange,  Sr.,  lived.  Tull  Was  to  build 
the  mills  and  Ange  the  dam,  which  was  to  have  a  cart- 
way on  top  of  it.  Thomas  sold  his  share  to  Joka 
March  11, 1780.    John  sold  his  interest  to  John  haJtej 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1285 


March  18, 1794,  and  on  July  20, 1821,  the  land  was 
sold  by  Elizabeth  Insley,  executrix  of  John  Insley, 
to  James  L.  Wallace.  The  deed  recited  that  it  was 
of  the  tract  "  Courtesy/'  the  site  of  the  old  mill  which 
went  down  while  owned  by  John  Insley,  Sr. 

Elliott's  mill  is  situated  one  mile  from  Bridgeville, 
and  was  built  by  Abedne^o  Elliott.  The  grist  mill 
was  built  in  1800  and  the  saw  mill  in  1818.  The 
latter  was  rebuilt  in  1839,  when  it  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  John  Hendrick,  by  whose  heirs  it  was  sold 
to  E.  H.  Orton.  The  mill  was  afterwards  in  the  pos- 
session of  Grovernor  William  Cannon.  The  saw  mill 
was  abandoned  twelve  years  ago.  The  gris^t  mill  is 
still  running  with  a  capacity  of  sixty  bushels  a  day. 

J.  E.  Short  &  Co.,  (G.  Short),  conduct  a  canning 
factory  with  a  capacity  of  three  hundred  thousand 
cans  a  year,  giving  employment  to  fifty  hands.  J.  C. 
Barwick  and  Frank  Cule  conduct  a  saw  mill  which 
cuts  five  thousand  feet  of  lumber  a  day. 


CHAPTER  LXXII. 

BROAD  CREEK    HUNDRED. 

The  Hundred  of  Broad  Creek  is  located  in  the 
southern-central  part  of  Sussex  County,  and  takes 
its  name  from  a  branch  of  the  Nanticoke,  Broad 
Creek,  that  divides  it  from  Little  Creek  Hundred.  It 
originally  extended  to  the  southern  dividing  line  from 
Maryland.  The  legislature  by  an  act  passed  April  4) 
1873,  erected  Gumboro  Hundred  out  of  it,  and  a 
small  part  of  Dagsboro  Hundred.  The  boundaries 
as  at  present  constituted,  are  on  the  north  by  Nanti- 
coke Hundred,  on  the  west  by  Dagsboro  and  Gum- 
boro Hundreds,  on  the  south  by  Little  Creek  Hun- 
dred and  on  the  west  by  the  Northwest  Fork  of  the 
Nanticoke  River,  which  divides  it  from  Seaford  Hun- 
dred, embracing  within  these  bounds  about  fitly 
square  miles  of  territory,  the  greater  portion  of  which 
is  good  farming  land,  the  best  land  being  in  the 
central  and  eastern  sections,  the  western  portion 
being  very  sandy.  The  land  is  particularly  adapted 
to  the  cultivation  of  corn,  and  large  crops  of  this 
staple  are  grown  yearly.  The  cultivation  of  straw- 
berries and  blackberries  is  more  extensively  engaged 
in  here  than  in  any  other  section  of  the  state,  some  of 
the  strawberry  patches  covering  a  large  number  of 
acres.  Early  in  the  eighteenth  century  large  quanti- 
ties of  tobacco  were  grown  in  the  southeastern  sec- 
tion, OB  thebduks  of  the  Nanticoke  and  Broad  Creeks. 
After  the  year  1780,  no  mention  of  its  cultivation  can 
be  found.  Sorghum  was  also  formerly  grown ; 
peaches  were  early  cultivated  here  but  mostly  for 
home  consumption  and  the  manufacture  of  peach 
brandy.  It  has  only  been  of  late  years  that  this  fruit 
has  been  cultivated  to  any  extent  for  shipment.  The 
farmers  of  the  hundred  are  of  a  thrifty,  intelligent 
class,  and  have  brought  the  land  to  a  high  state  of 


cultivation  and  accummulated  considerable  wealth. 
The  Nanticoke  and  Broad  Creeks,  and  their  numerous 
branches,  form  the  chief  means  of  irrigation,  in  addi- 
tion to  furnishing  most  excellent  mill  power.  The 
branches  extend  into  every  section  of  the  hundred. 
The  Nanticoke  is  navigable  its  entire  length  along 
the  west  side,  there  being  a  varying  depth  from 
eleven  to  thirty  feet.  Broad  Creek  is  navigable  for 
small  vessels  to  Laurel,  and  those  of  larger  draught 
to  Bethel.  The-e  rivers  furnish  excellent  means  for 
the  shipment  of  farm  products  and  manufactured 
articles  to  Baltimore  and  the  south.  Numerous  vessels 
sail  from  Laurel  and  Seaford  to  Baltimore.  The 
Delaware  railroad  which  reached  here  in  1859,  and 
runs  down  the  western  side,  brings  northern  points 
within  a  few  hours  distance. 

Early  Settlements.— The  Penns  never  exercised 
their  authority  in  this  hundred  prior  to  the  settlement 
of  the  division  line,  and  there  does  not  appear  of 
record  any  mention  of  any  land  granted  by  them 
prior  to  1776.  Thf  re  were  very  few  settlements  made 
in  the  hundred  prior  to  1730,  and  those  mainly  on  the 
streams  in  the  southwestern  sec  ion.  Large  portions 
of  the  land  remained  vacant  for  years,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  year  1838  that  the  la^t  piece  of  vacant  land 
in  the  hundred  was  granted.  The  early  settlers  came 
from  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  in  the  year  1776 
large  numbers  emigrated  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
State  and  from  Pennsylvania.  The  firat  tract  of  which 
there  is  record  is  one  to  William  Qreen  for  two  thou- 
sand five  hundred  acres,  granted  in  the  year  1680,  and 
located  west  of  the  road  from  Laurel  to  Seaford  and 
running  to  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  Bethel. 

The  Nanticoke  Indians  were  numerous  in  this 
vicinity,  and  in  order  to  aid  immigration  and  furnish 
the  Indians  a  permanent  home,  the  General  Assembly 
of  Maryland,  in  the  year  1717,  passed  an  act  directing 
George  Gale,  Samuel  Worthington  and  Charles  Bal- 
lard to  lay  out  tracts  for  a  reservation  for  the  Nanti- 
cokes.  The  commissioners  selected  as  a  site  this  tract 
and  one  of  five  hundred  acres  on  the  south  side,  upon 
which  the  town  of  Laurel  now  stands.  The  land 
passed  on  the  4th  day  of  December,  1717,  the  con- 
sideration paid  Green  being  fifty  thousand  pounds  of 

*  tobacco.  The  Indians  occupied  the  land  for  many  years 
and  built  a  harbor  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Levin 
Hitch.  They  cultivated  the  land  to  some  extent. 
The  Indians  were  moved  further  west,  and  by  act  of 
May  24,  1768,  William  Allen.  Levin  Gale  and  Henry 
Steele  were  authorized  by  the  State  of  Maryland  to 

.  sell  the  land.  John  Mitchell  purchased  two  thousand 
two  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres,  and  Joseph  Foreman 
the  remainder,  said  to  contain  five  hundred  and 
eighteen  acres.  A  portion  of  the  land  came  into  the 
possession  of  Dr.  James  Derrickson,  and  among  the 
owners  of  the  original  tract  are  Eggleson  Moore's 
heirs,  S.  J.  Wheatley,  Levin  Hitch,  Mrs.  David  Moore, 
W.  S.  Hitch,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Collins,  William  S.  Moore, 
John  T.  Moore  and  Henry  Clay  Lewis.  On  the  farm 
occupied  by  Henry  Clay  Lewis  is  the  house  built  by 


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1286 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


Caleb  Rows,  Esq.,  the  father  of  Governor  William 
Ross. 

"Snow  Hill,"  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres,  was 
granted,  November  6,  1728,  to  John  0*Neal,  and  is 
described  as  being  on  the  east  side  of  the  Nauticoke 
River,  and  about  two  miles  from  Broad  Creek.  This 
land  is  located  near  the  Conoway  farm.  John  Cald- 
well was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  thin  hundred, 
and  took  up  two  large  tracts  of  land — one  of  one 
thousand  acres,  April  1,  1730,  and  another  of  four 
hundred  acres,  called  "Puzzle,'*  August  8,  1732. 
These  tracts  are  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the 
easternmost  branch  of  Broad  Creek,  in  what  was  then 
called  Wimbesocom  Neck,  which  is  the  neck  which 
the  Bull  and  Mehon  mill-ponds  nearly  surround.  A 
portion  of  the  one  thousand  acre  tract  passed  to  John 
Cannon,  June  10,  1734,  and  on  the  same  day  Philip 
King  came  into  the  possession  of  the  tract  "  Puzzle." 
This  John  Cannon  was  the  first  of  the  largA  family  of 
that  name  that  came  to  the  hundred,  if  not  the  first 
that  came  into  the  State.  The  owners  of  parts  of 
these  old  tracts  areR.  M.  Rodney,  J.  Gibson  Cannon, 
T.  L.  Cannon. 

In  the  same  neighborhood  John  Walters  received  a 
grant,  December  15,  1788,  for  one  hundred  acres,  and 
November  4,  1738,  Joseph  Paiximore  received  a  grant 
of  the  tract  '*  Venture."  William  L.  Burton  owns  por- 
tions of  the^e  tracts. 

William  Philips,  July  3,  1741,  was  granted  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  at  the  head  of  Wimbesocom 
Branch,  called  "  Third  Choice."  This  land  was  re- 
warranted  to  John  Philips,  April  8, 1752,  and  the 
greater  portion  of  it  is  owned  at  present  by  Nancy 
Philips.  On  the  east  of  the  above-mentioned  tract  of 
"Puzzle,"  Thomas  Sherman  was  granted  "Collins' 
Qood  Will,"  on  December  20, 1741,  and  containing 
one  hundred  acres.  This  is  the  f>ame  land  that  is  now 
owned  by  Jacob  W.  Cannon  and  George  W.  McGee. 
The  Wingates  were  among  the  early  settlers  near 
here,  and  at  different  time^  took  up  large  tracts,  but 
they  have  long  since  disappeared  from  among  the 
land-owners.  The  tract  granted  to  Robert  King, 
May  14,  1749,  containing  two  hundred  and  fourteen 
acres,  was  re- warranted  to  Philip  Wingate,  October 
19th,  of  the  same  year,  and  is  situated  at  the  head  of 
what  was  known  as  the  Windsor  Branch,  near  an  old 
county  road,  and  is  the  same  land  that  is  owned  now 
by  the  Hopkins  Brothers  and  Edmund  Hitchens. 

The  Matthews  were  early  here.  The  tract 
"  Teague's  Promise,"  containing  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-five  acres,  originally  granted  to  Jacob  Downs, 
December  15, 1760,  and  then  known  as  "  Jacob's  Inher- 
itance," was  adjoining  lands  of  Timmons,  Stockley 
and  others.  A  prior  tract  had  been  granted  to  Mat- 
thews, March  10,  1743,  and  was  *'  standing  in  a  neck 
called  Wimbesocom  Neck,  in  a  lot,  plat,  piece  of  land 
about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  from  where  John  Wingate 
then  lived."  Teague  Matthews  also  received  on  a 
Maryland  patent  four  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres, 
which  were  resurveyed  to  Philip  Matthews  April  10, 


1785,  and  the  greater  portion  of  this  Matthews  land 
is  owned  by  Stansbury  J.  Matthews,  George  Callin, 
George  W.  McGee  and  Henry  Clay  Matthews ;  the  lat- 
ter also  owns  a  part  of  the  land  granted  to  the  Bettties, 
who  were  early  settlers  in  this  locality. 

George  Gwars  to3k  up,  on  the  I8th  of  March,  1746, 
three  hundred  and  eighty-four  acres  of  land  on  the 
Gray's  Branch,  the  same  land  that  is  now  owned  by 
Jacob  Whaley,  George  Messick  and  George  Matthews. 

Northwest  of  these  grants  and  on  the  Assacatom 
Branch  and  on  the  Georgetown  Road,  Samuel  Hop- 
kins, one  of  the  progenitors  of  that  numerous  family, 
took  up  a  tract  of  seven  hundred  acres  on  February 
25, 1747.  This  is  the  same  land  that  is  now  owned 
by  J.  H.  Messick,  Mrs.  Robert  Lamden,  William 
Spicer,  Nelly  Spicer,  Burton  West  and  George  Can- 
non. The  Messicks,  from  whom  J.  H.  Messick,  of 
this  hundred,  and  Miles  Messick,  of  Nanticoke  Hun- 
dred, are  descended,  were  early  settlers.  The  firel 
of  the  family  to  settle  here  was  Isaac  Messick,  who 
took  up  six  hundred  acres  of  land  December  17,  172S. 
He  had  two  sons,  John  and  Covington  Messick. 
This  Messick  land  is  now  owned  by  G.  Philip  Hitch, 
Washington  Ricketts,  Dr.  Robert  Ellegood  and  others 
in  that  vicinity. 

"Wolf  Pitt  Ridge"  was  surveyed  to  Peter  Gaudy 
March  21st,  1758,  and  was  adjoining  "  Peter's 
Choice." 

Collins'  Industry,  including  what  was  styled  the 
mill  property,  was  warranted  to  Joseph  Collins 
August  20, 1760.  It  is  described  as  being  on  the  north- 
west side  of  a  branch  issuing  out  of  Broad  Creek, 
called  the  Great  Branch,  and  about  twenty  perches 
from  the  mill-dam  and  containing  twelve  hundred 
and  sixteen  acres.  It  was  adjoining  another  tract, 
granted  prior  to  Jacob  Addition  and  called  "  Branch 
Side."  Of  this  land,  in  the  year  of  1795,  Manaen 
Bull  purchased  four  hundred  and  eighty-five  acres, 
Josiah  Truitt,  two  hundred  acres ;  and  Joseph  John- 
son one  hundred  acres.  This  is  a  portion  of  the  same 
land  where  J.  H.  Boyce  and  W.  Whaley  located,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Laurel  to 
Lowe's  Cross-Roads. 

The  Ellegoods,  from  which  Dr.  R.  G.  Ellegood,  of 
Concord,  is  descended,  were  also  among  the  early 
settlers,  and  were  prominent  personages.  William 
Ellegood  obtained  a  patent  for  1104  acres  March 
3,  1762,  The  land  was  named  "  Isabella's  Choice," 
and  is  described  as  being  on  the  east  side  of  the  Nan- 
ticoke  River,  and  above  a  creek.  Of  this  land  WilliaiB 
sold  to  his  son,  Robert,  two  hundred  acres  March  SO, 
1776,  and  two  hundred  acres  March  30, 1776,  to  his 
son  John.  Dr.  R.  G.  Ellegood,  of  Concord,  holds  a 
portion  of  this  land,  as  also  does  Tilghman  Spicer,  & 
J.  Wheatley,  Wm  O'Neil,  Elijah  Hitch  and  Mia.  J. 
T.  Wright.  Among  those  who  came  in  1776  w&9 
Peter  Dolbee,  who.  May  20,  1776,  took  out  a  warrant 
for  a  tract  called  "  Addition  to  Right's  Choice,"  andb 
described  as  being  on  the  north  side  of  the  third 
branch  of  Broad  Creek,  and  extending  from  Madiew 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1287 


Hayes*  to  the  ran  of  said  branch,  and  adjoining  his 
home  place. 

Henry  Clay  Lewis  and  William  H.  Moore  own  a 
large  part  of  this  tract.  Jonathan  Dal  bee  took  up 
several  tracts  on  the  8th  of  March,  among  which  were 
"Second  Thought/'  "Rathbone"  and  "Fortune." 
This  was  adjoining  lands  formerly  taken  up  by  Chas. 
Minas. 

Joseph  Melson  came  in  1776  and  took  up  the  tract 
"  Melson's  Safety,"  "Conclusion,"  the  same  date,  and 
*•  Gibraltar."  He  also  acquired  large  quantities  of 
land  both  by  purchase  and  warrant,  estimated  at 
five  thou«and  acres.  Among  those  who  now  own  the 
MeUon  lands  are  Elias  Carmean,  Burton  West,  J.  C. 
Rodney,  John  Rodney  of  "  D,"  J.  Gibson  Cannon, 
John  Hudson,  William  H.  Rodney,  George  W.  Ma- 
gee,  Thomas  Scott,  Joshua  Philips,  Elisha  Cannon, 
George  Cannon,  William  Carey,  Hamilton  Philips 
and  Henry  C.  Matthews. 

Levin  Bacon  patented  in  1797  a  tract  of  four  hun- 
dred and  fifty-four  acres,  and  in  1801  hold  it  to  Levin 
Hitch,  from  whom  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  acres 
has  descended  to  the  present  owner,  Levin  S.  Hitch. 
The  other  owners  are  W.  W.  Daahiel,  James  H. 
Wright  and  Thomas  S.  Lamden. 

The  following  is  the  assessment  list  of  Broad 
Creek  Hundred  for  the  year  1785,  the  hundred  at 
that  time  embracing  Gumboro'  Hundred  : 


Adiinifl,  Nathan. 
Anderaon,  Levin. 
Anderwn,  Win. 
Brat  ton,  Jamea. 
Baker,  ThoniHi. 
Baker,  James. 
Beacbauip,  Dawson. 
Beachnmp,  Edmond. 
Beachamp,  John. 
Boyce,  Wm, 
Bounds,  Jeaw. 
Benson,  Saul. 
Blades,  Edmond. 
Betts,  Samuel,  Sr. 
Bett9,  Samuel,  Jr. 
Baker,  Clement. 
Barnett,  Thomas. 
Brown,  John  (tailor). 
Bayley,  Clement,  2d. 
Boyer,  Jonathan. 
Bawn,  Qeorge. 
Betts,  John. 
Bawn.  Davis. 
Baker,  Daniel. 
Brjan,  Wm. 
Betts,  Abraham. 
Boyce,  Prettyman. 
Boyce,  Robert, 
Benson,  Jesse. 
Budd,  James. 
Bayley,  Wm. 
Buck,  James. 
Crelghton,  John. 
Cannon,  Joseph,  M.D. 
Callaway.  Edward. 
Gochane,  Thomas. 
Collins,  John. 
Copes,  Thomas. 
Caonon,  Wingate. 
Cannon,  Elijah. 
Calloway,  Isaac. 


OonoM-ay,  Levin. 
Calloway,  Ebenexer. 
Clifton,  Allen. 
Cannon,  Ebenezer. 
Conoway,  Wm. 
Cannon,  Eiyah,  Jr. 
Dolby,  Jonathan. 
Dolby,  Hannah. 
Dolby's,  Peter,  heirs. 
Downs,  Isaac. 
Downs,  Jacob. 
Downs,  John. 
Downs,  Barnet. 
Dorman,  Matthew. 
Downey,  Somerset. 
Dorman,  Robert 
Edgar,  James. 
Ellegood,  Sarah'. 
EUegood,  Wm.,  Sr. 
Ellegood,  John,  M.D. 
Ellegood,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Ellegood,  Thomas. 
Elliott,  Jacob. 
Elliott,  Elisha. 
Franklin,  Walter. 
Foreman,  Joseph. 
Freedly,  Elijah. 
Fields,  Artliur. 
Grace,  John. 
Gardy,  John. 
Gunby,  James. 
Germain,  Wm. 
Gibbons,  Joshua. 
Gunby,  Betty. 
Godward,  John. 
Gordy,  Thomas. 
Gordy,  Eli. 
Houston,  Robert. 
UuiHngton,  Luke. 
Hobbs,  Wm. 
Hart,  George. 


Hardy,  Wm. 
Hopkins,  Thomas. 
Hopkins,  Roger. 
Hitchens,  Edmond. 
Hood,  James. 
Hitchens,  Smith. 
Hitchens,  Garret,  Jr. 
Hill,  Jonathan. 
Heam,  Ebenezer. 
Hudson,  Charles. 
Hitchens,  Mark. 
Hitchens,  Elihu. 
Hobbs,  Jnsiah. 
Houston,  Leonard. 
Houston,  Littleton. 
Heam,  Nehemiah. 
Hitch,  James. 
Harris,  Zachariah. 
Hitchens,  John. 
Johnson,  Edmond. 
James,  Reuben. 
James,  Jamea  R. 
Johnson,  John. 
Johnson,  Wm. 
Hitchens,  Edmond,  Jr. 
Jones,  John. 
Ingram,  Thomas. 
Joneu,  Jacob. 
Jones,  Nehcmlab. 
James,  Joahua. 
Johnson,  Sneed. 
King,  Suthy. 
Kirkpatrlck,  Wm. 
Kersey,  Benjamin. 
Kelley,  Daniel. 
King,  Caldwell. 
King,  George. 
Lord,  John. 
Laws.  James,  M.D. 
Littleton,  Wm. 
Littleton,  Thomas. 
Lavunt,  Philemon. 
Lord,  Adam. 
Layton,  Charles. 
Lord,  Thomns. 
Mitchell,  M(^.  John. 
Moore,  Thomas. 
Moore,  John. 
Moore,  Ephraim. 
Moore,  Matthias. 
Mouse,  Wm. 
Melson,  Wm. 
Melson,  Joseph. 
Middleton,  James. 
Matthews,  Teague. 
Mitchell,  Alexander. 
Messick,  John. 
Mei«ick,  Covington. 
Mitchell,  John  (miller). 
Melson,  Jesse. 
Melson,  John. 
McGee,  Samuel. 
McWhorter,  Wm, 
Moore,  Dennis. 
Moore,  Elizabeth. 
Morgan,  Henry. 
Morgan,  ElUah. 
Melson,  Wm. 
Moore,  Jesse. 
Mesiop,  Wm. 


Moore,  Littleton. 
Neills,  James. 
Wright,  Joshua, 
O'Neal,  James. 
Outen,  Jesse. 
O'Neal,  Thomas. 
O'Neal,  Wm. 
Owens,  Wm. 
Pamunon,  Thomas. 
Polk,  John,  M.D. 
Polk,  Polly. 

Parramon,  Matthew,  Sr. 
Parramon,  Matthew,  Jr. 
Pusey,  Wm. 
Parker,  John. 
Parramon,  Patrick. 
Biggins,  Joshua. 
Biggins,  James,  est 
Bf^re,  Cornelius. 
Riggln,  Isaac. 
Reaves,  Robert. 
Smith,  Samuel. 
Short  Jonathan. 
Scroggin,  SamueL 
Shear,  John. 
Short,  Shadrach. 
Saunders,  Charity. 
Saunders,  Nathan. 
Saunders,  Jesse. 
Stockley,  Jacob. 
Sharp,  Thomas. 
Smith,  Jamw. 
Smith,  Henry. 
Smith,  Thomas. 
Short,  John. 
Smith,  Jonathan. 
Stevens,  Isaac. 
Smith,  Alexander. 
Short,  Isaac. 
Tharp,  Wm. 
Truitt,  Jamea. 
Truitt,  Thomas. 
Timmons,  Aaron. 
Tinunons,  Matthias. 
Timmons,  Aaron,  Jr. 
Timmons,  Ezekiel. 
Timmons,  John,  Sr. 
Timmons,  John,  Jr. 
Truitt,  German. 
Timmons,  George. 
Timmons,  Abraham. 
Timmons,  Eli. 
Truitt,  Jauies. 
Vauglian,  Levi. 
Yaughan,  Joseph. 
Vinson,  Beqjamin. 
Vinson,  Solomon. 
WInsor,  Joseph. 
Willing,  Joseph. 
Wright  Stephen. 
Wright,  Jeremiah. 
Wright  Jesse. 
Wainwright  Isaac 
Wingate,  Smith. 
Wallace,  Thomas. 
Wingate,  PhlUp. 
Wills,  Thomas. 
Workman,  John. 
Wyatt,  Thomas. 
Wingate,  Cannon. 


CBVRCHES.^Broad  Greek  Baptist  Church— This 
church  was  organized  May  31,  1781,  by  the  Bevs. 
Philip  Hughes  and  Elijah  Baker  and  was  the  third  of 
the  denomination  in  the  State.  At  the  start  there 
were  forty  seven  members,  who  were  Edward  Blades, 
Mary  Blades,  Joshua  Gibbins,  Anna  Gibbins,  John 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Gibbins,  Sarah  Gibbins,  Samuel  Gibbins,  Joshua 
Gibbinii,  Jr.,  William  Du^ky,  Leah  Dusky,  Edmund 
Hitchen,  Tabitha  Hitchen,  John  Benson,  Loven 
Bacon,  Adare  Bacon,  William  Mattocks,  Alexander 
Mattocks,  Sarah  Mattocks,  William  Loyd,  Sarah 
Loyd,  Edward  Noles,  Thomas  Noles,  Emanuel  Wal- 
ker, Philip  Waller,  Thomas  Grace,  Sarah  Grace, 
Thomas  Oglesby,  Sarah  Oglesby,  Rachel  Calle- 
way,  Jane  Smith,  Elizabeth  Baker,  Moses  Gordy, 
Eunice  Gordy,  Rebecca  Corwin,  Sophia  Shaha- 
vane.  Comfort  Boyce,  Sarah  Philips,  James  Per- 
due, Ann  Perdue,  William  Oliffin,  Elizabeth 
Oliphant,  Rhoda  Pointer,  Delilah  Perdue,  George 
Davis,  Mary  Davis  and  two  negroes  Neal  and 
Rachael.  In  ten  years  the  church  decreased  from 
forty-seven  to  twenty-three  by  reason  of  the  re- 
moval of  several  families  to  Georgia  and  North 
Carolina,  and  the  detachment  of  a  large  number  to 
form  Gravelly  Branch  in  1785.  Rev.  John  Gibbins 
succeeded  Messrs.  Hughes  and  Baker,  taking  charge 
of  the  church  in  1784.  He  was  born  in  the  neighbor- 
hood in  1739,  !and  died  November  6,  1786.  He  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Benson,  who  previous  to  his 
ordination  and  during  a  vacancy  in  the  pulpit  had 
read  sermons  to  the  people.  He  was  born  in  Sussex 
County,  July  22, 1758,  and  was  ordained  a  minister 
June  14, 1790,  and  took  charge  of  this  church  and  the 
one  at  Gravelly  Branch.  Rev.  Joseph  Flood  filled 
the  pulpit  from  August  11, 1792.  Flood  was  a  native 
of  the  Welsh  Tract.  No  church  building  was  erected 
until  about  1800,  the  meetings  prior  to  that  time 
having  been  held  in  private  houses.  The  lot  for  the 
church  was  purchased  of  John  Benston.  In  1856  the 
building  was  remodeled  and  completed.  It  never  had 
been  plastered  up  to  that  time.  The  church  is  con- 
nected with  the  Old  School  Baptist  Church.  Among 
the  ministers  who  have  officiated  there  are  Rev.  War- 
ren Slayton,  Rev.  George  Slayton,  Rev.  Thomas 
Waters,  Rev.  John  A.  Rodgers,  Rev.  Jesse  Green, 

Rev.   Ephraim    Rittenhouse, Timons,    Thomas 

Waters  and  Hosea  Boyce. 

Mt,  Zion  M,  E,  Church  is  a  continuation  of  what 
was  first  known  as  Elzy  Moore's  meeting-house,  and 
afterwards,  in  1825,  Wesley,  and  the  present  name  in 
1852,  when  the  present  church  was  formed.  The  old 
church  stood  on  the  road  towards  Bethel,  and  near 
S.  J.  Wheatley's  present  house.  The  original  church 
was  organized  in  1809.  May  19th  of  that  year 
Matthias  Moore  and  Charles  Moore  conveyed  eighty- 
one  square  perche-j  of  land,  part  of  a  tract  called 
"Man love's  Grove,"  to  Elzy  Moore,  Henry  Smith, 
Charles  Beaucamp,  Gilly  Moore,  Rubia  Martino, 
Charles  Moore  and  Cornelius  Morris.  About  1852 
the  old  building  was  torn  down,  a  part  of  the  congrega- 
tion going  to  form  Bethel,  at  town  of  Bethel,  and  the 
greater  number  to  form  Mt.  Zion.  The  old  building 
was  of  frame  and  twenty -five  by  thirty- five  feet.  The 
meetings  were  held  for  a  short  time  in  the  Washing- 
ton School -house,  and  in  1858  the  present  building 
was  erected  on  the  road  from  Seaford  to  Laurel,  at  a 


cost  of  eight  hundred  dollars.  In  1872  the  church  wu 
repaired  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars.  TIm 
trustees  of  the  church  at  present  are  T.  L.  Spicer, 
John  H.  Spicer,  J.  A.  Marvel,  Luther  T.  Moore,  Wil- 
liam O'Neal  and  H.  W.  Philips.  There  are  eighty- 
eight  members.  The  church  up  to  1868  wis  in 
various  circuits,  and  the  ministers  will  be  fonnd  in 
those  circuits.  In  the  year  1868  the  Lcwi8ville,(iiow 
Bethel)  Circuit  was  formed,  with  Bethel,  Mt.  Zion  vA 
Wallace  (an  old  appointment  that  was  shortly  after- 
wards dropped ).  Asbury  and  St.  Thomas'  were  in  for 
a  short  time  and  at  present  Bladesville,  Mt.  Zionud 
Bethel.  The  ministers  since  the  creation  of  the  cir- 
cuit, have  been  Rev.  E.  H.  Millen,  Rev.  Samuel 
Webb,  Rev.  A.  A.  Fisher,  Rev.  G.  W.  Wilcox,  Eer. 
Robert  Roe,  Rev.  W.  M.  Green,  Rev.  W.  P.  Bowen,  Eev. 
A.  T.  Melvin  and  the  present  pastor,  W.  B.  Gregg. 

Sailor's  Bethel  M,  E.  Church.— In  the  year  1856 
those  members  of  the  old  Wesley  who  lived  in 
the  vicinity  of  Lewisville  decided  to  erect  a  chorciL 
Captain  William  Wheatley,  Elijah  Coulboura,  Jere- 
miah Eskridge,  William  H.  Hearn  and  Aleunder 
W.  Hopkins  were  elected  trustees.  A  neat  buildinz 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  eleven  hundred  dollars  which 
was  used  until  the  year  1884,  when  the  present  stnic- 
ture,  one  of  the  handsomest  in  Sussex  Countj,  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  four  thousand  oniB  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars.  A.  T.  Melvin  was  the  preacher 
in  charge  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  church 
and  it  was  due  to  his  efforts  in  a  great  measure  th&t 
the  building  was  erected.  The  dedication  sermon 
was  preached  by  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Quigg.  The  church 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  has  one  hundred  and 
twenty  members.  The  present  trustees  are  WilliaiB 
T.  Moore,  Juhn  B.  Qu i lien,  George  K.  Philips,  Georp 
F.  Philips,  George  S.  Lloyd,  H.  W.  Bell,  John  P. 
Owens,  John  H.  Connelly  and  William  T.  Hopkins. 

SL  John's  M.  P.  Church.— The  town  of  Belhel  is 
also  provided  with  a  fine  church  in  the  St.  John i 
Methodist  Protestant.  It  was  built  in  1858  at  a  co^ 
of  two  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  The  land  was 
given  by  Jonathan  Moore,  who  was  one  of  the  prime 
movers  in  the  erection  and  formation.  The  trasteee  at 
present  are  S.  J.  Wheatley  and  Jonathan  Moore. 
There  is  a  membership  of  twenty.  Among  the  minis- 
ters who  have  occupied  the  pulpit  are  Rev.  G.P. 
Winner,  Rev.  J.  L.  Mills,  Rev.  John  Benston,  IUt. 
J.  E.  Nichols'^n,  Rev.  John  Straughan,  Rev.  J.  T. 
Valient,  Rev.  J.  T.  Eversole,'  Rev.  Dr.  J.  T.  Ewell, 
Rev.  J.  B.  Jones,  Rev.  H.  C.  Cushen  and  the  preaeni 
pastor,  G.  L.  Backus. 

Trinity  M,  P.  CAurcA.— This  church  is  situated  in 
the  western  end  of  the  hundred,  near  Rodney's  store, 
and  was  erected  in  the  year  1873.  The  church  w» 
formed  in  1866  and  meetings  were  held  in  the  school- 
house.  In  the  year  1873,  George  W.  McCJee  gave  land 
upon  which  to  build  a  church.  The  building  wis 
erected  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars.  The  BaiW- 
ing  Committee  were  William  H.  Rodney.  George  W. 
McGee  and  William  Mitchell.     William  H.  Bodner, 


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1289 


George  W.  McGee,  William  Mitchell,  William  S. 
WarriDgton  and  Hamilton  B.  Truitt  were  elected  a 
board  of  trustees.  The  trustees  in  1887  are  William 
H.  Rodney,  George  W.  McGee,  William  J.  West,  H. 
D.  Powell,  George  A.  Betts  and  Josiah  C.  Johnson. 
At  the  formation  of  the  church  there  were  forty 
members;  the  number  has  been  increased  to  seventy- 
five  the  present  year.  The  church  has  been  supplied 
with  ministers  from  a  circuit  composed  of  Shiloh, 
Trinity,  St.  Paul's  and  Providence  Churches.  The 
list  of  ministers  is  as  follows :  1866,  Rev.  Thomas 
H.  Burgess ;  1868.  Rev.  Jeremiah  Clay ;  1869,  Rev.  I. 
T.  Adkins ;  1871,  Rev.  William  D.  Litsinger ;  1874, 
Rev.  J.  H.  Ellegood ;  1877,  Rev.  William  A.  Crouse  ; 
1880,  Rev.  L.  J.  Lelich  (during  this  gentleman's  time 
a  fine  parsonage  was  erected);  1882,  J.  M.  Ellderdice; 
and  1884  to  '87,  J.  E.  Nicholson. 

Shiloh  M.  P.  Church, — This  church  was  erected  at 
a  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars  in  the  year  1879  upon 
land  donated  by  W.  W.  Dashiel,  of  Laurel,  and  is 
situated  on  the  Laurel  Road,  near  the  farm  of  the  late 
Robert  Lambden.  Levin  S.  Hitch  and  Reuben  James 
were  the  trustees  at  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the 
church.  At  present  there  are  sixty  members.  The 
ministers  are  given  in  the  article  upon  Trinity. 

Schools. — ^There  were  very  few  schools  of  any 
kind  in  the  hundred  prior  to  the  year  1829,  when  the 
county  was  laid  out  into  districts.  In  Elzy  Moore's 
meeting-house  a  free  school  was  conducted  for 
several  years,  and  two  or  three  subscription  schools 
were  run  in  the  hundred,  one  being  near  Concord  and 
the  other  the  predecessor  of  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Washington  School-house.  These  schools  were 
rarely  open  more  than  three  months  in  the  year.  The 
districts  laid  out  in  1829  were  Nos.  48,  44,  45,  56,  57, 
b%y  59  and  60.  Schools  were  erected  in  all  these  dis- 
tricts in  the  years  1831  and  1832 .  At  present  there 
are  eleven.  They  are  open  from  five  to  eleven  months  a 
year;  the  average  in  most  districts,  however,  is  not  over 
Biz  and  one-half  months.  The  schools  are  improving 
and  every  year  finds  them  open  for  a  longer  period. 
In  the  year  1886  there  were  four  hundred  and  eighty- 
eight  scholars  in  attendance. 

Co>KCOBD. — ^The  town  of  Concord  was  laid  out  in 
1796  on  a  tract  of  land  called  ''Partnership,"  on 
which  Pine  Grove  Furnace  was  erected.  The 
company  established  a  settlement  here  thirty  years 
before  the  town  was  laid  out  and  made  it  for  a  time  a 
busy  hive  of  industry. 

In  1763,  soon  after  the  establishment  of  Deep  Creek 
Furnace  about  three  miles  above  the  present  town  of 
Concord,  a  company  was  organized  for  the  purpose  of 
making  iron  at  the  place  now  Concord,  on  Deep 
Creek.  A  tract  of  land  (three  hundred  and  ninety 
acres),  called  *'  Partnership,"  was  taken  up  and  a  fur- 
nace erected  called  "Pine  Grove  Furnace."  The 
company  was  composed  of  Abraham  Mitchell,  hatter; 
Thomas  and  William  Lightfoot,  merchants  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  Walter  and  Samuel  Franklin,  merchants 
of  New  York.  On  the  9th  of  November,  1768,  Wal- 
82 


ter  and  Samuel  Franklin  bought  two- fifths  interest  in 
the  property  of  the  others.  This  deed  recites  that 
the  "  company  had  purchased  several  tracts  of  land 
and  procured  sundry  warrants  for  others  and  located 
some  parcels  thereon  in  ye  counties  of  Worcester, 
Dorsett  and  Summersett,  in  Maryland,  now  likely  to 
belong  under  ye  government  of  New  Castle,  Kent  and 
Sussex,  on  Delaware,  in  ye  county  of  Sussex,  all 
which  tracts  of  land  and  warrants  have  been  pro- 
cured for  ye  use  and  promotion  of  Pine  Grove  Fur- 
nace, now  erected  on  Deep  Creek."  It  is  also  recited 
that  on  the  tract  was  ''ye  furnace,  saw-mill,  grist- 
mill, domo  houses  and  buildings.'*  A  tract  of  two 
acres,  called  ''Adam's  Folly,"  embracing  the  mill 
pond,  was  near  the  tract.  "New  Ireland ;  "fi  ve  hundred 
acres  lay  west  of  the  Furnace  Tract  or  "Partner- 
ship." "Cook's  Chance,"  two  hundred  acres,  was 
in  Broadkill  Forest  and  eight  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
in  Care's  Neck,  on  Gravelly  Branch,  in  Nanticoke 
Hundred,  on  which,  in  later  years,  Collins'  Forge  was 
built;  also  the  interest  "of  all  ye  iron  ore  and 
mines"  in  a  tract  called  "Mile's  End,"  of  three 
hundred  acres,  and  one  hundred  acres,  part  of  a  tract 
called  "  Pilson's  Lot,"  both  on  Barren  Creek,  in  what 
is  now  Wicomico  County,  Maryland,  with  privil^e 
to  dig  and  carry  away  all  ores  obtained  thereon.  The 
company  also  had  rights  in  several  warrants  from  the 
Penns  not  then  located,  one  dated  August  29, 1764, 
which  called  for  two  thousand  acres  near  Deep 
Creek;  one  for  five  thousand  acres  between  Deep 
Creek,  Broad  Creek,  Nanticoke  River  and  Stony 
Branch ;  and  five  other  warrants  granted  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  Maryland  for  different  quantities  of  land. 
But  little  is  known  concerning  the  operation  of  the 
company,  except  that  business  was  vigorously  con- 
ducted until  the  blockading  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay 
during  the  Revolution,  when  work  was  suspended,  as 
were  all  the  furnaces  and  forges  in  the  vicinity.  The 
company  built  a  road  from  the  furnace  to  the  landing 
at  the  point  in  later  years  known  as  Outten's  Landing, 
to  which  place  the  iron  was  drawn  and  loaded  in 
vessels  and  shipped  to  Scotland  and  England. 

The  landing  was  directly  opposite  "  Old  Meadow," 
the  landing-place  of  the  Deep  Creek  Furnace  Com- 
pany, this  being  the  highest  point  to  which  vessels 
could  come  up  the  Nanticoke.  It  was  still  later  called 
"Calloway's  Harbor."  On  the  8th  of  March,  1778, 
Walter  Franklin  purchased  the  remaining  fifth  inter- 
est of  the  furnace,  and  became  the  sole  proprietor 
"  with  all  houses,  edifices,  mills,  mill-seats  and  fur- 
naces." The  employees  of  the  fiirnace  joined  the  army, 
the  same  as  those  of  other  furnaces,  and  the  business 
was  abandoned.  Walter  Franklin  died  in  1778,  and 
his  executor,  Samuel  Franklin,  November  12,  1791, 
sold  the  rights  of  the  heirs  to  the  property  to  Ebenezer 
Gracey,  of  Darby,  Connecticut,  and  Theophilus 
Brower,  of  New  York,  both  merchants.  On  the  8th 
of  August,  1793,  "  all  those  certain  iron  works  called 
Pine  Grove  Furnace,"  with  the  lands  belonging  there- 
to, were  sold  to  Seth  Griffith  and  William  Elgate 


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1290 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Hitch.  The  mills  were  still  in  operation,  a  distillery 
was  added,  in  1796  the  town  of  CJoncord  was  laid  out 
around  the  little  settlement,  the  name  of  *^  Pine  Grove 
Furnace ''  was  entirely  abandoned,  and  the  thriving 
village  took  its  place.  The  interest  of  William  £. 
Hitch  passed  to  Thomas  Laws  in  September,  1796, 
who  in  the  same  year,  with  Seth  GriflSth,  laid  out  the 
town.  The  road  crossed  over  the  dam,  and  when  it 
passed  through  the  town  was  named  Washington 
Street ;  the  mill  and  distillery  was  on  the  west  side  of 
the  road.  A  street  on  the  east  side,  parallel  with 
Washington,  was  named  Green,  on  which  was  one 
house,  and  between  Washington  and  Green  Streets 
was  a  large  mansion-house.  Parallel  with  Washing- 
ton Street  west  was  Liberty  Alley,  between  which  was 
a  block  extending  to  Market  Street,  on  which  were 
two  houses,  and  one  house  still  west  to  Shippen  Street, 
which  was  the  last  street  west  'and  joined  William 
Anderson  and  Elzy  Spicer's  lands,  which  were  sold  to 
them  by  Griffith  and  Hitch,  August  15,  1796,  and 
upon  them  their  respective  houses  stood.  The  old 
landing-place,  about  two  miles  below  and  known  in 
later  years  as  Outten  Landing,  also  Cherry  Tree 
Landing,  was  sold  by  Griffith  and^aws  to  John  Out- 
ten, January  11, 1797.  The  streets  running  at  right 
angles  with  Washington  were  First,  8econ4  and 
Third.  There  were  in  all  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine 
lots  laid  out,  mostly  sixty  by  one  hundred  and  ninety- 
eight  feet.  On  the  17th  of  June,  1803,  Griffith  and 
Laws  sold  to  Robert  Boyce  fifty -two  lots  in  the  town. 
Thomas  Laws  sold  the  tan-yard  and  store  and  lots  to 
John  Houston,  son  of  Robert,  who  continued  the  tan- 
yard  and  store  at  the  place  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  Dr.  Robert  G.  Ellegood.  J<'hn  Houston  also  built 
schooners,  one  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  burthen, 
at  or  near  the  Pine  Grove  Furnace.  They  were  light- 
ered down  to  Cherry  Tree  or  Outten's  Landing.  In 
this  house  Judge  John  W.  Houston  and  Dr.  David 
Houston  were  born.  John  Houston  continued  in 
business  until  his  death,  in  1828.  Seth  Griffith  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Robert  Houston,  and  a  sister  of 
John.  Joshua  Ellegood  married  Ann  Griffith,  daugh- 
ter of  Seth  Griffith.  Dr.  Robert  G.  Ellegood  is  their 
son. 

Thomas  Laws  removed  to  Philadelphia  and  was 
engaged  in  the  leather  business  in  that  city,  and 
Houston  shipped  his  hides  to  him. 

Seth  Griffith  had  a  tavern  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Washington  Streets,  where  he  lived  and  died  in 
1814.  The  tavern  had  been  in  operation  before  1800. 
The  first  store  was  opened  soon  after  1800  by  Seth 
Griffith  and  John  Bell,  and  was  on  the  corner  of 
Washington  and  Main  Streets,  and  the  store-house  is 
still  standing  in  the  rear  of  the  present  store-house 
of  G.  A.  Phillips  &  Brother.  M.  Stewart  and  John 
Jefferson  had  an  interest  in  the  mill  and  store  later.  On 
Water  and  Market  Streets  was  a  store  (still  standing) 
which  was  later  kept  by  Boyce  &  Phillips  and  L.H. 
Smith.  A  store  was  kept  in  1831  by  Alfred  Cottingham 
on  Washington  and  Main  Streets ;  it  was  burned  down 


in  1844.  Lewis  Spicer*s  store  was  on  the  south  ndeof 
Main  Street  as  early  as  1830.  It  was  later  owned  bj 
Joseph  Neal,  George  W.  Collins  and  Samuel  JdTer- 
son  in  1844,  and  last  by  Phillips  &  Morgan.  It  u 
now  a  dwelling. 

The  Mill  and  Distillery  (the  latter  of  which 
was  suspended  about  1820),  and  the  mill  pairoiDg  to 
Alexander  White  and  Edward  Dougherty  before  1816. 
One- half  interest  was  owned  by  Robert  Boyce,  and 
an  interest  was  owned  by  Michael  Stewart.  In  183S 
it  passed  to  Joseph  Chip  man,  who  continued  it  until 
his  death,  in  18^.  It  was  then  sold  to  George  W. 
Green,  who  kept  a  store  and  run  the  mill.  Green 
sold  to  G^rge  Vincent,  who  continued  it  uuiil  Sep- 
tember, 1872,  when  it  was  sold  to  Isaac  and  James  W. 
Cannon,  the  present  owners ;  the  store  of  Jesse  Green 
was  run  from  1810  until  his  death  in  1834.  John  Hoot- 
ton,  Esq.«  also  had  a  store  before  1810  and  many  yean 
later  in  the  house  already  mentioned  as  occupied  b; 
him. 

In  1809  the  following  persons  were  lot-owners  in 
Concord  :  John  Fletcher,  one  house  and  lot ;  hein 
of  James  George,  one  house  and  two  lots;  Jene 
Green,  Seth  Griffith,  Robert  Boyce,  Levin  Slisait, 
Michael  Stuart  and  John  Jefferson. 

The  Jesse  Green  mentioned  was  bom  January  12, 
1766.  He  descended  from  Thomas  Green  and  w»  a 
lineal  descendant  of  George  Calvert,  the  first  Loid 
Baron  of  Baltimore.  Thomas  Green  came  to  this 
country  with  Lord  Baltimore  wad  married  hia  daugk- 
ter.  Lady  Winifred.  Jesse  Green  came  to  this  coun- 
try from  Alexander,  July,  1790,  and  married  a  Mia. 
Ruchanon,  who  soon  after  died,  leaving  one  sob, 
Willia  m,  who  died  many  years  ago.  He  later  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  the  granddaughter  of  Col.  Jeha 
Gunby,  of  the  Revolution,  and  who  lived  at  Snow  HilL 
His  son  James  lived  between  Millsboro'  and  Goncoid. 
Green  settled  first  at  Seafbrd.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  he  returned  to  Alexandria,  and  was  engaged 
in  merchandising.  He  remained  but  a  short  time, 
however,  and  returned  and  settled  at  Concord,  and 
engaged  in  merchandising  and  shipping.  He  amassed 
considerable  wealth,  owning  over  three  thousand  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  sdjn- 
tant-general  of  the  State  militia  for  a  number  of  yean 
and  served  thirty-one  years  in  the  General  Assembly, 
the  longest  term  ever  known.  He  was  Speaker.  He 
died  in  1834,  and  is  buried  in  Concord.  The  old 
mansion  house  is  still  standing. 

A  post-office  has  been  established  here  for  years. 
Among  those  who  have  been  postmasters  are  George 
Grimes,  Joseph  Neal,  Isaac  Adams,  G^rge  W.  0^- 
lins,  Isaac  P.  Jefferson,  John  S.  Smith,  Jacob  W. 
Morgan,  James  H.  Radcliff,  James  Butler,  J.  M.  Out- 
ten and  James  T.  Smith. 

Concord  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, — This  church 
was  formed  in  tbe  year  1804.  August  24th  of  that  year 
Robert  Boyce  conveyed  to  John  Jefierson,  Elgah 
Morgan,  Arabel  Philips,  Adam  Short,  Covington  M«i- 
sick,  John  Lord,  John  Culbrey,  Charles  Brown  asd 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1291 


Thomas  Truitt  two  lots,  seventy- eight  by  peventy-nine 
feet,  ".  in  village  of  CJoncord,  on  Deep  Creek,"  which 
was  nearly  fronting  the  school-house.  It  embraced 
three-eighths  of  an  acre.  The  church  was  then  stand- 
ing and  in  use.  The  Old  church  was  unfinbhed  for 
many  years,  and  in  the  year  1841  was  torn  down  and 
rebuilt  with  the  entrance  changed  from  the  east  side 
to  the  north.  In  1870  this  church  was  torn  down  and 
October  9,  1870,  the  present  building  was  dedicated. 
Services  were  held  by  the  Revs.  J.  B.  Merritt,  R.  Todd 
and  J.  O.  Sypherd.  The  church  has  been  supplied 
with  pastors  from  Dover,  Milford,  Seaford,  Bridgeville 
and  Cannon's.  The  ministers  will  be  found  in  articles 
upon  those  circuits. 

There  are  two  schools  in  the  town.  The  one  on 
the  north  side,  in  District  58,  was  erected  in  1804  and 
is  still  standing.  The  one  on  the  south  side  was  erect- 
ed in  1864.  There  are  now  three  general  stores,  black- 
emith  and  wheelwright  shop,  and  grist  and  stave-mill 
and  a  population  of  three  hundred  persons. 

Fhysidans.—lyr.  Thomas  Adams,  member  of  the 
Convention  of  1831,  came  to  Concord  about  1825,  and 
died  here  in  1846.  Dr.  Waitman  Jones  succeeded  him, 
and  prior  to  his  practicing  medicine  Dr.  Jones  taught 
in  schools  all  over  the  country.  Dr.  James  Fisher  was 
here  in  1848,  and  died  in  1860. 

Robert  Griffith  Ellegood  was  born  March  15,  1828. 
BEe  is  a  descendant  of  William  Ellegood,  a  native  of 
Wales,  who  emigrated  from  Wales  to  the  eastern 
shore  of  Virginia  in  1750,  but  removed,  shortly  after- 
wards, near  Concord  and  took  up  a  number  of  tracts 
of  land  and  died  in  1790.  Four  sons,  Thomas,  John, 
William  and  Robert,  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Sally 
Hitch,  survive  him. 

Robert  Ellegood  was  the  grandfather  of  the  ^ubject 
of  this  sketch.  He  married  Mary  B.  Adkinson,  of  St. 
Mary's  County,  Maryland.  Four  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  viz. :  William,  Joshua  A.,  Thomas  and 
Sarah.  The  father  of  Dr.  Robert  Q.  was  Joshua  A., 
born  on  the  old  homestead  in  1789.  He  died  in  1845, 
and  was  a  man  of  influence,  having  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  for  fourteen  years.  He  married 
Miss  Ann  Griffith,  daughter  of  Col.  Seth  and  Nancy 
(Houston)  Griffith. 

Dr.  Ellegood  attended  the  district  schools  until 
fourteen  years  of  age,  after  which  he  spent  three 
years  at  the  Laurel  Academy.  The  death  of  his 
father  prevented  his  completing  his  educational  plans 
until  he  had  reached  his  twenty-first  year,  when  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  James  H. 
Fisher.  He  graduated  from  the  Pennsylvania  Medi- 
cal College  in  1852  and  opened  an  office  in  the  home 
of  his  birth  where  his  ability  has  won  for  him  a 
position  of  prominence  in  the  medical  profession  of 
the  State  and  country.  His  medical  brethren  have 
elected  him  president  of  the  County  and  State  Medi- 
cal Association  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  American 
Medical  Associations.  In  public  affairs  he  has  held 
an  honored  position  in  the  councils  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.    He  has  represented  his  hundred  in  the 


Legislature  and  has  held  the  position  of  Auditor  of 
Accounts  for  three  terms,  conducting  the  business 
with  signal  ability.  In  State  and  County  Conven- 
tions he  has  been  a  prominent  figure.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Health.  The  Doctor 
is  also  extensively  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  mar- 
ried July  28,  1858,  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Nutter  and  Margaret  Cannon.  The  doctor  has  two 
sons  in  practice,  Robert,  at  home  in  Concord,  and 
Joshua  A.,  who  has  acquired  a  large  practice  in  Laurel. 

Bethel. — The  town  of  Bethel  up  to  January  7, 
1880,  was  known  as  Lewiiville,  when  it  was  made  a 
post-office  and  William  T.  Moore  appointed  post- 
master. Kendall  Lewis,  a  sailor,  was  probably  the 
founder  of  the  town.  In  the  early  part  of  the  pres- 
eilt  century  he  built  a  wharf  at  this  point,  which  was 
known  for  years  as  Lewis'  Wharf  and  afterwards  as 
Lewisville.  It  was  a  great  shipping  point  to  Balti- 
more for  all  the  section  for  miles  about,  as  many  as 
fifteen  vessels  plying  between  here  and  Baltimore. 
William  Whiteley  had  a  small  store  for  a  short  time. 
Byard  Moore  opened  a  store  about  1841  and  was 
succeeded  by  Thomas  Knowles,  who  is  now  succeeded 
by  J.  B.  Quillen  &  Company.  The  little  town  is 
a  thriving  place  and  the  most  important  of  its  size 
on  the  Peninsula.  There  are  four  general  stores. 
The  building  of  boats  has  been  carried  on  to  some 
extent  since  1866,  when  John  Windsor  built  several 
boats.  Jonathan  Cathell  built  boats  after  him.  The 
present  enterprise,  George  K.  Philips  &  Company 
(George  K.  Philips,  John  M.  C.  Moore  and  William 
T.  Moore)  is  the  most  important  south  'ef  Wilming- 
ton. They  have  the  only  marine  railwisty  south  of  Wil- 
mington. It  was  put  in  in  1869  and  will  hold  ves- 
sels of  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  tons  burthen. 
They  have  built  ten  boats.  Their  work,  however,  is 
mostly  repairing.  The  firm  have  also  a  planing  and 
saw-mill  annexed,  with  a  capacity  for  sawing  hye 
thousand  feet  and  dressing  five  thousand  feet  a  day. 
The  saw-mill  was  put  in  in  1885.  They  employ 
twenty  hands  and  have  a  capital  of  eight  thousand 
dollars.  The  town  has  a  fine  school  building,  erected 
in  1886,  with  an  attendance  of  fifty  scholars. 

The  Indian  Hill  Tribe,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, 
was  organized  October  8,  1883,  and  incorporated  at 
the  Legislature  of  1887.  The  first  officers  were  : 
Prophet,  William  T.  Moore;  Sachem,  James  H. 
Wright ;  Senior  Sagamore,  James  B.  Conoway ;  Chief 
of  Records,  John  M.  C.  Moore ;  Keeper  of  Wampum, 
J.  B.  Quillen.  The  officers  for  the  term  ending  April 
4,  1888,  are :  Prophet,  Isaac  T.  Hearn  ;  Sachem,  F.  S. 
Burford ;  Senior  Sagamore,  S.  J.  Wheatley ;  Junior 
Sagamore,  H.  W.  Phillips  ;  Chief  of  Records,  James 
B.  Conaway;  and  Keeper  of  Wampum,  John  B. 
Quillen.    There  is  a  membership  of  twenty. 

Sycamore  Store  was  established  in  1837  by  Philip 
Short,  and  has  since  been  kept  by  Henry  Hudson, 
Robert  Frame,  Dr.  William  S.  Hitch,  Noah  Jones, 
Smith  Hitchens,  Jr.,  Thomas  Dukes,  George  W. 
Bryan,  who  was  made  a  postmaster  in  June,  1887. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Milli. — ^The  excellent  mill  facilities  afforded  by  the 
streams  in  the  hundred  were  early  taken  advantage 
of,  and  mills  sprung  up  on  most  all  the  streams  almost 
as  soon  as  the  settlements  were  made ;  indeed,  a  great 
many  of  the  early  settlements  were  made  in  the 
vicinity  of  Bull's  Mills,  as  it  has  been  known  for  sev- 
eral years  back.  These  are  probably  the  oldest  of  any 
mills  in  the  hundred.  These  mills  are  situated  near 
the  head  of  Broad  Creek,  and  Gray's  Branch.  Joseph 
Collins  built  the  mills  prior  to  1760,  and  they  con- 
tinued in  his  possession  until  about  1780.  The  mill- 
seat  had  originally  been  granted  to  John  Philips,  and 
afterwards  to  Ezekiel  Timmons.  August  12,  1786, 
John  Collins,  the  son  of  Joseph,  conveyed  in  all  four 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  including  the  mill-lot, 
grist  and  two  saw-mills,  these  including  what  was 
afterwards  known  as  the  Melson  Mills,  to  his  son, 
Joseph  S.  Collins ;  the  latter  owner  was  the  father  of 
Betty  Scroggin,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Scroggin,  who 
sold  the  mill  to  Manaen  Bull,  September  22,  1794. 
Nathaniel  Mitchell  had  an  interest  in  the  property 
for  a  short  time,  but  it  was  of  short  duration.  John 
Hopkins  owned  the  mills  after  Bull,  and  then  James 
Hopkins  owned  a  two-thirds  interest,  and  Spicer 
White  one-third  interest,  and  then  the  next  owners 
were  Isaac  Hopkins  and  Henry  R.  Pepper.  The  pres- 
ent owners  are  William  M.  Boyce,  James  Rawlins 
and  William  Whaley.  The  saw-mill  went  down 
about  five  years  ago.  The  capacity  of  the  grist-mill 
is  about  fifty  bushels  a  day. 

The  Melson  MiUs  are  situated  above  the  Bull  Mill, 
and  were  built  about  the  same  time  by  Collins.  They 
came  into  possession  of  James  and  William  Melson, 
after  Joseph  and  John  Melson ;  they  have  always  been 
saw-mills,  with  the  exception  that  John  Melson 
built  a  grist-mill,  which  was  only  operated  during 
his  lifetime.  Joseph  Melson  held  one-half  interest 
and  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  John 
Melson  the  other  half  and  five  hundred  and  fifty 
acres.  James  Conoway  and  Ebe  Walters  were  owners 
for  a  time.  About  twenty-five  years  ago  the  "  Little 
Mill "  was  owned  by  John  Rodney,  of  David,  and  then 
Robert  Rojjney.  The  "  Big  Mill "  came  to  William  J. 
Warington  and  Robert  Lamden.  The  small  mill 
stopped  in  1882.  George  W,  M^ee  is  now  running 
the  large  mill. 

Chipman's  Mills  is  situated  about  two  miles  from 
Laurel,  near  the  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  built  by 
John  Chipmen  about  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century.  They  include  a  saw-mill,  grist-mill  and  card- 
ing-machine.  John  Chipman  transferred  his  interest 
to  his  son,  Joseph  Chipman,  in  1832.  The  mills  are 
now  owned  by  John  H.  and  William  Chipman,  great- 
grandchildren of  John  Chipman.  The  carding-ma- 
chine  was  built  by  Joseph  Chipman,  who  also  ran  a 
grist-mill.  The  present  grist-mill  was  built  by  the 
present  proprietors  in  1884,  and  has  a  capacity  of 
fifty  bushels  per  day,  the  carding-machine  seventy- 
five  pounds,  and  the  saw-mill  eight  hundred  feet. 
Warren*s  or  Hitches  Mill  was   situated  on  Broad 


Creek,  about  one  mile  below  the  forge.  It  came  into 
the  possession  of  Caleb  Roes,  father  of  Governor  Boas, 
who  purchased  of  Nelly  Warren,  and  in  1804  it  was 
sold  to  William  Hitch.  The  mill  has  been  out  of  loe 
since  1880.  Among  the  other  old  mills  in  the  hao* 
dred  that  are  now  out  of  use  are  Short's  Mill,  which 
went  down  in  1860,  and  is  situated  a  short  disttnce 
from  Concord  ;  John  Grace's  mill,  that  went  down 
seventy  years  ago ;  the  Elliot  Mill  which  was  owned 
by  Meshack  Elliot,  and  which  included  a  saw  and 
grist-mill  and  carding-machine,  and  was  situated  on 
the  same  stream  as  Chipman's  mill,  went  down 
over  forty  years  ago  ;  the  Nathan  Saunders  nw- 
mill,  situated  down  the  stream  below  the  Hudson 
and  Matthews  mill,  was  in  existence  in  1800 ;  and 
Vinson's  mill,  which  in  1816  was  owned  by  Mirr 
Vinson,  and  which  was  built  as  early  as  1790,  is 
entirely  gone.    It  included  a  saw  and  grist-mill 

WhiU  Oak  Steam  SaW'MiU.^Thx^  mill  is  located 
one  mile  from  Sycamore,  and  seven  fh>m  Laurel,  and 
was  started  by  B.  H .  El  liott.  It  was  afterwards  owned 
by  John  Thomson  and  Thomas  Burton.  In  1830  G. 
F.  Elliott  and  B.  H.  Elliott  came  into  possession  u 
Elliott  &  Son,  and  have  been  running  it  since  that 
time  about  six  months  in  the  year,  sawing  eight  thoa- 
sand  feet  of  lumber  a  day. 


CHAPTER  LXXIIL 

NANTIOOKE    HUNDRED. 

The  Hundred  of  Nanticoke  is  situated  in  ^e 
northwestern  part  of  Sussex  County,  and  b  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Kent  County,  Cedar  Creek  and 
Georgetown  Hundreds ;  on  the  east  by  Cedar  Creek, 
Georgetown  and  Dagsborough  Hondrtds;  on  the 
south  by  Broad  Creek  Hundred,  and  on  the  west  bj 
the  Nanticoke  River,  which  divides  it  from  North- 
west Fork  and  Seaford  Hundreds.  Its  greatest  length 
is  fifteen  miles,  and  width,  eight  miles,  embracing  an 
area  of  about  ninety-seven  square  miles,  and  a  popo- 
lation,  in  1880,  of  two  thousand  two  hundred  and 
forty-eight. 

The  hundred  takes  its  name  from  the  Nanticob 
River,  the  source  of  which  is  here.  In  old  grtnts  of 
land,  bearing  date  of  1760,  the  land  on  ^e  Deq> 
Creek  is  referred  to  as  being  in  Deep  Creek  Hundred, 
and  land  on  Maryland  grants,  Nanticoke  Hundred 
The  hundred  being  the  dividing  line  of  the  disputed 
territory  of  the  Penns  and  Lord  Baltimore,  grants 
were  made  indiscriminately  by  both  of  these  p^opri^ 
tors,  and  in  many  instances  were  for'  the  same  land 
When  the  line  was  finally  confirmed,  the  Mtrjland 
name  was  given  to  the  land  embraced  in  both  the  old 
hundreds. 

The  soil  is  a  sandy  loam,  and  in  the  northtm  part 
there  is  a  good  clay  sub-soil.  The  Nanticoke  and  iti 
branches,  the  principal  of  which  are  St.  John's,  Ow", 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1293 


GraTelly,  Deep  Creek  and  Tuska,  traverse  every  sec- 
tion of  the  hundred,  and  furnish  excellent  irrigation. 
A  peculiarity  of  these  streams  is  that  their  north  and 
west  banks  are  hard  clay  or  a  stiff  soil  of  clay  and 
sand,  while  the  south  and  east  banks  are  very  loose 
and  sandy.  The  small  fruits  are  cultivated  and  raised 
in  abundance.  The  com  yield  is  very  large.  Large 
quantities  of  iron  ore  exist,  but  there  being  fifty  per 
cent  of  foreign  matter,  its  mining  is  unprofitable. 
The  settlement  is  sparse,  and,  as  a  result,  there  was  a 
number  of  large  farms,  a  great  deal  of  which  have 
not  been  cultivated  to  any  extent.  The  division  of 
these  lands  into  smaller  tracts  has  already  shown  good 
results.  All  the  land  west  of  Deep  Creek  was  for 
many  years  a  vast  forest  of  pine  and  oak.  Much 
valuable  timber  has  been  taken  out  and  shipped,  a 
great  amount  of  land  has  been  cleared  and  is  under 
caltivation,  but  large  quantities  of  pine  still  remain. 

The  cultivation  of  peaches  and  apples  is  not  en- 
gaged in  to  the  same  extent  as  other  near  localities. 
In  1796  there  were  several  large  apple-orchards. 
John  Sharp,  with  three  hundred  trees ;  Peter  Jackson, 
one  hundred,  and  William  Jones,  Elisha  Evans,  and 
Isaac  Fisher  were  among  the  growers.  From  these 
apples  large  quantities  of  apple  brandy  were  manu- 
factured, several  of  the  growers  named  having  dis- 
tilleries, and  shipping  Nortii.  Tobacco  and  sugar- 
cane were  produced  quite  extensively,  but  their 
cultivation  has  been  discontinued  since  the  early  part 
of  the  present  century. 

Nanticoke  was  one  of  the  principal  slave-holding 
localities  from  an  early  date.  The  assessment  roll  of 
1796  shows  two  hundred  and  ninety-seven  males  of 
age,  and  that  of  1816,  over  four  hundred.  At  the 
time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  the  number 
was  small,  most  of  whom  were  engaged  in  domestic 
occupations.  The  hundred  is  without  railway  and 
water  communication.  The  line  of  the  proposed  Sus- 
sex Midland  Railroad  passes  through  it. 

Early  Settlements. — It  is  with  considerable 
difficulty  that  the  early  settlers  and  their  locations 
in  this  hundred  can  be  ascertained.  Being  disputed 
territory,  grants  were  made  both  by  Lord  Baltimore 
and  Penn ;  and  its  boundaries  being  uncertain,  grants 
about  the  banning  of  the  eighteenth  century  were 
made  as  being  in  Cedar  Creek  and  Broadkiln  Hun- 
dred, which  evidently,  by  bounds  extended  westward, 
embraced  this  territory.  Prior  to  1706  there  were 
very  few  settlers,  if  any,  in  the  hundred.  The  first 
grant  of  land  of  which  there  is  any  record  is  one  on 
a  warrant  from  Lord  Baltimore,  July  15,  1695,  to 
George  Layfield.  It  was  for  five  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  "  on  the  main  branch  of  the  Nanticoke, 
in  a  neck  called  Great  Neck,  formerly  Smith's  Neck 
and  adjoining  Francis  Newbold*s  Unity  Forge  Tract. 
The  land  was  called 'Truthful  Plain,'''  and  March 
19,  1777,  Charles  Polk  purchased  it  of  Isaac  Layfield. 
He  also  purchased  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of 
it  from  Sarah  Newbold,  January  26,  1793.  This 
land  is  near  what  was  known  as  Polk's  Bridge,  which 


crossed  Gum  Branch  near  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Sewall  C.  Biggs.  A  few  years  ago  a  large  portion  of 
this  tract  came  in  possession  of  Mrs.  S.  M.  Lay  ton. 
On  this  Layton  land  is  the  old  brick  mansion  built 
by  Charles  Polk,  who  bought  of  Layfield,  and  who 
was  the  father  of  Governor  Charles  Polk,  and  him- 
self a  lieutenant  in  Col.  David  Hall's  regiment  of 
the  Revolutionary  Army.  Following  this  warrant 
were  two  from  William  Penn,  one  dated  May  80, 1705, 
to  John  Lofley,  for  two  hundred  acres  of  land  "ly- 
ing on  ye  head  of  ye  beaver  dam,  which  proceedeth 
out  of  Nanticoke,"  and  another  of  September  10  of 
the  same  year  to  John  Bennett,  for  200  acres,  described 
as  being  "  in  forest,  and  lying  between  ye  heads  of 
Sowbridge  Swamps  and  ye  Swamps  of  ye  Bever  dam 
of  Nanticoke."  This  land  was  formerly  owned  by 
James  Carlisle.  Both  Bennett  and  Lofley  were  from 
the  eastern  part  of  the  State ;  and  many  who  settled 
in  this  hundred  were  early  settlers  in  the  older  and 
better  known  parts  of  the  State.  But  those  who  set- 
tled under  Penn  warrants  only  occupied  small  tracts 
near  the  lines  of  Broadkiln  and  Cedar  Creek  Hun- 
dred. The  western  part,  or  nearly  three-quarters  of 
the  area  of  the  present  territory  embraced,  was  set- 
tled by  old  families  from  Maryland  and  Virginia  on 
Lord  Baltimore's  patents.  The  Polks,  Lay  tons, 
Adamses,  Nutters,  Ricords,  Richards  and  Jacobs,whose 
names  appear  so  often  in  grants  of  land  in  this  and 
Northwest  Fork  Hundreds,  and  who  are  still  numerous 
in  the  State,  are  of  this  class.  Of  the  Polks,  who  were 
the  largest  holders,  an  account  will  be  found  in  the 
chapter  on  Northwest  Fork  Hundred.  The  Polks, 
Laytons  and  Adamses  had  settled  in  Virginia  as  early 
as  1660,  and  about  1725  they  immigrated  here,  and 
an  old  family  tradition  says  that  the  reason  of  their 
migration  was  that  a  number  of  Indians  in  that 
section  of  the  country  had  been  in  Virginia  and 
furnished  glowing  accounts  of  the  fertility  of  the 
soil  and  told  wonderful  stories  of  the  great  timber 
and  its  rapid  growth.  The  settlers  purchased  some  of 
their  lands  from  these  Indians,  and  then  secured  pat- 
ents from  Lord  Baltimore.  When  the  line  between 
the  States  was  definitely  settled,  in  1775,  it  became 
necessary  for  all  these  old  settlers  to  have^warrants  of 
resurvey  granted  by  the  Penns,  and  when  doing  this 
they  took  up  large  tracts  of  vacant  land,  which,  at 
the  time,  embraced  one-half  of  the  hundred.  The 
settlement  of  the  line  also  brought  a  large  ^number  ot 
new  settlers  from  the  North,  the  bay  shore  and  f^om 
England,  and  families  which  are  now  well-known  and 
numerous  first  appeared  about  this  time. 

On  November  10, 1722,  Charles  Nutter,  the  pioneer 
of  that  family,  obtained  a  warrant  from  Lord  Balti- 
more for  two  hundred  and  forty-three  acres  of  land 
called  "  Noble  Quarter,"  situated  on  the  Bee  Branch 
that  issues  out  of  the  northwest  side  of  the  northeast 
fork  of  the  Nanticoke.  This  land  was  resurveyed  to 
Tilghman  Layton  in  1796,  and  renamed  Tilghman's 
R^ulation.  This  land  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the 
Layton  family. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


*' John's  Venture"  was  surveyed  March  31,  1727, 
for  John  Caldwell,  who  came  from  Somerset  County, 
Maryland.  There  were  five  hundred  and  eighty-six 
acres  in  the  tract,  and  it  is  described  as  being  '*  on  the 
south  side  of  Tusky  Branch.thatissueth  out  of  the  north- 
east fork  of  the  Nanticoke  River."  Eighty-six  acres 
of  this  tract  came  into  the  possession  of  John  Richards 
in  1827.  This  tract  is  the  same  that  was  lately  owned 
by  N.  Ratcliff  and  Mrs.  J.  A.  Hall.  "Double  Pur- 
chase," adjoining  "  John's  Venture,"  was  surveyed  for 
Philip  Richards,  October  16, 1781,  on  the  north  of  the 
"  Tusky  Branch,"  and  "  Conclusion  "  also  to  him,  and 
adjoins  "  Double  Purchase,"  May  9, 1744. 

Joseph  Shankland,  in  1734,  was  granted  two  hundred 
acres  on  the  east  side  of  Green  Branch,  one  of  the 
branches  that  lead  out  of  Deep  Creek,  and  is  known 
by  custom  as  Indian  Cabin  Branch,  and  was  adjoin- 
ing the  lands  of  John  Davis,  Jacob  Stockley  and 
Daniel  Prentice,  and  extended  to  a  branch  called 
Little  Neck  Branch.  These  lands  came  into  the  pos- 
session of  Charles  Polk,  and  were  sold  by  him  to 
Samuel  Richards  and  Edward  Smith,  November  18, 
1823,  who  procured  them  with  a  view  of  taking  out 
the  bog  ore  Adjoining  "  Double  Purchase,"  May  9, 
1744.  David  Polk  had  the  tract  Limbrick,  containing 
three  hundred  acres,  surveyed  to  him  March,  1750. 
This  land  is  on  the  side  of  the  Walker  Mill  Pond,  and 
is  now  in  large'  part  owned  by  A.  B.,  S.  C.  and  W. 
D.  Fisher. 

February  27,  1767,  Jonathan  Vaughan  &  Co.,  the 
iron  masters  (a  full  account  of  whom  is  given),  took 
out  their  patents  for  the  following  tracts  :  Indian 
Oabbin  Branch,  one  hundred  and  twenty  six  acres ; 
Stony  Branch,  one  hundred  and  thirty -seven  acres ; 
Iron  Works,  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  John  Cald- 
well must  have  had  an  interest  in  these  lands  at  one 
time  prior,  for  the  patent  recites  "that  John  Caldwel  1 
did,  on  the  2d  of  April,  1728,  assign  to  Levin  Yates, 
Major  Robert  King,  of  Somerset  County,  Maryland, 
Archibald  Smith  and  Alexander  Draper,  of  Sussex 
County,  interests  in  all  these  tracts  The  company 
brought  large  numbers  of  laborers  with  them,  who 
settled  about  here,  the  land  still  being  in  their 
hands,  at  the  time  of  the  division  of  lands,  Janu- 
ary 28,  1802,  when  the  company  lands  passed  to 
the  following  persons:  "Ezekiels'  Chance,"  ninety- 
seven  acres,  to  Jordel  Lane;  "Ingram's  Lot,"  fifty  acres, 
to  Jacob  Ingram  ;  "  Smith's  Lot,"  one  hundred  acres, 
to  David  Smith ;  "  Chance,"  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres,  to  Thomas  Jones ;  "  Brown's  Inheritance,"  fifty 
acres,  to  Charles  Banister ;  Banister's  Addition,  forty- 
six  acres,  also  to  Banister ;  Forked  Neck,  three  hun- 
dred acres,  to  I.  Jenkins ;  "  Iron  Works,"  five  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  to  Johi\  Caldwell ;  "  Indian  Cabin 
Branch, "  one  hundred  and  twenty  -  six  acres,  and 
"  Willen's  Adventure,"  fifty  acres,  to  Charles  Willen. 
These  lands  were  originally  taken  out  on  Maryland 
warrants  that  had  become  escheated,  and  are  the  same 
as  those  now  owned  by  William  Fleetwood,  Edward 
Heard,  Elijah  Oliphant,  S.  A.  Lamden,  Mrs.  John  M. 


Rawlins,  of  Georgetown,  Mrs.  Sally  Jones,  Thomas  A. 
Allen,  J.  C.  Short  and  B.  H.  Tindall. 

A  tract  described  as  in  the  extreme  southwest  comer 
of  Cedar  Creek,  called  "  Gum  Neck,"  was  warranted 
March  19,  1747,  to  John  Collins.  This  land  is  on 
the  Gum  Branch  of  the  Nanticoke,  and  contains  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  acres,  parts  of  which  are 
owned  by  Isaac  C.  Webb's  heirs  and  Samuel  Clen- 
daniel. 

Robert  Moody,  on  a  patent  bearing  date  Septem- 
ber 4, 1754,  took  up  the  tract  of  **  Lynn,"  located 
near  Knowles'  Cross-Roads.  This  land  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Philip  Marvel,  who,  with  several  other 
members  of  his  family,  had  come  from  Indian  River 
and  Lewes  and  Rehoboth  Hundreds  about  1760. 
This  tract  is  now  owned  by  Josiah  P.  Marvel.  Sev- 
eral small  tracts  adjoining  this  were  taken  up  by  the 
Marvels  between  the  years  1760  and  1790. 

The  family  represented  by  Josiah  P.  Marvel  is  of 
English  extraction,  and  has  been  identified  with  the 
settlement  and  development  of  Lower  Delaware  for 
over  two  hundred  years,  owning  large  tracts  of  land 
in  Sussex  County,  and  being  among  its  leading,  most 
intelligent  and  enterprising  citizens. 

Josiah  P.  Marvel,  to  whom  this  sketch  is  chiefly 
devoted,  is  the  grandson  of  Philip  Marvel,  and  son 
of  Josiah  Marvel  and  Sovy,  daughter  of  Charles 
Tindal.  He  was  born  on  the  ancient  fiBunily  tract* 
where  he  now  resides,  in  Nanticoke  Hundred,  on 
August  24, 1825.  His  early  experiences  were  those 
of  the  customary  farmer's  son,  his  time  being  divided 
each  season  in  laboring  upon  the  fiurm  and  in  attend- 
ance upon  the  local  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
Upon  attaining  his  majority  he  went  to  New  Orleans, 
where  he  passed  four  years  of  his  life.  He  then  re- 
turned home  on  a  visit  to  his  mother,  and  finding  her 
in  poor  health,  deferred  to  her  wishes  and  was  in- 
duced to  remain  in  Delaware,  locating  upon  his 
present  farm  in  Nanticoke  Hundred  in  1850,  and 
being  continuously  engaged  there  since  In  farming 
and  fruit-growing.  He  now  owns  about  one  thousand 
acres  of  land,  and  has  erected  a  handsome  residence 
upon  the  old  place,  and  surrounded  hiijUself  with 
those  evidences  of  comfoct,  convenience  and  thrift 
which  betoken  the  progressive,  successftil  and  enter- 
prising agriculturist.  He  married,  on  August  1, 1850, 
Harriet  Ann,  daughter  of  David  and  Naomi  Pepper, 
of  Sussex  County,  and  has  had  thirteen  children,  of 
whom  ten  are  now  living,  to  whom  he  has  furnished 
the  opportunity  of  obtaining  liberal  educations, 
either  by  sending  them  to  colleges  or  academies  of 
high  order.  His  own  limited  opportunities  for  receiv- 
ing an  education  in  early  life  have  been  supplement- 
ed by  an  extensive  course  of  reading  and  study,  so 
that  he  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  informed 
men  in  the  county.  He  has  always  manifested  a 
deep  interest  in  the  public  schools,  and  served  as 
school  commissioner  in  his  district  for  about  thirty- 
five  years,  most  of  the  time,  by  careful  supervision, 
giving  to  his  school  the  highest  place  for  general  ex- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1295 


celleDce  among  those  in  the  county.  His  friendly 
counsel  and  aid  have  been  of  great  benefit  to  many 
who  were  seeking  a  higher  education,  and  who  are 
now  standing  high  in  their  professions,  and  give  the 
credit  of  their  success  to  him. 

With  religious  affairs  Mr.  Marvel  has  ever  been  in 
earnest  and  active  sympathy,  and  although  not  a 
member  of  any  church,  he  has  contributed  liberally 
to  the  construction  of  several  houses  of  worship,  and 
gives  yearly  to  the  support  of  the  Methodist,  Presby- 
terian and  Episcopal  Churches.  His  integrity  and 
uprightness  as  a  man  have  never  been  called  into 
question,  and  he  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
many  people  throughout  the  State.  He  has  always 
been  interested  in  politics,  and  worked  earnestly  and 
efficiently  for  the  success  of  the  Democratic  party, 
with  which  he  has  long  been  identified.  He  has  been 
a  delegate  to  nearly  every  Democratic  County  and 
State  Convention  for  forty  years,  and  often  served  as 
a  member  of  the  County  and  State  Central  Committees. 
He  was  elected  treasurer  of  Sussex  County,  and 
later,  in  1870,  sheriff  of  the  county  by  the  largest  ma- 
jority of  any  man  on  the  ticket.  He  filled  both  of 
those  responsible  offices  with  fidelity  and  ability,  and 
to  the  satisfiEiction  of  all  the  citizens  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Marvel  is  possessed  of  a  genial  and  happy 
temperament,  which  makes  him  universally  liked, 
and  with  a  certain  plainness  and  quietness  of  manner 
and  speech  combines  an  amount  of  energy,  industry 
and  executive  ability  which  few  would  suspect.  He 
deserves  the  highest  credit  for  the  manner  in  which 
he  has  overcome  the  disadvantages  of  his  early  life, 
and  succeeded  in  rearing  and  educating  as  he  has  so 
large  a  family  of  promising  children. 

Daniel  Boyce  was  granted,  October  16,  1760,  a 
tract  called  "Boyce's  Luck,"  afterwards  resurveyed 
as  Long  Ridge.  It  was  adjoining  a  tract  called 
"  Fancy,"  and  contained  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
three  acres.  This  land  is  now  partly  owned  by  J.  B. 
Swain.  On  the  16th  of  July,  1760,  Nehemiah  Stay- 
ton  received  a  grant  for  three  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine  acres  of  land  in  the  northern  part  of  the  hun- 
dred. This  land  remained  in  the  Stay  ton  family 
until  a  few  years  ago,  when  it  was  sold  to  Isabella 
Hayes,  John  M.  Collison,  Frank  Hayes  and  George 
Cordry. 

In  1776  Hazzard's  Addition,  "  Goodwill,"  part  of 
**  Stayton's  Folly  "  and  "  Clifton's  Lot,"  wer6  all  re- 
surveyed  to  Nehemiah  Stayton,  and  were  described  as 
a  short  distance  below  Stayton's  Causeway,  after- 
wards Teatown  and  now 'Stayton  ville.  T.  C.  Stayton, 
Amos  Stayton,  J.  W.  Clifton  and  Moses  Harrington 
own  portions  of  these  tracts.  Thomas  Evans  had  a 
warrant  for  four  hundred  and  fifty  acres  granted  him 
August  16,  1765,  on  the  road  that  then  led  from  "  his 
saw-mill  to  Andrew  Collins' "  saw-mill.  His  brother 
Elisha  five  years  before  had  obtained  the  mill  -site  on 
a  grant  of  a  tract  called  Buckingham,  containing 
fifty-nine  acres.  These  lands  are  owned,  in  whole  or  in 
part,  by  J.  B.  Swain,  J.  C.  Short  and  S.  M.  Morgan. 


Ezekiel  Conoway  received  a  grant  of  ninety  acres 
February  20, 1776,  on  John's  Branch,  and  adjoining 
the  plantation  where  he  then  lived.  This  land  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  William  Sulzer.  "  Hunting 
Ground"  was  granted  March  4,  1776,  to  William 
Carlisle  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  and  was  be- 
tween the  line  of  Alexander  Laws  and  John  Polk's 
land,  and  joining  Josiah  Hunt's  land  in  Cedar  Creek. 
Thia  land  remained  in  the  Carlisle  family  until  a  few 
years  ago,  when  it  was  sold  to  John  Stevens. 

Richard  Jefferson,  December  20,  1741,  received  a 
grant  of  two  hundred  and  fifty-three  acres,  called 
Poplar  Ridge,  and  located  on  the  Tuska  Branch. 
This  land  is  now  the  home  place  of  Miles  Messick, 
and  is  called  '*  Pleasant  Plain." 

Miles  Messick,  farmer,  of  Nanticoke  Hundred,  was 
born  in  Broad  Creek  Hundred,  September  14, 1815.  He 
is  the  eldest  son  of  Samuel  Messick,  who  was  also  a 
farmer,  being  possessed  of  an  estate  of  nine  hundred 
acres,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  day,  and 
was  born  October  28,  1791,  and  died  April  16,  1841. 
He  married  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Philip  and 
Luranah  (Wingate)Matthews,  who  died  March  1, 1871, 
aged  seventy-seven  years.  They  had  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  grew  to  maturity — Miles,  John,  James, 
Luranah  (who  married  Robert  P.  Barr,  both  now  de- 
ceased), Samuel  T.,  Sarah  Elizabeth  (wife  of  Rev. 
William  W.  Morgan),  Julia  A.  (widow  of  John  C. 
Cannon),  and  Eliza  Jane  (who  died  in  August,  1852, 
having  previously  married  Rev.  J.  Pastorfield,  of  the 
M.  E,  Church). 

Samuel  Messick  was  the  son  of  Covington  Messick. 
also  a  farmer,  who  occupied  the  old  homestead,  -which 
has  been  in  the  posssesion  of  the  family  for  over  one 
hundred  years.  Covington  was  bom  in  1755,  and 
died  December  17, 1828.  He  married  Hannah  Tin- 
dal,  and  by  that  marriage  had  nine  children,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity,  their  names  being  Minos  T., 
Lovey  (third  wife  of  Adam  Short),  Covington,  Jr., 
Miles,  Samuel,  Leah  (whose  first  husband  was  Jacob 
Bounds ;  second,  John  Matthews),  Nancy  (who  mar- 
ried Thomas  Knowles,  and  moved  to  the  West),  Betsey 
(who  was  burned  to  death  in  early  womanhood),  and 
Holland  (who  married  Matthias  Penton,  and  removed 
near  Winchester,  Illinois). 

Isaac  Messick  was  the  father  of  Covington,  and  the 
first  of  the  family  to  reside  in  Delaware,  moving  there 
from  Wicomico  County,  Maryland.  He  died  in  April, 
1779.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  two  children,  Luke  and 
George ;  by  his  second  wife,  Ann  Windson,  he  had 
eleven — John,  Nehemiah,  Joseph,  Covington,  Isaac, 
Sarah,  Alse,  Ann,  Constant,  Priscilla  and  Bethany. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  district  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  in  the  winter,  and  worked  on 
his  father's  farm  in  the  summer,  until  he  was  twenty- 
one,  and  to  complete  his  education  he  attended  one 
session  of  the  Laurel  Academy  when  twenty-three. 
For  three  years  after  this  he  had  charge  of  the  farm 
of  his  uncle,  Kendall  M.  Lewis,  near  Laurel.  At  the 
end  of  this  time  he  was  married,  December  3, 1840,  to 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


MiHs  Sarah  Eliza,  daughter  of  Wm.  and  Lavinia  Bell, 
of  Broad  Creek  Hundred,  Sussex  County.  Immediate- 
ly afler  hia  marriage  he  purchased  a  farm,  in  the  lower 
part  of  Nanticoke  Hundred,  from  his  father.  This 
tract  was  a  portion  of  the  estate  of  his  great-grand- 
father, Samuel  Tindal.  For  this  farm  he  gave  his 
obligation  for  its  full  value,  paying  for  it  the  same 
price  his  father  paid  for  it  ^ve  yearj  before.  His 
father  died  intestate  two  months  after  this  transaction, 
and  this  obligation  he  paid  the  estate,  with  courage 
rarely  equaled  under  the  circumstances.  He  made  a 
deed  of  gift  for  his  interest  in  an  estate  of  six  hundred 
acres  of  his  father*s  other  lands,  and  his  share  of  the 
personal  property  to  his  brothers  and  sisters.  Upon 
this  farm  Mr.  Messick  lived  twenty-seven  prosperous 
years,  and  in  1858  he  purchased  the  ^Eirm  "  Pleasant 
Plain,"  to  which  he  removed  December  24, 1867.  It 
consisted  at  first  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-three 
acres,  but  he  has  increased  it  until  it  now  numbers  thir- 
teen hundred  and  seventy  acres,  divided  into  seven 
farms.  Much  of  this  land,  by  industry  and  skillful 
farming,  he  has  brought  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  .obtained  a  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturalists  of  the  State. 

In  politics  both  Mr.  Messick's  £EU;her  and  grand- 
£Bither  were  Federalists  and  he  trained  in  the  same  line, 
remaining  a  Whig  until  1860,  since  which  time  he  has 
acted  with  the  Democratic  party.  He  was  appointed 
constable  when  quite  a  young  man,  without  applica- 
tion. 

In  1864  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  House 
of  Representatives,  by  a  vote  larger  than  that  given 
to  the  electors  on  the  same  ticket.  In  1870  he  was 
appointed  a  trustee  of  the  poor  for  Sussex  County, 
and  in  1875  was  elected  treasurer  of  that  body,  receiv- 
ing eight  votes  out  of  thirteen,  with  three  ether  candi- 
dates opposing  him.  In  1877  he  served  a  second  term 
in  the  Legislature,  and  in  1880  he  was  United  States 
supervisor  of  election  and  registration.  In  1875,  Grov. 
Cochran  appointed  him  one  of  his  aids,  with  the  rank 
of  colonel.  He  was  in  1884  nominated  as  State 
Senator,  upon  the  Temperance  Reform  ticket.  Mr. 
Messick  has  never  sought  office,  but  his  fellow-citis^ns 
felt  called  upon  to  recognize  his  ability.  As  an  ex- 
ample of  his  character  he  willingly  freed  a  colored 
woman  he  held,  upon  her  simple  request,  and  paid  her 
full  wages. 

He  has  always  been  a  temperance  man,  having 
been  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  cause,  engaging 
in  the  work  in  1883.  He  has  always  been  a  faithful 
worker  in  the  interest  of  temperance,  and  is  now 
president  of  the  Sussex  County  Temperance  Alliance, 
and  also  of  the  Sussex  County  Bible  Society,  both  of 
which  offices  were  unsought  by  him.  Mr.  Messick's 
ancestors  were  all  Methodists,  and  he  united  with  that 
denomination  in  1841,  and  was  for  many  years  a 
trustee  of  Asbury  Church,  and  also  steward  at  that 
appointment  until  his  removal  from  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  was  for  eighteen  years  superintendent  of 
the  Sabbath-school,  and  is  at  this  time  a  trustee  of 


Chaplin  Chapel,  in  New  Castle  Hundred.  Mr.  Messick 
is  the  &ther  of  six  children,  the  first  of  whom  died 
in  infancy ;  second,  Miles  Edwin,  bom  September  15, 
1848,  died  June  23, 1863;  and  William  Cindal,  boni 
March  22, 1847,  died  October  4, 1852 ;  Willard  Irvin, 
born  January  14,  1855,  died  August  22, 1876.  Two 
are  now  living, — Samuel  Harrington,  bom  March  2S, 
1852  who  graduated  from  Delaware  College  in  1881, 
delivering  the  salutatory ;  and  Albert  Mesaiek,  bora 
April  30,  1860. 

John  Laws  received  a  grant  for  a  large  tract  of  land 
on  John's  Branch,  February  19, 1776.  This  land  wis 
described  as  located  on  the  main  branch  of  the 
Nanticoke,  and  adjoining  land  of  Joshua  Polk,  John 
Jessep  and  Alexander  Laws  in  said  county.  This 
land  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Albert  Carry,  John 
Robert  Rioords  and  William  Carlisle.  On  the  Car- 
lisle tract  is  the  old  Laws  burying-ground. 

Adjoining  this  land  Joshua  Polk,  May  13,  1776,  on 
a  resurvey,  took  up  a  large  tract  called  Tyrone.  The 
greater  part  of  this  land  is  owned  by  Mrs.  Margaret 
Ricordsand  William  Sulzer. 

Ephraim  Polk,  as  early  as  February  5,  1747,  had 
taken  up  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
acres  near  this,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  Gum 
Branch,  and  now  owned  by  David  R.  Smith.  "  Pros- 
pect Hill,''  now  owned  by  William  Sulzer,  was  taken 
up  April  6, 1776,  by  Jeremiah  Wright 

The  following  were  persons  owning  two  hundred 
acres  or  over  in  Nanticoke  Hundred  in  1796 : 


Alexander  Argo 470 

WUlUm  Otflfle^EM) 444 

Jacob  CoTtrdale 270 

John  Oonins,Ieq 4336 

Elifha  Brane 341 

Inao  lither 280 

Joeepb  Grifllth,  Jr >  270 

Edmund  Hurley 400 

Zaebariah  Harrte 200 

William  Jonet 874 

Saxa  Gotha  Laws,  est» S36 

MaryLaTorty 200 

John  Langrall 

Matthew  Morrine 320 

Mary  Polk  (widow  of  Charlee, 

Ami) 1796 

Suaa  Polk  (widow  of  John) 1000 

WUlUm  Boice 287 

DaTid  OaTender „  260 

Jonathan  Daweon »  287 

Robert  Bam 341 

Jehn  Brans „  600 

Nebemiab  Fleetwood 200 

MoMA  Griffith 200 

Richard  Wateon 610 

John  Jefferaon 24ft 

Peter  Jackaon 498   \     • 

The  following  names   appear  on  the  assessment 
rolls  of  Nanticoke  Hundred  for  the  year  1785 : 

Adami,  George.  Brooke  Jamea. 

Adams,  Jacob.  Crockett,  Maiy. 

Adams,  Abraham.  OoUlne,  John. 

Argo,  Joseph.  Collins,  Andrew. 

Argo,  Alexander.  Croekett,  Winder. 

Anderaoa,Wm.  Crockett,  Richard. 

Boyce,  Joshoa.  Crockett,  EUiabeUi. 

Boyce,  Joseph.  Clifton,  Richard. 

Boyce,  BenJ.  «hinniBgfaam,  Jeiter. 


John  Laws,  fst  IWt 

Clemont  Laws „ S3S 

Humphrey  Brown,  esL....^..^  9M 

Jane  Owens ^....^^  600 

Mary  Polk  (widow  of  Joshua, 

est.) „ « 3» 

Eli  Parker  est «7 

William  PasBwaters,  est 3ST 

i  WiUiam  RatcUlf...... 3M> 

Elsy^cer 317 

John  Short,  of  Daniel ^ 223 

John  Spicer 431 

Dennard  Short. .^.  3M 

Pumal  Tindall „^  W> 

Pumal  Tatman..... »t 

I   William  Tamer*s  est. ^.945 

I  dondsboorgh  Warren. 43t 

I  John  Polk 4» 

<   William  ShanUand. 500 

I  John  Sharp 4« 

Adam  Short 250 

'   Charlton  Smith. 2S5 

I  Pumal  Short il4 

I  Samuel  TindaL ^.  «» 

Clement  Turner ^^  410 

John  WUley,  8r>. 050 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1297 


GoDAway,  Philip. 
Gonawfty,  John. 
Oonaway,  Isaac. 
Oooaway,  Jacob. 
OoTerdal«,  IiraeL 
GoTerdala,  Matthew. 
CaTender,  Jacob. 
GaTander,  Arthur. 
CoTerdale,  Nathanial. 
Oorerdale,  Btchard. 
Goverdala,  Luka. 
OoTardale,  Jacob. 
Coverdala,  OharlM. 
OoTardala,  LcTin. 
GolliDs.  SlUah. 
OolIiDfl,  Johnson. 
Garilsto,  John. 
Cto^iisto,  Zachariah. 
Clifton,  Pemberton. 
Creighton,  Matthew. 
Oox,  Mossa. 
Clifton,  Tahitha. 
Douglass,  Jamsa. 
Donahoe,  Tniitt 
Derwin,  Richard. 
Dolby,  Isaac. 
Erans,  Jeho. 
Fisher,  Isaac. 
Fisher,  George. 
Fisher,  Ellnbeth. 
Orifllth,  Joseph. 
Griffith,  SanioeL 
Griffith,  SahithieU 
Griffith,  John. 
Griffith,  Bobert. 
Griffith,  Moses. 
Harris,  Zachariah. 
Hurley,  Joshua. 
Hurley,  Bdmund. 
Hart,  Jonah. 
Hinson,  John. 
Hart,  Bobert. 
Hammons,  Jonathan. 
HamnM>ns,  John. 
Hall,  James. 
Houston,  Charlsa. 
Hurley,  Levin. 
Hines,  NathanieU 
Hayes,  Nathaniel. 
Ingram,  I^aac. 
Johnson,  Josiah. 
Jones,  Matthew. 
Johnson,  Elias. 
Jones,  James. 
Jones,  Isaac. 
Johnson,  Jacob. 
Johnson,  John. 
Johnson,  Christian. 
Johnson,  Whittington. 
Knox,  John. 
Knox,  Thomas. 
Knox,  Gharlea. 
Knox,  James. 
Knox,  Daniel. 
Kelley,  James. 
Kenney,  Joseph. 
Laws,  Wm. 
Laws,  John. 
Laws,  Alexander. 
Larerly,  SamueL 
Larerly,  Thomas. 
Long,  Solomon. 
Loring,  Elisha. 
Lyons,  Daniel. 
Luatt,  Elijah. 
Luatt,  John. 
Link,  John. 
Lynch,  Absalom. 


Lynch,  Abraham. 
Lindar,  Joseph. 
Lair,  John. 
Blares,  James. 
Marine,  Matthew. 
Marvel,  Bachel. 
McLane,  Moees. 
Marvel,  Thomas. 
Marvel,  Joseph. 
Marvel,  Philip. 
Mooney,  Charles. 
Maney,  Isaac. 
Messick,  Isaaa. 
Messlck,  Comfort 
Morgan,  Daniel. 
Morgan,  ElUah. 

MoCanley,  Robert 
Morgan,  Joshua. 
Maasey,  Job. 
Messlck,  Jacob. 
MulUnix,  Wm. 
Moigan,  Wadberry. 
Newbold,  Thomas. 
Owens,  Robert 
Owensj  Daniel. 
Owens,  Wm. 
Owens,  Samuel. 
Owens,  John. 
O^Day,  John. 
0*Day,  Owen. 
Polk,  John. 
Polk,  James. 
Polk,  Joshua. 
Polk,  Joseph. 
Polk,  Charles. 
Polk,  Isaac. 
Polk,  George. 
PasBwatar,  Wm. 
Paamater,  Richard, 
PttSBwater,  Samuel. 
Phipps,  Absalom. 
Parks,  Wm. 
Parker,  EU. 
Pollock,  James. 
Polk,  Avery. 
Row,  Truman. 
Reed,  John. 
RadcUff,  Wm. 
Ross,  John. 
Right,  Jay. 
Short,  Pumel. 
Short,  Adam. 
Spicer,  Elny. 
Spicer,  Philip. 
Smith,  Stephen. 
Short  James. 
Swain,  Wm. 
Short  John. 
Short  Isaac 
Short  EU. 

Short  John  (of  Daniel). 
Short  Adam. 
Short  Abraham. 
Stayton,  Nehemiah. 
Short,  Allen. 
Smith,  Jamee. 
Smith,  Wm. 
Stevens,  Avery. 
Samuels,  Haris. 
Smith,  Stouten. 
Samuels,  Thomas. 
Samuels,  Saul. 
Smith,  Mitchell. 
Sharp,  John,  Jr. 
Stafford,  James. 
Smith,  Joeeph. 
StaytoD,  Horatio. 


Vinson,  Thomas. 
Warren,  Cheeseborough. 
Willing,  Thos. 
Wllliama,  Isaac 
Wlnxor,  John. 
Williams,  Chas. 
Walker,  James. 
Williams,  Thos. 
WlUey,  Robert 
WilIey,Edmond. 
Welsh,  John. 
White,  George. 
Withens,  Jam«a. 
Willis,  John. 
Williams,  John. 
Williams,  George. 
Warren,  Solomon. 


Turner,  Wm. 
Tindall,  Charles. 
Tlndall,  Samuel. 
Troitt,  Sarah. 
Tatman,  Wm. 
Truitt,  Peter. 
Taylor,  Solomon. 
Truitt,  Samuel. 
Talmore,  Roeael. 
Tatman,  Nehemiah. 
Truitt,  John. 
Truitt,  Wm. 
Truitt  J«MC 
Truitt,  Thomas. 
Taylor,  Stephen. 
Truitt,  George. 
Yeach,  ThtHuas. 
Yinson,  Lsvin. 

Rbligious. — MethodUm. — ^The  Methodist  chorchet 
here  have  been  supplied  from  circaits  in  other 
hundreds.  They  were  all  originally^  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Johnstown,  in  the  Milton  and  Laurel  Circuits^ 
which  included  Asbury,  'in  Bethel,  and  Shortly  and 
Gokesberry,  in  Bridgeville;  G^rgetown,  Lincoln, 
EUendale,  Shortly  and  St.  Johnstown,  in  Felton. 
Asbury  and  Cekeeberry  now  form  a  separate  circuit. 
The  list  of  ministers  will  be  found  in  the  hundreds 
where  the  circuits  are  located. 

O^iM^^rry.— The  oldest  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
is  Cokesbeny,  located  near  the  old  Eybus  mill-pond, 
and  on  the  road  from  BridgeYille  to  Georgetown. 
The  first  building  was  erected  in  1803.  December  17 
of  that  year  William  Swain  conveyed  to  Dennard 
Short,  Purnel  McCaulley,  John  McCaulley,  Jonathan 
Allison,  John  Duncan,  Moses  McDoneal,  James  M. 
Bound,  Jesse  Tindal  and  William  Smith,  trustees,  a 
''  lot  of  land  on  Petrikin's  Branch,  near  Evans  Mill, 
embracing  sixty  nine  feet  front,"  to  superintend  and 
furnish  and  keep  up  a  school-house  and  Methodist 
Episcopal  Meeting-House.  The  school  was  the  first 
free  school  in  the  neighborhood,  and  was  maintained 
out  of  the  funds  of  the  church.  The  old  building  was 
partly  of  logs  and  was  described  as  a  '^  very  neat  and 
attractive  building  "  by  the  early  divines  who  visited 
it.  The  old  building  h^d  gone  pretty  nearly  to 
decay,  when,  in  1869,  the  present  structure  was  erected. 
It  is  about  twenty-five  feet  by  forty  feet  and  of  native 
pine  and  oak,  one  story  in  height,  and  cost  thirteen 
hundred  dollars  to  erect  it.  The  present  trustees  are 
John  C.  Short,  Baptist  Conwell,  Noah  Isaacs,  Joseph 
Wilson  and  John  B.  Swain.  There  is  a  large  and 
flourishing  Sunday-school. 

Asbury. — ^This  church  is  near  the  old  Tindal  Mill 
and  on  the  road  from  G^rgetown  to  Laurel,  and  about 
seven  miles  from  Georgetown.  Since  it  has  been  on 
a  separate  circuit  it  has  had  Wilmer  Jaggard,  J.  W. 
Gray  and  J.  B.  Anderson  as  ministers.  The  first 
building  was  erected  in  1812.  March  12  of  that  year 
Covington  Messick,  John  Cullen,  Purnel  Tindell,  Le- 
vin Conoway,  Robert  Barr,  Minos  T.  Messick,  Southy 
Culling,  John  Tam  and  William  Morgan  were  elected 
trustees  and  incorporated  as  such  by  the  General 
Assembly.  On  May  16  of  the  same  year  the  first 
step  toward  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship  was 


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1298 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


taken  by  the  purchase  of  eighty-four  square  perches 
of  land  of  Minos  Tindall. 

By  fall  a  pretty  frame  building  twenty-four  by 
twenty-six  was  erected  and  occupied.  This  building 
was  in  use  until  1867,  when  the  present  edifice  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars.  The 
building  is  a  one-story  frame  structure,  about  thirty 
by  forty  feet,  and  is  on  the  site  of  the  old  house.  A 
large  cemetery  on  both  sides  of  the  road  contains  the 
remains  of  many  old  members.  The  Sunday-school 
has  twenty  scholars  with  Joshua  Rawley  as  superin- 
tendent. There  are  fifty -five  members  in  the  church, 
the  present  trustees  being  William  Tindall,  Benton 
H.  Tindall,  Theodore  Carey  and  Edward  Salmons. 

8L  Johngtown  is  located  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
below  the  old  town  of  St.  Johnntown  on  the  road  to 
Bridgeyille.  Previous  to  the  erection  of  the  church 
meetings  were  held  in  the  woods  on  the  spot  ^where 
the  church  now  stands,  by  John  Marim,  an  old  local 
preacher.  The  first  steps  toward  the  formation  of  a 
church  were  taken  by  the  Legislature  incorporating 
March  6, 1822,  John  Fowler,  David  Pennewill,  Wil- 
liam Griffith,  Joel  Carlisle,  William  Fowler,  Thomas 
Curry  and  Eli  Coverdale  as  trustees  of  the  St.  Johns- 
town meeting-house.  March  15,  of  the  same  year,  they 
bought  of  Samuel  Stephens  seven ty-two  perches  of 
land  **  on  which  the  Methodist  meeting-house  now 
stands  "  as  the  deed  relates.  The  old  building  was 
replaced  September  28, 1872,  by  the  present  structure, 
the  largest  and  handsomest  in  the  hundred.  The 
building  is  of  frame,  and  cost  $8500.  It  is  thirty  by 
sixty  feet,  and  finished  first-class  throughout.  Since 
the  creation  of  the  Circuit  the  ministers  have  been 
William  ConnoUey,  Elam  J.  Wars,  James  Carroll. 
W.  S.  Robinson  and  R.  C.  Jones.  There  are  about 
one  hundred  memben.  The  present  trustees  are 
Albert  Curry,  George  W.  Elliott,  Amos  J.  Stayton, 
Robert  D.  Owens  and  William  J.  Carlisle. 

Chaplain*$  Chapel, — Prior  to  the  erection  of  this 
church  there  was  built  a  church  known  as  Onins,  in 
Gully  Swamp  about  two  miles  east.  This  building 
only  stood  for  twelve  years  when  it  was  abandoned 
on  aeceunt  of  its  out-of-the-way  location,  and  the 
present  building  built  in  1859.  The  land  was  deeded 
bv  Charles  Macklin  and  Fisher  Willis,  and  the  church 
took  its  name  from  John  Chaplain,  the  minister  at 
the  time  of  its  erection.  The  trustees  then  were 
W.  W.  Sharp,  Joshua  Sharp,  Charles  Macklin,  Charles 
A.  Rawlins,  Bayard  Sharp,  Benton  Sharp  and  L.  B. 
Brown.  The  building  is  of  frame  and  one  story  in 
height  and  thirty  by  forty  feet  and  cost  $1600.  There 
is  a  membership  of  fifty.  The  Sunday-school  has 
forty  scholars,  E.  F.  Johnson,  supeiintendent.  The 
present  trustees  are  W.  W.  Sharp,  Miles  Messick,  S.  H 
Messick,  G.  M.  Macklin,  J.  T.  Macklin,  E.  F.  John- 
son, Benton  Sharp  and  Joeiah  Prettyman. 

Oraveily  Branch  Baptist  Church  has  long  since  gone 
down.  It  was  located  near  Coverdale's  Cross  Roads 
and  was  organized  July  30, 1785,  through  the  efibrts 
of  Revs.  Philip  Hughes  and  Elijah  Baker  and  was 


the  seventh  church  organized  by  them.  The  churdi 
building  was  erected  in  1801.  The  land  comprisiog 
one-half  acre,  conv^ed  September  16ih  of 
that  year,  by  Samuel  Lafierty  to  Philip  Hughes, 
Isaac  Fisher  and  John  Willis,  Sen.  The  constituent 
members  were  Edward  C.  Dingle,  Comfort  Boyce, 
Marjery  Hiris,  Priscilla  Carter,  Isaac  Fisher,  Eliza- 
beth Fisher,  Milber  Dukes,  Rachel  Dukes.  John 
Willis,  Ann  Willis,  Matthew  Marine,  John  Hinson, 
Richard  Crockett,  Elizabeth  Crockett,  Anna  Crockett, 
John  Gnham,  Ann  Graham  and  the  negroes,  Rachael, 
Francis,  Mariam,  Bonny  and  Jenny.  In  1788  there 
was  a  revival  and  thirty-five  persons  were  added  to 
the  church.  In  six  years  the  membership  increased 
from  twenty-three  to  sixty-nine.  The  Revs.  Baker 
and  Hughes  labored  there  for  several  years  and  were 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Gibbins,  who  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  Rev.  John  Benson.  For  many  jwn 
they  worshipped  in  the  house  of  John  Willis,  but 
later  built  a  church  which  has  long  since  disappeared 
and  the  congregation  dispersed. 

Ptrgamos  Chapel, — On  the  farm  of  William  Car- 
lisle, less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  St.  Johnstown 
there  was  formerly  a  brick  Protectant  Episcopal 
Church.  The  building  was  erected  prior  to  1786,  fur 
at  that  time  William  Laws  devised  by  will  three- 
fourths  of  an  acre  of  land  near  St.  Johnstown  to  the 
'^  Society  of  the  Church  of  England  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  the  Gk)spel  in  Foreign  Parts.''  The  will 
recited  that  the  church  stood  on  the  lot  and  if  the 
church  was  discontinued  the  lot  was  to  revert.  In 
1810,  Samuel  Griffith,  Tilghman  Layton,  William 
Carlisle,  Pemberton  Clifton  and  William  Fowler 
were  incorporated  as  the  trustees  of  the  church.  The 
building  is  described  as  being  one  story,  twenty-five 
by  thirty  feet  and  a  high  ceiling.  Services  were  dis- 
continued about  the  year  1800  and  for  ever  fifty  years 
the  only  vestige  of  the  old  church  or  its  congregation 
is  a  hollow  where  the  building  formerly  stood. 

ScHOOLS.-^At  the  division  of  the  county  into  dis- 
tricts in  1829,  the  original  districts  in  this  hundred 
were  Nos.  53,  54,  55.  56,  61,  62,  65, 76  and  77.  In  all 
these  districts  school-houses  were  erected  in  1830  and 
1831.  Prior  to  this  time  there  were  three  or  four  sub- 
scription schools,  which  were  run  three  months  in  the 
year.  At  present  there  are  fourteen  schools  in  the 
hundred,  employing  fourteen  teachers,  and  an  attend- 
ance of  three  hundred  and  twenty  scholars. 

Villages. — St,  Johnstoton, — ^This  hundred  hss 
never  had  any  town  in  its  borders  of  any  size.  The 
oldest  settlement  is  St.  Johnstown,  which  ranks  as  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  It 
is  situated  about  one  mile  from  Greenwood,  and  five 
from  Bridgeville.  The  earliest  mention  made  of  the 
town  is  an  old  record  of  1776,  when,  in  the  description 
of  a  tract  of  land,  it  is  described  as  being  near  the  eld 
school-house  at  St.  Johnstown.  In  1810,  Pemberton 
Pumell  opened  a  store  there  and  was  succeeded  abont 
1830  by  Philip  Jones.  John  Spence  also  had  a  goi- 
eral  store.    John  Sorden  had  a  store  about  1840,  and 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1299 


was  the  only  poetmatter  the  village  ever  had.  About 
the  year  1812,  there  was  considerable  businera  done 
in  the  town,  being  on  the  route  of  the  stage  lines  of 
the  day.  Two  hotels  were  in  operation,  one  kept  by 
Samuel  Stevens  and  the  other  by  Parker  Robinson.  It 
was  the  place  then  for  large  political  gatherings,  and 
several  of  Delaware's  public  men  made  their  first 
speeches  here.  The  Robinson  House  did  not  continue 
for  very  many  years.  But  the  other  was  conducied  by 
Philip  C.  Jones,  Eklward  Morris,  Benjamin  Hearn 
and  Stockley  Elliott,  and  others.  About  ten  years 
ago,  after  Mr.  Elliott  lefl,  the  hotel  was  closed. 
The  town  of  Greenwood,  since  the  building  of  the 
railroad,  has  taken  all  the  business  away,  and  now 
there  is  no  business  interest  whatever.  The  school- 
house  of  District  76,  or  the  Johnstown  school,  was 
built  in  1880,  on  land  given  by  William  Carlisle. 
The  old  building  is  still  in  use.  Among  the  early 
teachers  were  Joseph  Russell,  John  R.  T.  Masten^ 
Jonathan  Tharp,  Dr.  James  Fisher  and  James 
Carlisle. 

Cbverdale^M  Oro$s  Boadi, — This  place,  consisting  of 
five  houHes  and  a  store,  has  had  many  names.  It  was 
originally  known  about  the  year  1800  as  Bethel  Cross 
Roads,  it  was  then  changed  to  Passwater's.  and  succes- 
sively Collins*,  Coverdale's,  Lafferty's,  and  now  its 
original  name  Coverdales.  At  the  establishment  of  the 
polling-places  in  the  year  1811,  *'the  house  of  Boaz 
Coverdale,  in  Passwater's  or  Bethel  Crocs  Roads,^'  was 
deBignated  as  the  voting-place  of  Nanticoke  Hundred. 
This  gave  the  place  its  first  importance.  Priscilla 
Coverdale  opened  a  tavern,  and  continued  to  keep  it 
until  1818.  In  1816  there  were  two  taverns,  Samuel 
Steyens  opening  one  that  year.  In  the  year  1833, 
Nathaniel  Short  had  a  store  there.  In  1858,  Isaac  M. 
Fi'^her  and  C.  A.  Rawlings,  who  kept  in  the  old  store 
building  from  1852,  had  the  place  made  a  post-office, 
January,  1857,  and  it  continued  one  until  1862,  when 
he  retired  from  business.  In  1869  the  old  Coverdale 
tavern  was  closed.  Among  its  proprietors  were 
Joseph  Salmons,  Jacob  Carpenter  and  Miles  Tindall. 
Jonathan  Hill  was  the  last  proprietor. 

KnowM  Cross  Road. — ^This  little  hamlet  is  on  the 
old  tract  of  Lynn  that  was  originally  granted  to 
Philip  Marvel.  It  was  known  by  the  name  of  Mar- 
vel's Cross  Roads  for  years  until  Daniel  Knowles 
opened  a  store  there  in  1856,  and  ran  it  for  a  long 
while  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  William  F. 
Jones.  Opposite  this  store,  on  the  northeast  corner, 
Thomas  Marvel  about  1811  had  a  tavern;  he  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Philip.  The  building  was 
burned  about  1848.  A  short  distance  above  the  cross 
roads,  William  Jones  and  later  his  son  William  had 
a  tavern.  This  was  closed  about  1847.  The  old 
building  is  still  standing  and  was  known  as  the 
Greentree. 

Industries. — Bog  iron  abounds  in  Nanticoke 
Hundred  and  many  tons  have  in  late  years  been 
shipped  to  New  Jersey  to  mix  with  magnetic  ore. 
Before  the  Revolution  the  presence  of  ore  at  the 


heads  of  the  streams  in  the  vicinity  attracted  capital- 
ists from  abroad,  who  established  companies,  pur- 
chased large  tracts  of  land,  built  furnaces  and  forges, 
mined  ore  and  conducted  large  businesses.  The 
names  of  various  works  were  Deep  Creek  Iron  Works, 
embracing  Deep  Creek  Furnace,  in  Nanticoke  Hun- 
dred and  Nanticoke  Forge  at  Middleford,  Pine  Grove 
Furnace,  on  the  present  site  of  Concord,  Unity  Forge 
in  Northwest  Fork  Hundred,  Collins,  Polk  and 
Gravelly  Delight  Forges  and  the  furnace  and  forge  at 
Millsboro. 

Deep  Greek  Iron  Works, — ^The  first  company  to 
organize  was  Jonathan  Vaughan  &  Co.,  under  the 
name  of  "The  Deep  Creek  Iron  Works."  The  mem- 
bers of  the  firm  were  Jonathan  Vaughan,  of  Ash  ton, 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  iron  master;  Daniel  McMur- 
tree ;  Persifer  Frazer,  of  Delaware  County,  Pa.,  iron 
master  and  merchant;  William  Douglas,  of  Kent 
County,  Delaware,  iron  master;  John  Chamberlain, 
iron  master  and  Christopher  Marshall,  of  Philadel- 
phia, merchant.  The  company  took  up  on  warrants 
from  Pennsylvania  on  escheated  Maryland  patents  a 
large  tract  of  land  on  Deep  Creek  at  a  place  known 
now  as  "  The  Old  Furnace,"  where  they  erected  a 
furnace  which  was  named  "  Deep  Creek  Furnace ;" 
they  also  took  up  several  tracts  of  land  on  both  sides 
of  the  head  of  the  tide  waterr  of  the  Nanticoke  at 
what  is  now  Middleford,  which  were  named  "  Ven- 
ture," ** Brother's  Agreement"  and  "Company's 
Lott,"  and  on  one  hundred  and  sixty- eight  acres  ot 
these  tracts  on  the  east  side  of  the  stream  they  built 
the  forge  named  "  Nanticoke  Foi^e."  On  the  28th 
of  January,  1763,  the  company  applied  to  the  pro- 
prietors of  Pennsylvania  for  a  warrant  for  five  thou- 
sand acres  of  vacant  land  in  the  vicinity, ''  near  their 
works  on  Nanticoke,  on  which  timber  was  growing 
proper  for  their  use  in  the  production  of  iron." 
This  was  granted  and  the  laiid  was  surveyed  by  John 
Lukens,  Surveyor-General  of  Pennsylvania.  On  the 
8th  of  February,  1768,  they  bought  two  hundred  and 
ninety-nine  acres  in  Cedar  Creek  Hundred  of  Daniel 
Nunez,  sheriff,  and  on  February  4.  1764,  purchased 
of  Samuel  Pettyjohn,  one  hundred  and  fif^  acres  ot 
land  in  the  forest  of  Broad  Kiln  Hundred  lying  in 
Care*s  Neck  on  the  south  side  of  Gravelly  Branch, 
and  June  29,  1764,  one  hundred  acres  of  land  of 
Philip  Conaway  called  Pleasant  Meadow. 

For  some  reason  the  company  was  re-organized 
May  18,  1764,  and  William  Wishart  and  Jemima 
Edwards  became  members  of  the  company.  The 
articles  of  agreement  recited  "  for  the  enlarging, 
completing  and  finishing  the  said  Deep  Creek  Fur- 
nace and  Nanticoke  Forge,"  about  seven  thousand 
acres  of  land  had  been  purchased  in  all,  and  necessary 
buildings,  dwellings,  grist  and  saw -mills  were  erected, 
and  a  large  force  of  men  employed  as  miners,  wood- 
choppers,  charcoal-burners,  teamsters,  furnace  men 
and  millers,  and  the  place  for  miles  around  was  a 
busy  scene.  A  road  was  built  straight  from  the  fur- 
nace to  the  junction  of  the  Deep  Creek  and  Nanti- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


coke  River,  a  distance  of  four  miles,  at  which  place  a 
stone  wharf  was  built,  a  few  of  the  stones  still  remain- 
ing. The  land  at  the  junction,  was  a  tract  of  land 
called  "Old  Meadow,"  which  name  the  company 
gave  to  the  iron  which  they  brought  to  this  place  and 
shipped  direct  to  England.  The  breaking  out  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  the  blockading  of  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  caused  a  suspension  of  buinees  at  all 
the  furnaces  and  forges  in  the  vicinity,  and  upon  the 
call  for  troops,  these  forces  of  unemployed  men  en- 
listed in  the  army  under  Ck)lonel  Mitchell  Kershaw 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Joseph  Vaughan,  and  served 
during  the  Revolution.  The  iron  business  was  so 
much  demoralized,  that  it  was  not  again  resumed. 
The  mills,  however,  were  continued,  as  being  of  con- 
stant local  use.  The  Iron  Works  property  remained  in 
the  hands  of  the  company  until  an  act  of  the  Legislature 
was  passed,  January  28,  1802,  for  its  partition.  At 
that  time  William  Wishart  was  the  only  one  living  of 
the  original  members  of  the  company  under  the 
articles  of  agreement  of  May  18, 1764.  The  property 
was  divided  into  six  parts,  of  which  William  Wishart, 
heirs  of  Richard  Eklwards,  heirs  of  Jonathan  Vaughan, 
heiis  of  William  Douglas,  heirs  of  Benjamin  Chris- 
tofer  and  Charles  Marshall  (their  father,  Christopher 
Marshall,  having  conveyed  his  interest  to  them 
Nov^l2,  1772)  and  the  heirs  of  Joseph  Pennell,  each 
received  their  interest.  Nan ti coke  Forge  and  other 
lands  in  the  division  came  to  the  heirs  of  Jos.  Pennell 
who,  January  11, 1805,  sold  it  to  William  Huffington, 
Jr.,  and  Thomas  Townsend.  The  furnace  tract  and 
other  lands  on  Deep  Creek,  to  Walter  and  William 
Douglass,  grandsons  of  William  Douglass,  who  sold  it 
August  10, 1810,  to  Gen.  Jesse  Green,  when  the  mills 
were  refitted  and  operated  by  him  for  several  years 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  William  Green,  his  eldest  son. 
In  1836,  George  Green,  also  a  son,  took  charge  and 
conducted  the  mills  and  store  for  several  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Isaac  Fooks,  who  bought  the  property 
and  operated  the  mills  for  ten  or  fifteen  years,  and 
sold  to  Isaac  Conaway,  and  a  few  years  since  they 
were  sold  to  Heam.  The  saw-mill  is  still  operated 
but  the  grist-mill  very  little,  and  the  whole  is  now 
offered  for  sale. 

The  foundation  and  piles  of  cinders,  about  the  site 
of  the  old  Nanticoke  Forge,  were  to  be  seen  as  late 
as  1825.  The  mills  and  distillery  were  on  the 
northwest  side  of  the  main  stream,  and  three  races 
led  from  the  pond  to  the  stream  below.  Maps  show  by 
dots  the  old  abandoned  roads  that  led  to  the  ore  beds. 

The  other  lands,  in  a  few  years  after  the  division, 
passed  to  other  parties,  and  so  ended  the  first  effort 
to  establish  iron  works  on  the  lower  peninsula. 

Gravelly  Delight  Forge, — A  large  tract  of  land  called 
Brown's  Manor  was  taken  up  about  1775,  by  William 
Brown,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Nanticoke  River,  above 
the  Nanticoke  Forge  lands,  and  at  the  mouth  of 
Gravelly  Branch.  Early  in  the  year  1808,  Shadrach 
Elliott  bought  two  hundred  and  six  acres  of  land  of 
Eggleston   Brown,  son  of  Humphrey  Brown,  and 


grandson  of  William,  it  being  parts  of  several  tracts, 
which  were  *^  Delight,"  taken  up  on  a  Maryland  Pat- 
ent; "  Brown's  Manor,"  a  Delaware  Patent ;  "Piney 
Marsh  Addition,"  a  Maryland  Patent,  and  all  of  a 
Maryland  patent  originally  granted  to  Winda 
Crocket.  These  lands  lay  at  the  mouth  of  Gravelly 
Branch. 

On  the  tract  called  "  Delight,"  on  the  north  side  of 
the  branch  near  the  head  of  the  Middleford  mill-pond, 
Shadrach  Elliott  built  in  the  year  1808  a  forge, as  in  a 
survey  of  October  22d  is  shown  as  "  new  forge,"  miU- 
dam  and  dwelling-house.  In  1816  it  was  operated 
by  John  and  Shadrach  Elliott  About  the  year  1820, 
they  were  abandoned,  and  nearly  all  evidence  of  the 
old  forge  is  obliterated.  Shadrach  Elliott  sold  part  of 
the  lands  above  the  forge  August  4, 1812,  to  Clement 
Carroll. 

OoUins  Ibrge. — ^This  forge  was  in  operation  within 
the  memory  of  many  citizens.  The  land  on  Gravelly 
Branch,  on  which  it  was  located,  was  a  tract  of  six 
hundred  acres,  which  was  taken  up  on  a  warrant  by 
Samuel  Pettyjohn,  December  16, 1757,  and  assigned 
to  William  Douglass,  and  in  1764  was  purchased  by 
the  Pine  Grove  Furnace  Company,  whose  furnace  was 
located  on  the  site  of  Concord.  After  various  changes 
it  passed  to  Seth  Grifilth  and  William  E.  Hitch. 
Captain  John  Collins,  on  April  17, 1794,  purchased  it 
of  them.  He  soon  after  erected  a  mill  and  built  a 
forge  near  Coverdale's  Cross  Roads  and  purchased  oth& 
lands  adjoining,  and  in  1798  was  in  possession  of 
fourteen  hundred  and  sixty-five  acres  of  good  land 
and  eleven  hundred  and  eight  acres  of  swamp,  and  four- 
teen slaves.  He  died  in  1804,  and  the  property  was 
divided — ^three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  and 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  swamp,  mill-pond  and 
branch  and  one-third  of  mill  to  John  Collins,  Esq., 
afterwards  Governor  Collins ;  six  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  acres  of  land  and  one-third  of  mills  to  Sarah  Col- 
lins, his  widow ;  and  three  hundred  acres  of  upland 
and  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  of  swamp  and 
one -third  of  the  mills  to  his  son,  Robert  Collins ;  and 
one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres  of  land  and  one 
hundred  acres  of  swamp  to  the  heirs  of  Nancy  Polk, 
his  daughter.  John  Collins,  Esq.,  about  1812,  erected 
upon  the  Gravelly  Branch,  about  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  above  Coveidale's  Cross  Roads,  a  charcoal  forge, 
the  ore  for  which  was  obtained  from  a  tract  lying  east 
about  three  miles,  and  a  mile  from  the  road  leading 
from  Georgetown  to  the  forge.  Mr.  Collins  was  elected 
Governor  in  1821,  and  died  in  April,  1822.  The  forge 
passed  to  his  son,  Theophilus,  who  continued  it  until 
about  1850,  and  then  abandoned  the  forge  and  con- 
tinued the  grist-mill  until  his  death.  This  was  sold  a 
few  years  ago  by  John  Collins,  son  of  Theophilus,  to 
William  Downing,  of  Del  mar,  and  is  still  running. 

Mills, — There  are  very  few  mills  in  the  hundred  al 
present  compared  with  those  in  operation  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century.  The  men  working  at 
the  various  forges  made  the  demand  for  flour  greater, 
and  there  was  much  more  timber  to  cut  than  at  present 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1301 


Among  the  old  mills  that  have  gone  down  are  those 
of  Daniel  Baker,  formerly  located  on  Tindal's  branch 
of  Deep  Creek ;  Conaway  mill,  on  the  same  branch ; 
the  Bell  flower  grist-mill,  condemned  about  ten  years 
ago  and  operated  by  a  company  ;  Evans'  mill,  which 
was  one  ef  the  oldest,  having  first  been  bailt  in  1760, 
and  continued  in  the  family  for  years,  the  last  owner 
being Millmann ;  and  Luke  Huffington's  saw- 
mill, which  went  down  seventy-five  years  ago. 

CrockeU  ifi//.— This  mill  was  bnilt  about  1776, 
by  Joseph  Crockett.  It  is  located  on  Tindal's  Branch, 
near  where  it  enters  the  Deep  Creek.  Among  its 
early  owners  were  Lewis  Spicer,  Isaac  N.  Fooks  and 
H.  Tindall.  Since  1869  it  has  been  operated  by  the 
firm  of  Fleetwood,  Jones  &  Tindall.  Charles  Fleet- 
wood, Thomas  Jones  and  H.  Tindall  compose  the 
firm.  The  capacity  is  about  forty-five  bushels  of  com 
a  day.    The  saw-mill  is  not  worked  continuously. 

The  Dolby  MUl  was  erected  about  1838,  and  is 
above  the  Crockett  mill  on  the  same  stream.  Isaac 
Dolby  was  the  first  owner.  It  came  into  the  posses- 
sion of  Hiram  and  William  James  about  1837.  In 
1850  it  was  owned  by  B.  D.  James  and  J.  H.  Messick, 
and  was  run  by  them  until  1883  as  a  saw- mill,  when 
it  was  condemned.  Among  the  other  mills  in  the 
hundred  are  the  Russell  mill,  owned  by  the  J.  Russell 
heirs,  which  was  built  by  William  Russell,  in  1820, 
and  the  Cannon  mill  and  Owen  Mill,  both  built  in  the 
early  part  of  the  present  century. 


CHAPTER    LXXIV. 

8EAF0BD  HUNDRED. 

This  hundred  was  created  by  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature passed  March  11, 1869,  which  provided  that 
Northwest  Fork  Hundred  should  be  divided  into  two 
hundreds,  and  that  all  that  part  in  the  lower  North- 
west Fork  Election  District  should  receive  the  name 
of  Seaford  Hundred.  In  the  division  the  bounds 
established  for  the  election  districts,  by  the  act  of 
February  12, 1761,  were  to  be  followed.    These  were : 

**  BH^nning  in  the  middle  of  the  old  State  road,  at  Walker's  mill-dam, 
and  running  thence  weeterly,  by  the  centre  of  said  road,  between  the 
old  Frank  Brown  farm  and  the  fkrm  of  the  late  Daniel  Gannon,  over 
and  by  Oaanon*8  CrosBing,  to  its  intersection  with  the  road  leading  from 
Federalsbnrg  to  BridgevUle ;  thence  by  the  centre  of  Mid  Federalsbarg 
and  Bridgeville  road,  past  Horsey's  Cross  Boads,  to  the  eastern  boandary 
of  Maryland.  All  that  part  below  the  said  line  was  to  be  known  as  the 
Lower  North  West  Fork  District,  and  its  elections  were  ordered  to  be 
held  at  the  academy  in  the  town  of  Seaford.*' 

The  bounds  of  the  hundred,  thus  being  deter- 
mined by  streams  and  by  highways  laid  out  for  the 
convenience  of  the  early  settlers,  are  irregular,  ex- 
cepting the  Maryland  line.  The  surface  has  a  level 
aspect,  but  is  in  most  localities  undulating  enough  to 
afford  natural  drainage.  Tho  greater  part  of  the 
original  forest  growths  has  been  cleared  away,  and 
some  fine  farms  have  been  made.  In  other  localities, 
abandoned  plantations,  overgrown  with  scrubby  tim- 
ber, give  the  country    a  dreary  appearance.     The 


soil  is  generally  a  fertile  sandy  loam  and  appears  to 
be  eepeciaHy  adapted  for  fruit  culture,  to  which  large 
areas  have  lately  been  devoted.  The  streams  are 
small,  but  have  been  made  useful  factors  in  the  com- 
munities where  their  mill  sites  have  been  improved. 

Being  for  many  years  after  its  settlement  claimed  as 
a  part  of  Maryland,  no  warrants  or  surveys  were 
granted  by  the  Penns.  After  the  title  was  decided 
and  confirmed  in  1775  re-surveys  were  made  by  Penn- 
sylvania. Among  the  principal  tracts  described  were 
the  following : 

The  "  Nanticoke  Manor  "  of  the  Penns  was  laid  out 
February  26,  1776,  to  extend  four  miles  down  the 
river  from  Brown's  Bridge  and  half  a  mile  from  the 
river-side.  John  Lukens,  surveyor-general,  was 
ordered  to  make  this  survey  and  to  report  all  who  had 
titles  to  lands  within  these  limits.  On  the  same  day, 
"  Hubbard's  Regulation  "  of  five  hundred  and  seven 
acres  was  resurveyed  to  Peter  Hubbard,  on  the  north- 
west side  of  the  Nanticoke  river,  near  to  Hubbard's 
store-house  and  adjoined  a  tract  called  ''Cannon's 
Regulation,"  near  Mulberry  Landing,  where  Lewis 
or  Turtle  Greek  falls  into  the  Nanticoke. 

These  lands  were  warranted  on  Maryland  Patents, 
one  tract  "  Spring  Hill,  July  1, 1728,  to  James  Can- 
non; "Luck,"  to  James  Brown,  March  19,  1740; 
**Clarkson's  Lot"  and  "Clarkson's  Meadow,"  to 
William  Clarkson,  April  10,  1750.  On  March  18, 
1776,  a  warrant  for  a  resurvey  was  granted  to  John 
Cannon  for  the  following  tracts  before  granted  and 
surveyed  by  the  authorities  of  Maryland. 

Acres. 

"Helpmate,"  March  3,  1747 «„ 74 

**Oovlngton*s  AdvantaS^,*'  July,  174L 40 

**CoTington*i  Inter,"  July  %ii,  1741 60 

"Huckleberry  Swamp,"  1760 70 

**Oannon*i  Adrantage,"  August  16, 1760.... 210 

When  resurveyed,  they  were  found  to  contain  six 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  acres,  all  northwest  of  the 
Nanticoke.  Hudson  Cannon's  land,  called  '^  Cannon's 
Conclusion,"  embraced  the  whole  of  the  above.  He 
owned  it  in  1797,  at  which  time  there  was  a  grist  and 
saw-mill  on  it. 

The  site  of  the  town  of  Seaford  was  known  as 
"Martin's  Hundred,"  or  "Hooper's  Forest,"  and 
was  owned  by  Henry  Hooper  as  early  as  1720.  A 
part  of  this  tract,  above  Seaford  passed  into  the  hands 
of  John  Tennant,  who  married  into  the  Hooper  fami- 
ly, and  this  subsequently  became  the  property  of 
Govenor  William  H.  Ross.  A  part  of  the  land  and 
other  tracts  in  that  locality,  including  the  mansion 
of  Governor  Ross  are  now  in  the  farms  of  James  J. 
Ross,  his  son.  They  aggregate  more  than  eight  hun- 
dred acres,  and  form  one  of  the  finest  estates  in  the 
State,  On  these  farms  many  thousands  of  peach 
trees  are  growing.  East  of  these  places  are  the  fine 
farms  formerly  owned  by  W.  H.  Cannon  and  Curtis 
J.  Ross,  which  have  passed  into  the  hands  of  James 
H.  Brown  and  William  H.  Ross. 

Nearer  Seaford  is  the  old  farm  of  Captain  Charles 
Wright,  which  has  a  distinguishing  landmark  in 
several  rows  of  stately  cedar-trees  along  the  highway. 

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1302 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Jacob  Kinder,  a  native  of  South  Holland,  where 
he  was  born  in  1736,  became  a  resident  of  the  Hun- 
dred after  1770,  living  first  on  the  farm  of  Isaac 
Bradly,  near  Cannon's  Station.  Here  he  took  up  a 
tract  of  land  called  "Jacob's  Choice,"  walking  to 
Philadelphia  to  buy  it.  In  1777  he  moved  to  his 
"Kinder's  EflTort,"  near  the  Bethel  Church,  where  he 
died  in  1790.  His  descendants  became  useful  and 
well-known  citizens.  West  of  this  place  Joshua 
Noble  settled,  coming  from  Maryland  and  buying  the 
old  Kirk  farm,  near  Bethel  Church.  Twelve  of  his 
children  reached  mature  years,  and  many  of  their 
descendants  attained  prominent  positions  in  this 
State  and  in  new  homes  to  which  they  removed. 
Lemuel  Davis  lived  in  Maryland,  near  Bethel 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  married  to 
Mary  Ann  Noble  and  reared  a  large  family,  whose 
descendants  are  very  numerous.  Several  members 
of  the  family  became  ministers  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

For  many  years  the  Kinder,  Noble  and  Davis 
families  constituted  the  principal  part  of  the  popula- 
tion of  the  northwestern  part  of  the  hundred.  In 
the  same  locality  White  Brown  built  a  good  brick 
house  as  early  as  1781,  but  the  family  has  become 
extinct  in  Seaford  Hundred. 

Below  the  town  of  Seaford  Dr.  Julius  Augustus 
Jackson  was  settled,  on  the  Nanticoke  River,  before 
1775,  as  in  that  year,  March  18th,  he  took  warrants 
under  Gk>vemor  Penn  for  lands  which  were  resur- 
veyed  to  him.  One  tract,  of  two  acres,  was  "on 
Hudson's  Island,  at  a  place  where  the  said  Jackson 
hath  built  a  wharf  and  a  house.''  Another  was  of 
forty  acres,  lying  at  the  lower  end  of  the  island,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Nanticoke  and  between  the 
river  and  Turtle  Creek  Branch ;  also  thirty  acres  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Nanticoke ;  also  two  acres  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Nanticoke,  from  a  place  called 
"  Shadpoint,'*  up  the  river  to  the  "  Brig  Landing;" 
also  a  large  tract  called  "  Long  Lot,"  lying  between 
the  branches  of  Turtle  Creek  and  Twin  Pen,  which 
had  been  granted  on  a  Maryland  warrant  to  Abraham 
Covington.  This  last  tract  he  conveyed,  November 
5, 1783,  to  his  son,  Jeremiah  Rust  Jackson ,  also  a 
physician. 

April  22, 1792,  Dr.  J.  A.  Jackson  bought  of  Thomas 
Loockerman  two  tracts  called  "  Gibraltar "  and 
**  Straight,"  lying  on  Nanticoke  River,  adjoining  his 
other  lands.  In  1793  he  took  up,  on  warrant,  two 
hundred  acres ;  in  1794,  four  hundred  acres ;  in  1795, 
thirty  acres,  called  "  Jackson's  Discovery,"  and  one 
and  three-quarter  acres  called  "  Jackson's  Wharf;*' 
in  1796,  twenty  acres,  an  addition  to  "Gibraltar;" 
and  in  1801,  the  year  of  his  death,  twenty-nine  acres, 
called  "  Little  Help."  His  will|was  probated  October  8, 
1801,  in  which  he  left  to  his  son,  Jeremiah  Rust 
Jackson,  and  to  his  son,  Peter,  both  physicians,  his 
medicines,  instruments  and  medical  books,  and  to 
his  widow,  Sally,  his  dwelling-house  during  her 
widowhood  or  single  life,  and  to  his  son,  Thaddeus, 


the  other  lands  and  also  the  dwelling  upon  deceaie 
of  his  mother.  The  lands  that  came  to  Thaddeni 
were  sold  by  him,  in  1810,  to  Sally  Obier  and  J<^ 
Rust. 

Dr.  Jeremiah  R.  Jackson  bought  of  his  father,  in 
1788,  "  Long  Lot,"  as  mentioned ;  and  in  1792  wu- 
ranted  two  hundred  acres,  and  in  1794  "  Venture  "  of 
twenty  acres;"  in  1795  one  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  "  Jackson's  Regulation,"  and  December  11, 
1795,  he  took  out  a  patent  for  fifty-five  acres  b^weeo 
John  Cannon's  mill  and  Turtle  Creek,  originallj 
surveyed  for  Levi  Safford  on  Maryland  warrant;  in 
1776,  to  John  Baptist,  called  "Baptist  ProjectioD.'' 
Many  subdivisions  of  these  surveys  and  changes  of 
ownership  have  taken  place,  some  of  the  above  £yii- 
ilies  being  no  longer  represented  among  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  hundred.  In  1S40  the  taxables  of  the 
whole  of  Northwest  Fork  Hundred,  which  thei 
included  Seaford,  were  as  follows : — 

Adama,  Roger.  BUdea,  Gapt.  Wm. 

Adama,  Garriaon.  Bladoa,  Jamea. 

AdanM,  Jamea.  Blades,  Edward  W. 

Adama  Eliza.  Borch,  Henry  M. 

Adama,  Gharlea.  Boaton,  Solomon  (mOl). 

Adama,  Wm.  Boston,  Chaa. 

Adama,  Peter.  Benaton,  John  W. 

Adama,  Gharlea,  of  Roger.  Benaton,  Henry. 

Adama,  Manlore.  Oonaway,  Brlnddey. 

Adama,  Roger,  Jr.  Oonaway,  Wm. 

Adama,  John  R.  Clifton,  Oewge. 

Atkinaon,  Gorid.  Curry,  Jamea. 

Anderaon,  Wm.  Carry,  John. 

Allen,  Robert  Curry,  Wm. 

Allen,  Jacob.  Curry,  Bayard. 

Allen,  Jbhn.  Clarkaon,  Bayard. 

Allen,  Mi^or  W.  Clarkaon,  Robert. 

Andrew,  John.  Cranor,  Benedick. 

Andrew,  Barton.  Gkrroll,  Jamea. 

Andrew,  Ayer.  Carroll,  John  W. 

Andrew,  Wm.  H.  Carroll,  laaas. 

Bullock,  Thomaa.  CoUiaon,  Twlford. 

Bullock,  John.  Oolliaon,  Peter. 

Bullock,  NatiiL  Coulboiim,  Jamea. 

Brown,  Thomaa  T.  Conlboum,  John  L. 

Brown,  Wm.  Cannon,  Tnuton  P. 

Brown,  John  C.  Gannon,  Hudaon. 

Brown,  Thomaa.  Cannon,  Mary. 

Brown,  Joaeph.  Cannon,  Wm.  M. 

Brewn,  Wm.  (hatter).  Cannon,  Wingate. 

Brown,  John  A.  Cannon,  Jeremiah. 

Brown,  Jeaae.  Cannon,  Elijah. 

Brown,  Francia.  OuiDon,  Clement. 

Brown,  Huett.  Gannon,  Hewitt. 

Brown,  Jamea.  Cannon,  Joeeph. 

Brown,  Sinai.  Gannon,  Bayard. 

Brown,  Daniel.  Oannon,  LerL 

Brown,  Thomaa  (farmer)  Cannon,  Stambury. 

Brown,  Hugh.  Cannon,  Peter  R. 

Brown,  Anderson.  Cannon,  Joaiah. 

Bradley,  Thomaa.  Cannon,  Nelaon  A. 

Bradley,  Eli.  Cannon,  Riadon  R. 

Bradley,  Isaac  Cannon,  Leri,  Jr. 

Butler,  Wm.  Cannon,  Wm. 

Baaman,  Revil.  Gannon,  John  T. 

Brady,  ttobert  H.  Carender,  John. 

Bell,  Wm.  S.  Cranor,  Chaa. 

Barwick,  Elijah.  Coata,  Wm. 

Bobine,  Suaanna.  Clarkaon,  Daniel. 

Barwick,  John  C.  Goulboum,  EsekieL 

Barwick,  Jamea.  Goulboum,  John. 

Broadaway,  Robert.  Goulboum,  Edward. 

Butler,  Thoa.  Goulboum,  Thoa. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1303 


Coulbonrn,  Thos.  J. 
Coulboum,  ElUah. 
Oonlbonm,  Jeremiah. 
Cheatham,  Franoii. 
CoIUns,  Jeremiah. 
OolUna.  Milton. 
Conwell,  David. 
Oottiogbam,  Alfred. 
CkHtingham,  Jeha. 
Ounpbell,  John  F. 
Cannon,  Inac  and  Jacob. 
Cannon,  Jacob. 
Cannon,  Iiaac. 
Cannon,  Emerson  N. 
Cannon,  Daniel. 
Cannon,  laaao  K. 
Canno»i,  Peter. 
Cannon,  Wm.  N. 
Cannon,  Nutter. 
Cannon,  Natter,  Jr. 
Ouinon,  Lowder. 
<^uinon,  John. 
Corbin,  Stephen. 
Cubbage,  Samnel. 
Caid,  John. 
Dawson,  Pradenoe. 
Dunn,  Asure. 
Downs,  Wm. 
Dickinson,  Warren. 
Darby,  James. 
Dutton,  James  M. 
De  Shields,  Chas. 
Downing,  Jas. 
Downing,  Jonathan. 
Dawson,  Hoeea. 
Dean,  Chas. 
Davis,  Richard. 
Dickinson,  Henry. 
Dulaney,  Wm.  W. 
Dawson,  Zebediah. 
Dawson,  Bayard. 
EUigood,  Wm.  (mm). 
Slligood,  John  S. 
Eariy,  Wm. 
Edgen,  Mary. 
Edgen,  Wm. 
EUnsworth,  Oeorge. 
Frampton,  Solomon. 
Flggs,  William  T. 
Flowers,  Owen. 
Fonntaiu,  Zebediah  P. 
Fountain,  Anderson. 
Flowen,  Wesley. 
Fleetwood,  William. 
Flowers,  Charles. 
Fleetwood,  Isaac  a 
Fleetwood,  Pumal  T. 
Frame,  George. 
Fonett,  Jacob. 
Ooslin,  John. 
OmUu,  James  M. 
Grey,  Thomas. 
Gibbons,  Washington  M. 
Oibbons,  Arcada. 
•Grey,  Ann. 
Green,  Thomas  A. 
Oreen,  George  W. 
Green,  Jesse. 
OrlflBth,  WUliam. 
Higmeet,  John. 
Higmeet,  Collison. 
Higmeet,  El^ah. 
Hitch,  Clement. 
Hickman,  John. 
Hobba,  Solesbury. 
Hollis,  Frisby. 
Hitch,  Henry. 
HoUis,  Silas. 


HoUis,  Charles. 
Hobbs,  Cropper. 
Hazzard,  William. 
Honey,  Bevil. 
Hatfield,  ZaoharUb. 
Horsey,  Jodah  0. 
Hubbanl,  William  T. 
Higman,  John. 
Hopkins,  SamaeL 
Horsey,  WillUm  B. 
Hines,  Thomas. 
Hopkins,  Robert. 
Hopkins,  Henry  L. 
Howard,  Jesse. 
Hlnee,  William. 
Hazzard,  Rhodes. 
Belk>n,  George  A. 
Horsey,'Nathaniel. 
Holt,  John. 
Holt,  Daniel. 
Harris,  William  E. 
Hooper,  Hicks  D. 
Hooper,  Elizabeth. 
Handy,  Samuel  L. 
Houston,  Robert  A. 
Houston,  Robert. 
Hall,  George  K. 
Hall,  David. 
Hudson,  Benjamin. 
Hughes,  Whiteflekl. 
Jones,  Mathiaa. 
Jones  Zachariah. 
Jones,  Waitman. 
Jones,  Isaac. 
Jones,  John,  Sr. 
Jones,  John,  Jr. 
Jones,  William. 
Jones,  Henry. 
Jssler,  Jacob. 
Jesler,  DanieL 
Jeeler,  Isaac. 
Jefferson,  Warren. 
Jacobs,  WiUlam. 
Jacobs,  James  M. 
Jenkins,  Isaac. 
Johnson,  Josiah. 
Jacobs,  Stanbuiy. 
Jacobs,  Thomas. 
Jacobs,  Curtis. 
Jacobs,  Sandballa. 
Kinder,  Owen. 
Kinder,  John. 
Kinder,  Daniel  B. 
Kinder,  Isaac. 
Kinder,  Jacob. 
Kinder,  Warren, 
Kinney,  Ebsy. 
Kelley,  Joseph, 
linch,  Wm. 
Linch,  Darid. 
Lingol,  John. 
Linch,  Beniah. 
Laws,  Mary  B. 
Laws,  James. 
Laws,  Wm. 
Layton,  Pumal, 
Layton,  Burton. 
Ledenham,  Wm. 
Lord,  Lewis. 
Layton,  Clement 
Little,  Henry. 
Linch,  Noah. 
Lankford,  LitUeton. 
Laws,  Samuel. 
Laws,  John. 
Lednum,  Thomas. 
Lednum,  Silas. 
Lednum,  Joseph. 


Lawrenoe,  Richard. 
Lewis,  Stephen. 
Morris,  Constantine. 
Morris,  Edward. 
Morris,  Elias. 
Morgan,  James  H. 
Morris,  Jeremiah. 
Morris,  Hezekiah. 
McOuleny,  Wm. 
Morris,  Daxid. 
Morris,  Petor. 
Murphy,  Wm. 
Martin,  Captain  Hngh. 
McNeilly,  Jeremiah. 
Morgan,  Dr.  Wm. 
Marvel,  Perry. 
Marvel,  Wm. 
Moore,  James. 
Minor,  Pitkin. 
Messick,  Wm. 
McCollister,  Jamst. 
Messick,  Edward. 
Marvel,  James  W. 
Miller,  John. 
Murphy,  Noah. 
MotHPe,  Wm. 
Marvel,  Abraham. 
Moore,  ElUah 
Moore,  James. 
Moore,  Ephraim. 
Melican,  Thomas. 
Morris,  Silas. 
Morgan,  Charles  H. 
Morgan,  James. 
Maston,  Holsey. 
Morris,  Gannon. 
Morns,  John  M. 
Morris,  Wm.  M. 
Morris,  Darid. 
Hasten,  Wm. 
Noble,  Wm. 
Noble,  Sarah. 
Noz,  Samuel, 
Nichols,  Jeremiah. 
Nichols,  Joseph. 
Noble,  Thomas. 
Needham,  Wm. 
Noble,  Solomon. 
Noble,  James. 
Nichol^  Thomas  H. 
Neal,  Jacob. 
NoUe,  Charles. 
Neal,  Isaiah. 
Nichols,  James  H. 
Neal,  Wm. 
Neal,  Aaron  D. 
Neal,  John. 
Neal,  Eliza. 
Neal,  Joseph. 
Nichols,  Wm. 
Neal,  John  W. 
Neal,  Samuel. 
Oldtteld,  Warren  L. 
Obier,  Jesse. 
Obier,  Isaac. 
Obier,  Joshua. 
Oday,  Owen. 
Oday,  Wm. 
Osboum,  Joseph. 
Pratt,  George. 
Prettyman,  James  H. 
Pen  no  well,  Nancy. 
Pennowell,  Albert. 
Polk,  Robert 
Polk,  John. 
Polk,  Wm. 
Prettyman,  Jacob  W. 
Prvttyman,  Ralph  D. 


Prettyman,  Ebenezar  P. 
Prettyman,  Asbury  W. 
Prettyman,  John. 
Pitts,  Zachariah,  Esq. 
Phillips,  Thomas  I. 
Phillips,  Tiras  S. 
Penton,  Wm.  D. 
Polk,  Wm.  0. 
Polk,  James. 
Peters,  Charles. 
Prettyman,  Joel. 
PenneMrell,  David. 
Powell,  Wm. 
Robinson,  Shadrack. 
Robinson,  John. 
Read,  Wm. 
Read,  Henry. 
Reddin,  Ellen. 
Reddin,  John. 
Read,  Jacob. 
Rust,  Jeremiah. 
Rust,  Clement. 
Richards,  Edward. 
Rose,  Wm. 
Richards,  John. 
Ross,  Henry, 
Rose,  Freeman. 
Boss,  Wm. 
Roach,  Wm. 
Rust  John. 
Rlcords,  Whiting  W. 
Ricords,  John  T. 
Rogers,  Wm.  E. 
Etas,  Curtis  L 
Ross,  Edward  M. 
Read,  EzekieL 
Richards,  Thomas  M. 
Bust,  Petor  N. 
RoUnson,  Mltehell. 
Robinson,  Wm.  F. 
Rust  Priscilla. 
Ricords,  Thomas,  Sr. 
Rust,  James. 
Reddin,  James  L 
Simpson,  Wm.  M. 
Stayton,  Amos. 
Sedgwick,  John. 
Stephens,  Wm. 
Scott,  Erin. 
Scott,  Curtis. 
Scott,  John. 
Sordin,  James. 
Spencer,  Elizabeth. 
Stafford,  Andrew. 
Sudler,  Joseph  B. 
Smith,  John. 
Sadler,  Dr.  John  R. 
Smith,  Darid. 
Swiggato,  Wm.  H. 
Simpson,  Bei^amln. 
Stokley,  Bei^amin. 
Sattorlleld,  Archibald. 
Smith,  Wm. 
Stokley,  Jobe. 
Smith,  Wesley. 
Smith,  Wm.  W. 
Smith,  MiOor. 
Sordin,  Alex.  P. 
Shiles,  Wm. 
Simpson,  Samnel. 
Simpson,  John. 
Spicei,  Elzy. 
St'iart,  Michael. 
Stuart,  James. 
Stephens,  Isaac^W. 
Sorder,  John. 
Stuart,  Wm. 
Stuart,  Michael. 


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1304 


HISTOKY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Spencer,  John. 
8hockl«7,  Wm.  P. 
Shockley,  Lerin  P. 
Smith,  NichoIaiO. 
Swain,  Wm. 
Twiford,  John  H. 
Twiford.  Allen. 
Towen,  Thomai. 
Todd,  Henry. 
Todd,  Levin. 
Todd,  Wm. 
Todd,  Jamei, 
Taylor,  Thomas. 
Truttt,8amatl. 
TuU,  Samuel. 
Tull,  Peter. 
Tull,  Robert 
Tull,  Wm. 
Tull,  Andrew. 
Taylor,  John. 
Taylor,  Eliaa. 
Thompaon,  Thomas. 
Tennont,  Jamea.. 
Todd,  David. 
Tharp,  Wm. 
Twiford,  Wm. 
Tiland,  Andrew. 
Yiland,  Jamet. 
Ylland,  Jaaon. 
YeMela,  Wm.  H. 
Victor,  Wesley. 
Tirden,  Albert 
Tickers,  John  A. 
Yickers,  Nathan. 
Wright,  Lewis  N. 
Williamson,  Wm. 
WUIson,  Wm.  B. 
Willson,  John. 
Williams,  George  W. 
Watktns,  Thomas. 
White,  Joseph. 
White,  Thomas. 


White,  G«orge  P. 
Wilson,  Wm.  B.,  Bmi. 
Watson,  Joseph. 
Webb,  Wm. 
Wingate,  Hezekiah. 
Wingate,  Elijah. 
WillUms,  Noble. 
Williams,  Newton. 
Wright,  Charies. 
Willen,  Charles. 
Waller,  Winder. 
WaUace,  Heniy. 
Winsor,  John. 
Wallace,  Thos. 
WiUen,  Isaac. 
WiUey,  Nehemiah. 
Wright,  Henry. 
Wingate,  Gannon. 
Williams,  Planner. 
Williams,  Alfred. 
Winright,  John  M. 
Williams,  Townsend. 
Wllley,  Theodore. 
Willey,  Loxley. 
Welch,  George. 
WUley,  Nathaniel. 
Willey,  Cannon. 
Willey,  John. 
Winsor,  John. 
Winsor,  James. 
Willen,  Levin. 
Watkins,  Josiah. 
Wilson,  Theodore  J. 
Watson,  George  W. 
Wright,  Isaac 
Wright,  Turpin. 
Wright,  Jacob. 
Wilson,  James. 
White.  John  W. 
Wright,  James. 
Wells,  Bdwaitl  L. 
White,  Geo.  P.  ft  Co.  (Mills). 


Business  Intebests. — In  the  early  history  of  this 
section  the  mill-seats  were  well  improved,  and  were 
important  factors  in  the  development  of  the  country. 
In  the  north-eastern  part  of  the  hundred,  on  the  tract 
called  "  Shankland's  Discovery/'  Unity  Forge  was  in 
operation  about  1771,  and  was  worked  quite  exten- 
sively soon  after,  having  double  fires.  In  1815,  John 
and  Shadrack  Elliott  owned  the  property,  consisting 
of  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  a  forge  and  mill,  the 
latter  being  in  Nantieoke  Hundred.  Later,  Jonas 
Walker  became  the  owner  ef  part  of  the  property, 
and  a  mill  was  afterwards  built  on  the  Seaford  side, 
which  became  widely  known  as  Walker's.  The  pres- 
ent mill  was  built  in  1885,  by  Cotteral,  Trout  & 
Green,  and  is  a  three-story  frame.  Its  machinery  is 
first-class,  there  being  a  Victor  wheel  and  eight  sets 
of  rolls,  making  it  one  of  the  best  milld  in  this  part 
of  the  country.  The  mills  on  the  other  streams  are 
small,  the  one  on  Herring  Creek,  below  Clear  Brook, 
having  had  many  owners,  and  being  known  as  Ross's, 
Cannon's,  and  by  other  names.  In  1879  it  was  re- 
built,'and  was  in  1887  the  property  of  Marcellus  Heam. 
On  Chapel  Brook  was  the  old  Jackson  mill,  which 
was  abandoned  about  fifty  years  ago,  and  on  the  same 
stream  the  Flowers,  later  Dulaney  mill,  is  still  opera- 
ted on  custom  work.  Other  small  mills  on  this 
stream  have  passed  away.    On  Harris  Brook,  Edward 


Harris  had  a  saw-mill  which  waa  later  owned  by 
Thomas  H.  Brown,  and  is  now  the  property  of  Wil- 
liam F.  Hastings.  Though  of  small  capacity,  the 
mill  has  done  good  service,  and  when  the  store  near 
by  was  carried  on,  this  was  an  important  busineBs 
point.  Besides  some  of  the  mill  owners,  Robert 
Frame,  Jacob  Bounds  and  Thomas  Short  were  also 
here  in  trade.  Near  Woodlands,  on  Mud  Brook.  W. 
W.  Wright  and  others  operated  small  mills  for  brief 
periods. 

In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  hundred,  the  old 
Wallace  saw-mill  passed  into  the  hands  of  Gillis  S. 
and  William  Ellis,  about  1850,  and  haa  since  been 
owned  by  the  Ellis  family.  In  1887  it  was  the  pro- 
perty of  William  and  E.  J.  Ellis.  The  latter  was 
also  a  vessel  owner. 

In  the  main,  agriculture  has  formed  the  principal 
pursuit  of  the  people,  and  many  fruit  farms  have 
been  opened  within  a  dozen  years.  Those  of  Col.  E. 
L.  Martin,  J.  J.  Ross  and  W.  H.  Boyce  are  among 
the  largest  of  the  State,  each  containing  many  thous- 
ands of  peach  trees.  Charles  Wright,  T.  B.  GDes,  T. 
H.  Brown,  J.  W.  Wiley,  Jacob  Bounds,  M.  J.  Didc- 
erson,  J.  F.  Oday  and  George  H.  Houston  are  also 
extensive  fruit  growers  and  orchardisto. 

MiDDLEFOBD. — The  lands  in  this  vicinity  were 
taken  up  on  a  warrant  in  1764,  as  **  Broth^s'  Agree- 
ment," "  Venture  "  and  **  Company's  Lot,"  by  Jona- 
than Vaughan  and  Co.,  who  built  the  "Nantieoke 
Forge,'*  on  the  west  side  of  Northwest  Fork  of  the  Nan- 
tieoke, at  the  head  of  tide  water.  A  store,  grist  and 
saw-mills  were  also  built  at  this  place  and  were  in 
active  operation  before  1770.  The  forge  was  aband- 
oned early  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and,  being  a 
part  of  the  Nantieoke  Furnace  property,  the  lands 
were  divided  by  act  of  the  Assembly,  passed  in  1802* 
and  sold  in  1805  to  William  Huffington,  Hiomjn 
Townsend  and  James  Huffington.  The  place  was  at 
that  time  already  known  as  Middleford,  the  miila, 
store  and  other  interests  having  been  carried  on  after 
the  first  forge  had  been  abandoned.  A  new  dam  was 
built  three  hundred  yards  below  the  old  one,  by  the 
above  firm,  and  a  forge  for  making  blooms  was  again 
placed  in  operation  and  worked  on  until  1825.  Be- 
fore this  time  the  property  had  passed  to  Thomas 
Townsend,  and  in  1825  he  rebuilt  the  mills  so  tliat 
they  could  be  operated  on  a  very  extensive  scale. 
From  him  these  improvements  passed  to  his  son, 
Barclay,  and  were  next  owned  by  Robert  Houaton, 
William  and  Michael  Stewart.  Soon  after  Townsmd 
built  the  new  mill  at  Middleford,  in  1825,  he  invented 
a  process  of  kiln-drying  com  meal  so  that  it  ooold 
be  sent  abroad,  and  ground  and  dried  large qoan titles. 
He  shipped  it  to  the  West  Indies  from  the  mill,  and 
had  a  very  large  trade.  Eight  coopers  were  employed 
making  puncheons  and  barrels.  A  distillery  was  also 
at  this  place  before  1825,  but  it  was  abandoned  after 
the  extensive  milling  business  was  established. 

About  1840  the  property  came  into  possession  of 
Lott  Rawlins,  and  the  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 


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SUSSBX  COUNTY. 


1305 


1846.  It  was  not  rebuilt  by  him,  but  the  property 
passed  to  his  sons,  John  M.  and  James  Rawlins,  who,  in 
1857,  built  the  present  grist  and  saw-mill.  In  1859  a 
carding-mill  was  built,  and  since  1864  a  small  planing 
mill  has  been  operated,  these  interests  remaining  the 
property  of  the  Rawlins  Bros. 

Stores  have  been  carried  on  at  Middleford  since  the 
place  was  opened  for  settlement,  usually  by  the  mill 
owners.  But  after  1830  this  was  one  of  the  most 
active  trading  places  in  the  county.  At  one  time 
there  were  stores  kept  by  William  and  Michael  Stew- 
art, LoU  Rawlins,  William  Twiford,  George  Hall, 
John  Windsor  and  James  and  Joseph  Copes.  All  did 
a  good  business.  After  the  large  mill  was  burned 
down  the  place  began  to  decline,  but  William  and 
John  M.  Rawlins  and  the  Stewarts  remained  in  trade 
a  few  years  longer.  In  1887  there  was  but  one  small 
store,  which  was  kept  by  Edward  Owens,  the  post- 
master. 

The  village  being  off  from  the  main  lines  of  travel 
has  steadily  dwindled  since  the  building  of  the  rail- 
road, and  the  dozen  or  more  buildings  remaining 
show  signs  of  decay—a  number  being  unoccupied. 
At  this  place  were  located  as  physcians.  Dr.  Edward 
Huffington  and  Dr.  Joseph  Copes,  in  1882,  and  a  few 
years  later,  Dr.  William  Stewart  was  located  a  short 
dme  after  1840,  and  was  the  last  practitioner  residing 
at  Middleford. 

WooPLAND. — ^The  hamlet  of  Woodland,  formerly 
called  Cannon's  Ferry,  is  on  the  Nanticoke  River, 
half  a  dozen  miles  below  Seaford.  Although  still  a 
place  of  importance  in  the  hundred,  its  commercial 
position  is  not  as  great  as  sixty  years  ago,  when  it 
was  one  of  the  most  widely- known  points  in  the  south- 
em  part  of  the  State.  The  ferry  across  theriver  has  been 
maintained  more  than  a  hundred  years.  In  1793  the 
right  to  operate  a  ferry  was  granted  to  Isaac  and  Betty 
Cannon  for  fourteen  years,  which  right  was  renewed 
upon  the  expiration  of  that  term,  so  that  the  name  of 
the  Cannon  family  was  widely  associated,  not  only 
with  the  ferry,  which  was  on  the  principal  highway 
to  the  lower  peninsula,  but  also  with  the  place  where 
the  sons  of  Betty  Cannon—Isaac  and  Jacob — amassed 
large  wealth.  In  1816  these  sons,  as  a  firm,  owned 
four  thousand  five  hundred  and  seventy-three  acres 
of  land,  stores,  warehouses,  and  a  large  number  of 
slaves.  In  later  years  their  business  became  even 
more  extensive,  embracing  a  system  of  banking  or 
money-loaning,  which  was  characterized  by  its  exact- 
ing methods.  The  partners  were  of  opposite  dis- 
positions, yet  the  complement  of  each  other  in  a 
business  sense,  and  in  this  small  counting-house, 
attached  to  their  store,  many  shrewd  transactions 
were  recorded.  Their  uncompromising  ways  made 
them  many  enemies,  and  caused  the  death  of  one  of 
the  members  in  a  tragic  manner.  This  was  quickly 
followed  by  the  natural  death  of  the  surviving 
brother,  which  also  brought  about  the  close  of  their 
extensive  business.  As  the  result  of  a  dispute  about 
some  trivial  business  matters  Jacob  Cannon  was 
83 


killed  by  Owen  O'Day  on  April  10,  1843,  on  the 
wharf  of  the  ferry  just  as  he  was  returning  home  from 
a  visit  to  the  Gk)vernor  of  the  State,  whom  he  had 
seen  with  a  view  of  asking  his  protection  against  the 
assaults  with  which  he  had  been  threatened  by  those 
whom  he  had  helped  to  distress.  Young  O'Day, 
having  the  sympathy  of  most  of  the  community, 
succeeded  in  effecting  bis  escape,  fleeing  first  to 
Baltimore  and  thence  to  the  West  The  death  of 
Isaac  Cannon  followed  May  6,  1843,  at  the  age  of 
seventy- three  years.  Jacob  was  but  sixty -two  yeai-s 
old  when  he  was  killed.  Betty  Cannon,  the  mother, 
had  died  in  1828,  aged  eighty-six  years.  For  many 
years  these  three  persons  owned  the  only  residences 
on  the  street  parallel  with  the  river.  The  lower,  or 
ferry-house,  with  its  brick  ends  and  wooden  sides, 
was  erected  in  the  last  century.  The  ferry  having 
become  the  property  of  the  county,  this  house  passed 
with  it,  and  remains  the  home  of  the  ferryman,  who 
has  been  William  B.  Ellis  since  1883.  He  reported 
that  ten  thousand  persons  availed  themselves  of  the 
use  of  the  ferry  in  the  year  ending  December,  1886. 

The  house  of  Jacob  Cannon,  a  large  frame,  in  a 
spacious  yard,  was  the  next  up  the  river.  After 
being  completed  and  furnished  it  stood  more  than  a 
score  of  years  without  an  occupant,  and  was  never 
inhabited  by  him  for  whom  it  was  built.  That  house 
also  remains,  and  is  occupied  by  heirs  of  the  Cannon 
fistmily.  The  House  of  Isaac  Cannon  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  the  store  next  above  that  has  been  some- 
what changed.  Most  of  the  warehouses  have  been 
removed.  In  1824,  H.  B.  Fiddeman,  at  that  time 
seventeen  years  of  age,  entered  the  store  of  Cannon 
Brothers,  where  he  remained  four  years,  and  then 
became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Powell  &  Fiddeman, 
which  traded  in  a  small  red  store  building,  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  hamlet,  and  for  seventeen  years 
transacted  a  heavy  business  in  merchandising  and 
shipping,  having  a  wharf  near  their  store.  Here 
were  located  later  Joseph  Neal,  Charles  J.  Smith  an4 
Samuel  Messick,  but  the  building  has  long  since 
been  unused  for  business  purposes.  Another  store 
near  the  wharf,  owned  by  William  W.  Wright,  was 
removed,  and  subsequently  burned  down.  In  the  old 
Cannon  stand,  William  Jones,  of  Baltimore,  traded 
about  1845,  and  in  later  years.  Charles  J.  Smith 
and  Wm.  T.  Moore  followed,  and  W.  C.  Hearn  was 
the  merchant  in  1887.  Another  store  was  carried 
on  by  W.  C.  Carpenter,  in  trade  since  1870,  at  a 
stand  which  was  discontinued  about  1882,  when,  also, 
was  discontinued  the  Cannon's  Ferry  post-office. 
The  place  was  without  mail  privileges  until  1882, 
when  an  office  was  established  with  the  name  of 
"Woodland,"  which  has  been  continued  with  six 
mails  per  week.  W.  £.  Carpenter  is  the  postmaster. 
The  hamlet  has  had,  since  1882,  the  same  name  as 
the  post-office,  and  although  its  business  has  been 
somewhat  revived,  there  was,  in  1887,  but  little  of  the 
activity  of  the  times  when  a  large  scope  of  country, 
north  and  south,  was  tributary  to  this  point  as  its 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


shipping  and  trading  centre.  The  Nanticoke  here 
affords  a  channel  fourteen  feet  deep,  and  there  is  a 
good  wharf,  but  shipments  are  light,  the  more  active 
railroad  towns  having  absorbed  that  branch  of  busi- 
ness. 

In  the  place  are  a  neat  Methodist  church,  a  school- 
house  and  about  twenty  residences,  occupied  by  a 
conservative  class  of  citizens,  and  the  moral  tone  of 
the  community  is  spoken  of  as  being  an  improve- 
ment on  that  which  pervaded  the  place  before  the 
Civil  War. 

Reliance. — This  is  the  name  of  a  post-office  estab- 
lished at  Johnson's  Cross-roads,  on  the  Maryland  line 
in  March  1882.  Charles  M.  Phillips  was  appointed 
post-master,  and  still  holds  that  position.  The  ham- 
let which  is  also  officially  known  as  Reliance,  is 
pleasantly  located  in  a  rich  farming  country,  and  con- 
sists of  two  stores,  a  church,  masonic  lodge,  shops  and 
a  few  residences.  About  one-half  of  these  interests 
are  located  in  the  State  of  Maryland.  This  locality 
came  into  prominence  sixty  years  ago  as  the  head- 
quarters of  persons  engaged  in  the  unlawful  slave 
trade,  the  victims  of  which  were  here  rendezvoused 
preparatory  to  their  shipment  to  southern  markets* 
The  principal  actors  in  this  species  of  crime  were  Joe 
Johnson  (for  whom  the  cross-roads  were  named)  and 
his  mother-in-law,  Patty  Cannon.  The  latter  was  the 
moving  spirit,  if  not  the  originator  of  the  schemes 
which  made  both  of  them  notorious,  attached  a 
stigma  to  this  neighborhood,  and  caused  untold  suf- 
fering to  many  captives,  as  well  as  death  to  some  who 
conspired  with  them  to  carry  the  poor  unfortunates 
into  involuntary  servitude.  This  wicked  woman 
appears  to  have  been  fated  to  live  a  life  of  crime, 
which  justly  ended  in  a  felon's  death. 

Her  ancestry  is  somewhat  obscure,  as  she  came  to 
Delaware  an  alien.  It  is  believed  that  her  maiden 
name  was  Lucretia  P.  Hanley,  and  that  she  was  the 
daughter  of  an  Englishman  of  good  birth,  but  whose 
dissolute  habits  led  him  to  marry  a  scheming  woman 
of  ill-repute.  For  this  offense  he  was  ostracized  by 
his  family,  whose  honor  he  still  respected,  and  for 
whose  sake  he  emigrated  to  Canada.  A  purpose  to  re- 
form and  lead  an  honorable  life  in  the  new  world,  was 
soon  overcome  by  his  unscrupulous  wife,  who  was 
dissatisfied  with  the  means  he  could  acquire  by  honest 
toil,  and  she  urged  him  to  abandon  his  occupation  and 
ally  himself  with  a  band  of  smugglers,  whose 
acquaintance  she  had  formed.  This  he  did,  and  was 
under  the  tutelage  of  his  wife,  soon  recognized  as  a 
leader  among  those  daring  spirits.  His  offenses  cul- 
minated in  the  crime  of  murder,  whose  penalty  was 
paid  by  his  death  on  the  gallows. 

Mrs.  Hanley,  being  left  with  a  family  of  daughters, 
some  already  following  her  in  the  paths  of  an  impure 
life,  appears  to  have  had  one  good  purpose ;  to  marry 
off  her  daughters  to  sons  of  respectable,  well-to-do 
families.  With  this  view  she  was  constantly  on  the 
look-out  for  such  an  alliance,  and,  when  Lucretia  P. 
was  but  sixteen  years  of  age,  succeeded  in  marrying 


her  to  Alonzo  Cannon,  of  Sussex  County,  who  had 
become  a  guest  of  her  house  while  travelling  through 
the  St.  John*s  country,  where  she  then  lived  and  kept 
an  inn,  and  who  had  been  well-nursed  by  the  fiunily, 
through  a  long  illness.  When  fully  able  to  travel  he 
returned  to  Delaware  with  his  young  wife,  whose 
career  in  this  State  now  began.  At  this  time  she  is 
spoken  of  as  a  handaeme,  vivacious  young  person, 
brilliant  in  conversation  and  fond  of  K&y  sodety. 
The  tame  life  she  was  obliged  to  lead  in  her  husband's 
quiet  home  soon  became  distasteful  to  her,  and 
against  his  wishes  and  to  his  great  sorrow  she  fonned 
associations  with  some  lawless  characters,  who  soon 
resorted  to  her  home  with  such  frequency  that  the 
life  of  her  husband  became  a  burden  to  him.  In  the 
course  of  a  few  years  he  died,  it  was  supposed  of  grief, 
occasioned  by  his  unfortunate  marriage,  but,  as  it  wis 
later  believed,  of  poison  administered  by  his  wife. 
She  now  took  her  daughter  to  a  home  on  a  small 
tract  of  land,  about  six  miles  from  Seaford,  on  the 
Maryland  line,  when  she  became  more  dissolute  than 
ever.  She  plied  her  arts  to  win  the  allegiance  of  her 
companions  in  crime,  and  seemed  to  exsrcise  complete 
control  over  them.  Keeping  a  sort  of  a  public-house, 
numerous  opportunities  for  robbery  were  offered  her 
and  many  a  traveler  was  relieved  of  his  valuables 
after  he  had  lefl  her  place,  pleased  with  the  winsome 
hostess,  and  the  hospitable  entertainment  he  had  re- 
ceived at  her  hands.  If  suspicions  were  aroused, 
which  traced  these  crimes  to  her  door,  she  cajoled  or 
threatened,  as  the  case  demanded,  until  no  further 
attention  was  paid  to  them.  To  belong  to  her  ganf 
was  to  secure  immunity  from  punishment,  and  henoe 
she  has  always  found  willing  tools  to  do  her  bidding 
since  they  could  thus,  also,  with  more  freedom  follow 
their  own  crimes. 

One  of  her  followers  was  Ebenezer  Johnson,  who  was 
apprehended  and  punished  for  a  crime  instigated  by 
her.  His  son  Joe  subsequently  married  Patty's  daugh- 
ter and  built  a  house  at  the  cross-roads,  in  Maryland, 
and  about  seventy-five  yards  firom  the  Delaware  line. 
Her  own  house  was  above  this  nearly  a  fourth  of  a 
mile,  and  about  one  hundred  yards  from  the  Mary- 
land line,  thus  giving  the  family  the  advantage  of 
practically  living  in  both  States,  or  in  one  or  the 
other,  as  circumstances  might  demand.  This  condi- 
tion was  found  very  useful  in  her  criminal  career, 
when  she  and  her  son-in-law  became  the  head  of  a 
band  of  kidnappers. 

The  Johnson  house  was  a  large  frame  building 
with  a  steep  roof,  which,  contrary  to  the  foshion  of 
that  day,  had  no  dormer  windows.  This  was  the 
most  celebrated  kidnapper's  tavern  along  the  whole 
border  and  contained  a  prison  whose  miseries  rivaled 
those  of  the  Black  Hole  in  Calcutta.  In  the  centre  of 
the  attic  a  dungeon  about  twelve  feet  square  was  con- 
structed, the  walls  being  made  of  plank  firmly  spiked 
together  and  containing  staples  to  which  the  kidnap- 
ped negroes  were  sometimes  shackled.  Often  as  many 
as  ten  persons,  of  either  sex,  were  crowded  into  this 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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small  space,  where  they  were  kept  days  at  a  time 
withoat  a  sufficient  allowance  of  food  and  barely 
enough  air  to  sustain  life.  Then  they  would  be  taken, 
UHually,  to  Ghilestown,  Maryland,  and  placed  in  the 
hold  of  a  small  vessel  to  be  borne  to  a  plantation  in 
the  South.  So  artfully  was  this  dungeon  concealed 
from  the  uninitiated  that  its  existence,  although  sus- 
pected, was  not  revealed  for  many  years,  and  not  until 
almost  every  species  of  crime  had  been  committed  by 
this  gang.  If  a  charge  was  lodged  against  any  of  the 
members,  by  the  authorities  of  one  State,  they  took 
refuge  in  the  other,  thus  evading  arrest. 

At  length  the  operations  of  the  desperadoes  be- 
came so  bold  that,  in  spite  of  the  influence  they  com- 
manded, a  purpose  was  formed  to  break  the  band  up. 
Joe  Johnson,  having  already  placed  his  family  in  a 
new  home  in  the  South,  sought  safety  in  flight,  and 
Patty  Cannon  became  the  hostess  of  the  kidnapper*s 
house.  She  also  remained  the  owner  of  the  farm- 
house in  Delaware,  living  there  part  of  the  time,  if 
she  could  better  carry  out  the  deception  by  so  doing. 
It  was  also  believed  that  she  buried  her  ill-gotten 
wealth  in  the  orchard  of  this  fann.  Her  career  ended 
in  1829,  when  she  was  arrested,  convicted  and  confin- 
ed in  the  jail  at  Georgetown,  where  she  died  before 
the  date  for  her  execution. 

The  kidnapper's  house  was  subsequently  occupied 
by  Michael  Milbum,  whose  business  was  cut  short 
by  his  arrest  as  an  illegal  slave  dealer  and 'conviction 
as  a  kidnapper.  Later  a  respectable  old  couple  by 
the  name  of  Moore  lived  in  this  houses  keeping  a 
country  inn,  but  it  was  long  ago  changed  to  a  private 
residence.  In  1886  this  structure  was  entirely  re- 
built by  C.  M.  Phillips,  who  owned  the  property,  and 
its  attractive  appearance  gives  but  little  evidence  of 
the  fact  that  it  stands  on  the  site  of  the  infamous  old 
prison  pen.  The  entire  community  seems  also  to 
have  been  changed,  being  one  of  the  most  orderly 
in  the  Peninsula,  progressive  in  all  things  tending 
to  its  enlightenment. 

Prior  to  1854,  Batson  Adams  here  opened  the  first 
store  in  a  bailding  which  stood  in  Maryland.  In 
1863,  M.  U.  C.  Wilson  put  up  a  new  store  in  which 
C.  M.  Phillips  has  traded  since  1879.  The  year 
previous  William  B.  Houston  erected  a  store  build- 
ing on  the  Delaware  side,  where  several  firms  traded, 
but  which  has  not  been  occupied  since  1885. 

Gethsemane  Lodge^  No,  28,  A,  F.  and  A,  M,,  was 
organized  at  Reliance  under  a  charter  granted  October 
6, 1875.  A  neat  lodge-room  has  been  provided  in  the 
second  story  of  the  Qethsemane  Church  building.  In 
1887  there  were  seventeen  Master  Masons  and  the  fol- 
lowing principal  officers :  Master,  Isaac  S.  Warren  »* 
S.  Warden,  M.  H.  Hackett ;  J.  Warden,  S.  M.  Gordy ; 
Treasurer,  J.  N.  Wright ;  Secretary,  L.  H.  Le  Gates ; 
8.  Deacon,  J.  F.  Wheatley;  J.  Deacon,  W.  L.  D. 
Tull. 

Oak  Grove. — Not  quite  six  miles  northwest  from 
Seaford  is  Oak  Grove  Station,  on  the  Cambridge 
Branch  Railroad,  where  a  small  store  was  opened  in 


1869,  and  a  post-office  established.  Here  have  been, 
as  business  men,  John  Dulaney,  Isaac  Warren  and 
L.  H.  Le  Gates,  the  latter  in  1887. 

HoRSEY's  Cro68-Road8  (name  authorized  by  the 
Legislature  in  February,  1878,  to  be  changed  to 
Atlanta)  was  established  as  a  business  point  by  Na- 
thaniel Horsey.  It  is  on  the  Northwest  Fork  line, 
on  the  Federalsburg  Road,  and  was  formerly  a  brisk, 
country  trading  place.  After  the  removal  of  Horsey 
it  became  less  important,  but  a  store  has  been  kept  up 
by  different  parties.  The  post-office  was  not  long 
continued. 

Cannon's  Station,  on  the  main  line  of  the  rail- 
way, in  the  northern  part  of  the  hundred,  has  been 
an  active  shipping  point  since  1879.  The  railroad 
company  has  a  wood-yard  at  this  point.  J.  W.  Ward 
is  the  agent  and  merchant  and  H.  C.  Adams  the  post- 
master of  an  office  established  in  recent  years.  There 
are,  also,  a  few  residences,  including  a  Methodist 
Episcopal  parsonage.  The  surrounding  country  has 
been  much  improved  within  the  past  six  years,  a 
number  of  fine  buildings  having  been  erected  on  the 
farms  in  this  neighborhood. 

Religious  Societies.— The  aggressive  ministers  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  early  labored  among 
the  people  of  Seaford  Hundred,  whom  they  found  wil- 
ling hearers  and  ready  to  accept  the  faith  they  pro- 
claimed. The  seed  sown  found  permanent  lodg- 
ment, the  churches  established  more  than  a  hundred 
years  ago  having  been  continuously  maintained,  and 
in  1887  all  the  societies  in  the  hundred  belonging  to. 
some  branch  of  the  Methodist  Church.  The  eldest  of 
these  is  Bethel  Church,  near  the  Maryland  line,  in 
the  northwestern  section.  It  was  built  in  1781, 
under  the  direction  of  White  Brown ;  hence  also 
became  known  as  Brown's  Chapel.  In  that  work  he- 
had  the  assistance  of  Lemuel  Davis,  a  local  preacher, » 
and  Jacob  Kinder ;  and  their  descendants  have  ever 
since  been  among  the  leading  members  of  the  church. 
Rev.  Mr.  Davis'  grandson,  William  Davis,  was  also 
a  local  preacher  of  recognized  popularity  in  his 
neighborhood,  marrying  more  than  two  hundred 
couples  during  his  ministry.  A  grandson.  Rev. 
Samuel  Davis,  was  in  1885  the  pastor  of  a  Metho- 
dist Church.  Later  the  Noble  family  also  fiimished 
many  members  of  the  church  at  this  place,  and  the 
official  positions  have  been  held  chiefly  by  these 
families. 

The  church  building,  erected  in  1781,  was  a  large 
frame,  whose  seating  capacity  was  increased  by  having 
three  galleries,  so  that  six  hundred  people  could  be 
accommodated.  It  was  so  substantially  constructed 
that  up  to  August,  1881,  when  its  first  centennial 
anniversary  was  celebrated,  not  more  than  seven 
hundred  dollars  had  been  spent  in  repairs.  Its  loca- 
tion is  in  a  pleasant  grove,  and  the  grounds  have 
been  enlarged^  to  embrace  three  acres,  a  portion  of 
which  is  devoted  to  the  burial  of  the  dead.  Many 
interments  have  here  been  made. 

The  chapel,  although  fitted  for  occupancy  in  1781, 


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1308 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


WER  not  fully  completed  until  1806.  On  the  6th  of 
March,  the  following  year,  it  was  incorporated  as 
Bethel  Church,  with  Trustees  Tilghman  Davis, 
George  Qraham,  Caleb  Davis,  Lemuel  Davis,  Curtis 
Jacobs,  William  Wheat! ey  and  Isaac  Kinder.  It  has 
sustained  many  circuit  relations,  and,  in  connection 
with  other  churches,  has  had  a  long  line  of  ministers. 
In  1888  it  was  a  part  of  Cannon  Circuit.  Freeborn 
Garrettson,  Bishop  Asbury  and  other  pioneers  of 
Methodism  preached  at  this  place,  which  was  one  of 
the  focal  points  from  which  missionary  effort  was  put 
forth  almost  a  century  ago. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  hundred  an  Episcopal 
chapel  was  erected  prior  to  the  Revolution,  which 
seemed  to  interrupt  the  services  held  there.  This 
chapel  was  later  wholly  abandoned,  and  only  a  tra- 
ditional account  of  it  remains.  From  its  existence 
in  that  section  the  broek  took  its  name.  Here,  in 
1804,  John  Cannon  and  Jeremiah  Rust  Jackson 
deeded  one  acre  of  land  for  a  Methodist  Church. 
This  lot  was  on  '*  the  main  road  that  leads  from  Sea- 
ford  over  Chappie  Branch  and  to  the  westerly  end  of 
the  old  Cbapple,  between  that  and  a  mill  pond  of 
Jeremiah  R.  Jackson.''  The  trustees  named  were 
John  Handy,  Captain  Thomas  Pretty  man,  Jeremiah 
Brown,  Augustus  Brown,  Matthew  Cannon,  Jeremiah 
R.  Jackson  and  William  Davis.  After  the  church  at 
Seaford  was  built,  under  the  direction  of  this  board 
of  trustees,  the  old  "Beacham  Meeting-house  *'  on 
this  lot,  was  not  so  frequently  used,  and  afterwards 
passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Methodist  Protestants, 
who  moved  the  building  to  Seaford. 

In  1843  Mrs.  B3ling  and  her  son,  Jacob  C.  Nichol- 
son, exerted  themselves  to  build  a  small  house  of 
worship  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  persuasion  at 
Cannon's  Ferry.  A  lot  was  deeded,  adjoining  the 
Cannon  burial-ground,  on  which  this  building  stood 
about  forty  years,  when  it  gave  place  to  the  present 
church.  This  is  a  frame  building,  thirty-eight  by 
forty-five  feet,  which  cost  one  thousand  three  hundred 
dollars,  and  was  dedicated  in  August,  1888.  The 
committee  charged  with  its  erection  was  composed  of 
W.  E.  Carpenter,  E.  J.  Ellis,  Josephus  Collins,  W. 
H.  Allen  and  Thomas  Houston.  There  are  here 
about  fifty  members,  and  the  church  forms  a  part  of 
the  Oalestown  (Md.)  Circuit. 

At  Middleford,  Thomas  Townsend  donated  a  lot 
upon  which  a  house  of  worship  might  be  built  by  the 
community,  about  1830.  Meetings  by  Methodists  and 
Presbyterians  were  then  statedly  held  in  it,  but  after 
1846  the  former  denomination  only  occupied  it  with 
any  degree  of  regularity,  the  appointment  being  a 
part  of  Concord  Circuit.  The  house  is  in  poor  repair 
and  has  been  but  little  used  since  the  completion  of 
Brown's  Church,  one  and  a  half  miles  northwest  from 
this  place.  This  is  a  frame  structure,  thirty  by  forty 
feet,  with  a  vestibule  and  recessed  pulpit,  and  cost  one 
thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  ground 
on  which  it  stands  was  donated  by  Mrs.  Catherine 
Cannon.     The  church  was  erected  by  a  committee 


composed  of  George  Burton,  James  Wood,  Samuel  B. 
Pusey,  Marcellus  Hearn  and  Robert  Brown,  and  was 
dedicated  in  October,  1883.  Eighty  members  worship 
at  this  place.  The  church  is  a  part  of  Gannon  C^rcoit^ 
which  was  formed  in  1886  out  of  the  old  Concord  and 
Bridgeville  Circuits,  and  which  had  Rev.  Edward 
Davis  as  the  first  preacher  in  charge.  Rev.  William 
Yalliant  was  appointed  in  1887,  the  charge  in- 
cluding the  churches  at  Concord,  Brown,  Bethel  and 
Wesley. 

The  latter  was  built  in  1882,  on  a  main  road  three 
miles  northwest  from  Seaford.  It  is  very  much  the 
same  kind  of  a  building  as  Brown's  Church,  and  was 
erected  under  the  supervision  of  John  Kinder,  W.  J. 
Cannon,  Jesse  Allen,  James  Ward  and  Robert  L. 
Brown.  Previous  to  its  dedication,  in  the  fall  of  1882, 
meetings  were  r^ularly  held  in  the  school-house,  in 
this  locality,  which  was  sometimes  called  Little's 
Chapel.  It  was  built  in  1861  with  a  yiew  of  accom- 
modating both  schools  and  religious  meetings.  In 
1887  there  were  seventy  members  at  the  Wesley 
Church.  Rev.  B.  Wheatley  was  reported  as  a  local 
preacher  at  Cannon,  where  was  also  the  parsonage  of 
the  circuit,  built  in  1887. 

Gethsemane  Methodist  Protestant  Church  is  at 
Reliance,  on  Johnson's  Cross-Roada.  It  is  the  lower 
part  of  a  two- story  building,  the  upper  part  being  a 
Masonic  lodge-room.  This  house  was  erected  in  1872, 
by  a  committee  which  had  as  members  William  Ellis, 
Jacob  Nicholson,  John  N.  Wright,  James  Harris  and 
Daniel  Field.  James  Gordy  and  others  were  abo 
active  to  secure  a  new  church  in  place  of  the  small, 
old  building  which  had  been  in  use  since  1850,  and 
which  was  removed  to  make  place  for  this  house. 
The  church  has  had  the  same  ministry  as  the  appcunt- 
ment  at  Seaford,  with  which  it  has  always  been  con- 
nected in  its  relation  to  Conference. 

Seaford. — ^This  flourishing  town  of  two  thouaand 
inhabitants  is  beautifully  located  at  the  junction  of 
the  Herring  Creek  with  the  Nanticoke  River,  near  the 
head  of  navigation.  The  latter  stream  is  an  import- 
ant tributary  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  sixty  miles  dis- 
tant, and  its  waters  at  this  point  will  float  vessels  hav- 
ing  a  draught  of  sixteen  feet  It  it  also  an  important 
station  on  the  Delaware  Railroad,  one  hundred  and 
ten  miles  from  Philadelphia,  and  is  the  terminus  of  the 
Dorchester  Branch,  connecting  with  Cambridge,  on 
the  Chesapeake  Bay,  thirty-three  miles  away.  The 
surroundings  are  healthy,  the  country  fertile,  and  as 
it  has  been  largely  devoted  to  peach  culture,  Seaford 
has  become  an  important  shipping  point  The  town 
has  churches,  schools,  banks,  numerous  stores,  and  all 
the  attributes  of  a  progressive  rural  community. 

Seaford  was  laid  out  October  29,  1799,  by  John 
Hooper,  Thomas  Hooper  and  John  Tennant,  as  the 
heirs  of  Henry  Hooper.  At  that  time  the  place  was 
called  "  Hooper's  Landing,*'  and  the  plat  shows  the 
dwelling-house  of  John  Hooper,  near  which  was  a 
spring  and  a  wharf. 

Higher  up  and  above  the  spring,  Market  and  Front 


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SUSSEX  CX)UNTY, 


1309 


Streets  made  a  triangular  intersectioD,  the  apex  being 
set  aside  for  a  market  space. 

Front  Street  ran  due  north  and  south,  and  was  par- 
allel with  Herring  Creek.  The  streets  between  it  and 
the  creek,  and  running  parallel  with  it,  were  named 
North  and  South. 

The  transverse  streets,  running  parallel  with  Nanti« 
coke  River  and  having  a  due  east  and  west  course,  all 
sixty  feet  wide,  received  the  names  of  Water,  East 
and  West.  Most  of  the  lots  were  sixty  by  sixty  feet, 
and  ninety-two  lots  were  laid  out 

August  2, 1818,  Captain  Solomon  Boston  platted  an 
addition  of  ten  lots,  extending  along  Front  and  North 
Streets. 

The  **  second  addition*'  was  platted  by  James  Con- 
well,  May  16, 1814,  and  consisted  of  twenty  lots.  The 
**  third  addition,''  of  twenty-five  lots,  on  the  river  and 
below  Market  Street,  at  the  old  wharf  of  Henry  Hoop- 
er, was  platted  by  James  Conwell,  January  28, 1815. 

A  number  of  lots  atSeaford  were  sold  soon  after  the 
town  was  laid  out  and,  in  1809,  they  were  owned  by 
Solomon  Boston,  Daniel  Baker  &  William  Morgan, 
I.  &  J.  Cannon,  James  Collins,  John  Collins,  John 
Cade,  James  Conwell,  Ann  Cottingham,  John  Green, 
Seth  Griffith,  Alex.  P.  Eellin,  John  Hooper,  Thomas 
Hooper,  William  Hazzard, '  Barnard  Liddy,  Henry 
Little,  James  Polk,  John  Rust,  Job  Stockley,.  Solo- 
mon Turpin,  Tennant  &  Hazzard,  Nathan  Vickers. 

Twenty -seven  years  later,  in  1886,  a  list  of  property- 
owners  in  Seaford  embraced  the  names  of  the  fol- 
lowing : 


IiaacBnunej. 

John  Boynton. 

lUryBUdes. 

AlezADder  OampbeU  (oooper- 

•bop). 
Seekiel  Gannon. 
Alfred  OoUinghMii. 
Parld  Oonw«ll. 
Jeremiah  GuUent. 
LeTln  Oannon. 
Hotea  Dawaon. 
Jacob  FoaMt. 
Oeorga  K.  Hall. 
Bobert  K.  Hopkins. 
Joaiah  Horaej. 
Boades  Haszard. 
WUllam  Haxxard. 


Hein  of  George  Hazxard. 
Jacob  Kinder. 
William  Laws. 
Ann  Morgan. 
Captain  Hagh  Martin. 
John  Martin's  heirs. 
PapUn  Minor. 
Jeremiah  MacNealy. 
William  Nichols'  helra. 
Kittj  Keal. 
WUllam  Boades. 
BeA)amln  Stockley. 
Aaron  Swlggett's  heirs. 
Henry  Wallis. 
Tnrpin  Wright. 
Jacob  Wright. 
Planner  Williams. 


From  this  time  on  until  the  railroad  was  projected 
therewa^but  little  change  in  the  material  develop- 
ment of  the  town.  It  remained  for  twenty  years  or 
more  a  quiet,  conservative  place,  and  its  principal 
business  outlet  was  the  Nanticoke  River,  the  ship- 
ments being  grain  and  other  ordinary  farm  products. 
With  a  new  era  in  prospect,  when  the  town  was 
selected  as  one  of  the  stations  of  the  railroad,  at  that 
time  building,  new  additions  were  made,  Nanticoke 
City  being  platted  December  13,  1856,  on  the  lower 
borders  of  Seaford.  One  hundred  and  seventy-nine 
lots  were  thus  laid  out  by  John  Dale  for  Rev.  Thomas 
B.  Bradford,  and  here  was  located,in  1857,the southern 
terminus  of  the  Delaware  Railroad.  Although  not 
included  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town,  it  is 


essentially  a  part  of  Seaford,  with  which  place  its 
interests  are  inseparably  connected. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  town  after  the  completion 
of  the  railroad  made  it  desirable  that  it  should 
possess  a  better  and  more  independent  form  of  gov- 
ernment than  could  be  had  while  subordinate  to  the 
hundred.  Accordingly  it  was  incorporated  by  an  act 
of  the  Legislature,  passed  March  16,  1865,  which 
nained  Benjamin  Stockley,  John  E.  Darbee,  Isaac 
Willin,  Henry  L.  Hopkins  and  Michael  Coulbourn  as 
the  first  commissioners,  and  directed  that  a  re-survey 
and  plat  of  the  town  be  made.  This  was  done  in  May 
ensuing,  by  James  Stuart,  and  the  following  limits 
were  placed  on  record  June  7, 1865  : 

**  Line  to  start  near  the  centre  of  Jacob  Williams*  mill  dam ;  thence 
N.  W.  with  said  mill  dam  and  the  road  until  a  line  north  2P  east  will 
strike  the  easCmost  comer  of  Beqjamin  8tockley*s  lot,  which  adjoins  a 
lot  of  Jacob  Williams,  on  the  east  of  the  said  Stoclclej  lot,  touch  the 
eastward  comer  of  said  Stockley's  lot  and  through  the  lands  of  Qiarles 
K.  Gannon  to  the  oonntj  road  leading  from  Bridgerille  to  Johnson's 
Cross-Roads,  Md. ;  thence  rannlng  in  the  centre  of  said  county  ruad  to 
the  Delaware  R.  R. ;  thence  with  the  said  R.  R.  to  the  Nanticoke 
RlTer;  thence  np  the  said  Nanticoke  Rlrer  to  Herring  Ran  or  Clear 
Brook  Branch ;  thence  up  the  branch  with  the  several  meanderings  to 
said  Jacob  Williams*  mill  dam,  the  place  of  beginning.** 

Amendatory  acts  were  passed  February  21,  1867, 
and  April  4, 1869;  and  on  the  19th  of  February,  1883, 
an'  act  was  passed  re-incorporating  the  town,  by  re- 
pealing the  conflicting  legislation,  but  not  changing 
the  limits.  By  this  act  the  corporate  name  became 
the  Town  of  Sec/ord,  and  full  power  was  vested  in  the 
commissioners  to  enact  all  the  ordinances  the  welfare 
of  the  town  might  require. 

Under  the  act  of  1865  the  first  election  held  at 
Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  in  April,  that  year,  resulted  in 
the  choice  of 

Aldemum^  Alflred  Cottingham. 


Oomm($$ioner». 


A\tnd  Williams. 
Beqjamin  Stockley. 
Heniy  L.  Hopkins. 


John  Conway. 
John  K.  Brown. 


Since  that  time  the  offices  of  aldermen,  clerks  and 
treasurers  have  been  as  is  shown  in  the  appended 
list: 

Aldtrnun. 

Wm.  J.  Stewart 1884 

Wm.  H.  Sterens 1886 

N.  H.  Brown 1886 


A\tnd  Cottingham... 1866-70 

Jesse  W.  BoblMon 1871-79 

W.  W.  Allen « 1880-83 


James  Stnart 1866 

John  Wallen.. 1867-68 

T.  D.  Price 186i 

H.  W.  Baker 1870 

J.  W.  Allen 1871 

JohnE.  MarUn 1878 

N.  H.  Brown « 1873-74 


CleHm, 

}6  I   H.  B.  Cannon ..1875 

J.  H.  Cottingham 1876-77 

J.  W.  Phillips 1878 

John  E.  Martin 1879-81 

J.  W.  Phillips 188i-83 

J.  B.  Morrow 1884-S5 

J.  r.  James 1886 


T)re<uurmr$. 

Jeremiah  Gannon 1866-67  ,   N.  H.  Brown 

Alcalde  Dawson 1868 

JohnConoway 1860 

Dr.  Hugh  Martin 1870 

N.  H.  Brown 1871 

Nutter  Batcliff. 1872 

In  1887  the  officers  elected  were : 

AUUrman^  N.  H.  Brown. 


Digitized  by 


.1873-74 

H.  K.  Cannon 1876-77 

J.  E.  Smith 1878-81 

J.  H.  Cottingham 1882-86 

J.  E.  Dutton 1886 


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1310 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Oommimonen. 
J.  B.  Morrow,  JVm.  J.  B.  Cook,  Atteaifor  amd  OU* 

N.  L.  Battle,  Ttmm.  lector, 

W.  H.  Coulbonm.  Wm.  M.  Bo«. 

J.  F.  JftiDM,  Clerk.  1.  F.  Pret^Tinan. 

Corulablet  Joseph  J.  Hasten. 


Dr.  Hngh  MartiQ. 
E.  R.  Sharp. 
H.  E.  Gannon. 


Board  of  Health. 

J.  E.  Dntton. 
George  W.  Emery. 


Among  the  most  noteworthy  acts  of  the  commis- 
sioners were  the  ordinances  adopted  April  22,  1865 ; 
banning  to  pave  streets  with  shells  in  1867;  the 
building  of  a  town  hall  in  1875;  the  purchasing  of 
fire  apparatus,  at  an  expense  of  four  hundred  dol- 
lars, in  1885 ;  and  the  more  perfect  draining  of  the 
streets  in  '1886.  In  the  latter  year  the  expenses  of 
the  corporation  were  $1506.13,  and  the  tax  rate  was 
fifteen  cents  on  every  one  hundred  dollars. 

Business  Interests. — In  the  early  history  of 
Seaford  the  Nanticoke  Biver  was  the  means  of  com- 
municating with  Norfolk  and  Baltimore,  and  in  1825 
a  regular  line  of  boats  was  maintained  to  Norfolk. 
This  line  extended  to  Philadelphia  by  means  of 
stages  to  Dona  Landing,  in  Kent  County,  and  boats 
on  the  Delaware.  About  this  period  from  eight  to 
ten  stages  per  day  arrived  and  departed  fVom  Sea- 
ford.  Later  a  line  was  established  to  Baltimore,  and, 
after  1850,  among  the  boats  plying  between  Seaford 
and  that  port  were  the  "  Hugh  Jenkins,"  "  Wilson 
Small,"  "Osias"  and  the  "Kent,"  the  latter  before 
1860.  The  railroad  destroyed  this  traffic,  and  the 
boats  were  taken  off  the  river  soon  after  it  was  com- 
pleted; but,  in  later  yearii,  small  steamers  were 
again  run  between  these  two  points,  among  them  be- 
ing the  "  Artisan  "  and  the  "  Nanticoke,"  the  latter 
making  three  trips  per  week  in  the  season  of  1887. 
A  number  of  sloops  and  small  schooners  make  ir- 
regular trips  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  business 
offered  them. 

The  river  at  Seaford  was  first  crossed  by  means  of 
a  ferry,  which  was  long  operated  by  the  Martin 
family.  In  1832  the  Legislature  authorized  the  for- 
mation of  the  Seaford  Bridge  Ck)mpany,  with  the 
foHowing  as  managers :  Samuel  Laws,  Turpin  Wright, 
Jacob  Wright,  Henry  Cannon,  Henry  Little,  John 
Gibbons  and  Curtis  J.  Boss.  The  draw-bridge  which 
this  company  built  was  sold,  in  1843,  to  Capt.  Hugh 
Martin,  but  under  the  act  of  March  17,  1865,  it  be- 
came public  property,  after  having  been  rebuilt  by 
Dr.  Hugh  Martin.  In  1884  the  wooden  structure 
gave  place  to  a  fine  iron  bridge,  erected  by  the  Cleve- 
land Bridge  Company.  It  is  on  the  site  of  the  old  ferry, 
at  the  foot  of  Market  Street,  and  more  than  half  a 
mile  above  the  railroad  bridge,  which  is  also  provided 
with  a  draw  span  to  permit  the  passage  of  vessels. 
The  main  line  of  the  railroad  was  completed  to  Sea- 
ford in  1857,  and  this  bridge  was  built  several  years 
later.  The  Dorchester  Bailroad  was  completed  in 
the  fall  of  1858.    Major  W.  Allen   was  the  first  sta- 


tion agent,  and  in  1887  Henry  E.  Cannon  served  io 
that  capacity. 

For  many  years  vessel-building  was  a  profitable 
occupation  at  Seaford,  and  an  extensive  yard  was 
carried  on  by  the  Wrights  from  1830  unldl  1838. 
Several  sea-going  vessels  were  also  built  at  this  place, 
but  usually  the  tonnage  of  their  craft  did  not 
exceed  five  hundred  tons  to  each,  and  the  boats  were 
intended  for  use  on  liie  inland  waters.  Other  ship- 
builders were  Captain  Hugh  Martin,  Captain  Isaac 
Bradley  and  Captain  Solomon  Boston.  William 
Lamb  had  a  yard  at  the  foot  of  Market  St.  several 
years,  in  which  employment  was  given  to  more  than 
twenty  ship-carpenters ;  and  Michael  Coulbonm  also 
had  several  vessels  built  $jod  was  one  of  the  most 
extensive  ship-owners  of  the  place.    In  I8M  William 

B.  Adams  opened  a  small  yard  and  built  a  marine 
railway  to  accommodate  his  business.  It  has  a  irood 
location,  at  the  foot  of  Cannon  3tre^  There  are 
several  good  wharves  at  Seaford,  owned  by  private 
parties,  and  the  one  for  public  use  has 'been  con- 
trolled by  the  Town  Council  since  1865. 

On  the  mill  site  on  Herring  Creek, , at  Seaford, 
Solomon  Boston  put  up  saw  and  grist-milla,  which  be 
operated  until  his  death,  when  they  paaded  into  the 
hands  of  the  Williams  family.  In  1862  tne  saw-mill 
was  burned,  but  was  rebuilt  by  Jacob  WitHams.  In 
1882  the  grist-mill  was  supplied  with  ro^r  machin- 
ery, but  was  destroyed  by  fire  soon  after.  In  1883 
steam-power  was  added  by  Lott  &  Seibert,  who 
owned  the  property  at  that  time.  The  present  mill 
was  built  in  1884,  by  Oliver  Obier,  who  has  since 
operated  the  milln. 

In  1868  a  planing-mill,  sash  and  door  factory  was 
established  in  the  Nanticoke  part  of  the  town  by 
Manners,  Fisher  &  Co.,  who  carried  on  a  heavy  busi- 
ness until  1877,  when  it  was  discontinued,  and  the 
machinery  was  removed  from  town.  They  were  also 
extensive  builders,  and  employed  from  fifty  to  sixty 
hands. 

The  basket  factory  and  planing-mill  of  W.  H. 
Coulbourn,  above  Market  Street,  near  the  river,  was 
established  in  the  spring  of  1887.  It  has  capacity  for 
the  employment  of  fifty  hands,  the  motor  being 
steam  from  a  forty  horse-power  engine. 

In  1887  E.  B.  Sharp  was  the  proprietor  of  marble 
works  of  established  reputation  ;  William  J.  Stewart 
was  an  iron  founder;  and  J.  H.  Cottingham  and 
G«orge  W.  Emery  operated  a  brick  manufactory  &- 
tablished  in  1884.  An  earlier  brick-yard,  on  an  ex- 
tensive scale,  was  discontinued  in  1880,  after  having 
been  operated  a  number  of  years  by  Knowles  & 
Bawlins. 

The  Seaford  Shell  Lime  Company  was  incorporated 
March  26, 1885,  with  corpM>rators  William  H.  Stevens, 

C.  H.  Bawlins,  E.  J.  Bawlins  and  8.  £.  Bawlins. 
The  company  succeeded  M.  Coulbourn  &  Co.,  and 
extended  the  business  which  that  firm  had  establshed. 
The  works  are  near  the  railroad  depot,  and  about  six 
hundred  bushels  are  burned  daily. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1311 


The  mannfactore  of  phosphates  and  the  packing  of 
oysters  and  frait  constituted  the  principal  industries 
in  1887,  giving  employment  to  a  large  number  of 
personH  and  the  town  a  reputation  which  extended 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  the  State.  The  Seaford 
Phosphate  Works  were  established  in  1873  by  Ball  & 
Ross,  who  were  succeeded  in  1875  by  W.  M.,  W.  H. 
and  E.  C.  Ross,  under  the  firm-name  of  W.  M.  Ross 
A  Co.  The  works  were  enlarged  to  embrace  build- 
ings sixty  by  one  hundred  feet,  and  a  storage  room, 
having  ten  thousand  eight  hundred  square  feet,  was 
provided.  The  works  had  two  sets  of  acid  chambers, 
which  were  in  a  building,  forty-seven  by  one  hundred 
and  thirteen  feet,,and  the  motive-power  was  furnished 
by  a  sixty-five  horse-power  engine.  The  works  are 
well  located,  having  an  exclusive  wharf  and  railroad 
track,  giving  excellent  shipping  privil^es.  Since 
the  fiall  of  1887  the  firm  has  had  the  use  of  a  schooner 
of  six  hundred  tons  burden  and  a  steam  tug  employed 
in  its  transportation  business,  which  has  greatly  in- 
creased. In  1873  the  product  was  about  thirty  tons ; 
in  1879  about  four  thousand  tons ;  and  in  1887  six 
thousand  tons  of  high  grade  acid  phosphates.  Since 
February,  1887,  W.  M.  Ross  has  been  the  sole  pro- 
prietor, continuing  business  under  the  old  firm-name. 

A.  S.  Woolley's  phosphate  factory  was  established 
in  1884.  It  is  located  on  the  Nanticoke  River,  at  the 
foot  of  Pine  Street,  and  has  a  capacity  of  eight  hun- 
dred tons  per  year.  The  dry  mixing  process  is  used, 
and  a  fine  quality  of  super-phosphate  produced. 

The  business  of  packing  oysters  at  Seaford  was  begun 
soon  after  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  which  thus 
afforded  the  means  of  rapid  shipment  to  Northern 
markets.  In  1862,  among  the  firms  here  located, 
were  Piatt  &  Mallory,  Hemingway  &  Chase  and 
some  others,  who  removed  their  establishments  on 
account  of  the  State  tax  imposed  by  the  act  of 
March  16, 1865.  Most  of  the  interests  were  trans- 
ferred to  Baltimore,  notwithstanding  that  here  are 
all  the  essentials  for  carrying  on  a  successful  packery, 
— an  abundance  of  pure  water,  communication  by 
boat  and  rail,  nearness  to  the  oyster-beds  and  the 
markets.  After  this  illiberal  policy  of  the  State  had 
been  modified,  other  oyster-packers  located  at  Sea- 
ford,  and  among  the  firms  formerly  engaged  in  that 
business  were  Horsey  A  Stockley,  McNeilley  A  Co., 
J.  E.  Parks  &  Co.,  William  Williams  &  Co.,  William 
Dashiel  and  Conaway  &  Co.  A  cannery  was  also  car- 
ried on,  a  few  years,  by  I.  H.  D.  Enowles. 

In  1887  the  packing  of  oysters  exceeded  every  other 
industry  at  Seaford,  constituting  an  active,  growing 
business,  which  benefited  at  least  half  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town.  From  forty  to  sixty  boats,  having  an  aver- 
age carrying  capacity  of  five  hundred  bushels  each, 
were  employed  to  make  weekly  trip*  between  Seaford 
and  the  oyster-beds  along  the  Chesapeake.  The  pack- 
ing-houses were  well  located  on  wharves  below  and 
near  the  railroad  depot,  and  the  products  were  widely 
and  most  favorably  known  as  being  among  the 
largest  and  best  bulk-oysters  in  the  markets.    The 


principal  packers  were  these :  W.  W.  Stevens  &  Co., 
established  in  1840,  and  giving  occupation  to  about 
eighty  hands,  who  packed  sixty  thousand  gallons  per 
year.  Donaho  &  Co.  succeeded  to  a  business  estab- 
lished in  1871  by  C.  C.  Donaho,  who  carried  it  on 
until  his  death,  in  1887,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
in  the  hands  of  his  sons ;  sixty  hands  are  here  em- 
ployed, and  about  fifty  thousand  gallons  of  oysters 
are  shipped  annually. 

Emery  d:  (Jo.^  carry  on  a  packing-house  which  was 
established  in  1870,  and  which  has  been  under  the 
control  of  the  present  firm  the  past  fifteen  years,  George 
W.  Emery  being  the  senior  partner,  and  C.  H.  Raw- 
lins the  associate;  about  forty  thousand  gallons  are 
prepared  for  the  markets  each  year.  J.  B.  Morrow 
and  J.  E.  Dutton,  as  Morrow  &  Dutton,  established 
in  1879,  and  carrying  on  a  business  established  in 
1875,  by  Morrow  &  Brown  ;  from  fifty  to  seventy-five 
hands  are  here  employed,  and  fifty  thousand  gallons 
per  year  have  been  shipped.  The  firm  of  Grenabaum 
Brothers,  established  a  packing-house  in  1882,  in 
which  there  is  working-room  for  forty-five  hands, 
and  in  which  about  thirty  thousand  gallons  per  year 
are  put  up.  This  firm  also  carries  on  the  fruit  can- 
ning, established  in  1881,  by  Miller  Bros.  &Co.,  of 
Baltimore,  at  the  foot  of  Market  Street. 

In  1886  the  present  firm  purchased  that  interest 
and  transferred  it  to  a  new  site  near  their  oyster- 
packing  house  in  the  Nanticoke  part  of  Seaford. 
The  products  of  the  fruit  cannery  are  berries,  toma- 
toes and  peas,  and  the  standard  **  Nanticoke  brand  " 
of  the  firm  has  a  fine  reputation. 

Henry  Adams  had  one  of  the  first  large  stores  in 
the  town,  trading  at  the  foot  of  Market  Street  near 
the  old  wharf,  and  continued  in  business  many  years. 
Other  merchants,  in  a  period  reaching  up  to  1830, 
were  William  W.  Green,  George  Hazzard,  Levin 
Cannon  and  Isaac  Bradley.  At  this  time  Seaford 
had  a  population  of  four  hundred  and  forty  souls. 
In  the  next  two  decades,  among  the  merchants, 
were  Robert  Hopkins,  Henry  Little,  Solomon  and 
Asbury  Prettyman,  Alfred  Cottingham,  Major  W. 
Allen,  John  Rust,  William  B.  Horsey,  Benjamin 
Stockly  and  John  Martin.  Some  of  these  own  their 
own  boats  and  were  largely  engaged  in  the  shipping 
business.  Turpin,  Jacob  and  Charles  Wright  shipped 
all  kinds  of  farm  produce  from  their  warehouse  on 
Water  Street.  Among  the  principal  merchants  of  a 
still  later  period,  and  some  of  them  continuing  to  the 
present,  were  John  E.  Darbee,  Henry  Lee  Phillips, 
Thomas  C.  Cottingham,  George  H.  Baker,  J.  Webster 
Cox  and  William  C.  Tull.  In  the  drug  trade  stores 
were  kept  by  William  I.  Shipley,  who  sold  to  W.  T. 
Haines,  and  Walter  E.  Martin,  succeeded  by  Frank 
Shipley.  In  1887  there  were  more  than  two  dozen 
stores,  in  all  branches  of  trade,  and  the  aggregate 
business  was  increasing  yearly. 

The  Seaford  post-office  was  established  in  1826,  and 
the  postmasters  have  been  Robert  Hopkins,  Jeremiah 
McNeilley,  James  Scott,  James  E.  Darbee,  William 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


F.  Robinson,  John  W.  Phillips,  J.  P.  Obier,  John  K. 
Brown,  Lewis  E.  Wallace,  Charles  Horsey  and  Henry 
Lee  Phillips.  Among  the  physicians  who  prac- 
ticed at  Seaford  there  have  been  Jonathan  Cotting- 
ham,  who  located  here  in  1802  and  remained  until 
his  death,  several  years  later ;  John  Gibbons,  who 
came  before  1815  and  died  in  1838 ;  William  Morgan, 
who  was  also  a  local  preacher,  from  about  1820 
until  his  death,  in  1857;  John  Tennantand  Washing- 
ton Goldsboro,  both  of  whom  removed  after  a  few 
years*  practice ;  Joseph  Flint  and  Henry  Taylor,  who 
remained  but  a  short  time;  Joseph  Priestly  Hall 
Shipley  from  1846  for  twenty-five  years;  Daniel 
Fisher  from  1864  for  twenty -seven  years;  Hugh 
Martin,  born  in  Seaford  in  1830  and  a  practitioner 
here  since  1853 ;  William  Shipley,  born  at  Seaford  in 
1848  and  in  practice  since  1878 ;  and  Dr.  J.  N.  Johns, 
born  in  Kent  County  in  1843  and  professionally  en- 
gaged at  Seaford  since  1875,  having  first  practiced 
five  years  at  Bridgeville. 

Colonel  Edward  Livingston  Martin  is  an  attorney 
at  Seaford,  although  not  in  active  practice.  He  is  an 
ex-member  of  Congress  from  Delaware  and  one  of 
the  most  prominent  peach-growers  of  the  region.  He 
was  the  youngest  son  in  the  family  of  ten  children,  of 
whom  Captain  Hugh  and  Sophia  (Willis)  Martin 
were  the  parents,  and  was  born  at  Seaford,  Sussex 
County,  March  29, 1837.  His  first  education,  beyond 
that  obtained  in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood, 
was  received  at  the  Newark  Academy,  where  he  spent 
the  year  1850.  He  then  attended  Delaware  College 
and  the  academy  of  Anthony  Bolmar  in  Weet  Ches- 
ter, Pa.,  after  which,  with  thorough  preparation,  he 
entered  the  University  of  Virginia,  from  the  Law 
Department  of  which  he  graduated  in  1859.  He 
continued  his  legal  studies  with  Hon.  Daniel  M. 
Bates,  in  Wilmington. 

In  1863  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the  State  Senate, 
and  retained  that  position  during  the  term  of  two 
years.  In  1866  he  returned  to  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia, and,  after  refreshing  himself  in  the  law,  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  Dover  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year.  He  opened  an  office  in  the  State  capital,  but 
was  soon  summoned  home  by  the  illness  of  his  father, 
who  died  in  June,  1867,  cared  for  and  comforted  to 
the  last  by  our  subject  and  his  brother,  Luther  Mar- 
tin. Upon  these  two  members  of  the  family  devolved 
the  care  of  their  widowed  mother  and  the  manage- 
ment of  the  estate,  of  which  they  were  made  execu- 
tors. Their  mothersurvived  only  until  November,  1869. 

The  estate,  known  as  ^*  Woodbum,"  upon  which 
Mr.  Martin  now  resides,  fell  to  him  and  his  brother, 
and  the  care  of  the  property  made  it  necessary  for 
him  to  relinquish  all  professional  aspirations,  and  he 
has  ever  since  devoted  himself  to  agriculture  and 
horticulture. 

The  home  estate,  which  consists  of  several  hundred 
acres,  is  devoted  chiefly  to  peach-growing,  and,  in 
addition  to  this,  Mr.  Martin  owns  several  other  farms. 
He  has  been  a  very  successful  peach-grower,  and  few, 


if  any,  in  the  r^on  have  carried  on  the  indoa^ 
more  extensively  or  successfully.  He  has  made  & 
study  of  his  calling  theoretically  and  practically,  aod 
enjoys  the  confidence  of  all  interested  in  thisbnuieh 
of  horticulture,  as  was  evinced  by  his  being  called 
upon  in  the  summer  of  1887  to  preside  over  the  con- 
vention of  Delaware,  Maryland  and  New  Jeney 
peach-growers,  the  largest  assemblage  of  the  kind 
ever  held  in  the  State  or  Peninsula.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  and  ?erj 
influential  in  its  councils. 

Mr.  Martin  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat,  and  one 
of  the  leaders  of  his  party  in  the  State.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  National  Democratic  Conventbn 
which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  1864,  of  the  Balti- 
more Convention  of  1872,  the  St.  Louis  Convention 
of  1876,  the  Cincinnati  Convention  of  1880  and  the 
Chicago  Convention  of  1884.  The  important  matter 
of  the  State  boundary  between  Delaware  and  New 
Jersey,  involving  valuable  fishing  rights,  received  his 
attention  in  1873,  1874  and  1875,  he  being  appointed 
by  the  Legislature,  in  the  year  first  mentioned,  as  one 
of  the  commissioners  for  Delaware,  the  others  being 
Chief  Justice  Comegys  and  Judge  William  G. 
Whitely  and  the  New  Jersey  board  consisting  of 
Cortlandt  Parker,  Abraham  Browning  and  Albert 
Slafe.  Another  important  appointment  he  recdved 
from  the  Legislature  was  that  of  commissioner  from 
Sussex  County,  to  encourage  the  introduction  of  the 
sugar  beet  industry. 

In  1878  in  recognition  of  his  fitness  for  the  position 
and  his  valuable  political  services,  he  was  nominated 
by  the  Democratic  party  for  Congress,  and  daly 
elected  by  a  heavy  majority.  In  the  Forty-sixth  Om- 
gress  he  served  on  the  Committee  of  Accounts,  the 
Committee  on  the  District  of  Columbia,  and  on  the 
special  committee  appointed  to  provide  for  the  cen- 
tennial celebration  of  the  surrender  of  Yorktown. 
His  course  in  Congressional  affairs  was  creditable 
to  himself  and  highly  satisfactory  to  his  constitaents, 
and  so  it  came  about  very  naturally  that  he  was 
renominated  by  his  party,  and  satin  the  Forty-seventh 
Congress,  being  elected  in  1880,  defeating  Superior 
Court  Judge  John  Houston.  He  has  since  recei?ed 
the  complimentary  vote  of  his  party  in  the  L^ala- 
ture  for  the  United  States  Senate.  He  still  main- 
tains an  unabated  interest  and  activity  in  politics, 
although  his  business  and  social  duties  are  alone  snf- 
ficient  to  make  him  an  exceedingly  busy  man,  and 
would  overtax  the  energies  of  a  less  healthful  and 
vigorous  constitution.  His  religious  affiliation  ia  with 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church ;  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  vestry  of  St  Luke's  Church,  Seaford, 
for  more  than  twenty  years,  and  many  times  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Diocesan  Convention. 

Mr.  Martin  was  married,  March  17, 1869,  to  Mi* 
Clara,  daughter  of  William  W.  Dulaney,  of  Suisci 
County.  Five  children  were  the  offspring  of  this 
union,  viz. :  Woodburn,  William  Dulaney,  Boealie, 
Mabel  Bayard  and  Edward  Livingston,  Jr. 


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1312 


HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1313 


As  notaries  and  justices  of  the  peace  at  Seaford, 
there  have  been  Dr.  William  Morgan,  William  Haz- 
zardy  Jesse  W.  Robinson,  Alfred  Gottingham  and 
Major  W.  Allen.  The  latter  and  J.  W.  Robinson 
served  in  1887.  N.  H.  Brown  had  an  insurance  agen- 
cy, and  John  Dunning  was  a  real-estate  broker. 

Near  the  old  wharf  an  inn  was  opened  soon  after 
the  town  was  laid  out.  Seth  Wingate,  Aaron  Swig- 
gett  and  Jerry  Collins  were  among  the  keepers  of  this 
house,  which  for  more  than  forty  years  past  has  been 
a  residence.  Nancy  Martin  also  kept  a  public-house 
in  that  part  of  the  town  about  1815.  Since  about 
1842  the  site  of  the  present  Coulboum  House  has 
been  used  for  tavern  purposes.  George  Frame  was 
one  of  the  first  owners.  Later  this  place  became 
known  as  the  Union  Hotel,  and  had  many  successive 
landlords.  In  1879  it  was  rebuilt  by  Michael  Coul- 
boum, who  enlarged  it  in  1886.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
spacious  buildings  of  the  kind  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
State,  and  under  the  management  of  H.  C.  Penning- 
ton, landlord  since  1879,  has  also  become  one  of  the 
most  popular. 

The  Nanticoke  House,  at  the  railroad  depot,  was 
built  in  1869  by  W.  J.  Marschbank,  who  was  also  the 
keeper  for  a  few  years,  when  he  was  accidentally  killed 
on  the  railroad.  It  is  a  roomy  three -story  brick  build- 
ing, the  lower  part  of  which  is  now  used  as  a  station 
for  the  railroads,  the  upper  part  remaining  a  public- 
house. 

Morrow's  Public  Hall,  built  on  High  Street,  by 
Joseph  Messick,  was  one  of  the  first  halls  of  the  kind 
in  the  town.  Bell's  Hall,  built  in  1873,  is  a  more 
spacious  room,  and  Coulboum  Hall,  erected  by  Michael 
Coulboum,  oposite  his  hotel,  on  the  comer  of  Market 
and  High  Streets,  has  a  seating  capicity  for  eight 
hundred  persons.  It  has  been  a  popular  place  for 
amusements  since  its  opening,  in  1883. 

The  first  monetary  institution  at  Seaford  was  a 
private  bank,  which  did  business  a  short  time  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Civil  War.  On  March  6,  1861,  an 
act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  incorporating  the 
Seaford  Bank ;  but  no  organization  under  its  pro- 
visions was  effected,  and  the  act  was  repealed  Febm- 
ary  6,  1862. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  SeafoM  was  organized 
February  18, 1865,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $55,000. 
This  was  reduced  to  $50,000  in  1873,  and  has  since 
so  remained.  Gk>v.  William  Cannon  was  the  first 
president,  and  after  his  death,  which  occurred  soon 
after  the  bank  was  opened,  was  succeeded  by  Lewis 
M.  Wright.  The  latter  gave  place,  in  1880,  to  the 
present  president,  Daniel  Heam,  of  Laurel. 

Isaac  M.  Fisher  was  the  first  cashier,  who  served  until 
1873,  when  M.J.  Morgan  was  elected  and  was  cashier 
until  January,  1887,  when  H.  W.  Baker  succeeded 
him.  At  the  same  time  George  H.  Shipley  was  the 
teller. 

The  bank  was  opened  for  businero  on  the  corner  of 
Pine  and  King  Streets ;  but,  in  1868,  it  was  removed 
to  a  building  erected  for  it  on  Pine  Street,  where  it 


has  since  had  commodious  and  well-arranged  offices, 
and  is  doing  a  safe  and  profitable  business. 

The  Sussex  National  Bank  of  Sea^obd,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  was  organized 
April  6,  1887.  Its  first  board  of  directors  was  com- 
posed of  Thomas  McComb,  Jerry  Long,  J.  B.  Morrow, 
Dr.  Hugh  Martin,  W.  H.  Stevenson,  James  J.  Boss, 
of  Seaford ;  Harrington  Messick  and  W.  A.  Corbin,  ot 
Bridgeville;Dr.W.  E.  Wolfe,  of  Laurel ;  John  H. 
Stack,  of  Federalsburg,  Maryland ;  and  Gov.  E.  E. 
Jackson,  of  Salisbury,  Maryland.  The  latter  was 
elected  president ;  Dr.  H.  Martin,  vice-president;  M. 
J.  Morgan,  cashier ;  and  H.  M.  Wright,  teller.  The 
first  business  was  done  in  the  town  hall.  May  18, 1887, 
but  on  the  23d  of  September,  the  same  year,  the  new 
banking-house  on  the  comer  of  High  and  Conwell 
Streets,  was  occupied.  It  is  a  very  neat  and  sub- 
stantial stracture,  and  has  good  safety- vaults,  and 
well-furaished  offices. 

The  Nanticoke  Loan  Association,  of  Seaford, 
was  organized  under  the  act  of  March  17,  1865,  and 
the  amended  act  of  Febmary  18,  1873,  with  Dr.  H. 
Martin,  bh  president ;  and  J.  Nicholson,  as  secretary. 
These  officers  served  through  the  life  of  the  associa- 
tion, whose  stock  matured  in  1884.  Michael  Coul- 
boum and  Jerry  Long  served  as  treasurers.  This 
society  encouraged  a  number  of  persons  to  build 
their  own  homes  in  Seaford,  and  materially  aided  in 
the  development  of  the  town. 

Secret  Societies.— i7»ram  Lodge,  No.  21,  A.  F, 
&  A,  if.,  was  instituted  at  Seaford,  under  a  charter 
granted  June  27, 1866.  Since  1878  its  meetings  have 
been  held  in  its  own  hall,  on  High  Street,  which  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  dollars,  and  which 
has  been  well  furnished.  In  1887  the  lodge  had  a 
membership  of  fifty- three  Master  Masons,  and  was 
reported  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Seaford  Lodge,  No,  7,  A.  0,  U,  FT.,  was  formed 
March  6,  1882,  with  seventeen  charter  members, 
assembled  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  J.  W.  Phillips  was 
elected  master-workman ;  T.  E.  Cottingham,  foreman ; 
and  H.  C.  Pennington,  overseer.  In  the  fall  of  1887 
the  lodge  had  thirty  members,  who  sustained  an 
active  relation,  Dr.  H.  F.  Porter  being  the  master- 
workman. 

TuBcarora  Tribe,  No,  22,  /.  0.  R,  M,,  was  instituted 
January  18,  1885,  with  seventeen  members.  In 
December,1887,  eighty-two  persons  were  enrolled  and 
the  aggregate  number  which  had  joined  was  ninety- 
two.  The  tribe  assembled  statedly  in  Odd  Fellows' 
Hall,  and  its  afiairs  were  in  a  very  healthy  condition. 
Its  property  was  in  charge  of  Tmstees  H.  C.  Penning- 
ton, J.  A.  Barnes  and  Joseph  F.  Willey. 

Hebron  Lodge,  No,  14,  /.  0,  0,  F,,  was  instituted 
September  23,  1847,  and  became  an  incorporated 
body  January  12, 1849.  It  has  since  its  organization 
been  very  prosperous,  and  had  in  the  fall  of  1887 
assets  amounting  to  more  than  seven  thousand  dol- 
lars, exclusive  of  the  cemetery  lot.  Since  its  organi- 
zation the  lodge  has  paid  in  sick  benefits  nearly  five 


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HISTORY  OP  DELAWARE. 


thousand  dollars.  There  were  in  December,  1887, 
sixty  members  and  the  following  fjusteee:  H.  W. 
Baker,  J.  H.  Cottingham  and  N.  H.  Brown.  The 
first  meetings  were  held  in  a  hall  ou  Second  Street, 
which  was  used  until  1871,  after  which  a  lodge-room 
in  Darbee's  building  was  occupied  until  December, 
1887,  when  the  lodge  took  up  its  home  in  its  own 
hall,  on  High  Street.  This  was  erected  in  the  sum- 
mer and  fall  of  1887,  by  a  committee  composed  of 
L.  E.  Wallace,  J.  H.  Cottingham,  N.  H.  Brown,  L. 
W.  Hurley,  W.  H.  Coulbourn,  T.  M.  Elliott  and  W. 
W.  Byrd,  at  a  cost  of  nearly  three  thousand  dollars. 

The  Odd  Fellmos^  Cemetery  was  incorporated  in 
1886,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of  Committeemen  H. 
W.  Baker,  John  H,  Cottingham,  N.  H.  Brown,  J. 
E.  Nicholson  and  L.  E.  Wallace.  The  grounds  are 
well  located  and  consist  of  seven  acres,  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  town.  A  portion  has  been  im- 
proved and  five  hundred  and  sixty-five  burial-plats 
laid  out.  It  was  opened  for  the  purpose  of  interment 
in  April,  1886,  and  since  that  time  a  number  of  per- 
sons have  selected  this  peaceful  spot  as  a  quiet  rest- 
ing-place for  their  dead  kindred. 

Schools  of  the  Tows.— The  Sea  ford  Academy 
was  incorporated  January  29, 1819,  with  Trustees  John 
Rust,  John  Tennant,  Nathaniel  Ross,  Henry  Little 
and  Nathan  Vickers.  This  body  united  with  the 
Masons  of  Hope  Lodge  (which  at  that  time  held  its 
meetings  at  this  place,  but  which  was  subsequently 
moved  to  Laurel)  to  erect  a  sch  ool  building  and  hall 
opposite  the  present  St.  Luke's  Church.  Here  an 
academy  was  maintained  many  years,  the  teachers 
being  men  of  ability,  who  attracted  students  from 
abroad  in  addition  to  the  liberal  home  patronage. 
Rev.  Leonidas  Polk,  later  a  bishop  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  and  major-general  of  the  Confederate  States 
army,  was  for  a  time  a  student  at  this  school.  Before 
the  Civil  War  the  academy  was  closed,  but  good 
select  schools  were  afterwards  held  in  the  town,  and, 
in  1865,  an  effort  was  made  to  place  one,  called 
the  Seaford  Seminary,  upon  a  permanent  basis.  An 
act  of  incorporation  was  secured,  but  no  organization 
was  effected.  By  legislative  authority  the  old  acad- 
emy building  was  sold  and  the  proceeds  passed  to  the 
general  school  fund. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature  passed  March  17, 1875, 
consolidated  Districts  Nos.  70,  70},  102  and  102},  and 
placed  them  under  the  control  of  the  "  School  Board 
of  Seaford." 

This  board  organized  by  electing  Dr.  Hugh  Mar- 
tin, president ;  J.  E.  Nicholson,  clerk ;  H.  W.  Baker, 
treasurer;  H.  L.  Hopkins,  assessor;  T.  R.  Harper, 
collector.  M.  Coulbourn  and  N.  H.  Brown  were  the 
remaining  members.  Soon  after  steps  were  taken  to 
erect  a  new  school  edifice,  on  a  lot  purchased  on 
Cannon  Street,  and,  in  August,  1875,  the  contract 
for  building  was  awarded  to  Manners,  Fisher  &  Co. 
It  is  a  large  frame  structure,  and  in  it  four  school- 
rooms were  fitted  up,  which  were  first  occupied  in  the 
fall  of  1875.    At  the  same  time  the  schools  were 


graded  into  four  departments  and  placed  in  charge  of 
Principal  T.  N.  Williams.  His  succesiorB  in  that 
position  have  been  McKendree  Downham,  John  T. 
Stephens,  John  A.  Collins  and,  since  1885,  Prol 
Thomas  H.  Breerwood.  The  schools  are  ably  con- 
ducted and  are  maintained  at  a  yearly  expense  of 
about  one  thousand  eight  hundred  dollars.  lo  1887 
the  president  of  the  board  was  Dr.  Hugh  Martin,  and 
J.  T.  Sharp  was  the  secretary. 

In  the  town  are  also  several  schools  for  colored 
children,  which  have  proven  very  beneficial  to  thoie 
attending  them. 

Churches. — St.  Johu*$  Methodut  Episcopal  Chun^ 
was  founded  by  the  trustees  of  the  Beacham  meeting- 
house in  Seaford  Hundred,  who,  on  April  27, 1818, 
secured  title  for  a  lot  in  Seaford,  on  which  wss  soon 
after  built  a  small,  plain,  frame  meeting-houte  for  tiw 
use  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  this  th»e  wor- 
shipped statedly,  about  1820,  Rhoada  Hazzard,  Lerio 
Cannon,  Hugh  Brown,  Alfred  Cottingham,  Robert 
Hopkins,  Henry  little..  Aaron  Swiggett  and  members 
of  their  families.  The  building  was  repaired  and 
was  in  use  until  1860,  when  it  was  removed  to  make 
place  for  the  present  edifice,  and  was  converted  into 
a  church  for  colored  people. 

St.  John's  Church  is  a  two-story  frame  stmctnrc, 
which  was  completed  under  the  direction  of  J.  E. 
Darbee,  Rhoads  Hazzard  and  William  R  Horsey,  as 
a  building  committee. 

It  was  thoroughly  renovated  in  1886,  becoming 
more  attractive  and  comfortable.  The  cost  of  the 
church  was  four  thousand  dollars,  and  its  trustee 
in  1887  were  H.  E.  Cannon,  H.  Hopkins,  W.  B. 
Morrow,  Jesse  Sharp,  Jacob  Cramer  and  Isaae  N. 
Kinder. 

Seaford  has  sustained  the  relation  of  a  station  since 
1884,  and  since  1876  the  following  have  been  the 
ministers  appointed  by  Conference  to  preach  on  this 
charge : 

B6T.T.  J.  WniUmii .— « ^..18T«-77 

Rev.  H.  Coleliaer „.. „„1878-W 

ReT.  Thomas  E.  Ttrty ..- « J8»-«l 

Rev.  B.  W.  Ch«M 1882 

Rev.  W.  Underwoods -1888-«4 

Rev.  W.  B.  EngUuid ™lfe86-<7 

The  church  has  two  hundred  members  and  main- 
tains a  Sabbath-school  of  one  hundred  and  seventy- 
five  members,  which  has  H.  E.  Cannon  as  its  super- 
intendent. 

Not  long  after  the  Methodist  Protestants  begsn 
preaching  in  this  part  of  the  country,  about  1831,  t 
small  frame  church,  standing  on  Chapel  Branch, 
became  the  property  of  Dr.  William  Morgan,  a 
prominent  member  of  this  denomination,  who 
removed  it  to  Seaford.  It  was  placed  on  a  fine  site, 
on  a  lot  adjoining  the  old  Hooper  burial-ground, 
where  it  stood  until  the  present  edifice  took  its  place. 
On  the  13th  of  February,  1847,  the  church  was  incor- 
porated with  a  board  of  trustees  composed  oi  Dr. 
William  Morgan,  P.  M.  Rust,  Samuel  Lacy,  Thomas 
J.  Phillips,  Henry  Wallace,  Tiras  a  Phillips  and 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1315 


Rer.  T.  A.  Moore 1856-56 

"    T.M.  Bryan 1857-58 

••    T.  A.  Moore 1859 

"    J.  T.  F.  Ewell 1860-«3 

"    J.  R.  Nichols 1862-68 

**    A.  8.  Sreriole 1864 

*»    G.  W.  Simpeon 1865 

"    W.  G.  Holmes. ..1866-68 

"    J.  M.  Eldoidice .186»-71 

••    0.  M.  Thompflon 1872-73 

"    J.  A.  McFaden 1874 

"    S.  B.  Tredwaj 1875-76 

•*    8.  A.  HobhtzeU 1877-7»i 

"  H.B.MUkimmon..„1879-81 

"    C.  S.  Aruett 1872 

•*    J.  L.  Duncan 1888 

"    B.  L.  Lewto 1884 

"    J.  W.  CharJton 1885-86 

"    D.  W.  AnsUne 1887 


Isaiah  Neal,  and  their  successors  have  since  controlled 
it.  In  1862  a  new  charch — ^a  frame  building,  thirty- 
two  by  forty-eight  feet— was  erected,  which  was 
placed  in  good  repair  in  1887.  Its  value  is  given  at 
four  thousand  dollars. 

The  Seaford  and  the  Gethsemane  Methodist  Protes- 
tant Church  at  Reliance  have  for  many  years  con- 
stituted an  appointment,  and  the  ministers  preaching 
here  have  been  the  following : 

Rev.  8.  Taylor 1838 

**    Samuel  Bawlelgh 1833 

'*    G.  D.  Hamilton ^834-36 

"    J.  W.  Kreriet 1837 

•«    E.  T.  Boyd 1838 

•*    J.  K.  Miofaolt 1838 

"    L.  A.  ColUne 183^-40 

••    W.  W.  Tipton 1839-40 

•     O.  D.  Hamilton 1841 

'•    O.  D.  Hamilton. 1842 

"    T.  Eeinick « 1842 

"    J.  A.  Jackeon 1842 

••    B.  Adkineon ......1843 

"    J.  B.  NIchoto. 1844 

"    J.  Downing ...1845 

••     W.  T.  Wright. 1846-47 

**    B.  Adkineon 1848-^9 

"    W.  Beinick 185r>-51 

'*    W.  D.  Hamilton... 1852 

"    T.  Burton 1853-54 

The  earliest  traces  of  the  present  Prot^tant  Epis- 
copal worship  in  Seaford  are  found  in  St.  Mary's 
Chapel,  which,  in  the  colonial  days,  was  established 
on  the  property  now  owned  by  J.  H.Boyce,  on  Chapel 
Branch,  a  few  miles  from  the  town.  It  was  a  small 
building,  erected  for  those  adhering  to  the  Established 
Church  of  England,  and  appears  to  have  been  aban- 
doned during  the  Revolution.  Within  the  recollec- 
tion of  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  this  part  of  the 
county  no  traces  of  it  were  visible  excepting  a  pile 
of  brick.  A.fter  that  time  there  was  here  no  conse- 
crated place  for  Episcopal  worship,  until  St.  Luke's 
Church  was  established. 

In  1834,  Rev.  Joseph  Glover  began  a  promising 
ministry  at  Seaford,  laboring  as  a  missionary,  but  be- 
fore he  could  form  a  church  he  was  called  to  a  higher 
life.  He  died  August  19, 1834.  The  following  year 
Bev.  Cory  Chambers  began  to  preach  and  the  parish 
was  organized.  The  first  vestry  had  as  members 
Charles  Wright,  Jacob  Wright,  Elijah  Cannon,  Thos. 
Jacobs,  Edward  Ross  and  Dr.  John  Gibbons.  Its  in- 
corporation by  the  Legislature  took  place  February 
20, 1837,  and  measures  were  soon  after  set  on  foot  to 
build  a  church  at  Seaford. 

In  1838  work  on  a  brick  edifice  was  begun,  but  it  was 
not  completed  for  consecration  until  May  28, 1843. 
On  the  same  day  Rev.  John  Long  was  called  by 
the  vestry  to  take  charge  of  the  parish  as  a  deacon, 
and  sustained  that  relation  until  March  22,  1846. 

The  church  building  has  been  thoroughly  remodeled, 
and  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  a  vestry -room. 
In  1873  the  parish  secured  a  rectory,  and  in  1887  the 
entire  property  was  valued  at  $4000.  At  that  time 
the  members  of  the  vestry  were  Dr.  Hugh  Martin, 
senior    warden ;    James    J.   Ross,  junior   warden  ; 


Wm.  H.  Stevens,  Jerry  Long,  H.  T.  Porter,  William 
Donaho,  Wm.  H.  Coulboum  and  John-  P.  Dulaney. 
The  membership  of  the  parish  was  small,  there  being 
only  about  twenty  communicants.  A  Sabbath-school 
was  conducted  under  the  superintendency  of  Dr.  H. 
F.  Porter. 

After  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  John  Long  the  par- 
ish was  under  the  spiritual  instruction  of  the  follow- 
ing ^  '  . 

Bev.  I.  Brinton  Smith 1846-48 

BeT.  Jaroee  W.Hortclne 1848-52 

Bev.  Bichanl  F.  Cadle» 1853-57 

Rev.  Samuel  B.  Slack 1858-i69 

Bev.  John  L.  Gay 1860-61 

Rev.  Oeori^  Hall 1861-«9 

Bev.  John  C.  Tennant 1870-73 

Bev.  H.  B.  Brooke 1873-78 

Bev.  8.  D.  Hall 1878-81 

Rev.  George  Fitzhngh 1882-84 

Bev.  Edward  Wootten 1886-87 

In  the  fall  of  1887  the  parish  was  without  a  rector, 
having  the  ministry  of  visiting  clergymen. 

The  colored  people  of  Seaford  own  and  maintain 
two  good  churches — the  "Macedonia,"  built  in  1879 
and  repaired  more  recently ;  and  the  "  John  Wesley," 
built  in  1883.  The  latter  is  an  of&hootof  the  former, 
both  belonging  to  branches  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
A  laudable  spirit  of  emulation  has  incited  the  mem- 
bers of  these  chtrrdres  to  ktfep  their  temporalities 
in  very  good  condition,  and  both  are  in  a  prosperous 
state. 

Seaford  Branch,  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  had,  in  the  fall  of  1887,  seventeen  members. 
The  annual  meeting  of  the  State  Association  was  held 
at  this  place  in  October,  1887,  and  was  an  occasion  of 
much  interest  and  large  attendance  "from  all  parts  of 
the  State. 

A  Young  Ladies'  Christian  Temperance  Union,  or- 
ganized in  1887,  had,  at  this  time,  twenty-six  mem- 
bers ;  and  a  vigorous  Band  of  Hope,  organized  in 
the  summer  of  1887,  by  Mrs.  Hester  M.  Rawlins  had, 
in  November,  1887,  one  hundred  and  sixty  members. 


CHAPTER  LXXV. 


LITTLE  CREEK  HUNDRED. 


This  hundred,  situated  in  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  State,  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Gumboro' 
Hundred  and  West  by  the  State  of  Maryland.  Before 
the  establishment  of  the  State  lines  all  of  the  terri- 
tory embraced  in  this  hundred  formed  a  part  of  Som- 
erset County,  Md.  The  excellent  facilities  for 
manufacturing  afforded  by  the  streams  in  this  vicinity 
were  an  incentive  to  the  early  erection  of  numerous 
mills,  some  of  which  are  still  in  operation.  The  sur- 
face is  level  and  unbroken  by  any  elevations  of  any 
considerable  height.  The  soil  is  light  and  easily  tilled, 

1  Died  November  9, 1857,  near  Lanrel,  and  ie  burled  at  St  Luke*e. 


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1316 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


and  is  especially  adapted  to  the  growing  of  small 
fruits.  It  is  also  favorable  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
cereals.  Shipping  facilities  by  boat  are  afforded  by 
Broad  Creek  on  the  north.  The  Delaware  Division 
of  the  P.  W.  and  B.  Railroad,  which  runs  north  and 
south  through  the  centre  of  the  hundred,  offers  an- 
other outlet  to  market.  The  numerous  roads  afford 
safe  and  convenient  routes  tor  traveling  through  the 
various  po'rtions  of  the  hundred. 

The  supposition  that  the  land  in  Little  Creek  Hun- 
dred belonged  to  Maryland  led  to  its  settlement  under 
warrants  and  patents  granted  by  the  proprietaries  of 
that  State. 

One  of  the  earliest  to  take  up  land  in  this  vicinity 
was  Caldwell,  who,  on  April  5, 1680,  received  a  grant 
for  a  tract  of  five  hundred  acres  called  '^  The  Desart " 
situated  on  Tusseky  Branch.  A  portion  of  it  in  1780, 
was  owned  by  Wm.  Polk.  John  Caldwell  was  a  son 
of  Robert  Caldwell,  and  obtained  warrants  for  several 
large  tracts  in  this  and  adjoining  hundreds,  from 
Charles  Calvert,  Proprietor  of  Maryland  and  Avalon 
and  Lord  Baron  of  Baltimore.  One  of  these  tracts 
called  "  Vinson's  Choice,**  containing  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  acres,  situate  on  the  west  side  of  Tus- 
seky Branch,  was  patented  to  James  Vinson  on 
June  15, 1757.  On  May  4th  of  that  year,  he  received 
a  grant  of  twelve  hundred  acres*  on  Tusseky  Branch. 
Of  this  he  assigned  five  hundred  acres  to  George  011- 
phant,  to  whom  they  were  patented  on  September  10th 
of  the  same  year,  under  the  name  of  "George's 
Chance."  John  Caldwell  also  assigned  to  John  Moore 
one  hundred  acres  on  Little  Creek,  for  which  he  had 
received  a  warrant  on  February  25, 1728.  This  tract 
was  patented  to  Moore  on  June  10,  1734,  under  the 
name  ''Pick  and  Cull."  It  was  situate  on  the  north 
side  of  an  eastern  branch  of  Little  Creek.  In  1776 
it  was  resurveyed  for  William  Polk,  and  three  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  of  vacant  land  added.  The 
name  "  Nonsense  "  was  assigned  to  the  entire  tract 
It  is  now  owned  by  Thomas  Bacon,  John  Game  and 
W.  W.  Dashiel.  On  April  1,  1780,  Caldwell  was 
granted  another  thousand  acres  of  which  he  assigned 
one  hundred  acree  to  John  Cannon,  to  whom  it  was 
patented  June  4, 1734,  as  ''Cannon's  Discovery." 

On  April  15, 1746,  there  was  granted  to  Day  Scott 
five  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  on  the  west  side 
of  Little  Creek.  Of  this  he  assigned  fifty  acres  to 
John  Calloway,  to  whom  it  was  patented  as  "  Callo- 
way's Venture.*' 

"  Stephen's  Addition,"  a  tract  containing  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety-nine  acres,  was  granted  to  Joseph 
Forman  March  7, 1776.  It  also  included  an  improve- 
ment purchased  of  Joseph  Day,  "  on  which  there  is  a 
small  log-house  with  a  brick  chimney."  The  tract 
adjoined  "  Ricket's  Delight,"  and  was  to  the  south- 
ward of  Tusseky  Branch  bridge,  and  to  the  eastward 
of  a  road  leading  from  Broad  Creek  to  Gillis  Ferry  on 
Wicomico  River.  It  is  now  owned  by  Martin  Ellis, 
and  the  heirs  of  Isaac  Giles. 

Isaac  Giles,  the   son  of    William    and     Ganard 


(Williams)  Giles,  was  bom  the  29th  day  of  Febnuiy, 
1804.  Blackwater  in  Wicomico  County,  at  that  time 
included  in  Somerset  County,  Maryland,  near  the 
dividing  line  of  the  two  States.  He  was  baptized  in 
Spring  Hill  Church,  a  venerable  structure  built  by 
the  English  during  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne.  Hit 
parentage  was  English.  His  father  died  leaving  him 
at  an  early  age  to  the  guardianship  of  his  mother. 
He  was  unable  to  attend  school,  not  receiving  in  hk 
entire  life  over  fifteen  days  schooling.  At  the 
age  of  fifteen  he  removed  to  Millsboro,  Delaware. 
Here  he  apprenticed  himself  to  a  blacksmith,  ud 
followed  this  trade  until  his  twenty-fourth  year.  He 
then  engaged  in  merchandizing  at  Bull's  Mill  in 
Broad  Creek  Hundred,  six  miles  from  Laurel,  for  two 
years.  He  removed  to  Hitch's  Mill  at  the  end  of 
this  time  and  entered  into  partnership  with  the  late 
William  Hitch,  and  continued  here  for  six  years.  At 
the  age  of  thirty-two,  August  20,  1836,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  Stone  Hosea,  of  Philadelphia,  but 
a  native  of  Laurel,  the  daughter  of  Rhoda  and 
Matthew  Hosea.  Rhoda  Hosea  was  the  daughter  of 
Shedrick  Short.  Matthew  Hosea  was  the  son  of  Arthor 
Hoeea,  who  was  born  in  England.  During  his  entire 
life,  he  was  sober,  honest  and  upright  in  his  dealinp 
with  men,  creating  forhimself  a  name  which  followed 
him  through  life ;  ever  a  friend  to  the  friendless,  and 
a  counsellor  for  all  in  need  of  advice.  After  one 
year  of  married  life,  the  partnership  with  Hitch  was 
dissolved,  Mr.  Giles  purchasing  a  farm  of  Isaac  and 
Perry  Moore,  five  miles  below  Laurel,  and  which  ever 
afterwards  was  known  as  Maple  Grove  and  Giles' 
Store.  He  removed  to  this  farm  and  continued  in 
the  mercantile  business,  besides  building  vessels  and 
cultivating  land,  until  he  lost  his  eyesight  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  seventy  years.  Mr.  Giles  was  a  busy, 
stirring  man,  and  the  fruits  of  his  labors  were  wdl 
defined  in  the  rapid  growth  and  improvement  of  his 
lands  in  which  he  took  great  pride.  In  the  early  days 
of  his  married  life  he  and  his  wife  labored  unceas- 
ingly with  a  great  desire  to  accumulate  something  for 
their  children.  There  were  eleven  bom,  bat  only 
seven,  five  girls  and  two  boys  arrived  at  age  of 
maturity,  all  of  whom  are  married  except  the  youngest 
Thomas  B.,  the  oldest  son,  was  for  four  years  State 
Treasurer,  and  now  lives  on  a  large  farm  near  Sea- 
ford,  Delaware,  engaged  extensively  in  fruit-growing. 
The  two  daughters  live  in  Laurel,  one  near  that 
place,  one  in  Alabama  and  another  in  Baltimore. 
Isaac,  the  youngest  son,  lives  near  Seaford,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  milling  and  agriculture.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  an  active  politician,  serving  unswerv- 
ingly the  Democratic  party,  always  in  the  battle's 
front  in  the  fiercest  of  the  fray,  giving  liberally,  both 
mentally  and  financially,  that  his  party  might  win 
the  laurels.  He  labored  unceasingly,  and  even  when 
his  great  afiliction  was  on  him  and  the  sight  of  the 
world  denied  him,  he  was  carried  to  Laurel  on  each 
election  day,  and  cast  his  vote  to  help  make  his  party 
victorious.      He  was  Levy  Court  commissioner  of 


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Isaac  Uiles,  tne    son   ot     Wiiiiam    anu     (jranara     viciunous.      no   was  a^vj    ovuiv  «a/iiumm».^.». 


^,4-««-^0      -C^ytl^^L^ 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1317 


Sussex  County,  and  was  appointed  prothonotary  by 
Governor  Ross,  filling  the  office  with  great  ability. 
He  and  Covernor  Ross  were  always  on  the  most 
intimate  terms  with  each  other,  and  the  families  spent 
much  time  together. 

Mr.  Giles  was  a  slaveholder  up  to  the  emancipation 
proclamation  of  President  Lincoln,  but  relinquished 
this  part  of  the  estste  without  a  murmur.  He  was  in 
sympathy  with  the  South,  and  made  many  a  Southern 
soldier's  heart  glad  by  his  liberal  donations  to  them 
in  their  gloomy  prison  cells.  He  was  ever  ready  to 
lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  needy,  and  could  truly  be 
called  the  widow's  friend.  The  old  store  that  had  so 
long  been  the  business  place  was  burned,  the  work  of 
an  incendiary,  and  he  built  a  more  commodious  one 
in  the  yard,  which  was  afterwards  occupied  by  his, 
youngest  son,  from  the  time  of  his  father's  blindness, 
until  the  latter's  death.  The  younger  man  being  in 
many  respects  similar  to  his  father,  Mr.  Giles,  lost  his 
eyesight  in  1875,  and  he  was  forced  in  a  great  meas- 
ure to  give  up  his  business.  He  bore  his  great  afflic- 
tion without  a  murmur,  submitting  with  meek  resig- 
nation to  his  Master*s  divine  will.  He  was  quite  feeble 
during  the  last  years  of  his  life,  rarely  leaving  the  old 
homestead  which  had  become  dear  to  him  by  years  of 
association.  He  died  Mar(;h  17,  1888,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Episcopal  Church-yard  in  Laurel,  Rev.  Mr. 
Fitzpatrick  performing  the  last  burial  rites.  A 
fitting  monument  marks  the  spot  where  he  is  buried. 
No  words  can  express  an  appropriate  eulogy  upon 
the  life,  character  and  work  of  so  estimable  a  man. 
He  was  missed  everywhere,  but  his  memory  is  en- 
graved upon  the  mind  of  his  friends. 

Another  tract  of  land  in  Little  Creek  Hundred 
known  as  "  Liberty  Plain,"  and  containing  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety-three  acres,  was  granted  to  Forman 
on  the  same  date.  It  was  situated  on  the  west  side 
of  Tosseky  Branch,  and  included  a  saw-mill  and 
other  improvements.  The  mill  was  on  the  site  of  a 
mill  last  operated  about  twenty  years  ago  by  James 
Ellis,  and  stood  on  land  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Zedekiah 
Gkwlee. 

On  May  25,  1776,  Charles  Morris  assigned  to  For- 
man, "  Gorden's  Choice,"  a  tract  of  three  hundred 
acres,  on  the  east  side  of  Little  Creek,  on  Holly 
Branch.  Two  days  later  it  was  surveyed  for  him.  It 
is  now  in  the  possession  of  A.  J.  Horsey. 

'*  Horsey's  Inclosure."  One  hundred  and  fifty-five 
acres  were  granted  to  Isaac  and  William  Horsey  on 
March  8, 1776.  It  was  on  the  south  side  of  Broad 
Creek,  and  northeast  of  a  tract  called  "Lodsgate 
Hall,"  also  the  property  of  the  Horseys. 

On  the  same  date  there  was  patented  to  Isaac 
Cooper  a  tract  of  four  hundred  and  ninety-nine  acres, 
known  as  "  Nutter's  Anglum."  The  former  name  of 
this  tract  was  "  Intention,"  under  which  name  it  was 
originally  granted  to  John  Kilpatrick,  April  18,  1754. 
It  was  on  the  south  side  of  Broad  Creek,  near  a  tract 
called  **  Providence,"  surveyed  for  Joseph  Marshall 

Also  on  March  8, 1776,  *'  Puzzlewit,"  a  property  of 


four  hundred  and  fi fly-four  acres,  was  granted  to 
Joshua  Moore,  to  whom  it  previously  belonged,  under 
the  name  of  ''  Advantage."  It  was  on  the  east  side 
of  Tusseky  Branch,  near  the  land  of  Jacob  Vinson. 

"  Lost  Conclusion,"  a  tract  of  three  hundred  and  ten 
acres,  formerly  known  as  "  Dublin,"  was  granted  to 
John  Polk,  Sr.,  on  March  14, 1776.  Another  tract, 
called  "Bee  Island,"  containing  seventy-five  acres, 
was  granted  to  him  on  the  same  date. 

On  November  4, 1795,  Dr.  John  Polk  owned  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  land  on  the  east  side  of 
the  county  road,  leading  from  Broad  Creek  to  Salis- 
bury. It  was  known  as  "  Polk's  part  of  King's  Ven- 
ture," being  a  part  of  a  re-survey  granted  to  Robert 
King  in  1771. 

John  Freeny  received  a  grant  of  fifly-eight  acres, 
known  as  "White  Oak  Swamp,"  on  April  18,  1776. 
It  lay  "between  where  said  Freeny  now  lives  and 
John  Gordy's  land,"  near  the  western  line  of  Little 
Creek  Hundred. 

"Coxe's  Discovery,"  a  large  tract  now  owned  by 
W.  W.  Dashiell,  J,  Turpin  Moore,  Nathaniel  Horsey 
and  Thomas  Bacon,  was  taken  up  at  a  very  early 
date.  The  representatives  of  the  early  settlers  are 
found  in  the  assessment  list  of  the  taxables  of  this 
hundred  for  the  year  1785,  which  is  annexed.  On  it 
will  be  found  the  names  of  many  whose  descendants 
to-day  constitute  the  principal  part  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  hundred. 


AndenoD,  DftoIeL 
And«raon,  John, 
Bacon,  Belby. 
Bailey,  Stephen. 
Bailey,  David. 
Badley,  Samnel. 
Boadley,  John. 
Badley,  Thomas. 
Badlt*y,  James. 
Brown,  Wm. 
Badley,  Gideon. 
Bailey,  Samuel. 
Badley,  ]>ean. 
Bacon,  Levin. 
Benson,  George. 
Bacon,  John. 
Badley,  Wm. 
Bevins,  James. 
Balding,  Caleb. 
Bailey,  Jonathan. 
Bailey,  George. 
Beach,  Jonathan. 
Booth,  John. 
Bevins,  Wm. 
Binnett,  Joshua. 
Brown,  Anthony. 
Bevins,  Wm. 
Christopher,  El^ah. ' 
Crouch,  EsekieL 
Carmeen,  Jaoonias. 
Culvier,  Thomas. 
Collins,  Jonah. 
Carmeen,  Moses. 
Calhoon,  SamueL 
Collins,  John, 
Carter,  Littleton. 
Cordray,  Belby. 
Cannon,  James. 
CuWier,  Jesse. 
Callaway,  James. 


Crouch,  John. 
Oallaway,  Thomas. 
Callaway,  Ebsneier. 
CnlTier,  Hods. 
Gnlrier,  G«orge. 
Callaway,  Clement. 
Garthall,  Jonathan, 
Callaway,  Aaron. 
Collins,  Joseph. 
Oallaway,  Ebeneur. 
Callaway,  Nehemlah. 
Calloway,  Isaiah. 
Carton,  Isaac. 
Carthill,  James. 
Creigh,  Edward. 
Callaway,  Anna. 
Carmeen,  Bobert. 
Callaway,  Elt 
CklUway.  Matlhew. 
Onlvir,  Aaron. 
Callaway,  Hoses. 
Callaway,  Levin. 
Carmeen,  Wm. 
Collins,  Beqj. 
Cordray,  John. 
Callaway,  Wm. 
Carmeen,  Wiggins. 
Cooper,  Isaac 
Oarmeen,  Lowden. 
Oallaway,  Blisha. 
Cooper,  James. 
Callaway,  Mary. 
Deem,  Wm. 
Durkey,  Wm. 
Davis,  Elisha. 
McDaniel,  Bennett. 
Edge,  Obadlah. 
Ellis,  Joseph. 
Ellis,  BeiU. 
English,  Wm. 


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1318 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


£Ui«t,  Daniel. 
El«y,  Wm. 
Ellla,  Stephen. 
Ellia,  JeoM. 
Knglish,  James. 
Kvans,  BeqJ. 
Elsj,  John. 
Ellis,  Levin. 
Ellis,  Joshua. 
Ellis,  John. 
Elliot,  Nelson. 
Elliot,  Samuel. 
EUlott,  Joseph. 
Fonuan,  Jose|^ 
Floyd,  Aaron. 
Freeny,  John. 
Freeny,  Thomaa. 
Figgs,  Thomas. 
■l«g«»  Henry.  1 
Green,  John. 
Goddard,  Franck. 
Givens,  John. 
Game,  Betty. 
Game,  Levi. 
Grau,  Thomas. 
McGee,  Wm. 
Goddard,  John. 
Green,  James. 
Gller,  Wm. 
Gordy,  John. 
Gordy,  Aaron. 
Gordy,  Jacob. 
Green,  Wm. 
Gordy,  M ons. 
Gaiiey,  George. 
McGee,  Peter. 
Green,  George. 
Holt,  Wm. 
Hardy,  Joseph. 
Heam,  SamueU 
Heam,  Jonathan. 
Hastings,  Ooulboum. 
Henderson,  AbrahaoL 
Hoeey,  John. 
Hall,  Elijah. 
Hall,  Peter. 
Haine,  Ephratm. 
Hasting,  Robert. 
Honor,  John. 
Uandys,  George. 
Hasting,  Elijah. 
Howard,  Jamas. 
Howard,  David. 
Hitch,  Isaac. 
Hall,  Samuel. 
Henry,  George. 
Heam,  Lowther. 
Hasting,  Aaron. 
Hoeey,  Jonathan. 
Hitchens,  Garet. 
Harrey,  Isaac 
Hastings,  Joshua. 
Hogskin,  Jonas. 
Hastings,  John. 
Hall,  John. 
Hall,  Shadrach. 
Hastings,  Solomon. 
Hasting,  Obadlah. 
Hasting,  Henry. 
Hitch,  Levin. 
Jones,  James. 
Jackson,  Elihu. 
Jones,  Thomas. 
Jones,  Isaac 
Kinney,  ElUah. 
Kinneckin,  Matthew. 
K  now  les,  Thomas. 
Knowles,  Richard. 


King,  Wm. 
King,  John. 
Kirwell,  William. 
King,  George. 
Kinney,  John. 
Knowles,  Richard. 
Knowles,  John. 
King,  Robert. 
King,  Ephraim. 
Kinneckin,  Daniel. 
Kinney,  Joehua. 
Knowles,  Charles. 
Knowles,  Edniond. 
King,  Levi. 
King,  Wm. 
Knowles,  Zachariah. 
Lowe,  Wm. 
Lynch,  John. 
Lowe,  Ralph. 
Lord.  Wm. 
Lowe,  James. 
Levatt,  NathanieL 
Lynch,  Michael. 
Lord,  Thomas. 
Moore,  Thomas. 
Moore,  Isaac. 
Moore,  John. 
McDowell,  Joshua. 
McDowell,  John. 
Marine,  Charles. 
Moore,  Joshua. 
Moore,  John. 
Morris,  Grace. 
Moore,  John. 
Moore,  Shiles. 
Moore,  Charles. 
Moore,  Wm. 
Mifflin,  George. 
Moore,  George. 
Mifflin,  Thomas. 
Maddox,  Zachariah. 
Morris,  Obadlah. 
Maddox,  Zephanla. 
Moore,  Rlsdan. 
Maddox,  Wm. 
Morris,  Nehemiah. 
Moore,  Joehua. 
Moore,  Newbold. 
Mifflin,  Meshack. 
Morris,  Hesekiah. 
Melson,  Daniel. 
Moore,  Horatio. 
Moore,  Thomas. 
Moore,  Robert. 
Moore,  Charles. 
Nicholson,  Hofflngton. 
Nellimis,  Jehu. 
Nicholls,  NehemUh. 
Owens,  Aaron. 
Owens,  Isaac. 
Oglesby,  Thos. 
Phillips,  Richard. 
Phillips,  Wm.,  Sr. 
Phillips,  Wm.,  Jr. 
Phillips,  Isaac. 
Polk,  Wm. 
Pritchett,  John.      , 
Parraman,  Wm. 
Phillips,  EUjah. 
Phillips,  Joshua. 
Pritchett,  David. 
Polk,  John. 
Parker,  Jenkins. 
Robbins,  John. 
Ralph,  George. 
Records,  Wm. 
Rayfleld,  Charles. 
Ready s,  John. 


Rhoads,  John. 
Records,  Alexander. 
Redding,  Michael. 
Bogus,  Custer. 
Ralph,  Wm. 
Rose,  John. 
Shaw,  Wm. 
Sirmon,  Job. 
Smith,  Marshall. 
Smith,  George. 
Sirmond,  Lonther. 
Townseud,  Barkley. 
Tredham,  James. 
Turpin,  Wm. 
Tully,  James.    - 
Vincent,  Isaac 
Yaughn,  Maiy. 
Vincent,  DanieU 
Vincent,  Newbold. 
Vincent,  Georg^. 
Vance,  Jamea. 
Vaughn,  Betty. 
Williams,  John. 
Walker,  Charles. 
Walker,  Jonathan. 
Walker,  Thomas. 
Walker,  James. 
Wooten,  John. 
Williams,  Samuel. 
Walker,  Wm. 
Walker,  Michael. 
Walker,  Emanuel. 


Walker,  Jantc^ 
Wright,  EsekSel. 
Wooten,  Isaac. 
Walker,  Wm. 
Walker,  Chartes. 
Walker,  Richard. 
Well^  Israel. 
Walker,  John. 
WilUaina,  David. 
WiUUms,  John. 
Wooten,  dijah. 
Whaley,  Wm. 
Walter,  Qeorga. 
Whaley.  Isaac 
Wright,  Cliaries. 
Wincor,  James. 
Wars,  Joseph. 
WHley,  Jarrett. 
Walla,  George. 
Williams,  John 
Wniiams,  Bbeneier. 
Walker,  Ephraim. 
Winior,  Samuel. 
Watler,  Jease. 
Ware,  James. 
Wright,  Boas. 
Walter,  Wm. 
Wright,  Je«e. 
Wright,  Wm, 
Walker,  Elisha. 
Wright,  Levin. 


Industries. — On  the  assessment  list  of  the  taxables 
of  Little  Creek  Hundred  for  the  year  1809  are  found 
the  following  mill-owners :  Henry  Bacon,  grist  and 
saw -mi  11  and  five  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land; 
Lear  Bivins,  grist-mill ;  John  Bennett,  grist  and  saw- 
mill and  eight  hundred  acres  of  land ;  Samuel  Elliott, 
one-half  of  a  grist  and  saw-mill  and  two  hundred  tod 
one  acres ;  Samuel  Hearn,  two-thirds  of  a  grist-mill 
and  seven  hundred  and  thirteen  acres ;  Charles  Ma- 
rine, one-half  of  a  saw  and  grist-mill  and  three  hun- 
dred acres ;  William  Polk,  one-half  of  a  saw  and  grist- 
mill and  eight  hundred  acres ;  Ebenezer  Vinson,  saw 
and  grist-mill ;  Charles  Walston,  one-half  of  a  grist 
and  saw-mill  and  three  hundred  and  twenty-six 
acres ;  Thomas  Ward,  one-third  of  a  grist  and  saw- 
mill and  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres;  and 
John  Ward,  one-third  of  a  grist  and  saw-mill  and  two 
hundred  and  ninety  acres.  In  addition  to  these,  the 
assessment  list  of  1816  contained  the  following  names: 
Stephen  Bennett,  saw-mill  and  one  hundred  and 
ninety  acres  of  land ;  George  Bennett,  saw-mill  and 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres ;  Levin  Collins,  saw  and 
grist-mill  and  nine  hundred  acres ;  George  and  Joseph 
Hearn,  saw-mill  and  five  hundred  and  twenty-two 
acres ;  and  Levin  Thomson,  grist  and  saw-mill  and 
four  hundred  and  twenty-eight  acres  of  land.  On  the 
main  stream  of  Broad  Creek  were  the  mills  of  John 
Mitchell,  Josiah  Polk,  William  Hitch  and  Ebenexer 
Vinson,  and  the  ship-yard  of  Barkley  Townsend. 

Some  time  previous  to  1800,  Hon.  John  Mitchell  built 
a  dam  across  Broad  Creek,  near  the  present  site  of 
Laurel.  On  the  south  side  of  the  stream  he  built  a 
grist-mill,  and  on  the  north  side  a  saw-mill.  After 
his  decease  the  property  passed  to  his  nephew,  John, 
who  devised  it  to  his  son  Theodore.    In  1832,  Theo- 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1319 


dore  sold  a  half-interest  in  the  mills  to  Meshack  Elli- 
ott, and  shortly  afterwards  the  remaining  one-half 
part  to  John  Polk  and  Jeremiah  Kinney,  who  in  turn 
conveyed  to  Solomon  Short  and  Ellas  Taylor.  In 
1847  Levin  W.  Dulaney  purchased  the  interest  of 
Taylor  and  Short,  and  soon  sold  to  Meshach  Elliott, 
thus  vesting  in  him  the  entire  title.  David  W.  Moore 
and  James  Shipman  purchased  the  mills  of  Elliott, 
and  .operated  them  a  short  time,  when  Shipman  sold 
his  portion  to  Thomas  Giles.  In  1866  Moore  and 
Giles  sold  to  John  B.  Lewis,  who  operated  the  mills 
two  years,  when  they  returned  to  Moore  and  Giles. 
A  one-third  interest  was  purchased  of  them  by  Wil- 
liam S.  Moore.  The  mills  remained  in  their  posses- 
sion till  1871,  when  they  were  purchased  by  Isaac  J. 
W.  Adams  and  T.  H.  Ridson,  and  have  since  been 
operated  under  the  name  of  Adams  &  Co.  The  firm 
took  possession  on  December  10,  1871,  and  soon  after- 
wards tore  down  the  saw-mill  and  built  a  new  one, 
which  they  also  fitted  up  with  machinery  for  making 
kegstaves  and  heads  and  peach  and  berry  crates.  In 
this  department  they  employed  from  thirty  to  fifty 
hands,  and  manufactured  about  seventy-five  thousand 
crates  per  season.  They  now  manufacture  but  very  few 
crates  and  employ  the  full  force  on  staves  and  heads. 

In  1873  E.  W.  Twilley  became  a  partner.  In  Octo- 
ber, of  that  year,  they  removed  the  grist-mill  and 
erected  a  four-story  frame  building,  thirty-six  by  fifty 
feet,  which  was  burned  March  28, 1878.  The  erection 
of  the  present  building  was  immediately  begun,  and 
it  was  completed  in  August  of  the  same  year.  It  is  a 
four-story  frame  building,  thirty-six  by  sixty  feet,  to 
which  an  elevator,thirty-six  by  twenty  feet,  was  added, 
in  1883.  It  was  run  by  six  turbine  wheels  till  the 
latter  year,  when  a  roller-sjrstem  was  introduced,  and 
three  of  the  wheels  removed  and  one  larger  one  sub- 
stituted. It  is  a  first-class  mill  in  every  respect,  and 
has  a  capacity  of  manufacturing  one  hundred  barrels 
of  flour  and  two  hundred  bushels  of  grain  per 
twenty-four  hours. 

In  1807,  Josiah  Polk,  son  of  Dr.  John  Polk,  was 
the  owner  of  a  forge,  grist-mill  and  saw-mill,  which 
were  built  many  years  before.  The  forge  was  operated 
until  Polk's  death,  when  it  was  abandoned.  The  mills 
passed  to  John  Polk,  brother  of  Josiah,  and  were  by 
him  sold  to  Joseph  Chipman,  by  whom  they  were 
operated  some  years.  They  next  became  the  property 
of  his  SOB,  Isaac  Chipman,  by  whom  they  were  sold 
to  Elias  Taylor,  Edmund  Hitchens  and  Elias  Taylor, 
Jr.  The  half-interest  of  Hitchens  was  sold  to  Robert 
Lamden,  Thomas  Bacon,  John  M.  C.  Hearn,  P.  C. 
Matthews,  James  U.  Boyce  and  John  S.  Bacon.  Elias 
Taylor,  Jr.,  inherited  the  one-fourth  part  which  be- 
longed to  his  uncle,  Elias  Taylor,  thus  vesting  in  him 
a  one-half  interest.  He  conveyed  one-half  of  his 
interest  to  the  other  owners,  on  account  of  repairs 
and  improvements  made  by  them.  After  his  decease, 
the  remainder  of  his  portion  was  sold  to  J.  P.  Ward 
and  Alfred  Adams.  The  interest  of  James  H.  Boyce 
was  conveyed  to  William  Whaley,  who  sold  to  S.  B. 


West.  The  grist-mill  is  still  operated,  but  no  sawing 
has  been  done  in  the  past  four  years.  Robert  Lam- 
den's  interest  is  now  owned  by  his  heirs. 

The  next  mills  on  this  stream  above  the  forge  were 
at  an  early  date  owned  by  a  Mr.  Warren.  They  con- 
sisted of  a  grist  and  saw-mill,  and  were  next  owned 
by  William  Hitch.  They  were  operated  by  him  till 
about  fifteen  years  ago,  when  they  were  abandoned. 
The  land  on  which  they  stood  is  now  owned  by  Levin 
Hitch. 

The  Trap  Mills  were  early  owned  by  Ebenezer  Vin- 
son, by  whom  they  were  conveyed  to  Joseph  Betts. 
He  operated  them  for  some  time  and  then  sold  to 
William  and  Anderson  Truitt.  The  saw-mill  is  no 
longer  used,  but  the  grist-mill  is  still  operated  by  M. 
G.  Truitt,  the  present  owner. 

In  1799  Barkley  Townsend  was  the  owner  of  a  ship- 
yard situated  near  Portsville.  The  yard  was  earlier 
owned  and  operated  by  Caleb  Baldwin.  Thomas 
Townsend  operated  it  until  about  1825,  when  it  was 
discontinued.  Since  then  vessels  have  been  built  here 
occasionally,  the  last  of  which  was  constructed  in  1850 
by  Thomas  Bacon. 

On  Cod  Creek,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  hun- 
dred, were  the  grist  and  saw-mills  of  John  Bennett, 
the  saw-mill  of  William  Knowles,  the  saw-mill  of 
Stephen  Bennett  and  the  saw-mill  of  George  Bennett. 

The  grist  and  saw-mill  owned  in  1809  by  John  Ben- 
nett became  the  property  of  John  Cooper  about  1840. 
James  Elzey,  the  next  owner,  conveyed  the  mills  to 
Noah  Phillips,  who  devised  them  to  his  son,  Samuel. 
About  ten  years  ago  the  saw-mill  was  discontinued. 
At  the  death  of  Samuel  Phillips,  in  1883,  the  grist- 
mill passed  to  his  grandsons,  who  are  the  children  of 
E.  M.  Lowe.    It  is  still  operated. 

The  saw-mill  of  William  Enowles  was  operated  by 
him  in  the  year  1840.  Joseph  Ellis  and  William 
Owens  were  the  next  and  present  owners.  The  mill 
is  still  operated  by  them. 

The  saw-mill  owned  by  Stephen  Bennett  in  1816 
afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  James  W. 
Bradley,  who  operated  it  until  his  decease.  It  then 
descended  to  his  son,  John  C.  Bradley,  by  whom  it 
was  sold,  in  1871,  to  William  T.  Records.  He  con- 
veyed the  mill  to  Samuel  S.  Walker,  and  while  in  his 
possession,  in  1874,  it  was  burned  and  has  never  been 
rebuilt.  The  land  on  which  it  stood  now  belongs  to 
W.  J.  Henderson. 

The  mills  of  George  Bennett,  on  Cod  Creek,  later 
came  into  the  possession  of  Aaron  Owens,  by  whom 
they  were  operated  many  years.  The  grist-mill  has 
been  abandoned  for  about  twenty-five  years.  The 
saw-mill  is  still  in  use,  and  is  owned  and  operated  by 
the  heirs  of  Aaron  Owens. 

Tusseky  Branch  is  a  small  stream  emptying  into 
Broad  Creek  at  Portsville.  On  this  stream  were  the 
saw  and  grist-mill  of  Levin  Collins,  the  grist  and  saw- 
mill of  Joseph  Forman,  the  grist  and  saw-mill  ot 
Charles  Walston,  the  grist  and  saw-mill  of  Charles 
and  Jacob  Marine,  and  the  saw-mill  of  William  Moore. 


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1320 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


The  mills  owned  by  Levin  Ck)llins  in  1816  came 
into  the  possession  of  James  Phillips  and  Jacob 
Adams  about  1825.  Phillips  later  became  sole  owner, 
and  devised  the  mills  to  his  sons,  Isaac  G.  and 
Thomas  J.  Phillips,  by  whom  they  were  operated  for 
some  time.  The  interest  of  Thomas  J.  Phillips  was 
sold  to  Hon.  James  Ponder,  and  by  him  sold  to 
Thomas  W.  Ralph,  about  1878.  Ailer  the  decease  of 
Isaac  G.  Phillips,  his  interest  was  sold  to  William  J. 
Ralph,  in  1880.  The  saw-mill  has  been  abandoned 
for  the  past  fifteen  years.  In  1882  a  new  two-story 
frame  grist-mill  was  erected  by  the  owners.  The  mill 
is  chiefly  employed  on  custom  work,  and  both  corn 
and  wheat  are  ground  by  burr.  The  mill  is  situated 
at  Portsville,  and  is  the  first  on  the  branch. 

The  next  mills  above  Portsville  were  owned  in 
1776  by  Joseph  Forman.  At  a  later  period  they 
became  the  property  of  Thomas  Rider,  and  while  in 
his  possession  the  saw-mill  was  abandoned  about  1830. 
Caleb  Ross  and  John  Phillips  became  the  next  own- 
ers of  the  grist-mill.  Ross  sold  his  portion  to  Robert 
Elzey,  and  later  the  entire  property  vested  in'  James 
Ellis,  by  whom  it  was  operated  until  twenty  years  ago, 
and  then  abandoned.  The  site  is  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
Zedekiah  Goslee. 

The  next  mills  higher  up  the  stream  were  owned 
in  1809  by  Charles  Walston,  and  in  1816  by  Thomas 
Rider.  They  then  became  the  property  of  Charles 
Rider,  by  whom  they  were  sold  to  Stephen  Bailey. 
In  1830  they  belonged  to  Levi  Collins,  and  were  in- 
herited by  his  son,  Jacob,  who  still  operates  the  saw- 
mill.   The  grist-mill  has  been  abandoned. 

In  1816  Charles  and  Jacob  Marine  were  the  owners 
of  a  saw  and  grist-mill  above  the  Walston  Mill,  which 
was  inherited  by  Griffith  and  Solomon  Marine,  and 
while  in  their  possession  the  grist-mill  was  aban- 
doned. The  saw-mill  was  sold  to  David  H.  Walston 
and  later  became  the  property  of  Jacob  Marine  and 
John  B.  Collins.  The  mill  was  last  operated  eight 
years  ago  while  in  the  possession  of  John  Henry. 

The  last  mill  on  this  stream  was  a  saw-mill  built 
by  William  Moore.  In  1840  it  was  inherited  by  his 
sons.  Perry  and  Isaac  Moore,  who  sold  it  to  William 
Moore.  Elijah  Hitch  and  George  A.  ^(oore  were  the 
next  owners,  and  they  conveyed  to  T.  W.  Records 
and  Joseph  Ellis,  who  operated  it  for  a  time  and 
then  sold  to  Isaac  Giles.  Frazer  Dickerson,  the  next 
owner,  operated  the  mill  until  1884,  when  it  was  aban- 
doned. 

In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  hundred,  on  Plum 
Creek,  were  two  saw-mills  owned  by  Elijah  Phillips 
and  Joseph  Hardie. 

The  saw-mill  known  as  the  "  Bloomery  Mill,"  was 
built  previous  to  1800  by  Elijah  Phillips.  It  was 
subsequently  owned  by  Rodger  Phillips  and  William 
Cooper,  and  next  came  into  the  possession  of  Samuel 
Phillips  and  William  Cooper,  Jr.,  and  while  in  their 
possession  was  abandoned,  about  ten  years  ago.  The 
land  on  which  it  stood  is  now  owned  by  Samuel 
Phillips. 


The  mill  owned  by  Joseph  Hardie  previous  to 
1800  was  later  purchased  by  Isaac  Phillips,  and  after 
his  death  became  the  property  of  Joseph  Phillips, 
Rodger  Phillips,  Jr.,  and  Levin  Cooper.  It  is  now 
owned  and  operated  by  William  W.  Cooper  and 
Rodger  Phillips. 

On  Little  Creek  were  the  m'ills  of  Barkley  Town- 
send,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Henry  Bacon,  John  Bacon  and 
William  Polk. 

Big  Mills  were  erected  by  Barkley  Townsend  on  a 
tract  of  land  known  as  ''Fishing  Island."  Tliey 
consisted  of  a  grist  and  saw-mill  and  were  operated 
by  Townsend  until  his  death,  when  they  were  inherited 
by  his  son,  Thomas,  who  sold  to  Caleb  Ross.  The 
mills  passed  to  his  son,  Hon.  William  H.  Ross,  by 
whom  a  tannery  was  added  in  1843.  They  were  sold 
by  him  to  John  Moore  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hoskins,  by 
whom  they  were  conveyed  to  William  Dulaney.  On 
September  16,  1867,  A.  J.  Horsey  purchased  the 
property  and  works  of  Dulaney  and  has  since  owned 
them.  The  grist-mill  and  tannery  have  not  been 
operated  for  the  past  three  years.  A  basket  factory 
was  connected  with  the  saw-mill  from  1881  to  1884. 
The  saw-mill  has  a  capacity  of  five  thousand  feet  per 
day. 

The  first  mills  on  the  stream  above  the  "  Big  Mills '' 
were  at  an  early  date  owned  by  Caleb  Baldwin,  and 
afterwards  came  into  the  possession  of  Judge  Bobbins, 
by  whom  they  were  sold  to  Nathaniel  Horsey.  HcM-sey 
sold  a  one-half  interest  to  James  Wootten,  who  con- 
veyed it  to  Robert  Elzey.  It  was  purchased  of  him 
by  Nathaniel  Horsey,  thus  vesting  in  him  again  the 
entire  title.  The  grist-mill  was  rebuilt  by  him  about 
forty  years  ago.  The  mills  are  now  owned  by  G.  W. 
Horsey,  a  son  of  Nathaniel.  In  1882  he  built  a  steam 
saw-mill,  and  has  connected  with  it  a  factory  for 
manufacturing  peach  and  berry  baskets  and  crates. 

The  mills  owned  in  1809  by  Henry  Bacon  were 
sold  by  him  to  the  Kinney  Bros.,  and  by  them  oper- 
ated until  1845,  when  they  again  came  into  possesion 
of  Bacon.  The  grist-mill  has  never  been  operated 
since  that  time.  After  the  death  of  Henry  Bacon  the 
property  vested  in  his  two  sons,  Samuel  and  Thomas, 
by  whom  it  is  still  owned.  In  1870  the  saw-mill  was 
rebuilt  and  enlarged,  is  now  operated  ten  months  per 
year  and  has  a  capacity  of  fifteen  hundred  feet  per 
day. 

At  the  head  of  the  mill-pond  belonging  to  the  Ba- 
con Mill  the  stream  forks,  and  on  each  of  these  forks 
was,  many  many  y^ars  ago,  a  saw-mill.  One  was 
owned  by  John  Bacon,  father  of  Henry,  and  went 
down  previous  to  1820.  It  st«od  on  land  now  owned 
by  W.  W.  Dashiel.  The  other  mill  was  owned  by 
William  Polk,  and  was  abandoned  about  the  same 
time.  The  land  is  now  owned  by  John  G.  Game  and 
Jonathan  T.  Records. 

On  Rossakatum  Branch  were  the  "  Little  Mills  *'  of 
Barkley  Townsend,  mentioned  as  the  beginning  of  the 
limits  of  the  village  of  Laurel.  They  consisted  of  a 
grist-mill,  bark-mill  and  carding  factory.      At  the 


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death  of  Townsend  they  became  the  property  of  his 
son-in-law,  John  Skinner.  In  1822  they  belonged  to 
Wm.  B.  Cooper,  who  also  opened  a  tan-yard  at  this 
place.  J.  A.  Hearn,  the  next  owner,  operated  the 
works  until  1856,  when  they  were  abandoned.  A  saw- 
mill was  erected  by  him  the  same  year,  which  later 
came  into  the  possession  of  H.  Clay  Lewis,  and  is  now 
the  property  of  John  W.  Windsor,  by  whom  it  is  still 
operated. 

On  a  tributary  of  Broad  Creek  commonly  called 
Tresham  Branch  were  the  grist  and  saw-mill  of  Levin 
Thompson,  grist-mill  of  Lear  Bivens,  grist  and  saw- 
mill of  Thomas  and  John  Ward,  grist  and  saw-mill  of 
Barkley  Townsend,  saw-mill  of  Jeremiah  Morris  and 
saw-mill  of  Francis  White. 

Levin  Thompson  was  a  colored  man,  who,  in  1816, 
owned  the  mills  on  this  stream  nearest  its  mouth. 
After  his  death  the  property  vested  in  his  heirs. 
Clement  Thompson  sold  his  interest  to  William 
Wootten.  Charles  B.  Greene,  a  son-in-law  of  Thomp- 
son, and  John  Hosea  were  also  part  owners  of  the 
mills.  The  grist-mill  was  abandoned  about  forty 
years  ago.  Selby  M.  Lowe  now  owns  and  operates 
the  saw-mill. 

The  next  mill  up  this  stream  in  1809  was  the  prop- 
erty of  Lear  Bivens,  who  sold  to  Joseph  Hearn.  The 
grist-mill  came  into  the  possession  of  Joseph  Ellis, 
who  sold  a  one-half  interest  to  Joshua  Cannon.  Can- 
non next  became  the  sole  owner  and  at  his  death  it 
passed  to  his  widow,  who  still  owns  it.  The  mill  has 
*not  been  operated  in  three  years.  Bivens  sold  the 
saw-mill  to  George  and  Joseph  Hearn,  who  operated 
it  until- 1845.  It  is  now  owned  by  Joseph  Elliott,  Har- 
vey Elliott,  Walter  Anderson,  William  Baker,  John 
Walker  and  John  Hearn.  The  mill  has  not  been 
operated  for  the  past  two  years. 

In  1809  Thomas  and  John  Ward  were  the  owners 
of  a  grist  and  saw-mill  on  a  branch  of  this  stream, 
emptying  into  the  Bivens  mill-pond.  The  entire  title 
later  vested  in  John,  and  at  his  death  passed  to  his 
son  Benjamin.  The  grist-mill  was  abandoned  about 
forty  years  ago.  The  saw-mill  was  burned  ten  years 
ago,  while  in  the  possession  of  Benjamin  Ward,  and 
has  never  been  rebuilt.  The  land  is  now  principally 
owned  by  John  W.  Ward. 

On  a  tract  of  land  called  "  Turkey  Trap,"  contain- 
ing one  hundred  and  seven  acres,  patented  June  25, 
1776,  to  George  Smith,  was  a  grist  and  saw-mill, 
which,  on  February  6,  1800,  Barkley  Townsend  sold 
to  Gilliss  Smith  and  Samuel  Elliott.  The  latter,  on 
November  2,  1803,  purchased  of  Gillisa  and  William 
Smith  a  fourth  interest.  William  Wootten  of  I,  mar- 
ried the  widow  of  Gilliss  Smith  and  purchased  from 
the  other  owners  their  interests  in  the  mills.  He 
died  in  1829  and  devised  the  mills  to  his  sons,  Philip 
H.  and  Nutter  G.  Wootten.  At  the  death  of  Philip 
H.  Wootten,  in  1841,  his  interest  passed  to  his  heirs 
who,  in  1861,  sold  to  Lewis  A.  Pollitt.  The  grist-mill 
was  abando!ied  in  1845.  The  saw-mill  is  now  owned 
by  Nutter  G.  Wootten  and  Lewis  A.  Pollitt. 
83  i 


The  next  mill  above  was  a  saw-mill,  owned  in  1822 
by  Jeremiah  Morris.  After  his  death  it  passed  to 
his  son,  John,  who  operated  it  until  1882,  when  it  was 
abandoned. 

The  last  mill  on  this  stream  was  a  saw-mill,  owned 
at  an  early  date  by  Francis  White,  and  while  in  his 
possession  was  abandoned  at  least  sixty  years  ago. 
The  land  is  now  the  property  of  Andrew  Hearn. 

On  the  most  eastern  branch  of  Broad  Creek,  in 

Little  Creek   Hundred,  were  the  saw-mills  of 

Vinson,  Joseph  and  Levi  Cannon  and  George  and 
Joseph  Hearn. 

The  mill  of Vinson  was  in  the  possession  of 

Jacob  Wootten  in  1828,  and  was  operated  by  him  until 
his  death ;  then  it  was  devised  to  his  daughter  Kate, 
who  married  Rev.  Otho  Strayer.  The  mill  next  be- 
came the  property  of  Philip  Cannon  and  H.  Clay 
Mathews,  who  ran  it  until  about  ten  years  ago,  when  it 
was  abandoned. 

In  1810  Joseph  and  Levi  Cannon  were  the  owners 
of  a  mill  above  the  Vinson  mill.  It  passed  to  Jere- 
miah Cannon,  and  was  operated  by  him  until  his  death, 
when  it  became  vested  in  his  heirs,  and  while  in  their 
possession  was  abandoned  about  thirty  years  ago. 

The  mill  on  this  stream  owned  by  George  and  Jo- 
seph Hearn  passed  to  G.  W.  C.  Hearn.  While  in  his 
possession,  about  thirty-five  years  ago,  it  was  aban- 
doned and  the  dam  removed. 

In  1848  Ward  &  Hearn  erected  a  steam  saw-mill 
within  the  present  limits  of  Whitesville.  The  mill 
changed  owners  very  often,  and  finally  became  the 
property  of  J.  G.  White,  by  whom  it  was  operated  until 
1881,  when  it  was  moved  to  Gumboro'  Hundred. 

In  1868  Sirmon  &  Carter  erected  a  steam  saw-mill 
at  Delmar.  In  1872  William  L.  Sirmon  became  sole 
owner,  and  operated  it  thus  until  November,  1886, 
when  be  associated  with  himself  William  Downing. 
In  1883  the  mill  was  moved  from  the  west  side  of  the 
railroad  to  its  present  location.  It  has  a  capacity  of 
five  thousand  feet  per  day,  is  operated  eleven  months 
per  year,  and  gives  employment  to  ten  men. 

In  1880  M.  M.  Ellis  built  a  steam  saw-mill  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  hundred.  It  has  a  capacity  of 
four  thousand  feet  per  day,  and  is  operated  three 
months  each  year. 

In  1882  Walston  &  Ellis  erected  a  steam  saw-mill 
in  this  hundred.  It  is  operated  nine  months  per  year, 
and  gives  employment  to  five  men.  The  capacity  is 
three  thousand  feet  per  day. 

In  1884  L.  W.  Ellis  &  Brother  built  a  steam  saw- 
mill, which  is  operated  six  months  per  year,  and  has 
a  capacity  of  four  thousand  feet  per  day. 

W.  L.  Sirmon,  Elijah  Freeny  and  M.  H.  Fooks 
operated  a  brick-yard  near  Delmar  from  1864  to  1866, 
when  it  was  discontinued. 

M.  H.  Gorman  and  W.  B.  Elliott  opened  a  brick- 
yard near  Delmar  about  1880,  and  have  since  oper- 
ated it.  Bricks  are  manufactured  for  seven  months 
each  year.  Teti  men  are  employed  in  the  yard.  The 
capacity  is  1,500,000  per  year. 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


Villages  and  Post-Offices.— The  first  building 
within  the  present  site  of  Whitesville  consists  of  a 
dwelling  and  steam  saw-mill  erected  in  1848  by  Ward 
&  Hearn.  A  store  was  opened  soon  afterwards  and 
managed  by  Jos.  J.  Hearn.  The  village  received  its 
name  from  Jos.  G.  White,  who  went  there  and  opened 
a  store  on  November  21, 1 856.  The  land  was  formerly 
owned  by  Freeborn  G.  Wells.  The  village  is  situated 
in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  hundred,  near  the 
Maryland  line,  and  contains  a  store  and  a  dozen 
dwellings.  In  close  proximity  is  the  Line  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  A  post-oflfice  was  established 
here  June  9,  1881.  J.  G.  White  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  postmaster,  and  has  since  held  that  posi- 
tion. The  mails  are  carried  tri-weekly  to  and  from 
Del  mar. 

Del  mar  is  situated  on  the  line  that  separates 
Southern  Delaware  from  the  northeastern  part  of 
Maryland,  and  is  almost  midway  between  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  The  name  is 
formed  by  combining  the  first  three  letters  of  the 
words  Delaware  and  Maryland.  It  is  the  terminus  of 
the  Delaware  Division  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilming- 
ton &  Baltimore  Railroad,  and  when  the  track  was 
laid  to  this  point,  in  1859,  the  present  site  of  Delmar 
was  a  wilderness.  The  first  house  was  built  by  Elijah 
Freeny,  who  owned  most  of  the  land  in  this  vicinity. 
It  stands  on  the  Maryland  side,  and  is  now  occupied 
by  Charles  Vincent.  The  next  house  was  built  by 
Kendall  B.  Hearn  for  hotel  purposes.  It  was  run  as 
a  hotel  by  him  until  his  death,  and  then  by  his  widow 
as  a  boarding-house.  It  was  purchased  by  Mr^.  Mar- 
garet Twiford,  the  present  owner,  about  1869,  and  re- 
opened as  a  hotel  with  William  Elliott  as  proprietor. 
It  has  changed  proprietors  several  times,  and  is  now 
in  charge  of  T.  A.  Veasey.  The  first  stores  were  kept 
by  Elijah  Freeny  and  E.  E.  Jackson,  now  Govenor 
of  Maryland.  The  town  was  laid  out  in  1869  by 
Elijah  Freeny  and  Wilder  Hastings,  who  owned  the 
land  on  which  it  stands.  The  first  school-house  was  a 
one-story  frame  building  erected  in  1865.  It  remained 
until  1885,  when  it  was  burned  and  a  neat  two-story 
building  was  erected,  and  still  stands.  There  are 
about  sixty-five  pupils  who  are  graded  for  the  two 
departments.  The  present  commsssioners  are  W.  L. 
Sirmon,  Jos.  J.  Ellis  and  W.  S.  Hitchens.  The  vil- 
lage has  grown  rapidly  and  still  enjoys  an  average 
increase  of  twenty  residences  per  year.  The  present 
population  is  aboui  six  hundred  and  fifly.  William 
L.  Sirmon  is  the  oldest  resident  of  the  village,  and 
has  been  identified  with  its  interest  since  1862.  The 
wants  of  the  people  are  supplied  by  six  general  stores, 
two  drug-stores,  one  millinery  store,  two  mills,  two 
butcher  shops  and  two  wheelwright  and  blacksmith 
shops.  A  new  station  was  erected  in  1886.  A  post- 
office  was  established  there  in  1860,  and  E.  E.Jackson 
appointed  postmaster.  It  was  soon  discontinued,  but 
was  re-established  November  31,  1868,  with  J.  L. 
Sirmon  as  postmaster.  He  has  held  the  oflfice  ever 
since  except  for  a  few  months  in  1873,  when  it  was 


filled  in  quick  succession  by  James  M.  Carver,  Jamei 
D.  Phillips  and  M.  Barker. 

Portsville  is  a  small  hamlet  situated  in  the  norUiem 
part  of  the  hundred,  about  three  miles  firom  Laurel 
It  is  quite  an  old  village  whose  growth  has  been  very 
slow.  A  ship-yard  was  at  one  time  in  operation  here, 
but  has  been  abandoned  for  some  time.  It  now  con- 
tains two  stores,  a  grist-mill,  a  church  and  about 
twenty  dwellings. 

Schools. — Several  subscription  schools  were  in  ex- 
istence in  the  hundred  previous  to  the  establishment 
of  the  common-school  system.  In  the  original  divi- 
sion of  Sussex  County  into  school -districts.  Little 
Creek  Hundred  was  apportioned  into  Districts  46-^1. 

District  46  included  Laurel  and  vicinity.  It  began 
at  Little  Creek  and  extended  thence  to  Nathaniel 
Horsey's  mill;  thence  in  a  straight  line  including 
Horsey 's  and  Mathias  Ralph^s  dwellings  to  Tusseky 
Branch  ;  thence  to  a  drain  of  water  at  North  End  of 
Nancy  Windsor's  plantation ;  thence  to  a  dwelling  of 
Wm.  B.  Cooper  and  including  the  same  on  to  Mit- 
chell's mill-dam ;  thence  along  the  road  from  the  mill- 
dam  to  Cannon's  Ferry  to  a  small  bridge  over  Broad 
Creek,  where  the  road  from  Laurel  to  Georgetown 
crosses  the  ferry-road ;  thence  due  West  to  Broad 
Creek ;  thence  down  the  creek  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

District  47  commenced  at  Nathaniel  Horsey's  mill; 
thence  with  line  of  46  to  Mitchell's  pond  ;  thence  to 
Polk's  forge ;  thence  to  Trussum's  mill ;  thence  np 
the  stream  to  George  &  Joseph  Heam's  mills;  thence 
to  Jackson  Cordry's  lane;  thence  to  a  bridge  between 
the  dwellings  of  Josiah  Cordry  and  Job  Hastings  over 
a  ditch  leading  into  the  eastern  branch  of  Little  Creek ; 
thence  down  said  ditch  and  creek  to  the  beginning. 

District  48  began  at  the  Maryland  line  at  the  north 
end  of  Jacob  Elliott's  land,  on  the  State  road  leading 
to  Georgetown  ;  thence  with  said  road  to  the  north  end 
of  Jackson  Cordry's  lane ;  thence  with  the  line  of  47 
to  the  east  prong  of  Little  Creek ;  thence  to  the  fork 
of  Kinney's  mill-pond ;  thence  up  the  south  or  sooth- 
west  prong  of  said  mill-pond  to  the  place  of  an  old 
mill  called  Polk's  mill,  near  a  farm  belonging  to  Jo- 
siah Calloway  ;  thence  with  straight  line  including  the 
dwelling  of  Robert  Hitch  to  a  ditch  leading  intoTus- 
seky  Branch;  thence  up  said  ditch  between  dwell- 
ings of  William  Hearn  and  Wm.  Ellis  to  the  Mary- 
land line,  near  the  southwest  corner  of  William  & 
Moses  Hastings'  farm ;  thence  with  said  line  to  the 
beginning. 

District  49  commenced  at  the  southwest  comer  of 
the  State  of  Delaware ;  thence  north  with  State  line 
to  the  fourth  mile-stone;  thence  due  east  to  the  ran 
of  Tusseky  Branch ;  thence  up  said  branch  to  a  ditch 
emptying  therein ;  thence  up  said  ditch  to  the  head 
thereof  between  dwellings  of  Wm.  Hearn  and  Wm. 
Ellis;  thence  to  the  Maryland  line  at  corner  of  48; 
thence  with  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

District  50  began  at  the  mouth  of  Tu»seky  Branch ; 
thence  down  said  creek  to  Nanticoke  River;  thence 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1323 


down  said  river  to  Maryland  line ;  thence  with  said 
line  south  to  a  stone  near  Priscilla  Walker^s  dwelling ; 
thence  due  east  to  the  run  of  Tusseky  Branch ;  thence 
down  said  branch  to  the  beginning. 

District  51  commenced  at  the  mouth  of  Tusseky 
Branch ;  thence  up  said  branch  to  a  bridge  on  the  pub- 
lic road  from  Laurel  to  Springfield,  Md.,  near  the 
dwelling  of  William  Moore ;  thence  up  said  stream 
and  with  line  of  48  to  Polk's  old  mill ;  thence  down 
the  south  or  southwest  prong  of  Little  Creek  to  said 
Little  Creek ;  thence  down  the  same  to  Broad  Creek ; 
thence  down  Haid  Broad  Creek  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

Each  of  these  districts  was  supplied  with  a  school, 
where  instruction  was  imparted  free  of  charge.  The 
increase  in  the  number  of  pupils  caused  the  sub-divison 
of  the  original  districts,  and  at  the  present  time  none 
retains  its  original  form.  New  and  more  commodious 
buildings  have  replaced  the  old  ones.  The  schools  are 
now  in  a  good  condition,  and  are  supplied  with  ex- 
cellent teachers. 

Churches. — ^The  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Little  Creek  Hundred,  was  situated  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  hundred  about  five  miles  from 
Laurel.  The  first  building  was  begun  in  1780,  and 
completed  the  following  year.  It  was  a  frame 
structure  thirty  by  thirty -six  feet,  and  was  built  en- 
tirely of  heart  pine.  The  original  name  given  to  th« 
church  was  Mount  Pleasant,  doubtless  on  account  of 
its  position  on  the  edge  of  an  oak  grove,  extending 
north  and  west,  while  a  pond  lay  on  the  south.  It 
was  soon  afterwards  called  Moore's  Chapel  on  ac- 
count of  the  many  families  of  that  name  in  the  neigh- 
borhood connected  with  the  church.  The  fir^t  board 
of  trustees  consisted  of  George  Moore,  William 
Moore,  Isaac  Moore,  Charles  Marine,  John  Cordry, 
George  Adams  and  Isaac  Vincent.  In  1799  a 
Quarterly  Meeting  was  held  at  Moore*s  Chapel. 
The  people  came  from  all  the  country  roundabout, 
and  on  Saturday  night  there  were  so  many  at  George 
Moore's,  that  a  large  hall  was  spread  with  bed- 
clothes for  them  to  sleep  in.  This  was  continued  for 
many  years  during  Quarterly  Meetings.  In  1801, 
during  a  love  feast,  the  colored  people  gave  such  a 
shout  in  the  gallery  as  to  cause  it  to  fall  on  the  white 
people  below,  who  were  so  densely  packed  that  they 
escaped  uninjured.  In  1805,  a  camp-meeting  was 
held  at  Moore's,  which  was  doubtless  the  first  in 
Sussex  County.  In  1824,  a  second-hand  stove  was 
purchased  at  Salisbury  and  placed  in  the  church. 
Previous  to  this,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two 
persons  who  owned  a  foot- stove,  the  people  worship- 
ped here  without  stove  or  fire.  In  1830  while  Rev. 
Mr.  Benson  was  engaged  in  the  first  prayer  at 
Moore's  Chapel,  a  blind  horse  owned  by  Elijah  R. 
Moore,  ran  at  full  speed  against  the  end  of  the  church 
opposite  the  pulpit,  forcing  his  head  through  the 
inch  weather  boarding.  The  building  was  shaken 
and  the  people  rushed  for  the  door.  Order  was  re- 
stored when  the  cause  was  learned,  and  the  preacher 


continued  his  prayer  from  the  place  where  he  had 
left  ofi*.  The  horse  was  young  and  spirited  and  was 
frightened  by  William  Kinikin,  who  blew  iu  its  ear. 

In  1830,  there  were  eighty-five  members  at  Moore's. 
In  1842  the  building  was  repaired  and  backs  for  the 
first  time  put  on  the  benches.  The  old  church  re- 
mained until  1863,  when  the  present  building  was 
erected.  The  dedicatory  services  were  conducted  in 
the  fall  of  that  year  by  Rev.  Dr.  Roberts,  of  Balti- 
more.    The  new  church  wan  named  Mount  Pleasant. 

The  building  committee  were  Rev.  Elijah  Hitch, 
William  B.  Records  and  Charles  M.  Walston,  and  the 
builder,  Rev.  Lewis  Chambers.  The  church  has 
experienced  several  wonderful  revivals  of  religion, 
and  at  present  has  one  hundred  and  fifteen  com  muni - 
canta  The  following  compose  the  present  board  of 
trustees:  C.  M.  Walston,  J.  A.  Collins,  E.  P.  Ellis, 
C.  H.  Hastings,  L.  A.  Walaton,  J.  E.  Ellis  and  J.  H. 
Henry.  A  flourishing  Sunday-school  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  scholars,  under  the  superintendence  of  C.  A. 
Hastings,  is  connected  with  the  church. 

Moore's  Chapel  was  first  connected  with  Somerset 
Circuit,  and  later  formed  a  part  of  Salisbury  Circuit 
until  1840  when  Laurel  Circuit  was  created  and  Moore's 
assigned  to  it.  It  was  thus  connected  until  1858,  when 
it  was  placed  in  Quantico  Circuit,  and  remained 
there  until  1863,  when  it  formed  part  of  Sharptown 
Circuit.  In  1871  Sharptown  Circuit  was  divided  and 
Mt.  Pleasant  (Moore's),  Hepburn,  Union  and  Delmar 
set  off*  by  themselves  as  Delmar  Circuit.  Through 
its  various  changes  it  has  been  served  by  the  follow- 
ing pastord : 


T.Mcaure 1781 

J.Wyatt 1781 

J.  Everett 1781 

J.Atklus 1781 

G.  Moore 1781 

F.  GarretMon 1782 

W.  Hickflon 1782 

J.  Margary „ 1782 

W.  Partridge 1783 

A.Cloud 1783 

8.  HankiDf 1784 

W.  Ringold 1784 

H.  Ogbum 1786 

A.  G.  Thompton 1786 

T.  FoAter,  prestdlug  elder 1786 

J.  Riggau 1786 

J.  Merrick 1786 

F.  Garrettson,  preelding  elder..l787 

L.  Boas ^ 1787 

C.  Spry 1787 

B.  Whatcoat,  preeiding  elder 

1788-«9 

J.  White 1788-89 

B.  Prior 1788-89 

E  Reed 1789 

G.Callahan 1789 

J.    Ererett,    presiding    elder 

1790-92 

J.  Milbourn 1790-92 

J.  Jen  ell 1790-92 

J.  Beard 1792 

J.  Smith 1792 

B.  Wbatooat,  preddiug  elder 

1793-95 

W.  Bishop 1793-95 

M.  Howe 1794 


R.  Stockett 1794 

J.  Falcoin 1795 

W.  Beck 1705 

C.Spry,  preeiding  elder 1796-99 

J.  Milb«um 1796-99 

I.  Jewell 1790-99 

J.  Moody 1797 

A.  Smith „ 1797 

D.  Crouch » 1798 

D.  Stevens 1798 

T  Dodaon 1799 

J.  Buth « 1799 

T.  Ware,  presiding  elder...  1800-01 

W.  Colbert 1800-01 

D.  Ryan 1800-01 

J.  Everett,  presiding  elder..l802-O3 
G.  Armstrong 1802-03 

B.  Lyan 1802-03 

D.  James 1803 

H.  White 1803 

W.  P.  Chandler,  presiding  el- 
der  1804-07 

J.  Dunham 1804-07 

J.  BIdgway 1804-O7 

J.  Dnnn 1806 

J.  Scull 1805 

P.  Vanest 1806 

J.  Mitchell 1806 

J.  Collins 1807 

T.  Emory „ 1807 

S.  Sharp,  presiding  elder...l808-ll 

J.  Atkins 1808-11 

J.  Sharpley 1808-11 

J.  Aydolotte 1809 

8.  Martindale 1809 

J.  Herron ., 1810 


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1324 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


8.  OrilBth 1810 

G.  Wooley 1811 

J.Price 1811 

J.  Smith,  presiding  elder...l8l2-14 

J.  Collins 1812-14 

J.  Wiltbank 1812-14 

W.  Williams 1813 

J.  Goforth 1813 

W.  WiUlame 1814 

J.  Colgan 1814 

W.  Biuhop,  presiding  elder.1816-18 

J.  Smith ~ 1816-18 

T.  DftTis 1816-18 

J.  PolherauB 1816 

A.Melvin « 1816 

J.  Collins 1817 

E.  Reed 1817 

D.  Daily 1818 

W.  Boss 1818 

H.  Boehm,  pre«ddingelder..l81&-21 

A.MelTin 1819-21 

W.  Wright 1819-21 

A.  Melvin 182i» 

W.  P.  Earty 1820 

J.Moore 1821 

W.  Laromls 1821 

L.  Lawrenceson,  presiding  el- 
der  «« 1822-26 

p.  Price ..1822-26 

J.Moore 1822-26 

L.Warfleld 1823 

J.  B.  Ayars. 1823 

L.  Warfleld 1824 

M.Sorin 1824 

CBeed 1826 

J.  Cary 1826 

H.    White,    presiding     elder 

1826-29 
A.  Smith 1826-29 

E.  Stephenson 1826-29 

A.  White ~ 1827 

J.  Henry 1827 

M.Sorln 1828 

J.Bell 1828 

W.  Torbert....^ 1829 

J.  A.  Massey 1829 

D.  Dailey,  presiding  elder..l 830-33 
W.  Torbert 1830-33 

B.  Benson 1830-33 

8.  McElwee 1831 

G.  WilUhire 1831 

W.Allen - 1832 

S.  McElwee 1832 

A.  Smith 1833 

W.  Spry 1833 

LeTi   Scott,   presiding    elder 

1834-35 
D.  Lamdin ~ 1834-36 

C.  W.  Jackson 1834-36 

J.  Rayne -. 1836 

J.  Hanterson 1836 

H.  White,  presiding  elder..ia36-39 

J.  Bayne 1836-39 

G.  Wiltshire • 1836-39 

J.  A.  Massey 1837 

J.Johnson 1837 

J.  K.  Willett 1838 

J.  Carlisle 1838 

J.  Carlisle 1839 


James  Allen ^ 1840 

John  D.  Long 1840 

James  Allen 1841 

Vaughan  Smith 1841 

James  Hargis. 1842 

John  A.  Watson 1842 

LeTin  M.  Prettyman ^843 

John  A.  Watson 1843 

Samnel  Grace ..1844 

Bicbard  Adkinson 1844 

James  L.  Wallace 1844 

Samuel  Grace 1846 

Wm.  England ...1846 

Henry  Atmore ^ 1846 

V.  Gi»y „1846 

Robert  R.  Richardson 1846 

Valentine  Gray 1847 

8.  M.  Cooper 1847 

Isaac  R.  Merrill.. 1848 

Adam  Wallace ....1848 

Isaac  R.  Merrill 1849 

J.  B.  Qulgg 1849 

A.  W.  Milby 1850 

Daniel  Titlow „ 1850 

A.  W.  Milby I8al 

J,  W.  Haromeraley ^1861 

Jonathan  Tamer 1862 

W.  P.  Ames 1862 

Joseph  E.  Smith 1863 

Thomas  Cbilds 1863 

Joseph  E.  Smith 1864 

Brother  Dobson -1864 

James  Hargis 1865 

Samuel  Powers 185^ 

Jeremiah  Jones 1856 

James  Hargis - ....18.')6 

Samuel  Powers 1856 

Jeremiah  Jones. 1866 

W.Merrill 1867 

K  G.  Irwin 1867 

J.  ConneUy -1867 

J.  Hargis 1858 

G.  Cummins 1858 

J.  Hargis 1869 

J.  W.  Hammersley 1860 

J.  H   Mclaughlin 1860 

J.  W.  Hammersley 1861 

T.  L.  Tomkinson 1861 

J.  Cummins - 1862 

T.  &  Hodson 1862 

J.  M.  Purner 1863-64 

T.  B.  Killlam 1865-66 

R.  B.  Hazzard 1867 

J.  T.  Kenney 1867 

Samuel  Webb 1868 

J.  A.  B.  Wilson 1868 

Samuel  Webb 1869 

J.  Rich 1869 

G.  S.  Conway .1870 

J.Rich 1870 

G.  S.  Conway 1871 

Joseph  Dare 1872-73 

J.  Conner 1874 

G.  W.  Burke 1876 

T.  R.  Creamer 1876-78 

8.  T.Gardner 1879-81 

G.  W.  Wilcox.. 1882-83 

Albert  Chandler 1884-86 

Charles  Baker 1886-87 


W.Qulnn 1839 

The  first  Methodiat  meetings  in  the  north-eastern 
part  of  the  hundred  were  held  in  the  residence  of 
Phillip  West,  in  1816.  The  services  were  conducted 
by  the  ministers  in  charge  of  the  Somerset  Circuit 
The  cla»4  leader  was  Isaac  Short.  On  February  2, 
1820,  George  H.  Vinson  conveyed   to    Philip   W. 


Matthews,  Joseph  Betts,  John  Wootton,  Wingale 
Calaway,  Newbold  Vinson  and  Isaac  Betts,  trustees, 
a  tract  of  land  on  which  in  1823  a  one-story  frame 
church,  twenty  by  thirty  feet  was  erected,  at  a  coet 
of  five  hundred  dollan*.  This  was  known  as  the 
Bethesda  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  name 
it  still  retains.  Services  were  held  in  this  building 
until  1879,  when  it  was  removed,  and  the  present 
frame  structure,  twenty-nine  by  thirty-six  feet,  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  one  thousand  three  hundred  dollan. 

The  present  membership  is  thirty-seven.  Samuel 
H.  Dobson  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school,  containing  forty-eight  members. 

The  present  oflScers  of  the  church  are:  Pastor, 
John  F.  Anderson ;  Trustees,  Henry  C.  Matthews. 
Joseph  M.  Carmon,  Elijah  Hudson. 

In  1842  a  society  of  Methodists  was  formed  bv 
Rev.  James  Hargis,  in  an  old  dwelling-house  belong- 
ing to  William  C.  King,  situated  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  road,  from  'the  present  residence  of  Wm.  F.  King 
and  about  half  a  mile  south  of  King's  Church.  The 
members  of  the  first  class  held  in  the  old  hou^e,  were 
John  and  Amelia  Wootten,  Elijah  and  Mary  Williams. 
William  and  Elizabeth  Oordy,  Alaphare  Williams, 
Sarah  King,  Sarah  I.  Wootten,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
Adams,  Susan  Elliott  and  several  children  of  Elijah 
Williams.  Money  and  materials  were  contributed 
for  the  erection  of  a  church  which  was  completed  the 
same  year,  and  named  Hepburn,  aft^r  a  Philadelphia 
man  of  that  name,  who  promised  twenty  dollan  to- 
wards paying  for  the  church,  provided  it  wan  so  called. 
It  stood  in  the  woods  twelve  or  fifteen'  feet  firom  the 
county  road,  and  was  not  plastered  on  the  inside  until 
1848.  Services  were  held  in  this  building  until  1885. 
In  1881  an' effort  was  made  to  erect  a  new  church,  bat 
nothing  was  accomplished  until  1884,  when  a  build- 
ing committee  was  appointed.  They  decided  to 
build  a  church  thirty  by  foriy  feet  with  a  recess  pulpit. 
It  was  finished  early  in  the  winter,  and  was  to  have 
been  dedicated  on  December  21,  but  ihe  raio  pre- 
vented the  people  from  coming.  The  dedicatory  ser- 
vices were  conducted  by  Revs.  E.  L.  Hubbard  and 
I.  T.  Fostnocht,  of  the  Wilmington  Conference,  on 
January  26,  1885.  The  people  objected  to  the  name 
Hepburn,  and  by  a  vote  of  the  congregation  taken 
the  day  before  the  dedication,  it  was  decided  to  call 
the  new  church  King's.  The  first  religious  service 
in  the  church  was  the  marriage  of  Miss  Lelia  E. 
Beach  and* Mr.  George  H.  Waller,  on  December  24, 
1884.  The  church  since  its  organization,  except  from 
1858  to  1868,  has  been  connected  with  the  same  cir- 
cuits as  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  has  been  served  by  the 
same  pastors.    The  pastors  from  1858  to  1868  were: 

W.  Merrill 1868  ■  J.  Edwards. „ _18© 

Wm.  Ware 1858      T.  8.  HodK^n ......1»65 

J.  Dyson ^ 18ft9      J.  Cook „_!«« 

J.  M.  Purner 1869   i  8.  McBimey „ .^1»4 

J.Dyson 18«>  ]  J.  CarroU ..-..^IS© 

J.  S.  J.  McConuell 1860  '  J.  W.  Connelly. W^ 

J.  A.  Mawy 18til      J.Carroll — \m 

C.  F.  Sbeppard 1861   I   E.E.White 18* 


J.  Edwards „ 18»*2 

C.  F.  Sheppard 1802 


J.  Carroll „ ISST 

G.  D.  Wataon... -_W" 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1325 


In  connection  with  the  church  is  a  flourihhing  Sun- 
day-school of  one  hundred  scholars,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  J.  W.  Magee.  The  following  compose 
the  present  board  of  trustees  of  King's  Church :  L. 
W.  James,  J.  W.  Magee,  S.  M.  Lowe,  George  E.  King, 
M.  F.  James. 

The  first  divine  services  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
St.  George's  Church  were  held  in  private  houses  by 
Rev.  Elijah  Hitch  in  1842.  After  several  meetings, 
the  privilege  of  holding  services  in  Beach's  school- 
house  was  tendered  Rev.  Mr.  Hitch  and  accepted. 
Fourteen  persons  professed  religion  at  his  meetings 
there.  He  informed  Rev.  James  Hargis,  pastor  of  the 
circuit,  that  he  thought  a  good  work  could  be  done 
there.  In  July  of  that  year,  it  was  decided  to  hold  a 
camp-meeting  in  this  neighborhood.  A  suitable  piece 
of  ground  was  procured  of  Samuel  Kenney  and  pre- 
pared for  camp.  At  this  meeting  more  than  two 
hundred  were  converted,  one  hundred  and  fourteen  of 
whom  joined  St.  George's.  It  was  decided  to  build  a 
church  and  the  contract  was  awarded  to  Shelly  Ken- 
ney. The  <^hurch  lot  was  donated  by  Samuel  Kenney 
Sr.,  William  S.  Kenney  and  James  Kenney.  The 
weather  boarding  was  given  by  Hon.  William  H.  Ross, 
afterwards  Governor,  and  the  shingles  by  William  L. 
Hearn.  The  church  was  dedicated  by  the  preacher 
in  charge,  but  was  not  plastered  until  1844.  In  1878, 
it  was  repaired  and  a  recess  pulpit  built  at  a  cost  of 
two  hundred  and  tfftrty  dollars.  Since  its  organiza- 
tion the  church  has  been  connected  with  the  same 
circuits  as  Mt.  Pleasant  (Moore's)  and  has  been  min- 
istered to  by  the  same  pastors.  It  at  present  has  six- 
ty members. 

A  prosperous  Sunday  School  of  seventy-five  mem- 
bers under  the  Superintendence  of  Joseph  W.  Beach 
is  connected  with  it. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  Sam- 
uel Bacon,  James  Hill,  Job  Sirmon,  M.  M.  Ellis  and 
Jos.  W.  Beach. 

Through  the  efforts  of  T.  A.  Melson,  the  first  re- 
ligious services  in  Del  mar  were  held  on  September 
4,  1867.  Rev,  Joseph  Co»k,  then  preacher  in  charge 
of  Salisbury  Circuit,  officiated.  The  place  of  meeting 
was  the  yard  in  front  of  the  residence  of  M.  M.  Hill. 
The  next  sermon  was  preached  October  6th  in  Mr. 
Hill's' house,  and  regular  services  were  held  there  until 
January  26,  1868.  The  congregation  had  become  too 
large  for  the  dwelling,  and  a  plank  house  was  promptly 
erected  on  the  land  of  Elijah  Freeny.  The  building, 
nineteen  by  thirty  feet,  called  after  John  Wesley, 
was  dedicated  February  16,  1868,  by  Rev.  Joseph 
Cook.  The  first  class  was  formed  November  3, 1867, 
at  the  residence  of  J.  T.  Hearn,  and  was  composed 
of  Nathan  West  and  wife,  T.  A.  Melson  and  wile, 
Richard  Stevens,  wife  and  daughter  Amanda,  Leah 
Ann  Hearn  and  James  T.  Hearn,  a  probationer. 
Nathan  West  was  appointed  leader.  In  1871  the 
plank  house  was  abandoned,  and  services  held  in  the 
school-house.  In  1872,  through  the  labors  of  Rev. 
Joseph  Dare,  a  church  was  commenced,  uhich  was 


completed  and  dedicated  on  November  30th  by  Rev. 
Enoch  Stubbs,  assisted  by  Rev.  W.  E.  England.  The 
building  cost  two  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  In 
1884  a  tower  and  steeple  were  added,  and  a  parson- 
age erected  for  the  circuit.  Since  its  organization 
the  church  has  been  connected  with  the  same  circuits 
as  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  the  same  pastors  have  officiated. 
A  flourishing  Sunday-school,  containing  two  hundred 
scholars,  is  connected  with  the  church.  L.  W.  Per- 
due is  the  superintendent.  The  church  at  present 
has  a  membership  of  eighty.  The  board  of  trustees 
are,— M.  M.  Hill,  J.  W.  Melson,  F.  P.  Elliott,  T.  A. 
Melson,  W.  B.  Elliott,  H.  B.  Sirmon,  and  B.  W. 
Parker. 

On  April  30, 1832,  James  W.  Phillips  granted  one- 
fourth  of  an  acre  of  land  at  Portsville  to  John  Allen, 
Thomas  J.  Phillips,  Levi  Collins,  James  M.  Rider, 
Cyrus  Collins,  William  Adams  and  Obadiah  Marvel, 
trustees.  On  this  land  they  were  to  erect  a  house  to 
be  denominated  **  The  Portsville  Academy  and 
Chapel,'*  to  be  used  for  religious  worship  and  school 
pnrposes.  The  building  was  erected,  and  was  used 
until  1868  by  the  Methodist  Protestants  for  church  pur- 
poses. In  that  year  the  present  one-story  frame  edi- 
fice, thirty  by  thirty-six  feet,  with  recess  pulpit  was 
erected,  and  has  since  been  used.  The  land  on  which 
it  stands  was  conveyed  by  Isaac  G.  Phillips  to 
Doughty  Collins,  William  G.  Hearn,  Isaac  G.  Phillips, 
William  S.  Phillips  and  James  H.  Jackson,  trustees, 
February  24,  1869.  The  church  was  called  Mount 
Lebanon,  and  now  has  a  membership  of  about  fifty, 
Services  are  conducted  every  other  Sabbath  by  Rev. 
George  R.  McCready.  There  is  connected  with  the 
church  a  Sunday-school  of  sixty  members,  under  the 
superintendence  of  F.  S.  Burford.  The  present  board 
of  trustees  are  James  H.  Smith,  James  H.  Lowe,  D. 
W.  Ralph  and  Jacob  M.  Gootee. 

In  1835  the  Methodist  Protestants,  to  the  number 
of  about  twenty,  organized  and  erected  a  church, 
known  as  "  Mt.  Moriah,"  on  a  lot  granted  by  Robert 
Elzey  to  Joseph  Ellis,  George  A.  Moore,  E.  C.  Cooper 
and  Joseph  Phillips.  The  building  was  a  (»ne-8tory 
frame  structure,  about  twenty-four  by  twenty-eight 
feet,  and  cost  three  hundred  dollars.  It  was  used  for 
divine  worship  until  1875,  when  it  became  very  much 
dilapidated.  It  was  decided  to  erect  a  new  church  on 
another  location.  A  lot  of  land  was  donated  by  E. 
M.  Lowe,  and  on  it  was  built  a  one-story  frame  edi-  . 
fice,  thirty-two  by  thirty-eight  feet,  which  is  now 
known  as  the  Providence  Methodist  Protestant 
Church.  There  are  at  present  fifty -seven  members. 
Ebenezer  M.  Lowe  is  the  superintendent  of  the  Sab- 
bath-school, and  the  trustees  are  Charles  B.  Elzey, 
George  W.  Ellis,  William  Kinney  and  E.  M.  Lowe. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  who  have 
ministered  to  this  congregation : 


Geo.  D.  HamiHoa 1835 

T.  G.  Clayton 1836 

J.  Keller 1836 

J.  W.  ETerlBt 1837 

J.  K.  Nichols 1837 


R.  T.  Boyd „ ia38 

W.  W.  Tipton laiS 

R.  T.  Boyd 1839 

J.  H.  Ellegood „ 1839 

L.  A.  Colllus 1840 


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1326 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


A.  S.  Everaole..   1806 

G.  H.  McFaden 1856 

A.  S.  Everaole 1866 

B.  F.  Benson 1856 

A.  8.  Eyereole 1857 

F.  G.  Wright 1858 

R.  LiTingatone 1858 

B.  F.  Benson 185» 

R.  Whinna 1869 

H.  J.  Day « 1860 

H.Nice 1860 

H.  J.  Day 1861 

J.  Thompson 1861 

J.  A.  McFaden « 1862 

T.  H.  B.  Austin 1862 

J.  A.  McFaden. 1863 

J.  W.  Gray 1863 

J.  A.  McFaden 1864 

8.  T.  Ferguson 1864 

A.  D.  Diclc 1865-66 

W.  M.  8traytr...„ 1867 

8.  A.  Hoblltzel 1868-70 

C.  T.  Cochel 1871 

A.  T.  Melvin 1872-73 

S.  T.  Ferguson 1874-75 


G.  D.  Hamilton 1841 

T.Bemick 1841 

G.  D.  Hamilton... 1842 

J.A.Jackson 1842 

Jno.  H.  Kennard 1843 

R.  Adkinson 1843 

D.  F.  Ewell 1844 

David  A.  Shermer 1844 

D.  F.  Ewell „ 1845 

J.  McClelland 1846 

L,  W.  Bates..... 1846-47 

H.  J.  Day 1846-47 

W.  0.  Pool 1848 

T.  A.  Moore 1848 

H.  P.  Jordan 1849 

J.  W.  Smitey 1849 

H.  P.  Jordan 1850 

J.  Shapley ^ 1850 

T.M.  Wilson 1851 

J.Clay 1861 

T.  M.  Wilson 1852 

J.  F.  Whitodde 1852 

J.Morgan ^ 1853 

J.  Thompson 1853 

J.Morgan 1854 

A.  D.  Dick 1854 

During  the  year  1876  Providence  was  built,  and 
Mount  Moriah  abandoned  about  that  time  or  shortly 
afterwards,  for  in  1880  Mount  Hermon  was  built. 

W.  G.'Holmes 1876-79  I    C.  M.  Thomson 1883 

J.  L.  Straughn „ 1880-82  I 

J.  M.  Elderdice  was  appointed  in  1884,  but  died, 
and  his  son,  Hugh  L.  Elderdice,  finished  out  the 
year. 

Geo.  R.  McCready 1885  |   Geo.  R.  McCready « 1887 

A.  A.  Harriman 1886  | 

Mount  Hermon  Methodist  Protestant  Church  was 
built  in  1880  on  land  donated  by  John  Cooper,  Sen. 
to  William  G.  Hearn,  John  Cooper,  Major  D.  Brad- 
ley, Barney  Beach  and  James  F.  Bradley,  trustees. 
The  church  building  is  a  one-story  frame  structure 
thirty-four  by  forty-four  feet  and  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  one  thousand  dollars.  The  first  membership  was 
thirty -six,  which  by  a  steady  growth  has  increased  to 
fifty-eight.  A  Sunday-school  of  sixty  members  is 
held  under  the  superin tendency  of  James  F.  Bradley. 
The  present  trustets  are  the  same  as  mentioned 
above.  The  church  has  been  connected  with  the 
same  circuit  as  Providence  and  has  been  supplied  by 
the  same  pastors.    Services  are  held  once  in  two  weeks. 

St.  Paul's  Methodist  Protestant  Church  was  organ- 
ized in  1866,  in  Sharp's  school -house,  by  Rev.  T.  H. 
Burgess.  The  original  members  were  Elizabeth 
Gordy,  Leah  Gordy,  W.  L.  Gordy  and  John  W.  D. 
McGee.  In  1868,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Jere- 
miah Clay,  active  measures  were  taken  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  church  building.  The  effort  met  with 
success,  and  three  years  later  the  edifice  was  dedicated 
by  the  pastor  them  in  charge,  Rev.  W.  D.  Litsinger. 
It  is  a  neat  one-story  frame  structure,  twenty-eight  by 
thirty-eight  feet,  and  cost  eight  hundred  dollars. 
The  church  has  a  present  membership  of  twenty-six. 
The  following  pastors  have  served  since  Rev.  W.  D. 
Litsinger:  Revs.  J.  H.  Ellegood,  J.  L.  Leilich,  Wil- 
liam Crouse,  J.  M.  Elderdice,  J.  E.  Nicholson. 


St.  Mark's  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  situate 
near  the  central  part  of  the  hundred,  was  begun  in 
1867  and  completed  the  following  year.  Its  erecUoD 
was  due  to  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Richard  F.  Cadle. 
The  building  was  consecrated  May  28, 1858,  by  Bishop 
Lee.  Services  were  held  previous  to  this  for  several 
years  at  the  house  of  Stephen  Ellis.  The  one-story 
irame  structure,  twenty-two  by  thirty-five  feet,  then 
erected  on  land  purchased  of  Samuel  Ralph,  still  standi 
and  is  used  for  worship.  The  first  oflScers  of  the  churdi 
were:  Wardens,  Samuel  Kinney  and  Charles  N. 
Moore;  Vestry,  C.  W.  Dickerson,  Stephen  EUb, 
Jonathan  Bailey,  Isaac  Giles  and  William  J.  Ralph. 

There  are  at  present  about  thirty  communicants  oi 
this  church.  A  Sunday-school  of  seventy  members 
is  held  under  the  superintendence  of  Jackson  L 
Ralph. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church  are :  Wardens, 
Wm.  J.  Ralph  and  Wm.  J.  Knowles ;  Vestry,  Geo. 
W.  C.  Ellis,  Jonathan  W.  Ellis,  Benj.  B.  Freeny, 
Levin  W.  Ellis,  Jackson  L.  Ralph,  Mathlaa  R.  Ellis, 
Stephen  T.  Ralph. 

St.  Andrew's  Protestant  Episcopal  Chapel  at  Ellis 
Grove  was  erected  in  1880,  on  land  donated  by  Joeeph 
Ellis.  It  is  a  one  story-frame  structure,  twenty-eight  by 
forty-four  feet,  and  was  first  opened  for  service  io 
June  of  that  year.  The  valuation  of  the  building  is 
about  twelve  hundred  dollars-  Rev.  George  W.  John- 
son, its  first  rector,  still  officiates  once  in  every  two 
weeks.  It  is  a  mission  chapel,  and  numbers  about 
eight  communicants.  A  flourishing  Sunday-School, 
with  sixty  scholars,  is  connected  with  the  chapel. 
Jacob  H.  Adams  is  the  superintendent  of  the  school 

Previous  to  1802  the  Baptists  of  Little  Creek  Hun- 
dred and  vicinity  worshipped  in  a  house  situated 
north  of  Delmar,  on  a  farm  now  belonging  to  Wm. 
Hastings.  In  that  year  Gillis  Smith  conveyed  to 
Charles  WiMy  and  Levin  Hitch,  trustees,  one  acre 
of  land  north  of  Marshall  Smith's  grist-mill.  On  it, 
in  the  same  year,  was  erected  a  one-story  frame  edi- 
fice, twenty-eight  by  thirty  feet,  at  a  cost  of  five  ban- 
dred  dollars.  This  was  known  as  the  Smith  Mills 
Baptist  Church  until  a  meeting-house  of  the  same  6uth 
was  erected  in  Broad  Creek  Hundred,  when  the  name 
was  changed  to  Little  Creek.  In  the  following  year 
the  church  was  constituted,  with  thirty-nine  mem- 
bers. The  church  then  built  still  remains,  but  the 
congregation  have  in  contemplation  the  erection  of 
a  new  building  in  1888.  It  is  connected  with  the 
Salisbury  Association  and  services  are  held  the  third 
Saturday  and  Sunday  of  every  month.  The  num- 
ber of  communicants  at  present  is  fifly-fonr.  In 
1883  a  lot  of  land  in  Delmar  was  purchased, 
and  a  neat  one-story  frame  building,  twenty-eight 
by  thirty-six  feet,  was  erected  at  the  cost  of  on« 
thousand  dollars.  This  has  never  been  con9titQt<>d 
a  church  and  is  not  in  the  association.  It  h 
used  as  a  place  of  worship  for  the  convenience  of 
those  living  at  a  distance  from  the  other  churches 
This  congregation  retains  the  doctrines  of  the  Old 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1327 


School  or  Primitive  Baptist  Church.  Both  groperties 
are  under  the  same  board  of  trustees,  composed  of 
B.  B.  Hastings,  W.  S.  Marvil,  Handy  Culver,  Levin 
Hastings  and  C.  J.  Morris.  The  clerk  of  the  church 
is  John  H.  Ellis. 

The  following  pastors  have  ministered  to  this  con- 
gregation :  Bevs.  David  Green,  J.  C.  Windsor,  James 
Rounds,  Warren  Staton,  Leonard  Hastings,  Thomas 
Waters,  George  W.  Staton,  Thomas  M.  Poulson  and 
£.  Bittenhouse. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  Delmar  was  organized 
through  the  missionary  labors  of  John  T.  Craig.  In 
1883  the  church  edifice  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  $2000. 
The  first  trustees  were  E.  M.  Sprague,  James  B.  Ven- 
ables,  E.  M.  Dunn,  Dr.  A.  B.  Slemons  and  William 
L.  Sirmon.  Bev.  Mr.  Craig  was  succeeded  by  James 
M.  Hope,  who  was  the  last  pastor  of  this  church. 
The  present  Sabbath-school  has  a  membership  of 
forty-five,  under  the  superintendence  of  S.  K. 
Slemons.  No  regular  church  services  are  now 
held,  but  the  organization  is  retained  under  these 
trustees : 

James  B.  Venables,  S.  K.  Slemons,  William  T. 
Dunn,  E.  M.  Dunn,  Louis  Bedish,  John  Culver,  W. 
Ij,  Sirmon  and  Dr.  A.  B.  Slemons. 

Secret  Societies. —  Wicomico  Tribe,  No,  13,  /.  0. 
H.  M.,  was  instituted  at  Delmar  June  24, 1874. 

The  first  officers  were :  Prophet,  Samuel  H.  Ker ; 
S.,  W.  A.  C.  Williams;  S.  S.,  Nehemlah  B.  Lecatts; 
J.  S.,  William  S.  Hearn ;  C.  of  B.,  William  N.  Hast- 
ings; K.  of  W.,  W.  S.  Hitchens. 

The  additional  charter  members  were  Benjamin  W. 
Parker,  Joseph  K.  Waller,  Caldwell  J.  Morris,  Sam- 
uel T.  Hearn,  William  N.  Hearn,  E.  M.  Lowe,William 
S.  Hastings,  Philip  A.  Hearn  and  G.  Lecatts.  The 
tribe  increased  rapidly  in  numbers,  and  at  one  time 
numbered  eighty.  The  present  membership  is  forty- 
five.  Meetings  are  held  every  Wednesday  night,  in 
Bed  Men's  Hall,  in  W.  S.  Hitchens'  building.  At 
present  the  tribe  is  officered  as  follows ;  Prophet,  B. 
M.  Smith  ;  S.,  T.  A.  Melson ;  S.  S.,  J.  D.  Mills ;  J. 
S.,  E.  W.  Biggins ;  C.  of  B.,  J.  G.  W.  Perdue ;  K.  of 
W.,  W.  S.  Hitchens. 

Smnepuxent  Tribe,  No.  16,  /.  0,  R.  if.,  was  instituted 
at  Whilesville,  February  12,  1879,  with  these  officers: 
Prophet,  Jesse T.  Wells;  S.,  Joseph  G.  White;  S.  S., 
M.  H.  Brittingham;  J.  S.,  William  P.  Parsons;  C.of 
R..  Eli  N.  White ;  K.  of  W.,  Benjamin  S.  White. 
These,  with  Garretson  H.  White,  Solomon  G.  Truitt* 
Samuel  M.  White,  James  B.  Foskey,  Elijah  J.  Work- 
man, James  H.  Calloway,  Isaac  T.  Hearn,  John  H. 
Phillips,  W.  H.  Smith  and  Joseph  M.  Cannon,  were 
the  charter  members.  In  1884  a  two-story  frame 
building  was  erected  by  the  order  at  a  cost  of  three 
hundred  and  thirty  dollars.  The  first  floor  is  used  as 
a  storage-room  by  J.  G.  White  <&  Sons,  and  the  second 
story  is  used  for  lodge  purposes.  The  lodge  meets 
every  Thursday  night.  The  present  member.ohip  is 
twenty-five,  and  the  officers  are:  Prophet,  M.  H. 
Brittingham;  S.,  J.  J.  Cordry;  S.  S.,  W.  W.  Ennis; 


J.  S.,  W.  T.  Short ;  C.  of  B.,  E.  N.  White ;  K.  of  W., 
S.  J.  Truitt. 

Little  Creek  GrangCy  JVo.  23,  Patrons  of  Husbandry^ 
was  instituted  in  Little  Creek  Hundred  on  October 
22,  1875.  The  first  officers  were  as  follows:  M.,  W. 
B.  Becords ;  Over.,  W.  G.  Hearn ;  L.,  J.  H.  Adams ; 
S.,  G.  W.  Walson;  Ass't.  S.,  D.  W.  Balph;  Chap., 
Joseph  Ellis ;  Treas.,  Nathaniel  Horsey  ;  Secty.,  Geo. 
S.  Becords;  G.  K.,  E.  P.  Ellis;  Ceres,  Mrs.  S.  E. 
Horsey;  Pomona,  Mrs.  Julia  J.  Collins;  Flora,  Miss 
Lizzie  E.  Becords ;  Lady  Assistant  Steward,  Miss  M. 
E.  Ellis.  There  were  in  all  twenty-three  charter 
members,  and  at  the  end  of  the  first  year  there  were 
thirty- four  members.  The  present  membership  is 
thirteen.  Meetings  are  held  the  second  Thursday  in 
every  month  in  a  hall  on  W.  B.  Henry's  farm,  about 
four  miles  from  Laurel.  The  present  officers  are: 
M.,  Nathaniel  Horsey;  Over.,  D.  W.  Balph;  L.,  J. 
H.  Adams ;  S.,  T.  C.  Pritchard,  Ass't.  S.,  W.  B.  Henry ; 
Chap.,  E.  P.  Ellis;  Treas.,  S.  E.  Hor«ey;  Secty.,  W. 
B.  Horsey;  G.  K.,  J.  H.  Henry;  Ceres,  Mrs.  H. 
Workman;  Pomona,  M.  P.  Balph j  Flora,  Mrs.  S. 
E.  Horsey ;  Stewardess,  M.  E.  Adams. 

Bed' Cross  Lodge,  No,  17,  K,  of  P.,  was  instituted 
at  Delmar  April  10,  1886,  with  the  following  officers : 
P.  C,  Fay  S.  Furman  j  C.  C,  William  S.  Hitchens ; 
V.C,  William  B.  Elliott;  P.,  Charles  W.  Hill  j  M. 
of  E.,  Sheppard  J.  Hitchens ;  M.  of  F.,  William  T. 
Gillis ;  K.  of  B.  and  S.,  William  T.  Sirmon ;  M.  A., 
I.  J.  Hastings.  The  other  charter  members  were  I. 
J.  Wilkinson,  W.  E.  Jerman,  W.  F.  Vincent,  Monroe 
W.  Ellis,  M.  M.  Hill,  E.  M.  Dunn,  G.  A.  Vincent,  L. 
B.  Lowe,  E.  J.  Melson,  James  B.  Venables  and  Wil- 
liam S.  Henry.  Meetings  are  held  every  Monday 
night  in  the  Bed  Men's  Hall.  The  present  member- 
ship is  thirty-one.  The  officers  are,  P.  C,  M.  M. 
Hill ;  C.  C,  Bev.  C.  E.  Baker;  V.  C,  E.  J.  Melson  ; 
P.,  W.  E.  Jerman  ;  K.  of  B.  and  S.,  William  T.  Sir- 
mon ;  M.  of  F.,  William  T.  Gillis ;  M.  of  E.,  William 
S.  Hitchens. 

Laurel. — A  portion  of  the  land  on  which  the 
town  of  Laurel  now  stands  was  originally  warranted 
to  James  Wyth  and  Marmaduke  Master.  It  was  sui- 
veyed  and  laid  out  for  them  June  18,  1688,  for  one 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  under  the  name  **  Batchelor's 
Delight."  No  permanent  improvements,  however, 
were  made  by  them. 

On  October  23, 1711,  an  act  of  Assembly  was  passed 
at  Annapolis  empowering  Greorge  Gale,  Samuel 
Worthington  and  Charles  Ballard  to  lay  out  three 
thousand  acres  of  land  on  Broad  Creek  for  the  use  of 
the  Nanticoke  Indians.  They  met  on  December  14th 
of  that  year,  and,  in  company  with  William  Whit- 
tington,  a  surveyor,  they  selected  two  thousand  five 
hundred  acres  on  the  north  side  of  the  stream  and 
five  hundred  acres  on  the  south  side.  The  land  on 
the  south  side  embraced  the  present  site  of  Laurel, 
and  included  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres  of 
**  Batchelor's  Delight." 

The  five- hundred-acre  tract  began  a  little  above 


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1328 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


the  "wadeing  place"  (Laurel),  and  extended  down 
Broad  Creek  438  poles,  to  Little  Creek,  thence 
up  said  Little  Creek  to  an  oak  at  its  head,  thence 
in  a  southeasterly  direction  one  hundred  and  two 
poles  and  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  place  of 
beginning.  The  jury  appointed  to  appraise  the  value 
of  the  land  was  composed  of  John  McClester,  James 
Gwan,  Robert  Gwan,  John  Winder,  James  Hardy, 
John  Goslee,  John  Richards,  William  Watts,  Robert 
Caldwell,  James  Irain,  John  Caldwell  and  Thomas 
Gordan.  The  value  of  the  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  acres  of  "Batchelor's  Delight"  was  estimated 
at  2666  pounds  of  tobacco,  and  the  remaining  367 
acres  of  land  at  7334  pounds  of  tobacco,  making  as  a 
total  value  for  the  500  acres  of  land  10,000  pounds  of 
tobacco. 

This  land  was  occupied  by  the  Indians  until  about 
1768,  when  Levin  Gale,  M.  M.  Allen  and  Henry 
Steele  were  appointed  commissioners  to  make  com- 
peni«ation  to  the  Indians  for  the  land.  It  was  ex- 
posed for  sale  at  public  vendue,  and  was  then  or  soon 
afterwards  purchased  by  Barkley  Townsend. 

"  Batchelor's  Delight,"  however,  was  granted  to 
Ben  on  i  Bamnrd  on  November  26,  1760,  it  being  de- 
clared vacant  for  non-payment  of  quit-rent  by  the 
original  proprietors.  He  either  forfeited  his  title  or 
sold  to  Townsend,  as  it  was  soon  afterwards  in  his 
possession. 

The  farm-house  of  Townsend  is  an  old  frame,  half 
hip-roofed  building,  which  is  still  standing,  and  is 
now  owned  by  Daniel  Hearn.  In  an  act  to  prevent 
swine  in  the  village  of  Laurel,  passed  January  11, 
1799,  the  limits  of  the  village  are  thus  described : 
**  Beginning  at  Barkley  Townsend's  ship-yard,  for- 
merly called  Baldwin's  ship-yard,  thence  on  a  straight 
line  to  said  Townsend's  little  mill,  thence  with  the 
run  of  said  mill  branch  till  it  intersects  the  water  of 
Broad  Creek,  thence  down  the  said  creek  to  the  place 
of  beginning." 

The  mill  and  ship-yard  here  referred  to  are  now 
outside  of  the  town  limits,  and  will  be  found  in  the  arti- 
cle on  Little  Creek  Hundred  under  the  head  industries. 

In  1802  a  plot  of  the  village  was  made,  which  shows 
that  the  village  was  laid  out  in  thirty-two  lots.  Lots 
No.  4-10  lay  between  Front  Street  and  Broad  Creek. 
The  owners  of  lots  in  Laurel,  as  shown  by  the  assess- 
ment list  of  1801,  are  as  follows :  Manaen  Bull,  1  im- 
proved lot ;  Isaac  Cooper,  1  ditto ;  Martin  Crays,  1 
ditto;  Wm.  Chetom,  1  ditto;  Benjamin  Fooks,  IJ 
ditto;  Jes'^e  Green,  1  ditto;  Levin  Haymons,  1  ditto; 
William  Hobbs,  1  ditto;  David  Howard,  1  ditto; 
Joseph  Kings,  1  ditto;  William  Moore,  1  ditto ;  Thies 
Moore,  1  ditto;  James  Mastins,  1  ditto;  Isaac  Mor- 
ris, 1  ditto  ;  Wm.  Moore,  1  ditto ;  Joseph  MeUon,  1 
ditto ;  Wm.  Polock,  }  ditto ;  Henry  Perie,  J  ditto ; 
Benjamin  Riggiu,  1  ditto ;  Thomas  Townsend,  2  ditto ; 
Samuel  Williams,  1  ditto ;  Matthias  Williams,  1  ditto ; 
Jesse  Walless,  1  ditto  ;  John  Townsend,  1  ditto ; 
Thomas  Skinner,  1  unimproved  lot ;  Thomas  Town- 
send,  3  ditto;  Samuel  Williams,  1  ditto. 


The  first  store  in  the  town  was  opened  by  Maoaen 
Bull  on  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  George  P. 
Phillips. 

In  1825  the  village  contained  seven  general  stores, 
two  hotels  and  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  inhab- 
itants. Large  quantities  of  grain  and  lumber  were 
purchased  by  Benjamin  Fooks,  William  Sirmon  and 
Nehemiah  Redden. 

On  January  31,  1827,  there  was  an  act  passed,  em- 
powering Kendal  M.  Lewis,  John  Tennant,  Wm.  W. 
Green,  Philip  Matthews  and  Henry  Bacon  to  estab- 
lish the  bound  of  Laurel.  Nothing  further,  how- 
ever, was  done  at  this  time  towards  the  incorporatioo 
of  the  town. 

A  dispute  arose  as  to  the  title  to  some  Tacant  land 
in  Laurel,  and  on  February  20,  1847,  an  act  was 
passed  by  the  Legislature,  vesting  the  title  of  the 
State  of  Delaware  to  land  within  the  limits  of  Laurel 
to  those  persons  who  at  the  passing  of  the  act  had 
such  land  enclosed,  or  had  heretofore  held  and  ujed 
the  same  as  private  property.  The  town  steadily  in- 
creased in  wealth  and  population,  and  in  1859  was  the 
largest  town  in  Sussex  County,  with  a  population  of 
one  thousand  two  hundred.  It  contained  four 
churches  and  sixteen  well-conducted  dry-goods 
and  grocery- stores.  Five  million  feet  of  lumber  were 
shipped  annually,  and  of  this  amount  two  million 
feet  were  shipped  by  John  S.  Bacon.  Within  a 
radius  of  eight  miles  were  thirty-six  mills  of  vari<Kis 
kinds.  On  March  22,  1881*,  an  act  was  passed  for  the 
inprovement  of  the  streets  by  the  use  of  oyster  shells, 
which  have  proved  a  decided  benefit  to  the  town. 

Laurel  was  incorporated  as  a  town  by  an  act  of 
Assembly  passed  at  Dover  on  April  13,  1883.  John 
R.  Wilson,  Thos.  C.  Horsey,  Daniel  J.  Fooks,  Joseph 
F.  T.  Smith  and  Wm.  E.  Wolfe  were  appointed  com- 
missioners, and  empowered  to  secure  the  services  of 
a  skilful  surveyor,  and  survey  and  lay  out  the  town 
and  return  a  plot  of  the  town  to  Georgetown.  All  of 
these  things  were  accordingly  done,  and  Laurel  now 
enjoys  the  advantages  of  a  municipal  government. 

The  town  is  nicely  located  on  Broad  Creek,  and  is 
considered  the  wealthiest  town  in  the  State.  It  is 
situated  on  the  main  line  of  the  Delaware  Division, 
and  is  thus  afforded  excellent  facilities  for  shipment 
Broad  Creek,  which  has  heretofore  only  been  nav- 
igable as  far  as  Bethel  for  ships  of  heavy  burden,  is 
now  being  dredged  and  having  its  channel  enlarged, 
so  as  to  admit  vessels  to  Laurel. 

The  town  abounds  with  numerous  fine  dwellings. 
The  people  are  courteous,  afiable  and  hospitable^  It 
is  steadily  increasing  in  population,  and  now  has 
about  two  thousand  five  hundred  inhabitants.  The 
business  interests  of  the  town  are  represented  by  11 
general,  7  grocery,  5  millinery,  3  clothing,  3  dmir, 
2  furniture,  2  hardware,  1  shoe,  1  jewelry  and  1 
notion  stores ;  2  crate,  1  stave,  and  1  carriage  Vic- 
tories; 1  saw-mill,  2  blacksmith  and  wheelwright 
shops,  2  butcher,  3  shoe  and  3  barber-shopi  and  twa 
hotels.    There  are  five  physicians  and  one   denti«4 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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here.      Three   churches   are    also    located    in    the 
town. 

The  followioK  is  a  list  of  the  commissioners  who 
have  served  since  the  incorporation  of  the  town : 

EmoiyB.  Rlggin 1885 

Bobt  H.Boyoe «1885 

James  Habbard. 1886 

Jno.  H.  Elliott 1888 

Geo.  W.  Hearn 1886 

Wm.  T,  Becordt - 1886 

Samnel  H.  Baooo. 1886 

0«o.  £.  Smith 1887 

Jat.  8.  Melvin 1887 

liaac  J.  Wootten 1887 

Emory  B.  Riggliu. 1887 

JametW.HUl 1887 


J.  F.  P.  Smith 1883 

D.  J.  Fooka 1883 

J.  B.  Wilaon 1888 

W.  K.  Wolfe 1883 

T.  0.  Honey 1883 

Sl^ab  Haarn 1884 

Thoa.  H.  Riggln 1884 

J.  Alfred  Hearn 1884 

J.  Weeley  Marvil.. 1884 

George  E.  Smith 1884 

MerreU  H.  Tilgfaman 1885 

iMuio  J.  Wootten ..1886 

Joa.  J.  Boyce 1886 

ScHOOLfi.—Laurel  was  at  a  very  early  date  noted 
for  the  excellence  of  its  schools  and  pupib  from  the 
neighboring  villages  and  country  came  here  to  com- 
plete their  education.  Of  the  teachers  prominent  in 
those  days  were  Thomas  Martin  and  John  Bacon,  of 
J.  A  building  with  two  rooms  in  which  subscription 
school  was  taught,  was  converted  to  the  use  of  free 
schools  when  the  system  of  free  education  was  intro- 
duced into  the  State.  This  building  was  used  autil 
1878  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  present 
two  story  school-house  was  erected.  In  1856  an 
acadeosy  was  built  and  soon  opened  by  Samuel  J. 
Wetherby.  Subscription  school  has  been  taught  in 
this  building  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time  since  its 
erection,  the  present  teacher  being  Miss  Mary 
Wetherby.  The  school  building  erected  in  1878  is 
inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the  town  and  an  extra 
free  school  is  taught  in  Masonic  Hall.  Several  at- 
tempts have  been  made  to  erect  a  new  structure  but 
without  avail.  The  schools  are  well  conducted  but 
have  not  the  advantages  of  the  schoob  in  many 
smaller  places.  The  present  school  commissioners 
are  £.  B.  Biggins,  Dr.  William  J.  Hitch  and  John 
H.  Elliott. 

Belioious. — Christ  Church,  Broad  Oeci.*— Stands 
about  two  miles  to  the  east  of  Laurel,  and  occupies  a 
frame  building  of  large  dimensions,  built  of  heart 
pine  and  still  in  excellent  preservation,  an  ancient 
land-mark  which  carried  us  back  to  colonial  times. 
With  the  exception  of  the  roofing,  which  from  time 
to  time  has  been  renewed  as  occasion  required,  this  ven- 
erable relic  remains  both  as  to  its  interior  and  exterior, 
the  same  as  it  was  when  it  was  built  more  than  a 
hundred  years  ago.  It  is  without  a  particle  of  paint, 
and  on  entering  you  find  the  high-backed  pews,  the 
chancel  at  one  end,  the  servants'  gallery  at  the  opposite, 
while  midway  on  the  east  side  is  the  lofty  pulpit 
while  immediately  below  are  the  reading  desk  and 
clerk's  desk.  It  accommodates  about  six  hundred 
person^  and  on  the  visitations  of  the  bishop  is  gener- 
ally filled  with  the  people,  who  come  often  from  a 
long  distance  on  such  occasions.  St.  Philip's  church. 
Laurel,  is  in  fact  the  chapel  of  this,  the  mother 
church,  and  both  are  under  the  control  of  the  same 

1  By  Rer.  Benjamin  J.  Douglaae. 

84 


vestry.  The  inhabitants  of  the  lower  part  of  what  is 
now  Sussex  County,  Delaware,  were  until  the  year 
1765,  identified  with  Stepney  Parish,  Maryland,  at 
which  date  by  a  decree  in  chancery  the  lines  were 
then  run  between  the  province  of  Maryland  and  the 
a4Joining  colony.  Before  this  date  the  ground  on 
which  the  chureh  now  stands  belonged  to  Maryland, 
and  the  history  of  Stepney  Parish,  with  which  this 
church  was  connected,  dates  back  to  1685,  a  period  of 
two  hundred  years,  big  with  stirring  events  both  in 
the  history  of  England  and  that  of  our  own  country. 
The  Rev.  John  Hewitt  was  the  first  rector  of  Step- 
ney Parish  at  this  date  (1685). 

He  died  in  1698.  The  next  name  upon  the  list  is 
that  of  the  Rev.  George  Trotter,  who  had  charge  of 
the  parish  until  the  year  1708,  when  he  closed  his 
earthly  labors.  The  third  on  the  list  is  the  name  of 
that  venerable  servant  of  Gk>d,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Adams,  who  was  the  rector  of  Christ  church,  Broad 
Creek  from  1704  to  1764,  when  he  became  rector  of 
St.  James*  Parish,  Anne  Arundel  County,  Maryland. 
The  Rev.  John  Scott  served  the  parish  from  Novem- 
ber 22, 1770,  to  the  year  1775  when  trouble  broke 
out  on  account  of  the  impending  struggle  of  the  colo- 
nies with  Great  Britain.  As  a  consequence  the  church 
was  without  a  pastor  until  the  year  1780.  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Skelley  took  charge  of  the  parish  in  1780  and 
continued  his  rectorship  until  1794. 

A  very  vivid  tradition  remains  of  one  who  labored 
in  this  field  from  1808  to  1811,  and  whose  ministra- 
tions in  this  ancient  sanctuary  were  attended  by 
crowded  congregations,  and  who  was  described  a  few 
years  past  as  ''  Old  Parson  Bell,"  though  in  reality 
he  died  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-nine.  It  was 
thus  that  he  was  spoken  of  by  aged  men  and  women 
who  have  but  recently  passed  away,  and  who  remem- 
bered him  in  their  youth.  His  tomb-stone  is  in  the 
lot  in  the  rear  of  the  church  where  his  remains  re- 
pose until  the  archangePs  trump  at  the  last  day. 
Bishop  Lee  states  in  his  Historical  Discourse  deliver- 
ed before  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  Delaware  at 
Milford  in  1882,  "  St  John's  Church  at  Little  Hill 
or  Greenville,  an  ofi'-shoot  from  Christ  Church, 
Broad  Creek,  was  founded  by  the  Rev.  Hamilton 
Bell,  an  earnest,  faithful  laborer  who  died  in  1811  at 
an  early  age." 

This  congregation  enjoyed,  from  1820  to  1829,  the 
ministrations  of  Rev.  Wm.  Murray  Stone,  D.D.,  sub- 
sequently the  bishop  of  Maryland,  and  who  was  at  this 
time  rector  of  Stepney  Parish.  His  labors  through- 
out this  region  were  crowned,  by  God's  blessing,  with 
remarkable  success,  for  at  this  time  he  reports  as 
having  under  his  charge  ^ve  hundred  communicants, 
thus  showing  that  the  church  was  not  that  dead  and 
^ble  thing  at  this  date  as  some  suppose.  From  1830 
to  1834  the  church  was  supplied  with  services  by  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Higbee,  father  of  the  late  Dr.  Higbee,  of 
Trinity  Church,  New  York.  He  resided  at  George- 
town and  gave  to  the  neighboring  churches  the  bene- 
fit of  his  ministrations.  Rev.  Joseph  Glover,  missionary 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


of  the  Society  for  the  Advancement  of  Christianity 
in  Pennaylyania,  and  appointed  by  the  authority 
of  that  diocese  (for  Delaware  was  not  a  complete 
diocese  until  the  year  1841),  ministered  here  in  1834. 
He  was  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  duly 
transferred,  and  labored  also  in  the  parishes  of  Sea- 
ford  and  Laurel.  His  devotion  to  his  work  was  cut 
short  by  an  attack  of  bilious  fever  and  he  died  in 
183.*).  He  lies  buried  in  Seaford  Church-yard.  From 
1835  to  1838  the  Rev.  Corry  Chambers,  a  man  of  re- 
markable gifts  and  great  earnestness,  was  minister  in 
charge.  He  labored  incessantly,  preaching  at  Sea- 
ford,  Milford,  Cedar  Creek,  Laurel  and  other  places 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  State.  A  student  of  his,  Mr. 
Callahan,  who  subsequently  received  orders  and  went 
West,  read  service  in  Christ  Church  during  the  years 
1838  and  1839.  Rev.  John  Long,  an  active  and  inde- 
&tigable  missionary,  preached  here  from  1843  to  1846. 
During  his  ministry  in  the^  parts  St.  Luke's  Church, 
Seaford,  was  finished  and  consecrated  May  28,  1843. 
Rev.  J.  Brinton  Smith  labored  here  from  1846  to 
1848.  The  Rev.  John  W.  Hoskins  had  charge  from 
1848  to  1862.  In  1850  St.  Philip's  Church,  Laurel, 
was  consecrated,  after  which,  as  the  village  of  Laurel 
was  more  convenient  for  most  of  the  worshippers,  ser- 
yices  were  held  only  occasionally  at  the  old  church. 

This  building  remained  until  1874,  when,  to  accom- 
modate the  continually  increasing  congregation,  the 
present  neat  one-story  frame  building  was  erected. 
The  corner-stone  was  laid  June  5,  1874,  by  Bishop 
Lee. 

That  saintly  man,  the  Rev.  Richard  T.  Cadle, 
whose  name  still  lives  as  a  precious  heritage,  labored 
here  from  1853  to  1857.  In  1857,  owing  to  his  exer- 
tions, St.  Mark's  Church,  Little  Creek,  was  erected. 
From  1858  to  1859  the  congregation  was  in  charge  of 
the  Rev.  Samuel  B.  Slack.  The  Rev.  L.  Gay  officiated 
here  from  1860  to  1861.  From  1862  to  1869  the  Rev. 
George  Hall  had  charge.  From  1870  to  1873  the  Rev. 
John  C.  Tennent,  rector  at  Laurel  and  Seaford,  held 
occasional  services.  During  the  summer  of  1872 
services  were  held  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tennent  and  also 
by  the  Rev,  Benj.  J.  Douglaf>s,  rector  at  Georgetown, 
alternately.  On  July  3,  1873,  a  most  interesting  ser- 
vice was  held  in  this  ancient  saictuary.  The  Right 
Rev.  Alfred  Lee,  bishop  of  the  diocese,  presided; 
clergymen  from  all  parts  of  the  diocese  were  in  at- 
tendance. The  church  was  crowded,  though  the 
weather  was  intensely  hot.  A  generous  collation 
was  provided  by  the  hospitable  people  under  the 
shade  of  the  adjoining  trees  and  in  the  afternoon  an 
historical  sermon  was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Benj.  J. 
Douglass  from  Psalm  72 :  5. 

This  was  the  centennial  celebration  of  the  erection 
of  the  present  structure.  It  is  at  least  one  hundred 
years  old.  It  is  very  difficult  to  get  at  the  exact  date, 
many  of  the  old  records  having  been  destroyed  or 
lost.  But  from  an  item  of  the  records  of  Stepney 
Parish,  kindly  furnished  the  writer  by  the  Rev. 
William  Fulton,  it  is  ascertained  on  the  credit  side  of 


an  account,  the  debtor  side  of  which  is  wanting.  **  I 
find,"  writes  he  (the  entry  September  25,  1772),  "By 
building  a  chapel  at  Broad  Creek,  £510."  It  had  been 
intended  to  hold  the  celebration  the  previoos  fidl, 
approximating  as  it  would  then  do  more  cloeely  to  the 
date,  but  the  bishop  and  clergy  found  it  impracti- 
cable. We  are  inclined  to  believe  that  this  was  not 
the  first  building  erected  on  this  spot.  Tradition 
points  to  a  prior  structure,  of  which  none  now  caa 
give  us  any  exact  information.  Possibly  light  will  be 
thrown  upon  this  and  other  points  of  interest  in  the 
future. 

The  following  rectors  have  served  since  1873: 
James  H.  B.  Brooks,  1873  to  1878 ;  Charles  H.  Mead, 
1878  to  1879;  David  Howard,  1880  to  1882;  George 
S.  Fitzhugh,  1883  to  1884;  Edward  Wootten,  1886  to 
1887.  The  present  Senior  Warden  is  I.  J.  W.  Ad- 
ams; Junior  Warden,  Edward  Fowler,  M.D. ;  Vestry : 
M.  H.  Tilghman,  A.  W.  Parker,  George  W.  Horsey, 
R.  G.  Ellegood,  M.D.,  Benjamin  J.  Moore,  Isaac  J. 
Wootten. 

In  concluding  this  sketch  of  the  history  of  Christ 
Church,  Broad  Creek,  it  would  be  unjust  to  omit  the 
names  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Simon  Wilmer,  James  Wilt- 
bank,  Kensey  J.  Stewart,  and  the  rectors  onwards  from 
1872  of  Laurel  and  Seaford :  J.  H.  B.  Brooks,  Charles 
H.  Meach,  David  Howard,  George  S.  Fitzhngh,  Ed- 
ward Wootten,  all  of  whom,  at  different  times,  have 
done  what  they  could  to  keep  up  the  services  in  this 
ancient  temple  of  G^d's  worship.  Their  labor  is  n^ 
in  vain. 

Presbyterian  Church. — ^The  first  Presbyterian  soci- 
ety in  this  section  of  the  country  was  organized  by 
Revs.  G.  Tennent  and  G.  Whitefield.  The  first  settled 
minister  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henry,  who  first  preached 
in  private  houses,  and  afterwards  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  erected  on  the  north  branch  of  Broad  Creek, 
about  1760.  The  elders  in  this  year  were  Jacob 
Bounds,  Levin  Vaughan  and  John  Nawl.  The  next 
pastor  was  Rev.  Moses  Tuttle,  who  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Charles  Tennent.  The  latter  filled  the  pulpit 
until  a  short  time  previous  to  the  breaking  oot  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  during  which  time  the  church 
was  entirely  abandoned,  and  in  1778  was  wantonly 
or  maliciously  burned.  Occasional  services  were 
conducted  by  Revs.  Wilson  and  Kerr  until  about  1787, 
when,  through  the  exertions  of  Robert  Houston  and 
Messrs.  Mitchell,  Bratton  and  Boyce,  a  lot  of  ground 
near  Laurel  was  procured  of  John  and  Cyms  Ifit- 
chell,  and  subscriptions  opened  for  building  a  church. 
The  death  of  Mr.  Mitchell  and  other  canses  delayed 
the  work,  so  that  the  building  was  not  completed 
till  1791.  In  1790  the  elders  were  Robert  Houston. 
Jonathan  Boyce,  Samuel  Scroggins,  Smith  Wingate 
and  Henry  Edgen ;  and  the  trustees  were  Robert 
Houston,  James  Bratton,  Jonathan  Boyce  and  John 
Mitchell.  Occasional  sermons  were  preached  in  1789, 
'90  and  '91  by  Francis  Hindman^  a  licentiate  under  the 
care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Lewes.  In  June,  1791,  Eev. 
Isaac  TuU  became  stated  pastor  of  this  congregation 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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in  coDDectioo  with  the  congregations  of  Vienna  and 
Fishing  Creek,  Md.  He  served  the  church  until  the 
fall  of  1795,  when,  with  two  elders,  Samuel  Scroggins 
and  Fleming  Edgen,  he  moved  to  Kentucky.  The 
year  previous,  Smith  Wingate,  another  elder,  had  re- 
moved. The  death  of  Alexander  Smith  occurred  tho 
same  year,  and  in  the  following  year  Robert  Houston 
and  Jonathan  Boyce  died.  The  loss  of  so  many 
elders  seemed  to  threaten  a  dissolution  of  the  church. 
During  1796-97  and  98,  the  Rev.  John  Burton,  of 
Lewis  Presbytery,  preached  here  occasionally.  From 
1799  till  1817  there  was  no  stated  supply,  but  oc- 
casional services  were  conducted  by  Revs.  McMaster, 
Burton,  Sherman  and  Johnson,  and  Messrs.  William- 
son and  Wallessy  licentiates  under  the  care  of  the 
New  Castle  Presbytery.  Levin  Yaughan,  an  elder 
since  the  organization  of  the  society,  died  in  1804. 
In  1808  ten  were  received  into  full  membership. 
Rev.  Charles  Walless  preached  here  every  fourth 
Sunday  during  the  year  1817.  After  that  year  the 
chur<:h  was  in  a  manner  vacant  until  1884.  In  1832 
Joseph  Smith,  William  Yaughan,  M.  Stuart,  Barkley 
Townsend,  Luther  T.  Moore,  WilHam  Hobbs  and 
John  S.  Yaughan  were  elected  and  incorporated  as 
trustees,  and  the  name  of  the  church,  which  hereto- 
fore was  the  Broad  Creek  Church  was  changed  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Laurel. 

In  July,  1884,  Rev.  George  W.  Kennedy  became 
stated  supply,  and  preached  once  in  three  weeks  until 
April,  1886.  The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Isaac  W.  K. 
Handy,  who  supplied  the  congregation  every  fourth 
week.  He  was  succeeded  by  Henry  C  Frise,  who 
filled  the  pulpit  from  July  13,  1840,  until  April  22, 
1849.  Rev.  C.  H.  Mustard  became  pastor  January 
27,  1850,  and  continued  until  May  16,  1852.  During 
his  time  there  were  only  thirteen  members  There 
was  no  minister  from  1852  until  1856,  when  Rev.  Frise 
again  officiated  for  a  short  time.  In  1857  the  church 
withdrew  from  the  Wilmington  Presbytery  and  joined 
the  one  at  New  Castle.  In  1858  the  building  was 
taken  apart  and  moved  into  Laurel  on  a  lot  of  land 
granted  to  them  by  Dr.  Stephen  M.  Green,  so  long  as 
it  should  be  used  for  religions  purposes,  with  rever- 
sion to  his  heirs.  On  December  12th  of  the  following 
year  the  building  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Spots- 
woodj  D.D.  Rev.  Frise  again  took  charge  of  the 
church  and  conducted  services  until  1870,  when  it  was 
finally  abandoned.  The  building  was  destroyed  by 
fire  August  19, 1886.  The  last  trustees  were :  Jacob 
Adams,  Joseph  Yaughan,  John  W.  Windsor,  Eben 
Collins  and  William  S.  Calloway. 

Methodist  I^oopal  Church, — In  1801  there  was 
a  great  revival  of  religion  among  the  inhabitants  of 
Little  Creek  Hundred  and  vicinity.  From  the 
converts  was  formed  a  clas^  which  met  at  the  house 
of  George  Adams,  about  a  mile  from  Laurel  and  on 
the  site  of  the  residence  of  G^eorge  W.  Horsey.  This 
house  was  known  for  years  as  ''Daddy  Adams' 
house  of  glory.*'  In  the  following  year  a  single  story 
frame  church  building  about  thirty -six  by  forty  feet. 


with  a  gallery  on  three  sides,  was  erected  in  Laurel. 
It  was  built  on  a  lot  ninety-nine  by  one  hundred  and 
five  feet  on  the  corner  of  Back  and  Corn  Streets,  and 
was  known  as  lot  No.  81.  This  land  was  granted  by 
Thomas  Skinner  to  Samuel  Williams,  Jr.,  George 
Armstrong,  William  Polk,  Henry  Bacon,  Thomas 
Townsend,  Samuel  Jacobs  and  Joshua  Magee, 
trustees,  on  September  9,  1809.  This  building  was 
used  for  divine  worship  until  1848,  when  it  was  re- 
moved and  used  by  the  colored  people  for  church 
purposes.  A  new  two-story  frame  building  was 
framed  on  land  now  owned  by  Isaac  W.  Sirmon,  and 
then  moved  to  the  site  of  the  former  church.  It  was 
a  little  larger  than  the  old  church,  and  its  dimen- 
sions were  about  forty  by  fifty  feet.  Services  were 
held  in  this  building  until  1866,  when  it  was  removed 
and  also  fitted  up  for  a  church  by  the  colored  people. 
The  erection  of  the  present  edifice  was  immediately 
commenced  and  completed  the  following  year.  The 
dedicatory  services  were  conducted  on  February  24th 
by  Rev.  A.  Cookman.  It  is  a  neat  two-story  frame 
building,  forty-eight  by  seventy  feet,  with  tower  and 
steeple,  and  cost  nearly  ten  thousand  dollars. 

The  church  at  present  has  a  membership  of  two 
hundred  and  five. 

The  Sunday-school  with  a  membership  of  two  hun- 
dred and  forty,  is  under  the  superintendence  of  Daniel 
J.  Pooks. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  is  composed  of  Daniel 
Heam,  J.  H.  Marvil,  Joshua  Boyce,  John  W. 
Wootten,  Elijah  Heam,  Thomas  Bacon,  H.  C.  Lewis, 
Joe.  P.  F.  Smith, 'William  B.  Records,  Thomas  H. 
Riggin  and  Levin  J.  Marvil. 

From  its  organization  the  church  was  connected 
with  the  same  circuits  and  served  by  the  same  pastors 
as  Mt.  Pleasant  until  1868  when  it  was  made  a  separate 
charge.  The  following  pastors  have  ministered  here 
since  that  time : 


Key.  T.  8.  Wllllama \9n-19 

•*    G.  A.  Phoebiu. 1879-S2 

••    J.  B.  Quigg 1882-84 

••    F.  C.  MoSorley. 1884-87 

"    J.O.  Sypherd 1887 


R«T.  ElUah  Miller 18G8-70 

"    T.J.  Qulgley 1870 

"    Robert  Todd 1870 

••    W.  B.  England 1871-74 

♦•    A.  W.  Milby. 1874-70 

"    D.  C.  BIdgway 1876-77 

Methodist  Protestant  Church.— h\  November,  1881, 
the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church 
were  introduced  in  Laurel  by  Rev.  Thomas  Pearson. 
The  first  services  were  held  in  a  school-house  on 
the  site  of  the  present  school  building,  near  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  The  project  of  erecting  a 
church  was  soon  inaugurated  by  Messrs.  Geo.  Phillips. 
Dr.  S.  Greene  and  C.  C.  Windsor.  In  1832  a  class 
was  formed  composed  of  the  following  persons: 
Nathaniel  Horsey,  Eliza  Horsey,  C.  C.  Windsor  and 
wife,  Levin  A.  Collins  and  Josiah  Penwell.  In  the 
same  year  the  church  was  opened  for  services  al- 
though not  yet  completed.  The  dedicatory  services 
were  conducted  by  Rev.  Samuel  Rawleigb.  In  this 
conditionit  was  used  until  1841,  when  it  was  plastered 
and  whitewashed.    Soon  afterwards  the  benches  with- 


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1332 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


out  backs  were  replaced  by  comfortable  seats.  This 
church  was  used  until  1867  when  it  was  sold  to  the  col- 
ored people,  by  whom  it  was  used  for  religious  purpo- 
ses until  1884.  In  the  summer  of  1867  Rev.  A.  D.  Dick 
advised  the  erection  of  a  new  church  edifice.  A  build- 
ing committee  composed  of  Martin  L.  Hearns,  Nathan- 
iel Thomison,  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Burgess,  Edward  L. 
Wolf,  William  W.  Dashiell,  John  T.  Moore,  J.  A. 
McFerran,  M.D.,  and  George  W.  Horsey.  The  con- 
tract for  erecting  the  building  was  awarded  to  Joshua 
H.  Marvil  for  six  thousand  four  hundred  dollars.  A 
more  desirable  lot  on  Central  Avenue  was  purchased 
of  George  D.  Phillips  on  May  14, 1866.  The  church 
was  completed  and  dedicated  November  10,  1867,  by 
Revs.  J.  J.  Murray,  D.D.,  R.  Semple  Rowe  and  L. 
W.  Bates,  D.D.,  and  has  since  been  used  for  religious 
services.  It  is  a  neat  two-story  frame  edifice  forty  by 
fifty-five  feet,  with  a  Gothic  front  and  tower  and 
steeple. 

In  this  year  a  revival  of  religion  pervaded  the 
town  and  more  than  one  hundred  were  converted, 
fifty  of  whom  joined  this  church. 

On  April  10,  1884,  a  parsonage  on  the  corner  of 
Central  Avenue  and  Sixth  Street,  was  purchased, 
This  was  improved  and  enlarged  in  1887,  and  has  a 
present  valuation  of  two  thousand  dollars. 

The  little  class  formed  in  1832  increased  steadily, 
in  numbers  until  at  present  there  is  a  membership  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty-five,  and  from  this  congrega- 
tion have  gone  forth  seven  ministers  of  the  gospel. 

J.  H.  Elliott,  iff  the  superintendent  of  a  Sunday- 
school,  numbering  one  hundred  and  forty  members, 
connected  with  this  church. 

The  present  board  of  trustees,  is  composed  of  J.  T. 
Moore,  Nathaniel  Thomison,  William  T.  Elliott,  R  L. 
Wolfe,  E.  B.  Riggen,  Benjamin  Hitch,  George  B. 
Phillips  and  W.  W.  Dashiell. 

The  church  was  supplied  by  Revs.  Thomas  Pearson, 
Samuel  L.  Rawleigh  and  Stephen  Taylor  until  1834, 
when  it  was  added  to  the  Dorchester  and  Sussex  Cir- 
cuit. In  1839,  the  circuit  was  divided  and  the  Laurel 
Church  assigned  to  the  Sussex  Circuit.  It  was  thus 
connected  until  1844,  when  this  circuit  was  divided  and 
Union  Circuit  created,  to  which  it  was  joined  until 
1865,  when  Laurel  Circuit  was  formed.  Three  years 
later  it  was  made  a  station.  The  church  has  been 
ministered  to  by  the  following  pastors : 


R«T.  Ctoo.  D.  Hamilton »..1834 

"      A.  G.  Grove 1834 

"     Gm.  D.  HftmiltoD 1836 

"     T.  A.  OUyton. 1835 

*<     Geo.  D.  Hamilton 1836 

••     John  Keller 183« 

•«     J.  W.  Ererest 1837 

"     J.  K.  Nichote. „ 1837 

•*     R.  T.  Boyd 1838 

'•     W.Tipton -....1838 

"     L.  A.  ColUna. 1839 

*•     L.  A.  CoUint» ....1840 

*•     Richard  Adkinson 1840 

'*     George  D.  Hamilton 1841 

••     T.  Remick 1841 

"     L.  W.  Batet «1841 


Bat.  Geo.  D.  Hamilton 1842 

**     John  A.  Jackson 1842 

"     J.  H.  KenanL 184S 

"     W.  Koyer 1843 

"     D.  F.  Kwell 1844 

"      D.  A.  8hermer.« 1844 

"     D.  F.  EweU 1846 

**     Jno.  McOlelland 1846 

"     L.  W.  Bates 1846-47 

"     H.  J.  Day 1846-47 

"     Wm.  C.  Pool ..1848 

•*     T.  A.  Moore 1848 

••     H.  P.  Jordan.. 1840 

»*     J.  W.  Smiley 1849 

"     H.  P.  Jordan.. 1860 

"     J.  Shapley '. 1880 


.  Thoa.  H.  BvrgoM.. 

ISO 

H.  J.  D*y.. -      . 

IKI 

James  TbonqMon.. 

— \m 

J.  A.  McIWen_ 

Utt 

J.  W.  Gray \m 

J.  A.  McF^uien 

UG 

G.  H.  B.  AustiB..... 

..      IMS 

J.  A.  McFWen 

.....WS4 

8.  T.  Ferfoson . 

,r.          19M 

A.  D.  Dick 

.-U6MT 

W.  M.  Stiayer 

.-.iw-n 

J.W.  Charlton.... 

.^1871-74 

I.L.  MUls 

ITi 

8.G.ValUant 

....W8S.7T 

J.  L.  Stranghn  ..„ 

-..1877-* 

J.  E.  T.  Ewell-.... 

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J.  B.  Jonas ..-»J88MS 

H.  a  Ooshlnff    ... 

..-U8wr 

G.  Q.  Bacchus 

IMT 

Ber.  Tbos.  M.  Wilson .^861       Ber: 

••     J.  OUy 1851 

••     Thos.  M.  Wilson 1852 

"     J.  T.  Whitesidss 1862 

"     JohnMoripui 1863 

"     Jas.  Thompson 1863 

"     John  Morgan 1854 

"     A.  D.  Dick 1864 

**     A.S.  BvsrsoU 1866 

'*     Geo.  H.  McFaden 1866 

"     A.  8.  Eversole 1866 

*•     B.  F.  Benson 1866 

"     A.8.  BTsrsole. 1867 

"     W.  W.  Beese.. 1867 

"     F.  8.  Wright.. 1868 

"     Wm.  LiTingstone.. 1858 

"     B.  F.  Benson 1859 

**     BobCWhinna^ a869 

"     H.  J.  Day  — 1860 

"     Henry  Nale « 1860 

Industries.— In  1871  Joshua  H.  Marrii  fitted  up  i 
building,  formerly  used  as  a  cabinet-shop,  wiUi  the 
requisite  machinery,  and  began  the  manu&cture  of 
peach  and  berry  baskets  and  crates.  The  factory  it 
first  had  a  capacity  of  sixty  thousand  berry  buketi 
and  one  thousand  crates  per  week.  Employment  wai 
given  to  about  fifty  persons,  and  the  ^ctory  was  ta 
operation  about  ten  months  per  year.  In  1875  th« 
building  was  enlarged  and  afterwards  several  additioot 
were  made,  until  1888,  when  it  was  deemed  adviuble 
to  erect  a  new  factory.  The  present  structure,  one 
hundred  and  thirty-tiiree  by  fifty  feet,  was  thai 
erected  and  has  since  been  operated  by  him.  The 
turning  of  iron  and  Vi>od,  scroll-sawing  and  omameDtal 
work  was  then  added.  The  preseot  factory  has  a  capa- 
city of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  hmj 
baskets  and  three  hundred  crates  per  week ;  aboat 
double  the  capacity  of  the  first  fiu;tory.  It  gives  em- 
ployment to  one  hundred  persons  and  is  operated 
during  eleven  months  of  the  year.  The  product  of 
the  factory  is  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
States.  The  development  of  the  town  west  of  the 
railroad  is  solely  due  to  this  factory,  as  previous  to 
its  existence  there  were  no  houses  in  this  neighbor- 
hood. 

In  1885  J.  R.  Wilson,  J.  H.  Marvil,  Isaac  K  Hearo 
and  Newton  Ward  erected  a  building  and  commenced 
manufacturing  wooden-pails  under  the  style  of  J.  B. 
Wilson  &  Go,  The  factory  was  in  operation  for  a  jear 
and  then  abandoned  on  account  of  the  scarcitj  of 
juniper  timber.  The  interests  of  Wilson  and  Heam 
were  purchased  by  J.  H.  Marvil,  who  sold  a  one-fbnrth 
part  interest  to  Lorenzo  W.  Marvil.  It  was  opened  in 
1886  for  the  maufacture  of  fruit  packages,  under  the 
firm  name  of  N.  Ward  &  Co.  It  is  under  the  saper- 
intendence  of  Lorenzo  W.  Marvil,  and  has  about  the 
same  capacity  as  J.  H.  Marvil's  factory.  The  pro- 
duct is  also  shipped  to  all  parte  of  the  country. 

In  1866  E.  B.  Biggin  opened  a  blacksmith  and 
repair  shop  in  Laurel.  This  he  operated  until  1877, 
when  he  associated  himself  with  W.  C.  0.  Enowlei, 
under  the  style  of  E.  B.  Riggin  <&  Co.  The  firm  began 
the  manufacture  of  wagons,  which  they  have  since 
continued.    In  1879  they  built  the  factory  which  thej 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1333 


now  occupy.  They  employ  six  men  and  manufacture 
about  thirty-fiye  wagons  annually. 

8.  H.  Bacon  &  Co.  built  a  steam  planing-mill  near 
the  depot  in  1884.  It  is  operated  nine  months  per 
year,  and  gives  employment  to  fiye  men.  The  capa- 
city is  ten  thousand  feet  per  day. 

A  saw  and  planing-mill  was  built  in  1886  by 
Albert  Bacon.  It  has  a  capacity  of  six  thousand  feet 
per  day,  and  employs  ^eight  men. 

Bank. — By  an  act  of  Assembly  passed  February  7, 
1812,  the  *'  Accommodation  Bank  of  Delaware  "  was 
established  at  Laurel.  The  capital  stock  was  not  to 
exceed  seventy-five  thousand  dollars,  which  was  to  be 
divided  into  fifteen  hundred  shares.  The  stock  was 
to  be  subscribed  for  under  the  direction  of  Jesse 
Green,  Nathan  Vickers,  Solomon  Moore,  Curtis 
Jacobs,  John  Ck>llins,  John  Dashiell,  Manaen  Bull, 
Wm.  B.  Cooper  and  James  Derrickson  or  any  two  of 
them.  By  a  supplementary  act  passed  February  12th 
of  the  same  year,  the  name  was  changed  to  the ''  Farm- 
ers' and  Mechanics'  Bank  of  Delaware.''  The  stock 
was  subscribed  for,  and  the  bank  opened  in  the  build* 
ing  now  occupied  by  Benjamin  Hitch.  The  bank 
did  an  extensive  business  but  finally  failed.  The  ex- 
act date  is  unknown,  but  it  was  at  some  period  sub- 
sequedt  to  1820,  for  on  February  11th  of  that  year 
an  act  was  passed  extending  the  charter  five  'years 
from  September  1,  1822.  William  Polk  is  remem- 
bered as  cashier,  and  Isaac  Williams  and  Wittington 
Tull  as  directors.  Benjamin  Hitch  remembers  the 
people  speaking  of  the  money  establishment  as  being 
very  pretty. 

Post'  Office. — ^The  date  of  the  settlement  of  the  poet- 
office  at  Laurel  has  not  been  ascertained.  The  first 
postmaster,  remembered  by  any  of  the  citizens  of  the 
town,  was  Isaac  Copes,  who  had  charge  of  the  office 
In  1826.  Since  that  time  the  office  has  been  held  by 
Ezekiel  Richardson,  Benjamin  Hitch,  Joseph  Smith, 
Isaac  Sirmon,  John  EUegood,  Peter  Collier,  Benjamin 
Moore,  Thomas  Riggin,  Isaac  Sirmon,  George  £. 
Smith  and  Isaac  J.  Wootten,  the  present  incumbent. 

Hope  Lodge f  No.  4,  J.  F,  A.  M.  held  its  first  meet- 
ing in  Laurel  on  February  3,  1847.  The  society  was 
originally  instituted  at  Lewis  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Maryland  in  February,  1793,  as  Hope  Lodge,  No.  10. 
Among  some  of  the  names  appended  to  the  by-laws 
adopted  in  1794,  are  the  following :  John  W.  War- 
rington, John  Tennent,  John  Clark,  Francis  Brown, 
Robert  Lacy,  Thomas  Fisher,  Jesse  Green,  Phillips 
Kollock,  James  Elliott,  Seth  Mitchell,  William  Polk, 
John  Evans,  Thomas  Laws  and  Seth  Griffith.  The 
first  charter  was  revoked  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Maryland  and  a  new  one  granted  in  June,  1800.  At 
the  formation  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Delaware,  in 
1806,  this  charter  was  surrendered  and  the  society  was 
chartered  under  its  present  name  by  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  this  State.  After  the  institution  of  the  lodge  and 
before  its  establishment  here,  the  society  was  stationed 
for  short  periods  at  Georgetown  and  Seaford.  Meet- 
ings were  originally  held  quarterly  in  March,  June, 


September  and  December.  The  hour  of  meeting  was 
four  P.M.,  with  instructions  not  to  remain  in  session 
after  ten  p.m.,  unless  there  was  urgent  business  on 
hand,  as  late  honrs  had  a  tendency  to  bring  the  order 
into  disrepute. 

Meetings  are  now  held  on  the  first  and  third  Tues- 
days of  every  month  in  the  third  story  of  a  building 
erected  by  the  order  in  1847,  at  a  cost  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars. 

The  present  membership  is  twenty-seven. 

The  officers  at  the  present  time  are  as  follows: 
W.  M.,  D.  J.  Fooks ;  S.  W.,  Samuel  T.  Smith ;  J.  W., 
Dr.  Joshua  A.  EUegood;  Treas.,  J.  F.  P.  Smith; 
Sec'y.,  J.  Turpln  Wright ;  S.  D.,  Dr.  Edward  Fowler ; 
J.  D.,  J.  Dallas  Marvil. 

Charity  Lodge,  No  27,  /.  0.  0,  K,  was  instituted  at 
Laurel,  July  10,  1857.  The  first  officers  as  well  as 
the  charter  members  were :  N.  G.,  Joseph  A.  McFer- 
een ;  V.  G.,  John  M.  Phillips ;  Recording  Secretary, 
Joseph  Willey;  P.  Secretary,  Thomas  H.  Burgess; 
Treasurer,  Joseph  Ellis. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  year  the  lodge  had  a  mem- 
bership of  twenty-seven,  and  at  the  present  time 
numbers  eighty-nine  members. 

Meetings  are  held  every  Thursday  night  in  Odd 
Fellows'  Hall,  which  is  on  the  third  floor  of  Smith  & 
Bros.'  hardware  building.  The  officers  at  the  present 
time  are  as  follows :  N.  G.,  Wm.  S.  Burton ;  V.  G., 
Joseph  T.  Osborn ;  Recording  Secretary,  E.  B.  Rig- 
gin  ;  P.  Secretary,  Samuel  T.  Smith;  Treasurer, 
Levin  J.  Marvil. 

Sussex  Encampment  No.  4,  /.  0.  of  0.  -P.,  was  insti- 
tuted at  Georgetown,  Del.,  August  2,  1840.  The 
charter  members  were  David  H.  Houston,  James 
Stuart,  Charles  Wilson,  John  D.  Rodney,  Jacob  W. 
Morgan,  John  Stokly,  Robert  A.  Houston  and  Wil- 
liam H.  Swygget. 

Meetings  were  held  there  until  1875,  when  the  En- 
campment was  moved  to  Seaford  and  there  held  until 
1883.    Since  that  time  the  society  has  met  at  Laurel. 

Regular  meetings  are  held  on  the  second  and  fourth 
Tuesday  nights  of  every  month,  in  Odd  Fellows*  Hall. 
The  present  membership  is  thirty-five. 

The  officers  at  the  present  time  are  as  follows : 

C.  P.,  Levin  J.  Marvil ;  H.  P.,  William  S.  Hitch- 
ens  ;  S.  W.,  Thomas  Hastings ;  J.  W.,  James  H.  Wil- 
liams ;  Scribe,  Edward  L.  Wolfe ;  Treasurer,  Isaac  J. 
Wootten. 

Rossdkatum  THbe,  No.  15,  2.  0.  R.  Jf.,  was  insti- 
tuted at  Laurel  on  June  23, 1875.  The  first  officers 
of  the  society  were:  Prophet,  Daniel  H.  Foskey;  S., 
Joseph  L.  Osborn;  S.  S.,  Levin  J.  Marvil;  J.  S.,  E. 
J.  Richardson ;  C.  of  R.,  Isaac  J.  Wootten ;  K.  of  W., 
George  E.  Smith.  In  addition  to  these  the  charter 
members  were  Emory  B.  Riggin,  William  J.  Wind- 
sor, Isaac  H.  Williams,  Samuel  B.  Pensey,  Joseph  F. 
P.  Smith,  John  W.  Wiley,  Samuel  J.  Thomison, 
Samuel  T.  Smith,  Vandroth  S.  Marvil,  William  T. 
Hastings,  James  A.  Adams  and  William  F.  Wain- 
wright.   At  the  end  of  the  first  year  there  were  thirty- 


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1334 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


nine  members,  and  subsequent  admissions  have  in- 
creased the  number  to  seventy-six.  The  tribe  meets 
every  Friday  night,  in  Red  Men's  Wigwam,  in  Dr. 
William  E.  Wolfe's  building  on  Cedar  Street. 

The  lodge  is  officered  at  present  as  follows :  Prophet, 
Joseph  J.  Collins;  S.,  Isaac  W.T.Hastings;  S.  S., 
Jonathan  E.  White;  J.  S.,  Clarence  W.  Hastings; 
C.  of  R.,  Emory  B.  Riggin ;  K.  of  W.,  Ezekiei  J. 
Richardson. 

Laurel  Orange,  No.  24,  P.  of  JT.,  was  organized  at 
Laurel  in  December,  1875,  with  thirty-two  charter 
members.  In  1879  a  store  was  opened,  which  was 
conducted  a  few  years  and  then  abandoned.  The 
grange  has  decreased  in  numbers  and  now  has  a 
membership  of  thirteen,  who,  however,  are  warm  ad- 
vocates of  its  advantages.  Meetings  are  held  every 
Tuesday  afternoon. 

The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  W.  M.,  Q.  W. 
Horsey;  Overseer,  H.  B.  Lewis;  Lecturer,  Thomas 
Bacon;  Steward,  J.  W.  Anderson;  Treasurer,  J.  B. 
Wheatley;  Chaplain,  Sarah  Horsey;  Secretary,  T. 
H.  Riggin ;  G.  K.,  Amelia  Bacon ;  Ceres,  Phoebe  J. 
Riggiii;  Pomona,  Mary  Anderson;  Flora,  Ellen 
Hitch ;  L.  A.  S.,  Kate  Wheatley. 

The  Laurel  Fenuutda  Agricultural  and  Meehanioal 
Society  was  incorporated  February  16,  1875.  The 
society  organized  and  leased  land  of  Wm.  S.  Moore, 
and  on  it  erected  suitable  buildings  for  fair  purposes. 
Three  fairs  were  held,  and  then  the  project  was 
abandoned. 

The  commissioners  were  J.  T.  Moore,  I.  J.W.  Adams, 
I.  H.  Bailey,  W.  E.  Wolfe,  T.  C.  Horsey,  J.  S.  Bacon, 
Dr.  W.  S.  Hitch,  J.  M.  C.  Hearn,  D.  H.  Foskey,  L.  B. 
Cannon,  B.  B. Warrington,  T.  P.  Rodney,  I.  J.Wootten, 
G.  E.  Smith,  S.  J.  Thompson,  Levin  Hitch,  W.  L. 
Sirmon,  Jacob  Adams,  Isaac  Giles,  G^.  H.  Hearn, 
Joe.  a  White,  D.  W.  Moore,  J.  P.  H.  Shipley,  Dr. 
Edward  Fowler  and  Wm.  H.  Wheatley. 

HoteU.'-ThQ  oldest  hotel  remembered  in  the  town 
•f  Laurel  was  kept  as  early  as  1823  by  Pugh  Pusey, 
and  stood  on  the  present  site  of  the  Cannon  House. 
It  was  soon  afterwards  sold  at  sheriffs  sale  and  pur- 
chased by  Caleb  Ross,  who  leased  it  to  George  Hobbs. 
Hobbs  had  built  a  hotel  on  Front  Street,  on  land  now 
owned  by  W.  W.  Dashiell,  which  he  managed  a  few 
years  previous  to  1824,  when  it  was  burned,  and  has 
never  been  rebuilt.  Ross  sold  the  property  to  James 
Lynch,  and  it  later  came  into  the  possession  of  Wm. 
Sherman,  who  devised  it  to  Isaac  James.  George  M. 
Wootten  became  the  next  owner,  and^y  him  the  pres- 
ent hotel  was  built  in  1856:  He  was  proprietor  for 
some  time  and  then  sold  to  Thomas  L.  Cannon,  the 
present  owner.  James  M.  Gunby  has  been  the  pro- 
prietor for  the  past  year. 

The  hotel  on  the  site  of  the  present  Laurel  House 
was  built  by  Peter  Wootten  about  the  year  1820. 
After  his  death  the  property  passed  to  his  daughter 
Lavina,  and  after  her  decease  to  her  brother,  Hop. 
Edward  Wootten,  by  whom  it  was  sold  to  the  present 
owner,  Louis  Frankel,  of  Philadelphia.  The  old  hotel 


was  moved  away  about  eight  years  ago,  and  is  now 
owned  by  Joshua  H.  Marvil.  A  new  hotel  was  erected, 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  August  19, 1886.  Work 
was  immediately  commenced  on  the  present  baiMing, 
which  was  completed  and  opened  in  Janoaiy,  1887. 
The  hotel  is  well-furnished  and  the  service  excdlent 
James  S.  Melvin  has  been  the  proprietor  for  the  pMt 
seven  years. 

In  1824  G^rge  Bridges  erected  a  hotel  on  Ceotnl 
Avenue,  on  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  Dr. 
Edward  Fowler.  In  1827  Nancy  Martin  was  the  pro- 
prietress of  this  hotel.  The  property  was  next  owned 
by  Thomas  Rider,  who  devised  it  to  his  son  Jtmei. 
It  was  sold  by  him  to  Benjamin  Fooks,  by  whom  it 
was  devised  to  Kendall  Fooks.  Daniel  J.  Foob,  tbe 
next  owner,  sold  part  of  the  land  to  Dr.  Edwird 
Fowler  and  Mervill  Tilghman.  It  was  last  kq>t  is  i 
hotel  about  six  years  ago  by  James  H.  Boyce.  It  wti 
soon  afterwards  moved  from  its  original  site,  and  wai 
destroyed  by  fire  August  19, 1886. 

The  building  now  occupied  as  aresideneeby  Besji- 
min  Hitch,  and  at  one  time  used  for  banking  pa^ 
poses,  has  on  several  occasions  been  conducted  si  i 
hotel.  The  first  time  was  shortly  after  the  bsnk 
closed,  when  Jeremiah  Kinney  became  the  proprietor. 
It  was  last  run  as  a  hotel  about  1858  by  WUUib 
Riokerts,  while  owned  by  G^rge  W.  Hearn. 


CHAPTER  LXXVL 


DAOeBOBOUGH    HUNDRED. 


The  greater  psrt  of  this  hundred  was  in  the  terri- 
tory claimed  by  Maryland,  and  under  the  jorisdictioo 
of  that  state  until  1763.  In  that  year  the  fir^t  sorrey 
line  was  defined  between  Maryland  and  Delawire, 
and  confirmed  by  Mason  and  Dixon,  in  1765,  receif- 
ing  official  confirmation  from  Penn  and  Baltimore  in 
1776.  It  is  not  known  that  any  of  the  lands  in  the 
middle  and  northern  part  (except  along  the  Indiso 
River  in  Pine  Neck  and  above)  were  granted  by  Penit 
Several  tracts  in  that  locality  were  taken  up  previooi 
to  1700,  from  which  year  until  1765,  warrants  were 
granted  by  the  Proprietary  of  Maryland. 

The  southern  por#6h  of  the  hundred  is  covered 
with  pine,  cedar  and  oak  forests,  which  have  for  maoj 
years  given  to  the  people  employment  in  the  bumingof 
charcoal,  and  the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  shingles. 
The  cypress  swamps,  of  which  there  are  many  acres, 
contain  trunks  of  buried  cypress,  which  are  betnf 
raised  from  the  beds  and  made  into  shingles. 

Early  Settlements. — The  territory  of  Dig»- 
borough  Hundred  was  within  the  limits  of  Penn's 
purchase  from  the  Duke  of  York,  in  Augu^  1681, 
which  extended  soath  to  Cape  Hemlopen,  now  die 
eastern  terminus  of  division  line  between  Delaware 
and  Maryland  and  from  thence  extending  doe  we«t. 


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1335 


This  was  disputed  by  Lord  Baltimore,  who  claimed 
north  as  far  as  Indian  River.  But  few  tracts  were 
granted  by  Penn  in  the  limits  of  this  hundred  and 
those  along  Indian  River.  One  of  which  was  to 
Peter  Waples,  wl|o  in  1692,  bought  several  tracts  of 
land  at  Warwick,  in  Indian  River  Hundred,  and  a 
tract  opposite^in  Dagsboroagh.  In  September  of  1692, 
he  asked  permission  of  the  Whorekill  Court,  to  estab- 
lish a  ferry  across  the  Indian  River  from  his  house 
"  for  y*  mutual  commodaoon  correspondency  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  county  with  those  of  the  province 
of  Maryland,"  and  desired  that  he  alone  might  keep 
the  same,  which  was  granted.  Lewes  at  that  time 
was  the  principal  settlement  and  Lord  Baltimore  had 
been  so  strenuous  in  his  demands,  that  the  territory 
claimed  by  him  was  given  under  his  jurisdiction  until 
a  final  settlement  was  made  and  which  was  not  fully 
concluded  until  1775.  Lands  within  the  territory  in 
dispute  were  granted  by  him,  and  on  the  2d  of  July, 
1713,  a  large'quantity  was  granted  "  to  certain  Indians 
and  their  heirs  as  long  as  they  should  think  fit  to  re- 
side thereon."  In  spite  of  this  condition  the  Indians 
by  Weoomiconus  the  Queen,  Tonquaton,  Knuconum 
and  Robin  the  interpreter  on  the  15th  of  November, 
1786,  sold  two  hundred  acres  of  the  land  to  William 
Burton,  and  in  May  22, 1741,  sold  two  hundred  more 
to  Joshua  Burton.  This  land  with  others  purchased 
was  on  Pine  Neck,  along  Indian  Biver  to  Fishing 
Creek  above  Millsborough.  William  Burton,  was  a 
purchaser  of  large  tracts  of  land  in  Long  Neck,  In- 
dian River  Hundred,  in  1677,  and  about  1700  pur- 
chased lands  in  this  territory,  and  about  1710  his 
son,  Woolsey  Burton,  removed  to  the  place  where  he 
died  in  1750.  He  was  buried  on  the  John  M.  Hous- 
ton farm  where  a  slab  marks  his  resting  place.  He 
left  a  son,  Woolsey,  from  whom  Benjamin  Burton  of 
Georgetown,  and  many  others  descended. 

Many  tracts  of  land  were  granted  in  small  quanti- 
ties by  tbe  Proprietors  of  Maryland  to  settlers  who  in 
most  cases  did  not  long  remain.  John  Dagworthy, 
from  whom  the  hundred  takes  its  name,  was  distin- 
guished in  French  and  Indian  Wars  and  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  by  reason  of  his  services  for  Maryland,  was 
granted  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Maryland,  but  which 
in  the  final  settlement  was  decided  to  be  in  Delaware. 
Gen.  John  Dagworthy  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
and  came  into  prominence  in  his  native  state  before 
coming  to  Maryland. 

A  memorandum  sent  to  the  Duke  of  New  Castle 
June  2,  1732,  in  relation  to  separate  government  in 
New  Jersey,  contains  the  following:  "John  Dag- 
worthy, he  is  an  honest,  bold  man,  well  afiected  to  the 
government ;  is  of  the  church  of  England ;  a  thriv- 
ing man  and  at  present  high  sheriff  of  the  county  in 
which  he  resides."  On  February  2,  1747,  he  was 
again  recommended  to  the  Duke  of  New  Castle  and 
was  mentioned  as  Captain  John  Dagworthy  having 
in  command  a  company  of  eighty-five  active  men ;  his 
services  were  engaged,  for  a  short  period,  in  Canada, 
from  whence  he  returned  to  New   Jersey.     About 


1754  he  went  to  Maryland  and  served  in  the  French 
and  Indian  War  under  Braddock,  sharing  in  the  lat- 
ter's  defeat ;  for  his  services  he  was  given  a  large  tract 
of  land  in  Worcester  County,  Maryland,  lying  at  the 
head  of  Pepper's  Creek,  which,  later,  was  declared  to 
be  Sussex  County,  Delaware.  A  tract  called  "Cypress 
Swamp,"  containing  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres, 
which  had  been  warranted  to  John  Hance  was  as- 
signed to  him.  The  following  tracts  were  also  granted 
to  him  in  1758 :  "  Archibald's  Discovery,"  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres;  June  27,  1759,  "Pleasant 
Grove,"  sixteen  hundred  acres ;  **  Wilderness,"  eight 
thousand  three  hundred  and  eighty  acres;  "Mill 
Land,"  ten  hundred  and  thirty-three  acres ;  "  Saw 
Mill  Supply,"  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres ;  and 
in  1760  *'  Timber  Land  Enlarged,"  containing  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  In  1774  all 
of  these  tracts  were  re-surveyed  to  him  under  Penn 
and  called  "  Dagworthy's  Conquest,"  containing  in 
the  aggregate  twenty  thousand  three  hundred  and 
ninety-three  acres  and  reaching  to  Broad  Creek  Hun- 
dred. General  Dagworthy,  about  this  time,  built  a 
capacious  one  story  house  upon  an  eminence  at  the 
east  end  of  the  town  near  Frank  ford.  The  approach 
was  a  broad  avenue  lined  with  trees.  There  surroun- 
ded by  his  family  and  a  retinue  of  slaves  he  dispensed 
a  liberal  hospitality.  The  house  was  destroyed  by  fire 
a  number  of  years  ago.  The  following  extract  from 
the  Sussex  Jonmal  serves  to  record  his  services  in  the 
Revolutionary  War : 

"  In  1776,  in  the  month  of  May,  271  qoarter-barrelfl  of  powder  belong- 
ing to  MaiylMid,  arrlred  in  Indian  river,  and  were  taken  in  charge  of 
by  Colonel  John  Dagworthy,  to  be  aent  to  Cheetertown,  Maryland,  by 
land.  There  were  aleo  two  braas  blanderbiueea,  12  iworda,  and  70 
poonde  of  moBket-balle. 

"  In  Jnly,  1776,  John  Dagworthy,  magietimte  of  SnoMX,  leceiTed  depo- 
sitions regarding  hostile  acts  of  the  Delaware  toriee  who  communicated 
with  Lord  Dnnmore's  fleet  at  the  month  ef  the  Nantiooke  riTsr.  *  We 
look  npon  them  as  a  more  dangerous  enemy  than  the  Suropeans,'  said 
the  report ;  *  they  know  our  country  and  are  able  to  carry  the  veesels 
they  command  to  the  heads  of  our  riTsrs.*  The  patriots  add,  *  There  are 
at  heart  six  disaffected  here  to  one  firm  man  for  America.' 

"  In  1777,  Thomas  McKean  wrote  to  George  Read,  saying:  *  We  made 
a  promotion  in  the  militia,  by  making  Mr.  Rodney  Mi^jor^Oeneral  and 
Messrs.  Dagworthy,  Dickinson  and  Patterson  brigadiers.  ...  By 
letter  I  spirited  up  General  Dagworthy.*  William  Kellen  wrote  about 
this  time :  *  There  have  l>een  about  forty  persons,  men  and  women,  ap 
preh ended  in  the  head  of  Sussex,  Etc.,  on  suspicion  of  trading  with  the 
British  men-of-war.* 

**  Samuel  Patterson  wrote  fh>m  Perth  Amboy  to  George  Read,  Oct. 
9th,  1776:  *  George  Parris,  our  acting  quarter-master,  was  a4Jutant  in 
Sussex  to  General  Dagworthy's  battalion.*  ** 

He  resided  in  Dagsborough  until  his  death,  and 
was  buried  under  the  chancel  of  Prince  Greorge's 
chapel,  where  his  remains  now  lie.  His  daughter, 
Rachel,  married  William  Hill  Wells,  an  attorney, 
who  spent  part  of  his  time  at  the  Dagworthy  man- 
sion, and  who  came  into  the  possession  of  the  estate. 
He  died  in  1829,  leaving  four  sons  and  a  daughter : 
Dagworthy,  Henry,  Edward,  Alfred  and  Rachel,  who 
became  the  wife  of  William  D.  Waples.  The  latter 
bought  the  estate,  and  resided  there.  The  sons  of 
William  Hill  Wells  all  studied  law,  and  were  ad- 
mitted to  practice,  but,  with  the  exception  of  Alfred, 
the  youngest,  did  not  follow  the  profession  any  length 
of  time.    He  went  to  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  where  he  fol- 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


lowed  his  profession  uatii  his  death,  serving  as  judge 
of  the  county  and  as  a  member  of  Congress  for  the 
Twenty-sixth  District.  Henry  Dagworthy  was  Sec- 
retary of  State  under  (Governor  Hazlett,  but  at  his 
death  resided  in  Philadelphia.  Edward  Lloyd  Wells 
was  register  of  the  Court  of  Chancery  for  'several 
years,  resided  in  Georgetown,  and  finally  settled  in 
Washington,  where  he  died. 

The  Houston  family,  so  long  residents  of  this  hun- 
dred, were  first  represented  by  Robert  Houston,  who 
in  September,  1754,  took  up  two  hundred  acres  called 
"Houston's  Folly,"  which  lay  on  the  south  side  of 
Indian  Town  Branch  (now  Yellow  Branch).  In 
addition  to  this,  he  purchased  one  hundred  acres, 
adjoining  which  had  been  a  tract  surveyed  to  Eze- 
kiel  Walton.  These  lands,  after  the  settlement  of 
the  division  line  of  Delaware  and  Maryland,  were 
re-surveyed  to  Robert  Houston,  Sr.  They  afterwards 
passed  to  R.  Houston,  Jr.,  and  from  him  to  his  son, 
Robert  B.  Houston,  who  is  now  living  in  his  eighty- 
fifth  year,  and  who  is  the  father  of  John  M.  Houston, 
ex-State  Treasurer  and  ex -Senator. 

Joseph  Houston,  a  brother  of  Robert  Houston,  Jr., 
purchased  of  David  Moore,  February  6,  1785,  one 
hundred  acres,  part  of  "Lane's  Adventure,"  which 
was  a  Maryland  warrant  granted  to  Hinman  Whar- 
ton, whose  sons  in  1772  sold  to  David  Moore.  Two 
days  later,  February  7,  1785,  Joseph  Houston  pur- 
chased two  hundred  acres  of  land  adjoining,  also  on 
the  south  side  of  Indian  River,  within  a  half  mile  of 
Dagsborough  Town.  This  land  was  bought  of  Nehe- 
miah  Tunnell,  who  received  it  by  will  from  his  father, 
William  Tunnell. 

The  original  homestead  of  the  Houstons  has  been 
in  possession  of  the  family  from  its  purchase  in  1754. 
The  Burtons  who  were  early  residents  in  Dagsborough 
Hundred,  will  be  found  mentioned  in  Indian  River 
where  they  first  settled. 

It  is  impossible  to  follow  the  numerous  families  who 
were  early  settlers  in  the  hundred,  but  the  .following 
list  of  taxables  made  in  the  year  1785,  shows  clearly 
who  were  residents  of  the  hundred  at  that  time,  but  it 
should  be  born  in  mind  that  the  Cypress  Swamps,  in 
the  south  part  of  the  hundred,  now  in  Gumborough, 
were  part  of  the  territory  but  were  very  sparely 
settled. 


Aydolott,  Isaac. 
AAdenoD,  Jease. 
Burton,  Jacob. 
Brookfield,  Uriah. 
Betta,  Jonathan. 
Bothimt;  Joseph. 
Butcher,  Robert. 
Biveus,  Widow. 
Burton,  Wooleey. 
Brookfield,  Azarlah. 
Barns,  George. 
Barton,  Wm. 
Oottingham,  Elisha. 
Cade,  Thomas. 
Cordery,  Jacob. 
Ck>ttingham,  Wm. 
Ohamberlaiu,  James. 


Carey,  Solomon. 
Carey,  Ebenezer. 
Collins,  ElUah. 
Collins,  Eli. 
Carey,  El^ah. 
Danby,  John. 
Dingle,  Dr.  Edward. 
Dagworthy,  Gen.  John. 
Day,  Anguish. 
Derrickson ,  Joeeph . 
Dingle,  Wm. 
Daugherty,  Benjamin. 
Daughters,  Thomas. 
DerrlcksoD,  Beqjamin. 
Derrickson,  Wm. 
Derrickson,  John. 
Evaos^  John. 


Erans,  Walter. 
Erans,  Wm. 
Erans,  Joshua. 
ElUngsworth,  Boberfc. 
ElUngsworth,  Richard. 
Ellingsworth,  Brothersr. 
Evans,  Caleb. 
Fuller,  John. 
Freeman,  MiobaeL 
Forgue,  Michael. 
Gibbons,  John. 
Girlie,  Wm. 
Hull,  Wm. 
Hudson,  Thomaa. 
Hopkins.  Wm. 
Hopkins,  Robert. 
Hopkins,  George. 
Hewitt,  Wm. 
Heuston,  Robert, 
Houston,  Joseph. 
Howell,  John. 
Homer,  George. 
Hntchlnson,  Archibald. 
Johnson,  John. 
Johnson,  Benjamin. 
Ingram,  Robert. 
Jacobs,  Abraham. 
Jefferson,  Job. 
Jones,  Martha. 
Ingram,  Job. 
Johnson,  Bartholomew. 
Jones,  Thomas. 
Jones,  Ebeneser. 
Ing^m,  Jacob. 
Jefferson,  EHhn. 
Jones,  Wingate. 
Ingman,  Joshua. 
Jefferson,  Widow. 
Johnson,  Bat. 
Kinney,  Saunders. 
Kollock.  Simeon. 
Kellum,  Thomas. 
Kellnm,  Jesse. 
Kellum,  Wm. 
Layton,  John. 
Layten,  Eli. 
Lockwood,  Benjamin. 
LockwQod,  Samuel. 
Long,  David. 
Lockwood,  Armwell. 
Long,  John. 
Long,  David. 
Long,  ArmwelU 
Mara,  Ezekiel. 
Mosely,  John. 
Morris,  Bevins. 
Morris,  Lacy. 
Messick,  George. 
Marvel,  Thumas. 
Marvel,  David. 
Morris,  Wm. 
Maxfield,  Nimrod. 
Mills,  Jonathan. 
Morris,  John. 
Moore,  David. 
Mitchell,  Wm. 
Mitchell,  George. 
Moore,  Wm. 
Marvel.  Philip. 
Morris,  Robert 
Morris,  Joshua. 
Messick,  Ber\Jamin. 
Messick,  Minors. 
Marvel,  Robert. 
Moore,  Isaac. 
Messick,  Isaac. 
Nicholson,  John. 
Nettingham,  Jonathan. 


Digitized  by 


N^wbold,  Margsnt 
Mewbold,  Wm. 
Newton,  Wm. 
Odwell,  Wm. 
Prettjman,  Robert. 
Pretty^pan,  Thomas. 
Prettyman,  Jaeeph. 
Prettyman,  George. 
Philips,  EbeiMBer. 
Philips,  John. 
Parsons,  Robert. 
Philips.  Benj. 
Piper,  Joseph. 
Powell,  Wm. 
Potter,  David. 
Powell,  Levi. 
Potter,  Nehemiah. 
Potter,  JamesL 
Rodger,  John. 
Russell,  Wm. 
Rowan,  Thomaa. 
RobertsoB,  Joseph. 
Rodney,  Wnu 
Ratten,  Joalah. 
Robiuon,  Joshna. 
Short,  Jacob. 
Short,  Philip. 
Schofleld,  Widow  Aim. 
Sockam,  Widow. 
Sockam,  Jamea. 
Shaipi  Wm. 
Salmon,  Wnu 
Short,  Jacob. 
Short,  SamneL 
Starr,  Jacob. 
Short,  Edwmrd. 
Short,  Elisabeth. 
Scuddnr,  Enoch. 
Salmon,  Ba^f. 
Tindle,  John. 
Tharp,  John. 
Thoivnghgood,  John. 
Thoroughgood,  Miller. 
Thompson,  Wm. 
Thompson,  James. 
Tall,  Richard. 
Tingle,  Wm. 
Tingle,  John. 
Tingle,  Cblab. 
Thoroughgood,  Wm. 
Thompson,  Smith. 
Veaiy,  Chaa. 
Veaay,  Zadock. 
Walker,  John. 
Waples,  EUhu. 
Wataou,  Pater. 
Waples,  Maiy. 
Waples,  Elizabeth. 
Waples,  PauL 
Waples,  Peter. 
Waples,  Wm. 
Willy,  Thomas^ 
Wharton,  EliaabeOi. 
Wharton,  Winman. 
Wataon,  Smltheta. 
Wingate,  John. 
Wharton,  Geocige. 
West,  Thomas. 
West,  Robert 
West,  John. 
Waplea,  Wm. 
Gray,  Waseheat. 
Jacob,  Jonatiian. 
Robinson,  Joahna. 
Thoroughgood,  PaoU 
Gosler,  Job. 
Jefferson,  John. 
Schofield,  Wm. 

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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1337 


Salmon,  Aydelot. 
Weathers,  Immc. 
Rowla,  SamueL 
Marvil,  Thomas. 
Morria,  JoMph. 
Pepper,  John. 
Wharton,  Wrixham. 


Amos,  John. 
Pret^yman,  Wm. 
Bajlis,  James. 
Lacy,  Collins. 
Jones,  Zacharlah. 
Bawlins,  Oharlea. 
Parsons,  Robert. 


The  extensive  cypress  swamps  of  this  hundred  have 
been  from  the  earliest  settlements  a  source  of  profit  to 
the  settlers ;  the  Indian  River,  which  is  on  its  northern 
border,  and  is  navigable,  furnishes  a  means  of  trans- 
portation. Many  saw-mills  have  been  erected  upon 
the  Indian  River  and  its  tributaries,  which  have  been 
in  almost  constant  operation.  There  are  also  many 
acres  of  buried  cypresses  whose  trunks  have  bten 
raised  and  manufactured  into  shingles,  which  were 
used  to  cover  not  only  the  roofs  but  the  sides  of  the 
houses  in  this  section  of  the  country. 

Many  fires  have  raged  through  the  swamps,  extend- 
ing^ in  some  cases  to  the  depth  of  two  and  three  feet 
beneath  the  surface. 

The  earliest  fire  within  the  memory  of  any  living 
was  in  1817,  when  an  area  of  about  ten  thousand  acres 
was  burned  over  in  Worcester  County,  Baltimore, 
Dagsborough  and  Gumborough  Hundreds. 

The  roads  through  these  swamps  are  built  of 
cypress,  cedar  and  pine  branches,  which  are  laid 
crosswise  at  a  depth  of  two  or  three  feet,  and  make  a 
foundation  for  good  roads. 

Saw  and  Grist-Mills.— In  1773  Benjamin  Bur- 
ton, Sr.,  had  two  acres  of  land  condemned  on  both  sides 
of  Fishing  Creek  (the  first  stream  above  Millsboro') 
for  the  use  of  a  grist-mill.  In  1848  it  was  owned  by 
Benjamin  Burton,  of  (Georgetown,  and  Miers  Burton. 
The  latter  dying  shortly  after,  his  interests  passed  to 
his  son.  The  property  is  now  owned  by  Burton  &  Betts. 

A  grist-mill  was  operated  in  1798  by  John  Engle. 
It  was  sold  to  James  Anderson,  and  abandoned  by 
him  in  1847. 

General  Dagworthy  owned  a  grist-mill  in  1800, 
which  was  in  operation  until  1847.  It  was  situated 
at  Dagsborough  Bridge,  near  the  State  road. 

In  1804  an  act  was  passed  enabling  Benjamin  Bur- 
ton and  Isaiah  Wharton  to  erect  a  dam  on  Duck  Creek 
(now  Wharton's  Creek),  for  use  of  a  grist-mill,  which 
has  entirely  disappeared. 

In  1800  Colonel  W.  D.  Waples  owned  a  grist  and 
saw-mill,  located  on  "  Bell  Flower  Stream."  It  is  yet 
in  operation,  having  been  rebuilt  in  1850  by  Benja- 
min Jones. 

Joseph  Marvel  operated  a  saw-mill  in  1816,  located 
on  Sabrey  Branch,  about  a  half-mile  from  Stockley. 
It  was  rebuilt  in  1840  by  John  P.  Marvel,  and  aban- 
doned in  1882. 

About  the  same  time  Simon  Kollock  owned  a  grist- 
mill, which  he  sold  to  Dr.  Simon  Wilson,  who  rebuilt 
it  about  1850.  It  stands  on  Kollock *s  mill-dam,  and 
is  now  in  operation. 

In  1816  Samuel  Lockwood  operated  a  grist*and  saw- 
mill, located  on  Lockwood's  mill-dam.  It  passed  to 
William  Lockwood,  who  ran  it  until  1837. 


The  following  persons  operated  grist  and  saw-mills 
in  1816 :  W.  H.  Wells,  Mary  Vickers,  Perry  Pool, 
Joseph  Morris,  John  Morris,  Joshua  Ingram,  Charles 
M.  Cullin,  Woolsey  Burton  and  Purnell  Short. 

In  1817  Aaron  Marvel  established  a  tannery  on  the 
road  from  Millsborough  to  Pine  Grove,  which  was 
abandoned  in  1837,  and  is  now  called  Mar  veil's  Old 
Tan-yard.  In  1875  Notten  Marvel  established  a  tan- 
yard  near  Pine  Grove,  which  he  still  runs. 

On  the  road  laid  out  in  1812  from  Georgetown  to 
Pool's  Mill  are  the  nurseries  of  Ransford  S.  Johnson, 
which  were  established  in  1869.  In  that  year  he  came 
from  Susquehanna  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land,  the  area  of  which  was  subse- 
quently increased  to  four  hundred  acres.  Much  of 
this  has  been  brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  the  portion  set  aside  for  nursery  purposes 
embraced  thirty  acres  in  1887.  Although  making  a 
specialty  of  peach  culture,  many  valuable  species  of 
pears,  quinces  and  small  fruits  are  propagated  and 
find  ready  sale  at  home  and  abroad.  The  stock  is 
shipped  to  many  remote  points  in  the  South  and  the 
West,  and  has  given  the  nursery  an  excellent  reputa- 
tion. 

CinjRCHES—PHncc  George's  Chapel,  Protestant  Epis- 
oopal, — ^The  exact  date  of  the  erection  of  this  chapel 
cannot  be  determined,  there  being  no  record  extant 
of  its  organization.  It  was  built  under  the  charge  of 
St.  Martin's  Parish,  at  Snow  Hill,  Maryland.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Ross  mentions,  in  his  journal  dated  Lewes, 
August  6,  1717,  that  "  there  were  two  houses  of  wor- 
ship in  the  vicinity,  one  sixteen  miles  from  Lewes, 
and  one  in  the  upper  part  of  the  county  not  yet  fin- 
ished." The  last  mentioned  was  St.  Matthew's  in  Cedar 
Creek  Hundred.  The  former  was  probably  Prince 
G^eorge's,  asit  approximates  that  distance,  St.  George's 
Chapel,  in  Indian  River  Hundred,  being  but  eight 
miles  from  Lewes,  and  always  considered  as  under 
the  charge  of  St.  Peter's  Church  of  that  place,  and 
was  not  at  that  time  built. 

The  history  of  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  mentions  the  visit  of 
Rev.  George  Ross  to  this  section  of  country  in  August, 
1717,  and  says  he  set  out  from  Lewes  "  to  a  place  of 
worship  about  sixteen  miles  from  Lewes.  It  is  a 
small  frame  building  erected  by  a  few  well-disposed 
persons  in  order  to  meet  together  to  worship  God  ;  " 
and  further  that  Mr.  Ross  baptized  twenty-five  chil- 
dren and  several  grown  persons. 

The  building  was  originally  a  frame  structure  and 
has  been  added  to  and  repaired  as  occasion  required. 
Samuel  Derrickson,  a  member  of  this  chapel,  repre- 
sented the  diocese  in  the  Episcopal  Convention  which 
met  at  Dover  in  1771.  General  John  Dagworthy  en- 
larged the  chapel  by  the  addition  of  a  transept.  The 
Bible  used  in  the  early  days  of  the  chapel  is  in  posses- 
sion of  Mrs.  Hickman,  who  lives  with  her  son  Peter, 
at  Baltimore  Mills.  It  was  published  in  London  by 
Thomas  Baskett  in  1750,  and  is  covered  with  tapestry 
which  is  almost  worn  off  with  use.    The  chapel  is 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


now  only  treasared  as  a  relic  to  mark  the  efforts  of 
those  pioneers  who  associated  the  Christian  cause 
with  their  own  fortunes.  The  congregaCTons  for  sev- 
eral years  have  worshipped  in  a  neat  sanctuary  which 
now  stands  near  Lamb's  Woods. 

Dag^xyrougk  Chapel  {MethodUi  EpUeopal)  was 
erected  in  1882,  when  the  following  were  the 
trustees,  viz.,  Elisha  W.  Carran,  Benjamin  Wingate, 
Wilson  Campbell,  Benjamin  Warrington  and  F.  B. 
Biggins.    It  has  fifty  members. 

Pine  Orove  Chapel  {Methodist  Protestant)  was  built 
in  1886,  on  land  donated  by  Harrison  Rogers,  and 
dedicated  by  Jacob  Nicholson.  The  trustees  were 
Harrison  Rogers,  John  P.  Ennis  and  William 
Rodney. 

Houston  Mission,  at  Hickory  Hill,  was  erected  in 
1887,  with  thirty  members,  including  the  trustees — 
John  M.  Houston,  Sheppard  Kollock  and  James 
Williams.  It  is  on  the  Frankford  Circuit,  and  has 
sixty  members. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1819,  Joshua  Robinson  sold 
to  Arthur  Williams,  David  Hazzard,  Stephen  Ellis, 
John  Hazzard  and  Perry  Pool  seventy-eight  square 
perches  of  land  on  which  to  erect  a  Methodist  meet- 
ing-house. The  locality  of  this  house  was  not  ascer- 
tained. 

Schools. — About  1780  a  Mr.  Rollins  taught  school 
in  the  hundred.  In  1778  Major  Benson,  a  surveyor, 
taught  in  an  old  log  house  which  stood  on  the 
farm  of  Shadrach  Short.  Between  1800  and  1813 
there  were  three  teachers  who  held  school  in  old 
houses,  the  sessions  lasting  in  the  short  days  of 
the  season,  from  sunrise  to  sunset  Their  names 
were  Job  Runneb,  Henry  Runnels  and  Thomas 
Marvel.  The  names  of  a  few  who  have  since  taught 
are  James  Dickerson,  David  Vance,  Joseph  Kollock, 
Houston  Hall,  Henry  Brill,  Edward  Denny,  John 
Jones,  Samuel  Vaughn,  Dr.  James  Hudson,  James 
Johnson,  William  Casque,  Geo.  Hilderbrand,  Daniel 
Drain  (a  Revolutionary  soldier,  who  is  said  to  have 
taught  sixty  years). 

The  Lamb  School-House,  as  it  is  called,  was  built 
about  1885,  and  is  now  used  both  as  school-house  and 
chapel  for  the  members  of  Prince  George  Chapel. 

The  hundred  at  present  contains  fourteen  districts 
and  parts  of  districts  which  have  accommodations  for 
four  hundred  scholars. 

MiLLSBOBOUGH  lies  partly  in  this  hundred  and 
partly  in  Indian  River  Hundred.  The  original  name 
in  the  latter  place  was  Rock  Hole,  which,  by  an  act  of 
the  Legislature,  passed  January  80, 1809,  was  changed 
to  Millsborough.  That  part  in  Dagsboroagh  was 
called  Washington.  After  the  removal  of  the  post- 
office  from  Indian  River  to  the  latter  place  in  1837 
both  sides  received  the  name  of  Millsborough. 

Its  site  is  a  portion  of  the  land  originally  purchased 
of  the  Indians  by  William  Burton.  In  1792  an  act 
was  passed  enabling  Elisha  Dickinson  "to  erect  a 
mill-dam  across  the  head-waters  of  Indian  River  near 
the  place  called  Rock  Hole  in  Indian  River  Hundred, 


and  for  the  condemnation  of  a  small  piece  of  land  on 
the  south  side  of  the  river  for  use  of  grist-mill  and 
log-yard."  The  mill  in  1816  was  operated  by  Charles 
M.  Cullin,  who  married  the  widow  of  Elisha  Dickin- 
son.   It  had  several  owners,  but  is  now  abandoned. 

MiLLSBOROUOH  FuRNACE. — Several  lai^e  furnaces 
were  in  operation  in  Sussex  County  before  the  Revo- 
lution, and  had  gone  down,  and  several  forges  were  in 
operation  in  the  western  part  of  the  county  before  the 
War  of  1812.  About  1815  a  stock  company  was  or- 
ganized at  Millsborough,  consisting  of  Col.  William 
D.  Waples,  Robinson  Waplee  and  others,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  manufacturing  iron.  They  erected  a  small  char- 
coal furnace  near  Indian  River,  at  Millsborough,  and 
put  it  in  blast.  It  was  under  their  management  until 
1822,  when  Samuel  G.  Wright,  an  iron  master  of  Mon- 
mouth County,  New  Jersey,  purchased  the  plant  and 
also  bought  land  and  ore  rights  on  the  Nanticoke  and 
its  tributaries,  which  formerly  belong^  to  the  Deep 
Creek  and  Pine  Grove  Furnaces.  The  fomaoe  was 
placed  in  charge  of  Derrick  Barnard. 

About  1825  Wright  erected,  near  the  furnace,  a 
foundry.  In  the  years  1828-29-30  there  was  produced 
at  the  furnace  and  foundry  450  tons  of  pig  iron  and 
350  tons  of  castings.  In  1832  Gardner  H.  Wright, 
son  of  Samuel  G.,  became  interested  in  the  property 
and  managed  it  until  1886,  when  the  furnace  was 
abandoned.  The  foundry  was  continued  until  1879, 
being  used  in  later  years  mostly  for  the  mannfiuAure  of 
plows.  In  that  year  the  moulds  and  patterns  were  sold, 
and  taken  to  Georgetown,  where  they  are  still  used  in  a 
foundry.  When  the  ftimace  and  foundry  were  both 
in  operation  the  water-pipes  for  the  Croion  Water 
Works,  New  York,  the  railings  formerij  aioand 
Independence  Square  and  castings  for  the  Eastora 
Penitentiary,  Philadelphia,  were  cast  at  this  place. 
Millsborough,  in  the  days  of  the  furnace,  was  of 
more  importance  than  Georgetown.  It  was  tlie 
head  of  navigation  and  was  the  terminus  of  a  stage- 
route  in  charge  of  CoL  Waples,  who  had  there  stables 
accommodating  between  fifty  and  sixty  horses.  In 
1816  he  owned  a  tan -yard,  granary,  store-house  and 
other  buildings.  Col.  Waples  erected  the  tannery 
previous  to  that  year,  and,  having  continued  the  busi- 
ness until  1 845,  sold  it  to  Daniel  and  David  Burton. 
About  1855  Benjamin  Burton  operated  it,  being  sne- 
ceeded  by  John  Burton,  who,  in  1865,  abandoned  the 
place. 

The  first  store  was  established  here  by  John  Lacy 
in  1811.  The  original  house  is  now  occupied  by 
Jeannette  Burton.  He  was  followed  by  James  West 
Benjamin  Whadems  kept  store  for  a  number  of  years 
at  "  Whadems'  Wharf,"  which  is  now  gone  down.  The 
storekeepers  during  the  years  1834-37  were  Noble  T 
Jerman,  Hitch  &  Giles  and  others. 

Millsborough  Box  Factory  was  established  by  Perry, 
Houston  &  Co.  in  1882.  Ten  thousand  feet  of  lam- 
her  is  sawed  daily  and  used  in  the  box-iactory. 

A  drug-store  was  opened  in  1886  by  Dr.  John  W. 
Fooks. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


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The  po8t-oflSce  was  moved  from  the  other  side  of 
the  river  in  1837.  The  postmasters  since  that  time 
have  been  Gardner  H.  Wright,  John  West,  Anthony 
Hastings,  Pnrnell  Pettyjohn,  John  Benson,  John 
Cardrey,  Dr.  G^rge  Burton,  William  H.  Betts, 
Ashur  Burton  and  Edward  Burton,  the  present  in- 
cumbent. 

St.  Mark's  Peotestant  Episcopal  Church  at 
Hillsborough,  built  in  1849,  on  land  donated  by  M. 
S.  Burton,  is  a  branch  of  the  chapel  at  Dagsborough. 
The  trustees  at  the  time  of  its  erection  were  M.  E. 
Burton,  Benjamin  Burton,  Gardner  H.  Wright,  Wool- 
sej  Burton,  Asahel  Dodd  and  Joseph  Kollock.  The 
following  pastors  have  occupied  the  pulpit :  Revs. 
William  Wright,  Geo.  Hall,  Samuel  Rambo  and  W. 
R.  Ellis.  The  latter  having  preached  for  twenty 
years,  died  in  March,  1887. 

Millsborough  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  built 
in  1874,  and  dedicated  August  18th  the  same  year  by 
Rev.  Anthony  Atwood.    The  trustees  were  Richard 

F.  Hastings.  Noble  Jerman,  James  Baker,  Anthony 

G.  Hasting.4.  Services  previous  to  the  erection  of 
the  present  chapel  were  held  in  the  old  school-house, 
which  now  stands  back  of  Millsborough. 

Frankford  Village  (formerly  Gum's  store)  is 
located  at  the  edge  of  the  hundred,  on  part  of 
'' Dagwort^y's  Conquest."  The  funt  business  place 
was  a  store  opened  in  1808  by  Isaiah  Long,  who  was 
succeeded  by  Manaen  Gum.  The  latter  occupied  it 
for  thirty-three  years,  and  was  followed  by  G^rge 
Long.  It  was  torn  down  in  1848  and  replaced  the 
same.  year. 

The  poet-office  was  established  in  1848,  and  has 
been  kept  since  by  Manaen  Gum,  John  Long,  Edward 
Kirkpatrick,  John  Lay  ton  and  Edward  Collins. 

A  hotel  was  established  about  1860  by  William 
Hallo  way.  The  present  one  is  kept  by  L.  W. 
Cannon. 

The  Methodist  Church  was  built  in  1852,  and 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  1881  ;  the  former  is  on 
Frankford  circuit  and  the  latter  is  in  charge  of  the 
ministers  of  Blackwater  Church. 

The  most  extensive  business  ever  conducted  in 
Frankford  was  established  by  Charles  H.  Treat, who  in 
1877  leased  the  old  Gum  Mill,  and  began  the  manu- 
facture of  patent  barrels,  which  he  continued  for 
eighteen  months.  After  numerous  experiments  with 
native  woods  for  veneering  purposes,  he  decided  to 
embark  largely  in  that  direction,  and  with  James  M. 
and  Norman  B.  Huxford,  under  the  name  of  Hux- 
ford  &  Company,  built  extensive  works,  well  fitted 
with  steam  and  machinery  for  making  veneers, 
plaques  and  boxes.  The  works  were  continued  until 
1883,  when  they  were  removed  to  Georgetown. 

Frankford  has  at  present  five  stores,  kept  by  John 
T.  Long,  Everett  Hickman,  John  Steel,  Edward 
Collins  and  Lay  ton  &  Bro. ;  one  hotel  kept  by  L.  W. 
Cannon  ;  one  physican,  Dr.  Francis  M.  Gum. 

Dagsborough  Village  is  located  on  that  part  of 
*'  Dagworthy's  Conquest "  taken  up  by  General  John 


Dagwortby ,  from  whom  it  derived  its  name.  In  deeds 
recorded  previous  to  1785,  it  is  mentioned  "  as  the 
place  formerly  called  Blackfoot  town,  but  now  Dags- 
bury." 

One  of  the  first  industries  established  in  Dags- 
borough was  the  tannery,  which  was  built  by  James 
Clayton,  prior  to  1796.  It  was  at  this  place  (the  old 
house  is  torn  down)  that  the  Hon.  John  M.  Clayton 
was  born  and  passed  the  early  years  of  his  life.  The 
tannery  was  conducted  by  Mr.  Clayton  several  years. 
John  Richards  and  William  Dunning  learned  the  trade 
of  a  tanner  at  this  place.  The  latter,  about  1809, 
became  the  owner  of  the  property  and  continued  it 
until  1847,  when  he  was  elected  register  of  the  county, 
and  removed  to  Georgetown,  and  the  tannery  was 
abandoned. 

General  Dagwortby  erected  a  saw-mill  near  the 
place,  which  was  operated  several  years. 

Dagsborough  is  noted  as  being  the  residence  of  Dr. 
Edward  Dingle,  William  Dunning  and  Colonel  Wil- 
liam D.  Waples,  who  were  all  chosen  as  delegates  to 
form  the  Constitution  of  1882. 

The  Hon.  William  Hill  Wells  resided  in  the  old 
Dagwortby  mansion  part  of  the  time  when  he  enter- 
tained the  officers  of  the  court,  after  sessions  at 
G^rgetown,  and  many  other  people  of  note.  He 
succeeded  Joehua  Clayton,  January  18, 1799,  as  United 
States  Senator,  and  continued  until  1804,  and  was 
again  elected  in  1813,  and  died  in  1829.  He  and  his 
wife  are  buried  in  Prince  George  Chapel  church- 
yard. 

Dagsborough  at  present  has  four  stores  and  one 
physician,  Dr.  Thomas  Hitch. 


CHAPTER    LXXVII. 

BALTIMORE  HUNDRED. 

The  right  to  the  possession  of  Baltimore  Hundred 
for  nearly  a  century  previous  to  1775  was  in  dispute 
between  Maryland  and  Delaware.  In  that  year  the 
boundary  line  was  officially  determined  in  favor  of 
Delaware  so  far  as  this  hundred  was  concerned.  The 
land  warrants  issued  before  the  settlement  of  the 
dispute  were  claimed  to  be  in  Worcester  Coanty, 
Maryland.  The  hundred  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Indian  River  Bay,  south  by  Maryland,  east  by  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  and  west  by  Dagsborough  Hundred. 
Early  in  the  present  century  great  quantities  of  salt 
were  found  along  the  coast.  It  was  seld  throughout 
the  county  and  also  shipped  to  Philadelphia,  New 
York  and  other  markets.  About  the  same  time  ship- 
building was  followed  to  a  considerable  extent  on  the 
southern  banks  of  the  Indian  River  for  several  years. 

Early  Settlements.— Prior  to  the  occupation,  in 
1682,  by  Penn,  of  the  territory  embraced  in  this  hun- 
dred, a  number  of  patents  were  issued  by  the  Duke 


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HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


of  York.  The  lower  line  of  Penn's  purchase  was  Fen- 
wick's  Island,  then  called  Cape  Henlopen.  (The  pres- 
ent cape  bearing  that  name  was  then  called  Cape  **  Cor- 
nells," later  **  Inlopen.")  A  dispute  arose  between 
Penn  and  Lord  Baltimore  as  to  which  cape  was  meant, 
in  defining  the  boundaries  of  their  provinces.  William 
Penn  ordered  a  surveyor  to  lay  out  a  tract  often  thou- 
sand acres  for  a  manor  for  the  Duke  of  York,  the  lo- 
cation suggested  being  a  " rich  ridge''  st  the  head  of 
Murderkili  Creek,  near  the  "  Choptank  Road."  The 
ipanor,  for  some  reason,  was  located  on  what  is  now 
Fenwick's  Island,  some  miles  from  the  situation  orig- 
inally designated.  The  warrant  of  survey  bears  date 
of  March  4,  1688.  The  tract  was  not  then  an  isUnd, 
but  many  years  ago  a  ditch  was  dug  on  its  landward 
side  which,  through  the  action  of  the  tide,  has  become 
H  channel,  fifty  yards  wide  and  fifteen  feet  deep, 
completely  isolating  it  ir^m  the  mainland.  Fenwick's 
Island  light-house  was  built  in  1857,  with  a  tower 
eighty  feet  high,  and  a  revolving  light,  visible  twenty 
miles  at  sea.  The  keepers  have  been  John  Smith, 
1867 ;  W.  R.  HaU,  1861 ;  David  M.  Warrington,  1869 ; 
John  Oum,  1878 ;  the  present  keeper,  John  Bennett, 
was  appointed  in  1877. 

In  1688,  Matthew  Scarborough  was  granted  a  tract 
of  ^ve  hundred  acres  called  **  Middles z,"  in  the 
name  of  Charles,  absolute  Lord  and  Proprietary  of  the 
Provinces  of  Maryland  and  Avalon,  Lord  Baron  of 
Baltimore.  By  the  same  authority  in  1713  he  took  up 
another  tract,  **  David's  Lot,"  containing  sixty-six 
acres,  adjoining  **  Middlesex."  The  latter  was  sur- 
veyed in  1789  for  David  Hazzard.  It  afterwards  came 
into  possession  of  Adam  Hall,  at  whose  death  it  passed 
to  John  Hall,  his  son.  Selby  Evans  and  Elizabeth* 
his  wife,  the  daughter  of  Hall,  now  live  on  the  original 
tract. 

William  Hazzard,  brother  of  David,  took  up  a  tract 
of  fifty  acres  in  1747  called  "  Haphazard."  "  Middle- 
sex,"  "David's  Lot"  and  " Hap-hazard,"  include 
all  the  land  lying  south  of  Indian  River  Bay,  north 
of  the  road  leading  to  the  beach.  The  village  of 
Ocean  View  is  located  on  one  of  these  tracts.  The 
Evans  family,  so  numerous  in  this  locality,  are  de- 
scendants of  David  Evans,  a  Presbyterian  preacher, 
and  a  native  of  Wales,  who  came  to  this  country  with 
a  colony  of  Welsh  in  1704,  and  settled  upon  a  tract  of 
land  in  Pencader  Hundred,  New  Castle  County, 
known  as  the  "  Webh  Tract."  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  that  hundred 
in  1783.  Later  he  moved  to  Pedee,  North  Carolina, 
where  a  colony  had  located.  Some  of  his  sons  came 
to  Baltimore  Hundred,  where  they  assisted  in  founding 
Blackwater  Church. 

Lemuel  Evans,  a  native  of  Muddy  Neck,  repre- 
sented the  State  of  Texas  in  Congress  about  1859. 
He  afterwards  became  a  judge  of  that  State. 

"Stockley's  Adventure,"  containing  three  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  was  taken  up  in  1738  by  Avery  Mor- 
gan. This  parcel  lies  on  the  south  side  of  Indian 
River.    It  passed  successively  to  William  Massey, 


John  Roberts  and  Thomas  Robinson.  The  latter 
bequeathed  it  to  Miers  B.  and  Thomas  Steel.  Their 
fi&ther,  John  Steel,  now  owns  and  lives  on  it. 

**  Pearson's  Choice,"  one  hundred  and  ninety-three 
acres,  was  taken  up  in  1754  by  Thomas  Peareon,  and 
re-surveyed  in  1760  for  Thomas  Wildgooee.  The 
latter  had  three  sons — Joseph,  Robert  and  Jacob. 
Joseph  took  up  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres,  called 
"  Summerfield,"  at  the  head  of  Assowoman  Bay,  on 
which  he  lived  and  died.  Robert  was  bom  in  1757, 
on  the  original  homestead.  He  married  Leigh  Tay- 
lor, to  whom  were  bom  four  sens  and  five  daughters 
— John,  Samuel,  Robert  and  Jacob ;  Tabitha,  Eliza- 
beth, Sarah,  Gracie  and  Mary.  Each  of  the  sons 
reached  his  seventy-fifth  year.  Robert  and  Samuel 
are  now  deceased ;  John  emigprated  to  Logaa  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  now  resides,  aged  ninety-one  years. 
Jacob  was  bora  at  the  old  homestead  in  1705 ;  he  now 
lives  in  Roxanna,  engaged  in  business  with  his  sout 
Robert  Wilgus.* 

'*  Addition,"  a  tract  of  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
eight  acres,  was  surveyed  for  Moses  Dasey  on  a  Mary- 
land warrant,  dated  September  11,  1759.  It  em- 
braced land  taken  up  by  him  in  1719,  situated  in  the 
backwoods  from  Indian  River,  west  of  Thomas 
Dasey's  "  Plantation."  Moses  also  took  up  a  trad 
called  **  Crooked  Lott,"  on  a  warrant  issued  by  John 
Penn,  July  15,  1776,  on  the  road  leading  from  Cedar 
Branch  to  Cedar  Neck.  Thomas  Dasey,  Sr.,  also  had 
property  on  the  east  side  of  Assowoman  Bay,  called 
"  Fowl's  Delight,"  which  adjoined  the  tract  "  Chcriy 
Bark."  He  had  surveyed  to  him  in  1725  a ,  tnu^t 
called  "Little  Worth,"  which  contained  forty-two 
acres,  together  with  forty-one  acres  of  vacant  ^land. 
This  was  resurveyed  in  1777  for  Thomas  Aydelott. 

"  Jacob's  Straggle "  containing  two  hundred  and 
eight  acres,  taken  up  by  Jacob  Gray,  was  resurv^ed 
to  John  Aydelott,  February  13,  1750.  It  was  "on 
the  west  side  of  a  creek  issuing  from  the  Indian 
River,  and  adjoining  thi^  former  residence  of  Edward 
Clark"  and  "  Evans*  Venture." 

Joshua  Gibbons,  July  7,  1776,  had  resurveyed  a 
purchase  of  three  hundred  acres  originally  taken  up 
by  Philip  Wingate.  The  same  year  he  took  up  a 
tract  of  sixty  acres  called  "  Bald  Eagle's  Roost," 
and  another  called  "Elbow  Room  Retreat,"  com- 
prising one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres.  This 
family  were  among  the  constituent  members  of  the 
Old  Sound  Baptist  Church. 

A  tract  called  "Young  Man's  Adventure,"  was 
surveyed  to  James  Layton  in  1776,  which  has  since 
passed  from  the  fi&mily. 

All  the  lands  taken  up  in  Maryland  patents  were 
resurveyed  by  the  surveyors  of  Penn's  government 
in  1776.  The  following  names  are  from  the  assess- 
ment roll  of  Baltimore  Hundred  in  1785,  and  show 
the  land-owners  at  that  time : 


1  The  ancMtor  of  thU  family,  now  called  Wilgna,  was  Otto  WolfH*, 
who  wtf  a  settler  in  the  Tidnity  of  Lewes  Id  1675,  and  one  of  the  nis(i»- 
trates  of  the  county. 


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SUSSEX  COUNTY. 


1341 


Aydelott,  John. 
Aydelott,  Samuel. 
Aydelott,  Jamet. 
AydAlott,  MathlM. 
Atkinfl»  Daniol. 
BridwaU,  BUha. 
Barker,  Bichard. 
Banks,  Jacob. 
Black,  Adam. 
Burton,  Jonathan. 
Bull,  Daniel. 
Batson,  Thomas,  Esq. 
Baokworth,  John. 
GolUns,  Elizabeth. 
Cropper,  Wm, 
Cord,  Wm. 
Cord,  Rhoda. 
ColUttfl,  Leyi. 
Coffin,  Comfort. 
Clark,  Sally. 
Coffin,  Netlcba. 
Christopher,  Bei\J. 
Campbell,  Wm. 
Campbell,  John. 
Collins,  Noah. 
Connor,  Batoliff. 
Clark,  LeTln. 
Cord,  Shilna. 
Dazey,  Sarah. 
Dazey,  Jonathan. 
I>errlckson,  Samnel. 
Daze/,  Hoses. 
Jacobs,  Jacob. 
Derrlckson,  Lerin. 
Derrlokson,  Andreas. 
Derrickson,  George. 
Dazey,  John. 
Derrickson,  Job. 
Derrickson,  Mary. 
Dennis,  John. 
Evans,  Ebeneser. 
Erans,  Isaac. 
Evans,  John,  Jr. 
Evans^  John,  Sr. 
Evans,  Jacob. 
Evans,  Wm.,  Sr. 
Evans,  Wm.  B. 
Erenas,  John. 
Evans,  Elisha. 
Evans,  Solomon. 
Evans,  Hannah. 
Esham,  John. 
Evans,  Jesse. 
Freeman,  Joseph. 
Fassett,  Elijah. 
Fassett,  James. 
Foster,  John. 
Fisher,  James. 
Fisher,  Stephen. 
Godwin,  Thomas. 
Gray,  Jesse. 
Gray,  Mary. 
Gibbons,  John. 
Gibbons,  Jonathan. 
Gibbs,  Isabella. 
Godwin,  Mary. 
Gray,  Wm. 
Holland,  Elizabeth. 
Holland,  Israel. 
Hills,  Bebecca. 
Hayward,  Nehemiah. 
Hitchens,  Isaac 
Harney,  James.       * 
Hall,Wm. 
Holland,  Benjamin. 
Hill,  Elizabeth. 
Hudson,  Jacquet 
Hitchen^i  Edward. 


Hatfield,  Wm. 
Hayward,  George. 
Harney,  Mills. 
Hitchins,  Edward.  Sr, 
Hall,  Wm. 
Hudson,  Hezekiah. 
Hudson,  John. 
Hudson,  Selby. 
Harney,  Jonathan. 
Hickman,  Richard. 
HoUoway,  John. 
Hill,  Rtttenhonse. 
Hazzard,  John. 
Hudson,  Lot 
Hancock,  Frederick. 
Hudson,  Schofield. 
Hudson,  Miles. 
J<rfinson,  Abagafl. 
Johnson,  Elisha. 
Johnson,  Isaac 
Jacobs,  John. 
Johnson,  Bachel. 
Jones,  John,  Eiq. 
Joaes,  Thomas. 
Johnson,  Mary. 
Johnson,  David. 
Jones,  Samuel. 
Irons,  Jacob. 
Killian,  Henry. 
Knock,  Solomon. 
Lock  wood,  Mary. 
Lookwood,  Wm. 
Linch,  LevL 
Laughinghonse,  Wm. 
Linch,  John. 
Iring,  Bei\J. 
Lockwood,  Richard  W. 
Lawrence,  Henry. 
Law8,0bediah. 
Miller,  Bairiieba. 
Miller,  James. 
Morgan,  Avery. 
Massey,  John,  Sr. 
Massey,  John,  Jr. 
McCabe,  John,  Jr. 
McCabe,  John,  Sr. 
McCabe,  Obadlah. 
MoGee,  Thomas. 
Marratt,  James. 
Marratt,  David. 
Marratt,  Jamer 
Onions,  Ayres. 
Ponden,  Wm. 
Pratt,  Bayley. 
Powell,  Wm. 
Powell,  IXwacj. 
Pnmell,  Walter. 
Qnillen,  Clement. 
Roberts,  Saunders. 
Robinson,  Mary,  widow. 
Robinson,  Mary. 
Robinson,  Joseph. 
Rogers,  Jacob. 
Rogers,  America. 
Roberts,  Joseph. 
Russell,  Levi. 
Roberts,  Wm. 
Roberts,  Betty,  widow. 
Richards,  Elisha. 
Richards,  JonsSb 
Robinson,  John. 
Rogers,  Agnes. 
Richards,  Wm.,  W.8. 
Richards,  Eiyah. 
Rogers,  Solomon. 
Richards,  Wn^C.N. 
Richards,  Elias. 
Roberts,  John,  Jr, 


Rogers,  Solomon,  Sr. 
Richards,  John. 
Rogers,  Matthew. 
Robinson,  Cornelius. 
Smith,  Henry,  Br. 
Smallwood,  Levi. 
Selby,  Thomas. 
Townsend,  Jabez. 
Tingle,  John. 
Taylor,  Tniman. 
Taybr,  Joshua. 
Tingle,  Anthony. 
Townsend,  Littleton. 
Tunnel,  Scarborough. 
Tunnell,  Elizabeth. 
Taylor,  John. 
Taylor,  Wm. 
Townsend,  Luke. 
Yigrous,  Price. 
Terdimar,  Christopher. 
Terdimar,  Henry. 
Wharton,  David. 
Wharton,  Ilary. 
West,  BlUah. 
Williams,  Arthur. 
Williams,  EaekM. 
Wilkins,  Joseph. 
Wilkins,  Wm. 
Wharton,  Watson. 
Walker,  George. 
Wharton,  Francis. 
West,  Robert 
Wigott,  John. 
Williams,  Andrew,  8r. 
Williams,  Andrew. 
Smith,  Walter. 
Wilkins,  Thomas. 
Wildgooss,  Thomas. 
Wildgoose,  Robert 
Waller,  Thomas. 
Wharton,  Daniel. 
West,  John. 
Williamson,  Samuel. 
West,  Nathaniel. 
Walker,  Hampton. 
Wharton,  Jonathan. 
Wharton,  Joseph. 
Coffin,  Wm. 
Hill,  John  S. 
Hill,  Levin. 
Onions,  Pearson. 
Aydelott,  Levin. 
Betterworth,  Wm. 
Maddox,  Lazarus. 
Johnson,  John. 
Wharton,  Isaiah. 
Aydelott,  Mary. 

IxDUSTRiES. — January  24th  an  act  was  passed  bj  the 
Legislature  to  enable  William  Derrickson,  Richard 
Clark,  £be  Walter  and  James  Fassett  to  erect  a  mill 
dam  across  Assawoman  Creek,  near  **  Sleep  Point/' 
at  the  head  of  the  creek.  For  this  purpose  two  acres 
on  the  north  eide  and  two  on  the  south  side  were  con- 
demned. They  erected  a  grist  and  saw-mill,  which 
passed  from  them  to  William  Derrickson  and  waa 
operated  by  the  latter  until  1847,  when  it  was  aban- 
doned. A  steam  saw-mill  is  now  operated  by  Jacob 
Wilgus,  who  built  it  in  1855.  The  daily  capacity  ia 
nine  thousand  feet. 

The  tracts  first  taken  up  by  settlers  are  situated  on 
the  highest  plane  in  the  hundred.  Outside  of  these 
choice  parceb  the  land  was  low  and  swampy,  and  en- 
terprises were  consequently  projected  to  drain  thia 


Laton,  Harry. 
Harney,  Joehna. 
Townsend,  Wm. 
Johnson,  Pnmal. 
Pnmell,  Thomas. 
Smallwood,  Solomon. 
Evans,  John  (miller). 
Wharton,  Harney. 
Hutchinson,  Wm. 
West,  Wm. 
West,  Thomas. 
Evans,  Thomas, 
Evans,  Ebenezer. 
Hitchins,  Wm. 
Evans,  Wm.  (of  James). 
Dazey,  Thomas. 
Coffin,  Thomas. 
Hickman,  Bayley. 
Ponders,  Powell. 
Wharton,  Joseph. 
West,  Renben. 
Gray,  Thomas. 
Mifflin,  DanleL 
Truitt,  CoUins. 
Wharton,  EU. 
CoUaway,  Betty. 
Fire,  Isaac 
Townsend,  Wm. 
Massey,  Sarah. 
Johnson,  Wm. 
Richards,  Annanfaa. 
Richards,  Caleb. 
Perry,  Cornelius. 
Hickman,  Selby. 
■Fire,  George. 
Coffin,  Comeliiip. 
Morris,  Wm. 
Massey,  Wm. 
Johnson,  Wm. 
Irons,  LemueL 
West,  Caleb. 
Harney,  Thomas,  Jr. 
Aydelott,  BeiO. 
MoCabe,  Arthur. 
Tysey,  George. 
Wharton,  Charisa. 
Nichols,  Charies. 
Dazeyt  Th<m>aa. 
Derrickson,  Solomon. 
Evans,  Eli. 
Tingle,  WiUiam. 
Wildgoose,  Joseph. 
Hudson,  David. 
Johnson,  Peter. 
Bell,  Wm. 
Hill,  George. 


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1342 


HISTORY  OF  DELAWARE. 


partially  submerged  territory.  So  well  have  they  suc- 
ceeded that  the  bottom-lands  have  become  the  most 
fertile  corD-growing  section  of  the  hundred.  Robert 
Burton  was  one  of  the  first  to  undertake  the  work  of 
reclamation,  and  from  this  beginning  grew  the  organ- 
ization of  companies  ta  carry  on  the  enterprise  with 
larger  means.  The  Beaver  Dam  Ditch  Ck>mpany  was 
incorporated  February  28,  1865,  with  the  following 
members :  Nathaniel  Tunnell,  John  Bennett,  Kendall 
Rickards,  David  Oodwin,  William  D.  Lay  ton,  Thomas 
E.  Hall,  Ann  M.  West,  Charles  D.  Bennett,  James 
H.  Godwin,  Sarah  Derrickson,  John  Bennett,  John 
M.  Taylor,  Henry  B.  Murry,  Isaac  C.  West  and 
others.  The  work  of  this  company  in  drainage  has 
been  extensive  and  beneficial. 

The  General  Assembly  has  granted  authority  for 
the  construction  of  a  canal  of  seventy-two  feet  width 
and  six  feet  deep  from  Jefferson  Creek,  the  head  of 
Little  Assawoman  Bay,  to  White's  Creek,  a  branch  of 
Indian  River  Bay.  The  proposed  canal  will  lie  en- 
tirely within  Baltimore  Hundred,  and  if  constructed, 
will  add  thirteen  miles  of  inland  navigation  to  the 
water-courses  between  Chincoteague  Inlet,  Ya.,  and 
Jefferson  Creek. 

Churches. — Blackwater  Presbyterian  Church  was 
built  in  1767.  In  that  year  Charles  Tennent,  its  first 
pastor,  began  his  pastoral  labors.  He  came  of  the 
family  of  that  name  which  is  celebrated  in  the  annals 
of  early  Presbyterian  ism  on  this  continent.  His 
father  was  a  pastor  and  teacher  at  the  **  Old  Log  Col- 
lege," which  has  since  become  the  renowned  and 
revered  Princeton,  and  his  brothers  were  among  the 
organizers  of  the  church  at  New  Castle  and  of  the 
Buckingham  in  Maryland.  The  elders  of  Blackwater 
Church  with  Mr.  Tennent  were  Joseph  Miller,  Eben- 
ezer  Evans,  John  Evans,  Wm.  Tunnell,  John  Ayde- 
lott,  Thomas  Hamig  and  Thomas  Wingate.  Mr. 
Tennent  was  succeeded  by  James  Wilson,  son  of 
Matthew  Wilson,  of  Philadelphia.  He,  among  others, 
supplied  the  pulpit  until  1771,  in  which  year  Rev* 
Josiah  Lewis  was  installed  pastor.  In  1774  Rev.  John 
Rankin  became  pastor  and  preached  for  twenty  con- 
secutive years,  until  his  death,  in  1794.  During  Mr. 
Rankin's  pastorate  the  following  elders  comprised  the 
session  :  Jonathan  Harvey,  Enoch  Scudder,  William 
Evans,  Joab  Collins,  Philip  White,  William  S.  Hall, 
Elihu  Bredell  and  James  Miller. 

Rev.  Chas.  Wallace  succeeded  Mr.  Rankin  in  1794, 
and  occupied  the  pulpit  until  1803,  when  Rev.  Stuart 
Williamson  became  pastor  and  continued  six  years. 
John  Burton  and  others  preached  until  1812,  when 
Charles  Wallace  returned  and  remained  five  years, 
being  followed  by  Joseph  Copeland  and  others.  In 
1821  Blackwater  Church  had  become  almost  extinct. 
After  a  three  years'  pastorate,  which  was  ended